I GOT A HORSE!!!!!

Today I went to a Natural Horsemanship clinic at my Pareilli trainer's house, Mrs. Tia. I only came to audit the one day (the whole clinic is five day's long). I came to learn, but I also came because something else happened to be at the clinic. :)

I loved taking pictures of this Missouri Fox Trotter. He was so funny.  

Paint Missouri Fox Trotter with the clinician. 

Remember when I briefly talked about Ollie in this post? Well, the the owner brought him down from her home two hours away because Mrs. Tia had been telling her about me as a good buyer prospect. Ms. Melissa who was trying to sell Ollie to someone to a good home, thought we would be a good match and brought him with her. Ms. Melissa also wanted Ollie to be with her two Arabs who were going with her to the clinic for the full week.

I had seen Ollie in some other pictures and I thought he was just adorable. I was very excited when I arrived to the clinic, but it wasn't until 10:00 until I could see him and after 5:00 p.m. until I could ride him because we couldn't interfere with the clinic. While I was waiting to ride him, I would stay in his holding pen and pet, cuddle, and play with him. I also led him around during the lunch break. I immediately loved his personality (He is an Left Brain Introvert, my favorite type), Ollie is very mouthy, curious, and lovable. He would whinny every time he saw me come towards me. 

Told you Ollie was curious! He tried to eat the camera. 

Ollie with Mrs. June. 

He has a very QH type head, correct conformation, pedigree, age (he is 5) and the personality to boot. I already knew I wanted to buy him before I rode him. 

After the clinic, I rode him. He has some minor things that I need to work on (harder mouth, turning, and not being pushy on the ground). But he was/is the perfect challenge for my horsemanship.

I rode on Ollie (of course) and his (former) owner rode her Arab. 

Love this picture!! 

I didn't canter him because the arena was big, the saddle was a little slippery, and because he hasn't cantered since summer. People were also watching, and so I didn't want to mess up. But as soon as he arrives then I will canter him. 

I also took him for a short trail ride. Because he is young, he is a little trippy (horses don't always know where their feet are) but he will grow out of that as he ages. 

After riding him, I had a clear choice. 

Ollie will be coming home Saturday afternoon right after the clinic finishes.  I am really excited, and I cannot wait until he arrives! Till then, I will be scouring Dover Saddlery, Murdoch's, and Big R for big horse (not mini) related stuff. Until then!!

~CBL

P.S I don't know if I should keep his name Ollie or rename him Jasper. What do you all think? 

 

Guest Post-The Last Gallop

Hello Everybody!
I am sorry that I didn't blog earlier, but I have something special to post. I got an email in my inbox from a model horsey friend of mine this evening. She had sent me a bunch of fall pictures and a story starring Forest (in the Frankel model). With her permission,I have decided to post it here. Enjoy!!
~CBL

The Last Gallop
By Sydney Fabis
Forest remembered summer well. He loved the cross country races and the humid air. He knew fall was approaching soon but he knew that it would be a while before things changed. There was an Indian summer and Forest believed that perhaps this year summer would last forever. However one late October afternoon he felt the crisp air chill. He twitched his ears to listen to the wind. It said, " Run for the last day of summer, run Forest run!" Forest knew what needed to be done. He jumped the fence and took off. The sun light glinted off his coat as he sped up, chasing the light.

He made his way onto the dirt race track and escaped into the muddy sand lot.
Forest felt the wind in his mane, encouraging him to run faster. His face was getting cold, but who would want to stop now? This was the fun part! 
Forest's legs were getting sore and his muscles were getting tight. He felt that he could run with summer forever, escape the fall and miss the freezing cold winter ahead. 

Forest made a grand lap around the farm passing everyone. The farm hands chased after with halters and treats while the instructor had to stop her lesson to stare. A man working with his roping horse followed in hot pursuit behind the beautiful bay. Forest knew he had to stop so he run back into his paddock, sweating and chuffing. He collapsed from his over whelming run and slipped into a long slumber. He awoke the next day sore and miserable and realized it had snowed. He let out an angry whinny and kicked the door. The cold winter soon came to the farm And the children were happy. Forest was angry and hated the white stuff, but he knew it would end soon. Spring was almost around the corner. Forest thought about his run every day and knew he had outrun summer. And Forest knew that it would one day come back for a rematch.

P.S Thank you for allowing me to share your story and pictures, Sydney!! I am very jealous of your Frankel.  
~CBL

Fall Headshots Part 1

If Snowfoxx gets a headstudy picture.....

Snowfoxx

...then my other models.....

Shining Chex

Ashleigh

...get headshots......

Sheza Autumn Storm

Encore

..also!

Heza Cosmic Storm 

Topsails Copper Cowboy

It is very, very cold outside, so I did not spend much time dusting them off and doing different angles. When it is warmer I will have most of my herd out for their yearly pictures. Collin, I am coming for you next!!!

~CBL

Very Busy

Hello Everybody!!!

I am so sorry that I haven't posted this week. I have been really busy horse searching, and so I have had not had much time to blog. BTW, I decided not to get either rescue horse (Leila and Leroy), but I am going to look at an Appaloosa gelding named Ollie on Wednesday. He pretty much fits everything that I am looking for, and so he will probably be coming home with me, but you never know. I will post more info in him soon. 

Ollie

So, because I have been so busy, I have been out of the model horse realm for a while. There is rumor that the Bayberry and Roses Christmas horse is going to be in short supply, and my Golden Oak Stables weekly newsletter confirmed this. Apparently, Bayberry and Roses is flying off the shelves-although I saw B&R in person, and I found him way to purple. He almost seemed like a decorator model to me.

My IMEHA results are coming in slowly, and so far Shining Chex "Yukon" got first place in his color category. I am very happy about that. My October MEPSA results should be coming in soon also, but most of the horses who went are already qualified because my printer isn't working and so I cannot print any pictures of my new models. I guess it is time to use Walmart to print my pictures now until I can get a new printer. 

Snowfoxx (above picture) sired his first foal! His colt's name is Troy, and he is owned by Trail Blazer Farms. If you want to see a picture of Troy, then feel free to go to my Pedigree website:

http://wintergreenpark.weebly.com/

If you want your foal to be sired by one of my stallions or you want a full pedigree, then be sure to send me an email! I reply very, very quickly. Your model does not need to be a foal to be sired. It just has to be the within the age of my stallions' (and if you are using one of my mares, my mares open years also) open years.

Send me an email at: cowgirlyssa@gmail.com if you are interested.

I am sure that you have noticed all of Snowfoxx's fall pictures. I took him outside for a photo shoot yesterday.I was going to take full body photos, but I got distracted and I pretty much just got Headstudy pictures. However, I think that they look pretty good!! What do you think of his pictures? Do you own Bayberry and Roses yet? What do you think of him?

~CBL

Harmony Horse Rescue Visit

As most of you all know, I have been horse searching for months and I have found few good results. Today for "fun" my mom, my younger sister Brooke, Mrs. June, and I went to Harmony Horse Rescue which happens to be five minutes down the road from our house.

There were a LOT of horses at the rescue, and they were all pretty sweet. The mare above is a 12 year old BLM Mustang named Skylar. She was STUNNING!

Stetson

Tonto

Skylar

Part of the reason I came to the rescue was to see a 4 year old mare named Leila. I was interested in her on the website, and so I wanted to see her in real life.

Leila was very sweet. She is "grade" but most certainly had/has Quarter horse and Arab bloodlines. She has been ridden over 50 times with a professional rider. She is 14.3 hands and has great bone conformation. Most of the rescue horses have "hay bellies" because they (the rescues) are trying to put as much weight on the horses as possible since they were starved and abused from previous owners. 

Pro(s) on Leila:

Good bone

Has been ridden more frequently

Good conformation

Generally has good attitude. 

Very pretty

Would be a great All-round horse. 

Con(s) on Leila:

Tends to sometimes act "marish"

Introverted

Likes to frequently spook (Note these are not BAD spooks, they are usually just sidesteps and maybe a little bolt here and there).

More insecure

Overall I liked Leila, but I wasn't sure (am sure) if I am comfortable with a "marish" and spooky horse. Of course, the spookiness should go away over time, and the "marish" stuff could also.  

However, I also found another horse who I like probably a little more than Leila. His name is Leroy. 

Leroy is only two years old, and he is coming along nicely. Horses are't fully rideable until around the age of four.  He should mature around 15hh. He is also a grade horse with Arab and Quarter horse blood. He has had over 30 rides with a professional trainer. He is already gelded, and is very, very sweet. 

Con(s) on Leroy:

Young, hasn't had as many rides, would have to do a lot of training with him myself. 

Hooves are low heeled and high toed-but that could just be a trimming problem. 

Would have to wait longer to actually ride him. 

Someone else also is interested in him. 

Pro(s)

Extroverted, loves people. 

Would have a strong bond with me if I trained him. 

Perfect height

Good conformation

Good with other horses. 

Athletic. 

Curious about everything. 

So, If I got Leroy I would have to wait longer to ride him and throughout the winter. He would need correct barefoot trims on his feet.  Mrs. Tia would help me do a lot of groundwork and riding with him. She (Mrs. Tia) would also do the first rides on him when I get Leroy (and because I want to be a trainer also, this would be a great experience). Of course, if I worked for a long time with him then we would be very, very bonded and he could hopefully be my partner for many, many years. However, someone else also really likes him, so they may be a better fit and/or get him before I do. 

My mom and I signed an application to see (and ride) both Leroy and Leila. We shall see what happens!!!

We saw foals to and they were so cute! They loved being rubbed all over. :)

Sleepy Leroy

~CBL