Special Edition Farm

14/08/2024

My friends know I have many Haflingers. Heck, I have inspired some friends to go out and get their own but there is a question that comes up often.

Why is it so hard to get my Haflinger to canter?

Haflingers can sometimes find cantering challenging due to their conformation, temperament, and training history. Their compact, short-backed build, combined with an upright shoulder angle, often leads to a shorter, choppier stride, making the canter less natural and more difficult for them to perform smoothly. Breeders are trying very hard to change that btw.

Many Haflingers are also weak behind. They may struggle to fully engage their hindquarters, which is essential for a balanced canter. This can be compounded by their strong, muscular build, which might require more focused conditioning to develop the specific muscles needed to sustain a canter, particularly under saddle. Often a Haflinger will "fall" into a canter and then break into a trot and this happens again and again. It's because he is weak!

Not least, Haflingers are known for their strong-willed temperament, and if they find the canter difficult or uncomfortable, they might resist or be reluctant to maintain the gait, especially if they haven't been consistently trained to canter OR developed the musculature for it. This is a super common cause of bucking.

How to Improve Your Haflinger's Canter:

Get Them Off Their Forehand: Encourage your Haflinger to shift its weight back onto its hindquarters. This improves balance, engages the hindquarters, and lightens the forehand, making the canter smoother and more controlled.

How do you do this?

Use Half-Halts: Employ half-halts to help your horse transition its weight and prepare for the canter, promoting better engagement of the hindquarters.

Practice Transitions: Regularly practicing transitions between gaits (e.g., trot to canter) can help your Haflinger develop the strength and balance needed to maintain a steady canter. If you transition to a trot before your Haflinger starts to weaken, you are setting him up for success. It's hard to explain but it works. And you will find he will try harder for you.

Incorporate Hill Work: Riding on inclines encourages your horse to use its hindquarters more effectively, building the necessary strength and balance for a good canter. The hills around here are a blessing!

Engagement Exercises: Exercises like leg yields, shoulder-in, and circles can help your Haflinger shift more weight onto its hindquarters and move more fluidly, making it easier to canter.

By focusing on these techniques, you can help your Haflinger develop the strength, balance, and confidence needed to canter more comfortably and effectively. Good luck!

11/08/2024

Morning's first light calls,
Donkey's bray breaks through the dark,
Life stirs, hope revives.

21/07/2024

This is my first time having ducks. It took me a while to differentiate between male and female. In the photo below, on the left is a male and on the right is a female. Here's how you can tell the difference:

Bill Color

Male Ducks: Often have brighter and more pronounced bill colors. In mallards, males have a yellowish bill.
Female Ducks: Usually possess a duller bill color. Female mallards have an orange bill with darker patches.

Size and Shape
Generally, male ducks are slightly larger and have a more robust build compared to females. This difference can be subtle but noticeable upon closer observation. I also noticed weirdly that my male duck's head was flatter than my female's.

Male Ducks: Tend to be larger with a thicker neck and more pronounced chest.
Female Ducks: Are typically smaller and more streamlined in appearance.

Vocalizations
The sounds that ducks make can be another clue to their gender.

Male Ducks: Typically have a quieter, softer quack. In some species, males make whistling or raspy sounds rather than the typical quacking noise. They DO sound like Daffy.

Female Ducks: Are known for their louder, more distinctive quacking. Female mallards, for instance, have the classic loud quack that many people associate with ducks.

Tail Feathers
In some species, the tail feathers can provide a clear indication of gender.

Male Ducks: In mallards and some other species, males have a few curled feathers at the tail's tip, known as the "s*x feathers." My pekins do.

Female Ducks: Do not have these curled feathers.

14/07/2024

Lessons in Leadership from My Mare

Throughout history, humans have sought wisdom from various sources, often turning to books, mentors, and experiences for guidance. However, some of the most profound lessons in leadership can come from unexpected places. For me, one such source has been my mare. Since I can remember, I have been an avid horse lover. I found Angel, a Haflinger mare, when she was young and green. She has taught me that horses, with their inherent qualities and behaviors, offer unique insights into leadership that are both timelesss and universal. Here are some key lessons I’ve learned from my mare that have profoundly influenced my approach to leadership.

1. Trust and Respect Are Earned

In the equine world, trust and respect are not given freely; they must be earned. When I first started working with my mare, it was clear that she would not follow my lead blindly. I had to prove myself trustworthy and capable. This is a critical lesson for any leader. Trust and respect from your team are earned through consistent, honest, and fair behavior. Just as my mare learned to trust me through my actions and patience, so too will a team come to respect a leader who demonstrates integrity and reliability.

2. Communication Is Key

Horses communicate primarily through body language, and my mare taught me the importance of non-verbal communication. A slight shift in my posture or a change in my energy could elicit different responses from her. This taught me to be acutely aware of my non-verbal cues and to understand that effective communication goes beyond words. In leadership, being attuned to the unspoken signals of your team—such as body language, tone of voice, and even silence—can provide critical insights into their thoughts and feelings. Effective leaders listen with their eyes and their ears.

3. Patience and Consistency Yield Results

Training a horse requires a great deal of patience and consistency. Progress can be slow, and setbacks are common, but steady, consistent effort leads to success. This mirrors the journey of leadership, where patience and persistence are essential. Change and growth within a team or organization take time, and leaders must be patient yet consistent in their vision and actions. My mare taught me that small, incremental steps can lead to significant progress over time.

4. Leading with Empathy

Horses are incredibly perceptive animals, often mirroring the emotions of those around them. My mare’s sensitivity to my mood and energy highlighted the importance of empathy in leadership. Leading with empathy means understanding and acknowledging the emotions and perspectives of your team members. An empathetic leader creates a supportive environment where individuals feel valued and understood, fostering loyalty and motivation. Just as my mare responded positively to empathetic handling, team members thrive under empathetic leadership.

5. Adaptability and Flexibility

No two days with a horse are the same. Some days my mare would be cooperative and eager to work, while other days she would be stubborn and unyielding. This unpredictability taught me the importance of adaptability and flexibility. Leaders must be able to adjust their approach based on the situation and the needs of their team. Rigidity can lead to frustration and stagnation, whereas adaptability fosters resilience and innovation. My mare’s varying moods required me to be flexible in my methods, a lesson that has been invaluable in leadership.

6. Leading by Example

Horses are herd animals, naturally inclined to follow a strong, confident leader. My mare looked to me for guidance and assurance, especially in unfamiliar situations. This reinforced the idea that leaders must lead by example. Demonstrating confidence, decisiveness, and calmness, especially in challenging times, inspires confidence and trust in others. A leader’s behavior sets the tone for the team, and by embodying the qualities you wish to see in your team, you naturally lead them in the right direction. An old horseman’s saying is “Show me your horse and I will tell you who you are.”

7. Building a Strong Bond

The bond between a horse and its handler is built on mutual respect, trust, and understanding. This relationship is not dissimilar to the bond between a leader and their team. Investing time in building strong relationships with team members creates a foundation of trust and cooperation. Angel showed me that a strong bond enhances communication, collaboration, and overall effectiveness.

My love for her has led me to unexpected leadership opportunities. I have sat on the Board of Directors for the American Haflinger Registry and the Haflinger Breeder's Co-op. I also cofounded, with two other amazing women, the American Haflinger Alliance.

Angel has been a remarkable teacher in the art of leadership. Trust, respect, communication, patience, empathy, adaptability, leading by example, and building strong relationships are not just principles for handling horses—they are the bedrock of effective leadership. As I continue to learn from Angel, who is now 18, I carry these lessons she has taught me into every aspect of my life, striving to be a leader worthy of the trust and respect she has shown me.

01/07/2024

Worked on Faith's mane a little bit today. Faith is a silver classified mare.

11/06/2024

16/03/2024

Farm scenes

20/01/2024

Babies around the farm

11/12/2023

Skye and Benny

10/12/2023

Benny and Skye

10/12/2023

Benny