Introducing the newest member of the farm.  We have no name yet but she's a beaut!!  Here she is about an hour old!!

We have some great two year olds for sale!  They have the wonderful Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse disposition and they are all showing a powerful gait.  Please respond to this blog if you are interested.

Gunslinger "Gunny" turned one year old in December!  $800.00

Frosty is a two year old.  She loads well and is halter broke $1,200.00

Sage is a two year old that is halter broke and trailers well  $1,000.00

Sienna is two years old and is halter broke and trailers well $1,000.00

Five rules for men to follow for a happy life

1. its important to have a woman, who helps at home who cooks from time to time, cleans up and has a job.

2. its important to have a woman, who can make you laugh.

3. its important to have a woman,who you can trust and who doesn't lie to you.

4. its important to have a woman, who is good in bed and who likes to be with you.

5. its very, very, very important that these four woman do not know each other!!!!

Well I managed to get a rope on the colts today. Not always the easiest thing to do. Next comes the halters... they have both been haltered last fall but they have pretty much had their way all winter.  Makes them a little head strong.  We need to geld one in the morning... that should be interesting. Then up to the other barn for some hoof triming. Now that syrup season is in the past, I have to turn my attention to the 2 yr olds...looking forward to it.

Little bit different note, I'm reading a pretty good book; the title is  "Half Broke Horses" by Jeannette Walls;   says it's a true life novel.  Check it out 

                   Later  MIKE

Once again I find myself looking out the window enjoying the social drama that goes on in my large herd of horses.  With 10 horses (3 boys, the rest girls!) all running in the same pen, eating the same food, drinking the same water, there is always some drama unfolding!  In the middle of January, on a cold Sunday morning, we had a neighbor stop by and say those dreaded words:  Your horses are loose!!  As we run to throw on warm clothes and hope they haven't gotten too far, we debate our plan of attack.  In this case, it was easier then we anticipated!  When horses get out in the warm days of summer, they have lots to choose from when it comes to food.  As the saying goes, the grass in greener on the other side!  When they walk over a fence that the snow pulled down in the middle of winter, there is NO food to be found other than the food we provide.  One look at the grain bucket containing a little shell corn and they come a'runn'n, follow you into the gate and give you the "I'm starving and it's all your fault" look!  The horses are back in and they, as well as us, are able to enjoy a nice warm breakfast and smile.  I like to think they are enjoying the same song I hear in my head:  "There's no place like home!"

Here on Northern Gaits, we have our first "maintained" horse.  One of our brood mares aborted a foal, foundered and then became pregnant again.  She delivered a beautiful palomino colt in December but now we have to contend with the founder issue.  She doesn't know when to stop eating!!!  In order to have her out in the pasture with her mates as well as to give her foal a chance to roam the open pasture, we have started using a grazing muzzle.  We bought a nylon/stainless steel/velcro muzzle but it just isn't holding up.  So far she has broken it twice.  Once she stepped on it and the other time she used the other horses in the pasture to rub/eat it off.  We keep getting it fixed because it is just the right solution for her.  She gets to socialize as well as letting her colt run free.  I just wished they made the muzzles better!!   Karie

Boy do we need the rain....   sure is good to see,also helps the pasture. I have been checking out those articles on pasture and I think they have something. I think the best thing I can do is ..as they say...plant fence post, divide my pasture and control it. Mow it, drag it, and do a good job of managing it!!

 I love to ride but these back roads around home are getting pretty boring. I watched the RFD channel and there is a show called Extreme Cowboy Race.  Well I'm going to try and set something up like that here.  Cross a bridge or ride under or over an obstacle... might be kinda fun!!   I'll let you know how I do!   Anyone with any ideas, let me know.   As alwyas, Stay Straight in the Saddle!  MIKE

Winter is just around the corner and lots of things to get done before the snow flies. 

We set the poles for the syrup cook shack today.  It has been out in the open long enough!  Its only four months until syrup season and I know that will be here in a snap! 

I will start Banjo next week.  I'm hoping he will be in the harness before Thanksgiving.  That leaves me three months of driving before maple syrup season.

I received my Rural Heritage magazine today.  They advertised for drving school; I wonder what that would be like?!

We have one more mare to foal!  I predicted by Sunday the 26th but now I don't know.  The foals are coming along real nice.  Karie has been out to work with them everyday - That makes a big difference as they grow.  They all need to be started on a worming program, so I guess we need to get at that!

I have gone back to riding.  It sure brings on a few new muscle aches.  It sure is nice to be back up on horseback again though.  Hope to see you on the trail so,

Stay Straight in the Saddle

Mike