Merry Christmas!

Thanks for having us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our annual Christmas party was a lot of fun at Sandy Patterson's house. The food was outstanding and the dirty Santa gift exchange was a hit this year.

 

 Here are some photos from the party and some year in review tid bits.

 

What a feast!

 

                                  

 

 



Where do I start?

 

 



Open those presents!

 

                       

 

 



Isha is always ready for a photo op.



Gotcha, Marge.

 



 

 

The barn looks so cozy with the holiday decor.

 

  

 2012 in review.

The poop Scoop was born.

A mild winter with the hottest month of March ever.

Tracy tries to stop a tresspasser only later to find out the perp had just robbed the BP station.

Lots of new horses. Schnapps, Gift(then re-Gift), Dude, Ruby, Linney, Bregan and Benji.

A short and successful first cutting followed by a hot dry summer.

Raccons invade the stable.

A plethora of broken bones. Let's see. Kristi, Margret, Robbi and Kate.

Sissy vs. the fence.

Hurricane Sandy.
New trail off Griswold Rd.
New surface on trail off the landing strip.
Emily is ok after that bad accident in New Zealand.
Brooke and Hannah join the staff.
New toilet in the tack room.
Enough Cats!


Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
And remember: keep your heels down! Holly

 

 

Connie's students make annual visit.

For the last 3 or 4 years, Connie has brought her students out to the stable to see the horses. Actually, Connie puts them to work for Miss Holly. They like to look at the horses but the cats are always their favorite attraction. I love this picture Nautica drew for me.

Safety first!

The poop ScoopNovember 26, 2012

Safety concerns.

The safety issue came up again in a conversation with Jane after she had an unsettling ride on Schnapps. Of course his bad behavior had to be on the day I was out for Poloroids of my hemorrhoids and Robbi needed to go to the foot doctor (speaking of injuries). That left the stable unmanned. "What would you do if…?" Jane queried, was the topic of the day.
There have been times a horse has returned without their rider and the rider managed to get back to the stable on foot. Also, there have been times where the rider needed a vehicle to come get them because they are injured to the point of needing medical attention. Luckily, there was someone at the stable that new where to go to get the distressed rider. Sometimes there isn't anyone around to come to a rider in trouble. What do you do?
We need to have a safety plan in place for everyone to follow. The new map in the tack room is a great starting point. Everyone should know the names of the ponds, fields, woods and main roads around the property. Staff, boarders and lessees all need to learn where all the gates are and where the keys are to those gates. It would make finding you easier if you needed to be rescued because of injury, heaven forbid. I spoke with a fireman from the Chardon Fire Department and he would like us to have names on the gates and learn the mountain trails in the event of a person needing medical attention.
Along with habitual helmet use, the new inflatable safety vests everyone is sporting are another great way to stave off injury. Always keep your cell phone on you and not on your horse. If you are riding in the evening, write down where you are heading for your ride. Make sure someone even if they aren't at the stable knows you are out on your horse. Know the stable address. 8754 Hermitage Rd. Chardon Township.
I think I suggested this before about having a safety meeting-party and a tour of the gates around the property. Everyone could share their thoughts and ideas for safety from past worrisome horse experiences.

 

 

December is breathing down our necks again! It's time to review the winter stable routine.

1. Never force the handle on the water hydrant. There is a gasket in the hydrant that will break inside the pipe. No one wants to dig up the aisle when it's 15 degrees. Just let it be. Use the other hydrant or drag the hose from the tack room. Leave me a note for the morning.
2. Dump dirty water buckets out the manure pit door. If buckets get dumped in the sink the drain gets clogged.
   
3. The water on the wash rack gets turned off during lengthy cold periods. Drag the hose
   from under the washing machine to hose off your horse. Return it to the tack room so it doesn't freeze.
   
4. Follow the winter ventilation guide. It is posted on the bulletin board on the back big door of the stable. Fresh air is crucial to having healthy horses.
   

X-mas party? Any ideas?

 

 

Old photos from my files.

Lots of babies.

I was cleaning house and  found some old photos from the old days at MGS. We would have 2 to 4 foals a year. I don't miss sleeping in the tackroom waiting for the stork to come.

The old run-in sheds behind the iso barn.
These old sheds were what divided the North and South Pastures. There was an old Hitchcock gate between the two Sheds so you didn't have to get off your horse to open the gate to get to the Upper Duckpond area.

 

 

 

 

Doc's paddock.

 

 

 

Yearlings! Sissy, Pretzel, Bull and Kathy Jill.

 

 



The front pasture sure has changed. I think new boarders would pass out if I turned out horses with apple trees. Rory Glen loved his pasture.

These kind of things happened all the time.

 

The sugar house without the tubing.

 



Hermitage Road when it was a sleepy dirt road looking north in front of the iso barn. The perfect road to go make out with your sweetie.



Puppy Jolie and Sterling.

Chi Chi and Sterling loved to wrestle.



It's coming!

Let me know if you want more pictures.

See you soon and keep your heels down! Holly

Hurricane Sandy served us a soggy situation.

Wow! Nothing like making up for lost rain. The horses survived happily in their stalls as I served them as if they were flying first class. "More hay? May top off your water?" They are a funny little community. As long as everyone is doing the same thing they are okay with what ever the situation. Anyways check out some of these pictures I took today as a souvenir of hurricane Sandy.

 

 
The waterfall to the Stone Cabin was spectacular! Not to mention loud as thunder!

The waterfall by the silt pond was a sight. My rubber boots are no match for that much water.

 

I kept Trucker, Brody and Gift dry in the sheds until Sandy left. Then, when I opened the gates to the South pasture, they immediately headed for the deep water to the manure pit. We don't need safety orange hunting vests, we need life jackets!

 

 

New Staff at MGS.

Brooke Daughters and Hannah Lucic are in training at the stable. Sara is going to have her hands full preparing them to fill her and Emily's shoes. Welcome to the stable.

 

 

 

Look who I got to ride last week when it was beautiful. IT'S JAN on Trucker. We had a great time going to the Upper Duck Pond.

 

What remarkable weather we've had.

I'll be back and remember, keep your heels down.

Holly

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a gorgeous week for Indian Summer. I hope everyone got to enjoy this little fall treat of warmth and color. I took this Monday morning while filling troughs. I haven't seen an autumn like this in a few years.

The poop Scoop

October 15, 2012

This is an unusual day here. I haven't had many quiet days in the stable in a long time. Move over Xina!

Horse health updates.

Horse vaccinations last Monday went very well. Everyone except Trucker was good about taking their shots.

Sissy is on the mend and is at least getting out of her stall for turn out.

Casey has been diagnosed with uveitis and is being treated with steroids for now.

Doc is battling Laminitis. Hopefully the Bute, shoeing and everyone pulling for him will keep it from getting worse. We're thinking about ya, Jan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Ventilation Guidelines.

I know it's cold. But your horse will do much better if he or she has fresh air.

The barn will typically stay 10 degrees warmer inside with 14 horses than the outside temperature.

WHEN IT'S…

30 degrees and up keep the leeward doors open wide enough for 2 people to pass.

20-30 degrees keep the leeward doors open wide enough for 1 person to pass.

10-20 degrees keep leeward doors open enough for Oliver to pass.

0 degree leave main front door open a crack. Burrr.

 

 

Thanks to everyone that helped unload shavings last Friday. We unloaded them in record time. 2 1/2 hours. Tina said she never wants to do that again. Christina was taking pics that day too. It is a disgusting job. Cough, Hack, Wheeze! Who's the beast of burden around here?

 

 

 

 

 

I'm back!

Keep your heels down, Holly.

Emerson Equine Quote

“Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it has done so, he/she will have to accept that his life will be radically changed.”


― Ralph Waldo Emerson




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Hey kids it's a busy Fall Friday!

Friday was a beautiful fall day...blue skies, white fluffy clouds, white 18 wheeler... Wait...It's shaving delivery day!!!





They looked like a pile of marshmallows in front of ISO barn.


Loading into main stable, I couldn't stay too long taking pictures- they tried to recruit me!!!


Meanwhile blacksmith visits...it was a busy day at MGS



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Location:Mentor Rd,Chardon,United States

50 Shades of Hay

Here is a chuckle for today...



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Location:Hermitage Rd,Chardon,United States

October 8, 2012.
I gotta get back to my musings. The barn is always a buzz with people, horses, chickens and all the drama that goes with them. So now that the weather is changing  I'll be able to get back on track with my writing and keeping everyone up to date with the goings on at MGS.

HUGE THANKS

 to Christina for keeping the flame under the Poop Scoop. Summer activities preclude me from carrying on my mission to be a famous blogger.

 Now let's catch up. I'll be writing the Poop Scoop as long as I can remember how I got in here in the first place.

Oh bucket

A pause for paws...sometimes in life you just gotta say "0h bucket"




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Falling in love...welcoming October in style...

What a view! Photo taken behind the Stable house towards the back pastures.


Inspired by the colorful changing leaves, Scottie and I decorated the barn and stable house - mums, corn stalks & pretty wreaths...

The Royal Treatment

Tracy shared a favorite part of Royal's trail ride routine is the après ride arena hand-graze cooling walk out.

Last week it became apparent how "favorite" - Tracy was rushing after their ride to get home. She was attempting to walk Royal into the barn and he wasn't cooperating, longingly looking over to the arena- "hey what's up?". It took some 'convincing', wow- Royal our usually MGS marshmallow was head strong!


This Saturday, Royal enjoys the lush green grass of the arena after a wonderful trail ride with the lovely Tracy- looking great girlfriend!

Location:Hermitage Rd,Chardon,United States

Holly's Hunting Season Tips

Bow season started September 27th.
Check the barn bulletin board for reminders.



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Location:Mentor Rd,Chardon,United States

When one door closes...

How often do we keep hoping for the next thing? The next job will be better...the next house will be bigger...the next car will be better on gas...the next Boston Terrier will not be a wackado...


"when one door closes another one opens"
Why are people so quick to shut the door? See only the negative and hope for positive change to come to them?

This philosophical moment is brought to by the following book:



Completed reading this for my business as a sustainable system course. Recommend it as an inspirational read ... And for free resources go to the
Penn State website
Authentic Happiness Website



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Location:Mentor Rd,Chardon,United States

Lady

A nice visit to Doc and Lady's pasture today. Lady has the most beautiful mane... Such a grand dame!

Location:Hermitage Rd,Mentor,United States

A Different Perspective...

Sometimes when life seems overwhelming, it helps to seek a new perspective.


Often a visit to the hayloft affords me the option of a comfortable view- or rather re-view of a situation.


From here
I can see the house (and not the dust bunnies under the bed).
I can see 'the pumpkin" (and not the dirt, dents and dings).
I can see Crazy Salvatore Dali- Boston Terrier extraordinaire rolling his bucket (and not the dirt and slime he is covered in).
Ahhh...
The grass doesn't appear to require cutting.
The garden doesn't appear to require weeding.
The horses don't appear to require grooming.


This distance thing is pretty forgiving...wonder if I look thinner?

Location:Mentor Rd,Chardon,United States

Where ever you go, there you are...

Thank you Judith for the trail map in the tack room!


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Location:Mentor Rd,Chardon,United States

Sunrise over ISO Barn

Early morning chores @ MGS


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Location:Hermitage Rd,Mentor,United States

Ahzar- from Afar

Ahzar enjoying this sunny September day.

Location:Hermitage Rd,Mentor,United States