Single Barrel Scotch

Our new addition!

2009-10-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Meet our new addiction to the family - Jewels Smokin Dun aka 'Duncan'.

Sired by: Skippas Dun Smokin (pictured below)

I'm am so excited and thrilled to own this little guy! He's currently a dun color but his coat will more than likely change into a grullo like his father!

2009-09-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Yesterday I went to 'The Tack Room' located in Camden, SC. It was my first time ever going there, I thought I died and went to horsey heaven. We weren't really planning on buying as much as we did. We were only going to get a saddle pad and maybe some matching polo wraps. Well, we ended up buying : baby blue saddle pad, baby blue polo wraps, blue winter weatherbeeta blanket, show jacket, and a purple show shirt!

2009-09-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a long while since I last posted. There has been a ton that has been going on!

In this post I'll be updating you on :

• Jolly's wellness
• Jolly's training
• moving to a new barn!
• tack

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To start things off, Jolly became ill a couple of weeks ago. It started with a bit of a runny nose and then developed into a bad cough with low energy. We first became alarmed when we were told he might have caught 'Shipping fever' from horses brought to the farm recently. Here's a link with information about it : http://www.teke.ca/2007/06/19/pleuropneumonia/

We were relieved when the vet told us it was a simple "cold" he caught. He was put on antibiotics and kept in a stall - away from his buddies.
He's gotten over his cold and back to working under saddle! He's doing an amazing job so far. We haven't had any bucks or spooks since he began his journey with a rider.

It's been hard to get over to CCF and we're finding it difficult to get out there everyday. So we made our minds up to move him to my instructor's barn. It's a very exciting move for us! I would be using him in my lessons and in a private lesson every week. It's also very close to my house and even if we get there late - it has lights. CCF has no lighting except for the barn, so it has been hard to get out and ride every night. We're hoping to get him over there in about a month, so keep your fingers crossed that things go well.

We're also going to be having a shopping spree at The Tack Room in Camden SC. We're planning on getting Jolly matching colors for his : saddle pad, polo wraps, and blanket.

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Dont forget to check us out on Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/karaxxjolly

2009-08-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the new owners of Chip & Freckles!

These two great horses were sold at the barn sale this past Saturday. It'll be sad to not see them around, but it's very comforting to know they both have great new loving homes!

-

Week 1 - 2 :

Jolly is doing fantastic. Right now we're working on his transitions from walk - trot -canter. His walk to trot just needs a little brushing up on, but his trot to canter will need some elbow grease involved.

I had my first fall off of him as well! He slipped in the mud and sent me flying into the rail. Luckly I landed on my feet with no injuries. He handled it like a pro, I got right back on and he acted as if nothing ever happened.

I'll keep you all updated!

Kara

(follow us on YouTube! KaraxxJolly)

2009-08-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

HUGE SALE @ CANE CREEK FARM - AUG. 15th

Address -

6646 Raymond Helms Rd

Waxhaw, NC 28173-9594

Selling variety of horses for every rider! Sale starts @ 12 pm!

Hope to see you there! :)

Announcement

2009-08-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

Starting August 9th, Jolly has begun working under an English saddle. He is doing fantastic! He's very calm & very willing, he acts like a seasoned horse in it's teens. He's still a tad slow on turning but I don't expect him to get it for a while. :) We will be moving him to the facility I ride my lessons at, once I'm very comfortable at W.T.C. in the round pen & arena.

May

2009-05-25T07:08:00.000-07:00

As many of you know Jolly was gelded on May 12th! They had to cut up to his stomach looking for the right testicle since it was no where to be seen. He is now healing in his stall and will be there for another two - three weeks.

Happy Birthday Jolly!

2009-05-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

2009-04-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Lessons:

No lesson updates this week.

(Will be in DR barn show next Saturday on Just Tease'n..wish us luck! ♥)

Jolly update:

On May 12th Jolly has been scheduled to be gelded! He has also been worked under saddle for the past couple weeks and has been doing wonderfully! He has yet to get used to the bit but we're in no rush. I will have some photos/video posted on my Youtube account once he has healed from the surgery. Wish us luck!

Youtube:

Congratulations HappyHorsez for winning the Horse Music Video Contest! You can check out her winning video here:
http://www.youtube.com/happyhorsez

April: 1st - 11th

2009-04-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

Lessons:

It has been a good solid year or more since I have ridden in a lesson, so it was very exciting to mount up again! I had a great first lesson with Lela , my instructor, who said that my position looked great for not riding in a year. They started me out on an eighteen year old chestnut Quarter horse named J.T. , the bombproof boy as I call him. Pressing him through the corners was a pain in the butt and having to constantly squeeze and kick. Dont get me wrong I love this horse, I just prefer a challenge. My second lesson that followed on Tuesday was great. I have to work on keeping my fingers closed and leaning with my shoulder when I ask for the canter, but other than that I'm doing great!

Jolly update:

Jolly has started undersaddle and is working on having his head set. He is also being gelded sometime this coming week! He has started acting "stud-ish" by screaming at the mares and it has gotten so out of hand he has to be kept in a stall until gelded. I should have video up soon of him being worked undersaddle once he heals from the surgery.

Youtube:

Right now on my Y.T. account I have a horse music video conest up for those who subscribe to me and or other horse lovers! The prizes are listed on the video and the discription bar.

Site Update

2009-04-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

I have a new format my posts will maintain; the order will be :

• Lesson update
• Jolly update
• Youtube update
• Photos

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Also, I will be making some changes to the site itself (new layout, graphics, etc)

These changes will happen by April 10, 2009.

Thank you,

Kara

Q&A I.

2009-03-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

I have been flooded with emails in the time I was away! Most were some great questions that I will be answering in this post.

Let's begin.

How old is Jolly now?

Jolly is turning two this coming Spring.

Is he for sale?

For all the people emailing me on my youtube & blog email - No he is not.

Are you planning on keeping him a stud?

No. The only reason he still remains one is due to his right testicle has not dropped.

How old was Jolly when you bought him?

Jolly was about 6-7 months when I finally purchased him.

When are you ridding him?

Jolly had his first ride this past Saturday with a trainer, it will be a month or so before I personally get on.

Are you going to update soon?

Haha, yes! I was so busy with the holidays & my birthday that I had no time to update. I will start posting two - four posts a week.

Where can I find videos of Jolly?

Anyone can find his videos on: http://www.youtube.com/karaxxjolly *NOTE: there are not a lot of videos of him up A.T.M.*

Do you give advice?

Yes. But remember I am not a professional, I would rather you ask one you may know.

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Well I hope that answered most of them!

If anyone wants to ask me anything feel free to email me at : sbskara@live.com

Winter is coming.

2008-10-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

Brr! It has been getting so chilly out! Jolly's winter coat is starting to grow & I've had to keep the caked mud out of it. I'm going to be winter blanket shopping for him within the next two weeks since it's getting extremely cold during the night. When he was only about six-nine months he was blanketed during the winter because it was 20 degrees outside. My big boy has exploded in height since then, he's as tall as some two year olds he's pastured with!

zzzZZZzzz

2008-10-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I got to the barn late. By the time I got Jolly out of his paddock it was dark. So I simply put him in a stall & gave him a flake of hay. He is normaly boarded outdoors so a stall is still kind of a new thing for him. Good night, my sweetie.

blasted bit!

2008-10-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

Cleaning the beast!

2008-10-15T18:06:00.000-07:00

↑
Getting him ready to tie so I can groom him....

↑

Tah-dah! Tied...Lets start grooming you...

So pretty, dont you agree?

Putting it on

2008-10-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

Well, the other weekend I had my boyfriend & his best friend help me out on saddling my beast. This only about his fith time being saddled. He was kinda sluggish due to the fact that I tightened the girth fully for the first time (usually had it a wee bit loose) & new people around. I also had him bridled which you won't see in the video, but he did fantastic. He did have a fit about it at first but then just ended up mouthing & playing with it in his mouth. I use an "O" ringed snaffle bit & a 17inch all purpose english saddle.

Since Jolly has gotten older he's become a lot more independent & has his own idea on what he wants to do while in the round pen. It was starting to trouble me so I turned to my trusty friends on the Horse Chit Chat forum. Jenn gave me some good advice & used it. I had him in the round pen the other day & he was bridled while being lunged. Did fine. Then we lunged twice each lasting about 10-15mins. Near the end he became testy & threatened to kick twice. I calmly moved out of the way & continued to work him until he did what I asked.
Even though I love him, I still have to remember: just because I have a strong bond with him...doesnt mean he will shut off his horsey habits.

At the end of the ground work he was back to quiet ole' Jolly.

Here is the video of the saddle training with Ron, Arrick, & I :

heart & mind

2008-08-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that horses feel, what we feel. If your not feeling up to anything that day, of course the horse will reflect on your mood. Also if you are upbeat of course your horse will pick up on it and react to it. With me being around horses I noticed when my mood changed so did theirs. We also can notice this in riding, if your not confident in your discipline, the horse will reflect upon you. Your horse will react as you do. Most of the time when a fault happens or 'the horse messes up' it's always the riders fault. The horse responds to you, and you responds to the horse.

Every horse is different. Each has it's own personality, there for it will like and dislike one thing that another probably likes.

How do I find my horses personality?

Easy.

Simple ground work!

Take mental notes of what your horse reacts to, and what he/she doesn't react to. Don't judge it off one or two times. Take at least a month of play and "work" in the round or arena.

7/26/08 photos

2008-07-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

Splish,Splash....

2008-07-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

Jolly's first spray with a hose.

Line work 7/26/08

2008-07-31T10:09:00.001-07:00

(Sorry for the noise!)

Spring! Meet the foals

2008-04-27T16:17:00.001-07:00

Hot,Sunny,but fun!

2008-04-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

First time in round pen-alone!

2008-04-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

2008-01-01T18:16:00.000-08:00