Our Horses

Seti - Arabian Mare born in 1983

Seti is our grandma on the farm...although to ride her you would never know it.  This little arab mare is full of spitfire.  Who'd have thought when I decided to get Mark an older horse to learn to ride on, that she would end up being our most peppy mount?  

Seti came to us when her owner moved to Georgia to attend college.  Wanting only to find a good home for her beloved mare, she offered Seti for free to a good home.  Luckily we came along.  Seti has captured our hearts and delights us every day with her antics and mare faces.  

Interested in seeing more pictures of Seti?  Feel free to visit her photo album here.

Cheyenne - Belgian/Quarter Horse cross Mare born in 2005

I adopted Cheyenne (ChiChi or Cheech) in August of 2006 from NLER (New Life Equine Rescue)  Her momma was a half Belgian half Quarter horse that had been rescued from a PMU farm. 

(NOTE:  PMU stands for Pregnant Mare Urine...it is used to make synthetic hormone replacement for menopausal women.  Often a draft horse mare is impregnated for the purpose of urine collection.  Once the mare has her foal, the foal is often killed.  Until the practice is regulated, foals will die.) 

Luckily Rosie was rescued prior to Cheyenne's birth.  Cheyenne was born at NLER.  The first time I saw her I was in love.  This filly is amazing...so quiet and sweet.  We have been having tons of fun learning how to be a big girl horse and doing LOTS of riding.  I feel really proud that I was the one that trained Cheech.  I considered sending her to a trainer, but really felt I could handle it.  Cheech is the kind of horse that makes you think you can train.  I think the fact that we took our time and brought her along slowly is a huge factor in how sane she is.  We have been having a great time and I look forward to tons of hours on the back of this wonderful mare...unless Mark wants to ride in which case he gets first dibs.
Interested in seeing more pictures of Cheyenne?  Feel free to visit her photo album here.

Buddy - Quarter Horse Gelding born in 2002

When Mark and I decided (okay I decided) it was time to give some serious consideration to buying another horse...I was not looking forward to the search.  Sure window shopping is fun...but when it comes time to actually get in the car and go see horses, it can be very time consuming (and frustrating).  Sometimes you get to the sellers farm etc and just find that the horse will not suit your needs...size, temperment etc...aren't a good match.  And sometimes, you find that the horse has been grossly misrepresented.  "Oh she's a great mare...I've had my 5 year old kid on her...blah blah blah..."  Then you get there and the dang horse won't stand to be saddled, and WILL NOT let anyone mount her.  "Five year old son huh?"  PULEEZE!  


So when I first called Amanda at Hideaway Stables in Gettysburg, I was prepared for the worse.  I actually called on a different horse she had for sale, but during our conversation realized he would not work for us...mainly because of his price and age.  He was only 3 and over my budget.  I really wanted a horse over five years old, but younger than 10.  I figure this is a horse that will be with us for some time, so I want it to be younger.  As Amanda and I started talking...her asking me what I am looking for, temperament, age, size etc...she started telling me about a little registered red roan quarter horse she had for sale.  Buddy.  She told me that her husband and she had taken Buddy out on a few trailrides and he did great.  She did warn me that he only had about 60 days on him (that's 60 days with a trainer) and he did need some bridle time, so he was not a beginner's horse.  No problem.  I got all the time in the world to show him the ropes.  I just wanted to know he had professional training and was sound and sane.  We made an appt for me to come and see Buddy.


When I got there (30 mins late cause I got lost...I get lost so easily in PA), Amanda had Buddy tied in a big stall.  He was quiet but you could tell he knew something was up.  He peered at me from the corner of his eye...because he was tied he could not really turn his head.  So I moved to where he could see me.  We eyed each other up...me looking for irregularities (red flags) and him just looking.  Aside from a few scars he looked pretty clean legged.   Buddy stood quietly while Amanda tacked him up and followed her out of the stall like a gentleman.  His pasture mate was calling and calling, but Buddy didn't care.  This I really liked.  I knew that once he got settled in our herd and worked his way up the pecking order, he would be secure and independent.  Amanda took him in the ring and put him through his paces...he did great.  Walk, trot, canter...both directions.  She rode in a snaffle too...I loved that.  No harsh bit was needed.  It was now my turn...I ran to my truck for my helmet...and mounted up.  He stood nicely.  We took our turn around the ring...he was a dream.  Very soft mouth...and sides too.  I loved him.  After seeing so many horses that were not what I expected, he was a pleasant surprise.


We took him back in the barn and untacked him...brushed him up and put him back out with his friend.  He stayed at the fence to watch us.  I liked this too.  Too often I encounter horses that are so distant...they have sucked in emotionally...no one has tried to reach out to them...let their personalities free.  Buddy had this kind of free personality...and I knew that under our care, he would blossom.  I had another horse to look at the following day, so I told Amanda I would call.  I dreamt about Buddy that night.  Even though I knew I should still look at the other horse, I knew deep down that it was Buddy we needed.  Luckily the other horse did not fit our needs...I was no sooner out of the seller's driveway that I was calling Amanda.  "We want Buddy!"  Long story short...I sent her a check and picked him up the following Friday.  He trailered like a champ...love that too! 


He's fit into our herd nicely...and has become bossom buddies with Cheyenne...a good thing since they are the youngsters at our farm and are riding companions when Mark and I ride together. We are happy to have Buddy with us. 


Interested in seeing more pictures of Buddy? Feel free to visit his photo album here.