December....A Catch up

Well lets see so much has happened since March.  I did get Rayne to a trainer she stayed till May and was really nice but so big so I was thinking of selling but unsure if I wanted to deal with people and then I see a post of some guy looking for a tobiano paint horse taller than 15 hands.  Well how could i not resist putting her on there and so he asked a few things about her which I didn't know much since I hadn't done anything with her and she wasn't home yet.  I really tried to get him to call the trainer but he didn't want to.  I told Alex I had a guy interested and he even suggested they call him.  But anyways I brought her home on a Thursday and he come Friday and really liked her.  He was at the rodeo all weekend but wanted to come back Monday.  So sure whatever.  I just kept up life as if they didn't want her but they come Monday and I rode, his wife rode then he rode her.  It was a lot for Rayne but she just took it all in stride.  They didn't bring a trailer but they really wanted her and came back Wednesday and took her home.  No dickering on price or anything.  He did ask if we could measure her and I had no problem with that and she was 15.2 already lol guess she was tall.  She just didn't look it since she was fit.

Otherwise not a lot of riding happened early in the year.  April 19 was my first ride on Jess in a year and a half and she was so awesome.  Then after a few rides I noticed she was short striding, kinda like a pulled hamstring.  We got her massaged and that all organized and through it all they told me to keep riding her, slow easy rides so I did.  Me and Char headed to Sandy McNabb that was a super cool day, woulda liked to go more it just didn't work out.  But I did get to Janice's and get to ride with her and Colleen for 5 days that was awesome.  Then the weekend after I had planned to go to the Donalda poker ride and it was 2 days of fun as well.  Then in October she decided to colic.  yuck.  my first bout with it, luckily after a vet trip and a lot of painkillers and oil she seems ok.  That was scary, never wanna do that again.

The colts are growing like weeds, still need lots of work but got plans for them to be started next Spring, Dixon is going to Doug's in March or April after hes started.  And Huck will get maybe 3 months on him and then Ill be brave and ride him.

Won a breeding in a Facebook auction to a super cool paint horse so I bred Razz to him, I think it will be a good cross, hes proven, does everything, And his babies are doing western pleasure, jumping, English, roping, trails.  Sounds like a good cross.  Im excited for this, hes also homozygous for tobiano so the foal with be a paint.  Hes bay so lots of colors available, I am not picky lol 

Of course my nephews came out and helped us for a couple months each this summer, it was great and we got so much done.

And the cats are still around and still goofy as ever.  Copper discovered climbing trees this year.  Hes not good at it and didn't wanna come down.  Neil rescued him the first time and then we made him do it himself the second time.

Been crocheting some, went to 3 craft sales this year, sold quite a bit and so that was nice now I can buy more yarn :) 

We lost the door to the Quonset in a nasty wind storm and so this fall got an overhead door put in man is that ever nice, we sure are spoiled now.

I also been working on the greenhouse, almost tore it down but decided to pull out the built in beds and re did the roof, painted, laid a brick floor and I love it now!  still needs eaves troughs and doors but its so big inside there now.

Ill try to blog more but I am so rarely on the computer it just is a challenge.  What I really need is a new computer but I don't even know what I want.

Still Winter

Seems like everyone has stuff going on and so boring here.  Well I'm not that bored but sure no horsey stuff going on besides these cute boys :)

(Dixon will drink right out of the pail, head all the way in past his eyes)

Otherwise just more crochet and book folding and I took a quilting class last week and we made table runners.  I got mine all pieced together but not quilted and binded cause my sewing machine is at the doctors and I borrowed one to use for the day but he wanted it back.  They said there is one at the school I can use when I go on Thursday nights for craft night but I probly wont, hopefully wont be too long till I get mine back. 

(I didn't mean for it to be baby looking but it kinda turned out that way)

Also made this baby blanket for a shower, they are both big hunters, it went over well as they had steer heads already decorating her room, with flowers on them.  Different but that's ok.

Heard back from Rayne and she was pushy, which I knew but shes better and progressing nicely, I may go down this week if it warms up and see her.

And biggest news is I sold Easy.  Sad that is my cutting dreams for this year but I put the money in a gic for when Dixon goes.  Which I talked to him about taking him, he would prefer started and wants him in March or April next year.  Kinda excited. Anyways Easy sold to a gal doing high school rodeo, they also ranch and he said shes a good hand so that's good. I may have to keep track of her and go see him this at a show.  Will miss the silly bugger although makes my life freeer and have many plans for this summer already in place :)

More Ponies and Crafting

Seems all I do these days is crafts.  I been crocheting of course, cant show my last make till next week as its a gift, but I also made a shawl and a sweater and a baby blanket.  Since I signed up for a craft sale in May I want a few things made up that I can have there,  Also gonna make some unicorn purses, some baskets, scrubbies, dishcloths, scrunchies and face cleaners.  Also gonna have some wood stuff there too.  Not sure what as there is still a 4 foot drift in front of my wood shop so its out of use for now. 

But its been -20 or colder everyday (except 1) since the first of February so I turned out Pally and I had planned for Rayne to go to the trainer on Feb 6th for a couple months, get started and going good so when its nice (ish) here in April I can ride out on her.  Well it was -34 when we were supposed to load and so I wimped out and we decided he wasn't doing much anyways so wait till the next week.  A little warmer, only -21 and Rayne was so good, shes kinda a pleaser anyways which helps a lot.  but shes only been loaded once before when I went to pick her up.  So I asked Neil if he would help and I brought Jessie too.  we walked up tot he trailer, I had shavings down and she thought she would eat them silly girl.  I could get her front feet in without even asking but she wouldn't take those last two steps and she just stood there.  I tried bribing her with cookies which I don't normally do but it was cold!  Anyways swung my lead rope and she backed out but no biggie, just walked front feet in and stood again, not worried just hanging out.  I was cold, Neil was cold and I finally said to Neil you have any ideas I don't know what to do.  and kinda just gave up.  Well up she hopped in.  So lots of scratches and there was a hay bag there too and we tied her up and closed the door.  All in all was only 15 minutes, I was surprised at that felt much longer.  Got there and we put her in the indoor arena to run around and she was excited to run without snow and ice everywhere it was funny.  He said he does that a lot then they can check out everything and its not a scary new place when he takes them in there.  We visited a while then I headed home and got home before dark and turned out Jess.  Got an update the other day, they did say I can ask but I don't wanna bug them everyday, well I sorta do but trying not too.  He said she was pushy and tried to run him over which I knew she definitely did try that here too but he said shes coming along pretty good. 

(Dixon and Huck)

(Rayne and Jessie)

(George, Jax, Nita, Razz)

(Huck and Dixon)

Otherwise just feeding colts and trying to stay warm.  And started up paint class again, started with something fun Luigi :)

Horse Goals

Well I beat last years blogger record ;)  Haha not that is was hard but I'm glad to be back anyways.  Well big changes here. Today Easy went to Doug's, he's gonna leg him up and sell him.  I will be sad but I think its best in the long run.

And Pally came along as company and she's staying in for a few days or months lol I am gonna ride her and probly sell her as well.

I got to use my new trailer it pulls so nice!  I got it last October after selling mine in June cause it just wasn't what I wanted and this one is almost exactly what I was looking for except its steel not aluminum but I will use it for a few years and see, it was a steal so I couldn't resist.  No pun intended.

And I got Rayne booked in for 2 months to get started, she will probly be for sale but I'm in no hurry for her to sell, I really prefer they are nice and broke before I sell so it may be another year but she's so big already and she's 3 how do they get so old so fast???

Looking into a beginner ranch roping clinic, I will take Jess cause that's one of my goals this year is to learn to rope and shes my best candidate cause shes done it before.  Not a lot but she did get roped off at a branding and could care less unless you slapped the rope on your leg but that's dealwithable.
Also going to take Jess to BC and we are gonna do some of the rocky trails cause she will have shoes all summer, I'm pretty excited about this.

My boys are growing, Huck is becoming quite bossy and I had to get after him the other day, he wouldn't let Dixon in all day to eat so I locked Huck out and in the morning they were best friends again.  Huck is really good at joining up and Dixon is really good at disengaging the hindquarters, partially cause he wants to keep and eye on me but whatever I will take it haha.  Haven't actually "done" anything with them lately cause of my back but I do have to go in there everyday to feed them so spend a little time just visiting and being friends, its working Dixon comes up to me now, Huck always did.

Got goals for Jax as well, gonna get him pulling a cart and want to go on a group drive with him.  And Razz, shes probly gonna have an easy year but I'm sure she will get used here and there :)  And Nita.  Haven't decided what I am doing with her yet, I will probly end up selling her turns out I can only ride so many and looks like about 4 is more than I need so that means 5 to sell but not yet if I get 2 sold I'm happy with that for this year.

My Birthday Ride and Rayne

Well it was my birthday today and so I got to do whatever I wanted. Since I was feeling a lot better today finally.  Turns out there was about 6 people who got sick after the party on Sunday, noone wants to say who was sick then and I don't blame them lol.   Did chores this morning and then waited till it got warm enough and thought I should go for a ride.  But I really needed to check the fence in the winter pasture before the horses move there Sunday or Monday.  So I took Jess and we went around it, no reason we can't do 2 things at once.  It wasn't bad, a spot where the bulls went through, a couple wires needed stapled up and a couple posts needed.  But all in all nothing my horses would go though.  The bull spot was covered in panels and Neil plans to fix that this week.  I will nail the staples in and he will pound the posts then I will put the staples in there too.

(Love adding photos to map my run :))

(found a cacti under her belly before I rode, 

glad I looked or I might not have had such a great day)

(Stinkin bulls go right through the fence when the gate was even open)

(I love riding her out :)  I'd like to think she does too )

I got a bike carrier for my birthday I love it!  I been wanting one for a while now so my bike doesn't just get thrown around in the back of the truck and this will work fantastic!

And Shirley was asking about Rayne, well I haven't had much time to do stuff with it being weaning season and all but after Wednesday I think we are pretty well done for the year.  I did figure out she has a lack of respect for space, but that's normal shes young and testing.  She got pretty upset at me the other day when I would not let her eat out of my oat bucket and kept crowding me and of course had nothing with me to chase her away with she eventually turned away and crowhopped.  Just frustrated didn't know how to deal, but not toward me to that is OK, she will learn.  And when she was near me and got chased away when I was opening the gate she ran into me....not acceptable that time I had a lead rope so I just stopped opening the gate and twirled the lead rope it hit her butt and she eventually moved away and I stopped and went back to the gate.  Slower than I normally do of course but I think she was thinking it through.  She is very sweet wants lots of attention so I been giving her a little, after next week I think I am gonna keep her and Jess in and get her ponying and then she can come out and see the big world.  I may take her out on her own as well we will see how much nice weather we get.

(you can see the bite marks on her side, 

apparently not that good at moving out of horses ways either)

(But shes so cute and sweet she will leave her oats to come see me)

I don't wanna do too much too soon but I think she is ready for more so I will probly get her saddled and bridled and long lining and stuff this winter, will wait till spring to actually get on her but lots of stuff to do before then.  I'd also like her to load better so I can haul her to Brooks when I go down there and ride.

Life Keeps on Going, Busy as Ever

We almost have a sidewalk!!  I can't wait till its finally poured.  Maybe Monday or Tuesday depending on the weather.

And the cats what goofs, had just done chores and Copper is a little unsure of the horses but every night when I let them out he stays by the yard gate then they go out and he walks over like he chased them out what a silly cat.  So since it was pretty nice out I thought I would try to get some good pics of him well not so easy I sat on the ground and he was in my face right away.  Got a few funny ones though weird perspective.

(Giant cat)

I got started on my stairs for the deck finally had a decent day after having everyone out for Thanksgiving.  Now its cold again and I'm on my way to Saskatoon for a first aid course but next week sounds like really warm again which is good I have a lot to do still.  But the carpenter came and built the roof over the deck and I got 2 stairs done.

And the horse I went to look at well of course she came home, rarely when I go look at a horse am I not sure I'm gonna buy it.  So let me introduce Rayne of Terriana.  Rayne for short.  Shes just a yearling even though she looks big and I think she will be big. I saw her mom shes a sloid black girl and I mean a solid 15.2 maybe 3 and big.  But shes nice.  so gentle and broke just a nice horse.  And the sire wasn't there but she said hes pretty nice and a good 15 hands.  So tall it is.  But she was so nice.  I went there with my default being no and she just changed my mind right away.  Very friendly, curious and wants to please.  She hasn't had a lot done with her but is halter broke had feet done and she ties.  She let her loose in the round pen and tried to chase her around lol and as soon as Rayne figured it out she did it nicely so that was good.  Went up Tuesday to get her and she just walked into the trailer no big deal.  I like no big deal :)

 Turned her out in the pasture yesterday and all is good, shes used to being the bottom of the totem pole and Easy has taken protective care of her.  A little unsure of our brown grass cause she come from green but that's OK she will be good.

(The whole herd....

Pally, Rayne, George, Jax, Nita, Easy, Razz, and Jessie)

So she's here and I guess I got a new project.  Which will be good, be fun over the winter to play with her.