This is kind of a long story...

For the past three Junes I've come home to Boston from our little horse farm in Aiken, SC to have a surgical procedure. First the back, next total knee & back again, then this past June for shoulder rotator cuff/spur.  I haven't hunted deer or hogs for the past three seasons.  So with recuperating over the summer my life style/activity had become rather sedentary.  Normally I'm an early riser and quite active.  

One of our nightly routines is to watch a couple of movies a week.  "Wild Horse Wild Ride" a documentary about horse trainers taming wild mustangs in a hundred days and then those horses are put up for public auction really perked my interest.  So much that I looked up a couple of young men in the movie that live in NH.  I ended up taking a 5 day clinic working with wild mustangs with my arm 50% back from surgery.  My wife & daughter are horse nuts but I never was.  I loved working with the mustangs!

In August to my surprise this was the first year that Extreme Mustang Makeover came to Massachusetts.  I decided I'd see how & what 40 some trainers had done with mustangs that were untouched by human hands as of last April.  To sum it all up...I purchased the winning mustang the last night at auction!

Now I'm getting up @6:30 feeding & cleaning the paddocks every morning, noon, and night feeding.  I'm energized and enjoying the activity of my little cow pony mustang...Sweet Annie.

When Molly & I picked Annie up.  The trainer Nate, Amy, and Dillon had her ready to go.  Dillon is 8 years old and was a little sad to see Annie leaving.  I brought some knives to show Nate one of my passions...but it was Dillon who fell in love with my knives.  Molly and I kept the family informed about every new thing Annie had accomplished as she only had 120 days of training...though her base is training is great.

OK now back to the knife...

I decided to purchase a sweatshirt from Nate.  That's when he asked if he could buy a knife for Dillon.  Well my knives start @ $300 maybe a little much for an 8 year old and they are plenty sharp.  I decided a TRADE was Needed...knife for sweatshirt. Annie & I got together to come up with something nice for Dillon to remember Sweet Annie!

Knife is hand forged from 1084 with a splendid piece of Splated Oak and memorable sheath.  The edge has not been rolled so it is like a butter knife.  When Nate & Amy figure Dillon is ready for a sharp knife, I'll finish the edge...tippit

Nate, Dillon, & Annie....

     

The Extreme Mustang Makeover Competition Nate & Annie....

     

     

Nate, Annie, and Me....

     

The Knife....

     

     

     

The Sweatshirt....

   

Beautiful. All the way around!

Really cool story.  Thanks for sharing.

Now that's cool all the way around!  Thanks for sharing.  A good horse can do wonders for a fella.  My dad had a similar experience.  And I've been thinking of making a knife like you did for Dillon for my own 8 year old...no finished edge, but ready to be sharpened when he is.  

Beautiful knife.
Beautiful horse.
Beautiful story.
Thanks for sharing!

Very nice Jeff.
 

Awesome!  

Perfect

That was a really cool thing you did.

Nice Jeff excellent trade! Was waiting to hear more about the mustang too!

Matty,
Annie is great!  She was untouched by humans until last April.  She is a very sweet gentile horse and does just about everything you put in front of her.  She comes to my whistle and follows me around in the paddock.

QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Matty,
Annie is great!  She was untouched by humans until last April.  She is a very sweet gentile horse and does just about everything you put in front of her.  She comes to my whistle and follows me around in the paddock.

Sounds just like my relationship with Julie!
         
None of you EVER utter a word of that to her!

Matty you aren't right!

Pretty horse....I just watched Hidalgo... I think a wild horse has something over a paddock raised one- more "experience" maybe?

Great stuff, Jeff..... it's been too long since we saw each other. Let me know when you guys make the move south...might have to swing over and do a shop visit?

Hey Ray,
We'll be in Aiken on November 16th till June/July...making sure all the snow is gone from Boston before heading back     You know you're welcome anytime!

I loved this story.. Thanks for sharing.

Todd

Very cool Jeff!

Hey Jeff, we have  a "wild" mustang at our farm also,  She has been in captivity 17 Years and is a great horse although occasionally her wild side shows through especially with herd dynamic and when she is spooked.


Annie looks to be a  great Horse, Now that you have caught the Horse Crazy Bug, I feel for you but if you cant beat em, join em.  

There are 2 trainers in this area who competed in the Mustang Makeover Challenge. Their work was incredible.

Nice gesture on the trade. Nate and Dillon, I'm sure have been touched by the whole deal.  I have a couple old sweat shirts if you have any more lol.

I am glad to hear you are recovering.