Congratulations
to Menno's new "mom", Valerie of Gig Harbor, WA!
Here
is a recent update from Val From August 4th, 2007:
Hi Sue! It sure looks like you've been busy lately!
All your horses for sale look awesome! Menno and I have been having a great time.
We have been trail riding a lot. He is a super trail horse. Of course,
like usual, nothing phases him, dogs, motorcycles, kids on bikes. He is
unflappable! Good as the day he was born :) We started taking lessons now that he's going
along. We are walking and trotting. When he becomes more balanced we will
begin the canter. We are in no hurry, since he just turned three in May.
We have been focusing on just having fun on the trail. Menno is very smooth,
and is game to go anywhere. I can take him out of the trailer right alongside
the road. As long as he has his hay bag, he doesn't care where he is LOL.
He just buries his face into the bag, and doesn't come up for air until
I put his bridle on! He has been such a gift. I have been able
to bring him up under saddle on my own, and it has been nothing but fun!
That was easy! What a personality too. Menno's character hasn't changed,
and my instructor just loves him. He listens well, and picks everything
up quickly. She can't get over how smart he is. He's just over 16.2 now,
and I'm hoping he'll stop there. I'm having a hard time mounting from the
ground on him. He stands there like a tank while I haul myself up his side,
he'll turn his head and look at me like, "Will you get on already!" Here are some pictures of him on a trail ride.
I look forward to going on a trail ride sometime with you!! Hope all is well with your busy summer! Val & Menno
Here
is a recent update from Val From February 8, 2007:
Hi
Sue, I
was just making another video of Menno.... He's doing great! I've ridden
him, and I drive him all over the place. I'm still waiting for him to mature
before doing too much. He's still a character, and so much fun! He's measuring
at 16.1h now and still growing :) We
are having so much fun together, and he is absolutely beautiful!! Hope
things are great down your way. It looks like the stallion show was something
to see. Menno
sends hugs! Val
Click
here
to see his recent video of Menno demonstrating how to fetch!
Here
is the original reference letter from Val:
"Menno
has settled in wonderfully at Green Hills! He is instantly the belle of
the barn.What’s not to love with
him!All they say about how wonderful
Friesians are is true!With Menno
being a yearling colt, I thought I would have my hands full.Instead
I have a calm, smart baby who learns quickly.
What
has been a real surprise is to watch how brave Menno is!When
walking past a huge blue tarp covering the shavings, Menno went right up
and grabbed the edge of it.He pulled
on it while it flapped in the wind.That
is something I haven’t seen before!He
also walked right in to the water obstacle, which is partial mud, and promptly
tasted a mud clod.Now he wants to
go there all the time to eat mud!Everything
he sees is interesting to him and he goes right up to it, whether it is
a big tractor, or a tiny puppy, he wants to see it all.Trail
riding is going to be a dream!
It
gives me a great feeling to know that Menno is so gentle and willing. It’s
going to be such a pleasure to train him.He
already has an audience every day commenting on how well behaved he is,
plus, they can’t keep their hands off his luxurious mane and tail, and
he’s only a year!
We
have a lot to look forward to.Thank
you so much Sue, for making the perfect match, I can’t believe I have such
a beautiful Friesian baby!!!I have
to pinch myself occasionally! "
--Valerie
Lee
APRIL 11, 2006 UPDATE : I have a few pictures of Menno I thought you
might enjoy seeing. He is a beautiful boy! His birthday is coming up in
may, the kids are going to have a party for him, so I'll send some fun
ones too. My video camera is acting up, so I will get his videos later.
He is behaving himself, although when it came time to take a picture of
him with my mom's horse and my niece's horse, he had to be silly. Just
like a kid! I just put that in so you could see his best buddy Austin,
the Haflinger:) It's not a good one of Menno.
