Hurry up and wait

So we have been waiting for over 9 months for our friends baby to arrive. Our friend's children are in our 4-H club and when they got the horse last fall they knew she was pregnant but not how far along. We have been on high alert for weeks now as mom has been showing signs that the time was near. She dropped her plug weeks ago and nothing happened. (for those unknowing the plug is the mom's mucus plug that keeps the uterus sealed.)

Next came mom's nesting. She was digging at the dirt, pacing and sweating tons. My friend placed straw under the shelter. We thought for sure it would be any day. Nope.

Finally on Monday my friend called from work and said that today was the day. She called a little while later and said they were the proud parents of a baby colt. I waited about an hour to give mom and baby and other mom time to bond. Everyone is doing well and I was thrilled to see my first baby under 4 hours old. I have seen 4 month olds but nothing any younger.

I took our two girls (ages 9 and 11) out to see the pair and we took LOTS of pictures. Here are a few of them.

Mom was such a good lady. She had 4 children and 2 eager adults watching as her baby eats. They are both Bashkir Curly's.

As I watched them both, I thought how much more comfortable mom looks. She has been HUGE for so long and we have had many days over 100 in the last month.

So the waiting is over and now the 4-H club will be able to watch and learn about a baby growing up. I hope to be able to use the baby to show many different aspects of natural horsemanship. His human mom is very patient and will probably be happy to show the kids different ways of working with youngsters.

So here is the Hurry up part . . . .

Have I mentioned that my daughter is a speed junkie? Well she and her horse are. The faster they go the better they both like it. I believe the horse may like it even more than the rider.

The only probablem is that the faster my daughter asks her to go the less she listens and the more she just wants to go.

G. is working hard to go to our areas gaming day that is before our fair. She has tried to go two times before and something has always happened. The first year she took my boy who had been a race horse in his younger years. Unfortunately the gaming is on the inside of a race track. G. took him out on the track and followed my rules very closely. 1- don't race ANYONE, 2- don't go down the straight away, 3- don't go faster than a trot. I neglected to inform my horse of the rules. 1- listen to the girl, 2- no bucking, and 3- NO THROWING the girl off. He got on the track and wanted to G-O. The daughter followed her rules and held him back. He did not like that and began bucking and eventually threw her off.

Now the part I have not shared is I told G. that if I saw anything that scared me that she would have to get off and be done. When Addy went to bucking I could only stand and watch until she went off. At that point I went running and she was crying so hard I just knew we would have to go to the ER. When she finally stopped and I could ask what was wrong all she said was "You're not going to let me back on are you?" She was not upset by the bucking or being thrown. She was only upset because she knew I would not allow her to do the gaming that night.

Thus ended our first try at the gaming night. Fast forward one year. She is now on her own horse Andy. He is a rock solid Quarter Horse that has only bucked in the field. She goes to run the poles which are first and he takes one look at the grandstand and thinks it must be a horse eating machine because he wanted nothing to do with it. She completed the poles, keyhole, and the stake race. She was disqualified in all but the keyhole. However Andy bucked in all events and made her work for what she got.

Again fast forward one more year and that is where we are now. She is using a friends horse that is quite well trained but also can get very excited, so we will see how this year goes. We have had two strikes and if this year is like the past two I may be out for good. I will let you know after the end of August when we have our fair. Wish us luck. :-)

July 12, 2008

Our Newest Boy

Several weeks ago I posted pictures of the horse that my husband really wants. Well, we brought him to live with our other boys on Tuesday. He seems to be settling in quite well. We have renamed him, AJ. We figured that since we have Addy, and Andy we needed an A name for this horse too. I like to say that it stands for Apple Jack, but my husband doesn’t like that name so I don’t let him hear me say that. (of course that would be easier if he wasn’t looking over my shoulder as I am writing this.)

A boy and his horse.

It was never too hard to convince my husband to go to the barn, but now it is even easier. We have been out every day since we got the horse. He really does have a good time walking, brushing and working with AJ. So do I. I am trying to not get too attached myself. I go out each day while hubby is at work then he comes out after work to play.

Hubby had been bragging on how well his boy was doing this morning. Of course just before this picture was taken AJ reached around and bit his back. Now it was just a playful 2 year old bite but that was not ok. Hubby gave a quick correction and shortly afterwards AJ looked at him sheepishly and held his feet up nicely afterward.

Our oldest daughter G had a friend spend the night last night so while her dad played with his horse the girls rode and played themselves. It was such a nice time.

R and Chance look great together. Just look at that beautiful flowing mane.

It becomes quite dusty out here in the summer. Watering is difficult and sometimes creates slippery muddy spots but it is that or the dust.

After the girls were done riding they hung up the bridles in my tack room. This tack room was my birthday present last year from my husband. We got permission from the barn owners to build one in the barn where I horses are kept. It is functional and I appreciate having a place to keep our tack and supplies more dust free and compact.

Saddles

G has outgrown her old saddle and has been borrowing one from someone at the barn where we board. It has gotten increasingly difficult to ride because she and I never know when the saddle will be available and when it won’t. G had picked out a saddle months ago that she really wanted, and I began saving for it. I wasn’t sure how long it would take but I was going to do the best I could to get it for her. Well I found out that the store is going out of business and so there was nothing left to do but be there the first day to get it. I just knew that it would not be left if I was not the first one through the door. I wasn’t first but I was about 5th. I did get the saddle, and just in time. As I walked out the door someone commented that if I had not bought it, they would have. G. was very much surprised!

Then we discovered that the stirrups did not go up high enough for her short legs. We took it to a local saddle maker. He punched holes in as far up as possible and they are still too long. Aargh. Ok so now I have bought new stirrups that make it a very close fit. We will make do with what we have now. Of course the saddle did not come with a cinch, breast collar or back cinch. For now the breast collar and back cinch will have to wait but we will have to get the cinch.

I hear that this is similar to breaking in a baseball mitt. I wouldn't know anything about that.

This picture shows that we are currently trying to train the fenders to bend to keep the pressure off her ankles. She is worried that the twisting and broom stick will hurt the saddle but I assured her that it will only make it easier to ride in.

July 8, 2008

Acupuncture

During 4-H night the members learned about acupuncture. We have a couple of horses that are suffering; they are having a hard time walking especially in the hind end. We have tried massage therapy and are now trying acupuncture and thought the members might benefit from seeing the treatment.

The girls took a look at the needles that were going to be put in the horse. They noticed that the needles are straight until a certain point where they begin looking liking a screw.

We are told that it will take at least 3 visits (one a week) to see any improvement. I am trying to be open minded about the whole process but I must admit that I am skeptical.

Here the acupuncturist inserts the needles. (Never fails no matter how much you brush a horse there always seems to be lots of hair and dust that show up when someone begins working on your horse.

I’ll keep you posted here if the horses show the dramatic improvement that is promised.

After the needles are inserted they are hooked up to a low voltage equipment that is used to stimulate the areas.

July 2, 2008

Weeding for a local school

My brother-in-law is a 5th grade teacher and he has started a garden at his school. During the school year, he uses it to teach math, science and responsibility. He is growing enough pumpkins for each class in the school to have one in the fall. Since school is out for the summer he doesn’t have help to keep it weeded so we have recruited our 4-H club to help. As we weed and are able to harvest produce we will deliver the food to a local food bank.
We had several girls volunteer to help even though it got to be 105 the day we weeded. We weren’t there 30 minutes before my brother-in-law made mention that he was surprised at how much we had already got done. He didn’t think we would get done near that fast. I told him that he underestimated the work ethic of horse girls. They know how to work. I was proud of the girls and their willingness to get up and be weeding by 8 am.

Here are the rows of carrots before we started working on them.

Here we are working at weeding.

Not a bad job for some "girls". My brother-in-law kept saying we did not need to do a perfect job. We were able to pick a few carrots for our horses. I know the girls' boys enjoyed seeing them when they got home.

June 27, 2008

Robinson Crusoe

Today I was a very proud mom. Our youngest daughter auditioned for a Missoula Children’s Theater production on Monday. They began practicing the next day and held performances on Friday and Saturday. R earned a spot and became Myrtle the Turtle for the Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. This was the second play she has been in and she is already set to audition again next year.

In the play Myrtle and Marty are Limbo turtles. Myrtle falls over backwards and can’t get up. She is on her back with her arms and legs kicking the in the air. I laughed so hard.

June 26, 2008

Equine Outreach Program

We are the Little Engine that could. We now have one family coming each week and then usually at least one other appointment during the week. I know it does not seem glamorous but it is very fulfilling.

This little girl came out and got the full tour (not that it takes too long), then helped us clean a stall then picked a horse to ride. She was all smiles and such a gentle rider. She learned quickly how to look where she wanted to go and to use her legs to guide the horse. The mom was very appreciative and was amazed that we spent close to two hours together and that I was not going to charge anything for the visit.

I continue to pray that God will bless the outreach and bring those he knows need to come. I pray that he shows me how to keep the horses in the face of all the financial struggles right now. We also need a new place to operate.

If you are the praying sort here is a list of the most urgent needs.
10 – 20 acres available for what we can afford
A ramp and mounting block for those with limited physical abilities
12 – 16 tons of good quality grass or mix hay

Some things that we sure could use:

1 rope halter and lead

3 saddle pads

3 saddles (preferable 14”, 15” and 16”)

3 bridles

3 d-ring snaffle bits

I appreciate all prayers sent our way. I do believe that God is watching out for us and encouraging us. Every time I feel I can’t continue and we must sell the horses or quit, he sends a messenger to encourage and up lift. I must trust that He is going to provide all the needs.

June 24, 2008

Disability Ride

Ok, so it has been a very long time since I have sat down at the computer. But I have a very good excuse . . . I broke my shovel. I know you are wondering what that has to do with anything. Well years ago my mom said that any excuse is as good as another so you might as well say "I broke my shovel.". So that has become the running family joke.

Anyway. I wanted to add pictures and updates to our summer adventures. On Tuesday June 24th the local 4-H office organized a disability ride for the families in town. 4-H members with calm, safe horses were asked to bring them and lead others around.

There was at least one rider and one handler.

In some cases there was a handler, rider and walker-besider. (yeah I just made up that word.)

Still for others there were a rider, handler and one person on each side to maintain a perfectly safe environment for everyone.

The "kids" that came to ride had a ball. We played games like follow the leader, simon says and red light, green light. It was a lot of fun getting to know the kids and parents. It was also a great opportunity to let the families know that we have started an Equine Outreach Program (it still doesn't have a name) and that their child can ride more often than once a year. We have already had one person come out from the ride and we are in contact with others that are trying to schedule a visit.

This was a neat way for the 4-Hers to give back to their community.

Horse Camp

This week was full and a blast. We started the week with 11 young girls wanting to spend time with their horses (whether they owned the horse or had borrowed one for the week didn’t seem to matter).


Each day we started with the girls learning to groom their horses. The horses made it challenging for some by rolling in fox tails, or wood chips. We also found several ticks on horses (according to our vet, tick season is suppose to be over. Someone should have told the ticks.).



We then spent some time riding in the arena learning to walk, stop, back and turn. Some were more advanced than others but many had ridden fewer than 5 times before this week. To make it a little more challenging we worked wtih some to learn side passing (where the horse crosses their feet to walk sideways and slightly forward).

To keep things interesting we also had a trail course area where the girls could learn to maneuver obstacles.

The cowboy curtain can be a challenge especially on windy days like this one. The curtain becomes a horse eating monster in the eyes of some horses.

Another challenge on this windy day was the pin-wheel flowers on the tires. These brave horses and riders figured out that the "flowers" posed no real threat.

The water box (aka mud pit) has been rumored among the horses to swallow them in just one step. That is why they cross as quickly as possible or not at all. The girls learned how to be confident and lead their horses through anyway.

Then there is the one show off in every crowd. This horse wanted to show everyone that she could stand on the mounting block. We didn't have any girls willing to give her a ride though.

Around lunch time each day the girls took off the saddles and put their horses away for the day, making sure to brush them first. Then they learned to care for the horses’ stalls and runs. (yep you guessed it, they had to poop-scoop. Surprisingly very few complained and most helped each other to make the jobs go faster.)



After lunch we would walk down to the river and the girls went tubing and swimming. One young lady made herself a “hot tub” by blocking off the river with the large rocks around. The river itself is very cold but once it was allowed to stand still the sun warmed it up quite nicely.

The day always ended with a nice cool treat and good-byes to the girls’ horses.

We sure had a great week with these ladies.

More Horse Dreams

Okay, so we have two horses already. One is the pretty boy that you see on the place about me. He is a bay thoroughbred that I adore. My daughters have a chestnut quarter horse. My oldest is totally into showing. ( I thought I would slow her down by telling her that she needed to pay for her open shows. She is now riding horses for other people and making money, and paying for the shows. So much for that plan.) Now my husband wants in on the act. He has been studying horse training (books, videos, clinics everything). He is voracious. Here is the picture of the boy he wants. This boy is 2 years old and halter broke only.



Okay, so I have to admit that he is very pretty. He is a registered quarter horse and can be cross registered paint as well. We have only seen him one other time before I took these pictures. He is owned by an acquaintance and when I mentioned last week we wanted to see him; she said to go on out and have a look. She would try to meet us there. She didn't make it so we went into the field on our own (not usually recommended). However this 2 year old with two pasture mates met us part way and was very polite.

Hubby is feeling his back and checking to see if he will be a good bareback horse. My husband loves riding bareback, but doesn't want a horse like my high withered thoroughbred. I can't imagine why not. Ha Ha.

While checking out the back, he also had him side passing and leading by the fly mask. Now if I didn't know the person selling him very well, I would have thought someone slipped the horse something. He was very compliant, willing and followed us around the field. Is this really a two year old?

And as if to prove to me just how good a boy he is, the horse came up very gently to my youngest daughter. She pet him and moved all around and he just stood; even followed her at a respectful distance.

Okay, alright I am sold. I LOVE the boy too. However can we really afford to board (yes I am one of those poor unfortunate souls that doesn't get to keep her boys close by) yet another horse. Boarding also means that our horses are dry-lotted so we have to feed year round and with hay soaring to over $200 a ton I am not sure we can do it. Yes I am aware that many people have been paying that much for a while now. However in just over three years we have doubled the price. I was only paying $100 a ton delivered three years ago. Now it is $200 if I pick it up.

So those are my thoughts up to earlier tonight. What has changed, you ask? Well, today was the first day of beginners camp. A friend of mine and I hold summer riding camps at her place. We had eleven girls ages 7 to 13 out. It was so much fun to watch them ride and help those that have not ridden very often. It just refreshed my "horse dreams".

Then tonight we had another guest for our Equine Outreach Program. This was the girls third visit and her mom shared with me just how much this is helping her. Now the horse she rode last time was not available to ride; he has injured his leg somehow. So we brought him out and I thought some walking in the round pen would be good for him. He decided to get pushy and when I pushed back he spun and tried to kick me. Now mind you, I have stayed between the horse and the girl so she was safe. I sent her out and had a little corrective experience for the horse. I let him buck all he wanted on the other side away from me. When he came toward me it had to be when I invited and with two eyes, not two feet. When he finally decided that two eyes and beside me was nicer than moving away, I took him out and she hosed his leg. He stood beautifully for that. I took time to explain that he is allowed to get angry that I wouldn't let him do what he wanted but he can not try to hurt me or anyone else. And that once the correction was over I was still going to love him and do what he needed which was hose his leg.

When the mom came back to pick up her child, I explained what had happened (didn't want the girl to go home talking about the bucking horse without the whole story). Turns out that the daughter is having to learn the same lesson. It is ok to get angry but hurting others or threatening to hurt others is not ok. It is amazing how God uses these horses to teach lessons. Before the mom left she wanted to know how much she should pay for the sessions. The outreach program is dedicated to providing these services free of charge. She still wanted to be supportive and gave us our first monetary donation.

So all of this brings me to the thought "maybe I really am suppose to do this ministry even though I am not at all sure how we are going to afford it". Stay tuned for how God is going to supply all our needs in spite of my fears.