Off The Wall

Re: Party Day

reinchick53 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:55:20 GMT

I won't argue the luck thing with finding my horses homes, but then again, I have been trying for a few years! Patience, my dear, patience. And get the word out there.

OK, regarding the weird rig on the new horse "Cha Cha". FH is right about the split reins running from the dee rings through the snaffle, they are also run through rings on the martingale. dd said the touch on the rein is very light though, so I assume it has to do with training the horse into the headset. I know nothing about this discipline, so it will be a learning process all around. It does seem like some version of the German Martingale. I will let you guys know what I learn. I do know this much: these high headed, high stepping horses are bred for this action, the training just helps enhance it. dd said it's like riding a freight train, all uphill and full of power. I do have a lot of respect for this trainer, I've known him and watched him over the years, so I have no fear he's using any abusive methods. He is going to teach dd how to train and maintain her, so we should know all the secrets before we're done.

Remmer, I hope your nasty weather is not headed my way! We have had such lovely sunny days, although the nights are cold. Don't eat too much pie, SH!

We are off tomorrow to ride Cookie and Cha Cha. Lordy, what names... Bunny is now set to depart on Sunday, so I'm glad I won't miss her going.

Re: Party Day

seahorse22 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:42:41 GMT

RC - you are just too lucky with finding new homes for your horses and then filling up your barn again with other nice horses. I'm really thinking you should adopt me - or at least sell Surprise for me!! A lady was interested in her but then bought another horse before she even scheduled a visit - oh well....

The weekend is upon us - hip hip hooray!!! Not too much scheduled - horse time of course, I have to buy some pies for a pie eating contest and then on Sat night I am chaperoning a dance at one of DD's schools. A friend of mine is also doing that or I would not risk going and becoming deaf as well as watching teens for 3 hours - oh well, have to do my duty sometimes.

Am trying to get the horses ready for winter - some extra grazing out in the yard and getting tails washed and braided - I bagged Blue's but he lost it after a few days - so the heck with repeating that. I'll see how just the braiding does.

Are you getting nice riding weather now, FH? Good luck at HT this weekend Solo...hpe you survive the storm remmer and how is Po doing 7? Bad news about the truck JG - and I would come to the store sale but the boss and too many customers will be there! :( Who did I miss?

Re: Party Day

FloridaHorseman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:19:26 GMT

Solaris:
What's up with that crazy rig cranking her head in though?

Just looks like split reins snapped to some saddle Dees and looped back through the snaffle rings to make sliding draw reins to me. I can't quite understand how the running Martingale figures into that arrangement, though. Could it be some kind of demented homemade German Martingale? Inquiring minds want to know. ~FH

Re: Party Day

remmer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:22:56 GMT

Good luck at the HT, Solo! Do you have your official photographer lined up? I used to look after my friends farm frequently as she would go out of town to show and invariably, we would have crappy weather. Hauling hay out to the pastured horses in the pouring rain just takes all the fun out of the job.

Very cute pony, RC. I'm with Solo - what is on her face?

Did I mention how much I hate the short days? It's pitch black in the mornings when I feed and dusk when I get home - to feed. Right now, the weather is going to make things much worse. We've had a storm blowing in all day and the weather in really bad. High winds, blowing dust and now snow. The mountains are getting pounded (which is good), but this storm is wreaking havoc at the airports. I wonder how many people were going to start their Thanksgiving travel this weekend? Are you getting a lot of rain, Bucks?

But, on a good note, Jeff finally had another interview today. And, things look promising! The position was advertised through a staffing agency, so we have to wait until the interviewer gets back in touch with the staffing agency and they figure everything out. They hope to fill the spot within two weeks, so if you can keep you fingers crossed for that long, we would appreciate it!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Re: Party Day

Solaris — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:55:29 GMT

Oooo, nice moving mare! What's up with that crazy rig cranking her head in though? I hope that thing doesn't come with her!

Re: Party Day

FloridaHorseman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:08:32 GMT

Nice, RC! Verrrrrr-y nice! Congrats! ~FH

Re: Party Day

reinchick53 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:35:16 GMT

Good luck on the HT Solo, and you've already got your feet wet, lol!

Blue, I'm feeling for you over the Great Dane, such magnificent dogs with such short life spans.

7-glad to hear your dd is being so practical about her christmas present, a true horse girl. I hope she gets one!

OK, Official announcement: Bunny leaves tomorrow AM, and "ahem", we have already filled her place...

dd got herself another Arab, this one is a Country English Pleasure horse, high-stepping and full of energy. Totally not MY type of horse, but the type she has always wanted to own and ride. She will be taking every Saturday to work with the trainer to learn this new discipline. This mare sold for $25,000 2 years ago, we got her as a desperation sale for a couple of thousand. This mare has lots of show experience and success, is very well-bred and I am pretty sure we can sell her easily down the road when dd is done playing. In fact, I already have an offer from another trainer who would want her as a walk-trot and equitation horse. Here are a couple of pics for y'all to analyse:

Re: Party Day

spragueme — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:18:11 GMT

Solo - All I can say is ROFL. That is about how my luck is when the rain hits. Also your newest blog topic had me laughing. I see you really do like that clean shaven look on Solo. It's so interesting that I can't look away from it.

Blue - Sorry to hear about BO's great dane. They are wonderful dogs.

7 - Its so great to hear about kids being outside and enjoying horses instead of sitting on the couch inside all day veggin out in front of the TV. Just remember that its for the better that dd is learing different disciplines. When are you gonna get her a cart too so she can take up driving?

Re: Does this look like...

crittergirl — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:35:37 GMT

Oh no FH!!! Don't eat the pig!!!! He/she doesn't look much like Harley (my pet wild boar/pot belly) but that is still all I can see when I look at her!! Pigs are awesome (Harley was a rescue, and I have to admit, I didn't know anything about piggys before her)! I'm glad your horse didn't mind her, Mo likes Harley, Ta'c is ok with her out in the pasture, but is terrified in the barn, Rascal and Bailey would like to squish her....Jewel's coloring reminds me of Ta'c a little bit, at the moment he still isn't sure what color he would like to be, but I think we are leaning toward a Grulla more than anything, who knows?!

Congrats holcomb on you nice show, it sounds like Po is a great all around little pony!

Re: Party Day

Solaris — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:10:21 GMT

Our big HT is Sunday at Carolina Horse Park, so we are trying to get ready in all this rain! I had offered to feed all the horses tonight as BO is at a dinner. OF COURSE, it started pouring as soon as I got out of the truck....and stopped right after I had plodded through it all and already gotten all the horses in. *grumble*

Re: Party Day

jholcomb7 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:22:36 GMT

aw sp.. hope you're healing well.

Solo, how were the HT's?

rc, love cookie ~ y'all look good together.

jg, that just sux about your truck. Funny about Brat turning the water on though.

hugs to you and your BO Blue.

ss, hope you pup is feeling better soon.

As it turns out, the vet was called out yesterday for DH's horse....again. Radiographs were taken. Her leg was healing nicely, but for some reason had started swelling. She was swollen from her knee all the way to her coronet band. Vet thinks it is superficial, from fire ants getting under her bandage (the back of her leg, lower area is awful), but it is possible that a piece of bone was chipped and has died from the original injury a month ago. I'm hoping this is not the case,.. but this is what I'm suspecting. Especially, based on the swelling and then the location of the "superficial" fire ant attack. Oh well... I guess we will see when the vet calls about the films. My lil dd has asked for an English saddle for her 5th birthday next month . She has now had 2 English lessons. She does incredible. She still rides western at home,.... so she can lope and gallop LOL. Both the girls literally live on their horses. Hope to catch some of you in chat.

Re: Party Day

blueyedhorse — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:50:44 GMT

Bummer about your truck, JG. Hope you can get it all resolved at the least possible expense. Gotta laugh about Brat and the water hose. In my parents case, it was their kitten. She was staying in the downstairs bathroom and figured out how to turn on the faucet in the tub. The well was drained dry, LOL.

SS, hope your doggie heals up soon. Amazing how they can run up the vet bills, ain't it.

The weather here was hideous today, gray, misty and rainy. Just matched my mood. My BO's Great Dane, Lucy, died of a coronary last night, and I am just broken up about it. Lucy spent a lot of time here with me at my house and she was just the best dog ever. I'm really going to miss the big brindled beastie. And I know my BO and her family will, too. That dog had a heart of gold, just not a healthy one it turns out.

Re: Party Day

SeeingStarz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:49:11 GMT

Gheesh JG hate to see the water bill after that ! Bugger!

I just got back from the Vet with the dog he has 2 very painful front feet - to make a long story short - he either had an allergic reaction to something, got into something or ? and then was licking and caused a skin infection now between the paw pads - very sore and wearing the collar of shame - staying home today to be sure he doesnt get it off. and lick - has medicine and spray and cost $150 yikes!

~always something

Re: Party Day

journeygirl — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:37:15 GMT

Hey Bucks, just remember that for a horse to move slow they have to be in shape. The slower you want them to move the better the shape they have to be. An unfit horse can not carry natural "collection" very long. The fitter she gets the better rides you will get.

OMG, to top off the truck issues (which I still don't think is tranny) Brat flooded the barn last night. She managed to get the hose pulled into her stall and it ran full bore, must have been ALL night. When I went out this morning to turn them out she was standing with her front feet by one wall and her back feet "around the corner" and standing there bent in the middle. She must have been there for a while cause she was shaking from holding that position. Darn horse. So now I have to totally strip her stall tonight and pull what ever dry shavings from Journeys stall I can to bed her. There is even a big ole puddle outside where it ran for so long.

Re: Party Day

spragueme — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:56:48 GMT

JG - That just totally sucks about the truck. My little GMC Sonoma was doing the same thing months ago and I had to have the $500 sensor replaced. We are looking to upgrade my little truck for something newer. But I'm a bit fussy so it will take a while to find it. LOL.

Bucks - Sounds like you had an awesome lesson on Ginger. Slowing Glis down is something I work on too. Getting her to go from her english trot to a western jog has been fun to work on. At least your trainer now has a feel for Ginger, that will really help to guide you.