Winnie's Blog
"What were we thinking?!!!!" That’s the question my husband, Bill, and I asked ourselves when we brought home Zelador and Zeloso, two weanling Lusitano colts, at the end of December in 2004. Our combined ages exceed 112 years and our other two horses were eight-years-old and seven when we bought them. We had never worked with youngsters, didn’t know how to work with youngsters and there we were...
To say that we are having the time of our lives would be an understatement. The two Z's led us to liberty training, Working Equitation, tricks (including the bow, the smile, mounting pedestals, pushing large balls) and with any luck, carriage driving. They will begin their jumping education this month and for the past two years have explored classical horsemanship (work in-hand, long reining and work under saddle).
Their adventures and misadventures are chronicled in this blog. I hope you enjoy watching how quickly these two are training us!
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Must be the lighting
September 2, 2010 | No CommentsOn Sunday four of us got together to practice some square dance moves. Bill and I were on the boys. Allen rode Kye and Sophie rode her horse, Blue. We started with Bill and me at “A” with our backs to the long horizontal mirror. Allen and Sophie were on the centerline facing us about 10 metres away. We’ve practiced from these positions several Read more »
Even the smartest man in the neighborhood…
August 30, 2010 | No CommentsSeveral years ago there was a television show titled, “Men in Trees”. When I noticed the listing I was intrigued and watched the show. I enjoyed it. Little did I realize that it was a harbinger. Last Tuesday Bill and I had just brought the horses in from the paddocks. It was 6:30 in the evening. I’d been on my feet for over ten Read more »
Directing a Pas de Deux
August 24, 2010 | No CommentsLast winter I thought about creating an act that has a pas de deux with me riding one of the Zs and the other one at liberty. Two weeks ago Bill and I actually tried it, hoping we could whip it into shape for the fund-raiser in October. We practiced with me on Zelador and Zeloso free. Zelador was very proud and Zeloso almost paid Read more »
Do-Si-Do
August 23, 2010 | No CommentsWe’ve started practicing for the October 17th Fund-Raiser . I met last week with our square dance caller. He had a CD of his band playing music. Can’t wait for the horses to hear it! Yesterday four of the six horses (there’s a rumour that we might have access to seven horses, however one of the original six has graciously said that she will Read more »
Talent, Agility and Curiosity!
August 20, 2010 | No CommentsWe’re hosting a fund-raiser for the Toronto Cat Rescue in October. Yesterday as I was turning out Brown Sugar I was discussing some of the proposed acts with Lindsey. Brown Sugar was quite interested in the conversation. We continued talking as he went into the gate and politely stood, waiting for me to unhook the lead line. Then he waited for me to close the Read more »
Brown Sugar
August 16, 2010 | No CommentsI realize that all horses are the “same” and they’re all “different”. Brown Sugar is quite interesting. The first time I showed him the big ball he made some delightful snorting noises as he stood still. A few minutes later I walked to the door to fetch his halter and leadline. Much to my surprise he gave the ball a push. It rolled five feet. Read more »
Breakthrough Treats
August 10, 2010 | No CommentsAt one point I was thinking that I should make a chart for the arena listing all the things to work on with each horse then place the date on the chart when I practice them because there are so many things that I forget to do them! Well, I was reading a book this past winter and there was a test with two groups Read more »
Bells/Click/Treat
August 9, 2010 | No CommentsAs usual, Kye was cute, really cute. He went to the piano, touched a black key and “Mary Had a Little Lamb” rang out from the piano. Kye walked over to me (stepping in time to the music) so I decided to walk around the pedestals. He followed me. I walked around the teeter-totter. Kye followed. The sound of the music is sweet and child-like. Read more »
Treats for Bells
August 6, 2010 | No CommentsAt the end of January I started working with Kye doing tricks and liberty. Yesterday he went to the jingle bells and rang them…repeatedly! He loved them. He didn’t want to leave them. The noise he made with the bells was huge! And THIS is the horse that first met the bells in February and was afraid of them. YES, AFRAID. He wouldn’t touch Read more »
Demo mode
August 6, 2010 | No CommentsJust had tons of fun with Pax, Kye, Zelador and Zeloso. Pax and Zeloso got to try picking up the toys (cleaning up after playing!). First Pax did it. When we brought Zeloso into the arena the toys were still scattered on the floor and the big plastic garbage bucket was with them. Zeloso “read” the situation, picked up a toy and put it in Read more »
Raised Floor Piano
July 29, 2010 | No CommentsThe floor piano. As you can see we needed to raise the piano to keep the sharp hooves off of it. The boys quite like the sounds that come out of this thing.
Yellow Jacket Attack
July 26, 2010 | No CommentsYesterday I opened the gate of the very small paddock (sort of a round pen) attached to the lower barn to bring in Zelador and Zeloso so we could take them up to the arena to ride, play the piano and meet the “piaffe board”. Before I could place the halter on Zeloso he went berserk. He flung himself around (he was in the paddock, Read more »
