Thursday, November 19, 2009

Update on "Sky"




I haven’t been able to update this blog for a bit, but I am back on line and have lots of pictures and words to write. Since the little man I wrote about last was born, so many changes have taken place with him. “Skylark” is growing into a handsome and loving young man. These pictures of him at two weeks old will blow your socks off. Soon I will add pictures more recent so you can see the difference in his color. He is proving to be a real dark chestnut currently, but that may all change in the spring. That is one of the things about a foal, we just are not quite certain what spring will bring.

Skylark is half Arabain-Morgan and he is for sale.


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

See who's new in our world-MEET SKYLARK


The sun didn't come out, it was dark and dank, but it brightened up quickly with the birth of Skylark.


His mother was standing in the door of the barn normal as could be and the next thing I realized my daughter joyfully exclaiming that "Rishy" had a foal. When we got to him he was still wet on his back, by up and going, vibrant and much alive!


We spent the next hour with him. We watched to be sure he had his dose of colostrum and we hugged him and did a once over imprinting and just let him be. It was a joy to watch the life getting stronger and stronger until he started to play.
It is hard to believe Sky is now two weeks old. We just touched him a little each day basically to say "hi". He was very independent and we let him be. A couple of days ago, I gathered him in between my arms and held him until he stood still and again he would struggle to go and as soon as he stood I released my hold. After three or four tries, he just stood. I rubbed his head and played with is mouth a bit and rubbed his back sides and under his belly. I then put on the halter. I let him go and basically he just stood and accepted the whole thing. We have been picking up his feet and now he loves being with us. We found his sweet spot by his tail and he goes crazy. Yesterday my daughter put the halter on him and he just stood and let her do it without a fuss.
I like to let the independent side of the foal develope a few days before putting a lot of time into subduing them. Just a few minutes a day is all that is needed to bring a trusting relationship. Here are a few of the newer pics. He is so adorable and sweet!!!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Spring is here!

Spring has sprung here in the adirondacks. The birds are chirping, the peepers, peeping, and the frogs are crocking into the night. There is still a chill in the air, but the tiny, heads of the green grass are beginning to pop. A lovely day of much needed showers has just spruced up the greenness of the baren land.

Along with this joyous miracle, are horses who definately think the grass is much greener on the other side. They are constantly pushing fences, and once one makes a hole, it seems the others follow just like magnets. There is always one or two who are persistant to find or make that hole. It is an on going battle until the grass in the pasture gets as green as the neighbors.

This is a time when the mares estrus cycle seems magnified many times. In our pasture, the geldings become very attentive and spend these days of the cycle with a certain mare. Relationships are constantly changing. It seems some of them have their own little harems until the mare goes out of heat. Then they find another to hang out with. I was once told, geldings are frustrated stallions, and I believe that, but ours seem to compensate for that.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

The feel of spring on a cold March Morning

Isn't it great to wake up to day light earlier in the morning-that is until the clocks spring forward and we are back to dark at six a.m. On the other side of the day we begin to have longer evening hours of daylight to be outside and work with the horses.

The past few days have been some of the coldest all winter. Teens in the daytime, single numbers at night and extreme wind chill factors. But- Through it all, there was the spring warmth that shone through. There is something about that optomistic spring warmth that is there lurking that makes going out easier. I ran out this morning at a mere five degrees, with a "spring" in my step and less winter duds, to run the water in the tub. It felt so good. Of course Mr. sun is lurking right behind the clouds and in minutes he peeks out to warm us at an earlier hour of the day.

"Amazing Grace" after a long, cold winter!

Charlie, The Beagle

Beagles have never been noted for their herding instincts, but let me tell you, my guy Charlie, is best friend to my sheep.Charlie, now about to turn twelve this summer, keeps active on look out for preditors. My sheep start to travel off to pasture and Charlie runs to catch up and goes before them. He often sits on knoll above them looking around. It is like he sits on watch and looks everything over to see if it is alright, and then he comes back to the house. He often sleeps out with them at night. In the winter he will sleep on top of them. He cuddles himself down into the fuzzy, warm back and you will find him there come morning.There are many coyetes surrounding my property. They howl in packs and come quite close. Charlie goes immediately on alert and keeps them at bay by barking. I believe they would be right in my yard if not for Charlies' warning bark.Charlie is from Timberswamp bloodlines bred by my father-in-law. He comes down from the field trial winner, Timberswamp Tommy. I wanted to keep this bloodline, so I crossed Charlie with a miniature, blue tick female and now have a pair of the most beautiful pups. The youngest male, Albert, seems to be watching his father and I see he goes to the sheep and sits. Last winter, one cold sunny day, I found him laying on one of the sheep. He was so comfortable he just relaxed to the point he was hanging off. Charlies' sister also would sleep with the sheep. She used to herd baby goats back to the barn if they would sneak out the door. Charlie is the best dog I have ever owned. He has a happy personality, comes for attention, but never stays long, and goes about his business never underfoot. He likes to go with us when we go on trail rides. I think this is way of keeping watch over all of us here at ON A WING AND A PRAYER FARM!

Dolly the Miniature Horse, all love and kisses


Back a few years ago, my daughter and I decided to purchase a miniature horse. We had in mind using her for a therapy horse and doing some driving with her. We were at an auction and they had two black mares that just came in. No one bid on them at the auction and we left there with our hearts thinking about them. They were so beautiful. One had a white spot on the very end of her withers where the mane stops. They other was solid color. A few days later I saw the auctioneer and asked if he still had them. He said he sold one of them, but still had the other. I told him I wanted her. So we arranged for pickup at the barn. I took my pickup with a box we had built for sheep and goats on the back.We were so excited to see if we got the one with the spot, and sure enough to our delight! She was so beautiful with her black, shiny coat. This little mare is 31 inches tall and she fit in the box nicely, so she got loaded by three of us picking her up and putting her in the box. We were so excited to get her home, but hungry so we stopped at McDonald's to grab a quick lunch. When we left the truck and walked toward the restaurant, the little mare let out a large whinny. People exiting Mickey D's were looking around for a horse trailer or horses in a pasture to no avail. I walked by and said "don't look at us". Then we laughed to ourselves as no one would know we had a horse with us, because most certainly would not fit in that box! This little mare was a doll, so we call her Dolly. It fits her so well.

Dakota, The Pinto Foal




Dakota was born on the coldest night of the year, January 18, 2003. It was 18 below zero and I had checked his mom at nine p.m. and she seemed fine. I had been watching her close and it was difficult, as she was having her first foal, to really know what was going on with her. I went out at ll:45 and she met me at the gate and I looked at her and thought oh no, and in the corner of the stall I could see movement. To my sigh of relief, here stood the most vivacious baby. He was totally dry except for the tips of his ears. It was so cold and they were a bit curled, so I kept trying to warm them with my fingers and get them to dry out. I covered his ears with a scarf. Of course it was hard to keep it in place, The weather was below zero for three days. I made "Cody" as we call him, wool hats and leg wraps as it was so cold, and he wore two blankets. His mom was very smart and took him out side to be in the sun during the day. It was much warmer than the barn! Cody did very well and grew so well all winter. He did loose the tips of his ears, but from experience in the dairy industry, I know the initial damage was done soon right after birth. that circulation just doesn't get to thin areas such as ear tips. Cody is a very special boy and is my daughters pride and joy. She has great asperations for him and with his pinto markings and those ears just a little short make him the most unusual horse. He is truly a blessing. Cody is a pinto with a partial blue eye and very unique markings. He has a flying bird on his neck on the left and a horse head and body on the right side. With a blaze and a 1/4 blue eye and his slightly short ears, he will be well known for his unique look once he's out on the hunt course!!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Oh What a beautiful Morning!

Crispy snow with is twinkle of light. Sounds like cold weather is settling in for the next few days. Oh, but just look out side. The sun is bright and all is beautiful. Yes, it feels good to be inside, but I love to watch the outside. Our horses play the morning sunshine after the frosty night. Is there a more delightful sight? Not for me. Each day to watch my heard and their beginning of play. One horse nipping at another teasing, tantalizing until the play begins. They run, jump, buck and rear. Sounds of thundering hooves seem even louder with the crunch and cold of the snow.