Have You Really Lived?

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years" ~ Abraham Lincoln

 

Have you really lived? If tomorrow your time here was over, would your life be fulfilled? I've been thinking about how I would answer this question. Everyone should ask themselves this question because it really puts life in perspective. To answer this question, you must ask yourself so many other questions...

Have you ever held your newborn child? Have you ever lost someone you loved and didn't get to say goodbye? Have you ever fallen in love and had your heart completely broken? Have you ever had a child depending on you to always be there for them, no matter what? Have you ever brought food and clothing to a homeless person? Have you ever taken in and sheltered an abandoned or injured animal? Have you ever been someone's best friend? Have you ever sat down and really listened to stories from your elders? Have you ever seen the sun rise and set from the top of a mountain? Have you ever watched an animal mother her young? Have you ever gone skinny dipping? Have you ever run barefoot in the snow? Have you ever ran away only to realize you ran away from the only place on earth you want to be? Have you ever let yourself fly...in a fast car, in a boat, on a motorcycle, on the back of a horse? Have you ever wrote a song, a poem, a story...have you painted a picture? Have you ever almost fallen out of bed because your kids and dog are sleeping with you? Have you ever watched a fire until it burned out? Have you ever called your mom and/or dad just to tell them you love them? Have you ever thanked God and really meant it?

My answer is yes to all of the above.

The elf on the shelf is fun to hear about this time of year, he's cute. But this is what life is really about and this time of year is about celebration of life . So please take a moment, what would you ask yourself?

 

Deirdre McDonald is my guest blogger today and she wrote a very touching note about being truly alive!  Sometimes we do it just because we just are so alive!!! And that being so alive causes our heart to bust right out, come out into the open and be seen by others. Thank you for sharing your heart today!  Please feel free to comment on what your heart is feeling today!

Barefoot or Shoes on a horse...yet another opinion!

I have been trimming my own horses (at the height of the season last year, 16-18 head) for probably about 23 years now.  I have done some schooling for hoof trimming and shoeing some years ago.  I do a trim from the front style, of trimming, that takes very little off the bottom of the feet.  If I had horses in rocky conditions, I would shoe or boot to protect the hoof.  In Florida it is mostly sand and mud and relatively easier on the bare hoof.  I had 3 horses in shoes for hunt season in the 2012-2013 season, due to overly wet conditions in South Florida.  My horses including my TB (the breed is know for a thin wall, under-run heels, shelly, chipped-up, and thin soled bad feet),  foxhunt, barrel race, and trail ride, barefoot in addition to lessons.  I keep them barefoot when I can and if I have to, due to stone bruising or abcesses, they get shoes.  I transition them back to barefoot after hunt season is over.  I prefer barefoot if possible, as when a shoe gets sucked off in mud, it makes the horse virtually unusable and they have to walk in.  Last year all the shoes stayed on.  This is because I had Brian Street do my shoes last year, and they stayed on wonderfully.  If I was applying the shoes, they would only last 3 weeks. :)

This foot belonged to the Peruvian Paso that was at our barn.  Not perfect and I am sure you could pick it apart but I like the shape and the concavity of the sole.  This horse was always sound and never stone bruised or abcessed the entire time he was at my barn.  

A Thank You from a Student to her Parents and Instructors

Jake who's alias is Cherry's Chance, is a special horse.  He came with many issues that have been a challenge for anyone who worked with him.  My dear friend rescued him from standing alone in a pasture for years.  She spent some time healing him and sent him out for training for a month with a friend of hers before she sent him to me.  He suffered separation anxiety from other horses to such an extreme level that made it very difficult to nearly impossible to allow us to work with him, or use him to any capacity with our students in our program.  He has always been a ride for my most experienced of students.  The students who were drawn to him learned much about compassion and love.  He is registered AQHA and has Secretariat close up in his pedigree. 

The first student who was drawn to him was +Cassidy Johnston.  She spent years schooling and riding him to her parents chagrin.  They wished that she was attracted to a horse with more training that was ready to win in the arena of Barrel Racing.  He was so frightened it was all he was able to do to leave the gate and negotiate the pattern whether barrels, poles, cones or the other events of the games.  We started using him in the hunt field with always a caveat to the rider to never try to leave the field. 

Cassidy rode in lessons with me for months and Jake was not even able to be ridden on the other side of the arena away from another horse in the lesson.  Cassidy would be forced to ride right behind that other horse.  We slowly started to peel him away and were also working on his weak left hind that was such a challenge to correct.  It was nearly impossible to canter on the left lead with out cross-firing which was not correct but easier for him.  Cassidy had the patience love and care of Jake to work on the same simple principles every week in her lessons and to take the tiniest of improvements to heart.  She was unfailingly patient and showed her love to him with every "Good Boy" and hug and kind pats when he was able to do the right thing no matter how small the try was. 

 

Fast forward
New student Britnee Hanton starts riding and has been riding only a short time, when the steady lesson horse she has been learning from and showing, is temporarily injured and no longer available for her to barrel race or lesson on.  We have other more experienced horses. but she is drawn to Jake.  He is a challenge to a beginner rider from the first moment, as he moves more quickly and with less intent and warning than a more seasoned lesson horse.  We are perplexed as to why she is drawn to this difficult, but much improved from when he arrived, model. 

We went from lessons in our small arena at home to the big arena at Indiantown working on trotting all around the big arena following the other horses. Then we set simple circles in each corner to allow them to bond and help him to feel safe enough to complete the simple cloverleaf pattern, without just racing back to the safety of the in-gate and his herd friends.  Britnee had to learn very quickly, to be a extra quiet rider with a still seat and soft following hand.  She had to learn to be a confident enough rider, to allow him a safe space with her.  She had to learn to not fall off and to stay on, in spite of the fact that he might not complete the pattern with little or no warning, and attempt to race back.  He was a frustration to her many, many times.  She had to learn to be patient with him and learn to be patient with herself, as this was way more than she was ready to take on. 

thanx Pear & Thorn

She has been showing and working with Jake for more than a year now and has learned much.  She has been running 2 shows a month at both Big Lake Trailriders saddle series in Okeechobee and Indiantown Riding Club in Indiantown, Florida.  She wrote a nice note of thanx (see below) on Facebook and this is what prompted this short write about a horse who needed help and understanding and found it at with 2 of my wonderful students.  I am very proud of my students, my instructors, and my horses (who are the best teachers) over the years who have learned much about themselves and about horses, from the great horses that I have had over the years in my program. 

Britnee Hanton shared your portrait.

Looking at this picture makes me think back to the past two years and how far I've come. If there was one thing I had to think of to say about the experiences I've had so far that I am so thankful my parents taught me to work hard and I'll get what I deserve. These past two years I've realized that my parents have taught me one if the most valuable things a person could know. Just about every dime that has gone into this passion has been mine that I had to work for. I can't thank Tara Hanton Jon Hanton for everything you have taught me. And thank you Katelyn Gitschier and Joyce Chartier for providing me with the opportunity to begin my journey in the equestrian world.

Her note of thanx and mine and my other great instructor barrel racer Katelyn Gitschier 's response. 

Katelyn Gitschier Love ya little bird! It's easy to teach someone as willing and as awesome as you. You're destined for greatness :)

 

Joyce Chartier :) It was my pleasure. Having a student who wants to learn and has a passion for the horse makes it a pleasant experience for a teacher. We talk and talk and talk and demonstrate and talk some more and always hope that some of it sticks. We spend years putting together an arsenal of words that we use in different combinations and ways to help our students to try to feel the feel, and understand and find compassion in and with what is going on between the ears of, and under the body of the ride. We have spent years of lessons, hours of wet saddle pads, clinics, schools, reading and learning from humans who have spent years learning themselves from the other humans and our best teacher...the horse. They and we have spent our lives facilitating a conversation between the species that we have lived all our lives to share. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

Animal Krackers Monthly does great videos

Christa L Pynn just does the most amazing videos. She uses her gifted eyes and words and put together the most AMAZING VIDEO! Her video magazine is filled with stories she has done of others and some of her lessons with horses. It is great for kids and her goal is to create an audience so when her childrens books come out, people will know her and hopefully follow her series. Her books will be all about her years working with horses and kids and surviving many challenges. I know you will love it. I was truly amazed and humbled! Thanx to Gail Rice for being such a great matchmaker!!!!! If you are one of my students or have been in the past or are one of my fabulous friends you just may see yourself in this AMAZING VIDEO!!!! Thank you to Tiffany Etchison @ Tiffany Danielle Photography for some of these great pics and who is the entire reason that I started my work with ponies and children all those years ago! Thank you Shawn Slattery for your lovely pics and to the many people over the years who have participated with me in this program and the amazing people that I can count as my friends!!! Thank you Christa for this AMAZING Video!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK2V4qt98vI

This is what she wrote and a link to her video blog:

Published on Mar 30, 2013

In this month's article, I had the privilege of celebrating a very special woman. Although, I have never met her personally, just glancing at her program touched my heart in a very powerful way.
The Internet can be a very useful tool in sharing our life experiences, but only a few people are gifted, in such a way, that their love and devotion for horses and kids comes right off the page and into our hearts.
Joyce Chartier, who owns and operates Choyce Acres, is an incredible example of the commitment behind a dream.
As I created this video, I had the opportunity to not only see into the life of this program, but to feel the heart of this woman.
In every picture I observed, I felt the joy, dedication and the hard work that it takes, to actually live out this vision.
At first glance, you may see a wonderful riding program, but look closer at the soft hands embracing the reins, the confidence in their connection with horses and by no means, should we discount their ability to ride like the wind.
This does not happen over night, this comes from years of training and years of opportunity, learning in a safe, loving, and knowledgeable environment.
Through my years of running a riding program, I know what it takes to develop young confident riders. Joyce Chartier is not on the sidelines, but demonstrates a true cowgirl, giving of herself and leading the way by example. You can see the depth of her passion and experience in every picture, spilling over into the lives of those who surround her.
Take a few minutes and join me in this inspirational video and enter into one woman's years of commitment to her dream.
By Christa L. Pynn
For more information about Choyce Acres:
6450 SW Markel Street
Palm City, Florida 34990

Phone (772) 485-1903
Email choyceacres@gmail.com
Website http://www.choyceponies.com

Visit us at: http://www.animalkrackersmonthly.com for more amazing stories of real people and real pets!

Ten Easy Steps to Get in Shape to Own a Horse

Ten Easy Steps To Get In Shape To Own A Horse:

1. Drop a heavy steel object on your foot, don’t pick it up right away, & shout “Get off! Get off!”
2. Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice “Relaxing into the fall”. Roll lithely into a ball, and spring to your feet.
3. Learn to grab your checkbook out of your purse and write out a $200 check without even looking down.
4. Jog long distances carrying a halter and holding out a carrot. Go ahead and tell the neighbors what you’re doing. They might as well know now.
5. Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling it to a halt, smile as if you are really having fun.
6. Practice your fibbing skills. “See, moving hay bales is fun!” and ” I’m glad your lucky performance and multi-million dollar horse won you first place!”
7. Practice dialing your chiropractors number with both arms paralyzed to the shoulder, and one foot anchoring the lead rope of a frisky horse.
8. Borrow the US Army slogan; “Be all that you can be’…(add) bitten, thrown, kicked, slimed, trampled.”
9. Lie face down in the mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself: “This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience .”
10. Marry Money!

Thanx to Lexie of Junior Rider News Group on Facebook for this great read.

Karate on horseback???? Really????

My dear friend Diane Clark called me today, about a dream that she had about me, 2 days ago.  She recounted it to me in distinct detail, and I will try faithfully, to reproduce her dream, in her words.

You and I went to a karate seminar.  I was listening to the Sensei as he was talking about a challenge.  He was asking,  "who will take up the challenge",  and there were no takers.  Suddenly stepping forward,  from the back of the crowd of people, was you, wearing your white western straw hat and your gi (pronounced gee) and you said "I will take the challenge".  The Master expressing full confidence said, "You are well qualified".  He showed all the certainty of his declaration, with a commanding voice and a firm stance. He felt that you could teach such a class, a class that was heretofore unknown in this modern world. 

The challenge was to teach Karate on Horseback.  Remember this is a dream and I am not truly qualified to teach Karate on horseback with only one or two semesters of Shorin-Ryu Karate instruction under my belt from college.  I am sure that my teacher then, never thought of my doing such on the back of a horse.

The dream that preceded this one, was of her palomino horse Bob, who had turned bay just for this dream. They were crossing a river, Diane on his back, where the current was so strong and the water so deep, that he went underwater and all his horsie clothing, from bridle to saddle, girth and everything was swept from his body.  Even Diane for a brief moment was unhorsed in the current and her horse Bob was completely invisible to her in the rapids.  But Bob rose up beneath her before she sank.  They reached the waters edge on the other side of this river, and he climbed up the bank, still unclothed except for Diane, who still clutched the remains of the reins in her hands.  On that other bank of the wild river,  a man came to them and said, "whatever you need I shall give you".  Diane said, " I need a saddle, bridle and stuff to ride my horse", and  then materializing on her horse, like it always was there, and had never left, was a mohair breastplate, saddle, bridle, and all had appeared as if nothing had ever happened.

I have of late, corresponding to the exact date of this dream, had some challenges in my life.  Things that were not in my control that I handled badly.  But this dream and some other things that have come up, have been working in my life to inspire and give confidence to, the dreams message.  I could do what I have to do, and do it well.  God has confidence in me and my abilty to teach, instruct and learn, and furthermore God will provide.  I do thank my friend Diane, who on a conscious level, had no idea of my pain or struggles, for sharing the gift of her dream and it's message of hope.  I share it with you and hope it brings you a message of hope as it did for me.

Below is her response, to my request for a proof of her dream. 

Hi Joyce,

Everything reads great and is accurate. Thanks for taking the time to write down the details.  I will keep you posted if any other dreams come along.  I will also pray for God's guidance and favor among men as you move forward with whatever challenge you face in the days ahead!  Remember - the Master in my dream said, "You are well qualified!"

Big hugs,

Diane Clark

Mill Swamp Indian Horse Views: Transfusion

Mill Swamp Indian Horse Views: Transfusion: Our program has succeeded entirely because of the way that the families of so many riders over the years have thrown themselves into everything that we have done. Those hard working families are being joined by a new crop of riders and their families that are coming out of the wood work everywhere. We have more riders than we have ever had and we have people that want to just work with us to be part of the effort. This is one of the most gratifying parts of what happens at our horse lot. Participants have a strong sense of ownership in everything that we do. It was a telling moment a few years ago when KC made the off hand comment that "we" have three Shacklefords at the horse lot. He did not say "Steve" has three Shacklefords. He said "we."I am not being modest when I say that I could not keep this program growing and succeeding. I am not being unrealistic when I say that what "we" can achieve is nearly limitless. This colt is Legacy, the son of Tradewind and a modern Appaloosa mare. He belongs to Samantha but it will be great fun this summer when "we" train him.

I will say this is very strongly my feeling about our little program here in South Florida. So much of what is going on at our little barn and points beyond is due to the humans and the horses who currently participate and our past participants of Choyce.