Riding Lesson and New Hens

Alison was true to her word, and used up one more of her "banked" riding lessons to give Claire a turn. Here is Claire receiving instructions; once again, a lesson on Chevy. This horse is worth his weight in gold. He "reads" his rider's ability, then behaves correspondingly. If he senses a rank beginner, he does everything by voice command, and plods around like a downtrodden cart horse. If he has a beginner on board, he listens to the crudest aids. Once you hit intermediate, he picks up in energy level, and in his expectations of your ability to guide him, and can be downright naughty if you mess up at this point!





Claire has incredible posture; I fought my whole riding career with rounded shoulders and she looks like a dressage rider first time. She figures it's because of all of her voice lessons!


And of course, a video of Claire's first trot :-). You go girl!




This morning, Alison was working at the barn, and Kev and Claire headed off to an "Annie" practice. Iain and I hopped into the van and headed north of Shannonville to bring home these 8 lovely ladies. They are barred rock laying hens, and they are just starting to lay now. We purchased them from a 55 year old gentleman named Tom, who delayed his midlife crisis until age 54, when he convinced his wife they had to sell their lovely rural-home-on-1-acre, and buy an old farmhouse and barn with 16 acres so he could raise sheep and chickens/turkeys/ducks/you name it! We purchased 8 of his crop of 90 2008 day-olds.



First one in the coop! Plymouth Barred Rocks are a heritage breed. Nowadays, backyard breeders tend to purchase hybrids that can be easily sexed as day-olds, and that have increased egg production. Up until now, we've only had hybrids; the last hens were a Barred Rock/Rhode Island Red hybrid. But look at those gorgeous barred feathers!


All in and getting used to the new "digs" ...


Here's a close-up. (Janna, you must know that I'm specifically thinking of Eli when I post all these chicken photos!!! He does love his farm animals ;-) ...)


And lastly, a video ...