Well, it's been a long time since I've posted so here is a quick update! Levi is doing wonderful in training. He should be on the cart VERY soon...like as soon as the snow melts off of my cart! :) I am riding behind him on a small sled at a walk and trot for 20 mins at a time. He is growing very well. He's standing at almost 17.2hh at the hips, though his withers need to catch up. I have also noticed that Levi's feet and legs are BIGGER than Ben's are...he's going to grow up to be a big boy!
Ben, praise the Lord, is doing better than he has in two years! He is hot-to-trot and ready to rip-and-rear all the time. This past weekend, due to an extreme amount of moisture in the air and on the ground, was the first and only time that I had to Bute Ben this winter. He's lost about 250#'s which has made him feel so much better and is looking GOOD!!
I hope that everyone else has had the great winter that we have had!!
God Bless!
The Boys!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Friday, October 14, 2011
A tribute to a special friend.
No, this friend did not die.... BUT, today is a special day for us. It's our 4th anniversary of being together. He is a very special friend who has helped me through a lot! His name is Ben.
Four years ago today, I brought Ben home. In the 6 weeks previous, we had been acquainted and I had learned the basics of Draft Horse handling. Now it was time for us to step out together and see where the road would lead us. A few short, too short, months later, my family made a 600 mile move to a different state; away from all of my friends, mentors, and everything that I called familiar, except Ben. Ben helped me get involved in 4-H groups and horse groups. His many feet issues led me to take an on-line farrier's course, something I would have never done on my own. His quiet personality was my solace for many a tear-filled eye as I was ignored by girls my age and as I watched my father turn his back on his family. His loving eye reassured me that I was doing what I needed to do with him. His gentle breath and kisses were what kept me getting up to face every day.
Then it was the second year. I had a few friends, though I would eventually lose some of them. My father was walking farther away from us and God. Summer brought a time of joy as I showed Ben at different shows that were a retreat and way of losing some of the stress at home. And then August hit. One man's irresponsibility and a freak accident made me almost lose the love of my life. As I stayed by Ben's side for a week straight, I begged God to spare my horse, even if he would have permanent health damage. I cried many tears during that time and I saw who my real friends were. The friends like Katie, who came over just to be there for me. The friends like Wieas's and Joel, who were available 24/7 when I needed help and who walked me through many a treatment that eventually saved Ben's life. And the many friends and neighbors who prayed for Ben's life to be spared. God spared my horse, as I asked, but Ben would never fully recover.
A hard year was followed by a harder, yet joyful, year. Ben got a buddy! Levi came into my life in the spring of 2010 and when I brought him home, Ben was sooo happy to have someone to be with. Ben helped me teach Levi all the things that horses were supposed to do. That August, exactly one year to the day that Ben fell ill, I showed Ben at the local riding club's horse show and Ben came out with the Grand Champion award. It was a tough class but God smiled on me and blessed me.
And now this year. Ben's health declined rapidly and his steady show days are done. He can still show halter at most all of the shows I go to but Levi will take over as my hitch horse this coming year. Ben still is the horse I go to when I need some "healing" time. My father issued divorce papers and is out of the house and as these things get difficult to go through, Ben is who is always there for me.
We've been together for four years and I pray God will give us at least four more. My favorite song is Bless the Broken Road by Rascall Flatts:
"Every long lost dream / Lead me to where you are / Others who broke my heart / They were like northern stars / Pointing me on my way / Into your loving arms (or hooves?) / This much I know is true / That God Blessed the Broken Road / And led me straight to you"
Thank you God for Blessing my Broken Road with Ben.
~Becca~
Four years ago today, I brought Ben home. In the 6 weeks previous, we had been acquainted and I had learned the basics of Draft Horse handling. Now it was time for us to step out together and see where the road would lead us. A few short, too short, months later, my family made a 600 mile move to a different state; away from all of my friends, mentors, and everything that I called familiar, except Ben. Ben helped me get involved in 4-H groups and horse groups. His many feet issues led me to take an on-line farrier's course, something I would have never done on my own. His quiet personality was my solace for many a tear-filled eye as I was ignored by girls my age and as I watched my father turn his back on his family. His loving eye reassured me that I was doing what I needed to do with him. His gentle breath and kisses were what kept me getting up to face every day.
Then it was the second year. I had a few friends, though I would eventually lose some of them. My father was walking farther away from us and God. Summer brought a time of joy as I showed Ben at different shows that were a retreat and way of losing some of the stress at home. And then August hit. One man's irresponsibility and a freak accident made me almost lose the love of my life. As I stayed by Ben's side for a week straight, I begged God to spare my horse, even if he would have permanent health damage. I cried many tears during that time and I saw who my real friends were. The friends like Katie, who came over just to be there for me. The friends like Wieas's and Joel, who were available 24/7 when I needed help and who walked me through many a treatment that eventually saved Ben's life. And the many friends and neighbors who prayed for Ben's life to be spared. God spared my horse, as I asked, but Ben would never fully recover.
A hard year was followed by a harder, yet joyful, year. Ben got a buddy! Levi came into my life in the spring of 2010 and when I brought him home, Ben was sooo happy to have someone to be with. Ben helped me teach Levi all the things that horses were supposed to do. That August, exactly one year to the day that Ben fell ill, I showed Ben at the local riding club's horse show and Ben came out with the Grand Champion award. It was a tough class but God smiled on me and blessed me.
And now this year. Ben's health declined rapidly and his steady show days are done. He can still show halter at most all of the shows I go to but Levi will take over as my hitch horse this coming year. Ben still is the horse I go to when I need some "healing" time. My father issued divorce papers and is out of the house and as these things get difficult to go through, Ben is who is always there for me.
We've been together for four years and I pray God will give us at least four more. My favorite song is Bless the Broken Road by Rascall Flatts:
"Every long lost dream / Lead me to where you are / Others who broke my heart / They were like northern stars / Pointing me on my way / Into your loving arms (or hooves?) / This much I know is true / That God Blessed the Broken Road / And led me straight to you"
Thank you God for Blessing my Broken Road with Ben.
~Becca~
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Summer Fun!
Summer has arrived! This is my favorite time of year, other than the insane amount of deerflies we have this year! Ugh!! Either way, I'm still glad summer is here! Next weekend is my first show of the year....It's coming up fast! I am very excited to go and catch up with some friends. Things get busy around here this time of year. The lawn needs mowing and the garden needs tending, but we still remember to have fun!
I have started Levi in training now. He is beginning some light line-driving and I am also "hitching" him by tying him to Ben's hames when we drive. Mom has been getting the time to actually drive Ben as I run the rope from Levi's bridal. He is already starting to understand the commands and learning that he has to stay up by Ben if he doesn't want the cart tire to leave a tattoo on his leg!! It's a fun way to start out the day by hitching the boys.
God was very good to us this past week. We got 1st crop hay up with NO RAIN!!! Our "share" of the crop was 150 small squares and 75 rounds. (The hay is being put up this year on "shares." A farmer "rents" the ground for 50-60% of the crop.) I was SOOO thankful to get up some dry hay as that is a challenge for WI farmers this year!
Well, keep watch in the next couple of weeks for updates on how the boys do at the shows! Rice Lake is next weekend. I then have shows the first 2 weekends in August as well as 2 in September! If you can make it out to a show, stop by and say hello!!
~Becca and boys~
I have started Levi in training now. He is beginning some light line-driving and I am also "hitching" him by tying him to Ben's hames when we drive. Mom has been getting the time to actually drive Ben as I run the rope from Levi's bridal. He is already starting to understand the commands and learning that he has to stay up by Ben if he doesn't want the cart tire to leave a tattoo on his leg!! It's a fun way to start out the day by hitching the boys.
God was very good to us this past week. We got 1st crop hay up with NO RAIN!!! Our "share" of the crop was 150 small squares and 75 rounds. (The hay is being put up this year on "shares." A farmer "rents" the ground for 50-60% of the crop.) I was SOOO thankful to get up some dry hay as that is a challenge for WI farmers this year!
Well, keep watch in the next couple of weeks for updates on how the boys do at the shows! Rice Lake is next weekend. I then have shows the first 2 weekends in August as well as 2 in September! If you can make it out to a show, stop by and say hello!!
~Becca and boys~
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Of Lost shoes and Bull-Thistle.
It amazes me at how God can use something we despise to guide us to what we are asking for. Let me share this little story.
Thursday, as Ben was having a good time playing hard with Levi, he threw one of his front shoes, a-typical for the poor guy. Now, this doesn't sound like much until you think about trying to FIND a mud-covered horse shoe in a pasture that's about 1-1/12 acre, AND you only have about a half-hour before you have to come in for a piano lesson, after which it will be too dark to find anything! Not a very nice outlook of finding a shoe that night.
So, thinking that I actually knew where he lost it, I headed out confidently and started searching that spot. It wasn't there..... So, I searched a larger spot; still no shoe. At this point I knew I needed to head in and figured I better call the farrier to come out so I could get a new shoe. I figured if I left it out overnight it would get buried in the mud and I would never find. It's happened before!
As I started to come back up to the barn, I prayed. I just wanted to find the shoe. As I continued toward the barn I glanced back behind me. I stopped. There in the grass under the opposite fence line (My pasture is long and narrow) I saw something silverish-gray and somewhat horseshoed shaped. "Thank You Lord," I prayed! I half-ran over to it and started slowing down. My "lost-shoe" was a bull-thistle.-- Stupid thing anyway! Why on earth did God make a bull-thistle? What purpose is in it? -- Thoughts like that were going through my brain as I turned around. And then I looked with amazement. There in the grass about two feet from the hated bull-thistle was my horse shoe, half buried in the mud in a way that it would have taken me hours to find it if it hadn't gotten buried before hand.
If it hadn't been for that bull-thistle that I thought was my horse shoe, I might have never found my shoe, let alone found it so quickly. It reminded me of the fact that sometimes God uses trials and "bull-thistles" in our lives to help us find what we are praying for. So, next time you see a bull-thistle, thank God for them. Maybe they will help you find your "sought-after" someday!!
~Becca and Boys~
Thursday, as Ben was having a good time playing hard with Levi, he threw one of his front shoes, a-typical for the poor guy. Now, this doesn't sound like much until you think about trying to FIND a mud-covered horse shoe in a pasture that's about 1-1/12 acre, AND you only have about a half-hour before you have to come in for a piano lesson, after which it will be too dark to find anything! Not a very nice outlook of finding a shoe that night.
So, thinking that I actually knew where he lost it, I headed out confidently and started searching that spot. It wasn't there..... So, I searched a larger spot; still no shoe. At this point I knew I needed to head in and figured I better call the farrier to come out so I could get a new shoe. I figured if I left it out overnight it would get buried in the mud and I would never find. It's happened before!
As I started to come back up to the barn, I prayed. I just wanted to find the shoe. As I continued toward the barn I glanced back behind me. I stopped. There in the grass under the opposite fence line (My pasture is long and narrow) I saw something silverish-gray and somewhat horseshoed shaped. "Thank You Lord," I prayed! I half-ran over to it and started slowing down. My "lost-shoe" was a bull-thistle.-- Stupid thing anyway! Why on earth did God make a bull-thistle? What purpose is in it? -- Thoughts like that were going through my brain as I turned around. And then I looked with amazement. There in the grass about two feet from the hated bull-thistle was my horse shoe, half buried in the mud in a way that it would have taken me hours to find it if it hadn't gotten buried before hand.
If it hadn't been for that bull-thistle that I thought was my horse shoe, I might have never found my shoe, let alone found it so quickly. It reminded me of the fact that sometimes God uses trials and "bull-thistles" in our lives to help us find what we are praying for. So, next time you see a bull-thistle, thank God for them. Maybe they will help you find your "sought-after" someday!!
~Becca and Boys~
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day!!
Mothering is a wonderful thing. From watching a mare love and care for her foal to watching a mother cherish and raise her child, you know that motherhood is a heavenly assigned job. We women are the lucky ones to be able to be the mothers of the next generation. Prov. 31 says this about good mothers: "...and her children shall rise up and call her blessed."
Well, here is my chance to "rise up" and "call" my mother "blessed."
My mother is a wonderful woman. She has shown me what true femininity is; what true strength is; and where true strength and femininity (yes, those two words do go together) comes from, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have this to say to anyone who down-plays the wonderful job of at-home motherhood. My Mom was a cook, nurse, teacher, biblical counselor, coach, psychiatrist, chauffeur, encourager, and the one I always knew,and still know, I could go to anytime, anywhere. You tell me of any other career that covers all of that in one day!
I look forward to one day, hopefully, being the "Mom" of my own children. And if/when that time comes, I will look back at what my Mom has taught me. I am sooo glad that God gave me such a wonderful woman to call mother, and friend.
Well, it's getting late. May God bless all of you mothers out there. Goodnight.
~Becca and Boys~
Well, here is my chance to "rise up" and "call" my mother "blessed."
My mother is a wonderful woman. She has shown me what true femininity is; what true strength is; and where true strength and femininity (yes, those two words do go together) comes from, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have this to say to anyone who down-plays the wonderful job of at-home motherhood. My Mom was a cook, nurse, teacher, biblical counselor, coach, psychiatrist, chauffeur, encourager, and the one I always knew,and still know, I could go to anytime, anywhere. You tell me of any other career that covers all of that in one day!
I look forward to one day, hopefully, being the "Mom" of my own children. And if/when that time comes, I will look back at what my Mom has taught me. I am sooo glad that God gave me such a wonderful woman to call mother, and friend.
Well, it's getting late. May God bless all of you mothers out there. Goodnight.
~Becca and Boys~
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Spring has sprung? Not Really....
Happy May Day!!
Spring is coming slowly but I am very glad that we aren't getting the horrible weather that our southern friends were unfortunate to receive. It was spitting snow today but no accumulation!!
Ben got his spring shoes on this past Friday and so this last week I was able to drive/ride him several times. NO lameness! Praise the Lord! I am excited for show season which is starting in about two weeks. On May 15, Ben and I have a 4-H safety clinic we are hosting with our friend Katie Brown. I am going over simple farrier basics and Ben is going to be my model. I am excited for it. Then on May 21, Ben and Levi and I have our first show of the year!! So far, Levi is not yet gelded as the weather has not cooperated enough.....maybe I will be showing a yearling STUD colt? That would be interesting!! :)
The pastures are not growing very well as it's been WAY too cold. The horses are keeping what little bit of grass that's growing nipped right down....They are tired of the hay, too.
Welll, God Bless to you all!! May the Lord keep you and bless you.
~Becca and Boys~
Spring is coming slowly but I am very glad that we aren't getting the horrible weather that our southern friends were unfortunate to receive. It was spitting snow today but no accumulation!!
Ben got his spring shoes on this past Friday and so this last week I was able to drive/ride him several times. NO lameness! Praise the Lord! I am excited for show season which is starting in about two weeks. On May 15, Ben and I have a 4-H safety clinic we are hosting with our friend Katie Brown. I am going over simple farrier basics and Ben is going to be my model. I am excited for it. Then on May 21, Ben and Levi and I have our first show of the year!! So far, Levi is not yet gelded as the weather has not cooperated enough.....maybe I will be showing a yearling STUD colt? That would be interesting!! :)
The pastures are not growing very well as it's been WAY too cold. The horses are keeping what little bit of grass that's growing nipped right down....They are tired of the hay, too.
Welll, God Bless to you all!! May the Lord keep you and bless you.
~Becca and Boys~
Monday, January 24, 2011
Yes! It's still winter!
Hello everyone!
Well, we are just coming out of a spell where our low temperatures were down around -25 degrees F. Little bit on the chilly side for certain! Other than having the common head-cold that is going around, I am doing well and keeping busy as usual!
Ben and Levi are LOVING this cold weather...to me they are somewhat crazy with that thinking! They are out playing ball every chance they get. (see previous post for a video!)
Levi is now standing about 15.2 hh and weighs in at 1100 pounds. He is looking quite drafty and very nice, and he knows it! We are still working on some manners but he is much more of a gentleman now than what he was!
Ben is needing to be driven and has an attitude right now. He gets that way when he's not driven weekly! The farrier was out a week ago and helped me get front shoes back on him so we are ready to go. One day this week I'm hoping to be able to get out and drive him!
This past Sunday, the 23, I was able to go to a very good friend of mine's and spend a day with him on his Percheron breeding farm. It was very enjoyable but also quite cold. I was glad for the woodstove and hot cocoa supply! I got to see Levi's dam and granddam, both very pregnant with spring babies, as well as some of the younger brood/show mares coming up!
Well, I pray that you all are staying healthy this winter. I will leave you with this quote from another blog I read:
And remember to not hit the half frozen confused little squirrel.
God Bless you on a new week.
Well, we are just coming out of a spell where our low temperatures were down around -25 degrees F. Little bit on the chilly side for certain! Other than having the common head-cold that is going around, I am doing well and keeping busy as usual!
Ben and Levi are LOVING this cold weather...to me they are somewhat crazy with that thinking! They are out playing ball every chance they get. (see previous post for a video!)
Levi is now standing about 15.2 hh and weighs in at 1100 pounds. He is looking quite drafty and very nice, and he knows it! We are still working on some manners but he is much more of a gentleman now than what he was!
Ben is needing to be driven and has an attitude right now. He gets that way when he's not driven weekly! The farrier was out a week ago and helped me get front shoes back on him so we are ready to go. One day this week I'm hoping to be able to get out and drive him!
This past Sunday, the 23, I was able to go to a very good friend of mine's and spend a day with him on his Percheron breeding farm. It was very enjoyable but also quite cold. I was glad for the woodstove and hot cocoa supply! I got to see Levi's dam and granddam, both very pregnant with spring babies, as well as some of the younger brood/show mares coming up!
Well, I pray that you all are staying healthy this winter. I will leave you with this quote from another blog I read:
Of Life and The Yellow Lights
I really dislike approaching yellow lights. I am not a driven Type-A personality but I just don’t really care for in town driving … and not getting my way …
ummm…
When it comes to yellow lights, do I hurry through and possibly get a ticket or run over that confused looking squirrel? It never gets cold here so when it does repeatedly, the wildlife and native Floridians don’t quite know what to do.
Do I hurry through or do I just stop on a dime and scare the guy in the Lexus behind me talking on his phone way to close to my bumper?
If the light is green I can just keep on singing with Holland Davis blaring on my radio, if it is red… I can just keep on singing with Holland Davis blaring on my radio.
But if I am approaching a light that is yellow, all of a sudden I have to check my speed, the speed of people around me and the myriad of factors that may or may not affect my general chances of making it through the intersection safely. Plus, I have to check out if someone crazy is acting all Speed Racer at the starting line on the cross street.
The Yellow light is a big HEY PAY ATTENTION!!! If you don’t you might cause a lot of damage, get really hurt or at the worst die.
I have no doubt that many a preacher, teacher or anyone with half a brain has used this symbol as a metaphor for life. But it is one that I actually like.
From time to time we all get relational yellow lights. Something/Someone is saying, hey, relax…look around and evaluate. Don’t allow the end destination to blind you from reality or the current circumstance.Don’t make brash decisions at personal harm or at the expense of those around us. It’s never hurtful to err on the side of caution in order to properly evaluate. Relationships are truly our most important investments. If we need to stop for a moment, allow life to flow around us and sing with Holland Davis on the radio … it’s ok.
The wonderful thing is that Jesus isn’t a non-emotional you only have one of three options cosmic robot. He is a Good Shepherd. If He is sending up a caution warning He has given you Himself, His word and His people to help assess your current circumstance and how best to continue your journey.
A journey that He has promised to always be by your side in.
For some that caution comes in a general feeling of unease, for others they know clearly that things just aren’t adding up. Regardless of how we “discern” caution, that feeling or knowledge is a gift of God to help us along.
By paying attention to Him, we will learn to enjoy the journey safely instead of blindly rushing through the circumstance. Yellow lights have a purpose and red lights don’t last forever. Then when we get the green light we can continue through the intersections of life with confidence.
God Bless you on a new week.
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