My Prized Possession

I got Josey (JK Prized Possesseion) January of last year. I did not get her the usual way someone does, I didn't test ride her, I didn't even go and see her before I bought her. A friend of mine out in Alabama was selling her and had been showing me videos of her long before she was forced to sell her. There was something about her where I knew she would be a star. My friend had begun her on tricks, taught her to be a mounted shooting and posse horse and took her everywhere on the trails. Josey had this sweet look about her, that im willing to do anything you want look. So finally after much debate and watching the videos of her over and over and looking at her pictures I made the decision to get her. Getting her flew by like a whirl wind, between over nighting her payment and emailing contracts and finding a transporter to get her here since i couldnt go and get her myself being all the way in California. Finally on January 29th, 2009 she arrived at the ranch. She lost some weight from the 5 day trailer ride and got some stress hives but she made it safe and sound. Then the training started, i wanted to show, one of the few things she wasnt trained for. So thus the western pleasure training began after only a few short months we went to our first show, didnt walk away with any blues but i couldnt have asked for a better show overall, since all in all she was well behaved not perfect but with the 2 months of training what do you expect. However, by the last show of the season we walked away unanimous western pleasure champion, winning every single one of our classes!!!! She is a total sweet heart and the best friend i have ever had. We even managed to win our showmanship class with only a week of training for it!!! I can't wait for this year since we plan on doing english this year as well, we also are starting her on team roping(which she loves to chase the cows!)

I first met Dancer 13 years ago – not long after I had begun riding lessons at a local stable. I saw him just hours after he was born and couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was adorable and totally ornery….and we had a strange connection from the beginning. By the time he was old enough to be turned out during the day, we had already developed a friendship. I had to walk along the fence of his pen in order to get to my lesson horse’s pasture. He would follow me all the way down and stand watch until I came back. A few weeks later, his owner asked if I wanted to help halter train him. I, of course, said yes!

So, months went by and I became very attached to this little guy. My grandma came out to watch me ride one November day and saw what a connection I had with Dancer. I didn’t know it at the time, but she ended up buying him for me right then! My mom was shocked to find out what she’d done, but somehow managed to keep it a secret from me for a few weeks. I probably wouldn’t have found out until Christmas if it hadn’t been for a few of the other boarders at the stable. I overheard them talking as I cleaned out some stalls and one of them mentioned that Dancer had been sold. I was immediately heart broken, but did my best to hold it together until I got home. It was then that I fell apart. My mom could see how upset I was and called my grandma. They decided I had to hear the truth…even if it was a few weeks early.

Dancer and I worked hard for the next few years and I learned more than I ever dreamed about horse training. I went through 3 different trainers, 2 stables and multiple training methods until I finally figured out what worked for us. When Dancer was just 2yrs old, we started showing in western pleasure and halter. We both enjoyed going to new places and Dancer loved showing off in front of the other horses!

When my dad got transferred to another city a year later, my parents decided to buy some land so that I could keep Dancer at home. We switched to riding English, but continued our training (using Parelli methods) until I left for college. Even though I had to slow my training down and stop showing during college, the desire to get back into it never left. After getting married, finally finding a full-time job and moving out onto some land, I feel like it’s finally time to start back up again.

Dancer and I have been training for the past few months on our own, but I look forward to taking lessons again this spring. 

Lauren

(Me and Dancer when he was about 6 months old)

(Me and Dancer last year)

I have been around horses all my life I have trained, showed, hunter jumper, english, western, game classes, we did the appalacion wagon train 4 times. I have had a lot of horses over the years. some that have been ok some that were good but only 3 that are great 2 I still have 1 that has passed away.  Encore my appaloosa mare she is due to foal in april. And Just R Curious (skeeter barn name) he is going to be my breeding stud, show and trail horse. We looked for over a year an a half for him.   We must of looked at over a 1000 horses ranging in age from new foal to 3 yr old. My Dad saw most of them as well. I would find the ones I liked and would check bloodlines and back ground on them.  Then I would show them to my Dad, he could look at a horse and see  everything that was right and wrong with them and say yes or no.  Then I found Skeeter he had the blood lines I wanted foundation appaloosa.  I showed the pics to my Dad and he said go look in person so we did I got vidio of him.  I showed them to my Dad and when he was done looking at them he said lookes like you finaly found your stud he's a beauty,great legs,head and neck.  He has the look of a smart horse that will learn quick.  And he does, Skeeter picks thing up very fast, he has to check everything out is willing to try new things with out any hassel or problems. My greatest joy is that my Dad got to help find him.  My Dad never got to see him in person he  saw the vidio of him from his hospital bed. He was so happy about helping find "OUR " stud. My Dad fought kidney cancer as hard as he could, so he could come home from the hospital so he would be able to help train Skeeter. But he wasn't able too. My Dad passed away  2 weeks before we brought Skeeter home.  My Dad was my best friend and the best horse person I ever knew.  He could do anything with a horse. So Just R Curious aka Skeeter is my very special horse for a couple reason he is a wonderful horse to be around and do things with and he is the last horse my Dad helped me find for our Appaloosa breeding and show farm. Thank you Dad I love you.

When I moved to N.C. 14 yrs ago, I brought my throughbred with me.  I had been living in the suburbs of N.Y. and had taken many dressage lessons and had been in several shows.  Here in the mountains of western N.C it was trail riding that everyone did.  My new farrier suggested that I get a nice trail horse and mentione to me that he had a horse in his barn that he rescued.  Dennis said that he wasn't a pretty horse, but he thought that the horse had some training on him, and if I wanted to I could come and see him.  I made arrangements to see the horse, and when Dennis brought him out my heart sunk.  He had been cleaned up, but the horse was bony, had mange, and still had his winter coat in late spring because he was so malnourished.  The horse was full of fluid, due to the recent worming, and he was developing toxicity. I came back a week later, and the horse had put some wt on, and was doing a littler better.  I took him to the vet, where he had his shots, his teeth floated, and a remedy for mange.  I would go see him everyday that I was able, and brush him and tell him how beautiful he was.  I named him Beau, which seemed suitable for this mahogany chestnut Quarterhorse. 

     He stood patiently while I saddled him, and I have ridden him all over the trails of western N.C. and the mountains of Tn, and he has never let me down.  This horse has gotten this N.Y. girl out of some sticky situations, and he always knows which way home is.  He would climb a tree if I asked him to.  There have been times when I have picked muskadine grapes while standing on his saddle.  Thee was a ride that we had to cross a bridge.  I had no idea that the bridge was rotten.  Two of Beau's feet fell through the bridge, but he managed to get to the other side, neither one of us injured.  There was another time that we were walking up a path along a waterfall.  I was riding alone that day.  Beau fell into a sink hole.  I was beside myself, thinking how to get help, when Beau pulled himself out of the hole and struggled to the other side.  His heart was pounding, as mine was, but he never lost his composure. 

     It was Beau that I went to after a bad riding accident to get my courage back, and help me with my confidence.  Beau is steadfast and dependable.  I am so grateful to have found him.  I think that he is grateful to have been found.  I will have him to forever.  Many times I have been offered a price for this fine friend, but friends are not forsale.    

Hello everyone =)

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Why I love my horses Che and Tattoo

I rode horses for many years, I was in racing for many more, and in 98 we walked away... we were disgusted, and angry, and we sued the commission... at the time we were the only people to have done this.. we have since paved the way... the treatment, and horrific experience that lead up to sueing the ORC made us hate and want away at all cost from the world of horses... we still loved (love) horses, but needed to walk from the whole experience so we did... for 10 years we never saw a horse, never looked at a STB race, never entered near the world of horses... it was even tough for us to watch the Run for the Roses!!!  I didn't even watch jumping or dressage on TV... you must understand that horses were everything to us, they were our lifeblood, our livelyhood, they were part of our minds, and our souls... my family lived on the tracks, we ate breathed and slept horses... my husband never wanted to do anything in his life but work and be with horses... my son at times growing up in the barn thought he was a horse... but the horror of our experience drove us away... and the 'boy's my husband Joe, my brother-in-law John and my son Ned would never have gone back only for me... my desperation to have a horse again meant that I brought it up in June of 08 to my husband Joe... to us bringing an animal into the house is like bringing in a child to other people, they are part of us and they are here forever... I thought I had shot my animal loving vegitarian husband!!! I didn't ask or bring it up again for two months... then with the yearling sales getting closer and the time for the race people to get ride of their cheap horses drawing closer I knew it was time to ask again... to my suprise Joe said yes... he loves me, and knew I wanted a horse more than I wanted to take my next breath... he did more, he set about helping me, and without him I would not be able to have the horses and work to support them.  Joe is not well, so he does the horses, along with Ned, John and I work at jobs to keep the whole thing going...

Joe had one stipulation... whatever horse I got it was to be the only one, and it was forever... I have been around a long time, and am not an easy sell... I knew I needed the right horse... the question of what horse was tougher... as I wanted to compete in eventing... so I needed a tall powerful horse, that could make the hights, I needed a horse that was athletic enough for dressage and tough courses... and I needed something brave, darring, and something with more than the normal ability to succeed... I needed a super horse... plus Joe said if we were getting a stb (the other agreement (that was easy that was my choice too) we might as well get a colt from the sales... so we went to the sales... we looked on line and at sales at tones of horses... walking away from horse after horse... then we saw Che...

Che had all the elements that I was looking for, he also had some I wasn't looking for... he is tough and at the time hated people... he lookes at the world as he is the preditor and we are the prey... he is more wolf than horse at times!!! So when Joe and I looked at him as just a wee yearling we knew we were bitting off a lot... but we wanted him... here was our different horse, here was a horse of a lifetime in a lifetime of horses... we never thought we would be able to afford Che he is supper bred-- but when the actioner hit the hammer to the table at 3000 we high fived and I hugged Joe in front off the whole place... I didn't care... we had our horse... Che was ours... Joe told Ned, that if we buy him we need to make him our friend... so we have set out to do that and it has been a road woth taking.  He has run into road blocks, and at times we have nearly lost him to colic... but he has the heart of lion and if we can get him right he will be the horse I am looking for... his love for us, more his love for Joe is a wonder to behold.. it is on

I bought my gelding in 2004 via the internet.  I saw one picture of him when he was three months old (he was eight months old when I bought him) and sight unseen with no vet check or anything, I bought him.  I was very lucky and will probably never buy a horse like that again.

As an eight month old colt, Johnny was a lot of work.  He was mouthy as all get out and really enjoyed rearing.  Slowly, and with a lot of patience he came around.  After spending time with my friend at her training barn in Maine for a year, in the fall of his two year old year we moved to Massachusetts and one of the first things we did was geld him.  This really helped him focus and deal with some of his extra energy.  Then we hooked him and taught him to drive.  

I took him home to Connecticut his three year old year and drove him everywhere.  In June of his four year old year I finally backed him and started riding him and it was like I had been riding him every day.  He was great for awhile but I hit some major road blocks working him by myself and was worried I had ruined him.  I got a local dressage trainer to help me and we made some serious progress with our riding work.  Unfortunately, Johnny didn't really like dressage, as my trainer said, he was always, "looking for Elvis in the stands."

I was diagnosed with cancer in September 2008 and after some serious negotiations with my oncologist, she allowed me to continue riding Johnny through my chemotherapy treatments.  Some days I could barely lift the saddle onto his back, but I still rode and he babysat me.  My oncologist marveled at how well I handled chemo (trust me it wasn't fun or easy, but I was luckier than a lot of patients) and I think riding helped me get through chemo easier.

In April of 2009 I finished chemo and went right back to riding more seriously.  Johnny and I continued our dressage lessons but also started conditioning for 25 mile competitive trail rides.  In May 2010 we competed at our first 25 mile ride and he won rookie horse and I was rookie rider.  We are both hooked on the sport and did four more rides in 2010.  We plan to continue riding for pleasure and competing in competitive trail in 2011.  Mostly, I am just happy to have such a great little horse to ride.  He has been with me through some really rough times and I truly believe that having a great horse to ride and love has made a difference. 

Hi

Somehow I sent only Che, now for Tattoo... lol

Tattoo was a skinny little horse that the owner couldn't work with due to his serious health issues... Tattoo had(s) more than his fare share as well... so my husband being who he is set out to help... for free he jogged and looked after Tattoo.  Through some ignorant people and a twist of fate we ended up offering money for Tattoo, more than he was worth... but the owner jumped at the offer, and so we bought him.  We knew of some of his health issues, but not of just how serious they were, the owner withheld this information from us, despite our help over a two month period with Tattoo and his other horse... again this was free help that no one else was willing to offer.  Tattoo was dying.  He could no longer pee, and up until we got him he could no longer eat, and when he did it simply was digested.  He was in better shape after our two months of care, but when we bought him, due to timing, he was going back down hill in a hurry.  We found out his problem and treated him... he has since come around and at the time went on to race, winning and placing for us which helped finacially as we cannot afford him if he does not race... he then started tying up, and we have given him the winter off, and plan to bring him back to racing shortly. 

We have just started to ride him, in hopes to change his way of thinking on the track, he is a sweet horse in the barn, but has been abused in ways that would horrify most people... from just plain hitting him in the head with the briddle daily, to screaming and yelling at him, leaving him in a fly infested stall with a gapping hole in his neck (vet attended but tell that to the swarms of flies that ate at him), to trying to eat fly infested food that was so thick with flies that you could no longer see the food... to the piles of manure that had mold on them from being there for months on end... and the water that collected in his bedding from the isle wash stall... tearing his mouth apart when he attempted to run away by seasawing with a monster bit, a check that has left him with a serious ewe neck, to the hydro that a couple of owners ago decided to aply to him to race him... it is no wonder that this little horse cared for no one, is a runaway, and stood in the corner of his stall for days on end... or was dying from kidney failure.  When Joe started looking after him thing after thing for Tattoo changed, and we did the best we could for him since he was not ours... then when we bought him and took him to our barn, he could not believe it.   For two months he had tried to stop at our barn when he came back from jogging and go in, but we could not allow him... so the first time he was allowed in our shedrow he sighed... despite the fact that he liked us, and we had saved him he still did not trust us for months... but as time as gone on... we spend incredible amounts of time with the two horses... he has changed totally.  The second day we owned him he pulled away from my son Ned and ended up on the busy road, we managed to get him back... after he stopped a lot of traffic and nearly got killed!!! But now if he is scared, or worried he runs too us.. he mobs us for treats, and his head is always out his door waiting for the next adventure, the next bit of attention... like a friend said, Tattoo thinks he has died and gone to heaven or something like that anyway! lol  We are not great, we are just doing for him what everyone else should have... this little horse tries so hard that you have to be careful that he doesn't try too hard on the track... he will go so much that when he comes back he nearly dies... we warn our drivers that if he lets go of the bit take a hold and we don't care where he finishes... also if they hit him I will hit them!!!  He is kind, decent, and loving and deserves all the best.  For us bying Tattoo is not the right move, finacially.  But I once heard the dog whisperer say th

Once I heard the dog whisperer say that you don't always get the dog that you want, but that you get the dog you need, perhaps this is true of horses as well.  For me horses have always been journey, and a journey worth taking, every horse has taught me lessons in life, and from Che whom I wanted and Tattoo who I didn't I have learned much.  We love Tattoo, and will look after him for as long as we are able... we each day give him the care that is his right, and we love every minute of it. 

This Valentines Day I say a huge thankyou to all the men in my life Joe, John, Ned, and Che and Tattoo, for making all of this possible... it has been a wild ride and one worth taking.

Stormy came to me very unexpectedly.  I went to the barn April 3 2005 and there was this foal laying on the ground in the barn, with my other horse Dusty curiously sniffing him and Mom watching anxiously. We thought the mare had wintered very well as she was so fat, but it wasn't fat but our little Stormy.  Thus began my adventures with my Half Arab baby.  He has been a joy and a trial but mostly a good horse to have and I often wonder why I was picked to be in his life, but that question to answered instantly when he whinnies to me  as  I approach his stall.  It is an indescribable feeling when that happens, it sounds so gushy, but I think you as horse owners will know what I am talking about, there is no other feeling like that. I hope Stormy and I will have a long lasting relationship, God willing, and have many more Happy Trials!  Happy Valentine's

Day Stormy

Hi guys (:  what a beautiful gruop!

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Gaia

I met my horse, Widget, when she came to the SPCA where I work.  She was 4 months old, walking on her pasterns behind, and had been starved badly enough that she was the size of a normal 3 week old foal at the most.  Her mother had just been put down from sever colic.  She was also completely loaded with worms. 

For the first month we weren’t sure if she was going to make it as she was very weak and kept colicking as we slowly tried to kill off the parasites.  After a lot of nursing care she made it and also decided I made a good replacement mom.  I got sucked in – how do you say no to that?  I really had been hoping for my next horse to be good for classical dressage and I had no idea what she would turn out like after her rough start, but finding her another home would have been difficult on many levels.  She started to get really cute so everybody wanted to adopt her, but she had issues from her initial, improper, handling.  Apparently she wasn’t kept with her dam at first, but in a stall across the aisle and was put with her mom a few times a day to nurse until someone told her owner that she needed to stay with the mare all the time.  As a result, she doesn’t handle being kept in a stall well if the door is closed.  If she can come and go as she pleases, she is fine but otherwise she walks or frantically runs back and forth depending on her stress level.  As for other horses, she has a hard time having normal relationships with them, as she didn’t get much of a chance as a baby to learn how that works.  She was so weak at first we couldn’t turn her out with the bigger horses in her group, only our llamas, sheep and goats.  As she got stronger, she annoyed the adult horses as she wanted to run and play while they wanted to hang out and nap so she got chased and kicked at a bit.  The other horses who came in with her got adopted fairly quickly so this left only the llamas and our mini horse for some company as the sheep and goats didn’t want to play that much, either.  Through all this, she would still rather be near me than out with the others most of the time and would always come running if I called her name so visitors could see how she had grown.

Needless to say I ended up adopting her and (finally) building a barn in my yard so she could live there.  She turned out to be beautiful and this summer she is starting under saddle, something I waited a bit longer on due to her very slow start.