Tarps away

Finally, we are getting around to replacing the tarps on the loafing shed. They are so tattered and ugly. Bob did the demolition, removing the old furring strips and the old tarp. I nailed the new tarp up. It was a bit high up on the ladder.

Kate came later and trimmed hooves. It's so nice to have lighting in the loafing shed! Grant, our wonderful electrician, came earlier this summer and put in 8 lights plus a couple of electrical outlets.

Trip to ZZ Ranch

We drove to Spooner to check out a polomino Missouri Fox Trotter named Dancer. He is 15 hh, 6 years old and very nice looking with a pretty head and eyes.Zeke, the owner, is a 19 year old horse trainer who's in the Parelli program. He reminds me a lot of Clinton Anderson -- good looking, unassuming. He works a lot on bomb-proofing his horses. He stood on Dancer's back and cracked a whip a foot from his ear. It made me jump, but the horse didn't blink an eye. I rode him a bit, but I'm not a very good rider and I had some trouble getting him to not stop at the gate. He has some energy, but someone who knows what they're doing would have not trouble with him.

We want to check out a couple more before making any decision. I do know for sure, though, that I want Zeke to train both Red and Sparkler come April, so I'm sending him a contract and a downpayment.

Role reversal

Just got back from a trip to Rochester, NY to give a presentation at a Web conference. Yeah! We won best in track. The red stapler was our prize, a reference to the movie, "Office Space."

I'm fortunate to have the most wonderful husband. I didn't have to worry about Red and Sparkler while I was gone. He even loaded another round bale into the feeder without me. With winter coming, Bob has taken on the role of horse care. It's dark now by the time I get home, and my feet and hands don't tolerate cold, so he feeds and checks on the horses.

Family celebrity

My neice, Jessica, made the front page of the Florida Jupiter Courier with this photo of her on her paint, Kachina's Prospect. She has a small Florida stable and shows her paint, Kachina. She is quite talented and doing very well.

Winterizing weekend

The weather's been cold and windy with snow showers off and on all week. Saturday we filled in all the nooks and crannies in the old basement with insulation. That was an awful job.

But today was much nicer. I do enjoy being out in the barn doing chores and being around the horses. Call me crazy, but I don't even mind shoveling poop. After all, it builds muscle. We loaded a second round hay bale into the feeder and spread a bucketful of old straw around the automatic waterer for insulation. But the horses ate the straw like it was dessert. Then we used the skid steer to pull out an old water spigot that's just been in the way. Combed through both horses' manes and tails! Let's hope the burdock problem is behind us.

Lessons on Monty

Tonight's lesson was on Monty, Dawna's beautiful black and white spotted Walker. He is a finished horse and it was such a pleasure to ride him. I'm feeling a little more in control, still having a hard time keeping the reins the right length and my elbows where they're supposed to be. We introduced some leg on the turns and did some serpentine patterns. When Dawna rode after me, it was a sight to see. He does a great running walk and she can collect him up. I don't know the first thing about getting gait out of a horse, much less collection or lead changes. I have such a long way to go.

Dawna on Monty during Liz Graves Clinic

Another ride on Sparkler

Another beautiful weekend. Most of Saturday was spent clearing up the huge burdock mess in the back corner. We cut, raked and hauled it out to the burn pile. It got in my hair and had a hard time getting it out. It's on my clothes and gloves and I've broken out like poison ivy.

Sunday, again, I spent an hour on Red's mane. I only got about 3/4 of it out, because he didn't have enough patience for more. Sparkler has less, and mane and tail are free again. I had time before we went out for dinner for Bob's Mom's birthday. I set up some pvc pipes over plastic posts and made a corridor. I sent Sparkler in it, then backed her out, trying to simulate the trailer. She lunged well so I took a deep breath and decided to try riding.

After about 3 attempts to mount she finally stood stock still and I mounted. I made her stand for a bit before walking off. This time, she didn't get her way as much. I can make her circle left very well, but not so well to the right. We've been working on flexing from the ground and I can tell this is helping.

I didn't think I'd be able to get off. The first 2 tries to get off, she bolted. So we just rode a bit more and the third time she was more still but not perfect. All in all, not a bad ride.

More Brittany Ann

I had my second riding lesson from Dawna on Brittany. I'm loving this. I'm only in control about half the time, but the other half is great.

I took riding lessons a couple years ago. I remember most of what I learned was about grooming and picking hooves, but I don't remember anything about a balanced seat.

Eye infection

It's a good thing I called the vet. There's an infection in Red's eye, probably from the Burdock. He says we've gotta get rid of it. If anyone knows a way, let me know. A shot and some ointment seems to have done the trick, because the swelling was way down tonight and the eye is clearer. He gets antibiotic paste doses for the next 3 days and ointment in the eye twice a day.

STUPID ME

This weekend was a wash, despite the beautiful fall weather. I spent the better part of Saturday nipping and hauling burdock prickers out of the pasture. The kids came over for pizza and Lisa wanted to ride - actually I made the suggestion thinking I could control Sparkler pretty well on the ground so it would be safe. Wrong. Even though Sparkler lunged easily and seemed very calm, when Lisa tried to mount, she tore off like a bat out of hell, ripped the rope out of my hands and Lisa ditched. Sparkler came back to Lisa as if to say, "Are you OK?" But her leg was hurt and I had to help her limp back to the house.

Sunday, I spent almost an hour on each horse combing manes. The tape in the back corner that keeps them out of a huge patch of burdock was down. Both horses got in it. Red's was the worst - the entire length of his mane was bound up tightly. The only good news is that I've gotten each of them accustomed to the spray bottle. Detangler is the only thing that's saved their hair. I was itchy all day, even after showering. It gave me a rash, too.

Pink eye?

At evening feeding, I noticed Red's eye mattering up and looking like pink eye. The lower lid was swollen. So I called the vet and asked if maybe it was pink eye? Could I treat it or should he come out? I think he thought I was a moron. Horses don't get pink eye. He's coming out tomorrow morning.