Here and There

Tonight I am not sure what I will write my blog about. I don't even have a subject title. ( I just thought of one) I do know this has been another busy week. I can't remember when I haven't had a busy week.

Even with all the work around here, we always manage to have a lot of fun. I have enjoyed the two weanlings so much. They have now learned to lead some. They walk along pretty good most of the time but then they will get all wired up over something and will get feisty. The colt Braze does it much worse than Celine. Today I took each out of the stall separately so they could get some fresh air and I could clean stalls without them in the way.

The colt walked beside me in a very nice way until I got him a little too far from the barn and his stall mate. Then he got a little antsy. He reared up and pawed the air a couple of times but each time I pulled him back down and showed him this was not the proper way to act. He settled down. Then I went back for the filly and she led very nicely to where I had him tied. Yes, I had him tied. Sorry Clinton Anderson. I know Clinton says not to tie a young horse until you have done a lot of work with them.

I thought of that when Annie tied Celine to a post this week. I didn't say, "No don't do that." I just watched very closely. Celine struggled for awhile. She pulled back and tried her best to get loose. Of course, she didn't. I thought a couple of times that this was not a good thing to do. Annie sat on the side of the big stall near her, watched and talked to her in a soothing voice. Sooner than I expected, she started to calm down. She walked forward toward the post and with that came slack in the rope. Immediately, Celine realized that this is what it took to get instant relief. Annie then got up from her seat and started to reward her with praise for being such a good little filly. She got a lot of rubbing, scratching and petting. And of course, Celine was loving all of it.

Today when I led her over to the post outside to tie her, she was calm and very quiet. What do you think of breaking a weanling to lead in this manner? I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, Clinton Anderson says not to tie them up until you are sure they will not hurt themselves. On the other hand, Annie sat there with her through the process to make sure she would not hurt herself. Now there is no doubt. She does stand quietly when tied.

I had to watch Blaze very closely when he was tied. He fought and pulled back. He pulled away from me and he was totally unsure of what would happen to him while I was leading him. So I see the difference in the way each reacted to being led today. Maybe a difference in the way they were trained. To be sure. Do I take from this that there are more than one way to train a horse? I am sure there is. I trust Annie with my weanlings. She truly loves horses and the last thing she would want to do is hurt one.

We also went to Stanton this week. It was again a very good day. Eleanor and Bobby rode J R and Annie and I rode Rockin Andi. I like her more every time I see her. Andi is a nice calm mare and has never failed to give me a good ride. Annie rode her in the outside arena and did a nice job with only a little instruction from Larry and Jamie.

My oldest daughter had a birthday on Monday of this week. Happy birthday, Mary Beth. She has also had a busy week. She worked on Sunday. She had a test on Monday. A birthday gift? Classes on Tuesday and Wednesday and then work on Thursday and Friday. Her week starts on Sunday and ends on Friday. Saturday is her only day off. She will make a fine nurse. She is already a good hospital employee. She works with patients on her days at work and they come away loving her. It is usually love at first sight.

That is what happens with people when the love of God comes through them and shines in their lives. She reaches out to the sick in CCU and to their families and ministers to the body and to the soul. The people she ministers to respond to her because they see the goodness of God in her. Can you tell, I am very proud of this young woman God has blessed me with. This daughter who has enriched my life in her many special ways. I love you Mary Beth. Thank you God for this special daughter.

Did I mention fun? Yes, I believe I did. Most of what I have talked about was all work. We have been doing some riding on the farm. Annie gets one or more of the horses out each day she is here and she rides them. They are ridden all over the farm. This week, Annie and Natalie have ridden, Annie and Bobby have ridden and Annie and I have ridden. Mt Girl, Rosie, Romeo, Moon, Thunder and Amego have all been ridden. Moon and Thunder are boarded horses. She also rides them some too.

Time to close. God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

"Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them."

Psalms 119:165

"The most important issue facing America today is the worth and value of every human life. If we get that wrong, ultimately nothing else will matter."

Mike Huckabee Former Presidential Candidate

Annie & Celine's Shining Star

This is a chair made by my father, Frank Rogers and son Steve Lipginski from wood that came from a bidge that was torn down in Taylorsville. My father and his brother brought the wood, heavy oak, to their farm and built a barn. Later a hard wind hit the barn and blew it down. Steve and his Granddaddy brought some of the wood to Dad's shop and from that they made this rocking chair. Steve put the cain bottom in several years ago and I took this picture when he had just put the finish on the wood. He has it sitting in a place of honor in his formal living room.

Annie is Annie Hart and she is a God send for my farm. As most of you know, I do have several horses at this point and most of them are home for the winter. Some of them, I am not confident to ride because I lack the skill I need to feel confident. I also don't want to ride alone or with someone who is not a very good rider either.

Annie's father and my son Mike were Army buddies. That is how I got to know Annie. She is such a good rider and so good with animals in general and horses in particular. She knows what they like and how to relate to them. Sometimes I think they may talk to each other.

I had some problems getting the two weanlings away from the mares. I think that is well documented. Are you smiling? I am smiling from the memories of all we have been through to get the two weanlings away from the mares. I had gotten Blaze away from his mother by using the new stall I purchased. That was easy. I had imprinted him and he was all to happy to come up to us and to allow us to handle him. Celine was a different story. She as you may remember was not imprinted at birth and she has had a hard time accepting humans and trusting us.

I had gotten Celine and her mother into the big stall and had not yet separated the two of them. They had been in the stall several days. We were only having minimum successful getting Celine to allow us to handle her. I had brushed her, combed her mane and handled her in many ways but when it came to the halter and putting it on her, it was no deal.

Yesterday, my brother Bob, Annie and I were in the barn and we were talking over different options to separate the two of them. I decided the mare could go outside away from the weanling. Celine immediately started getting very agitated and stressed. We have a weanling I had bought over the summer that I call Ann. So we put Ann in the stall with Celine and gave them some feed and the two of them started eating together. Celine calmed down immediately. Ann had been weaned a couple of months ago and she wasn't caring about her mother anymore but she does care about the grain I put into the trough. Celine has also been eating dry feed so it wasn't hard to get her interested in the feed I put in front of her.

Annie went to the field and shut the mare down in the lower field where she could not come up to the barn and talk to her baby. This helped immediately. Then Annie went into the stall and talked to her and rubbed her and petted on her. Pretty soon Annie had the halter on Celine. Celine was a little upset but she accepted it all in good time. She wore it last night. She is still separated from her mother. This time I think it will work

Annie has a lot of knowledge for a young lady of 18. With her help I am taking the knowledge that I have acquired from listening to others who know about horses and the books I have read on the subject plus videos that I have watched and began to make it heart knowledge.

What is the difference you may ask. Before I accepted Christ into my heart as Lord and Savior, I knew a lot about him. I had been to Sunday School and read my Bible. I knew all the stories and I had memorized all the verses to the songs that told me about Jesus. I went to Bible School in the summer as a youngster. My parents had me in church almost every time the doors opened. But I did not have the heart knowledge I needed to personally know Jesus Christ. Then one day I ask Jesus to come into my heart and I accepted him as my Lord and Savior. I accepted the gift he wanted to give to me. Then I had heart knowledge of Jesus. It is so different from just knowing about him.

How does this really relate to horse training, you may ask? Once again, I have a lot of knowledge about horses. I know a lot about what makes them tick. I know why they do some of the things they do. My most recent reading material has been a book titled "Think Like a Horse." I know more about their eyes and ears and bone structure now than I did as well as a lot of other general information. But until it becomes a part of me and I work with horses, all the knowledge in the world will not make me a better rider or a more successful trainer. That will only happen when I actually start to relate to them in a personal way.

I am so excited about having someone work with me each and every day. It is so much different than talking or reading or even watching someone work with horses occasionally.

Let me tell you how much she has already changed things around here in just a little over a week. Natalie has been fearful to ride her horse, Romeo. She has almost been in tears a couple of times because she wanted to ride but he frightened her because he had found out he was the lead horse in their herd of two. She did not know how to make him do what she wanted him to do. She was also fearful of what would happen if she pushed the issue. I know what that feels like too.

Last night, my brother Bob and I were eating supper in front of the big picture window in the sun room. I heard strange noises and looked up. In a little bit I saw the flash of the light on what I knew was a stirrup. I walked out on the deck and of course it was Natalie and Annie. They had gone for a ride after dark. Natalie was just as comfortable as she would have been behind the wheel in her car. Annie inspired that confidence in her and has already taught her how to become the boss in their two horse herd.

I am very proud of Natalie for her courage and for her willingness to learn. I am indebted to Annie for being such a good teacher and giving Natalie the confidence to take charge of her horse. Natalie is really enjoying the riding experience and I think Annie is really loving to ride the horses on our farm.

Why wouldn't she though? Why wouldn't anyone? The Mountain Horses are some of God's greatest creations. To ride them is to enjoy a little piece of heaven on earth. Everyday all around me I see the creation of God's hands. Sunday morning as Bob and I left for church we looked out over the fields with the fog hanging silently over the green grass and kissing the trees dressed in their fall colors and we could not help but think of God's goodness and love for providing the beauty that embraced us.

May the peace and joy of knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

embrace you. May God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

A clear understanding of stewardship not only recognizes that it is not about us but also believes that is all about God, and that it all belongs to and comes from God.

Tony Dungee

Retire coach of the Super Bowl Champions, the Indianapolis Colts.

I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the father except by me.

John 14: 6

Who is That Horse?

Eleanor in the first picture with J R and a picture of the two sisters riding J R & Rockin Andi (Eleanor 0n the left & me on the right).

Friday we took a trip to Stanton. Eleanor had been assured that she would get to ride. Jamie had promised her. We were a little later getting there so we went to lunch with Vera, Larry and S T. Lucy, Eleanor and I went back to the stable to ride. H T and Wilda were in the barn when we got there. H T did not look like he was feeling well with his broken ribs. But he sat there and talked to us.

Jamie had saddled Andi and rode her and then helped me on her. I was riding in the barn and Wilda was giving me encouragement and instructions. I am feeling so good and confident on Andi. She is a wonderful mare and I love her a lot. She is getting better and better. Jamie is doing a great job with her.

Eleanor was watching me ride and I know getting antsy to ride herself. She ask Jamie if she would get to ride Morning Glory. Jamie said something about not riding her today because she hadn't been ridden in several days. Soon he brought a red gelding out all saddled up and climbed into the saddle. I ask Jamie who that horse was and he said, "J R." Well I didn't know who J R was. He wasn't on the web site. Soon Jamie dismounted and helped Eleanor get on J R.

She rode him around the barn and she was looking pretty confident but he kept stopping. He would get to the door and he would stop. Soon Jamie appeared with a Dressage whip and told her to use it when he tried to stop. She did that very successfully. She rode around the barn and was really looking happier all the time. That is when H T asked her if she liked that horse. She affirmed that she did. He told her that was her horse. I looked at him in stunned silence.

That is something you don't see very often.

I thought I had heard him wrong. He told her again that it was her horse. He had bought J R for her. Then he told us where he bought the horse and how when he saw that horse and found out something about him that he knew he would be a horse that Eleanor could ride and that J R could be trusted.

Before I knew it she was riding him around the barn in a show gait. She had that little dressage whip in hand and when J R looked like he wanted to stop she gave him a little swat and on he went. Now she is talking about riding a classic gait. Oh no, where will it end? Will she next be wanting to ride Park? And could I watch if she did?

When I decided I wanted a horse, I thought I would be buying a quarter horse. Everyone around my part of the country has quarter horses. But one day I was reading Horse Illustrated and the featured horse of the month was a Rocky Mountain Horse. The article even mentioned Van Bert Farms. As I read about the qualities that made Mountain Horses so desirable, I knew I had found the horse I wanted. And there was a stunninly beautiful picture of a Mountain Horse in the center fold.

I started looking on line and found the Van Bert Farms web site. The horses on their web site were so beautiful and so appealing. I read about the family operation and saw a picture of Vera and her three sons riding together. They were having such a great time riding those beautiful horses. I knew that would be where I would go to look for a horse.

At the time I did not realize that it would start a long and happy relationship with this special family to the point of feeling like I am part of their family. They have always been so warm and wonderful to me. In 2007 I took Eleanor to the farm with me. By that time I had bought Blue Ridge Mountain Girl. I was about to buy Butterfly Kisses. Eleanor fell in love with the horses immediately. She started going to the shows with me and she has been with me almost every show since then.

Over the last two and a half years, they have gotten to know my family and to love and respect Eleanor for the person she is. They allowed her to start riding at the farm last year despite a lot of misgivings on my part and maybe theirs too. I was worried about her at 76 starting to ride a horse again. Even a sweet Rocky Mountain Horse can sometimes do something unpredictable.

But they have been very helpful to both of us. I have bought several horses from them. I have some really beautiful horses. All of them are gentle and good natured. I am often told that I know how to pick horses. I don't think that is it at all. I just know the horses I buy at Van Bert's are quality, well cared for horses. I have never bought a horse from them that I have been disappointed in.

When H T told us that he had bought the horse for Eleanor, I was stunned beyond words. He is such a kind and good man. And Wilda was happy as can be that Eleanor had a horse of her own that she could ride and be safe on. Wilda was out in the middle of the barn giving us words of encouragement and praise and correcting us when we needed it.

I started feeling guilty that Lucy had not ridden so I got off of Rockin Andi and let Lucy ride her favorite horse. Melissa was somewhat miffed that she had to go to school and couldn't go to Stanton to have Jamie teach her more about riding. Eleanor continued to ride until Jamie asked her if she thought she should dismount before she made herself sore from riding so much. She was like a little girl asking for just one more turn around the barn.

I have never seen Eleanor any happier than she is now. She talked all the way home about her horse J R and did I see her doing a show gait on him. Before I could write this blog, I had to let her have a chance to call our friend Michael Brummer so she could tell him personally about her horse J R. She is so deserving of this happiness. She has sacrificed so much in her life to take care of her children. She took care of the oldest one, Dennis for years on a ventilator. It was full time and stressful. She never complained about doing it and he never complained about being in bed all those years.

Now to see her so happy is a joy to me beyond words I have to describe it. I cried when H T said J R was Eleanor's horse and he had bought him for her. She told me it was all she could do not to cry herself.

H T will have a reward in Heaven for all the ways he has served his Jesus that he loves so much. In buying the horse for Eleanor, H T was serving his master. I believe the inspiration for buying the horse for her came from God. God uses us, his humble servants to bless those around us. I know that God led me to the Van Bert Farm. I have been blessed over and over again by the horses, the friends I have made and the Derickson family. I thought it was my idea to buy a horse and my idea to go to the Van Bert Farm. I have decided over these past two years that it was not my idea at all but God leading me. The reward has been great by following where he led. And the reward is and will be great for these two wonderful people, H T and Wilda, for allowing God to use them for his kingdom and to bless those who come in contact with them.

Thank you H T and Wilda and all the Derickson family. You have blessed me and my family in so many ways. Thank you for your kindness and love. And I pray God will continue to bless you in every way that seems good to him.

May God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

For I know all things work together for those who love the Lord and who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them printing thier proud hooves in the receiving earth, for 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings.

William Shakespeare

The Saga of the Weanlings

Do you get the look. Wilda is saying "Enough with the pictures" Come on Wilda, you are really photogenic. Let me take some more.

If you have ever had a mare with a foal, you know that separating a mare and foal is not an easy thing to do. Last post I talked about taking my weanlings away from the mares. It is really hard on both.

I really do not have a good set up for handling the difficult task of weaning foals from mares. But this week end it got easier. But before this week end, I have had no success in separating the foals and mares.

I got them separated easy enough. I thought to myself, piece of cake. But alas, some things are not as easy as they first seem. Case in point. I had gotten the mares separated from their colts. They were in what I thought was a secure barn with tall round pen panels at each end. The sides were heavy oak rails on one side and the side of the barn on the other. The side of the barn is wood with aluminum siding on the outside. Of course nailed into heavy oak boards. And open about half way up. Too high for foals to go over. And the mares couldn't get in either.

The first night all went well. I went up to the barn, fed and watered and of course they were happy to see food. Day two. A friend of Mike's came by the house and told me I had one of the young horses out. It was in my yard. I thought it was a yearling. It was actually one of the weanlings. I could not understand how he could have possibly gotten out.

We put him back in the field with his mother. Of course they were glad to see each other and he nursed and she was happy to have him there. A little later, I went to the barn and found a panel had been opened and not secured back. So when Blaze got to pushing on it, he pushed it enough to get through to the out side. From there he found his way to my yard and was just across the fence from his mother.

I put the mare and Blaze in the barn and fed them grain. I managed to get the two of them into the stall where the weanlings were being kept. Then I got Magic Rhythm out of the stall and closed the gate on the weanlings and put Rhythm back out in the pasture. No problem. I was quiet pleased that I had been so clever. While I was patting myself on the back and thinking how good I am at handling the horses, we took a trip to Van Berts to ride and bring home some of the horses that were in training. I will keep them here over the winter.

I have more on the trip to Van Berts soon. Eleanor wants to tell Michael Brummer what happened there herself. I can hardly wait to write that blog but I promised Eleanor.

While in Stanton, I made arrangements with Chris and Stacie for them to deliver a free standing stall I had bought from them. It is a very heavy stall and I had plans to set it up in my stock barn to put a horse in that I needed to keep in for any reason. I also thought it would be good to keep weanlings in for a time to get over the separation anxiety.

I brought two fillies home with me. One a weanling, Ann's Mt Treasure and a yearling, Flair for Fury. Lucy went into the barn and turned the lights on and I got out to open the trailer to lead the weanling, Annie, out. Lucy called out to me from the barn asking me about where the weanlings were in the barn. She asked me if there was suppose to be weanlings in the big stall. I thought surely she just wasn't seeing them.

I walked into the barn and sure enough there were no weanlings in the stall. I soon saw the problem. One whole panel on the side of the barn was laying flat on the outside of the barn. The barn has been there since the early 70s and the boards are open to the weather so there is some rotten wood. I reasoned what had happened was that the mares were there talking to their babies and putting their heads up in the open spot and pulled it down. I bet there were four surprised horses when that came crashing down.

So I went to plan B as to where to put the weanling for the night. We tucked the two fillies in with hay and water and turned out the lights and came to the house.

The next morning I fed the fillies in the barn and hurried off to a wedding I was invited to. While I was gone, Chris and Stacie delivered the stall. I found I was needing it now worse than ever.

Mike and his friend Jimmy set it up in the barn for me. It was no easy task because that thing is really heavy. I am really grateful to them for doing that. The two guys put their heads together and came up with a plan and soon it was setting in my barn ready for a horse or two weanlings.

Magic Rhythm and her weanling, Blaze was near the barn so I let them in and gave them some feed. Mike helped me put a halter on Blaze and we led him over to the new stall. We secured him in the stall, fed him hay, water and grain. He was a happy as a lark for some time. That is until he found out he couldn't see his mom anymore.

When I left the barn late this afternoon, they were calling to each other. But he is securely fastened in the new stall. And he will be there in the morning. Tomorrow he will get his little room mate back. I get get Wind Socks and Celine in the barn and we will soon have her in with her little pasture mate. Together they will get over being separated from their moms. Soon they will be just as happy with the generous amount of hay and the grain 2 times a day. Plus plenty of water.

I have hired a young lady that is 18 to help me for a couple of months. I am so pleased to have Annie helping with the horses. Today, well yesterday now, Annie and Natalie rode up on the hill. Natalie has been nervous on her horse, Romeo. Annie rode him down and got him to minding her before Natalie got on. Natalie is so thrilled to ride Romeo and actually make him mind her. He has pretty well known that he was the leader in their herd of two. He made Natalie believe that what he wanted to do was how it would be. Annie has already shown Natalie how to teach him she is the herd leader.

Annie rode Blooming Rose yesterday and fell in love with her gait. And her nice disposition. She thinks that Rosie is just the best ever. Annie is a competent rider and will help me learn to be more confident while she is here. Tomorrow the farrier will be here and Annie and I will get the horses in and we'll get the job done sooner. Rosie needs shoes and trimming as well as some of the other horses will need a little trimming.

So once again, I am hopeful that I have someone I can trust with my horses. So far, I haven't found anyone that suited me. Each time I was excited to have help but none have turned out to be what I needed here on the farm. I have known Annie for over a year and never would have thought she would want to come to work for me. But I found out differently last week and she will be here until she goes into basic training in January. She is in the Army Reserves.

We saw H T Friday and he is in pain with his broken ribs but he was in the barn while we were there. Wilda is doing well. She is enjoying J Lee Walker and says he is the best horse she has ever ridden. And she has ridden more than she could remember.

Vera and Larry are both better. Larry seems like he is recovering slowly. They have had a bout of nasties going around on the farm with Wilda and H T both injured this year. And with Larry and Vera both being sick with whatever they had.

And an update on Alyssa. She now has her feeding tube removed and will hopefully go home this week. Her Mommy has sure had a long wait to have her baby girl home with her. Alyssa is almost 5 weeks old now. They may come here for Christmas. We are excited at that prospect.

God bless and keep you in his tender and loving care.

Regards,

Mary

When you are buying a horse, take care not to fall in love with him, for when this passion hath seized you, you are no longer in a condition to judge his imperfections.

Sleur de Sollesell

For I know all things work together for those who love the Lord and for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8: 28

It is a Cruel World

Pictures of some of the horses. Middle and bottom is Celine's Shinin Star (by Sudden Impact) with her mother L S Mountain Wind Socks.

Today was the day. I weaned this year's foals. I put them in the barn with some grain, hay and water. Blaze (by Sam I Am) didn't seem to mind. Celine ate some of her grain and then started looking for her mother.

She has always been the one who was most dependent on her mother. Blaze seemed from the first to be more independent. But for the first several weeks, Celine was not five feet from Wind Socks any time I saw them. Blaze walked right into the barn and Celine followed right behind him. It was easier than I imagined to get them into the barn and away from the mares. Wind Socks was searching and calling for Celine. And Celine was calling for the mare. But Magic Rhythm didn't seem to mind Blaze being gone. We will see tomorrow morning how she feels with a tighter bag. A side note. I read recently that a mare will give in excess of 11 gallons of milk a day. WOW

I expect she will be happy not to have to nurse a young one anymore. She is already carrying next year's foal by Blue on Black. He is standing at the Van Bert Farm and has been showing this year and having a pretty successful show season under saddle. Wind Socks did not settle on her foal heat and as luck would have it I was without my truck at the time of her next heat and the next heat was too late in the year. So I will be breeding her back later. I will be trying for a fall foal next year.

We had a very busy week last week. I think I say that pretty often. Eleanor and I went to the KMSHA show Thursday and Friday. We came home on Friday evening. We were having a birthday party on my farm. It was Melissa's 7th birthday and she had been planning on this party since last March. She had asked me back then if she could have the party here. Of course, I said yes.

But first more about the show. The show went pretty well. My horses all performed well. We won the reserve grand championship on my yearling filly, Flair for Fury. She placed second behind her brother Flashback. Better known as Flash. I hoped for the championship of course but I am happy for Mike and Judy Brummer for their successful year with Flash. He has won almost every time he entered the show ring. Flair has had a very successful year as well and will receive the High Point Award for Yearling Filly at the awards banquet coming up in December.

My yearling colt won the reserve championship for the yearling colt class. Behind Flash. There was a nice class of yearling colts and we were happy to have won reserve champion in that class behind Flash. So congratulations again to Mike and Judy for that win as well.

Rockin Andi and Velvet also gave it their all in their classes. Velvet placed 4th in her last class despite having an abscessed tooth that required an extraction the next day. She was already swelling in her jaw before that class.

In all we had more than 50 people here for the birthday party. There were around 17 children. It was hard to get a count. Counting that many children is like counting a can of worms. We had hay rides both before and after dark. There was also a pumpkin painting contest. There were balloons and decorations with a Halloween theme. The children came in costumes. And there were trophies for various categories of costumes. There was chili and hot dogs. A good time was had by children and adults alike. And Melissa had a great time at her party.

She is already planning her 8 th birthday party. Since her next birthday will be 10-10-10 she is having a 10 theme. (What else). But here is the plan. Instead of a gift, each person who wants to will contribute $10 and that will go to the children's hospital in Louisville Kentucky. A very worthy cause. She is already planning to have it at Chunky Cheese. Or was that her Mom's idea. This party was a lot of work for Mom and Granny. Aunt Debbie and Aunt Andi helped too. Uncle Mike repaired the hay wagon and drove the tractor. Greatest Grandma went to the party and ate chili.

We all did our part.

Please pray for H T. He had an accident yesterday and ended up with broken ribs. He is home and resting. H T you and Wilda please be more careful. Larry and Vera have both been sick. They are back on their feet but still not up to par. No wonder, as hard as they both go. I am keeping all of them in my prayers and hope you will do the same.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

Whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely, think on those things.

Philippines 4: 8

A horse is the perfection of people's dream about themselves; strong, powerful, beautiful and it has the power to give us an escape from our mundane existence.

Pam Brown

From "Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul."

Melissa, Rose, Andi and Velvet

First picture is of Melissa riding Velvet. Her she is being led around the arena. She had just fallen off and gotten back on so Stacie was leading her to help her transition from falling off to rebuilding confidence. Second picture, Melissa on Blooming Rose (Rose)

This picture was taken back in 1960. Bill and I had already gotten married. It seemed as soon as I got married and left home Daddy bought the horse we would have all loved to have. Her name was Cherry and she was a Quarter Horse. She was a sorrel and we all loved her. Especially my Dad and brother, Bob. Bob had saddled Cherry up that day and Cherry and I were ready to go for a ride. I was like Melissa then. I had no fear of falling off. I think I had already fallen off of her once but it was ok. I was 18 and full of myself and confident that nothing could ever really hurt me.

We certainly had a busy day yesterday. Melissa, Lucy and I went to Stanton to ride again at the Van Bert Farm. Jamie was there to greet us and soon had Blooming Rose out for Melissa to ride. It wasn't long before they were in the outdoor arena. Melissa had asked Jamie if she could go out there with Rosie. So he agreed to let her ride outside again.

Melissa is having a hard time with the same thing that is hard for me. She will not take the reins up far enough to get a real good hold on the horse. I am learning from watching Jamie teach Melissa to ride. Rosie got away from her a little but S T stepped out in front of her and stopped her. Melissa then did better about taking the reins up. I too had a problem with that because I am fearful that I will get into her mouth too much. I am fearful I will hurt her mouth.

After lunch Jamie got Rockin Andi saddled up and I rode her. I am getting more comfortable in the saddle. Then Lucy had a turn. Lucy is really loving the riding. She even rode with others in the barn. That always makes me a little uncomfortable. I am always thinking that maybe my horse will do something to startle the others or they will do something to startle my horse. But Lucy is getting more comfortable on Andi and I truly love that little mare. I liked her the first time I ever saw her and knew that was a horse I needed to own.

Our afternoon soon came to an end at Van Berts and we drove over to see Chris and Stacie at Cool Shade Mountain Horses. They have two of my horses in training and have been showing the two of them this year.

Stacie and Chris want to work with Melissa so she can ride Velvet. She is a nice calm 2 year old mare that is a daughter of Choco Dock. I really like that Stallion. I have owned Velvet since she was a weanling. When I got her she had been taught to lead, load and walk across obstacles. She has been an amazing horse from the time I first got her. The farrier and the vet has always liked her because she shows no fear of either. The first time she got her coggins after I owned her, the vet was trying to take care not to scare her but Velvet showed no fear and was not startled when the vet stuck the needle in her.

So Chris and Stacie thought Velvet would be a good horse for Melissa. Lucy, Melissa and I got to their stable just as they were getting Amego out to ride. Stacie soon had Velvet in the cross ties and she and Melissa were grooming her. Stacie put her saddle on Velvet and rode her until she was warmed up. Then Melissa's saddle was put on Velvet. Melissa got on Velvet and was in the process of getting her reins in hand when Velvet walked off with her. Melissa had tightened her legs on Velvet's sides and Velvet knew that meant to walk on. Melissa gripped a little tighter and was having trouble with the reins. Velvet was confused and Melissa gripped a little tighter. And off she came. Velvet stopped.

Her Mother picked her up off the ground and after a few comforting words, Melissa was ready to get back on. That girl is a real trooper. So Stacie led her around the arena until she was too tired to walk any more. Then she had Melissa to guide Velvet a circle around her. Chris stepped into the arena and told Melissa to ride to him and then back to Stacie. They did that several times. Then Melissa was ready to go it alone around the arena. She has a lot to learn but she is not afraid to try and she does love to ride. And now so does her Mother.

We had already loaded Blooming Rose onto the trailer so after a good ride on Velvet we headed for home. We had already agreed to bring Melissa back for more lessons. I was excited to be bringing Rosie home to the farm. I really like her. Today I went to the barn early. Mike had already put water in for her this morning and she was pacing back and forth in her stall. She is in a new place and not accustomed to the strange sights and sounds of this different place.

I took her out of the stall and led her around in the barn and a little outside. I tied her up and groomed her. Then put her back in her stall and gave her grain. Tonight I went back to the barn and fed her more grain and hay. After she finished her grain, she continued her pacing back and forth in the stall. I caught her halter and started petting and scratching her neck and shoulder. She stood still for me. I let her halter go and she still stood. I talk to her and make over her and she is beginning to relax a little more now.

Saturday will be a big day for her. Melissa is having her birthday party here and she may have some little riders that want to take a ride on Rose. We will see if Rose is ready for that before Saturday. She may not be settled into her new home by then.

I have an update on Alyssa. Alyssa now weighs over 5 lbs. She will be three weeks old tomorrow. It has been a busy three weeks for her. Thankfully most babies do not have such a full schedule in their first three weeks as Alyssa has. By all indications she is doing pretty well. Thank you all for your prayers. If you would continue to remember her in your prayers, it would surely be appreciated by all of her family. God has already touched her in his marvelous way. He has answered our prayers for her in his loving kindness toward this, his little one.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

"A horse is worth more than riches."

~~~Spanish Proverb~~~

Holly

I have no picture to post tonight. Somehow, my external drive that I have my pictures stored on is not working with my laptop.

If I posted a picture tonight it would be of my good friend Holly.

I first met Holly when she was only a couple of months old. My husband called me at work one day shortly before Christmas to tell me of her arrival at our house. I was eager to get home to meet Holly. I did not know what her name was then but we ultimately decided on Holly. One reason for choosing that name was that Christmas was so close. Holly always brings back memories of Christmas in a special way.

My Dad had a holly tree in is front yard close to the house. Every year when we were getting ready for Christmas, he would go out and cut some holly branches from the tree. We would use them to decorate the house. Perhaps a little on the mantle. Always some on the dining room table adorned by Mom's best china. There were silver hurricane lamps in the middle of the table and the holly was always worked in between them with its red berries. It made a lovely center piece. Of course the table was overflowing with the good food we had been cooking for a couple of days.

When Mom was living, there would always be a jam cake on the food cart ready to be served for dessert. Besides the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and dressing, one could expect banana croquets, broccoli casserole, creamed peas, corn and green beans. The list would go on and on. You get the idea. Mom was a wonderful cook like both my grandmothers before her. She learned from her mom and my dad's mom taught her some different dishes that were traditional from her family.

So it wasn't hard to choose a name for our new puppy. Holly was so much a part of our family tradition and it brought back so many good memories it just seemed the right name for a puppy that arrived shortly before Christmas 14 years ago.

When I first got home that day, Bill was already in the house waiting for me. Of course, the first thing I looked for was the new puppy. She was no where to be seen. Bill informed me that when she first came in, she found a hiding place behind his recliner and there she stayed.

It wasn't long before the new Labrador Retriever puppy had wiggled her way in to our hearts and into the family life. She was smart and learned very quickly. She didn't stay behind the chair long. She was soon out exploring her new home and making friends with both of us. Before long she had learned to sit and stay and Bill soon declared she was the smartest dog he had ever seen. They became constant companions.

There are many stories I could tell of Holly and her exploits but one thing that stands out in my mind is River Bend and potato wedges. Bill often ate at a service station in Taylorsville that served some really good fried chicken and he always liked their potato wedges too. He always shared the potato wedges with Holly. She of course being a lab loved anything food and especially those wedges.

We lived about three blocks from the store. At the end of our sub division, if one walked over the hill and across the street you would be there. Holly soon got the scent of those wedges and the frying chicken from up on our hill. Sooner or later someone would call us from the store and ask us if we owned a black lab with a blue collar bearing the name Holly. That was actually a no brainer. The collar had our phone number. Of course we said yes and one of us would get into the truck and go get her and bring her back home. This went on for several years.

She had Bill's number in nothing flat. She knew if he had food, she would get something tasty for herself. She loves all kinds of food. There isn't much she won't eat. She won't eat onions and will not eat chocolate. As long as he lived, Holly got a portion of Bill's meal. She would stand by him at the table. She didn't beg him. He did not allow that. After he was unable to get to to go to the table and I took his meals to his bed, he always saved a few bites for her. She would wait patiently by his bed. She knew he would share. She loved him and he loved her and thought she was the most wonderful dog that ever lived. And she being a lab thought he was the most wonderful person in the world. She loves me but Bill was her master.

Now there are people who would sniff and say they never feed table scraps to a dog. It is not good for them. Holly is 14 years old. She will have her birthday in a couple of days. Some one told me his dog, a little leg biter, lived to be 17 and never ate a table scrap in his life. I don't know if that made the difference but I do know Holly would not trade all her human food for 3 more years of life.

Today the vet called me with the news that Holly doesn't have much longer to live. The growth removed from her back last week is an aggresive form of cancer. She may already have it in her lungs, speem and blood stream. I don't think I will even let him xray her. She has congestive heart failure already and has been on medication for that for a couple of years. When is enough, enough? I think with Holly that point has been reached.

As long as she is not suffering, I will not consider putting her down. When she does, I will make the decision to do the humane thing for her. She has been a good and faithful pet for me and for my family. She will be leaving me wih her daugher Lilly and granddaughter Erica. She will leave a legacy of love, forgiveness and faithfulness. The greatest wrong we ever inflicted on her was to leave her at home and not take her where we were going. Until the last couple of years that had been infrequent.

She traveled with us to Mississippi to see my son on several occassions and even alerted us one night when a panter was prowling around his home. She traveled with us to California where she learned that digging in the yard was pretty easy there. She stayed in motels with us and never left a mess. She never slept on the furniture or took food from the counter.

She slept in the hallway of the house in Taylorsville. Here she sleeps by my bed. Or where ever she decides she wants to sleep. It is up to her. But before the night is over, she will be on the rug by my bed. In the future when we have a thunder storm, I will remember that she hated them and would stand by the bed and ask me to comfort her. When the cows come up close to the fence I will remember that she stood at the french doors and barked as if to tell them, "Don't you come in my yard. I am watching you."

She is a beloved pet. She gives just a small glimpse of how God loves us. He loves us with an unconditional love that is always forgiving. God is always faithful. The only action required on our part is to ask for that forgiveness. In effect that is how we relate to Holly. We give her a friendly pet and she greets us when we come home. Some day God will greet us when we get home to Heaven to be with him and to be all he intended us to be.

I wonder, will Holly be there already by Bill's side waiting to be part of my welcoming committee? It is a question that we can only answer by guessing. But I do know my Savior will be there waiting for me to welcome me home. And that will be Glory for me.

May God keep you in his loving and tender care.

Regards

Mary

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believes on him should not persish but have everlasting life.

~~~John 3: 16