Just Horsin' Around - Thoughts on Central Texas Real Estate and More

World Book and Copyright Day is April 23! Celebrate the Day!

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:23:18 -0700

Anyone who's read my blogs or comments knows I'm all about copyright! And books! But I didn't know today was World Book and Copyright Day!

Thanks fro bringing this to my attention!

Via Kathy Streib-Home Stager-Palm Bch County South Florida - 561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging):

World Book and Copyright Day is April 23! Celebrate the Day!

Whether you read books on your Kindle, Nook or iPad or even the “old fashioned” way, help celebrate this day by......

         -sharing a favorite author with a fellow reader
         -donating a book to your local hospital, school or library
         -sitting down with your children and reading them a story from your favorite childhood book
         -donating your time to read a book for the blind
         -going outside the box and reading a genre or author new to you

What is this day?
This day is celebrated in over 100 countries throughout the world. Started by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, this day hopes to “promote reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.”

Why this day?
This is thought to be an appropriate day because this is the birthday or day of death of several prominent authors such as Cervantes, Maurice Druon, and my favorite... William Shakespeare.

Now, as for Copyright...we have our own resident expert right here at ActiveRain. If you’re new to AR or haven’t yet discovered Lenn Harley.... where have you been??? Lenn has written many knowledgeable and useful posts on copyright and if you think no one’s going to check you or care... think again.

You should care because our “intellectual property” is witnessed right here on ActiveRain in the posts we write every day.

We work hard to choose just the right words that will reflect our thoughts and feelings and engage and entertain our readers. Copyright does matter.

And.. did you know that you can download books

published over 100 years ago for free

on your Kindle!

There are also many sites where you can swap books, as well as brick and mortar stores that accept and sell used books.

So what do you say...have you read any good

books lately?

Check out my about.me profile!

Room Service! Home Staging
Palm Beach County Home Stager

561-914-6224   Kathy@MrsHomeStaging.com
www.MrsHomeStaging.com

Change for Change's Sake - A Good Thing Or A Bad Thing? Discuss.

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:27:48 -0800

Fred Griffin had an excellent post, Major Changes to YouTube and Facebook - What Do You Think? that's stirred up a lot of discussion. Reading the comments has been quite interesting.

In those comments, I see several people here who seem to think that if some of us don't care for the truly abysmal appearance of the Timelines and don’t welcome it or the way the introduction of it has been handled, that means somehow that we are resistant to all change.

Well, I've been coping quite nicely with more change than some of you have perhaps even thought about or really comprehend existed over the past 60 odd years, and I've been coping with change in the computer world since I was learning the New! Cutting Edge! programming language, COBOL. I jumped on the Active Rain bandwagon the moment I heard about it back in 2007, and I've helped in the development of equipment and processes and been the first in my office, or city, or region, with more than a few innovations in my professions (which have been assorted, another indication of embracing change when it's appropriate).

However, when you've coped happily with enough change for enough decades, you learn a few things.

One, change in and of itself isn't a desired end. Change, inevitable or not, can be good, or change can be bad. It's imperative to learn the difference, and to make changes with consideration for their impact AND for the possibility of unintended consequences.

Two, a lot of change exists in the business world simply because people need to justify their jobs – they’ve run out of anything substantive to do so they need to rearrange the furniture in order to appear busy. That’s their main focus, NOT what works best for the consumer.

Three, a lot of times change is to see just how much can be lured out of the consumer's pocketbook without them noticing because they're all excited about "New! Cutting Edge! Everybody wants one! Must stay ahead of the pack!" even if the pack is running hell bent for leather off a cliff. This works on some, but the truly aware will see right through it every time. Happens often when something is working really well and it's purchased by a company that only sees dollar signs, not what made it successful in the first place. That happens way too often, and it usually tolls the eventual death knell of the thing that was so great in the first place.

Four, overload your target market with too much change, too fast, and you may end up going the way of MySpace and friends.

So, while you're so busy saying to anyone who objects to being pushed into the new Facebook Timeline, "Change is great! You're just an old foggy who's resistant to change! I, on the other hand, embrace all change enthusiastically", you might want to consider that perhaps there's a little bit more to the complaints about the Timeline than just resistance to change in general. (Really? Ugliest most user-unfriendly thing to come down the pike in donkey's years; in looking through the ones that are already there I've yet to find one that isn't.)

Now, get off my lawn, you young whippersnappers!

Photo Credit Diane Diederich

The Holidays And Our Business

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:21:28 -0800

To my mind, the holidays are a great example of what our business is really about.

Think about it. Families gather to share the holidays, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Festivus or any other. They eat food, lovingly prepared and redolent of holidays past. They talk and laugh and cry and remember and tell stories and give and receive gifts.

Where do they do all these things? For the vast majority, it is in homes – all gathering at the home of the grandparents, or the first holiday hosted by the now-adult children who not that long ago sat at the “kid’s table”, sometimes the adult children switching back and forth between sets of parents, sometimes, as we did it this year, all celebrating together.

But gather in homes we do. This is, in a sense, the culmination of all of our efforts as real estate agents – families, celebrating together in the homes we helped them find and acquire.

Stop Boring Your Clients... and Make a Lasting Impression!

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:57:34 -0800

Wise worlds from Gail Robinson. I've also found that if I discuss my interests and theirs outside of real estate with clients, I'm much better able to help them accomplish their goals in a way that is pleasing to them, whether it be finding the perfect home or selling the house they already have.

Via Gail Robinson, REALTOR www.blackrockhomesforsale.com (William Raveis Real Estate, Southport, CT):

Do our clients hire us just for our professional expertise or are they placing their bets with a whole person? My belief is that if I only talk about real estate to my clients, I would be amazingly efficient (and could catch up on my filing), but I would FAIL. I'd fail to make a lasting impression, create bonds of loyalty, or even miss a potential friendship.

YOUR CLIENT IS MORE THAN A BUYER OR A SELLER

Your client is a whole person with a complex set of desires, hopes, dreams, and fears. That you already know, as sometimes, your clients tell you way too much about their marital problems, issues with their health, and other negative areas of their life. Much of our time is spent refocusing some clients back on real estate, because our business plan doesn't include providing psychotherapy. Other clients remain somewhat reserved and distant, making it hard to build the trust needed for a good partnership.

By guiding the conversation to a part of their lives that is positive and that they care deeply about, we can avoid the problems of overengaging in personal issues or underengaging and being seen as bores. Outside of everyone's day job, nearly everyone has some kind of interest that they are passionate about. If you can find out what that interest is and make a connection, your clients will appreciate the effort you've made to know them as a whole person and look forward to seeing you again.

I had one client who had spent a lifetime learning about and practicing gardening, another client was involved in monotype printmaking, and so on. In discussing these topics I learned about who they were on a whole new level and made a deeper connection. That connection allowed me to stay in touch with them and lead to referrals to new clients.

YOU ARE MORE THAN A REAL ESTATE AGENT

You are also whole person with a complex set of desires, hopes, dreams, and fears. Your clients don't want to go that deep into your personal psyche any more than you want to go there with them. Keep your deepest darkest secrets and fears to yourself. Instead, let your client know about your avocations and interests as they come up naturally in conversation.

You don't have to say much about your interests for your client to form an impression of you as a more interesting person, who they would like to get to know further. If they ask questions, you can pursue the topic further. Never brag about your accomplishments with your avocations. You may have won awards, but bragging defeats your purpose? Your goal is to connect with your clients and just let them know there is more there than just a hard working, professional. There's a whole human being.

My own avocation is running a grassroots environmental organization, which I founded 8 years ago. That raises a few eyebrows because real estate developers and environmental activists are often are at odds with one another.

CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS

The best gardens have a mixture of plants, not just one variety. They are also weeded, watered and fertilized. In the same way, your relationships with clients are cultivated by what you include and exclude in your conversations with them. Next time you are with your clients, try steering the conversation away from negative personal topics with grace and diplomacy, of course, and begin to find out what your clients are passionate about and give them a peek into your own passions. I'll bet you have a life that extends beyond your real estate profession and you don't have to give away the most personal details of your life to establish that connection.

A Gift of the Future, To the Land and Its Inhabitants

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:51:35 -0800

At this time of year, every year, hearts are opened and people reach out to help those in need.

Here in Central Texas, because of the drought and the wildfires that resulted from it, there are more of those than usual, and many organizations are focusing their efforts on those who lost homes and more in those fires.

The Native Plant Society of Texas is one of those organizations, and the donations raised with their efforts, while only totaling $1800 in dollars, will multiply into more green than you can imagine, and will be of greater value than dollars in the end.

300 groups of children, from schools, churches, and youth groups, took the materials purchased with that $1800 (compost, clay, and seeds), and made 150,000 seed balls containing over 50 varieties of native Central Texas seeds to be given to the victims of the Bastrop County fires to use in restoring their land to its former beauty.

Right now, they look just like what they're made of, balls of mud. But once they're distributed and used by the fire victims, they'll be a beautiful bounty of green helping the land restore itself.

Photo Credit: skodonnell

Is That The Light At The End of the Tunnel?

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:33:40 -0800

Anyone in this neck of the woods who's spent any time at all on the roads or in stores has to have noticed a distinct change from this time last year - CROWDS! Whether it's a grocery store or a book store or a department store, there are crowds everywhere you go, and they seem to be buying things. Yesterday, in the middle of a Monday afternoon, my husband and I were out and about, and even at that time of the day, on that day of the week, it felt like a busy Saturday.

I've been showing more houses to more buyers, and had more calls from buyers looking for property - the numbers are up.

Then, today, the Austin Board of Realtors released the November figures, and the news that Central Texas home sales were up about 11 percent and that median home prices were up 3% over November 2010.

Add that to some other positive signs that I've seen here and there, and maybe, just maybe, that light at the end of the tunnel isn't a train after all!

Photo Credit Iain Sarjeant

Eight Texas Vineyards for Holiday Giving!

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:18:35 -0800

Photo Credit DHuss

Many people, when they think of Central Texas, don't think of vineyards and wineries. But we have quite a few award-winning ones in the area (there's even a vineyard half a mile up the road from me between Jarrell and Salado), so it's possible to Shop Local for wine, as well as other things. I thought I'd prepare a list of wineries - some you can visit and pick up wine for gifts or yourself, others you can find in local stores.

Driftwood Estate Vineyard & Winery south of Austin

Salt Lick Cellars, likewise in Driftwood

Duchman Family Wines, Driftwood

(Are you seeing a pattern here?)

Spicewood Vineyards, Spicewood

The Vineyard at Florence, north of Austin between Florence and Jarrell

Rising Star Vineyards, Rising Star and Salado

Perissos Vineyard and Winery, Burnet

Stone House Vineyard (on Lake Travis)

This is just a start. You can find more Texas vineyards and wineries at Texas Wine - Toast a Rising Star.

Or, can't make up your mind? Give a wine tour!

People That DON'T Know More About Local Real Estate Than Your REALTOR®!

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:40:49 -0800

Liz and Bill make excellent points in this blog. There's lots of people who THINK they know all about real estate. The ones who really do are those who make their living at it every day.

Who would you rather have handling your real estate transaction?

Via Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton (513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com):

People That DON'T Know More About Local Real Estate Than Your REALTOR®!

So you're buying or selling a Warren County home? Then stand by for LOTS of unsolicited advice! As soon as you mention that you're involved in this huge endeavor, you're going to get lots of "help"! MOST of those sources of advice may just be steering you down the wrong path and not even realizing it.

Here's a partial list of people that shouldn't know more about LOCAL real estate than your trusted REALTOR®:

The national media. They don't know JACK about our local market. They care about New York, Vegas, California, etc. and not an iota about our market. Thousands of miles away, and about as relevant as the back side of the moon. And the generic advice from those "money" magazines about offering 80% of list price? Fine if you don't REALLY want to buy that home!

The local media. Honestly, they don't know much about the local market either. They'll either take a few anecdotal instances and turn it into a major doom and gloom story, or they're repeating stats provided from our local board. And here's the thing, the greater Cincinnati area is composed of MANY markets. Mt. Adams, Mt. Lookout, Maineville, Morrow and Mason are ALL different.

Your neighbor. Herb knows a LOT (or maybe he just thinks he does), but what he probably doesn't have a handle on is the latest real estate trends. He knows what the guy down the street SAID he got for his home (and that info just might not be accurate). But what he's not going to understand is why one home got $250,000 and another got $200,000 when they look the same on the outside! That's just one more reason why you need a REALTOR®.

Your co-worker. They last bought a home in 2005. They mean well, but the real estate market changes FAST.

Your mom and dad. They know a LOT, and we know they have your best interests at heart, but what they aren't current on is local real estate markets. How long since they last bought or sold a home? When they start with the "it's a buyer's marker, offer 70%" they're killing your chance of getting that home.

Your great-aunt Ethel who was an agent....in 1975....in FLORIDA! Like we said, real estate changes A LOT, and it's LOCAL. A Texas license, a Florida license...even someone who is active in Columbus or Cleveland might not be able to give you the best advice on what's happening in OUR local market.

So when you get advice and it's got you thinking, TALK to your REALTOR® about it if you have a concern. Don't let it fester and don't let them convince you that your REALTOR® isn't doing their job without at least seeking to clarify. And if you can't have that conversation with your REALTOR®? Well maybe you don't have the right REALTOR® after all. Communication skills are an important part of what we do.

As Warren County REALTORS®, we're tuned in to the differences in OUR local markets. Mason to Springboro, Franklin to Morrow, we've successfully helped people buy and sell. We track the activity in each market and analyze to make sure YOU are getting the best professional advice we can provide, tailored to YOUR needs! So if you're thinking of buying or selling a Warren County area home, we'd appreciate the opportunity to help you!

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,

Liz and Bill aka BLiz

The Liz Spear Team
Elizabeth & William Spear
RE/MAX Elite: Ask for us by name if you visit the office!
Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Office direct: 513-248-3660 Liz direct: 513-265-3004
Bill direct: 513-520-5305 Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo: Liz@LizSpear.com Our Website: Warren County Ohio Homes

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The Great Texas BBQ Wars

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:41:02 -0800

Anyone who’s lived in Texas for any length of time knows about the ongoing Great Texas BBQ Wars that are a major source of entertainment in these parts. You know, “XYZ BBQ has the best brisket!” “No! ABC BBQ does!” On a good day, this can be good for several hours worth of “conversation”, not just of the best BBQ joints, but also the best (read: ONLY) way to cook BBQ at home.

I admit to being a BBQ aficionado, myself. Not in the preparation (I leave that to the menfolk in the family, resting on my gumbo laurels), but in finding the best commercial BBQ around.

You may have heard that Bon Appetit, a few months back, declared Franklin’s BBQ in Austin to be The Best BBQ In The Country. Now, no insult intended to Franklin’s, but the Texas BBQ expert who dubbed them so is from Georgia, then New York City, and my guess is that he hasn’t had the proper grounding and experience in the pit boss’s art - and art, not science, it is - necessary to make such a statement.

I propose that he come back down to Texas, and be taken on a Grand BBQ Tour of Central Texas. I have my own list of places that I’m pretty sure he should try, and then he can revisit the issue. I’d be surprised if you do not have your own such list; why not post your suggestion or suggestions in the comments section and we’ll compare notes, and perhaps make up a list of suggestions to send off to the fine gentleman?

My list would be sure to include the following (this is by far not a comprehensive list; I am not going to give away ALL my secrets!): Sam’s BBQ in East Austin (recently closed and I do not know if it's reopened - it's been in Austin as long as I've been in the area); House Park in Central Austin; Cooper’s in Llano or New Braunfels; Laird’s Barbecue in Llano; Black’s in Lockhart; Schoepf’s in Belton; Taylor Café in Taylor; City Market in Luling; Perez BBQ in Bartlett; Snow’s in Lexington, O.D.'s in Jarrell. That would be good for a start, and then we could drive the roads of Central Texas looking for those priceless jewels, the little BBQ shacks that can be found dotting our highways and byways, offering the intoxicating aroma of pit smoke and the promise of the BBQ of your dreams.

What about you? Where would you take someone to initiate them into the delights of Texas BBQ?

Forever Morgans Take Me Home For the Holidays Adoption Fee Special Part III

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:36:21 -0800

Here we have the next batch of Morgans/Morgan crosses that have found themselves in a dire situation (one hoof on the truck to slaughter), have made it to foster, and are now looking for their forever home. Take a look and see if one speaks to you.

For the month of December we'll be running a holiday special on adoption fees. One of the rescued Morgans below could be waiting for you, and you alone, to take them home for the holidays and ever after.

For more information, and to apply to adopt, contact us at ForeverMorgans @hotmail.com. More information on who we are, what we do, and how you can help, along with an application to adopt, can be found on our website at www.forevermorgans.org.

Forever Dakota and Bella

Barn name: Forever Dakota

Registered name: NA

Registration #: NA

Sire/ dam: Dam: Bella Sire: Unknown

Color: bay

Height:

Age: foaled 6/20/2011

Gender: colt

Links to other photos and/ or videos:

Source: Rescued in utero from Enumclaw Auction

Current location: Molalla, Oregon

Comments: Forever Dakota was a surprise! We rescued his dam, Bella, from the Enumclaw Auction, and she smuggled Dakota in on us. Dakota was weaned and Bella has moved on to her new forever home. Now it's time for Dakota to find his! Isn't he something? Ready for you to take home and bring him up right!

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $250

Mac

Barn name: Mac

Registered name: NA

Registration #: NA

Sire/ dam: NA

Color: Black

Height: 14.1H

Age: Approx. 7 years

Gender: gelding

Links to other photos and/ or videos:

Source: New Holland

Current location: Thompson, CT

Comments: Very pleasant, sweet, kind boy, very willing and cooperative. 14.1h. Excellent stall manners, no cribbing, no pawing or kicking. Crossties well, good for hoof cleaning. We are still evaluating him for other training. Lunged him this weekend for a short time, he was very receptive. We each tried leaning over his back from the mounting block, again, no issues displayed. He is not familiar with clippers or electric concepts in general - he's Amish, but learning the non-Amish ways. Has had his first round of shots, and one round of deworming. Sheath and teeth scheduled for tomorrow, along with his follow-up shots.

Getting very attached to him!

Update 12/3/2011: Mac did a fine job this morning. We fitted a bridle for him (took two tries, he's likely cob size), and saddled him. He had been lunged with a saddle last week and leaned over/on but we had not been on him. At his "evaluation" a gentleman was on him bareback but clearly Mac was confused about being ridden. The theory is he was driven as he arrived a the broker pen with "lots of harness marks". It was very chilly in CT and as this was his first outing, Valerie rode him up and down the road with me walking with them and then I saddled my horse and we rode together down the road for a ways and then back to the barn. We decided to end on that note and will likely go further tomorrow.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $385

Tony

Barn name: Tony

Registered name: (grade)

Color: bay, back right white

Height: TBA

Age: approximately 7

Gender: gelding

Links to other photos and/ or videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmJukOdYCY

Source: New Holland

Current location: Pennsylvania

Comments from Tony's current foster: This is our sweet Tony. When he came to us we nick named him "Boney Tony" due to the fact that he was so very thin. Tony had a full set of road shoes on. When hitched to a cart he took off like he was shot from a gun, as he had been expected to do in the past. Tony had three gaits, all of them at the trot, fast, faster and fastest. Tony was traumatized by his experiences and by being shipped to slaughter. He wanted so much to please us. The trouble was he was so anxious and nervous, obviously afraid of being hit, that it took some time for Tony to learn that we were not going to hit him, no matter what he did. In a manner of speaking, Tony tripped over his own feet in his frantic effort to do what was asked of him. He was adopted on his very first day here and returned the next day due to his anxiety. Had the adopters only given Tony a chance and a little time they would have had the perfect horse but they didn't take into consideration that he had been through so much and needed time to learn to relax. After all, the cardinal rules of horsemanship are "calm, forward and straight". Calm comes first for a reason. If you don't have that in both horse and horseman, you might as well forget the rest. Tony drives and rides like the pro that he truly is. He appears to be sound, has no vices, loads, clips, is good with farrier and vet. Tony loves to be loved and has been lavished with attention for the past several months by a fourteen year old girl. He is ready to be the best Christmas present for someone who wants a devoted friend. We age Tony around ten years old. He truly is a wonderful horse and deserves to have a wonderful forever home.

Tony needs help in keeping weight on. He benefits from being fed beet pulp and a flax supplement. He appears to be very healthy and strong but he is a svelte boy. He is good with farrier and vet and pleasant to handle in the barn. Tony is also easy to catch, always the first one to the door when he hears the grain bucket.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $600

Cherish

Barn name: Cherish

Registered name: (grade)

Color: chestnut, 3 white socks, star, snip

Height: +/- 15 hands

Age: approximately 14 years

Gender: mare

Links to other photos and/ or videos: http://youtube/Bk1q2Ptnyx8

Source: New Holland

Current location: Pennsylvania

Comments:

Cherish is a darling little mare, somewhere in her early teens, 13.3hh, beautiful chestnut with some chrome and the sweetest face. She is absolutely safe to be around in the stall and on the ground. Cherish loves to be groomed and loved on. The smallest horseperson can pick up her feet with very litttle practice. Cherish is very willing to please to the point of being anxious so she needs a confident rider. For a small mare Cherish is fast at all gaits but obedient. For instance, if you ask her to walk, she will but it will have impulsion, a "can't wait to see what is around the next corner" attitude and a lively, forward step. She worries that she will make a mistake and needs a gentle, reassuring hand. Cherish came to us with a full set of road shoes on her feet. They were overgrown and she had some road founder. We removed her shoes and with regular trimming she is starting to move sound again. Once her feet are fully grown out and with regular attention Cherish will eventually be usably sound. She also had severe muscles spasms in her neck. We have had a massage therapist working on her every week and the spasms have improved but they may never resolve completely. In any work Cherish is asked to do in the future she should not have her head checked up. She doesn't need it to drive and it is detrimental to her well being. My opinion is that this petite mare with the huge heart was asked to pull heavy loads for long distances at a fast rate of speed. Cherish did whatever was asked of her until she was completely spent and then was shipped off to the sale. Her deportment under saddle suggests that Cherish had some english / dressage type training prior to becoming a working road horse. She rides and drives very well but is not for a beginner rider due to her fast, forward go and anxiety. Cherish has no vices of any kind. If anyone has any questions about Cherish please feel free to call me. I will work with any potential adopter to make a happy, successful transition for Cherish in a loving, patient home.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $550

Harley

Barn name: Harley

Registered name: (grade)

Color: bay, back right sock, star

Height: TBA

Age: TBA

Gender: gelding

Links to other photos and/ or videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgYHHAffpCc

Source: New Holland

Current location: Pennsylvania

Comments: This is the beautiful Harley. He is well named because like his name sake, the motorcycle, Harley is hot and fast. Unfortunately, Harley met with some kind of accident that caused his ribs to be caved in near the girth area. The area is reminiscent of perhaps a broken shaft that struck him in the ribs or,we hate to think this but it could have been caused by the strike of a hammer. Regardless the cause, Harley has some definite flash backs to something that traumatized him. He has come a long way since his arrival here several months ago but it seems unlikely that Harley will be suited to riding. He might be driven if someone were to work with him patiently to get a bridle and bit on him. Harley has progressed so that he willingly puts his head in a halter and he will ground drive quite nicely in that. We have not had success in bridling but I like to think we would have if I had not broken my leg in September. Harley is a beautiful Morgan with huge eyes, tiny ears, a beautiful face, lovely "up and over neck" and good type and conformation. It is quite likely that Harley has always been "hot" and that temperament coupled with some kind of trauma may have rendered Harley unusable for riding or driving. He has no vices otherwise, is good with the ferrier and can be worked on by a patient veterinarian. He has progressed with worming from being completely resistant to having anything put in his mouth to accepting a wormer with only a little fuss. We have had to use two Power Packs of pyrantel pamoate with Harley due to a heavy load of worms that have been resistant to regular deworming. Whoever gives Harley a good forever home will need to keep a close watch to be sure he remains free of parasites. Harley might have some arthritis in his hocks or hips. Some days he seems perfectly sound but other days he is stiff and sore. That said, when you see Harley put his tail up over his back and take off in that powerful "above level" trot you can't help but be taken in by his beauty. He would make a good pasture pal. He loves to be with mares and does well with only one gelding. He does mix well with mares and geldings at the same time. Harley is about 14.1hh, dark bay and probably in his mid teens. More pictures to follow. Our weather has been horrible and wet so taking pictures is a challenge but we will prevail. Please be patient with us. Anyone who is interested in Harley is welcome to call or write. Harley would make a wonderful, worthwhile project for a knowledgeable horse person who is able to really get into a horse's head and earn his trust.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $550

Forever Morgans Take Me Home for the Holidays Adoption Fee Special Part II

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:08:39 -0800

This is the second in a series of postings of rescued Morgans currently in foster awaiting their new forever homes and forever friends. Take a look and see if your new best friend is here!

Earth Wind And Fire, aka Windy

Barn name: Windy

Registered name: Earth Wind and Fire

Registration #: 00127261

Sire/ dam: Marno's Fireoncommand x The Best of Both

Color: bay

Height: 16.1H

Age: foaled 3/27/1992

Gender: gelding

Links to other photos and/ or videos:

Source: New Holland

Current location: Geneseo, IL

Comments: Windy is a nice, big guy that is ready to go. He's been an Amish road horse for 12 years and is now looking for a home where he can do a little less work than 20 miles/day. Don't let his age concern you; he's got plenty of energy, doesn't spook at anything, and covers a LOT of ground at the trot! He goes just fine in a snaffle bit and was cool with both western and english saddles, although he doesn't neck rein yet.

This guy is a sweetheart!!! He just wants to please you. Windy is reported to drive, and was sent to auction because he could no longer handle the hard drives his owner wanted from him. He is broke to ride, but he still gets a little confused sometimes; however, he tries very hard. This guy has a killer trot and a nice, forward moving Morgan walk. His gaits are lovely to watch, he has that real pretty front end high-knee action. At the moment, he is a little underweight, but is progressing very nicely. He's in a big herd, and toward the bottom of the food chain. He gets along with just about everybody, and just really wants to make you happy!! Ties, cross ties, picks up feet, lets you touch his ears, legs, and belly.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $300

Topaz

Barn Name: Topaz

Registered name: n/a

Age:

Height: 16.0

Gender: Mare

Color: Buckskin

Source: New Holland

Current Location: Geneseo, IL

Description: This little mare is a looker. She has a ton of character, you can always tell exactly what's going through her mind. She is broke to ride, she was a little confused at first but got the hang of things real fast. This girl is SMART. She is always learning new things, and is a nice relaxed ride. We just rode her in an egg-butt snaffle and she was just fine with that. She is a very in-your-pocket type horse, always wants to know what you are doing and why and what she can do to help. She pays very close attention to her rider, and tries so hard to make them happy. Ties, cross ties, picks up feet, lets you touch her ears, legs, and belly.

This is a nice mare; pulled from slaughter! No idea why she was at the auction in the first place. She's easy to ride, bold, never spooks. In fact she likes to play with tarps. She's a smart horse and will need owners who will call her bluff when needed. But once she decides she wants to follow you, she'll follow you everywhere. Her manners are improving daily (a horse that big needs extra good manners) and she's looking for someone special to bond with. She stood for mounting, moves off at a walk or trot readily. A bit rusty under saddle but very willing.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $350

La Mirage Empress in Black

Barn Name: Empress

Registered name: La Mirage Empress in Black

Registration #: 01310791

Sire/ dam: La Mirage Mr Commandant x Clair Dee Pecoson

Age: foaled 3/9/1993

Height:

Gender: Mare

Color: Black

Source: New Holland

Current Location: Geneseo, IL

Comment: Lamirage Empress in Black, 20 ish black reg mare. Reported to be a driving

pair with SMS Valhalla, and they sure act bonded in the pasture. A bit tense

under saddle, but led trail ride, crossed water etc. With some more rides,

she'll make a good trail buddy for someone. Been here since Aug 2011

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $300

SMS Valhalla

Barn Name: Valhalla

Registered name: SMS Valhalla

Registration #: 0157807

Sire/ dam: FCF Val D'Isere x SMS Almost Heaven

Age: foaled 5/5/2001

Height: 14h or so

Gender: Mare

Color: Black

Source: New Holland

Current Location: Geneseo, IL

Comment: Small and slight. 14 H ish. Been under saddle twice. Very frightened of people, shakes when approached. Did get her to drop head, chew and shake with me on her on a fairly long trail ride. Had to force her into creek crossing. Not suitable at this time for anyone with limited experience. But we'll work on that as weather permits. Been here since Aug 2011

It would be wonderful if we could find a forever home that would like to be this mare's redemption. She's scared. Not mean in any way, just scared.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $300

Forever Morgans Take Me Home For the Holidays Adoption Fee Special!

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:01:29 -0800

For a few years now, I've been on the Board of Forever Morgans, LLC, a national Morgan horse rescue that works to rehome Morgans at risk, most often being pulled from a broker in New Holland who sends horses to Canada for slaughter, but also right here at home in Texas and across the country. It's my way of giving back to the animals who have given so much and ask so little, and to the community that loves them. I've repeatedly seen Morgans that are thin, have scars or current injuries, who, with good reason, are frightened of people, blossom when they are given time and love and patience in a new home.

This year, we have many horses in foster, some registered, some grade, whose holiday wish is for nothing more than a Forever Home and Forever Friend of their very own. We know you're out there somewhere - won't you step up and identify yourself?

For the month of December we'll be running a holiday special on adoption fees. One of the rescued Morgans below or in following posts could be waiting for you, and you alone, to take them home for the holidays and ever after.

Arabella

Barn name: Arabella

Registered name: grade

Registration #: (n/a)

Sire/ dam: (n/a)

Color: black

Height: 14.1/14.2 hh

Age: 17, best approximation

Gender: mare

Links to other photos and/ or videos: none currently

Source: New Holland

Current location: Geneseo, IL

Comments: Arabella used to be an Amish driving horse, and we have hitched her a few times. She didn't like it at first, but she stood quiet and was well behaved. She stands very well while being tacked, vetted, and having her feet trimmed. However, she is flinchy towards people, like she had been hit in the past, on the other hand, since she has come her she has improved tremendously and continues to be better around people. She is still learning how to be a good riding horse, but she does extremely well in mounted drill team, will ride quietly down the road, and tries very hard. She is a very forward horse, not like she's thinking about taking off, but she has a very long stride, especially for her height. Bella will need an intermediate rider to help finish her, but she is a fast learner.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $500 (Adoption Pending)

Vigilante, aka "V"

Barn name: Vigilante "V"

Registered name: grade

Registration #: (n/a)

Sire/ dam: (n/a)

Color: bay

Height: 14.1/14.2 hh

Age: two year old

Gender: gelding

Links to other photos and/ or videos: none currently

Source: New Holland

Current location: Geneseo, IL

Comments: V is a very sweet, small horse sized gelding. You can tell by the way he reacts to people that he has had bad experiences with them. However, with some TLC, he has become very friendly, in-your-pocket kind of horse. He is still a little stranger wary, but otherwise he loves attention and anything you feed him. V is halter broke, lounges in the round pen, and knows basic showmanship skills. Due to his small stature and being young for him age, we are waiting to start him under saddle until he fills out a bit more. He will need someone who will go slow with him, but will be firm enough to not let him develop any bad habits.

"V" was rescued last winter at the advanced age of 18 months along with his dam, Arabella. He's been pretty much growing and learning not to be afraid of people. He was a fear-kicker when we picked him up, and a cryptorcid. Now he is a (gelded) pest-in a good way. He's about 14.2, still growing. Ready for someone to start their way! Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $310

Oscar

Barn name: Oscar

Registered name: not registered, but eligible to be and that's in process

Registration #: (n/a)

Sire/ dam: Foggy Hollows Magic x Figurehead Foxy Lady, see more here

Color: bay

Height: 14.3 hh

Age: 11 years old

Gender: gelding

Links to other photos and/ or videos: more photos on ForeverMorgans Yahoo chat site

Source: Enumclaw auction

Current location: Molalla, Oregon

Comments: Oscar does not drive and we have been told he was very green broke. He appears a bit frightened after all that has happened to him but is very sweet, his foster mom hasn't had any problems with him.There are pictures of him before the auction that shows him with an english saddle on. He has had some neurological damage to a nerve in his face, but doesn't let that stop him from making new friends, and latest report is that it's healing! Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $325

Maizie

Barn name: Maizie

Registered name: grade

Registration #: (n/a)

Sire/ dam: (n/a)

Color: blood bay

Height: 14 hh

Age: 17-18, best approximation

Gender: mare

Links to other photos and/ or videos: none at this time

Source: broker pen at New Holland

Current location: Clayton, NC

Comments:

Excellent for vet and farrier. Takes wormer easily. Stands tied to be groomed and bathed although she doesn't love the hose too much. Will let you fly spray her if you hold on to her fly mask. Loves carrots and horse treats. W/T/C and neck reins, quiet, willing & wants to please, does anything asked of her. Just waiting to be some little girl's dream horse - contact us today! Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $505

Fancy

Barn name: Fancy

Registered name: TBD

Registration #: TBD

Sire/ dam:

Color: Chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, broad white stripe and left hind sock

Height: 14h

Age: estimated 11 years but could be younger

Gender: Female

Links to other photos and/ or videos:

Source: New Holland, PA broker

Current location: Southeastern PA

Comments: "Fancy" is very sweet, friendly, easy to catch and has no vices. She is comfortable around people and gets along very well with the resident mare. She is also athletic and has lovely gaits, particularly her trot! She understands treats, grain, is good in cross-ties and for grooming and bathing, so she was loved at some point before arriving in foster care (where she has quickly won our hearts). Information from broker at time of rescue was that she is registered but registration papers were not released with her. Vetting paperwork that came with her indicated she might be a Morab (Morgan-Arab cross). A forever home may be able to identify her through DNA testing. Fancy is easy to tack but only appears to be green broke. She will need an experienced rider to bring her along to her full potential. Overall, she is a lovely little mare and will be a wonderful addition to someone's family. Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $300

William

Barn name: William

Registered name: grade

Registration #: (n/a)

Sire/ dam: (n/a)

Color: bay

Height: 14 hh

Age: 3, best approximation

Gender: gelding

Links to other photos and/ or videos: none at this time

Source: broker pen at New Holland

Current location: Mountville, SC

Comments:

I have had him only a week but this is what I can tell you so far.

Health; Weight is good...could use a few lbs, but mostly needs conditioning.

Eyes, Nostrils and Ears...no signs of disease ,discharge or injury. Clear eyed and alert

Feet. Looks good. No signs of disease or lameness of any kind

Appetite. Good. Free choice costal bermuda hay. 12% pelleted feed. Only 1 lb a day to start. Will increase as he becomes accustomed. He looks forward to his grain, but does not pace or beg. Stands quiet.

His manure is normal. He urinates as appropriate.

Temp and heart rate all in normal range. Teeth look appropriate to age.

Wormed him Sat. Took it well.

Temperament ; William is quiet . Likes attention. Doesn't bite, nibble or push. No cribbing, weaving or pacing. Will follow you in the paddock. Doesn't push , or get in my space. Seems easy going until he meets a mare. They HATE him and he will kick at the fence boards in defence. Can't keep him near the mares. He does share a fence line with my 20 month old Morgan gelding and our mini gelding. No kicking or biteing, an occasional squeal. May put him with the mini in a couple of weeks. Not with my Morgan. He is too precious and I am unwilling to risk his safety. But they do commune over the fence line. He may have herd socialization problems. Maybe spent alot of time alone?

Training. ; William halters easily. Leads well. Stands tied for extended sessions. Likes being groomed. Will readily pick up feet for picking out. Loads and unloads in the trailer. As long as on a lead is well behaved. Spent a few minutes trying to get some pictures running free. He became defensive and kicked out towards us. Havent tried to lunge or anything else yet. Maybe next weekend.

Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $350

Busy Busy Holidays!

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:16:21 -0800

The holiday season is always packed with things to do - shopping for gifts, cleaning for company, parties, holiday light tours, and more!

To help a bit in these endeavors, here are some useful links to things that are going on in Central Texas this holiday season.

Do you remember Crumley's store on South I35, lighting up the night sky, absolutely covered with Christmas lights? Crumley's store is long gone, sadly, but D.E. Crumley, and his lights, remain! At 89, he's still decorating; now, he just does it at his place in Hays County. Make a point of seeing them while you still can.

Another traditional holiday lights display (really an art form) can be found on 37th Street. It varies from year to year, as different people live in the houses on that block, but it's well worth the visit.

The Zilker Tree is being lit tomorrow night (first Sunday in December, as always), at 6:00 p.m., rain or shine. If you don't attend the lighting ceremony, make a point of going by and doing the traditional twirl under the tree sometime this holiday season.

Shop local and get your tree at one of the local tree farms: Evergreen Farms or Elgin Christmas Tree Farm are two possibilities.

Make sure to do some shopping at Armadillo Christmas Bazaar! It's an Austin holiday tradition that shouldn't be missed. (Yes, we have a lot of those.)

A few upcoming events:

Wheatsville Arts Festival, 2915 Guadalupe, December 3-4, 9 to 5.

Budafest (postponed until next weekend due to inclement weather - yay, rain!)

A Christmas Carol, the Musical, Palace Theater, Georgetown, TX, through December 30

Holiday Home Tour in Historic Georgetown, December 10 and 11

This barely scratches the surface of what's available this holiday season, but it's a start. Remember, too, to take a little quiet time to relax and reflect - that, too, is the purpose of the season.

Dancing in the Rain - No, Really!

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:38:31 -0800

We often read blog posts about dancing in the rain, meaning Active Rain, of course.

However, this morning, I actually DID dance in the REAL rain!

As most everyone knows, Texas has been suffering under one of the worst droughts in history. I posted about it in September, complete with photo of the deep cracks that have appeared in our Houston Black (black gumbo clay) soil as a result. It's been a long, hard, dry year, and the land is suffering for it. And when the land suffers, we suffer - everything from shortages of hay to raging wildfires that wipe out thousand of acres.

This morning, however, I was awakened by the pitter pat, tippy tap, of a gentle rain falling. It's been falling now for hours, and the weather radar says we're going to have waves of it for the rest of the day.

The gumbo clay is swelling, the cracks are shrinking, there's puddles in the yard! There's nothing for it but to go out and dance in it!

Photo Credit Anita Patterson-Peppers via iStockPhoto.

lIt's Been a Long, Hot, Dry Summer

Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense (ERA Colonial Real Estate) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:10:55 -0700

If you've been paying any attention this summer (and not just retreating indoors and waiting it out), you'll know that the weather has been weird all over the country this summer. Drought, floods, records being topped all over the place one way and another. I'm old enough not to panic, to realize that this is just One Of Those Years that come along every once in a while (those broken records had to be set sometime in the past, after all!), and we'll get through it.

I am seeing something that I haven't seen before, however. Our ranch is on Houston Black, a black gumbo clay soil, so, of course, whenever we have a drought, as the soil dries and shrinks, cracks appear in the ground. Sometimes they get pretty big. But I've not seen, in years past, so many cracks so large and in such numbers.

It's reached the point that I have to be very careful when walking around in our own yard, especially at night, lest I step in a hole and break an ankle. My husband has a 6'+ walking stick that he has put in some of these cracks, and in some it goes down so far that only half the stick is out.

Why do we not water? For the very reason that the cracks exist. We're in the middle of a drought, don't know when it will end, water restrictions are in place, and responsible citizens are letting their lawns die rather than waste water that might be needed for drinking, or for fighting fires like the great Bastrop County wildfire here recently (34,000 acres and 1500+ homes destroyed) or the Steiner Ranch fire or any of the others.

So we watch the grass turn brown and crisp and powder underfoot. Those HOA's that insist that their members waste water to keep lawns green start being eyed with disdain. We celebrate when the temperatures drop to highs in the low 90's. And we pray for rain, we chant for rain, we dance for rain, we think about washing our cars for rain but don't do it because that wastes water - we do whatever might appease La Nina and the rain gods enough for blessed water to fall from the sky onto the parched earth.

The good thing is, if you're buying real estate (farm or city) right now, as far as the greenery is concerned, you know you're seeing it at its worst.

I hear in other parts of the country, they're getting way too much rain. I can almost remember what that feels like.