Learning to walk…

Most of us take walking for granted.  We do it everyday, without a thought.

So when I was challenged on the first day of a clinic with James Shaw to slowly step out to the side with one leg without leaning, I was surprised to find I had trouble with this simple task.  I struggled to keep my balance.  James looked me in the eye and shouted, ‘LEANER!’.  He might as well have spread his thumb and forefinger out and put it on his forehead in the universal sign for a ‘LOSER’, but the twinkle in his eye and his slightly dropped right shoulder reassured me that he was simply welcoming me to the club.  We all lean.

So went the 3 days of self discovery.  Where is my balance?  Where am I leaning?   Why do I stick my ear out to the right when I want to step into my right stirrup?  Why doesn’t my belly button move to the left as easily as to the right.   Where do I short circuit the brilliant functions my body was designed for?  Observation without judgement (but with alot of laughter), experimentation and then feedback.

The feedback was profound.   James took us through several Tai Chi based excercises every morning.  These all start in ‘Standing Meditation’…a position foreign to most of us…..hips back, legs straight, weight on the TOES.   Well after about 10 minutes in standing meditation, your body is screaming at you to lean back, cock a hip…do anything to take the pressure off your achilles and ball of the foot.  Truth be told (and I’ve tested this theory several times since being home), you can do all the exercises in under 30 minutes and I expect, even with the addition of adding a few instructions about how to do them right, they could be done in less than 90 minutes.  But James has an interesting teaching style…humorous, self deprecating, and prone to distraction….so the morning ordeal lasted over 3 hours.  Now ‘ordeal’ might be abit of an exaggeration, as James is delightful and the education was delicious, but my body was screaming at me the whole time.  STOP.  RECONSIDER. DON”T LISTEN TO THAT EVIL MAN.

Well, we all persevered at whatever level we were capable of.  There were two great moments of feedback for me.  To be honest, there were many moments, but these were the bigs ones.  First, there were two exercises in particular that gave me instant feedback.  ’Bend with an arch’ and ‘Palms on toes’.  You’ll have to get his DVDs or attend a workshop for details, but while doing these two exercises, two things happened to me.  First, my spine literally snapped into better alignment and second, I discovered  a way to move from a bent over position to a standing position without pain.  Those of you, who, like me, trim horses feet or even garden, will understand the excitement I felt when I realized I could straighten up without feeling pain and spasm in my lower back.   The other great epiphany was how I felt the next morning.  I woke without any back pain.  At the end of the clinic I felt better than I had for years.  Typically, a clinic in which I was learning something new and riding, would make me sore, usually in my lower back or between my shoulders.  I felt none of that.  Nothing short of a miracle.

Breathing properly was a basic principle that we practiced over and over, both on the ground and on our horses backs.  We learned to be more perceptive about where our feet were, where our bellybutton was pointing, how our seat bones were weighted and how to move the sternum and shoulders separately from the hips and bellybutton.  The big mental challenge for me was to stop thinking about movement as a gross motor skill, one that occurs using a massive amount of muscle and energy.  Instead, James challenged us to just think about moving the bone…be it the hipbone or the femor bone or the humerus bone or the clavicle bone or the sternum, and allow the body to do what it does naturally to get the job done.  Generally, I found I simply used less muscle and alot less energy to accomplish the task.

I’d like to say I am moving my body better 100% of the time now, but the truth is, my old habits are difficult to change.  I have found though that I am in observation mode alot of the time now.  While interviewing a patient,  I might check my balance and assume the standing meditation stance, which is becoming easier and more natural to me.  Walking down the hallways and around the farm, I find myself checking in with the rhythmic movement of my bellybutton.  Sitting on my horses I check in with my seat bones, breath way down into my stomach and lower back.  I am simply a beginner at moving my body properly and that’s ok.  I’m doing the exercises as often as I can and hope someday, walking will not require so much thought and attention

Check out ‘Ride From Within’ and James Shaw here.

Clinic Season

The last few years have been pretty lean for me in regard to formal horsemanship training time.  The farm, in general, has gotten so busy, its hard to get away.  Last summer, when I managed to attend a Karen Rohlf  clinic, I thought, ‘wow!   I really need to make the time and money available to do more of this’.  So I set aside some money each month, earmarked for clinic time this summer and I hired a teenager in town to help with farm chores while I was away…

So June is clinic month for me and the horses…

Manny and I at Karen Rohlf...

Memorial Day weekend, Manny and I will be learning Tai Chi for Horsemen with James Shaw at The Journey Horses Farm in Campton, NH.  My dear friends Tim and Trudy are hosting at their beautiful facility and I can’t wait to see them and spend some quality time with my main squeeze, Manny.

June 3rd and 4th, I will take Beaugart up to Neal Perry’s Place, in Northern Vermont for a colt start.  Bogie and I have made huge progress in our relationship over the past two months and as I predicted, taking the time to sort out the catching game has made everything else better.  Now we are ready to move forward with the nuts and bolts of his foundation.

June 9-12, Dave Ellis, 5 star PNH Instructor will teach a Level 2/3 camp at the gorgeous Ladd Farm Facility in Bridgewater.  I’ll be bringing Reno.

June 13-16, I’ll return with Manny for the Level 3/4 camp with Dave.  The emphasis will be on vaquero style ranch versatility…..cowboy dressage…my favorite.  Maybe I’ll throw Tbone and Porter in the trailer for some live cow work!

All of these clinics are open to auditors and I encourage you to get out there and expand your horsemanship.  Your horses will thank you.  Plus, these clinics are attended and hosted by some of the nicest people on the planet!

And don’t forget our own Resting Heart Farm Clinic series. 

July 11th ‘Basics of Driving’ Workshop with Ripple and Reno. 

August 7th ‘Reiki 1′ with Leela Olson of Bliss Healing Arts.

Spring Update 2011

Spring has FINALLY sprung (I hope).  The flowers are popping, the pastures greening up and the animals are restless in their winter paddocks.  Its my favorite day in the spring when I am able to release the horses out to the summer pasture.  Its downright joyous, watching them romp and munch on the new grass.  It will need to dry out alittle more before that day comes, but it will be soon.

This is a busy time of year on the farm, with lots to do…

Piglets have arrived.  Three this year.  My niece, Marina named them Salt, Pepper and Basil.  Now there’s a kid who knows where her bacon comes from….

The calves, Tbone and Porter (aka Willy and Wally for my vegetarian friends), are settling in nicely.  I recently moved them down to the lower barn in anticipation of some electric fence training and more space for turnout.  Two days ago I let them out with Bogie as a trial.  They went right to the electric fence and put their sorry little noses squarely on the lowest strand.  Good boys.  Some lessons just have to be learned the hard way…

Porter and Tbone kick it up in their new enclosure

Just now, I was called away from my writing by the sound of thundering hooves.  I went to the window to watch Ripple and Reno tearing around their winter track.  What a sight, these huge horses galloping full speed, stop, spin, buck, run some more.    Ripple in particular is fun to watch, as he figures out how much better he feels this spring.  He moves tentatively at first, then you can see the idea click in that it feels ok to him.  Then he bucks and steps it up into high gear.  You can almost hear a ‘weeeeeeeeeee’, like a little kid on a rollar coaster, coming psychically from him.  Nothing says spring like a frisky horse!

What’s going on at Resting Heart Farm this Spring and Summer:

In the store, we currently have lots of eggs, both chicken and duck.  All are organic, free range and antibiotic free.  Our duck eggs are spectacular, with a rich buttery flavor.  They make the best omelets and frittadas, a great way to clean out your fridge leftovers on a sunday morning.

We will have fresh Goat Cheese toward the end of May.  We are expecting kids in the next week or two.  You can check our latest store offerings here.  For directions, click here.

Ripple Love Fest, Sunday, May 1st.

TBA,  June 25/26

Hands on Driving Workshop.  July 10th.  Reno and I have been asked to come teach at the Animal-Power Field Days at the NOFA Summer Conference in August.  I like to do a dry run ahead of time and this is it.  So if you have an interest in driving and want to learn more, come on over.  Donations will go to Frog Pond Draft Horse Rescue.  

Reiki Level 1.  August 7th.  Leela Olsen will return to the farm for a more formal Reiki workshop.  Proceeds will go to Frog Pond Draft Horse Rescue.

Northeast Animal-Power Field Days at NOFA Summer Conference.  August 12-14.  Amherst, MA.  Info at NOFA Summer Conference.

Draft Animal Power Network Annual Gathering at Fairwinds Farm. Sept 16-18. More details to come.

Updates to follow…Happy Spring, everyone!

New Format…

Some of you may have noticed the style and format of my blog has changed a few times this week.  I’ve been searching for the right theme.  Both appealing to the eye and functional.  I think I have settled on this one.  Check it out.  I’ve updated our home page and added a page that highlights what the farm is selling each week.  Feedback appreciated.

February Farm Update

Squarely in the middle of the herd...

Ripple has integrated nicely into the herd.  Still the low man in status, he can be found sharing hay with everyone, but Reno at this point.  He is starting to stand his ground more when getting pushed around and I see alot more sparring going on now.  He can be found in the middle of the herd and in the barn lying down, now.

I did fecals on everyone this week and was happy to see that Ripple did not have a heavy count, so I’ll do a course of Worm Foe from Silver Lining Herbs over the next full moon.  Its a natural wormer than simply creates an inhospitable environment for parasites by alkalizing the GI tract.  I also use Herbal Tonic from Dynamite , which is very similar.  I like to get everyone cleaned up before the snow melts, to avoid overloading the spring pastures with parasites.

We have alot of snow, so it will be some time before we see green pastures, but the days are definately getting longer and the chickens have started back into production, sure signs that spring is around the corner.  So if you are looking for some farm fresh, free range (an oxymoron in the winter), organic eggs, stop on by…the farm store is open.  Hope to have duck eggs soon.

Every February I get the gardening itch to grow something.  I will start some seeds indoors next week.  Artichokes and Hot peppers to start with…..keeps me hopeful for spring.

Spring is coming…

Our first broody hen..a red silkie.

Well,  its looking alot like spring…for the uninitiated!  While we’ll likely receive more snow and freezing weather, I look for any opportunity to be optimistic about the coming warmer weather!

So what’s new on the farm?  We have our first broody chicken..a year old red silkie, Silvia.  She is sitting on 8 banty eggs and we expect some young chicks next week if all goes well.   She has decided on a pretty cold time of year to sit, but maybe she knows something I don’t.

Both Beaugart, our new rescue and Reno, our rehab project are flourishing and getting strong…more in separate posts.  Stay tuned.

Upcoming events on the farm:

Sunday March 21st…’Beyond Dairy:  Raw Milk Processing and Cheese Making’, presented by Lisa McCrory from Earthwise Farm in Bethel, VT.  This class is full, but if you have interest in raw milk or cheesemaking, please email me (judkinsj.uvnn@gmail.com).  We will plan another class later in the season.

Saturday April 3rd…’Hoop House Raising’. Have you ever thought about putting up a high tunnel or hoop house to extend your growing season?  Well, I’ve been reseaching the project and plan to conduct a hoophouse seminar.  We’ll build a hoop house out of PVC, wood and wigglewire.   Plans, material lists, cost, and resource list will be provided and plans will be made for the next hoophouse raising at your house.  Lunch provided.  No fee…just bring your cordless drill  Email me if interested… judkinsj.uvnn@gmail.com .

Piglets are arriving next month.  They are on the ground and 2 weeks old as we speak.  I went over to check them out this week…darling little things.  This year Resting Heart Farm is raising pigs, co-op style.  Piglets are available for sale, by the half or whole…live.  We will arrange feed and board then humane slaughtering on the farm and custom butchering for select clients and family.

Saturday April 17th…Plowing Bee at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT.  Sponsored by Green Mountain Draft Horse Association.  Meeting to follow.  Reno will be attending and we are hoping to pull a walking plow!  http://www.greenmountaindraft.org/ for more info.

Saturday May 1st…GMDHA  Auction at Addison County Fairgrounds.

So begins one of my favorite and busiest seasons.  I hope to start blogging weekly again now that my ‘seasonal affective disorder’ has started to lift

Reno helps salvage a fallen Maple tree after the ice storm

How do dogs know?

Over the years I have read stories reporting evidence that dogs ‘know’ when their ‘person’ is coming home (before they actually arrive).  Some of it seems plausible, but on the other hand…who really knows what our dogs are thinking.  Mom has always told me that Max (my devoted 2 yo rescued mutt) ‘knows’ when I am nearly home.  He goes to the door and begs to be freed.  She sees or hears no sign of me, but as soon as she lets him out he goes running for the road and then she sees my truck take the turn onto Philbrick Hill, which is still quite aways from home.  How does he know?  I’ve always passed it off as coincidence…

So I have arrived home from my 5 day trip and found the dogs…both Max and Newt (my yorkie) exhuberantly waiting for me…..not a surprise.  I phone Carolyn once I settled and thank her for caring for the horses and dogs, as well as keeping mom company for the weekend.  She made the oddest report.  She told me that all week and weekend the dogs have followed her everywhere and been completely in her lap.  However, starting this morning, the dogs started distancing themselves and spent the day looking out the windows.  How odd, given that I started my trip early this am.  The striking thing is that it made such an impression on her and so much so that she made a point of telling me about it.    So do dogs really know?

Cilantro Pesto

I love to grow herbs!  Basil and Cilantro are my favorites, although I find room for bay leaves, dill and some oregano.  I make alot of pesto,  in icecube trays and store it frozen.  But storage is an issue for other herbs.  My beloved cilantro bolts to seed by mid July…hardly available for my fall salsa projects.  So I have searched high and low for a storage solution.  I came across this recipe recently and tried it……wonderful!  I froze it in 2 oz rubbermaid containers for use later in the season.

Cilantro Pesto

2 cups, packed, cilantro, chopped, large stems removed

1/2 cup blanched almonds

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1/2 tspn chopped and seeded serrano chile pepper

1/2 tspn kosher salt

1/4 cup olive oil

Method:  In a food processor, pulse cilantro, almonds, onion, chile, and salt until well blended.  With processor running drizzle olive oil in a steady stream.   Add more oil as needed for your use.

Freeze in small containers or ice cube trays and store in freezer.