Posts Tagged ‘horse
Blizzard of 2009
So as you can probably tell I haven’t been able to post in a while. Hopefully now that Christmas is over I will have a little more free time on my hands.
Boomer and Blitz
So anyway…as many of you know – a week ago (December 20th) we had a massive Blizzard here in Eastern PA. I’m no foreigner to snow, but it has been a while since we’ve received this much snow – especially in December. I measured about 14″ of snow where I live, but with the winds and snow drifting we could easily have received more than that.
Digging out was a bit of a process – but also came with the task of digging out the horses. Luckily I have a big SUV with 4-wheel drive and I was able to plow my way up to the farm in my truck.
Minnow
I was excited to see the horse’s reactions to the snow..I was certain they would run and frolic in the fluffy white stuff. Surprisingly though most of them were just interested in the piles of hay I had put in the pasture and the snow just seemed an inconvenience to them as they tried to trudge to it.
Iron Horse Farm
I found myself wishing the snow had come after Christmas, as I was so busy at my shop with Holiday orders that I barely had time to enjoy it. Had I not been so swamped I would have ridden the boys in the snow, or taught Minnow to pull a sled. I even contemplated the idea of somehow teaching Minnow how to throw snowballs. But alas my time with the snow was short and it has all melted away.
But even though I didn’t get much time to play in the snow (I take that back – I did unsuccessfully try to sled in it) – the dogs sure had fun messing around in the fluff. Especially my Dachshund, Ammo. Being 4″ off the ground comes at a major disadvantage when you get 14 inches of snow. But that didn’t keep Ammo from burrowing away – in fact I think he thoroughly enjoyed it, even if he did get a little chilly.
Below are some photos and videos of Ammo enjoying himself in the snow.
Trooper
Trooper
Anyway that was my snowday! Did anyone else get a ton of snow? Did you do anything fun with your horses/dogs/yourself?
Christmas Card Reveal!
So after reading all my posts about our 2009 Xmas cards (Post 1, Post 2, Post 3) – I’m sure everyone is dying to see the final designs! So without further ado….I give you our 2009 Holiday Cards!
So are they what you expected? Did we outdo ourselves this year, or do you have a favorite from years past? Better yet – what does your Christmas card look like? Post a link…I’m always looking for new ideas for next year’s cards!
Happy Holidays from the Trick Ponies!
www.ponypaintings.com
The Best of the Best
So last time I posted I showed some photos of my Christmas Card Mishap. Today I’m sharing the good ones! It wasn’t all chaois during our Christmas Photoshoot, so here’s the Trick Ponies at their finest!
So..which one do you think my parents chose to feature on their Christmas card? Which is your favorite? I’d love to know!
Three’s a Crowd
So as I posted before, my parents decided to feature the Trick Ponies on their Christmas Card this year. The idea was simple – get them to stand together holding fake berry swigs in their mouths. The reality was – its never that easy.
I knew I probably should have worked them on targeting a stationary spot on the ground first (like a carpet scrap or piece of wood), but of course I never got around to it. I have taught all of my boys to stationary target the pedestal. Meaning when I put out their pedestal – get them upon it and ask them to stay put, they will all do so. (well Boomerang needs a bit more practice with this one). But since I only have one pedestal, the problem arose, how do I get all 3 of them to stand together? The answer is – I never actually did! Ha!
In fact, I have never worked all three together at the same time. Not because I don’t want to – but mainly because I didn’t want utter chaos, and currently Minnow is the only one I trust to “behave” properly when the food pouch comes out and there are competitors for the treats.
So anyway – that will all be a task for another day…now onto the Christmas Card. Below are a series of outtakes from the attempt at a Christmas Card (all before the sun set). I did end up getting some nice ones, but I will have to save those for another post. I hope you enjoy a good laugh at my attempt to “corral the wild Chincoteague Ponies”.
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
The Family Business
Ammo at 8 weeks old taking a ride on Blitz
My Dachshund Ammo has been assisting the Trick Ponies since he was about 8 weeks old. He loves pony rides, pony kisses, laying under the easel while the ponies paint and of course eating pony poop. So after 1 full year of “assistant” duty I decided its time for Ammo to join the ranks as an official member of the Trick Ponies of Chincoteague. What do you have to do to be a member? You have to be able to paint!
So a couple weeks ago I started working with Ammo on his paintbrush skills. We began by targeting a paintbrush – which Ammo took to in no time. Then he was rewarded for licking the brush, and eventually putting his teeth on it. We’ve now progressed to picking up the brush on his own and pretty soon I will ask him to target the brush to the paper. Below is a video of Ammo practicing his new brush skills.
Dog Paddling over to Chincoteague
Although this is the first time Ammo may be picking up a paintbrush – its actually not his first painting. After a painting “mishap” ammo helped Minnow to create this wonderful work of art! Its now proudly hanging in my Studio at home. I can’t wait to add lots more of Ammo’s creations to my walls.
