The Pacific Northwest Driven Dressage Festival

 On June 1st my harness horse "Legacy" myself and my Gator "Alice" arrived at Olivia Farms in Ford, WA

We were attending the PNWDDF .....an annual event at Olivia Farms....we drove the easy, quiet trails after we arrived on Friday evening, then competition on Saturday, and a lesson from the judge on Sunday. 

 I want to THANK my gator Alice, who rode along, and willingly hopped off the carriage to snap a photo...

Sunday was lesson time, and then we headed home....full of knowledge and ready to practice for our next challenge. Legacy, was simply an angel. She handled all the commotion with the grace of a well seasoned driving horse.

Hill Work

 Today we start hill work. If you have ever been here to our farm, you know we do not have "gentle" hills. The hills here are extreme. I was not sure I could ever work Legacy even on our driveway, as it is very steep.

 Being the lady that she is, the kind and willing team member, she is tackling the hill with ease!

Coming down is nearly as difficult on her, as she must now use her bum to brake the weight of the cart and me. To accomplish the marathon phase of our local CDE, she will need to build enough muscle to carry and brake 2 people......

My friend and mentor "Virgil" came over to help work the hill, he took Legacy up and down the hill several times before I attempted it. He also stopped her on the steepest part of the hill, to see if she could hold him and the cart in place...she did!  he also brought his camera ;-)  thank you Virgil for these photos!!!  they are priceless ......and thank you Legacy for such a willing spirit and a can do attitude.

CDE playday

Legacy, and I attended a CDE playday at Teddy Bear Farms in Mead, WA in mid May. I also introduced my "Gator"  to the world, Alice D.  Alice was a superb gator, always a step ahead of me in plans!...For this shot of Alice and me,  a gentleman had stopped beside the road to snap a photo of us out in the lovely field. We asked for a photo of us, with my camera and he willingly took on the task!   He had the same camera as mine (Canon 7D) 

 We did the trails, Legacy has not done any hill work yet, so the hill was a bit of a learning experience for us. After the hill, she was gawking at a roadside pile of logs,  very intense she was!  when a butterfly flew off its roost and startled her....Funny girl !!!  big horse scared by tiny butterfly!   she was just concentrating so hard....you can not ask any more than that.

 Legacy LOVED the cones course. I swear she can not only read, she can add too...she loved the course, and hit the mid section of the cones with skill...like a jumper that does not want a rail down, she was careful to center herself...even if I did not help!  Each round of the cones course, she wanted to go faster and faster, she was sure using engaging her mind.

Good friends, lovely weather and an oh so lovely place to practice......our first CDE is in June...I HOPE we are ready ;-)

The end of an era and the start of something new

Well, over the last week I have watched my two last sales horses leave. Princess and Tekara both headed out to new homes, Princess had a short journey (of the two) to Colorado, and Tekara is in Calgary now, in quarantine, headed to Germany.  This is the end of an era for me, years of building, learning, a lot of luck, judging horseflesh good and bad, and what works with each to make better. It is a long process and looking back I am amazed at how much I really DID learn. 

Our new era starts next weekend, when I take my harness horse and attend our very first playday. I will also be introducing my "Gator" to the world over the next few weeks, I have been carefully training her to help Legacy and I on our journey. Driving allows a person to do something a ridden horse can not do. The chance to share the experience with a non rider, in a safe venue (well, as safe as horses can be)....I find this a positive thing in my life and will want to expand on that very idea. Having a navigator (gator) is required in Combined Driving events, she will also serve under different titles,  Gator, header, Groom.....we are having a blast together and I hope she might want to learn to drive someday....added bonus?  some one to snap photos of Legacy and I.

The curly world has changed in many positive ways in the last 15+ years we have been in business. IF I were to start a mare herd today, my search for quality mares would be much easier than it was years ago. Prices might be up a bit,  but the quality is way up and that is encouraging....course, you never know, I "do" own a mare, and that is how it kind of all started!

Legacy makes her driving video debut

http://youtu.be/hEW3rLrVK7o
Today we debut Legacy's first driving video. With the help of a friend, I videoed Legacy driving, and then reversed roles and drove her myself. We also took still shots, pictured here.


I am busy schooling trot to canter transitions, what a BLAST !!! Legacy is so light and responsive.....
This is fun beyond words ;-)

Truly a dream come true

Our first road drive

Yesterday was a incredible day...First I drove Legacy in the pasture and yard (English term for in front of the barns at the stable where she is boarded)..she was a doll! the gate from the pasture to the "yard" was a nice controlled walk...she gets pretty excited to go through that gate, as driving out in the yard is an easier task for her...the yard has a nicely packed dirt road, much easier to drive around. After my driving session I asked Virgil to take the lines and work Legacy a bit on her cantering. Talk about a RUSH of adrenaline !!!! Virgil and I sat back and enjoyed the ride....a smooth horse, in a controlled canter eating up strides at a fairly rapid pace...this mare is just dreamy....We cantered short lengths, several times. I hope later this week, it is me taking the lines for a spring time canter....a wonderful gait, like flying on a cloud.

After our canter, Virgil mentioned he would like to check the pasture down the county road. We have been on the road for a short ways, but this would entail about 1/2 mile of road work. The road had actually been pretty quiet....and off we went.

Of course, as soon as we stepped out onto the road we encountered traffic. Legacy just trotted along willing and quietly. She slowed and stopped to listen when some unseen dogs started a barking frenzy..not only could she not see them, due to her blinders, but they were actually hidden behind a tall fence and shrubery.....after a moment to process the whole thing we trotted on. Next came what every whip (driver) dreads.....coming right at us was an over sized semi with a huge piece of farm equipment on its low boy trailer bed. Pilot cars in front let Legacy know traffic was in the area and the semi passed without any issues....thank goodness for decent truckers! most semi's coming down that road chose that area to slam on the noisy jake brakes....but this guy was awesome and we all had a safe passing of the huge equipment. OK...perhaps I would not have selected that to happen on our first road drive...but, hey, it is real life here.

When we could get a clear path, we turned and headed for home (after checking the pasture) Legacy gave us a brisk trot for a bit, then Virgil slowed her to a walk for the rest of the journey...

We drove a couple more circles around the yard and put her away....this mare is nothing short of amazing.......

I plan on doing video later in the week...stay tuned!

Even Virgil a "tried and true" QH guy is now singing Legacy's praises ;-)

Whips from Team Donk and Team Creekside meet

A week ago, Kristi, of "Team Donk" came for a visit....this photo was taken by Virgil Wicks, as we warmed up for our meeting of the whips of Team Donk and Team Creekside

More warm up time.............


After Kristi arrived, we set out to do some harness adjustments...Legacy is moving much free "er" now that we made minor adjustments. It always amazes me..how just a tiny adjustment can make your horse much more comfortable...both riding and driving!
Kristi spent a bit of time "opening up Legacy" allowing her to use her good forward, willing attitude at a little higher rate than we normally work, it was a huge confidence builder for me. We had a fun day, learned ALOT and have continued our work over at this barn...soon we have a clinic scheduled.