Kailie and Tiny: Tiny is a kitten that was abandoned by his mom at our horse barn. We took him and and bottle fed him. He often got cold so he loved to cuddle up with our husky mix, Kailie. Tiny will be 2 this fall and was adopted by our friends. He is doing great!

Crocodile in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Another shot of my resident robin and her babies.

This mother robin decided to nest in the cherry tree in my backyard. She must be used to me because she lets me get really close to the nest!

Jackson at the Bara Trac Dressage show, Memorial weekend. Jackson is an American Warmblood.

This is what it looks like when your horse gets a bug in his ear during a dressage test. Lots of ear flicking and head shaking. Then, as he goes around the side by your reader, he flicks the bug out into her face. Aren’t horses fun?

Olivetto enjoying his semi-retirement with Mike. They are doing Dressage First Level.

Olivetto (Ollie) has done a lot in his 15 years. He was owned by Polish olympian Greg Kubiak and was the Polish National Young Horse Champion in 2001. He did not make the 2004 Polish olympic team and was put up for sale. We were in the right place at the right time and had the opportunity to buy him. He was showed by Mike’s cousin on the Michigan jumper circuit and was modified jumper champion two years in a row. He also qualified for the Harrisburg National Horseshow in working hunters. Ollie was the training level dressage champion at Horseshows by the Bay in Traverse City, Michigan. He went to Albion college for 2 years with a friend and was part of their dressage team.

He is an amazing horse. He can still jump upwards of 4ft but we have decided he needs a semi-retirement in dressage. I think the best thing about him is his personality. I was in a bad accident 5 years ago on Halloween with our other horse that left me with a head injury and a fear of horses. There was another incident with that horse last summer and I was totally afraid to be around any horse, even the former therapeutic riding pony at our barn. Strangely, the only horse I wasn’t scared of was Ollie. He is 17.3 hands and I’m only 5ft tall. He literally towers over me. However, he has been nothing but a gentleman with me. He stands stock still when I clip his feet or do anything that could put me in a position to be kicked. He will follow me around in the indoor arena, even trotting beside me if I run and stopping when I stop. I was never able to put horses in trailers before because of my fear and he has helped me get rid of that fear. I don’t ride him now (I did in the past), but I have sat on him a couple times and he has been still and perfect. Ollie has really helped me through a tough time and a lot of fear, and that is so much more important than any awards he has won. I feel so fortunate to have him

Mike and Olivetto, Bara Trac Dressage Show

Goblin in the sun. She is 17 this year. You are seeing it correctly, she has one black eye and one green. She had a blood parasite as a kitten and almost didn’t make it. She is blind in the black eye now but gets around well and, obviously, survived her illness. Goblin loves to bask in the sun!