Her mother was feral, very pregnant, and slaughter bound. We feel fortunate to have rescued and loved her, and we named her Darla. While we never touched her with our hands, we loved her with our hearts…and oddly she loved us back in the most remarkable way, by trusting her last foal to us. Darla was most intentional about allowing … Read More
October 2014 Culture Message
When I was a child, my days were full of horses and books. I was painfully shy and spent every possible moment at the barn, grooming, riding, and filling every second with equine relationships that were safe, loyal and reciprocal. In 10th grade, when my family was moving from France back to Kentucky, my teacher commented on my report card, … Read More
Thank you to the Mother’s
We have said good-bye, good job…and good life to our wonderful, feral mothers. We have been profoundly impacted by their story, strength, selflessness and wisdom. Their babies are now weanlings, and are adjusting beautifully to plenty of playtime…and just the right amount of Red Bucket “Charm Farm”. Their bond with one another has become strong; with the BFF’s McGarrah and … Read More
Celebrating Mother’s
With four newly minted and perfectly healthy little foals scampering, playing, bucking, and frolicking around Red Bucket, it is easy to get lost in all that adorable fun. McGarrah, Kami, Micah, and Mathe are completely distracting during their waking hours, and when they are curled up (or in Mathe’s case completely stretched out) they have the ability to completely derail … Read More
Happy Mother’s Day Darla
Darla never had a Mother Day. She had been robbed of the joy of motherhood, and while foaling, nursing, and loving a foal were not new experiences for her (after all she is a pro) motherhood had brought a fear and anguish that we can only i…magine…in nightmares. Today Darla had her very first Mother’s Day, and the peaceful satisfaction … Read More
Darla the best Mother on the planet!
We have declared Darla to be one of the best Mothers on the planet! While she is is very protective of her precious and very petite filly McGarrah, she is not unnecessarily defensive or distressed. With her watchful and protective mother calling the shots, we are slowly and incrementally making our divine little baby’s world a bit bigger every day. … Read More
Darla and the Fly Mask
To the uninformed person, this photo might appear uninspired and certainly less than remarkable, but of course, they would not have the benefit of the truth beneath the mask. Darla is feral, Red Bucket rescued her with with 12 other pregnant feral mares. While it was not possible to put a halter on her (and frankly no one cared to, … Read More
Grooming away the layers
We continue to be deeply touched by the reciprocal nature of the horse, and how tenderly they can care for one another. While we have slowly begun the daunting task of desensitizing our feral mothers-to-be and ever so patiently started to lay the subterranean foundation of trust, it has not been quick enough to curry away the itchy rain rot … Read More
Beginning to Exhale
Our lovely pregnant and very feral mares are finally demonstrating to us that they are beginning to exhale…just a little bit. What is clear, is that they are counting on being fed and they no longer seem surprised that our movements are slow and our voices are soft. While Lauren is teaching Darcy to lead within the carefully closed doors … Read More
Baby Watch 2014
We are taking baby steps….awaiting the first steps of our new babies, and the first moments of our their little lives. Our preparations are not what new “parents” dream of, our cameras are set to protect rather than capture, our moments are tense rather than anticipatory, and we hope for just a little more time…rather than hope for the impending … Read More
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