Playing around with Photoshop Textures ... warning, it's addictive!

I have just learned how to layer textures in Photoshop and this is my second attempt.  I took a ten minute free tutorial at "Kim Klaussen's Cafe" and used her texture "More Magic".  I'm thinking of making this into a poster for my daughter's bedroom wall.  She is riding her (our) horse, Oberon.

and just so my other daughter won't feel left out, I have her with my horse, Sebastian

I found a heart-warming testimony about the importance of horses in a girl's growing up years.  Click HERE to read it.

Both of my daughters are coming along real well with Oberon on ground work and riding lessons.  Neither one of them have cantered yet and are mighty competitive about who will be the first one.  I feel it will be happening soon for both of them.  I rode Oberon on the trial all by ourselves, away from the herd and he was fantastic.  Didn't hurt that we had done quite a bit of work in the arena.  I rode in my dressage saddle and really liked how I sat in than as opposed to the "All Purpose" saddle.  I guess I like to ride with my legs a bit longer.

I think I will be riding Sebastian within a month or so as he is coming along very nicely under his (and my) trainer, James Cooler.  Sebastian responds to leg pressure quite well and a very gentle touch on the reins (many times he is ridden with a rope halter).  Sebastian is coming along with the canter, but we have to remember he is just a "baby" and getting used to his long legs - he;s like a "gangly" teenager.

Oh, and by the way, here is a link to the Cooler Horsemanship February Newsletter.  This is the place where my daughters and I board, ride, and take lessons with my horses.

"I Wanna Be a Buckskin..."

I wanna be a Buckskin

"But my Momma won't let me..."

"and the funny thing is..."

"she THINKS she's gonna win!"

Sebastian & Oberon.. an update & AMAZING VIDEO at bottom of the post

 

All has been pretty quiet here.  The weather has been a bit rainy, (but for this born and raised northern gal) I'm loving this winter!  I've been a bit quiet on the blog front lately as we are busy putting our house on the market... interior painting, organizing, purging, upgrades...  We are staying in the area, just desire a different situation.  I miss my frequent trips to the barn but it I will be back in full swing within a week.   (The top photo has been linked to this week's "Creative Exchange")

Sebastian scratched 20% of his cornea and he was sore, poor boy.  The vet gave us some ointment and meds and he seems to be much better yesterday when my daughter and I went out to groom.  I just love his profile - so strong and proud, isn't it?  

I can't wait for a warm sunny day for as much as I brush, dust just puffs and clouds off their backs!  My daughters have had a few Saturday lessons, but I do think Oberon is looking a little chubby... or is this just fluff?

"DID SHE JUST CALL ME FAT!!! ?

Does this video put you in the mood for riding?  It is AMAZING!  

I have BABY photos of Oberon!!!

I was SO lucky to get these from the lady who used to own him.  A few were sent to me from his breeder.  I look at my boy now with different eyes... I can see his baby face now at times when he does something silly...

The photo below is NOT Oberon.  I'm not sure who it is, I think maybe his brother who is for sale, posted at the bottom of this page.  This is Oberon's mother, though.  I just wanted to share this precious photo...

Oberon (his original name was Buck and then Murphy) as a newborn above and a "teenager" (yearling) below.  I am patiently growing out his mane and am glad to see it will look nice.

And below is his pretty Mama.  Her name is Berry.

And this handsome fellow is his half brother.  The share the same mother.  He is for sale and I can forward his contact information to anyone who is interested.  He lives in Wisconsin.

January Portraits

January 7th and the weather was (is) fantastic!  67 degrees and sunny.  Last year it was colder and NC had a bit of snow, but the fact that this amazing weather is possible... well, it inspired me to take horse portraits of my two gorgeous boys.  I brushed and conditioned Sebastian's mane and tail and he seemed to KNOW it was time to pose.  Oberon, well, I made the mistake of waiting until after my daugher's one hour lesson and he was ready for a nap....  But he is still adorable.

Now I'm off to walk the dogs... It feels like a spring day to this northern gal!

Merry Christmas!

Ha!  It should have read Santa and his Elves!  Oh well, I'm sure Oberon won't mind top billing.

Enjoying the Pasture!

I chose the photo, below, of Sonder for my "Creative Exchange" link this week.  I love the lighting, but more than that, I think I caught her curious nature.  All the other horses were too busy grazing to give me more than a "one eyeball" glance, but Saunders always gets so close it is difficult at times to take photos of her.

unless an "up close and personal" shot is desired!:

Looks like Sebastian also enjoyed rolling in the mud a bit...

Funny time of year.  One day it is cold (ha... is 40 degrees REALLY cold?) and then we enjoy warmer days in the 60's.  I did pull Oberon from grazing to workout in the arena ... but four above didn't even look up from enjoying the pasture to say goodbye to their buddy.

Poor Oberon...

And below is a charming video of a young Friesian stallian, Evan (son of Mintse) doing "tricks".  He is NOT related to my Sebastian, but he does belong to the same Friesian breeding farm where Sebastian's father, Raven lives.   Click HERE to go to the website.

Wordless Wednesday #11

In His Shadow

A herd's "social dynamic" fascinates me.  Oberon is not always a warm fuzzy... he can be quite forceful when it comes to being fed grain.  He may be the smallest, but he gets quite bossy and bold at feeding time.  But here he is, snuggling up to Sebastian, enjoying that long Friesian tail...

Not much space between them this afternoon...

Sebastian started to walk away and Oberon just followed and kept trying to nuzzle him.  :)

Stationary Lunge, Mobile Lunge

James Cooler of Cooler Horsemanship  must be the "Man in the White Hat" to the horses.  They don't get away with much when he is around... not that Oberon would ever entertain the idea of being anything less than well behaved.  :)   James is teaching my daughters how to do a stationary lunge.

First they back him out by a slight wiggle of the rope.  Then one arm is extended and finger pointing in the direction you want the horse to go.  Their body stays still and if the horse is going the speed you want, the stick and string is in a neutral position in front of the body.

Then it is just a slight "grab" of his head and a turning of the back to the horse - she maybe bent a bit too much, but she is learning.

And the horse should turn and face with butt tucked.  If not, she would "nip" towards his but with the string to make him swing and face her straight on.  That means he is giving you his full attention.

Yes, poor Oberon often gets worked double.   My other daughter, above, is backing him up.  Eventually a smaller shake of the rope will make him back - she can also swing the stick a bit like a pendulum directed towards his chest.  And below, she points in the direction she wants him to go.

Below is the mobile lunge.  Body is off the horse but moving parallel with the horse.  If you jog or run, he should do the same.  We haven't worked on that yet.  To stop him, the stick is put in front of the lead rope and then he is brought in like demonstrated above.

Eventually we will have him "loose" and he will do all of this with us without halter and leadrope.  That will take a lot of time and practice, but I love the whole idea of the horse having100% attention on his "rider".  Of course, afterwards, there is plenty of time for hugs...

Oberon & Sebastian ... together for the first time

I found Oberon and Sebastian together today.  The other two geldings will join them on Thursday and are out in the pasture grazing.  No hardship for them as the weather is very nice and no need really for a shed.  Sebastian is still busy taking everything in... there are a lot of horses and activity to look at from where he is standing.

Mystic (a gelding) looks a lot like Sebastian's old stable mate, except it was a mare.

I just love his very masculine head.  He is 3 1/2 years old and looks to me like he still has a bit of growing to do...  I bet he will grow at least another inch.  And of course, he will fill out as he is half Friesian.

Meeting the neighbors...

Sebastian is definitely the one moving Oberon around - I had hoped Oberon would be the leader - but he isn't exactly submissive.  I saw Oberon stand his ground a bit... but when you are the little guy, I guess it goes with the territory.  Oberon seems used to it and still exudes a lot of confidence.

Sebastian & Oberon meet

With a fence separating them, they seem to get along quite well.  They nuzzled and nipped throughout the day and even spent time in the head to tail position swatting away flies.

Sebastian (that is his new name - it means majestic, revered and is also a character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night) seemed to calm down in Oberon's presence.  With the warm sun beating down, Sebastian even laid down flat on the ground and took a bit of a nap.

I hope all this "coziness" continues today as they are let out in their pasture together today.

My son was picking flowers for me, but Oberon spied them and "tiptoed" up behind him and blew down his neck.  Oh, Oberon, maybe I should have named you Puck after all!  (a mischievous character in Shakespeare's "Mid Summer Night's Dream".

Sebastian is very alert and at times looks like a dark statue as he takes in his new surroundings.