Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Some things to say

 Another long winded ramble , but I believe one worth reading
First and foremost , Thank you so much, to Country Gal, of  Our County Cove life , and also the 4 R's of 4 R Ranch for this lovely award
 
     Liebster means Dearest or Favourite in German."

Here are the rules:
1- Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.
2- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3- Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites.
           
So now I am to share this award with 5 blogs who  have fewer than 200 followers . 
I love all the blogs I read, which is of course why I read them . I have been known in the past to be a little lawless about  this and just give them to everyone, but I will try just this one time to follow rules. Sigh
1. Sally, from Ferngrove Farm who kindly shares her life and journey all the way from the other side of the world! 
2.Jeni of Super Size My Cob  With the beautiful  Rosie and Bonnie, and some  huge determination! 
3.Janice of Own A Morgan a  blogger friend , I have also had the joy of meeting in person! and she is wonderful! 
4.CutnJump  on her blog Cheap Chef Yummy straightforward , cost effective recipes! love it (met her too! I get around)
5. Dang it! I  tried , everyone else would like it  that I follow! 

 Secondly , I need to brag a little , well need is a strong word but I am going to all the same .



 Dandy , as you saw  on Yesterdays Post has gone to his  new home. I am very pleased with him, and his new owner . She has already been working with him, and as shown yesterday and again here , has sat on him , and steered him around the pasture a bit . Yes he is that quiet , and kind , and yes ,I think she is that good! She has a very nice way with her about horses, and as I said I have seen video and photos of her with her other horses and she seems to have the "stuff."
The brag part is , that Dandy, Maggie , and Timer are all foals from FV Jazz. The only daughter I kept  from my  sweet abused old mare C7Sparks Jewel

Fern Valley's Jazz



FV Sparks Image(Maggie) and FV Dandy Line(Dandy )

FV Jazz Time 
 as you may have read in the honorable mention ,Jewel came to me in a sorry state , and I never really did  truly  gain her trust. I got a long way with her, but .... Because of this , Jazz is a bit , different ,I had tired to work with her as a foal , and she picked up some of mom's nervousness. She is much easier to work with than her mom was , but can by times still be a bit goofy. With her foals  however I let them be until either they come to me , or they are weaned (so far it has always been the former and darn quick too. And I am careful when i handle Jazz to not let her "crank up the kids "  This has worked well and as a result ZI  am seeing the true nature of this line , coming though loud and clear ! Quiet ,kind , straightforward. Timer , went to my nephew , Maggie is , doing very well, with her very own Teenager, and Dandy , well...
I am proud of these horses, and of the line that in effect originated here with my old sweet Stallion Chips, and a sad scared little mare named Jewels.
C7 Sparks Jewel 
The only tarnish on this  for me is to think what Jewels could have been if she had had a kinder start .


So, that is part of what I needed to say, the last is a strong reminder to STAY  SAFE , and pay attention. As I was unfortunately reminded this weekend .Walking into Phoenix's pen ,totally distracted, and walking away without talking to him first, I got a rude awakening!  Fix , was an arse! Knocked me down with his chest, yes it was in play.NO IT WAS NOT OK!!!! And he is now firmly reminded of that fact ! I will leave it at that , only to say  that while his behavior was wrong , I was also at fault in that I was distracted, and in working with horses , you need to pay attention!
Stay safe and warm my friends! 

10 comments:

Shirley said...

Nice to see that Dandy is, well, just dandy with his new owner. Pats on the back to you for putting good horses in the hands of good people.
And yeah, never take horses for granted; always put safety first even with the good horses. Because you just never know.

Reddunappy said...

That little brat!! Glad you are OK?? You didnt say!!! He was making sure you acknowledged him!!

Yeah, with Emma I have to be careful, she does not have a mean bone in her body! She is a very exuberant horse and she is big! Not tall, just 15H, but she is, I wouldnt doubt 1200lbs!! She doesnt know she is that big! I grew up on 14.2H 900lb bulldog QH's lol she has been fun for me and has taught me a lot of caution. Funny the old saying is "You ride the horse you lead" Emma is much quieter when I am on her than when I am on the ground around her, weird huh. She never has been respectful of space when you are handling her. That has changed though, but I have to watch her.

Janice said...

Hey Sherry thanks for the award ...that one is really getting around...I am computer stupid and not good at the passing of these things, I also was going to send it your way cause Crystal sent it this way earlier. I've actually seen this one everywhere I would have sent it so I'm not going to frustrate myself in the attempt.You should brag some...you make nice horses and put them in the hands of good people...kudos for going the extra mile.

Crystal said...

I think the first handling a horse has is important for thier whole life. My mare Belle is hard to catch and doesnt really like to be around too close, so I never did anything with her foal till he was a year old (it was a cold winter Im blaming it on, lol) and in a couple weeks he was so good and quiet, so I am thinking is handling more than built in genitics of her to be scared. I am hoping one day i have time to get another baby out of her, but not now, too busy with other stuff.

Cut-N-Jump said...

Thanks for the award on the Chef blog. I have been posting recipes there, but now I am going to have to keep at it and find some new stuff to make. Just the kick in the pants that I needed!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Here's sendin' ya a big old Ozark's CONGRATULATIONS on the well deserved award sweetie!!!

So good to hear that Dandy has found good digs. Woohoo!!1

Be careful girl, I know how those big animals and put ya on the ground in a blink of an eye, even in play!

God bless and have a fantabulous day!!! :o)

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Hope you are alright...I h.a.t.e. getting knocked down. Always seems like winter is the worst time for it too...we are usually so bundled up and slow-moving.

It's always a tad sad thinking about how different a damaged horse's life could have been, but you should be ever so proud that you proved Jewel's true nature through her foals.

I have to say, Dandy spoke to me from the first time you posted pictures of him as a wee foal and I kinda feel like a proud 'auntie' to see him glide so effortlessly into his new life.

Nicole said...

Oh wow, I'm glad to hear you're ok!

The W.O.W. factor! said...

You know, we can even be our own worst enemy...just by not paying attention! As much as I 'try'...there are those days you just forget! Presuming you are ok..??.. :)

Sherry Sikstrom said...

I am more or less OK,thanks for asking.A few bruises and my wonky back is well, wonky , but a few days of being careful and I am gonna be just fine. SO is he! Though I think his life flashed before his eyes when I got up! never laid a hand on him , but I backed him up and damn fast!