Mortonhouse Farm & Jen Mills Horsemanship

06/15/2024

Somebody, pinch me.

03/25/2024

Enjoying the warmth of the Spring Sunshine

02/25/2024

Yup, it's that time of year!! Yay!

02/21/2024

Photo of the day.

This monster wasp nest was a nightmare over the summer, located right inside the hay loft door and just above the main barn door. Nothing killed them and I dreamt of using a flame thrower on them, but yeah...hay loft. Not an advisable solution. I'd been waiting for the deep freeze to seek revenge.

02/03/2024

FINALLY!! SUNSHINE!!!

01/21/2024

What have we been up to lately? "Staying Warm" is the name of the game!

While aware that there are much colder places in the world, our current temperatures have us working together to tackle the challenges of caring for all of our animal friends. It takes one person about seven hours each day to ensure everyone is warm, dry, fed, clean, and hydrated. It's much easier with 2 people and with extra hands, even more so. I'm always grateful for the volunteers and friends who brave the cold to come out and help.

On a good day everything runs smoothly. Automatic waterers (such a blessing!) aren't frozen, tractors to get the round bales start, trucks run, no life threatening injuries or lamenesses in the horses to tend to, no broken fences or major trees down. Gates to the pastures aren't frozen shut. That list has the potential on any given day to grow lengthy. Farm life. You never know what could pop up next.

Luckily, it's been a mishapless kind of week. It's hard work still, and again, so very grateful for the helping hands.

Without the ability to teach, train, or ride with all of the ice covered by snow we've had the opportunity to take the time to enjoy the moments. The moments snuggling with the warm animals soaking up the sun when it was out. Giving extra scratches under the itchy blankets. Taking breaks in the heated Tack Room and sharing stories. And of course, ripping some donuts in the snow on the 4 wheeler while out making our rounds checking on waterers, fence lines, and the animals.

We try to have fun no matter the circumstances. We slip on the ice, fall in the snow, spill buckets of grain. We laugh. The wind catches an overturned hay hut while being loaded and defies gravity, sending the horses into a frenzy. We laugh. Lids fly off the garbage cans. Buckets blow away. Weee! It's all in a cold, windy day at The Farm. The moments that make the memories.

Here are "just a few" photos from the week. Enjoy. Hope everyone is staying warm, safe, and healthy.

12/24/2023

December 25th is Ace's TWENTY-FIFTH birthday!!! Happy birthday to an absolute GEM!!

12/01/2023

Well look who's gracing the cover of the December 2023 issue of Long Valley Living!! John Crater's acquisition of the land his ancestors settled over 300 years ago, unbeknownst to him, is one of the coolest stories you'll ever hear! The full article, written by RJ Stokley, can be found in this months issue. Issues can be picked up this Sunday at the Long Valley Historical Society.

10/21/2023

Beautiful Autumn day. Work and Play!

10/14/2023

Our good friend Clarina Byrde once said, "If anyone ever tells you they didn't have fun at Mortonhouse Farm, well.....they're lying!" Too right you are, wise young lady! Even on a soggy Saturday, fun will be had.

09/16/2023

Camp Mortonhouse. Life is good.

09/15/2023

This woman is the most amazing Massage Therapist I've ever had the blessing of working on me! Her passion for healing is evident every time I float off the table. Very intuitive at finding the root cause of imbalances and helps restore body alignment. I highly recommend her if your body is need of the right touch. She's ExQuisite!

09/12/2023

Field Board Available in Long Valley, NJ. Full Care & Self Care. Training & Lessons. Clean, safe, extensive trails.

(908) 432-7437

08/31/2023

In case we forgot to mention.....

Ride on

07/22/2023

Today friends and family gathered together at the farm to celebrate John Crater's 80th birthday!! Mr. Mortonhouse himself! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!

07/10/2023

Cool

07/09/2023

It's a decision I don't take lightly, canceling lessons and trail rides due to excessive heat and humidity. Offering these services to the public pays for my horses care, and anyone who knows me, knows I give my horses the best possible care I can. Do I profit personally from my labors? I do in many ways, but financially isn't one of them. The rewards are felt on a much deeper level. So, the hard part about canceling is the disappointment I deliver to those looking forward to their ride, sometimes having been scheduled weeks in advance after being on a waiting list, sometimes for months. That disappointment for them translates to guilt for me. It hurts. I don't like making that call. But, here's the thing. When I see my horses in their sheds, protecting themselves from the heat, dripping with sweat at a standstill the decision, to me, is justified. There isn't enough money to be made to justify putting them into work when they're already uncomfortable just resting. Where's the love and respect for these incredibly tolerant beings? They would work if I asked them too. At what cost? Their health? Most of my horses are seniors anyway and not trained to a peak performance condition. They're semi-retired, enjoying the good life, teaching people how to be solid gentle horsemen and women. My horses services and willingness to teach the less experienced is an invaluable skill and I won't be responsible for jeopardizing their ability to stay in work comfortably and soundly for as long as they can. My babies are not expendable assets. So, nope, sorry folks. Not today, not my horses. The guilt disapates rapidly as I believe wholeheartedly that I've done the right thing putting my horses first and more importantly above any financial gain. That's just me.

Here's a good article on working horses in the heat. One of many. In addition I do like to follow the formula of adding the actual temperature to the humidity level. Any sum above 150? I'd offer horsemanship lessons in the barn learning the finer points of horse ownership, like vital signs, first aid, and how to prevent or treat a horse that's overheating.

https://www.horsejournals.com/horse-care/seasonal-care/summer/when-rider-hot-horse-hotter?fbclid=IwAR3YtcIu8YBfX6cus1CxTbdMEp9etIheVRCHreh5kRRbQaukjK84tgQBMkk

A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat? It might surprise you to learn that your horse gets hotter much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress. Prof. Michael Lindinger, an animal and exerc...

07/06/2023

07/04/2023

Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday Scout!!!

06/28/2023

For some people, horses are like water. We can't live without it (them). Water is an incredibly powerful force that sustains ALL of life. It nourishes, cleanses, and heals. It's a conduit and carries emotion. Waters attributes are endless. Equally it is destructive. ☯️ Water must be respected for all its benefits and its sometimes "scary" qualities.

Horses too, are an incredibly powerful force with the ability to uplift the soul, empower the body, create motion where movement is stuck, act as a conduit and carry emotion. And, like water, they can be equally scary and destructive - if disrespected.

Respect the power. Learn to move with the energy. Go with the flow. Understand what you're working with. Don't force against nature. Learn to respect it and allow it to carry you to greater connections and higher awareness.

06/12/2023

June 11, 2023 - We brought Munsee and Scout to a Senior Center. So much fun. The ponies brought so many smiles to the faces of the residents and their families. We listened to stories of memories and helped create new ones as some had never had the opportunity to be up close to a horse before. They asked us to return again soon, and we'd love to.

05/21/2023

Day 2

05/21/2023

I thought I'd share a couple short clips to show a little bit of what I do. I like to help horses find comfort in our requests and bitting seems to be an issue for a lot of people. While I'm not posting the entire training session, here's progress in 2 sessions. This horse hated being bridled and would throw his head up to avoid it, and being a very tall horse made it super difficult to bridle. I'm sure that had he been properly taught how to accept the bit, as opposed to having it forced into his mouth, head shyness and head tossing could have been avoided. It's better to ask than to tell. Two 20 minute sessions is all it took. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/cjUlbHrjR_A
https://youtube.com/shorts/ioexmbB4GmQ?feature=share

05/18/2023

Been a bit since I've posted. Here are a few random pics from over the past few weeks. I love seeing everything turn green and the horses shedding out.

04/30/2023

JPs 20th birthday and we're working on bridleless! Happy birthday to one of my greatest teachers!!!