Trail riding anonymous

She stands up in front of the entire group and admits to her addiction.."I am Anna Sawicki and I have a trail riding problem, I can't get enough! "

Okay, so some people think I'm crazy, others couldnt' care a less about reading my horse dialogues and some think I have a problem. You know what I think, I'm a very lucky gal.

I don't need to lie down on some strangers couch for $100 per hour to pour out my problems. I just jump on my horse and find the nearest trail. No pills, no doctors..no headaches, just the smell of my horse and the sound of nature. Really, someone should bottle it up (no side effects included).

It was only two days ago when Nancy and I had a great four hour ride and today we topped our trail ride with five hours of riding. No bears this time, and no swimming, but we did offer to use our 2 horse-power to help a blueberry picking couple who managed to get their truck stuck in a ditch. We noticed them from afar and decided to ride on over incase they needed some help. But, by the time we got there, someone had already come along with much stronger horsepower to pull them out.

So after stopping at Nancy's for a short bit, Chelsea and I rode back to the barn in hopes to catch a few lessons happening with Carla and Lisa but no one was doing any lessons at the time.

Chelsea and I had a great lesson from Shelly last night though (gotta look like I know what I'm doing at the next show! haha)


When do we go riding again, well I bet it won't be too long ;)

Ride with the wind
www.equinenorth.net

It's the stuff dreams are made of..

There really is nothing like the outdoors on horseback in Northern Ontario bush during the summer...Today, Nancy Hack and myself (Anna Sawicki) and our two horses, CC and Chelsea Buns went on a 4 hour trail ride in the back boonies. We rode up and across the larder lake highway and down the highway a bit up to a sand pit that had a small pond. We took off our saddles and headed to the water. Well my horse didn't go in, but Nancy rode her horse in and cooled off!

After a small break and cooling off, we saddled up and headed on the trails and back towards home. The ride was nearly over when suddenly, CC pulls her head up high! She sees something and sure enough, there's a bear standing on it's hind feet checking us out in the tall grass!! Well, I age about 12 years in one nano-second! Then wonder what we should do as the bear was close enough to charge if she had cubs with her.

CC took over instantly! A real trooper, she decided I'll save mom (Nancy) and use Anna and Chelsea as bear bait. CC pushes us onto the road closer to the bear while she safely tucks herself her behind onto the side of the road, furthest from the bear!

In the meantime that CC is trying to feed me to the bear, Nancy starts talking real loud and I join in quickly and we put our horses at a trot. That seemed to work and we weren't bear bait afterall..so we continued our ride back home.

I rode back to Nancy's before heading back home for a drink of water as I was out and the heat was just crazy today! Then we headed back to the barn at a slow walk while Chelsea decided to eat every few steps. All I could think about on the way back to the barn is.."this is what dreams are made out of"..really..you should try it.
Ride with the wind
www.equinenorth.net

TPHC 2nd show - Photos

Here are a few photos submitted by Carla Vine during the English part of the TPHC show which was a great turn out! Please, if you have photos you'd like to submit, send them to annae@nt.net

If you are in this photo and want your name posted, please email it too annae@nt.net

Carla Vine on Romeo

More to come soon!

TPHC 2nd Horse Show

Today's TPHC Horse Show was successful once again. The English division had a great turn-out with up to 18 riders in some classes!

My mare, Chelsea was just awesome today! We placed two 6ths, a 5th, 4th, and a 3rd. Many of the riders did so well, Joanna, Carla and darn if names slip my mind! I had a great time and can't wait for the next show! Why is it though, that after a show, all I want to do is go to bed! haha.

Shelly Loach was our coach this time around ..thank you Shelly for a great Job. Also big thanks to Rena and Sharon..two hard-working volunteers for the western Division!

Sorry, I had no one to take pictures this time around. I know there are some of you who took pics out there..if you'd like to share, please send to < a href="mailto:annae@nt.net">annae@nt.net and I'll post them on the site.

Ride with the wind at:
www.equinenorth.net

And He Had a Dream -( Man rides his horse across Canada)

No one knows better about dreams coming true then Kimball Foord, the man riding across Canada, HORSEBACK! Kimball says he wants to cross our great nation the way they did 150 years ago and what better way to see it then at 6kph!

Kimball started from Guelph, Ontario, on May 6, 2006 and is heading west to finish in Vancouver, British Columbia, estimated to be sometime in the fall. His trusty ole riding partner, Cody, is a 7 year old American quarter horse. And a handsome fellow with a lot of character I might add!

On his way to Winterwood in Englehart, he met up with Dennis Peddie of Cougar Ridge Farms in Thornloe and he joined Kimball for a ways on his ride! I bet that was fun Dennis!

On June 14, 2006, Kimball made a pitstop at the very barn I board my horse, www.winterwood.info. Kimball and Cody will be resting their weary legs in the comfort of Winterwood with a great meal and some great company.

After my visit with Kimball and Cody, I am just green with envy! To be able to just say "ok Cody (his horse), that's it..let's ride across Canada and do it!

During my drive back home I kept thinking how I wished I could do something like that, but I just kept envisioning my horse ending up in a full 360 and into the ditch at the first transport going by at 100km! haha ..Not to mention all the things that get in the way to prevent me from just getting up and riding across Canada, like life..Kimball, you are a lucky individual..not only do you get to see most of Canada, and meet some great people, you get to do it by horseback!!

Ride with the wind...
Anna

TPHC 3rd Trail ride

Well today, June 11th, was the 3rd TPHC trail ride held out at Echo Lake in Earlton again, but in a different area. I missed the 2nd ride which I heard was full of excitement! ;)

No pictures to share from this ride, but there were 16 riders and it was an awesome ride. No mishaps..well except for a little unexpected detour ;). The weather started off kinda crappy with some showers and a bit cold, but it cleared and didn't rain at all during our ride.

We rode 3.5 hours over some great terrain. There were many steep hills so my girl sure did get her exercise. Carla Aultman had her new mare there. Not only does she look awesome, she was great on the trail.

We gathered together for well deserved snack while our horses munched on hay and rested their tired feet to talk about our ride.

Hey congrats to Dan Aitchison, he won the door prize!

See you all at the TPHC horse show next weekend!

TPHC Horse show photos and EquineNorth updates

Equine North has two more events added, Festival Western in St Eugene de Guiges in August and The Light Horse show at the New Liskeard Fall grounds in Sept.

Here are some photos from the TPHC Horse show in New Liskeard last weekend

Hope you are all keeping cool in this extreme heat wave!

FIRST TPHC Show

Well this past weekend was sure an experience for Chelsea Buns and I. We attended our first Western horse show together and had a blast! We did well with a 6th in showmanship, 5th in halter and a 6th in Western Horsemanship which I might add, blew me away, as I didn't think we'd place at all in a riding class. You see, there is no novice in this show and we had to show senior, so I was happy to just come out alive!

The other gals from Winterwood, Sally, Shelly and Carla had a great morning in the English competition, and the western games were on after the western show at 6pm. I wish I could of stayed to watch, but I was finished for the day and ready for bed!

Crystal Calbert was our judge and I went home with some valuable lessons from her. She did a great job and everyone who helped to organize and run this show did a great job!

I am awaiting for photos from my mother and others who took some at the show. So I promise to post them soon as I can. This one is Chelsea Buns ready and waiting to go to the show.

Missed out on the trial ride today, wasn't able to get there, but it was best cause boy am I tired today! If anyone has photos they'd like to share, please do and send to annae@nt.net.

Anna
Ride with the wind at www.equinenorth.net

Exciting weekend coming up!

I know I've already mentioned it, but I just can't help it. I'm like a kid xmas morning. The first horse show is this upcoming Sat in New Liskeard, at the fair grounds. Western Performance starts at 2:00pm. So come on down and see all the ways to NOT ride your horse..haha. (well there will be some awesome riders, I was just referring to myself)

My car is back on the road so I headed out today to get some practice time in and boy do I need a lot of time! Oh well, it's all in fun and just getting there and back in one piece is my goal ;)

Sally had our Winterwood coats in today and boy do I love my coat! Think I'll sleep in it.

Following the Sat Show will be yet another TPHC trail ride. The one cancelled from last weekend. So all in all, by Monday, I will have to crawl to maneuver around with all those hours in the saddle.

So watch for those winterwood coats and stay tuned for some great photos of the weekend.

Ride with the wind at www.equinenorth.net

www.equinenorth.net

Equine North has been growing considerably over the past months, with many equine businesses sending in their FREE ad. The site is also getting some pretty good search engine rankings and will only get better as I work to improve the site and it's standings in the search engines.

Anyone with an Equine business in the North (and now anywhere in Ontario), can send their FREE business information to annae@nt.net. Visit the site for more information.

The business directory had a recent entry of a Farrier business from Sault Ste. Marie.

Equine North is quickly bringing all the equine ethusiasts closer together..

ride with the wind at www.equinenorth.net

Victoria Weekend..Holiday?

Well, for most in the north, Victoria weekend holiday was not much of a holiday, other then we didn't' need to go into work..the WEATHER SUCKED! For the most part the winds were strong, it rained, anddddddddddddd , it snowed! Yes folks, we get snow in May in these parts. We also get snow in June and July some years! Why do we live here, simple, it's God's country, where else should one live? ;)

Not only were many camping trips cancelled, the 2nd TPHC trail ride was cancelled as well :( Just way too wet to ride. As for the cold, well most riders are quite die hard. Well, I know I am. I rode all winter. There was maybe a two week gap where it was impossible to ride, but that's it.

Winter riding has the most beautiful scenery too.

This coming weekend, 27th and 28th is the first TPHC horse show and I can't wait! Although I'm far from a professional when it comes to riding, I just enter the local horse shows for the fun of it, any ribbons are just a bonus.

I will be sure to keep you all posted on the upcoming horse show and post the results and some photos. Let's just keep our fingers crossed for some good weather!

Ride with the wind at www.equinenorth.net

Please remove curse...

Although we've had an amazing introduction to summer thusfar, the weather about turned face on us. Conveniently, in time for the long weekend! grrrrr. Sunday was suppose to be our 2nd trail ride of the year, but so far, it looks as though it's cancelled as it was suppose to be in a hay field. It would be much too wet and slippery for the horses and not to mention, FREEZING for us.

I suppose it works out as I don't have a vehicle to use, well as least for out of town purposes. My back break lines are leaking and my poor car doesn't see the doc till Wed next week.

Camping is even out of the question with this weather, oh well, great time to catch up on work *yawn*

Now whomever has waved their evil wand and bestowed me with a curse, please remove it! One should only have bad days, not bad weeks and a bad week it has been! ;)

One good thing, my yard looks amazing, leaves are early (darn bugs too) and my gardens look awesome!

New update on Equine North and Merchant Mania

www.equinenorth. net has a new business, Northwood Circle Square Ranch. We almost lost this place formerly known as Northwood Easter Seals Camp. This camp offers a lot of summer fun for both physically able and non physically able. Check them out under the Summer camps section on the business directory.

Today, May 12, and May 13, Internet WebDeZines & Equine North will have booth at the local Merchant Mania Home show. There is plenty to see and do and the entrance is FREE! What else can you do on a rainy day like today, so come on down and see us!

Here today, gone tomorrow

Ok, this isn't horse related, but I just recently lost a friend due to an unexpected health issue that gave no warning and, no time. Just like that.. he was here yesterday, and gone by tomorrow. This person was not even what one would consider "old". He was a hard-working, non-judgmental individual who had many talents and treated everyone equal. Truly sad..

So guess the moral of the story is, if you love someone, tell them. Don't avoid love if it comes your way either..It's a rare finding.

Ride with the wind at www.equinenorth.net

Winston Churchill almost had it right!..

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a woman

Ya I know, it's suppose to be for the outside of man, at least that's what Winston Churchill says. I have to say it does equal for woman because I tell you, no matter what kind of terrible day passes by me, it's all wiped away the minute I run my hand over my horse and smell the good ole "horse smell" (only horse lovers can understand that ;O)

It really is a therapy in itself. It's no wonder many institutions use horses in their rehabilitation programs from hard-core criminals to the developmentally challenged.

A book I read recently called "it's the horse", was all about a guy who used horses for therapy with people who were depressed, insecure etc. He would put them out there with a horse and say "now pick up the horses feet and clean it". Most people had no clue how to do so or for that matter, ever been around horses. During this brief moment, this gentleman could pin-point what was troubling your life just by the way you handled the horse and the way it reacted to the person.

It's no wonder he could, animals don't lie and they can sense your moods. The whole truth and nothing by the truth from the horses mouth I always say. It was a very educational book, I'd like to read more about what this guy is doing today.

Back to the topic of the outside of horse, really, if you've never been up close and personal with a horse, you should be..your missing out on one of Gods most popular therapies and it's free. ;)

Anna
ride with the wind at www.equinenorth.net

Better to be loved, then not loved at all

Hope, a sad, badly abused horse was lucky enough to be brought home to her forever home by V from Painted Quarters. Hope lived with V for around two years, and they did all they could to make her better, but to no avail and sadly, Hope was put to rest on May 5, 2006. May you rest in piece Hope.

Hope was very lucky to experiece the love she did and V, you did a great thing to give Hope the love she had, as it's better to have been loved, then not loved at all..

Anna
ride with the wind at www.equinenorth.net

Horse sale at Temiskaming Livestock Exchange

It's that time of year again, May 13, 11:00am t0 ?? The annual horse and tack sale that I ALWAYS want to go and ALWAYS miss. It's the same weekend as our annual Merchant Mania show in Kirkland Lake at the complex which is May 12 and May 13. I always have a booth at the show, so I am unable to leave :(

That's ok, I'm sure I will save money, and lord knows I DON'T need anymore tack. I could however, auction off a lot.

So you guys let me know how it goes and if you buy any great horses!

FIRST TPHC Trail Ride

Well, the first TPHC trail ride was a great success with 22 riders showing and the sun shining brightly! Perfect weather and a perfect ride!

Sharon Stewart of Kerry Kroft farms started our day by picking us up from Winterwood. Loading Chelsea on the trailer went with ease, she was a pro! We then drove off way in the back of some sandy trails at Echo Lake located in Earlton Ontario. Perfect ground for riding back there, mostly beach sand.

We all gathered at an area at first to tack up and get ready to go. Chelsea was a real trooper getting off the trailer and getting ready to go. I am sure she could sense my excitement being my first trail ride with the group. I had been looking forward to this ride since last year at this time, but was unable to go then since my mare had a filly by her side. It sure was worth the wait.

Once we were all tacked up and ready to go, we were off! The weather couldn't have been any better. With the cold and snow we had two days before I was concerned on what today would be like. It was perfect, not too hot, not too cold and best of all, no bugs to irritate the horses.

So we headed off onto the trails. Chelsea not knowing any of the horses there looked for an area she was most comfortable in. I had planned on riding at the back of the group, but she wouldn't have it. It turned out she wasn't content till we were at the head of the group with the lead horses. She spent pretty well the entire ride at a constant trot worried about being left behind.

At one point we rode up to the lake to let the horses drink. Chelsea had no interest in water. I suddenly developed a bad calf cramp and had to dismount for a bit. Bad idea, getting back onto Chelsea was more then a challenge, but we prevailed. Then onward and upward on this hill with thick sand and back onto the trails we went.

Towards the end coming back to where we were all parked, I couldn't resist the urge to let Chelsea go so we did a great run between a canter and a gallop. Boy does one need to be in shape riding at those speeds!

So back to the start, we untack our horses, water and clean them down then gather up together to eat some lunch and talk about our ride.

Below is just a few more photos of this great ride! The next one is May 21 at Cougar Ridge Farms in Thornloe Ontario. See you all there!

Painted Quarters Forum

http://www.aimoo.com/forum/login/login.cfm?id=633992


Don't forget to visit the link above, "Painted Quarters", a local horse forum covering a wide range of horse related topics.

Welcome..

I have created this blog for www.equinenorth.net to keep you all updated on what is new on www.EquineNorth.net. As well, I'd like to use this area to share any latest information on events, shows, trail rides or just what's happening in the horse world.

Please feel free to leave your comments anytime..

First TPHC Trail ride May 07 at Echo Lake in Earlton. I will post photos of the ride.

Ride with the wind..

Anna