Daily Carrot

I n this cartoon that I found in the NYTimes, farmers look with interest and concern. This 2- seat automobile at the turn of the twentieth century would replace the horse as the predominate means of transport. Harper's Weekly has a humorous side of the differences between horse, and horseless carriage. This cartoon brings a potential "invader" image that automobiles might bring to the countryside.

Well my trainer said it " I don't know what the fanacation of horses is if the child just tosses the horse back in the stall after she rides" and it hit me. When someone pays north of $600.00 a month to board a horse, not including the cost of lessons, apparel, treats and the cost of gas perhaps in just driving to the barn. Then tosse the horse inside the stall after riding for an hour, has to make you wonder. What are the parents thinking? The parents are usually the ones paying for this. In the world of fast and furious why empower the child for that one hour, what are they REALLY learning? The horse is also wondering why am I being asked to work when I'd rather just sit here posing for animal crackers or running in a field with other horses to be tossed aside wet, sweaty with stains of salt on my body, and left to catch a chill.

10/31/2009 : Old North Bridge Halloween Hunter Pace 984 Lowell Rd, Carlisle, Massachusetts Hunter Pace Riders may participate individually or in small groups of up to four riders, over the marked course in Great Brook Farm State Park. Costumes are encouraged, but optional. Contact: Barbara Bjornson tel: 978-369-6469 btbjorn@comcast.net This years Halloween Hunt Pace Event is on the 31st of October.. Hopefully we can duplicate our 1st place ribbon, as we plan on entering this again. I just have to find another black horse to enter with as Beauty is no longer with us. This was a great idea (mine) and a surprise to me that we won!

Oldest Mounted Police Unit In U.S. To Take Their Last RidesBy Steve Brown The sign at the Boston Police Department's mounted horse unit. Their motto: To ride with pride.BOSTON - March 05, 2009 - The Boston Police Department will lay off 40 police cadets and 20 civilian workers in July to help close a $20 million department budget gap.The department says the cuts would be worse, if it weren't for state and federal grant money.As WBUR's Steve Brown reports, the cuts include disbanding the Boston Police Mounted Unit, the oldest police mounted unit in the nation.The mounted officers and their horses have been a familiar sight at Downtown Crossing, and anywhere large crowds are gathered. At one point in the 1970s, during the busing crisis, there were a hundred horses in the unit. Now it's much smaller. Thirteen specially-trained police horses, with names such as Chopper, Captain and Magnus, are boarded in the police stable in Jamaica Plain. Workers at the stable, who spoke ...

Two horses were found lying on the ground in their paddock's where they had been out all night long. What are people thinking leaving a 43 yr. old and a 29 yr old during one of the worst winters I can remember? The 43 yr old had to be put down due falling on ice and had shattered an elbow. The other was so cold they had to warm it with heating blankets.

I watched you gallop, your mane and tail flowing behind you as stride after stride you flew over the ground. I watched you jump with explosive power, rising up, taking flight like a mythical creature returning to the gods. I watched you graze quietly in the sun, at peace, without fear, the wind and the swishing of your tail the only sounds. I watched you at the end, as the light in your eye faded and it closed for the last time. I felt your spirit depart leaving a hollowness in its wake. I thought your beauty and grace could defeat or at least cheat death and cause it to move on to something less magnificent. But maybe it did, who knows? I can’t blame God for wanting you back. I cannot see your path from here. Perhaps you haven’t gone far and I’ll see you waiting for me, when it’s time for me to follow and we can go together. Goodbye for now dearest friend.

Beauty left us on December 10th from Cushings Disease for Rainbow Bridge. She suffered from two seizures in one day. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. She was more then special to me. Wise, kind, sweet & safe. She loved you unconditionally as I loved her. - Debra Donna & Beauty Deb, Liz & Beauty

Elizabeth Swaine and Beau get a 1st place in 13-17 Walk/Trot at the Supreme Invitational at Blalmy Acres. Liz's mom and I were there to greet her when she walked out of the ring. Beau is a Missouri Fox Trotter that we are showing saddle seat in just his trot. Next year we are all competing at walk/trot/canter classes. Of course I will be in the over 18+ class! We all go to the awards dinner this February where I will take a 5th place overall. Not bad for my second year showing. Liz will be taking a 1st place and Beau actually is the Grand Champion for the season. More to follow.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 A horse had to be cut free with a chainsaw after it managed to get its head stuck in a tree. The young filly needed to be freed from the tree after curiosity got the better of it and it wedged its head between separate sections of the trunk.The horse, called Gracie, was unable to free itself and could have been in danger were it not for a passer-by who was able to come to the rescue after he heard the horse whinnying .Jason Harschbarger, a neighbour in the town of Pullman, West Virginia, USA, arrived at the scene which resembled the image of Winnie the Pooh getting stuck in the honey tree. Fortunately for Gracie, she was able to escape her ordeal with only a few minor injuries and, according to Mr Harschbarger, is on the road to recovery. Following his rescue operation, Mr Harschbarger told a local television station: "She has a few cuts on her face and ear. "Last I heard her jaw was a little dislocated but I think it is healing up and she can eat on...

So, here was my first hunt.. I even joined the "dump club" and now I owe a bottle of red or white wine to the ONBH club.

Here is Tom and "Maggie" when we arrived at Acton Town Forest.

Wills Hole Conservation Area and Town Forest. A 73 acre property located in Acton of Quarry Road, adjacent to Acton Recreation Area (NARA Park) .real steep parts, woodsy, fields, mud, rocks, everything. scenic as all get out... a great find and the best kept secret for quite trail riding .

" Listen to everyone. Ideas come from anywhere. Don’t listen to anyone . Trust your inner ear ". I saw this in a blog and thought it was a great quote. So here we are in the field, Beauty, Beau and myself t's been snowing for 1 month straight, now into 2008 and sadly I cannot predict the weather forcast. However, horses will continue to look thru the snow for a blade of grass, a glimse of a piece of left over hay or better yet, come to my camera to see if it's really food! They listen to their inner ear all the time.

"On Wednesday the national average gas price for unleaded regular reached $3.04 — an increase of nearly 28 cents in the last month, according to AAA, the automobile club. Average gasoline prices in November had never exceeded $3 a gallon before this year. A year ago, the average price at the pump was $2.20, meaning it costs roughly $12.50 more today to fill a car with a 15-gallon tank" New York Times There is absolutely nothing holding me back from riding Beau to work, with exception that there is nowhere for me to leave him once I arrived at work. I love this photo. David Davenport avoids gas for local trips in Maysville, Ky.

Well some get the gold some get the blue. We were all stars that day, and ended up with the gold, 3rd place in our class. Donna a friend of Tom's, and myself all joined the Weston Pace with Fred, Maggie, and Beau collectively. It started out with Tom showing up an hour early not realizing how excited he was to do the pace. He continued to show his enthusiasm while signing all of us up and egging us to hurry up and go. Calling me to coordinate our outfits with the Old North Bridge Hounds polo shirt. It was a really brisk day, in the 40's perfect temp. for a ride. I highly recommend this ride as not only did it benefit the Memorial Park in Weston, but gave me the opportunity to see all the beautiful trailsl so close to home.