Osk's belly is dropping and growing larger each day. She seems to want to eat all the time and loves coming in for her extra grain. But as soon as she has finished eating she is eager to return to the pasture and her herd. She clearly thinks her foal should be born outside!

Last Saturday (April 25th) we had our first TTEAM clinic of the season. It had turned into summer for the day, 20 degrees c. and it was very hard to imagine that only 2 weeks ago we had 8" of snow everywhere with drifts up to our knees. Not much spring in this part of the world. We so often seem to go from winter into summer!
The first Full Moon Ride is on May 9th and only a few spots are still available. These rides were so popular last year, each one was unique and many left us speechless, so powerful was the effect of riding in the darkness. What an amazing connection and trust developed between horse and rider. Call soon to book your spot. Hopefully we will have one a month from now until next December.
The weekly lesson program is now in full swing.
The Therapeutic Riding group starts up on May 6th. with the Volunteers training April 29. we are always looking for new people to help. It is very rewarding work, great exercise and a chance to spend an extra hour or two with the wonderful Icelandics!

Spring...I think its really here!

The snow, from the ten inch storm on April 11, 12 and 13th has finally melted and spring feels like it is really here. The crocus have reappeared and the horses are playing their wrestling and racing games or are stretched out on the side hill enjoying the warm sunshine.

Osk continues to grow larger and quieter as her time nears.

We had a great clean up day on Saturday. Six people showed up to help and even though the ground was still wet and even ice covered in places we managed to get a lot of sprucing up done, a lot of shaggy hair off the herd and a lot of tack cleaned.

Lessons are starting up again and this Saturday, the 25th. will be the first workshop of the season. This is a one day TTEAM clinic and there are still a few spots left.

A blog....really??

Mandala crept carefully into the computer age in 1998 and now, only eleven years later, we are posting a blog!

That probably sounds crazy to the rest of you who roam around cyber space on a regular basis, doing searches, visiting websites, meeting new people- but here at Mandala we spend most of the time outside, breathing the wonderful air, digging in the dirt and being with the horses.

But what a great way to stay in ttouch! So I am overcoming my fears,accepting the new age, and starting a blog!

I hope this blog, in my rambling style, will keep you all updated on life at Mandala. News of upcoming workshops, stories from ones just past ( I'd love your input on this), updates on all the horses, and maybe just a little of my thoughts and ideas.

The big news this spring is the up coming babies. My daughter Nella and her husband Ian are expecting twins! I will be a grandmother.

And...my only Icelandic mare, Osk, is also expecting! She will be foaling very soon and if I can figure out all this technical stuff, I will post some photos when it happens!