Having fun with snow...

Long time no blog

The last weeks were very busy and only my sickness (tonsillitis, auf deutsch Mandelentzündung) gives me the chance to tell you some words about the last weeks (better to say, last month). Two weeks after carrying Dimma to her new home I went to her again. I was unbelievable happy to see the progress of relationship in her little herd. Now the son of Scotty (he's not yet named, but I'll call him "Little Man" in the further lines) is the best friend of Dimma and both are playing, fighting and running together like brothers and sisters. Dimma is also allowed to eat and stand not far away of Scotty. This was incredible during the first days. But now it seems as if Dimma arrived fine in her new family/herd. Actually she is sometimes a little bit bugged about Little Man who always wants to play but she would like more to have silence during eating time. Then she is showing him who's the boss. But most time she is just following his invitation to play :o)
The same weekend Klaus gave a clinic about ground work with horses. I was not taking part at this clinic and just taking photos but it was hard for me not to have Baga there and playing the same games. Baga had a little break in November because Christiane, my friend and chiropractor for animals, came to set her bones. It was the first time for Baga but essential. There were no chance to bend Baga on her left hand during riding. After this session we started with easy training. I can not yet say how effective the session was but progress have still been seen. But the days after I only did ground work with Baga so I can not tell you more until now. The weather makes riding more complicated at the moment. Either it's dark outside or the riding circle is wet. But what do I tell you???
Ground work is ok for me, I only have a problem with playing something new every day. Baga is very interested and curious about our playing but if I repeat the games too often, her interest is gone immediately. But I try to use my imagination as often as possible to keep the fun. Few days ago Baga circled an eight around barrels in trot! Few months ago there was no chance to ask her about! Same with jumping. Baga is no jumping horse (not like Dimma who managed to jump over an euro-pallet) and she will always go around an obstacle instead of jumping over it. But short time ago I had Baga with me but not fastened on the rope (at liberty) and after her joy-minute (when Baga turns into an extrovert and starts running and bucking like a mustang) she had some concentration to listen to me and followed me loose over many obstacles - also a little jump. This day I could feel after long time again how it is to have a horse which is your partner!

Hm, I have many more to tell and some more funny pictures but this seems to be a nice bottom line for my blog today :o)

New home

Dimma arrived at the Seven-Gate-Ranch yesterday.

An autumnal walk

There are no big news I could tell you. But last weekend we celebrated the wedding of Bille and Matze. Here is one picture of the beautiful bride.
Otherwise nothing exciting happend because I was only working (11 hours each day) and didn't had much time for Baga. Everytime if I planned to drive to Klaus and Gudrun I had to cancel this because of less free time.
But today I went riding with Baga to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather. I love the time if the trees are changing their colors. Last time as I were riding in the country I was missing my camera to collect all these beauty autumn colors but today I was more clever! Some pictures were taken in the saddle and some outside.






After the great walk outside I put Baga on the riding ground to give her the possibility to roll (welter) in the mud. After it she seemed to be very satisfied. Same like me!

Hen night, autumn and cutting

Last Saturday I went riding through the forest with Baga. We got lost but it was funny to find the way back. We both love riding in the forest. Luckily we have much of it.
In the evening we were invited to a hen night of my friend Bille. The slogan of the day was "pirates" so the most of us were dressed up like pirates. The bride was very confused as we suddenly stood in her living room and actually she was sick with a cold but some cups of sparkling wine made the world much more brighter for her :o)
Later she had to manage a trail-ride with the arabian horse Haska which was dressed up like a boat. Then she had to find the hidden treasure.

What a fun we had! The rest of the evening we went bowling and drunk a lot :o)

Nevertheless I had no problem with getting up early the next morning because I knew about the newborn foal at the Seven Gate Ranch which I planned to visit on Sunday. After some cups of coffee I hit the road and behind the highway I found myself in a beautiful landscape in beginning autum. I don't know why but since few weeks I really desire the autumn to come. I think I'm getting old and the summer was so busy that I need a break now (one of the reasons why I am sitting on my computer now instead of driving to a cutting competition). Long story short: I got out of my car and took some pictures of the landscape I always see if I drive to Stolzenau. It's not only the home of my friends Klaus and Gudrun, it's also the future home of Dimma ;o) The little "Quicky" who got born few days ago will be the buddy of Dimma in future.

They also had some cows on the ranch and due to the fact that I had to leave Baga at home I had the chance to take some new cutting photos!!!

The upper picture was taken with the camera of my dad and a wide-angle lense. I was sitting on a pick-up in the middle of the riding ground and the cow was only few meters away.

New family member

After all harm at beginning of this year (spring) something good happened in june. There were a foal born on Schanzenhof the 10.6.2009 which I liked from the photo and as I went to the Schanzenhof few days later the little girl went straight into my heart.
Actually Martina wanted to name her Gletta but I asked her to name her Dimma instead. We are not sure about her real colour but she seemed to be dark and I love the name Dimma (darkness) since many years but never had a dark horse to use the name. The origin of this name is a dog which I met in Iceland 2005. I really loved this dog and using her name is keeping her always in my mind. My regards to everybody in Iceland at this place ;o)
My plan was to buy a fourgaited LBI (note for Parelli-students) which I can use for ranch work but riding in tölt, too. But as I met Dimma, all plans had gone. She had to be my horse - nevermind which gaits she has! Accidentally (or just fortune) she is fourgaited. Using a lot of trot and gallop but also showing clear tölt.
At our first meeting (14.06.2009) we came in contact easily although her mother were very shy and always escaping. Of course Dimma followed her. But she was curious enough to check me from time to time.
It followed a long period of thinking, calculating and discussing and although I never winned the discussions and got a clear NO of my "government" I decided to buy Dimma. Actually we planned a holiday tour northwards and accidentally the day of the retourn journey should be the 15.09.2009 - the date of Dimmas foal show. But unfortunately Jens got injured on his shoulder so we canceled the plans and the free days. I was very sad not to be with Dimma on this date but luckily Dagmar went to the Schanzenhof and came back with pictures for me! The whole day I was nervous waiting for a call of Martina which marks Dimma got. The phone call arrived me in the evening as I were cleaning the stable.
Dimma got 7,8 for building, 8,0 for character and 8,0 for gaits, total: 7,96
Furthermore she became the winner of the show! Judicial decision in german: Feines Stutfohlen mit guter Ausstrahlung und geschmeidigen Bewegungen im Trab und Galopp bei deutlichen Töltansätzen in den Übergängen.
Try of a translation into english: Fine filly with good charisma and smooth movements in trot and gallop with clear Tölt-attemptions in the transitions.

Yesterday I went to the Scahnzenhof to congratulate my foal to the successful show and we found her sleeping on the ground. I also felt sleepy so I took the place beside and spend some wonderful time with her.

We enjoyed the time together but soon we got disturbed by her brothers and sisters:

v.l.n.r. Vör, Sabine, Brynja, Dimma, Paul

Now I have to work but maybe we can make a colour-quiz together in my next blog. I'll show you some details and you speculate about the colour. Good idea?

News

Our Trainer Klaus Neuhaus came on 4. position in Cutting at the European Championships and became German Champion! Congratulations!!!

In the meanwhile I was busy as a bee and taking photos at the breeding-show on Basselthof. There were 64 grown horses and some foals and youngsters. I still uploaded the pictures of few horses. You can find them here: http://skinfaxa.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=26029

After it - on Friday morning - I had my first riding-lesson with Teresa. I still want to learn from Klaus but he is too far away for permant lessons so Teresa and me checked if we can find together. We had a lot of fun and Teresa find many things to correct :o) Anyhow we got a praise for our loose way of ride! Now we got some home work to do and I plan to have the next riding lesson in two weeks.

Since the last cutting clinic I trained Baga to carry her head down. It worked fine but before she is learning only to walk on the forehand I am now asking for more collection. I am very satisfied with our progress. This was the best year of all - regarding training success.

After the riding-lesson I went to the Basselthof again to take photos in the competitions of the OSI. Same on Saturday. But today I stay at home and work with the pictures from Wednesday until Saturday. A new work week starts tommorrow and there will be less time to care about the pictures. On Tuesday is a foal show on the Schanzenhof in the Lueneburg Heath and I am unspeakable sad that I can not be there to take photos of the foals. Anybody there who can do this for me?????? Antje? Dagmar?

Never Before

Tonight I received an email about the actual Parelli Celebrations in USA.

http://enews.parelli.com/emailings/FortWorth/cowworking/cows.html

It would be soooo great if I could see it. Instead of this I am on the Basselthof the rest of this week to take photos of the breeding show and competitions. Today Klaus and Patrick are competing at the European Championshipds in Working Cowhorse and Cutting. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

See you...

Last weekends

Sorry for the long news-break! I still owe you an overview from the shooting on 29.08. It was very versatile and funny:

Nice landscape

Jumping horse

Cowboy

Feelings

and friends.

News from our stable: a new horse arrived. Welcome Blakkur (and Romy).

Baga is doing fine. I try to keep her well trained just in case for a further chance to work with cows this year :o) (Of course I would also train her otherwise.) Klaus and Patrick are competing at the European Championships in Cutting these days. Unfortunately I can not attend them but I wish them best of luck and success!!!!

Last two weekends

Unfortunately I found no time to tell you about the cutting clinic on 15./16.8. Of course it was great and we learned a lot. Now I only hope that we can keep this knowledge until the next time we'll get the chance to work with cows. Hopefully we don't have to wait until next year...

More photos of Baga in the cutting clinic are in her gallery: http://skinfaxa.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=877
One week later I had a "date" with 10 labradors again. They were so cute and lovable ;o)

And on Sunday I got the chance to take some pictures of Teresa with her lovely mare Randalin.

Cow Work Sunday

Baga and me came on fourth position of six participants in ranch cutting!


Here you can have a look at the whole gallery of this day: http://skinfaxa.de/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=25489

Cutting clinic

There is a cutting clinic on 15./16.8. that's why we decided that Baga should stay at the Seven-Gate-Ranch these week. Sina was working a little bit with her and yesterday I came for a riding-lesson and was surprised about the progress she had done! We also worked a little bit on the cutting-machine and I had the feeling as if Baga realized what she has to do. She turned excellent and the stops were great. On Saturday I will drive again to my friends at the Seven-Gate-Ranch and on Sunday we will possibly take part at a small fun-competition with cows (it's not yet sure if the competiton will happen).
Amendment: the competition will happen. Click for details: Cow Work Sunday

18.07.2009 at home

21.07.2009 Friendly game with rope

06.08.2009 living at the Seven-Gate-Ranch

Found this cute, old fencebroker-picture on my mobile-phone. We miss you Sonnie...