Responsible horse ownership goes far beyond riding - it means providing the best possible care and attention throughout every stage of a horse’s life.
Here at my farm, my stable team takes great care of my horses and their daily needs. They also make sure we have a well-planned emergency preparedness program in place, so my horses are always safe and ready for any unexpected situation. Yesterday, the emergency first-aid kit was checked and my horses practiced trailer training. Each one learned to calmly approach, load into, and stand comfortably in a trailer - a process that requires patience, positive reinforcement, and most of all trust.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
One by one, each of my horses is taken out of his stall and guided to the trailer positioned behind my stable complex. This is my Fell Pony Ban Chunch. He’s a very stable and fearless steed.
This is the back of my trailer. This trailer accommodates two horses and all the necessary horse tack and other supplies needed for travel. It is well-padded and very comfortable.
Shavings are spread on the floor for good footing.
In the front cabin, there are ample hooks for all the bridles, girths, and harnesses.
There are also hooks for rakes, muck shovels, and brooms.
For this exercise, the doors are opened wide, so the horses can see well into the trailer.
Using carrots, grown in my garden and cut up into bite sized pieces, Ban Chunch is easily coaxed up the short ramp and into the trailer.
While one leads Ban Chunch in, Helen stands nearby to make sure the pony walks straight up the ramp.
Here is Ban Chunch from the front. He is kept inside for just a few moments and then backed out of the space the same way he entered.
Bond is next. All my horses are familiar with the trailer, but it is always good practice to let them enter and exit occasionally, so it continues to be a good experience for them.
Always give an animal time to adjust to different surroundings and unfamiliar activities. While Bond has been in a trailer many times, it is important to make every approach positive and calm.
Bond also does well – walking in and out without much hesitation. The process is based largely on trust. All the horses trust my team to keep them safe and happy.
Backing up is also done carefully. Horses are guided out, so they don’t walk off the ramp. Training horses to be accustomed to loading and unloading reduces stress and prevents accidents.
Here’s Hylke ready for his turn. All the horses did so well with their training. This exercise will be repeated every now and then to ensure they are ready for any necessary transport.
Next, Helen checks the first aid supplies. First aid kits tailored for horses are available at most horse supply companies and online.
A well-stocked horse first aid kit should include wound care, bandaging materials, medications, monitoring tools, and practical equipment to stabilize injuries. It is important to check any first aid kit periodically to ensure supplies are up to date and in good condition.
The kit should be sturdy, water resistant, and easy-to-transport. Helen also makes sure it is stored in an easy to access location.
Every day, my horses are turned out into their pastures. In the warmer weather, they are turned out in the evenings and in colder weather, they are brought out early in the morning.
Turning horses out every day is essential to good, responsible horse ownership. Horses need ample time to move freely in a pasture, paddock, or other outdoor enclosure to support physical health, digestive functions, mental well-being, and natural behaviors. My horses love to be outdoors in any kind of weather.
This is Stewart, one of two Frisians I rescued last year. It’s so nice to see them enjoying their new life here at Cantitoe Corners.
After a day of riding, grooming, and trailer training, they’re now happy to be grazing, rolling, and frolicking in this giant pasture.
Fall officially begins today, but here at the farm, we’re still busy completing many of our late-summer gardening chores.
Maintaining a working farm is a tremendous responsibility and requires an enormous amount of time, care, and hard work. To keep everything thriving and looking its best, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew are always tending to a long list of projects — from weeding the garden beds and pruning the trees to carefully grooming the many boxwood shrubs. Phurba Sherpa, who has worked with me for many years, recently finished grooming my long Boxwood Allée.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I am very fond of boxwood, Buxus, and have hundreds of these bold green shrubs. The ones in my long Boxwood Allée have grown quite a bit this summer. I take very special care of these specimens and make sure they are pruned and groomed regularly.
Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood. The boxes are native to western and southern Europe, southwest, southern and eastern Asia, Africa, Madagascar, northernmost South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The leaves on boxwood branches are arranged opposite from each other, making pairs.
Here, one can see the newest growth that needs trimming. Boxwoods are slow growing compared to many other shrubs, with growth rate depending on the variety. Typically, most varieties grow three to six inches per year.
I asked my resident Boxwood pruning expert, Phurba Sherpa, to give the Allée a good, quick trim – just to go over each shrub and quickly remove the new growth.
This task is done carefully with two main tools. These are Okatsune 30-inch long Hedge Shears. Okatsune shears are light and precise, and come in a range of sizes.
For thicker branches, Phurba uses the STIHL HSA 26 Battery-Powered Hedge Trimmer. It’s one of my favorite tools to use around the farm – it’s so light and handy.
The STIHL HSA 26 Hedge Trimmer holds the charge well. The battery strength indicator on the side is easy to read, and can be checked frequently during the task at hand.
The precision-engineered blade creates very clean, controlled cuts that don’t damage the plants.
It’s a huge task to prune all the boxwood. Phurba takes his time and thoughtfully goes over each shrub – only taking off the new growth sticking out.
Here is a closeup of what Phurba is tasked with cutting – just these tips.
This tool has a rubberized handle for comfort and a secure grip and it comes with its own roll-up case to store all its accessories. This attachment with double-sided cutting blades cuts in both directions.
It is great for cutting branches that are a bit thicker in diameter.
Here, Phurba also uses it to shape the shrubs, which are round by design.
The STIHL HSA 26 is also great to use in noise sensitive areas.
Here, Phurba is cutting with his hand shears. Phurba keeps the shears close to him with his hands midway down the handles. This allows the best control.
And occasionally he stops to sharpen the blades – it’s important to keep tools in their best condition to get the best results. I always impress upon the crew to take good care of the equipment and tools.
And then he continues trimming, knowing well that the shears will cut quickly and efficiently.
Any pruned debris is gathered and brought to the compost pile later.
Here are some of the trimmed boxwood shrubs. This boxwood is so lush and green. It looks even more stunning when freshly manicured.
On the north side of the Boxwood Allée are horse pastures. On the left is my three-acre living maze. Driving down the Allée, one can get glimpses of both.
Here is one long side just after Phurba finished grooming the shrubs – so well done.
From the far end, this 450-foot Boxwood Allée looks so wonderful. It runs from my stable all the way to the carriage road that leads to my hayfields and woodlands. Thanks, Phurba.
Summer may be over for another year, but my garden is still producing beautiful, fresh vegetables.
Last week, my housekeepers harvested another wonderful assortment, including tomatoes, eggplants, okra, peppers, carrots, beans, and more - all to enjoy and share with my family, friends, and my team here at the farm. It's been a very productive growing season.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I have such beautiful bold orange carrots this season. When pulling carrots, carefully loosen the soil around the carrot and then grab the carrot near its shoulder, where the green tops connect to the root and gently twist and pull from the soil.
Summer squash is best harvested when young, tender, and about eight inches long, with glossy, slightly firm skin.
Sweet bell peppers are popular in the garden – all are grassy in flavor and crunchy in texture. All bell peppers start green, but some are bred to remain green at full maturity.
In some varieties, the pepper matures and the chlorophyll breaks down, revealing other pigments called carotenoids that produce yellow, orange, and red colors.
Here’s a deep glossy purple bell pepper. And all are great for stuffing because they have hollow cavities and thick walls, which hold up their shape during cooking.
I also grow many hot peppers to share. These thrive in full sun and are ready to pick when they are firm and about three inches long.
Just be careful when picking peppers – always keep the hot ones separated from the sweet ones, so there is no surprise in the kitchen.
And look at these beautiful lettuce heads. I always plant in succession. Succession planting is a practice of seeding crops at intervals of seven to 21 days in order to maintain a consistent supply of harvestable produce throughout the season. This dramatically increases a garden’s yield, while also improving produce quality.
It was a great tomato season at my farm, especially for these cherry tomatoes, the small, round fruits known for their sweet flavor, bite-sized form, and culinary versatility.
It’s good to pick eggplants when they are young and tender. This eggplant is perfect.
The globe artichoke, Cynara scolymus, is actually a flower bud. They are generally harvested once they reach full size, just before the bracts begin to spread open. Artichoke harvest starts in late July or early August and continues well until frost.
The edamame is also growing abundantly. If you’re not familiar, edamame is the same soybean that makes tofu. Eaten as beans, they taste a bit like peas and are buttery with a hint of sweetness and nuttiness.
All my herbs are still going strong too. Curley parsley is milder than the flat, but it is great to use as a decorative garnish, giving dishes pops of color.
This is sage. Sage is commonly used to season poultry or sausage, infuse butter, or to add flavor to root vegetables like sweet potatoes or parsnips.
Okra is ready to harvest when pods are about two to four inches long, typically three to four days after the flower blooms. A good sign is when they are picked – they should snap cleanly when bent.
After any harvest, the freshly picked vegetables are loaded up and brought to my flower room, where they can be washed if needed, then bagged and stored in the refrigerator. It makes me so happy to be able to share all of this produce with my family and friends.
The carrots are rinsed in cold water and scrubbed of any leftover soil.
Okra is kept dry and unwashed until ready to use. And it lasts about three to five days in the refrigerator.
There are two types of green beans. Pole beans grow on climbing vines and require trellising. Bush beans like these grow on bushes up to two feet and do not need support. And with the proper care, the bushes can produce beans through the entire season.
I grow classic green beans, purple, and yellow beans. Yellow beans lack chlorophyll and will keep their color when cooked.
And here are the beautiful bell peppers. These will also be kept dry and unwashed in the refrigerator until used.
On the left are birds beak peppers, also known as Pimenta Biquinho – small, round peppers with a tapered tip that resembles a bird’s beak. They originated in Brazil and are known for their tangy, fruity flavor and mild heat level. I like to pickle them. On the right are pear tomatoes or teardrop tomatoes. They are generally sweet, and are in the shape of a pear, but smaller. I am so excited to grow all of these at my farm. Have you looked at your garden lately? You may still find some treasures.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
