Yemaya Horse Retreat
Now in Fort Saint John
December Newsletter
“I have constantly been both praised and criticized for my refusal to
stop learning, changing and evolving. Some people appreciate it when I admit to
my mistakes. Others use it against me. I take the good and the bad words in
stride; I am who I am, and people don’t motivate me anyway- it’s the horses! As
for the horses in my care, my motivation comes not from my success stories but
from my failures. When I look one horse in the eye and realize
that I am not good enough, it dominates my every thought- the success stories
are forgotten.” Pete Ramey
www.hoofrehab.com
This month’s newsletter
Section 1: November in Review
Section 2: A Herd of Forty
Section 3: Little Aha Moments
Section 4: Classifieds
Section 5: Bulletin Board
November in Review
It’s hard to believe that this will be the last newsletter for 2009... Crazy as it may be, I hope you have good times over the holidays, and get to spend time with your family and friends.
I have to say I’m enjoying FSJ… being in a place with so much work available. It seems to be a great place for people who have drive to do well in life. People who are smart and have a great work ethic do great here. I miss home, hanging out with friends and family, and knowing everyone in the grocery store, but that’ll come in time I guess…
And apologies if I missed an email from you, my webhoster had some issues and many emails never made it through.
I’m getting lots of time to play at “Homestead Morgans.” Janine and John Welsh have some of the most well mannered, inquisitive Morgans… Not only are they easy to work with, but they are stunning animals. They have one of those breeding programs that are as natural as they can get in our world. The stallion can live with his mares that are to be bred, and any foals that are along side them. They focus on disposition, conformation, and color and produce horses that sell world wide. Very cool to get to play with these guys…
A Herd of Forty…
I posted this on Facebook (and will on the website as well, there is a woman I ran into that owns 40 head, and can no longer afford to keep them. They are out on pasture, but that will only sustain them for so long. It looks like they may become an SPCA case later this winter, or she will send them to auction. If there are any of these horses you might be interested in let me know. If you were to make an offer, the owner would most likely take it. I would offer a couple hundred dollars and see what kind of response you get. If there are a few people that want any from the southern end of the province let me know, it would give me an excuse to go home and visit… I’ve got room for three in my trailer, but could always find a bigger one if needed.
The Percheron stallion is registered and papered, and the owner figured he was 8 or so. There are many cross breeds out of him, there’s some Saddlebreds, Arabians, Percherons, Shires, Mules and donkeys. I think all the mules were Jennies, and one had packed before. A couple of the horses have been ridden before, the rest of them are two and three years old and have never had halters on or had their feet trimmed. Some of them are purebreds, but most are not. It’s a herd that she has pretty well let run without people interaction, but anyone who’s had offspring from her has said that they are a little flighty for the first few days, quickly come into their own, and are easy to start. So there is good genetics for disposition. Many have become packing and guiding horses and they are well built with solid legs… A lot of good stock… If you have any interest please contact me, I may be heading down in your direction…
Little Aha Moments
There’s been more horse work this month than last, between the moving and finding connections... It’s nice to get back into the groove of things.
One of the horses I get to play with this month is a pretty well wild stallion, hasn’t had any handling, and is going to be a working cow horse.
I find it interesting to watch my own reactions as I grow and spend more time with difficult horses. I feel their emotions as they occur, and fear was the worst for me to learn to work with. It would come as a jolt throughout my body, and it wasn’t even my own emotion. The more I experienced it, the more I would get used to it. There were a few incidences this month that have fascinated me. Twice the horse I was on started bucking and one that wiped out underneath me doing mach ten… It’s like karate, when you get punched enough you start to see it slowly because you understand it, rather than seeing it in complete fear. You know it well enough to see it in a calm way, and react to it accordingly. It fascinates me…
Something that I enjoy with that experience is seeing how the body quiets itself. You can try to force your body into a quiet state, but it’s a lot easier when you fully understand the situation and see how things unfold in a quiet manner.
A horse will start to get nervous when I am on their back for the first time; they will give a nervous eye, and then realizes that I’m still quiet and relaxed. It helps them relax in the best way…. Just one of those aha moments along the way.
Networking in Fort St. John
North Peace Light Horse Association
(250) 787-7153
slawson@nplha.com
www.diamondnqh.com –Gorgeous Quarter Horses! Marianne helped me connect with some local people here, a big thanks!!
www.desertacresarabians.com- Charlie Lake Desert Arabians
I’ve been working for Janine and John, and they have an awesome breeding program. They are a couple of the people who breed horses choosing their stock wisely, and take care of it well.
www.benchlandquarterhorses.com
www.colouredquarters.com – Getting out of the breeding business. Must see!
www.grizzleyridgeqh.tripod.com
www.yallehlovestock.com Brian and Nancy keep a busy life, totally immersed into the horse industry… From auctions and breeding to livestock hauling, they keep themselves out of trouble…
www.northernhorse.com/rock/RocknRockWebpage
www.equinenow.com/farm/whispering_aspen_ranch.htm
www.northernhorse.com/oldbaldy/
www.benchlandquarterhorses.com
Classified Ads
Pepcee is a 14 year old registered Palomino Tobiano Paint. She’s very light and
responsive, currently
rides western and in a hackamore. She has been used for cattle, but isn’t
getting ridden much at this time.
She just needs to get back into the “groove of things.” She’s a very
energetic, fun, and easy to ride horse
when she’s riding regularly. $1800 obo.
Call 250-262-7637 or email stevi@yemayahorseretreat.com for more information.
Kit is a 3 year old mare standing at 14.3, and should finish 15.2. She’s very sensitive, well built, well bred, very willing, and works best with a gentle hand. She will excel in any discipline and will do anything for a good hand. $2000 Call 250-295-0484 or email sderkson@telus.net
There is a very
good broodmare for warmbloods in Langley needing a new home. Gilian Pinette is
giving away her very experienced broodmare Whinney. Win is by the late TB
stallion Final Pool of jumper fame. She has produced many warmblood
foals most recently a 1/2 brother to my Irish Sport Horse filly Tabby's Keira.
Win is a 16.3 hh grey TB mare and very chunky warmblood type of build. She is
a beautiful mover and a friendly and mannerly mare. Good home is obviously
important.
Email Lorraine at
logriffy@yahoo.com
Bulletin Board
A horse for myself… one that I can go on trail rides with my daughter, one that I can use to help my friends in the summer move their cows, one that I feel safe letting others get on and ride (not spooky and scared of its own shadow)
I would say that I am an advance beginner to lower intermediate rider… I’m not nervous when riding, but I still need lots of training!!!
I see that you’re now in Fort St. John??? – That may be a little far to get a horse – we are in Williams Lake….
Thank you for reading, once again. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this month’s newsletter. Your input is valued and appreciated! J
This month’s newsletter was written by Stevi Weissbach.
From Yemaya Horse Retreat
Hwy 97N, Fort Saint John B.C.,
(250) 262-7637