Category Archives: Horses

November 15, 2009 · 8:09 pm

Round Pen at Sunset

Round Pen at Sunset, Photograph by J. Matthews

The round pen is an ages-old schoolroom for horses. I have not trained my horses for a few weeks, but have let them out to graze and play. Soon, two horses, Fanny the yearling and Shiney the colt, will have a lesson in the round pen. Of gentle horsemen, see the link to Monty Roberts, the horse whisperer, that I have provided. Not only does Monty train by “joining up” with the horse, but also has taught his method throughout the world to trainers, including professionals for the Queen of England’s stables. When horses come to Flying Hat, Monty’s method of training is applied, haply and without violence. We are all the better for it, man and horse.
www.montyroberts.com

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Filed under Flying Hat Ranch, Horses

Tagged as Equine Training, Monty Roberts, Quarter Horses

November 11, 2009 · 7:08 pm

Fog in Sims Valley

Grove and Fog, November 10, 2009, Flying Hat Horses, Texas

Photo by J. Matthews

Early Feeding in Fog, November 10, 2009, Flying Hat Horses, Texas

Photo by J. Matthews

November mornings in central West Texas bring surprises. Yesterday, fog dropped down and obscured the distant hills and Cross Timbers Mountains from the back terrace of our ranch house. We live in Sims Valley, about four miles south of Interstate 20, between Abilene and Fort Worth. The road that goes into the grove in the photograph, “Early Feeding in Fog,” is one of several dirt roads used in the nineteenth century between Stephenville and Thurber, a coal mining town that supplied fuel for the railroads. When a north wind blows, we can hear the locomotives whistling as they speed through Strawn, Mingus, and Gordon, three small villages north of Interstate 20.

The horses, Shiners Fannin Peppy and Stars Bars Moore, eat some alfalfa I have put in their tub. This morning, November 11, the fog was so thick I could hear the horses nicker, but could not see them in the arena. The fog lifted by 10:00 a.m.

[Annotation: because I have the flu, I stayed home yesterday and today. I put on my field jacket and hat to feed, quickly returning to the house to get the camera and take the photographs. I am feeling better this evening and can probably go to work at half-speed tomorrow. Besides, I need to see if the ducks are still quacking on the Baird Hill Pond, close to Abilene. We have to get our priorities straight, don’t we?]

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Filed under Flying Hat Ranch, Horses

Tagged as Foggy Weather, Quarter Horses, Sims Valley Texas

October 28, 2009 · 9:01 am

Shiners Fannin Doc to Vet

Shiners Fannin Doc, or “Shiney,” is to be loaded up with Sweet Hija today for his next-to-the-last injection for his reaction a month ago that caused swelling in his hindquarters. I take him to the Equine Sports Medicine Center in Weatherford.

At the Equine Sports Center, the doctors use the C&C Stock Trailer’s inside compartment to block gently the little colt, Shiney. Shiney has been a good colt and has not overreacted to his injections.