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Friday, July 22, 2011
Summer Newsletter
Sizzlin' Summer Is Here! June and July sure have been uncomfortable, but life on the farm just keeps going. Don and I are slowly working on more fencing, riding trails in the woods, the new riding
arena, and a daylily garden in the front yard. We are preparing to get our second cutting of hay, which is sorely needed.
The barn swallows are on their second and third batch of babies, so the barn is filled with their happy chattering.
I counted over 70 swallows early one morning as they perched on the wire behind the barn, waiting for the sun to rise.
Their aerial acrobatics are so beautiful to watch as they swoop and plunge to catch bugs on the wing. In a few weeks
they will begin to leave on that long journey to Argentina where they'll spend the winter. Lesson
Program: The pre-riding and the riding lessons have certainly kept me and the mares  busy! I have such a wonderful group of ladies and children taking lessons - I look forward to each one of them!
Students in the pre-riding program have given the mares lots of baths during these hot days. I don't know who ends up
wetter, the mares, the students, or me! What fun! First-time riders always enjoy sweet Cammie. She may be
big and tall, but she is oh so gentle with only one forward speed ... slow! That suits first-timers just fine :)
Lucky Duck does a good job of teaching how to ride the trot, and riding Emma Pony bareback does wonders for a child's balance
and determination. Please Welcome Bahjah: Don and I rescued Bahjah in May for the
U.S. Equine Rescue League. She was living in a 20' x 40' pen with no shelter, dirty slimy water, and poor quality hay
and feed. She was very thin, her hooves were overgrown and cracked, and she had skin sores from standing out all winter
in the rain and snow. She also had several problems with her teeth that made chewing very painful. After two months
of good food, good grazing and visits from the farrier (blacksmith) and equine dentist, Bahjah has now gained about 200 lbs.
and her coat gleams with good health. She has a lovely, kind disposition and is fast becoming a favorite with the students.
We are seriously considering adopting her so she can be a Stonecrest Mare forever :) Please consider supporting the
USERL so more horses like Bahjah can be saved. Donations may be sent locally to: USERL, PO Box 157, Wingate,
NC 28174 
Bahjah in May, 2011 Body Condition Score of # 3 
Bahjah in July, 2011 Body Condition Score of # 5
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Spring Newsletter
April 2011
Happy Spring Everyone! It was a long, cold, miserable
winter (see photo), but spring is finally here. The horses’ hair is flying as
they begin shedding their heavy, winter coats. All sessions of grooming seem to leave
the groomer with as much hair on them as is left on the horse! Of course, the birds
are making good use of that soft hair to line their nests. We recently welcomed our annual visitors, all the way from Argentina – the barn swallows!
Newsletter #1: This is the first Stonecrest Farm Newsletter. I
hope to send one out at least every quarter. So many new things are happening that
a newsletter just seems necessary.
Riding Lessons: Due to popular demand, I am now offering basic riding lessons for beginners.
We will concentrate on learning balance, establishing a firm, independent
seat, and developing light hands. I’m working on my schedule now, so call to
reserve your spot. Cost: $40 per lesson, or save at $150 per
month for 4, individual, hourly lessons - usually at one-per-week.
“Hello Horse!” This pre-riding, lesson program is still the foundation of my teaching.
All potential riders must first learn to handle horses safely on the ground before riding lessons begin.
By learning how a horse thinks and communicates, students have a real advantage as they progress. Cost:
$25 per 45-minute lesson.
New Horses: Please
welcome Lucky Duck and Cammie! Lucky Duck is an adorable, Quarter
Horse mare that joined us in Feb. She is  trained both
English and Western and is a solid citizen for ground work. Cammie is a big, gorgeous, Paint mare who is retired from
a successful dressage and jumping career. Cammie has that mellow, been-there-done-that attitude.
Both mares are gentle, affectionate and fond of children
and nervous adults ;)
U.S. Equine Rescue League Fundraiser: Saturday,
April 9, 2011, found approximately 60 Girl Scouts here at Stonecrest Farm earning their Horsemanship
Badge. All the participation fees were donated to the USERL to help rescue and
rehab
abused, starved and neglected horses in central and western NC. The Scouts learned about the breeds of horses,
tack, care and feeding, grooming, the language of horses, and much more. Emma
Pony joined Lucky Duck and Cammie in providing each Scout the opportunity to groom a horse.
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