Kicking myself!

I was kicking myself yesterday for not carrying a camera around. I know other bloggers do and I haven't gotten into that habit. (yet) I see so many things in a day that smack me right upside my funny bone! The other night, driving home, there was a mobile home with laundry hanging on a clothes line and a huge, black, shaggy llama sitting under the laundry chewing it's cud. It made me laugh!

Anyway, I went to the clinic with Debbie Rhiel-Rodriguez and there was a brand spankin' new foal at the barn! He was born at 5:30 in the morning and he was adorable! Wobbly, unsure, fuzzy and full of promise. And I kicked myself (again) for not having a camera to share his sweet whiskered face with you!

My clinic was good. Debbie was not as optimistic as Jennifer and she nit-picked me to death! Which is good because I keep working and I keep looking for more and more when I ride. I need to remember that Sera travels with her haunches a bit to the inside down the long side of the arena - I MUST keep her straight. I let Sera get a bit low in her poll (the top of her head) and I need to keep her poll uphill for the required collection. I can't let her fall in on the smaller circles and I need to keep the jump in the canter by activating her hind leg with my inside leg. I need to keep my elbows still during the medium trot ... and funny how keeping my elbows still makes me bounce around more in the saddle so much more that I have a hard time sitting that trot!

The big question of the day is: How can my elbows be connected to my ass end?! That is completely bizarre to me and makes me laugh! Another thing out of many to work on. At least Debbie agrees we are ready for Second Level, there are things I need to keep working on to make my scores better.

I'll go watch The Cowboy (Anthony) work my young horse tonight in the pen. I keep promising him beer and I keep forgetting to stop at the liquor store to get some. When your husband is a wine salesman and works in liquor stores all day, you forget about going somewhere to BUY alcohol. I never have to buy beer or wine anymore - it's always just THERE. And that my friends is a good, good thing.

When it rains it pours!

It's been busy 'round our place these past weeks! Horse clinics and horse shows and horse training!

I tried to load the video of Sera's test but Blogger wouldn't do it. Grrr... I left it on all night long and in the morning it was "still processing" so I gave up.

The baby goaties are getting BIG! They are down to two feedings a day vs. three and they are eating more alfalfa. I put an ad into United Caprine News to sell them. I hope I get calls! Any of you need a goat or two?

I rode with The Cowboy (Anthony) last night. I was on his bay horse and he rode Rosso. It was good for me to see Rosso go along out in the open. He was relaxed and moving forward. Anthony recommended some chiropractic work on Rosso last week and thinks that made a big difference in Rosso's reactions and attitude.

I know when my back goes out, I am an unhappy crank-ster vs. a happy Shanster. Rosso's overall attitude seems so much more relaxed after the chiropractic work. Even if it was that Rosso only needed a chiropractic adjustment, and not so much an attitude adjustment, taking him to "cowboy bootcamp" was definitely worthwhile.

Anthony will take Rosso up to the mountains this weekend and he'll watch me ride Rosso next week to offer me tips and then Rosso can come home. Two weeks of training vs. 30 days will be easier on our bank account too!

Bey Breeze Farm called me yesterday with a last minute opening in a clinic offered by Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez today. I shouldn't go because of work and money but I am. Like I said, when it rains, it pours and you only live once, right?

I hate weeds!

I spent most of Thursday spraying weeds. It is my least favorite chore. Hate it. I sprayed the area I plan to plant some grass seed in, I also sprayed this area I am planning a relaxing oasis of zen and tranquility and I sprayed my riding arena.

Our neighbor, Dailey, came home while I was spraying the arena and there WAS a breeze. Furry Husband says our weather station reported 3mph out of the South with occasional - let me say again - occasional gusts of up to 10mph. Dailey is to the West of us so hopefully he wasn't having any conniptions. Tho' I sort of suspect he was because he is completely freaked out any time I spray weeds in my arena thinking I'm killing off his trees.

Come to think of it, (cuz your mind wanders when you spray weeds - there ain't nuthin' else for it to do but wander and wool gather and day dream...) Dailey uses Round-up himself. I asked him once what he used to kill weeds and he is the one that recommended Round-up to me!

Anyway, it's done. Only by Sunday the weeds were still green and they looked a bit refreshed so I hit the weeds again Sunday afternoon. DIE you stupid weeds DIE!!!

Hopefully next weekend I can plant my blue grama grass seed and it will germinate and grow and we can all live happily ever after. I'll take pictures of the area so you can see what I'm battling with.

I bought a whiskey barrel insert, a pump and 3 water hyacinths for some instant gratification this weekend after my battle with the weeds. I love it! We have a small sheep/goat water stock tank that we don't use anymore. I'm going to sink it into the ground in front of the whiskey barrel, line it with pond liner and put in some hardy water lilies. Hopefully I'll be able to find some pretty, tall grasses to plant in the ground around the water feature for some zen like serenity.

I saw an ad in a Thifty Nickle classifieds newspaper a few years ago for brick. Furry Husband and I loaded a pick-up bed full of brick that was scattered all around a field for $20. He thought I was insane at the time.... but now we'll have some material to line a pathway or make stepping stones for a sitting area near the water feature in my little oasis of tranquility and zen.

See Furry Husband? Not so insane NOW am I? Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! (k - so mebbe I am)

I went to a small schooling show in Cheyenne on Saturday. The weather forecast was to be partly sunny and 60's. I met my friend Ann in the wee early morning hour, rode up with her to help with her horse. We both had on light jackets.

When we got to Cheyenne, it was cloudy, windy, rainy and sooo soooo cold. We were completely under dressed. At one point it was even SNOWING, it was so cold. I thought I'd never be warm again.

I tried to take my mind off the cold by digging up some bluebells and other native prairie flowers with a horse sweat scraper around Ann's truck and trailer. I brought them home and put them in a small space in my yard to see if they'll take? Probably not. They are looking pretty sickly but you can't blame a girl for trying! If they do end up living, I know they will be xeric, and sun / bad soil loving little plants.

I'm sure all the other riders warming up their horses were wondering what in the hell I was excavating in the pasture. I obviously have no qualms about looking like a complete and total dork in public!

Ann's horse, Rennen, was awesome! It was Rennen's first time at a show and her first time away from home. We were super happy with her. She placed 5th in her first test, nothing in the second test but she was a complete star. We loaded up once scores were posted and headed home.

I met up with Furry Husband at home, we loaded Sera up in our trailer and headed down to the show for the afternoon rides. The weather ended up clearing into sunny and 60 and by the time we reached the show, it was a gorgeous day. I warmed Sera up out in the pasture area where she felt so happy and relaxed. We went into the indoor arena for our test and she tensed up - she always does - and I'm sure I do too! It's one of our things.... but the more we show and the more we go to shows and ride indoors, hopefully the better it will be and we'll stay relaxed.

The judge loved Sera and we got a blue ribbon! What a good girl! I do love my red-headed mare to pieces. The first year I took her to this same show, we got the comment in all caps - "NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY HORSE!" - on our test. Not this time. (me with a big, goofy grin)

I'll post the video of our test later - I don't have time right now!
Happy Monday everyone!!

My girl, Sera

I always wanted a warmblood horse. I worked a 2nd job for a couple years to save up for one. My trainer breeds Holsteiner horses and I bought a baby from her while it was in utero with a maiden mare (a horse that's never had a foal). I paid a bargain price since we didn't know what the mare would produce and I bought him as a little blob in the mare's belly.

He was born in 2001 and was a beautiful dark bay colt. I brought him home once he was weaned and he lived with us for 2 yrs. He was wonderful!

New Years Eve of 2004 I met Furry Husband at the restaurant he was managing at the time to ring in the New Year. We got home around 1am after closing the restaurant down and when we walked in the gate, our old gelding was nickering... just nickering over and over.

Hmmm. That is really odd, I'll go check on the horses and see what's up.

Our little 3 yr old colt, Louie - short for Callaloo - had tried to jump our fence and hadn't made it. He was down and injured badly. I screamed for Furry Husband and we called the vet who lives 3 houses down from us. I called my trainer and she came flying over.... the vet told me IF we got the colt to CSU, and IF he made it, he would never be sound again. The cost of the trip would have been at least $5K. Money we just didn't have. We put him down. It was one of the most awful nights of my life.

But, the thing is, life keeps going and time doesn't stop for anyone or anything. The world marches on.

After a month or so, I began looking for another horse. A vet in the area knew about my situation and told me about a young Thoroughbred mare near-by who had colic'd (had a tummy ache) and when she tubed the mare with electrolytes and mineral oil for the colic, she didn't need to sedate her or anything which sort of impressed her. She mentioned it to me and it so happened this mare was for sale.

I called the owner and made an appointment to see her. The was just something about her I really liked. I NEVER EVER thought I would own a young, Thoroughbred mare. I preferred geldings (neutered males) and I had heard so many bad things about Thoroughbreds... how hot and wild they could be. But there was just something about this mare I liked and I needed another horse to help mend my broken heart.

The mare passed her pre-purchase exam and I bought her in the spring of 2003. She had been to the racetrack for training but never raced because she was so slow. She was the first young horse I rode and trained.

We've been through a lot together. She went through a naughty phase like Rosso is going through now. Her thing was rearing.... she scared me to death! I got through it and she doesn't even think of rearing anymore. She still has her opinons, she just voices them in ways that are much more acceptable now!

I think one of the first shows I took her to, she backed out of the arena during my ride... I couldn't get her to go forward no matter how much I kicked. She kept backing and backing and backing until she bumped into the wall with her big butt and took out a plastic ring marker with one of the dressage letters on it.

Now when people see her, they don't remember all those rotten times... they think she is so easy and sweet as pie. They talk about what a nice mare she is and what a good work ethic she has. And she is all of those things ... NOW. I love her to pieces and I've learned so much from her. We named her Seraphim because she was truly heaven sent to us so soon after Louie's death.

I call her Sera and I've been at a clinic the last 2 days with Jennifer Baumbert who studies with Conrad Schumacher. Jennifer is an AWESOME teacher and we LOVE it when she visits CO for clinics.

Furry Husband tried pictures but our digital camera wouldn't focus on the moving things... only on the walls or on Jennifer, the instructor. He got some video clips though! Here I am with my girl, Sera!

House Wren and The Cowboy

Out doing chores this morning, Mojo had this little house wren. He pulled her? his? tail feathers out so it can't fly so good.

Right now it's rehabbing in the bunk house with a heat lamp and an egg carton to perch on or hide under and I put a mini-tart tin in one of the egg cups with water. It's an insect eater so seed isn't going to do much for it. I'll call the Wildkind rehab to see if they'll rehab this teensy little bird. Isn't it cute? But maybe The Cowboy is cuter?

I watched a round pen session with Rosso today. It was really cool. The Cowboy (Anthony) had this bullwhip and he'd swing it around and crack it. It was EXACTLY like The Man from Snowy River. And it was loud - like a friggin' gunshot!

At first Rosso was ignoring Anthony - tried to run right over him at one point. Anthony had him thinking, "Yes, SIR!" pretty quick.

He's taking Rosso back to basics to see what he knows and what he doesn't know.

He hobbled Rosso and that was not met very well. (hobbles are like prisoner leg shackles - they go on the front legs and the horse can only take itty bitty steps)

Rosso pretty much freaked out. Which is fine. That is why he's there. He leaped up in the air with all 4 legs and got one back leg hooked in between the hobbles and fell. Anthony said THAT doesn't happen very often. He said he can't remember when it happened last.... but Rosso may have learned a good lesson.

Anthony undid one side of the hobbles so Rosso could get his back leg out and put them back on again to let Rosso figure things out. Rosso was fine. I wasn't worried.

Rosso's problem is he reacts, reacts, reacts and doesn't stop to think. Anthony kept telling him - "think about it mate.... just think about it mate" Once Rosso would stop reacting so much, and stand or walk calmly, he'd get a break and a moment to relax.

Do you see the bullwhip? He was touching Rosso all over with it. I told him I did that with him at home with the lunge whip. He laughed and told me, "It's a bit different than a lunge whip eh mate?"

Sacking out. Having the saddle pad flapped all over him...

Getting bridled for the ride....

And still Rosso is all about react, react, react. BUT he didn't do anything dangerous. He sure wants to race and run and react tho'. Anthony doesn't know if that is just who Rosso is. It could be. But he also says that Rosso's never really had to think about anything - the race track is all about react and run. So we'll see if we can't get him to chill out and think while he's with Anthony.

He was swinging the bullwhip all around while on Rosso. Exactly like The Man from Snowy River. You aughta go rent it if you don't know what I'm talkin' about.

He cantered Rosso and pulled him up in front of me asking, "Now what did you say was wrong with your horse?"

Funny, ain't he?

What do you think?

Is it wrong to pull up to the new trainer's place with my polka dotted car listeing to Barry Manilow's Copacabana to give my gelding, Rosso, his warm mash?

Furry Husband was driving and as we pulled in there was Anthony, another cowboy around our age and two older, grizzled looking cowboys....

Yup. Pulled in with my polka dotted car, listening to Copacabana.....

Her name was Lola - she was a showgirl - with yellow feathers in her hair and her dress cut down to there....

We parked and got out of the car. Furry Husband looks at me and says, "Those guys are gonna come over here and kick my ass."

See? Do you see how much Furry Husband loves me? Setting aside his pride and manly displays in front of a herd o' grizzled, muscle-y, sun-leathered cowboys?

Anyway, none of them came over to kick any one's ass. We said hello and chatted for a moment and drove away in my polka dotted car with the last half of Copa....

Her name was Lola - she was a showgirl - but that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show, now it's a disco - but not for Lola - still in the dress she used to wear - faded feathers in her hair - she sits there so refined - and drinks herself half blind - she lost her youth and she lost her Tony - now she's lost her miiiind.....

Busy Monday!

I skipped work to stay home and play today. The farrier came to trim horse hooves first thing this morning and then I took baby Rosso over to Anthony's.

When I take pictures you guys are NOT going to be disappointed, though, I didn't want to scream whack-a-doo to poor Anthony when he met me, so I left the camera home today.

Anthony said he's start Rosso with the basics in the round pen which is what my trainer and I did when I brought Rosso home from the race track so I'm sure Rosso will be thinking, "Geez. I get it already! Basics!" But Anthony needs to know where Rosso's training is and see if there are holes and where Rosso's brain is at. Once that is over, he'll begin riding.

I about choked when he said, "I'll track some cattle on 'im" Rosso is gonna love that. NOT. Maybe Rosso will have a heart attack and die in the pen full of cows? I could see THAT happening! It's all good - Rosso needs to be out of his element and learn everything is fine if he puts his trust in the hooo-mans.

Weekend was good. My sister's visit was fine. The baby is super cute and seems to LOVE dogs. Good thing since we have three of them. Our dogs were licking her to death and she didn't seem to mind one bit which is amazing. She actually opened her mouth for dog tongues - ewwww. Practicing for her teenage years?

Our cattle dog mix, Bequia, LOVES children. Just LOVES them. When we brought her home from the humane society, if she heard a children's voice, her whole body would waggle and she'd whine and look for the child. She wishes we'd have a baby but sadly, Bequia will have to get her baby fix with the neice.

The baby was using Bequia's hair/skin to pull herself up to stand and Bequia was too happy to assist, it was pretty funny to watch. Also, cuz my entertainment threshold is super low.

Sister was good... she thinks our Dad exaggerates his illness to get more attention. I can't imagine THAT. Losing all your belongings and living in 1/2 of a nursing home room with a comatose man just to get attention? I suppose we all cope with stuff differently. (meaning my sister coping with my Pa's illness)

Hope you all had a lovely Monday! I did!
Ciao!