Meet MerryLegs

This little guy is Merrylegs  (aka Legs, Little Man, Sassy Man)
Merrylegs is a 10 year old Miniature with big personality. I bought him from a gal who explained his unique history as a driving pony who used to compete at the Kentucky Horse Park and he also did little performances as well. He has a lot of heart for such a little guy. He is the ringleader over the donkey and even has Samwise buffaloed into seeing him as boss. He loves to toss his head and act like he's just the grandest boy out there. He knows several tricks but we are hoping to work on more in depth tricks such as bowing and liberty work.
His best quality: He is very sweet and gentle with people.
His worst quality: He can be a little domineering over other animals and come across as kinda rude. 
His likes: Doing pedestal work and receiving scratches right on his back and withers where he can't reach. He also loves to play in the creek ;)
His dislikes: His grazing muzzle and not being in charge of everybody else. ;)
Legs is my little Pillsbury dough pony who enjoys being under your sole attention and pampering and he's every little girl's dream with his salt and pepper mane that's fun to braid. He's my 23 year old little dream pony! :) And his intelligent brain and flare for the dramatic makes him a captivating mini trick horse!
Now the story I have for Merrylegs is actually about him and his sidekick, April the donkey. One afternoon at home I happened to look out the window into the field and noticed a coyote. I also noticed Merrylegs and April interestingly watching it. Of course I head out on the deck prepared to go out there and defend my little ones when they decide they don't need it. They start walking, then trotting towards the coyote. The coyote is obviously confused and starts to take off. I watch this mesmerizing scene of a little horse and donkey continually walk and trot fearlessly towards this coyote until finally,, he decides he's had enough and takes off. So apparently I have a good little guard pony!

Follow me

Hi!
I've set it up to where you can now follow me and keep up-to-date on all my posts throughout the week. So please scroll down the page to the right and click follow! Thank you in advance and I appreciate all who have been reading so far!!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

It's one of those skies where you just expect God to show up! :)
Have a great Friday everyone!

Meet Samwise

This is my boy Samwise Gamgee (Sam). He is a 9 year old Quarter Horse mix and is about as endearing as his namesake. ;) I adopted him about a month ago from a local horse rescue. He had been a neglect case but despite everything he shows a super willing attitude and loves to be around people. I had went to the rescue looking at a completely different horse and ended up trying him out and we just clicked.  Within a half circle of getting on him I was smiling. He is considered fairly green still and he is learning new things such as neck reining and moving the shoulders but he does have the potential as a little reining horse.
His best quality: He adores attention and likes to greet me at the fence when I come home from work.
His worst quality: He sometimes uses his very smart brain against people for example making people think he's blind. :)
His likes: Soft rubs, bathes, and any attention you give him.
His dislikes: The rain... I know, it doesn't make since he loves bathes.
He is proving himself to be great calm and steady guy as I have been playing with him quite a bit since I've had him. Nothing to crazy ya know....just vaulting on and off him, standing on him, and riding double...completely normal stuff. ;) He's taken all like a champ so far and I can't wait to turn him into great little trick horse.
Now I must share this story about Sam. When I adopted Sam his original name was Abe just to clarify so this story will make sense! When I brought Sam home I played the perfect trick on one of my dear friends who I went to equestrian college with, in Oregon. Here are the screenshots from our conversation:

So there you go single gals! There are some ideas for you. :)
-Kayleigh

Blogging Schedule

Hi everyone!
So my main posting schedule will be on Thursdays and Sundays for now. Check out my Google+ account for more tidbits and smaller fun posts throughout the week.
Thank you!
-Kayleigh

Welcome to My Blog

Hi, 
This is Kayleigh Ripberger and I am a dreamer. There...I said it. A crazy,  starry-eyed wistful dreamer. That's hard for a practical, realistic person like me but here it goes. Have you ever had a dream that seemed so impractical, crazy, unreachable and down right ridiculous? Does it seem so crazy that you are afraid to mention to your family, friends and peers for fear of laughter or that sweet little smile with the words "oh that's great"...translation, "you're nuts....good luck with that." Do you sometimes even feel like you are shooting to high and your own hopes scare you? Well you're not alone. Welcome to my world. ;) We'll get along just fine. 
So you might be asking what is my dream if you haven't figured out somewhat by now from my blog title and my bio? My dream since I was about seventeen I have wanted to train horses for the film industry and become a stunt rider/double one day. Growing up I would watch horse movies and pour over the behind the scenes, fascinated on how the trainer could get the horse to go from point A to point B and do this specific trick all while their behind the camera. What a picture of confidence and trust between horse and trainer. And what horse girl hasn't been mesmerized by a woman galloping across a field bareback on her trusty companion and wished to do the same? Yep, that's me. I want to be a part of something bigger than myself and be able to touch people with the beauty of horses in film like I was when I was younger. I want to keep the dream of horses in movies alive for all future generations of little cowgirl and cowboy wannabes. I want to share the amazing strength and lessons that can be learned from these amazing animals. Now you must realize that I am not an entertainer or a showman by any means. I am completely content to sit in the background quietly wishing to make my mark in the world but yet feeling like somehow like all my 'i's' have to be dotted and 't's' crossed  and everything be just so before I can step out. Did I mention I am a perfectionist? :) 
So I am creating this blog to help mark and chart my journey. Whether or not my dream comes true only God knows, but I am trusting in the fact that as long as my heart's desire aligns with His Word and I hold my hopes with an open hand then I will succeed no matter what happens. Whether or not I ever train a horse or other animal that stars in a motion picture or teach an actor how to ride or stunt double for them it doesn't matter because He is the one with best life plan possible. I just have to be willing to go for it and listen to His guidance. Is it always easy; no, and do I always enjoy the waiting game, no, but what is faith for if your not going to use it? 
In my blog you're going to meet my furry family and I hope to share how I am teaching them tricks and just enjoying their unique personalities. I am no expert by any means and I simply hope to try methods and see what works for me and what doesn't and share with you all for you to try at home. I hope I can give some insights on how to teach your own equine companions. Not only will I be working with horses but other animals as well and I also hope to work on myself as too ;) I also hope to share insights on how I am learning how to be a better Christian woman through this process and to encourage all of you who read. Yes, this will be mainly a trick training blog but I want it also to be a place where you can be encouraged, share in the life lessons I am learning through my experiences and sometimes just have a good laugh from the many stories of my comical crew.  
I hope you follow me on this journey and know that I share in your wild imaginative heart and that I'm right there with you.  Seeking, working, learning, growing, hoping, praying, pressing on, and forever dreaming. 
-Kayleigh