From the ground up Farm

11/22/2022

08/28/2022

Remember, the dressage (or reining) movements are not obedience tests that the horse does, rightly or wrongly. This thinking is one of the common traps into which we can fall, when we follow the blazing stars on Instagram and/or train mainly for competitions.

Rather, each is an exercise to further a horse’s balance and gynmasticizing, much like yoga or tai chi.

The horse is not misbehaving if he cannot carry off a movement, like trot half-pass, as Tee is endeavouring to try for me here. Yet, we compare ourselves and our horses to the superstars we see on Youtube. Is he too straight? Is his sideways movement not matched by his forward? Is his effort altogether too little, too slow, or too tentative?

Perhaps. But the horse is willingly doing the best that his body—and, let's be honest, his rider—will allow. Slowly, gradually, if I encourage him over time, he will incrementally be able to offer me more.

Be grateful for what your horse can do now, today. Then, say thank you and build him up gently in the weeks, months and years to come.

We riders may understand how to do the splits or a hand stand but it does not mean that we can physically do them. Imagining how we might do a gymnastics routine—even though we may see ourselves performing well in our mind—is no guarantee that we could actually pull the thing off.

And so it goes, with our horses.

📷 Cattle Cait.

08/27/2022

Soooo I have news! Winter is expecting puppies!

This was not a decision I took lightly, she turned 6 on August 7th. I've always known I'd like to breed her but I wanted the right male and the time just wasn't right , until now. I was never in love with other great Pyrenees dogs as I was with winter, so I was always thinking another livestock guardian breed. Originally I was leaning towards a anatolian. That is until a friend introduced me to the Karakachan! I did research and just loved the look and personality of these dogs. In comes Koda. Koda is a 2 year old Karakachan/Maremma cross. He came and immediately fit right in and has proven that I made the right choice in a make for winter. Neither dogs wonder off, they both have great guarding instinct and NEVER show aggression towards livestock. They are totally great with children but weary of strangers if I'm not around ( that's their job!) I wasn't looking for pure bred, I was looking for a type. A large, lean dog. Something with a long snout ( I've been seeing shorter and shorter faces on these dogs and I can't stand it! ). I want dogs with a easy to care for coats, one that isn't excessively fluffy but thick enough for all weather. And of course, I'm looking to put out puppies that will be able to go out with livestock and do their jobs. I have no doubt they can equally make great pets but i see so many livestock dogs being re homed due to attacking livestock! These puppies will be introduced to fowl, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle and horses. They will be here for a minimum of 12 weeks but if someone is looking for a guardian, they can stay longer and learn their jobs well before going to work. All puppies will come with a return contact. I know there are many dogs out there, and many LGDs in shelters, these puppies are my responsibility and I won't have them passed around or ending up in the wrong place.

We are very excited, expect maturity photos shorty. Pups should be here the 6th of Sept!

05/28/2022

Hey hey we are making hay.

03/23/2022

When mom keeps you up way past your bed time.

03/19/2022

It's hard being the cool mom!

03/17/2022

Getting tags ready! We ran out of tags so I had to let the lambs out and order more. Now I get to go out there and play match the lamb to momma! 😄

03/15/2022

Look at this handsome fin ram lamb born today along with 3 sisters! He will be joining our farm to help improve on our dairy sheep. Thank you hog hill farm

03/15/2022

Oh how I love watching the babies.

03/13/2022

I didn't get any icy pictures today, the snow was blowing in my eyes! We had a second mom have triplets a couple days ago and Cleo had twi s born on her birthday yesterday! And of course, I have twi who look like they will lamb tonight with these frigid Temps.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and staying safe!

03/08/2022

There are some big things happening behind the scenes right now. God willing, there will be a big announcement coming soon. Pray for our good fortune to continue.

Also, enjoy some lamb and sheep photos.

If anyone of my friends is looking for a lamb for Easter, please reach out. We will have a few set aside.

03/05/2022

Is there anything better then cuddles with mommy?

03/02/2022

The new babies from the last few day. We have a couple goats in here too!

02/26/2022

Next group is in and due to lamb starting tomorrow. 🥰

02/25/2022

The lambs enjoying some sun after the last day of ice and rain.

02/22/2022

Let's talk about the ugly, not so fun, sad, intensly stressful part of raising livestock. Death, illness and injury. We have been incredibly blessed to have gone through most of lambinhmg with zero issues. But it's bound to happen. This ewe didn't dilate, lambs had to be pulled by a vet ( I'm very good at pulling babies but just couldn't in) and she tore. First lamb was dead already and second was weak. Spend all day warming the baby, tubing it small meals and watching mom. Baby passes away and mom prolapse her whole uterus for the second time. This time it took at least an hour to get it back and held in. She's shaky and in shock but up. I hate having her go through this, and if she lives she won't be bred again.

Lambs and pretty pastures in summer time are always so nice to see but behind all that, is this.

02/15/2022

These two are sisters, first time lambing and they both had babies today! Happy valentines from the farm to you. ❤❤❤

02/14/2022

Even though snow makes life a little more difficult on a farm, it is still beautiful. Well, until it turns to mud!

I know I mostly post sheep here, but we have a variety of species here. Sheep, goats, cattle, chicken, ducks, pigs, ponies and dogs.

02/14/2022

Well, we ran out of room! The car got booted out and sheep moved in. We brought all the expecting in a week or less ewes into the garage. Bonus, I can watch them on the monitor since they are so close to the house.

02/13/2022

We have more lambs with more coming! I'm very pleased with what these girls and our registed ram have put out. We will have a select few club lambs available.

02/12/2022

And we have a baler!

02/07/2022

We added a beautiful registered colored dorset to the herd yesterday. Thank you to Wilfong Dorsets for another great ram.

02/06/2022

And look at that! 5 lambs from two ewes today. I went out to check charcoal and Honey had two beautiful little lambs!

02/05/2022

Charcoal finally had her lambs! Triplets, just like I thought. I'm so surprised only one is white, they are by a dorset ram ( all white sheep). Hopefully she raises them all, she has more then enough milk.

01/31/2022

The boys don't get as much attention as the ladies, but I love them all the same!

01/31/2022

We picked up our first piece of hay equipment in Pennsylvania today. Here is to hopefully cutting our own hay this year.

01/27/2022

This is the group we have in the barn now. They either lambed or are due to lamb soon. So far we have 4 lambs from 3 mommas. We will have lambs available for 4h or breeding stock ( rams).

01/26/2022

Put a new bale out for the girls out in the field on one of our lease properties. They are always so excited for some fresh hay!

01/24/2022

I have a little hiding spot where the sheep can't see me. Nothing better then listening to them chew and watching the lambs bounce like popping corn. God is good.

01/23/2022

We added 4 new ewes to the herd today. One had a beautiful little ram lamb at her side and the other 3 are due to lamb soon.

01/18/2022

We had a beautiful ewe lamb born around 11am.

01/18/2022

View off the ewes around the hay at sunrise this morning.

01/14/2022

Happy sheep!

01/07/2022

I love snow photos! Doing chores in the snow, not so much.

12/29/2021

A very expensive treat for the rams and goats! Nothing goes to waste on a farm. ❤. I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and that the new year brings better things.

God bless

12/29/2021

First hay bale for the winter! We have been blessed to have plenty of grazing.

12/24/2021

Merry Christmas from our farm to yours! God bless.

12/13/2021

All the sheep were moved to a new pasture yesterday. We just finished putting up fence on a leased property. This adds 13-15 more acres to our rotation! We are so thankful for these opportunities! God is good.

12/05/2021

All the ewes are officially together! ( minus two who are just not as healthy as id like). 38 girls, hopefully due to lamb between Jan and march.

11/17/2021

Sheep shearing school shows how to clip the wool

https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/11/15/sheep-shearing-school-shows-how-clip-wool/
I had the great opportunity to take this 3 day course. I learned a lot and feel confident to continue building my skills. A huge thank you to Tom Stanley and Doug Rathke for putting this on. Everyone there was great and I learned a lot.

It’s actually a skill in demand.