http://www.geocities.com/trinityapp/ wrote this lovely article, and I thought it was worth sharing. My parents are horse lovers, which lead to me being a horse lover, and as all of you know, Maddy loves horses more than words can probably express. We've spent countless hours riding and caring for the horses together. Starting from the age of two Maddy was and continues to be happiest on a horse.

Sweet sixteen and growing up with a horse

My daughter turned sixteen years old today; which is a milestone for most people. Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in the future. As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman she would soon be.
I started thinking about some the girls we knew in our town who were already pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop outs, drug addicts and on the fast track to no where, seeking surface identities because they had no inner self esteem. The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker” label on my child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you have the stewardship of. There are no “days off” just because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have there are days of hard slogging work you must do first.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn’t care if you're wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to produce a baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horse owning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money. Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits. Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own. She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body language and reactions. She has had to learn to “read” her surroundings for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is within.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts. She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is. She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older than herself.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road. She knows that you cannot care for and protect you investments without savings to fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for you vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day.
When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly say that I haven't “wasted” a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood.

Yesterday I took Keiki (our sweet quarter horse/paint) out for a ride.

It was a perfect riding day. 75 degrees, with just a hint of a breeze. Keiki and I had a wonderful ride, that is, until we encountered the peacock.

One of our neighbors is acquiring all sorts of new animals. We never know what we might see over there next. They have a few lamas, an emu, and a couple of mountain goats. Yesterday, it was a peacock.

Keiki and I rode along the outside of their fence, and the peackock mirrored our movement on the inside. He kept our pace for about a quarter of a mile. We walked, he walked. We stopped, he stopped. We trotted. He did his best to keep up.

I though about cantering ahead, but then decided it was good for Keiki to have to put up with him as the peacock was clearly making her nervous. I wanted Keiki to learn that he was harmles, (or so I thought.)

The, suddenly and without warning, (that I could discern) the peacock opened his plume and displayed all his feathers, quickly becoming at least twice his original size.

That did it. Keiki flew straight up in the air about 3 feet, and scittered across the road in bit of a frenzy. I got her calmed down and looked back at the peacock, who seemed quite proud of himself. And to top it off, as we rode off, I swear I heard that peacock laugh.

Growing up on my grandpa's ranch, the kids were expected to help out.

During the hay season we (the girls)drove the scatter rake while the boys stacked. We (the kids) also rode around moving the cows back and forth between the ranch and the range or from one pasture to another. There were quite a few cows and, cows being as smart and accommodating as they are, multiple riders were needed.

Those days were long, and hard, and fantastically fun.

One day my grandpa told my cousin Kristin and I to ride up to "number three" and bring the bulls home. "Number three" was a large pasture a couple of miles away from the ranch.

On this day, there were only 2 bulls there. It was our job to bring them home.

Now mind you, my cousin Kristin and I were both 9 or 10 years old. We each had our own horse, but they were relatively young horses, probably about 4. They hadn't yet become wise old quarter horses who knew just how to handle bulls. (My grandpa must have been seriously short-handed that day to send us on such a mission.)

Have any of you ever driven bulls?

It's not like driving cows in any way. Bulls can have a lot of attitude and really do just what they want. They're stubborn and not afraid of anything. They walk right through fences. They're tough, herculean-like and sometimes even a little mean, which means that they're usually left alone which is exactly how they like it.

Why my grandpa thought us two kids would be able to bring the bulls home by ourselves I'll never know. I guess he thought that they were more amiable than they actually were. But, we were determined to bring them home on our own and felt very grown up for being given such a task.

We rode up, managed the gates, moved them out of number three and headed home.

We'd only gone a short ways before we had a problem. One of the bulls decided to walk through another ranchers fence and graze in his pasture. (This is the kind of stuff that bulls like to do.) With the two of us kids working together, it took about an hour to get the bull out of the pasture and back on the route home. (We left the fence.)

We went a little farther down the road with the bulls, feeling proud that it only took us an hour to get the bull straightened out, when it happened again. This time both bulls walked right through another fence and into someone's pasture. Only this time, the pasture was filled with cows. Now the bulls were worked up and causing all sorts of havoc in the pasture. (If there's one thing that bull's like, it's cows.)

Feeling a little overwhelmed, we began the task of cutting the bulls out from the rest of the herd, but as soon as we'd get one out and try to get the next one out the first bull would charge right back in. The bulls were mad that we weren't just leaving them alone to sweet talk all that lovely female cow-flesh.

Somehow, (and I'm still not sure how,) we managed it. Kristin and I got the bulls away from the herd and back on the road. And, since you asked, yes, we made it all the way home with those bulls... four hours late.

My grandpa never did ask us if we had any trouble or what had taken so long, he just gave us a nod when we got home and sent us out on a different task. He wasn't one for high praise, we'd just done what he told us to do. But, in thinking back on that day after all these years, I think that just may be the day that I became a real cowgirl!

I've yet to become a great fencer. 

Maddy's been riding since she was just a little thing. And, she didn't start out on a pony. The first horse she rode was a 16 hand thoroughbred named Critter.

Some of you may question the sanity of a mother who allows her very small daughter to ride such a horse--but I knew I could trust Critter. He was a marginally successful race horse who found himself on a cattle ranch. How a horse without an ounce of cow sense ended up on the ranch I'll never know. But he had a gentle spirit, and he took tender care of his young rider.

It was clear that Maddy loved horses from a young age and wanted to ride, (as some say, I guess it was in her blood,) so it became my goal to help her learn to really, "really", ride.

Maddy logged lots of hours in the saddle and became quite the little rider. It seemed to come naturally to her. I watched in amazement as she coaxed the most stubborn horse on the ranch into quietly doing whatever she asked. As she grew she developed a true interest in eventing, which includes dressage, stadium jumping and cross country.

In order for her to event, we had to find a trainer.

There are many different trainers and programs, so here's a list of things we considered in choosing the riding academy that she and Moon train at.

1: Safety. One of our biggest concerns. Everyone who rides knows that it can be dangerous. We know of two people who were killed in horse/riding accidents. The riding academy takes safety very seriously. The kids wear helmets at all times, no exceptions. Same with protective vests. If they're jumping they wear them. Period.

2: A knowledgeable trainer and superb facility. The world is full of trainers. Good and bad. We looked around and found someone who was well respected, with 20 years of training and instructing experience. The program is geared from taking beginners to advanced and FEI Young Rider level in dressage, stadium jumping and cross country.

3: Environment: Maddy rides with a handful of other kids and the environment at the barn is great. All of the kids are friends and spend a lot of time there. In addition to riding almost every day, the kids are expected to put in some hard work. They all own their own horse and are expected to take care of them. They keep the barn and stalls clean. They groom and clean tack. They really learn the responsibility that comes with owning horses.

4: Commitment: Maddy rides almost every day. The program is designed so that young riders are accepted into the pre-academy each year. Riders then progress through levels and eventually acceptance into the academy program is by invitation. Only very committed riders enter the academy program.

**

So, all things considered we feel like it was a good decision. Maddy loves riding and she and Moon make a great team. Moon is only six, so they are learning together. They are at a show now, and doing well.

And to think, we accommplished all of this with only an occasional grumble from Jeff!

Well, Maddy's left for the show, and I'm on the way out the door, but I just got this today and wanted to show it off. It's an english saddle stirrup belt bickle one of my friends made for me. It's about 3 inches long and 2.5 inches tall, and it's pretty hefty. I love it! He's happy to make more if any of you out there would like one!

I also have a sparkly palomino horse belt buckle I'll have to post as well. (Jeff thinks I have a coat thing, which I kind-of do,) but I also have a belt buckle thing. I love interesting belt buckles!

When I spot a truck loaded up with hay, I just can't help but want to hold up a sign that reads, "Driver, please follow me to my house."

I'm thinking I should keep that sign in my car for the next time we pass such a truck.

In the meantime, we have a hay shortage where we live. So, the horses are happy to be in the pasture, grazing and soaking up the sun.

Those of you who know us know how much we love our horses. We probably bore you to tears talking about them individually and their personalities. We know just what each horse likes best, Moon loves his peppermint treats, (that's peppermint, not spearmint, mind you!) Lady hates carrots, but loves most sweet treats, Maverick eats anything, Pharaoh likes carrtos and apples, Tigger loves Mrs. Patures horse cookies.

But you know all that. The question today is how best to give out the horse treats. As we all know, every minute spent with your horse is training, and that goes for treats as well. For the most part, we feed the horses treats right from our hands, (unless they each get a bucket with some grain.)

We have two trainers who are divided on this issue. One trainer insists that we should never feed treats from our hands--reasoning that the horses won't respect us if we don't use buckets. Another says it's just fine to hand out treats. We really like both of these trainers, and find that they agree on most other issues.

We should probably note that all of our horses have very nice ground manners. They're polite, don't try to push us around or run over anybody. When they're in the pasture we walk right up to them and catch them, with no grain. So, we're asking the question....what's the best way to give out treats?

It's that time of year. The snow is going away, leaving us with a thick layer of mud. The horses like the mud. They roll in it and get filthy. A couple of years ago Maddy was walking in the arena and lost one of her muck boots, the mud sucked it right off her foot. She looked pretty funny hopping around on one foot trying to pull her missing boot out of the mud. I finally had to rescue her.

Any other time of year, I have the clean car. Right Maddy? But, as you can clearly see in these pictures, I drive to the barn every day and dad doesn't. We drive on about 5 miles of unpaved roads to get to the barn. I wash the car and within 24 hours it looks just like this.

It's all worth it though. After all, isn't this what Landrovers are supposed to look like?

Here's an interesting article about new research being used to treat horse's injuries.

While American scientists struggle with the science and ethics of human stem-cell research, a California company is routinely using stem cells successfully as a therapy -- in horses.

Vet-Stem in Poway is treating both prize race horses and well-loved average equines for bowed tendons, injured ligaments and fractures using stem cells derived from the animal's own fat cells. And Vet-Stem's work is instructing researchers who want to learn how stem cells can treat humans.One company is using adult horse's own fat to then distill stem cells. The stem cells are the injected into the injured area of the horse.

Vet-Stem executives said horse injuries heal faster and with less scarring using the stem cells than with more traditional techniques like physical therapy, ultrasound, ice and rest.

Vet-Stem hopes to prevent injuries in horses and to treat other equine disorders, including compressive spinal cord disease and laminitis, an inflammatory foot disease.

A short list, from (mom) to (dad, an occassional comment maker on this blog) with a couple of small suggestions.

What I'd like for Valentine's Day:

1. Flowers--Nope.
2. Chocolate--Nope.
3. Jewelry--Nope.
4. Romantic Dinner--Nope.

5. Eggbutt Bit--Yep!*
*Please see catalog page posted on the fridge, the bit is circled in yellow highlighter.

Halt-near-x.com has an interesting take on encountering moose while riding.

Here's the story of the infamous three-moose ride.

 A couple of summers ago we went for a ride in the late evening. Summer was nearing an end and we were enjoying those last few evening rides to their fullest. We'd been on a rather long tail ride, high up in the mountains.

No fences, no roads, just open fields. To return home we had to follow a short stretch of dirt road with fenced pastures on each side.

We realized that a bull moose was standing right in the middle of the road, leaving very little room on either side to pass him. Instantly the horses realized this too and were not too happy about the situation.

Knowing that we had to get home before dark we bravely decided we'd just have to pass the moose as quickly as possible.

Then things got worse. Another bull moose appeared from behind a tree and charged the moose on the road. We were in the middle of a moose duel.

The thought of passing by two mad moose was almost unbearable, but it was the only way home and we were running out of daylight.

Just as things seemed as daunting as possible a third moose appeared on the scene. We now had three dueling moose, two frantic horses and one skinny road.

Since I was on Pharoah, with whom fear = flight , I was sure that one of us (probably me) was going to get thrown, at which time the moose would become interested in me and give me a good chase.

I tried to sound confident, as I told Maddy the plan. "We'll just calmly ride by and everything will be ok." I didn't believe a word I was saying.

We set off and drew near to the three moose, who were by this time quite worked up. Pharaoh felt like he was going to explode under me. He's a powerful horse, but I don't know that I've ever been more aware of that fact than at that moment. Lady had her "moose face," which she gets whenever she sees a moose and is beside herself.

Just at that moment we noticed a truck making it's way up the road toward us. We were saved! We decided to use the truck as a wall between us and the moose, and timed it so that the truck would drive in between us and the moose.

It worked perfectly, and we made it home in one piece.

I'm not sure how it would have gone if the truck hadn't come.

We love our mountains and wildlife, but let's just say we'd prefer enjoying the moose from a nice distance, like a few miles.

We just grained the horses and gave them a few apples. Look at Pharaoh's face. Have you ever seen a horse look more content?