Mama Bacon, Pepperoni, Sausage and Spam are coming to Golden Curls Ranch

Hello All, 

Well, it's Spring in our neck of the woods and lots is happening. We are gearing up for our el grande Open House, Saturday and Sunday April 24 and 25 but first we are excited to share the news. We are adopting four of the most beautiful little ladies you have ever seen. OK, we agree beauty is in the eye of the beholder but these girls are the sweetest souls you will ever meet. Our good friend Judith with Creek Side Farm Horse Rescue has been taking critters in and giving them the much needed love and care they deserve has decided to scale back a bit and asked if we could open our hearts and our ranch to four Pot Belly Pigs gals. Yes, and of course our hearts are as big as Texas.... and as Grandmama would say there is always room for one more.....(in this case we hope pork wasn't on the supper table).  

So join us in welcoming Mama Bacon, Pepperoni, Sausage and Spam. 

They are already movie stars in the Dallas Metro-plex area visit them at http://www.creeksidefarmhorserescue.org/

More photos soon...Best wishes to all, 

Angie and herd 

Yahoo - our Curlies are going to the State Fair of Texas in September

The State Fair of Texas®

Presents The Spirit of the Horse with Robert M. Liner, featuring the

American Curly Horse and Curly Mustang
owned by Golden Curls Ranch, Kaufman, Texas

www.goldencurlsranch.com

September 24 – October 17, 2010

  On Display Daily 10 AM – 10 PM

Spirit of the Horse Exhibit - located in the Pan Am Barn

Adjacent to the Ranch arena

Visit us to learn about America's history and American horse  ...
Curly and Curly Mustang

Curly J, an intelligent Curly Gelding that keeps me on my toes

Hello Curly Friends, 

The last time I had a moment to write a note, it was snowing in Texas. Guess what? Yes folks, it is snowing in Texas!. Absolutely, beautiful ....views from my windows and since the winds are blowing so hard the Curlies and I decided to take the morning off, to rest and appreciate Mother Nature's artwork.

 

  

 



Each day we work on our ground work with the Curly ones  and I am so amazed at how intelligent they are... and I am realizing that I have to be very consistent in our training. 

I try to think of it as I am teaching them something whether it is good or bad - sorta of our kids -  our Curly ones are also little sponges that soak up our actions. So I need to think of my actions and make sure I am giving them good lessons not bad.

For example, our Jubliee's Curly J, is a handsome four year old gelding from the Dixie D, OB Pinto and Col Austin bloodlines. He has the most gorgeous almond shaped brown eyes and a touch of roan in his Chestnut coat....oh, and his curly forelocks drive all the little girls wild.  

 

He is a very intelligent horse. We have been working on lunging for a few weeks and he picked up almost instantly.  

Funny though, he really doesn't like my pink whip....must be the color...so I have put it aside for now. 

Curly J reads my body language like a cue card. So I really have to be aware of my stance and position myself facing his shoulder. He is always such a fast learner that once we have done a pattern a few times he remembers and so I have change things a bit or I find he gets bored....which translates into "trouble".

Jubliee's Curly J is an awesome Curly and I am enjoying our ground work sessions....just like my sons, Curly J is teaching me a lot.{:>

Angie and Curly J

Becca's Boys Born Feb 4,2010

Once again, Mama Becca                   

has gifted us with handsome, 

healthy boys....

 

born approx 4:30 pm Feb 4, 2010

 

Becca's Golden Beau and Braden's Golden Bard
Welcome Beau and Bard

Becca's Having Babies today

Wahoo, 

Dam, Rob Cow Creek 217 Rebecca, our Registered Boer Goat is having babies today. I think I am more excited than she is......

 

 

Bless her heart she had three kids last time so she knows the routine.

Last night I invited her to join

us in the big barn since it is closer for me

to help keep an eye on things.....

and all the horses nickered and greeted her.

She has a comfy corner with hay and I have a comfy quilt to sit with her.

We will keep you up to date . Grandmama has a camera and she knows how to use...here are a few photos from her last sweet babies.

Here is our handsome, Sire Braden Bradford Bearded. 
He will be three years old on Valentine's Day. 
Yes, he is quite the Romeo{:>

Lakota's Busy Day

Hello all,

Yesterday, Lakota and I had a very busy day. First, everyone was treated to that yummy Apple Flavor worming paste. Well, everyone thought it was OK except for Lakota. He refused to touch it until I gave him some grain to go with it. Then, he acted like it the greatest stuff since sliced bread or sweet grain.

Next, everyone had their hooves picked. All the rain has made for messy hooves and I want to stay on top things before anyone gets thrush. Lakota tried to tell me he could not stand on three feet. I explained that he should watch Golden Red and Salsa (Jenny) they can stand on two feet when they are jousting in the pasture. 

Around 2:00 pm a good friend called and said she was taking a "daycation" and we decided the best way to spend it was to ride our loved ones. So Lakota followed me to the trailer sniffing everything very carefully along the way. He decided the grain in the bin was the same as he had munched on earlier and after about ten minutes of chatting all of his 1300 pounds were in the trailer and he was rocking. We headed down the road and I was happy that I had changed out the chains to heartier duty ones a few weeks before.

When we arrived Lakota was amazed at the place. Well, anyone would be....my friend has the biggest heart for BIG Dogs and she has a el grande Massif, a pit bull, a mixed pit, an English Massif and a teeny, tiny Doberman named Hank. Hank is my buddy and he always want to go for a ride with me. I babysit him a lot so he knows where I stop for treats. Soon as Lakota takes note of the BIG Dogs the neighbors seven Arabians come running over to great him. All of my Curlies snort when they first encounter something new and Lakota was snorting up a storm. Next, Cheetoe, a Curly pony my friend adopted for her granddaughter comes over and he and Lakota seem to have a lot to chat about. Next, the perfect "my little pony" white mini with a long flowing mane and two handsome bay Quarter Horses, Cash and Fly all exchange greetings with Lakota.

My friend and I were discussing the different ways we lunge our horses and I was trained to use a long lunge line and whip (an aid - or additional length to your arm - never to use as  - well, a whip ....just to wave). She showed me with Lakota how she does it in the round pen without a line or whip. They did great and I learned a lot especially about how well trained our handsome Lakota is. Also, I think both techniques have advantages and disadvantages...I would love to have you share your thoughts because I am always hoping to learn more about working with our Curlies.

After a bit, my friends sister-in-law came over riding her handsome sorrel Quarter Horse, Beau-Dean, bare back. Both of my friends are long time horse ladies and barrel racers so they could ride with their eyes closed. After a few minutes walking and trotting my sweet man, Lakota sits down, yes, just sits down. Now, in all the years I have ridden horses I have never had one to sit down with me but after all we did yesterday Lakota was just ready to call it a day. He did not roll and I stepped off without an incident. I did get back in the saddle just to make sure we all agreed when it was time to call it day. 

Best wishes to all and may your rides be filled with Curls and good friends.

Angie

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