horses – Page 2 – Leaning Tree Trail Rides

Spring

April 12, 2017May 3, 2017 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

It’s been a little while since we’ve shown up on our blog, but it’s Spring and with Spring it means we are hustling around here! Horses have been shuffled around, the lawn has taken top priority for Amara as she buzzes around with her lawn sweep and rake, the pastures have been tidied up and the hair has been flying around getting stuck in our mouths with every visit to the barn. We’ve been doing a lot of our own rides – exercising the horses and checking out new and old trails.

Rosie LOVES people so when Alex showed up on the bale … she was a happy horse.

There’s one thing we are sure of – if you get to hang out with Teddy or are ever so lucky to be mounted on him for your ride, you are going to a) fall in love b) smile a lot

Pretty exciting to have this photograph of Shawn and Tara featured on AB Recreation and Parks Assn on Instagram! If you haven’t checked us out there … go! @leaningtreetrailrides

Natalie is addicted to horses and jumping anything available to jump!

We had our favorites up from Calgary for a visit .. and though the chickens are perhaps the girls’ least favorite animals (and much like everything around here, they are overly friendly), the horses are always getting loved on. Though they could have brushed for hours, we threw the saddle on Dallas and went for a walk.

So that’s a tiny look at to what we’ve been doing (that has been photographed anyways!)! Stay tuned for more fun from the ranch!

For more adventures, news and updates follow us on Instagram!! @leaningtreetrailrides

or send us a message to chat about your summer adventure

we look forward to meeting you!

March!

March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

Winter has been slowly going away and truthfully, I am ready for it! It has been awhile since I’ve updated the going ons around here – which of course just seems to be the usual! Exercising horses when it’s warm, sleigh rides through the forest .. you know, the good stuff! Ensuring bellies are full for those cold blasts – BUT, hair is starting to fly and ending up in my mouth which only means one thing … SPRING! Days are longer and warmer and sitting in front of the computer working gets harder and harder.

We are looking forward to filling up the spring and summer calendar with rides, so don’t hesitate. Head over to the contact button and shoot us a message!

We have had a whole bunch of birthday party inquiries – and yes, we would be so excited to have your youngsters celebrate their birthday out here! Please send us an email, we’d love to chat with you!

If you are looking to fill up a weekend with adventures, please check out THIS incredible cabin on Airbnb literally minutes from us! A cabin to sleep in and horseback riding .. what more could one person need in life 😉

LTTR - March

Taya our niece stayed with us for 9 days in January .. and we always had an abundance of activities (and chores) to do!
LTTR - March

No matter where I go in the yard, they know where I am and they are hoping for some kind of goodies.
LTTR - March

Hours and hours of sleigh rides. Soon the skis will be put in storage and the wheels will be out!
LTTR - March

Frosty and snowy days …
LTTR - March

Denny enjoying an afternoon treat
LTTR - March

Rosie, Belle + Bo
LTTR - March

The nieces spend a lot of time at aunty and uncles … and with the animals 😉 lucky girls right!
LTTR - March

So until next time .. hopefully we will be sloshing around in puddles and lessening the layers of sweaters on horse rides 😉

Happy New Year

January 14, 2017 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

I can’t believe it’s already half way through January! I’m really excited to be working on this adventure and welcoming all of you out to our humble abode. Things have slowed down for me with weddings and client sessions, so I have been filling my days and hours with driving lessons with my mini’s. It’s usually when Shawn leaves that I get really crafty (probably leaning towards dangerous!) and decide to do things that I should probably do when he is around. None the less, the little fur balls trust that I have only good intentions with them, so off we went. I started with a simple calf sled – and though we had one spill due to my poor navigation, we had great success during the Christmas Holidays. Shawn, my dad and I spent Christmas eve in the shop fabricating the cutest little sleigh .. and since then, our make shift shaft system has been upgraded from my favorite people at Patty’s Pony Place. It has become a serious obsession and I can’t wait to hook up some wheels behind these guys come summertime!

Christmas was an amazing and a relaxing event with the family – as always. Our two nieces were home at the farm, so we had activity after activity. We skated and roasted marshmallows on our hidden gem of a skating rink, horse rides, mini sleigh rides, tobogganing … the works. I can’t wait to share more of our plans with you – so until then – keep warm and see you soon!

LTTR - Christmas

December

December 14, 2016December 14, 2016 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

It has been a little silent on here, which means absolutely nothing in terms of real life 😉 We have been blasted with a cold front for the last little while, dipping into the -30’s (of course, add a few more onto that with the wind chill!), so making sure everyone’s bellies are full has been the #1 priority. My mom’s two weanlings, Belle + Bo, and her mare, Rosie, have been over here .. as well as the four fur balls of course. We haven’t been able to do too much riding, but ground work has been an ongoing thing and we are working on barn manners with the youngsters.

Before the cold struck, I did get to have some families out for some sessions for up and coming Christmas cards .. and without a shadow of a doubt, you know who got the call! Kids and these minis let me tell you .. it’s quite the friendships built.

Aside from that, we’ve been keeping the wood burning stove hot, the toes warm and the animals cared for.

Till next time!

LLTR - December 16

visits

October 29, 2016October 29, 2016 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

I have had the opportunity this season to have so many of my clients head to my home for their photo sessions .. and for some reason, the kids always end up in the mini’s pasture being greeted by the pack of social butterflies.

LTT - Visits

hello!

October 26, 2016 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

Just my random updates from the ranch – it snowed .. again .. after the last blast had almost disappeared!

Everyone bigger than 34” tall is out happily grazing and enjoying their time off. The four mini’s (Bombur, Daisy, Dallas and Rocky), are on strict diets (for those of you that think little horses means little work … that is not true .. little horses means more work), with the occasional misbehaviours of escaping their pens to nibble on my lawn. The other morning I had three of the four standing outside of our bedroom window haha. Never, ever a dull moment.

The wood stove has been on, I’ve been canning STILL (salsa and stewed tomatoes that never seem to end!), editing and finishing up my fall photo sessions/weddings and the usual goings on around here that are still making the days just perfect. I hope you are all staying cozy on these dreary days ..

Until next time.

LTTR - Hello!

and then it was winter

October 14, 2016October 14, 2016 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

The alerts from the weather network blasted my phone of snow fall warnings, and let me tell you what, Mr. Weatherman is never incorrect about his forecasts of snow. We went from fall to winter in a very short period of time. Let’s not be shocked, we live in Alberta.

Most of the horses are out roaming the pastures, some have come home for their winter training sessions, and the mini’s have now been proudly walking around like they own the joint. The boss (Teddy) was moved out to the pasture yesterday .. so when the boss is away, the little’s will play.

Naturally, on every first huge snowfall .. the camera comes out.

LTTR - Winter

Dallas, Daisy and Bombur – Rocky could care less about being in photos .. there is a bale to be eaten.

LTTR - Winter

Tucker is here from the farm, all concerned about WHY he is in a field of small animals that look like him. Much like any horse that has never been exposed to the ego’s of a mini, he will get settled in and they will become fast friends.

LTTR - Winter

To all of you experiencing the loveliness of Alberta … stay warm!

You’re Here!

September 13, 2016September 23, 2016 leaningtreetrailridesLeave a comment

To be writing this, first and foremost, is so exciting. We are so stoked that you are here, even if it’s just to see what it’s all about, to see the photos of our adventure, or to be on one of our adventures with us .. we can’t wait to meet you!

So, on that note, this is our home, our animals, *one* of our very big passions in life. We are Shawn and Amara! You may have read a little about us in our “about” section, but we will dive in a little deeper so you know who you are going to meet and spend some time with.

To say Shawn loves his horses is almost an understatement. He was born and raised into a very talented rodeo family and team roping was his thing .. and a natural talent he is, he still gets out in the arena from time to time to throw some loops. He is always learning, reading, and becoming a better horseman daily. Watching him in the round pen training, improving his skills both in the arena or in the pasture, 0r if you have the chance to ride or rope with him, you will have a time.

Myself, Amara. Ten years ago I graduated from the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria, BC and have grown my business into something I am very proud of (you can check it out at http://www.amaradirksphoto.com). I grew up on a farm just miles from where we are situated today, with an abundance of horses, cattle and many other critters. I am so thrilled to be with someone to share these passions with, and to build our home to what it has become.

Seven years ago, we had two horses together – Riggs and Teddy. Riggs was his go to rope horse, Teddy was given to me by my mom and was/is my food loving brown bay who remains Shawn #1 rope and trail horse. Since then, our herd has grown to 7 Quarter Horses – 6 geldings and one mare (Riggs, Teddy, Denny, Major, Fred, Spade, and Jesse) along with my new additions, four mini’s with big personalities; Daisy, Dallas, Rocky and Bombur. There’s a whole story behind these four, as I was only looking for ONE .. but needless to say, they are my loves and I promise you will fall in love with those cute little faces too. Running around here is also 10 chickens, 2 cats; Toby + Johnny, and our beloved Lab X, Penny.

We are surrounded by acres and acres of bush/pasture land that we ride daily, so it was only fitting when we have been asked time and time again to host families/adults and children for rides. I have had the pleasure of hosting rides to people from as far as Australia and Nova Scotia, and of course, many local families. I hope to broaden the guest book significantly in the years to come!

So on that little ‘hello’ note – we will share stories, we will share photos (of course, there’s a photographer in the house .. you will never be disappointed in that department!), and we will share rides. Be a part of it, contact us today!