First Trial Ride on the Farm

Today was a beautiful fall day.   Kinda breezy and a little cool, but sunny and beautiful.  ClaireAnna and I took Cindy and The Grinch out for a trail ride.  I rode him first because she was a little nervous, but I told her she could trust him.  When she realized I was right, we switched saddles and horses.  It was her first time riding him on the farm outside the round pen or the barnyard and only her second trail ride with him.  The Grinch’s behavior was impeccable.  He’s so calm and easy to ride.  He’s neck reining fantastically now.  He’ll go anywhere you point him.  He’ll lope off alone.  He’ll stay in a walk when the other horse lopes off ahead of him.  He even remains in a calm walk when the other horse comes galloping up behind him. He’ll go through mud, water, rocks, up hills, down hills.  We tested him on everything and he passed with flying colors! I know that eventually, he’ll have a bad day..do something wrong…. but so far, he’s been perfect for her. ClaireAnna had a blast!  Mother cried.  We just can’t stop talking about it and thinking about it!  She is one lucky, happy girl! Next week – Falling Waters!!

Here they are crossing a steep ditch with a narrow entry.  The Grinch didn’t like it when I tried it with him and I did get down and walk him through it.  After that, he didn’t hesitate again. 

Here they are doing what ClaireAnna loves most – loping across the pastures! 

Merry Lu Who

We bred this beautiful pony.....

To this amazing stallion.......

And got this pretty little filly!

Introducing, Cindy's second colt, Merry Lu Who!

She was born June 6, 2011.  Merry's sire is a registered, palomino sabino Welsh stallion.  Her dam, Cindy, is a grade, dun, tobiano, sabino, American Paint Pony. Merry is......chestnut.  Can you believe it?  There are five color genes she could have inherited from her mom and/ or dad: dun, tobiano, cream, sabino, black.  She got none of them.  But though she is plain in color, she is as pretty as a picture, possesing excellent conformation and an adorable dish-faced head.  I do believe she did inherit the sooty gene from her sire as evidenced by her very dark liver chestnut color once she shed her foal coat.  

 Merry has a wonderful, calm, layed back personality that will help to make her a perfect cart pony.  At five months, she went to live with her new owner, our vet, Dr. Jeanne Strackbein, in Clarksville, AR.  Dr. Jeanne plans to train her to drive and ride when she is matured a little bit and we are so glad she is living close and we'll get to see her every once in a while. 

2011 First Baptist Dardanelle Fall Fest Petting Zoo

Our third petting zoo of the year was for First Baptist in Dardanelle.  They had a huge Fall Fest with the entire community showing up!  We took a lot of animals: two goats, two ponies, the donkey, the mini cow, a goose, two ducks, a sheep and some rabbits.  Several Wrangler Club 4Hers showed up to help: Malcolm and Kurt Penka, Dayna Walker, Libby Bailey, and Cody Chuculate.  It was a lot of work, but a great success!

We took a big set up this time, three pens, one for the main group of animals (ponies, donkey, goats and sheep) that the kids could enter to pet them, and one for Ellie the mini cow and one with a goose and two ducks in it. 

 

Our ponies, Johnnie and Elvis, letting some happy girls brush them at the petting zoo.










ClaireAnna sharing her duck with two young festival goers.






Lots more pictures in the album below!

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Pumpkin Fun

 We  had the Penka's over for pumpkin carving.  It was their first time ever carving a pumpkin!! It was a really fun night for Claire and her buddies, Malcolm and Kurt!