New Website

Just wanted to update everyone and let you all know Epona's Hands now has its own website!

Check it out!

Epona's Hands

Brains {she's got 'em}

Watch my little girl with voice commands :)  This was last summer (2014), she was just 1 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MDF Little Wolffee {the visit}

During the last week of January 2014, I found a little gem, a chincoteague filly who went by the name of Princess Peach. She was in need of a lot of TLC and I couldn't help but notice that beautiful kind eye she had. She was a diamond in the rough. 

I brought her home and named her MDF Little Wolffee and Keena for short. Keena was derived from her original name her breeder's own children gave her, Princess Peach. I started out calling her Peachy Keen, which evolved to Keena. 

The MDF is to recognize her breeder, Misty Dream Farm. Keena is directly descended from the Arabian stallion Premierre, who was released onto Assateague to live out his retired years breeding with the chincoteague ponies, adding to their gene pool to help reduce genetic issues among the herd.

Keena's Grand dam was Wolffe, who was island bred and was the daughter of Premierre. Hence, where the name Little Wolffee comes from. 

Keena's story with me begins here. 

As you can see from these pictures, Keena was in need of a lot of TLC. And, maybe if you look hard enough, you just might be able to see the diamond in the rough I saw! 

Desensitize {acceptance}

Once Keena was fit enough, I began playing with her. Letting her get use to me, to Connor, a handling routine. She calmed and became accepting of many of the circumstances we placed her in.

It has been amazing to watch her blossom into a self-confident young mare. And equally amazing to watch she and my son play together, usually at the water troughs splashing or with toy cars and trucks.  She loved to snatch his toy cars from him when he least expects it. She then moves them into her own pile of toys, while he waits for his opportune moment to steal them away.

Our favorite early game was the towel and wet clothing game. Connor always has a way of getting his clothing filthy at the barn. Either he is playing with the hose, the troughs and buckets, or the mud holes after a rain. Keena gladly accepted the role of "dryer". 

Never flinches when we shake a towel out or even toss it over her head. Keep in mind she is still only a yearly! 

Such a silly girl! 

Whole New Horse {in 5 months}

Huge progress was made in giving Keena the care and nutrition she needed to be a happy, healthy, and thriving horse. Here she is settled in at Feel Good Farm, just five months after I brought her home.

Look at how much progress she has made!!!!

She is a whole new horse! A far cry from the underweight filly I found in the winter! 

All In The Family {Keena and Connor}

The second she poked her head out of the trailer upon arriving to her new temporary home at River Farm in Leesburg Virginia, a certain two year old toddler was captivated. It was a shared interest: and instant bonding, I couldn't have been more happy. Keena, after all, would be for my son Connor. 

When she arrived there were a few chuckles to be heard around the barn, a stable typically home to lavish jumpers and other fancy show horses, each with personal grooms and massage therapists, and passports to travel the world for competition. My friend was managing the property while the string was off showing in California.

"Is that a Llama or a pony", one of the farm maintainance workers asked?

It didn't bother me, she was equally as cute as she was llama looking. In fact she ended up melting the hearts of many who saw her, though, there was a bet going around that she would not survive three weeks in the current condition she was in. 

None of this phased me, I saw what others were not seeing. Keena had my love and the love of a little boy to fuel her fire!