Lots of animal moving today! Tinia Creamer (seen above riding Zip bareback, photo courtesy Tinia) is coming this afternoon with Zip, who we are also adopting. Not much is known about Zip’s background. She was found wandering loose and starving, with Patriot, in September, 2011. She and Patriot have a strong bond, and I’m happy to be able to put them back together, and also to welcome Zip to Sassafras Farm. You can see Zip on the Heart of Phoenix adoptable horses page here. She appears to be a Standardbred in her early teens, and she is gaited.
After Zip is unloaded, Tinia is going to help me with her trailer while she’s here. My visiting heifer Buttercup will be loaded to return to SarahGrace’s farm. They’re ready to get her bred now. She is the cutest thing and I will miss her! But!!!!!
BP and Glory Bee are coming back today! When we unload Buttercup at SarahGrace’s farm, BP and Glory Bee will be loaded up to come home. I can’t wait to have my cows back. I miss them so much. The folks at SarahGrace’s farm believe both BP and Glory Bee are bred. Crossing fingers!
mamawolf says:
That is great news. I hope GB has grown up a bit before she is having to share her mommy with two “outsiders” (at least in her cow mind
!
:cowsleep:
On May 7, 2012 at 12:09 pm
beforethedawn says:
So much excitement! Keeping my fingers crossed that the gals are bred!
On May 7, 2012 at 12:15 pm
lifeisgood/ Melinda says:
Wow! You are going to have a big day! Zip, Glory B. and BP all coming home at once! I hope all goes smoothly. Enjoy!
On May 7, 2012 at 12:41 pm
lifeisgood/ Melinda says:
Speaking of horses…how are Morgan’s lessons going and has she been back on Patriot yet?
On May 7, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Rose H says:
What a glorious, happy day at Sassafras Farm 😀
Welcome Zip, welcome home BP and Glory B.
:happyflower: :happyflower: :happyflower:
On May 7, 2012 at 12:57 pm
BuckeyeGirl says:
Is Zip broke to harness? ooooooo…. possibilities!
On May 7, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Sue, a Florida Farm Girl says:
Wow, talk about animal basket turnover!!! Glad to hear Patriot is going to have some company. Maybe he’ll be content to say put now.
On May 7, 2012 at 1:32 pm
NancyL says:
Talk about a Big Day, and Suzanne awash in animals! I know you’ll miss Buttercup, but you’ll have Zip to help settle Patriot, and 2 (I said, TWO) pregnant cows!
On May 7, 2012 at 2:35 pm
NancyL says:
And I forgot to mention baby goats and Coco’s home!!!
On May 7, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Vicki in So. CA says:
How wonderful! Coco is healing, you have new goat babies, Patriot’s bff is coming to live, you’ll have the BPGB’s again – plus two (fingers crossed). What a busy day for you, but how exciting! :snoopy:
On May 7, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Flowerpower says:
I know you will be glad to have your girls back! Looks like someone is going to get to ride a horse after all. Everything is shaping up nicely there and I am thrilled for you. :happyflower:
On May 7, 2012 at 3:35 pm
liz2 says:
Oh happy, happy day! I’m looking forward to lots of photos & your posts about the exciting events.
On May 7, 2012 at 4:35 pm
tmavraides says:
Your tales of your new farm and the people and animals who live in it make me happy. I have reached the point after all these years as a loyal reader of yours where I actually really care about your animals and kids. I really do hope your cows are bred, that your studio is a huge hit and that you are and remain very happy. :sheepjump:
On May 7, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Willamette Valley Girl says:
Suzanne or anyone else,
For us non-horsey people – what does “gaited” mean?? :chicken:
On May 7, 2012 at 8:46 pm
rhubarbrose says:
Oh my – IT IS A BIG DAY indeed!
On May 7, 2012 at 10:03 pm
wkf says:
Willamette Valley girl- gaited refers too the rhythm the horse moves its feet. A non gaited horse moves in a four beat gait(all 4 feet touch the ground individually) at the walk( 1st gear). a diagonal two beat gait at the trot,diagonal feet move at the same time(2nd gear), and a 3 beat gait at a canter(3rd gear), a gallop( the OMG!!!!or the yeehaaawww!!! gear) is a 4 beat gait again.
Gaited horses move deppending on their breed in a four beat gait all the time at various tempos or a lateral gait, meaning they move the same feet on the same side.. I think standard breds pace in second gear thru- 4th gear. which is the lateral movement.
It gets more specific in each breed and some are capable of doing 3rd gear and some are not. all of them can do 4 th gear . Which is also “the run for their life” gear too.
On May 8, 2012 at 7:15 am
wkf says:
I left out the part where gaited horses are supposed to be more comfortable than non. If you’re agood enough rider you can get comfortable on just about all of them. NO DOUBT some are easier than others.
On May 8, 2012 at 7:20 am
JeannieB says:
Homecoming day! How exciting!
On May 8, 2012 at 9:35 am
BuckeyeGirl says:
Believe me, a horse that paces, (which is what a Standardred ‘pacer’ does in those races with a sulky) is NOT a comfortable ride. Standardbreds are usually either ‘trotters’ or ‘pacers’. A pace is when both right legs move forward together, then both left legs in a two beat gait, as opposed to a ‘diagonal’ pattern which is a trot in a two beat gait.
A standardbred that truly paces is NOT a good ride, but many have a semi-pace at a medium speed that isn’t bad at all though. Since Zip is obviously broke to ride, I’m hoping that Zip is actually part Saddlebred, which DO have purely wonderful riding gaits and usually are further categorized as being ‘three gaited’ or ‘five gaited. … I’m not seeing Saddlebred in the pictures though, I’m seeing Standardbred.
That’s not to say I’m right of course, those things don’t always show up in photos. There are many good things about Standardbreds at any rate, they are usually very long lived, very healthy, very sound and if she’s already broke to pull a cart as well as working under saddle, there can be much fun involved there too!! (as long as there are good quiet places to drive her around on at first at least) Standardbreds are what the Amish use almost exclusively to pull their buggies because they are just so suited to it!
On May 8, 2012 at 11:25 am