We took a little trailer ride over to my sister's barn for a ride today. I picked up a friend of hers along the way, and her young horse was very cute and very well behaved.

I tried out the new bit. It was fine but he was a little heavier in it than he is in the bosal. I'm not sure if part of that wasn't because he had thought we were done but then I bitted him and got back on. He wasn't extremely well behaved after that. Not that he's ever all that bad.

Amy's dogs hung out hoping someone would throw a dirt clod for them.
Here's my sister, in pink of course, and her friend in the background. Tonka's ears were stuck like this today.Levi, being cute:
It was a good day but now I'm tired.

Today I went on a fun field trip with a friend. We went to look at used tack up near Coeur d' Alene. That woman has my dream job! Rooms full of glorious used (and new) tack! I was like a kid in a candy store. Even so, this is all I walked out with:
I passed on a padded britchen and now that I'm home and looked up what they cost new I'm kicking myself. I might call her and ask her to hold it. Or just wait to find one another day. It's one of those things I want someday, but I don't need it now.

I can't wait to see what Tonka thinks of that bit. Hopefully I'll find time to try it out tomorrow. I might even just slip it into his mouth tonight. I'm a little worried it might not be big enough. It's a 5 inch and I've been riding him in a 6". (Update - I tried it on and it fits just fine!)

I didn't have any time for Anchor today, but I did hear from his owners. They didn't offer to let us keep him. :( It bummed me out a lot more than I thought it would. I don't know yet when he'll be going home. I'm hoping I'll get his feet fully trimmed by then, but we'll just have to see how it goes.

Anchor leads! He followed me all the way around his pen and then got some treats and gave a big sigh. I think he was relieved to realize that's all I really wanted.

However, going around the other direction with him wasn't as easy. He'd get stuck and he did bolt a few times, but he only spun and got the rope around his neck once. The other times he gave to my pull on the rope, turned toward me and stopped. I'd call that great progress.

In another exercise he was having trouble moving his hindquarters away and was crowding me with his head/shoulder so I did have to bring my hand up and block his head at one point. He didn't like that but he didn't crowd me like that again and he started paying more attention and moving his hindquarters the way I was asking.

I put more pressure on him today, just expecting him to step up to the plate and do what he was asked rather than being reactive. It worked beautifully. He was a little shaky but he was responding correctly and in the end he did lead around the pen in the way that had been difficult for him. I gave him the last of my treats (which he consistently takes from my hand all the time now!) and gave him a good jaw rub and called it a morning.

Poop. It's everywhere. This is how much Anchor has pooped while he's been here. Actually, John took one tractor bucket full away, so he's pooped more than this. He's a poop machine, even more so than the others.
What's your poop plan? Do you clean stalls daily? I try to, but don't always. Do you clean outdoor areas also, or just indoor? I should, but I don't. What do you do with it once it's cleaned up? We have a big poop pile. Someday we'll have to get rid of it somehow, but not for quite a while yet.

Scout had a swollen leg for some reason but it's better now. I cold hosed it once and then I remembered that I have these nifty ice pack inserts.

They go inside a support boot. I love them. I loved them a lot more after I came off Tonka the last time. I would lay down with one under my head and it really helped with the pain.
They don't give you the massaging action of pressurized water from the hose, but you don't have to stand there forever making mud. Apply, go do some chores, and then come back and take it off. It's great. My only wish is that they'd stay cold a little longer.
Isn't Scout getting big? He still looks like a baby but in these pictures he's shockingly stocky. Maybe fat would be a better word. I need to get this kid some exercise. (See, more poop).

Speaking of fat...

Cisco says Hi! (Even more poop.) He'd also like to tell you that he's hungry. All the time. So much so that he'll eat poop if there's nothing else to eat. Anyone know of a good treatment for that? Or a source of info on lifestyle changes for fatties? I'm pretty sure he's insulin resistant. Our mare Soxy is the same way.

Tonka says Hi too! He was a big help while I adjusted tension on the fence today.

Hope you had a wonderful day today! I did.

Anchor had a very big day today, with many visitors.

Anchor is such a handsome fellow.

Here we have just a touch of gore to brighten your day. My friend's horse Lyric had some stitches that needed to come out.

So I pulled them for him. Looks like the wound is healing very well! He was an angel, didn't even flinch.


Here we have Anchor learning to lead. I love the look on his face.Asking him to back for the first time. It didn't scare him as much as I thought it would.

He took a treat from my hand! I had to kind of make him keep his head in place and hold it on his lips. It took a little bit but eventually he took it. And another, and then a handful.

I stole a kiss too! I've been wanting to kiss his soft nose for a while now.

A classic Mr. Ed moment:

Things didn't go extremely smoothly today. He bolted away and got the rope stuck under his tail twice. He didn't like that. But we did manage to end on a good note, and I found out that he loves Berry Good treats. Unfortunately they're expensive and I'm out. I'll see if he likes peppermint horse treats tomorrow. I have lots of packer pellets and they work well for him, but they don't inspire him like the Berry Good treats did today.

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts about Coda. It was harder than I expected, but I still believe it was the right thing and that helps.

Five years ago a horse was rescued. He could have died that year, horribly, in a slaughter house. He didn't, and he has touched so many lives since then. He has brought joy. He has been Golden. Every child who has had their first ride on him will keep him forever in their heart. As I will keep him in mine. He has been loved by many, many. He has kept our little ones safe, and brought smiles to their faces.

He has done his job well.

Rest in peace, old man.

Coda (Skipper's Gold Rush)
April 1, 1979 - October 14, 2009