Vixie the Kitten rescued by Tia on 11/16/14

It was late one night when Tia took Duke out to go potty before bed when Poseidon was on the front porch meowing like crazy. Tia looked over to see what was the matter and she discovered Poseidon was not alone. He had a skinny little kitten he was obviously worried about. So Tia brought her in warmed her cold little body gave her a little warm milk and hooked her up with a warm bed and fresh food for the night in the barn office.  We hope she makes it and decides this is a good home, because she is sure a sweet kitten!

Puppies are 1 month old :)

The puppies are now 1 month old. They have been busy little puppies in the last month they have came into a brand new world, learned to nurse, walk, open eyes and ears, play, potty on paper, sleep in crate, eat puppy food and make us happy.

Meet the crew... Rascal, Aladdin, Mack, Mufasa, Mickey, Minnie & Cinderella. When they were first born we did an early neurological stimulation program on them which is a program developed by the military to make smarter and healthier puppies. We are so excited to find new families for these wonderful Medium sized F1B labradoodles. Which means they are extremely smart, loving, they don't shed and are hypoallergenic!

Lizzy formerly known as Momma's

On November 5th Momma's or now named Lizzy has joined the Crazy Creek Ranch Club. She is an 18 year old paint mare who has had a baby the last two years in a row which is really hard on horses. So she is a little on the skinny side but everyone that has had the opportunity to ride her has LOVED her. I know I sure love how easy she is to have around! Thank you Kailey for finding her for us!

Duke the Australian Labradoodle 12 weeks old

On October 26th we adopted a Medium size Australian labradoodle he weighted just 9.8 lbs and we named him Duke. He will be Dolly's little partner in creating beautiful Australian Labradoodles hopefully next year. He is very well mannered and will make a great addition to our ranch. He may also be a companion dog for my mom who is just in love with him. Welcome to the Crazy Club Duke!

Sweetie has a new home

We found Sweetie the perfect home in Nephi where she will be loved by a 6 year old and 3 year old. I have no doubt she will be loved and will give the kids everything they need to build their confidence. We will miss her here at Crazy Creek but we are so happy she found a good home.

Daisy's 2nd Litter is here!

Oct. 12th - Daisy had her 2nd litter of F1B Labradoodles. They are so precious we have had so many good things said about her first litter we decided to go with the same male. She had 5 boys and 2 girls which I am sure we won't have a hard time finding great families for. More info go to http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=32023521&cat=105

This is some of the feed back we got from her first litter puppies: Puppy #1 " We just love Dolly!!! She is so silly, loves to play, lots of energy, loves cuddles and attention, very obedient, and does some of the cutest things. Her coat is so soft and it is so nice to have a puppy that is so easy to train. Just love our little sister!" Puppy #4 "He is great! Good with the kids and very smart!" Puppy #8 "Luna is amazing! She is so sweet . Great with everyone she meets. All puppy player still!" Puppy #9 "Yes!!! I would totally recommend the same father! Cache is the cutest dog ever! He has the best temperament and is SO loving! We love him like he was one of our kids! Puppy #6 "She is wonderful. Smart, smaller then expected, but absolutely great dog!" Puppy #2 "Chipper is doing great! He is such a smart and well behaved dog. His temperament is perfect. He is also showing great hunting characteristics. The boys love him. We'd definitely recommend you as a breeder and the father. Thanks again for getting us a wonderful family dog! Chipper weights 37 lbs. His growth has really slowed down. Just the perfect size dog. Puppy #3 "We LOVE Jazzy! She is so good with the kids and loves to play and has the most beautiful coat. I would go back to the same father." Puppy #5 We just got word back from our straightest coat of the liter. They wanted a dog that looked more like a lab so they were happy with that but they were hoping she wouldn't shed at all and she does a little so they keep her hair shorter. This is what they had to say about her in addition to that "Sky is doing great! She potty trained really easy. She is very mild mannered and does great with our kids!!!"

Sweetie Loping

Holly & Maximus's new home

Holly and Maximus found their forever home with Kailey's family. We couldn't be more happy to have Maximus and Holly go to a family that will love on them and give them the one on one attention they deserve. They have been such great lesson horses and given so much of themselves for so many years that I am excited to have found them such a great home where they can stay together. Of course we will miss them and we appreciate all the safe rides they have given our riders, but so happy for them at the same time! Thank you O'Hara's

Sunny or formerly known as Sophia

Sunny is an 18 year old papered Quarter horse. I bought her from a gentleman in American Fork who taught lessons on her for the last 9 months. Before that she has been with him for many many years on their 10,000 acre ranch doing all the work they do on a ranch. She is a very sweet good girl who we hope works well for our lessons. We are doing our best to get nice sound horses for our lesson kids to learn on. It has been quite the investment so we are hoping it just betters their experience down here at Crazy Creek Ranch.

Breezy formerly known as Mare

Breezy is a 16 year old papered Quarter horse out of the Kings ranch in the Ogden area. Breezy has also been teaching lessons for the last 9 months and before that she was on the same ranch as Sunny for about 6 years. Before that Breezy was bred and gave birth to a big colt who ended up tearing her. The owners at the time decided not to have her stitched up and so now her back end was left open and now makes airy sounds. She is a great horse though and super gentle and great with the kids. I sure hope nobody holds her deformity's against her because down here at Crazy Creek we love everyone just the way they are. So excited for these new mares on the ranch.

Fall Lessons

The fall classes will be starting Sept. 1st and go through Nov. 19th for our complete 12 lessons. Makeup lessons are not guaranteed so please try not to miss any classes. I do try to fit in makeup lessons but it is quite time consuming and difficult. Tuition will be due the first day of class along with all $35 deposits for new students and disclosure documents. As of right now I do have 2 spots remaining on Tues at 6:00 if you know of anyone that might be interested. This horse/rider assignments are not by any means permanent so if we see a better personality fit after starting lessons we may switch horses then. We do still have Maximus but trying to transition to Buddy. So Buddy riders might have Maximus.. Who knows... So remind your riders to PLEASE in no way complain about the horse you are assigned to. They are all great horses and each one has something different to teach your rider. Also please have your riders read the barn rules again before we start fall lessons. They are posted on our blog if you don't have your barn rules paper anymore.

All level 1 (beginners) please be aware it usually takes a lesson or two of ground work before we allow you to ride. So be ready for that we want you comfortable around a horse before we put you in the saddle. Then there is a lot to learn at first so don't get frustrated just keep patient and you will get it.

All level 2 (passed level 1 in summer show) Our main focus with you is making sure you have the emergency brake down completely and loping somewhat comfortably before we take you to the big outdoor arena. So when we feel like your ready we will make that move. Please be patient and focus on your riding until then.

All level 3 (passed level 2 in summer show) We will be doing more outside riding. Remember the dangers of being outside so please be smart and safe! You will be learning the gate, quadrangles, show grooming, and higher jumping as we continue to get more confident in the saddle.

With all that in mind here is our most current schedule.

Starting Monday Sept 1st
2:00 Katie/Sweetie, Holly/Holly, McKenna/Sally,

3:00 Ashley C./Buddy, Taylor/Sally, Makenzie/Sweetie, Ella/Holly

4:00 Emele/Holly, Ben/Buddy, Mia/Sweetie, Cam/Sally (These horse assignments may change)

Tuesday Sept 2nd

4:00 Celia/Sweetie, Breann/Holly, Belle/Sally, Braxton/Buddy

5:00 Piper/Sweetie, Sydni/Sally, Emilie/Holly, Contessa/Buddy

6:00 Jadelyn/Sweetie, Margy/Sally, Lucy/Sweetie, Kenna/Holly

7:00 Olivia/Sally, Ivy/Holly, Liberty/Sweetie, Avery/Buddy

Wednesday Sept 3rd

4:00 Celia/Sweetie, Addison C./Buddy, Addison/Maximus, Jana/Sally, Jacie/Holly

5:00 Breanna/Sally, Kaitlyn/Buddy, Preston/Holly, Eden/Sweetie

6:00 Brianna/Buddy, Mckayla/Sally, Ashley B./Holly, Amanda/Sweetie

7:00 Elizabeth/Sweetie, Tiffany/Sally, Lucy/Holly, Carston/Buddy

Summer 2014 Horse Show

So we had our horse show and it was amazing! All our riders passed their current levels and are becoming better, stronger, more confident riders by the day!

Thank you everyone for you support at the show by coming and cheering on your rider, supporting the concession stand and just having fun!

By the way I hope you all enjoyed your picture from me! Love you all and hope to see you soon.

Points System for Show

Ok, I for those who really want to score good for the show these are the items we will be judging you on in each event. I hope this helps if you have any questions on any of the items just let me know.
Good luck to each of you!!! Remember this is all about the fun, safe riding! 20 points possible for each event... You must get 75% (15/20 or more) on each event to pass the level you are hoping to pass off. Remember to be at least 10-5 min early (the first shows of the day please come 15 min early to saddle) and wear jeans, cowboy boots, western shirt (button up, long sleeve, with collar), and helmet (you may wear cowboy hat for halter but have helmet in arena for western pleasure).

Halter

Line up properly

Controlled waiting

Walk after nod

Push horse not pull

Stop proper spacing

Set horse properly

Feet toward horse

Cross during judging x4

Back Horse properly

Turn Horse properly

Wait for judge to move

Trot horse away

Look back

Look back

Smile

Positive posture

Attitude

 

Western Pleasure

Put rope on fence right

Check cinch

Mount left side

Mount w reins in hand

Wait on horse by fence

Walk when asked

Eyes up not at ground

Reverse properly

Trot properly

Lope Controlled

No Chicken Wings

Toes up

Hands in front of saddle horn

Positive Posture

Use Corners x4

Line up Correct

Look back for backing

Backing up correct

Positive Attitude

Talk to horse

Reward horse

Smile

Trail Level 1

Trot correct distance

No chicken wings

Toes up

Hands forward w trot

Bridge - up

Bridge - down

Flag stop pick up

Carry flag over bridge

Flag stop put back

Look both shoulders backup

Back up in lines

Walk to left of L shape

Walk over logs

Stop in Pivot box

Complete turn in box

Trot over jump

Stand at jump

Hands forward at jump

Say up at jump

Reward Horse

Smiles

Trail Level 2

Walk through gate

Lope Wagon Wheel x4

Trot around gate to bridge

Bridge - stop

Bucket stop pick up

Carry flag over bridge

Bucket stop put back

Look both shoulders backup

Back up L shape in lines

Trot to left of L shape

Trot over logs

Stop in Pivot box

Complete turn in box

Lope over jump

Stand at jump

Hands forward at jump

Say up at jump

Trot around gate

Reward Horse

Smiles

Barrel

Line up Proper

Be ready when turn

Toes up

No chicken wings

Look to barrel 2

Kick with outside Leg

Barrel #1 up

Hands forward

Look to barrel 3

Kick outside Leg

Barrel #2 up

Hands forward

Look home

Barrel #3 up

Toes up

No chicken wings

Hands forward

Correct Pattern

Reward Horse

Smiles

Poles 

Line up Proper

Be ready when turn

Toes up

Hands forward

1 horse width away from poles

Turn at end

Kick outside leg

Pass at each pole

Turn at end

Kick outside leg

Pass at each pole

Turn at end

Kick outside leg

Chicken Wings

Consistant speed request

Over all control

Poles remaining up

Show Information!

Please remember next week is our rehearsal for the show so it is really important that we have all our riders here next week so they will be ready for the show on the 19th and 20th.

Here are a few reminders for the show:
*5:00 Tues and 4:00 Wed groups please come 15 minutes early to saddle horses so we can start on time.
*Everyone please be at least 5 minutes early. We will NOT have any extra time to wait for you. If you are late you will miss the first events and not be able to pass off your level.
*During halter you may wear Western hats if you want. All other events require helmets.
*Please remember your Western shirts (any button up, long sleeve, with collar), jeans, cowboy boots (slick bottoms with heel for riding safety) If you don't have cowboy boots buy some or borrow from me in the office.
*Remember we are judging you as riders not your horses. So if you are riding properly and asking the right way and your horse is not cooperating you will not be docked points. You will only be docked points if you are the one making mistakes.
*Have fun! This show is so that you can show your family what you have learned during this last year of riding. No stress just come and have some fun!
*Your welcome to invite your family and friends that you think will enjoy this event. There may be a few concessions set up by my kids Hot Dogs, Drinks, Chips, Candy so you may want to bring some cash.
*Your welcome to walk your family around the ranch and show them all the animals and the place you like to come and have fun.

My kids 4H competitions

What a great day spent with these cute kids in Spanish Fork at the 4-H county competition. We had our ups and downs but overall I was very proud of how the kids did!

Matia got her best time yet in Quadrangles, Barrels and Poles. Way to go Matia and Missy Lou are finally beginning to look like a real team!

 

Treg and Holly did AMAZING on the trail course!!! They really have these obstacles down. Great communication skills for both of them.

Even though Bowdee and Sally got a blue ribbon in Western Pleasure they will always love the racing events the most. They make a great speed team!





Large outdoor arena

We also completed our large outdoor arena. This will be nice for all my level 2 riders and horse owners. They will be doing their poles and barrels outside for the horse show! Remember the larger the arena the more control we must have. There are also more distractions and spooky possibilities for the horses. Oh and the fall is not as soft as the sand in the arena. These are some of the reasons we wait to ride outside.

Trail Course Completed!

Trail Course Completed! We are so excited to announce the trail course at Crazy Creek Ranch is completed and will be ready to use at our horse show on the 19th and 20th. I hope all our riders are getting ready and excited to show off what we have been working on!

Buddy formerly known as Sisco

On August 8th we bought this cute little mustang formerly known as Sisco. He is only 14.2 hands and 8 years old. We are hoping he will be a good lesson horse that the kids will be excited to ride. He needs a little adjusting to his new home but he sure has a sweet spirit.

Trail Riding

Finally got to go for a trail ride with my dad, Treg and Matia. It was the perfect afternoon, not too hot and not to hard. Thanks dad for coming along and Happy Birthday! Remember kids when you are taking lessons this is what we are training for nice beautiful safe trail rides!

Emmett and Evie

We have been very busy at the farm lately. Last week we bought this black angus heifer and her 5 day old calf. We have named her Evie and the bull calf is Emmett. They are cute but adjusting to their new belongings and mother is extremely protective so keep your distance when you visit them.

Fall Registration is now open!

We are now taking registrations from our current riders for Fall Lessons. We will be teaching 4 lessons a day on Tues and Wed from 4:00-8:00. If you want to register send me an email with horse request if any and time request. I will do my best to match abilities of riders so each class will be progressing. Also just so you all know the lessons will mainly be taught by Kailey since I will be busy with my kids soccer and football seasons.

Level 2 Trail Course for Summer Show

Level 2 Halter Course for Summer Show

Level 1 Trail Course for Summer Show

Level 1 Halter Course for Summer Show

Summer Show Schedule

So we have finally scheduled the last lesson for August which will be on Aug 19th and 20th at night. If you are not able to make it to this last lesson which is the show where the riders will perform each of the different events. You can come to our dress rehearsal the week before during their regular class time. You are welcome to invite family & friends to come and watch to see how they have progressed this year. 

I do expect each rider to wear a helmet, jeans, cowboy boots, and a nice button up western shirt. They will start with halter, horsemanship, trail, barrels, and then poles. We will have to move quickly through them so we can finish in the hour we have scheduled for each class. So please arrive a couple minutes early so we can start on time!

This will be our show schedule:

August 19th 5:00

  Celia, Piper, Jacie, Breann

August 19th 6:00

   Ashley C., Tayler, Makenzie, Contessa

August 19th 7:00

   Ella, Olivia, Lucy, Sydni

August 20th 4:00

   Lynsee, Ab, Brianna, McKayla

August 20th 5:00

   Belle, Ashley B., Braxton, Jana

August 20th 6:00

   Maddie, Eden, Averie, Cam

August 20th 7:00

   Daisy, Adelaide, Addison, Addison

If you have any questions please contact Kristi. This is a really laid-back show, please remind your riders this is for fun and all August we will be practicing for the show so they should all feel ready!

Outdoor arena update

Many of our riders are excited to hear when the outdoor arena will be finished. Well, it is getting closer and closer by the day! We have the electric lines up (there is no electricity just the lines). The arena has been plowed and harrowed and looking good. Still a few rocks we need to get out but it is moving right along. As for the trail course we still have a water line we need to install for the goats (which we are moving to front pasture). After we get that water line in we will be able to move all of the trail obstacles outside. We do hope to be adding a river like ditch to this course to mock a water experience for the horses.

Summer Riding Lessons Registration

I have just opened the summer riding registration. Here is the information on lessons. We charge $70/month and this includes four lessons a month which are each one hour long. I know summer is  a busy time for family vacations and fun so I do my best to make up any lessons that are missed especially those that I have advanced notice for. I do not guarantee those makeup lessons, but we do our best!

We teach children 9 and older in group lessons of four in a group. We start with the very basics of getting comfortable around a horse then we advance up as we see the student is ready for more. All of our horses have fabulous temperaments and are very safe horses. We teach western style riding with halter, horsemanship, trail, barrel racing, and pole bending.  The variety of events we teach keeps it fun and exciting for the students.

This summer we will be teaching on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:00-11:00 (We will open a 7:00 class if there is a desire and we can fill it up)
This is who we have scheduled so far:

Tuesdays
7:00-(OPEN)

8:00-Jacie, Breann, Celia, Piper (FULL)

9:00-Ashley C., Tayler, Mackenzie, Contessa (FULL)

10:00-Ella, Olivia, Amanda, Lucy (FULL)

Wednesday
7:00-Brianna, McKayla, Lynsee, Abe (FULL)

8:00-Braxton, Jana, Belle, Ashley B. (FULL)

9:00-Maddie, Eden, Averie, Cam (FULL)

10:00-Daisy, Adelaide, Addison C, Addison W (FULL)

 

For adult beginner lessons contact me for up to date information on availability... kristitownsends@gmail.com

Arena fence posts out now just for the new fence....

We rented the escavator in March and tore out all the old fence posts so we can put up new fencing around a nice big riding arena. It will be nice to have completed the kids are sure getting excited to start riding outside!

Goats Milk... This is why we are so excited!

We are so excited to have a milking goat again. I have had many people ask us why we are so excited and do we really drink her milk? The answer is yes we are so excited to have our own supply of goat milk and I found an article explaining so well why goat milk is so good for us...

Worldwide, goat milk is the most highly consumed form of milk and, amidst the varying dairy goat types; Nigerian Dwarf goat milk is increasingly popular.  But why is goat milk and Nigerian Dwarf goat milk in particular so popular?

Better For You - Goat milk is easier for human’s to digest than cow’s milk.  It’s naturally homogenized, with smaller fat particles evenly suspended throughout the milk.  It contains vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, enzymes, and proteins that are easier for humans to assimilate than similar content in cow’s milk.  For these reasons, it’s typically digested in 20 minutes; whereas it can take 24 hours for humans to digest cow’s milk.

People who suffer from lactose intolerance may find that goat’s milk is a good alternative.  Goat milk contains less lactose than cow milk and since it passes through the digestive system so rapidly, many who suffer from lactose intolerance have no difficulty with goat milk.

Goat milk doesn’t contain the complex protein compounds that stimulate allergic reactions to milk.  People experiencing bloating, diarrhea, asthma, and irritability after consuming milk are usually suffering an allergic reaction to cow milk caused by these complex proteins.  Goat milk; however, can typically be consumed without triggering these reactions.

Because goat milk soothes the digestive tract, is typically accepted by those with lactose intolerance, and doesn’t trigger milk allergies; it’s often recommended for infant nutrition and treatment of coronary diseases, cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, intestinal disorders, gallstone problems, and many others.

It Tastes Better - Among the dairy breeds, Nigerian Dwarf goat milk has the highest levels of butterfat, making it so creamy that it’s often preferred over cow’s milk.  Nigerian Dwarf milk has approximately 6 – 10% butterfat, as opposed to approximately 4 – 6% for other breeds.  Since butterfat is what gives milk its sweet flavor, it’s the sweetest, richest milk of all the dairy breeds. 

Our short lived mink ranch

So Terry came home from work to screw down the roof before a big wind storm. I was out working the ranch to be there incase he fell off so I could call 911 if necessary. As I was cleaning up I discovered a mink living in our junk pile. So I so proudly set a trap and after a time or two I caught us a live black mink. I was raised on a mink farm and know how mean they are so I was pretty careful about the whole situation. Once I caught it I wondered what to do with it. My dad kept trying to talk us into buying 5 females and get started with our little mink ranch with a shed or two. But with Terry's sensitive nose we knew minking was not the right adventure for us. So we found the mink a new home after a week of keeping it and having the kids feed it to realize just how stinky and mean they really are. I was thankful for this short lived mini mink ranch to give my kids an idea of what I was raised with. Of course they didn't have to pelt it, feed it and water it 3 times a day in summer and drag frozen hoses through 16 sheds during the winter months twice a day. Or try and catch the ones that got out. Or have your favorite cat killed by the mink. They didn't even have to sawdust the mink boxes. But they did get to finally see, smell and hear one!

Outside Arena Plans

So this spring we would love to complete our large outside arena for riding in the warmer months. We will be renting an escavator to pull out all of the posts in the middle. Then finding an affordable way to complete the fencing into one large arena. We would love to do all vinyl like the rest of the fence but with the posts being so expensive we will have to come up with a (good enough) idea to fence in the area for safe riding.

Out House Complete!

So this winter we have been busy the first project on the agenda was to add an outhouse to the pump house for all of our riders to have access too. It was quite the project creating a septic tank and installing the toilet and sink but it is complete and ready to be enjoyed by all.

Just remember to keep the door shut before, during and after use. Also the toilet needs you to old down the flush  handle for about 5 seconds to completely flush. Hope you enjoy our addition!

Kid Goat Callie is finally born

We have all been waiting for about 2 weeks of when Princess Cinderella would finally share her surprise with us. She has been pregnant for 5 months and finally on March 25th around 9:00 am she gave birth to a sweet baby girl weighing 6lbs 10 oz. and 12 inches tall. She is the most perfect baby girl goat I have ever seen with darling white bootie socks on the front feet  and a dash of brown speckles on her bottom. Her sweet nose looks like she dipped it in a bowl of milk to match her momma's. Oh yes we will be keeping this sweet baby Callie!

Baby Kittens - Warning it has a sad ending

On March 20th, our sweet kitten Gretel gave birth to 6 tiny baby kittens. Only 3 kittens made it through the first day. I am not sure what went wrong whether she was just to young to provide for all of them, if it was too cold, or if her milk just didn't come in but by the end of the first week they all went home to our sweet Aunt Tonia's Ranch in heaven. It was sad for all of us we were looking forward to little kittens causing trouble on the ranch. They were all so beautiful and different from each other. So lets hope that Gretel gets a little older before her next batch of cuties are born. I am so sorry to pass on this info. But we had a short glimpse of how cute those babies are.

Barn Rules Reminder!



With a new session starting I just wanted to go over some of the barn rules so there is no misunderstandings...

• All Riders must wear helmet and cowboy boots during riding lessons
• No Smoking, no alcohol and NO vulgar language
• No bullying of any kind!!! Always be polite and friendly to EVERYONE & don't talk about others
• Be nice to your horse
• Keep Outhouse door tighly closed
• No Visiting dogs or unattended children, umbrellas, bikes, balls this sort of thing that spooks horses
• Farm equipment is to be used only by Crazy Creek Family or Employees
• Riders must clean up manure from their horses while out of the corral
• Pick up all trash
• No double riding on horses
• Riding horses is only permitted in riding arenas
• Do not turn your horses loose
• Please respect our home and ranch to encourage continuing of lessons
• Do not run up to or walk closely behind a horse
• Don't feed the animals unless your asked to
• No whining and if you fall off, get back on
• Have fun and always be nice

Riding Reminders and Tips

• When riding always make sure you've got contact with your horses mouth and that your rein is tight (but not pulling) and not floppy.

If you trust the horse, it will trust you too and do what you command.

Accept that you'll fall off at some point. If you do, just mount again - treat falling off as something that is unpleasant, but not a reason to be afraid of riding.

Horses can actually tell what mood you are in when you are riding. If you are nervous, the horse will sense it and become nervous as well. That is why you should always stay relaxed and calm in the worst situations.

While trotting make sure to pull up with your legs, not the reins. If you pull up with the reins you will not be trotting for long.

Be gentle with the bit; don't yank. If your horse bolts, it is essential that you stay completely calm and you don't start getting rough with your horse. If you have a choice,start circling your horse and gradually make the circles smaller. As they get smaller, your horse will have no choice but to slow down. Do not simply yank your horse in one direction because you could (and most likely would) knock them off balance. See How to Handle Yourself on a Runaway Horse.

Remember to pick your horse's hooves, if you forget, your horse could go lame. Also stay away from the frog (a soft spot in the center of the bottom of the hoof) because if you pick at this your horse might kick, or in a bad case become permanently lame.

Make sure you're wearing the right garments and gear. They are there for safety and protection, things like proper pants, boots with heals, and a proper helmet (one made for horseback riding).

When riding you should always get on the left side. And you should never lean back the horse will think you want to run. Then it will bolt. You can fall off.

2014 Chickies have arrived!

So we hand picked 6 baby chicks (expecting a few not to make it) we got a Golden Laced Wyndotte, Blue Andalusian, White Leghorn, and 3 Araucanas (because they lay the bluish green eggs). They are so cute when we first get them but they sure grow fast so make sure you come see them quickly!

Horse riding becomes life when…

 

I came across this wonderful blog posting today when I was looking for ways that a horse improves our lives. I found it to be intriguing and thought I might share.

1. The patience you develop working with your horse becomes the patience you use with your friends and colleagues.
2. The body language you learn to communicate with becomes your source of confidence in group activities.
3. The coordination you learn on the back of the horse keeps you safe from unexpected physical mishaps.
4. Heavy lifting/pulling/pushing/hoof cleaning develops your strength enough to allow you to fluidly function under heavy loads when needed.
5. Facing your fears while on another’s four legs teaches you how to have courage in the face of life’s many difficulties.
6.You learn to temper your (often over-scheduled) daily routines by slowing down to meet the simplicity of horse life.
7. The leadership skills your horse teaches you carries into your work and relationship interactions.
8. The self-confidence you develop from knowing you can influence a powerful animal seeps into every interaction you have with people.
9. You learn from horses that it’s okay for things to get worse, because after things get worse, they always get better.
10. You discover that taking shortcuts might not be to your benefit in the long run; some things have to take the time they need to take.
11. When certain maneuvers get a little difficult (like riding through a corner), all you need is a little extra impulsion to smooth things out.
12. Sometimes, you just have to let go (especially when the horse bucks and bucks)!
13. In general, riding (life) isn’t about brute strength – it’s about gentle technique and strategy.
14. There is no such thing as a day off – you begin to value the rewards that hard work reaps.
15. The work has to get done whether you feel up to it or not – so it becomes easier to fulfill responsibilities because you know how to get the work done.
16. You understand completely how asking nicely is always better than demanding.
17. There is no such thing as instant gratification. There is only hard work and step-by-step development.
18. Perfection is always aspired to, but rarely reached!
19. The path is more important than the end result.
20. Although we all have our own “conformation faults” that might work against us, we can overcome almost anything with some time and effort.

Spring Lessons are here!

We are all so very excited to be starting our spring lessons! We will be teaching on Mondays and Wednesdays for 3 hours each night. Remember parents feedback is what makes this program better so if there is anything I can do or should know about lessons please talk to me so I can make adjustments where I can to continually keep getting better. For Spring lessons we will have Holly, Sally, Maximus and now Sweetie helping us out.

Sweetie formerly Athena

So this was the ad that got my attention...

"Athena" is a Grey mare 16 yr old and 15 hands.. she has been there done that... Trails, Rodeo, and Pulls a wagon.. this is a NICE mare.. she has done parades pulling a wagon, she has done hay rides pulling a wagon, she has been used for gathering cattle, sorting, and branding.. she has done Jr rodeo , Gymkhana , play days, she has done lessons... she has BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!! The little gal that owns her has stepped up into a faster horse.. so Athena is ready to find another family that she can teach... this is a Nice mare and just about anyone can ride her... Owners are asking $800 Come try her out you will LOVE her...

So we left Thursday night about 7:00pm and drove to Beaver to stay the night. It was me, my mom and dad and Treg. Then in the morning we drove to St. George and called... Well we still had to go 30 miles further south just on the other side of the gorge. We got there and I was not to impressed when I first looked at her. She was super skinny and kinda awkward looking. But she saddled great took the bit like a pro and stood so still for her rider to get on. Then we went to the racing arena and she was wanting to go and giving it her all. When we moved to the casual arena she was calm as could be and when I put Treg on she even took it down a notch. When I took her bridle off to halter her again she just stood so still and didn't move an inch. Same when I unsaddled her. So we brought her home! Yesterday she did fabulous in her first day of lessons at Crazy Creek!

Looking forward to spring lessons!

So I have opened Spring class enrollment. If you know of anyone interested in riding you may want to let them know now is the time to sign up before classes fill up. The spring session goes through March, April & May. If you register for Spring Classes it is for the full 3 months. Hopefully we will have the large outdoor arena fenced and ready to ride in sometime in April. We will have the outdoor trail course available for Spring riding which will be nice! Hope to see you all down at the ranch soon!

Winter lessons to start up again Jan 8th

I am so excited to announce Kailey will be coming back to teach on Wednesdays for the remainder of our Winter lessons. She is such a good teacher and knows how to really make it fun for the kids! Parents please remember tuition is due that day and it will be $70 since there are 4 lessons in Jan. Welcome back Kailey the horses have had a break and are ready to get back into the arena!

Meet Blizzard

So this is Matia's Christmas wish to get a new rabbit and hutch! Yes, she loves all the animals big and small. Blizzard is a full grown male rabbit, we are not sure the bread or how old he is. We adopted him from the Utah County Animal shelter. He is now the only rabbit at the ranch.