Monday, September 1, 2008

Labor Day

I can't get pictures to upload tonight so its no pictures. Darn. I rode my old paint horse today for a while and it was like coming home. She is the most smooth horse I have ever ridden in my life. She was glad to have me get on her. When I got off she pressed her head against my chest and just stood there. Made me get teary.

Tyler did not get on Liberty yet but was all over her. She loves him and when its right I know she will just let him.I know he is a little nervous about it.

Bob and I both played with Rusty some. Mostly though she had different people all over around the pen and trucks going by, four wheelers and strange horses. I put Sierras big purple ball in with her and the wind blew it around. She is getting used to it. A blue tarp blowing caused some trauma but she will get used to it. Bob can go in and pet her w/out picking up the rope. I was going to change her halter today but too much else going on around here. We cleaned up all the scrap metal that is recyclable today and loaded it on a trailer. Bob will take it in latter this week.

A neighbor gave Katie a project. They have a paint mare they want her to ride and help sell. They got her for their foster daughter, gave her lessons, paid for shows did so much for her and in turn she wrecked their pick up and ran away and is telling people they kicked her out. Not so. Anyway they want to sell Lena. She is a big nice mare with a lot of training. They want $2000.00 for her and that is a bargain. Katie has her mustang Abby to ride too when her back is totally healed up from where she went under something and scraped it pretty deep the morning that the entire group ran amok, thru a fence about 3 times so who knows what she did to it but she has to stay off her until it is healed. This will give her something to do.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Sunday evening

Rusty let me do more with her today. She lead pretty well 3 laps around her pen. She let me walk right up to her when I picked up her rope. This week will be the week we change halters and leave the drag rope off. I am so proud of her.

Tyler was going to ride Liberty today but Liberty had other ideas. She bucked like a real bronco when he put the saddle on. He worked with her for quite a while and left the saddle on for a while. Maybe tomorrow. She is so bonded to him but did not want him on her back. He so bad wants to be the first on her but she bucked hard today and he wasn't about to try it again. I would not have either for sure.

Bob worked with Rusty a couple of times but otherwise we did not do too much. Katie came and messed with Abby for a while. They are a good pair too.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Saturday











































Today I thought I would show you all of our other horses. Besides Rusty I mean. Rusty is doing wonderful. I got her to give to rope pressure and "lead" across her pen this evening. I can rub her back to her hip on the right but the left only to her shoulder before she thinks I am going to eat her. She is sweet. That is the best I have gotten from her however Bob has gotten her to do that without as much pressure as I needed to get her to respond. She is very sweet though and never a kick or bite. Just feet frozen in place.
The top picture is of Dixie in her stall for her supper. Not too good of a picture but its her never the less. Dixie is from Jackie's Butte and is about 20 years old. Still is full of energy and will go all day.
The next picture is of Pepper. Still on stall rest and Butte. Pepper is a Riddle Mt. Kiger and is 11 I think. He has an eye problem that continues to get more advanced but he is here for the rest of his life. He can go all day and anyone can ride him.
Ditto is my old Paint mare. She was the best horse ever to ride. I showed her western pleasure, Hunt seat and drove her. She does not like to drive. I won a lot on her. She is 27 this year and is retired. She ran a stick into the sole of her foot into her navicular bursa (sp?) and can only be ridden lightly. She loves retirement and sometimes I saddle her up and ride her just because I have to. She does not like men but loves me.
The very next picture is Wild Rose aka Rosie. She is a pinto pony - welsh/paint cross. She has done lead line classes, walk trot classes and is a champion driving pony. We won just about everything we could driving. She loves to pull anything we hitch behind her including a sleigh.
The burro's name is Yuma for the area he was gathered from. He is just a pet. He was my mothers day present about 8 years ago.He is a sweetie. He talks to us every time we go out the back door.
Liberty is the horse that the neighbors abandoned when they moved to Oregon. I don't know what HMA she is from from its CA some place. when we got her over here she was 9 and not handled. It has taken us a long time to get her really quiet. I think Tyler will ride her yet this weekend. they are really bonded with each other.
Raven is the next one in the line of pictures. She is 7. She was given to us by a lady (and I use that term loosely) who said she back bucked her off. I think she shied and she fell off but I wasn't there, just from experience since we have had her. She is from the Ravendale, CA HMA. She is a wonderful mare and loves being ridden. She has a little spook at first when you start down a trail but is sure footed and honest.
The quarter pony is Sequoia. He is for sale. We want $1,000 for him. He is about 20 and a wonderful kids pony. Our 6 year old granddaughter rides him by herself. He boarded here for about 6 years and then he girl outgrew him and we bought him. He needs a kid who will ride him often. He loves to go.
The last picture is of Abby getting ready for a show. Doesn't she look happy? LOL. Not. She is owned by Katie. Katie has come and helped with the horses and rode for several years. We gave her Abby a few months ago. She boards here. Abby is from the Sheepshead HMA in Oregon and really a true black.
So that is our lineup. When I talk about them you will know who I am talking about. Of course and Rusty.
When I got down to what I was so sad about yesterday- in the middle of the night I realized I missed (among others) Sierra. I miss her but what I miss is the going about and working with a yearling that I can make progress with. Rusty is Bob's but another horse is really not practical. BUT we did find out they are gathering in the Pryor's and they are gathering a lot of yearlings. So maybe - I would love one of those gorgeous grulla yearlings like we saw last year when we visited there.

Friday, August 29, 2008

I need a breath

I have been on the sad side today for some reason. Our daughter moved and Bob and Tyler helped her. Bob went to the doctor and he found he has permanent damage to his right eye. Nerve damage from a blow to the head. He goes back in 3 months to see if the nerves are healing or not. We got 6 1/2 more tons of hay today. And, I cleaned my refrigerator. None of that mustang related.

Pepper is still grumbling about stall rest and butte but we are managing. Katie came and worked Abby some and is worrying about her mane laying down nicely. Wouldn't that be nice if that was all we had to worry about.

Katie and Bob both played with Rusty today and petted and rubbed her all over back to her hip. I did not try today. I just fed her is all. She is getting better every day and follows Bob to the gate when he leaves now. She is so cute. I always part her forelock so we can see her face but she would rather hide behind it.

I will try to have pictures tomorrow. It was warm today, maybe tomorrow will be the same. Our Mustang Club met this evening. We are changing the meeting day to the last Thursday of each month. Wish we could round up a few more people to come join us.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Pepper is bored

Pepper does not like stall rest. He wants OUT. Katie cleaned his stall and walked him around the barn once. He is cranky. And he does not like Butte and does not intend to take it much longer. It takes a strong hitching rail , a strong lead rope and a persistent person. That's me. He gets 2 grams or whatever each night for 2 more and then 4 days of one. I think that when he is over this, we will put splint boots on him fastened up good to give him a little extra support for a while. Maybe whenever he is ridden.

Bad me, I forgot to put Dixie in today. I must tomorrow to get her extra boost for her weight. She let me know I had forgotten but did not want her in the stall all night so I just told her sorry.

And then there is Rusty of course. Bob walked in and petted her face and neck without picking up her rope. Not for me though. I have to pick up the rope first. She is so cute.

No pictures again, I am sorry.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Vets are expensive


Today we took Pepper and Dixie to see the vet. Pepper because he is still lame and Dixie because I wanted her teeth checked. Well, Pepper has a pulled suspensory ligament and is on stall rest for 2 weeks with a gel cast on his leg. That is the picture. He needed to have his teeth done too.
Then it was Dixie's turn. First of all Jed said she is much closer to 20 than 15. That does not bother me, she is sound and a good trail horse. I like riding bigger horses but she is what I have and takes care of me on the trail. What more could I ask for. Her teeth were terrible. I looked in her mouth and was amazed. A good dental treatment and she should be a lot more comfortable. Maybe she will be able to gain some weight. I don't like her this thin.
Jed saw Sierra week before we went to Reno and when I told him how she was judged on condition, he was amazed. He thought she was perfect. Too bad he wasn't there to judge huh?
Bob and I both worked with Rusty today. She definitely is Bob's horse. Crutches and all. She is improving every day and when I fed this evening first I held out a handful of the hay and told her she had to come and get it. She did right out of my hand. She has done that for Bob but has all but thumbed her nose at me. But, tonight was the night for her to eat out of my hand. I gave her the rest of her hay and told her good girl. I was prepared to stand there all night. Its starting to be more fun to work with her.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Tuesday

No pictures today. Sorry. Pepper still has a swollen leg so he and Dixie will go to the vet tomorrow. He is not limping so bad though.

Rusty got caught much easier today. She really is not very responsive to me. Would as soon run over me if she though she get away with it but she likes Bob a lot.But then, so do I so I guess its OK. She followed Bob to the gate tonight after he petted and loved on her. She threw herself back every time I touched her today. Better on the right than the left but Bob did and she just stood there.

We went up to Fruitland today to see some friends. I am always amazed at Muriels garden. For lunch we had corn on the cob fresh picked, green beans from her garden, sliced tomatoes picked this morning. And some sausage links and for dessert blackberry pie from berries her husband picked yesterday. I thought I would pop it was all so good. Every year I want a garden but alas another year of not. I was too busy this spring anyway with Sierra but every time we go there and eat like that I think I wanted one.

Not a lot of horsey news today. And tomorrow it is supposed to rain. I hope the wheat farmers have their grain harvested.