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

Is It Cheating?

I'm beginning to realize that I don't have the time to consistently work with Zoe.  I've been going back and forth with the idea of sending Zoe to a trainer to get her some consistent training.  I know that I could do what needs to be done but my time is very spotty.  Some weeks I have tons of time, other weeks I don't even have 10 minutes to round pen her.  Plus, it looks like I'm going to be getting more hours at work so that eliminates another day during the week that I normally have for working with the horses.  What I'm realizing is that I'm running out of time to get her trained because of my busy schedule!

I don't need the trainer to do much, just get her riding consistently under saddle.  Ground work is something I work on everyday so that's good.  I'm pretty sure that 30 days under saddle would be all she needs but it needs to be consistent work - not like I've been doing. 

So I've been doing some research on a good local trainer that would be good for the job.  I have a few but would like to get some references...is that normal?  I don't want to take any steps backwards with Zoe so finding the right trainer is crucial for this training.

Once she's been broke to ride better, I'm going to put some hours in the saddle and send her off to a reining trainer.  I have the trainer all picked out.  I'm so excited for our plans!  I just hope I can make a decision on the first trainer soon!

Until next time!


Quote for the day:
"Believe you can and you're half way there."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Bath Time!

We finally had some decent weather and the time to give the horses a bath!  I wish I had a camera to take some before and after pictures cuz those girls were nasty!!!  You can really see the difference on Zoe because of her lighter color and Star's coat just glowed!  I had wanted to give their tails a make over too but I was running out of steam so only their manes got the attention.

On a whole, the first bath of the year went good.  Zoe dealt with the water being sprayed on her until I got to her back.  After that getting her to stand still so I could get her but and belly was virtually impossible to do by myself.  Hubby saw my struggle and came to my rescue.  He was able to hold her while I finished spraying.  Then middle daughter and I got to scrubbing!  Zoe got a little anxious at first because Star was running around in the field - not waiting patiently for her turn.  But Zoe relaxed eventually and really enjoyed the scrubbing.  All the winter fur was very itchy, I'm sure!  We got a good portion of winter hair off but she still has more to go!  After the final rinse, hubby took her to the yard and held her while she ate.  Can't turn her out while she's still wet because all that hard work of washing would've gone to waste - turning her into a big mud ball. 

So while Zoe was drying, we got Star out.  She just wanted a bath so she could eat while we washed.  That would've been fine but she kept walking while we were trying to scrub and that gets annoying.  So we had to move out to the driveway so she had to just stand there.  Star had more winter hair left than Zoe did so we got TONS of hair out (and dirt!).  Oldest son was there to help with the scrubbing this time so I was able to just hold her while the kiddos did the work. :)  After the final rinse, middle daughter took Star to eat some grass while she dried. 

I gave Zoe and quick brush down and turned her out.  First thing she did was roll.  Dang horse.  So I went back out with a brush and tried to get the dirt off right away.  I got one side done before she just wanted to play.  Oh well.  Hubby came with some hay and she got to eating.

I took over with Star and just relaxed in the sunshine while Star ate.  What a beautiful day!  Once Star was dry, I brushed her quick and turned her out with Zoe.  Usually Star will roll ASAP but she didn't want to miss out on the hay so she ate instead of rolled....I may be on to something here...

After bath time was all done, hubby and I decided we need a wash stall so I can do the horse bathing by myself if need be.  So I guess we just added another project to our already too long list of projects!  I'm sure that by the end of summer, Zoe will do MUCH better.  We do a lot of baths throughout the summer so she will come to enjoy them on those hot days.  She showed a lot of curiosity with the water and almost tried to take a drink.  I remember Grace (APHA mare that we had to put down a year or so ago) used to enjoy drinking directly from the hose.  I miss that mare and her puppy dog attitude.  Some day maybe I will write a post about her.  Still hard to talk about her without tears.

Until next time!



Quote for the day:
"Peace begins with a smile."

-Mother Teresa