Wild Dreams Farm

With all the work that needed to be done, by Christmas I felt like I’d been here for months.  it was only when I sat down and looked at the calendar that I realized it’s been just over 8 weeks.

Last week I finally settled into a routine.  (I’m one of those people who needs a routine to be happy and to get things done.)  The routine?  Feed the horses between 7 and 8.  Eat breakfast, work on the computer, do chores/run errands.  At 11 work with Huey.  At noon feed horses.  Eat lunch, take a break.  At 2 gallop and feed Chance, then work and feed Zola. Let Bettina, Zola, Chance, Beauty, and Lucy out to graze in the big field til about 4. Then feed Bettina and put her in, put Zola in,  put Lucy and Chance in, feed Beauty and put her in.  Feed horses at 5.  Relax.

I trained Huey to drive several years ago.  My goal was to put him to work as a farm horse. Nothing heavy, he’s a Paint, not a draft horse, but helpful things like pulling a drag to break up manure, pulling fallen branches, etc.  That project has been on hold a long time, but now is the perfect time to finish his training.  He was pretty good pulling a cart, the issue he has is standing still when pulling an item that drags behind  him.  He whoas well, but then will move his butt to one side or the other, or take a step back, or both – leading to serious tangling issues.  Luckily he doesn’t mind getting all twisted up with traces around his legs, but it could be a real wreck if there was something attached to him.  So we are working on standing still in harness.  And making progress!  I’ve also decided to train Lucy.  She is pretty unflappable, and is really good at standing still.

I’m really enjoying riding Chance and am looking forward to getting back on Zola.  I almost got on Tuesday, but just lay across the saddle instead. Not that she did anything wrong, she’s been very good, it’s just that commitment of swinging my leg over the saddle for the first time in several months – on a green horse.

The horses really seem to have settled in and seem happier than they’ve been since I moved to Kentucky.  Everyone is relaxed – the horses, the cat, the dog, and me.  As I was grooming Zola on Tuesday, Sissy (the cat) was lying nearby rolling around on her back enjoying the sun.  What a contrast to how things were in Paris.

Of course, today there’s a blizzard going on outside!

Snow! January 12, 2012