The cats were happy to see me this morning. The horses were still out grazing, long past normal breakfast time. A doe showed up before the horses did. The place is overrun with deer!
Tom Morris camped on his rock pile 
Skittle on top of the truck, licking her lips 
Wondering if there is anything delicious to eat around here…
At long last, the stars aligned, and Harry and I managed to get on our horses and go for a lengthy, leisurely ride! No horse flies, perfect weather, and well behaved horses, despite herds of deer. We saw more than half a dozen scattered throughout the ride.
Let’s go! 
Harry points out a bald faced hornets’ nest! Yikes! 
The light is definitely autumnal – and beautiful.
The dogs were mad that they didn’t get to go trail riding with us, but Harry reassured them that he loves them.
Harry and Nettie
After lunch, Harry went grocery shopping while I popped over to nearby Wasser Farms Stable to watch Marianne on Liam in his first dressage clinic. She rode him on Friday morning, but I missed that session.
I first met Liam in June of 2016, when he was a foal. He was an embryo transfer from Marianne’s lovely mare, Rosa. Horse breeding is not for the faint of heart. Many things go wrong as these fragile creatures grow up. Liam is no exception. He has had plenty of troubles, but appears to be living up to the dreams his breeder had when she took that leap of faith. As a seventeen hand four year old, he is magnificent, talented, well behaved, and turned all heads. Marianne has done a wonderful job with him, and he is living up to his potential.
As a baby, Liam already showed promise he displayed today. 
As a baby, Liam was very oral, and that has not changed!
The clinician today, Silke Rembacz, a German woman now based in Wellington, Florida, was very complimentary. It was fun to watch. Silke was a good teacher, and a horseman. Mari Jebens, a dressage trainer and neighbor, organized the clinic, which seemed well attended. It was a really fun outing.
Mari 
Marianne and Liam 
Marianne and Liam 
Silke tell Liam what a special horse he is
Finally, a couple of late afternoon bird pictures – a female, or maybe just an immature, rose breasted grosbeak, and a nuthatch, who blinked when the shutter snapped. The grosbeak will leave for the winter, but we will be seeing more of the nuthatch feeding here as the weather gets cold. Maybe I will get a picture with eyes open.
Grosbeak 
Nuthatch
Stay safe, stay well, stay happy in these strange days.
Whew, staying happy in these strange days is a project. I’m working on a unicorn.
Thanks for sharing so many wonderful pictures of Harry and Stone and the hounds! And Marianne’s Liam looks like a lovely fellow. Raising horses from scratch is definitely not for the faint of heart. I did it for the love of Gaston. But there was only one Gaston. But Elsa was so like her sire Emerson. She taught the same lessons he did, which was a good thing. I needed them twice. Tally Ho!
What a beautiful planet this is! I am so damned grateful to be privileged to ride on it and just look.
Love seeing you back where you belong! We are all so very lucky to enjoy gorgeous days like these doing what we love & soaking in every minute!
O, Liam is gorgeous and so well-started at 4 years (right?) Many, many congrats to Marianne. One attempt at breeding was enough for me. I am so impressed with Liam.
Wow!, Marianne and Liam look great, the thoroughness, and the suppleness, awesome!!! Who is the sire I wonder? Harry looking good in the saddle! And yes I agree, gratitude fills my heart at every wonder.
Marianne’s comment on the blog contains Liam’s bloodlines.
It was a great Sunday! I’m so thrilled that Harry and Anne shared a morning trail ride on the boys.
The clinic was lots of fun! Had it not been for Anne teaching Liam to self-load, we never would have made it off the farm! Thanks, Anne!! I really appreciates your wealth of knowledge when it comes to horses, as well as the moral support and great pictures, of course!
Yes, O’Liam is 4 yrs old…. still a green youngster in my eyes. His sire is Opus (son of Idocus). The dam was by a nice Dutch stallion, named Flemmingh. I think that I just got lucky with the breeding.
Awesome seeing you and Harry riding.
What a great day! Love seeing you both ride and love seeing Marianne attending a dressage clinic with Liam. Beautiful horses all around.