Happy New Year Riders!

Why Should Little Girls Love Horses?

I know I fell in love with horses by the age of five and asked my parents for a horse everyday until I finally got one as a gift on my thirteenth birthday. It is important to understand why little girls love and are attracted to horses. This special bond between a girl and her horse can be  very beneficial throughout her lifetime. Horses can develope a girls character in positive ways by teaching them responsibility and helping them develop skills that they will need when they are adults.  Not only does owning a horse give them confidence, improved self esteem through the friendships they develope in the horse community, but also it teaches them skills they will need when they are mothers. Caring for horses requires a lot of responsiblity that is similar to a women's responsiblity to care for her own children. Their horses are their "babies" to love and care for.

Thanks so much to Alli Heath for sharing the photos below of her horse Moose and her little friend MaKayla. It brings back memories of my first time on my sister's pony. Enjoy!

Photo Of The Week 12-20-2010

Thanks go out to Willow Kearns for letting me use (and edit) these wonderfull winter photos. I call them "Willow's Winter Wonderland". I saw them on her Facebook page and I thought they were so beautiful and I asked Willow if it would be okay to feature her and her beautiful horse this week. She said yes so I downloaded the photos and used my new Picnik software to edit them. I lightened them a bit and added the winter special effects. These would make amazing gifts for Christmas for your friends and family Willow! Enjoy riders!

Win A Morgan Horse

(Photo - Howard Schatzberg)

The American Morgan Horse Association, Team Morgan, and Copper Beech LLC will be giving away a Morgan Horse to a deserving youth in the 2010 Win a Morgan Horse Contest.


The contest is open to any youth, age 21 and under, who is interested in owning a Morgan horse. The applicant will complete an application, including an essay, DVD and two letters of reference. Entries must be submitted to the AMHA by Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 5 p.m. EST. The entry fee is $50. The winner will be announced at the AMHA's annual convention on Feb. 24 in Boston, Mass. The winner is responsible for transportation of the horse.

This year's contest horse is CBMF Stolen Kisses. A coming two-year-old, Latte is by GLB Bell Pepper and out of Chocolate Kisses, a full sister to world champion Continental Vision. Latte is a chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail and made her show ring debut in August by winning the Yearling Filly In-Hand class at this year’s Massachusetts Morgan Horse Show. Latte was donated by Ann Hailey of Copper Beech LLC in New Albany, Ohio.

For more information and to download an application. click here
For more information on this contest please contact Christina Koliander at (802) 985-4944 ext 402 or chris@morganhorse.com

We Have A Winner!

Congratulations Alli Heath because you are the winner of our 4 framed horse prints. Alli, you have 48 hours to contact me to confirm your prize and also arrange for shipping or pick up of the 4 framed horse prints. If we do not hear from you within 48 hours we will draw another name from our qualified contestants list.

Photo Of The Week For The Week Of 12-13-2010

This beautiful Photo Of The Week for the week of 12-13-2010 was taken by Megan White
The horse in the photo is a 24 year old American Saddlebred named Brigadier's Winter Rose (Winter)
Thank you to Megan White for sharing this awesome photo to all of our horseva readers.

Three-Legged Horse Inspires Others

By: Kris O'Donnell - Pony survives Hurricane Katrina to become symbol of hope.

Whether she’s visiting nursing homes, hospitals or schools, Molly the Appaloosa Pony never fails to make a lasting impression. That’s because Molly gets around on only three legs.“When I take Molly on her visits all around the country, I tell people I don’t bring Molly around to places because she’s a three-legged wonder,” says Kaye Harris, her owner. “I bring her because she’s Molly. Because she’s Molly, she was able to be a three-legged wonder,” she said.

Harris, who lives outside of New Orleans, rescued Molly in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Several months later, Molly was attacked by a dog Harris also rescued after Katrina. Molly had numerous lacerations and injuries to her legs, with her right front leg sustaining most of the damage. “That one particular front leg had been so badly compromised. He had crushed the blood flow so from the ankle, down it just went dead,” Harris said. All Molly’s other wounds healed but her leg could not be saved. But Harris says Molly adjusted almost immediately. “She started to walk three-legged and surprised the heck out of me because as horse people, we’re taught ‘lose the leg, lose the horse’,” Harris said. “Here’s this pony walking three-legged, getting up and down three-legged, maneuvering three-legged and coping quite fine.” Harris says Molly figured out immediately how to compensate for her missing limb.

Read the full story here

I Am - Horses - Hillary Duff

This is one of my favorite mixes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Merry Christmas!

URGENT! This Horse Has Been Missing For One Month!

Update: 12/07/2010 - This horse has simply vanished into thin air. If you spot this horse...even on another farm, please call the number below. If you see one on any of the FB pages from the auction houses, please call the number below. They are offering a reward.

MISSING HORSE: Fancy is a 20-25 yo QH mare, 15H, Black with white star on her forehead. Lost in vicinity of Sugar Tree Hollow Road/Scotts Lane area of Eagle Rock in Botetourt County. She may be traveling in Jefferson National Forest which borders my property. Missing since Sunday, 11-7-10 at 530pm. She is a new horse to me and is unfamiliar with the area. If you know anyone who may know something or you see this horse, please call 540-797-6836. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update on 11/24/2010
This beautiful mare is still missing. Can you imagine trying to enjoy a Thanksgiving knowing that your horse is out there alone, hungry and lost in the woods? We really want to help the Ward family find their beautiful mare. If you plan on riding in the area this weekend, please jot this phone number down before you set out to ride (just in case you run across this mare). Thanks so much!

Photo Of The Week 12-8-2010

This is Jack saying "cheese". Submitted by: Charlotte Hale

Be sure to post your favorite photos on our horseva Facebook page. Here is a direct link. All you have to do is push "like" and then up load a photo - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/HorseVA

Joyful Noise Farm Fall Horse Show Series Has Been Moved to December 11, at 9AM In Mount Airy NC

For our riders further down south this looks like a fun show to go to. This is the second half of the Joyful Noise Farm Fall Open Horse Show Series. They offer English, Western and Gaited classes. They hava a new 120 x 200 arena and will be offering concessions. Because of the rough weather this weekend the December 4th show date has been moved to next Saturday, December 11 at 9AM. For more infor call 336-786-9130 or 336-429-6240 (day of the show phone numbers) Click Here for Joyful Noise Farm Show Flyer and Prize list

Joyful Noise Farm Home Page

Horse Dies After Apparent Gun Shot Wound From Hunters

This horse, known as Dewey, owned by Tom Russell of rural Waconia, died after an apparent bullet entered his shoulder and caused his muscle to pull away from his shoulder. Photo submitted by MJM Sharp Shooter Photography. Article found on The Waconia Patriot (on-line). By Matt Bunke - Sports Editor

Melissa Russell says it’s not unusual to hear gunfire around her farm, especially during hunting season.

Until last week, however, Russell and her family, who live just west of Highway 284 between Waconia and Cologne, never really worried much about the sound. But last Tuesday, when one of the family’s horses was struck by an apparent stray bullet, that all changed. “We’re praying and hoping it wasn’t a malicious act,” Russell said last Thursday, several days before the horse — which actually belongs to her 19-year-old son, Tom — had to be put down after several trips to the vet. “I can’t imagine somebody would shoot an innocent horse sitting in a pasture.”

All indications at this point, however, are that the horse, Dewey, was struck accidentally in the right shoulder by a stray bullet, which appeared to be a slug. The sheriff’s office investigated the incident, and local DNR conservation officer Steve Walter, who lives near Russell, added that many deer hunters may have been sighting their shotguns last week in preparation for the Nov. 6 deer season opener, and said that he too heard lots of gunfire the night Dewey was shot. Click here to read the full article

Horse VA - Riders you might want to check out this product line for you, your horses and your dogs.

These products come from don't shoot me on-line High Visibility Wear for Horses, Dogs and Riders. They have some nice products for equestrians and their partners. Check them out at http://www.dontshootme.ca/

At Horseva.com we wish all of our riders and their pets a safe and Happy Holiday!

It's Snowing Here On Bluebird Farm!

Since it is snowing here at Bluebird Farm and it is the first day of December, I thought you would all enjoy the Clydesdales having a snowball fight. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

December 11-12 is the Bernie Traurig Clinic at The Virginia Horse Center

December 11-12: Bernie Traurig Clinic

The legendary Bernie Traurig will be here for a clinic on Saturday and Sunday. A 2009 inductee to the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, Bernie has competed in the upper levels of National and International competition in three disciplines - jumpers, three-day eventing and dressage.

Location: Anderson Coliseum

Contact: Ann Turnicky 540.464.2968 or aturnicky@horsecenter.org

Click here for Flyer and Registration Form

For more information on Bernie Traurig click: http://bernietraurig.com/

Photo Of The Week for 11-29-2010

This is Nantucket and Josie submitted by Charlotte Hale of Salem VA

Can you imagine going out to the pasture to find your little paint mare with this foal standing beside her? I would freak (in a good way). Beautiful photo! Thanks Charlotte!