Quiet Winter Farm
WHanna-Head of Farm Security...Commanding but never mean.
Hanna makes sure that all the horses are where they are supposed
to be, that the children are safe,and shes not afraid to tell me  if
someones not  on the "up and up"- Good girl Hanna!est
traver
photo
Okay Farm Security is a
24 hr job,  and it gets  
Lonely . So now we have
Kjersti  a Long Coat
German Shepherd  from
so Hanna has a  friend
and trusted partner when
shes on Duty !
Walter is My African grey,  I named him after my beloved Grandfather  who was
the kindest person Ive ever known. Our hearts where broken when he died 6yrs
ago.. He is deeply deeply missed... Soon after his passing away. I found  his
namesake "Walt'. -He is very bonded to me and calls out to me whenever I walk
in the door, he has a vocabulary of about 100 words,whistles and household
sounds! He can imitate the different horses whinnys and he calls everyone by
their name. African greys are on par with chimps and dolphins,they are
extremely  intelligent and perceptive. Thanks Walt ,  you bring  a lot of joy to my
life.....
VViggo . A Wonderful addition to our farm, He lived 4 yrs with us  till he died this past  year.
V, we enjoyed every minute we had with you...!     When  I first saw him  on a cold November
night, there was a man at a small animal  Auction who was holding him upside down and
swinging him around. Horrified I ran up to him.... I only had $8 in my pocket and hurriedly
offered it to this bully.  Thank goodness I got the Bird that night! Loyal and compassionate
Viggo would let the young chicks huddle under his wings on cold  winter nights, And every
morning I would awaken to him crowing ( Loudly  I might add ) right outside my window.  ...We
miss you big guy!
Nubians,  Curious and Friendly with  long ears, and Kind eyes , such sweet goats.  Whats
not to Love? I used to milk a herd of does every Sat morning for an organic farmer,  Of
course I  decided I needed some for my place as well !   So  Shamrock came home...They
are very vocal about their needs. Shamrock  is a  natural and nurtruring mother. She had
twins last year. they where as sweet as her.  Here she is giving Loch a kiss.
Artist and aspiring photographer, my daughter Samantha Founded Deep Roots
Photography & some of her photos can be found on these  very pages. Samantha
always tries to help out with all the animals. She is  a deeply kind  and thoughtful
person ,even as a small child she displayed a natural intuitiveness with animals .  Our
herd seems to sense this and  they gravitate towards her naturally.
I Love  the Winter, The peaceful  parts of it.  The way nature puts itself to bed
and re awakeins fresh and new in the spring  Hence the farms name "Quiet
Winter Farm "  Thank you for Visiting with us.
Flurry is such a patient and  unique dog, here she is helping
Lochlan say his prayers for the night. ...We love you Flur
bear!O
Shawn Shoenpferde One of My Homebred horses. Shawn was born friendly.   I caught
him in midair at 1am when his dam refused to lie down, He nickered to me before he
even got up  ,and he still had the sack around his legs ...As soon as he could stand he
wobbled over to the horses on the other side of the fence to greet them,  Much to his
mothers dismay ! He now lives with his new owner Martha who keeps me updated on his
weekly antics and comical day to day activities.  You got a good one Martha!
Samantha Riding Hank 2005
Deep Roots Photography. Samantha
Skadeland(C)
SAhh,The barn help... Where would we be without them?
Here Samantha and Lochlan are gearing up for a days
work on the farm. Samanthas got the fly mask in hand for
some lucky equine. And Lochlan with his  ever present
"flask"aof Orange juice" has the rake  primed and ready
to start to help with mucking the fields!otTheres less then
15yrs if you add their ages together between them,  but
they work as hard as any adult ,Ive had on the scene!
Thanks guys , I do Love you !hereorange juicemantha
LOnly 2yrs old and Lochlan takes his part on the farm very seriouslyo. He makes it a
point to greet each and every animal every day. We noticed they have come to expect  
this from Lochlan. So much so, that one am he had a cold and was feeling under the  
weatherHso He didnt make it outside to do his daily meet and greet" there were more
whinnys that morning, and this was after feeding time.h The horses seemed to be
looking for him all day long!
Welcome to Quiet Winter Farm. I heard a quote once that expressed the sentiment that
"We are transformed by what we love"  If this is true what wonderful attributes my animals
offer to teach me. They are Patient,  gentle, curious, quiet, intelligent, eager to please and
have concern for their fellow living beings..... Certainly as a result of living with these
wonderful animals, my life has been transformed....  Jacquie
MWillow  aka Mommy ( yes we have 2-Willows,its a very long story...) This is my
Thoroughbred Willow she is 20 yrs old in this picture I have had her for 14 yrs now and
she is a wonderful Mare and friend.  Willow is now 22 yrs old! She by the famous
racehorse and Kentucky Derby Winner  Seceratariate. Willow always had beautiful
foals for me and her son Shawn is pictured above.  An excellent lesson and lunge line
horse Willow excelled at giving beginners confidence...!  A true 10 mover  I took lesson
& Willow showed 1st level dressage but her favorite job was being a mom . Even at 20
yrs old , to this day when people visit the farm when they see Willow they say ..."WHOS
that"?   You still got it mommy!
ThThis is Saint Nicholas, He is my Driving horse.. Since Im
not a very experianced Driver ( yet) I put my Life in his
hands..er, Hoofs.  And hes never let me down. Thanks Nick
Your sunny disposition and rock solid nerves have saved my
life , more then once!
SSSSean is a very good big brother,even when the tears
are flowing he can always make Lochlan smile again!
GGunner, You where the most  gentle goat Ive ever known. I still think about  you
often, And remember what a unique personality you had, and how kind you where
to the baby goats.  Rest in peace sweet guy.........
WFriesians are very
passionate about eating!
Shawin in 2005 -Our home bred Perch Tb cross
was so easy to back, He was born  Friendly,
willing and trusting  of people.   His dam Willow
always did gift us with  such  nice foals .....
My Beloved St. Nicholas.
“The measure of a person’s judgment is in the qualities of the pony that he keeps and that he breeds.”
............................................................................................................................Thomas B. Capstick
Shawn 2008 with his new owner Martha .They make a great
pair, she has even taught him how to throw a ball !
MMorgan filly born May1st 2008
DeepRoots photography. Samantha
Skadeland
SaSamantha riding Willow 2008
CoHallmans Mill Bridge,  Kimberton Pa I love the lines of this
shot It really shows the artistry of the builders of this 100 yr
old bridge.....vere
When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and
when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine..you know you are loved.John
Lyons
On Horsemanship
Learning about horses is a lifelong pursuit, as any well-rounded
horseman or horsewoman will tell you. The fact that you can literally
spend a lifetime involved with horses, and continue to learn and be
taught by them the entire time, is one of the many aspects of
interaction that draws people into the relationship in the first place.

The All Round Horse and Rider
By Donna Snyder Smith
WWinter,   Early eveningilight. Taken
by  Samantha Skadelandnliter
When Nicks not busy saving my life when Im driving him in the carriage, He  enjoys spending time as an Actor!
 Here he is seen playing the role of a preachers horse in the 1700s, He is being led by  Famous  Women Civil
War reinactor Toni Dukemam.  He Loves all the attention , Yup a natural actor....W
SaSamantha  at home 2002mantha
SSamantha  age 6   riding at camp
amantha
I I call this photo BLU-Shirt , Lochlan is rarely
without his  BLU shirt!call this one
SaSamantha 1998 with her pony
mantha 1998
"A horse gallops with his lungs,
Perseveres with his heart,
And wins with his character." ~ Tesio
Samantha   2008
Samantha
Until one has loved an animal,  a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~
Anatole France
What is a "Long Coat German Shepherd"?
A Brief History of the Long Coat German Shepherd Dog
The Long Coat German Shepherd is actually the "father" of the "Short Coat" German Shepherd which most people know or have
seen. Before about 1899, two principal kinds of shepherds were found in Germany. One of these earlier shepherds included a
variety with a longer hair coat. As widely known, shepherds were generally used to herd and guard sheep. They also protected and
provided companionship for their human masters.

In the later 19th century, a man named Rittmeister von Stephanitz recognized the inate intelligence of these popular "farm dogs". He
strongly believed that these shepherd dogs were well suited for other tasks. He had an idea! He imagined how the body structure of
these dogs should be in order to perform well as "working dogs". Amongst his ideas was that the coat of working dogs ought to be
relatively short.

In 1899 Stephanitz founded the "SV Club" (Schaferhund-Verein). As a result of this club, a standard for the "German Shepherd" was
set. Later on, the FCI and VDH accepted this early standard. This was unfortunate because the standard declared that the long-coat
was undesirable and was no longer an "acceptable" characteristic of the breed. Primarily this was because the long coat dogs
supposedly did not have any "undercoat" of fur.

After many successive years of breeding, even today some litters appear now and then where the puppies have longer hair. When
this does happen the litter is usually considered a good one because the sire and dam that produced the litter are apparently
carrying the characteristic genes of the "Olde World Shepherds" of many years ago. It is typical that the long coated (long haired)
German Shepherd has a very strong-boned body structure. This breed variant also exhibits a very good nature and a great
character.

In the 19- sixties and seventies not many long coated shepherds were seen in public, primarily because the usual "short coat
breeder" almost always "gave them away privately" to be used as "family dogs", with the understanding that they would not be bred.
The fact is that these "unwanted dogs" made great family pets. More and more people adopted the long-coat shepherd as a pet
because they had a magnificently strong bone structure, large size and wonderful temperment. Some owners of the long coated
shepherds realized that when they were used as working dogs they also exhibited a great natural ability to be good schutzhund
dogs, just like their cousins of the "short coat" variety. Naturally these owners did not want the original long coated breed to
disappear.

In 1984 a small group of people gathered together in Germany to found the "LSVD e.V" (Langstockhaarschaferhundeverein
Deutschland e. V) club. A result of this club has been the definition of very strict breeding regulations with the hope to be recognized
by the German VDH, SV and FCI organizations. This petition for recognition was submitted in 1991, but no recognition was
forthcoming from the VDH, SV or FCI. Although the petition was denied, this did not stop the LSVD e.V, whose membership was
rapidly increasing even to this day. Their goal was to make the original long coat German Shepherd more popular. In the late 1990's
a book "Ratgeber Langhaar-Schaferhund" was published by Horst Hegewald-Kawich. This book explains a lot about the long coated
shepherd. It also discusses a very important fact: the original long coat shepherd, like his more recent short coat cousin, does in fact
have a thick fur undercoat. The book also shows that the long coat shepherd is both used as a working dog and also in sport
competitions all around the world, demostrating obedience, tracking, search and rescue capability and agility.

The long coat German Shepherd is now shown and titled in Germany. However, in the United States the shepherd's "long coat" is
still considered a fault for show purpose. On the other hand, long-coated German Shepherds do compete in the United States for
other categories such as: obedience, tracking and agility. It is an irony that these shepherd's beautiful long hair coat is still
considered a fault for show competition in the United States. On the other hand, the LSVD e.V has it's own shows in Germany. The
shepherds that are selected for breeding purpose must pass at least one obedience test (SchH 1). They also have to be presented
in front of a breeding committee, where their "nature" (disposition) is also tested. Furthermore, their hips have to be x-rayed to show
no signs of hip displazie before they can be used for breeding.

People who have come to know the beauty of the long-coated Germans Shepherd dogs and their qualities want them for their
handsome looks, keen loyalty, basic intelligence and sound character. Here at BestShepherds, we have over the past decade, had
people from all over the country and the world visit our website and come to our kennels. They invariably leave, fascinated by the
beauty of these intelligent, playful and socially pleasant shepherd dogs.
Our Newest addition    July 2009
Contrary to popular belief....Goats do NOT eat tin cans, old tires...etc.

Goats need good hay, good feed, browse, Clean and dry shelter, safe fencing, hoof trimming, basic medical care, and regular worming.
Worms are a goats worst enemy.

Goats are ruminants...they have FOUR stomachs!!


Goats do not have top teeth EXCEPT in back
In the World....more Goat meat is eaten than any other meat
Goat meat is better for your health than chicken or beef
Goats milk is great for you, inside AND out
Female Goats are called DOES
Male Goats are called BUCKS
Baby Goats are called KIDS

Male Goats that have been "Fixed" are called WETHERS
Cows are Bovine, Horses are Equine, Goats are CAPRINE
Gestation for kids lasts 5 months (145-155 days)
Some Milking Does can provide a gallon of milk PER DAY. WOW!
Goats BORN with no horns are referred to as POLLED
Goats with horns REMOVED have been DISBUDDED.
A Doe that has given birth is FRESHENED
Goats are herd animals, They will fair much better and happier with a goat companion
Wethers make GREAT Goat companions for Bucks AND Does
LGD is short for Livestock Guardian Dog  
A buck that is ready to breed is in RUT.  He will spray his beard and legs with Urine and exhibit other *studly* behaviors.  Thus, the
"bucky smell", WHEW!
During Breeding season, Does will generally cycle every 18-21 days
Puppy Pool Party 2009
Black and white Photography  strips away the “noise” of every day
life and really brings focus to the child and the moment. It is classic,
timeless, and always beautiful. I call this  3 Cool cats    My Youngest
son, My daughter and My favorite cat...
Just when does a horse cross the threshold from "mature" to senior citizen? Like so many other factors
affecting elderly equines, there is no clear-cut answer. Once upon a time, a horse was considered aged
after 16, says Joseph Bertone, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor of equine medicine at the Western
University of Health Sciences' College of Veterinary Medicine. But that timeline has moved up.
In one recent study, owners generally perceived their horse as old at about age 22.2 However, notes
Bertone, that impression also depends on the horse's activity. "A 6-year-old racing Thoroughbred filly is a
little older, but as a broodmare, she's young," he says.
But when does a horse change biologically? Bertone says that a definite timeline hasn't been detailed.
However, he notes, "In Europe, where horses are used for meat, (they've found that) chemical changes
take place in the muscle at 12 to 14 years old. (And) mares over 16 years have issues delivering eggs to
the uterus that young horses don't have."
--Sushil Dulai Wenholz
feeling that you cherished them"... Richard L. Evans
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”
Dr. Seuss quote
Mine Mules



By David Kuchta



I think most people would find the subject of Mine Mules intriguing. They are part of the long history of the mining industry. In the 16th
through the 18th century in the United Kingdom, the mine industry used humans as a beast of burden. Most times, it was children and
women who carried or dragged the baskets of coal or rock to the main shafts. In 1842, the United Kingdom passed laws against girls and
women working in the mines. Then in time they used small ponies to do the job. Later, the United Kingdom passed laws against ponies in
the mines but for a short while they used boys to pull the cars to the shaft. In the United States, some of the oldest mines used oxen and
then mules to pull the coal cars inside and outside the mines. Here in the Panther Valley, the Lehigh Coal & Navigational Company used
mules right up to the period of shutting down most of the mine operations in the early to mid 1950s. They kept the last mules probably more
as a memento to the past but the company also utilized them in areas where the electric mine motors might cause certain problems. In
some areas there might have been a minor gas problem and an overhead electric trolley line could spark an explosion so they utilized the
mules. Mules are very smart and along with that, they could be very thick-headed. They know what they can do and would never do any
thing they couldn't or would not want to do. Mules were known to pull at least three full mine cars full of coal. If you hooked up a fourth car
they would balk at any commands and just stand there. No way would they pull the fourth car! Some mule drivers figured that the mules
were counting the cars as they were hooked up with the chains. So when it came to the fourth car, they did it real quiet and discreet. The
mules pulled the fourth car, unknowingly, without any problems.



In the early years when the coal companies had canals they tried using horses to pull the barges of coal. They soon found that on a hot
day, the horses would want to take a dip in the canal to cool off, often dragging a young mule driver into the water which could end up with
some of the drivers getting drowned. Horses are also known to pull more then they could handle and they literally would work to their death.
They found out that the mule didn't like water and would never work himself into the ground like a horse. With this experience, the job of
pulling the barges on the canals was eventually turned over to mules. A good mule driver knew that treating the mules with kindness got
better results then mistreatment. Some drivers were mean and ruthless and if the mule didn't want to pull any mine cars they would hit them
with the wooden sprags that were throughout the mines. The sprags are a piece of wood that you jammed in the openings of the wheels to
brake the cars. When mules were mistreated they often got even. Many a miner or driver was killed by mules, by getting kicked in the chest
or head. Another favorite way of evening up the score with a mule driver was to squeeze him against the rib (wall) of the mine. Most drivers
kept away from any squeeze points and just treated their mules with respect. In the same case, mules were just plain cantankerous and ill
mannered. Some mules wouldn't work with any driver. The company had to find someone who the mule would work with. Yes, some mules
were just like humans and just didn't want to work. Mules also liked to get treats such as apples, carrots and believe it or not, chewing
tobacco.



In the No. 9 Mine Museum in Lansford, Pennsylvania they have a death certificate for two mules that died in 1913. Their value was placed
at $200 a mule. Most mining companies valued the mules life over that of a common mine labor. The Coal Companies also did not take
lightly any mistreatment of mules. If a miner decided to kill a mule, he had a good chance of being fired. Many people think that the mules
were never taken out of the mines and were blind. Not so! Mule stables in the mines were usually lit up with electric lights (after 1920 or so.)
Mules were also taken outside to a mule barn when the miners went on strike or during a vacation period. If any mine mule was hurt or sick
they would bring him out for recuperation. When the mules were brought out of the mines they would romp and run around the area. They
would like to roll on their backs and just kick up their heels. Mules enjoyed getting out of the mines every so often. They often walked the
mules from one mine to another such as from Spring Tunnel or No. 9 Mine to No. 6 at the other end of Lansford. Around 1964, the
government passed laws outlawing the use of any animals, as beasts of burden, in any mines. It was at this time that the illususteus career
of the mine mules came to an end
DontUp  in Maine On China Lake, Dont do what we did.. Drive 11 hrs only
to find out the Lake your Vacationing on is one of the most polluted Lakes
in the state-- YIKES!
OnOn a day trip from the farm what did I decide to do... .Visit a mine of
course! And I was fascinated to learn about Mine Mules !
Lilly Loves Swimming and Will Jump in the water no matter what the temperature outside!
Among twenty snowy mountains,

The only moving thing,

Was the eye of the blackbird.     Wallace Stevens