Breeding Star

I couldn't think of a creative title to this post so there you have it..."Breeding Star".  That's pretty much all we did this weekend!  I'm glad that she will be coming out of her heat cycle soon because I'm tired of the drive!

A recap...Friday night when we arrived we dug a hole in the pen for Star's back feet.  Brother-in-law got the stud out and kept him in line.  Reinforced the ground work before nosing him up to Star.  He remained calm and climbed on - this time the breeding was successful and uneventful!  We were all very excited with the outcome!

Saturday night we backed Star into the hole while brother-in-law got the stud.  The stud was a little more amped this time around - he knew what was coming!  Brother-in-law did some more ground work and the stud did a kick out in Star's direction (he didn't land it).  So more ground work was done to make sure Mr. Stallion realized that was not allowed.  He successfully bred Star again without further incident.

Sunday night we tried to repeat Friday and Saturday but the stud was JUICED to say the least!  He was "light on the front end" as brother-in-law put it.  This time when the stud was nosed up to Star he reared and landed on her side.  This was totally unacceptable and brother-in-law made sure that the stud didn't try those antics again.  Next time he approached Star, brother-in-law positioned himself between the stud and Star's butt and once the stud was calmed down, he stepped out of the way and Mr. Stud had another successful breeding.

We would've brought Star home Sunday night but a neighbor is borrowing our trailer right now so as soon as our trailer returns we will bring her home.  I would be surprised if she came up open but if she does, we will try again on her next cycle.  But like I said, I think she's bred. :)

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."

-George A. Moore

A Baby In Our Future?

As I mentioned before, we are breeding Star.  On Wednesday, hubby sent me a text that Star was in - plans changed and we loaded her up in the trailer and off we went!  Dropped her off where she can be bred.  Unfortunately, that's not how simple our day was...

Let me start at the beginning of our day...

I went to work, planning on leaving at 3pm for the Coggins test for Zoe.  She had to be to the vet at 4pm.  I left work 15 minutes late because I am SUPER busy right now but I got home with plenty-o time to load up and go (the vet is 10 min. away).  On my way home, hubby texted me that Star was in heat today so that meant bringing Star to get her bred HAD to be done TODAY.  When I got home I changed my clothes (I work in an office), grabbed Zoe and loaded her in the trailer.  She's great loading so that was a very quick transaction! :)  Good girl!

Off to the vet we went.  No issues there either.  A perfect angel, she was!

On the way home, we stopped off at the daycare lady's house to pick up the kiddos.  Of course she wanted to see Zoe, so we did a little show-and-tell presentation in her driveway.  The neighbors were all very excited to see her.  We live in a small farm community so having a horse in town is perfectly acceptable. :)  Again, Zoe was very well behaved.  I was a proud horsey momma!

After we left, we called the stallion owner (brother-in-law) and told him we were coming up soon.  He asked us if we could swing by a neighbor's house and pick up another mare that was also getting bred.  She was just around the corner so it wasn't a big deal. 

When we got home we unloaded Zoe, changed a dirty diaper (tmi???), loaded up some hay in the trailer, loaded up the kids in the truck, loaded Star (who also loads very easily) and we were off.  Got to our neighbor's house to get the mare and she also loaded very well.  Neighbor had 10 bales of hay we had to load and then we were finally on the road to brother-in-law's house.  It's now 6pm.

The drive was uneventful.  Unloading both horses was uneventful. 

We decided to see how the stud was going to be with Star. If something did go wrong, there were 3 of us to help with any situation that could possibly happen.  A little background info on the stud: he's 4 and bred one mare on accident (didn't realize he had "dropped" yet) so he's very inexperienced and we had no idea how he was with his mares.  A little background info on us:  we've owned stallions before and have handled the breeding ourselves for several years.  We know what we're doing.

The stud was very excited at the new comers and Star was probably just as excited to see him!  The stud was very well behaved while in-hand.  Minded his manners and listened astonishingly well with only a rope halter and lead on.  I'm sure brother-in-law was very proud of his stud horse.  The two nosed up and Star was quite the lady...yeah right.  If you have ever been around a mare in heat with a stud at her nose, you understand.  She did what all mares in heat do.  Gross.  Have some class, would ya???  j/k

Since he was being so good, brother-in-law put the lead rope over his back and let him go.  The stud was talking, nibbling and sniffing Star all over.  Star was a statue.  Stood there waiting, making it very easy for him.  He tried at first to climb on her side.  Brother-in-law pulled him down.  He went back to her face and talked some more.  Made his way around to her butt climbed on but couldn't figure out where things were supposed to go so he climbed back off.  Almost looked defeated.  Brother-in-law picked up the lead rope again and walked  him away. 

We decided that since he had been a good boy that we would try pasture breeding and let him and Star go.  Star stood like a good girl while the stud circled around her, nibbling on her as he went.  She didn't mind.  Well then he got more aggressive and started chewing.  He would go down her front legs, then her back legs, and then down her sides.  She got sick of it and started running off.  That just made him more aggressive.  She started kicking at him when he would bite her.  Things were getting worse by the minute.  The kicks weren't phasing him one bit and she was really firing them off (and landing 90% of them on either his chest or his sides)!  It was time to step in.  He wasn't jumping, just chasing her around, trying to control her movements (this is what stallions do).  Hubby stepped in and grabbed the stud very easily.  Like I said, he's a good horse person and the stud was a good boy when being handled.  As soon as hubby grabbed the lead, the stud calmed right down and acted like a puppy again.  Star stopped too.  She just stood there waiting for him to try again.  Hubby led the stud around to make sure he had a handle on him, which he did, and led him over to Star again.  Star waiting again while the stud "got ready" and jumped her.  He never penetrated but went through the motions like he was supposed to.

By this time the stud was dripping in sweat but wasn't finished yet with Star.  But we decided to call it a day and put him back in his pen with his buddies.  They all ran around like crazy sniffing him but settled down.  We did some thinking about the events that just took place and it's very possible that Star is too tall and he's too inexperienced.  We are trying again tonight but this time we are digging a hole for Star to stand in so the angle for the stud is better and we won't be doing pasture breeding with this stud, he's much better in hand.

I fed Star her hay and grain, made sure she had fresh water and we went on our way.  Our kids (who stayed in the barn so we didn't have to have the "birds and the bees" talk) were hungry...it was now 7:30 pm and we hadn't had dinner yet.  We would've stopped on our way home but our big hayfield was getting baled and hubby wanted to get home ASAP so he could start getting the bales off the field.  Needless to say, dinner was out of a can and made at about 8:30 pm.  We finally crashed into our beds around 10 pm...it was a long day for us!

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it."

-William Penn

Check

Get the Coggins pulled on Zoe...check!
Give Zoe her 5-way...check!
Worm Zoe...check!
Zoe's feet trimmed...check!
First ride this year on Zoe...check!
I think we are ready for the trainer!  Just need to wait until the first of the month before bringing her!

By the way, did you catch that the first ride was completed?  She did a lot of bucking once the saddle was on and I made her move out - I wish she would stop that.  Doesn't reassure me that I will be able to ride without round penning her first. 

Ok, let me start over...I pulled her away from her buddies - very upsetting for her.  I round penned her (about 20 minutes) until she was working/listening to me consistently.  I put the saddle pad on, her eyes were bugging out of her head.  I took the saddle pad off, she shied away.  Great...it's like dealing with a yearling who's never experienced being saddled before.  I decided I wouldn't take any part of the saddling process for granted and to treat her like she's never been saddled.  Pad on, pad off.  Pad on, pad off.  Repeated that several times until she was relaxed and bored with it.  Next was the saddle.  I repeated the same procedure with the saddle that I did with the pad.  Saddle on, saddle off.  Once the saddle was on and she was bored, I jostled it around, flapped the stirrups around, basically made it move and make sounds as much as possible.  She didn't care.  I tightened the cinch - again didn't care.  Then we did some round pen work.  She got to bucking several times but eventually settled down.  As soon as she started bucking, I would make her move out.  I don't want her to think that it's allowed to buck when the saddle is on, whether I'm in the saddle or not.  I want to be able to ride without round penning first to "get the buck" out of her.  I'm sure people out there will disagree with that...but I don't care.  My horse, my training methods.

Anyways, I decided to put the bridle on and then round pen her one more time but this time she went around like 2 times each direction and I figured we were ready for riding.  I mounted, dismounted.  Mounted, dismounted until she was bored again and then just sat in the saddle.  At first she was very alert then bored.  Her boredom turned into "alright, let's do something already" so I asked for a walk.  She complied willingly but she felt like a ticking time bomb.  We worked on steering, stopping, backing, moving off leg pressure and all the while I couldn't shake the feeling of riding a ball of energy just waiting to explode!

Needless to say, we only did walking exercises.  Her steering needs some major improvement before we start trotting.  We have to have the basics down at the walk before going faster.  Plus I want her to relax and realize that me riding isn't so bad.  She was on edge the entire ride.  My hubby commented that she looked scared and that's exactly how she felt under saddle.  I know she really picks up on the emotion of her rider but I honestly can say I wasn't scared or nervous so it makes me wonder WTF did her previous owners do to her?  Or maybe it's what they didn't do???  There have been other instances here and there that I've thought that too.  I know how she acts when she's never experienced things before (curious, lots of blowing through her nose but mostly curiosity) and then there's when she's panicked about something - like she's deathly afraid of what I'm going to do to her or what an object is going to do - her whole body shakes, her eyes are rolling and her head is as high up as she can get it.  Poor thing!  So many skeletons in her closet...

So back to the riding.  I think I rode her for 30 minutes.  We got to a good place and called it a night.  I think we were both relieved it was done.  It's like she was so defensive when I was riding...  She let out a huge sigh and then started chewing once I had her bridle off and halter back on.  Untacking was a breeze and I returned her to her friends.  I was curious how she would act when it was time to come back in so about an hour later I went to catch her.  The only thing different was this time I had to walk about halfway to get her, normally she runs to the gate when she sees me coming.  No biggie.

Well, tonight we will go at it again.  I hope tonight's ride will be more relaxing for her!

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."

-Alan Watts

More Big Plans

I have decided to breed Star.  I'm coming to grips with the fact that she is now considered a senior equine and I want something to continue on with after she's gone.  She has had two foals before and was a wonderful mother.  One of her foals had to be put down due to an unfortunate accident and the other foal is a successful show horse.  Both of her foals were awesome horses with great conformations and I believe Star has the mind that everybody wants in their horses.  The future foal would be an excellent contributor to the AQHA breed.  Star embodies the AQHA breed perfectly and the sire I have chosen is of great quality, improving the bloodlines.  He is a perlino stud out of the great Dinero (Frenchman's Hay Day), Sheryl Cervi's great palomino barrel racing stud.  Because of this stud's color, we are expecting the foal to be a palomino - wouldn't that be awesome?

This is Star and her 2nd foal, Gus.  Gus is a successful show horse!

Oh, and one more awesome fact about the stud...he's out of my Zoe!!!  So I'm getting a foal out of my Star, and it will be a grand baby of Zoe!  Talk about a double bonus!

We have big plans for the future of the foal...but let's not count the chicks before they hatch!

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"Trust yourself, you know more than you think you do."

-Benjamin Spock

Riding Time

A week or so ago middle daughter had a friend over who is in love with horses.  We've had her over before.  This time instead of only brushing and leading the horses, we did some riding.  Her mom said she was counting down the hours until she got to come over!  I had to work that day so they had to wait until I was home before being able to ride.  I'm sure it was torture for them!

Immediately after I got home, I got Star out for the girls.  I had put a good ride in on her the weekend before and she behaved PERFECTLY - like winter never happened!  That mare continues to impress me.  In years before I always had to put in a week or two of riding daily to get back what we lost over winter but this year she was awesome!

She stood like a rock while the girls fussed over every inch of her body, brushing her several times.  I saddled her up and the pony rides began.  Middle daughter's friend was scared to ride by herself and I wasn't sure if she knew how so I was happy to lead her around.  Then middle daughter wanted to join.  She knows how to ride so she did the driving and her friend was happy to sit behind her.

They each took turns riding by themselves but middle daughter rode by herself and did some canter work.  That girl can ride - so much more talent than I ever had at that age (she's 7).

Star did really well for the girls but I noticed she was slightly off again at the trot.  It's the phantom limp...no idea what causes it or how to treat it.  She doesn't seem bothered by it, I've had the farrier check her out and he said to keep riding unless she shows me that she is upset.  I always take it easy with her when I notice she's off, maybe I baby her and she's figured out how to get out of more work...who knows.

Because of all the riding the girls did and the fact that Star is out of shape and in her elderly years, we cold hosed Star's legs and did a quick rinse of the rest of her body.  It was a hot and sticky night so I'm sure it felt good!

All in all, it was a wonderful horsey night with the girls!  I'm so proud of my daughter and my horse - love them so much!

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be."

-Socrates

It's Happening - For Realz!!

Yup!  The reining trainer said she's got an opening for my Zoe!!!  I have to pull a new Coggins on her and vaccinate her and then she'll be ready to go!  So she might be gone by early next week!  I can hardly contain my excitement!!!

First things first, Zoe has been having some 'tude on the ground again.  Last night hubby was helping me bring the horses in.  I had Tyson and he grabbed Zoe.  We walked through the gate calmly and next thing I know, Zoe is almost plowing me over!  She blew past hubby and when she got to the end of the lead rope she got yanked back around.  That was a first!  She ALWAYS goes through the gate with AWESOME manners.  She never rushes through and immediately swings herself around so I can latch the gate.  Every time in a calm manner.  I have no idea what made her do it differently this time but that is unacceptable behavior!

Hubby got her back under control (he's very good with horses - my horse whisperer, is what I call him) and brought her into the barn.  On the way, my brother-in-law's dog (we're pet sitting) was trotting along behind them.  She always does so this isn't something new - and Zoe "double barrel" kicked at the dog.  Both feet in the air at the same time aimed directly for the unsuspecting dog. Thankfully she missed.  Again, that is unacceptable behavior!

Unfortunately we have rain in our forecast (that's why we brought the horses in otherwise they stay out in the summer) so the round pen work has to wait.  But our barn is big enough that I can do some leading work in there with her.  Apparently she needs to go back in the rope halter and start respecting the rules.  I'm pretty sure she's in heat right now, but I don't care.  There is no excuse for misbehaving putting me and anyone else around her in danger.

Back to school she goes!

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."

-Franz Kafka

He's Back

I can't remember if I ever mentioned Tyson on this blog before...I don't think I have.  Tyson is an APHA gelding.  He is out of the same mare as my Zoe, therefore making him a lot like her.  They both have great a conformation and they both LOVE attention.  Tyson is a retired heading horse (team roping).  He'd been all over Michigan with my brother-in-law roping until he got hurt.  I can't remember exactly what happened, all I remember is that it took him a couple years to be rideable again, even after that he would never make a heading horse again because of the risk of re-injury.  My brother-in-law gave him to us for my middle daughter to ride because he didn't have anyone to use him anymore and we were looking for something for her to ride.  Middle daughter clicked with Ty and they were like two peas in a pod.  He loved her and her him!  That was last summer. 

We sent him back to my brother-in-law's house over the winter (that was the agreement) and he hurt himself again.  He kicked through the lean-to metal siding while playing with his other gelding friends and really did it this time!  He sliced off part of his hoof. My brother-in-law took good care of the foot and it has healed completely, however the part of the hoof that was sliced off will never grow back, according to my farrier.  So that makes Ty good for light riding now.  He's sound on the foot at walk and trot, but not any faster.

We brought Ty back home again for the summer for middle daughter to ride again and just when we think we can start riding, he goes and hurts himself playing out in the pasture.  Lame again!  This time on one of his front feet.  So, we've been doctoring the foot every day for the past week or two and it's looking much better.  I think we're out of the woods now with that injury. 

I don't know what's going on with Tyson lately, he was always so easy to have around and all of a sudden he's been getting hurt and having trouble keeping his weight on (the bad hay this winter didn't help).  Maybe he's bored?  Needs a job?  I don't know but we are trying to give him extra attention daily to help with his boredom if that's the problem.  We've noticed that this summer he's been meeting middle daughter by the gate and pushes his head into the halter for her.  Last year he would stand in the pasture waiting for her to get him and then would keep his head just out of her reach for haltering.  Not sure what that means yet but it's been heartwarming to see how much he adores middle daughter. 

We haven't been able to ride him yet this year because of his new injury but maybe by the end of summer middle daughter can walk around on him in the front yard.  I bet he will enjoy that day!

Middle daughter with Tyson last summer

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"Start where you are.  Use what you have.  Do what you can."

-Arthur Ashe

Waiting

I'm so excited right now!  We talked to the reining trainer and she's willing to take Zoe!!!  I don't need to send her to a different trainer first, she said she would work with her and after 30 days we can re-assess what we want to accomplish with her (if she will make a reining horse or not).  If after the first 30 days the trainer determines that Zoe isn't going to make a reining horse, then she will put the buttons/handle on her that a reining horse has (which I LOVE) and that's it.  I get a riding lesson every week for as long as Zoe is there.  If Zoe turns out to be reining potential we will finish her training as a reining horse and I will begin training as well!!!  Can you tell I'm just a little excited?  Anyways, the only hitch in the giddy-up is she has to see if she has room in her barn right now.  If not, we will have to wait until there's an opening.  We need to call her back on Monday or Tuesday of next week and see what she has come up with.  She's not the cheapest trainer but when she's done with Zoe it'll all be worth it!  SO EXCITED!!!!!

Until next time!



Quote of the Day:
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of."

-Ogden Nash