Riding at Fairhunt

Bountiful Goodness

2012-02-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

This week Rebekah and I felt the satisifaction that comes from living and working on a farm. We had good weather and good company to get our winter tasks done while we were in between our riders and visitors.

The bees came out..

...and when Rebekah and I started trimming the hedges around the pastures and house, Tara (fertilefoundation.org) came out with a group from 'Charlottesville's Teens Give' and they lent a hand. The boys loved the electric hedge trimmer and really did a great job while others trimmed the ivy along the wall at the side of the house.

Our hay man, Dieter, even came along and cut the tall stuff that no one could reach.

Roxane came out and planted some yucca at the spot where Rebekah trips because she can't see how the land dips at the culvert. She won't miss it now. When I fed the horses later on, I stayed to watch the sunset and felt the happy feeling that comes from working with your hands and your friends.

Loving Saturday

2012-02-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

Louie on Pippi when it was still chill on Saturday morning.

What a nice pair!

Katherine is learning where to keep her leg...second lesson!

Chris is grooming Pippi and getting ready to learn how to drive her.

He loves it and never stopped smiling.

Happy!

and happy as Matti takes a turn at driving.

Then Matti learned that is only takes your eye and leg to ride Stormy.

January Riding on a Sunny Saturday.

2012-01-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

Melinda getting Sophia ready to ride.

Louie riding 'his girl' Pippi.

What a great day to have everyone come out and ride.

The ring administrator taking it easy while Katie warms up.

Katie cantering Teacup in her 2 point.

Caroline is ready to start lessons! Soon...

Hollan on Timmie.

Melinda on Sophia.

The Fun of Carriage Driving

2011-10-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

Rebekah's Dressage...Practice, Practice and Have Fun!

2011-10-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Grayson Farm

Speakeasy Farm

Thank you ..

2011-10-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

....to everyone who helped make a day like we had today possible. Your efforts on my behalf are so appreciated!

Tara Hodges, Victoria Joyce, Melinda Critzer, Lucia Morse, The Schmidts, The Hallahans, Paige Pullen, Sara and Esther Lozano, Paul Skolnick-Lozano, Liz Carter, Aliza Temeles, The Pimentels, Farmington Hunt Club friends who called and cared, Tanya Cornell, Bonnie Hanks, Jennifer Campbell, Christine Brennan, and Izzy Brennan for showing up to do the riding at Fairhunt-great to have you back!

...and more good times...

2011-10-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

And Tierna 's pony has all four feet off the ground.

Good Times

2011-10-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Buckingham Equestrian Center and my girls had a wonderful time. Of course they are always the youngest in their classes, but that's how good riders start out.

The New Slow

2011-08-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow it will be 3 weeks since my accident, and I have new respect for the courage that it takes for people to handle disabilities. Mine is on the mend, and I thank all my family, friends, and neighbors who came out so unselfishly to help with the farm, Rebekah, and all the paperwork dealing with rehab and the hospital. Everyone was so wonderful.

I move at a snail's pace but I am moving.

In Charlottesville Health and Rehab.

This body brace helps to keep my spine protected.

Fertile Foundation and Tara Hodges.

2011-07-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Rebekah watering the garden. Tara and the participants of Fertile Foundation have really put a lot of time and energy into the garden here at Fairhunt. Goats are next!

The garden has squash, watermelon, basil, bell peppers, beans, potatoes and more and more!

Hollan

2011-07-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

Here's Hollan on Timmie his first time over the Wishing Well. Great job!

Our Summer so Far

2011-07-18T04:20:00.000-07:00

Summer here at Fairhunt

2011-07-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Today we had the Pimentels's nieces from Portugal..Isabel and Cooly.

2011-07-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

Friday

2011-07-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

On Friday we had a new person come out to Fairhunt and ride Georgie. Katherine is going to help out on the weekends from time to time.

Stanley was enjoying the shady spot under the carriage in the barn.

Tierna Jumping Her Pony Timmie.

2011-07-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

A great team!

Then Tierna had her turn with Pippi..

2011-07-07T03:50:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday, and Matti and Tierna Drove Pippi Today...

2011-07-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Rebekah got Pippi started and then ...

Mattie took the reins.

Alexa and Pippi--July 4th.

2011-07-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Alexa getting Pippi ready to drive.

picking hooves..

Riding in back and ...

Watching what Melinda is doing.

Now a turn around the ring..

concentration...

Friday, Farrier and Bareback Riding.

2011-06-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

Tierna on Balarina

Marissa on Georgie

Matti on Thunder Cat

Hollan on Balarina

Nikki on Thunder Cat

Keelin on Georgie

Everyone loves to drive.

2011-06-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

Keelin and Hollan

Melinda

Destiny

Kayla

...and Rebekah.

...and more driving.

2011-06-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

Nikki and Tierna are very happy.

Hollan is ready and so is Keelin.

Thursday. Pony Driving Day...

2011-06-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Tara Hodges is showing our campers the bridle and getting ready to attach the carriage.

Marissa was ready to go!

Katie is saying "Whoa!"

Lots of Fun for Matti and Alexuss.

The Afternoon

2011-06-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Marissa

Keelin

Alexuss

After the Trail Ride

2011-06-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

Nikki

Hollan on Timmie

Hollan on Thunder Cat

Alexuss

Tierna on Thunder Cat

Nikki

Wednesday!

2011-06-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Keelin on Georgie.

Tierna on her Timmie.

Matti

Katie on Starlight--the Teacup

Trail walk.

Our Counselors at Fairhunt Farm

2011-06-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Destiny on Thunder Cat..nice form

Melinda on Balarina..bareback.

Destiny on Stormy.

Kayla on Thunder Cat.

Our counselors are happy and ...

so are the campers!

So much happening!

2011-06-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

Marissa on Georgie

Marissa and Hollan

Alexuss and Keelin

Keelin's first jump!

This Afternoon

2011-06-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Lunch

2011-06-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Tierna and Katie

Nikki and Keelin

Great form from Hollan

katie

Guess who?

This morning...

2011-06-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Drill team friends

Nikki and Keelin

Riders all ready

Alexuss and Georgie

Camp June 20th

2011-06-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hollan and Katie

Tierna on her pony..the Teacup!

Hollan and Matti playing 'pass the crop'.

Katie

Things Around the Farm...

2011-06-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

During the weekend, we worked on the sitting trot. Pretty important and the girls did a really good job. We took a break for lunch and Destiny pointed out a wolf spider with an egg sack, and then Rebekah picked a wild onion flower. The storm came when we were done with everything.

katie

onion flowers

Michal and Noa

Noa on the Teacup

Michal on Pippi

Destiny on Timmie

Honey!

2011-06-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today we were able to get the first honey from our hives. It was a fun but time consuming process and thanks to Tanya we got a dozen jars of Fairhunt Honey! Nice to taste what grows right here at home.

Putting the Fun in Fundraising!

2011-05-29T06:16:00.000-07:00

The event famously known as 'Claw' (Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestling) happened last night at the Blue Moon Diner and it was a hugely imaginative way to raise funds and have fun. Our friend and Rebekah's mentor, Tara Hodges, was taking part in the activities as the Pitbull...Pink hair and all. Everyone enjoyed the festive atmosphere of make-believe and wonderful feminine charm, with the added honor of having all the proceeds from the event go to Tara's organization--A Fertile Foundation. This non-profit uses farm centered therapy to foster a wealth of services to the community..<fertilefoundaton.org> check it out. She is doing some carriage driving and gardening here at Fairhunt Farm too.

Tara--AKA Pitbull

Paul and Rebekah

Bearded Lady..of course

Up on Stage

Tierna Arrives

Wonderful characters!!

And Had Her Special Slippers On..

And her Claw Shirt.

Illustrated Man

Victoria and Tierna!!

Rebekah

First Show.

2011-05-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

This was the first show for all the riders except Destiny (it is only her 3rd) and the riders were happy and wonderful...everyone!

Today Hollan and Alexxus drove Pippi. They loved it!

2011-05-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

Getting ready.

Rebekah is showing the basics.

It was fun to watch how excited they were about this new aspect of horses.

I know someone really likes this!

A happy finish...

Rebekah visiting Picasso. We even saw a work of his titled "Cat Catching a Bird" and it reminded us of Oscar!

2011-05-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

Going into the exhibit

After- lunch at the museum's cafe

....and Oscar..

The Test. Today we went to Brookhill and the girls rode the Dressage test. It was so much fun and the weather was great.

2011-05-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Here's Destiny on Sterling Mark-that's our Stormy!

Nice score!

Rebekah's turn on Stormy.

Another nice score.

What's new at Fairhunt.

2011-04-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

Rebekah is going to do the Dressage test at Brook Hill on Stormy. Looks good!

Noa loves this pony and does so well...Starlight is a great little ride.

Noa and Michal are riding with one hand to ride so they can pass the crop. Fun game for balance, teamwork and agility.

Here's Kian on Pippi.

Sunday's Riding

2011-04-19T04:34:00.000-07:00

Kian is learning to ride Pippi. They are just right for each other, and he got to show his skills to his uncle who was visiting from Denmark.

Here's Meridyth on Georgie.

And Keelin on Pippi. They played the game of passing the crop later, which requires the riders to ride with one hand holding the reins, as they pass left shoulder to left shoulder. Works great for balance.

Destiny on Thunder Cat.

...and Kayla on Balarina

Driving Pippi

2011-04-14T05:07:00.000-07:00

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Camp Then...back in 2003

2011-04-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

The Drill Team

Olivia brought her own pony to camp.

We had a small show and the end of 2 weeks.

These campers are in high school now!

Sunday was a lazy happy cat day and our riders were happy, too.

2011-03-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

Lennie was stretching at occasionally checking the riders...

Oscar was completely relaxed and not thinking about the riders. Life was sweet.


I discovered that even Misha had found the sweet pink frosting from Robbie's cake in the trash...

Kian was really happy after his ride on Pippi. It shows!

Starlight, Pippi, and Company...Today the girls came out to ride.

2011-03-05T18:30:00.000-08:00

Michal rode Pippi

Noa rode Starlight and then...

Tierna rode her pony Starlight...

and made a quick change afterward to go out on the town!

Just before the Rain....

2011-02-28T14:20:00.000-08:00


It was a beautiful start to the day and we decided to ride. I rode Balarina and then it was time for Rebekah to ride.

Lennie was enjoying the day, too.

Paulie and Rachel came by and we decided that Rebekah had better luck keeping her foot in the stirrup if her big boot was off and she just rode with the leg brace. Note that Rachel is holding the boot....

Here is when it started to rain. It got worse but Rebekah and Stormy slogged on.

More rain...

And finally it was too wet to continue. Rebekah got off and then we couldn't find her boot... ?

It went home with Rachel and Paulie!

Spring in February..

2011-02-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

Anne riding Thunder Cat

Alexa on Starlight..nice jumping.

What a nice weekend to ride. (except for the wind!). Everyone came out and really had a great time.

Meridyth

Keelin on Pippi

Destiny on the Thunder Cat..look at that tuck and ears forward.

Kian on Pippi

Hollan on Georgie

Brooke having a walk after her ride.

Destiny, Tierna and Hollan in the group lesson.

Here's Pippi!

2011-02-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

Pippi is our new pony who came to us as a generous donation from Horses as Healers and has worked not only as a therapy horse and is great with very young riders--Katie (4 years old) had the first ride on her--but she arrived with her own carriage that we will use her to drive with.

munching on a carrot.

Farm friends everywhere!

Lennie is taking a peek.

She has wonderful manners on the ground as well as under saddle and enjoys her new life here at Fairhunt.

I've dreamed of this!

2011-01-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

This is the Bioness Device that allows nerve stimulation which helps Rebekah to walk without a leg brace.

The Bioness Programmer

Leigh getting Rebekah ready.

Rebekah walked without her brace and it can only get better. It is still a long road back but we are in the field now continuing the 'War to Reclaim Rebekah'.

Alexxus rode Stormy today but she still loves Georgie. See her great story below.

2011-01-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

The last of 2010.

2010-12-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

The buddies.

Lennie goes right in the stall at night with Georgie.

These violas give hope for spring. Here is it the last of December and the are still snug and blooming under the eaves of the barn.

Good night!

Only a little bit of snow!

2010-12-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

Katie without her helmet.

...and it didn't stop the weekend riders from coming out and having a bit of gymnastics on horseback...

The crop was passed and re passed. No one really got tired of the game. A ride in the woods was also nice.

keelin

Destiny and Meridyth

So thanks Katie, Destiny, Keelin, Meridyth, Hollan, Noa, Michal and the ponies.

Katie

Noa and Michal

Hollan

Now on amazon.com

2010-12-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

My two books listed on my website are now on amazon.com. I have gotten some good feedback about Mimi and Hooles my English/Spanish book. Enjoy!

Jumping

2010-12-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

Here are some of Fairhunt's newest and youngest riders. A couple of great 4 year olds and some older riders who will do some showing next year!

Happy Holidays!

2010-11-26T04:38:00.000-08:00

...and Happy Riding.....

Now and Then

2010-11-13T19:12:00.000-08:00

Here's Kathryn now on Stormy, (top) and then here she is (lower) on her pony when she was a girl in Crozet....Her pony looks a bit like our Georgie. Once a rider, always a rider!

Autumn Riding

2010-11-03T08:23:00.001-07:00

It's hard to beat that riding feeling!

Old News...

2010-10-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some things about our farm on line and I found this which is pasted below. I am still more avid than ever about help for Traumatic Brain Injury and how to 'think through' the obstacles.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Hardships and healing panel, VFOB

Writers Susan Skolnick-Lozano, Russell U. Richards, and James Herndon with moderator Faith Andrews Bedford.

Today was the first day of the Virginia Festival of the Book and I went to my first session at 6 pm at the Northside Library. The panel was entitled "When Life Takes a Turn: Authors Write About Hardships and Healing." It was an interesting, well-moderated session which addressed more writing issues than healing issues. Each author read for a few minutes from his/her book, and then fielded questions from the moderator and the audience.

Responding to a question about what they had learned about themselves while writing their books, Richards said that he discovered that things he had believed about himself weren't true; Skolnick-Lozano discovered that she was a great motivator with the ability to get people to believe in themselves; and Herndon discovered that he was a naive young man, adding that writing his book was one of the happiest periods of his life.

I was touched by these authors' willingness to reveal very personal things about themselves in their books. Skolnick-Lozano said that one reason she wrote and was willing to share such personal information was that "people need to know they're not alone." Amen to that.

More tomorrow. The Book Fest goes through Sunday -- check out the schedule and come to some events!

Destiny's first show!

2010-10-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Pretty exciting day! Did the Pleasure division and got three 4th place ribbons. It was a great show for her and we thank everyone at Speakeasy Farm!

Last of October.

2010-10-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Melinda was here for a long weekend and we hunted at Redlands on Tuesday morning. Thunder Cat's first time out with the hounds and he was great.

We have Leslie's show this weekend and Destiny is taking Stormy (Sterling Mark). Her first show and she is excited!

As riders worked this week we had some real 'ah hah" moments where they discovered that it is easier to use your core and push your shoulders back as you come to a corner to keep your horse from drifting out. First your eye, then your leg, and that can also mean using your upper body to negotiate those turns. Using your upper body can help slow your horse down as well because you are changing the weight that he is carrying. No need to muscle him if you know how to finesse him.

2010-10-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Balance and strength are important in riding and playing games to stay tidy in the saddle are part of the group lessons.

2010-10-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Fairhunt riders at all levels, enjoying the activities at the barn on and off horses.

2010-10-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

George like having his muzzle done.

2010-10-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

Now that Fall is here we have a nice group of new riders and some that are going to the Speakeasy Show on October 23rd.

Riders got their ponies clipped and a new boarder, Starlight, owned by Tierna got a bath.

Riders are learning that in the walk, it is easy to control the rhythm by following with their hands and their seat. It tells your pony the 'speed' you are trying to achieve.

From: Riding at Fairhunt... for love, life and therapy by Susan Skolnick-Lozano

2007-07-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

Part 3 Riding for Therapy

The accident- October 22, 2003

…So now began our long journey as a family. My husband, Carlos, and I had always felt fortunate that all our children were – well – alive. My mother died when I was in my 20's and my brother died after that. Life is to be cherished. Of our 7 children, Rebekah is number six, and I soon learned what ‘critical’ meant…

…[Rebekah] was airlifted to University of Virginia Hospital by Pegasus. The flying horse, strangely appropriate. The crew of Pegasus and the wonderful Scottsville Rescue Team who passed me on Route 6, were volunteers who in their dedication, saved Rebekah’s life. She had gone off the road near where Route 20 crosses the James River. It was apparently a situation of going onto the shoulder, and then losing control after an over-correction and going down a 40 foot embankment. I did not know this until 2 days later, when I was at Rebekah’s bedside and a nurse was explaining this to another professional. The contents of her car were so scattered on the hillside that I did not think all that had come from one car. One of my sons found her riding chaps but not much else was salvageable….

…We knew we needed to think positive; no one said anything to the opposite but we were terrified. Too terrified to think of the worst. My husband had one small moment when he broke. We were in the hallway, sitting on the window ledges, and on the carpeted floor; close to each other and subdued. It was well after midnight…

We wanted life. Carlos wanted everyone to believe that it could happen. He put it simply, “We are going to take home what is left of Rebekah....” He cried just for a moment. We all did, but my son (also named Carlos) expressed our optimism well when he was quickly deciding what to pack to come from California. Funeral clothes or beach clothes. He really was setting a ‘mind place’...funeral or beach. Again, thinking makes it so and we were very extreme in our positive thinking...

... I would look where I wanted to go and believe what I wanted to see. In my mind, I saw Rebekah as a whole person. It was going to take years, but I saw it. I still do. A ‘lifetime of recovery’ as her nurse put it. And it is 4 years now, but she still improves. Thinking makes it so and she now also is cognitively able to feel that and try for those goals she sets for herself.

A taste of my new book "Riding at Fairhunt"

2007-07-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Please share your comments; I'd love to hear from you.

Riding at Fairhunt ...for love, life and therapy

by Susan Skolnick-Lozano

Acknowledgments

I have been extremely fortunate to have the generous help and support from several different camps. My husband, Carlos, has been long standing and constant in his encouragement of my work, as well as my daughters, Esther and Rebekah. My father is the strong man behind the scenes, who has kept the farm up and going so I could pursue my riding, and work with my students.

There are also the many wonderful people and families connected with Fairhunt Farm who are the fabric of our work here. The true success of putting this book out there was the unselfish goodness and affection of my friend, Lyndele von Schill. Lyndele's long hours at the computer, helping me to set up and get 'Riding at Fairhunt' in the public awareness gave me the way forward. She gave our family support through the dark days after Rebekah's accident, and in Rebekah's time of transition and need.

I would like to dedicate this work to my grandmother Hattie; beloved and dear.

Introduction

Like many riding families there are three generations of us. My father, John, me (Susan), and my daughters--Rebekah and Esther. It is our passion, and we share it with all of you who find that irreplaceable happiness atop a trusty mount. Your horse and your friend. That is the love. In the following chapters I would like to take you through and interesting journey that we came to as riders and as a family. I will share riding techniques, styles, the ways to victories and the graciousness of defeats that I feel as essential to good sportsmanship in any endeavor. These are truly life lessons as I will repeat through my book.

Then I will share how we, as a family, dealt with the near loss of our daughter Rebekah in an automobile accident and how riding, with patience, encouragement, and therapy brought Rebekah to the level she is at today, and how she is dealing with the affects of her Traumatic Brain Injury. For us, Rebekah’s is a lifetime of recovery but through family support, plus the families at Fairhunt Farm, and a grand old master, Cabit, our Registered Quarter Horse, we are moving ahead where no one expected us to go. ‘Thought’--- how one thinks...positive thinking--- is a motivating mantra, and we are ever positive in our thinking as well as our teaching program here at Fairhunt Farm.

Part One...Riding for love.

Chapter One

The girls. Rebekah and Esther Lozano

The girls were young when I took them to their first stable to see if they had what it takes to ride. That is, so to speak, from the ground up. They started at a place in Massachusetts when they were each 7 years old, working as helpers and doing pony parties. That meant that they helped to tack up quiet old ponies and traveled to sites where the ponies were hired to walk around for an hour or so with young kids at birthday events who knew sometimes nothing about horses, but loved being on one and lead around by my little daughters. Rebekah started first when she was 7, (she is 3 and ½ years older than Esther) and Rebekah’s reward for her services was that she got to ride when the day was over. Not each time—but the pony parties were an every weekend task until winter, so she rode whenever time permitted. The pony party workers got to ride around the barn a few times and then put the ponies away. Brushed and fed. Each in their proper stall or run-in. The older kids who were a part of the pony party work force would be their examples and teachers. I stayed clear. It was up to them to either cut it or quit it. Rebekah was in love. For Hanukkah that year I bought her a saddle, and my very practical husband, Carlos, who has ever been a helpmate and support to my wildest ideas, mildly protested when he said, “I hope you are not planning to get what goes under that...” Well, needless to say my grandmother (with my encouragement) bought Rebekah a sweet young Quarter Horse she named Bonnie. That was her first horse.

So now Rebekah was 10 and had her own horse. This is what happens to lots of kids and their families. You get a horse and then you ride. Right? Wrong. Let’s look at how this works: In the United States, it is usually the case that girls are the primary riders of horses until it comes to the upper levels of any discipline. Hunt Seat, Show Jumping, Dressage, and Western. At that point we begin to see more men riding. But right now I am concentrating on young riders from 4 to 14 or so.

I find that most young girls think of horses in romantic terms. They look at the grace and beauty of the animal and see the movement, then picture themselves out in a field riding with the wind in their hair and having zero problems. They are on the animal that they love but they fail to understand a basic foundation to the horse-rider relationship. The rider–although smaller than the horse--is the one with the larger brain, and thus ‘the good leader’. The rider must have a plan, and not be tentative about executing it. This means, for example, when the rider wants to trot, their horse will trot. When the rider wants to walk, then that is the plan they want to stick with. Good leaders are not bullies, so they don’t haul back on the reins and yell to get the job done. In the pages ahead, I will go through all the steps necessary to become aware of how to develop that horse-rider relationship. I am using specific scenarios of what has happened with my daughters as riders and students, and our own riders here at Fairhunt Farm. These are what I call ‘life lessons’. I always tell my students that if you can ride a horse in new territory, tricky weather conditions, or a green and athletic horse who wants his way, and handle it successfully then you are ready for most of what life surprises us with.

Thinking makes it so.

New horse for Esther!

2007-06-22T06:35:00.001-07:00

Esther is thrilled with her new horse, Margo.
Aren't they both beauties?