More Goofing Around

First I should mention that Scout is fine.  I guess he just wasn't hungry the other day.

He's a pretty cute booger.

But he's kind of a nosy pain in the arse.

He would like you to admire his pretty forelock.

Sometimes I wonder if all my goofing around with the horses is really all that productive.  I hope it is.  I know we're building a relationship, so that's good.  I just wish the footing was right for doing more in the way of training.  I could probably get the horse trailer up the driveway right now to haul to an arena, but I don't really feel like it.  The arena across the way is filled with people who ride fast, use more rein, more spur, and cause a lot more anxiety and anger in their horses than I like to see.  Yuck.  So we'll keep plugging away, slowly, on the icy ground. 

I was sitting there visiting the geldings when Joseph decided to eat my glove.  I've been in this situation a couple times before, and I have to say a horse can suck something up into their mouth lightning fast.

Luckily though, this time ended well.  I said, "Hey!" and he dropped it.

He says it smells like treats, but it sure doesn't taste like treats.

"Who, me?  Can't you see I'm innocent?"

He's doing pretty well with the saddle.  He's still hesitant about me putting it on, so I threw it up there several times from each side.  And he still thinks about backing up when I tighten the cinch, but it's become more like he's just leaning backward.  We took a little walk through the pasture to get a drink, and hung out at the trough for a while.  Scout started beating up Pedro so we had to chase them around until I could separate them.  Joseph didn't like that.  Then we went out of the pasture and did some very slow circles.  He didn't like that either and became very tense but eventually he settled into it.  Then we worked on backing off of halter pressure, nicely, with his head down and not pushing into the pressure as we stopped.

Today we'll do more of the same.  I might even warm up the bit and bridle him.  I think we could work up to doing some more ground driving, even with the slick footing.

Our weather here is mild and balmy compared to the rest of the country right now, and I'm especially thankful for that because we've run out of propane again.  I don't know how it goes so fast.  Hopefully more will be delivered today.  It's rough not being able to cook, do dishes, or wash clothes.  We have some little electric radiators to keep us warm.  I think we'll continue to use those even after the propane is filled.  $600  to heat the house for a month is WAY too much. 

Happy Trails!  And stay warm!

Sunshine!

I had the funniest experience yesterday.  I was going out to unsaddle Joseph, who had been wearing the saddle in the pasture, and I forgot a halter.  I didn't want to carry the saddle all the way back from BFE, so I decided to see if I could call them in.  They considered me, then went back to grazing.  I yelled "Treat!" and Bella's head shot up.  Her white blaze was easy to see against the backdrop of dark green pine trees.  Joseph was still considering.  I yelled, "Treat!" a couple more times, and each time Bella would lift her head and look at me.  Finally it was Joseph who took the first steps, and then the whole herd came in.  Of course they got treats for being so good.

Earlier in the day I had saddled Joseph and turned him loose to eat, roam, play, or whatever.  At first he stood like a statue right where I left him, but when I went to scoop out their supplement into their buckets, he came to the fence to wait eagerly for his.  No bucking (also no back cinch though).  There is some ice in places, so I'm glad he kept his cool.

Then I decided to head to the barn, halfway across the property, to get more treats.  Joseph followed!  I almost lost him when it looked like nobody else was going to come, but then Bella fell in line, and of course everyone follows Bella.  I was also headed in the direction of the trough, and they were thirsty, so that was probably most of the motivation, but it felt good being their leader.  :)

 

This morning I had a lovely breakfast with Joseph.  I had curried everyone and fed supplements, and I decided to sit in Joseph's hay.  He nuzzled and sniffed, messed with my hat, and ate the hay under my butt even though there was plenty I wasn't sitting on.  At first he wasn't too keen on me petting him, so I conscientiously kept my hands to myself, but eventually I could encircle his head with my arms, rub his ears, and give him a good scratching on his neck and chest.  What a sweetheart.

Bob also insisted on a good ear-scritching, which is still such an honor because he used to be afraid to have his ears handled.  Pedro gave me jealous dirty looks from a distance.  Bella ate hay (it's all about food with her).  Scout napped.  I think maybe he's not feeling well.  He's been irritable lately, which isn't really like him, and it definitely isn't like him to stand around and sleep while everyone else is eating.  Weird.  I'll keep an eye on him.

I think I'll go saddle my horse again.  :)

Plans

For Christmas John got me a backpacking hammock and a big bunch of rope for my highline.  I think he might be more excited about our pack trip this summer than I am.  Or was.  Now I'm all fired up.  I also had a gift card and I bought Joseph a flat halter to wear on our trip.

My picture sucks, but it even says "Mustang" on the buckle.

At least I thought it was for him.  It didn't fit.

It does fit Bella fairly well though.

She wasn't too keen on having her breakfast interrupted for a photo shoot.

We've been talking a lot and we've finally settled on where we're going.  We're going to follow the Nez Perce trail from an area near Weippe, Idaho to Lolo Hot Springs in Montana.  I haven't done a lot of trail research yet, so plans may change, but so far that is the plan.  We have to find someone willing to pick us up in Lolo and get one of us back to our trailer, but I think my mom will probably be happy to do that.  She loves Lolo Hot Springs.  And I will love ending our long ride in the big hot springs pool.

I have always had a great respect for Chief Joseph and a great sadness for the plight of his people.  I think this will be a very introspective trip, and I'm very much looking forward to it.

Merry Christmas!

We have had a very lazy day.  At one point we did venture outside though.  The donkeys were happy to see us.

Scout and Pedro had a little altercation.  Pedro finally won by claiming higher ground, but then they had a long and silent long-distance standoff.

Winston was enjoying walking on the pond.  Scout really wanted to figure out a way to get to him without slipping and sliding.

 (Huckleberry was there too, sitting behind me & being camera shy.)

Joseph thinks dogs are really interesting.  Winston is kind of oblivious.

He is so sweet!

They heard a distant whinny.

Bob was happy to have a friend.

Bella was her normal wonderful self.

I got lazy and they turned cannibal.

Here comes trouble.  I better get up.

And Pedro was still very well hidden behind his little bush.

I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday.  We sure did.

We got a lot of snow yesterday.  It was very pretty when I finally ventured outside this morning.

Bob says, "What took you so long?"


Scout thought he might eat my dog.

Poor Blue may have torn a cruciate ligament, so he has to be walked on a leash.  This is where he sits while I feed, to keep him safe from curious equines.

 

He looks like a big caterpillar on a leash.

He caught a vole without even trying.
Let it go, caught it again, let it go again.
They're slow when it's cold.

Winter fireworks!

The old barn foundation

Glorious old walnut tree.

The woodshed.  Doesn't keep anything dry anymore.

Little shed on the prairie.

Today is the shortest day of the year.  Already almost dark.  It will only get better from here on out!

Just hanging out

Bob was kind of cranky today.  He thought I was a human treat dispenser and made rude faces at me.

Pedro wasn't much better.  It's funny, they look so naughty but they're not.  They don't push and shove and bite and stuff.  They just want attention, and they can smell treats from a mile away.

 

I don't know what Joseph was thinking here.  I think he was just soaking in the sun.

Bella and Scout, looking so cute together:

Winston.  He's no rocket scientist.  He crawled under the fence to get into the round pen and eat hoof trimmings.  Then he thought he was stuck in there.  He was so forlorn!

Jackass' ass, and figurative jackass.  :)

(He does look sweet though)

Handsome Joseph again.

Goofy Winston, finally figured out how to get out of the round pen.

The whole crew, hoping for more entertainment.

I just checked hooves and loved on them all. They don't mind if I don't train them, ride them, or even halter them.  Winter isn't my best season for keeping up with horse work.  Not that it's even really winter yet.

I am so excited the days are going to start getting longer soon!  I know that's usually when winter gets more severe, but still, more light is more light.  Bring on the sun!

Being Remiss

I have really been missing the equines lately.  I spent 3 days away from home taking care of my Grampa, which was wonderful and weird.  Then with working and having only short periods of daylight, I've only petted everyone once in the last week.  Throw hay and run has been the routine.  Pedro and Bob will sometimes insist that I stop and scratch behind their ears though.  I really need that quick moment of sweetness sometimes.  My donkeys are a goodness.  :)

Tomorrow I hope to spend a lot of quality time with all of them.  So just maybe I'll have something to blog about!  See you then!

I was about 3 degrees when I went out to find the horses this morning.  They were warm and toasty in the sun.

 Bob had a crazy eye, standing his ground for some lovin'

Joseph was surprised to see my after so many days when I only appeared in the darkness.

But he was still handsome.

Joseph and Bella.

Scout was there too, standing behind the camera with his nose on my head.

Then I teased Winston with a stick and he was very cute!

Family obligations and work are keeping me from my beasties this week, but in this weather I wouldn't be out with them much anyway.  I'm just happy they're all feeling good, despite the cold.