Update

Here comes one much-needed update!

So, Eddie and I have been doing a lot of things lately. Riding a lot, working on our lead changes, going for walks... you name it. It's been pretty nice out (not considering the wind) so I've been outside for about 4 hours every day working with the horses, doing chores and trimming.
I trimmed Eddie yesterday, I'll do Jigs tomorrow, and then Scout on Sunday. Because..... *drum roll please* Mom and I leave for Florida in less than a week! AAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!
That's kinda crazy, but it will be super fun!
We're going from this...
Chilly & windy Illinois prairie

 To this...
Hot & humid Florida!

It's going to be a blast! And then the next course I go to will be for my final! WOWZA! I can't wait!

Happy Birthday, Eddie!

I'm forcing myself not to be hard on myself by saying I've been a bad blogger. Because there are so many other things to do with my day and if anything, I'm actually glad that the computer has taken a back seat for the past few months. It has been so nice out and instead of talking about Eddie on here, I'm out there playing with him!! For the past few days I've been cracking down on my final exam. I've been memorizing the things I'm going to be graded on so that I don't miss anything - mainly with treatment recommendations and exercise schedules. But it's going really well. I have 9 things memorized out of 13. Four more and I'll be all set!

Well, I posted a video about Eddie's birthday yesterday and we had one fabulous birthday! All the video clips were taken from yesterday and we had so much fun. We did our lead changed out in the pasture, rode in the outdoor for a long time, went for a trail walk and were doing stuff for 2+ hours. I love good weather and I love being out in the barn!

So yes, Eddie's Birthday was yesterday. He is ten years old! Time has gone by so fast. We bought him when he was 4! Wow. I am beyond blessed to have him in my life and no words can describe how much I love him and care for him. He has completely changed my life and has turned into the most beloved horse I could possibly wish for. Happy Birthday to most incredible horse that I have ever known!!!

Hope that you all are having a great April,

Romans 10:9-10
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Windy, Windy

We should have named our farm "Stinking Windy Farm."
It was windy, chilly, and sunny today.
Therefore, I didn't do too much playing with the horses, just lots of hanging out with them. Eddie and I played with our canter lead changes in the pasture, I let him graze for a nice long time while I moved the t-post insulators for the track. Diesel has figured out how to get under the electric fence and graze Eddie's long grass that is in the pasture, so we have to lower the bottom line.
Anyway, Ed and I played, went for walks, and then Diesel and I went for a nice long walk around the property. They are such good boys! :-)
Then I trimmed Scout - his feet are looking GREAT! After a laminitis episode in January... they look amazing!

Well, gotta go, time to do the horse's final check.
Hope that you all had a great day!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Busy Times

I'm sitting here with a purring cat on my lap who is also sitting on my sister's laptop keyboard. Ah well, at least I can still type! ;-) Just forgive any misspellings!

The grass is lush, and the horses are crazy for it. Eddie and I have been playing in the outdoor and riding in there because there's just so much grass in the pasture. We do our cantering out there, but still. It's nuts! Almost time to mow!

So, every day I play with Eddie for about an hour, groom him up, take Scout for a walk, take Diesel for a walk, and then 'flush' Diesel's mouth because he gets grass wadded up in there.

Yeah! There's grass everywhere!! haha!

This is what Eddie and I have been doing when it comes to riding. HQ pivots, FQ pivots, 'roll backs,' shoulder in, haunches in. I love it. And Eddie does too. It gives us something small to do while we wait for it to dry up (I hate mud) and the wind to settle down. (He hates wind)

Hope that ya'll are doing well, and I'll be posting more often. I miss it!

Psalms 62:5-7
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

Is it Summer? Or Spring? It just can't seem to make up its mind.

Well, there has been a lot going on lately and it seems like spring only lasted for a couple of days before the 80 degree weather kicked in.
Ah well, can't complain. It's been nice to be outside barefoot and hosing the horses off. It was almost warm enough to go swimming today too - if only the pool was open. ;-) hehe!
So, let's see... Eddie and I have been working on lead changes on the ground. His right side is weak, so I am helping him build that up and get equal. So we'll start on the left lead going on a right circle and then I'll have him go over a high cavaletti. So he changes leads and is on the right one! Yesterday he was on his right lead for a whole circle, so that was great! He didn't switch back to his left.
While riding, we've been doing sort of the same thing. Shoulder in going to the left while he leads with his right fore. I know, it's kinda confusing, but it's so much easier when riding him. We did that a lot today and he was getting a lot better with it. "As we leave the rail (coming off a circle), come down the rail." I remember learning that years and years ago and it has stuck like glue. And let me tell ya, it works!
We've also been working on our cutting game while I ride. We'll ride along the fence line and then turn it into a sidepass while he disengages his HQ. So that turns into a turn and then we ride along the fence back the way we came. He's really getting it and yesterday we did it without the fence. Very fun! Now we just need some cows! :-)

Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Spr-ummer

Spring and Summer put together = Sprummer! And that is what we have been having this past week. The weather finally broke today and it looks like it's going to be cooler and cooler with every day that goes by.
Let's see... A lot of things have been goin on lately. Hence, my lack of postage. :-)
I'm starting to drive more and more after putting it off and forgetting about it for the past year. lol! But yeah, time to get it done and get my license when I'm eighteen. Good gravy, do I really turn eighteen in two months? Yikes! And that means we leave for Florida again in two months! Wowza! I don't know if I talked about it in my last post, but mom and I are headed to the sunshine state again instead of going to Pennsylvania for my next Equine Podiatry course. It will be fun - especially since we've been there before and we will know what to do and where to go.
Besides that, I've been reading, riding, playing, studying, biking, walking, riding some more, sweating, shopping, and last but not least working. Working = doing chores and trimming. Oh yeah, that's my kinda work! :-)
Anyways, I've been reading the latest issue of Eclectic Horseman and as usual, it is packed chock full of golden quotes, sayings, and ideas. Here is just one that stood out to me:

"Discipline happens before, punishment is after. A horse doesn't need punishment." -Buck Brannaman

I don't think I've ever run across a Buck quote that wasn't thought-provoking and utterly true.
Here are some pictures of Eddie and I when I rode yesterday and the day before:

Weee! Jumping!

Too hot for cowboy boots

Me & Eddie

 

Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Spring is Here!

Scout in the pine trees during our walk.

There's a warm breeze comin up from the south, and you know what that means??
SPRING!
This past week I've been taking all our horses for walks, riding in the outdoor, enduring this incessant wind, and trimming. Scout needed a bit of a trim since his laminitis and we got x-rays done of his feet too, so I trimmed to those.
Anyway, today this beautiful Sunday, we are addressing the track to get rid of all of the grass for our metabolic ponies, and I'll be playing with them all too.
I've been working on my final for my Applied Equine Podiatry online course and it is pretty challenging. I'm halfway done with it and it is already 6 pages! But today I'll take a break - I've been working on it nonstop and Sunday is a day of rest.
So, here's to more posts in the future. I know, I've been a bad blogger. But sometimes you just need a break to get a new perspective and finish up and attend to the things that really matter.

A blessed Sunday to you all!

In Like a Lion

March comes in like a lion.
We've had quite a bit of snow lately and yet it's still slippery mud underneath. Other than that, it's been a great past couple of weeks. The reason I haven't posted much is because I'm just busy with other things. Sorry for the lack of updates! But I have a final to finish, and horses to play with and ride.
But yeah, all has been great here. Eddie and I have been playing with long reins, riding a little bit and just letting him burn off energy.
Scout is back to his old self. We got him the Easyboot Rx's and they are helping a lot. Just a little extra protection while the ground is hard.
Diesel and I have been going for lots of walks lately and he is very happy for them. Especially when he gets to graze. He is such a cutie bug!

I'll post pictures later - that I can do. ;-) Gotta run! Chores to do!

Lack of News

Sorry for the lack of posts... I've been taking a break from facebook, blogger, and just taking some time off. It seems I want to post more when I don't force myself and say that I HAVE to post every day.

I've been super busy lately... Playing with Eddie every day, sometimes twice a day, riding, taking Diesel for trail walks, doing chores... It's been so nice to take a break from the computer and internet.
Anyway, I'm back, except for facebook, and I shall be updating ya'll more regularly.
So, here is what Eddie and Diesel and Scout and I have been doing.

With Eddie, we've been working on our side-passes at the walk and trot, and transferring that to riding. Trail riding too! We've been riding around the property more and more and today we rode around the pasture, which we haven't done for a while. He did so amazing! I love him so much and he just does better and better every day!
With Scout, my sister and I have been taking him for walks twice a day. His feet are looking amazing, the vet is coming out soon to take x-rays, and he is as happy and spunky as ever. I've been taking him for walks around the property and he will snatch a bite from pines trees and patches of grass. He is so silly! :-)
With Diesel, we've been going for trail walks and he has been so eager for them! We go across the road, and a couple of days ago we were out for over a half an hour walking down to the creek. We didn't get all the way there, but it was more than half way!

It's been such a crazy, busy, past couple of weeks, but here's to a more easy-going end of February!

Cold Wind

Seasons Change by Tim Cox

Yesterday's high was 17 and today's will be 28. Thank the Lord for warmer weather. Although, I had fun with the horses yesterday. I took Eddie for about an hour walk around our property and we even went for a trail ride. Yup, my first trail ride out of a paddock. At least it's my first successful trail ride. Last time Eddie dumped me in the manure heap. It was funny, but I don't have a yearnin to do it again. I just rode around by the garden and Eddie was a champ. Man, do I love that horse!
Then I took Diesel for a long walk around the property too. We avoided the windy spots and I let him graze by the raised beds in the garden. The grass was a little less lush there, so I let him graze there instead of Laminitis Lane and Founder Freeway (aka the orchard). I guess rotting apples and pears make for a pretty good fertilizer.
Anyway, today looks to be warmer, a little windy, but sunny. Hooray!

P.S. Scout is doing better and better! He was trotting around yesterday and my sister took him for a good 20 minute walk. Praise the Lord!


1 Corinthians 13:6-7
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

No Matter the Weather

It was a cloudy, cold, day. The wind was so cold and damp that it just cut right through my carhartt's zipper. But, no matter the weather, there are three amazing horses in our backyard that are just waiting to be played with, or taken for a walk, or groomed, or fed.

So, I headed out to play with Eddie and let me tell you, he was spunky. We cantered around the pasture for almost the whole time and we would fly over the cavaletties, then jump over the log and anything else we could find. It was fun and he was having a blast! He would jump and kick and rear and literally just burn off his steam.
Oh, he is such a good boy and he is always ready to play. Every time I came around the corner and saw him waiting in his paddock, he would let out a huge whinny. Obviously he was waiting for me! :-) So I groomed him up and paid lots of attention to him in between caring for Scout.
On that note... Scout is doing so much better. His laminitis is gone, his feet are cool, and he is one happy, spunky boy! Praise the Lord. God has been so faithful in these past couple of weeks. It warms all of our hearts to see Scout so happy and well.


Proverbs 21:21
He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

A New Lineup

So, I was thinking... I think I might do special blog posts for Wednesday & Sundays... Like Words of Wisdom Wednesdays and Scripture Sundays. I don't know... We'll see! It would be fun and it would ensure that I blog more often. :-)

Anyway, today was a beautiful day!
I trimmed Jigs this morning and Crissie (his owner) met us down there to hold him and so that I could practice my final exam (all the questions and spectrum I had to go over.) Jigs did really well and his feel are looking great. He's such a teddy bear!
Then when mom and I got home, we all ate lunch together and then I went out to play with Eddie. We went for a really long walk all the way around the property and we even went in between the trees down in the south line. He was loving that! We went in the pasture after that and played around. He was SO hyper! So we cantered, jumped, did cavaletties, worked on our harmony and I worked on my lightness. It was super fun! He was bucking and kicking and flailing his front feet - oh he was having such a blast!
We finished up by riding in the round pen and we just did one lap. He was still kinda crazy and I didn't want to get dropped in the mud.
I took Diesel for a walk too this afternoon. We went for about a lap and a half around the entire property and oh boy - he just loves his walks!
Also! I have great news!!!!! Scout is SO much better!!!! He was trotting around when Al took him out for his walk and he just looks so much happier. *happy sigh* God is good. I don't think we've ever been so happy to see Scout so spunky. We love you our little pony-man! <3



Psalm 33:4-5
For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Back to Normal

For the first time in over a week things felt like normal again. Scout was 99% better, Eddie was calm and confident and Diesel was exuberant and hyper. Oh, it was such a lovely day! It was foggy and cold - reminds me of fall.... Definitely not winter. Ah well, fall is my favorite season anyway!
So, I played with Eddie and we went for a 45 minute walk. We went all around the property, played fun little games and you know what? He was so much better when it came to our harmony. I would stop really quickly and he would walk ahead of me like, "Why'd we stop?!" Then I would run forward quickly and he would look surprised. After about ten of those all along the east side of our property, he caught on and we would run, stop, walk, stop, backup, run, walk... You name it! And he was so connected to me and eager to follow. Yippee!! :-) I love my Eddie!

Then I took Diesel for his usual power-walk all around the property. We jogged about two laps and he was having such a blast! He would wring his neck and 'strut-his-stuff.' Oh my goodness, it was so cute.

Such a fun, foggy day. Pictures to come soon! :-)

1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

A Beautiful Day!

The sun was shining, it was above 40 degrees.... It was a beautiful day!
I played with Eddie for an hour. We rode, went for walks out around the property and played out in the pasture. When I rode, we worked on lightness and feel. For about 20 minutes we played with it and by the time we were done, I could back him up with just a shift of my weight and turn him too without touching the reins. I own a pretty amazing horse.

I took Diesel out next and we went for several laps around the property, through the trees, a lap on the track, around the buildings, through the south line... We had a blast and we were so pooped when we were done. He went to take a nap and I went to go and get their hay around the the night. *sigh* have I ever said that I love the smell of hay & horses? There isn't anything better.

Scout is doing much better too. His feet are cool and he isn't shifting his weight anymore. Also, he went for a little walk today and was perfectly comfortable. Slow. But comfortable. So this evening we're going to take his pads off and let his feet air out. Also, I thought I should share this with you all... If you need any information about horse nutrition, laminitis, or really anything relating to the horse's diet, this is an excellent, excellent, excellent, resource. http://drkellon.com Take her courses, you won't be disappointed.

More Snow

We got more snow two days ago which added up to about 5-6 inches of powdery snow. Not a whole lot, but enough to be pretty and fun to play in.
Yesterday I rode in the outdoor for quite a while, we took all three of the horses for walks, and we went for a whole lap around the property. Let me tell you, in 5+ inches of snow, that is very tiring! But it was so fun. The sun was shining and it was warm. It has been in the teens for the past week and it dips down to the single digits at night. So 20 degrees feels like a heatwave!
Today, I'm going to get all my playing and riding in this morning with Eddie before the rain comes. Yup. You heard right... Rain. Yuck. That means everything is going to thaw and get all muddy. Ah well, it is still only January, we could get a lot of snow between now and the end of February. I took this picture yesterday when I was going out for a walk. Tundra much? It's so pretty though!

Hope that you all are staying warm and enjoying this wonderful Sunday!

Welcome to the Artic

Today was cold, cold, cold! It was a high of 20 degrees and felt like 6 degrees. And let me tell you, it sure did feel like 6 degrees. Besides keeping warm inside and getting a TON of things done, I took Eddie and Diesel for a nice walk. Eddie and I just went in the backyard out of the wind and I let him graze for a nice long time. He was pretty spooky though, so we couldn't go everywhere, but we did have fun walking around the backyard. :-)
Then Diesel and I went for a whole lap around the property and walked a half mile. It was SO cold! lol! I was freezing by the time we were done and he was so eager to go and so hyper. It was funny... I put him away and he ran to the gate as though he didn't want me to leave. He's such a good boy!

Anyway, I sent in my homework for the KC La Pierre online course, made an appointment for the new horse I'm taking on and going to trim, and responded to all my emails!
Oh yeah! And I also made a huge ramp off of the shed today. My sister and I sledded down it today and it was so much fun. I'll post a video as soon as I upload it to youtube. :-)
Have a great week!

Christmastime

It's Christmas week!!
We've been busy baking cookies, eating cookies, playing with the horses and wading through mud. Mud? Christmas? Yup... I just put those two in the same sentence. The snow melted and left behind a brown mess. Anyway, it's been fun playing with the horses lately because they have been so hyper.
Just today I played with Eddie and he was jumping around, arching his neck, cantering over cavaletties and just being crazy. Scout was also crazy as we sprinted all around the pasture. He was cantering, bucking and he even reared up a little bit. Wowza! They are so silly!
AND Diesel was also crazy! He did a little happy dance and then I took him for a walk around the pasture. We jogged almost the whole way and he showed no signs of wanting to stop. He actually cantered a little bit and let out a buck. Yahoo!!!

So here's to a white Christmas. Let's hope we get one!


~Lea & Eddie~

Isaiah 46:9

Remember the former things of old,
      For I am God, and there is no other;
      I am God, and there is none like Me,

Canter, canter, canter!

Happy December 1st!

Well, it's the last day that I was able to play with Eddie. In the morning we're loading up the car, I'm going to run and give Eddie an apple and then we're off.
Wow.

Anyway, Eddie was SO exuberant and happy today. We cantered around the pasture for about a half an hour and he didn't even want to stop! "Let's go! Come on!" That was his attitude. And I was happy to oblige! We ran together, jumped over logs and just had fun.
*Happy sigh* He is such a good boy.
And then we went for a walk in the slippery and muddy track and then we grazed out by the corn crib and then we went for a walk in front of the house and then I groomed him and then we rode in the outdoor and then... you get the picture. :-) I did everything today because I'm going to miss him so much.
I love you so much Eddie and behave for my sister who gets to look after you for 6 days! ;-)
hehe!
Hope that you all have a wonderful day!

~Lea & Eddie~

2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

A Lovely Ride

It was sunny, still and beautiful out today. One of the last nice days before the cold weather comes.
So, naturally I spent the majority of the day out with the horses! Eddie and I rode first thing in the outdoor. It was really muddy from Wednesday's rain, but we were still able to do some things. We worked on lightness and he is doing amazing with it. I've taken on even more of a soft feel and our backing up has gotten a lot better.
All I have to do is pick up the reins and sit deep and he stops. YIPPEE! Usually it only takes that much to back him too. He is such a good boy, I love him so much!
Then my sister and I took the horses for a walk in the track and then Eddie and I played in the pasture for a little bit.
We cantered around, he jumped over the cones and then we played with our cantering. He didn't want to pick to the right lead, and he has had some trouble with that lately. So, we'll have to work on that tomorrow too. But he picked up the left lead fine. It was just weird, because he also got stressed when I was asking him to canter to the right. Hmmm... Poor Ed... I'll have to see how I can help him with that...

~Lea & Eddie~


Ephesians 2:14
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.

Blind Driving & Riding

Thank the Lord, it has been SUCH beautiful weather!
I am so thankful for it, I've been able to play with Eddie and Scout and even Diesel every day. Today, I played with Diesel's mouth since we have to flush it every so often. See, he's a 'packer' and packs food up in his mouth. So we have a tube and just squirt water into his mouth. He didn't like it at first, but once we let him see what it was, he was totally fine with it! He is such a smart cookie. All our horses are so much smarter than we give them credit for.
Scout and I went on an amazing walk today. We went around the ENTIRE property and he was just having a blast. Scout was kinda hyper, so we did some circles. Just so that he could get some of his energy out. But I think he was just excited. What's more fun than going for a walk? After we did another lap around the whole property, we went into the outdoor and I rode to the gate, opened it and then we went in his stall. ;-) hehe! It's interesting to ride in a stall. I thought to myself, "Hey, an indoor arena!" lol!
Eddie and I played in the outdoor in the morning and rode too. We did some more blind driving. He is REALLY getting the hang of it! All I have to do is hold up my hand and he will turn like a pro. I am so proud of him. =-) After we did that for a little bit, I hopped on and we rode for a while. We trotted, did a few laps, played with some side passes (which looked really pretty, btw!) and just had fun. I was going to play with him again tonight, but he and his herd were all running around quite a bit. So he got his exercise, for sure! They were really huffing and puffing.
It was such a lovely day and it was very fun to play with all the horses.
Getting off topic a little bit but... We're redoing our bathroom and painting it for the first time since we moved here. It is so pretty and so nice to have it almost finished. Yes, in between playing with the horses we were painting all day. It was fun!


~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Proverbs 19:20-21

Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
      That you may be wise in your latter days.
       There are many plans in a man’s heart,
      Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.