Thursday, June 11, 2015

wait!!!it's June???

I can't believe that June has arrived already.. days just zip by here at a lightening pace, I hop out of bed in the morning and then seconds later.. it's bed time. So, in catching up on things that are going on around the farm... let's start with "Lucky".. this pretty standardbred mare who has come to the farm and is calling it home. 
Just before we went away on our little mini vacation, I was contacted by a young gal who was looking for a place to board her new horse. I will be honest, at first I thought, "great.. a kid with a horse" and do I want to get into all of that. I sort of put her off and told her that when i got back, if she hadn't found another  place, I would talk with her. 
Well, as it turned out, she didn't find another place, so she came over to talk and tell me about herself and her horse. Her Grandfather came with her, and though she is a young gal, just graduating from high school, and a bit on the shy side... I began to really like her. We talked for some time and then Ed and I decided we would give it a try... and Lucky has come to the farm. 
She has actually been here a couple of weeks, but today, we tried turning her out with the big boys. We got what we expected, some high squeals, some running, some kicking and then everyone settled into place, and it felt like they had all been together for a long time. With Quimby and Honey here... we now have a seven horse farm!!!!
Never in all my dreams as a little girl, did I think that I would be surrounded by seven horses... and that my life here on the farm seems so complete.... all I can truly say is that I am very very blessed and not a day goes by that I don't think of that......
Animals abound here on the farm.. between horse, cats (Mona is just proving she is a real barn cat!!!) dogs, and the like... there is never a dull moment for sure....
And speaking of dogs..... this is a very special group of folks that I have the absolute honor of working with. Last winter I was approached by a former student who has put together a dream of her own. She finds shelter dogs, and places them with veterans, who will "use" the dogs as their pet and as emotional support animals. She asked if I might be interested in being the trainer for the group, and it seemed like an opportunity almost too good to be true. 












Up until about a month ago, i was working with just one dog and handler team.. but the group is beginning to grow and they are up to five teams now. Last week, since the building we were using was booked with another event, I invited "my" group to come and work the dogs at the farm. What better place for working with "real life situations"... we did some training on the front lawn and then walked down to the barn to show the dog the 'big animals"


All of them did quite well, though at first they were pretty interested in the horses and not so much with their owners, but some time and practicing got everyone on track... this dog is Rick...
and this is Tally......
We practiced sit and down and stays in the ally way of the barn, along with some short comes. One day we hope to have all the dogs pass the AKC Canine good citizen test.... but it will be a bit more work until that can happen.
In the meantime, i have the privilege of working with some mighty fine people who served our country and now are receiving a thank you for their time and dedication... and I think I am the luckiest person in the world.....

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