Posted 7 months ago
Break ~ crush the emotional strength, spirit, or resistance of
Start ~ begin one’s working life

I would say that start is a much better beginning for the horse. I certainly don’t want to break his spirit. I want to train him for his task with a human.

I also think it is important to start the horse at birth and prepare it for it’s job when needed. I see it as a real handicap for the horse to put it to pasture for 3 or more years and then one day say today I am going to start it.

I have 2 different horses

One that I purchased and started at 4 and when I first got on him he was shaking. A LBE brave innately but not prepared to ride.

Our filly was born here. Having preparations for riding at birth and now and then preparing her to be a riding horse. When I first took her for her first trail ride she left the other older horses and was very confident to ride.

~Maryann

Posted 1 year ago

I have been using homeopathics for my horses and family for 3 years. I am so excited that I am able to carry homeopathics now. I have had great success and am sold that they really work. I have been using them for injuries, thrush, laminitis and colics. No chemicals the natural way.

For colic I have remedies I haven’t had to do it for more than 2 hrs. I haven’t used mineral oil and haven’t had to have the vet out.

Any injury’s I give Arnica immediately.

I ride with a 1/2 dram Arnica for myself incase I ever fall off.

If you have used homeopathic I would love to hear your stories as we can all learn from each other.

For my LBI he likes the tiny pills best as he spits the bigger pills out.

Posted 2 years ago

Cielo went to Groom Creek

Riding Cielo

Cielo took me all the way to Groom Creek a 8 mile ride from our home. Sox our Quarter Horse lead the way ridden by Daniel. We had a nice ride we walked most of the way. He did pick up speed when asked. We saw some deer and also some bicycles.  He did great in his side pull. What a awesome ride.

~ Maryann

Posted 2 years ago

Cielo first ride without a lead attached. Yea!!!

We started out walking then Cory put the lead line on and I rode some. Then we took the lead line off and I used reins and a sidepull. He did great. I was a bit nervous but the more we went I was able to relax. 

~ Maryann

Posted 2 years ago

Elijah loves to ride Sox, he is 5 years old. He is riding Sox our 15-year-old quarter horse. He is our super horse. 

Double click the video to watch fullscreen.

Posted 2 years ago

Cielo got all his feet trimmed today

Today was the first day for us to trim Cielo’s back feet. It was very exciting. We started on his front then took a break and came back for the back. Wasn’t sure how it would go but he did great. More pictures in Photos.

~ Maryann

Posted 2 years ago

Sitting on Cielo with a saddle

Yesterday I was able to put a pad and bareback pad on Cielo. Then we tried a western saddle. He didn’t like the western saddle, I thought maybe all the strings were bothering him, so we tried the English Saddle and Cielo was much happier. I was able to mount and dismount 3 times and Cielo just sat there. He didn’t want to move.  He did look over to see who was on him.We did flexion both ways. I was on him about a total of 15 minutes and he had his leg cocked, and afterwards he did big yawns. Today I tried the Western saddle and tied up all the stings and Cielo said I am out of here after placing it on his back. So I took him back up the hill and we changed to the English saddle. I was able to mount and dismount and Cory led me a few steps at a time. He yawned a bunch of times after our steps. Coming off the adrenalin. He is doing great. Pictures are in the photos page.

~ Maryann

Posted 2 years ago

Riding Cielo!

I rode Cielo today! We put a saddle on him, and he doesn’t really like the girth. We then walked him around some with just the saddle, to help him get used to the girth. And he seemed to get used to it quickly. Then I laid over the saddle, to make sure he was ok with that. Then I got on him all the way, and he was fine. So my mom led him around, the other horses watched very intently, it was kinda interesting as they don’t normally watch when we play with the other horses. So then my mom took some pictures of us. And then I was going to get off of him to give him a rest, and he bucked, and I fell/ jumped off, but not really hard. So that’s all the excitement for today, but just me being on him is a huge achievement. And even just having a saddle is a achievement. So he’s progressing very well. I posted a few pictures on here, but we will take more next time someone rides him. He really is a blessing, as my mom says.

~ Cory

Update 2/22/09:

My mom has been going on Cielo, she just lays over his back sideways so she can get off easily. He is getting more & more comfortable with humans.

~ Cory

Posted 2 years ago

Snow!

We got 6” of snow yesterday, and more today for a total of 17”, And it’s still snowing! And it’s supposed to keep snowing tomorrow.  We moved Cielo up under the house so he has shelter from the snow. Then we let the other horses play in the snow down the hill. Belinda was a spitfire, which is unusual for her. She is normally the one who likes to watch everybody play. And Dylan and Gunner, who are the more playful of the bunch, didn’t really play much. And Sox was his normal boring self, he didn’t even come halfway down the hill. And Sierra ran around some, but Belinda was the main entertainment. I also posted some pictures of the horses in the snow.

~ Cory

Update 2/10/09:

We now have 20” of snow on the ground. I measured in one spot that was a drift and it was 27”! Not much new with the horses. I didn’t have time to take pictures of the horses in the snow while they were playing, so by the time I got around to taking pictures the horses were put away. So I have snow pictures, with no horses. And it’s supposed to snow again thursday.

~ Cory

Update 2/12/09:

We got some pictures of the horses playing in the snow yesterday during their play time. We also rode the horses in the snow a little. That was lots of fun. We got pictures of that too. Cielo has his Horse-N-Heart halter on.

~ Cory

Posted 2 years ago

Cielo The Peruvian Paso

This is my Peruvian Paso that was rescued and unable to be haltered in November. He was a stallion and I had him gelded. He is separate from the other horses for now because we have a mare. He gets time everyday to be with the geldings. He has his custom made halter on. He is coming along and I am earning his trust. What a blessing! 

~ Maryann