What happens to the time? Where does it go? Seems this time of year, we come home to chores, bottle feeding babies, milking, pasteurizing and all of a sudden the night is gone.
I rode my sweet Sera Sue out in the pasture last night. Can I just say how much I love my mare? Love her, love her, love her.
We've been getting rain and it's been pretty muggy/buggy. My "delicate flower", Rosso, is having a hard time. The bugs make him crazy. He runs out to get a bite of grass and runs back into his little lean-to where he thinks he's safe from the bugs... and he runs out... he runs in... he runs out... he runs in.... on and on it goes.
When I lock him out in the pasture he spends more time running around in hysterics than he does eating. He has a fly sheet. It's not enough. He'd like to live in his own biosphere free of bugs.
Sera and Brandon do not have fly sheets... they roll their eyes at Rosso.
You can see them thinking, "More grass for us, you freak, more grass for us!"
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
What did I do?
I just got off the phone with J who helps teach me all about tracking with my dog... she has reining horses. She wants me to come over this weekend to go for a trail ride.
Did I tell you she has a giant free roaming pig? (remember this post?)
HER horses are used to the pig. My horses have never seen a pig...
Should be velly velly in-ter-es-tink....
What did I just agree to? Will my blog posts after this weekend be made from a hospital bed?
Stay tuned for the next installment of "Chicken in the Saddle"....
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Near miss...
Took Rosso up to Rex's today for my lesson. He's a good boy... had him tied to the trailer grooming him chatting it up with Meg (from yesterday's schooling show).
Toe was in the tack room of the trailer on his personal Toe saddle pad... he's gotten so good at staying in there until I give him the release command of "ok". I didn't notice he'd jumped out and was quietly sunning himself on the ground in front of the door of the tack room.
UNTIL Rosso started sort of dancing around about something... I looked over and saw Toe laying on the ground with Rosso's hooves just inches from him. I shouted his name sharply in panic, "TOE!" while Rosso was snorting and dancing around.
Toe jumped up, tucked tail and dove under the horse trailer. I guess the sound of my voice conveyed sumthin' really wasn't right. As he dove under the trailer, Rosso stepped on him - and I heard Toe squeal.
Which in turn caused Rosso's dancing around to escalate....
Once things calmed down, Toe emerged from under the trailer and jumped up into the safety of his tack room seemingly no worse for the wear. Rosso's hoof musta just pinched him. Sure gave me a heart attack tho! That coulda been the end of baby dog.
I should have been paying better attention... I was chatting with Meg and Toe's been so great about staying IN the tack room....
Bet it was a really good enforcement for him to STAY in the safety of the tack room from here on out! (which he was very happy to do the rest of the time spent at Rex's...)
I had a good ride. Rosso's front feet were a bit sore... he's barefoot and we think just the wet and dry and wet and dry have caused his soles to be a bit soft. He was very pleasant and we kept it short since he was taking off steps intermittently and because he was being so good about it all. I was very pleased with my boy... oh, we measured him to see how tall he is. Someone asked and I don't know. He sure seems big to me, people remark that he's tall. Well, for the record he's exactly 16.1 and 1/2.
Karen from the ride before mine remarked how pretty Rosso is under saddle... he looks sort of young, gangly and all legs when he's nekkid but when you put a saddle and rider on him, he does look very pretty with a very expressive face. Sera is a pretty cool number who only seems to make faces when she's pissed. Rosso is sort of goofy and makes all sorts of really interesting faces and funny expressions.
I'm still hinky about riding him at home, but think I'll trailer him up to Rex's during the week to ride til I'm feeling more confident. Maybe find a local schooling show to take him to... ask Wendy down the road if I can bring him by to work in her barn/arena and I know Lauralie will let me bring him to her place near Johnson's Corner. We'll get him out and about.... the little debutant.
Toe was in the tack room of the trailer on his personal Toe saddle pad... he's gotten so good at staying in there until I give him the release command of "ok". I didn't notice he'd jumped out and was quietly sunning himself on the ground in front of the door of the tack room.
UNTIL Rosso started sort of dancing around about something... I looked over and saw Toe laying on the ground with Rosso's hooves just inches from him. I shouted his name sharply in panic, "TOE!" while Rosso was snorting and dancing around.
Toe jumped up, tucked tail and dove under the horse trailer. I guess the sound of my voice conveyed sumthin' really wasn't right. As he dove under the trailer, Rosso stepped on him - and I heard Toe squeal.
Which in turn caused Rosso's dancing around to escalate....
Once things calmed down, Toe emerged from under the trailer and jumped up into the safety of his tack room seemingly no worse for the wear. Rosso's hoof musta just pinched him. Sure gave me a heart attack tho! That coulda been the end of baby dog.
I should have been paying better attention... I was chatting with Meg and Toe's been so great about staying IN the tack room....
Bet it was a really good enforcement for him to STAY in the safety of the tack room from here on out! (which he was very happy to do the rest of the time spent at Rex's...)
I had a good ride. Rosso's front feet were a bit sore... he's barefoot and we think just the wet and dry and wet and dry have caused his soles to be a bit soft. He was very pleasant and we kept it short since he was taking off steps intermittently and because he was being so good about it all. I was very pleased with my boy... oh, we measured him to see how tall he is. Someone asked and I don't know. He sure seems big to me, people remark that he's tall. Well, for the record he's exactly 16.1 and 1/2.
Karen from the ride before mine remarked how pretty Rosso is under saddle... he looks sort of young, gangly and all legs when he's nekkid but when you put a saddle and rider on him, he does look very pretty with a very expressive face. Sera is a pretty cool number who only seems to make faces when she's pissed. Rosso is sort of goofy and makes all sorts of really interesting faces and funny expressions.
I'm still hinky about riding him at home, but think I'll trailer him up to Rex's during the week to ride til I'm feeling more confident. Maybe find a local schooling show to take him to... ask Wendy down the road if I can bring him by to work in her barn/arena and I know Lauralie will let me bring him to her place near Johnson's Corner. We'll get him out and about.... the little debutant.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
CDEC schooling show...
Just got home from the Cheyenne Dressage and Eventing Club schooling show. They do a small cross country event course and dressage tests up to First Level this time of year. It's a great place to get the horses (and yourself) out and thinking about showing.
I went up with our trainer and a couple others to support Meg and Ann who were showing.
Today was a good day - the weather held and it was a beautiful, sunny day. Ann and Meg did fabulously with their mares. There were a lot of kids who rode and they did such a great, great job - it was super fun to watch and I actually sort of enjoyed going to a show sans horse! Relaxing, watching, enjoying, supporting my friends and simply being.
I didn't bring a horse this year. Sera is semi-laid up and Rosso... well, I just didn't feel like dealing with a "first outing" this spring. Did I tell you my motivation is sorely lacking? I hope it comes back soon...
I took Sera there for her first outing several years ago. Oh - man. That day sucked ass. She was on her hind legs most of the day... I couldn't tie her to the trailer because I was afraid she'd pull back and get loose. She was rearing and spooking and jumping sideways every 3 seconds and did I mention rearing? Full on straight up, thought she'd go over backwards sort of rearing. It was awful.
At one point in the day the wind picked up and it began sleeting sideways. Everyone ran for the barn or to their cars/trucks... all the horses on the grounds disappeared into trailers, the arena or into the barn and Sera about flipped her lid thinking she was the last equine left standing (on her hind legs I might add) on planet Earth.
When it came time to ride, she did o.k. warming up outside but once in the arena she had a fit... running - literally running - sideways through her shoulder, backing up rapidly, shaking her head, threatening to rear.... I was kicking her with all I had over and over and over to move her forward and she just about went right through a group of people blocking the exit to the arena... omg.
She was just a mess and when it was all over I was wondering what in the hell was I thinking to ever get a young horse and think I could train it?
I took her up last year with Furry Husband.
She was pleasant as pie.... stood tied to the trailer, all four feet on the ground cuz she NEVER rears or threatens to rear any more. Warming up was a blast...we rode a First Level test and the judge's comments were that I was holding Sera back, she was an amazing horse and would go far.
Oh - if she only knew.... I'm not a professional, I know my trainer could and can make Sera look like a million bucks... but I'm pretty proud of my girl and how far we'd come. I smiled and thanked the judge, content and happy that Sera and I were having such a good time together.
I went up with our trainer and a couple others to support Meg and Ann who were showing.
Today was a good day - the weather held and it was a beautiful, sunny day. Ann and Meg did fabulously with their mares. There were a lot of kids who rode and they did such a great, great job - it was super fun to watch and I actually sort of enjoyed going to a show sans horse! Relaxing, watching, enjoying, supporting my friends and simply being.
I didn't bring a horse this year. Sera is semi-laid up and Rosso... well, I just didn't feel like dealing with a "first outing" this spring. Did I tell you my motivation is sorely lacking? I hope it comes back soon...
I took Sera there for her first outing several years ago. Oh - man. That day sucked ass. She was on her hind legs most of the day... I couldn't tie her to the trailer because I was afraid she'd pull back and get loose. She was rearing and spooking and jumping sideways every 3 seconds and did I mention rearing? Full on straight up, thought she'd go over backwards sort of rearing. It was awful.
At one point in the day the wind picked up and it began sleeting sideways. Everyone ran for the barn or to their cars/trucks... all the horses on the grounds disappeared into trailers, the arena or into the barn and Sera about flipped her lid thinking she was the last equine left standing (on her hind legs I might add) on planet Earth.
When it came time to ride, she did o.k. warming up outside but once in the arena she had a fit... running - literally running - sideways through her shoulder, backing up rapidly, shaking her head, threatening to rear.... I was kicking her with all I had over and over and over to move her forward and she just about went right through a group of people blocking the exit to the arena... omg.
She was just a mess and when it was all over I was wondering what in the hell was I thinking to ever get a young horse and think I could train it?
I took her up last year with Furry Husband.
She was pleasant as pie.... stood tied to the trailer, all four feet on the ground cuz she NEVER rears or threatens to rear any more. Warming up was a blast...we rode a First Level test and the judge's comments were that I was holding Sera back, she was an amazing horse and would go far.
Oh - if she only knew.... I'm not a professional, I know my trainer could and can make Sera look like a million bucks... but I'm pretty proud of my girl and how far we'd come. I smiled and thanked the judge, content and happy that Sera and I were having such a good time together.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sleepy Time, Nap Time
Furry Husband and I love sleepy time, nap time... evidently so do the horses.
Hey - I think she's got a camera guys....
You better get up....
That's better... now say cheeeeeeese!
You can't tell we're related can you?
Hey - I think she's got a camera guys....
You better get up....
That's better... now say cheeeeeeese! 
You can't tell we're related can you? 
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Interesting news...
I followed up with that sales pitch Furry Husband and I made to a local large vendor for our lotion.
I didn't want to follow up cuz the woman we pitched it to didn't seem too keen on our product. And she wrinkled her nose because I use a preservative in my lotion. Yes, actual nose wrinkle, like she smelled rotten eggs! (I know that isn't for everyone but still... manners?)
I knew I needed to hear all forms o' rejection and I called.
She was off that day, so I shot her an e-mail. I was going to give her the next day to get back to me and follow up with another call if I hadn't heard from her. (good grief... it's like dating... how long after you get a phone number should you wait to call??)
We got an e-mail from her last night.
I called Furry Husband in..."Are you ready for the scathing rejection honey? Steel yourself!"
I clicked the e-mail open.
Huh.
Wouldja lookit that.
It was a really positive response.
She and her staff LOVE our lotion and she inquired how we are coming on the UPC codes and how long it would take to develop a line using essential oil vs. fragrance oil.
Interesting. Furry Husband and I were sort of at a loss.... we were both so sure the preservative was a deal breaker.
(yes, yes. I know there are all natural all the time people out there and I don't fault them at all, to each their own in this wiggly world! I, however, am definitely NOT an all natural all the time sort of gal and I don't mind a little science in my life, whether it's in my toothpaste, shampoo, gortex cold weather gear, hair dye, vibram soled hiking boots, cold medicine or hair goo to make the frizz go away.... *ahem * mostly... the frizz is mostly gone)
I guess the thing to take away from this experience is to always follow through with your sales calls even when you think the answer will be no.
And it was cool because this experience helped Furry Husband and I decide a few things.
We are not really after the 100% all natural crowd... they were never our intended audience. If that was who we were after, we would have made many different decisions in our formulation and product presentation.
There are many other market segments and types of people to present our product to.
Our goal was to promote the fun and functionality of goats in a way that was unique and lighthearted while providing a product that was useful.
It confirmed our belief in our product. We really LIKE our product. We have no doubt that it is a good lotion that will moisturize the dry cracks right out of your hands and feet. We made it because we couldn't find anything else that worked as well in this moisture sucking Colorado climate.
Oh, it's not a "done deal" by any means. There are many things to discuss and it's completely uncharted territory.... should be a fun ride even if we don't end up going down that road. We are gonna learn LOTS.
I'll keep ya posted.
I didn't want to follow up cuz the woman we pitched it to didn't seem too keen on our product. And she wrinkled her nose because I use a preservative in my lotion. Yes, actual nose wrinkle, like she smelled rotten eggs! (I know that isn't for everyone but still... manners?)
I knew I needed to hear all forms o' rejection and I called.
She was off that day, so I shot her an e-mail. I was going to give her the next day to get back to me and follow up with another call if I hadn't heard from her. (good grief... it's like dating... how long after you get a phone number should you wait to call??)
We got an e-mail from her last night.
I called Furry Husband in..."Are you ready for the scathing rejection honey? Steel yourself!"
I clicked the e-mail open.
Huh.
Wouldja lookit that.
It was a really positive response.
She and her staff LOVE our lotion and she inquired how we are coming on the UPC codes and how long it would take to develop a line using essential oil vs. fragrance oil.
Interesting. Furry Husband and I were sort of at a loss.... we were both so sure the preservative was a deal breaker.
(yes, yes. I know there are all natural all the time people out there and I don't fault them at all, to each their own in this wiggly world! I, however, am definitely NOT an all natural all the time sort of gal and I don't mind a little science in my life, whether it's in my toothpaste, shampoo, gortex cold weather gear, hair dye, vibram soled hiking boots, cold medicine or hair goo to make the frizz go away.... *ahem * mostly... the frizz is mostly gone)
I guess the thing to take away from this experience is to always follow through with your sales calls even when you think the answer will be no.
And it was cool because this experience helped Furry Husband and I decide a few things.
We are not really after the 100% all natural crowd... they were never our intended audience. If that was who we were after, we would have made many different decisions in our formulation and product presentation.
There are many other market segments and types of people to present our product to.
Our goal was to promote the fun and functionality of goats in a way that was unique and lighthearted while providing a product that was useful.
It confirmed our belief in our product. We really LIKE our product. We have no doubt that it is a good lotion that will moisturize the dry cracks right out of your hands and feet. We made it because we couldn't find anything else that worked as well in this moisture sucking Colorado climate.
Oh, it's not a "done deal" by any means. There are many things to discuss and it's completely uncharted territory.... should be a fun ride even if we don't end up going down that road. We are gonna learn LOTS.
I'll keep ya posted.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
.... 3, 2, 1... BABIES
Colostrum being heat treated in our fancy schmancy thermos that holds heat like a mo'fo. And bubbly for us to celebrate!
She was due May 20... but man oh man... her udder was getting huge, her ligaments were all loosey goosey, the bulge in her tummy dropped... we knew it would happen any time.
He told me I should stop and get a pizza....
"But... aren't we going to Hannah's party?"
"No. Nope. Don't think we're gonna make it tonight."
"What? Why? What happened? (pause.... light bulb goes on) OH! Is Spot having her babies?!"
I can be a little obtuse at times...
She had a mucous string... I had a little bit of time to beat it home. I got home (yes, unbaked pizza in the car for later) and rushed out to the goat pen. She'd just had the first one.... a little buck.
I pulled Speck out and got her milked... went inside to check on the thawing colostrum... came back outside and we resumed watching Spot.
(especially since I bred to outside bucks this year so if I had a doe... I could keep her and use my existing buck)
After our fist bump and blowin' it up... we waited because Spot was getting ready for a third. The third kid was born... another doe!
Sure enough, a fourth kid was hanging from Spot in a breech presentation.... yowza. A buck - you could see his ... "package" since he was breech. I grabbed his back legs and there he was....
Four kids were all up in there......
Amazing.
Spot and her babies are all doing well!
Another shot of how tiny they were... they all had crooked legs from bein' jam crammed together. They just need time for their ligaments to stretch and to get a little strength and everything will straighten out....
The two buck kids...
The two doe kids... which we'll keep
All four... how did all four of these fit in there??
Spot had her kids Friday.
I know, I know - I felt bad leading you on with pregnant Spot pictures but I couldn't waste those pictures and the post idea!
She was due May 20... but man oh man... her udder was getting huge, her ligaments were all loosey goosey, the bulge in her tummy dropped... we knew it would happen any time.
I was on my way home Friday night and I called Furry Husband to let him know I was on my way cuz we were headed to a H.S. graduation party.
He told me I should stop and get a pizza....
"But... aren't we going to Hannah's party?"
"No. Nope. Don't think we're gonna make it tonight."
"What? Why? What happened? (pause.... light bulb goes on) OH! Is Spot having her babies?!"
I can be a little obtuse at times...
She had a mucous string... I had a little bit of time to beat it home. I got home (yes, unbaked pizza in the car for later) and rushed out to the goat pen. She'd just had the first one.... a little buck.
I pulled Speck out and got her milked... went inside to check on the thawing colostrum... came back outside and we resumed watching Spot.
A second kid was born... this was a doe. SHEW! I was worried it would be an all buck all the time sort of year but I got my doe kid!
(especially since I bred to outside bucks this year so if I had a doe... I could keep her and use my existing buck)
After our fist bump and blowin' it up... we waited because Spot was getting ready for a third. The third kid was born... another doe!
Spot was licking the 3rd kid off, only a minute or two had passed and Furry Husband shouts..."There's another one!"
Sure enough, a fourth kid was hanging from Spot in a breech presentation.... yowza. A buck - you could see his ... "package" since he was breech. I grabbed his back legs and there he was....
Four.
Four kids were all up in there......
Amazing.
Spot and her babies are all doing well!
Sorry - this pix has all manner o' shadows...but I had to get one with Toe so you could see how small they all are. Four... they couldn't get huge... poor Spottie didna have enough room!
Another shot of how tiny they were... they all had crooked legs from bein' jam crammed together. They just need time for their ligaments to stretch and to get a little strength and everything will straighten out....
The two buck kids...
The two doe kids... which we'll keep
All four... how did all four of these fit in there??
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