Rainbow After The Storm

After the storm we noticed this rainbow and some beautiful sunny spots on the mountain behind our property.  When I took this picture it was still drizzling a little on our patio.  Go figure, nature is mysterious.  We didn't find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but I did see a few trees down.  Hope everyone is doing well after the storm. Here are some pictures of the rainbow, you may have to look closely the clouds don't make a good backdrop for pictures.

Until next time

Quote for Today
If I traveled to the end of the rainbow as Dame Fortune did intend, Murphy would be there to tell me the pot's at the other end.
Edward Koch

Being a Horseman and What It Means to Me

 

Our vet was here for a visit yesterday.  Nate who is a highly allergic horse with asthma had broken out in hives.  The vet administered medication that should make him feel better and he’s now on a program to get him through this rough patch.  Dusty was also checked out.  Her laminitis in her front feet is doing really well and the vet was very pleased with her recovery on that end.  Seems her left hind is still sore so the suspensory injury isn’t healing as quickly.  He’ll be back in three weeks to check her again and perhaps do another ultrasound to see if there is any healing going on.

Because of Dusty’s injury, which means less riding time, I’ve had a chance to reflect on what I feel being a true horseman means to me.  Over the years, I’ve met some curious characters whose only goal with horses was to get the most they could out of them.  Seems when things got tough these “horsemen” just disposed of the horse they had and got another one instead of working with the horse they professed to care about.  The horse that gave all it had at shows or at home for its person was dispensable.  I’ve always wondered how people can trade away horses as if they were no more than a vehicle to get them noticed--or worse yet, garner them ribbons and fleeting fame.

To some, sending horses off to retirement is a way to rid themselves of unwanted medical/behavior issues that could be dealt with on some level if only they would take the time to help.  Unfortunately, these owners couldn’t find the time or patience to help their faithful friends.  There have been times I’ve seen horses sold to auction or even put down because people couldn’t deal with their personalities or properly manage physical issues.  These horses were branded rogue or crazy or lame when in fact the owners just didn’t have the know-how to rehabilitate a horse.  Other owners are just unwilling to adjust their own goals and ambitions to accommodate their horses’ health and well being. 

This has been my observation too many times to be coincidence, and I found it happened at nearly every barn we ever boarded with.  Obviously, I feel these weren’t true horsemen, but simply people who were ruthlessly competitive, liked the idea of being involved in the sport, the barn/show social scene, etc. for whatever reason, but felt the horses themselves were secondary to their goals.  It may be a little over the top, but I have no respect for individuals who treat horses this way. 

On the other hand, some horsemen who send their horses to retirement do it for financial reasons or for the good of the horse.  For many retired show horses, a good retirement farm presents them with their first opportunity to graze in a field, be out with other horses and just “be a horse.”  I also have no problem with horsemen who have outgrown their horses (or maybe realized they’ve got more horse than they can properly handle) and find them appropriate, caring homes in order to move on with their riding.  So it is a sword that swings both ways.  In my mind it is the reason that you let your friends go and how you go about it that matters.  Which brings me to my thoughts on Dusty.

Dusty’s injuries may heal completely or they may not, and she may be unable to be ridden except very lightly in the future.  At this time in my life, I can afford to buy myself a new horse if I choose to.  Will I trade her off for a new and improved model?  No, I won’t.  In my mind it would be unfair to Dusty to throw her by the wayside like excess baggage, especially while she is hurt.  To me it would be the same as putting one of my children up for adoption because they broke a limb or got sick.  She deserves my love and care because, when I take a horse into the barn, I feel that horse is my responsibility for the rest of his or her natural life.  It is my job to help her recover as much as she can and lead a pain-free happy life, regardless of whether she can help me reach my riding goals.  I owe her that.

This mare and I have traveled far in the last few years and our journey will continue in or out of the saddle.  She’s been a willing partner and friend and she has tried very hard to learn new tasks while enjoying herself immensely.  I’ve got to say she makes me smile quite a bit at her unconventional behavior.  Dusty hasn’t been the most affectionate horse, but she does appreciate the care and respect she gets from us.  Then again, with her personality she would settle for nothing less.  If there ever was a horse that could hold a grudge, hand out treats to someone else first and you’ll find out just how incensed she can be.

Even though Dusty will be recuperating for quite a while, I’ll still be able to ride Blue.  So far he’s not been as much fun to ride as Dusty because he’s a bit lazy and opinionated.  Blue also has the most bone-jarring trot and canter I’ve ever ridden.  But it’s one of those things I’ll have to get used to.  I’ve also decided that it’s time Donnie should start being worked on the longe.  We’ll do some clicker training too since he’s very smart and seems to like playing games.  Donnie loves attention.  If and when the time seems right one of us will actually get in the saddle and see if his bucking issues have been addressed satisfactorily with his new diet and exercise regimen.  One of these horses may make a rider out of me yet!

So, since this blog has been mainly about my progress with training Dusty, I won’t have much to blog about in the coming months, with her riding future uncertain and a long rehab ahead.  I don’t think I’ll be posting much, but I will see you all when I can.  

Good riding!

Until next time

Quote for Today

The love for a horse is just as complicated as the love for another human being....  If you never love a horse, you will never understand.

Barn Thoughts

"Mellon Touring"

Barn Thoughts

(Because I have nothing better to do while mucking stalls)

As my daughter and I were doing the barn this morning we had a discussion about how most barns /horsemen don’t let their horses sort of wander around and interact with other horses and people.  Every morning Mellon is haltered and let out of his stall to groom to his hearts content. Other horses are put out and when he’s done grooming he walks over to the gate to be let in the pasture.  When bringing the herd in from turnout, Donnie is usually a free agent because he needs his Dusty fix for the day.  He’ll visit with her outside her window until she squeals (because that’ s just what Dusty does) and then he’ll casually stroll into his stall and wait for someone to unhalter him. We’ve never really had a problem with any of our horses coming in or going out.  Although, left to his own devices Blue might casually mosey up a hill in the front to get the best-untouched grass.  Sometimes at night he’s nowhere to be found so we’ll leave the gate open for him and by the time night check rolls around we’ll find him in his stall peacefully eating from his hay net and occasionally checking his bucket for his dinner which doesn’t arrive until you are in for the night.

I should mention that this discussion was triggered by Dusty inspecting the stalls that were just mucked and making sure she got the same hay as everyone else.  After she was assured we were doing a good job on the stalls she parked herself in front of the closed tack room/treat dispensary and nickered a few times to let us know she wouldn’t mind a carrot for her mid-morning snack.  After all, keeping tabs on her employees can be tiring and stressful, which can only be appeased by treats.

Of course, we’re not saying this would work in all situations.  In boarding barns it would cause chaos.  Around here, though, at a small private barn we have no reason not to let them explore because there is nowhere they can really get into trouble or injure themselves.  The entire farm is gated and in some areas double fenced.  Believe it or not they can’t even fall off a cliff if they wanted to.  I personally think it gives them the freedom to think for themselves and become accustomed to unusual things and desensitized to common occurrences that might spook other horses.  They are now used to hordes of bikers, the motorcycle kind and the annoying bicyclers.  Tractors aren’t a problem.  We had the Kawasaki mule in the barn aisle yesterday unloading hay and shavings and after Dusty walked beside it over a stack of plastic bags, she stood in front of the engine and stared in the windshield at us.  She refused to let us move it out of the barn, even after we blew the horn and turned the wipers on.  I had to physically get out and move her outside for a while.  Blue also became an obstacle one day in the field and no amount of tooting would move him either.  So I guess it’s good and bad they aren’t afraid of much.  I think I’d rather have them used to everyday occurrences than spooking because they’ve never been exposed.

Until next time

Quote for Today
I live in a house but my home is in the stable.

Friday's Funnies

The product of your dumbed-down schools

Until next time

Quote for Today
Nothing is foolproof to a properly motivated fool.

Dusty Goes Missing

"Blue"

It’s been two weeks since I’ve been able to ride. The previous week was too hot and this week we had three birthdays to celebrate.  Today I squeezed in a ride on Blue.  I’m guessing by the way he behaved he assumed incorrectly that he had been retired and put out to pasture after a few months of consistent riding.

After we walked around on a loose rein for a while imitating a drunken sailor I asked for the trot.  I got the trot…for about four steps.  Then he stopped dead and refused to go forward.  Ask again… another few steps, stop and refuse.  This went on about four times until I asked for the trot on a circle.   Blue knows this is the no-nonsense-you’re-going-to-work cue.  We ended up having a nice trot a few times in both directions on the circle and called it a day.  There was still a lot of work to be done around the barn before the temps hit the high notes.

Once Blue and Grady were taken care of and turned out we got to work on the barn.  My daughter mucked while I did the hay, water and sweeping.  During this time we turned Dusty out to roam like she always does.  The longe line we have up across the driveway was taken down to smooth the way for the wheelbarrow’s trip down to the dumpster.

"Dusty"

 After we were done with the barn my daughter asked, “where’s Dusty?” 

“Last time I saw her she was grazing by the feed shed.”

“ Well she’s not there anymore”.

So we went on a Dusty search around the barn and, you guessed it, no little blonde mare.  In our infinite wisdom we realized the longe line was down and brilliantly figured she’d taken advantage of her get out of jail card.  My daughter found her down by the second paddock visiting over the fence with the boys.  When Dusty spotted my daughter coming for her she took off down the alleyway next to the paddock.  The only reason she was able to catch her was because she is in heat and stopped to, ahem, say “hello” to Donnie.

Dusty was led back to the barn by her halter and once again was able to spend the heat of the day in her stall with a full hay net under her fan.  Dusty is a good sport but her confinement and lack of companions is starting to wear on her.  I can only wish she heals soon and can rejoin the herd.

Until next time

Quote for Today

The grass is always greener on the other side, until a horse comes and poops on it.