It's been a long, long time!

Wow, I didn't realize that it had been so long since I posted anything on this blog. So the last anyone knew, we had just lost Gaelin.

Now we have several new additions to the ranch. First of all we got Bella and Omar. Omar is pictured to the left. Bella is a lovely little Mountain Welsh Pony, and Omar is an Arab (of course).

Then we got Bonnie, a Quarter Horse, Clydesdale cross, and low and behold--she was pregnant. So we also got a new little filly we call Roxy. Who was born on the ranch on May 6, 2010 between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. She is an adorable little Medicine Hat Paint.

Recently, we aquired Yankee, who is a black Morgan horse. He is just wonderful! He also drives, and came with a lovely little black surrey to pull.

This year, we also experimented with raising meat chickens and turkeys. Since both endeavors were successful, I believe we will likely do it again next year.

Along with our usual summer camps, we also hosted several day long events for both the Air Force, and Mountain Home Parks and Recreation. These events were very successful for both parties, and we look forward to doing it all again next year!

We also started the first Idaho Equestrian Vaulting Team. The Gem State Vaulters! They are currently preparing for their very first event.

See our Facebook page, for current information, and stay tuned. There are so many things happening around here it will be fun to see what happens next!

Gaelin, the Gentle

Gaelin the Gentle
01-25-86 to 01-27-10

It's been two days now, and its time to let his friends know.
Yaas
Willa




Big boned 16Hh bay AppendixQuarterhorse with a kind and gentle heart. He helped start the equestrian program in Artemisia, and my therapeutic horseback-riding program for victimized kids. Before he came to me, he was a track horse (California) and then a competitive jumper (Jackson Hole, WY), and I think he played a little polo there too. His name then was ET (short for Esperanca Two). I was told he was quite a handful in his younger years. Some thought he was a crazy horse as he did buck his last owner off a few times. I didn't believe that he was crazy, but that he only had vision problems; and that he did. To me, he was a magnificent creature and said 'yes', when he was offered to me. Right away he was turned out for the winter into a field with 7 other geldings. Watching him interact with the other horses taught me that he lacked confidence. I changed his name to Gaelin and told him he was retired from having to be brave, and only if he wanted to, he could be brave; but it wasn’t required. Within a few months, he taught me that all he really needed was someone to trust, to guide him with confidence. Over the years, several opportunities arose where we learned to trust him. For almost 10-years the circle of trust flourished.

As an SCA gaming horse, he helped introduce foam-tip jousting, mounted archery and crest-combat to Artemisians. Many Artemisian equestrians rode him, from young kids to gamers to royalty. In the modern world, he carried my husband Joseph to the top of some pretty steep mountains... I like to think that Gaelin was his horse... and set the pace in many parades, which we love to do, even behind noisy fire engines. He carried me on my first sidesaddle canter; and down the polo field at a full gallop for my first true "bump"... a tactical move for taking your opponent off the line-of-the-ball so you or your teammate can steal it (the ball, that is) away for a goal. Wow! That was a thrill! With such strength and endurance, I could always imagine him in his youth and how he must've exploded over fences in the jumping arena. Yet with all his mightiness, he was THE best gentle lesson horse in my riding program. He understood what was needed of him and enjoyed his retired life carrying little darlings around and helping them to gain confidence in themselves. He would nuzzle them before and afterwards and look longingly with his soulful eyes at me always questioning, "What's next?"

Gaelin was 24-years and 2 days old, and euthanized in peace January 27, 2010.

Out of all the horses I’ve had the honor to caring for, I felt a special commitment to Gaelin; to do the best I could to spare his life from any trauma. This prayer is befitting for such a giant of a heart of a horse.

"And, my friend, when I am very old and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this Earth knowing, with the last breath I draw, that my fate was always safest in your hands."

Happy 2010

Well, it's finally here, 2010. And as you can see above, we actually have water in our Dream River! To me, it looks pretty cool because it means we have had LOTS of water coming down lately. You can see from the picture above that there is still lots more to come. In a desert, this is really good news.

I finally noticed this morning, that the sun is rising earlier. That is going to make it a lot easier to go out and feed before I take off for work. At this time of year, we really start looking forward to spring, summer, and fall when we can really gear up to go out and ride. We've got some really fun things planned. Patty introduced us to a whole bunch of new horse games that we are excited to try out with our kids (and ourselves). We will continue to do our medieval horse recreation, and of course Kid's Camps are going to be great!

We did more full moon rides last year than the year before, and I really hope for even more this year! Plus lots of trail rides during the day.

We are looking forward to meeting some new ranch friends we haven't even heard of yet. We are looking forward to Douglas and Connie coming to stay with us and see if they would like to become part of our community. Wave! Hi Douglas and Connie! We are looking forward to meeting Pat, and also perhaps Nancy. And next summer, we hope to see our volunteer friends back for even more fun!

The garden has the infrastructure almost completely done, this year we should have a bang up garden and we are looking forward to building a root cellar. We think at this time, that we are going to use one of the berms we will be putting up as the base for our cellar. Who knows? We might even be able to get some our Dream River Ranch produce to the Mountain Home Farmer's Market.

Possibly, we will build a new chicken coop this year using straw bale construction. We just have to finalize where we really want to put it, because once it's built, we aren't moving it.

Hopefully, we'll get some roofs for our horse wind breaks, so they can have better shelter from the elements.

I'm hoping to get the website even better than it is right now, since I've already started working on it, it's a distinct possibility.

Most of all, we hope for our community of friends for this next year: health, joy, blessings, and most of all....life!

Goodbye to a Friend

Today we had to say goodbye to Shadow. For those on Twitter, I had kept you posted as to her daily progress. About 4 weeks ago we lost her for a few days. When she reappeared, she was injured, and the injury had an abscess.

Willa took her to the Vet, who performed a pretty extensive surgery to get the infection out. She came home with all kinds of drugs, and we had pretty high hopes that she would make it.

It was not to be. She tried, but somehow, something just wouldn't heal up and she couldn't eat or drink without regurgitating. We tried many things, but she sank lower and lower. Finally, today we had to say goodbye.

Soft long grey fur
You spent hours grooming
Always impeccably clean

Soft meow
Clear and singing like a bell
We didn’t hear it often

Soft to all your people friends
Gentle to stroke
Loving the pet

Quiet padfalls
Weaving through the hay
Is it a mouse? Then it is gone!

Quiet purr
You loved a warm lap
And cuddled whenever you could

Quiet trust
Even in pain you did not snarl
Strong until the end

We watched you walk toward the rainbow
Finally fading
A Shadow in the mist

A Little Bird & Other Stories

Today was special.

This morning as I led Mercedes out to work with her, I spotted a bald eagle sitting on the very top of our "Lone Poplar". It was an awesome sight. I tried to take pictures of it with my IPhone, but it was too far away. Still, it was amazing to see that huge bird sitting on the very top branch of the tree.

Then Mercedes worked with me the best I've ever seen her do. I really have to thank Clinton Anderson and his "No Worries" method of horse training. The first part of this month, Willa and I went with two other friends to Reno to see him at one of his Walkabout Clinics. It was one of the most informative weekends I have ever experienced. And even better was coming home and trying out my new knowledge on my two horses. What a difference it has made in both of them! But Mercedes really has shown the most improvement. She was incredible to ride today. She did everything I asked of her. She is beginning to flex just like Clinton showed us, and moving the feet has made a world of difference in her respect for me.

Then this afternoon we had a great community meeting. I have such high hopes for the future of Dream River Ranch. There are exciting things yet to come! I can't wait to see them come to pass. And as they happen, I will try to keep this journal up to date, so that you can share those exciting things with us.

I don't usually do the chores (we're calling it "horse care" nowadays--because that's what it is) in the evenings. Willa usually does them, but this evening her back was bothering her, so I went instead. We have a little "cabin trailer" where we keep all the grain and blankets, some vet supplies, etc. When I turned the light on, there was a little Finch flying frantically, trying to get out of the cabin trailer, but unable to find the door. Every so often, it would stop and rest a moment before trying again. I wanted to help this bird, because the cabin trailer is a favorite napping place of two of our barn cats, and I knew that if the bird didn't get out tonight, it would be dinner before morning.

So I thought, "What the heck." Gently, I put my gloved finger out to the bird as though it were a tame bird and to my complete amazement the little bird stepped onto my finger! So I carefully carried the Finch over to the door and then let it fly away into the darkness. It was free!

I don't know what made that bird decide to trust me, but I've been trying to think what words I could use to describe how I felt at the time, and I guess the main word I come up with is: gratitude. I was so grateful and amazed that this little wild bird stepped out onto my finger with such confidence. I believe it was a gift.

This whole entire day was a gift. I want to share this gift with you. I hope that knowing there are places where Bald Eagles still fly, and horses become better, and little wild birds can trust helps you all to look out for the gifts that come to you each day and adds a bit of brightness to your lives.

For this I give Thanks

Time passes quickly in my life, and here it is 2 months since I wrote the last blog! Ouch!

This will be my third Thanksgiving at the Ranch and the second one since I started blogging for the ranch. Once again, this year, I find myself very thankful for many things:

I'm thankful for the people in my life: Willa, Joseph, Steve, and Tammy (all the ranch folks who are my ranch family), for Gail and Jan (who went with Willa and I to Reno for the Walkabout Clinic), for Douglas and Connie (who will hopefully become ranch partners, we loved your visit), for Deborah and Jana (who came all the way from Germany to see us), for my own family (you know who you are), for the many volunteers who helped us out all summer (we love you!), for the kids who came to camp this summer and learned so wonderfully about horses and riding and being courageous, for Bill who worked for peanuts (and a little pipe tobacco) but did so much, and of course for any of you who are now fans of Dream River Ranch on Facebook, just because you love us and are interested.

I'm thankful for the animals: for the cats, Tuffy who moved in when Grace died (and broke my heart), Shadow, and Pepper (who might still be Stoner, but we're debating) thanks girls for keeping the mice down, for the chickens (including our new "peep" the first DRR natural born chicken), for the dogs, Rusty, Sam, Hal, and of course Boss (who is a little crotchety in his old age) thanks boys for keeping the coyotes far away and for being so lovable, and of course the Horses who hold our hearts, carry our bodies, and heal our souls. We LOVE you all.

It's been another year of adventure, fun, sorrow, joy, and most of all LIFE!

I'm thankful most of all to the Creator who makes all of this possible.

As we say in the SCA, "Vivat!"

Air Force Appreciation Day

We rode in the Mountain Home Air Force Appreciation Day parade. It was a blast! Willa sewed for an entire week, but Lucky and Rider look very good in their totally new trappings. In fact, we all looked very good. We were proud and glad to be able to show our appreciation for what the Air Force does for America and thereby for us.

The horses did very well. We're pretty sure that for Sabrina and Lucky, this was their very first parade. And if that's the case, they both did very well. In fact, the horses were exemplary in their behavior.

As far as we know, we were the only horse group who performed a simple drill in front of the reviewing stand.

But it was sure a lot of hard work! Willa sewed for an entire week. We practiced for two weekends before the actual parade. All the horses (nine of them) had to be washed and primped and then kept clean (that was the hardest part). It took us two trips to get there and two trips to get back home. Then we had to put everything away-that took several more hours.

We weren't perfect, but we looked good. The work was all worth it for us to show our community that we support them.