Marehaven Farm
Longmont, CO
Belle
Belle gets lonely (and Hearts and Horses benefit ride)
April 29 / 2008 05:33 PM
Poor Belle. Every time
I go to get Kelton out to ride, which has been nearly
ever day recently, Belle comes to the pasture gate
and looks eager to get out and do something too. The
friend who had been trail riding her with me has been
busy doing other things, so poor Belle has been
neglected. I haven't had the opportunity to take her
trail riding myself, and I don't want to do much with
her in the arena until after she's had some dressage
training. But I'll be getting her out soon, on the
Hearts and Horses benefit ride on May 3rd. If you'd
like to make a donation to Hearts and Horses to
"sponsor" my ride, please go to this page. Thanks!
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Heated indoor arena
January 09 / 2008 04:05 PM
My friend Jane and I
took the Fjords to the indoor arena at the
fairgrounds this morning to ride during their "open
riding" session. Ah, how nice to get out and ride
again! The weather has not been very cooperative. We
were both dressed for frigid temps because we didn't
realize that the indoor would be heated. It was
rather toasty in there.
Neither Belle nor Ivy had been ridden since I took lessons on them in early December, but they were both very well behaved, especially considering they'd never been there before. There were several other riders there, all on Quarter Horses, and one of the QHs was a little freaked out by the Fjords. He kept staring at them as if he couldn't quite make out what the heck those little mohawk ponies were! Pretty funny. But it reminded me that whenever I take the Fjords somewhere, they're going to end up being "ambassadors" for the breed just because the breed is so rare. So they better continue being well behaved!
The county just opened up this morning "open riding" session, and we plan to make good use of it in the future!
Neither Belle nor Ivy had been ridden since I took lessons on them in early December, but they were both very well behaved, especially considering they'd never been there before. There were several other riders there, all on Quarter Horses, and one of the QHs was a little freaked out by the Fjords. He kept staring at them as if he couldn't quite make out what the heck those little mohawk ponies were! Pretty funny. But it reminded me that whenever I take the Fjords somewhere, they're going to end up being "ambassadors" for the breed just because the breed is so rare. So they better continue being well behaved!
The county just opened up this morning "open riding" session, and we plan to make good use of it in the future!
First solo trail ride on Belle also went great
October 21 / 2007 12:22 PM
Yesterday I wanted to
test out a new demo saddle (a Treefree), but I didn't feel like riding
in the arena, so I figured I'd see how far Belle
was willing to go away from the farm before she
got worried about the other horses. At home she's
always aware of where the others are, and if I
haul a horse away in the trailer she's the only
one that will trot down the fence line and call to
the horse. So I thought we might not get very far,
but she just motored on down the driveway and then
across my south neighbor's property without so
much as an ear cocked backwards at the farm.
So I figured I might as well try going over to the ponds. I had to cut through a cow pasture, getting off and on twice to open gates, and Belle stood still for me to get back on. She was totally unconcerned about leaving the other horses, which really surprised me. We had a nice ride around the ponds and even did a fair amount of trotting, which felt great. And I love the saddle!
As long as the gates are closed, it'll be much easier to ride Belle off the farm than Kelton, given that Kelton is two hands taller, so I'm just delighted at how well Belle did. She's just an all around super trail pony!
So I figured I might as well try going over to the ponds. I had to cut through a cow pasture, getting off and on twice to open gates, and Belle stood still for me to get back on. She was totally unconcerned about leaving the other horses, which really surprised me. We had a nice ride around the ponds and even did a fair amount of trotting, which felt great. And I love the saddle!
As long as the gates are closed, it'll be much easier to ride Belle off the farm than Kelton, given that Kelton is two hands taller, so I'm just delighted at how well Belle did. She's just an all around super trail pony!
We saw a bear!
October 11 / 2007 09:11 PM
My friend Donna and I
went riding today, as we're trying to do every
Wednesday, but today we saw something neither of us
had ever seen on a trail ride: a bear! We were on the
Big Bluestem trail, which is southwest of Boulder and
is part of a large network of trails through the
foothills. We were up in the pine trees, moseying
along, when Donna spotted the bear about fifty yards
to the right. It was looking at us but didn't look
concerned.
For a second I thought about whipping out my camera to take a shot (and now that Belle and I have not been made into Bear Snacks, I wish I had). But what we did instead was get off the horses and start walking away quickly while making lots of noise (Donna was singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm" and I was reassuring the bear that we had no interest in bearskin rugs). After a bit, we decided we were out of harm's way, so we got back on.
The horses were never bothered, even though they could see (and presumably smell) the bear, so maybe they can sense when a bear is having aggressive thoughts vs. "where should I take a nap" thoughts?
For a second I thought about whipping out my camera to take a shot (and now that Belle and I have not been made into Bear Snacks, I wish I had). But what we did instead was get off the horses and start walking away quickly while making lots of noise (Donna was singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm" and I was reassuring the bear that we had no interest in bearskin rugs). After a bit, we decided we were out of harm's way, so we got back on.
The horses were never bothered, even though they could see (and presumably smell) the bear, so maybe they can sense when a bear is having aggressive thoughts vs. "where should I take a nap" thoughts?
Belle goes south and north
October 11 / 2007 09:07 PM
Belle's been getting
out a lot lately. Last week I rode her with a friend
at Rock Creek Farm trail, which is southeast of
Boulder. The trail is wide and well-groomed and goes
up and down gentle slopes, so it would be a good one
for Kelton.
Then on Saturday I took her to Bobcat Ridge, the new trail northwest of Loveland. There we rode with a friend who was taking her horse on their first "real" trail ride. Both horses did great. It's a nice trail, winding up a gentle hill into some trees and then back down again, with great views.
Then on Saturday I took her to Bobcat Ridge, the new trail northwest of Loveland. There we rode with a friend who was taking her horse on their first "real" trail ride. Both horses did great. It's a nice trail, winding up a gentle hill into some trees and then back down again, with great views.
Belle goes horse camping
August 06 / 2007 02:08 PM
I spent this past
weekend up at Jack's Gulch, a "horse campground" west
of Fort Collins up in the mountains. I took Belle,
and we had a great time! I went with three other
people, and we shared a camp site that had four pipe
corrals for the horses. We rode for almost four hours
on Friday, over five hours on Saturday, and about an
hour on Sunday, and I think Belle had as much energy
at the end as she did at the beginning. She's such an
energizer pony! Some of the horses were very green,
and one rider was very green, but they all did very
well. We climbed hills, picked our way over big
rocks, navigated a variety of water crossings, and
wandered across large grassy meadows. The horses that
didn't have much trail experience before this trip
are old pros now!
I've just added a few photos from the trip to Belle's photo album.
I've just added a few photos from the trip to Belle's photo album.
Belle and the Fjord-eating pipes
July 18 / 2007 11:21 AM
A friend and I rode
today at Boulder Valley Ranch, and Belle did very
well with the cows, dogs, bicycles, and baby buggies,
but boy she was concerned about those ridged metal
pipes that go under trails so that ditch water can
flow through them. She was pretty sure they ate
Fjords for lunch!
She could see them coming long before I could. She'd suddenly look way down the trail and stop, and I'd urge her forward, but as we'd get closer she'd become clearly concerned. Sometimes I couldn't see the pipes until we were actually crossing them, but boy she could see them in advance!
By the end of the ride I got her to go over them without wanting to rush over them, but that's definitely something to work on. It's such a strange thing, too. Why would double-occupancy baby buggies being pushed by joggers not so much as merit a turned ear, but pipes pose a threat?! I should call the horse psychic!
She could see them coming long before I could. She'd suddenly look way down the trail and stop, and I'd urge her forward, but as we'd get closer she'd become clearly concerned. Sometimes I couldn't see the pipes until we were actually crossing them, but boy she could see them in advance!
By the end of the ride I got her to go over them without wanting to rush over them, but that's definitely something to work on. It's such a strange thing, too. Why would double-occupancy baby buggies being pushed by joggers not so much as merit a turned ear, but pipes pose a threat?! I should call the horse psychic!
Britta goes to boot camp and Belle goes swimming
July 12 / 2007 11:01 PM
I took Britta (Belle's
two year old Fjord filly) over to "baby boot camp"
today. I brought Belle along too so that I could go
on a trail ride with the trainer, who has 230+ acres
to ride on plus lots of trail obstacles. I wasn't
sure how Belle would be with water so we gave that a
try. It wasn't just a creek but an actual river, and
Belle just went on through. The water was nearly up
to her belly and I could feel the current pushing her
a little, but she did just fine.
We also walked over big logs and through tall bushes and fields of prickly stuff. She was pretty good with all of that, but she balked at walking through slurpy mud. When we first set out, she was surprised by a boggy area, and after that she was suspicious of dark ground, but only if she was in the lead. She'd follow another horse across.
I also wasn't sure how Belle would be riding away from Britta, but they weren't even calling to each other. Belle can be a little herd bound, but I guess she decided the trainer's horses were her new herd! I'll take her back over there to ride again once the trainer has Britta ready to pony out on trails. The trainer will basically do everything she would do if she was starting Britta under saddle, without actually riding her. She'll get her used to all sorts of things, have her wear a saddle and bridle, haul her places, and pony her on lots of trails. It'll be good for her -- give her something to think about over the winter.
Cathy has llamas specifically because so many of the horses she gets into training have issues with them, but I put Britta in a pen next to them and she said hello to them and went about her business. So I guess that's not going to be an issue!
We also walked over big logs and through tall bushes and fields of prickly stuff. She was pretty good with all of that, but she balked at walking through slurpy mud. When we first set out, she was surprised by a boggy area, and after that she was suspicious of dark ground, but only if she was in the lead. She'd follow another horse across.
I also wasn't sure how Belle would be riding away from Britta, but they weren't even calling to each other. Belle can be a little herd bound, but I guess she decided the trainer's horses were her new herd! I'll take her back over there to ride again once the trainer has Britta ready to pony out on trails. The trainer will basically do everything she would do if she was starting Britta under saddle, without actually riding her. She'll get her used to all sorts of things, have her wear a saddle and bridle, haul her places, and pony her on lots of trails. It'll be good for her -- give her something to think about over the winter.
Cathy has llamas specifically because so many of the horses she gets into training have issues with them, but I put Britta in a pen next to them and she said hello to them and went about her business. So I guess that's not going to be an issue!
Riding regularly
July 05 / 2007 07:37 PM
At long last, I'm
finally riding regularly again! I've been able to
ride Kelton about three times per week, sometimes
four, for the past month, and I've ridden Belle a few
times. Someone else usually schools Belle while I
ride Kelton.
Kelton is doing great. I'm going very easy with her, to hopefully make sure she stays sound. We're doing basic suppling work at the walk and trot and I only ride for about thirty minutes. I think we'll probably be doing this for a while, but that's OK. I'm just glad to be able to ride her!
Kelton is doing great. I'm going very easy with her, to hopefully make sure she stays sound. We're doing basic suppling work at the walk and trot and I only ride for about thirty minutes. I think we'll probably be doing this for a while, but that's OK. I'm just glad to be able to ride her!
Back in the saddle
June 17 / 2007 01:43 PM
I've now ridden Kelton
four or five times, and Belle once. It feels so good
to be riding regularly again! I still wish I could
ride more often, but I need to find someone who can
come out to ride several times a week. Both horses
are doing so well, especially for having been out of
work for two years.
Kelton is being exceptionally well behaved, as though she never missed a day. Belle gets a little worried if Britta (her 2005 filly) starts screaming for her, but she remains controllable. I think they may need to be fully separated for a while!
I also finally built a diet pen for Belle, which she's not crazy about, but she seriously need to lose some weight!
Kelton is being exceptionally well behaved, as though she never missed a day. Belle gets a little worried if Britta (her 2005 filly) starts screaming for her, but she remains controllable. I think they may need to be fully separated for a while!
I also finally built a diet pen for Belle, which she's not crazy about, but she seriously need to lose some weight!
Belle's first real ride in a while
June 04 / 2007 08:34 PM
I had a trainer come
out to school Belle in the arena for the first time
since I moved here, and Belle did pretty well. She
was nervous at first, probably mainly because she
didn't know the rider and she tends to bond with
specific people, but she settled down to work. She
needs some work on not being heavy in the bit, not
leaning into turns, and paying attention to her
"brakes," but those are relatively easy to work on. I
look forward to riding her myself, but for the time
being I'll have the trainer school her while I school
Kelton. I want Kelton for myself