I love this article! Thank you for writing and sharing it.
I grow a garden and small orchard in Southern Florida which has it’s own elements of challenge to it and therefore makes relating to this article so easy for me.
Your comment: “Small farmers generally do not compete with each other, but rather compete against the elements, random hardships, setbacks and fate. One key thing that makes them so different from most other folks.” Along with the comment about “...willing to share their knowledge...”
To me this spirit of sharing with each other while together fighting the elements and fate are the bedrock of the hope America represented in the world for hundreds of years. And that spirit still grows wild with those of us who farm.
Quartz's color is exactly like my first horse Peaches. She had a prettier head and prettier all over which isn't saying much. Ha. She was mostly quarter horse, but they had a Buckskin registry back then just starting. She won every western pleasure class because her trot was like riding a rocking horse. I won some horsemanship stuff and was on the Michigan State Junior Judging Team. I also had a 3/4 Arab horse I showed dressage and flat seat English. He was broken to a cart, too. Beautiful horse. I miss them. It's hard hard work caring for horses, so that will keep you young. I would have considered homesteading if I had known much about it when I was young. Instead, I moved around the country and became a literary writer (cancelled now from my press Wayne State University and worked out of my adjunct queue at Northern Michigan University). So homesteading sounds a lot more appealing in hindsight! Maybe I could have still written, kept my horses, and got myself some chickens. I have an English Shepherd dog (collie family, a little bigger than Border Collie). Ah well. I haven't read your article yet. Just Quartz took me back. (If I was depressed, I'd lie full length on her back in her stall while she ate, my head pressed against her neck and I could hear amplified chewing--I visualize that in moments of stress).
So glad Virginia is your home. I am proud of our state's heritage, but hoping one day it will return to freedom, family, and faith. Keep sharing! Your voice is needed in these crazy times.
What beauties, and I appreciate your focus on function, along with form. Without the function, the form is not meaningful, and can be negative to the health of the animal. The same is true with dogs, and has been demonstrated by some of the AKC's breed standards - resulting in physical and temperament problems.
Such magnificent horses, I miss the days when we had mares and foals, I loved watching them and bringing up happy, settled horses. Grateful you have your farm to keep you settled as well. Blessings on you.
Your posts remind me that staying grounded to our existence and invested in Reality are two of the transcendent benefits of Homesteading. Based on my own experience of dairy farming as a youth, and then homestead farming as an adult, time with the animals, livestock included, is both good for the soul and the mind. I and many others contemplate how the transformation of our American culture from an agrarian to a service economy has decayed the fabric of our society, and the understanding of Purpose and Reality that underlies that fabric.
Some of the best thinking I have ever done has taken place while mucking a stall, lugging food and water, or the dreaded picking rocks from the field that seemed to have grown over the winter!
Nov 15, 2023·edited Nov 15, 2023Liked by Robert W Malone MD, MS
This is why I love this part of your reveal. Anyone who knows horses can see the love and respect between you and the horses. Humane and educated knowledge of training and general care is displayed through the horse's behavior. Anyone who deems you anything other than this is a fool, in my opinion. And there are plenty of those, now aren't there... (I remember the naming and birthing pics of some) I just looked at the pics of Quartz and got tears from the beauty!
Handsome friends! Your horses are exceptional and surely a joy to share your world with. Great pix and its good to see their owner looking trim. From my 36 yrs with my mare, they surely make our lives more satisfying. Thanks so very much for sharing.
Hoping your securing replacement passports went well yesterday.
With great appreciation, wishing you all happiness! ♡♡♡
Quartz is magnificent . Topazio is beautiful as well. They are quite a pair. Love the picture of you in your Portuguese Calvary uniform. Jade is stunning. Thanks for sharing.
Your horseraising stories are helping me to have more respect for this animal. As a kid on the farm in the 40’s and 50’s, the only breed I was familiar with were a pair of Belgians. Great working horses. Did some plowing with them and used them for a couple years for mowing, windrowing and putting up hay and spreading manure. Machinery replaced them. In Colorado I preferred a mule for riding mountain trails. Bob and Nellie were characters, each with its own personality. Bob would get a little lazy working and start to slack only to have Nellie turn and give him a good nip on the neck. He straightened out. Keep your stories coming.
They are so beautiful, grand, classy, and they look like they could be a little sassy!
I love this article! Thank you for writing and sharing it.
I grow a garden and small orchard in Southern Florida which has it’s own elements of challenge to it and therefore makes relating to this article so easy for me.
Your comment: “Small farmers generally do not compete with each other, but rather compete against the elements, random hardships, setbacks and fate. One key thing that makes them so different from most other folks.” Along with the comment about “...willing to share their knowledge...”
To me this spirit of sharing with each other while together fighting the elements and fate are the bedrock of the hope America represented in the world for hundreds of years. And that spirit still grows wild with those of us who farm.
Quartz's color is exactly like my first horse Peaches. She had a prettier head and prettier all over which isn't saying much. Ha. She was mostly quarter horse, but they had a Buckskin registry back then just starting. She won every western pleasure class because her trot was like riding a rocking horse. I won some horsemanship stuff and was on the Michigan State Junior Judging Team. I also had a 3/4 Arab horse I showed dressage and flat seat English. He was broken to a cart, too. Beautiful horse. I miss them. It's hard hard work caring for horses, so that will keep you young. I would have considered homesteading if I had known much about it when I was young. Instead, I moved around the country and became a literary writer (cancelled now from my press Wayne State University and worked out of my adjunct queue at Northern Michigan University). So homesteading sounds a lot more appealing in hindsight! Maybe I could have still written, kept my horses, and got myself some chickens. I have an English Shepherd dog (collie family, a little bigger than Border Collie). Ah well. I haven't read your article yet. Just Quartz took me back. (If I was depressed, I'd lie full length on her back in her stall while she ate, my head pressed against her neck and I could hear amplified chewing--I visualize that in moments of stress).
Loved this! I am a life long horse fan. Your Lusitanos are truly stunningly beautiful and amazing horses.
Love your commentaries of life on the farm.
So glad Virginia is your home. I am proud of our state's heritage, but hoping one day it will return to freedom, family, and faith. Keep sharing! Your voice is needed in these crazy times.
What beauties, and I appreciate your focus on function, along with form. Without the function, the form is not meaningful, and can be negative to the health of the animal. The same is true with dogs, and has been demonstrated by some of the AKC's breed standards - resulting in physical and temperament problems.
Such magnificent horses, I miss the days when we had mares and foals, I loved watching them and bringing up happy, settled horses. Grateful you have your farm to keep you settled as well. Blessings on you.
Beautiful horses great job ..
These homesteading posts are good for my soul. I appreciate you taking the time to share your interesting life with us.
Sigh. Buckskin...a serious, serous weakness of mine...
Your posts remind me that staying grounded to our existence and invested in Reality are two of the transcendent benefits of Homesteading. Based on my own experience of dairy farming as a youth, and then homestead farming as an adult, time with the animals, livestock included, is both good for the soul and the mind. I and many others contemplate how the transformation of our American culture from an agrarian to a service economy has decayed the fabric of our society, and the understanding of Purpose and Reality that underlies that fabric.
Some of the best thinking I have ever done has taken place while mucking a stall, lugging food and water, or the dreaded picking rocks from the field that seemed to have grown over the winter!
This is why I love this part of your reveal. Anyone who knows horses can see the love and respect between you and the horses. Humane and educated knowledge of training and general care is displayed through the horse's behavior. Anyone who deems you anything other than this is a fool, in my opinion. And there are plenty of those, now aren't there... (I remember the naming and birthing pics of some) I just looked at the pics of Quartz and got tears from the beauty!
Handsome friends! Your horses are exceptional and surely a joy to share your world with. Great pix and its good to see their owner looking trim. From my 36 yrs with my mare, they surely make our lives more satisfying. Thanks so very much for sharing.
Hoping your securing replacement passports went well yesterday.
With great appreciation, wishing you all happiness! ♡♡♡
Quartz is magnificent . Topazio is beautiful as well. They are quite a pair. Love the picture of you in your Portuguese Calvary uniform. Jade is stunning. Thanks for sharing.
Your horseraising stories are helping me to have more respect for this animal. As a kid on the farm in the 40’s and 50’s, the only breed I was familiar with were a pair of Belgians. Great working horses. Did some plowing with them and used them for a couple years for mowing, windrowing and putting up hay and spreading manure. Machinery replaced them. In Colorado I preferred a mule for riding mountain trails. Bob and Nellie were characters, each with its own personality. Bob would get a little lazy working and start to slack only to have Nellie turn and give him a good nip on the neck. He straightened out. Keep your stories coming.
Stunning!! And what a great animal to spend time with. God Bless you and your family.