I am an avid horseback rider and love to go out for rides on my trusted Friesians.
A crucial part of riding is making sure the horse has a well-fitted saddle. An improper fit can cause a rider's weight to be distributed unevenly resulting in pressure points, rub marks, and soreness on the horse's back. The right saddle improves the horse's comfort, prevents injuries, and ensures a pleasant riding experience for both horse and rider. Recently, I purchased a new saddle from Freedman's, a multi-generation family-owned Toronto-based saddlery business that has been making quality harnesses, saddles, bridles, and other leather goods since 1910. I've been using Freedman's products for years and have always been pleased with the fine craftsmanship and quality materials.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
This is Bond, one of the 10-equine residents in my stable. He is a Friesian. The Friesian is most often recognized by its bold black coat color. They have long, arched necks and well-chiseled, short-eared, “Spanish-type” heads. They also have powerful, sloping shoulders, compact, muscular bodies with strong hindquarters, and low-set tails. Bond needed a new saddle that was better-fitting for his body shape and comfort.
I’ve used Freedman’s saddles for years. This is an older model saddle. It is at least 15-years old and is still in excellent condition.
In my saddle tack room I keep other equipment – bridles, saddles, collars, and harnesses – also made by Freedman’s. This bridle has the symbol of my farm on it, the great sycamore tree.
All of this equipment is custom made for carriage riding. Everything is always ready for the next ride.
A horse’s body changes through the year. During warm weather, horses are outdoors grazing on fresh grass. In winter, with a change in diet, they sometimes lose body mass. And, there are also muscular changes that occur from time to time. When a saddle no longer fits a horse properly, it can rock and wobble, and make the horse very uncomfortable. This saddle does not fit Bond well. He needs a narrower tree, or saddle structure, to fit his shoulders better.
This is Bond’s new Freedman’s saddle. It’s made with super grip leather to ensure no slip comfort during the ride.
It’s also manufactured with reinforced straps and a strong saddle tree for durability and proper rider positioning.
Here is the new saddle tested on Bond. This saddle fits perfectly between the back of the scapula, or shoulder blade, and Bond’s last rib.
Before going out on a ride, Helen grooms Bond. Grooming a horse does more than just clean the animal. It is also a good way to assess the horse’s skin and coat for any abnormalities that may necessitate veterinary care. A horse’s face should always be kept as clean as possible.
Grooming can be very soothing, and for many horses, it helps stimulate circulation. For young horses, it’s a good time to practice standing still, being patient, and being touched. Here, Helen wipes down his coat. Bond is secured to cross ties for safety.
Helen also combs the legs. Because all the horses are groomed every day, they are quite used to this process.
Cleaning a horse’s hooves is also very important. They should be picked daily. A hoof pick is used to remove dirt, stones, and other debris – particularly in the grooves beside the frog. Regular hoof cleaning can prevent thrush, a foul-smelling bacterial infection.
Now to get Bond ready for a ride. This is the saddle pad, which cushions the horse’s back under the saddle and protects it from the weight of the rider. This pad is from Mattes and has built in pockets for a cell phone and treats.
Next, Helen places the new saddle on Bond.
This Freedman’s Hunter SG saddle has a low cantle profile, which is the back of the saddle seat, making it easier to swing the leg over when mounting.
The front of the saddle should sit behind the shoulders, allowing good swing motion. The back of the saddle should also be the right length. And the saddle itself should rest nicely on the back.
The girth strap is also an important piece of equestrian equipment. It is attached to the saddle and encircles the horse’s underside securing the saddle in place.
The girth strap is secured with these leather strips called billets.
The straps should be secured equally on both sides of the horse, so the saddle sits centered on top.
The new saddle also has a custom name plate.
Finally, Helen puts on Bond’s halter. This leather halter fastens onto the horse’s head to make leading and handling easier. He is ready for a good, comfortable ride around the farm.
Here’s Juan on Geert and Helen on Bond. The fly masks keep the pesky bugs from biting. A well-fitting saddle gives the horse freedom of movement without any discomfort. It also helps the rider sit correctly.
Afterward, Bond and the rest of his herd are brought out to their paddock where they can graze, roll, and frolic.
It's that time of year when my herbaceous peony garden is blooming!
I’m always amazed by the dazzling display of these beautiful flowers - it’s one of the most anticipated sights at my Bedford, New York farm. Friends and family love the peonies as much as I do and rush to see them in all their splendor. When I first planted this garden, I knew I wanted many, many peonies in one large area. I chose a location across from my home, where there's lots of room and full sun - a spot where I could see the floral show right from my window.
Enjoy these photos.
Of all the flowers at my farm, one of the most anticipated is the sight of these blooming herbaceous peonies. Everyone is always so excited to see this peony garden explode with color.
By mid-April my herbaceous peony bed is filled with knee-high stems and dense green foliage.
Before the flowers appear, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew put up stakes, so the peonies are well-supported as they grow. We use natural twine and metal uprights I designed myself for this purpose.
Then the buds begin to appear.
Not long after, one can see hundreds of buds atop their stems. When I first planted my peony garden, I focused on pink varieties, and planted 11-double rows of 22-peony types. I chose the varieties for their colors, their forms and their long blooming periods.
By the third week of May, the blooms appear. One of the reasons these peonies thrive here at my farm is because of the soil. It has a pH of 6.5 to 7.0, which is ideal. It is also amended with superphosphate and Azomite, a natural product mined from an ancient mineral deposit in Utah. These natural additives improve root systems and overall plant vigor, resulting in this fantastic profusion of blooms.
Look at the transformation – rows and rows of gorgeous blooms.
The peony is any plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America.
There are approximately 33 to 40 different species of peony.
The leaves of the herbaceous peony are pointed with a shiny, deep green color.
Peonies are one of the best-known and most dearly loved perennials – not surprising considering their beauty, trouble-free nature, and longevity.
Herbaceous peonies grow two to four feet tall with sturdy stems and blooms that can reach up to 10-inches wide. We spaced the plants about three to four feet apart to avoid any competing roots.
Peony blooms range from simple blossoms to complex clusters with a variety of petal forms.
The peony’s fragrance can vary, but most have sweet, clean scents. And, do you know… pink peonies tend to have stronger fragrances than red peonies? Double form white peonies are also very aromatic.
Semi-double peonies are those which have single or double rows of broad petals encircling more broad petals and an exposed center crown.
Flower colors come in pink, white, yellow, red, and coral and the various shades and tints of each.
The majority of peonies are hybrids and classified as herbaceous, or as deciduous tree peonies. The peony is showy, frilly with tuberous root systems.
Peonies are considered northern flowers – they tolerate and even prefer cold winter temperatures. They are hardy in zones 3 through 8 and need more than 400-hours of temperatures below 40-degrees Fahrenheit annually to break dormancy and bloom properly.
For the most part, peonies are disease resistant. They do, however, take some time to get established, so be patient. And if you happen to see ants crawling on your peonies, don’t worry. The insects are attracted to the sugary syrup produced by the buds. Once the flower opens fully, and the sucrose has been finished, the ants disappear.
Among the varieties in my collection – ‘Elsa Sass’, ‘Victorian Blush’, ‘Fringed Ivory’, ‘Martha’, ‘Madylone’, ‘Lullaby Coos’, ‘Vivid Glow’, ‘Angel Cheeks’, ‘Miss America’ and ‘Flying Pink Saucers’.
The only disadvantage of peonies is that each field yields one crop of cut flowers for a couple of weeks only once a year, and then that’s it – until the next season when they bloom with splendor once again.
More bright and colorful azaleas now surround my newly refurbished pond and I can't wait to see them bloom in the coming years.
Over the weekend, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew planted another 80 beautiful orange and yellow azaleas in the area surrounding my pond. I hope you caught a glimpse of them on my Instagram page @marthastewart48. All the azaleas are from Summer Hill Nursery - a wholesale-only company in Madison, Connecticut. Of all the shrubs that flower in spring, azaleas provide some of the most brilliant displays. These plants are sure to flourish here and look stunning every time they're in bloom.
Enjoy these photos.
The best time to shop for azaleas is when they are in bloom, so one can see their bright colors and forms. When buying azaleas, always select plants that are sturdy, well-branched, and free of insect damage or diseases. And, avoid plants with weak, spindling growth and poor root systems.
Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the Ericaceae family, which includes blueberries and mountain laurel. They are also all rhododendrons and members of the genus Rhododendron. These azaleas will get lots of filtered sunlight throughout the day here at the pond.
Many azaleas have two to three-inch flowers and range in a variety of colors from pink to white to purple, red, orange, and yellow. Azalea petal shapes range from narrow to triangular to overlapping rounded petals. They can also be flat, wavy, or ruffled.
Around my newly refurbished pond, I wanted to plant different shades of orange and green.
Among these newest azaleas is this Azalea ‘Lemon Twist’ with its bright yellow-gold flowers.
Azalea Exbury ‘Gibraltar’ displays large two-and-a-half inch flowers that are a striking copper-orange color. This deciduous azalea is hardy, fragrant, and easy to maintain.
‘Arneson Gem’ is compact and only grows up to three-feet tall when mature. It is strong, fragrant and brightens up the garden with its light orange to golden yellow blooms.
Similar in color is the ‘George Reynolds’ Azalea, a broadleaf deciduous shrub with green foliage and light orange to yellow flowers. Azaleas are great pollinators and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
And this is Azalea ‘Sea Breeze’ with trusses of lemon gold blossoms. It will grow five to eight feet tall and blooms in late spring to early summer.
Azalea leaves are bluish-green and tend to be thinner, softer, smaller and more pointed than rhododendron leaves. The length of azalea leaves ranges from as little as a quarter-inch to more than six inches.
When planting, dig a hole at least twice the size of the plant. Azaleas thrive in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
Always scarify before putting into the ground. Scarifying stimulates root growth. Essentially, one breaks up small portions of the root ball to loosen the roots a bit and create some beneficial injuries. This helps the plant become established more quickly in its new environment.
Azaleas are generally healthy, easy to grow plants. Some azaleas bloom as early as March, but most bloom in April and May with blossoms lasting several weeks.
Some azaleas, including native types, can reach towering heights of 20 feet or more. Dwarf azaleas grow two to three feet tall, and many garden azaleas stay four to six feet in height with as wide a spread.
My gardeners and I always keep track of those varieties that do well in the garden, so we know what kinds we can add again.
It’s also important to keep azaleas where they can be protected from midday and winter sun to prevent leaves from drying out and burning.
Here is a view of one side of the pond where one can see a combination of different azaleas. They will fill in the area so beautifully in the coming years.
Many azaleas, ferns and birch trees are also planted along this side, in front of the small “ice house.”
I am so proud of this developing azalea garden – I can’t wait until next spring when there are even more blooms to enjoy.
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