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Friends and family joke about our farm being a bit like Grand Central Station (GCS)… we suppose it is, but love that there is always someone popping in to say “hi”, or a new four legged friend to welcome home. Running a horse drawn carriage company from home is a 24/7 job – just like GCS, we never close.
Working on the Farm
It’s all hands on deck around our place and we’ll take all the help we can get! Even our daughter, Brianna, is quite skilled at using the skid steer to feed the horses (pictured here at 7 years old).
Playing on the Farm
Every excuse we get to play with horses, we take. These days it often means our daughters have friends over to meet them and have a ride around the farm. However, the Tally-Ho staff also come out to hang with their buddies and we all manage to get out for the odd trail ride now and then.
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Best Friends and Guardians of our Home and Livestock.
Jolee
Jolee, a Leonberger dog, joined our family in January 2007. She has quickly grown accustomed to our busy household and has settled nicely into routine – love the humans (she’s a wanna-be lap dog – at 130 lbs!), play with Bloo (one of the horses) along the fence line, seek out and eat any stray horse hoof (it’s a doggie delicacy if you didn’t know), eat, sleep, have a spa moment with Maddy (the cat), teach Gypsy (aka the “little dog”) the ways of the world, and repeat. She is a truly gentle sole who has been a hilariously wonderful addition to our home.
Gypsy
In January 2009 we welcomed home a new little girl to the farm – Gypsy is an Australian Shepherd dog from Florida. She is very smart and a stunning example of the breed, with the blue merle coloring extending to one of her eyes (one is blue and the other brown). She has quickly won our hearts as well as those of all her four-legged farm friends; particularly Jolee, who has demonstrated enormous patience as Gypsy seems to be climbing, nipping or playing with her every chance she gets. The “big dog” and “little dog” have quickly become inseparable. Gypsy has brought a renewed level of fun and energy to the farm!
Maddison
Maddy is a Maine Coon X cat – big, bold and beautiful. Born in 2000, she now weighs in at approximately 18 pounds. But it’s not her size that makes her a best friend for our dogs, it’s all in the attitude! Maddy is queen bee in our house, and she knows it. She’s a great mix of affection, attitude and stalker, all rolled into one. She is our only barn cat, but she doesn’t need any help; we’ve been treated to rats, mice, lizards and birds by Maddy. Don’t cat lovers swear it’s a sign of affection to their human companions?? Boy, she must really love us!
Milo
Milo is our newest addition to the household, in August 2010. He is a Ragdoll cat and we’re quickly learning why this breed is gaining so much attention – Milo’s blue eyes are amazing and he is a great mix of energy and floppy cuddles. The dogs are completely in love with him (and he them), while Maddy is taking her time welcoming him in. How lucky we are to have a new little man in the house!
Misha
Misha was our first leonberger puppy to join our family back in 1996. I swear you’ve never seen a cuter puppy! Misha loved to swim, go for walks and chase small white dogs (no, she never caught one!). Misha passed away in September 2004 after a long battle with cardio myopathy. She was taken from us way too soon, but her soulful eyes and gentle demeanour will be remembered forever. A best friend that remains in our hearts every day.
Roxy
Roxy came to us when she was just over a year old, in 1997. She had been neglected and was shockingly underweight. Despite a rough beginning, Roxy had so much love in her heart for all those whom she met – her mantra was “pat me, love me, pat me more”. She was always with us or Misha, her best friend. She left our lives suddenly in December 2006 after being diagnosed with a severe case of mandibular cancer. We miss you Roxy and hope you’ve found Misha over the “Rainbow Bridge”.
