Red Pony Farm: A journey in motion

I am Smitten Once Again

I think maybe he is a Leopard Appaloosa? He's in Arizona near The Horseshoeing Housewife. I stole this picture from her blog. I NEED this pony. Can someone help me get him home to Hollis? Quick before Dan reads this!

THE PONIES ARE HERE!

THE PONIES ARE HERE! THE PONIES ARE HERE!

They were so relaxed by the second day they laid down to nap in the sun. This is Nordri, the quieter yet more inexperienced of the two. Interesting huh? Maybe I misunderstood, and it's really . . .

  . . . Sister Niki who has less experience. (She is the most likely to give you a big fat raspberry--check out that evil eye, she is my favorite already).  Anyway this is what we have found thus far: 1)Nordri is more energetic and gives less raspberries. 2)Niki is less responsive in the bridle and to the leg than is Nordri. 3) Nordri is more confident in the woods. Yes they took their maiden voyage into the deep Hollis Woodland(I say it that way because it's so quiet out there! Back in Standish all rides of less than 3 hours meant you could hear the continual traffic of routes 25 and / or 35). 4) Fjord's have pretty nice comfy trot. Sister Niki has a very nice little power trot which Nordri canters to. 5) They are both much more enthusiastic out of the arena. I am very pleased with how it went. LO decided she wanted a trail lesson on a Fjord today instead of another session with Psycho Mamma and had a blast. It was nearly 35 years ago that she last rode out on trail--we both shed a tear over the joy of it all.

The Answer Is . . .

  . . .What is the Marwari Horse.

Here is the sweet Mare Ghunghuru, Ru for short. She was the first Marwari born on United states soil--Martha's vineyard.

Here's the link to Photographer Dale Durfee who took the previously posted Photographs (with the exception of the little colt Nazrulla who is now a stud at the vineyard farm)

Here is the link to a smithsonian article about the history and efforts to keep them from disappearing as a distinctive breed.

I had plans to posts on a couple of other topics this morning but I am an hour behind--so it seems due to the timechange--and this wireless connecting is SO PANFULLY SLOW that I am giving up for now.

Guess The Breed Contest (+ photos added & clues)

A free Red Pony Farm tee shirt to the first person who guesses correctly the breed depicted in these photos. I will wait several days before adding more photos and clues. By next week sometime I will disclose the answer and provide more information , more photos. I will also direct you to the web page of the very talented photographer who captured these amazing images.

OK I can't wait a couple of days:

 

Clue 1: There were famous for being brave enough and athletic enough to leap up against the side of an elephant enabling a mounted warrior to spear his high riding opponent.

 

Clue 2:  In 1956 under the order of the new to power Socialist government in India thousands of these noble horses were shot, castrated or given away to peasant farmer to use as draft animals.

Clue 3: There are only 11 in the United Stated States that I am aware of at this writing.

Groups in India are working to bring this breed back in abundance. I want to find out if they can compete with Arabs in endurance.

Coming soon : More information, links to the story of their history, Pictures of the first one of their breed to be purchased in the US in 2001, and the name of the photographer.

Suchin Bonding with her Saddle

Well it really isn't her saddle. But It's the one she fears. So it's the one she needs to bond with. Oh, I really need to clean it don't I? K wears it to graze Jurassic Park each evening. She got two days off due to the rain and my riding Bonnie last night. Maybe that's partly to blame for tonight being one of those three steps up and two steps back realizations. I must remember that it is progress nevertheless. She was uncomfortable with a couple of things I thought we had fixed: putting on the saddle and cinching it up while on the cross ties. But also she was solid in a couple of others: cleaning hooves and stretching legs with saddle in place, removal of the fly mask. I take what she can give and call it good and give her lots of petting and praise. There was a time when she simply couldn't  let me stretch her hind legs way out behind her, period, saddle or no saddle. Now we stretch them back , center, forward, round and round. It's all good. I also need to remind myself that the dogs were particularly wound up and yapping and running in and out of the doorways and Dove was impatiently bumping her hoof on the stall door and reaching over the wall (and nipping my shirt every time I bent over) the whole while. K really was a very brave pony.

And yes! I have a horse to ride! You remember Ms. Bonnie Bay:

She stayed at RPF for 8 weeks last summer weaning her yearling filly Mariska. Bonnie is an American Warmblood. That's Percheron (edit:Belgian in this case) Thoroughbred cross in case you are not aware. (edit: it is a tested registry-a horse must be judge and awared the registration). She is Willie sized and as sweet as they come. She has had a couple of years off being a brood mare and is now back under saddle and getting in shape. She will be making another appearance at RPF tomorrow and will stay for a spell of conditioning. It's just what I need to placate me while I wait for K to be ready to ride. Daughter Mariska is another lovely bay 2 year old. She is for sale. Her father is thoroughbred I believe But I will clarify this weekend. (edit: her Father is Arab she is registered Half Arab) I will be making a poster to advertise her and will take it with us to The Lorax Poker Ride next weekend and paste it to the trailer.

Connemara Ponies and Endurance

I got to Terri's clinic late, so I watched the after noon mounted session instead of the morning ground work. Although getting there just before lunch, which was moved up an hour due to the heat, meant that I did get to see one of the young women who works for Terri working a lovely Connemara pony. It turns out there were three of them there and they belonged to a woman named Candy who breeds them. They were a lovely chocolate color with silver high-lights. I was instantly in love. It seems they are decendant from a "Whiskers" who won the tevis buckle in 1989. http://www.acps.org/magazine/endurance.html

More tomorrow: I am very tired just getting in. Though also excited about the people I met today and getting hooked up with a gal at the endurance ride who has signed me up to her crew for the next ride in Woodstock Vermont in 3 weeks. Must sleep now if possible.