Sir Winston Churchill
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| June 2016, Nehalem Bay, OR |
History~ Farah arrived on the Homestead
late in the evening June 4th, 2011 - after we'd completed a one day,
round-trip to central Oregon to pick her up. Five at that time, she's
registered with the American Warmblood Society & of mixed pedigree. (Our first new horse since Khari's arrival in 2005.)
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| Farah, first day on the Homestead, June 2011 |
My
niece purchased Farah - as she was turning two. We'd visited a couple
times, always impressed with the mare. When she was put up for sale - I
talked Butch into letting me give her a try. (I was tiring of Endurance & planned to sell my endurance mare, Khari.) The hope was for Farah to fit into our little family on the Homestead & possibly become my Retirement Ride :-)
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| June 2012, six-years old~ |
Along with her easy-going temperament & super nice manners, she's considered a Chocolate Palomino
- except her mane has turned even darker than her body! The tail
is still platinum silver & very thick! This is our first time with a
non-Arabian & we're liking it! Here's a post about her breeding. Also an update! After my first ride out on the trails, I came home with a smile. Farah
had a great attitude & loved getting out. She'd spent most of her
life stabled.
.JPG) |
| 11-2011 Open Course, Mission Farrier School |
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2011~ Farah had been started under saddle & spent some time in arenas -
but had only been on a couple short trail rides around the stable where
she was boarded. The first time I saddled her up, Post~
I was thrilled! It was back to basics - long slow distance, time on
the trails. We receive many compliments from our riding friends on how
happy & willing Farah was! I fell in love with her swinging, fast,
ground covering walk! Very little spooking, lots of forward! All
Good!
She
spent the winter & on into spring - on Dean's farm, recovering from
some type of "scratches" on her left hind leg. This actually worked
out OK, since Khari had decided she didn't like Farah & tried to
kick her every time we turned them out... The feelings were mutual.
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| Farah at Granite Falls Thoroughbred Farm, June 2012 |
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2012~ Our second year. I'd sold my other mare Khari & she shipped out to Texas. (First stop on her way to Saudi Arabia.) It was a stellar riding year. Logging up to 30+ miles a week, "swishing" through the trees
& riding all day long! We took a few lessons at Fire Run Farm in Snohomish, WA - with Cowboy Dressage as a possible goal. Over Labor Day weekend, we took a private lesson from Jack Brainard at the Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center.
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| Sept. 4, 2012, During our lesson with Jack~ |
August 4th, we enter the Bare Bones Endurance ride, where we finished 7th & Farah was Awarded High Vet Score! This ride also gave me my AERC 250-mile patch in Limited Distance.
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| Farah trots out for Best Condition Judging~ |
The 18th, I audited a Cowboy Dressage Clinic with Eitan-Beth Halachmy at Rhodes River Ranch. We completed the WJ1 test. Challenging for a rider who's spent very little time in arenas.
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2013~ We started lessons with Sandra France Nichols at Ensbrook Farm.
When discussing goals, I decided to have Sandra to concentrate on
Farah's training under saddle - collection, impulsion, cadence &
control.
Valentine's Weekend, we drove to Bolender Horse Park to participate in a Mountain & Extreme Trail course. This was very challenging & a Lot of fun! Day One~ Day Two~
April was a busy month for us, we spent the weekend of the 20-21st. - at Butlerhill Equestrian Center & took Bill Richey's - Mounted Police Horse Training! On the 27th - we attended the ATCHA Competitive Ride at the WA State Horse park!
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| With our Friends~ |
May 19th, scheduling finally worked out in our favor & Farah was presented for her American Warmblood Inspection - at Chalice Farms, Polsbo, WA - where she received "Red Preferred" status! This qualified her for the AWS brand!
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| Farah's Registration~ |
June 29th, we make the trip to Naches, WA for the Renegade Endurance Ride & entered the Limited Distance. Post~ Finishing in second place, Farah was awarded Best Condition!
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| Renegade Endurance Ride - photo by Jessica Anderson |
The first weekend of August, we again drove to Capitol Forest & entered the Bare Bones - 30-mile Limited Distance Ride. We finished a strong third against some tough competition & had a great time.
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| Butch trots Farah for BC judging (Photo - Jessica Anderson) |
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| The day we reached 1,000 miles~ |
We finished the year in fourth place!
Farah was awarded High Mileage Horse - in the Derby for 2013!
Our actual miles - including the month of January, plus a ride I forgot to post -1,478. Last ride of the year ~ Post~
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2014 ~ We were back out on the trails! Logging miles again, for this years Distance Derby.
May 17th - Farah started in her first real (A ride of 50-miles or more.) Endurance Ride - Mt. Adams.
Finishing 6th place (out of 50 starters), covering the 55-miles in
7-hours. I enjoyed this ride more than almost any I can remember.
Farah made it easy on me & took good care of herself.
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| Mt. Adams Endurance Ride~ |
August 2nd, for the third time - Farah & I entered the Bare Bones 30-mile Limited Distance ride.
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| Bare Bones Limited Distance, our finish~ |
It was cooking hot with lots of bees & bugs out in force! Even so, Farah had her take charge
attitude in full swing! We kept up with the front runners until the
last few miles when I backed off the pace - still finishing over a half-hour ahead of the fourth place horse!
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| Distance Derby~ |
By
years end - we'd finished second place - in the Derby! Thrilled with
the miles we'd traveled, since all but 85 were on the trail.
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| Farah's Award Certificate~ |
Farah was again awarded High Mileage Horse! She was super all year & now expects to be ridden often! I wish we had a job to do out there somewhere :-) Our final ride was on our own & out from home - Post~
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2015 ~ I've decided to back-off the push for mileage & let this year take us where it may. With the help of a couple friends, we've started the Washington Trail Riders Distance Derby! This year marks my twentieth in endurance, I can't quite give it up completely & hope to attend at least a ride or two :-)
In March, we were invited on a road-trip to Southern, CA. The scenery was amazing the riding more so! I'm very thankful to have had the opportunity. I posted the stories of each of our rides. First ride~
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| Near Joshua Tree National Park~ |
May 16th - We entered the Mt. Adams Endurance Ride for the second time. Post~ Farah won the 55-mile ride in 5 hours 24 min. She was just outstanding all day, proving to me that she has the bottom & the brains to get the job done!
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| Mt. Adams Endurance Ride~ |
We did a lot of horse camping this season & my favorite thing - riding in new country! :-) All this year - still looking for, or waiting for, a saddle. Even with the warmest Summer on record we again topped 1,000-miles on the trail. Finally, the end of November our saddle arrived! The Stonewall!
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2016 ~ It's unreal how fast the time goes when you're having fun! (I handed the reins of the WTRDD over to a friend for 2016.) This year - no special goals, just the fun stuff :-)
In April, we made our second trip to the Quincy Area, enjoying another amazing ride to the Cave B Winery!
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| Tied to the Grape Arbor :-) |
May 21st - We were prepared for the Mt. Adams Endurance Ride. Backing off a very fast pace & finishing in second - Farah was awarded Best Condition. Post~ It's fun for us to have a goal to work toward - even if I'm no longer interested in doing ride after ride. Mt. Adams; perfect trails - a beautiful ride camp & this year - a visit with good friends. Farah was ready & she proved it in a big way. Thank You John, for the terrific trot-out!
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| John Stevens trotting Farah for Best Condition Judging~ |
June, we enjoyed our yearly trip to Nehalem State Park in OR. Little did we know then - it would probably be our last. Several days of surf & sand - nothing like it!
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| Farah, Sunset~ |
Later in the month - we attended a clinic with Russell Beatty at a friend's farm in Monroe. It was fun for us both & nice to learn new & useful techniques.
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| Farah with Russell~ |
By early July, our world changed. The trails I'd ridden on for over 25-years were being destroyed by new development. Farah & I had our last ride Out from Home~
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| 7-6-16 Last ride from home~ |
Soon, the Homestead was sold & we were on the road to Iowa! Change is the one constant of life & this year we made many. Farah is now stabled for the first time since we've owned her & we're doing our best to adjust. She is happy to be near other horses & we have a whole new part of the country to explore!
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2017 ~ Now in Iowa, it's been a year for discovering new places to ride. Challenging too, to get in the saddle time I used to. The weather takes a huge chunk of the calendar when it comes to ride-able days. January is one of the coldest months. It wasn't until my birthday in February we hit the trails at; Two Rivers State Recreation Area in NE.
Over the course of the year, we explored most available places to ride within 50 +/- miles of home. We've met some new friends, connected with an old friend & saw some incredibly beautiful country. February was wet, we were only out once.
March gave us a couple really nice days when the trails were dry enough to ride. One of my favorite views, is the one above of the Missouri River. Both Farah & I are loving the wide-open vistas.
Spring brought the wind, rains & mud. The gorgeous greens came on quickly, along with much warmer temperatures. March & April were so wet, there were only a few days the trails were open. By May though - we finally had riding weather!
With summer came the heat, humidity & bugs. We both adapted to the high humidity & heat better than I expected. The bugs though - were horrible. Sprays, masks & still we were both bitten every ride. I'm told that our deep freeze this winter will kill a lot of them off. I hope that's true!
Fall brought with it, the best riding weather of the year. We had temperatures in the 50's & it stayed dry. With the steep hills at Waubonsie & the hill in her paddock, Farah stayed in incredible shape.
We did get in a couple of camping trips that were really fun! One in September - to Brushy Creek Recreation Area - a place that actually has miles & miles of trails. The other the first of December, at Lake of Three Fires.
We also re-discovered the Wabash Trace - the closest place to home that we can go. Also the most miles & beautifully remote in a few places. With Butch working, I don't have the opportunity for week long, out-of-state camping trips popular in the summer. My riding has always been during the week & closer to home. I was surprised we did travel the trails for over 400-miles. To ride those miles, I drove over 4,000 on the road.
No endurance ride for us this season. My goal of at least a ride-a-year for ten-years with Farah will not be met. With no rides in IA & having to pull health paperwork to travel out-of-state, I just didn't get it done. We were busy with projects at home & my ambitions have waned. It's been fun though - to explore all the different parks.
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2018 ~ The year was different from last. Weather wise it seems there is no baseline - at least so far - for months more favorable for riding than others. It wasn't until February - I could ride.
March, we were so happy to move Farah to a private farm. Spring was short, we had some great rides out from the farm. But the heat of summer came early - along with every kind of buzzing insect.
June, no power meant no fan & the heat/humidity made it unbearable. So were the bugs, coming in off the planted fields to attack. As a result, Farah injured herself for the first time ever. When we took her to the pasture we'd fenced, she would be there only minutes before running from the bugs.
July & August, we were out on the cooler days & made a long ride to Mineola.
As the wetter than normal season progressed, we realized winter would be far from workable. The drive going in, was narrow & dirt, with a deep ditch on each side. When it was wet - we couldn't get the truck in at all. I'd also learned there's no riding in the winter months.
It had taken me two-years - to come to grips with the knowledge I was doing Farah no favors. She's never been the kind of horse who likes to stand & do nothing. By early September, we had her transported to her breeder in WA.
Our last ride in IA, was at Pierce Creek. Fitting, since it was our favorite place for its diversity & beauty. To say my life is the same, would be a lie. Over half of it has been spent with horses. It's a process of reconciliation for me. Accepting of the change & having faith.
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2019 ~ February - As Iowa goes through a very bad winter, breaking records for cold, I was glad I'd made reservations to visit the kids & grand-kids in WA & OR. A trip to see Farah was on my schedule too. Renee was kind enough to offer me her studio apartment on the farm. We both looked forward to meeting each other & riding! The weather, even though snowy for Washington, cooperated. We managed to get in two-days of great riding.
Our first ride, was sheer bliss. Farah & I happy to be together again! I always enjoyed grooming the gold girl. This time, I tried to make each stroke of the brush last & last. It was funny to see her light gold winter coat. The last time she'd still been sleek - with summers rich dark sheen.
The second ride, my last day, I was already hurting inside. I didn't want Farah to feel it, but I know she did. It's hard to leave an animal, who has no understanding of why life changed, or why I sent her away... At least she understands now, I know where she is!
These rides will probably be our only time together, this year. I'm ever so thankful to have had the opportunity. Also, appreciative of Renee & her family's hospitality. Our daughters too, for their understanding of my need to visit Farah - an ongoing part of my life.
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| At Two Rivers~ |
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| March 4th - Indian Caves State Park, NE - the Missouri |
Spring brought the wind, rains & mud. The gorgeous greens came on quickly, along with much warmer temperatures. March & April were so wet, there were only a few days the trails were open. By May though - we finally had riding weather!
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| Indian Caves, May 27th - The Missouri |
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| Fall at Waubonsie |
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| At Lake of Three Fires~ |
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| On the Wabash Trace, December |
No endurance ride for us this season. My goal of at least a ride-a-year for ten-years with Farah will not be met. With no rides in IA & having to pull health paperwork to travel out-of-state, I just didn't get it done. We were busy with projects at home & my ambitions have waned. It's been fun though - to explore all the different parks.
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2018 ~ The year was different from last. Weather wise it seems there is no baseline - at least so far - for months more favorable for riding than others. It wasn't until February - I could ride.
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| Two-Rivers, February 17, 2018 |
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| Back to the farm, May 9th |
July & August, we were out on the cooler days & made a long ride to Mineola.
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| On the way to Mineola, August 30th~ |
It had taken me two-years - to come to grips with the knowledge I was doing Farah no favors. She's never been the kind of horse who likes to stand & do nothing. By early September, we had her transported to her breeder in WA.
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| Pierce Creek, IA September 9th |
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2019 ~ February - As Iowa goes through a very bad winter, breaking records for cold, I was glad I'd made reservations to visit the kids & grand-kids in WA & OR. A trip to see Farah was on my schedule too. Renee was kind enough to offer me her studio apartment on the farm. We both looked forward to meeting each other & riding! The weather, even though snowy for Washington, cooperated. We managed to get in two-days of great riding.
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| In Tule Lake, WA February 17th |
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| Tule Lake, WA 2-18 |
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September / October - My second trip this year! Never write in absolutes... Things change & this change would move Farah back to our old neck-of-the-woods. Word came from a friend. The farm was just outside Snohomish, south of our old Homestead & a short drive from our daughter's home in Duvall.
After several conversations - a plan was made to move Farah north. I coordinated a date with Renee, deciding on 21st of September. The drive was smooth, we managed to miss most of the traffic. Arriving at the farm before sunset, Farah settled in quickly. She definitely recognized we were back north.
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| On Tin Bridge, WA - October 6, 2019 |
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2020 ~ January/February - A new decade! With Farah now living so close to family, visiting is much easier. I was excited to make what's become my usual winter visit. It had been a few months now, since I'd seen her. When I called her name, she came into her stall from outside. To see her, smell her & feel her warmth under my hands... My wish was granted - my 69th birthday I was on her back!
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| Bracken, WA 2-3-2020 |
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September/October - Again - to WA. It had been a very tough year for me, when it came to long-distance horse keeping. I needed to move Farah again & made flight reservations. Upon arrival, with the help of my friends, we found a new place for Farah. Still close to where I'd always ridden, a professionally run, privately owned, equestrian facility. The caveat - was finding someone who wished to purchase Farah outright.
I always expected it would be hard & it was - terribly... But after two-years - it was also a relief. Farah's health care program will return to what she has always thrived on. Ownership will revert back to us, if circumstances change, in the future. I'll be able to ride Farah whenever I visit.
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| Farah on the trail~ |
Farah & I had some wonderful rides! One, was our first alone - since I'd sent her to WA! We were both SO happy! As luck would have it, after close to 6,000 miles, I had my first serious accident with Farah. Not on her! I'm hopeful for a complete recovery & recovery will be my middle name for the next several months. Riding my bike again - is my new goal! I'd been so looking forward to seeing the trail in the fall & early winter months... That will have to wait until next year.
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2021~ Since selling Farah, her owner has kept me posted. At first the news was all positive, but as the year went on, disenchantment set in. Both on the part of the owner & Farah too, I'm sure. Not a rider who traveled to different places, Farah became bored with the same routine. Bored is never a good thing & my mare began acting up. I always rode with a stick & it was only on a rare occasion Farah was ornery. Her saddle was no longer being used, nor her bit.
December ~ Taking advantage, Farah scared her rider & was put up for sale on the second. I was shocked! The forever home I'd been promised for her, was no longer... I was offered first right of refusal per our sales agreement. Moving my mare back to Iowa was not an option. I told the owner I would help her to place Farah in another home.
The next day I received a call - Farah had already been sold! The sale happened so fast I didn't have time to do anything! When I asked for the name & contact information for the new "owners", I was told they refused to share their information with me. I realized there had to be much more behind all this than I'd been told. I was a fool to have taken the person I'd sold her to, at their word & felt totally helpless...
Update - A mutual acquaintance contacted me on the 7th to let me know who the new owners were. A woman who knows me & with whom I'd had a falling out with, years ago. Far from an ideal circumstance, I can only hope Farah receives the care she is so deserving of.
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Our personalities meshed from the very beginning. Both of us looking
for a trail, to the far side of the horizon. It made us a terrific
team. Our bond was forged hard as steel - by the miles & experiences
we've shared. The best of the horses we've owned, it's difficult to be without her~
