Last year

So...you see, I get side tracked!  Last year was interesting in so many ways.  I learned I knew nothing about halter classes and unless I was willing to look like an idiot, I had better learn how to show!  Hence, Felicia!  And because of the time we spent together, I learned that and much, much more  My lack of  regular scheduling had to change, my head strong attitude about a lot of things also had to change!  I learned or relearned the English language may be shared by two people, but not necessarily understood in the way intended.....even face to face. 

I learned to be more flexible as well as more disciplined, more patient with man and beast, more thoughtful about what it is we really want to do.  When a breeder thinks ...."I don't want to show"...."I just want to sell"...a whole lot in the middle is missing!  Showing is a part of advertising and promoting just like a magazine ad.  Selling is responsibility!  I learned it is ok and necessary to qualify the buyer.  The future of the horse depends on it. You know we operate on our emotions so much, that we don't know if what we think is correct or not.  It is good to have a second or even a third set of ears and eyes on hand.  Some days are more therapy than instructional.  And that is OK too. Sooo...rule of thumb from here on out.....no man is an island! We are never too old to learn. Our perspective is often out of whack and can be re-tweaked. (In mental health circles that is considered a paradigm shift.)

David and I can be a better team....once the pride and ego are locked away!  We have some beautiful horses, and this new year...we will show you what we have learned and along with our pretty ponies, maybe have some fun!

Reflections on 2011

When everyone is looking ahead to the new year, I find it comforting to reflect on the old...what we did, what we learned, etc....a constant re-evaluation.  When that is done, then it is time to look ahead and set goals.  Early in 2011, we counted noses and noted....20 horses!  Twenty individuals with Sparky, the only stallion since gelding the other, Cracker, a group of mares, and a group of geldings.  Now this may seem like a lot of horses to some and a drop in the bucket to others, but it is a number that has a story or a lot of little stories.

The first would be about the stallions Sparky and Cracker.  Sparky, a solid black, very hairy fella is easily manageable and willing.  He has also been the dominant stallion here.  The boys have been together off and on over the years since their import days and he has always been the BOSS.  Enter the mare, Molly!  Molly had a distinct preference to the Boss man!  She has been bred to him several times and always produces a lovely foal. During several seasons we have bred her to other stallions, live and AI....she absorbed each time.  Eventually, we bred her to Cracker (one more time) and had to keep her on Regumate for an extended time to keep the foal.  And from that breeding we now have Ftizwilly, who like the preceding foals resembles his Dam's markings, but with his Sire's athletic build.  None of this is unusual, just interesting.  My guess is it had everything to do with natural selection and her choice of the dominant stallion!  But we are not a wild herd here, so we played with Mother Nature.

The horse is intelligent, and some instances, more so than the humans caring for them.  Just consider, the difference in the way really good horsemen begin training today as opposed to years ago!  Horse were considered a means to an end.  Except for those who rode the range and were isolated, most men treated them as expendable objects.  Due to the necessity of the horse for transportation, laws were put in place punishing horse thieving.  That was for the benefit of men not horses.  In recent years a generation of men have stepped out to prove that the relationship between horse and man is a two way street.  A little like moving to a foreign country and having to learn the language.  We are closer to learning and understanding the language of the horse than ever before and the learning goes on.  Some days, I think to myself, wish I had known this when raising my children.  There is no cruelty in the horses mind and it may surprise some to know there is an incredible measure of discernment.  When you take words out of the conversation, every thing else is more important..

Chocolate Horse Farm Gypsy Vanner Horses: Fall Training

Chocolate Horse Farm Gypsy Vanner Horses: Fall Training: What a time we have had! Felicia Britt has been here for two weeks working with four Gypsies and Dave and I. It feels like a crash course ...

Fall Training

What a time we have had!  Felicia Britt has been here for two weeks working with four Gypsies and Dave and I.  It feels like a crash course in Fitting a Horse For Show....and it was.  I am slowly going through her notes to us and though winter is approaching, it will be productive.  We have a clear picture of how to do the work, and I am so impressed with our stallion Sparky, I am ready to rent a billboard!  What an awesome fella he is!  He works hard, is sensitive and smart, a real stand up stud! Cracker, Producer's Heiress, and Lady Teagan were also great students and have impressed us as well.  Lady T made the greatest transition from a petulant filly to a youngster listening and trying in a big way.


We will be focusing on Sparky and his offspring in regard to shows and expos.  His foals are outstanding, displaying his disposition and willing nature, as well as the best characteristics of the mare.   As it is the desire of every responsible breeder to stand a sire that will reproduce better than himself and breed mares that do the same, we believe our mares and stallion do exactly that.  Aggie and Clara, both coming four, will be bred to Sparky in the spring, offered for sale ...in foal....for $15,000 each.  A fantastic two for one package if there ever was one.

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!

Blue Ridge Gypsy Classic Show

It is Saturday night in Ashville, NC.  The air is cool, the day has been an experience,  and tomorrow is the last day for this event.  Though the second event of the year for us, we were almost not here!  Two blowouts, loss of trailer lights, temperatures in the 100's..plus short fuses! all contributed to a tense mood.  On the up side, the clinics were awesome and worth every penny of the $175 per person.  Today's classes went quickly ....lots of happy winners.  We had some difficulties when Cracker decided he felt like a new man and got frisky, would not stand still, was improperly harnessed which had the potential of a distaster at which time we scratched him from the class.  Not enough handling was the consensus, though it was unusual behavior from him.  My break from all the drama came when my sister and niece took me off to Ashville town center for dinner. The setting for this show is amazing and Robin and her crew are even more so...many thanks to her for a beautiful show. And good night one and all from a very tired lady!