Update - critters and items for sale

There are quite a few things coming up and a few updates I should probably write about.  Here's the short versions of everything.

• I didn't get a "we've had a cancellation" call, so the cows are heading to Freezer Camp on Tuesday.  It's time.  Need to wrangle a volunteer or 2 to help me load them first thing Tuesday morning (last year went easier than expected, but I'm not going to assume it will be as easy with these 2), then they'll be off.  For those who purchased a share, it's typically 10 days to 2 weeks before they're ready for pick up, but I should be able to give you a ballpark quote on the processing fees later in the day on Tuesday. 
  
• The chickens have started laying like gangbusters!  Anyone want some eggs??
  
• The girls are still both over at iTolt and doing fantastic!  We have a group lesson tomorrow with Nad Noon set up.  I'll be riding Shirley, Ella will be on her Thumper pony, and Jen is going on Coco.  I'm really looking forward to it.  Spider won't be joining us but she's doing amazingly well and had a lesson with Ella and Rob earlier this week.  We're really proud of both girls!  I personally can't wait to take them on trail rides and cross country schools.  Of course the weather needs to cooperate for that to happen.
  
• As for things around the farm, they're going ok.  Pretty mud covered at the moment, but I supposed that's to be expected.  At least the 5 inches of snow we received earlier this week has already melted for the most part.  Looking forward to getting the garden put in soon.  I also need to work on getting several items sold, including:
  
• 2004 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4, black, gray cloth interior. 162K miles. Good mechanical condition with new battery, good tires. Good body condition with no rust.  Good interior with typical wear but nothing major. Downsizing to a smaller vehicle since I'll be able to use my brother's truck for the next couple years.  Asking $5,000 OBO
  
• Antique upright piano.  Purchased from a lady who told me stories about how she used to play it in her grandmother's home.  I don't know much more than that.  In ok shape.  Needs tuning and a couple keys need replaced (they're there, but the white covering on them isn't -- obviously I'm not a piano expert).  Just don't need/want any more.  Asking $350.


• 34" Sony HD tv.  Older flatscreen (still a tube - not the skinny kind of tv).  Works great, just don't need anymore. Has several Coax/HDMI/RCA cable connections.  May include homemade stand (made of 2x4s and 4x4s, with 2 shelves) if desired.  Asking $150 OBO


• Green wool hooded cloak.  Great Condition!  Hunter green.  Hood is lined with a lighter blue.  Rest of cloak is unlined.  Has embroidery stitching at both shoulders - a celtic knot.  Has brown suede at clasp area (but no clasp).  No longer need. Asking $150.
  
  
  

Hopefully we'll be able to get some really nice pictures and maybe some video of tomorrow's lesson on Shirley to post.

Ides of March

Spring temperatures keep popping up here and there and make me believe spring really is on the way. 

Another indication?  The horses are shedding like crazy!  Seriously... one cannot wear fleece anywhere around them at the moment for fear of walking away looking like a wookie.

It's actually been nice enough recently to have 2 rides in the outdoor arena at iTolt.  This past Sunday was one of them.  Grand plans to do a jumping session outside were more or less nixed.  With everything being completely mud-covered (another Spring indication), no one has gotten their usual turnout time.  First ride outside?  Breezy and overcast?  Coming off little turnout?  Fit Thoroughbreds?  Yeah... quite the volital mix!  Spider kind of lost her cookies.  Not in a hateful way just in her way of telling us, VERY loudly, that she NEEDED to GO!  Go where?  Who cares... just GO!  Both Ella and Anita did a good job of getting her fairly focused.  I had another ride on her yesterday outside and she was still quite convinced that it was go time but she settled even better.  Afterwards I turned her loose in the indoor and she rolled then proceeded to run/buck for several minutes.  Silly girl.  Shirley did really well on Sunday.  Well enough to end with a couple jumps (though we left the grid as poles on the ground).  She's living at iTolt full time for the moment and is making good progress with the additional workouts.  Both girls had a couple lessons with Emily Abbate last week.  They did great and both Anita and I are anxious to see them continue to grow and learn.

Side note, Shirley is LOVING the extra work.  She's becoming more and more a pocket pony.  I'm really having fun with both of them and the attitude change (from disinterest to enthusiastic curiosity) is really great to experience.

Yet another indication of Spring?  All the show bills and clinics that are popping up!  To have the time and finances to do them all would be amazing.  There's an upcoming schooling jumper show, a fun "eventing show", plus opening dates for the first few events of the season are rapidly approaching.  It's fun to look at everything going on in the area, if not a bit overwhelming to make a decision on what to attend and what skip this year.  This is an amazing area to live in as there is so much to choose from.  And even if there isn't something specific going on, there's always trail riding.  Cannot wait for the trails to be less muddy and take the girls out.

Only one new update with the SVF shows... Emily Abbate has agreed to be one of our dressage judges for the June 29th show!

February Recap

I guess since I haven't posted anything the entire month, I should recap what has happened.  In no particular order, February consisted of....

• Beginning to finalize the details of the Serenity Valley Farm Horse Shows this year.  Added a complete class list to the website.  DLSC-sanctioned Dressage classes, all 3 Prix Caprilli tests (not DLSC), Combined Tests from Ground Poles through Preliminary, and Jumper classes from 2' to 4', including 2 Gambler's Choice Payback classes.  Still have quite a few details to nail down, but the show is starting to take shape.  Hope to see a lot of turnout at the first one on June 29th!
• Spider's training has taken off!  Had a slight issue with her feet that kept her off work for a few days, but she's now doing better than ever!  Very sound, getting some LOVELY trot and lateral work and even some softness in the canter.  And she's doing beautifully in her jumping.  Ella jumped her yesterday and did a fantastic job.
• Shirley has spent the last 2 weekend's at iTolt so we can get her going again.  And going she is!  The mare is so smart and talented, that within 1 workout, she's back to where she was in December and progressing rapidly.  I jumped her on Saturday after a bit of flatwork with Anita and Shirley nearly jumped me out of the tack!  Major power in that girl!  Oh and I walked her a bit bareback after our jumping session yesterday.  She's such a good girl!
• Life at the farm continues.  Plenty to do with the slightly warmer temps that's for sure.  The boys go to Freezer Camp within the month.  The girls are starting to lay eggs again.  And we have a new arrival: a cat I'm calling Boots.  Pretty friendly, very vocal.  I honestly haven't looked to see if Boots is a boy or a girl but he/she has one of those fat cat faces and is black with a white spot on the forehead, white on the chest and 4 white feet (thus "Boots").  I think if I didn't have Phoebe, Boots may become an indoor kitty.
• The roommate is moving back to town this coming weekend.  I'm tempted to try to find another, but it would have to be a good fit, of course.  Willing to trade SOME rent for chores.  1-2 bedrooms plus access to pretty much the rest of the house and barn.  Must be ok with cats and hairy/slobbery/loveable dogs.  Does not HAVE to do anything with the farm animals if they don't wish to.  If you know of anyone that might be a good fit, let me know.

I think that's about it for the update.  I need a good camera so I can take more pictures (the camera on my phone isn't great at all).  Maybe from the tax return (after of course the set amount for bills)?  But until that time, here are 2 recent pics... Shirley investigating the pretty pony in the mirror (which she kept nickering at), and Boots.

Shirley the Super Star

I am so excited about Shirley!  I hope this post does her justice and not just a bunch of babble.

I signed up for a group lesson in Richmond with Nadeem Noon.  I've known Nad for years, watched him ride and coach at events, but until now have never taken a lesson with him.  I'm so glad I finally got the chance.

The plan, of course, didn't go according to ... well... the plan.  The plan was to take Spider.  She'd done a wonderful jump school with Ella last weekend and was doing great through the week.  Unfortunately, after a good workout on Thursday, I went back on Friday to do another session leading up to the clinic today.  Unfortunately, Spider was off and we had to make alternate plans.

Of course Shirley hasn't been in regular work for quite a while, despite being amazing a couple weeks ago during a trial ride.  We weren't entirely sure taking her would work, if she'd settle enough to in a group lesson setting, but decided to take a chance.  As insurance, thanks to Jen, we loaded up Noble for the ride as well. If Shirley had a major meltdown, we could tack up Noble and I could still get a bit of a lesson.

No worries -- Shirley, while showing her green side a bit, was a rock star!!  We missed a bit of the flatwork warm up, but really... she was very good and I'm so proud of her!

The video below is the last exercise of the lesson.  I certainly need some work, but I'm so proud of Shirley.

Show updates - already!

As posted last time, there will be 2 Serenity Valley Farm Horse Shows this year.  That hasn't changed.  But the dates have.

Serenity Valley Farm Horse Show I is now Saturday, June 29th (previously reported as June 8th).
Serenity Valley Farm Horse Show II is still on for Saturday, October 12th.

Both are still being held at Twin Towers Park in Fairborn and both are still including Dressage, Combined Test and Jumper classes (with 2 Gambler's Choice payback classes) and possibly including Cross Country Schoolling with the new bank and water complexes available.

A complete class list will be posted on the website, which I'm in the process of giving a MAJOR makeover and am VERY close to completing, but I wanted to make sure the new dates were out so folks could include them in their plans.  I know I'm already looking at calendars and thinking of what I'd like to go to.

Exciting News! Serenity Valley Horse Shows coming soon

Wow, it's well into January already.  I slacked off again keeping up the farm blog.  I need to do better because there's a LOT going to be happening this year.

Probably the most exciting news is that we are going to be organizing 2 Serenity Valley Horse Shows at Twin Towers Park in Fairborn -- Saturday, June 8 and Saturday, October 12.  Each show will consist of Dressage, Combined Test and Jumper classes.  The dressage classes will be sanctioned by DLSC and points towards DLSC Year End awards can be earned at these shows.  We're still working finalizing show bill/prize list but this is what we know so far.

The Dressage portion of the show will include all the regular DLSC classes:

• Intro Tests A, B, C (split by Jr/Sr as possible)
• Training Tests 1, 2, 3 (split by Jr/Sr as possible)
• USEA Eventing Tests - Beginner Novice through Training level (specify test on entry)
• First Level Tests 1, 2, 3
• Percentage Class - Second thru Fourth Level USDF only

The CT classes will include from Ground Poles thru Preliminary.  The October show will also offer a CCI* CT for those gearing up for the CCI* at MSEDA the following weekend who want to practice their dressage and show jumping.

The Jumper classes will range from 2' up to mirror the jumping levels of the CT divisions.  In addition, we will have a Low and a High Gambler's Choice.  Low will run from 2' to 3' and be held between the Beginner Novice and Novice divisions.  High will run from 3' to 4' and be the last class of the day.  Both classes will be 50% PAYBACK (minimum 5 entries to be payback).

Limited stabling will also be available and possibly cross country schooling, including the new water and bank complexes.

Stay tuned for more details as we get them figured out.  Of course we'll also be looking for help for both shows!  If you can offer some help either with paperwork, scribing, timing or jump crew (or any other of the myriad of jobs that go into hosting a horse show), please let me know at tleventer@gmail.com!  Unlike the other DLSC shows, I don't have a barn full of students/parents to pool from for help (though I do have a wonderful partner in crime for this venture, and I'm sure some of the iTolt folks will be able to help).  But as we all know, horse shows are definitely labor intensive.

I'm in the process of revamping the Serenity Valley Farm website itself.  In terms of the horse shows, I'll be posting the show bills, entry forms and all the pertinent information on the website so stay tuned! 

December Already?

It's really been an... uh... Interesting fall, that's for sure.  After I began recovering from the kick, I recently came down with a severe case of systemic hives!  Let me tell you, riding in breeches with itchy hives all over your legs is NOT my idea of a good time and I highly recommend no one attempt it.  It wasn't fun. 

That said, cantering and jumping Shirley while in said condition certainly could have been worse!  Yep, while suffering through hives, Anita and I took advantage of the 50+ sunny weather (probably the last we'll see for months) and did some work with Shirley in the field at the farm.  I need to upload more of the work we did, but here's one video.  Note this is the first day we've cantered under saddle OR jumped since we've had her (told you our program took her back to the beginning and brought her along slowly).  She's such a GOOD girl!

Yes it was only a single crossrail that we were jumping, but she was eager yet soft and I can't wait to do more.  Unfortunately the weather hasn't been cooperating since then. 

We do have a lesson set up sometime tomorrow afternoon with Emily Abbate and I'm REALLY looking forward to it.  Hopefully an update later in the weekend.