Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Golden Curls' Lucky Charms

We have been very busy at Golden Curls Ranch but are learning to take time to smell the roses - or as sweet Salsa and Sarita prefer; clover. This year we have had lots of rain and that has helped the clover grow in leaps and bounds. Being an Irish girl, I always notice the beautiful green Shamrocks and tiny flowers it produces. Clover is from the pea family and is considered by some to be the best "lawn carpet" around. Clover attracts honeybees and literally snatches nitrogen out of the air around us. It is one of the few plants that can aerate the soil so compacted that even clay is not a problem. It grows deep roots which to me is a wonderful quality in both plants and humans.

Best wishes from Angie and her Lucky Charms (Salsa and Sarita)

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Hello All,

This week has been fun and ...educational at Golden Curls Ranch. The fun part is being with all the horses. The educational part is learning how to make a round pen. I took Dr. Mitch up on his suggestion that we make a chute and round pen for the girls. My good friend Filliberto (Filly) Blanco who is from Idaho and I are making a round pen. We just finished the stalls in the barn and while our drill was still charged we decided to take on the new task.

I never knew why I had to take Math in school. Sitting in math class after lunch was worst than visiting the dentist (my apologies to Dr. Mitch who is a dentist). Still, I couldn't understand the need for all the shapes and numbers. (Maybe it's a Blonde thing) Now I wish I had paid attention especially during the geometry section. Good thing Filly is great in math..... especially
with circumferences...... We are getting close to put up the panels and will send photos soon.

Once the round pen is in place we can separate the girls and give them one on one attention. We have begun to connect with them and hope to continue to build upon our bond or respect.

Speaking of bond...our sweet Blossom eats hay and grass out of my hand. I spend a lot of time sitting in their pen just resting...good for both of us!

Our boys, Chester and Lakota are quite interested in all the going- ons with the girls and they speak to them often. Cinnamon River has his sweet donkey girls, Salsa and Sarita, to take care of but occasionally he passes by to say, hi.

The attached photo shows little Blossom's tattoo under her mane. It was given to the girls by BLM. It tells where and when they were captured.

We are having fun and learning new things everyday.

Hugs from the girls,

Angie, Golden Red and Nevada's Blossom

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Mitch and Little Blackfish are already good friends



Mitch and Little Blackfish immediately connected. Little Blackfish was already letting Mitch touch his nose before they left our ranch. What a great testament to the relationship a human and horse can have ( and in less than eight hours)!

Little Blackfish loading into the trailer at BLM on 4/17/09



This video begins with the girls who quickly know something is going on (I understand Mares are really good at being aware of their surroundings) This is a nice clip of Little Blackfish coming into the chute to load onto our trailer. He did wonderfully. A sweet and handsome one he is!

Little Blackfish

Here is the first clip of our new friend Little Blackfish....loading at the BLM facility in Pauls' Valley, OK. 4/17/09


You can hear how windy it was and we can verify how cold it was on Friday when we picked up Little Blackfish and the girls. Angie

Monday, April 20, 2009

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The girls' arrival 4/17/09


Hello All,
Curly Horse friends, Dr। Mitch Wilkinson and wife, Cheryl and I left Denton, Texas early Friday morn to bring our new Curly Mustangs home from the BLM holding facility in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. It was a rainy and windy drive but we arrived safe and sound. Little Blackfish, a young Curly stud colt and Copper D's Golden Red, an approximate five year old red dun mare and a beautiful and sweet filly, Golden Red's Nevada Blossom were wonderful travel companions; even with the lighting, thunder and most scary.... crazy fast drivers who don't understand how hard it is to stop a rig and trailer carrying almost 3000 lbs of horses.
We arrived at Golden Curls Ranch determined to get through the rain and mud to the girls new corral। Once we made it to the corral we made a shoot with panels and the girls trotted right in without delay। Handsome little Blackfish immediately missed his family of mares but had the next best thing, his new family and best friend Mitch.

We at Golden Curls Ranch are enjoying a bit of quiet time with the girls and just getting to know each other slowly. But, we promise to update with photos and news often.

Best wishes to all - hugs, Angie and the girls

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Copper D's Golden Red and Golden Red's Nevada Blossum are HOME!



Hello All,

Our new girls arrived at their new home; Golden Curls Ranch, yesterday between Texas April Showers - OK they were more like Heavy Thunderstorms! We had a safe yet windy and rainy trip from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Our very good friends Dr. Mitch and Cheryl Wilkinson and I made our way up to the BLM holding center in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma early Friday morn. First to load was our sweet and handsome new friend, Little Blackfish. Then the girls. Golden Red has proven to be a strong and smart lady! Golden Red's Nevada Blossum is not only beautiful she is extermely intelligent and very aware of her surroundings. Oh, and did I say how beautiful their Curls are? Little Blackfish has the cutest curly hair in his ears! Golden Red has a gorgoeous split mare which shows off all her red curls. Her tail is long and full and is a beautiful darker brownish red. She is a beautiful healthy Curly Red Dun Mustang!

Our young filly, Golden Red's Nevada Blossum is so attached to Golden Red we are sure they are mother and daughter. A blood test will soon tell for sure. We do know Golden Red is a direct descendant of the famous stallion Copper D from DNA blood test. We are hopeful to keep his wonderful conformation and personality alive and well with his granddaughter Golden Red future foals.

We are thankful to have Golden Red and Nevada Blossum join our herd and will keep you updated on their progress.

Check out the video of the trip - We (Ok, grandmama Angie) is learning how to upload videos and it's fun - watch them when you can!

Hugs,

Angie

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Two true gentlemen



Hello All,

I'm very lucky to have many special men in my life......no, this is not a Jerry Springer episode. My men have four legs and the most goregous manes and tails you have ever seen.

I love to spend quality time with Lakota; who is my little prankster and Chester who has a heart of gold and mane of golden curls. But, the fella who has my equine heart is Cinnamon River.


Cinnamon River is a real gentleman. He always looks out for the sweet girls (jennies) making sure they have their share of hay at feeding time. He is quick with a nuzzle when you walk up to him and will lay his sweet head on my shoulder. His eyes are soft and his actions are smooth. Riding Cinnamon River is a real treat with his smooth gait and his attentive personality.

The day the above photo was taken the real man in my life; my better half, confidant, lover, partner and friend, Hank, bundled up to brave the 60 mph Texas winds. Just like Cinnamon River he is a true gentleman. How lucky can a girl be?

Hugs,
Angie