Crooked Stirrups

Yep, I know, sounds like something defective, well it's the farthest thing from!

Go peek at a pair of your old stirrups. Does the place where you stand, the tread, have a lot more wear toward the outside than it does closer to the horse? Do your little toes go numb, your back ache, your legs hurt and your knees get "wore out" when you ride, especially for an extended length of time? Well I know I felt all of the above, but that's changed since I invested in a set of these crooked Stirrups.

The first minute I mounted and placed my feet in the stirrups, I was like WOW!!! I felt an instant difference in my seat, and how my legs were positioned. These stirrups have not only reduced much pain they've improved my riding and improved my horse!

They are available in different sizes and really don't look so bad on the saddle either.

Mosey on over to Josh Lyons websites http://www.lyonslegacy.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=84 to get more information. Even the Lyon's family rides with these!

Ride with the wind @ www.equinenorth.net

STORM CHASING

One thing about trail riding in the summer, is the weather can change in a heartbeat!

I headed out on a trail ride with a young girl on her pony riding along side us. We rode for about an hour and I could feel the air change. It was cool, like the feel or rain on it's way. We could hear distant thunder, but that's generally not so much of a threat.

However, we decided it's best to ride back and be closer to the barn incase. Once we started up the driveway of the barn, the lightening started filling the sky, so we decided that was it.

As I was driving back to town (1o mins from cochrane), I came upon a view I'd never seen in my life! I didn't have my camera, but I had my cell, so I was able to capture this amazing site!

Once I got to town, you could literally see night and day over the lake. Then within seconds, the storm hit and hit hard! I was inside in a local store and it sounded like there were a gazillion stones being pelted against the building and outside. It was hail, bigger then I ever saw. Big enough to hurt and big enough to cause damage. There were even broken windshields and dented vehicles!

The winds were picking up and the lightening was nonestop. Filling the sky, lighting up the huge hail as it filled the deep puddles that had started forming from the hard rain mixed in the hail.

I took a quick run out to my van and got home as fast as I could. This storm lasted a good few hours and took the hydro out with it. It's neat how creative one can be when their hydro is out.

Anyways, I am thankful I wasnt' out on the trail when this hit. I don't think there's a horse out there that could of or would of handled the size of that hail!

To the right, you can see in front of my boot, a piece of hail that fell at my feet at the door of the store..that is HUGE hail!

Ride safe and ride with the wind @ http://www.equinenorth.net/

Porquis Summer Schooling Show
June 22, 2008

Despite the unpredicable northern weather, the first Porquis schooling show was still a lot of fun for all who showed. The day started off sunny and actually too hot at some points, but sure enough, part way through, mother nature did her thing.

Right in the middle of a showmanship class, as I was going towards the judge, BOOM! Lightening hit, thunder rolled and hail bounced off my horse back like nails! My poor mare was curling around me begging to find an escape from the short, unexpected storm. We all ended up going into our horse trailers. No, not to stay dry, I was already soaked by the time we got there!

After about 30 mins in, the rain let off and we completed the riding part of the show including games. The ring was a bit wet, but everything still went off smoothly..

Tiffinany's students from Horse Power Stables experienced their first show with joy as they went home with many ribbons and a big smiles.

We placed 2- 1st's, 5 -2nds, a 3rd and high point for open. However, there wasn't many people in Open, so the competition was slim. Shelly with Sweet Pea did fantastic as always!

Lisa Boivin was our judge and did a fantastic job. She will be judging the next show on July 20th as well.
Congrats to all who placed and all who reached their goals!

Ride with the wind @
http://www.equinenorth.net/

Josh Lyons Clinic

I am just pumped! I still can't believe my horse and I will have the privilege of being in the same ring as Josh and most likely Jana Lyons (that's his wife). June 6th to June 11th. We will be there for the 3 day symposium and the 3 day rider clinic!

Josh and his Father, John are my equine hero's. They just have a way with horses that achieves all you could imagine without the use of the old "cowboy way". Give the horse a job, what better advice to give to a rider and their horse.

I've always dreamed of being able to partake in a Lyons clinic but never thought I'd have the opportunity. When I heard he was coming just hours away from where I live, I was ecstatic! I mean tears in my eyes ecstatic! It was a hefty price to pay but people spend that on holidays to warm countries each year, so that's my holiday and I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing!

Chelsea Buns and I are pretty pale in comparison to a lot of the riders enrolled into this clinic, but we still mean to absorb all we can from this clinic.

I plan to keep a journal of each day and TONS of photos, so be sure to watch for your story when we return.

This event is open to viewers all 6 days. If you want to get your ticket to watch and or to find out where it's held (Centre d'Entraînement Pro-Chevalin) visit: http://www.ceprochevalin.com/en/index.php. Hope to see you there! Be sure to say hi if you see us.

Ride with the wind @ www.equinenorth.net

Annual Horse/Tack Auction

This past May 10, Mother's day weekend, held the annual horse auction held at the sales barn in New Liskeard. Not only is it a place to sell or buy a horse, and or buy tack, used or new, it's a great social gathering for horse folks in the area! It's great running into all my equine friends under one roof!

The auction always has at least 100 horses to bid on, from mini-ponies to great big work horses with big hearts waiting to please. Checking out all the horses can also work up an appetite. The auction cooks fresh burgers, hot dogs and sausage on a bun outside. This also, right next to the building which hosts TONS of new horse tack. You can either buy what you need brand new or wait and place a bid in the auction room.

This event just seems to get bigger and bigger each year. There was traffic parked for miles and equine shoppers all over.

These auctions do have their downside, some of those horses are very unloved and it's not easy to keep a blind eye to them :( On the positive side, there are some great horses up for grabs too, show horses, trail horses, even papered horses!

Unfortunately, I don't attend to purchase a horse. I wish, but one horse is all I can handle for now. Perhaps one day if I ever get my own barn, I'll be loading a trailer with auction horses.

Until then, ride with the wind @
www.equinenorth.net

One Horse Town
If you live in Cochrane Ontario, this past Sat, March 29, 2008, you might have caught a glimpse of myself and my Quarter Horse mare, Chelsea Buns, parading down the streets of Cochrane.

We rode in from where we board (roughly a 1.5 hour ride in), and rode through town. It was a beautiful day, perfect for riding! No wind, warm and the ground was perfect, not slippery and not too messy.

There were many new experiences for my mare from the big mill, water tower, to some large equipment digging ditches. Buns was fantastic, hardly a reaction from anything, except the horse eating, sewer grates of course. However, she soon realized they weren't going to eat us, at least not that day.

The most exciting thing about riding a horse through town is the reactions of people who see the horse, especially the children. I see so many smiles, I can't help but smile right back. I so remember that feeling when I was kid if I saw a horse. There was no stopping me! I'd have to go see that horse. So anytime, I'm asked to stop I do.

We spent some time standing around at L&R's to let people pet Buns and answer the gazillion questions the children had. The biggest one answered "yes, you can ride your horse in town". Horses were the first mode of transportation, so they are welcomed on just about any streets in any city, town etc. Horses have as much rights on the street as your vehicle.

So if you live in the area and you see us riding by, don't be shy, shout to us and we'll stop! Chelsea Buns loves the attention anyways!!

Ride with the wind @ http://www.equinenorth.net/

Romance hasn't died

I recently had the privilege of meeting the owner or Windsong Carriage from Owen Sound: http://www.windsongcarriage.com/

Gordie, the founder and owner of Windsong, brings back the days when the only mode of transportation was horse and carriage. Only, he does it with a touch of class; top hat, tails, and a smile that would melt anyone who looked his way.

His handcrafted, fringe top surrey carriage which he custom made himself, strolls down the city streets with his proud, powerful horse/s. In this case, it was Duke who took us for a stroll, a kind, golden, Belgian who's wants nothing more then make sure you enjoy your ride/tour through the streets.

Windsong is known mostly for doing weddings. What a romantic way to say I do, even for the not so equine lover. Riding down the streets in a classy carriage controlled by a handsome man in top hat and tails and the sound of the horses hooves pounding on the pavement. Surely an addition to your wedding photo album you'll want to have.

Windsong will go pretty well anywhere in Ontario. Your best to give him a call directly (tell him equine north set you) to find out the specifics, but from what I hear, it's a memory never to be forgotten. I know I'll never forget my trip there. Just visit his site to see what he offers, his horses and learn how this business came along.

Ride with the wind @ http://www.equinenorth.net/

April 3, 2008

HIDE THE FLEECE! Well, it's that time again, horse lovers dare NOT wear anything fleece to the barn in fear of returning home looking like sasquatch! All of our equine friends are starting their spring shed! So between the shedding of my quarter horse mare and wiretin willy saying 6 weeks to spring, I'm pretty excited!

Winters just seems to get longer and longer as I get older and older. So the site of shedding hair is such a pretty site!

If anyone has some great tips to help with spring shedding please share. I do know many people who show early in the season, will start to double blanket their horses to force the shedding even faster. I just use a lot of elbow grease and a shedding blade.

PARADES!!

On another note, Cochrane Ontario, recently had their Winter Carnival. I love riding my horse in parades and had hope to do just so. Weather was a factor in leaving the decision till last minute as well as trailering with whomever might be going. So I was pretty up in the air on where I stood. However, company coming over for the day helped to make the decision.

However, a few locals did get to enjoy the parade with their horses. Doug Jenson proudly rides his steed and in front is little Miss Roy on her little pony. Perhaps next year I'll get a chance to ride in the parade.

In the meantime, ride with the wind @ equinenorth.net

BRING ON THE MUD - SHOW SEASON

I just finished filling up the event section of Equine North with some of the upcoming Equine Events! A sure sign we will be buried in the shedding of spring horse hair all over us, as we try to shed our horses winter coats for the first show being May 2008!

Bring on the Mud! Really, I will be so happy to see terra firma not covered in that white stuff everywhere I look! I'd rather walk through the mud , because then that means it's warm outside and that show season is right around the corner!

Those of you hosting any equine events, or anything equine related, please email it too annae@puc.net. We will post it FREE of charge on www.equinenorth.net.

For anyone new, www.equinenorth.net is a site created so all Equine lovers can visit one place to learn what events, clinics etc are up for the season in Northern Ontario. As well, for those of you planning events, you can see what is happening so you don't overlap events.

Equine North, now in it's third show season, has a lot of traffic. EN also has pretty high rankings with just about any horse phrase search on the search engines. So why not give your event the exposure it deserves..FREE!

Why FREE? Well, just because. My passion has and always will be horses. I love my horse, and I love to show. So this is just my part to the equine community.

Ride with the wind @ www.equinenorth.net

Jan 28, 2008

Is the End in Site?

Well, winter has been long and it's still far from over if your from Northern Ontario. The ole white stuff hit us early and hit us hard and hasn't stopped.

At one point I was really wondering where the snow was going to go, however, mother nature decided to tease us with 3 days of spring weather and rain in Jan. At one point, I could see the garden starting to peek out from beneath the melted snow. BUT, on that 4th day, Mother Nature decided it was a joke and she dumped it all back on us!

Enough about the snow, there is something to look forward too besides spring; A Josh Lyons Clinic will be help in our parts from June 6-June 8th. Sounds like an exciting weekend for those participating and even the spectators.

I'm a HUGE fan of Lyons methods and of course, Josh isn't hard to look at either ;) I defintely plan to be spending that weekend up in Pro-Chevalin Centre D'entrainement. In Guigues, Quebec to learn even more of his methods.

If you'd like more information on the Lyons Clinic, visit www.equinenorth.net under Equine Calendar/Events.

Ride with the wind @ www.equinenorth.net