Courtship Ranch

Goat wrangling at the ranch this morning

Valentines day with my big boy at a Cavaletti clinic in Somis with Erika Jansson. He really started to get some suspension!

Giovanni and Phil taking a stroll down the barn

Christmas spent cleaning up the gifts that our livestock keep giving. Happy holidays everyone .

Do you think I might have been disturbing him? The life of a ranch dog is very tiring.

The pasture horses being entertained by Phil fixing the electric gate.

Anyone missing a canine? Came across these 2 while out on the trail in the wash this afternoon. No collars and wouldn't let us catch them. Wouldn't come to us either when we called.

Dundee checking out the competition at the ride/walk by Christmas gift handout at Courtship today

This hummingbird is always sitting on the wire above the driveway. I speak to him every time I see him.

Meanwhile Bentley chooses to hang out on the roof of the small hay shed where he can watch over everything unmolested by the totally ignorant dogs.

Seems there is more than one pig on the ranch. Giovani might get jealous.

Now its starting to look like it should

The footing starting to go down. Not sure if I should be paying Dean to do this, it looks like he is having too much fun!

This gentle giant of a horse showed up here with his halter zip tied together and thus earned his barn name. He was a delight to own and ride. It was with great sadness and a concern for his failing health that he was put down earlier this week. He was a true treasure and a one of a kind horse.

Today is my birthday. It has not been the easiest year here at special spirit. We are still going strong as always though. COVID19 has meant we have been unable... to continue our usual schedule. We have been unable to carry out most lessons, which was our main source of revenue. This has negatively impacted our financial situation. Of course this is the same case for a lot in this difficult period. Special spirit have done an amazing job to make a positive difference to those dealing with physical and cognitive challenges. This is a mission that we here at special spirit are extremely proud of. This rough patch will not slow us down in our hard work or stop us. However, we need the peoples support to continue delivering the incredible work we collectively achieve here at special spirit. If anyone wishes to support us then any donation we receive will be massively useful to us. Any amount never goes unappreciated. Please share this post if you can. Wishing everyone the best in these troubling times. In the picture, our 3 amigos, Andrew Rivera, Molly Elizabeth Doucette and Paul Alonzo, the first riders at Special Spirit with the horses they competed on at the Kiwanis Horse Show, Chief, Algot and Pumpkin.

Phil and Ed building a Taj Mahal for the new additions to our family coming next week, a goat and pig. Stay tuned for photos of their arrival...

New silica sand coming into the arena today and guess who thinks its just for them?

Getting ready for all new footing. Thank you Tractor dean with West Coast Footings for making sure everything is perfect!

After ignoring th efake snake on the tree for months Angel finally decides that it has miraculously become a live.

Here is a photo of our youngest equestrian out enjoying a day when we finally had some clear air. They are never too young to start!

I think Ziptie might have pushed Drifter over either that or Drifter has passed out from the heat.

In this heat even the dogs don't want to walk!

If you have to get up on the roof to fix the weather station you might as well do it on one of the hottest days, right?

Anyone know what type of wild flower this is? It grows in the wash near the water. It is not Indian Paintbrush.

Can you find the 3 coyotes?