Happy Birthday, Kassidy!

Kassidy turned 13 today- skipping her own unique path through life, and taking us all along for the weird and wonderful ride. 

 

20 Questions

 

If you could live a day as any type of animal, what would you choose and why?

A deer, so she could be in the woods. 

  

How did you find out Santa wasn’t real?

 Dad told her... and she still kinda thinks Santa is real

 

 What is the last photo on your camera roll?

 A picture of her and her friend Natalie

  

What’s your most repeated phrase?

"check on me" 

 

What is a hobby you want to get better at?

 Horseback riding and art

What was your favorite children’s book?

The Elephant and the Pig

 

What’s a favorite memory you have from the past year?

Changing schools

  

What is a product you cannot live without?

her blankie

What activity do you waste the most time on?

Roblox

 

 Who is your favorite TikToker/YouTuber?

Doug the Pug

 

What’s your favorite sibling and pet?

 Katharine/Sophie 

 Would you rather eat sweet foods or salty foods?

Sweet

 

 If you could be doing anything , anywhere right now, what would that be?

horseback riding

  What is happening in the world right now that worries you?

 the Willow Project 

 

 What makes you laugh?

When she scares her friends for fun. 

 

 What is the most interesting thing that you have learned at school?

DNA and chromosomes

  

What place would you most like to visit?

Wisconsin

 

What is the one tool you would search for to survive the zombie apocalypse?

Zelda

  

What invention do you think needs to be invented?

time machine

 

 What is currently your favorite song?

Loch Lomond by Natalie Merchant

Hay

 

Keira and I volunteer regularly at Elm Farm.  This is the sister farm to Dusty Dog Farm where we take lessons. At Elm Farm we run after school programs and programs for children and adults experiencing trauma. The horses there are all former lesson horses that retired, but they still have a lot of love to give and can be used for these programs. We are still putting hay out once or twice a day for our equine friends. We emptied one side of the hayloft a few weeks ago, now we get the hay from the other side that is only accessible via one small ladder and a makeshift ladder. I usually do the climbing to throw the square bails down, while Erin and Keira stack them down below on a palette so they will stay dry. We have started to take the hay out past the front paddock of the barn so the horses get used to being out on the range again. This has been a bit challenging as we have quite a bit of mud. We put they hay in the wheelbarrow and together we take it acrtoss the bridge, through the mud -we hope for the best to not get stuck in the mud-  and make some nice piles for each of the horses and our one darling pony.

                                                                     Keira and Erin

One of the horses, silly Findlay, is following the fully loaded wheelbarrows. He thinks he doesn't need to wait until we have made some piles.

Zelda and Hatchi - Best Friends

 

Riding

I haven't posted any photos of us riding in a while. Below is a photo of me cantering Ice. He is a gentle old man and makes a great lesson horse.

Kassidy doesn't like me watching her lessons, but I was able to sneak a photo of her and her teacher Erin, who also happens to be my teacher, friend and barn wife and boss. Kassidy loves old man Dillon, who is around 22 years old and her favorite steed to ride. He is a typical pony (stubborn, at times pushy...), but she loves him.

In addition to riding lesson horses, Keira also gets to work my favorite horse Porsha, who is over at Elm Farm. As we take care of this lovely mare on a daily basis, we also get to ride her for free, weather and tien permitting.