Tag Archives: Bennett Farms

Bennett Farms is a premier barn that trains and boards all breeds of horses at the Los Angeles Equestrian center.

Huck’s New Digs

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Good Friends, Good Times

Good Friends, Good Times

For days I’ve been coming up with excuses to not write about retiring my Quarter Horse Huckleberry.

A month ago I decided it was time he went to pasture. Wednesday the hauler pulled into the Los Angeles Equestrian Center early and there went my plans for a long goodbye. Huck stepped into the trailer and, as instructed, I closed the door behind him so he wouldn’t back out. The trailer echoed the whinnies and kicks of impatient racehorses also destined for Northern California. “Thank you for looking after my boy,” I managed.

“You’re welcome,” the hauler shook my hand. “I’d better get going.”  I caught a fleeting glimpse of Huck’s face through the trailer window before the truck rumbled out the long driveway and I broke down in the parking lot.

Eight years earlier, I’d stood in the same spot as my dear friend Mike Chipko trailered in my sorrel trail buddy. On account of his good nature and penchant for laziness, I called him Huck. People frequented his stall to offer him carrots or a pat. He liked the company.

In fact, Huck insisted on it. If anyone ambled behind us on the trail, no matter how much I egged him on, he’d show me who was boss by slowing to a crawl until those riders caught up and he could flick his ears back and forth at their horses.

Always Making Friends

Always Making Friends

In this way I met a fellow USC alumna riding her Thoroughbred.  We talked about college days and soon I received an invitation to join the Friends of the USC Libraries Board. Because of Huck, I reconnected to USC in a fun and meaningful way.

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Another riding buddy became Huck’s “Aunt.” Whenever he saw her, he nickered for her attention. I brag he took Blue Ribbon for Talkiest Horse. When I loaned him to a high school student taking lessons at Bennett Farms, Huck made me proud and won a real Blue Ribbon.

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He also brought me into a circle of wonderful horse people at Bennett Farms like trainer Jim Bennett, trail buddies Patty and Kellian Ladd and groom/problem-solver Leo.

Leo could cure many horse ailments but he couldn’t solve my own dilemma: How to justify the cost of caring for a horse that I now barely rode once a week. Traffic snarls and constant canyon road closures on top of teaching, parenting and working made seeing Huck a push. The hurry-up-and-ride headache, just so I could rush to get back, seemed ridiculous.

Mike introduced me to Judy Adams and the answer became clear. She and husband Jack Adams own The Adams Ranch in Clements and they agreed to bring Huck into their family.

Huck's new digs

I think about Huck all the time but I don’t miss seeing him in a 12×12 stall. Judy sends me progress reports and photos. When she writes, “He acts like he’s been here his whole life” I believe her. He looks amazing. The freedom. The green grass. The new pasture pal. The mares in the next pasture…He must figure this is Horse Heaven. I just figure Judy Adams is an Angel.

 

 

A Tale of Two Horses

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A century ago, I would’ve been meandering with my horse through the Beverly Hills bridle trails when no one thought twice about having a stable on their property. If zoning laws allowed it, my Quarter Horse Huck would be at home, saving me bundles on lawn mowing. The next best thing is boarding at Bennett Farms at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, a mere thirteen miles away.

I landed at Bennett’s when my then six-year old wanted to ride. Suffice it to say that my (now) High School Kid rides like a champ but prefers running shoes and it’s me with the roper boots.

 

 

 

In 2006, I brought Huck to Jim Bennett who loved him on sight.

 

Before I could say whoah, Bennett put me on a retired Saddlebred show horse named Arnold since lessons were included in the fees. Goodbye western saddle, loose rein and slow jog. Hello English saddle, sans horn…not that I grabbed the horn but it was nice knowing it was there.

Over time, Bennett taught me to keep gentle contact on Arnold’s mouth, to post so my derriere barely touched down and to “Get ready for an E-ticket ride!”  I never kicked Arnold into a canter; I merely thought it.  Ignition time! Arnold collected himself and propelled us around the ring like there was a jetpack strapped to his haunches. I had to admit, this definitely beat the Matterhorn.

Saddlebred lessons translated well into trail riding on Huckleberry. My seat improved along with my confidence.

That confidence and Huck’s ‘good mind’ got us out of several scrapes. Like the morning when the city drained a giant water tank – without warning – and a virtual Niagra Falls cascaded down Mt. Hollywood. I kept my cool and Huck sloshed through, as brave a companion as I could ever wish for (either that, or he just really wanted to get home to carrots).

Another time he inexplicably froze.  I clucked for him to move and he refused. Then a man fell fifty yards through chaparral and landed nearby in a poof of dust. Huck humped up like he had on six-inch stilts. The man brushed himself off and wandered away and I peered up to see if anyone else was dropping by. Huck knew better and moved on.

 

Rheba is soft, svelte…and a bit timid on the trail. 

Recently, injury set Huck back and Bennett generously gave me the go-ahead to ride my Saddlebred lesson horse Rheba during his recovery. She’d never been on the trail and the first time we tried to pass the gate, she balked. I had to back her out. We started slow, venturing further each ride. Eventually we braved bridges and toughed out tunnels. I can now say: We trust each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankfully, Huck is 100% recovered. Whoah! That doesn’t mean I left Rheba in the dust. BH Mom just schedules a little extra cowboy time. Curious about life in the saddle? Talk to Bennett Farms at http://www.jbennett.com/ or 818-953-9988. Tell ‘em BH Mom says ‘Howdy.’