Bella's Page

Bella started training under saddle with Meg Eades in 2005.  Belle is making great progress and is learning many new things. After a few sessons with Meg and building more confidence myself Bella and I have been training with the help of Mele Miller. Mele was sent to me by god. She has been my mentor since 2005 and I am so greatful. She has also become a true friend. I am so blessed by what my horses and farm have brought to my life.   

Bella has quit a presence and really stands out in a crowd. She has a ton of feather. Jeff had stated she had more than most Stallions.This beautiful horse has really stolen my heart.  I am thankful to Jeff and Chris Bartko at Black Forest Shires and Gypsy Horses from bringing her to the US for me to enjoy.

This is a picture of me taking my turn at riding. Bella is being trained with only a bittless bridle.  She has mostly been ridden bare back. I look forward to many years with this wonderful horse. She and I continue to become closer and she begining to trust me with our round pin work.

Bella had never been truly happy since she has moved her with us until this year. Bella is a dominate mare. When I bought my Gypsy horses in 2004 I had a horse that was sick with ESPM.(Large American Spotted Draft) I bought Bella with 3 young weanlings all fillies. Bella had immediatly took charge and became mother to the fillies. She was pregnant so I am sure it was natural for her instinct to kick in. I didn't have the Gypsies long before my sick horse passed away. Even with her own baby to look after Bella stood tall and took care of all the fillies. Never really laying down to sleep. She taught them manners and they were to always repect her and stay in line. Well after selling Snickers in August. Bella was at my house alone. Gem has been at the barn Doing riding training. It is on the same farm, but far enough away that it was just more convenent to keep Gem at the barn. Mele and I decided to see if Bella would get alone with her very dominate gelding. Bella had been in a large herd the first 3 years of her life, so I thought lets give it a try. Now, just so you know, this dominate gelding (who is named Wonder) is an immpressive bred quarter horse and will fight to the death or the other horse gives up. He will not back down. Bella also had been in a couple bad fights with other mares. We placed Bella, Wonder, Tybee,(a wonderful gentle spotted saddle horse that does like anyone to fight), and Gem. Gem had already been with the geldings and she is still only 4 and just wants someone else to be in charge. 

We go to the barn and turn them out all together staying close by thinking we may need to break up some fights before we see peace........It was so cute. Bella and Wonder both stood their ground. It was a mutual repect from the first moment. Wonder would paw at Bella and Bella instead on running just paws right back. They had a instant bond that brought tears to our eyes. Anyone with horses knows what I mean you have moments when you stand back and look at these majestic animals and stay WOW. They are so large yet so graceful and athletic. You think they will never get what you are teaching and turn your back for a moment and they do it on their own. They are so much smarter than people think at times I know they are smarter than me and I think they do things with me just to entertain themselves.

Bella and Wonder end up respecting each others space and enjoying a horse to whom the other repects. Not all horses are created equal just as people are not. There are followers and leaders. There are horses who could care less if they do anything and other so competitive they will not let the others through a gate before they get through. The ladder is Wonder. He is overweight a little, but this horse when he wants to can run like the wind. He is so competitive he will run across the pasture to get through the gate before the other horses. Bella has such a presence and was around younger horses, so for her it was only a flick of an ear to get through the gate first. I am telling you all this for a reason. Bella and Wonder had been living to gether for about a month. We are starting to see changes in their personalities. I have had Bella 4 years and never saw her lay down and sleep. I went to the barn one morining before sunrise and caught her sleeping so deeply i walked all the way to her before she got up. She finally felt safe. She could trust Wonder to take care of her....he was standing watch while she slept. For those who have studied horse behavior you know this is mare and stallion behavior as they interact in a wild herd. There has been other times now that Wonder has been the one sleeping. The other big change has been Wonder is not as worried about who gets through the gate first. He at times will stand back as if he is watching for everyone to get to the barn then he follows. Bella has also became a very content sweet horse since putting her back in a herd environment. I can go get her and ride her anytime and she is always happy to go, before the herd this was not always true. She doesn't always do what you wanted of her......she at times would have her own agenda and not come to me.

We are going to do a paddock paradise fence this winter or spring as soon as we get enough rain to be able and dig holes. This will allow the horses to move as in a wild environment. Our little herd already poops in certain spots. This is also behavior of natural boarded or wild horses.

I am really excited about watching the herd and continuing to learn from their behavior.