Riding the Fenceline

Scout and I had a good little ride this evening.  I took him out to check fence. They'll be going out on the big pasture soon and inevitably deer have run through and broken the fence. This year only one spot was broken and it was easily fixed, but I need to go out with some wire cutters and remove part of the old fence before it's safe to turn them out.

Scout was very watchful and afraid when the late evening sun was shining in his eyes. He did better once we got down lower on the hill to where the sun was already down.

This time of year the grass is high and it's hard for a horse to resist snatching grass. I backed him a long ways every time he did take a bite, but I'm not sure he got the point.  He's a bit slow on the uptake. But he did get some good exercise and improved his back-up.

Posting from my phone and having difficulty with pictures so here they all are in a bunch. I like the last one best. It's very quiet.

Excellent ride

This morning I saddled up Scout and waited for our ride.  While he was waiting it sprinkled a bit and he didn't like it.  He looks a little perturbed here.  But he also looks like he needs some conchos on his breastcollar

My sister and my niece picked us up and we headed out to McCroskey State Park.  Here we are at the trailhead, looking at the old tavern.

Yes, I adorned my boy horse with daisies.  He didn't mind.  Look how pretty the cedar forest is.  It was so cool and refreshing.  

Scout was in the middle, back, and lead today.  He did just fine in all three roles, although he does like to poke the butt of the hose ahead of him.  I let him get away with it when Cowboy was in the lead because Cowboy doesn't care.  But I shouldn't have done that because then I'd get complacent when Moose was ahead of us and Scout would almost get us in trouble.  Moose doesn't want to be poked in the butt.

Scout says, "What's going on back there?"

 

Scout and Cowboy like to socialize (and try to eat each other's reins) when we stop for breaks.

Beautiful flowers

Nice profile:

Poor, tired Scout.

These pictures remind me of a Buck Brannaman program I watched recently.  Pissed me off a bit, to be honest.  He said if you leave your halter on under your bridle like some kind of pig farmer, he wouldn't speak to you.  He also rudely made fun of people who hold their horses too close to their halter.  Everyone has to start somewhere - there's no reason to make fun of people.  And there is good enough reason to leave your halter on under your bridle if you tend to walk and ride (my hips get to hurting, and I enjoy a good hike almost as much as a good ride).  I don't like leading my horse by the bit, and I like to be able to slip his bridle off and let him graze comfortably during our lunch break.  If that makes me a pig farmer, so be it.  I didn't really want Buck Brannaman to talk to me anyway.  I don't know why people can't just be courteous to each other, even if they do know it all.

Back to my happy reality though - I have nothing at all to complain about today - we had a wonderful ride.  Scout was a total gem and a joy to ride, even though we haven't ridden in about a month (which I'm almost ashamed to admit).

When we got home I hung out with them all for a little while.

I like to sit on the ground and visit with my horses.  I'm lazy like that.

Here comes Bella:

Strange perspective:

Shiny, happy horsey looking 'round:

The boys, and on the other side of the fence, the pasture they'll get to graze next:

My super handsome fella:

Tomorrow I get to work with the equine dentist again.  Another fun day learning about teeth and getting to know new people and horses!  Can't complain there.

Getting hay

I won't pretend to be modest.  I'm an excellent driver.  :)  I can back that baby up like nobody's business.  Through a gate, over a narrow culvert, straight line, another gate, and deliver the hay right to the door.  I'm awesome like that.  I did have to do a little maneuvering because I couldn't see very well with the hay sticking out the sides and blocking my mirrors.

The horses were pretty impressed too.  I won't pretend my skill put the nose of the truck exactly in the right spot to be able to close the gate.  That was pure coincidence - and pretty handy too.  Scout was really thinking of trying to squeeze through and his fat gut wouldn't have fit.

John goofing around before closing the "lid."

Unloading hay into these grain bins isn't fun, but it's better than nothing.  Hey, check out Bella's dirty butt print on the side of the grain bin.  She likes to scratch her itches there.

Peekaboo John

Nosy beasties made our exit a little interesting.  Scout was on the other side trying to get run over by the trailer.

We're not even a third of the way done with hay hauling. :(  I want a flatbed.  And can I please just not be allergic to hay for a couple days?  Oh well, at least it's not so bad I can't handle hay at all.

Crazy day at work today.  Surgery, emergency colic, naughty horse bandage change, lotsa dog vaccines, sick bummer lamb.  Almost had a horse with porcupine quills after hours, but they found another vet that could get to them sooner.  Good thing too or I wouldn't have gotten this load of hay.  Although after I left they had another emergency - dog jumped out of a moving pickup.  Happily, all of our patients are doing well tonight. 

Back to the grind tomorrow, and then it's more hay hauling.  Glad the kids can help!  They're finally big enough to be kinda useful.  :)

Too Hot

We were over a hundred degrees yesterday.  We very rarely get that hot, and never with the kind of humidity we have right now.  I brought the horses into the deep shade near the house so they could cool off.  They stood tied, quite happily, for 4-5 hours.

I like how this picture naturally has dark borders, and Bella is a little bit lit up in the middle.  Too bad she's so fat and itching on the tree.

Today felt cooler but when I went to check on them, this is what I found.  A soaking wet horse.  For some reason Scout is always the sweatiest.

I braided Bella's pretty mane so her neck could cool off.

She's such a sweetie.

All three of them, standing happily (except Bella has an itch). 

I sprayed them all down with fly spray too - the horse flies are huge and mean!  I can't imagine being this hot and plagued by horse flies.  They don't appreciate the fly spray.  I wonder why they never make the connection that it makes the flies go away...

The donkeys seem to deal with the heat better.  Or maybe it's just that they're hairier so I can't see the sweat as readily.  They're still shedding like mad but it's pretty normal for donkeys to take forever to shed out their winter coat.  Pedro is doing fine after his wandering binge, although his hooves are warm.  This afternoon he gave me a scare.  I thought he had a great big long goob of snot hanging out of his nose.  But it was just a piece of hay stuck to his nostril.

I bought a surcingle for Joseph today.  I can't wait to try driving him.  I want to try that with the donkeys too.  But it's too hot for any kind of work right now.

I am already sick of this heat and humidity.  If I wanted to live in this kind of climate I'd still live in New Orleans.  But if I lived there I'd have air conditioning.

Apparently now a title is REQUIRED

I've been nominated by two wonderful bloggers for an award!  It's called the Liebster award.  Lieb means love in German, I know, but apparently Liebster means beloved and valued.  So very sweet!  Head on over and meet the nice bloggers who have honored me - you'll find mustangs and donkeys, two of my favorite things!
http://horseshoesandhearts.blogspot.com/  &  http://thedancingdonkey.blogspot.com/

These are the requirements of the Liebster award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and include a link back to their blog.
2. List 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions given to you.
4. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate.
5. Choose 11 bloggers with 200 or fewer followers to nominate and include links to their blogs.
6. Go to each blogger's page and let them know you have nominated them.

Eleven random things about me:

1.  I'm tired almost all the time.

2. One of my favorite things is the smell of a forest.  Any forest, but especially a cedar forest.

3. When I was 4 or 5 I broke my nose by falling on my face.  Hello?  Arms?  Where were you?

4. I detest the smell of an elementary school.  I remind myself of this every time I start thinking maybe it would be fun to have another baby.

5. I'd love to own a small dairy cow but we don't drink that much milk.  Oh, and there are a few other little problems - I don't have time and I'm too tired.

6. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  Actually, I think I'd love to be an Equine Nutritionist.  Or better yet, some sort of holistic, naturopathic equine consultant.

7. I used to do a lot of stupid things in the French Quarter and yet I somehow never ended up in a dangerous situation.  Charmed life, I suppose.  Certainly couldn't have been common sense.  Although I was smart enough to pass up an offer to travel to Florida with a couple of friendly drifters.

8. I have been sitting here trying to think of a random fact to fit in this slot for over 10 minutes now.  Ooh, I've got one.  I don't believe time is linear.  That's how we have love at first sight.  And I believe in reincarnation.  Which is also how we have love at first sight.  And I believe in love at first sight - or at least a flash of recognition - in case you hadn't gleaned that fact from my previous statements.

9. I'm finding that I REALLY enjoy gardening.  Food, that is.

10. I haven't planted Tonka's memorial garden yet.  It's been on my mind a lot lately.

11.  I still miss Tonka every single day. 



 1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Somewhere in or near the Rocky Mountains.  Where I'm at now is pretty good, but I'd rather be a little farther from civilization.  Or at least adjacent to some trails.

2. Do you have a bucket list and if so, name one thing off of it? 

I don't have one.  I can't think of anything I would absolutely have to do if I found out I was going to die soon, besides spend a lot of time with my family & friends.

3. When you aren't doing equine stuff- what is your favorite pastime? 

Hiking with my family.

4. Your favorite guilty pleasure?

Napping in the middle of a beautiful day - there are so many more productive things I could be doing at a time like that, but a short nap with the windows open, birds singing, and a warm breeze - that's heavenly.

5. Tell us about the love of your life (2 legged or 4 legged, past or present)

Hum.  I could tell you Tonka's story but that's what this blog was about from '06 until September of last year.  It's all there.

 
6. What goals do you have for you and your horse(s)?

Just to get to where we are relaxed and happy together, especially out on the trail, in the woods, with a little stream and the light coming through at a romantic angle.  

7. Do you have one ride of your life that was the most memorable? Can you tell us about it? 

I had a couple rides with Tonka last summer, not knowing they were a couple of our last, that were everything I ever wanted.  Peaceful togetherness & laughter.

8. Dogs or Cats? (or both)

Dogs, absolutely.

9. What is your first reaction if you see a snake? How about a mouse?

Depends on the situation.  If I almost touch it, not knowing it's there, I've been known to make a stupid noise.  Otherwise I curse the mouse and wish the snake happy hunting.

10. How do you feel about roller coasters?

I used to love them.  I'm too old now, apparently.

 

11. Favorite Movie of all time (I know, lame but I am running out of questions)
That's too hard.  I'm going to give you my favorite TV show because it's so much better than any movie.  FIREFLY.  I LOVE FIREFLY.  There was a movie that went along with it - Serenity.  As for just movies - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is the first one that comes to mind.  Some Kind of Wonderful.  Just about any of the Marx Brothers movies.  Labyrinth, Legend.  American Beauty.  So I Married an Axe Murderer.  The Last Unicorn.  I've watched all of these more than once, which is saying a lot because I don't like to re-watch things.






Now, as for passing on the award, I'm too tired.  :)  Actually I'm just too lazy.  Sorry.  But I have enjoyed playing!  And if any of my blogging friends want to consider themselves nominated - please do!  I'd love to read your random facts and answers.

Fun Weekend

We sure haven't been gathering any moss lately.  My mom called me last week and asked if we wanted to come out to her friend's floating house over the weekend.  Of course we did!

I love this photo of my grandpa - he's showing Liam how to make his hair even messier.  Henry looks confused...

My kid is definitely a water spirit.  We joke that he'll probably grow up to be a beach bum.  If he does, he'll be happy.

Katia hates having her picture taken, so I have to be sneaky.

My mom's really good at getting the boat through the tiny gap.

Liam stayed the night out there on the water, lucky kid.  I drove home to feed and Katia opted to come with me so she could sleep in since her brother wasn't there.  He gets up early lately.

The next morning after I'd thoroughly watered the gardens, we went back out.  Liam and Henry were canoeing.

We opted to bring Winston with us so he wouldn't chew anything up at home.  Couldn't leave dogs outside, it's too hot.  I learned a lot about Winston that day.  He is a good dog!  He didn't try to wander off, he was gentle with my mom's small dogs (intimidated by them, actually), and he was really sweet to everyone.  My grandpa really likes him.  He's a good dog to take places, unlike the growly Aussies (who are still my favorites, truth be told).

Contemplating eating a blade of grass:

Cuteness, and the weird metal thing looks like he's making the same face.

More water contemplation.  He really enjoyed looking at the water.  I wonder if he could see fish?

Who knew?  Winston is an angel!

Getting ready to fish.  Poor Henry had to help him with his worm.  I don't impale worms.

He caught some inedible fish, and two small bass - too small to keep.  Then we packed up and headed home with our sunburns.  Ouch.  I have to admit, my sunburn was intentional - my legs won't tan if they don't burn.  They may not tan anyway.  But I thought I'd give it a try.  I went a little overboard though and ended up sitting on the couch all evening with a cool, wet pillowcase on my legs.  They throb. 

In equine related news, Pedro got out yesterday and gave me a terrible scare.  He spilled the chicken food, maybe ate some, and grazed on grass for who knows how long.  I was sure he'd colic and I'm still sure he'll founder, the question is just how bad it's going to be.  He didn't colic, thank goodness.  I gave him a full tube of Probios yesterday and I think I'll follow it again with more.

We're starting to get our hay storage areas cleaned up.  It's amazing how much of a mess I can make in a year.  But it cleans up pretty quickly.  I expect I'll be hearing soon that my hay is ready to pick up.  Yuck.  I am so out of shape.  Doesn't help that it's really stinkin' hot and I'm allergic to hay.  I might hire some teenagers to help out a little.

I probably should have mentioned in my last post that my grandma passed away last Christmas.  I didn't mean to sound callous by not talking about that more, but this blog isn't really where I talk about family.  She was a pretty amazing lady with a naughty streak a mile wide.  I loved to listen to her stories, even if I knew they were only 10% true.  She and my grandpa eloped when they were teenagers and were together forever after.  Until now, and my grandpa is alone.  It makes me sad.  He has his family, and my mom keeps a constant eye on him now that he's pretty confused a lot of the time, but he doesn't have the love of his life by his side anymore.  I'm looking forward to spending more time with him now that he'll be living with my parents. 

But back to the mustangs!  I made a pact with myself to at least go out and feed vitamins and scratch bellies every day.  I also decided I'd exercise every day but I haven't done that yet.  I have been scratching bellies though!  I wonder if that builds core strength?

Bliss:

Naughty, but cautiously allowed.  He's trying to be less inhibited, testing out whether he's allowed to groom me back.

Scout looks like a thug:

(Check out that fat drafty neck!  Glad he doesn't choose to grab the bit and do his own thing.)

Buncha cranky, itchy mustangs:

Handsome Joseph:

While scratching all the hard to reach areas, I discovered a lump on Bella's inner butt cheek.  (You might have to click to enlarge.)  I don't know what it is.  It's in or attached to the skin, not attached to anything deeper.  Probably nothing to worry about.  The skin does seem more pink than black there.  Anyone have a horse with something like this?  I'll ask the vets about it eventually...

Scout, in their favorite wallow.  Anyone care to guess how they might have broken that round pen rail on the left?  I think I know.  Glad nobody got hurt.

Only other news I really have is that I ordered new hoof nippers.  I don't know how, but I lost my old hoof nippers.  Weird.  The new ones will be the same but 1" shorter.  I'd had the 15" 'length (which I think also had a wider cutting edge) for my draft horses, but they poke the shorter horses in the belly sometimes when I'm trimming. I can't wait to see if I like the shorter length or if they don't have enough leverage.  Sometimes to cut hard mustang hooves I really have to get out to the end of the handles and squeeze with both hands.  That was more with Tonka though, I think.  And maybe my old nippers weren't as sharp as they used to be.

We just got back from a little trip.  My grandma's memorial service was Saturday, and we added a quick jaunt to the beach so my kids would feel like they had some sort of vacation this year.

On the way over we stopped at Multnomah Falls, but it was so crowded we didn't hike up.

You have to look closely to see Mt. St. Helens at the top of the mountains in this pic.  I grew up under that mountain and all its grumbling and puffing.  I was so mad when the mountain blew its top.  I was young and I didn't like change, and it was MY mountain, and it wasn't symmetrical and beautiful anymore.

For years after the eruption she kept dumping ash on us.  We'd have air raid sirens go off in our tiny town and have to stay indoors or wear masks to go out. 

Looking east from the Astoria bridge at the mouth of the Columbia.  Mt. St. Helens is in this one too, just to the left of that island.

We took my nephew with us.  He'd never stayed in a hotel, and he was really intrigued by it all.  The boys had a lot of fun running on the beach.

Whale skeleton on the beach.  I was fascinated by all these vertebrae behind its head.

Jumping waves:

Bumper cars:

Carriage rides:

Beach ninjas:

Pelicans:

A very loud and active feeding frenzy:

Cool old cabin:

I think I did my beach time when I was a kid.  It doesn't really do much for me now.  I did enjoy the junk food and the shopping.  The candy shops were especially fun.  And I got to walk back from the beach by myself in the rain, splashing barefoot in warm puddles.  That was nice and relaxing.  Even if I wasn't super excited about the beach, the kids had a lot of fun, and that's what it's all about. 

We got home after a very long drive yesterday, and the naughty horses were out in the big pasture that isn't completely closed off from the big, bad world.  They came in pretty easily at the promise of grain though, and I fixed the temporary fence that someone had run through.  The dogs were VERY happy to see us.  It's good to be home, even though that means lots of laundry and going back to work. 

There's a pretty awesome looking thunderstorm coming in.  I think I'll go outside and watch it until it starts raining.  :)