Sunday, January 1, 2012

A look back at 2011 & Video of Jackal's Surprise December Trick!

First a look back at 2011 and some of the fun things we did . . .


I made my first ever rope halter and some driving reins for Chrome. Click here for more details.



I was awarded the stylish blogger award! Click here for more details.



I taught Jackal twelve new tricks for 2011. One for each month of the year. Above is a video of the trick he learned for December . . . to walk on a treadmill!!! This was a huge achievement for him because he used to be terrified of treadmills. As a puppy he wouldn't even be in the room when I was walking on it. :) He also learned crawl, shy, fetch his leash, close a door, marching paws, go to bed, paws in a bucket, say your prayers, stand, recall and sidepass.



I taught Chrome to smile and it's his absolute favorite trick! Click here for more details.

I got to visit Lady, the Appaloosa pony I grew up with (she owned me for thirteen years!). I had to give her up in 2007 because I was moving to a place where I couldn't keep a horse. She now lives with a really good friend who has a bunch of horses and mules. She's happy. :) Click here for more details.

We got Muscovy ducks! They are so awesome and self sufficient. :D Click here for more details.


We got snow! I know for some of you that's an every winter occurrence, but down south we go some years with no snow at all, so it's exciting to get a big one (big for us is around a foot). Click here for more details.

I found new treats for Jackal that we both love! It's not slimy like hot dogs or cheese, it's not greasy like dog food and it actually smells great! Click here for more details.

Led Zeppelin had his very first clicker training sessions!! He quickly learned how to touch the target. :D Click here for more details.

Chrome wore a surcingle for the first time and he did awesome. Click here for more details.

My friend and I rode four wheelers a LOT over the summer and had so much fun. We even drove them to my house to introduce Chrome to them. He had fun. :) Click here for more details.

Chrome turned two years old and was so sweet and cooperative while I dressed him up lol. And cute!! Click here for more details.

Our Muscovy ducks hatched out a bunch of ADORABLE ducklings!! Click here for more details and pictures.

We did a lot of catfishing this past summer (we love fishing!) and saw these adorable minks. Click here for more details.


Jackal and I competed in our first ever competition! It was an online doggie dancing (canine freestyle) contest held by Honey from http://www.bighoneydog.com. Above is our freestyle routine. Click here for more details.

I made a longeing cavesson for Chrome and we had our very first ground driving session. Click here for more details and video.


We brought Faran home! Click here for his story and more pictures.

We started clicker training Faran to help gain his trust. He took to it immediately. Click here for more details and video.

Storm turned ten years old and met Faran for the first time. Click here for more details.

Jackal and I won the Best Costume award in Honey's Dancing for the Doggie Stars competition! Click here for more details.

I got a really cool t-shirt with an original hand drawn design from a fellow blogger. Click here for more details.

I got a promotion at work and am now the assistant manager! Click here for more details.

Chrome and Faran met for the first time (very cute video at this link) and became best friends. Click here for more details.

My husband went back to college to finish his degree! Click here for more details.

Chrome and I learned how to play Chase the Tiger. Click here for more details.

Our blue turkey hen hatched out several adorable babies. Click here for more details.

I started a new workout program on the Bowflex my parents gave me (because they couldn't use it anymore due to injuries). Click here for more details.

Chrome wore a saddle for the first time and Faran went for his first walk on the roads since coming to live with us. Click here for more details.

We finally got a new roof! Click here for more details.


Led Zeppelin let us brush him for the first time!! Click here for more details.

I turned twenty six and had a fantastic birthday out with my friends. Click here for more details.

I met two of the most awesomest (I know it's not a real word) friends, one of which has horses, so we did some horseback riding! I did find out my saddle is too small for me though. Click here for more details.

We built Chrome his very own pedestal and he loves it! Click here for more details.

I actually stuck with a workout program for more than eight weeks! Click here for more details.

Chrome and I celebrated our two year anniversary (did I ever mention I got married in 2009 too, so I celebrated my 2nd wedding anniversary also? Oops guess I have a one track mind lol!) Click here for more details.

I got the lovely blog award! Click here for more details.

I finally started my kitchen remodel! Click here and here for details.

I practiced driving a standard and had fun! Click here for more details.

I won NaNoWriMo for the third year in a row!! This was the toughest year yet. Click here for more details.

I got Chrome gelded. Scary! It went well though. Click here for more details.

Chrome had to learn to longe (didn't plan on teaching it this young because of his growing joints) to keep his incisions open after his gelding/castration. Click here for more details.


Hubby worked with Faran on picking up his hooves. :D Click here for more details.

Chrome had his first lesson in pulling! Click here for more details and a video.

Had a super fun Secret Santa party with my friends. :D Click here for more details and pictures.

Had a great Christmas!! Click here for the dog's post and here for the horse's post.

We had such a fantastic year!! I meant to post this yesterday, but I was too busy, so I decided to combine the review and new goals, but this took longer than I expected so I'll do the goals tomorrow. :) Did you all have a great year? Did you make a post about it?

3 comments:

  1. What great year! I love Jackal up on the treadmill! It can be very useful this winter!

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  2. Wow - what a packed year!! I don't follow your other blogs so I didn't know a lot of the other news to do with the horses & farm animals - so it was great to catch up on that! I'm FULL of admiration ofr you clicker training the horses & Led Zeppelin! Just love Chrome's smile! Makes me feel guilty for not working with Muesli more...or Honey, for that matter! I've really slacked off & got lazy last year in Newcastle...

    Oh - and I had been umming & aahhing about whether to do a Year in Review post as well...now I've been seeing so many on other blogs, I feel that I ought ot join in too! It's just that we had such a quiet year in Newcastle, I didn't feel there was much newsworthy stuff to review!! :-)

    Hsin-Yi

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  3. Laura, he is cute walking on it isn't he? I hope we can continue to get him more confident on it. When I've tried to speed him up to a trot he gets scared so we're going to take it really slow.

    Hsin-Yi, I really hope you do make one! I was without internet for a day (and missed it horribly lol), but I'm planning to get caught up on your blog again today. :)

    I thought you knew that I was posting Chrome's stuff on the other blog again. I felt like I was boring the non-horsey people to tears so I switched him back over to his old blog http://rdxhorses.blogspot.com

    Don't feel guilty for not working with Muesli more. I'm just impressed you can teach a cat LOL! Chrome is so smart and fun that he's easy. I think I would cry if I had to train a cat. :) Muesli is super smart though because you started her early. That helps a lot. I'm looking forward to reading more about you new home and places to explore. I bet you're going to have a fun year.

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