42/ SEPTEMBER 2020 THE RIDER Lyra and Grayson and Paddock Drama


By Ellen Schoeman. There was no refuting the


beauty of the morning. The sun reached out to cover Lyra’s face, denied by the shadows made by the hat she was wearing. The dampness of the grass was dried by the daylight hours, and Lyra sat down, resting her back against the bark of an apple tree. The paddock fence and the freedom they found within it kept the young colts from regarding her presence with mistrust or disdain. The colts grazed mindfully.


Their tails swatted away flies as they decided which weeds they found eatable and which ones they weren’t interested in. They kicked at the flies that landed on their stomachs with their back legs and rubbed their heads on their friend’s shoulders when the bugs bothered them too much. Lyra watched with dismay as her young colt Magnus rolled in


moist earth, shaking his now- stained silver body. He would need a bath before he returned to his stall. A fellow colt tried to rub


against Magnus and Lyra’s young colt pinned his ears, turning his head threateningly to the other colt.


It can be educational to


watch horses interact in the pad- dock: understanding their person- ality, recognizing how they interact with other horses, who their friends are and who they elude, and what behavioural is- sues they might have. Like cribbing. So far, Magnus had not


come to crib on the fence. Lyra smiled as she watched


the colts interact with each other. Magnus was an aggressive colt, but not overly rude. After the morning of hard work, Lyra found herself relaxing as the colts


rolled and trotted about, discov- ering hidden, unwelcome burr


PROPERTIES FOR SALE


bushes. Her body felt heavy and she closed her eyes. She fell from the height of


her Skybred colt, Magnus. He’d stopped suddenly, sending her over his shoulders and hard onto her back. She moved protectively into the fetal position and waited for hooves to meet her body. But Magnus had stood, waiting for Lyra to get to her feet. Swinging herself back into


the saddle, she grimaced at her back pain, but continued at a strong gallop. Magnus’s ears were back, taking his strides se- riously. Lyra’s expression was that of determination. There would always be an-


other fall. She would fall. It was something she had to expect. It was getting back in the saddle that mattered. It was doing what had to be done in order to achieve her dreams. Falling was just a part of getting there. “Miss Lyra?” Grayson shook


her shoulder lightly. “Grayson?” she sleepily


rubbed her eyes. “Did you mean to fall asleep,


Miss Lyra?” Grayson asked her. “Or is this exhaustion’s result?” “How long have I been


asleep?” Lyra asked, her fingers moving over a series of spider bites on her left shoulder. “I can’t be certain.” Lyra searched for Magnus


and inhaled deeply at the sight of him, grazing lazily. But when he walked he did so with a slight limp. “Magnus is off!” she ex-


claimed. Grayson


straightened,


watching the colt. “It is possible he had a conflict with another colt and was kicked. Did you not hear anything? It is too bad you fell asleep. We would have known for sure.” He helped Lyra to her feet. “We better get him into the barn. We will check the other colts as well. If there was a dispute, his might not be the only injury.”


Advertise Your Business Here for


as little as $25 per month in print AND online!! Call 905-387-1900


or email barry@therider.com 3887 Weimar Line, Bamberg, ON


Want To Get Out Of The City? Magnificent Bungalow In Prestigious Island Lake Estates On A Prime Lot, Attention To Detail Is Evident! Beautiful Flr Plan W/5,800 Sq.Ft. Of Total Living Space. Gourmet Custom Toma Kitchen, 4 Bdrms, 4 Baths, Laundry Room & Study Room On Main Level. Grand Entrance, Porcelain Tiles, Brazilian Oak Floors, Marble, Granite And Cae- sarstone Counter Tops, Crown Molding Throughout. Backyard Oasis With Lanai, Stonedeck, Custom Stone Firepit And Perennial Gardens. Custom Built In 2010, Sprinkler System, Reverse Osmosis, Walking Trails To Conservation Area From Your Backyard, Meticulously Maintained. A Must See. Orangeville, ON. $1,599,000


MLS#X4867225


SOLD OVER ASKING IN 3 DAYS Multi-Generational Property With 1+1 Kitchens,


4 +1 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, Finished Detached Home.


High Ceilings, Quality Upgrades, Kitchen With Quartz Counter Tops, Ss Appliances, Walk In Pantry, Large South Facing


Windows, Walk Out To Double Car Garage, Fenced In Yard With Stone Patio For Entertaining & So Much More. You Do Not Want To Miss Out On This One!


“It was a very good experience working with Julie to purchase our property. Her professionalism, follow-up and personal approach was very appreciated. Thank you Julie. L & S Rodriguez”, North York, ON


Julie Huppe is amazing! At one of the lowest points in my life she was there to help me sell my hobby farm. Julie is compassionate, caring and very, very patient! Julie also helped me find the perfect new home, no easy task with my long list of “wants!” Thanks, Julie and your team Helen Waring, Belwood, ON


Looking to Sell Your Hobby Farm? I May Have The Buyer For You!


Welcome to your Country Paradise just minutes from KW. This World-Class, State of the art Equestrian Facility sits proudly on 68 Rolling Acres and is sure to impress. Custom built 3 bedroom Bungalow w/ walkout basement, in ground pool, hot tub, 2 car garage plus many recent updates incl. paint, flooring, light fixtures, furnace, water softener and filtration. Outstanding Horse Barn boasts a major addition/renovation in 2015. 25 stalls, separate quarantine stall area, 2 indoor wash stalls plus 1 out, 2 wells provide auto indoor and outdoor waterers. 2 Indoor Arenas 200x84 and 104x60 plus outdoor 160x100 arena, and 60 ft. round pen. 9 Paddocks with new high tensile vinyl fencing and shelters. Direct Detect monitoring, fully automated ventilation system with humidity control, gas heat plus generator backup, custom sound system for music and mic, auto lights. 2 Tack rooms, office, washrooms, feed room, viewing area, plus upper loft viewing/storage area. Covered ma- nure and shavings storage with separate lane for deliveries. Loads of space for boarder and trailer parking. Top it all off with approx. 10 acres of bush and 30 workable acres, all just a short drive to Waterloo. $2,950.000


FOR ALL YOUR FARM REAL ESTATE NEEDS


RE/MAX REAL ESTATE CENTRE INC. BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED.


Bruce Nicholson Broker of Record


bruce@nicholsonrealty.ca


Tyler Nicholson Sales Representative. tyler@nicholsonrealty.ca


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48