GETTING TO KNOW US ALL...........

Great getting to 'meet' all of you!!

I suppose it is my turn, so make yourselves a cup of tea and get comfy:


My name is Meg. I live in Cape Breton Island, with my boyfriend, Dan, and our 3 y/o daughter, Rae. I also share my house with our 2 dogs, 4 cats, and 4 fish, and my two horses are boarded just a hop, skip and a jump away.

I grew up at a standardbred track. The summer after I turned two my uncle brought me up to Tartan Downs and sat me on the back of a little mare named Jersey Popcorn, I remember every second of it: how it smelled, how her mane felt in my hand, how ginormous she was (she was actually 14.2 or something, but I thought she was at least 57hh, and remember her as such), and how I screamed bloody murder when they took me off her. I also remember quite vividly the very next year when the same mare double barreled me with both back hooves square in the chest and I had to be rushed to the hospital. Thus my love affair with horses was born, and, truth be told, my experiences have not changed much over the years.

I spent the next ten years of my life mucking, brushing, doctoring and loving on these race horses at the track, and during the summer months I'd go up the country to my cousin's house and we would ride her father's retired standardbreds, quite usually like we stole them.

We moved out to the 'country' when I was 12, and since I couldn't spend every waking moment at a racetrack, my Mother put me into riding lessons, where I picked up my passion for reining. A horse was the one thing I always wanted and the one thing I never was allowed to have, so I spent a lot of my free time in my late teens working myself to the bone on farms and backing/starting horses just to get a chance to sit in the saddle.

I took four years out of the horse scene to do the university thing, I moved around a lot, I had my daughter and some other stuff happened (shortening events for your guy's sakes!) and decided to buy my own horse, finally.

Enter Turizmo, my haywire standardbred. I had him for 3 months when he threw me, fracturing my pelvis, slipping two disks in my spine, and shattering my confidence. I've been trying for almost three years to be able to just sit back on him (heck, any horse) and ride like I used to love to. I'm hoping someone will come and smack me in the head with something good and solid and take my mind back to before our incident where I still had the 'stubborn or stupid - will ride anything' mentality!! Truth be told though, Turizmo is my 'heart' horse. We are (aside from obvious physical differences) exactly alike, and it is a sentiment that has been echoed by several friends and trainers who have met us both.


Last summer, I bought my daughter her first pony, a little hunter/jumper trained flashy thing who I am training western pleasure. Or going to be, the basics are sort of there, he just needs work and finishing, and I need time. Rae loves him dearly, and if he stops his brain from zooming for just a few seconds and focuses enough to realize she is there, he absolutely adores her as well, and gets very upset if she leaves him field of view.

Currently, I am in school to become an Electrician, and Dan and I are trying to get our ducks in a row so we can start saving for our own property. It has always been a dream of mine to have my own little farmstead and raise heritage livestock, and of course have a lovely barn and have my boys at home in the yard, and we are trying to make it a reality in as few years as possible!

And now for some pics of 'The Crew':

My Alaskan Husky, Chayce, that we got from the SPCA 4 years ago:


Mara, my American Pitbull Terrier:


My Maine Coon, Buddy:


My calico manx, Freya, in her favorite spot on top of my desk where I keep my mail:


My little black puff ball, Baby:


And my orange tabby, Zoey Bowie:


The human family, Dan is going for his 'rough and tough' look LOL:


Lunging T:


Some of my faves:



Riding in the snow, one of my favorite things:


Trail riding (I'm in the black coat with the tie around my arm:

Yeah Fiere.......that was awesome.......great pix Meg...I love the one of Rae and the Pony...........woo hoo thanks for posting.

Great idea and perfect for a rainy day. I love your house by the way Teeka.

My name is Julie and i live in the middle of the Annapolis Valley, very close to the Lawrenctown show grounds which is very convenient. Im 21 years old and have lived in the same house my whole life, minus a 6 month housesitting job i did this fall-spring. I have one horse and with my parents, 3 dogs, one is more mine though. I have had a few different jobs ranging from greenhouse worker - store cashier - michelin, trying to figure out what i wanted to pursue for education after high school and affording my horse. Im currently at Michelin as a summer student right now as i have decided to go to COGS, Lawrenctown NSCC to take Geographic Sciences.

I have always loved horses, my mothers side of the family owned a few and i would always bug to go visit. I started lessons around the age of 11 at a great western barn. I quickly ended up spending most of my time there, helping with chores, grooming etc. My parents believed i would out grow it and never opted to buy me a horse so i did as many odd jobs i could here and there from barn chores, babysitting, to strawberry picking till i was 15 and got a job at the local farm market. At the age of 16 and another solid summer of working, i had a choice to make, well my father thought i did, to me their was no question, even with the bribe of matching what i had earn to go towards a car, i chose the horse. So with help from my coach and every maritime horse ad site we searched all summer, visited a few and had a couple real close calls, but in the end settled on a little buckskin colt, green started in PEI.

The photo from the ad



Since than we've had many ups and down but im happy to say everything i've learnt in life, i've learned from my horse. Oh, and i've been poor ever since too..

We've done a bit of everything, the original plan was just to ride for fun and trail ride, i thought show shirts were completely hideous and had no attention of ever showing. That quickly changed and our main focus was always western pleasure, but dabbled in reining a bit as i was at a mainly reining barn. Changing to a barn with multiple disciplines we started to give english a try a well, first just flat stuff, than working up to a few small jumps. That farm sold and we were forced to move again. Found a great spot in Larcenctown, the focus is split half/half between english and western but we all get along great and help each other out.

Almost 5 years later, we've changed up our main focus to reining and western pleasure on the side, with a tiny bit of english. Dawson will be 7 this year and has grown a lot, finally widen as well as height.

A few recents



and one of my pup too, 11 year old Nikki

I have had horses all my life. I live in Woodstock NB on the farm I grew up on. I had my first pony (Queenie) in 1969, as she was raised by my parents. Her and I grew up together and I had her until she was put down in 1986. My sister(Freva) and I were introduced to the world of showing in 1976. I showed Queenie and she showed some Quarter horses my parents raised. By 1978 our farm had our own stallion and 2 or 3 mares. In 1978 my parents bought me my first show horse by the name of Brandy. She was a morgan cross and I showed her from 1978 to 1981. Unfortunately Brandy developed arthritis and had to be put down. I finished the 1981 show season with my sister's mare Four Aces Charm. In the fall of 1981 my parents purchased a QH mare named Darby's Kiss for me. Kissy and I showed successfully in NB and Maine in both the open and QH circuits. In 1984 Strutsomestuff was born on our farm and my parents let me keep her. I went to many clinics, but Strut was solely trained by me and I showed both horses for a few years. In 1989 I got married and my showing days got numbered. I lost Kissy in 1990 to an twisted intestine. My last show was in 1993, but I have taught lessons from the time I was 16. Strut was my main lesson horse and has taught many children how to ride. I taught my last lessons in 2010 and Strut had officially retired.
I still have Strut (27) and a black QH mare named Molly (24). They are my pasture ornaments. I have a wonderful husband and a son (19) and a daughter (17). My family also has 2 chocolate labs (Moca and Coco), a yellow lab mix (Nugget) and 4 cats.

This was Queenie and I.

This was Brandy and I.

This was Kissy.

This was Strut as a baby and again as a yearling.

I will bore you all with a little bit of my history. I am located in Jacksonville, New Brunswick which is near Woodstock. We are right in the farming belt. Our house is surrrounded by corn, potatoes, canola etc. I live exactly halfway between oldladynewhorse, who is my cousin and StrutSomeStuff, who is my sister....so if anyone ever comes to visit...you can be stuck with all 3 of us!!! I am 51 one years old and my husband, Fred and I just celebrated our 30th Anniversary on July 25. He is a most patient man.....when we met he was not an "animal" person but I have shanghaied him into, 17 horses 2 cats and my totally spoiled Daschund, Dipsy...so I am thinking he loves me just a little..lol We have 3 great sons, 2 married and one single...and looking!!! Also have 4 of the most beautiful grandbabies in the world, 3 boys and a girl.

I was born into a family who raised horses so I have never had a day without one. My parents began raising ponies in the 1950's. My father died when I was a little over a year old but my mom continued raising ponies and when she remarried, she and my stepfather started breeding Quarter horses in the mid 70's....a few of the foals even qualified for the Congress. Over my childhood there were several wonderfully stubborn ponies....I sometimes think they were the best riding teachers there are...my mom always said if you can ride a pony...you can ride almost anything!!! In my early teens we raised a sweet little grulla paint pony mare, Gypsy. She was the first horse that I really trained all by myself. I kept growing and she didn't so I saved two years worth of babysitting money to buy my first AQHA mare, Four Aces Charm in 1976 when she was 5 months old. I started her under saddle and we attended a few shows but I handed her over to my sister when her mare came up lame.....she and Charm were a good team. Charm came with me when I got married and she raised 10 lovely babies for us . I lost her in April of 2010 just 6 weeks shy of her 34th birthday....we had over 33 years together. I still miss the old coot !!!

I also worked as a groom for an Arabian show stable in my teens and twenties....I really enjoyed that. I do not ride a great deal anymore...we are primarily an APHA/AQHA mare/foal operation but we have some really nice, gentle well broke mares and I do go on the occasional trial ride. I love the babies and we really just enjoy watching our gang just be horses. Fred has a team of Fjords as toys so we are happy campers.

I am a care provider for seniors...also do a bit of house cleaning...prefer to do other people's rather than my own!!!!

I love my family and friends. I love to laugh. I love food and unfortunately, it shows. I love my animals....life is good!!!!

ME provides good information, great support and almost the feeling of an extended family. I truly enjoy it and look forward to finding out a bit more about my fellow ME'ers!!!!!

**** I am digging through some old albums to see if I can find some older pics...will post pics a bit later.

OMG......I go out to the local Community Centre for a Kitchen Party and come back and the pages are filling up............THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU LADIES...........WOOO HOOO
RobinsKelticBuckaroo,
Strutsomestuff
Freva

honestly ladies you made my day........I;m thrilled you took the time to post.......YEAH..... :cowboyhound.gi AND VAL, IF you need help with the pix let me know. AND YOU DIDNT MENTION LADDY ONCE......

So my name is Azure Dawn... And I'm sure atleast half of you are trying to figure out what exactly that means and how to pronounce it! Back in 1976 when my mom was laying in the back of the old shaggin wagon on the way to hospital, she said the only thing she could see was a blue sky (the colour known as Azure) with not a cloud to be found. Since it was early in the morning she decided my name would be Azure Dawn... Sky blue morning. Alright, let's hear the collective awwwww. Lol.



I grew up in a subdivison outside Halifax but that didn't stop me from loving everything horsey. I got my first horse, a greenbroke morgan mare, when I was 15.



We all know how that turned out... A messed up pelvis and a few concussions later, I sold her. There was another gelding I had briefly after her but had to sell him after my first year of university.

After school I built a house, got married and bought my once in a lifetime pony, Major, followed soon after by Dexter.


One of my favorites of Maj and I... despite the attire on both of us



As life usually does, everything went to thistle and I was divorced and on my own with my 2 horses and 4 cats on my 30th birthday. Yes, my divorce was official on my actual 30th birthday... How's that for a double kick in the pants! Hahahah

I suppose I should mention something about my work- can you tell it's not at the top of my priority list. I'm a Agricultural technician/lab instructor/research lab manager/finance officer/researcher at the NSAC. And if anyone adds anymore slashes to my title, my head is going to explode! Some work pics

Hahaha, I'm the big nerd hiding in the back.


I much rather be doing this (this is a carrot harvester)


An oldie, 2004 I think.



So, now I live on my own with 3 horses, Dexter, Prince and George (sadly I lost Major in 2007), my dog Duke, 6 cats (Nicki, Norman, Molly, Mizmo, Peaches and Yogi. I have another dog Lily that now lives with my boyfriend most of the time. I also have some chickens. I have a cozy house and barn on 10 acres... It's perfect for me :)

Dex

Prince

George

Duke and Molly. He's still a pup here...changed a lot since then in his markings.

Lily as a pup, at work with me

Nicki

Norman

Peaches

Mizmo

Yogi


I love to cook and garden, which kind of go hand in hand. I hate hot weather and rain, October is my favorite month. My favorite colour is blue - go figure. I play the piano and trumpet (right ladies hahahaha!) And sing in the shower. Lol I love thunder and lightning, the smell of fresh cut hay, and the smell of the first snow in the air :)

I have one brother who is currently driving across the country (literally - from Whitehorse) to come home after 14 years. He's probably somewheres in Ontario right now.

My brother, dad and I


I love my ME friends and look forward to every time we get together in person.


There's probably lots I'm forgetting about, but that's me in a nutshell :)

Wonderful stories! This was a great idea, Joan.


Azure, the story behind your name is wonderful. More so with the shaggin wagon. LOL

You took the words right outta my mouth Fiere about the Shaggin Waggin..........if its rockin dont come knockin......hahaha..........great stuff Azure. Woo Hoo.........

Good Morning Ladies.......Monday Aug 1........sure hope you all had a great long weekend and you are all home safe and sound. You should have lots of stories to tell and pictures to share I am sure.

We started this blog off with a real flourish and I sure would like to see it continue that way.

We have 17 intrepid souls who have shared with us so far. Lets keep it going, there are still 418 of us who have yet to take the plunge............WE WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU ALL.......... :cowboyhound.gi

Okay... I started this once and the boyfriend shut the computer down so I`ll try again. LOL

I have always had horses from the time I came home from the hospital with my 16 year old mom! We lived with my grandparents and my grandfather was always the one that kept me in horses. I can`t even begin to name them all. So many have entered and exited our barn doors. I shared his passion and I guess that`s why after his death in 2006, his place and all his belongings came to me. So now I have a three bedroom farm house, a barn, out buildings and about 60 acres of land just outside Kentville on Route 12.

My first pony was King. I dapple grey geriatric that had to be 30 if he was a day. Crippled ol soul but had a heart of gold. I dragged that thing around as soon as I could walk. It was not until I was 4 that I decided I wanted something I could actually move with when I sat on. So we went and looked at this pinto pony colt. I did the dealing. I offered the guy my old King pony and $100 to boot. Told him to take it or leave it.
I got the pony after the tears stopped streaming down his face.
It was not until I turned 18 that I learned the King pony never made it to his new home but was put down and is buried under an old maple tree on my grandfathers place.
I named the pony Windbreeze or Breezy for short. It`s all I ever felt when I rode her. There was no slow in that thing. I think I got on her twice. I lost her to an electric fence accident before our 4 month anniversary. I bawled and cried and finally got over it. I started school that fall and when I came home off the bus my grampy had bought me another. Aother dapple pony, Queenie who travelled home in the covered pick up. I had her until I was 20.

At 8, my parents moved my brother and I across Canada. I went almost 7 years without a steady horse in my life. Spending only summers with my grandparents and my ponies. At 11 my grampy called me to tell me he bought me my first horse. I never met her. We didn`t make it home that summer and I told him to sell her. My next horse was a pinto gelding named Gypsy. He terrified me. 3 year old, green broke. We sold him to someone who could make something out of him.
I begged and borrowed friends horses for the chance to ride. One summer I even did the barrel racing circuit in the rodeos. I rode a rank little bay QH named babe. She could run like stink tho!

When I turned 15 we moved back home. With the help of my parents I bought another horse. An Appy gelding named Dylan. He was a chicken baby! 15 years old and loved to run. I raced him until the summer I put him down. He was 25. I will never find another like him!

Today I`m the owner of 5 horses. A QH mare my grampy decided to buy me as a baby. She turned 9 this year. I put all the work on her myself. I always said I wanted to start one on my own. That way anything that is wrong with her is my fault and no one elses. A 2 year old filly from Foothills ranch, a retired palomino that I rescued (hey Jocelyn!) and a team of Belgian mares that must be my midlife crisis! Or the start of one.



Of course then I meet a man that`s as horse crazy as I am and well guess what.... We are gonna need a bigger barn. Total tally makes 11 with one on the way.

Oops!

OK Joan - just for you.

Now remember I am older than dirt so this might get a little long. I was born in MB but spent my early years in Ottawa. I had my first riding lessons at 12 with a German instructor. I can still here his voice when I ride - he was kinds scary!! We moved to Greenwood in '71 (my Dad was in the Military) and started my 4 year love affair with the Greenwood Saddle Club. I never owned a horse but never had any problem finding a horse to ride - of course I would ride anything with 4 legs so rode some pretty bad ones but also some amazing ones. I had lessons with Philip and Carolyn Hinson, Sue Fraser and did some Pony Club with Susan Newcomb. I went to Community College after High School and just ran out of time to ride and then with working, getting married and moving to Edmonton sort of lost horses in my life. Add 2 kids to the mix, my husband joining the Military and moving a couple of times and things got worse until my daughter started to ride. Comox is where I got to be the horse mother and even got to ride a few times myself. We moved again this time to Shearwater. By this time I was in the Military myself but at least my daughter was still riding so still got to go to the barn. Fast forward - My kids are grown up and gone and my husband and I retire and move to 10 acres in the country. Within 2 months I had a PMU mare that would barely let me touch her and she was pregnant to boot. LOL

She had a beautiful filly we named Jazz and I worked at ground training with both. Munchkin (she came with the name - she had been orphaned at birth) is now a true pet - and she can be handled without any trouble but she will never be able to be ridden. Jazz went to Calgary to live with my daughter but she found she could not afford to keep her so she sold her as an embryo transfer mare and she just had her first foal last month and will be impregnated again this month.

I had been volunteering with the ATRA ladies at their competitive trail rides and endurance rides and really wanted a horse I could ride so I called a number I found on AR and bought a lttle 7/8 Arab gelding from NL without ever riding him. Am I sorry? - not a chance! He is adorable and a great ride. Fell off last year (He was standing still at the time - a long story VBG) and broke my collar bone and four ribs so ony have managed 1 competative trail ride in the almost three years since I have had him. He is a lovely flea bitten grey named Pepper

In order to support my horse habit I went back to work almost four years ago and now have a 45 minute commute to the city twice a day so I am lucky to ride once a week but somebody has to pay for the hay and the feed and my marvelous barefoot trimmer. Even if I could never ride again I love them dearly and am happy to just watch them out my kitchen window.

That is my horse story - I have been married to the same guy for 34 years, two children, my daughter Erin is an AHT now in Ottawa, my son Ryan, is in the Military as am I and he is in Shearwater as well. I work for the Nova Scotia Cadet Detachment and we take care of the people who train the kids that are in the cadet program - the best youth organization in the world. And because I have so much free time on my hands (?) I also raise, show and breed Havanese dogs and I have 5 of them that live here in the house with me. Two barn cats, some laying hens and 24 meat birds round out the animals here on the farm.

I still volunteer to help wth the rides, have bought a horse trailer so I can get myself to some rides as well as, hopefully, some clinics, work as a ring steward so I am usually busy weekends 3 seasons of the year but wouldn't have it any other way. After all I get the snowy weekends off!!! LOL

Woooooooo HOOOOOOOOOOOOooo MountainCowGirl and MUNCHMOM........sure hope you guys will add pictures I for one am dying to know what a Havanese dog looks like....and if you dont know how......I can help..........hahaha............ Havanese dog.......... is this what your guys look like Munchmom??
It was terrific to read your stories, thank you thank you thank you....... :cowboyhound.gi

Ok I posted pix - they disappeared I will try again tomorrow - off to bed up early for work ....ZZZZZZZZZ

Thanks for trying to post pix munchmom, if you need help tomorrow, just buzz me or something.

Hi, let me introduce myself! My screen name is Moonshadow, but my birth name is Diana,
Diana-Lynn to be exact. I prefer to be called Die. I was born way back in 1959, which makes me almost as old as dirt. 52. I was born in Sydney, CB, smack dab in the middle of a "Soap Opera:.. and hence began the drama, which has not stopped yet. ( Any one who knows me can attest to the on going bizzare events which fill my life).
I have always been a lover of horses, and have soul filling dreams of riding top speed, wind blowing through my hair, as we dance among the clouds. Yeah.. wake up! As a little girl, my cousin and I would draw, color, and cut out horses and play for hours with our beauties.
I got my first real horse when I was 15, it was a bribe. My mother had recently divorced and remarried, and was moving me from a town, school, friends, ..social network to the country. To quiet my on going moans and groans, a promise of a horse .... His name was Lucifer. He was a lovely 18 hand, "warm blood".. clyde/quaterhorse X. He was lovely with his strawberry roan coat, and red tail and mane, huge lovely feet with feathers. I was happy, at first. But my dream horse didn't come with tack, ( nor could my parents afford the special saddle he would require due to his size) . He also didn't come with riding lessons, either. So I mustered up all the memories I had of all the many westerns movies I had watched and tried to emulate the hollywood cowboys, riding through our fields bareback with just a bridle. Now Lucifer was a smart horse.... he would take me galloping a goodly distance from any fence, tree or any other object that I could stand him next too, so I could climb apon his back.. Running as fast as he could.. me filled with excitement, then he would STOP dead in his tracks, lower his head, and I would fly forward, slide down his neck, Slamming nicely into the ground. He'd nicker is giggle.. wander off grazing quietly, whilst I laid waiting for my breath to return. So I'd hitch my buttercup up, gather up his reins, and together we would walk home. I tried once hacking him with a good friend who also had horses. That was when I found out my lovely "gelding", had a hankering for mares in heat. So on the ground I went again, with him tearing off acrossed a neighbours field, chasing down some lovely mares. My friend and her horse, Lonesome rounded him up.. another long walk home for me. Sadly Lucifer and I parted ways.. he was just too much horse for little me. I then filled my need for all things equine, riding other folks, trained horses.. with tack!!
I lost my interest in horses when I meet my first husband.. well didn't so much loss interest, just didn't have the money to persue it anymore. I had 2 beautiful girls from that union. Nicole my eldest who has an incredable voice, which she shares on stage in the many musical theatre productions she gets involved with. She got the theatre bug from me, which is another aspect of who I am.. a thespian.. but thats another story for a different page. My second daughter, Becky (Crippledcowgirl) was born 16 month after Nicole. Becky was born with a serious heart defect, and has required medical attention all her life. Together Becky and I have spent many a night in hospitals, her in a bed, and me in a chair..in her room or in a waiting room. She has recovered from 5 open hearts, one spinal surgery, and many many more invasive procedures. No time for horses through those years. I found myself divorced and remarried in my early 30's, and from that union came another baby girl. Jazzmon ( Jazzmint). She was the one that fired up all things equine in me again. She was born with the horse bug too. Now in my late 30's I find myself divorced again, and remarried again. This union brought with it not only a new husband ( Greg) but his 2 sons. So we do all we can to make this blended family work. Due to loss of our jobs, we had to sell our homes, and move to PEI, where we bought a farm, set up our own company, selling imported fresh flowers to the florist. Life was being kind to us then. When we moved, Nicole had just moved out on her own, living in Halifax and studing with the Neptune Theater school. So we only had 4 of our 5 kids on PEI. They all seemed to be happy and making friends and doing well in school. Each had their own thing of interest. Jazz's being riding lessons.. and from there it naturaly evolved into us having our own horses. I received a call in December about a lovely Stb who had broken his knee during training, but even after surgery and physio, would not be able to stand the rigors of racing. This fellow needed a home, and would we like him. I was thinking what a wonderful Christmas gift for Jazz, but for various reasons, we didn't end up getting him until January. Our farm was not ready for a horse, with its falling down building and no fencing, so we found a place close by to board Henkel Rd.. ( now called Mr Eko,.. named after one of the characters in the show "LOST".) We so wanted to bring him home. So set out to find him a buddy, and of course a horse for me to ride. Thats when I met and fell madly inlove with a short compact appy, called Shadow. He was perfect, with his silver mane and tail, and the most lovely spotted butt I have ever seen. Even his smell was perfect. So having found him, Greg and his youngest son, converted the falling down building, strung fencing ( all in a snow storm in Feb.), hired a trailer, and picked up our 2 new boys. They bonded on the trip home, and have been thick as thieves since. Well being close to 50, when they arrived, I was not as prepared to ride as I had thought I was. I had been very sick for a few years, and my strengh and muscle tone were depleted. The fear I felt being too weak to ride when I was up on Shadow, left both of us not in a great place. He felt my fear, so became tight and ansy himself, which made me more fearful. Long story short.. I don't ride now, but I love to groom, feed, and just spend time with my horses. I have not lost hope that maybe someday I will be strong enough, both physicaly and mentaly to ride again.
It was during this time of uncertainty around riding Shadow, that I read an ad about a home needed for Ikeda. A drop dead gorgous registered flea bitten Arab mare. She was very well trained and gentle. Just needed some special requirements, due to allergies and breathing issues. I could provide the home she needed. So on a long weekend in May, this stunning mare joined the boys. I adore her, she adores Greg..lol.. She does however tolerate me, gently and nicely. She has allowed me to ride her, and has settled some of the demons in my head ..who scare me about riding.

Then our business hit hard times.. real hard times, and it has been an on going struggle to keep my beauties, and give them everything they need and deserve. We have had to leave our beloved farm on PEI, and move back to NS, where Greg has finaly secured work. We are renting a place that is less than stellar for us or the horses, but it does allow us to stay together.. so far. We are also back home so that is a bonus as well. Home for us is Oxford, NS.

Greg and I meet through the local theatre group here, called the Maple Players. We have both been in stage productions since we were in our early teens, its a big part of who we both are. We actually had our wedding on the stage in the local theatre venue, where we did our first play together.

Another recent development is that Becky has become significantly ill, where she needs full time care, and has come home to live with us again, so I can profide the care she needs along with some assistance from VON, and palitive care Nurses. She loves the horses, dogs and kitty, so they help her to feel better too.

Just as important to me are my dogs, Daisy the beagle, and Kele the Collie/coyote cross. I love these pooches so much. They are lovely girls, eash with there own quirky personalities that make them fit this family so perfectly. There is also Ling Ling Loo, .. a siamese cat, who made me.. an non cat person, a bonafide cat person now. She is the most affectionate, communicative cat I have ever had the pleasure to share an abode with. I swear she has a human soul.

So that was the condensed version of who I am, and who I love. I will add photos, once I get my photobucket up and running again.. new computer and lost my pass words.. grrr... Please forgive all the spelling errors. I'm using some elses computer and they don't have spell check.

Here come the photos... hang on to your hats folks ... I have plenty, and have a hard time choosing.

First a few of my first boy Lucifer. I would take my little sister and brother for rides. No helmits back in the day..or any safety gear of any kind..ekkk!




Myvery first ride on Shadow, under Jazz's quiet direction and assurance.

This is Eko ( Henkel Rd) as a baby.. this photo is blown up and on the wall of fame at the Racino in C'town.


This is me and my super hubby Greg


My eldest daughter Nicole, with Ikeda, and Eko



Becky with Shadow


Eko

Jazz on Eko

Kele



Daisy


Jazzz and Ikeda


Jazz and Eko


Random Favs!









Ling Ling Loo

Moonshadow, that was awesome..........thank you so much for sharing with us.... AND as a matter of fact Die, your spelling was much better than usual....hahaha :cowboyhound.gi

I added some pics Joan :) Tried to find some that I have never posted anywheres before so you have something new to look at

Yup, pretty sure I just fell in love with a kitty! Thinkin I may just have to make a trip to your place Azure, to kitty nap Yogi! Handsome kitty!

Munchmom, do you work with the air cadets in NS? You may know my father in law, he's heavily involved with them :)

My name is Nicole and I was born a horse addict. At around age ten in Chatham NB my Dad enrolled me in weekly riding lessons where I learned the basics. My parents were divorced and I spent most of the summer just outside of Sackville NB with my Mom. Her neighbour had horses and my step sisters and I would spend everyday with the horses doing pretty much whatever we wanted because the neighbour was at work. He was in his 50's with no help with his hobby and loved the fact that we cleaned the stalls, rode and groomed the horses. That's where I really learned how to ride. He had a young mare named Gypsy that I always rode. I wasn't supposed to ride her off the property alone, but I was 13 and no one was supervising me. Gypsy and I would ride everyday across the Tantramar marshes, galloping in the wind. It was crazy! No helmet. I'm surprised I didn't die but I NEVER came off that horse. That was so much fun.

My sisters and I knew the mare kicked from working around her all the time but never said anything because we thought we wouldn't be allowed around the horses anymore. Gypsy kicked her owner one day in the field and was later sold. I still regret not saying anything, but being kids we didn't want to loose what we had.

In school I was always friends with the kids whose families had horses so I could get more time around them and I volunteered at a trail riding establishment in Dorchester for quite a few years. Anything to be around horses.

At 15 I worked all summer and saved every penny to buy a horse. My Dad bought a small farm in Hoyt, NB and matched my earnings to buy fencing and fix the barn. On August 27th Cross Road Willie was delivered. That was the best day. Sadly, exactly two months after he was delivered he was hit by a car and killed. That was the worst time of my life. Everyone had come to love Willie during that time, even my Dad would take him out on trail rides alone so it only took us a couple of months to buy another horse. We found Devon, Goldig's Devonaire, a registered buckskin Morab (I'd love to know where she is if anyone has heard of her) who was in foal to a registered paint. That's where/how Beauty, my current horse came from. Beauty was born 2 months after we brought Devon home. I then left my Dad's to live with my Mom and got out of horses for quite a few years. My Dad had Beauty professionally backed and considering he was a total beginner did a pretty good job of bringing along a green horse.

Fast forward 5 years and Jason and I get together. He's totally non horsey. My Dad is getting tired of being tied down with the horse at home. I decided to board Beauty in Memramcook where we were living and she is shipped down from my Dad's to ME :). We boarded for about 2 months and then bought our hobby farm in Midgic with 10 acres. There was no way Jason was going to remain non horsey. After finally finding him the right horse (took 2 tries!) he found his confidence in Benjamin the Canadian and now is as much of an equestrian as I am, which is wonderful. We ride and drive the Canadians. I ride Beauty most of the time.

We joined ACTRA this year and I did one 16 mile judged pleasure ride with Beauty...I'm hooked! I've volunteered at 2 additional rides this summer and can't wait to get a truck/trailer so Jason and I can both get out there on horses. Endurance is so much fun.

We are both performance barefoot hoof trimmers and keep our horses as naturally as possible.

Now for a few pics....

Beauty and I - 10 y/o Morab/Paint mare


Beauty again


Benjamin and Jason after a trail ride


Jason driving Caramel (chestnut) and Benjamin (Dark Bay). They are both Canadians and 23 and I think 19 y/o


Bear - 24 y/o STB (who would love to find a home with 24hr turnout as a companion horse to one other horse)


We also share our house with 5 dogs, a Siamese cat and 2 other cats.
6 y/o Little Girl


3 y/o Elphie (Little Girl and Cooper's son)


4 y/o Cooper


and Bentley & Lucky, 11y/o Dalmatian crosses


To says its hectic around here is an understatement, but we love them! This really reminds me that I need to take some new pics.

Barefoot............wooo hoo for joining in girl, was really terrific to meet your whole herd. i LOVE Jasons' face cuddling Benjamin.......

Sexy Dexy Cindyrelly,...I really appreciate the NEW pix....especially the one where you look like the rebel hippy with the long curly blonde hair..........thank you.

Moonshadow..........well lady, I guess yoiu found your Mojo with the pictures........great job, and really, thanks for taking the time.


THANK YOU............. :cowboyhound.gi

NOW, WHERE THE HECK ARE THE REST OF YOU GUYS....... you posted something.... we want to GET TO KNOW YOU ALL...........come on already.

Hi, like the rest I too love the equines. It started when my Dad would put me in front of him and fasten a big belt around the both of us - talk about safety, oh yeah we rode on the back of the pickup and stood up in the front seat of the car too. Horses have always been a part of my life living our mixed family farm. First horse Goldie was a Welsh pony that was a bit miserable, hated men and loved too run away with me. I rode her bareback everywhere and a few places I shouldn't have. She and I would race in the potato fields as fast as she could go. This mare taught me how to ride and unfortunately died having a filly for me. The filly Gypsy was raised on a bottle and was the first horse I ever broke to ride. Burnham Stables was my first horse paying job and I got to exercrise and show client the horses that Mr. Burnham brought in from the west. My grandfather was a horse trader too and I had lots of experience with different ones he brought home.

My Dad built my first horse trailer and he and I travelled to local shows and to ones in Mane and Fredericton. I also attended several clinics in Woodstock and Perth. They were for a week at a time and the Perth club is still doing these after 40 plus years.

I will have been married for 39 years this November to my high school sweethear and best friend. John farms with my brothers on our 800 acrea farm growing potatoes for McCain Foods (eat those MacDonald fries)different types of grain, canola and soybeans. Hillview Farms also is a dealer for Bishop Seeds and we custom clean grain for the local farmers. We have two daughters, both married and one granddaughter and another grandchild on the way. My eldest daughter Darcy shares my quarter horse mare with me and Wendy the youngest lives in Ottawa.

I am a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable inspector for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and inspect, audit and enforce regulations regarding the movement of vegetable (mainly potatoes) for interprovincial, import and export trade. I have been with the Agency for 20 years and prior to that I was a medical secretary for a private clinic for 13. Retirement can occur early 2013 and if all goes well will consider making arrangements to have my horse on the farm. I can see the beautiful Saint John river from my front porch and have access to the old rail bed for riding. So we will see.

I was without a horse for about 8 years and after the girls went to college I had more time to devote to riding and caring for a horse again. I board my mare in Woodstock at the same barn oldladynewhorse is at and eventhough we would have room here on the farm; it is more convenient at this time of my life while I am still working and when my husband and I want to take a few days off to keep Fax there.

So routinely I ride every other night and on the weekends all year round. The barn owner has a great outside ring and an indoor one for winter or when the weather is bad. Also there are large fields and trails to ride on.

Everyone has had that special horse in their life and I havebeen lucky to have had two plus the one I have now. The Fax Machine as we call her is 15 and was shown prior to my buying her 3 years ago. We had shown and attended clinics since I purchased her and even did a reining clinic which was totally new for me and we had a great ride.

Almost forgot my Jack Russell - Tilley who is 15 also and going strong. Well that is her name but she responds to Treaty better and can pee on comand for a doggie biscut.

Well her goes nothing, but I hope lots. I did not mention that my husband and I drive motorcycles. John was an instructor for many years and I have not driven much in the last 4 years and we have had great trips on the bike. A picture of us in Arizona in Sun Valley. Pray this works.


[img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img]

Brown, thank you, it was a real treat to see you had posted this morning...... I have never known a dog to pee on command.....hahaha................

Well lets see I was born in Lynn Mass and lived in Saugus Main 103 Great woods Rd.. Born on a horse farm so have always had horses in my life.. Mom said I started riding before i was born. My first pony was Jigger Bugs a little black mini, than went to Blue boy who always tried to kill me : (, Than we had dusty a paint pony my brother john rode more than me and we got Tony the pony Bad little thistle, than Candy whom i used to race, than mom finally broke down and bought me a good pony Goldie clean up on him and than i moved on to my moms quarter horse Pistol Laro King. Than god we moved to NS....
There is a such a story but long so wont get into it all.. Mom sold Goldie and leased out king, we lost him for years and than my cousin found him at a trail ride place and we got him back. Mom and dad split so we had to give up horses for years than when i got on my own started to lease here and their and than bought Rainie who at the time you couldn’t tell what breed she was but turned out to be a arab. Had her since she was i think 2, backed her and got her going on my own and she became my everything horse, she loved penning.. Than she went to live her retirement days with my good friend Terri.. So i have lived in Florida for a while had horses down their, worked at vet hospitals in Florida and NS.. I now manager storage company in Halifax which i love... I have a great man after going through some blue bonnets and was married once to a man who got drunk and beat the thistle out of me and I left and never went back and will never ever be treated like that again I am way better than a punching bag, sorry bad time of my life.. Now I have Sam who loves and treats me like gold and loves me just the way i am.. i have all the stuff in my life i love, My mom, sisters TC (Alli) and Maverick (her 3 kids) and my kids and grandson Ben and my grand Daughter Albi who will be here in Oct, My puppies and Kitty and ponies and of course Able my goat! Life is good and I have all my great friends who are always there when i need them... so there is a little of my life ..

First Picture is Tony the pony back ground is my mom on King the big black horse, Middle picture is me on candy and bottom is me on Goldie..

Is me with King when i was 7 and mom on king than me on king after we got him back i was 18

This is my Paint horse Ghost ( real hopful) in Florida and Krissy when she was a baby..
thats a start to my life