I just can hardly believe that Wiley, my beautiful Arabian horse, first arrived on Virginia’s Eastern Shore one year ago last month, my most unique Christmas gift ever from my son ! As they say, how time flies ! Wiley really, really loves it here on the Shore, romping around with all his new friends, soaking up the cool breezes off the water, enjoying the Eastern Shore’s temperate climate, munching the delicious pasture grasses, visiting friends on other farms because the Eastern Shore really is an equestrian paradise. At Wiley’s cosy anniversary party, the guest of honor calmly munched carrots and sugar cubes in his stall while my son and I toasted his good health with some pretty nice champagne. But truth be told, Wiley’s first Christmas in his new home, a brand-new and spacious barn on a large waterfront farm just south of Cape Charles, Virginia, was just about more than the poor little fellow could handle. Just trying to figure out which stall buddies to give apples and which stall buddies would prefer carrots was pretty taxing, plus having to decide whether it was truly necessary to put a bow on them all. And then having to decorate his stall because he didn’t want to seem like the barn Grinch ! Not to mention that the older horses were all party, party, party into the wee hours, keeping Wiley and the other colts up half the night. It was enough to give a young horse dark circles under the eyes. Although he loved all his Christmas gifts, including a new halter and a beautiful new green plaid blanket, soft and warm as a down comforter, ( nicely gift-wrapped for him by Dover Saddlery www.doversaddlery.com ), Wiley still insists that it’s lucky that Christmas comes only once a year ! He thinks the craziest thing is that the barn is already looking forward to the Christmas holidays next year. But I let him know not to worry, come next December, he and I will face it together. P.S. If you love horses and are thinking of a move to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, please call me at 757-678-5200 and I will e-mail you some data sheets on our great “horse-friendly” properties.
Archive for the ‘Horses’ Category
The On-going Saga Of Wiley, My Eastern Shore of Virginia Arabian Horse. Part 4
Monday, January 31st, 2011If You Want To Purchase A Boating Property But Love Horses, On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia You Can Have Both !
Friday, December 3rd, 2010It seems like more and more, we are getting calls from people who are looking for boating real estate on Virginia’s Eastern Shore but who want a property where they can have both a boat dock in their backyard and horses on the property as well. Now in most areas this simply is not possible. But on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, we have a number of opportunities to buy properties where you can do just that. I think one of the unique aspects of purchasing property here is that, unlike so many other waterfront areas where the land has been chopped up into quarter acre lots, or even smaller in many cases, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, many of the available waterfront parcels range from three to six acres in size, and some are even larger. These properties with acreage present the perfect scenario for having both a boat pier and a horse on the same property.
Take for example a ten acre parcel we have listed not far from Nassawadox, Virginia. A beautiful property, it features wide water views and easy boating access to the Chesapeake Bay within 10-15 minutes of the property. The best place to site a custom home would be at the top of the knoll, looking down towards the water. This would offer terrific views and the access to a boat dock would be down a gently sloping path to the shoreline. A pristine property, this waterfront acreage is a perfect purchase for a boat lover . And for a horse lover too !
Partially wooded and partially open, this parcel offers easy conversion of the open area to good horse pasture. Fortunately, on this parcel, as on most of the land in Northampton County, the soils are excellent sandy loam soils which offer top notch drainage — nobody wants their horse to have wet feet ! The property also has good depth which keeps the horses away from the house and away from the water. ( An important factor in helping maintain clean water would be keeping the nutrients from the horse patties from entering the water. ) Attractively priced at $399,000, this property is ready for a beautiful custom home, a backyard boat dock and , if desired, offers room for a horse barn and pasture. So if you want to purchase a boating property but you love horses too, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, you won’t have to choose– you can have them both ! ( Take a peek at the Farms and Farmettes listing section on our web page, www.blueheronva.com , to see other real estate opportunities including beachfront properties where you can also have a horse. )
The Life Of Wiley, The On-Going Saga Of An Arabian Colt On Virginia’s Eastern Shore– Part 3
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010Watching the Breeder’s Cup last week-end made me think about just how much animals are very much like humans in many respects. Some have the heart to win and give it their all to the very end. Others are happy with making just enough effort to just get by. Very much like our human race. Now I’m not comparing my little grey Arabian gelding, Wiley, to the great race horse Zenyatta but I do see a similarity in the hearts of both animals. Wiley was purchased last Christmas from a horse farm in Tennessee that was going through very hard times. In distress situations like that, owners usually do not have the funds to continue to feed their horses the grain and hay supplements they need. Instead, the horses are turned out to grass pastures to live on the land so to speak. So Wiley only got a minimal amount of care, he and his buddies being left very much to fend for themselves.
Then overnight this little fellow’s life completely changed. Being loaded onto a horse trailer for the first time is pretty traumatic for a colt like Wiley — first you’re out in a sunny, wide open pasture and the next thing you know someone is pulling you up into a small dark box, no buddies, no mother, then the door is slammed shut, leaving you totally alone and scared. And the unfamiliar noises and motion, thumping and bumping, starting and stopping, down hundreds of miles of highway to a new home, all that is pretty traumatic for first-timers as well. And once he got to his new home on a large waterfront farm owned by a friend who boards horses near Cape Charles, Virginia on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, being in his own stall with a less than friendly mare as a next door neighbor wasn’t a picnic either. No doubt he missed his old buddies down on the farm but there was a big upside — good food and lots of love, care and attention. After a couple of months of good food and being turned out during the day to graze in the large green pasture, things seemed pretty easy to Wiley. His new life produced weight gain and a beautiful healthy coat. Still had to contend with the old mare next door at night but, all in all, life was definitely good.
Little did Wiley realize that with the coming of spring came the beginning of the summer Show Circuit and that his relaxed, comfortable life was now about to change once again. Loaded on a trailer for only the second life in his young life, Wiley was off on another trip, this time to Wolf’s Training Center in Georgetown, Delaware (www.wolftraining.com) . Now it was time to leave the comfort and security of his new home, now it was time to grow up and go to work. Time to learn how to stand ( with his best foot forward), to use his neck and ears with positive attitude, to learn to keep his undivided attention on his trainer and to stand perfectly still to be judged in the ring without moving a muscle. These lessons aren’t the easiest to accomplish with any two year old and were hardest of all for Wiley to achieve. But when Wiley returned home to the Eastern Shore of Virginia after two months of intensive training, all bathed and clipped, sporting his brand new shoes, he was no longer the little grey duckling that left the farm but rather a proud and beautiful Arabian swan ! Now Wiley can’t compare to a great race horse but he does have miles of heart. Upon return, the first thing he did when he saw me was to call out and nuzzle my neck to say it’s OK, I’m growing up, I’m ready now for the show season. Bring It On !
Shopping For Wiley– The On-going Saga Of An Eastern Shore Horse Part 2
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010Harkening back to my July post on my overwhelming surprise at receiving Wiley, my Christmas gift horse…. It wasn’t just a huge surprise, it was also a bit of a shock. A little hard to take in, some quick figuring was needed about what to do next. Easy solution. I always say, when in doubt, go shopping ! So that’s what I did.
A quick visit to Dover’s website ( www.doversaddlery.com ) to look at the latest and greatest in equine equipment and fashions was in order. Wiley was in need of a lot of stuff if he was going to keep up with his stall buddies. ( Wiley hangs out on a beautiful 400 acre waterfront farm near Cape Charles, Virginia and I didn’t want him to embarrassed in front of his new friends.) A new rolled leather halter with a monogramed name plate seemed like a good start. Of course, every self respecting young colt has to have a cool coat for winter. A handsome burgandy blanket piped with gray and a charcoal gray blanket to contrast with his light gray coat seemed to be the perfect fashion statements for stepping into the upcoming show season.
Apparently Wiley thought so too. New halter, new blanket — now he held his head high when people passed in front of his stall. Not just some horse turned out in a field, Wiley’s demeanor changed. No longer when you opened the stall did he turn and face the corner. No, now he looked directly at you and walked forward to meet you, ready to shake hoofs. He was ready for some R-E-S-P-E-C-T ! Women have always known that a new outfit and a makeover can make you feel great but who knew that it was the same for horses ? Wildfire was now on his way and show season was just around the corner ! Next post — Wiley’s first show.
Wiley, the Christmas Horse
Friday, July 16th, 2010I thought that after thirty years of being asked by my only son “So, what would you like for Christmas this year ?” or “If I give you money would it be better if you chose your own Christmas present ?” that something was really rather strange this past year. In the weeks leading up to the big day, not a word did he say, not one question did he ask about my Christmas gift preferences. Knowing that he usually felt a lot of uncertainty when shopping for my present I assumed that he had decided to skip the shopping part entirely and just slip money into a Xmas stocking. I should mention that I, on the other hand, love to shop for Christmas. Trying to decide on a really meaningful gift for family and friends, one I think they will truly enjoy, is a passion with me. Since Virginia’s Eastern Shore is home to so many artists and artisans, I always scour the Shore for some interesting art type gifts before I shift into what I think of as “high gear”. “High gear” is my annual Christmas shopping pilgrimage with a friend or two, usually to Washington DC, sometimes to New York. One of the things I love about living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is how easy it is to get to interesting nearby areas such as Williamsburg, Richmond, Washington , Annapolis, Charlottesville, etc., as well as points north including Manhattan, Cape May, maybe even that den of iniquity, Atlantic City. This past year we made the 4 hour drive from the Eastern Shore to Washington, laser focused on unearthing some great deals over the next few days at Tyson’s Corner and treating ourselves to lunch at Neiman Marcus. Splurging by staying at the Ritz , we parked ourselves by the cozy fireplace in the evenings, toasting the season with hot toddys and cold champagne. So much fun, so little time and all too soon we were on our way home.
Still no gift questions or comments from my son. Then, on Christmas Eve, a festive dinner and presents after. And I must admit, after all of the presents were opened and he didn’t have a box or even an envelope for me that I felt rather disappointed. About 11 pm he kissed me goodby, saying that he had to leave to meet some friends. No “sorry I couldn’t find anything I thought you would really like”, no “please use this to buy something nice”. Just “Merry Christmas, Mom”. At that point my first thought was that I should have had more than one child. Although I am a firm believer that it is better to give than to receive, truth be told, I was feeling rather disappointed. Then, on Christmas morning I received a call asking if we would possibly have the time after Christmas lunch to join him at a friend’s big waterfront horse farm south of Cape Charles. We would and we did. And when I got there he said “Come look at this.” We walked into the barn and there in a stall was a beautiful grey Arabian colt, dressed in a red halter with a red Christmas bow in his mane. After 20 years since I last had a horse I was looking into the eyes of one of my sweetest Christmas presents ever… Wiley, my Christmas horse.