Summer days , Summer Horsecamp!

There is nothing quite like going to horsecamp in the summer especially if your a horse crazy kid. So many things I learned about horses were taught to me at horsecamp, the chores, the care, the saddling and bridling. The day after day repetition improved my riding skills so quickly compared to an occasional weekly lesson. Summer camps and the wonderful people that run them are worth their weight in gold. Here in New England we are so lucky to have choices of great affordable horse day camps from the seacoast of Kennebunk Maine at Riverhurst Farm to the Mountain top vistas at High Meadows Farms in Wolfeboro NH. Summer is short, get out there and ride!!

GET SMART !

It's easy to Get S.M.A.R.T. just join www.smartriders.net and get riding! Last Sunday the smart ride out of the NH Farm Museum in Milton NH had perfect weather. The trails and lanes through the Branch Hill Farm provided a lovely 18 mile ride. Known for it's wonderful trails this ride attracted riders from all over Maine, NH and Massachusetts. The river crossing was made a bit more interesting this time as a small armada of 40 Kayaks came floating down river at the same time as the horses arrived to cross over, everyone seemed a bit surprised! A special thanks to the organizers of the ride, great job!

Picture Perfect at Ironbrook Farm

Ironbrook Farm held their 3rd annual "Photo Day" on May 25th and as usual they had stunning weather and beautiful backgrounds. Ironbrook is located in Wakefield NH and has lovely landscaping, owners Lynne and Jeff pick the weekend that the lilacs and appletrees bloom to create the perfect setting for spring photos. As a family run farm for lessons and boarding they have a wonderful group of students and boarders that had the horses polished to perfection for a variety of photos from liberty to portaits. For more information on Ironbrook Farm you can visit their website at www.ironbrookfarm.com

The War on Weeds

Tis the season when some of us ooh and ahh at the pretty yellow flowers in the field, I am not one of them.... No, instead I grab the spot weed sprayer and hunt them down with vengance, scouring my pasture for the telltale green clumps happily growing without any interference from the horses. The worst offender in my book is the buttercup, mildly toxic to horses they don't touch it, leaving it to grow unchecked in the pasture, happy to flower and plant new seeds. Because it flowers in the spring it replants fast in bare patches and can take over a pasture in a few short years leaving your horses nothing edible to graze. If you are going to spot spray, now is the time before it blooms! Happy hunting!

Location! Location! Location!

Well, I know that spring has arrived when the birds begin looking at real estate around the farm. The Chickadees, Wrens, Tree Swallows and Bluebirds all flit about checking out the bird houses trying to be the first to land a purchase and sales agreement on their favorite. The Phoebes however are another story, nice birds but not too bright in the house location department. My first indication that they were in the market for some real estate was when I found them in the garage checking out some shelves, I quickly showed them out and closed the door behind them. They managed to get even with me the next day when I opened the hay barn door and a large clump of mud fell on my head. I looked up and saw the remains of a mud nest they were attempting to build on the top of the sliding door. I removed the nest hoping they would take the hint and find a better spot...........they didn't, 3 days in a row I took a direct hit to the top of my head with a mud nest. I'm happy to report we have compromised and a cease-fire now exists. I built them a nesting shelf and located it 12 inches to the left of my door, then moved some of the mud nest onto it, as of this morning they are busily remodeling the new location. I guess they are pretty smart, they tricked me into building them a nesting shelf!!

The Rocket Test

Recently, I had a new camera lens to test drive so I called upon the good folks at www.marshfieldkennel.com to see if I could practice on a couple of their corgi dogs, more accurately described as fur covered rockets. I needed to know how quickly this new lens could focus on moving targets and the true acid test is dogs! Believe it or not, the smaller they are the faster they move, and this pair put myself and the camera through it's paces. Don't let this still shot fool you, they were just giving me a rest in between launches and fly-bys. Corgis rock !

More Lovely Barns at Night

Don't you just love the way these barns look with the horses in the doorways!