A Week Already???

Wow where has the time gone?  It seems like it was only yesterday that I last blog and here it has been a week!  Well what all has happened, I went for a lesson Friday and it was good, we worked cows and was not perfect but he was happy with how much I could work a cow with little instruction.  We still don't know what happened at the show, part of it was she was fresh from not working cows and part of it was probly me being nervous, he says I lean when I am nervous.  I never knew that and so will have to go watch some old videos and see.  But it makes sense, I used to be nervous at lessons and now its just the norm but been to a lot less shows and they count for something so I guess I still get nervous.  But the plan is still on for her to stay there at the end of the month.  Although not sure how long, he mentioned about 5 months to me but said a couple months to her previous owner, guess we will see how it goes.  In a way I want longer but in a way shorter, so I dunno what I really want.

After the ride went to Chars for a trail ride and we rode out for a couple hours, it was good.  Then she asked if I wanna stay over and go for another ride in the morning before I left home.  So why not?  I don't get to ride with others much its kinda a nice change.  We rode for another couple hours in the morning.  Jessie was surprised when I said trail ride and it turned kinda into a mountain ride with all the steep coulees there, lol, but she was real good as we were trying to find new trails.

Then I went home and rototilled my garden, still have a few more days to improve the soil so I wanted to do it a few times.  That was a long day and I was exhausted and my knees felt like the were gonna explode (although I'm not sure it was from either of those things, but it was awful no matter what).  Then Sunday we headed to Brooks for a BBQ at Neil's Mom and Dads, it was nice to sit around a fire and just relax for a change.

Sunday I don't know what happened, lol it seems like all the days run together and I can't remember anything, although I do know I took a short ride on Jess, I wanted to get her out and moving cause I was afraid her hocks were sore from all the hills so moving was good.  Not thinking my knees were still sore and about 15 minutes out, I was done.  Although still not at home and so it wasn't really a fun ride for me but she was good and just ambled home without my help.   Monday I went to Calgary with my sister and returned my cans (for $88!) and went to the new Target and just visited and shopped.  It was good, but late as I didn't get home till 11:30.

 (rays of Sun on my way home from Calgary)

(Neil's birthday gift a little late, a Tardis robe, he loved it :) )

Tuesday I know I went for a lesson and it was on the flag cause he had used up all the cattle already.  He has some cows not good for young horses and so he just turns them out if they are not working so he don't mess them up.  But the flag was pretty good, I actually felt for the first time ever when she was drifting off, that was cool I could pick it up and fix her all on my own, one day I will be able to run the flag on my own.

Wednesday we tested bulls, but the vet got here and forgot we asked him to bring the footrot vaccine and so he had to go back and get it.  So we had an hour and  a half to waste and I tried to get the rototiller going and it wouldn't run, so I thought maybe mow the lawn and couldn't get that going cause it needed a new air filter, shoulda gone with my instinct and went riding.  But by then it was too late so just sorta cleaned my kitchen (could probly should spend days and clean my house its kinda a pigsty since I been so busy outside) We got 2 bulls that need to be retested, he thinks they will be fine in a retest but couldn't pass them this time. And 2 that need their feet trimmed, and one of those is the same one, so if he don't retest, we wont trim his feet, just sell him for bologna ;)

 (Pretty hard to test bulls when they lay down in the chute!)

 (Finally got the new hub on the old trailer and it is back up and running again.  

Although it hasn't been for a test drive yet)

(Crazy kitty tried to help us test bulls, maybe the only time he is glad he is castrated??)

Thursday I shoulda gone for a lesson but went for a real nice trail ride instead.  We were just loping along at her nice slow arena lope, although it felt slower than her arena lope, and all the sudden I looked ahead and saw a bunch of wire, I say whoa and sit back, even used my horn and she stopped immediately which is good cause her nose was about 6 inches from the wire.  I guess she can stop when I mean it!  I got off and tied the wire to the fence.  She is so different than my ranch horses, I know Bailey and Razz woulda seen it coming and just gone around it, but Jessie is still expecting perfect ground all the time.  Glad I had seen it though  I generally don't look at the ground, that's the horses job.  But anyways I was on my way out to where Neil said he saw an Eagles nest.  It was across the dam and then down the could a couple hundred yards I thought.  The coulee was wet at the bottom and pretty steep so we just stayed up top but I must be blind cause I did not see it.  I asked him when i got back where it was and that is where is shoulda been so I will have to go back and maybe take my camera and hopefully see it.  I guess that is also on the way to the tee pee rings.  That was a pretty long ride, about hour and a half, don't sound long, but since we loped for a lot of it, it was a nice ride.  And Jessie got to eat grass after we were home so she was happy.  Also rototilled the garden for a second time, needs something added to it so it is not so hard, I can only get about 4 or 5 inches deep and then its like rock.

And then today, Oh ya!  We also booked Jazz in to the trainer, she is going on the 6th of June, she will just get basic riding.  I have to talk more about it when I get there and make sure he rides her out or she will stay a couple months.  I would like him to put her on the flag and cows if she is ready as well, but outside riding is more important as she has to be rode outside at home.  I actually never talked to him, lol, Char mentioned I had a filly to come and made all the arrangements  seems weird to me but It will work out good.  I am excited but nervous as well.  Oh and we booked our branding for the 3rd of June, that should work for both the show the weekend after that and for taking Jazz.  Sure will be an exhausting week though!

OK, today, I went to town since I have been avoiding it forever and I forgot it was a long weekend or I woulda waited, but I needed stuff ( like the air filter for the mower) and I wanted to ask the hardware lady about my deck plans, she says they are good so now I will make up a list of materials and then buy them and get started next week.  I would like to be done before we brand, but somehow I doubt that will happen.  And had coffee with friends, seems like so long since we got together it was just nice.  Then got home and put the mower together and mowed the yard/jungle.  Sure looks good now :)  I love my yard.  I also got some peat moss for the garden (since I could not find zeolite) and have to rototill it in, maybe tomorrow.

Haha Cindy if you lived closer, I would trade for  jeep, I kinda do want a vehicle to just bomb around in and just leave my truck hooked to the trailer.  Would be handy really.  I still haven't listed on Northern, I should, but with 25 pages of horses for sale it seems a bit redundant to list more.  Wish they had a way of splitting them up into young/prospect horses and mature horses.  I hate looking on there for a horse and they have a baby listed as a ranch horse, maybe will be one but obviously not one now, just annoying to me, but maybe not to others.  One day  when I am not busy I will list them though.  I had Belle and Bailey listed last year and only one response, so doesn't really seem worthwhile.  And had  Jazz sold as a baby and the lady backed out after I already told others she was sold, I was really upset at that, so I am kinda not overly fond of that website right now, although better than Kijiji I guess, there are all kinds of nuts out there, I would not list a horse on there unless it was pretty well bombproof (as my Gypsy was) cause there all kinds of crazies on there that want a cheap horse for their kids and don't know anything themselves.   Those people always worry me.  But enough of a rant for tonight, lol.  I need to find some new homes and so list them I will.

Fridays For Sale --Ponies

So since I will have more money and time wrapped up in Jessie this year and I already had too many horses last year than I wanted to ride, its time for me to become serious about who to sell and who to keep.  If it were only a money issue I wouldn't worry about it, I can live pretty frugal and its pretty cheap for me to keep a horse here cause they are on pasture all year and with feet and worming and vaccines I think it costs me $225 per year per horse, so not really gonna save  a lot by not having them here, I would prefer they are somewhere they can be used.  I am thinking pretty much all of them are for sale, except of  course Jessie and Neil's horse George, and probly not Razz, but if the home and price are right I might reconsider.

First off The Broke ones :

1.  Bailey aka Baileys Coffee.  She is a registered AQHA mare, red dun in color and 9 years old this year.  She has done pretty much anything I ever do with horses, arena riding, outdoor riding, trails, mountains, barrels (somewhat, lol) ranch work, can throw a rope off her, if I get team roping this summer I will probly end up taking her.  She has a lot of energy and needs a job, not a horse to get on once a week for a plod around the property, the more she gets ridden the happier she is.  Super easy to catch (comes when called ), easy to trim, has never had shoes, easy to worm and vaccinate.  Leads, ties and loads easy.  Just a nice horse to be around.  Really like people.  But not for a beginner as she has waaay too much energy and too smart for a beginner.  If you know how to ride, you will like her.  Asking $4500 for her now.  More info on here here or just search her name in the search box.

2.  Kali aka  Dual Rita.  She is a registered AQHA mare, bay with a stripe.  She is out of Dual Pep and a Smart Chic Olena mare.  Super well bred, super cute, athletic and kind.  She is only 5 years old right now but in a couple years she will be an awesome kids horse.  She has had some cutting training, has the ability, just doesn't want to.  Nice arena horse, slower.  Good outside but doesn't like water puddles.  Has had lots of riding and just a generally nice quiet horse.  Asking $4500 for her.

3.  Disco aka Play Like Disco.  She is a registered AQHA mare that is out of Hottrodders Disco, a wonderful cutting stallion.  She is bay with very little white.  She is 18 this year, was rode till she was 8 or so then became a broodmare for a while.  She has had one foal here and then I got on and rode her a few times.  She was a little herd bound but otherwise  just walked and trotted off like it was no big deal.  Think it would take very little to get her back riding again or she is plenty healthy enough to raise a few more colts.  Asking $1500 for her, open right now.

4.  Jazz aka Strait Summer Jazz.  She is a registered APHA mare, black in color with 4 socks and a white face and 3 years old this year.  She has not been started under saddle yet but I plan to this spring get her started.  She is a sweetheart, has loved people since she was born.  Is halter broke and has had her feet done although needs a little more consistent work on that.  She was raised here, out of my Razz mare and a Strait From Texas stud who had to be put down from injury.  Asking $1500 for her if sold before started.

5.  Magic aka Miss Magic Hickory.  She is a registered AQHA mare, 5 years old and a pretty sorrel in color.  I had great plans for this mare, but ran out of time.  She is halter broke, kinda hard to catch need lots of work but I think will come around quickly if consistent.  Asking $1200 for her.

6.  Belle aka LT Belle San Tivio.  Belle is a AQHA registered mare who is sorrel with the rabicano gene.  She is halter broke, leads, ties, load super easy.  Has not been ridden in 6 years and is just scared when ridden so I never have done much with her, just cause I had 2 others at the time I could ride easy.  She has raised an awesome sorrel colt that is 3 this year and lives in BC now.  She is 10 years old and could easily raise lots more colts, she is a really good mother and easy breeder, easy keeper.  Not a troublemaker and stays out of trouble.  Asking $1000 for her open right now.

7.  I hate to put her in but we will see.  Razz aka Little Summer Razz DC.  She is a registered APHA mare, papers say buckskin but she is smokey black.  She is 7 years old and a awesome ranch horse.  She is super athletic, has lots of energy, no buck, willing to go all day everyday and not tire out.  Super sensitive and yet sensible at the same time.  And pretty to boot!  She also has done everything, super well broke, rides in a bosal, hope to get her in a bit this year.  She does not like the snaffle bit but will work in it.  She has done some cutting, lots of ranch work, trail rides, sortings   Asking $5500 for her to the right home.

So I am in no hurry to sell, but I really would like to get down to 4 or 5 here, I think that is a reasonable amount for me to have and that is what my summer pasture will hold (it can hold 6 if the weather is gonna continue to be wet like it has been)  I also am gonna list them on Northern Horse and on my Facebook page. I feel bad I don't have the time to spend with them all, otherwise I would keep them as pasture pets, but I know most of them, mostly Bailey, do not like that, they want to go and do something.

Jazz In School

So for 2 weeks now I have had Jazz and Razz in the corral with plans to work with Jazz and ride Razz.  But for some unknown reason I was super nervous about working with jazz.  How silly is that.  All my horse life I have had young horses and I never was worried about what I was doing even if I had no idea I just done it anyways.  Part of it I think was my non succesful work with Magic earlier this year, still not sure what to do there, but moving on to a horse I like that was not handled when I got her (lol as she was born here)

It was so bad I was even shaking by the time I got out there, would have been so easy to just walk away but they saw me and were coming over so I sucked it up and in I went.  Sure glad she is not afraid of people or it would be easier to walk away but probly wouldn't have bothered me as much cause the reason I think I am nervous is I really like her and don't want to mess her up.

Well I started with catching and tying up Razz and then as Jazz was trying to get in the way all the time over to her.  I know she is super sensitive on her nose (always has been) ans so putting the halter on is kinda a chore.  She is funny cause she doesn't try to get away, she just dives her nose right in.  So I have to make sure I am ready when she does.  It worked perfect this time and I walk her to the fence and tie her up too.  Funny how as little time I have spent actually handling her she is pretty easy going and I rarely have trouble.

(kinda unsure what I am doing)

Well I really only planned on currying them and picking up feet and trying on my new hackmore on Razz.  So first I curry Jazz (planned on Razz but Jazz was so convenient)  and she is so good, a little high headed when I get near her head, but the rest of her body is fine, under her belly, her chest, legs, and butt she don't care if I touch.  But I see she does need a little work on the mane cause it is a mess!  I never spent the time last summer to spray her, so that may wait a bit yet.

(mane is twisted and on wrong side, what a mess!!)

Then I brushed Razz and she loves her tummy being brushed and she just stood there with her head stretched out at eyeballs rolled back.  I like her to show Jazz she can enjoy it, I think she learns by watching me interact with the other horses quite a bit.

(I love my Pretty girl!)

Then I went to pick up Jazz's feet and she was so good, the first foot I had to pull on the hair a bit but the others she just picked up when I run my hand down her leg.  That surprised me, I thought it would be a little more of a fight, so I left it at that, we will work on it a little each day and I will hold them up longer and even clean them out.

Then onto the face, I know I have to do more with her nose, but I want her to be able to trust me yet and so I reached my hand over her nose and onto her forehead, she pulled away a little at that but realized soon it was like I do when she has no halter on.  I was careful not to touch her nose yet ( I will accidentally soon, lol) but I had my whole arm in front of her face.

(Who couldn't love that face, not the prettiest shot I have ever taken though)

Then she was done, I praised her and let her go.  Then tried my new hackmore on Razz and somehow the hanger doesn't sit right so I will have to figure that out.  Pretty happy with how it went.  I was real tempted to leave the halter on Jazz but I don't like to unless I have to and so I didn't, she might as well get used to it going over her nose now.

Wednesday

Not a lot going on here now, its so wet we can't get much done, but we did haul 2 bulls out to our heifers and 2 up to the community pasture.  Nice to have some of them out of here,  but I sure wouldn't mind calving a little later, specially the community pasture ones, but I am not in charge so this is the way we do it.  I guess I was a little misleading yesterday as we did not have our power go out, but the power company was testing poles and he said ours were in excellent shape.  Which is too bad cause we wanted to move it cause its right in front of the living room window.  Said they are testing 7000 poles this spring.

Anyways in between packing and cleaning and organizing, I got my walk in and the ponies in the pasture were just looking at me and started comin over.  So I thought I should go out there and see them, but then I hesitated cause no one really friendly in that group except Jazz and she is still kinda unsure sometimes.  But I went anyways and scratched her neck and that was good and under her chin she liked.  And its that time of year when the bugs get bad on the belly so I thought I would try to scratch her belly.  I started at the shoulder and moved back then underneath.  She has never had a problem with me touching her belly before and she didn't now either.  Then I got the itchy spot and she really liked that.

Then Belle kept inching closer and she usually doesn't like being petted, but I know she wanted me to get her belly to so I scratched her chest then moved to behind her front legs and she walked forward so I got her itchy belly.  It was funny from a horse that refers not to be touched.

And meanwhile Disco stood just on the other side, she hasn't figured out that sometimes people just come out to pamper ponies,  I don't know if she ever had anyone do that before, she just waits for you to come to her and she is fine, but doesn't really seem to enjoy it...yet.  And Magic was on the other side of me kinda just watching to see what I was gonna do, she seems interested but not quite sure if I should be able to touch her out there yet, but she will come around I'm sure.

And after I left I seen scatchy horses, guess Magic was feeling left out after all.

I also saw that our cactus are just about to bloom, I will have to check in a couple days to see if the flowers are opened.

And the willow I saw the other day now has fuzz on it and I still don't know what it is, but should be easier to identify I would think now.

And I got a short video of the bird flying around, I did break down and look it up and I think its a Willet.  As far as I can tell that's one of the only shorebirds that has black and white wings and looks grey on the ground.  And if you have your volume up you can hear it calling and also the frogs in the background are pretty noisy!

Eclipse??

So Sunday night was supposedly and eclipse.  And I checked it out and it said it would be seen above Calgary between 6:04 and 7:14.  I realized we are not in Calgary so I figured a little leeway either side should be good. I went out about 6:15 and nothin was going on, but it was also hazy so kinda hard to see.  But I got a couple pics anyway and got a cloud over it which I thought was the eclipse till it went away and I realized it wasn't dark enough so I looked at the pics and saw it was a cloud.

But while I was out there, I was standing by the horse gate and saw Disco there.  She saw me too, but she  isnt a tattler and just went back to eating after seeing me just standing there not coming in.  She is so pretty, I should be  riding her too.

While Disco was grazing there was this little bird out there right by her nose and Disco kept pushing it away it was real cute and the bird never left.  I wonder if its the ones who eat bugs.

I was trying to get some pics of Jazz without her knowing I was there cause otherwise she is too close, but she wasn't very cooperative, I did get her itching

And then I thought I had been spotted here

But nope, she just kept on grazing, there sure is a lot of grass out there.  And then after a few more sun pics, she definitly did spot me.

And of course starts heading over to me.  Which I am not complaining about, but hard to get pics of.  But on the way she got distracted by Disco needing some scratches.

And a few more shots of clouds over the sun.

And a a far away shot about 7 that definitely has no eclipse, but almost a sundog.

I guess I will have to wait for another eclipse to get better pics.

A Week In Pictures

Got a lot of pics this week that just don't fit anywhere else and I wanted to share.  First off on Monday on my way to brooks I saw a radiator going up the road, wonder what its gonna fit in?

And while stopped at a light in Calgary there was this Canada goose in front of a super purple building. I was kind of surprised cause I was right downtown and busy traffic and he didn't care.  I also saw a horse made of steel parts but the light was not red there :(

I took Shirley's idea the other day to crop the pic of Razz.  And I quite like how it come out, not perfect but better.  I just use Picassa, not sure its the best one but it is the easiest cause it is automatically on my computer.

And while I was at it I cropped my favorite pic of Jessie.  She was walking towards me and just like she always walks when  I ride.  No wonder it's hard to got ear pics :)

And this one of her just standing watching me, I sure like it too.

And I looked out the window and saw Jazz desensitizing herself to a tarp that Neil put out to cover his pump for the waterer and it flew off in the wind.  Was kinda funny she just kept going back when it blew and scared her.

And today I was out working with Magic and got a nice pic of her.  She is really shedding out now and looks like she will end up darker than her winter hair.  And her mane and tail are getting really light.  She is coming along slowly, but pretty worried about the halter so I just carry it and she jumps every time it jingles but I been ignoring it and just keep brushing her and she is getting better about it.

And the other day I thought it was gonna rain and almost did was cold all day, so I thought it was a good day to get my tack room all cleaned out.  Sure took a long time, I had lots of rubbermaids in there from like 2 years ago.  And the mice were so bad last year that I never even used it, I kept the saddles in my house or truck.  But it sure looks good now.  The rubermaids in there now actually have tack in them, still lots to get rid of yet, and some draft/driving stuff I don't want to get rid of yet.

Still trying to get the yard and garden going, but its been so cold out I just don't want to, and I haven't done much riding at home either but I guess there will be time and it will get warm eventually.
Also linking up with Farm Fresh Fridays over at Farmchicks blog.

Chores

So this morning I was in the house trying to get energetic to go do my chores and I look outside and this is what I see :)

I love being able to see her from the living room window.  I can see the pasture horses if I look out the side window but I have to stand to for that and if they are at the far end of the pasture its hard to see them, and the ones in the corrals are out the porch window, but Magic is right out the living room.  I might have to keep someone there all summer just so I can look out and see them.

The pasture horses are so well behaved that they just eat out of their piles and don't even bother moving from one to another, its kinda weird but kinda nice.

The others however haven't got that figured out.  Well mostly they do except Jazz and since everyone lets her eat from their pile she never eats alone.  I mentioned how she was almost as tall as Razz and today they were standing side by side and so I got a pic so its more visible.  I'm glad too cause sometimes I think I am imagining things if I don't see them more than once.  But I definitly think she will be taller than Razz.  Which is too bad cause I like Razz's size.

And I love Disco's face, she is so cute :)  Even with the wild horse look of branches everywhere (which I never noticed till I got back in the house to look at the pics.)

Wordless Wednesday -- Look Alikes?