So Excited!

I can barely contain myself. I am going to adopt a mustang. We're headed to Boise and I really have my eye on this yearling filly from Wyoming:

I'm not sure she'll be the one I pick. I have no idea how big she is or what her temperament is like. They have plenty to choose from though, so I'm sure I'll find one to fall in love with.

I had so much fun with the critters today!  First thing this morning we went and looked at a colt.  He is gorgeous but only 4 months old and I don't need a mare as well.  Still pondering on that one.

There are also a bunch of young muztangs at the Boise BLM that are already gelded, so I'm going to contact them tomorrow.  Burns, Oregon is just a little farther away, and I'm pretty sure they have a better selection, so I'm thinking about that too.

And still wondering if I really need a new horse right now...  I would have loved to have that red one I posted pictures of, but the guy that was selling him was exhausting me.  I could afford what they're asking, but I just don't think I want to deal with them anymore, and I don't think that horse is worth what they're asking.

After making crabapple jelly I hitched up the trailer and practiced loading with Dakota.  She's got some fear issues.  She will put her front end in without much trouble, but once her hind end is in she starts stomping, swishing her tail, and kicking.  Then she has to back out.  Today there wasn't near as much of that, and several times she walked straight up into the front stall and stood there eating treats, without mentally checking out or flapping her lips or even seeming very stressed at all.  I was so proud of her!

I trimmed sweet old Bob's hooves without even haltering him.  He was an angel, which he hasn't always been in the past.  I think he liked the freedom of being unfettered, but didn't take advantage of it.  He was offended that I only brought him two little apples.  He figures he should get one after every hoof, and then some.

Pedro was just a little more challenging.  His front hooves require more thought and time, and he needs more breaks.  So we both got tired of it before we were done, and I didn't get his hinds done.  I'll get them tomorrow, and get Scout trimmed up as well.  It's easier now that the weather is cooler.  I wish it would rain and soften up their hooves a tad though.

I am so much happier at my new job, and enjoying life outside work more as well.  Things are looking so much better now that I'm out from under the yoke.

And have I mentioned how much I love my Pedro?

What do you think?

I know I'm not giving you much to form an opinion on here, but how do you like this red 3 year old gelding?

A Nice Fall Day

My friend and I were picking up apples for her pigs in my poor, neglected orchard, and we serendipitously stumbled on a plum tree I didn't know I had.  Well, I knew it had had a few plums when we moved in, and I checked it every year for a while, and it had none, so I gave up.  This year it looks like we have a bumper crop.  I am going to make jelly.

I've already made blackberry jelly, which was supposed to be syrup, but it set up a bit too well.  And I made Mountain Ash berry jelly, which is disgusting.  Ever since I heard you could make jelly out of mountain ash, I've wanted to.  There's something magical about free food gathered in the forest, and these berries are loaded with vitamin C.  Now that I have tried it, I won't do it again.  Even with half the recipe made up of sweet crab apples, it is just plain bad.  I might try it after 6 months or so to see if it mellows.  It does have one thing going for it - it's very pretty.

I don't have a picture of the jelly, but the berries are very pretty too.

This evening I finally got Dakota out on a trail ride, with my sister and her Lakhota. 

I had so much trouble getting her into the trailer that I would have bagged it if my sister wasn't already waiting for me.  So once Dakota was in, off we went.  I led her a ways to see how she'd do, then mounted up and rode a bit.  She's not spooky, she's very responsive, but she's pretty emotional & herdbound, and got pretty antsy on the way back.  I think once we know each other better it will go better.  A longer ride would probably be beneficial.  Trailer loading practice has got to happen more often.  She's very afraid (butt rope and possible abuse in the past).  We'll get through it.  Oh, and she already threw both of her shoes somewhere in the pasture.  She did fine barefoot tonight, but we were careful to stay on soft ground.  My sister's spotted pony has soft feet too. 

Hasta. I am off to ride a different horse this morning, in search of some half wild horses in the trees. I know I said I'm not looking for a horse anymore, but it turns out I lied.

Picture, as promised

As they told me was likely the case, there's nothing to see in the tail. Couldn't get through all the thick tissue to see the bones just above it.

In his nervousness, he pooped right in front of the girls, and they said he just barely lifted and then clamped his tail. Maybe he's healing? I hope they weren't just imagining it.

Rads

I've decided to take Scout to work today to shoot some basic x-rays of his tail. They have been reluctant to do it for me, but dang it, I'm paying for it, so they're going to have to try. I had been holding out, hoping to go to WSU or another clinic I like, but this is more affordable since I've already paid for my exam here, so I'm going to start here. I finally came to terms with the fact that even though I think he's totally worth the expenditure, I just cans afford $800 for the big pelvic x-ray at WSU.

His tail does not flex upward at all, I discovered. The entire length is stuff as a board, until a point above where it joins with his body, where it suddenly freely "hinges." It's hard to explain. But it isn't right.

Ok, off to get ready for work now. Hopefully I'll have pics later.

New Things.

It's amazing how much making a decision can lighten the load. Yesterday I decided I am no longer looking for a horse. I would like to ride, but we can't always have what we want, when we want it. I have 2 wonderful horses and 2 sweet donkeys, and if I can't ride, I can still enjoy my time with them. I am still on the fence about whether to keep Dakota here.

My other big decision was to quit my job. I gave my notice today and have my next job lined up. I will have fewer hours, so my checks will be a little smaller, but the wages are better. And NO overtime!

I'm going back to the low cost spay and neuter clinic I used to work at. We were a good team but at the time I quit there she couldn't give me many hours. I'm excited to go back. It works better with school schedules also.

We'll be broke, but I'll probably be easier to live with, and we'll have more time together as a family. Maybe I'll get back in the habit of blogging too. :)

Just Stuff

Dakota got her front shoes put on this weekend. It turns out the farrier can't handle her hind feet at all, and she's very naughty about her fronts. Had I understood that before I could have been working on it. All these little quirks that keep coming to light make me very hesitant to ride her. Soon, though, I will throw a leg over. I haven't seen any red flags while doing our groundwork, except that she's overly concerned about where the other horses are.

Scout... Well, he's hanging in there. As it gets cold I start to wonder how long I'll be able to keep soaking his hay. I guess as long as the hoses don't freeze.  His tail is still paralyzed. I had not been thinking of it that way, but that's what it is, I guess. He busted out of his temporary fence yesterday, so that he was in with the donkeys, and they were getting g along pretty well, so I decided to end his confinement. I am hoping all the dry pasture doesn't plug him up. He still has to expend a lot of effort to poop. I still can't leave them all together though because of all the different feed and medication needs.

These two are so cute.

Watching Bob lately, I have decided it's not time for him to be euthanized just yet. He's getting up pretty well. I will probably start giving him Bute again now that it's getting cold, and just making sure he has plenty to eat so he doesn't get weak. Feeding a senior donkey is interesting. Commercial feed mixes are too rich, and Bob is very picky. I'll get some bluegrass pellets again and add some alfalfa and beet pulp for extra energy.

Time to get my kiddo up for his first day of 7th grade. He's so excited! I love that he likes school so much.

I've been looking at horses. It gets easier the more you do it. I find if it's definitely not "the one," I know in an instant. I saw a couple that caught my eye the other day. One was a huge, unbroke, reportedly naughty 8 year old mare. I teared up over that one. She reminded me of Tonka. Then a 2 year old wild stud. More up my alley, except for the part where he still has his testicles. There was a filly who had all the character traits I like - brave, inquisitive, confident - but she wasn't for sale.

I may not get a horse this year. I think I can probably live with that.

Scout is still not right. His tail still doesn't work and it sounds like he did some damage to his left stifle. It clunks a lot. I hope he heals up. For a lot of reasons, but also because I'd like to be able to ride again someday.

Bob. Old Bob. I don't know what to do with him. The plan was to euthanize him before winter because I don't want him getting stuck down on the ground in the snow again. But he seems to be doing so well! I can't quite convince myself that it's time.

Anyway. I think I may have some more time for horses and blogging soon. I hope so.

Oh, and I liked this girl a lot too. 12 year old mustang/QH mare who was once rideable (when she was 3) but was abandoned. She is sweet. She would be a big project. I am tempted, but she also has squishy hocks (bog spavin) and well, she's a 12 year old project...