Wishing you a very happy and prosperous 2012 !
Don't forget the rules:
Engage and retain your sense of humour.
Always look on the bright side.
Be open to new things.
Never stop learning.
Have fun.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Happy 2012
I know I'm a week late :-)
Don't forget the rules:
Engage and retain your sense of humour.
Always look on the bright side.
Be open to new things.
Never stop learning.
Have fun.
Don't forget the rules:
Engage and retain your sense of humour.
Always look on the bright side.
Be open to new things.
Never stop learning.
Have fun.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
A picture from happy times gone by.. Chris on RN's Carinita and Kim on Bachue Bravo
Prices have been dropped, as it is urgent that the horses are sold. Check out the listing here:
http://www.aeon-systems.net/ausome/index.html
There are a lot of beautiful horses there, many are well gaited. They represent many years of dedicated effort and are from outstanding bloodlines, whatever the breed. This is a unique opportunity to pick up some really good horses at total bargain prices.
Please. Look. NOW.
Monday, July 18, 2011
... not quite the horse whisperer
Paso Fino mare Esperanza. Having "a moment"...
Haha, I'll never qualify as horse whisperer. I go for functional horse handling. No frills stuff, for when a job needs to get done. I'll ask politely, sometimes several times. I engage and retain my sense of humour ;-) Around horses, a sense of humour is essential!
Monday, February 14, 2011
no more Cali kids
Yesterday I heard of the loss of a great little horse. It made me sad. Only a day before, we had gone out riding on three of the Cali kids.
Cali was a brown Paso Fino stallion who came to Australia in about 2000. He was registered with the Paso Fino Horse Association (USA) as Don Cristobal Mako. He was the stallion chosen by my friend Jorge de Moya to be part of the foundation of the first Paso Fino stud in Australia.
I spent much time with Cali when I ran Jorge's stud. Cali was a wilful, opinionated brown horse, and he wasn't always the easiest horse to handle. There was something about his personality though which I liked. Although I was fond of calling him a "little brown shit" and "the CRAB" (and a few other less polite things), I actually had a pretty good relationship with him. So I started riding him.
He was a handful under saddle as well, especially in the beginning, and we had a few adventures. But I really enjoyed the rides and he grew on me even more.
I was in the lucky position to have some good mares so I used the opportunity to breed them to Cali. And now, years later, we have sold a lot of horses and yet somehow have kept some of the Cali kids. They proved to be pretty easy to start. Both his purebreds back at Jorge's stud while I was still there, as well as the crossbred ones I bred.
It was only a few days ago, when we enjoyed three of the Cali kids out on a ride. Left to right: Carola (visitor from Austria) on Bluey, myself on Carlos and Yvonne on Carlotta. I mentioned yet again how it was funny that we were finally taking out a bunch of Cali kids and how great they were. We often joke how much they remind us of Cali, with a certain head toss, a look or a set of three wrinkles around the nostril to show disdain. Also of course, their beautiful gait.
Yes, it was pretty sad to hear that Cali is no longer around.
I am so fortunate. I have a purebred Paso Fino son and daugher of his as well as some really good crossbreds. The colt and the mares are now integral part of my Paso breeding program. And in that way, the opinionated little brown horse lives on.
Cali was a brown Paso Fino stallion who came to Australia in about 2000. He was registered with the Paso Fino Horse Association (USA) as Don Cristobal Mako. He was the stallion chosen by my friend Jorge de Moya to be part of the foundation of the first Paso Fino stud in Australia.
I spent much time with Cali when I ran Jorge's stud. Cali was a wilful, opinionated brown horse, and he wasn't always the easiest horse to handle. There was something about his personality though which I liked. Although I was fond of calling him a "little brown shit" and "the CRAB" (and a few other less polite things), I actually had a pretty good relationship with him. So I started riding him.
He was a handful under saddle as well, especially in the beginning, and we had a few adventures. But I really enjoyed the rides and he grew on me even more.
I was in the lucky position to have some good mares so I used the opportunity to breed them to Cali. And now, years later, we have sold a lot of horses and yet somehow have kept some of the Cali kids. They proved to be pretty easy to start. Both his purebreds back at Jorge's stud while I was still there, as well as the crossbred ones I bred.
Photo by Greg Lehey
It was only a few days ago, when we enjoyed three of the Cali kids out on a ride. Left to right: Carola (visitor from Austria) on Bluey, myself on Carlos and Yvonne on Carlotta. I mentioned yet again how it was funny that we were finally taking out a bunch of Cali kids and how great they were. We often joke how much they remind us of Cali, with a certain head toss, a look or a set of three wrinkles around the nostril to show disdain. Also of course, their beautiful gait.
Yes, it was pretty sad to hear that Cali is no longer around.
I am so fortunate. I have a purebred Paso Fino son and daugher of his as well as some really good crossbreds. The colt and the mares are now integral part of my Paso breeding program. And in that way, the opinionated little brown horse lives on.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
the importance of having fun
Life is too short to always be serious. Life is also too short to try every form of entertainment and fun there is to be had. And some people enjoy doing things that don't excite me (squaredancing, bungee-jumping, mountain biking and that sort of thing spring to mind..)
I try to be broad minded and I want everyone to have fun. So my personal yard stick I apply to determine if something counts as a desirable activity (regardless of whether I like it) goes something like this:
Where one, two or more consenting beings enjoy an activity and entertain each other, and it's not at the detriment of other parties, it's good value.
I don't care something of value is created, because the enjoyment in the activity itself is of imeasurable value. Fun and enjoyment are such a necessary part of life. Without it, a creature withers emotionally. Fun is balm for the soul.
As usual, you will ask - well, what does this have to do with horses?? As usual, it does!
There are countless ways in which we can interact with horses. Within the spectrum of what is good for the horse and person, there is room for many different ways of doing things. There is no one correct way to do things. One shoe doesn't fit all. No one method works for all horses or all people. It is good to try new things, to experiment, to keep the daily interaction live and interesting. And we must not forget to have fun.
So if someone thinks of ways to engage their horse, to have fun together and does it in a way you haven't seen, or don't normally do, should you encourage it? OH YES.
If there is no harm in it, but it challenges your view of the world, should you tolerate it? DAMN RIGHT.
If you would have never thought of it, and you can't take the credit for it, or you can't do it yourself, should you belittle it? OH NO, unless of course you are a stuck up, selfish ignoramus.
And here is a fabulous example of someone and her horse having fun. They didn't set out to study a liberty routine, it just happened, she's got her Mojo working ;-)
May I present for your viewing pleasure: Elyane and Mojo Man:
Of course, there is a little bit of pride involved here. You see, I bred Narrawin's Mojo Man. He's a purebred Saddlebred gelding, and a nice one, if I may say so myself...
I try to be broad minded and I want everyone to have fun. So my personal yard stick I apply to determine if something counts as a desirable activity (regardless of whether I like it) goes something like this:
Where one, two or more consenting beings enjoy an activity and entertain each other, and it's not at the detriment of other parties, it's good value.
I don't care something of value is created, because the enjoyment in the activity itself is of imeasurable value. Fun and enjoyment are such a necessary part of life. Without it, a creature withers emotionally. Fun is balm for the soul.
As usual, you will ask - well, what does this have to do with horses?? As usual, it does!
There are countless ways in which we can interact with horses. Within the spectrum of what is good for the horse and person, there is room for many different ways of doing things. There is no one correct way to do things. One shoe doesn't fit all. No one method works for all horses or all people. It is good to try new things, to experiment, to keep the daily interaction live and interesting. And we must not forget to have fun.
So if someone thinks of ways to engage their horse, to have fun together and does it in a way you haven't seen, or don't normally do, should you encourage it? OH YES.
If there is no harm in it, but it challenges your view of the world, should you tolerate it? DAMN RIGHT.
If you would have never thought of it, and you can't take the credit for it, or you can't do it yourself, should you belittle it? OH NO, unless of course you are a stuck up, selfish ignoramus.
And here is a fabulous example of someone and her horse having fun. They didn't set out to study a liberty routine, it just happened, she's got her Mojo working ;-)
May I present for your viewing pleasure: Elyane and Mojo Man:
Of course, there is a little bit of pride involved here. You see, I bred Narrawin's Mojo Man. He's a purebred Saddlebred gelding, and a nice one, if I may say so myself...
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Xmas!!
So it's that time of year again. Most of the year is behind us. The holidays are about to start.
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