LIL Lotti

LIL Lotti is growing like a weed...a pretty weed at that.  The extreme heat has been a problem, but she is none the worse for wear.  She and Mom, Lora and Auntie Lucy are now back with the mares.  They have been off the main pastures for several weeks due to being very fluffy i.e. fat!  Fescue grass is not the Gypsy Horses' friend.  Too high in sugars during this drought as well as nitrates....not much we can do about this as Mother Nature has been in charge!  With the recent rainy days we should see things green up.  All that aside, the pictures from our photo shoot will be here soon and some can be viewed now on our face book sites...Chocolate Horse Farm, Home of Gypsy Vanner Horses....and....Carol Hobbs Dunbar.  Check Sparky out if you go to them....he is awesome!  (...but then, I knew that!)

After the Show!

The Blue Ridge Classic Gypsy Show is over and now is the time for reflection and evaluation.  It is a time for me to readjust or reconfirm my priorities.  In this instance, it is readjustment time.  The big farms brought very few horses and the ones or one they did bring were perfectly trained.  They were the highlights of the show and in every sense of the word...show stoppers.  Though lightly attended (it could have been called, but management bite the bullet and the show went on!), it was a classy show with a handful of lifetime professionals helping us and setting examples to be followed.  "One should only follow the best".  Why should I learn from someone without a resume, so to speak!

Traveler did well as the green demo horse/pony and we drove in two classes...one for green horses and one open.  survived!  And came out with ribbons!  Cracker had a going over by Doug, the ultimate in chiropractics plus and in 12 hours...we had the old Cracker back with all his pizzaz.......wow!  Scratched him from a couple of classes and discovered....I must have adult attention deficit disorder...I can not do an obstacle course if my life depended on it!  Can't remember much more than three directions at a time.....need I say more!

Summer Solstice

June 21, 2011 ....the day dawned crisp and clear with the clean smell of freshly washed grass and all things green and not so green.  Jamie Mammano left early this am hoping for clear skies for the rest of her photo tour.  I hope everyone enjoys Jamie as much as we have!  The first day we worked with Sparky, our very black stallion and his cohort the more recently gelded Cracker ...in a very big field.  Wow can those two put on a show!  We played with the girls, got some super shots, and ended the day with Hannah and Mirisa ..aka gypsy girls and the big mares, Lora and Lucy with tag along baby Lotti!
  LiL Lotti was two weeks Saturday and I am so impressed with this filly!  The early imprinting is already paying off as she sees us as another dominant mare.  I threw the 'dominant' bit in because I have seen this done and the horse ultimately has to have a lesson in serious manners.  Attitude adjustment if you will.  Thanks to the recent Parelli article, I was commited to the imprinting...but at this point in my life, I am not sitting up all night to be at the birth.  This filly came at 8 in the morning and it is a good thing we were there as Lora, her dam, had a tough time cleaning.  So, imprinting was a simple choice.
Ok....so now  my thoughts on imprinting .....it is obvious to me some people attempt the process but do not understand how to imprint the dominant mare behavior with their actions. On day three or so the babies, already curious, will attempt to groom the human and that is fine but it is a fine line to be heeded.  It can lead to nibbling and nipping...grabbing with their teeth items of interest and availability are just too much to resist. A bump with an elbow, or knee....not teeth shattering, just a bump...will emulate the mare's behavior.  Watch the mare and you will soon see how patient and yet firm she will be when correcting the foal....Watch and Learn. Additionally,  we have used another method for many years.... when the foal begins to check out your clothing ...is to handle the foals face until they turn their face from you...repeat and repeat....teaches the foal not to use it's mouth on you or  your clothes.

Cheers!

Welcome!

Welcome to Chocolate Horse Farm, Home of Gypsy Vanner Horses ....and others! It is spring here in SW MO and with that comes storms fit for the movies. It is also time for spring training. Lee Oliver joins us at this time of year, shares her birthday with us, ads a lively levity to the every day, and works with our three year olds to bring them into the realm of 'starting'. As she works with each one we will post pictures or video of each one's progress. We hope you will enjoy our days here at CHF as much as we enjoy including you! Cheers!