"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!
Chewing
I just had the most amazing ride on Zelador. Since I returned from Europe I’ve been thinking…when you touch the rein on a Grand Prix dressage horse what do you expect? You expect softness, chewing, no tension. So… that’s what
Animal Communication
Hi, Lindsey Hunt will be holding an Animal Communication Clinic here at Winsong Farm (located near Nobleton, Ontario) Sunday August 24 from 10:30 to 3:00. I’ve been intrigued about animal communication for quite a few years. When I was writing
Trip to Europe
Hi, “Hips to hands! Hips to hands! Let the horse carry you. Your leg is on the horse. Do you want it to do something? I don’t see anything happening. If you put your leg on the horse it must
Late yesterday afternoon Kye was shipped to Canter Call for a jumping session with Sophie. I tagged along to film the session, but I had trouble focusing on the task. You see, Canter Call has access to hundreds of acres
Lynda Southam Clinic
Hi, Here’s an email I received from my friend and high level dressage judge, Lynda Southam. She’s looking at holding a clinic at Winsong Farm in the end of October. She describes the format below. I emailed back asking
What Zelador Said
Today a most unusual thing happened. The horses totally understand coming in from the paddock in the afternoon. Sherlock (age 27) and Kye (age 18) come to the gate when I call. I take both of them to the barn,
Rotating Top Pedestal
Bill stabilized the 16 inch high rotating top pedestal yesterday. He added about ten horizontal feet at the bottom, protruding outwards, lying on the ground. Now when the horse places his foot on top of the pedestal the top does
Kye’s pre-training
Kye and Sophie Kalpin were in an event today near Hockley Valley. We just got back and, believe me, we’re going nowhere this evening! He was in Pre-Training. Kye got fifth and if he hadn’t incurred a few time penalties
The Boys
Zeloso and I actually enjoyed each other’s company today. He wasn’t such a CLOWN. Beverley Chubb gave me some insight into this horse last night (Monday). Saturday I detected something strange in his left front heel. I showed it to
Attention Span
“The horse pays exactly as much attention to you as you pay to the horse.†Daniel Nummer has this saying as one of his Principles of Horse Training. Zelador personifies this principle. Bill was leading him from the paddock to
Poll
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