First the disclaimer. Horses are a touchy subject because there are so many people with different levels of experience, and different methods, and feelings get hurt easy. Anyway. Horses learn to be bad very easy. They also learn to be good, but need a good person to teach them. Horses that come from a trainer can be good, and then when with their owners who don't know as much, they start to be bad. Horses are always being taught something, everyday, but it is difficult to realize what you (ourselves) are teaching them. Horses are herd animals and want to be with their buddies more than anything. Even if they fight. As to the fighting, separating them before they sort things out is not generally a good idea. Eventually, one of the horses will give in and say "uncle" and then they won't fight so much. Of course, in the couple minutes to an hour that may take, one of the horses could get seriously wounded, but that is the risk you take. Sometimes, there are reasons to keep fighting, like everyday the food shows up and the weaker one doesn't get out of the way fast enough. Having a pen that is too small is a problem, because the weaker one needs to get out of the way. So if you keep having problems, I bet your pen is too small. And when you feed, you need to grab the boss first and tie him until he's not so hungry and cranky. Also, you need to feed hay in two locations about 20 feet apart. A horse that bites doesn't know that the person is the boss. There are different ways to show a horse who is boss (and this is where horse people really fight with each other). My suggestion is an everyday approach, keeping in mind that every day horses are learning from you, good or bad. Your interaction must require him to submit to you. He can't point is butt to you, he can't feed without you telling him it is ok. He can't walk in your space. And he certainly can't bite you. If he is doing those bad things, then don't feed him that moment, don't let him stand still that moment. Work him by moving him out from you. In a round pen, you would work him around and around. You on ground, you with whip, you motioning for him to get moving. But be very quick to recognize good behavior and instantly reward it. In a round pen, the reward is letting him stop, letting him come nicely to you. If not working in a round pen, if not using a whip to move him, at least get a hold of him and not let him eat until he stands nice for you. Then say "ok" and let him eat. Every day. Every darn day. Take this approach to everything you do with the horse. If the horse is being bad, don't tolerate it. Is the goal to ride the horse or is it to have a good horse? If the horse is being bad while saddling, address that. Don't just skip over that part to get to the riding. Also, look for things that might be pinching him, because it might be your fault if the saddle doesn't fit. In my view, hitting a horse is a waste of time. Not saying you are hitting, but just wanted to say. Instead, you have to outlast him. Go slow, and praise the good behavior. When bad behavior happens, do it again, do it again, do it again, when good behavior happens praise him. Do what again and again? Do whatever it is that is causing the bad behavior. Take saddle off and put it back on, take saddle off and put it back on, when he doesn't bite then praise him and go onto the next step. Get the picture of the tediousness of the battle day in and day out? That's what I mean by outlasting. The mistake, in my mind, is when people say "oh, forget it, let's just get onto the next step". That's when the horse wins and gets away with it. By the way, there are no bad horses. Just bad teachers. Every person who interacts with the horse is a teacher. You, your husband, your kids, you are all teachers. What are you teaching the horse every day?

Home Depot has those orange buckets with lids for $3.00. I always carry them with me; the lids fit tight, so as not to spill over. A bucket is like getting a bag bought from the store only free. I use five buckets to make the trip worth it. To use the manure I fill the bucket with water and let it soak for a while, and then use the liquid as a fertilizer around some of my more hardy plants. I am hoping that by soaking the manure I will be killing the bugs that I get here, like scorpions, centipedes and roaches large as mice, and of course speed decomposition. The lid will help keep any smells from bumming your neighbors and help drown anything that might crawl out. I then use the stuff without composting it, by digging a hole or trench near where I plant. By the time the plant is big enough the manure has mellowed. Keep in mind that I am in zone 11, manure break down fast here. Oh and just go to the front office and ask and they will give you the run down on the place like: do not drive too fast, the horse riders have the right away, if you open a gate close it, do not leave gates open, do not feed the horses, though they love them over sized carrots from the garden and if you bring your dog to the stables do not let him chase the chickens. There are probably more rules; those are just the ones that I know, now. Mostly though horse people are good folks and do not mind you being there. John

Lois - It is realy everything I can do to keep from ordering "something" this year. I am not moving or at least I hope not but Dad is not well and I don't know what is up for the coming year. Many changes I suspect. I am only getting my reserves and some annuals. I doubt that I will have even tomatoes this year unless I grow them on the deck. We are hoping to buy this old house from the rest of my sibs as we are all part owners. I have been here taking care of Dad for 5 years and the flowers are mine! We would like to rebuild and design my new yard/gardens. As it is I will have to move a lot of my Peonies and Irises in order to build or I will be sending a lot of you people some very expensive plants if we don't stay here! Maybe I will rent a field or two. :) Till then, all my babies are in holding beds. :D Ginny P.S. Anyone know where crazygardener has been?

Amy!!!! I am so glad I found you. We have just ordered our plans today. I have looked and looked for a blog about the Rockin’ farmhouse for months. I found it today!! We have looked at the pictures posted on AD’s website a thousand times and have had to use our imagination. You and Crystal have answered so many of our question but we still have so many more . Are you still open to the idea of allowing someone visit your home? We would LOVE to visit and see exactly how it all comes together. We are located near Nashville. Danielle