listens to horses

Friday, May 16, 2008

Spot... then and now

OK, so this is the wrong side, but as she was born sparkling white none of her color showed till just about weaning anyway.

Taffy as a weanling see her spot?

Taffy today, in the rain. She is now three.

Fred Judging

This is a photo I just found of Fred judging off of Hag. After all the other horses give out, she was not a bit "too tired".

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

When my folks were here to visit last month we got to see this little guy quite a bit, but only mom got to see the big one. Too bad no one would put in an appearance for my brother and his wife. This photo was taken in the big pond behind the pavilion.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Saddle Mule

Thank you Mike for the photo and Kim for the mule.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

I like my chickens

One of my roosters with the Partridge Cochen hen.

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Cooper Mules

Just a photo of the girls on any day. These are not my mules, I just get to drive them sometimes.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Permaculture

This is the house when I got here. The first of my gardening was the potted plants I brought down from MO.

This is the start. Strawberries and walking onions in the front. What else would go good in this bed? This year we have Pansies. We started with Pansies as I like Pansies.

Just some happy looking plants. It looks like strawberries and pansies can live together.

Friday, March 14, 2008

A nice ride for Taffy

The day before we went to MO (the dogs and I) we were invited on a trail ride. I am so glad I decided to go to a day late and went here! We made new friends and had a pleasant day. Does this not look like a great place to swim?

Thursday, February 28, 2008

A day in the life...at Blackwater

Here is Diamond Dust and her 07 filly enjoying their time out while the pond goes in. I think we like it here in Alabama, look at the grass in February!

I have been a hippophiliac {lover of horses} all my life. I was born in Garden Grove CA where we could not have horses. After wanting one for so long and saving LOTS of dimes and pennies, in the summer of 73 we moved to Norco CA. I finally got my first horse at age 7. She was a hateful Appaloosa mare in foal. Boy did those first horses teach me some things. By the time I was 10 I no longer had my own horse and had to ride the horses no one else wanted to, if I wanted to ride. I could ride horses my friends and family could not. I got the chance to work with show horses of several breeds and disciplines growing up. I lived within riding distance of Ingall’s Park so saw lots and lots of shows. My brother’s girlfriend (now his wife) showed Morgan horses and later their trainer bought the place across the road from my parents. Quite by accident I got into training horses. I mean that was all I wanted to do anyway, but to make money at it? COOL! I was 13. I started with rehabbing outlaw horses (a very learning experience for me) and went on to starting young Arabian horses then Morgans. In the early 90’s I moved to the Missouri Ozarks, near Ava. There I opened my own training barn open to the public. I trained horses for a living there for over 10 years before a bad marriage and an injury put an end to that. After the divorce and loss of my farm I traveled around quite a bit. I learned a lot and had good and bad times. I am now back home in the Ozarks with a brand new plan. I plan to build the ultimate trail horse. What that means to me is, big, bold, and beautiful. I want a horse pretty enough to show on the weekends, athletic enough to ride all day over rough terrain… day after day, and smart enough to save my life if need be, with a walk to bring tears to your eyes!!! I plan to start with the best blooded brood stock, with outstanding conformation, large hearts, big motors, and beautiful color...that can walk the walk, in the building of my ideal trail horse.