Way Overdue, Loxley '09!

It's been crazy busy out there the past few months! Fortunately we seem to be past the worst of the rain (yes, we needed it). Meanwhile, young Loxley has been working hard on growing up. We started working with a really outstanding natural horsemanship trainer, Jerry Gardner
who is doing a terrific job. Still in ground work, but making great progress.

After an excellent lesson today, thought it was time for a few current pics. With his winter coat Loxley has been the color of Hershey's Special Dark chocolate (now how would I know that?); he's just starting to shed out and get a little silky again.

Not Cleveland Bays, but SO cute!

Hello to two of Loxley's Rancho neighbors, little Oreo, the adorable mini, and our old friend Tjarda the Friesian, who had a little fun in the turnout recently. I'm waiting for the moment when Oreo runs under the patient Tjarda's tummy! Thanks for being our guest video! Video photo credit to Monica, Tjarda's Mom, with voiceover by Ami, Oreo's Mom!

Marina's Manicure!

This morning our friend and natural hoof trimmer Marina Bredda came out for her second work session with the unshod Loxley of the lovely durable big hooves! Thanks in no small part to Marina's fantastic demeanor and patience with him during their first session five weeks ago, Loxley's behavior came much closer to that which is expected of him as a growing up horse.

Marina is shown cheerfully holding Loxley's most difficult hoof, a leg which has a recovering injury and some tendon tightness, yet (contrary to last time) he was willing to let her work with it as much as she needed.

I'm completely sold on the concept that Loxley will stay barefoot and thrilled to have Marina's skills and know-how behind that decision. Plus Loxley is pretty excited about the carrots at the end of her session. And now on to the dance floor!

Neighborhood Models

The previous post about Uncle Tjarda led me to introduce Tjarda as a national horse apparel model, here are some wonderful examples of his recent work!

Thanks to Tjarda's art director Mom Monica and photographer Dad Steve Horn, a few humans were asked to do some modeling for the same website, which gave our good friend Ali a chance to be the perfect Arabian model! Pictured is Ali with one of our neighborhood young riders and also a link to Ali with yours truly getting to wear a lovely red jacket in which art imitates life!

Hanging Out With Uncle Tjarda

There's an odd phenomenon where on most days, when I take out Loxley, tie him up for grooming, walk him down the street, take him somewhere to do some ground work, it truly looks as though he has grown 1" - 2" from the previous day. Now, if this were really happening, Loxley would be about 25 hands by now, and I think he's really about 16.2+. But he is growing up, getting taller, thicker, showing a somewhat more mature face, even his voice is a little deeper when he whinnies hello upon my arrival at the gate.

That is, until we meet up once every few days with one of our great Rancho friends, Uncle Tjarda. Tjarda is an eight year old Friesian owned and loved by our good friends and neighbors Monica and Steve. These pictures don't fully show what a spectacular horse Tjarda is, but believe me, he takes your breath away every single time you see him. He's well over seventeen hands and very sturdy, as is typical and appropriate for his light draft breeding. Seeing Loxley next to Tjarda is always a good reminder that Lox has a long way to go to grow up!

These two have become good buddies and Tjarda's sweet, kind social nature serves as a wonderful role model for young Lox. They are both enthusiastic about getting together for walks and turnouts, and even get to groom each other like real horses (as much as their respective Moms can stand it!). The other day they got to graze together on Aunt Claudia's front lawn, and they were happy as clams. Especially for horses who live alone, these social outings are just as important as the training ones.

"In Training" at Aunt Claudia's School for Horses

Loxley has had an excellent week including three "actual" training sessions, courtesy of Claudia and Ali's training area! It's the ideal size for free longing and even setting up a tiny crossbar to give our young man a good reason to pay attention to where his feet are.

This also marks Loxley's first wearing of a bridle since he arrived in Burbank - took that big ol' eggbutt snaffle like he's done it every day of his life, and side reins with a surcingle. Could dressage be far behind? It's getting tempting to get on!

Thanks as always to Claudia for sharing her space, energy and really excellent training ideas.

Griffith Park Drive News

Photo credit Martin Frankel.

What's a three year old gelding to do when Southern California Gas Co. has to, in a nine hour exercise involving four busy men and several incredibly loud machines, replace the main gas line at his house? Why, in the Rancho, wander down the street and graze on somebody's lawn, of course! On Friday our neighbor Marty Frankel kindly offered his beautifully manicured yard and the company of Rosebud the German Shepherd (in background) to settle down Loxley after some close encounters with a jackhammer and dug-up driveway!

Marty says he's been meaning to take a picture of a horse in front of his recently remodeled house (we especially like the front door), and Loxley was happy to oblige in exchange for a few minutes of peace and quiet. Thanks Marty!