Letters From Beth

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Surprise!

Last Saturday Chloe, our sheep, surprised us with Purple Feather Farm's first lamb! We are so excited about this new little one. Pearl, as we've christened her, is a healthy, beautiful, solid black little ewe and spends all of her time either eating, bouncing or sleeping. Chloe has proven to be a wonderful mother even though Pearl is just her first baby. Pearl will be available for sale later this summer after she's weaned. She is priced at $300. In the mean time, we'll be enjoying our latest bundle of joy! Be sure to come by and visit the proud mama and adorable baby when you come for a lesson, pony ride or field trip!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Sheep Shearing

Recently it was Shearing Day at the farm! This was Pippin and Chloe's first shearing so it was quite the event here! The lady who sheared them was extremely nice and did a fantastic job. Thankfully, Pippin and Chloe tolerated being sheared pretty well. They look so funny now without their wool! The wool is beautiful (especially Pippin's) and I can't wait to wash it and start crafting with it! There are so many projects I'm looking forward to trying. I can't wait to start spinning, dying, felting, and eventually crocheting the fleeces. Here are some pictures from Sheep Shearing Day at Purple Feather Farm:

Chloe Before

Pippin Before

Pippin getting his "winter coat" removed

Chloe getting sheared

Chloe After

Pippin After

Alf

Alf is an adorable little 2 year old chestnut gelding. He's currently only about 13 hands or so. I can't wait to start working with him. He is very sweet, willing and smart! I'll be using the Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods focusing only on ground work for now because he is too young to be ridden yet. I will keep you posted on his progress.

Alf is also available for adoption. For more info about the Georgia Equine Rescue League and adopting Alf check out their website: Here.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Koda, My One-Eyed Wonder Horse

I’ve always loved horses—always—and I’ve had a horse of my own for over six years now, but it wasn’t until last year that I started reading about equine rescue. Once I learned about the importance of equine rescue I searched the internet trying to find an organization in my area. I found The Georgia Equine Rescue League (GERL). I read everything on their site. Finally, I read about becoming a foster home and I decided I wanted to get involved. It seemed perfect. We had plenty of space and time and love! I told my parents all about it and they were on board. My mom told me that I needed to find out what we needed to do and I needed to do it.

So, after talking it over with my parents I emailed Becky Gregory about how I could become a foster home for GERL. She was great about helping me out and by October of last year we were an approved foster home! We waited about a month and then I got an email from Becky with a picture of a sorrel and white medicine hat gelding with beautiful blue eyes. Truly, I think I fell in love with him then. She told me that he had been rescued, rehabbed and adopted earlier in the year, but due to circumstances outside of his adoptive mom’s control, he was now being put back into foster care. His right eye also had cancer and would probably have to be removed.

About a week after I got that email Koda arrived. From the moment he stepped off of the trailer he’s been wonderful and I’ve been in love! Koda got off the trailer like he was arriving home. He was just so relaxed and calm. Within two days he and my two geldings were grazing together contentedly. Before the end of that first week we had already gone for a couple of rides. He rode great even though he was still a little green. He also stood still for the vet to check on his eye. The vet confirmed that Koda would have to have his eye removed. Things moved really quickly after that. Both of the wonderful vets from New South Equine came and removed Koda’s eye. They did a great job!

Koda recovered quickly and acts like nothing happened. Amazingly just days after surgery he was still not spooky and just two weeks later he rode great, and acted totally normal! He continues to amaze me every day!

Well, about a month after Koda arrived Becky asked me if I’d like to adopt Koda. Of course, after my parents and I discussed it we decided that Koda was a part of the family now! Even my aged Morgan gelding loved him—the two of them are usually side by side and eat out of the same pile of hay. None of us can imagine life without him now! He’s been absolutely wonderful! We currently enjoy riding at our house and on our street and are using the Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods. We’re hoping to go on some trail rides and compete in local shows soon! I also look forward to fostering for GERL again!

I am so thankful that God brought the Georgia Equine Rescue League and Koda into my life!

Happy Trails,

Beth Eavenson

Monday, February 27, 2012

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 5

Fantastic, Fun, Fabulous! Those are all great words to describe our final day of Horse Camp at Purple Feather Farm! I got pictures printed of everyone from throughout the week and we put together scrapbooks. All of the girls are so creative and all of their scrapbooks turned out wonderful! After a devotion, craft time and lunch we went to ride. On the last day everyone got to show off their new riding skills and take home all of their crafts and coloring pages. I think everyone had a wonderful time--I know I did!

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 4

Since today was rainy we decided to have some indoor horsey fun. We watched a couple of The Saddle Club movies, popped pop corn, and baked horse treats. After the fog finally rolled away we went and fed the animals. Today was a fun, lazy day! Everyone needs a day like that every once in a while! Check out the pics:

Watching the Movie!

Horse Cookies--Yum!

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 3

Day 3 of camp at Purple Feather Farm was another beautiful day! We rode horses, colored pictures of horses, and played Horseopoly again. Eveyone loved that game so much! We also groomed all of the horses and fed the sheep and horses. The kids and horses all seemed to really enjoy the beautiful weather! See for yourself:

Brushing Koda

Riding

Awww! A kiss for Koda!

"I think we're going to be great friends!"

Another round of Horseopoly!

Kristina and Joker

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 2

Despite the on/off rain and freezing temperatures, my five little campers still stuck it out and had a great time! Today we did lots of indoor/in-barn activities. We colored pictures of horses, learned about different breeds and colors of horses, decorated Valentine's Day cookies, ate Valentine's Day cookies, made Valentine's Day cards, played Horseopoly in the hayloft, and drank hot chocolate--and Koda didn't drink anyone's hot chocolate today, thankfully! The horses even got in on the celebrations and each got to eat a sugar cookie. Everyone had a lot of fun!

Check out some of the pictures from Day Two at Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp:

Someone really, really liked sprinkles!

More cookies!

Hot chocolate and cookies--nothing could be better!

Faith in the middle of decorating.

Authentic Horseopoly, played in the hayloft of my barn on a "table" made of hay!

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 1

The first day of camp at Purple Feather Farm was a great success! We painted horseshoes, fed the farm animals, brushed Red Rock, rode Joker, and gave treats to all three of the horses. The kids also colored and learned about what it takes to care for a horse. All of the girls were very sweet and got along great. Camp has been wonderful so far! I can't wait for tomorrow! Take a look at some of the pictures from today and see for yourself how much fun we've been having!