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Post by fototropic on Apr 30, 2010 19:20:27 GMT -5
That does look a bit like heaven on earth. What lucky girls those two are!
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Post by Kea's Crest on Jun 4, 2010 10:58:09 GMT -5
Duchess has been going for daily trail walks in the forest with our trainer this week. Getting a little exercise in the morning makes that afternoon nap in the pasture just that much more satisfying! I think I'll go tack her up.
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Post by Kea's Crest on Jun 4, 2010 13:04:32 GMT -5
Duchess looking frisky and ready for a morning walk. On cue.... assume the post walk / post snack napping position.
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Post by Kea's Crest on Jun 7, 2010 8:24:10 GMT -5
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Post by Kea's Crest on Jun 30, 2010 9:32:56 GMT -5
Duchess is still a complete peach to be around. Just the best girl ever. Yesterday we hauled her to the trainer for a 5 day refresher course just to keep her super sharp. Always good to have the pros give her a tune up so her habits are good from a young age. The comments from the trainers: "ummmm,... can I have her?" She makes her parents proud even though we know she is so good in spite of us. ;D
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Post by Kea's Crest on Jul 13, 2010 16:23:04 GMT -5
Another important "first" today for the girls. Working with the trainers and schedules and different ages of the girls... today is the first successful "trail ride... from our property... with both girls!" Funny, it doesnt seem like that much; both girls trail riding together, but it has been a two and a half year adventure getting them to this point. With us being relative "newbies" and the girls were basically babies, it has been alot more of a life experience beyond hopping on the "turn-key bomb-proof" old gelding and going for a walk in the woods. (Not that there is anything wrong with that.) With lots of help and encouragement from trainers, neighbors, and friends our girls are a happy success. Duchess and Emma getting saddled up. Kathleen, one of our trainers rode Duchess. Jan got a nice picture of us as we entered the trails adjoining the lower pasture. It was a good ride. Just the right amount. The girls were perky and alert for the ride but I could tell the last quarter mile they were slowing down a just a little. Only a couple little "hesitations" when something spooky was up ahead but all of them were worked thru so the entire ride was a positive and confidence building experience. A suprising change was that Duchess was happy to follow Emma and Emma was happy to charge on thru in the lead. That is certainly a different dynamic from when they first arrived at our farm. Finally, after getting back to a perfectly paced "no racing home to the barn for the last half mile" type arrival, they waited patiently while they were untacked, happily ate grass in the pasture for a half an hour, and then totally sacked out for a nap. I know it was a good nap because the turkey vultures were circling over the field swooping down until one of the girls stirred. That's a sign of a good nap!
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Post by schwung on Aug 31, 2010 11:27:01 GMT -5
Due to life changes, Emma and Dutchess are being made available for adoption via our SAFE-Assisted Rehoming program. There is no urgency and David and Janis are looking for the perfect homes for their girls. They have done a fabulous job in getting these beautiful horses trained and they are fabulous prospects for any direction.
Emma and Dutchess will remain at their current home in Chimacum, WA, until the perfect adopter comes along. Adoption Fee will be $600, which is a steal given the training that they have had! Please submit an online adoption application if you are interested in Dutchess or Emma!
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Post by coconut on Aug 31, 2010 20:47:20 GMT -5
Due to life changes, Emma and Dutchess are being made available for adoption via our SAFE-Assisted Rehoming program. There is no urgency and David and Janis are looking for the perfect homes for their girls. They have done a fabulous job in getting these beautiful horses trained and they are fabulous prospects for any direction. Emma and Dutchess will remain at their current home in Chimacum, WA, until the perfect adopter comes along. Adoption Fee will be $600, which is a steal given the training that they have had! Please submit an online adoption application if you are interested in Dutchess or Emma! While initially, my reaction is sadness because I know this could not have been an easy decision, David & Janis, I want you to know what probably most folks here are thinking....that you have given these horses an amazing gift with your generous and tender care. You are a legacy to what they are today and what they will be in the future and whatever the challenge you face that brings you to this place, please know that the equine community is grateful and inspired by the exemplary standards in which you cared for your horses. I, for one, know that the level of dedication you pledged to them is more certainly mirrored in enormity of the thought you've given this decision and if you've chosen it, it can only be because you feel it's right. Blessings with you all as you face your challenges at this time.
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Post by MrRedmond on Aug 31, 2010 22:12:39 GMT -5
I would like to echo what Jet has said. Emma and Dutchess got to live a fairy tale life and what wonderful gifts you bestowed upon two beautiful girls who had very humble beginnings. Especially little frightened Emma....what a long long way she has come.
Not just the superior training you provided for these girls but the love you have for them came through in every single word you typed and thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for every single minute that these two were in your loving care. You two are just wonderful wonderful people and whatever challenges you face I wish you the very best and you deserve nothing less.
Thank you thank you - Valerie
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Post by Kea's Crest on Sept 1, 2010 20:46:16 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the kind words. There are many different aspects to our reasoning and, finally, choosing this route. Too many to really sum up in an easy, satisfying answer. For now, I am simply determined to go forward in an absolutely positive manner. The part I want to focus on is the girls potential. These two girls have health, conformation, intelligence, talent, and good looks all on their side. Janis and my strengths lie more in the "caring for"/nurturing part of horsemanship. We have been able to fill a need for these two during an important time of their life so they could have the time needed to grow and mature and be ready for any new area or discipline. Going beyond that point with us is really going beyond our strengths. These girls have got their ABC's down and are ready for someone with strengths and focus for their next stage. Now the girls are strong, capable horses ready to be challenged with new skills and disciplines. We love them too much to not let them go forward. We very much want to see our girls succeed so to open them up for the right opportunity is the most reasonable way.
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Post by Kea's Crest on Sept 2, 2010 9:08:54 GMT -5
I'll give a bit of a synopsis of where Duchess is at in her program. Last summer Duchess completed a 10 week professional training course taking her thru the basics. At the end she scored 98 out of 100 and the head trainer says she is the second best horse he had ever trained in 30 yrs of training. (the first best is his ) She leads, longes, ties, grooms, stands for the farrier, trailer loads. Riding; she will walk/trot/canter, back, side pass, shoulder turn, etc. She is getting experience trail riding; crossing bridges, crossing water, going over logs and under trees; basic confidence building exercises. This summer we put her back thru a 5 day "refresher course" in round pen/arena work to keep her sharp. She has also had a couple trail rides with the trainer to make sure her trail habits are proper. To sum up Duchess's personality in a word; I would say "warm." She is just the warmest, kindest soul. Always respectful and interested in her people, always attentive and gentle. Never a nip, kick, or bite toward a person. She does well with other horses and is happy to get along and is also strong enough in personality to take alpha position when needed. She loves food, all of it, and is not finicky about hay. She is an easy keeper. Duchess is 16 hands, 1100 lbs, 4.5 yrs old, healthy, sound, sweet, pretty, and smart. A perfect horse.
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Post by Kea's Crest on Sept 2, 2010 9:21:19 GMT -5
Duchess has always been one of those horses we get great comments about. Several trainers have commented on what a really great "student" she is; always trying very hard to please and understand. Exceptional number of comments in the training area. We also keep hearing about various breeders commenting to friends of ours what terrific conformation and personality she has and that "if they ever hear we want to sell her to let them know!" Of course she has a "no breed" contract but it is nice to know she is admired that way. Also, before we made her available, many friends regularly asked if we wanted to sell her because she is just such a pretty and sweet mare. It's really amazing how many admirers she has.
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Post by reggiepearl on Sept 14, 2010 3:46:28 GMT -5
Well, count me among the admirers and I covet these two in a big way. (I live behind Bridle Trails State Park, but not on a horse property, unfortunately.) It has been a wonderful journey for me tonight (oops it's now this morning...) to read all the pages in this thread. I know both babies from various blog entries here and there, but this is the first time I read from beginning to end. They are absolutely luscious. What a success story for both. They are beautiful inside and out (as are you both) and their enthusiasm for life, and all things fun, is priceless. Congratulations on providing them (and you) the beautiful opportunity of having and giving love, caring, mutual respect and understanding, and consider it well done. Another tragic beginning with a fairy-tale ending. "Ugly ducklings to swans" caliber. Bravo. Regina Pearlman
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Post by Kea's Crest on Sept 28, 2010 14:02:30 GMT -5
Thank you Regina. You are very kind to say that. We feel very lucky to be a part of these girls lives.
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Post by schwung on Oct 17, 2010 23:41:30 GMT -5
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