Tonka and I did went for a walk the other day. He was happy and relaxed and a very good boy, out in the fields. I took him to a nice green spot to graze, then we went through shoulder high grass and weeds for a long time (stickers getting caught in the lead rope, should have worn gloves). Lyric was hollering the whole time, and dashing back and forth across the pasture. Tonka was content to follow me, and ignored Lyric. What a wonderful thing!
We went to the top of the hill behind the house, where there are trees and water is running loudly underground. Tonka was a little worried about the water noise. But not too bad. Then I took him over to a pile of brush. I asked him to cross it, thinking he'd just step through it like I do, picking where to put his feet. Well no. He stepped on a branch, it moved, scared him, he got his foot hooked in a crotch pulling back, and it went with him! I had to let go of the lead rope he was backing so fast. So it took a minute for him to stop moving and let me catch him. Was a little worrisome, but we were in the middle of the property and I had him blocked from heading up the driveway. We went back and worked on crossing that same branch for a long time. Finally he crossed it from both directions. His problem with it was that it curved up into the air, and every time he touched it the whole thing would move, and the part in the air a few feet away scared him. Then I introduced him to the steer. He was mildly curious, not at all afraid. The steer was the same. Wants a friend I think. Then away we went, back into the pasture. Oh, I forgot to mention I took him out and in through a narrow gate for the first time. Most of our gates are 8 foot, this one is probably 3. He did pretty well. Had to think about it but not for long.
Today I think we'll work on trailer loading in the evening, and probably some tying, if things go well. Next weekend there's a clinic on how to do trail competitions. I'm going to go and ride Danni, but I'm going to ask if I can bring Tonka too and do some of the easier things in-hand. Katia and Soxy are going too. Fun fun!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
I have done pretty much nothing but feed and occasionally pet Tonka for the last month or so. He is still a good boy but we do need to start working again. My neighbor asked if I'm riding him yet, and it got me to thinking I should quit slacking! Not necessarily ride him immediately, but get back to work.
This morning we didn't work but I did move Tonka to a different pasture. He startled at Baab the sheep stepping on some sheet metal in the junk pile. I think that's reasonable. Other than that he did great. He didn't forget that gates are okay to walk through like I had expected.
I think I might shirk my housewifely duties today while Liam is at preschool and take Tonka for a walk around the property. I will start ponying him soon, but I want to use Danni because she doesn't get cranky about it like Soxy does, and Danni has an owie on her neck where the reins sit so she's on vacation.
On another note, we got a steer! Kind of a runt, one of the neighbor's culls, but it's what he was willing to give us in exchange for the hay he got off our property. I want to semi-tame him so we can handle him easily. Some people think that's a bad idea, they want them to remain afraid of humans so they don't crowd you and stuff. I need to gather more info on it I suppose. This morning I did start the process of "gentling" him, just like I would with a horse. Sat on a bucket somewhat near his hay. He wasn't liking it at first, but after a while he got within a foot of me, with his neck stretched out to sniff. He also thought the sheep were great when they stopped by his pen to visit. We're going to get another one soon so he won't be lonely. And when the time comes we can eat one and sell the other. And Tonka can learn not to be afraid of livestock! He's not at all worried about the sheep, so now on to cattle!
This morning we didn't work but I did move Tonka to a different pasture. He startled at Baab the sheep stepping on some sheet metal in the junk pile. I think that's reasonable. Other than that he did great. He didn't forget that gates are okay to walk through like I had expected.
I think I might shirk my housewifely duties today while Liam is at preschool and take Tonka for a walk around the property. I will start ponying him soon, but I want to use Danni because she doesn't get cranky about it like Soxy does, and Danni has an owie on her neck where the reins sit so she's on vacation.
On another note, we got a steer! Kind of a runt, one of the neighbor's culls, but it's what he was willing to give us in exchange for the hay he got off our property. I want to semi-tame him so we can handle him easily. Some people think that's a bad idea, they want them to remain afraid of humans so they don't crowd you and stuff. I need to gather more info on it I suppose. This morning I did start the process of "gentling" him, just like I would with a horse. Sat on a bucket somewhat near his hay. He wasn't liking it at first, but after a while he got within a foot of me, with his neck stretched out to sniff. He also thought the sheep were great when they stopped by his pen to visit. We're going to get another one soon so he won't be lonely. And when the time comes we can eat one and sell the other. And Tonka can learn not to be afraid of livestock! He's not at all worried about the sheep, so now on to cattle!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
This is just one of the wonderful horses that could be going to slaughter on Monday, the 25th of September.Can you help me spread the word on this? If you can’t donate, if you could pass the word on I’d appreciate it.
Up to 32 horses are going to be shipped to slaughter on Monday the 25th of September. If people donate to their cause some (maybe all?) can be saved. I am working with the rescue and they okay’d me to bring home two horses. But I can’t pay for them to get them out of the hands of the slaughter man, I can only afford transport, hay, care, etc.
If people could even send just ten dollars it would add up.
A list of all of the horses in danger can be seen here:
http://www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org/DEF-HorsesList.asp?PageType=Feedlot
Murphy still needs $675. Here is his profile: http://www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org/DEF-HorsesProfile.asp?HoID=367
George needs $700. Here is his profile: http://www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org/DEF-HorsesProfile.asp?HoID=395
Spud needs $825 (prices are based on weight, and this guy will provide a lot of meat). Profile: http://www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org/DEF-HorsesProfile.asp?HoID=390
Please feel free to donate to ANY of the horses, not just the ones I am hoping to help. Donate to the one that grabs your heartstrings. Or simply donate to the rescue so they can decide who to save.
Your donations would be tax deductible, since Columbia Basin Equine Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit organization. To donate go here: http://www.easycartsecure.com/CBER/Donations.html Donate the desired amount to the Pull Fund, and when you finalize your “order” you can specify which horse you’d like to save in the “special instructions” box. Or just let the money go to whichever horse they want to put it toward.
You can also donate via PayPal by using the address cberpal@yahoo.com. If you want it put toward a specific horse, the Pull Fund, or just whatever they need it for, specify it in the notes.
Or you could send the money to me but I would not be able to give you a receipt for tax deduction. Contact me via comments for more info on that.
Thank you for caring!
Monday, September 04, 2006
I just went out in the dark to make sure everyone was getting along. I made some herd changes at dusk, which I normally don't like to do, but with this sedate bunch I figured it was no big deal. I put Lyric and Soxy, the fatties, together, and moved skinny Coda in with the rather trim Danni and the growing but not thin Tonka. Danni and Coda haven't been together before, but know each other over the fence and seem to like each other. And Tonka and Coda have been together, but now that Tonka has had two mares for a while I wanted to be sure he wasn't beating on poor old Coda. Herd politics, ya know.
All is well. I think Tonka has been ostracized by the other two. I went out and kissed at them and announced my presence, and Tonka came in from the pasture to say hello almost immediately. What a nice boy. So I scratched and petted him for a bit. Then I imagined getting on, so I pretended I was putting my foot in a stirrup. Boy did he think I was going to kick him or something! He scooted away and came to a stop, then let me do it again and pet his ribs and shoulder with my toe. Then I did it on the other side, the "correct" side. So now he thinks it's just another weird thing people do. I put my hand on his wither and back and hopped up and down and he wasn't at all bothered.
It's really weird, getting used to a new horse. I just thought of it because of how much Tonka and the others do for me with no halter. But Danni, who has been handled in a more conventional way (tied when saddled, etc), and I should point out she is very well trained, is having a hard time understanding that she's expected to stand still when I'm saddling or grooming her. I could tie her, but why? I saddle her in an enclosed area, so I should just be able to saddle her. She really is starting to get the idea, and it's amazing how they can learn to do things "my way" without formal "training." All I do when they wander off is place them back where we started and continue on with what we were doing. And all new horses get it, after a while. Although I must admit that Soxy wandered off with the saddle pad when I started to saddle her the other day. We ride her so much bareback I think she was saying she prefers not to wear a saddle. But to pony Tonka I needed it. Really though, having a new horse is an eye-opener. I'm so comfortable with my bunch I forget they aren't all that wonderful. Coda is a good example. I let him out, completely loose, no halter, to eat his beet pulp, then went to take a shower. He did wander a few feet to eat some grass when he was done, and Lyric was hollering that his friend was not where he was supposed to be. So I went out and wrapped my arm under his jaw, took him to the tape gate, opened it and sent him through. Awesome good horses.
All is well. I think Tonka has been ostracized by the other two. I went out and kissed at them and announced my presence, and Tonka came in from the pasture to say hello almost immediately. What a nice boy. So I scratched and petted him for a bit. Then I imagined getting on, so I pretended I was putting my foot in a stirrup. Boy did he think I was going to kick him or something! He scooted away and came to a stop, then let me do it again and pet his ribs and shoulder with my toe. Then I did it on the other side, the "correct" side. So now he thinks it's just another weird thing people do. I put my hand on his wither and back and hopped up and down and he wasn't at all bothered.
It's really weird, getting used to a new horse. I just thought of it because of how much Tonka and the others do for me with no halter. But Danni, who has been handled in a more conventional way (tied when saddled, etc), and I should point out she is very well trained, is having a hard time understanding that she's expected to stand still when I'm saddling or grooming her. I could tie her, but why? I saddle her in an enclosed area, so I should just be able to saddle her. She really is starting to get the idea, and it's amazing how they can learn to do things "my way" without formal "training." All I do when they wander off is place them back where we started and continue on with what we were doing. And all new horses get it, after a while. Although I must admit that Soxy wandered off with the saddle pad when I started to saddle her the other day. We ride her so much bareback I think she was saying she prefers not to wear a saddle. But to pony Tonka I needed it. Really though, having a new horse is an eye-opener. I'm so comfortable with my bunch I forget they aren't all that wonderful. Coda is a good example. I let him out, completely loose, no halter, to eat his beet pulp, then went to take a shower. He did wander a few feet to eat some grass when he was done, and Lyric was hollering that his friend was not where he was supposed to be. So I went out and wrapped my arm under his jaw, took him to the tape gate, opened it and sent him through. Awesome good horses.
I just went out in the dark to make sure everyone was getting along. I made some herd changes at dusk, which I normally don't like to do, but with this sedate bunch I figured it was no big deal. I put Lyric and Soxy, the fatties, together, and moved skinny Coda in with the rather trim Danni and the growing but not thin Tonka. Danni and Coda haven't been together before, but know each other over the fence and seem to like each other. And Tonka and Coda have been together, but now that Tonka has had two mares for a while I wanted to be sure he wasn't beating on poor old Coda. Herd politics, ya know.
All is well. I think Tonka has been ostracized by the other two. I went out and kissed at them and announced my presence, and Tonka came in from the pasture to say hello almost immediately. What a nice boy. So I scratched and petted him for a bit. Then I imagined getting on, so I pretended I was putting my foot in a stirrup. Boy did he think I was going to kick him or something! He scooted away and came to a stop, then let me do it again and pet his ribs and shoulder with my toe. Then I did it on the other side, the "correct" side. So now he thinks it's just another weird thing people do. I put my hand on his wither and back and hopped up and down and he wasn't at all bothered.
It's really weird, getting used to a new horse. I just thought of it because of how much Tonka and the others do for me with no halter. But Danni, who has been handled in a more conventional way (tied when saddled, etc), and I should point out she is very well trained, is having a hard time understanding that she's expected to stand still when I'm saddling or grooming her. I could tie her, but why? I saddle her in an enclosed area, so I should just be able to saddle her. She really is starting to get the idea, and it's amazing how they can learn to do things "my way" without formal "training." All I do when they wander off is place them back where we started and continue on with what we were doing. And all new horses get it, after a while. Although I must admit that Soxy wandered off with the saddle pad when I started to saddle her the other day. We ride her so much bareback I think she was saying she prefers not to wear a saddle. But to pony Tonka I needed it. Really though, having a new horse is an eye-opener. I'm so comfortable with my bunch I forget they aren't all that wonderful. Coda is a good example. I let him out, completely loose, no halter, to eat his beet pulp, then went to take a shower. He did wander a few feet to eat some grass when he was done, and Lyric was hollering that his friend was not where he was supposed to be. So I went out and wrapped my arm under his jaw, took him to the tape gate, opened it and sent him through. Awesome good horses.
All is well. I think Tonka has been ostracized by the other two. I went out and kissed at them and announced my presence, and Tonka came in from the pasture to say hello almost immediately. What a nice boy. So I scratched and petted him for a bit. Then I imagined getting on, so I pretended I was putting my foot in a stirrup. Boy did he think I was going to kick him or something! He scooted away and came to a stop, then let me do it again and pet his ribs and shoulder with my toe. Then I did it on the other side, the "correct" side. So now he thinks it's just another weird thing people do. I put my hand on his wither and back and hopped up and down and he wasn't at all bothered.
It's really weird, getting used to a new horse. I just thought of it because of how much Tonka and the others do for me with no halter. But Danni, who has been handled in a more conventional way (tied when saddled, etc), and I should point out she is very well trained, is having a hard time understanding that she's expected to stand still when I'm saddling or grooming her. I could tie her, but why? I saddle her in an enclosed area, so I should just be able to saddle her. She really is starting to get the idea, and it's amazing how they can learn to do things "my way" without formal "training." All I do when they wander off is place them back where we started and continue on with what we were doing. And all new horses get it, after a while. Although I must admit that Soxy wandered off with the saddle pad when I started to saddle her the other day. We ride her so much bareback I think she was saying she prefers not to wear a saddle. But to pony Tonka I needed it. Really though, having a new horse is an eye-opener. I'm so comfortable with my bunch I forget they aren't all that wonderful. Coda is a good example. I let him out, completely loose, no halter, to eat his beet pulp, then went to take a shower. He did wander a few feet to eat some grass when he was done, and Lyric was hollering that his friend was not where he was supposed to be. So I went out and wrapped my arm under his jaw, took him to the tape gate, opened it and sent him through. Awesome good horses.
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