Magic Man Made The Cover...

http://stillmomentsezine.blogspot.com/

They chose one of my stories too.

Thanks for your support.

What Good Grass Does...

along with cooler temperatures.  Buck and run!

Even the pieces look good to me!

Sunday Morning With Horses...

After working so hard on the porch yesterday and cutting quilt blocks into the night along with all the other stuff that must be done, I decided to treat myself to some horse heaven this morning.  I did not know Marcy was spying on me (all pictures with me are Marcy's, the others are mine).  I combed manes and did some fly wipe...it was even too hot for that.  No halters were needed.  They soaked up the attention and so did I.  There is just something about a horse, I think, that is good for the soul.

Ki-Anne wanted to herd but I told her no, several times, before she listened.  There are no bad dogs, only bad trainers so I have a way to go.

The manes are a little scraggly since they graze in brambles and briars...our bush hog was broken for a while and hubby still hasn't completed all the bush hogging.

Arrow, sporting his untangled combed mane

Magic wondering when his turn would come.

and now happy with his new do.

The same place always gets tangled on Charme

I like to think Charme was bowing to the hair dresser but, sadly, she was only checking her leg.  It is hard to take pictures when they are all so close. I felt safe and surrounded by their love...and only in flip flops...again.

Would you say they are relaxed?

I even got some grooming of my own!

The perfect way to spend a morning.

Morning Sun On Horses

I love the morning light.

Why is every one lined up, you ask.

I am bringing fresh corn on the cob.

Every one rallies for a position,

ready for a treat.

Magic Man is on the bottom of the rung.

Broken Arrow ties for top.

Charme floats, depending on her mood.

The boss, Knot.

The light is perfect.

The corn is good.

Morning light makes even the backside look good.

And You Laugh!

I got my book!  Now I will know all I need to know.  I basically know this is the head and this is the tail and that the art of riding is keeping the horse between you and the ground.  Well, I know a little more than that but I really only know how much I don't know.

The top of the book says, "For riders of all disciplines, boost your self-confidence and...." this was all I needed to read.  I do need a boost into the saddle and I definantly need a boost in self-confidence so this must be the book for me.

I am learning the proper way to dress, which this is not.  Shorts, t-shirts, no bra(that's way I don't trot) but I did have boots on.

Unlike this photo where I look like I am falling with my flip flops on.  (Gosh, how many pounds can a rider put on in a few short years?)  I was trying to get him to turn but I guess I thought I was riding a bike and leaning for the turn, who knows! Honestly, I do not know what I am doing in this picture.  That is why I got the book.

I do have a story to tell of Charme's and my first ride.  Andrew and I were all excited to ride.  Saddled up and Andrew said you go first Nana.  So I did, proudly. 

Took off at a fast walk toward the spring, got about half way there and Charme decided to go back to the barn...at a faster walk, maybe a trot, maybe more, but I am hanging on.  As she jumps the dry creek and I see all the big rocks I carefully placed down there, I prayed not to fall.  I said, Lord, I do not have enough sick leave.

Okay, old girl, I am the boss and we are getting this right this time!  I get her headed out and past the spring again.  Much better this time, then she decides to go, I do not know what a one rein stop is and do not even remember if I had the reins at that point.  Now you are talking to someone who falls off the WalMart horse.  Charme is not bucking or doing anything wrong except not listening to me.  She wants to be at the barn with her minis...and she is moving there fast!

This time she does not jump the dry ditch but heads right for a persimmon tree, straight on and I am praying, don't let me fall, don't let me fall.  Then it was, don't let me hit that tree!  So Charme makes a ninty degree turn and the saddle slides to the right side but I am still gripped to that saddle for dear life.

As the saddle slides toward her belly with me on it, she stops.  Thank God, she knew she was losing her rider.  I just kinda hang there with my feet in the stirrups, reins in a death grip and the saddle horn welded to my hand.  By this time, one foot is on top of the horse and one is under it, but by golly, I am still in the saddle.

Hubby sticks his head out the door and says where's Nana and Andrew says, riding.  Hubby hollers and says where are you, I said I am on the horse and he says I do see your feet, you alright?  Yes, I am alright.  He goes back in the house.

When I get completely on the ground, while good Charme is standing so quietly, nuzzling the other d--- horses through the fence, I realize maybe she is a little buddy spoiled.

Andrew yells, Do that again, Nana, that was fun!

I said it is your turn and he declined but he did want to know what I was thinking as we ran.  I said I was praying, Andrew said, no, you weren't!  How do you know?  I heard you yelling, no, Andrew I was praying.  He said can I tell you what you said and not get into trouble?  Go ahead, Andrew. 

I was yelling. "Whoa, damnit, whoa!"

Now you know WHY I need this book!

My Trainer, Sam

Sam is my idol!  She is going to college, works part time in real estate, helps her family run a farm, trains horses, raises her own goats,  has started her herd of cattle, trains children to ride, runs heavy farm equipment, and may walk on water...I haven't seen it but I would not disbelieve.

Now this is how you ride a horse.

In this shot, she has just walked Magic Man through barbed wire on the ground. The chainsaw and the tractor sounds did not bother him a bit.

Shall I ever be able to do this?

Or this?  Notice no bit.

Playing football on a horse

I don't know which impresses me more, Sam catching the ball or Magic standing still for it.

I salute you, Sam!  I want to be just like you when I grow up.

Trailer Loading For The First Time

Magic Man is what last night was all about. He is going to be trained to ride, when Magic returns I will have three horses I never have time to ride. I am a horse lover but not a cow girl. Magic was a surprise from my Haflinger mare, thus the name. I have taken a halter on and off, can get him to go any where, but no ground work. I have no horse trailer so I have never trained him to load. Last night was his first load.

It went rather well, I think. Samantha, Sam, my trainer, my farrier, my friend, got him to load right up with no problem at all.

I was so excited I did not get many pictures. Sam is starting college next week and shall be busy but she will find time to train. Sam trained Knot for me last year and did a great job, I can climb under him and over him with out Knot batting an eye.

After Sam gets all my horses trained, she is training me how to ride!

My Tale of Magic

I have always dreamed of horses. And, like many dreams, they always seem to be out of reach.

A life long obsession has now become a reality. Oh, there are many tales of how my dream came true. Magic Man's birth is one tale and is, indeed, magic.

Magic Man in all his winter glory

I raised miniature horses a few years ago to see if I wanted to do that as a second career when I retired. "From little things, big things grow" to quote an Australian singer. I did not purchase a single large horse, they seem to come to me on their own, which is magic unto itself.

My first Arabian was a trade for a miniature. My second large horse, a Haflinger mare, was also a trade.

Magic was my third.

I had placed Charme into the stud pen with Knot since I had heard there was great success in this cross of breeds. I wondered why she did not come into season. Our minis were birthing and had just finished three days earlier. My sister called, there was a foal in the pasture with the big horses and Knot was going crazy! I could not imagine how a foal could cross that barrier. Getting closer Marcy discovered it was not just any foal but one from Charme! Now we know why she was not coming in season. Charme is one of those horses, I now know, who looks the same bred and not bred. The milk bag is the only hint.

Magic Man was born. A leggy large baby boy brought into this world with no assistance and doing well. Knot was prancing and Charme was screaming stay away from my baby. Marcy got Knot out and things settled down. Now all this is happening while I am at work and getting reports by phone.

At first sight, I fell for him. He looked so huge compared to our mini babies. I was not sure how to proceed. Such a big boy, I think, such a pretty boy to appear magically...thus Magic Man.

Ready to start riding this summer. I do not like to start too early.

So Magic Man joined our herd. The previous owner of Charme had no idea she was bred. She had only been with her Doc Bar Quarter Horse two days. But there is no doubt who the father is because Magic is the spitting image of his dad. The lady wanted to buy them both...not for sale...my horses now.
Magic is such a kind man(gelding, now). I suspect he will not buck when the saddle is laid. We had no problem with Knot in that department either. I may be wrong, but I think when raised with a kind loving heart, they want to please you.

I guess, if you dream hard enough and long enough, it will come true.