Working on Ground Work Skills

Hello Curly Friends,

I have enjoyed reading about everyone's wonderful adventures this month and love getting to know each horse's personality. While we, at Golden Curls Ranch, have been trying to keep up with our "its never a dull moment" weather in Texas our Curlies have been working on ground work skills. 

I keep telling our stallion Chester even the most handsome Curly one must stand like a gentleman when having his feet cleaned. Oh by the way, our sweet little Jenny, Sarita, likes to help when we pick Chester's feet.

All our hard work has paid off and he was a dream when the vet came out to do everyone's vaccinations and Coggins. 

Chester and I are hoping to enter shows this year so the ground work will help us be better prepare. 

We are also working on our Showmanship techniques and River has the turn and trot back to his spot down pat. Beautiful fella he is and when that long flaxen mane is flying it makes my heart skip a beat. A few weeks ago a fella wanted to buy this wonderful gaited MFT/Curly cross and I could'nt part with someone who is better than a psychiatrist when I need someone to listen to my troubles.

In addition to entering horse shows, State Fair and Expos this year, we have acquired a cart and will be working on learning to drive. While this is not under our RAC ground work we (all creatures including me) still need to understand stand means stand and ....whoa means whoa {:>

Best wishes and may your rides for full of Curls.... 

Angie

Golden Red - our journey of trust and respect

Hello everyone,

We've been busy at Golden Curls Ranch. Putting up more fencing and trying to dodge the rain puddles. Our usually attire consists or mud boots and mud jeans and mud jackets. The horses are doing wonderful.  Golden Red and Lakota have become really good friends and she loves to give Jubliee's Curly J a hard time. Poor fella, Curly J comes over to say; "Hiyya, may I share your hay".....and both of the back feet go flying in the air. Well, it's good to see Golden Red has her energy back.

We are really pleased with the progress Red is making. A year ago, January 6th, she and Nevada's Blossom were rounded up in Lander County, NV. Not far from the Benny Damele's place. The DNA blood test showed she is Damele's stallion, Copper D, (great) grand-daughter. The vet has suggested she is less than five years old by her teeth. In these approximate five years she has had a filly, Nevada's Blossom and lost a colt, Tomahawk. 

Golden Red is a beautiful Red Dun with the soft brown eyes. When I was talking with her yesterday, I noticed she has very curly eyelashes, too! We spend a lot of time together Golden Red and I. Just working on trust. I sit with her and talk with her about the past and how much better the future will be. She whinnies when I come near....I am sure she is saying, "Hey Angie how are ya today?".....but it's more likely that it contains the phrase ...".whatcha got to eat?"  The first step to trusting is to respect each other and I hope I am earning her respect by always by getting a solid routine established and letting her become comfortable that I will do what I promise. She walks with me to the pasture every morning and walks with me to her stall at night. 

I was pleasantly surprised one evening when Sarita, our year old donkey girl who is in to everybodies business, followed Red into her stall. Sarita's mom, Salsa, and I knew how dangerous this could be....we have a hard fast rule at Golden Curls Ranch...dont mess with Golden Red's food! The look in Salsa eyes and then Sarita's eye told the story. Golden Red could have kicked Sarita to death for taking her food. I stood at the window talking with Golden Red and explained the Sarita is a baby girl and sometimes baby girls make mistakes. We needed to let Sarita come out and go into her own stall. After a few tense minutes, Golden Red stepped out and let Sarita come out and then went back into to her stall. That was truly an honest moment and I grew to respect our "tough Mama Red" even more.

Another event that really showed me the fear that Golden Red lives with was when a diesel truck delivery a 12 yard load of sand came in to the ranch. Golden Red became very upset and started running from one end of the pasture to the other. Then she ran right up to me and looked at me as if to say, "why are you making me leave"? And turned around and jumped the fence and galloped towards the back 20 acres. I realized that the trucks the BLM hauled Golden Red on were big diesels and the smell and sound brought those memories back. Golden Red decided she wasn't getting on those trucks again and took off.  After the truck left and we were ready for dinner she walked calmly to her stall. She knew I was keeping my promise to give her a "forever home".

Another good friend of Golden Red's is Coco Le Leche, our Chocolate Brown llama. Here's a photo of Coco and Golden Red munching together.

As I spend time with our Golden Red, I realize what a wonderful heart she has and the tough exterior that we see is to in place to protect her from getting hurt emotionally.  Humans do the same thing......

I promise to protect Golden Red and will take it day by day as we travel the path of trust and respect.

Best wishes, 

Angie

Angie and Amigo as St Lucia and Swedish Daha Horse

Hello all, 

Last Saturday we had our annual volunteer riding show at Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship Center in Wylie, Texas. It is great fun to compete with good friends who are great riders and wonderful horses. Every year we dress in costume and this year I asked Amigo to be a Swedish Dala Horse. 

Sweet, Amigo being such the good sport agreed. A Swedish Daha horse is the bright, happy little animal that probably originated in the 1700's. During wartime many soldiers were quartered in private homes in Sweden. Tradition has it that one such soldier carved a Dala horse in the home where he was staying for the children. In return for the bright toy, the woman of the house gave the soldier a bowl of soup. Soon word of his success in bartering for food reached the other soldiers, they too began carving and painting horses in exchange for food. Thus, the Dala Horse is credited in part with the army's surviving the cruel,cold winter. 

 

For this year's show I decided to dress as St. Lucia or Saint Lucy. St Lucy's Day is celebrated on the 12th of December. She was martyed for helping hide the Christians from the Romans. She worked with the sick and in order to use both hands wore a headband of candles for which to see in the dark. She is dressed in a white with a red waistband which signifies her martyr’s death. In traditional celebrations, Saint Lucy comes as a young woman with lights and sweets.St. Lucy's Day is observed on in an all night celebration called Lucevaka. Celebrants would party all night between 12th and 13th and guard oneself against being taken by Lucifer, lord of darkness. 

 

When the light arrives with the morning you are safe again. In Scandinavia and other parts of the world, a procession is headed by one girl wearing a crown of candles (or lights), while others in the procession hold only a single candle each.


By the way.....we took First Place in Costume and First Place in Holding an Ornament in a Spoon (Amigo is awesome at neck reining)....Fourth Place in Equitation(out of nine participants)....Happy Holidays to all.....Angie and Amigo

Blossom - A partner for life

Hello everyone,

I love reading about the ground work Betsy and Zoe are doing at Top of the Hill and I have learned so much from reading everyone's notes. I am hoping to incorporate the some of the suggestions in my working with Nevada Blossom and her mom, Golden Red. Here, are a few photos where I am working with Nevada's Blossom but the first obstacle is food.....she acts like she is always starving and insists on grazing ...so I try to get her attention....

Nevada Blossom is not only a beautiful girl but she has a wonderful calm personality. I have been watching the interaction between her and the other horses and she is not in the top of the leadership poll but she is tops with me. I love her softness and desire to please.

Blossom is a fast learner and a great student. Most importantly she is teaching me how to be more confident in my requests. I know she will respond positively if I ask the right questions. I can tell from her movement she is listening to me. I just hope I am hearing her correctly.

Nevada's Blossom is a sweetheart. I love working with her and she is teaching me so much. A few months ago, I was standing behind her and my cell phone rang....I didn't think twice...but I should have....it startled her and rightfully so ...it had only been a few weeks since she was in a BLM holding pen with her mom, Golden Red....well, she instinctively kicked ....and I limped ....for several weeks and we all the smarter for it....It is a lifetime of learning with horses and I am finding it cannot be hurried but instead appreciated for the small accomplishments we make and when we make a partner for life....well that is what it's all about...

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground..
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

Riding Curlies with my son, Andrew

Hello everyone,

I hope your Thanksgiving Day was wonderful. I had a special treat with my sons visiting and was able to get our middle son, Andrew, to jump in the saddle and go for a trail ride today. Andrew rode Jubliee's Curly J and I saddled up with Chester. It was great to ride a few of my favorite Curlies with a wonderful and fun son on a beautiful sunny, Texas day.

First, we warmed the fellas up walking around the outdoor arena while chatting and catching up on each others lives. Soon we were walking together on the trail in a brisk pace. It's great riding with younger folks. They have so much energy and are interested in the leaning more about the world around them. 





They also see things differently and helps remind you of how you saw life you when you were their age.

Thankfully, the young ones, Andrew and Jubliee's Curly J waited for the older ones, Chester and mama.

I really enjoy the moments I spend with my sons and enjoy sharing the exciting events in their lives. I will always cherish these times.

Best wishes from our family to yours on this wonderful Thanksgiving Day...

Angie

Learning to gracefully, ground mount :)

Hello everyone,

Lakota and I have been spending more time together on our beautiful East Texas trails. He is a very versatile fella. After a ride with Lakota one day a good friend Lynn says... "he must have been trained as a reining horse and boy is he smooth". 

When we are exploring he really gets into what's going on around him. He becomes your partner and seems to enjoy the ride as much as you.

A few weeks back he and I and a friend were out checking the fences to make sure those curious and hungry cows didn't cross into our "horse quality hay" pasture. We worked on getting the cows back in and sure enough as we were working I dropped my cell phone. So I needed to dismount and pick it up.  Well, folks coming from an English background and using a mounting block for years this old lady has been spoiled. Not to mention, I need to stretch me 'ol muscles even when I use a mounting block. Lakota is a tall fella and I thought man I will never get back in that saddle. He seemed to sense my concern. At first, he was nervous too! Can't say that I blame him. Then I slowed down and took a deep breathe, talking softly and letting him know I needed his help. We managed....it sure wasn't pretty and I'm sure couldn't have been less graceful .......but we did it! 

Best wishes from Texas...

Angie

Angie and Chester take a different kind of walk

Hello All,

Well, I am not sure if this qualifies for our RAC contest but it definitely  qualities for " Real Adventures with Curlies."  Tonight, after getting everyone in their stalls, watered and fed, I pulled up the pickup truck and trailer to load Chester. On Thursday nights we head for the barrel race at S&S Arena. 

He hesitated, but we talked a bit, he smelled and nibbled at the grain and finally said; sure, why not. Running a bit late, I jumped out and opened the front gate. Pulling out of the driveway I noticed, in the side mirror the front tire on the left side of the trailer looking a bit soft and going flat. Not ready to give up hope for the nights activities I decided to move forward and get air at the local gas station on the highway. Well, after driving about two and a half miles I turned around because by that time the tire was dangerously close to coming off the rim. I headed back to the ranch thinking the worst thoughts and realizing Chester was loaded on the left stall, I decided not to chance it and stopped the truck. I walked up the neighbors house, explained the situation and asked if I could leave the truck and trailer overnight and come back for it in the morning. Sure, the sweet lady responded, no problem.

I went back locked up the truck and grabbed my handbag. Then I opened the trailer for Chester. He looked around as if to say; we aren't at the arena are we?" I thought for minute about tacking him and riding back but dismissed it as I have seen how fast folks drive this county road....and it was already getting dark.

Well, if I could have a companion on a beautiful autumn evening walk it would be Chester. We encountered fast driving cars who barely gave us room when they past. Loud 4X4 flatbed trucks loaded with big round bales of hay. When the cars came zooming by Chester and I stepped into the tall grass  on the side of the road to avoid being hit and discovered there was a whole new world  there. In addition to the trash, there was a rat being chased a cat...and I am sure there was a few snakes but didn't want to look:) Squirrels ran across the road and jumped into the trees growing at the edge of the fields.

We passed by homes with big loud dogs and tiny, squeaky ones. As we got closer to our place our neighbor's Paso Fino, Galleria, came over to the fence to talk to Chester. She was delighted he was passing through and I was a tab bit nervous at the event. But, Chester listened to his mama when I explained we were in a hurry and he could not chat. The neighbor across the way has five beautiful horses and they, too, came running up to see us. Again, I grew tense and asked Chester to be strong and not give into peer pressure. What a wonderful stallion he was! 

We continued on our way and watched the sky turn a beautiful shade of pink and blue. I wish I had my camera for it seemed the perfect background setting for our walk.  

When we arrived at our place and I opened the gate, I realized our walk gave me a new respect for my Curly Stallion. He was a real sweetheart and we encountered new things on our journey back home that we dont pay attention to when we just saddle up and ride in an arena. Chester listened to me as a partner even though I wasn't in the saddle. It was worth missing the barrel race to be at one with my wonderful Curly Chester. Well, gotta go and get the tire fix...it's another day at the ranch.

Angie

Curly pony brings sunshine to little girls in Texas

Hello all,

A few weeks ago, I had the most wonderful opportunity to help a Curly pony nick-named Cheetoe find a loving forever home. He quickly became the sunshine of two little girl's world.

Tuesday evening Cheetoe, his friend Hayden and her Grandmother came over to our place for a ride in the arena. We rode together, two Curly ponies and a Quarter horse.

Hayden, Cheetoe's new friend has a beautiful cheerful laugh and you could hear her enthusiasm for miles.We plan to ride together every Tuesday evening . 

Angie and all the Curly ponies friends in Texas