Horse-ing around

Hello,

Where the the summer go? This summer I have been busy with my new passion and have been remiss in my  fiber duties due to a slight diversion called a horse. His name is Buddy, the Elf which I adopted from Helping Hearts Equine Rescue last December.

I had been wanting to get back to riding again since I retired. I happened to find Helping Hearts Equine Rescue in Perrineville, NJ while causally searching on the internet for a horse. They just posted a video of a Buddy under saddle. I wanted something quiet and small for trail riding.

Buddy was a three-year old and very green but he was the right size and seemed like a good prospect. Helping Hearts was located about an hours drive away so I made an appointment to check him out.  After I rode Buddy, we asked a little about his history. We were told Buddy was seized as a two-year old stud colt in an animal cruelty case in 2009 from a farm in Warren County.  It turns out Buddy was born only a mile from my house.

The rest is history and it was the best decision to adopt him. Since he was very green under saddle I decided to invest in a good training foundation with Lara Delarenzo at 7 Springs Farm in Pittstown, NJ.  I was only going to stay at 7 Springs for a few months but it looks like Buddy and I have found a home where we both can grow.  Lara has done a fantastic job with his training and she is so patient with me in understanding how to get the best from Buddy.  The atmosphere at the barn fits with my philosophy and the other folks who board there are some of the greatest people you will find anywhere.

We have completed several of the horsemanship clinics held at the farm with some of the best in the country such as Greg Eliel, Joe Wolters and Buster McClury. I also switched to riding western and am hoping to learn to rope.

So you can see why I have not had much time to post because I rather be riding!

Happy trails, Joanie