| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jacqueline |
Posted - May 25 2005 : 8:21:21 PM
Yep..thats what I do. Well, one of the things. Hi there, I'm new.
Name is Jacqueline and I live in Burbank, which is a subdivision of L.A. But regardless of my location I wanted to live my dreams, so I started a horse breeding farm right here. My stallions are bvoarded and my mares live in my backyard..which is on less than 1/3 of an acre. I breed rare breed horses, Friesians and Gypsy Cobs, so having and selling just a few babies each year is still enhough to keep me a very busy girl!
In addition to this I amn a fairy artist. I paint fairies and dragons and unicorns and things for my living...I travel to Renbnaisance Faires to ply my work, and sell it from my website the rest of the time.
All weird things to be doing in the middle of one of the biggest US cities, but heck, even though i grew up a country girl on a ranch in Colorado, I met and married a city boy, and we split the difference. So far it's worked out!
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| countrykat |
Posted - Jun 12 2005 : 02:12:56 AM
I just finally visited your site. Loved the pictures of Ireland. That is a dream I can't wait to realize. Thankfully my husband shares my love of horses and travel. We are going to wait until Austin is older though so he can appreciate the trip as well. For now we are content to take trips that involve our horses and share our love of camping and trail riding with him.
I agree that horses can sense changes in their people. I've experienced similar protective vibes from a dear departed horse of my own. There is something about the bond between horses and their people, it's something that is hard to explain. |
| Jacqueline |
Posted - Jun 04 2005 : 10:54:58 PM
I plan on riding my one horse, my beloved gelding, Pagan, right into the delivery room! LOL.... Really, he and I are so in tune with one another, and he is so very protective of me, that I feel that I can just sit on him and let him do the rest. He has already changed his style when I am on board. He knows I am pregnant, I am sure I smell different, and he flat out refuses to canter with me. I can barely get him to trot, and this has always been one hot horse! But he feels a very strong responsibility to make sure I am allright when we go out, and I know he is refusing becasue he wants to be sure I am okay. Bless his heart.
I have a semi retired older mare who was my first son's pony when he was little. He is 15 now and has far outgrown her, but she adores him and he is very sweet with her. She loves kids so I am sure she will be very happy to have another little one to raise.
I must admit I have not had to ride over an overpass yet..but we do have some narrow wooden bridges, one even swings, that you need to rdie over to get to some of the trails, and that can be a little spooky. |
| countrykat |
Posted - Jun 04 2005 : 10:24:10 PM
Wow, a tunnel, that would be cool. We used to ride at a Metro park just south of Boston that was split by a highway. We rode over an overpass, that was funny, the first time the horses saw that they thought it was some kind of monster with cars going in and coming out underneath them. Eventually we got them to cross going right across the middle, the thing was, this overpass was used by cars to exit and enter the highway! What a site we were. I don't really miss those days. Our riding here is wonderful and I can say that I have ridden my horses at the beach on Cape Cod and in the Rocky Mountains! Fun, fun, fun.
We have a young son, 11 months on June 9th, good luck with your pregnancy. I was riding up to 7 months, after that I was just too big in front to get on with any kind of coordination. Our little boy loves the horses. We can barely keep him off his rocking horse so I hope he feels the same way about the real ones. They are so much a part of our lives.
I applaud you for making it work with your horses and your family life. It takes a lot to merge the two but you seem to have it worked out. |
| Jacqueline |
Posted - Jun 04 2005 : 8:54:21 PM
Thats beautiful! I grew up riding in Colorado, hours and hours through the mountains. I would not want to go back to CO, but I do miss the endles trails. We do pretty good here, there is an enormous natural park right across the freeway with tunnel access to it from our Equestrian center. It has miles and miles and miles of absolutely great trails that sometimes make you feel you are lost in the wilderness and sometimes shock you into remembering how close you are to civilization. You can crest a hill and see the lights of Hollywood below.... |
| countrykat |
Posted - Jun 04 2005 : 7:35:33 PM
Hi Jaqueline,
I too used to keep a horse in the city, Boston, on 1 acre. He was quite the spectacle when I'd ride him up the street. The only other option for riding was to hook up the trailer. I now live in Kansas on 13 acres and have four horses. We also have 3600 acres of corp and state park land across the road (literally) that is horse friendly with about 50 miles of trails. Two of our horses also drive so I am thankful we live on a very quite street and the neighbors are all very nice when we cross paths with them on the road.
I am familar with Friesians and Gypsy Cob's both. My husband would love to have a Friesian, ever since seeing the movie LadyHawk he's always wanted one. Me too but they aren't very popular here at all and the cost, well, you know. So, we have Walking horses, since we trail ride they are best suited for us.
here is a link to some pictures of my girlfriend and I riding in South Central Kansas. I'm on the black and white horse, last picture.
http://trails.tuschhoff.net/trails/gyphillspics.html |
| Jacqueline |
Posted - Jun 04 2005 : 3:28:15 PM
Thanks Kim.
Goodmojo, Cob is a term used to decsribe a size of horse, somewhere in between a pony and a full horse. So it can be added to anything that falls into that size range. Ther are Welsh Cobs, Irish Cobs, Colored Cobs,e tc. Irish Cob and Colored Cob are the terms used in the UK and Ireland to describe what we over here have named Gypsy Vanner or Gypsy Cob. They are all the same thing.
I hope you are able to get back into riding and horses someday, if you want to. Its very enriching! |
| Kim |
Posted - Jun 01 2005 : 5:44:56 PM
What a neat website. I love the one tattoo as well.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| goodmojo |
Posted - May 28 2005 : 3:45:43 PM
Hi Jacqueline!
I just read the posts here - I love that you are working with horses - it's my passion too! I have so many good memories of riding (English) at an early age and just the thought of being around horses is so grounding for me. I have just started riding again after about 20 years (the poor horse!) but I love it and have found a very nice stable that takes great care of their horses in a beautiful setting here on Cape Cod.
I have a question for you - I have always wondered what a "cob" is? From what I have gleaned from books and things - are they a type of breed or from a certain location? Cobs are generally British, right? I saw one in a horse book and it looks like the body style is a bit stocky - is this true? We used to ride mostly quarter horses when I was younger - they had a great temparment and were very smooth gaited. Later on, if I can ever afford it I have thought about leasing a horse part time, but I am way too busy right now to commit. Sigh!! Someday!!
I just looked at your website - the horses are STUNNING!!!! Is that you riding on the beach? What an exquisite picture!
goodmojo
I came to this planet for the french roast, and the chocolate, of course..... |
| Jacqueline |
Posted - May 27 2005 : 4:05:16 PM
Oh poo..me and my dyslexic typing..I missed a letter in my farm website link..Here you go. This one is correct
www.toadstoolfarm.com
Robin, I am so with you. I was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator here for a few years till work just overwhelmed me. I still do rehab and rescue on the side, but not as many as before. Some of the things I've seen humans do to animals is beyond description. The most recent being three dogs, all under one year old, who were left in the desert on the side of the road with a dog blanket, but no shelter, food or water. All on a record breaking weekend of 110 degree temps. They were almost dead by the time I found them and had I driven past an hour later they would have been dead. One was comatose, and barely made it through. They had to have plasma transfusions because their blood was so far gone it could not rebuild itself. They still have some internal troubles, like poor digestive systems due to the trauma they suffered. It is a wonder they survived, but they did and I am proud to say that we still have two, and the third has a very loving home with friends of ours. The jerk who tossed them out left them nothing to survive on, but made sure to toss out their dang dog bed so they'd be sure not to try to wander off to find any food or water or shelter form the killing heat. They were quite literally cooking to death on the black tarmac that was so hot it was soft and sticky on my shoes.
Thanks for the sweet comment on my art. I feel very lucky to be doing what I do and make a living off of my scribbles! :)
Michelle! A pleasure to meet you. Thanks for the sweet words!
Nicol, thank you. I just have this dread of dying one day and looking back and saying, "oh dear..why didn't I do that when I had the chance?"
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| Nicol |
Posted - May 27 2005 : 10:17:59 AM
Jacqueline, welcome! Way to go for living your dreams now! |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - May 27 2005 : 07:27:44 AM
Jacqueline, Hi this is Michele, I was on your site. You are extremely talented. The first one didnt come up like Robin said but the second one did. They are just beautiful. What a gift! You have a gift for art, a gift for giving so mush love to your horses. its wonderful. Michele
"she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands". Prov. 31:13 |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - May 27 2005 : 03:02:32 AM
Wow! You are incredibly talented. Your work is beautiful. The first link isn't working but I spent quite a bit of time on the second.
>>>So, its okay to be a killjoy, to ask and wonder, because I know that I am doing the utter best for my horses every day of my life, and that there are many many many horse breeders out there who DO have large amounts of land who dont give their horses a sceond thought, let alone their entire soul. I'd rather do it my way then be one of them. :)<<<
Unfortunately I'm very familiar with some of those horses. We've taken many into rescue because they were neglected. Some were abused. We've spent a lot of time, money and love on them. Three of them lived out their lives here. I'm sure you know this feeling. There are horses that are wonderful. There are horses that are not wonderful. And then there are the wonderful horses that tug at your heart strings and you can't let go. We've managed pulling ponies whose halters have grown into their faces, an AQHA mare that was 400 lbs under weight and abused (we kept her, she died as a long-term result of her abuse), a pony abandoned in a field for three years (kept) and an abused polo pony (kept). There are many more but those are some of the stand outs. I am always amazed and saddened by how people justify neglect and abuse by thinking "it's just an animal."
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
| Jacqueline |
Posted - May 26 2005 : 7:28:29 PM
You're right, Robin, it's very difficult. My horses are stabled, primarily, but I do have a decent paddock where the girls go out every day for several hours each. I only have four of them at home..not all ten, so it is not as crowded as one might think. The boys, as I mentioned, are boarded at the local Equestrian center. They are ridden and turned out every day in a large turn out.
When I have foals, they go with their mothers out to a ranch about an hour from here where they can run and stretch and grow as foals need to. The foals I have had have all been sold before they are even born so when they are weaned, they go to their new homes and the mommas come back home with me.
It is not ideal, in that I dont have large pastures, and no grass--but there are very very very few places in Southern California that DO have grass pastures anyway! I dream of a five acre spread where my horses can roam, and I can see them out my kitchen window, but right now, that is not to be, so I make up for that by doting on every one of them with every ounce of my spirit. I am three and a half months pregnant and even in the midst of the worst of my morning sickness I was out there with every one, every single day...
What I do know is that every single one of my horses are given love, attention and care that they might not otherwise have if they were out in a field all the time where my access to them was hampered by sheer size of paddocks, and every time one of them has to go away..either to pasture with a foal, or to the breeding center to stand if they are a stallion, they are always very excited to come home.
So, its okay to be a killjoy, to ask and wonder, because I know that I am doing the utter best for my horses every day of my life, and that there are many many many horse breeders out there who DO have large amounts of land who dont give their horses a sceond thought, let alone their entire soul. I'd rather do it my way then be one of them. :)
The link to both my farm and my fairies are here...
www.toadtoolfarm.com that's the farm
www.toadstoolfarmart.com thats the fairies.
Thanks Catscharm..it certainly IS 'no matter what'...lol...I so want to write a James Herriot type of book of stories called Horse and the City..like Sex and the City, all about raising horses in the midst of a city...I've had some interest from some equine magazines, but I just have not sat down and done it yet.
Jenny, thank you for the warm welcome. I appreciate it. :) I'm glad Im here too!
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| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - May 26 2005 : 04:16:35 AM
I'm going to be the kiljoy. How are you managing horses on less than a third acre? No pasture rotation, grass to graze, room to be horses as horses are?
I love fairies. Can you share the link to your website?
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 25 2005 : 10:05:22 PM
Wow..talk about pursuing your dream no matter what!! That is wonderful!! Welcome |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 25 2005 : 10:00:58 PM
Welcome Jaqueline..wow...how neat.. I never even would have thought about someone having horses in Burbank!! Neat! and being an artist must be such a rewarding neat way to make a living. Entertaining too if you do your selling at Rennaisance faires!!! I am glad you are here!!!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
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