JUDY BERTELSEN EAGLE RIDGE FARM

JUDY AT THE 2010 STONE BRIDGE CUTTER RALLY

Our main farm is located in west central Alberta, where we have 3 quarters of land, one of which borders the mighty Red Deer River. We built our new home here about 7 years ago, and in those years I have been carving trails throughout the river quarter for riding and driving fun. Being a nature nut all my life, I have tried not to kill any trees, at least the bigger ones, as I chain sawed my way through many kms.

Progress was a bit slow at times, as I stopped to admire beautiful mosses, fungi or gaze over the river at passing elk, or watch with wonder, the majestic soaring eagles. It is at these times that my mind conjures up images of gnomes, fairies, teddy bears, unicorns, butterflies and decorated Christmas trees throughout the woods – the child in me that never grew up – so I began making ceramic folks, carving wind spirits, hanging stuffed little dogs in the dogwood tree, naming the trails,

– - and then inviting my grandchildren and friends to come driving and enjoy the trails with me.

Besides a forever child, I am also a very competitive adult and the lure of any driving competition is like a magnet to my soul.
These trails have grown into a combined driving trial area, with the addition of 4 obstacles, and the much appreciated help in designing and building them, by the Helmig Brothers of Rosaland Ab., allowing for our first combined driving trial with 21 entries, in 2009. 2010 leads us to our second annual event, with the construction of a 5th obstacle and the completion of The Bridge of Red Deer County, over the Battle Creek bed.

My two aged Arabian and half Arabian horses have honestly paid their dues – the Arabian setting flat racing history, setting new track records in every state that he ever raced in, except Delaware, and retiring sound having won 40 of 60 starts and only being out of the money one time.

The half Arabian, a strapping 16.2 hand black and white paint, earned his keep ponying the mornings and working afternoon and evening races, handily getting the toughest quarter horses and thoroughbreds to the gates. They later both became wonderful driving horses, when I returned to Canada. But now father time has caught up to them and they both deserve their retirement, to roam the pastures forever free.
As my pensioners gazed on in disbelief, we brought our first miniature horse home, followed quickly with the purchase of 5 more. It was not long until most of them were driving – single, pairs and then the team of 4 – my silver dapple apple dumpling gang.

The following fall I entered the High Country combined drive, with my good friend-groom-navigator, Shirley Brand, with The Gang, and we brought home the champion VSE trophy. We both love, as I believe my horses do, the thrill and challenge of the combined competitions. We also enjoy the occasional parade, fun drives, dress up competitions with the horses, eg – harvest drives with pumpkins and colourful leaves all over the cart and horse, Christmas night time parades with lights, dandelion spring events with yellow shirts and fly bonnets on the horse, Luke dancing to the Jailhouse Rock, in our jail attire, complete with handcuffs

— sleigh and cutter rallies, or invitational drives.

Three years ago I purchased Luke, my beautiful little Haflinger – he is so cute and so fun –well why not double the pleasure – so along came John, my second Haflinger, — Hang on Shirley- there is lots more fun to come.

Seldom does a day pass, that I am not out grooming the trails, enjoying a wonderful pleasure jaunt or training for a competition – splashing through the river and whizzing around in the obstacles, with either the minis or the Haffies. And best of all, to share this wonderful area with everyone. As you wind your way along Firefly Lane, past the enormous spruce on Drivin Me Buggy Trail, and climb up over Bunker Hill, to now feast your eyes up and down the Mighty Red, — there is no doubt in my mind that you will realize then, there really is a God.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 12:35 am and is filed under Front Page. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.