Farm Life
Minnow gets a Cape
There’s a new Super Hero in town. And he’s pretty darn awesome!
Minnow the SuperPony!
To see more photos of Minnow & his SuperDog counterpart visit www.ammothedachshund.com
Ammo the Blogger
For any of you that follow the Trick Pony Blog, you then also know of my little Dachshund, Ammo. Ammo is my constant companion as he works with me, patrols the farm, and sleeps soundly in my living room at home. Every opportunity I have, he’s with me. I can probably count on one hand the number of times he’s been left home alone.
So since Ammo is such a huge part of my life, I finally decided it was only fitting he got his own Blog. With a little push from his adoring fans on facebook, AmmotheDachshund.com was launched a few days ago.
So if you like Dachshunds (or dogs for that matter) and you’re not above reading the musings of a feisty little Doxie, then head on over to his Blog. I promise you, he will keep you entertained!
Ammo plans to post something new every weekday (I think his entourage would riot if he didn’t). He even has some exciting giveaways planned (the first one being this monday).
Also if you have a product or business you would like to advertise, Ammo is taking ad slots at a DEEPLY discounted rate. Or you may choose to offer a giveaway to all of Ammo’s readers. So act fast, pricing will increase as traffic to the site continues to increase.
Baby Boomer
A newly born Boomerang, March 21, 2003
I’m so excited to share these!! Last week I got a package of Boomer baby photos in the mail from Boomer and Blitz’s breeder. Both Blitz and Boomer were born at 1000 Welcomes Farm in Chapel Hill, NC. The pair share the same stud, Chesapeake Powhattan’s Promise, but different dams. Boomer is out of Tidewater Sufer Chique (a Sufer Dude daughter) and Blitz is out of Tidewater Fable.
As I’m sure you can tell I LOVE both Blitz (originally “Lucky”) and Boomer, so I’m a big fan of the foals that their stud “Squat” produces. If you are in the market for a pony be sure to check out their sales list, one of their foals, John Henry, is already competing under saddle…and he’s gorgeous! John Henry would make an awesome mounted games pony as he looks to be pretty unflappable (I saw a video!) just like my two boys. I’d take them all home if I could!
Anyway, enjoy a trip down memory lane – way back in 2003 when Boomerang was first born.
A yearling Blitz looks out for little brother Boomer. How cute!!
Paisley Pony Columnist
Ammo the Dachshund is the newest columnist for the Paisley Pony equine magazine. His first article is now out in the Spring 2010 issue. You can download the article here (it’s on page 10).
Yesterday Ammo accompanied me to the Devon Horse Show to watch the Grand Prix Jumping. Along our travels we stopped at the Paisley Pony Booth, unfortunately no one was there, but that didn’t stop Ammo from sitting atop the stack and handing out magazines to his fans.
Ammo was wonderful and sat in the packed grand stands with me. Most of the time he slept curled up on my lap as the crowds cheered and screamed. He never made a sound. Slowly people around us started to notice the little wiener dog in the bleachers. Ammo was met with pats and kisses and people oohing and ahhing over how well behaved he was, especially when they found out he was only 1.
Then as the Jumpers came to an end the sky started to open up with flashes of lightning and thunder as well as threats of impending downpours. Ammo expertly navigated the crowds of people dashing to their cars and we heeled right by my side.
He spotted our car in a sea of sedans and dashed to wait by the back door. Once inside he curled up on his blanket and slept like a baby the whole way home.
I love that little Dachshund, he’s the best sidekick.
Birthday Boy Turns 24
Nitro in 2000
Niatross aka Nitro is turning 24 on Sunday. Nitro is my retired Dressage horse whom I’ve had since I was 14 years old (thats 12 years for anyone counting). Nitro was probably my first real experience working with a troubled horse, and how I wish I had discovered clicker training when he first came to live with me.
For 12 years of his life Nitro lived at the same farm where he was bred. Family raised, in what I assume to be a loving home (I have talked to his previous owner/breeder before). After learning the basics Nitro spend the majority of his life in a pasture, shielded from the World, mostly because his owners were afraid of him. See Nitro was supposed to be a pony, or maybe a small horse. His mom was a small pony (Connemara/Welsh) and his dad was a Thoroughbred. Nitro must have inherited his dad’s lanky legs, because he stands 16.3 hands tall. His size can be intimidating.
Nitro in 2001
Anyway at the age of 12 Nitro was sent to a dealer to be sold, where I happened to find him. I had spent nearly a year looking for a Dressage horse, and when I saw Nitro I knew he was something different. I was told he had Evented, and been “around the block” – a safe horse to buy a 14 year old who had outgrown their childhood pony. He was quiet, and was big enough to take up my long legs. After vetting him I brought him home on trial.
I knew enough to always have my possibly purchases vetted and brought home on trial. After childhood experiences of nearly buying blind ponies, ponies with positive coggins, and a horse that flipped over when girthed…..I knew its ALWAYS better safe than sorry. Only in this case, I didn’t expect to be lied to…..or to take a horse on trial with a 30 day tranquilizer on him.
Nitro in 2002
Live and learn, and never buy a horse from a dealer you don’t know. Needless to say after purchasing him my mom and I were finally able to track down his original owner, who told us he went to one show – and had a panic attack so they took him home. Fantastic. And after 30 days I was left with an explosive horse that had no ground manners, and couldn’t even leave the property without having a freakout. Not to mention he was deathly afraid of the cows that lived down the street and had panic attacks when in a “warm-up” ring situation.
Nitro in 2003
I later learned as a yearling he was viciously attacked by a group of geldings that had gotten into his field – the mark on his neck is the reminder he will always live with. This traumatizing event accounted for the fear of “group” riding. The cows – I have no idea what happened there. And his breakdowns when leaving home was due to his lack of experience in ANYTHING. All he knew was his safe pasture where he was born.
All I wanted was a nice horse to take me through the ranks of USPC in Dressage. Instead Luckily I got Nitro. Many trainers labeled him dangerous, and other pony club parents wondered what a 14 year old was doing with a horse like him. My mom feared I would get hurt, and asked me to consider finding him another home on numerous occasions. But I couldn’t sell him, I knew I could help him.
Nitro's first trick - discovered when he accidently sampled cat food
I spend YEARS helping him overcome his fears and gain confidence. I am proud to say by the time he retired he was a functioning member of horse society. No more nervous breakdowns in group settings, no more kicking fences out of fear and frustration, no more plowing me over just because he could. Nitro still has his quirks. He never COMPLETELY got over his cow fear (although he could now walk past them without panicking) and he still preferred not to be too close to strange horses he didn’t know (no pair class for us) and if put in the wrong situation, he’d probably still plow me over to get to a safe area. But the difference is I can trust him now, and he trusts me to make sure he is safe.
Nitro was never that perfect Dressage horse that won me first place ribbons and every kid wanted to borrow. He was a challenge, and its because of him that I am a better rider and a better trainer. I had to work every single second I was with him. I’m happy that he was able to find a home with me, its horses like him that end up in homes that don’t understand them and ultimately end up even more battered and bruised than they started out.
Nitro is one of those special horses that comes along to show you the way. Thank you Nitro for 12 years of excitement! Happy Birthday Pal!
Nitro 2004
Nitro 2005 Super Hero Pas De Deux - highest score of the day
Nitro 2006 Pas De Deux
2006 - Nitro passing a C-2 rating - one of our BIGGEST challenges
2008 Nitro and his mare, Jet
2009 Nitro at IHF
2010 Nitro with his "cushings disease" winter coat
