August 24, 2008

When driving down the road I began to observe in a field along the road, two horses who were pasture mates.

From a distance, each horse looked like any other horse. But if you stopped your car, or walked by, you would be able to see something quite remarkable. If you look carefully at the eyes of one of the horses, you can see that he is blind. And if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse. The blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Perhaps we should all take this simple observation as a lesson. Perhaps we could try harder to help those who need some special assistance to negotiate the fields of life. And sometimes we might be the blind horse looking to a friend to help guide us....and at other times we might become the guide horse, helping others to find their way. Certainly we should take a little extra time--try to be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle...and certainly our world would be made better if there were more friends around with bells on.

June 9, 2007

It's going to be really hard for me to part with Piper because he is just such a sweetie, so I assure you that I will find him a good home. The photo shows Piper and me in October at the Washington International Qualifying Show... we won a 5th and an 8th out of 64 ponies. You did a great job creating an awesome pony! Today, we showed at Hazelwild Farm (it was his first show back after having about a month and a half off) and got a 3rd in Pony Equitation, a 1st, 3rd, 6th, and Reserve Champion in Pony Hunter (out of 10 ponies) and a 2nd in the Forrest Linton Memorial Pony Classic.

Kerianne

April 9, 2007

Just had to share these with you. I let the kids spend the day here, and about midway thru the morning as the kids were working with various ponies and horses...... we realized that Flutterbye was in the ring with two of her kids, and the third one was getting tacked up. I sprinted for the house and the camera to take advantage of the photo opportunity. It was great fun.

Flutter (on the end) is the dam of all and is the smallest at 11 hands with a star and snip... she is around 20 years old - Leslie Walters riding. Snugglebug - the largest and youngest with the wider blaze with the lacy edge on it - almost 3 years old, started showing - Taylor Walters riding. Firefly - the smallest, black with a narrower blaze and a petite head- almost 4 years old - started over 18" fences, started showing - Taylor Thomson riding Magic Potion - the bald face black and white - almost 6 years old, showing with Blair Bickley in Green Pony Hunter this year - Kimberly Buonomo riding.

Heather

November 10, 2006


Hello, just wanted to let you know how Maggie and Taylor are doing. Taylor showed her for the first time on Oct. 29 and they did great. He got a 2nd, a 3rd, and another 3rd on her. He was so happy with how she went.... she is very quiet and lazy at shows and you have to really work at keeping her going. When he got done and got off he said he never had to use so much leg in his life and that they were going to hurt tonight.

He has been cantering her at home regularly now and is ready to start jumping her. He said next year he is doing short stirrup on her after a couple of more walk/trot shows.

Thank you so much for this wonderful pony. She has completely changed my son and what he is willing to do. Before we got her he never wanted to canter. One week after she got here he was cantering his small pony and once and a while cantering her. He also started jumping and is trotting into lines and cantering out and cantering single jumps. He loves her very much and loves to hug on her and feed her carrots.

Lisa Ann Graves
Pardners' Farm, LLC
2990 Sixes Rd.
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
(410) 414-2171
Cell (301)742-5741
pardnersfarm@aol.com
www.pardnersfarm.com

November 3, 2006


Mrs. Hirsch,

Hello! I just wanted to give you a little update on Piper. I have decided not to sell him, but to keep him and continue showing him. I tried not to get too attached to him, but it seems like it didn't work!! He is just the sweetest thing!

Also, about 2-3 weeks ago, we went to Maryland to try and qualify for the Washington International Horse show. Piper (as always) was great. He was just hilarious in the barn... he was living the big life. Every person that walked by had to pet him because he just looked so sweet!

Anyway, we went in 5 classes, 2 warm-ups, 2 o/f pony hunter classes, and the pony hunter flat class. In the outdoor ring, he got a 5th and an 8th out of 62 people. Indoors, the ring seemed to "excite" him and was a little quick. He still had great courses though! Although we didn't qualify, it was a great experience and I would have never had that opportunity without Piper.

I just thought I would let you know that you did a wonderful job raising him and he is just the sweetest pony around. Well, I figured you might like an update, and I will try to send pictures of the qualifying show to you as soon as proofs come in! Feel free to e-mail me anytime!!

Thanks,
Kerianne

October 10, 2006


Raven and Jessica competed twice over the summer at the Keswick Hunt Club shows and did well. They have competed at some shows at Oak View Farm in Gordonsville and in one schooling show at Crossing Pointe. They finished as Reserve Champion (in total annual points) in the Green Pony Division of the Oak View Farm Horse Show Series for 2006. They are slated to compete in the VHSA Associate Horse Show Championship November 17-19 in Lexington. They will compete in the Green Pony Division.

Ashley and Raven won Reserve Champion in the Pre-short stirrup Division for a show at Oak View on September 9. This was Ashley’s first show outside of Crossing Pointe and only her second show overall. Ashley and Raven also won Grand Champion in the Pre-Short Stirrup Division at a Crossing Point Schooling Show September 23.

The girls spend time with their pony almost everyday. We are blessed beyond measure. Thanks again.

Jeff

September 12, 2006

Hi,

I wanted to update you on how Maggie is doing. Sunday Sept 10 I took her to her 1st show and she did 3 walk/trot classes with my teenage rider. She was absolutely perfect!! She was very calm and quiet, nothing got her upset. She got a 1st in her 1st class, a 3rd and a 4th.

I got so many compliments on how pretty and nice she was. We plan to take her back to this show next month and have Taylor show her in a beginner rider division that has a walk, walk/trot, and trot over 4 poles classes. I'll get lots of pics for you.

Lisa

To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.

Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle or a computer, a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily, we know we've made the right choice.

Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you -- you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves.

If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it. Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting.

In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences... if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership - and partnership is what it's all about.

If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion, in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.

You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly, but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.

If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals... Some of us need these reminders.

When you step back, it's not just about horses - it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, or a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow. We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give. To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes.

June 22, 2006

Since Maggie has come into our lives Taylor has really enjoyed riding and is even willing to try things. He started cantering two weeks after Maggie got here though I don't let him do it too often as I want her farther along so she is comfortable just carrying him around at the canter. Hope to take her to a show this weekend to hang out with us so she can see what will be in store for her with no pressures.

June 6, 2006

I wanted to share some quick pics of Dolly and Rich in the round pen yesterday. I cannot tell you how many people compliment her. Her temperament is as wonderful as she is pretty to look at. Folks that are here consistently and are around all of our horses also comment on how unbelievably sweet both Dolly and Eskimo Pie are --- guess we have to contribute much of that to Medicine Man. They are both so loveable! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to have such special ponies as part of our equine family!