Wild Apple Ranch

08/18/2024

07/22/2024

Hudson Update: He is Home!

I was able to pick Hudson up from Myhre Equine Clinic on Saturday afternoon. I waited on my update as I wanted to be sure we didnt have to load up and head directly back.

His ultrasound on Friday showed very little fluid/air in the tendon sheath which is a fantastic improvement. Still some swelling and localized cellulitis. He had what is hopefully his last direct limp infusion ever on Friday.

We are not out of the woods but he is well enough that I can continue his care at home. 3 weeks of daily bandage changes and atleast 2 weeks of IV and IM antibiotics. He will be on strict stall rest for 3 weeks followed but 3 weeks of handwalk only IF we stay on the same track. Doctor said he could do light work in about 6 months.

The long term prognosis sounds good IF he continue improving without any set backs.
Thank you to everyone for your concern and support. It takes a village to raise these poorly designed creatures.

07/20/2024

Anyone have a chain type arena drag they would like to part with? PM me please.

07/15/2024

Little update on Hudson. Still at Myhre Equine Clinic

The technicans sent me a few pictures and told me that he is being a very good boy for all of his treatments.

Doctor let me know that he is doing surprisingly well given the injury and better than he expected. He is walking and taking weight on the leg. Discharge from the wound is minimal. Still waiting on the culture however the plan is to continue the distal limb infusion with antibiotics every other day. We are not out of the woods but we are hopeful surgery wont be needed.

What the recovery from this looks like I am unsure but I am relieved at the direction we are heading.

07/12/2024

Hudson is in the very best hands down at Myhre Equine Clinic in Rochester NH.

Ive sat here trying to make this post for some time now. Simply put a freak injury (tiny tiny punture) in his leg has caused an infection/fluid/air to build up around the tendon sheath and possibly affect the fetlock joint. We are awaiting the joint culture. Also a small deviation in the ddf tendon.

The prognosis is guarded. Hopefully his little body is strong enough to accept the flushes/direct antibiotics. If not its off to surgery. That is a last restort and sucess is not gauranted

When I tell you this is the best minded yearling I have ever owned, its no joke. Barely able to walk, he hopped right into the trailer. He rode 2.5 hrs to the clinic. Walked into the bright shinny hospital and stood like a champ for 75% of his treatments until I asked for sedation/pain meds. At somepoint in the night I said FYI he is a little stud c**t for what its worth. Everyone was taken aback that he was so well behaved.

Hudson. We have a bright future. Fight for me.

07/01/2024

Wild Apple Ranch is located on the Oak pond Road in Skowhegan Maine. The property belonged to Kait’s grand parents (Sam and Brenda) and her great grandparents prior to that. They raised a few cows over the years, had large gardens, and a few horses here and there.

In 1975 the original red barn burned down resulting in a total loss. Sam, Brenda, and Lisa (Kaits Mother) worked hard to rebuild. The loft of the current red barn even has a few re-purposed burned boards as a reminder of the fire.

This barn still stands and will remain. It Has two 16x14 stalls and one smaller 10x14 stall. Each stall has a 40x40 paddock attatched.

Its has been remodeled MANY times over the years as the horses numbers kept increasing. Originally it had one small pony stall, a chicken area, and a cow room. Running water was restored to the barn in 2023 after having been discontinued over 30 years ago.

Stay tuned for more history and updates on the build.

06/26/2024

Is there some secret to changing your page name that I am not aware of? It WILL not let me change my page from Iafrate Horsemanship to Wild Apple Ranch or any variation of that.
Help…

06/15/2024

Do any of my horse friends live near Moosup Connecticut? Looking for somewhere to stable for a two day competition in July. 2-3 horses. Competition at ONECO.

06/06/2024

Any of my friends ever designed their own Freeze or Fire brand?

I need to bounce an idea for a brand around.

Also fire vs freeze branding…

Picture of Hudson for Tax.

06/05/2024

A few exciting changes coming down the pipeline. Iafrate Horsemanship still exists however it will be housed at the new Wild Apple Ranch LLC. This page will transition from Iafrate Horsemanship to Wild Apple Ranch. Same person, same philosophy. Just a new name!

Gary and I are in the process of creating what is soon to be a top notch equestrian facility located on the Oak Pond Road in Skowhegan Maine.

Come fall we will be offering Training, Boarding, Sales as well as haul in lessons. Basically the same services as before, just a stationary location to call our own!

Watch us as we grow!

04/07/2024

Does anyone in the Skowhegan area have contacts with the Amish for barn building? Or even just lumber? Any help would be appreciated!

Looking to build a 60x120 building with a 24x120 lean to off the side. 60x100 will be arena.

03/02/2024

Still on the look out for a Gooseneck weekender trailer… Ideally a 3 horse but consider the right 2 or 4 horse.
~Prefer it to have AC and atleast a cowboy shower.
~ If priced accordingly can handle repairs.
~ Must be able to be hauled with Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi
Located in Maine. Will travel.

01/28/2024

Casually Putting feelers out there for a 3 -4 horse weekender/LQ. Older is ok. Needs to function and be safe. Ideally something manufactured with that package and not self installed. In no rush. Located in Maine but would travel.

01/21/2024

My cold weather Equestrians… if you havent tried this product yet, you are missing out. .

Vinny is on a fitness journey before heading south for a little mounted shooting “polish” in march. Many of our workouts are later in the evening and its often 20 degrees or less this time of year. Many times after hes walked/cooled out, hes still damp. Too damp for a blanket or to go back outside. This is the answer! A quick curry with this product and he is dry to the skin. Within 5 minutes hes ready for his blanket.

11/03/2022

Hey All!
After some big changes I am now located back in Skowhegan Maine. That being said I am softly accepting Training horses for the 2023 season. Board/Train only. I will not be traveling for lessons/training at this time.

Specializing in C**t Starting, Re-starting, and problem horses. Background in using classical dressage foundations, versatile combined training schedules, and natural horsemanship techniques in order to produce confident and willing partners regardless of the future intended discipline. 15 years experience teaching/training professionally. Experience in Dressage, Hunters, Eventing, Ranch Riding, Competitive trail, Mounted shooting, and Mounted Archery. 3 time Extreme mustang makeover competitor.
Let's determine your goals and shoot for them!

Based out of Horse Haven farm in Skowhegan, Maine.
PM with Questions and for Pricing.

04/23/2022

This is fundamental advice regardless of the discipline in which you ride, I have built my method and career around all of this, if you
Study the greatest horsemen in the world you will see all of the points in action. This was said by one of the best modern horsemen bill steinkrause.

“No. 1. Get your tack and equipment just right, and then forget about it and concentrate on the horse.

No. 2. The horse is bigger than you are, and it should carry you. The quieter you sit, the easier this will be for the horse.

No. 3. The horse's engine is in the rear. Thus, you must ride your horse from behind, and not focus on the forehand simply because you can see it.

No. 4. It takes two to pull. Don't pull. Push.

No. 5. For your horse to be keen but submissive, it must be calm, straight and forward.

No. 6. When the horse isn`t straight, the hollow side is the difficult side.

No. 7. The inside rein controls the bending, the outside rein controls the speed.

No. 8. Never rest your hands on the horse's mouth. You make a contract with it: "You carry your head and I'll carry my hands."

No. 10. Once you've used an aid, put it back.

No. 11. You can exaggerate every virtue into a defect.

No. 12. Always carry a stick, then you will seldom need it.

No. 13. If you`ve given something a fair trial, and it still doesn't work, try something else—even the opposite.

No. 14. Know when to start and when to stop. Know when to resist and when to reward.

No. 15. If you're going to have a fight, you pick the time and place.

No. 16. What you can't accomplish in an hour should usually be put off until tomorrow.

No. 17. You can think your way out of many problems faster than you can ride your way out of them.

No. 18. When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around.

No. 19. Don`t let over-jumping or dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying.

No. 20. Never give up until the rail hits the ground.

No. 21. Young horses are like children—give them a lot of love, but don't let them get away with anything.

No. 22. In practice, do things as perfectly as you can; in competition, do what you have to do.

No. 23. Never fight the oats.

No. 24. The harder you work, the luckier you get."

~Bill Steinkraus

04/02/2022

Heres a litte of the new shooter clinic progess. Remember this was Whiskeys first time ever. Lay your ground work folks.

04/02/2022

Whiskeys first time shooting March 2022! She has come so far since the mustang makeover. Heres to a bright future in a new discipline!

02/08/2022

Thanks for Sharing Stuart! Great point! Move their feet not yours!

Stuart is regularly in Warren PA for clinics and I highly recommend him.

01/10/2022

This goes for ALL disciplines. Useful tool.

12/30/2021

Very well worded! Sharing from C**ton Woods.

It’s about more than just giving to restraints. Some will be quick to ‘cancel’ the idea of hobbles based on their own emotional response to the concept without any true understanding of the benefits or process.

Fact is that emotional response only holds that person back just as it would a horse.

For this mare right now, it’s about the process of helping her let go of her need to feel defensive.

By taking her through a thorough process and experiences she most likely has never had before, we can help her start to change her thought process in times of uncertainty.

For some there is a strategic need for their horse to know how to be and operate within hobbles. For others like this mare, it is the mental benefits which can be unlocked through the process of preparing a horse to be hobbles confidently that will serve them the rest of their lives.

12/30/2021

Iafrate Horsemanship is seeking Training horses for the 2022 season.

Specializing in C**t Starting, Re-starting, and problem horses. Background in using classical dressage foundations, versatile combined training schedules, and natural horsemanship techniques in order to produce confident and willing partners regardless of the future intended discipline. 15 years experience teaching/training professionally. Experience in Dressage, Hunters, Eventing, Ranch Riding, Competitive trail, Mounted shooting, and Mounted Archery. 3 time Extreme mustang makeover competitor.
Let's determine your goals and shoot for them!

Based out of Wind Ridge Farm in Sunman, Indiana. Currently 3 stalls available.
PM with Questions and for Pricing.

12/30/2021

Using hobbles goes beyond keeping horses from wandering off. Horses learn to stay calm and collected whenever they get in a bind.

12/24/2021

No Mustang makeover this year! Time to embrace the training horses and achieve my personal riding goals!

Iafrate Dressage is gearing up for another Extreme Mustang Makeover. Stay tuned!

12/12/2021