Fleeting Shadow: The Importance of Listening

Shortly after I got married and moved to my new farm with my husband, in the summer of 2002, I got involved with volunteering at the local therapeutic riding center.   Since I am legally blind, I couldn't be a horse leader, but I could be a side walker.   I enjoyed working with the little kids and saw how well the instructor worked with them.

The instructor and I started talking one day and she realized that I rode and asked if I wanted to start riding with her.   I agreed and so started riding a few months later at the center.   Quickly, she saw something in my riding ability and got excited.   She started talking about the state show the following October and preparing me to be good enough for the Para-Olympics in dressage.  I think she saw visions of me helping put her little center's name on the map, so to speak.

Now, from the lessons Bunny had taught me, a few years before, riding was now something I considered a bonus or a perk to horses, it was no longer my main reason for loving them.   Yes, I loved to ride, but I also had learned that I loved working with mares and foals and I was really good at it.   I tried to explain all this to the instructor and at first, I thought she understood what I was saying.

I will admit that I got excited about the possibilities of having an amateur riding career and riding at the Para-Olympic level or even trying to get there.   But, still, it was not a huge goal for me, though I thought it would be fun to try to see how far I could get.

I had a Thoroughbred gelding, Baron, who I had bred, who was now in training and I was excited about riding him in shows, in the future.   But my riding instructor, who had never laid eyes on him declaired him "not the right horse for me."    She kept calling me a green rider, though I had been riding for 15 years, graduated college with an Equine Science Degree, which had included professional riding instruction from a highly respected instructor in the country, and a lot more other riding and training experience.  I was no green rider, that's for sure.  

I soon realized, what it was all about, she didn't want to wait on a green horse to be slowly brought along properly for me to ride, she wanted me to progress fast through the show ranks and a green horse, to her, would not allow this.  So, before even seing Baron, she had developed a major dislike for him.   Even when I'd report to her on my visits to the trainer's farm and let her know how my rides went, she would not seem interested or have something negative to say.

I tried to explain to her that I had waited my whole life to get to ride my own horse in a show, instead of school horses, but she would not listen.

Since I was getting more involved in breeding, I always kept my eyes out for a good broodmare prospect and one day I found one.  To my delight, not only did she fit my pony breeding program, but she had been trained in dressage and was Half Hanoverian, one of the breeds known for being good at dressage.

Margaux was affectinately known as "Shadow" and she arrived at Perfect Peace Farm in August 2003.   I immediately started to work on building a bond with my new mare and started riding her about a week or so after she arrived.   The upcoming state therapeutic riding show was in early October and I was hoping I could ride my new mare in the show.

From the get go, Shadow did not measure up to my riding instructor's benchmark, just like Baron wasn't, even though she still had not seen him.   I worked hard on my bonding with Shadow and we were making great progress.   She could be a little high strung, but I was learning how to calm her down and contain it.   I was then given the layout of the two dressage tests I'd be taking at the show and started working on them at home, with Shadow, and in lessons with a small Quarter Horse mare, that the instructor was borrowing.   I much preferred Shadow, she was more responsive, especially to leg aids and my gentle hand movements.   It was so wonderful to ride her, we were becoming a great team.

As the show weekend approached, I finally got my riding instructor to agree to let me take Shadow, but she kept complaining that Shadow was "passive agressive" and other things.   I could tell that the two of them did not get along.

When we arrived at the Lexington Horse Center for the Virginia State Therapeutic Riding Show Shadow was in flaming heat that Friday afternoon.   I wanted to take Shadow out and walk her, but my riding instructor disagreed and Shadow was put in her stall and kept there.

Shadow was used to being kept out all the time, except for bad weather, so this was not fair to my mare.

On Saturday morning I asked again if I could take Shadow out and maybe lunge her, to let her blow off some steam, but my riding instructor disagreed, again, and said that she thought the more Shadow was worked the more hyper she got, but this was actually opposite of the truth, but she refused to listen to me.

So, with no warm up whatsoever I tacked Shadow up and we headed to the ring for our first test, the Dressage Suitability Test.

Luckily, Shadow was being good, but I could tell that there was a powder keg under me, but she was so good and listened so well.

We entered the ring, turned to the left, had to weave around 3 cones, my riding instructor was allowed to call out obstacles to me via a headset I was wearing and she could tell me the letters of the arena.   We worked it out where she would tell me I was three strides from something, but that is all she was allowed to tell me.    We weaved those cones flawlessly, returned to the rail, to the end of the arena, and at the mid point of the short end we had to do a 20 meter walking circle, which we also did flawlessly.   Returning to the rail as I started down the next long side of the arena, I picked up a sitting trot and Shadow was so gorgeous and smooth at it and when I called for a halt from the sitting trot, at the letter we were supposed to and the only thing we did wrong was she halted ever so slightly crooked.   We then waited the 5 seconds and walked out of the ring.

To my delight we won that class with a huge high score of 80! 

We turned so many heads.  I was getting one compliment after another on Shadow and so was my instructor.   All the people there were from other therapeutic riding centers and when they found out Shadow was my private horse they were even more impressed and complimentary.   They said she was gorgeous, a superb mover, and so on.

I was really getting excited about my next test, later that afternoon, but as I exited the ring, i again tried to tell my riding instructor that Shadow needed to be lunged, but, yet again, she wouldn't let me.   

In between my two dressage classes was a fun class and I went in it and Shadow was starting to get worked up.   Unfortunately, the class was not judged, I had no idea, it wouldn't be, otherwise I wouldn't have done it.   Again, as I exited the ring, I asked if Shadow could now be lunged, as she was getting anxious.   And, as usual, my riding instructor said no.   I was starting to get a bit upset about this and telling my husband that I thought Shadow really needed to blow off some steam and I was afraid of what might happen if we didn't let her.

Well, a little while later it was time for my final class, my true dressage test.   As I sat on Shadow waiting our turn, my riding instructor stood at Shadow's head and Shadow was shifting her weight all over, not wanting to stand still.   My riding instructor started to make comments and I said, "I think she needs to be lunged or I need to take her to the outdoor ring to let her trot some of this off." 

"No!  She'll just get more worked up."  Was the response.

About 5 minutes later, Shadow was really about to explode and my riding instructor finally realized what I had under me.   But instead of letting me go quickly lunge or ride in the outdoor ring for a few minutes, she just scratched us from the class.   I was so upset and disapointed.

As we walked away from the indoor ring, then my riding instructor agreed to let me take Shadow down to the outdoor ring.   I started to ride her in a big circle and my riding instructor got afraid and had me dismount and lead Shadow back to the barn.

I was so upset, after this, that I couldn't take Shadow for a walk, but I untacked her and gave the lead to my husband and told him that I didn't care what my riding instructor thought, he was going to take Shadow for a walk and let her hand graze if he could find her some grass.

The day had started out so promising and ended in such disapointment.   I told my instructor that if we'd lunged Shadow she would have been fine, but she still adamantly disagreed.    She claimed I didn't know Shadow well enough.   But all I could think was, "And you know her better?"   I mean, Shadow was at my farm, I'd dealt with her every single day since she had arrived and my riding instructor had only seen her a handful of times.   Plus, I had several very long conversations with Shadow's previous owner on how to handle her, what she did when at shows, etc, but my instructor just didn't seem to care what I thought or had to say.

I was starting to get the feeling from my riding instructor that just because she was my riding instructor she knew more than I did on everything.   She had earlier told me I shouldn't breed Bunny or some of my other mares, that there just couldn't possibly be a market for their foals.  Boy, was she ever wrong!

I also don't know if it was my blindness that made her think she knew more or it somehow gave her the right to say these things.   I really hate it when people treat me like I'm stupid, just because I can't see very well, and that is really how I was starting to feel about this relationship.

I also think it is people that are older thinking they know more than someone younger, just because of age.   I have learned a lot from people younger than myself and I refuse to believe this.   Yes, there is a lot to be learned from people older than myself, too, but for them to treat younger people as if they know nothing, it is just not right.

So, we returned home and a few days later Baron was brought home from the trainers.   I was so excited to have him home.  I had gone to ride him at the trainer's farm, several times, and he was wonderful for me, a dream horse.   So, now I had two horses I could ride, at home.

I gave Shadow a few days to blow off some steam in the field, before I attempted to get back on her, as I just knew she was ticked off about what happened and she wouldn't know that it wasn't my fault.

Well, I was riding her in my small paddock and I could feel she was getting a little worked up, then Baron trotted around the corner of the barn and came over to the fence line, so he could get a look from his adjacent paddock.  Shadow took that as enough stimulation to go into a bucking fit.   I had called for Gordon to come help me get off, but he was too far away and so I didn't move quick enough to get off, myself, and off across the paddock bucking as hard as she could, Shadow took me.   I kicked my feet out of the stirrups and then tried to push myself clear, as she was not going to stop.   I did a flip in the air and landed hard on the back of my shoulders.  

At first, I felt okay, but the soreness came later.   To this day, I do not blame Shadow for this incident.   She was ticked off about the show experience and I don't blame her.   It was the only time I ever felt her buck and only time I ever came off her.

A few days after that I had my riding lesson and I had to beg for the lady to come to my farm.  I told her that I have two horses to ride and I want to ride them.   Plus, I told her she needed to meet Baron and I said I'd ride him in the lesson, so she could get a look at him and really see what he was made of and how nice he really was.  

From the moment she walked into the barn, she was obviously not happy about me wanting a lesson on one of my own horses.   She stood outside of the barn and smoked a cigarette, while I tacked Baron up.   Then I led him out to the small paddock where I rode.

As I went to mount him, instead of helping me, she just stood on his opposite side and when I swung my right leg over his back he took two steps forward.   Did she try to help me stop him?  Of course not.   Because my back hurt from the fall off of Shadow, I was not able to move fast enough, like I normally would have been able to do, easily, so instead of landing in the saddle, I landed just behind it.   Still, there was no help from the riding instructor.   Baron kept walking, once he felt me in the wrong spot, I think he was a little shocked, but being a good boy, he did not buck.   I slid off of him and landing on my right hip and right elbow.   Baron then looked behind him to make sure I was clear and trotted off a few feet, before turning and stopping to see if I was okay.

Now, my riding instructor immediatley starts telling me, "I told you so." and such and I just wanted her to be quiet.

Just like with Shadow, I do not blame Baron at all for this incident.  He was only 4 years old, had about 4 months of training under saddle and I was very sore and stiff from my fall off of Shadow.   Had I not been, I know I would have been able to mount properly.   Yes, my riding instructor was aware I was sore, which is why I was surprised she didn't help me when he started to take a step or two.

My back was even more sore from that fall and so, I reluctantly agreed to go ride one of her lesson horses the next week.   Well, she decided to have me do some stretches and during one of those I felt this sharp excruciating pain in my back, so bad, that I had to dismount.

After I recovered and took the horse back to the barn, untacked her, groomed her, etc my riding instructor and I started to talk.    Again, I tried to tell her that I'd waited for a long time to get to ride my own horses and not lesson horses and that I thought my two would take me further than what she had in the barn.   She agreed, to that little part, but wasn't willing to wait for Baron to finish training, wasn't willing to deal with Shadow's temperment, and just kept claiming someone would give her a horse that was suitable, if I was good enough.   It was really obvious she had her own agenda and was trying to use my talent as a blind rider to promote her riding center, it didn't matter to her what I wanted.

I then reminded her that my main focus was breeding, riding came second.   She honestly turned to me and said, "No, your marriage should come first."   I had no response to that.   I mean, we had been talking horses, right?   There was nothing wrong with my marriage and of course it came before horses, but that is not what we were talking about.   She then started trashing my breeding practices, again, and I left, and never returned.

I have only ridden a few times since I stopped riding with this instructor in October 2003.   Do I miss it?   Yes, but there are so many more important things in my life than riding, horse related and non-horse related.   So, my riding career has taken a major backseat.

Yes, I wonder what might have been, how far I could have gone, and it saddens me that this woman just refused to listen to a fellow adult, with a fully functioning brain, and treat me as a normal person who did know what I was talking about  when it came to my own horses and what I wanted to do with my horses and my riding career.

She continues to work and have a therapeutic riding center and I commend her work with the children, she is wonderful with them, but just wasn't with an adult.  

Maybe one day I'll start riding again and find an instructor willing to work more with me and listen to my goals, my wants, where I want to go with my riding and how I want to get there, and they can help me do what it is I'm wanting to do and work with me, not against me.

Dextra's Denied Access Adventure at Pizza Hut

On February 11, 2012, I was denied access at the Pizza Hut in Suffolk, VA, because of my Seeing Eye Dog, Dextra, a female yellow Labrador Retriever. 

My family and I entered the Pizza Hut and I was immediately told that my dog was not welcome and I'd have to leave.   We tried to calmly explain to them that she was allowed and the hostess argued for a few minutes, before saying she'd go talk to her manager.

My kids got upset, so Gordon, my husband, took them out, while I tried to educate the hostess and manager.    I called to them, several times, that my dog was allowed and what they were doing was against the law.  When I heard no reply, I warned them that the police could be called on them for doing this.   Still no response, so I stepped outside and stood on the
sidewalk, while I called the police.   I actually called 911, and the operator
told me that all she had to do was tell the officer that a lady with a Seeing
Eye Dog was being denied access and he said "I'm on my way!"

While waiting outside for the officer,  The hostess poked her head out of the
door and  I was first told I had to show paperwork proving she was a guide
dog, no I don't, Asking to see any kind of paperwork proving that a dog is a guide dog is actually also against the law.   The only question they are legally allowed to ask is "What is the dog used for?"   My dog wears an official Seeing Eye, Inc. harness and is extremely well behaved, along with being very clean.  There was nothing my dog or I did to warrant this treatment, in fact, the whole time I was standing outside with her, she sat calmly beside me, never getting up, even as people passed by us.

A few more minutes passed and then she poked her head out of the door again and I was told I could come in, but they'd make
me sit near the door, in case people were afraid of my dog.  Told them that
was also descrimination.  Never once did the manager come to talk to me, during all of this exchange.  I was just told that they had called the regional manager, by the hostess.

Then the Officer showed up and I told him what had happened and he was
quite upset and went in to inform them of the laws they were breaking.  Shortly
after, the Regional Manager showed up, she was very nice, when she stopped to talk to me for a few seconds, before she headed inside to talked to her employees and the Officer. 

A few minutes later the Officer and Regional Manager came back outside and told me that it was straightened out and we had an offer of a free lunch. 

We did decide to go ahead and go in and show them how Dextra behaved.  The Regional Manager made the manager wait on our table, personally, and the Regional Manager came over and made sure we were doing alright, after we had ordered.  She told us she had gone over the laws, state and federal, with her employees and would be sure that the other employees were better educated in the future.   We thanked her for this as I believe education is so key in this and avoiding situations like this.   If the public was better educated people with service dogs wouldn't get harrassed as much as we do.

One of the odd things is, I've been here several times before with my guides and this is the first time I've had an issue, at this particular Pizza Hut.   I've had minor issues at another one in another nearby town, but was never denied access, it was more the other customers making rude comments.

I wasn't about to let these people get away with descrimination.   This is
the first time I've actually called the police, though I have filed
complaints and done some other actions to this kind of thing before, but it was
definitely my first time involving a police officer and I was happy to have one
that was apparently aware of the laws and wasn't going to let me be
descrminated against.  I've actually heard of cases where other guide dog users have called the police for being denied access and have the police officers side with the establishment.   Guide dogs are not a new thing and there are laws in every state and at the federal level protecting our rights to take them with us where ever we go.   It is amazing how much education still needs to be done.

I've lived in this area for almost 10 years and I still get asked, on a regular basis about my dog being in a store, restaurant, etc, jus tlike this Pizza Hut, places I go on a regular basis, and it is very annoying.   About 3 years ago, I did have to call our local Wal-Mart and talk to a manager about the harrassment I was getting from the employees every time I went in the store.   I told him I was getting really tired of it, as I was a very regular customer.   It must have worked, because now when I go in there, I rarely get asked about my Seeing Eye Dog, anymore.

Education, Education, Education!


So, thought I'd share with you all Dextra's Denied Access Adventure, doing my part for educating the public!

Christmas, Marcus, and Licensing Farriers

I can't believe I have not posted on my blog in over a month.   With December's festivities, meaning Christmas activities, things got pretty hectic and busy around here.   I've finally gotten the tree down, Christmas decorations put away, etc.   So, that part of the busy schedule is done, but my girls, horses, and dogs continue to keep me on my toes.

We had a wonderful Christmas visiting with family nearby, staying at home Christmas Day, and then visiting family in northern Virginia the week after Christmas. 

During our visit to northern Virginia we got to visit our racehorse, Marq Your Bible aka "Marcus".   He was still on his short break from training and looked awesome.   He has grown a lot and looks so mature, from that colt that used to run around our fields.

As of January 8th, he is back in training.  He is jogging and will start galloping shortly.   We are still hoping for a first start in late March, but we will not push him too fast, as a long career is what we really want, so we won't risk soundness by rushing too fast.   This is why we've waited this long, as he will be 3 years old in April.  

Some Thoroughbreds are ready to race at 2 years old and if he had been ready, we would have, but it just wasn't in his best interest to do so.  His dam has several offspring that raced at 2 years old and did well, so it was worth sending him into training.   Listening to him told us to wait.   His full sister, for instance, raced 10 times at 2 with a win and several second places, including in a stakes race at Colonial Downs.

We are very excited that Marcus is back in training and everything is looking perfect, so far.

The first week of the New year brought a bit of stress to us, as one of our mares came up lame and we noticed other problems in several others.   After a close inspection, I discovered issues with three of our six mares hooves.   I called my vet and he called another farrier for me and recommended us to each other.   The farrier wasn't taking on new clients, at this time, but I live near him and my vet so highly recommended me as a good horse person that the farrier agreed to come take a look at the two worst cases.  

The new farrier confirmed my suspicions, that the other farrier had made some mistakes and the two worst cases were in major need of help.   He worked on both of them and is coming back in a few days to recheck those two and check all my horses, to make sure we aren't missing something else with any of the others.   I do know there is a minor issue with one other, but it is very minor compared to the issues with the other two.

I was talking to my new farrier and we were talking about the difference between being a farrier in the US versus most other countries, mainly European ones.   In Europe, he told me that you have to go to school for 3 years to be a farrier, then you have to apprentice under a licensed farrier for a few more years, before you can become a licensed farrier, yourself.    He is for licensing of farriers in the US, where anyone can pick up farrier tools and say they know how to do it.   There is no way to know how much training your farrier truly has had, you pretty much have to take him at his word.

In Europe, if a farrier injures a horse they can be fined, and in some cases even sent to jail.   it is taken very seriously.

No, I'm not saying my old farrier needs to go to jail or anything of the sort, he meant well.   I am talking in whole, because I have had so many farrier issues over the years that it is just not fair to the horses or owners to have to deal with untrained people saying they are trained, deal with people who just show up whenever they feel like it, never mind that you might have plans or other things to do, or farriers who just stop showing up.   I have been here for almost 10 years and I have been through nine farriers, this new one is my 10th.   I have had some work for me for 2 and 3 years, before the problems started with them not showing up, and a few others got irresponsible or were mean to my horses or were not good with young horses, and so on, so that is why they didn't last long, but the main issue has been the no show problem.   It seems widespread, not just in my area, but this area, especially has been the worst I've been in.

Farriers in this area get anywhere from $25 to $35 to trim a horse's feet and it is more if there needs to be shoes put on or there are other issues.   So, for my barn of 6, they can bring in $150 to $210 every 8 weeks for 2 hours, at most, worth of work.   I know that some of the no show farriers that I have had issues with have also done the same to barns that had so many horses that the farrier was supposed to show up there every week!  

I don't understand why these people are not more responsible and have a better work ethic.   I heard one would blow off clients to go hunting or fishing and not call clients to tell them he wasn't coming.    I mean, ok, if you want to fish, I have a pond right here on my farm you can fish in after you are done and I even told him he could do that.

My new farrier said that, unfortunately, licensing probably won't happen in the US, because most of the farriers out there wouldn't be able to pass the licensing exams and they are part of a lobby that is quite strong, but he said he is part of a group that is for it and keeps trying.

One of the horses that was messed up by the old farrier is doing well, the other is still lame, but is improving.   Their hooves were trimmed off balanced which caused different issues for each of them, because of their own pre-existing conditions with their hooves and legs.

I am encouraged by their improvements in the last two weeks, so I am hopeful that no permanent damage has been done, but only time will tell, as these things take awhile to correct.

I will end for now and get off my soapbox about licensing of farriers in the US and I will try to write more frequently on my blog, now that things are hopefully calming down for a bit.

Have a great 2012!

Thankful Day After Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving we headed up to visit my in-laws in northern Virginia.  Along with visiting family we had plans to visit our 2 year old gelding, Marq Your Bible aka "Marcus", who we own in partnership with my mother-in-law and 5 others.  He is taking a short break, as he has grown so much that we decided it was in his best interest to give him a breather so he'd be all ready for a 3 year old campaign, with our first big goal of a first start in March and then head him to Colonial Downs this June and July, for the VA-bred races, hoping he will be stakes quality.

Our trainer, Diana McClure, is a wonderful woman and not only loves the horses she works with, but also loves children and helping them develop their love of horses.   So, whenever we can make it out to her farm, she offers my two daughters a ride on her pony horse, Brownie, who is quite famous in his own right, for being the lead pony for Big Brown before his Preakness win, among other things.

So, on the day after Thanksgiving, we went to Diana's farm and both my girls got to ride Brownie and Diana also graciously gave pony rides to my two nephews, one of which had never been on a horse.

All the children really enjoyed their rides and my oldest even got to ride twice, because she loves Brownie so much that she talks about him all the time and even brought him some carrots this time.   Diana is showing her how to get into a jockey position, which she also did in July, at our last visit, and a picture of that has gotten a lot of attention on Facebook and on Diana's website.

After our visit with Brownie, we headed over to a friend of Diana's farm to see Marcus.   Diana thought her friend's farm would be a better place for a short break, than her own, because of a nice hill in the pasture and he could be left turned out a lot more, with a few buddies.

When Marcus came up to the fence and realized who was here to visit he was crazing our attention.   I climbed the fence and groomed him a little bit.   He is not what most people would think of when they think of a horse who has been in race training.   He's so sweet, I groomed him while he was totally loose in his pasture, no halter, no lead rope, nothing, he just stood there relishing the attention that I bestowed upon him.

A few times, after I was done grooming, he wandered off, but always came right back for more attention.   The picture above is of Marcus coming over to me and giving me a good sniff and kiss.   He did this all on his own, I did not encourage him to put his nose to my face.   I know he remembers me.   I was there helping him come into this world, a difficult birth and he is lucky to be alive and healthy after such a hard time coming into this world.   I guess he and I will always have a special connection because of that tricky situation.

After he sniffed me over really good he wandered off, but came right back and I was standing by the fence talking to Diana and he came up and put his head over my right shoulder and just stood there with his gorgeous head on my shoulder listening to me talk and letting me rub on him some more.   He is so sweet and such a special boy, I can't wait for him to start racing.

After our visit we went back to my in-laws for a late lunch, tried to get our youngest daughter to take a nap, but she was just too excited, so later in the afternoon we headed out for a walk, as our oldest wanted to go see the stream, she had seen on a walk, the day before, with some other family members.   It was my husband, my two daughters, and I alone, this time.   I had my Seeing Eye Dog Dextra harnessed up and I was following behind my husband as we went down the very steep hill behind my in-law's house.   Our oldest daughter led the way and my husband helped our youngest.   After a little while, we realized it was getting dark very quickly, so we turned around to head back to the house, but our oldest daughter was getting a bit upset that she wasn't going to get to see the stream again.   My husband got me to the bottom of the steep hill, where the path led through the thick woods up to my in-law's house and I took my youngest daughters hand and started back to the house as my husband took our oldest a shortcut to the stream.   I couldn't see hardly anything through the thick woods, I just said, "Dextra, forward!  Let's go back to the house."   And Dextra slowly made her way up the steep incline guiding me and my 2 year old daughter around the thick underbrush, bush branches, etc staying on what felt like the correct path, the several hundered feet up to the clearing where the house stands.   When she got us safely to the front sidewalk I dropped the harness and gave her a huge hug, petted her vigorously, and just told her how proud of her I was and what a super star Seeing Eye Dog she is!

These dogs are not trained to go hiking like that, but many guide dog users do go hiking, we just have to do it slowly and use the training they have to expand on it to train them about trails.   So, she isn't in the first to do this, but it was her first time doing it and she was amazing!

Dextra and I have only been together since April and she is only 2 1/2 years old, but she is proving to be so awesome and I can not praise her enough or thank The Seeing Eye enough for partnering her with me.   I look forward to a lot more adventures with this truly amazing young yellow Labrador from The Seeing Eye.

And, yes, my 2 year old was also adding her praises to Dextra, too.   It was so dark by the time I made it back to the house that all I could see was the outline of the house against the fading light.   I went inside and had my father-in-law turn on the flood lights, so that my husband and oldest daughter could find their way back to the house, which they did about 20 minutes later.

So, the day after Thanksgiving gave me a lot to be thankful for.   I am thankful for my sweet family, my awesome Seeing Eye dog, my horses, and my wodnerful trainer, Diana McClure.

Marq Your Bible to race, in part, for The Seeing Eye, Inc

It is amazing how God works and the inspirations that come from His faithfulness.

Already, there are three partners in our racehorse that are graduates of The Seeing Eye, myself, included.   On Sunday, I received an unexpected call from yet another Seeing Eye graduate who wishes to join the partnership.  

She has informed me that any of her earnings, past what will go directly back into the partnership, will be donated to The Seeing Eye, in her name.   This has inspired me to do the same with part of my majority interest in him.

I currently own 42% of Marq Your Bible aka "Marcus" and I now wish to also donate at least 2% of my earnings, past what goes back directly to the partnership, to The Seeing Eye.   I have been inspired by this new member and also by the faithfulness God has shown me and I am feeling led to do this.

So, now, Marcus will not only be owned by 4 graduates of The Seeing Eye and 2 other women, who are not blind, but he will be racing for the wonderful organization that we all love, that has provided 4 of us with amazing dog guides, The Seeing Eye Inc of Morristown, NJ.

Marcus will be taking a short break to do some more growing.   He has nothing wrong, but has been growing so much lately, that we just feel it is in his best interest to let him grow.   He will start his vacation next week and be brought back into training Jan. 1st, with a hopeful first race to be around the middle of March.

Become a fan of this wonderful horse that is now going to be racing for such an extraordinarily great cause

You can find his fan page on Facebook and also the farm fan page, Perfect Peace Farm, where you will receive updated news on what he is up to and see pictures of this totally gorgeous boy.

Marcus' fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marq-Your-Bible/193529944025899?ref=ts

Perfect Peace Farm fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Perfect-Peace-Farm-LLC/173890696024170

Go Marcus, Go!
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A little background on me and my connection to The Seeing Eye.

I am currently working with my 4th Seeing Eye Dog, Dextra, a 2 year old female yellow Labrador Retriever, who I received in April 2011.  

I received my first Seeing Eye Dog, Ginger, a female German Shepherd, in July 1994.   I have been blessed by this organization and the 4 great dogs I have been given.   I received my 2nd guide, Zach, in May 1995, a male black Labrador Retriever, and my 3rd, Nalley, a male Golden Retriever, in April 2002.   Nalley is still with me, at the age of 11, enjoying retirement.

These dogs have guided me at college, through graduation, on various horse farms and other jobs, down the aisle at a friend's wedding, been my ring bearer at my own wedding, guided me on the train trip we took for our Honeymoon to Saratoga Springs for the horse races, at several other race tracks, including to Churchill Downs for the Breeder's Cup in 2006, been with me when I sing solos at church, when I'm in choir, and countless other things, where they help me maintain independence.   I am forever grateful to The Seeing Eye for their dedication to breeding top quality dogs, training the best guides for those seeking a dog guide, and the support they give students while in class and graduates after we return home with our dogs.   It is a wonderful organization that I am pleased to be a part of and hope and pray that I can give back to, in part, with some of the earnings of this racehorse.   I will be combining my love of dogs and horses all in one, it doesn't get much better than that!

A Full Circle

When I was 7 years old I went to Camp Holiday Trails, for the first time.   It was a camp for disabled and sick children.   The issues ranged from other kids being blind, like myself, to children with Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, various forms of cancer, etc.

I had recently seen a show on TV called "Adventures of Black Beauty", loosely based on the novel, "Black Beauty".   I had fallen in love with horses from the first time I saw him running across a green field on the television screen, at my Grandparents house.   To this very day, I can still picture it in my mind.

When I arrived at camp, I was delighted to discover that they offered horseback riding to the campers.   i couldn't wait for my very first ride on a horse, which didn't come for a few days.   When it finally was my turn to go down to the stables, I walked down the row of stalls and petted each horse and stopped when I arrived at the stall of a beautiful black horse with a small white star.   I couldn't believe it, I was looking at horse that was the spitting image of "Black Beauty".

A few minutes later the riding instructor gave out horse assignments and I was overwhelmed to find out that I was about to ride Smokey, the black Quarter Horse gelding, that I was staring at.   he was only a 2 year old, but was quiet enough to be used by this program.

His owner tacked him up, as he was privately owned, and not owned by the camp, like the rest of the horses.  She told me a little about him and before I knew it I was following them to the small riding ring and after I got a helmet, I was put onto his back.

The riding ring had a blue stone type footing around the outside, making a nice sized oval, and to the inside of that was a grassy area with one tree, to provide shade to those kids who were waiting their turn to ride.

I rode Smokey for at least 10 minutes, when he suddenly stopped and stretched out his hind legs.   The riding instructor called for me to be taken off of him, as they didn't want me on him, if he needed to use the bathroom, since it was my first time on a horse and he was still young.

Just to be safe, he was taken back to the barn and untacked and that was the end of my first ride.

The next week, I went back down to the riding stable and this time I was assigned Sir Edwards, a little grey Welsh Pony, who was the spitting image of Merrylegs, from the "Black Beauty" novel.

It was really hot, so all the horses and ponies were tacked up and we were all put on one and with each of us having at least one leader, holding the horse or pony, we went for a trail ride down the country road, that led up the mountain to the camp, where the cabins were, so there was hardly any traffic, in fact, I think only one truck went by the whole time we rode.

I loved that little pony, he was so awesome!  He was at least 28 years old, I think, at that time.

I returned to Camp Holiday trails for the next two years and each year I got to ride Sir Edwards, but Smokey had left the program.   I rode several others, along with Sir Edwards, but I always got at least one ride on him.

After I was 9, I stopped going to camp, not sure why that happened, but I missed it.

When I was 18, I was offered the opportunity to return to Camp Holiday Trails for the week long camp for blind children, as a teen worker.  I arrived on Saturday afternoon, with the other camp counsellors and teen workers, which there were about 10 to 12 of us.   The teen workers were to stay in the infirmary complex on cots.

As we drove onto the country road that led to the camp, I was delighted to see horses still in the pasture and hoped they still offered riding.   I knew I would not be riding, as I was a worker, but I was hoping to get to help with the horses, at least a little bit.

I was given permission to go down to the stables on Monday morning, with the campers and see if they could use my help.   I was again, delighted to see the riding instructor, who had been there when I was a child, was still there and she actually remember me.  

Because of my horse experience, she gratefully accepted my help and I was assigned a little Shetland Pony named Princess, to groom, tack up, and help children with, when they rode her.

She was a cute little pony, a bay and white pinto, about 12 hands, at most, and reportedly 33 years old.  

I asked about Sir Edwards, and was told that he lived to be 36 years old and had died only a few years before.

After I tacked up Princess, I led her to the very same riding ring and waited in line for the instructor to get the kids mounted, one at a time.  There were a lot of children, so two kids would take turns on each horse or pony.

The first kid I was given to help with Princess, was not only blind, but only had one arm.  I think he could see a little bit.   He was so excited to ride Princess and truly enjoyed his time on her.

After his time was up, he was helped off and I went to get the next child.   As I approached, with Princess, I could hear that the little boy was upset and afraid.   They were trying to get him on another pony, but he totally refused, so I was called over, as Princess was the smallest in the group and they thought he might be less afraif of her.

I stopped Princess in the shade of the tree and listened for a few minutes, as they continued to try to coax this little boy, who was totally blind, to even come close enough to touch Princess, but he refused.   I asked someone else to hold Princess for me and I walked over to him.   I introduced myself and then told him that I was blind, too, only with some vision, but not very much.   I told him that I loved horses and that Princess was very gentle and would not hurt him.

I am not sure what it was, exactly, that I told him, that made him trust me, but before i knew it, I had his hand and we were walking towards Princess.   I introduced him to her, at her head, then we trailed her neck, back, and to her tail, so he could get an idea of how big she was and what she felt like.

After a few minutes of getting to feel Princess, he decided it was okay to get on her, but insisted that I be there with him.   I told him that I would lead Princess for him and all he had to do was enjoy the ride.

As we headed out to the rail, after his stirruprs were adjusted, I glanced over my shoulder and noticed he was hunched over and his head was down.  I knew it was from nerves.   I started to talk to him some more about Princess and he talked back with me, but he stayed hunched.   Then I had an idea.   I moved to a place where I could stop Princess, safely, and not be in the way of others.   I held onto the reins and then stood next to him.   I told him, "I want you to not focus on being nervous, but start to feel her moving under you.  See if you can tell when she is moving each of her legs."   I explained to him that at a walk, a horse moves each foot at a different time, to make a 4 beat rythm.   He agreed to try and so I started to walk Princess, again.   I kept talking to him and asking him to feel for her legs to move and then I realized his voice sounded different.   I again, glanced over my shoulder and was amazed to see him sitting straight up in the saddle, his face turned upwards, and even with my limited eyesight, I could see the biggest smile on that little boys face. 

It felt so wonderful to help him.  A joy filled me.   As we continued to walk around the ring his confidence built.   There was a pole on the ground and I asked him if he would like me to lead Princess over it, to see if he could tell when she was going over it.  He agreed to this and knew exactly when her leg moved differently to raise up higher, to step over the pole.   he was so excited, I could tell it in his voice, that he was truly enjoying his first experience on a pony.

I was amazed at how things had come full circle.  I had been given my first horse experience at this camp, in that very ring, and now here I was helping a little blind boy have his and overcome his fears, to experience something totally new and different.

The limitations put on blind children, by some, cause them to be nervous about trying new things, but some of us are lucky and are not told, "You can't do that."  or "You shouldn't do that." with the only reason being our blindness.   Yes, I've heard these things, but not from those who matter and had influence on me and my development as a strong person.  Some call me brave, courageous, and other descriptive words, because of what I have done in my life, despite my disability, but I just see it as I am doing what comes naturally to me.   God gave me a gift with horses and I am using it and God allowed me to help a blind child and to experience the joy that came with it.

Foals in the Pasture

In the spring of 2004, we were expecting two foals.  Messenger of Light aka "leia" was in foal to Waquoit, due in late March and Street Dasher aka "Bunny" was in foal to Land's End the Colonel's Fox, due in late May.   Leia's foal would be apurebred Thoroughbred, hopefully destined for the race track and Bunny, an Anglo-Arabian, was carrying a foal by a Welsh Pony, hopefully destined for the top as a hunter pony.


As Leia's due date approached, I kept a close watch on her.  I set up the camera in the foaling stall, ran the cables to the house, so that I could watch her from the comfort of my den.   I knew she was getting close and started to stay up at night, sleeping in a recliner that was next to the small TV that I had hooked up to the camera.   Finally, I knew she was definitely close, probably within 24 hours.   I watched her all night, barely getting any sleep.   My husband got up about 7 or so and I told him that I thought she was close, but I desperately needed some sleep.    He promised to keep a watch on Leia for me.   He even offered to clean her stall.   So, i told him that when he cleaned her stall that he could let her out, but she would need to come back in as soon as he was done.

So, I laid down about 8 AM and slept for several hours.  I knew he would come to get me if Leia went into labor.   When i woke up, I went to the den and saw him sitting in his recliner and there was no Leia on the TV screen.  He told me he had decided to keep Leia out a little longer and would go out to bring her back inside in a few minutes.   I said, "OK, but don't wait too long."   I was starving, so I went to get something to eat.

I sat down and started to eat and I asked if he could look out the window to check on Leia, because of my vision, I can't see that far.   So, he got up and looked out the kitchen window and suddenly started yelling, "Red Alert!  Leia's having her foal!"

I lept up, leaving my food on the table, threw on my barn boots, grabbed the foaling bag kit and raced out the door, with him behind me.   I raced to the paddock and found Leia down and a foal laying a few feet away.   Leia had luckily laid down where a round bale had been, so it was one of the cleaner spots in the paddock.   As I assessed the situation, Gordon rushed to get Bunny and another mare, Shadow, out of the paddock.    Bunny didn't want to leave her friend, but reluctantly left when Gordon opened up the gate leading to the large back field.

Gordon then came back to help me.   The foal was up on it's chest and Leia was working on delivering the placenta.   I checked the foal quickly and discovered that it was a filly and she was large and appeared healthy.   Leia stood up and delivered the placenta.    Gordon and I then picked up the filly and moved them to the foaling stall.

I dried the filly off and we put betadine on her umbilical stump.   She was quickly to her feet and looking for her mother's milk.   As with Luke, Leia was an excellent mother and we decided to call the long legged dark bay filly, Princess.   She had a few white hairs, so we guessed she would be turning grey, just like her sire, Waquoit.

I was a little upset with Gordon for not putting Leia back in the stall, after cleaning it, like I had asked, but since everything turned out alright, I got over it quickly, as he learned his lesson.

A few weeks later, Leia and Princess left for Leia to go be bred to Zillionair, a rare colored cremello Thoroughbred.

Bunny was not due until late May, but as April turned into May, I started to think that there was a chance she would carry this foal shorter than the last two.   She had carried Tell A Tale for 361 days and Belle for 350 days.   On day 332, I checked her in themorning and she had a decent size udder and I talked to her and said, "Tonight you start staying inside for me to watch you."  

After breakfast, I turned her out in the back field with Shadow and Belle.   Belle loved being back with her mother.   Belle was almost 15 months old and was so beautiful.

That afternoon Gordon and I sat down to watch the Black Eyed Suson Stakes from Pimlico and enjoyed the race.   After the race, I was preparing to head out to feed the horses and bring Bunny in for the night.   Gordon went into the kitchen to put something away and the next thing I heard was him yelling, "Red Alert!  I think Bunny's had her foal!"

I lept up so fast and almost ran into the back door, I couldn't believe it.   I shoved my boots on and ran as fast I could to the back field.   They were in the far back, but were slowly making their way towards me.   As they got closer, I saw Bunny and Belle walking side by side and Shadow was circling them at about a 30 to 40 foot distance.   Inbetween Bunny and Belle I saw an extra head and got them to stop and Bunny, trusting me, let me get inbetween her and Belle to see the new foal. 

It was still soaking wet, but since it was up, it was obviously strong.  But we were still quite some distance from the barn, so I scooped up the foal into my arms and started carrying it.   Gordon finally made it out to us and offered to help, but I was doing okay.   I just told him to open gates and stall doors, on the way and to make sure that Belle and Shadow didn't follow Bunny and I.

Bunny and Belle kept right with me as I carried the foal, who weighed around 60 pounds.   As we exited the back field, heading into the paddock to the right of the barn, Gordon was able to get Belle to back off enough to shut the gate.   This made Belle very upset, she wanted to be with her mother and the foal.

Once we got into the foaling stall, I set the foal down and checked it over, "Another filly!"  I called out, with excitement.   She was so cute, had a huge star on her face, a white snip on her nose, and 3 white pasterns.   But, like Princess, we could tell that it looked like she would be turning grey, as Bunny was grey.

It took some effort, but the filly eventually nursed and was totally healthy, despite the early foaling date and surprise of being born in the pasture.   Because she was born about the time that the Black Eyed Susan was being run, we decided to call her Suzy.

When Suzy was strong enough, I reunited her with her big sister, Belle and Bunny was perfectly content for Belle to help out with Suzy's care.   It was so sweet to watch the three of them interacting.   I had heard of this kind of behavior in wild horses, where a mare's older daughter helped with a younger sibling, but it was the first time I had truly witnessed it first hand.   A lot of times people don't allow this kind of interaction amongst their herd, for fear of the older sibling hurting the younger one, but Belle was so gentle and loving, she'd do nothing to hurt Suzy.

Leia and Princess returned, when Leia was confirmed pregnant to Zillionair and shortly after that Bunny was confirmed in foal to Farnley Belshazzar, who had been the sire of Tell A Tale, born in 1999.  

I registered Princess as Quoit Blessed and she was eventually sold to a client, as a racing prospect, when she was a yearling.   She was given a chance to race, but due to some bad training, running her the wrong distances, and some bad luck, which caused a tendon injury, she never won, 4th being her best finish.   Princess is now the dam of two beautiful Jazil fillies.   I look forward to them racing.   They were born in 2010 and 2011, so I still have to wait a bit longer to see them race.

Suzy was registered as a Half Welsh Pony as Perfect Peace What a Blessing, sometimes seen with no space between "what a" to make it "whata".   I sent her to be trained by Sarah Warmack at Hilltop Farm VA, when she was 3 years old.   Sarah did a wonderful job with Suzy and started her show career.   Despite the starting of the decline in horse sales, we were able to get close to our asking price for Suzy, as she was so nice.   Suzy is a super nice mover and is always winning her hack classes and winning or getting top ribbons in her over fences classes as a Hunter Pony.   She was sold when she was 4 years to Kristin Mangum.   Suzy competes up and down the East Coast at A Circuit level shows, winning ribbons at HITS, Warrenton, Culpeper, Deep Run, Upperville, etc.   We could not be prouder of her success and look forward to hearing even more of her success as she continues to mature and develop.