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It was 10:30 p.m. when our family returned home and pulled into our long driveway.  We were greeted happily by Minnie and Magic (our new 3 month old colt), running towards us as if they’d missed us.  Having missed them, too, we (Rachel and I) jumped out of the car and ran into the pasture to say hello and to give them some hugs.

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I never know just what Rachel (16) might talk me into next. For her credit, most of her ideas are pretty good ones!  Some of her ideas are very practical, and some are just plain fun.  Like this night, for instance…

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“Mom, why don’t you jump on Minnie, bareback?”

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With a little bit of persuasion (it didn’t take too much), there I was, climbing on to the back of Minnie with a little bit of Rachel’s help. 

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“Mom, get rid of your sandals, their getting in your way, and they keep falling off, anyways.”

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So, off went the sandals.

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“Mom, let’s take Minnie out of the pasture and just let Magic follow.”

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O.k., that sounds like fun.  So there we were, walking the long driveway, up to the neighbor's houses (if they were up looking out of the window, I’m sure they were wondering about our midnight walk with our horses!)    It was really cute – Magic won’t leave his mom’s side, so we didn’t have to put a lead rope on him or anything.  Anywhere mommy went, he followed closely behind.

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“Mom, try trotting bareback.”

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Hmmm…..I haven’t done that in a very long time!  But, like I said, Rachel seems to be able to talk me into just about anything.

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So, off Minnie and I went. It was so fun that I didn’t want to quit.  We rode over to the other curious horses in pasture #2.   After visiting a while, we rode over behind the old crib barn and overlooked the lake by the apple tree.  The moon was bright and full this night, and the entire lake was illuminated with light.  You could hear the sounds of the frogs and the insects singing loudly.  I couldn’t help but just linger there for awhile, enjoying everything around me.

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We finally did call it a night, around 1:30 in the morning, that is. I can’t remember the last time I rode bareback and barefoot under the moonlight for over several hours!  I am quite sure that was a first! But hopefully, not last.  It was just too fun.

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Thank you, Jesus, for children that keep the child- like fun alive in us.  Thank you for the adventure and enthusiasm of a teenage daughter.  Thank you, Jesus, for all the ways my children remind me daily of the wonder of nature and His creation.  And thank you, Jesus, for children that remind us that it’s the simple things in life that can bring so much joy.

For some great show and tells, go see Mary at Canada Girl.

My show part of today is pictures of  trail riding here at Ranch Shekinah,

but the tell part is a goal accomplished yesterday.

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Before our first two horses came to live here at RS, I'd had no formal riding experience.  I didn't grow up with horses (we lived 15 minutes away from the Chicago loop), and riding only came after I'd gotten married and we would go on trail rides while on vacation.

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We have owned horses before - we boarded them at a stable, but at the time, I was busy having baby after baby after baby (4 during the time we stabled horses) and it was mostly my oldest daughter's interest and passion.

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The first summer Gretta and Major came to live with us, we found a trainer that would come to our ranch.  These horses were very young.  Gretta wasn't even quite a year old yet, and Major was three.  You can't ride a horse until it turns two years old, so Major was the one I trained on.

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Major had some training before he came to live with us, but he was a rebellious sort.  He found that his favorite passion was trying to buck me off.  When he wasn't pretending we were in a rodeo, he'd neigh loudly and shake his head from left to right, acting angry and nervous.  He wasn't the best horse for someone to be training on!

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When Gretta turned two, I began to make her my trail gal, and left Major to Rachel, who had found affection for him.  She's worked with him diligently over the past two years, and has totally tamed him!  He is now highly disciplined and an excellent horse.

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I have truly enjoyed all the trail riding here at Shekinah Ranch. I had gotten comfortable on Gretta,  overcame my fears, and learned English Riding. I would often take her trotting as fast as I could get her to go, and loved every minute of it.

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However, I couldn't cantor yet.  Cantoring has a different gait/rhythm to it.  It feels a little bit like being on a Magic Genie Carpet - as if your taking off flying on your horse. 

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Last winter, I started riding lessons in an arena, using a trained horse, with one goal in mind:  Learn to Canter and overcome my fear of it.  My trainer had several things she required before teaching one to canter, and when I finally reached that point, she began cantering instructions, with me attached to a lead rope.  From there, we advanced - using no lead rope.  I was so happy by the time spring came that I had accomplished the goal that I had set.

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Yesterday, Rachel and I took a beautiful trail ride. Rachel asked me, "Mom, you want to canter?"

Hmmmm.... canter on a trail ride?  I've never done that before - only in a controlled environment in a closed arena, with a professional trainer standing by my side.  Can I do this?  I've got to try.

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So, off we went.  I had already been trotting quite a bit, and I think Gretta might have been tired.  At least, that's the excuse I'm giving her, because she began to act very rebellious.  She did not want to canter!  While cantering, she'd shake her head to the side, and it even began to feel as if she was trying to buck me off.  Not fun!    Rachel seen the difficulties I was having and explained to me that Gretta's cantering is not very good - it's rough - so we traded horses.  I took Major and she took Gretta.

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Gretta continued to act terrible for Rachel - she truly was trying to buck us off.  But Major...the rebellious horse I'd given up on a long time ago (I hadn't rode him since giving up on his rodeo style of riding) -  I asked him to canter - and off we went - just like my instructor had explained it - like a magic carpet flying in the wind.  

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It was addicting.  I never wanted to stop. We did, though, finally, and now I am left with a memory of a most beautiful trail ride; a terrible horse turned  perfect; and the feeling of an accomplishment - overcoming my fear and learning to canter.

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(Major - my rebellious horse turned highly trained - by Rachel!)

 When we first got our horses, we never considered the competion part of the species.  We just wanted to trail ride.

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But over the winter, a family friend of ours, started talking to us a lot about entering our horses

in the 4-H fair.  Mike led the way.  His two daughters entered the 4-H with  our other two horses, Gretta and Lady.    

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 There sure was a lot we didn't know.  First of all, it can be kind of expensive for a first time 4-H

person.  It's free to enter, but there are a lot of requirements that does cost money.  All the gear has to be leather.  And the bridle needed to be an upgrade with the pretty silver stuff on it. You need a good western cowboy hat, a pair of leather chaps, and a few western shirts.  These shirts can be very

pricey!. 

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 It did feel like a beauty show.  All the nice leather equipment for the horse, and  the nice clothes for

the rider.  But even the weeks before hand, we were watching our horses figures, keeping them on a

monitored diet, so that they would look slim and fit.  It's pretty easy for a haflinger to gain a few pounds.

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Before the weeks event, they've had their hooves clipped (a pedicure...), their excess facial hair

 shaved (the work of a beautician....).  Before this week, I never knew how many beauty products there are for horses.  Special conditioners to make their mane and tail soft and manageable; shampoo that makes blondes lighter;  hairspray that gives a high shine to their coat, tail, and mane. 

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Rachel had gotten leather chaps for Christmas last year, so at least that was one thing we already had.  She borrowed the hat.  Most of the contestants had saddle blanket pads that coordinated with their shirts. 

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This is our horse, Lady, that Rachel's friend, Mara, is riding.  (Above, purple saddle pad)

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This is my horse, Gretta, that Rachel's friend, Miriam, is showing in halter class.

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Do these girls look like their having fun, or what?!  This was game-day.

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It felt as if we were at a day-camp for horses.  We were at the fair grounds from morning to

night all week long. 

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 We had a lot of fun.  Won a few ribbons, made some new friends, and learned some new

skills on our horses.  Rachel can't wait until next year!

(For more show and tells, visit Mary at Canada Girl.)

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Highlights of the week:

Tuesday –  took our horses to the 4-H meeting at the fairgrounds – It is so  enjoyable to watch the young girls and our horses practice their riding in these classes.

Wednesday – Horse trainer, Tabatha, came and worked with Rachel & Savannah for 4-H; then I had a lesson; then Joshua, Ruthie, and Jacob.  Everyone did well.

Thursday – Went to see my oldest daughter and three babies. This is always a wonderful time.  Holding sweet baby Grace transports me in time to 27 years ago when my first baby, Becky, was born. 

I went riding with Rachel in the afternoon.  We had a wonderful time together. It was a beautiful day and there was a lot to talk about as we went on our trail ride. 

In the evening, I went to a town board meeting with dh regarding a zoning issue for a commercial development.  We went for coffee afterwards with the project engineer and attorney.

(Rachel on Major (#1), Mara on Lady (#2), and Miriam on Gretta (#3)

Friday – I had cut the grass in the fruit tree acres on Wednesday, but when I had gone trail riding on Thursday,  I noticed that our trails  were getting overgrown.  It was going to really annoy me if this week ended without getting more grass cut.   It looked like it might storm, so before the rain began, I got the kids up, and told them it was Friday (our cleaning day).  After the work got started, I hopped on the lawn mower and headed towards the trails. 

As I mowed along the creek, the grass was so high I felt as if I was in a jeep on a safari.  Swallows were darting, a deer jumped out of the bushes, the sounds of the bugs and birds, and the scents of freshly cut grass and mint, - this is why I enjoy cutting grass so much.  It’s next to riding horses…

Saturday –  We spent our day at the Midway Saddle Club in a horse competition.  Had a blast!

When we got home, we went cherry picking on our abundantly ripe cherry tree, and talked with neighbors.

Our vet came around 5:30 p.m. for the AI (artificial insemination) of Lady. This was its own science class.  We watched her do this, and then looked at the specimen under a microscope – not good news, she tells us – less than 50% activity.  She will check Lady in 14 days to see if “it took” (pregnant). If not, we will have to start this all over again next month.  Disappointment – and expensive!

Sunday:

Homechurch in the morning; a semi-pro baseball game in the afternoon; a movie in the evening with our children.

We have Austrian Modern Haflinger Horses and have plans to start breeding this coming year.

These horses are originally from the mountains of Austria and have only been in the U.S. for a

 few decades.  They are becoming more  popular because of their sweet and gentle nature. 

Originally Haflinger horses were very drafty and only used only for driving.  But they have 

begun to breed them so that they would be taller and sleeker.  Ours are the modern type.

Ain't he sexy?

This is Major.  He's our horse with an attitude.  He was originally my horse, but after he tried one

to many times to buck me off, Rachel took over.  I don't know why, but she loves his wildness!

He really is a sweet heart, though.  He's our horse with the most personality. 

This is Katielyn - she is Rachel's horse.  Major and Katielyn are bred from the same haflinger  

stallion.

We have a lot of fun with our horses.  My nieces that come on the weekend love to go riding.  It's kind of like camp here year round. 

This is some of Rachel's friends that come to ride often. 

Matt and Kristi love to ride, too.

When we have church on Sunday, often everyone wants to get on a horse before going home.

The little girl with the pink helmet is our neighbor.  She loves coming to our homechurch.  She also comes over almost every day after school to ride horses with Rachel.

Their pretty even in the snow...

This is Lady.  I bought her last spring from a family in Ohio.  She is wonderful with children.

She is the one to take when you want to fly.  She loves to canter!

Rachel often brings her horses up to our family room window to say 'hi' when she is out riding.

This is Katielyn with John, the Amish boy that raised him. 

 O.k., now we've come to my favorite horse, my precious Gretta.  I got her when she was a yearling (she hadn't even had her first birthday yet).  When I go riding, I almost always take her. 

Doesn't my husband look awesome with Gretta?

We love our horses!

Don't forget to check out more show and tells at Mary's CanadaGirl.

In my last post, I promised to tell you about a very scary incident that happened

 recently.  This s&t is a fulfillment of that promise....

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We have four beautiful "modern haflinger" horses.  Their names are Major, Lady, Gretta,

and Katylynn.  They are like a part of our family and we get the biggest kick out of

them on a daily basis - when we step out onto our front porch, they will talk to us and often

entertain us  by chasing and playing games with each other.   When Rachel and I visit with

them, we always give each one a big hug - and I am guessing that you might not believe

 me - but they really do hug us back! 

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 But recently, they have been most naughty.  They have gotten into a nasty habit

 of trying to break loose out of their coral.  They've been very successfull at it, too.

Last week, they picked at the gate until they got it open and walked right into our yard. 

Twice in the same week this happened.  So we tied the gate shut. 

Monday,   the weather was beautiful.  Just as soon as my dh left for work, I gave  Ruthie and Joshua their chore list and their math work to do.  Then, Rachel and I went horseback riding.

As much as I always enjoy riding, this was not my best day at it.  My horse, Gretta, had become increasingly more stubborn and independently minded over the summer, because I did not ride her that much.  Since the beginning of September, we have been riding her more and spending more time with her.   Yesterday, on Sunday, I could tell that she was coming back to being my gal again, and she was as sweet as everything.  I couldn’t wait to ride her this morning.

When I went out to ride, Rachel suggested we switch horses this day.  I like Lady enough, but I had been looking forward to riding Gretta.  But it wasn’t a big deal, I thought, I’ll just ride Lady so we are both used to riding all the horses. 

All summer, any time I did ride, I rode Gretta, so this was my first time on Lady for a very long time.  It did not go par excellence.  I just wasn’t used to her.  She is taller than Gretta, and I felt a bit uncomfortable the way I was sitting in the saddle with her.  I have rode her in the past just fine, it was just that I haven’t been on her for so long, it didn’t feel right.  Lady had a mind of her own today.  She kept reaching down to eat grass – a big no-no.  I’ve always been pretty strict with Gretta on that and she obeys me. Lady kept testing me. I’d get to talking to Rachel on our trail ride, and not be thinking, and all of the sudden I’d realize Lady has put her neck down to eat.  I’d try to yank her up and she’d come up, but she kept trying it.  Frustrating.  A couple of times, while riding English, I lost my balance and came forward a bit.  That told me my riding is getting rusty.  I need to be riding more. 

I noticed last week that when Rachel was riding her, she would have difficulty with Lady stopping when asked to.  So when I first started riding Lady today,  I would trot a small while, then quickly ask her to stop, just to make sure she understood the word, stop.  I did this a lot, just to get comfortable that she wouldn’t take off and not stop for me.  Go, stop.  Go, stop.  But at the end of the ride, when Rachel decided to have Gretta just take off, Lady thought she would do the same.  I had a very hard time getting her to stop.  Once I about lost my reins.  As soon as I came in from riding, I called Shannon, my horse trainer.  Obviously, I need another lesson!

I wished I had followed my instincts and rode Gretta after all.  Gretta was PERECT for Rachel, just like I had thought she would be.  She had been in such a good mood on Sunday,  I couldn’t wait to ride her.  And now, at the last moment, I had switched horses, and I never did get to ride Gretta.   Bummer!

After riding, we had breakfast on the porch.  When we came inside, we watched a vhs movie about the Solar System by Moody Institute.  I followed my Monday Meanderings list pretty well. I exercised 10 minutes, weights.  I worked with Joshua reading and writing.   I was on time for my appointment in the afternoon at 4:00 p.m., picked up my husband from work at 5:15 p.m., and went out to eat together.  We ordered  three meals-to-go  to take to his parents and sister.  We traveled to their house (45 minutes away) and had a lovely visit. 

When Major and Gretta arrived, it was a day I would always remember.  I had found a picture of Gretta on the internet at www.cedarlanefarm.com.  It was not that she was the most beautiful horse I’d ever seen, but it was her sweet eyes that had me captured. When I went to see her at the farm, she was dirty and did not look very attractive.

But when she walked off the trailer the day she arrived at my farm, she’d had a transformation.  She was a few months older than when I had first seen her.  She’d had a bath, and been groomed meticulously.  Her coat had lightened significantly.  She seemed to have even a grown taller just a bit.  She was a knock-out.

Horses cannot be rode until they are two years old. Gretta was only one year old, Major was three years old.  So that first summer I took all my lessons on Major.  I did not have a round-pen for training (not smart.)  I took all my lessons in the smaller pasture.  When Major decided he’d had enough of our training, he would take off across the pasture at full speed with his frightened student on him. 

One of the things that had fascinated me about horses is how perceptive they were.  They know immediately what kind of mood you are in.  If you have had a bad day, watch out.  They not only will perceive your bad mood, they will mirror it back to you.    I had gotten my horses in June and my training had gone well until it was time for back-to-school in September.  At this time in my life, I had not discovered the term, ‘relaxed homeschooling’.  I had not discovered www.homeschooloasis.com and all the books that they I eventually read and found a better way to homeschool.   My days of homeschooling were filled with much frustration.

 After school, I would have my lessons with my trainer.  As much as I had been fascinated with the concept of horses perception and reflection of your moods, this trait of theirs worked totally against me after a day of homeschooling.  I was fryed after school.  And then I would get on Major, a horse with an attitude.   He would pick up my vibes and take me for the ride of my life.  He played out my nerve-shocked day by throwing his head down and side-to-side, stamping his feet, taking off across the pasture (with me on him), and eventually, bucking me.  Picture a rodeo show.  With homeschooling mom as the rider!

Somewhere around this time, Rachel took a liking to Major.  She didn’t seem to mind the bucking habit he’d developed.  She is also very calm by nature and this worked really well with Major.  He was still a naughty horse, but when he would buck her, it would be because of his laziness (wanting to quit.)

Yes, Major did get out again.  I woke up to the sound of him pushing at the lats of the fence. I hopped up, ran downstairs, pushed the coffee machine button on (shouldn't have done that), slipped my shoes on, and by the time I got out there, he was all the way out.

  But I was in time to keep the other two from stepping out.  I fixed the fence (temporarily, at course), and then fed the two horses inside the pasture, - grain - the worshipped treat at my farm.  Major got all upset and started trying to get at their bucket from the outside, toppling their bucket onto the ground.  I enjoyed watching him get upset.

 After Gretta and Lady  had eaten (I replenished their spilled grain), I let him in.  Now I'm waiting for someone to come fix the fence so that won't happen again. And meanwhile, I am letting them have all the pasture they want so they won't try to break out into unfenced area.  I'll have to deal with their weight gain next week. 

My husband every once in a while, goes out in the pasture when I least expect it and surprises me.  I grabbed my camera this time when I seen him.  I tell him (all the time when he does this) just how good he looks with horses! 

My Favorite Horse With My Favorite Guy

 WAY, WAY TOO GOOD LOOKING!!

 (both my husband and my horse, Gretta!)

As I write this morning, I am sitting on the front porch of our home. I love coming out here in the very early hours of the day, drinking my coffee, enjoying my communion with Him. Yesterday, at this time, there was a choir of bullfrogs echoing their songs from the lake. I could hear an owl hooting from a nearby tree. Today, there are squirrels making the loudest racket together, and I think that perhaps it is their mating calls. I watch an ever-so-small hummingbird investigating the new potted flowers I have hung on my porch. It is fascinating to watch him flit from petal to petal, with such a close-up view.

I had let our horses out to graze, and I am particularly enjoying watching them. Across the four-rail fence, where the ground softly slopes down to a lily pond, they are swishing their tails, walking around the willow trees and the sand mound. They look so serene and contented.

Some mornings, I wake with burdens upon my heart and I am compelled out of my sleepiness to bring these to Him. But other mornings, as this one, I sit in peacefulness, just thanking Him for so many blessings, including my horses that I enjoy so much. I love just watching them, let alone, getting to ride them.

This week has been one awesome week in regards to getting to ride my horses. Since getting our new horse, Lady, I had not rode her very much, preferring to keep to my favorite, Gretta, and letting Rachel ride the new horse. Her own horse, Major, had developed a horrible habit of bucking and this had inhibited our riding time tremendously. We would take trail rides together, but always being mindful of Major deciding that he'd had enough and try to come up with a plan to throw his rider off. This constant mind-set had diminished our enjoyment. This was the reason we had sought to get our third horse, Lady.

This week though, I rode Lady for a considerable amount of time, each day for about an hour. I was a bit unsure of myself when I first mounted her, not knowing her personality fully, so therefore not knowing just what she would be like out on the trail. Would she obey me? Would I feel in control? I warned Amara, my niece that would be riding with me, that I would probably take it slow due to my newness of this horse.

Within about three minutes of being out, I thought I'd try just a little trot. I felt comfortable with her. From there on out, we were flying. I've never been on a horse that loved to fly. You don't have to coax her. Just indicate in the smallest way that you want her to pick up tempo, and she's off. She'll go at any speed you want her to, going faster and faster, if you indicate that's what you want. She won't stop to catch her breath, or tell you that she's had enough, let's rest a bit. It's as if she is loving this as much as I am. Had their been a photographer ready to capture our trail riding together, you would have seen the hugest smile on my face the entire time. I just couldn't get over what a good horse we have purchased. I could never have dreamed she'd be this fantastic. My thoughts ran to the young college girl that sold her to us. It had to have been so hard for her to part with such a wonderful riding horse. Surely, she is, and will for a long time, miss her greatly.

There is something about being out on a trail ride that is incomparable. From my heightened view I can see so clearly the landscaping around me, watching the birds flit from here to there, listening to the call of the hawk and watching him glide in the air so effortlessly. As I enjoy the methodical gait of my mare, I am absorbing the magnificence of nature, even the very scents of the open air and field.

When you begin to take off, it is an amazing feeling. I love it. Positively. It’s as if I’ve just entered my dreams. My hair is whisping in the wind, were galloping through open fields, and I am free of all responsibilities and cumbersome daily toils. It is just me and my horse, riding around the alfalfa field, through the walnut tree forest, and along side the creek.

I am filled with gratitude this morning as I sit with my coffee, praying to the Giver of all good gifts. My heart just overflows with gratefulness to Him for giving me this source of great enjoyment. My horses, the trails in which to ride on, and my health that enables me to be able to do this. It is wonderful spending time with the Creator and Provider of all these provisions.

I prayed, I read in the book of Matthew, I wrote a bit in my journal my thoughts on the passages I had read, I began to write this blog, and then, Jacob, my little six year old, finds me outside and comes and snuggles on my lap. I wrap him in a big sweat shirt as the cool of the morning is still lingering. I listen to him talk, so grateful to still have one so little.

The house has fully stirred now. It is time to start a new day.

It was a relaxing weekend. Friday night our family did what we always do, watched Stargate on T.V. and ate pizza from Pizza Hut.  Saturday morning, I got up early to pray and after reading the Bible, blogged a while.  Our family went to breakfast around 9:30 a.m. to Bob Evans.  I can't remember, at this time anyways, much else that happened. It was a pretty uneventful day (delightful!)

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On Sunday, our church met in our home.  (To read about our church see blog :http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Haflingerhorses/191718/ )   Afterwards, we had a cook-out of hamburgers that I bought from Shipshewana, (Amish farmers),  from cattle raised without antibiotics and hormones.  After our company left, Rachel and I saddled up our horses, and went horsebackriding!!!!  We had soooo much fun.  My husband tells me we were gone for over 2 hours, but I  was sure we were riding for just 30 minutes!  I guess that's what happens when your having fun!   It was a beautiful sunny afternoon.  Not too cold, not too hot, just right. 

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We seen a gigantic hawk fly right by us and landed on a nearby tree. We took our horses over there, thinking the hawk would be spooked and fly off, but, no, he stayed right there. It was interesting to see him close up.  He was kind of ugly! But huge!    On our trail ride home, Major stopped right in his tracks. He sensed something we did not.  We waited for a few minutes, and then, out from the long weeds jumped an animal, either a large fox or a small deer, we only seen the back side of it's tail hopping over the long weeds and then turned into the creek area and down the bank. 

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  When we finally came home, I really felt we'd been gone just a little bit, but Rachel suggested we quit while on a good note, before the horses get tired and decide to act unruly.  Good wisdom from my 14 year old!!!