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.

Wow 2019

Where has the year gone, I cant believe my last post was a year ago!  And so much happened last year too.  Lets see if I can make a short summery.

Horses.  Didn't sell any, had 2 new ones born, Dixon out of Jess and Watson out of Nita. Unfortunately Watson died at a month old from I don't know what.  That was sad, I was really excited for my Hezgonnabefamous horse.  But I still got my cutter to be and since I had no one to wean him with ended up with another colt, ranch bred, a 3/4 brother to a colt I raised in 2010, Jamaica.  He is such a nice horse, so confident and comfortable in himself its just odd but I love it.  He will be a good fit in around here too, since my other 2 ranch horses are 13 and 14 now, I dunno how that happened.

(Dixon the day after he was born)

(Watson, a couple days old)

(Huck, the day he was halter broke, 

after he was caught he acted like it was old hat and the kids loved him)

Rode very little, 10 maybe 12 times this year because of my back and my knee.  Not impressed with that but I am working my way back up this year.

Making some decisions on what to do with Easy, was planning on showing this summer but with my back the way it is I'm not sure I can and talked to my trainer today and he asked if I wanted to sell him, I never even thought of it but it would kinda make sense and he said he could probly sell him for what I paid without anyone even trying hom.  tempting, I really like him but since I cant haul him alone or ride out on him if I cant cut he would be an arena horse and I do not need that, I can ride any of my other horses in an arena if i wanted.  So now to decide what to do.  It would be nice to save that for Dixon's training but it would be nice to show and get some experience doing that too.  Of course if I do get better there will always be more horses for sale. 

Crochet-- Well since I didn't do much horse stuff this year I did a lot of crochet.  I am really enjoying it and even getting a few orders in, that's great, I can pay for my hobby :)

(Neil's blanket)

Travel--We headed to Mazatlan in March for a relatives wedding that was so cool, I had a great time, trying to talk Neil into going again this year but its not happened yet, he wants Vegas, Id rather a beach but if that's the only option i will take it.

(from our balcony)

Painting-- I have continued with paint class am really enjoying it, and I made a good picture finally!  not a decent one but its actually good, and weirdly it was a spur of the moment picture to do.

(the red truck)

More Horses--Got a chance to go photo wild horses with a friend, that was really cool they were quite calm and stuck around a long time, kinda boring no play going on but that's OK it was still pretty cool.  Id like to go again in the spring time maybe.

(they got spooked and run in a big circle and were coming towards us)

Have a lot of plans for this year too, so excited for it to get going, said as I sit in bed with a sore back, ugh.  But Chiro tomorrow and hopefully onwards and upwards from there.

Chiro and Horses and Crocheting

Well here is the offending item that put my back out

(yes that little bag of bows, was trying to put away Christmas)

Went to the chiropractor yesterday and he sees me walk in and looks at my back and says he still wants to be friends after this.  Well I knew it wasn't gonna be good lol.  He wasn't too bad, used his hammer on the backs of my knees and my lower back and a bit higher too then put the hips back in (that wasn't that fun)  Still sore but less intense pain its just sore muscles now that need to relax.  I go back tomorrow and I think maybe that's all for a while.  I only went 7 times last year that's gotta be a record thought i was doing pretty good.  Till this.  I also asked him about the weird clicking noises and he says on the outside of hips and I said mostly he said there is actually a name for them called clicking hip syndrome.  Its when the tendons slide over the hip back into place, especially loud on tight muscles.  Not much I can do about it either, and its not bad or good it just is.  But now I know.

The weather had warmed up beautifully here was +4 today and melting :)  Still was inside but its nice to know I could go out haha.  Saw the last of the ponies come running up this morning, not sure why they were behind but I like watching them.  Can always tell Razz even if shes just a shadow cause shes always loping in, everyone else walks or trots in.  Speaking of Razz I am in the 12 week challenge on Facebook again with her gotta get 30 rides, 40 hours horsemanship all within the next 12 weeks, starts Sunday, hope I'm up for that then.

(Razz coming in, I'm in the house then the new cows and behind them the winter horse pasture)

(I knew it was her :) )

(Rayne and Easy coming in slowly behind Razz)

I been crocheting to pass the time, its kinda fun learning new stuff and making way too many dishcloths lol but I only have cotton wool to practice with and not sure what else I can make with it.

(the single and double crochet ones)

(the patterned one from today with blue double crochet and ecru single crochet)

Happy New Year

Seems like a lot of people have had a bad 2017, not sure mine was bad, it wasn't great and it didn't go the way I planned but I cant say I hated it and I guess that's all one can hope for.  Many things have changed and I have changed and therefore I am hoping more stuff I want to get done this year does and it will be awesome!

1.  First off 2 new foals how can that not be so fun!  I plan of halter breaking them early of course since its during branding season it may not go as smooth as planned but it will happen eventually.

2.  Cutting.  I have plans to start riding Easy as soon as I can. I kinked my back on Friday so I'm out for week or 2 and still working on finding a place.  Then come April he will go be boarded at the trainers and then if I can't ride at least they will keep him in shape for showing.

3.  Finishing projects at home, I have a huge work in progress list, both of crafts, woodworking and building items I want to get done.  I have made out a list/timeline and gave myself goals for when they are done I think it will work knowing exactly what I need to do.

4.  And of course my other horses, I have goals for pretty much everyone, all listed out, I wont bore you with them here but it starts with getting Rayne started and taking more clinics with Razz to have her calmer and relaxed in groups.  And taking Jax on a group ride/drive.  And probly leasing Pally out after branding season, I have a few places asking about her and so we will see, not like I won't have enough others around lol.  Only one who doesn't have a goal list is Jessie which is weird for the first time ever for her.  Still debating on Nita, whether to breed her back or ride her we will see how the foal is and how she is.

5. Enjoy every moment. So even now as I am laying in bed writing this up I have taught myself to crochet.  So far just a single crochet in a dishcloth but I want to make some log pillows for my window seat so I need to practice.  Times a wasting gotta do something.

Life and Christmas

Well I guess I'm here to post again, have been around reading blogs but not a lot to post about here.  I haven't rode in 6 weeks, probly the longest ever since I got a horse back in 2004.  Not sure I like it even though everyone says its good to take a break and its so icy out its pretty well impossible to ride unless I jump on bareback in the field they live in but I don't wanna do that and have 7 loose horses around.  I did get the farrier out to do their feet, hes pretty sure hes not gonna do Jess and Nita's feet next summer when they have foals on them so he plans on coming in late may for their last trim.  I think I can convince him to do them after that in July or August anyways.   Both are pretty good, we will see how they are then, I guess no use worrying about it now.  He also thinks I should breed Nita to his cowhorse/ranch stud.  I'm not sure, I either breed her back or I ride her and maybe sell her not sure which I should do yet.

(Nita is looking good still, I was a little worried about her)

(Jax is just so cute!)

(Rayne looks so big next to Jax lol)

(Happy herd, and glad way more snow has gone than this)

We had the craft sale, it was really bad, I sold $125 worth of stuff, less than half of what I usually sell (which is closer to about 300)  Because the lady in charge of advertising just didn't.  She was supposed to get posters up to all the mailboxes and call in for free advertising on the radio and she did nothing so no-one came besides the people selling and a few others.  So I don't think I will go next year and have started a Facebook group for selling my stuff, been looking around at a few other craft sales that only sell homemade stuff and there is a couple not too far I may try for next year.

(sunrise morning of the craft fair)

I went to a craft night where they were making Grinch trees.  What a fun thing to do :)  I love mine and when I got home I put on the battery lights and its even better :)

Otherwise just getting ready for Christmas, we are going to Olds for Christmas Eve and spending the day with my Mom.  I dunno what else but at least we got that much planned.  I have almost all the gifts done, tried to finish tonight on our way when we went to see the Holiday Train, which was super cool!

Neil is going next week I'm gonna send him with my last 3 items to get, hes trying to get me to go but I'm not sure I wanna.

Winter, Sigh

Not much going on here now.  Its winter we had about 6 inches of snow and its still here 3 weeks later.  I'm about sick of it.  I really need to do something about being stuck here all winter.  I make plans every year and think it will be fine.  But its not.  I hate being stuck inside and I cant go outside when its that cold cause I can't breathe.

(but we have partridges and they don't seem to mind the cold. 

 Or the grain Neil spills)

Paint class has been fun, we got one more class and then its over, I think she is starting up again in January and I will go then as well.  Might as well as I am just starting to like my pictures.  Also been going to craft nights at the library and that is good too, nice to get out and see a different crowd.

(we did trees, mine is the right side and I hate the round trees, otherwise its cool)

(Ha I painted this on the table, looks better than any canvas I have painted)

(and the latest one, still working on it)

Otherwise horses are turned out and will be probly till February or March now cause its so miserable already and I can't see it changing a whole lot.  Which sucks.  I tried to find a boarding barn nearby I could ride but no where within an hour and a half.  I could haul but when the high is -15 I have no desire to its just work.

(yay out!  Pally, Rayne and Jax)

(George and Jess making a run for it)

(Nita Razz and Easy last out)

(kinda weird having 8 horses out there, almost overwhelming)

Cows are all weaned, we are feeding already even though its way to early, we are gonna have to buy more feed.  Calves are all sold and in their new homes, we did something different this year and sold them ahead of time and it seemed to work OK, was nice no need to order trucks they just showed up. Even though they were about 40 pounds heavier than we guessed at.   Bulls are home and being a pest, specially when the gate is left open and they wander around the yard.  We are looking at buying cows again and sales are on Saturdays so hopefully sometime soon we will have a bunch of new ones.

Me and Jess and Neil and George helpin the neighbor)

(our heifer calves)

(the steers)

Our local craft sale in on Friday and so I have a bunch of jams and bath items and a few sewing and wood projects as well.  I'm hoping to sell out but I doubt that's possible haha.  Oh well gave me something to work on, although I wish I could use my woodshop more but its too cold in there cause when I work I gotta have the door open.  Another item for my wish list.  I did get business cards and they are so cool!  I really love them haha and I got a car magnet cause it was super cheap at checkout. 

Equine First Aid

Last Thursday we had our last Therapeutic Riding night and since it was close to halloween we had a dress up and trick or treat night.  I dressed like a unicorn and it was fun, so many cool costumes!

(I did my nails in unicorn colors too)

(Our superhorse Ashley)

(The group with our rider 

who was pouting cause we wanted a smile 

and his dad in too)

(The whole 6:00 group)

Then Friday I loaded up and headed to Saskatoon to Lisa's and she was hosting an Equine First aid course.  It was really cool. Some I had known about but lots of new things as well.  And good practice bandaging again as it has been a long time since I have had an injury here.  Well more than a just a few stitches or a rest/time off injury.

(We were given a bunch of scenarios and we had to deal with them as we thought was best. 

 Poor Lefta had a lot of injuries in one day)

(and we wrapped a donut for an eye injury)

(our other victim, lol)

(The instructor showing a stretch I think)

(A hoof abscess and a mid leg wrap with expansion joint)

(Yay we all graduated )

I tried to take some photos of touristy places but its winter and stuff was closed or hard to get to, except the dump oops I turned too soon, and they have cows in the middle of town :)  Of course its a vet college but still cool.

(the nice hotel room, seemed a bit fancy but I'd sure stay there again)

(Pike Lake....obviously lol)

(they were working up the sand)

(and sign on the highway said point of interest.....not sure what it was)

It was cool meeting Lisa too although we didn't get a lot of time to spend together since its not that far we may try to meet up next summer again.