Summer!

How is it that it is almost August?

 Summer has flown by, again.

 

 

 

What's up?

 

 

Congats to Xina and Jan for their learning of the art of horsemanship. Sara is awesome!

We survived a hideous week of heat and humidity.

And everyone has some sort of fungus growing on their bodies.

 

 

 

Keep an eye out for damage on the trails from the summer storms and flooding so I can get ready for trail clearing this September.



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Hay season!Sucks.

Meet the guys who made it happen.
Thanks so much!

What's that smell coming from the tack room?

Everyone was standing.

 

Isha always lending a hand!





The horses enjoy a lazy morning. I think Jeep drank the cool aid.

 

 

 

 

 

The flood of 2013!

 

 

Our newest amusement ride at MGS.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh dam. Do we know any little Dutch boys to stick their fingers in the holes?






Stable facelift.
New windows and paint.

 

The old girl looks good. Not bad for 90.


Finding the time to write is hard this time of year. We're all busy doing our thing.
Do your thing and enjoy the trails.

Remember, keep your heels down!
Holly.

 

April and May come and go so fast!

This maple tree always fascinates me as it goes thru the year.

The barn is busy this time of year. The winter routine and the summer routine are going on all at once! Soon, I'll start leaving the main stable out all night and all day for those few glorious days of very little stall cleaning. I can't wait. Then, it's hay season. Yikes.

News around the barn!

 



 Bear is still for sale.

Mito is recovering from a bowed tendon.

Eileen is itching to ride Tank.

Did Connie break up with Dougie or not???

Ruby looks like she's getting ready for Jenny again.
Christina Barss is learning to ride Lane.
Willow, owned by Callie is our newest boarder.
Will Azhar get over his cough?

THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT TRAIL CLEARING DAY! 

 

 

Rosemary and Ken Morgan are certified in trail maintenance. I learned a lot from them and I won't look at the trails the same way again. I want a Pulaski and a McCullough for Christmas.

 

From the left, Rosemary Morgan, Eileen Killian and Ken Morgan with their weapons of destruction.

 

Having the trail tools the Morgan's brought made this goofy hill much more inviting to go up and down. Nice touch with the rocks.

 

Anyways, this is the time of the year to get out and explore the trails. Just write on my planner sheet if you want me to go with you or else I'll mow grass.

 

 

As always, keep your heels down, Holly.

 

 

March is the new February

March 27th, 2013.
When I got to work this morning, this is what the front of the stable looked like.

 

 

 

 

Doc is on high alert.

 

This is the trail out back.






Just think, the spring peepers still need to be snowed on three times before it is truly Spring.

 

Keep your heels down, Holly.

 

Mountain Glen on You Tube.

Now I'm going to show off.

 

Watch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology will not get the best of this poop scooper!

 

 

Keep your heels down, Holly

 

The sun says it wants to be spring.

This was a cold March 5th,2013. There was no one at the barn so I took advantage of getting out to see if there was any wind damage to the trail in the rocks. It was quiet. Calm. Just sun.

 

 

 

 

Last week was busy with Benji and Donna moving out and Sammy moving in that this was a treat. 

 

 

Getting up here makes up for dark gloomy days like last Friday and Saturday when Rolly was losing his mind, Coco ending up at Big Creek and Azhar Choking. 

 

 

 

 

This is the best time to be on Little Mountain. You can see everything. 

I'm watching you.

Keep your heels down. Holly.

Remember to have fun and be safe when out riding.

Kristi PDF'd me an ad for the safety vests that inflate on impact. If any one is interested, I'll post a the ad at the stable. There's a 10% discount for you and Kristi will contribute to the Friends of Sterling fund.      

I've written in past blogs about safety. They are horses and we are out in the woods, fields and streams where anything could happen. Don't forget to take in the sights, sounds and smells of those woods, fields and streams. That's why we go out out there. Of course, your horse may stumble, eat or spook. Don't bring that memory of your ride back with you. Bring back the memory of the woods, fields and streams that are the beautiful gem that make MGS what it is.

 

Ok, back to safety.

     I will hang this at the stable so riders and our new staff have something to consider when people go out for a ride and something goes wrong during the ride.

Emergency procedures.

Stable address

8754 Hermitage Rd. Chardon Twp.

Take care of the rider first!

These are the situations from the uneventful to the worst case scenario.

• The rider falls off and gets back on without any noticeable injury.
  When rider returns, ask if they have any pain or dizziness. Offer an ice pack from the freezer. Make sure they are safe to drive home.
• The rider falls off and is not injured and can't get back on. (I've had riders call me to drive out to give them for a leg up.) Find a log or rock to mount back up. When rider returns ask if they have any pain or dizziness. Offer an ice pack. Make sure they are safe to drive home.

When to bring a halter and lead rope.

• The rider falls off and is not injured and the horse runs away.
  Find out if the rider is ok and in which direction the horse went. Have them get to a place where a car can pick them up (unless they are so mad they need to walk off their anger). Find the horse and inspect for any injuries. Generally the horse comes back to the stable.
• The rider falls off, is injured and the horse runs away.
  Ask injured rider if they require 911 and how bad are their injuries. Can staff and/or help get to the location by car? Take rider to the stable (call 911 if necessary). Help make arrangements to get the rider home or to an emergency facility. Secure horse in a stall after inspecting for injuries.
• A non- Mountain Glen horse shows up without a rider. Try to catch the horse and safely put it in the round pen until the rider shows up. Sometimes a little black stallion shows up.
  
   
  Worst case scenario.
  
   
• Horse returns to stable without a rider and rider is not answering their phone.
  Secure horse in stall. If there are other riders around start a search for the rider. Back track from the direction which the horse came from. ATV will come in handy in this situation. Yell out for the rider (because they may have landed on their phone). Call 911 if rider is unconscious and direct them to the location. Start first aid/CPR immediately.
  
   

Who to call. Judith or Holly

What to do. Take care of the rider the best you can.

Where they are. Know the property and learn the names of the areas.

How to help. General first aid.

Emergency contact list. Cell phone.

Emergency vehicles can access areas via service drives on property. Map in the tack room has driveway entrances marked and the key for the gates is hanging by the sink.
Upper Duck Pond there is a gate on Clark Rd. and another off of Girdled across from Howard Van Dreist's house.
Judith's driveway will get to Upper Duck Pond.
Stone Cabin has a gate off of Mentor Rd. below Little Glen.
Sugarhouse can be accessed from Mentor Rd. at Little Glen.
The top of Little Mountain can be reached by a private driveway at the end of Little Mountain Rd.

I'm always thinking about safety but I still have fun. Some of us are bigger adrenalin junkies more than others. It's OK.

Keep your heels down, Holly.

Oh, January.

January, burrrrrr!

 

 

 

Nothing like fresh snow to clean off the stall muck.

 

 

 

 

 

Kaila the Brave!

 

I won't miss that week of wind and fridgid cold. Not to mention the horses in so much.

 

 

 

 

On a sad note...

 

January took away some of our four legged friends.

 

 

Lady went to the great  pasture in the sky and

Sterling is off hunting for adventure.

 

 

We'll miss you! mm'yeow.

 



 

Keep your heels down, Holly

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

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