A day on the farm in CA

Lillies

The lilies began to flower after we moved onto the farm, showing their radiant colors.

Children's play house beyond the airstream

We have not renovated the warehouse where the airstream will sleep in the future but for now it looks pretty alongside the garden.

Morning mist over our pond

I couldn't resist walking out into the garden on such an early misty morning.

Trying out their pony carriage

Taking baby brother out for a pony ride.

Mesmerized by slippery slimy slugs

How the boys love to watch little creatures in their natural environment.

Our big babies

"Gitane", pronounced with a j, means gypsy in French, the name we've given to this beautiful long maned Haflinger Pony. We are hoping to carriage ride her in the future.

The grass is always greener on the other side

Our other Haflinger pony, they found their way into the garden but not anymore we had the fence put up.

Loving the water!

Summer splashing.

Some News...

Our New house "Vitri"

We have moved from our big Sanctuary Finca Seraphina to the newly built modern house.  This lot had one palm tree on it when we began construction - we've planted over 1000 trees and about 2 thousand surrounding the property on the pastures below where we have our horses and cows.

Pool at Vitri

We moved much of the landscaping from Finca Seraphina, mostly planted as seedling. You can see how fast things grow in the tropics especially after the rainy season.  This house is still a bit warm but once the landscaping has grown it will be cool and lush.  A small sanctuary.

"Eitech Construction Vehicles"

Indoor time during the rainy season enticed the boys to engage in constructing these amazing Eitech vehicles.  Learning how to build cars and machines and how they work mechanically.  We bought one for Sasha for his birthday and they have now begun a collection of them.  Each vehicle can be dismantled and constructed into 3 other vehicles.

"Helicopter -Eitech Vehicles"

The helicopter has a small solar panel which turns the propellor.  They dismantled it and it became a small car that drove slowly by itself.

Wood Truck

This is a delivery truck Fabien helped the boys make from the left over wood used to make our new chicken house.  They are delivering small stones to make a path near their fort.

"Minka - Pony Foal"

Precious little Minka was born a few days ago.  The joys of spring bringing forth new birth.

"Lucy and her little Foal, Minka"

How she stands with stability just a few hours after birth.  As you can see by my belly that I to have been blessed.  Doubly...another son and a little princess.  Little Earthchildren!

"Knitting a Cotton Blanket and Booties"

Have been busy knitting away for my little peanuts.  More projects in the making.

More Booties

Doubly of course!! These turned out a bit large so will wait for those footsies to grow. I will have to buy some finer baby yarn when we head to Miami at the end of the month as I am 6 months pregnant next week and twins could come earlier although I plan to keep them in as long as I can...little me.

Miami is where I shall birth my little babes.  It won't be a home birth like I had with my sons.  Having twins, and at 40 classifies me as high risk so I will have my very first ever hospital experience.

Trail Riding

The boys out trail riding with dad and friends, soon to be neighbors.  I am teaching them about natural horsemanship and they will share the horses and the trails.  We are happy to find people that appreciate the land and love the animals as we do.

We plan to spend the Winter in the South of France looking for a farm, possibly Provence and keep a smaller place here as a second home.

Pony Boys

Sasha with Mitzi

These little ponies are a great part of our life bringing immense joy to our family.  Our young boys are so devoted to these sweet little creatures.

Attached are two very precious videos of my children swimming and riding their ponies,, they are amazing and I'm sure you will enjoy watching them as much as I do.

Sania and Coco

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Swimming in our flooded pasture

Trotting

Sasha and Sania riding their ponies in the Dominican Republic

Sasha and Sania swimming with the ponies in the Dominican Republic

Helping Horses

We had so much work to do here on the farm before leaving for our two month travel vacation. Our cozy silver airstream has been waiting for us in Phoenix Arizona to journey us on yet another interesting adventure.

I have been taking care of two very lame Thoroughbred horses and a beautiful Paso Fino that were moved over to our farm from a nearby equestrian center. Their hooves were neglected and improperly trimmed which led to this condition.  All the fungus and wounds have been taken care of and hopefully they can soon learn to walk barefoot again. It could take up to a year for rehabilitation. A kind fellow South African, who is experienced with barefoot trimming and hoof problems, who now lives in Florida has been kindly guiding me through the process.  I also have been studying the informative Veterinary approved 16 hour course, called "Under the Horse"  by Pete Ramey, a populate hoof specialist and practitioner.  I highly recommend this course for every horse owner!

Black Thoroughbred Horse

This beautiful horse has been living in a box for many years, probably his entire life.  Lack of exercise hinders circulation.  Barefoottrim is an informative site that explains how damaging shoes are to horse. "What is so bad about shoes, you ask? To briefly encapsulate, shoes restrict blood flow to the hooves; shoes restrict the natural expansion and contraction of the weight-bearing hoof necessary for optimal health, movement and gaits; shoes weaken hoof horn due to the nails that are driven into the hoof producing holes and weakened areas of the horn; shoes provide only a temporary, artificial band-aid fix to many hooves that are physiologically unsound thereby enabling the unsoundness to increase. Horseshoes also prevent the natural traction of the Equine hoof designed by nature, herself."

Damaged Hoof Wall

This is how the right hoof looked when he arrived.

We opened up the wound which was riddled with fungus and bacteria to allow light to penetrate and heal.

Sania cleaning his ponies hoof

My little boys love to take care of their ponies hooves.  Note how patiently little Coco stands and he does not need to be tied up.

Our journey has begun, we are in Idaho - photos will be up soon.

I leave you with this cute little video of my pony boys!

Animal Neglect in the Dominican Republic

[caption id="attachment_2370" align="alignnone" width="640"] Open wound on the withers from Saddle[/caption]

Not too far from our heavenly paradise, home to many nourished and loved animals there are those who suffer from neglect, starvation and abuse.  I have been silent for a while with my posts.  Disconcerting thoughts and feelings  have taken me elsewhere. Into the lives of so many suffering animals.

Our help with animals/cows began here in DR 5 years ago. You can read a part of the story in a previous post "Our Story".  Months after our move to the farm I bought 5 neglected horses from a neighboring farm.  Three of them previously abused, high spirited and dangerous - their energy intense.  I had always dreamed of having horses yet I feared them because of a previous accident when I was young.  I searched for help from other experienced trainers. Two trainers from Germany refused.   A local trainer came for a day but I was not comfortable with his harsh methods of training and soon after I hired a German lady who claimed she had 35 years experience with horse training. My horses didn't take to her traditional methods of training.  After much research I found Parelli Natural Horsemanship and ordered their home study videos on how to train and understand horses.  Those 5 horses were pregnant when they arrived on the farm and I was grateful to have the invaluable knowledge shared by Parelli. My fear diminished and we were able to calm them before the foals arrived to foal imprint them.  We boarded 4 of Pauline's rescue horses from Project Isobel and rescued another 7 horses (the ponies included).  Having a total of 22 horses, including Bella, myself and Luis, my horse assistant have gained the trust of these powerful animals earning their respect and being good leaders. Learning the Parelli natural training methods and horse psychology we made drastic changes in our lives and the lives of our horses.

So this post take me back a few weeks, as I was driving by this farm I noticed a couple of horses that were limping and had severe wounds on their back.  I asked permission to visit and this is what we found.

The above photo is of a horses back, the wound almost to the bone.  This horse is still ridden in this condition today.  His hooves overgrown and painful to walk.

[caption id="attachment_2365" align="alignnone" width="640"] A starving dog on that farm[/caption]

We passed by the first employees home to find a little puppy and a cat.  On the brink of starvation.  The cat ran away so we couldn't photograph it.  It's hard to see in this photo but this little puppy was so thin his bones were protruding.  He was surviving by eating chicken poop and whatever else he could find.  The owners previous two dogs were poisoned with rat poison because they ate a couple of his chicks.... well I guess they were hungry.  We are now taking food for this little dog and the cat.  They have both been dewormed.  So I look forward to showing you photos of them in the future.

Pauline from Project Isobel recently found a dog hung by the neck being punished because he ate a chick.

There aren't many dogs on the streets because they are run over, killed or starve to death.  There are a few who survive but they suffer.

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="alignnone" width="640"] This saddle wound was infested with maggots[/caption]

This was the other horse we found, he had two wounds on his back that were infested with maggots.  We treated their wounds, dewormed them and Luis will trim their hooves next week.

[caption id="attachment_2369" align="alignnone" width="640"] Two saddle wounds infested with maggots[/caption]

Wounds around the girth and two saddle sores on his back.  There are many horses like this that are ridden by tourists on the beaches of Cabaretti.  Should anyone wish to trail ride please check the condition of the horse and especially check for saddle sores and hoof condition - this applies to trail riding companies in the USA too.

[caption id="attachment_2364" align="alignnone" width="640"] Bella, she's two months pregnant and starving[/caption]

Whilst at the farm the owner came, he is a wealthy Dominican and importer of American Quarter Horses and Brahman cows. His priority being cows, this mare was neglected.  He said he would give her to me to take care of but he wants the foal because she breeds good foals.

She is now in my care, I've named her Bella. She is still weak but slowly gaining weight. She understandably doesn't have much spirit. I have noticed though a little spark growing in her now that I'm bringing special food.  She even trotted today but lamely.  I will dread the day the man comes for her baby, he might even take her to because she will look well.

[caption id="attachment_2363" align="alignnone" width="640"] Bella's hooves, one had a shoe that had been there for a long time with rusty nails[/caption]

These were Bella's hooves.  One had a metal shoe with rusty nails, it must have been put on a long time ago and grown into the hoof.

[caption id="attachment_2375" align="alignnone" width="640"] Braman Cows[/caption]

These are his cows, they are his trophies.  They are kept with this harsh halter upon their noses and locked away in this box and fed straw in order to fatten them.  They have little room to move and rest in their manure.  They would damage their skin and lose weight if they roamed around on the large farm.  I have yet to see them out.

[caption id="attachment_2365" align="alignnone" width="640"] Little kitty[/caption]

My husband found this little kitten at the entrance of our driveway off the main street. Her tail was chopped off and her entire anus was eaten away by maggots.

Even though she emitted a foul stench, my little boys still helped me care for her.  She didn't survive.

Since we've been on the farm we have taken in 11 cats from the streets.  Some didn't make it.  We now have 9 cats,  4 beautiful cats that we share our home with.  Two in the stables and three at our other farm location.

[caption id="attachment_2373" align="alignnone" width="640"] Street dog open head infested with huge maggots[/caption]

A dog we found at the entrance of our farm,  once again off the main village road.  His severe wound was infested with huge maggots that must have been there for a long time. He miraculously survived and we found him a good home.  All dogs and cats we care for are wormed and neutered.

[caption id="attachment_2362" align="alignnone" width="640"] Little pup[/caption]

This little foxy loxy whom we call little pup has become the highlight in our home. Not only is he now soft and cuddly but he's obsessed with chasing our cats, cows and horses.   After deworming, removing hundreds of ticks and getting rid of his mange he's looking beautiful.  He now sleeps next to our bed at night and sometimes makes his way into it.

[caption id="attachment_2372" align="alignnone" width="640"] Sania loving little pup[/caption]

Their little baby.

[caption id="attachment_2361" align="alignnone" width="640"] Lulu[/caption]

This is little Lulu, she's a feisty little one whom was hit by a motor bike on the main street.  We brought her in a nursed her back to health.  She was just a puppy who managed to survive.  You can see her twisted hip and she still walks with a limp.  She loves to chew all our furniture and she gobbled up one of my baby chicks but I still love her.

[caption id="attachment_2376" align="alignnone" width="640"] Claudo[/caption]

This is Claudo, once a wild street dog, we found hiding by our chicken run more than a year ago.   He's one of the loveliest dogs I've had, so loyal, sweet and affectionate. He was surviving by eating the kitchen scraps and eggs of our chickens when we found him so skinny and afraid.  The children have so much fun with him as he chases them around the garden. Claudo would be a great stock dog if trained because he loves chasing my horses and cows, he's always alongside me during our trail rides and can endure long distances and rough terrain.  He’s my special baby!

How would I have known that moving to a farm would have taken me so far on this incredible journey learning and bonding with all these amazing animals.  The children are delighted to have new animals.  Sasha asked me why people buy animals when we can get them from the street and they are free:)

New little Foal - Farm Friday

Over 11 months ago a stallion from a few farms away crossed the river and got through one of our fences.  We had to inject another mare that was on heat at the time so as not to fall pregnant because we almost lost her in her previous foaling experience.  We didn't know that this little foal's mother Laska got pregnant from that same stallion until a few weeks ago.  She's always been overweight so we were fooled.

This little frisky foal was born three days ago in the early morning.  We arrived soon after to enjoy these special moments of "foal imprinting" - to be with the foal so he becomes accustomed to the human instead of fearing them like most horses do.  Three days have now past and the boys have given him the name Frisky because he's so playfully, energetic around the children.  Little frisky is very confident, curious and playful.

[caption id="attachment_2307" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Curiosity"][/caption]

Yesterday this little foal was zooming up and around the children it was so sweet.  It won't be long before I will have to teach him not to invade our space but at the moment he's still so little.  I will also have to be more cautious with him around the children since you never know when those little legs are going to spring up in the air.

[caption id="attachment_2308" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Sania in a faraway place"][/caption]

After all his running around and excitement he lowers his little legs and curls up on the hay next to Sania, resting his head upon his lap.

[caption id="attachment_2306" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Soft touch"][/caption]

This was our first day with Frisky, comforted by our touch.  During this process of foal imprinting I scratch his ears, lift his legs and ruffle plastic around his body so he doesn't fear it as his mother does.  His mother, previously abused, is terribly frightened of the touch of a person, especially on her ears and to lift her hooves - she used to snort when she saw a bit of plastic.  We have spent much time with her to build her confidence when this could have been taken care of at birth.  Imprinting can be done on almost any animal.  I know it's been done to Rhino's and Elephants in Africa.

[caption id="attachment_2309" align="aligncenter" width="449" caption="Affection"][/caption]

Sania loves his little frisky.

[caption id="attachment_2315" align="aligncenter" width="533" caption="Too sweet"][/caption]

Little frisky enjoys the company.

[caption id="attachment_2313" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Amnionic sac or the bag of waters"][/caption]

This is the amnionic sac that was left behind after the birth of the foal.  The mother licks the fluid off her baby as the smell is strong and in the wild can attract predators.

Below is a short video of our interactions with this sweet little foal and Laska, his mother.  Laska is a terribly frightened horse and it took a long time to gain her trust.  She is terrified of people. She has severe muscle atrophy possibly due to the local people riding her at a young age.  They begin riding horses around 1 year old when their bones are still soft.

The local people are not skilled in training horses and most training is done brutally.

I shall introduce to you some of the other animals we have rescued in my next post.

Farm and New Years Eve Images

[caption id="attachment_2096" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Romantic"]

A little creative fun with the candle boats