Posts Tagged ‘chesapeake boomerang
The Ponies get a new Trailer
When I was a kid getting my pony to horse shows required us to be a little creative.
That’s my childhood pony, Oreo Cookie, in the back of our horse trailer in 1989. For trips to local shows and summer camp our little make-shift rig worked out just fine. Oreo really enjoyed going on rides, she’d rest her head on the cab of the truck letting the wind whip through her mane.
Eventually my sister and I joined Pony Club (thank goodness the pickup truck had long since died – we probably would have been kicked out instantly for our HIGHLY unsafe trailer), and the need for a real horse trailer to get us to rallies and practices was high on the list.
Our maroon trailer took us to MANY pony club rallies. It took the ponies to Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland and more. It brought Minnow home to live with us and took him to his first pony penning. For the past 15 years it’s the only horse trailer we have known.
For years we had outgrown it. With three riders in the family, not all of us could attend events together. Or we had to find someone to trailer our third pony. Minnow’s growing accumulation of trick gear was getting harder and harder to fit on long trips. We longed for a tackroom.
Then last week we finally did it. I had combed used trailer ads for years, waiting for the right 3 horse bumper pull trailer to pop up (they are hard to find!). And at last the perfect-for-us trailer popped up.
We’ve been practicing our trailer loading – as we’re not sure some of the ponies have ever been on a step-up before. It’s also a learning curve for us – as we get accustomed to the new and so much larger trailer (it also boasts a rear and front tack room perfect for transporting trick gear).
Even Ammo the Dachshund is super excited that it can fit all three of his favorite Chincoteague Ponies at once.
And little Minnow is just tall enough to peek his little head out the window.
We’re excited for our next adventure with our new trailer! And if anyone is interested in a used 2 horse bumper pull, all steel, wood floor, still in great working condition let us know!
Now I just have to practice backing this beast up!
Smile for the Camera
Boomerang is unbelievably smart. He picks up things so fast – and he LOVES inventing his own tricks. Like this one:
now it might just look like I cued him to smile – but in fact I have not.
Boomer has decided that it’s very important to put a beaming smile on your face everytime someone picks up a camera to take your picture. It’s quite cute actually – but I’m pretty sure he’ll never take a “normal” photo again. But that’s ok…it sorta makes me giggle.
Boomer has also picked up a subtle cue I’ve been giving him to “roll over” when he lays down.
So with a tilt of my head onto his side he goes.
This weekend Boomerang is headed to his first gymkhana event (along with Blitz and my sister’s mare Jet). Barrel racing here we come! In english tack of course, because we have to be different like that.
June Events & Sitting Ponies
Well June is officially here – and thus begins our countdown to pony penning! The pressure is on for me to think up a new skit for Minnow to perform while we are down there. I have a few random ideas floating around my head – but suggestions are definitely welcome!
I do need to come up with a plan though, so I have an idea of what new tricks I need to teach Minnow this year. In the hopes that working on some new tricks might spark an idea for me I started training both Minnow and Boomerang to sit.
We’re at the beginning stages right now, (although Boomer has had some previous lessons on it last year with me – I just got a bit distracted before finishing it) but I’m sure they will both get it soon. I’ve been training them together – something I only sometimes do – but working them at the same time is really helping them to learn faster. Boomerang I think might catch on a bit quicker than Minnow, as he’s less concerned about touching his butt to a rustling bean bag chair. Minnow would much rather prefer to pick them up and throw them. haha.
I’ve also been having Minnow watch me cue Boomerang to lay down – and I’m just waiting for the opportunity when Minnow offers this trick to me so I can reward him. Any day now….I can just tell!
Amongst the pony training, Ammo has also been getting ready for his big performance at the Keystone Dachshund Races next weekend.
I swear he’s really excited! 🙂
Ammo will be performing around lunchtime with his pal Super Trooper (my mom’s Australian Shepherd/Labrador). This will be Trooper’s debut performance and he’s been working really hard! Let’s just say I’m off in search of a doggie sized tutu today – it’s going to be epic.
So if you are in the Lewisberry PA area next Sunday June 12th around from 12pm – 6pm – be sure to shop by to watch Ammo race for charity & perform with Trooper. We’ll also have a booth set up where ammo will be selling some of his artwork- with perhaps a few pieces from the ponies as well. It’s definitely a fun day with the profits benefiting the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue. We hope to see you there!
P.S. Ammo says that anyone who sports a “Go Ammo” t-shirt on Race day to support him will get an extra slobbery kiss!
Blitz and Minnow grazing at home at Iron Horse Farm
Iron Horse Farm – video tour
Some of you might know that in 2009 we moved the ponies into our farm, Iron Horse Farm. My parents waited 20+ years until they were able to build the farm of their dreams. And while the farm never seems to be quite complete (we always have projects going on) – it is definitely a place our whole family cherishes.
My talented brother Taylor recently made an updated farm tour for our website while he was home visiting from North Carolina. (and he’s also working on a new video for the painting ponies!)
Check it out:
Isn’t it fantastic! You can see my mom working Blitz in the video with her dog Trooper – as well as Boomerang and Minnow (and our other horses Jet – black mare & Nitro – the grey). Sadly I wasn’t out at the farm the day he shot – or perhaps I would have made him capture a few pony tricks for the reel. But regardless, my brother is an super talented filmmaker – he shot this in one day! Amazing right?
So if you are in need of some video work – be sure to check out his website Depthink. (he will travel!)
Trick Pony Update (part 2)
Hopefully you got to read part 1 of our big Trick Pony Update. Well, part 2 was supposed to come way sooner than now! Sorry! But better late than never. So here’s a little bit of what we’ve been up to lately….
Right before our big school visit I decided to teach Minnow a new trick. He now has a bright beaming smile, just like his brother, Boomerang.
I’m not really sure why it took me so long to get around to teaching him this trick – but whatever the case, in a matter of a few minutes he was a smiling fool!
Meanwhile, Minnow has picked up a new training buddy, Trooper! Trooper has graciously agreed to perform alongside Ammo the Dachshund at the Keystone Dachshund Races this year.
Ammo has been helping Trooper to learn his tricks, and before we know it “Super Trooper” will be ready for the big show!
Minnow had a break-through in his laydown training a few weeks ago. Those of you that have been reading the blog for a long time might know that Minnow has not been trained to laydown yet. Mostly because he’s extremely sensitive and up until now, putting himself into a vulnerable position like laying down was not something he was comfortable with. Typically he will wait until no one is around before he will even roll in the pasture, and he’s never let me even get close to him while he’s on the ground. I’m a strong believer in letting my horse tell me when they are ready and comfortable. I was in no hurry to teach Minnow to laydown, and I’ve been patiently waiting for the past 8 years until he’s ready.
And now I think the time has finally come. It all started with a bath a few weeks ago. Miraculously he decided to roll right after I turned him out in the pasture – about a foot away from me. I took it as a cue and crept up next to him to feet him grass. He stayed down for about 30 seconds before he got up. I then began to give my cue for laydown that I use for Boomer (which I have been making Minnow watch for the past several weeks) – and by some miracle Minnow went down again. I could kick myself for not having a handful of treats in my pockets – but I did my best to verbally praise him & feed him any bits of grass I could find.
I’m so excited that he finally seems ready to master this (difficult for him) trick. When the day finally comes we will have reached a huge milestone in our relationship. From the scared & untrusting pony I met 8 years ago – to a pony that will trust me to be around him in his most vulnerable moment. I’m honored that he’s chosen me to go on this journey with him. 🙂
Usually our travels involve performances and competitions, but this month our travels led us in a different direction. Boomer, Blitz, and Ammo recently took a trip with us to Delaware – not for a performance – but for saddle fitting!
Blitz is going to be a Western Pony! Doesn’t he look cute in his new western saddle? Meanwhile Boomerang & I are trying out treeless saddles! I’ve had the same multipurpose saddle since I was about 12 -so it’s high time I upgrade (specifically to something that isn’t too small for me!) So, to make room for our new saddle, we’re also selling off some of the ones we don’t use anymore.
So if anyone is interested in a 16 1/2″ Dressage Saddle in excellent condition let me know! You can find out more details here. Once our new saddle is here, we will also have a great multi-purpose saddle for sale.
Blitz is really liking his new western pony role, and Boomer can hardly contain his excitement for his new saddle to arrive. We’ll be sure to post details once we’ve made sure it fits him & given it a good test ride. You can find out more details about treeless saddles here.
Well I hope you enjoyed our little update on life with the trick ponies’. As we approach Summer more exciting things will be happening – as we gear up for more performances and our yearly trip with Minnow to Pony Penning!
