Beautiful Fall and Not so Beautiful Fall

Now that Fonzi has moved along, its me and Dexter again and with the fantastic fall weather, we've been enjoying some beautiful rides. A couple of weeks ago, Dexter and I were cantering in the field when he stumbled on some uneven ground and fell to his knees. There I was catapulting through the air over his head. Thankfully I was wearing my helmet and got up relatively unharmed so I decided to get back on and finish the ride on a good note. While the potential for injury is the same whether the horse stumbles, spooks, bucks, bolts, or rears, a horse falling doesn't seem to take the same emotional toll.

Last weekend, my friend Lena invited Gord and I to ride with her and some of her friends down at Waldron Ranch. The Ranch is located south of Claresholm in the gorgeous Porcupine Hills and riding these hills has long been on my bucket list. The colours were spectacular, the weather fantastic, and the people we rode with was one of the best groups of folks we have ever ridden with. Connie and her husband Mike are the Managers of the Waldron Ranch and Connie and her gorgeous buckskin, Valentine, were terrific guides.

Can`t thank Lena enough for inviting us along for the ride with Ken & Peggy, Sandy and Connie. Hope we can do it again.

Happy Fall!
Tovie, Dexter, Gord and Magic

The Fonz is Soooo Cool

Fonzie has been reliable and consistent so I felt the time was right to start advertising to find his perfect person. Fonzie will give you his heart and soul if he trusts you but he is not an easily trusting horse so not for everybody - definitely the sort of horse that needs a relationship with his person.

Last weekend we were invited to join Rob Kroeger for a ride at Wareabouts Ranch - near Mesa Butte. Rob is one of my favourite horse people - he is a professional horse trainer and all around nice guy.

I decided to take The Fonz on the ride to see what he would be like in a group, around mares and on the trails and he definitely didn't disappoint. It all starts with loading into the trailer and even without a lead rope, I just point at the trailer and Fonz jumps right in. In my books that is a great start.

Despite the chaos of showing up at a training facility where there are a bunch of anxious youngsters and horses out of their element, Fonz was brilliant. I was a bit worried about going with a group, especially because there were mares going with us. All my worry was for naught - Fonz wasn't just OK - he was exceptional. If nobody knew his past, they'd never thought he was anything but a gorgeous, well mannered boy. We did a grueling and challenging 3 hour mountain ride and I can honestly say, I've never felt more comfortable riding any horse. He was sure footed and completely focused on the terrain. We came across some cattle and so I decided to see how he would be and just like everything I've asked of him - he was confident and trusting.

At Wareabouts, they have what I call, the bridge from hell. The bridge crosses Wareabouts Creek and is a steel grate bridge that you can see through. Aside from being quite high with no sides and terribly noisy, the horses can see the creek flowing underneath the bridge. It is not a bridge for the faint of heart and Fonz went across that bridge without hesitation. I couldn't have been prouder of him than I was in that moment. At one point I was about 1/3 of the way across the bridge when Gord announced he wanted to video us so I backed him off just as easily as that. I LOVE THIS HORSE!

Needless to say, I was a little more than skeptical when I came home that evening to several messages from a gal named "Tina" who was very interested in meeting The Fonz. We arranged a meeting for Sunday and it is with mixed feelings that I have to say, she was his perfect person. Everyone falls in love with a black horse so I didn't really care how she felt about the horse. Instead, I was watching how The Fonz responded to her and it was magical. I ended up telling Tina that I would cry if she took him and cry if she didn't. She left telling me she had a couple more horse to meet that afternoon and would let me know by the end of the day.

She came back twice that day and the deal was made. To my delight, she loves what I am teaching and asked if they could stay until the end of September so she could learn some of the "moves" Fonz already knows. If you don't already know how I sell a horse; I sell him with a money back guarantee. The horse leaves me happy, sound and healthy. If it doesn't work out for any reason (could be a cranky pasture mate you have no control over), you bring him back sound and healthy - I can always make him happy again. Happy Person = Happy Horse and Happy Horse = Happy Person!

Talk about six degrees of separation, Tina will be boarding Fonz at a facility where our good friends, Chris & Uli, keep their horses. Gord bought Magic from Chris and we often tease him that he sold the best horse he ever owned. Chris admits that for some reason, he and Magic simply didn't click. Another great reminder that just because a horse doesn't work out well for you, doesn't make him a bad horse. I whole heartedly thought Uli and Fonz would make a wonderful pair and Uli's horse Hank is having stifle issues. However, I completely respect the fact that Uli isn't ready to give up on Hank just yet by replacing him.

Now that The Fonz is moving on, I will finally have some time to get back to Nevar and Dexter. Nevar is starting out so well and my beloved Dexter has been terribly neglected this year. That alone makes the sadness of Fonz leaving bearable; as does the joy I see in Tina's face - she was absolutely vibrating with excitement.

Another Happy Ending - Tovie & Fonz

Nevar's First Rides

Nobody will dispute that I am not a breed or colour snob and that I absolutely adore every horse that crosses my path.

As a young girl, I used to go to my then, best friend's, Auntie Sis's farm and she had this old grulla mare named Topsy. By the time we were done grooming and pampering Topsy she shone like a fancy schmancy show horse. We doubled her bareback until at least one of us fell off - usually landing in a cow patty; and then laughed so hard we nearly peed our pants.

It must have been the joy of being with Topsy that I developed a love for the colour grullo (male) and grulla (female). After many years of learning and practice, I finally felt I wouldn't mess up a youngster too badly so I announced to my husband that I wanted to have a baby. He quickly reminded me that in my 50s it was highly unlikely to happen. I persisted and told him that if the baby lived to 30 I would be 80 and my biological clock was ticking. He was so relieved I meant a baby horse, he quickly agreed. While browsing Kijiji in 2012, there he was - my perfect little yearling and I called him Nevar - the hero in my favourite movie Ladyhawk.

I finally started riding Nevar this past week and I know some folks think starting a horse at 4 is too late. However, after making the painful decision to put down my beloved Nugget at 12 due to unmanageable arthritis, I chose to wait until Nevar was at least 4 before starting to ride him. I wanted to make absolutely sure his joints and ligaments were good and strong and would stay that way throughout his life.

Recalling my first rides on Dexter; after the 4th ride we were riding in the mountains crossing bridges and creeks. Just like my first rides on Dexter, riding Nevar this week has been rather uneventful - exactly the way I like it. This is why I am such a strong advocate for effective ground work. By the time you put your bum in the saddle, the horse has been well prepared for the saddle and bit, and already knows lateral and vertical flexion, one rein emergency stop, moving off leg pressure for lateral work, transitions, and halt.

Good preparation on the ground prepares young horses and rehabilitates older horses by developing mutual respect and trust. Trust is so important when riding a young or rehabilitated horse for the first time because trust translates into confidence and horses feel your confidence or lack thereof.

Folks often feel if their horse could just get more miles, or if they were better riders; they wouldn't keep falling off. I am definitely not the best rider nor am I the bravest rider but effective ground work has changed my riding experience completely. If you are coming off your horse, I encourage you to improve your ground work.

Fall is the best time of year for riding - bringing cooler temperatures, no bugs and spectacular colours. This year make fall about the red, orange and yellow; not the black and blue - improve your ground work!

Tovie and Nevar