On foals

I am amazed at our foals. They are friendly, loving and trusting. Not to speak of trust worthy. Emily spent time with them when first born and used T Touch techniques, learned through self study. Her work with them has left them friendly and easy to manage. They have all been wormed with no type of halter or lead line. Basically by working around the mouth, they just stand and let us put the syringe in their mouths.

At one time I had three of them at my side yearning for my touch. None of them even tried mouthing me. They were totally respectful of my space and looked at me with loving eyes. They each layed down and I was able to stand over them and rub them, message them by moving their legs, and tap their feet. They showed no sign of intimidation. They all are relaxed in their tails and love their sweet spots deeply rubbed. I even stood beside them while they were standing, bent over them with a tiny bit of pressure on their backs and swirled my arms around on the opposite side. They stayed with me and enjoyed my company. This was a great first step in being comfortable with movement on both sides to ready them for future riding.

Foals that have been handled as this will make hopefully a life time companion for someone specially suited for that horse. Good foundations are the basis of any good relationship!

We will give a scholarship toward the purchase of a foal for youth 13years and older who want to own, work with and eventually start their own horse. Any one interested should contact us for an application and details of purchase. Email us at onawingandaprayerfarm@gmail.com

Great advertising site.

I really like this advertising website "Equine Now". It allows you to paste this ad easily on other sites and even craig's list. Check it out. You can put your farms bio and more on here so it also gets looked at in other categories.

Morgan For Sale
	Price: $7300 Breed: Morgan Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Birth Date: Sep 13, 2001 Height: 14.3 hh
Additional Comments: Dan is a 9 year old registered morgan gelding with a puppy dog personality. Dan's bloodlines include Government, Brunk and a tiny bit of Lippitt lines. He has a lot of potential as a dressage horse, jumper/hunter, or eventer. He has been jumped to 2'3 and has the potential to go much higher. He is a very clean jumper and is very tight. I have ridden him in traning level dressage and he is beginning to learn leg yielding. He is a very good mover with pure gaits and he really drives himself from behind. He was pony clubbed for mounted meetings and competed at the regional dressage rally when he was 6. Dan competed in a schooling horse trial and was first after dressage. He really enjoyed the cross country phase. He learns very quickly and is great on trail. Dan ground drives and is ready to hitch. Dan has exceptional conformation. He is a good lesson horse. This horse is one in a million and may be the perfect horse just for you! Dan's full brother is our breeding stallion. Check out our website. Here is "Dan's" Pedigree: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/index.php?query_type=horse&horse=DANSON+OF+WINGFARM& g=5&cellpadding=0&small_ font=1&l=

Working with the rescue horse

Taking home that rescue horse is often facing the unknown. What exactly are the issues to face from his history of past owners.

We recently took on working with an older horse who shows signs of mistreatment, but is the sweetest old guy. From working with his feet, we know he has not had the kindest handling there, but also there were signs of an old injury to one back leg, so just giving this horse treatment could cause him to not like us working with his feet. Gently we worked with him, but he just didn't want his feet done by standing still. He would really yank them striking forward or kicking back. Using a partner, we used a soft rope and she held the rope around the leg so he could not pull away or kick back. Once he stood still, his foot was gently released and he was given a break. This worked well for us and no one got upset, we just persevered through the four feet. Tom Dorrance said that if a horse would not stand well with a foot, go back and pick up the last good foot you did. That works well also. So by going back and forth and by using the rope, we finished safely and leaving the horse with the message that if he stands, he gets a break and of course that we were not going to hurt him. Hopefully the next trim will be even easier.

Yesterday, was a great day with this horse. He loved being saddled and almost seems like he knows it's time to go to work. We took him to the arena and again worked as partners. We wanted to see if he longed, so one held the line and the other walked with him in a circle, he knew what to do. From that point one held line and the other drove him out and forward. At first he was a little confused, but working in this manner, he figured out what he was supposed to do. This horse definately has some ADD, but again not confusing him helped him to understand what we wanted.

Before mounting we did all the things we would in starting a young horse. Flexing, disengaging, careful girthing, flapping stirrups, jumping up and down beside him, before putting a foot in the stirrup. He did fine with all that. He did not want to stand for mounting, so we flexed him to one side til he softened and stood, and then the other. He stood perfect for the mount and then working together we started walking him with a rider. This horse definately did not enjoy even light contact to his mouth and then we decided to try neck reining and he was awesome. So we figured him out and from there it was a matter of working him at the walk and reaquainting him with leg aids. It took time, but his whole attitude improved through the process. I would guess that he figured out that he was not going to be yanked in the mouth and gave more of his body.

Well finally, the moment the owner was waiting for. It was time for her to get on her horse. Being a new rider, we partnered again and one led the horse as the other worked the rider through her nervousness and into a relaxed seat and a big smile. She did awesome and the horse responded so nicely to her aids. It was an amazing training session and lesson.

Take it slow and easy with a horse like this so he doesn't get confused and upset. We worked in a slow, safe manner and reached our goal! The horse was thinking and handling way better after the session and was given lots of caressing and love before quiting for the day.

New Website

We are currently in the process of building a website for the farm. We have some pages put up, but not quite finished. We will be done very soon so you can have access to what On a Wing and a Prayer Farm has to offer.
http://onawingandaprayerfarm.webs.com/

Skylark now.

You probably wonder how our young colt is doing. Skylark is so sweet. He kisses now and has to be right with us all the time. He is the center of attention, but not pushy, just there. He is great with young and old. He has a rider now..........

Spring is bringing out the riders.

We welcomed the Keene Mentoring group recently. It was a fun day for all! Thanks for coming.

Springing into Spring!

The yard are full of lovely, plump, and bouncy horses. They play all day long. That is what is so great about having so many young horses. The other day two came out of the barn, bucking and rearing and one fell and slid across the pasture and ended over and a landed with her rump landing on the electric fence, which immediately broke. Nice part of having a one strand of electric fence. I could have been a huge injury if I had anything else there.

Needless to say this filly got up and started playing again. She didn't even have a mark on her.

I love going to the barn at night, I never know which horse I might run into. I find it facinating to try to guess who is there in the dark. Lots to choose from!

We are all so happy for spring, both people and the horses. Coming soon, hopefully, time to upload some playful videos.