Coy and Flirty

Abby, your flirty, coquettish look is coming along! But...

The drool hanging out of your mouth sort of spoils the effect.

Light Horsekeeping

Looks like I need to dust the fences! Mason stepped up to the fence this afternoon and the contrast of his black hair with the silken threads of the cobweb made it stand out.

So, just how DO you dust a fence?? (Actually, Mason took care of it with his tail!)

She's Feeling Tender

Poor Diablo. She has something wrong with her that makes her feet become tender at odd times. Tim doesn't know what causes it, although he suspects it may be arthritis. (Oh, Diablo! I feel your pain, sweetie!)

Tim's in Idaho with Loni for a wedding, and I am in charge of the barn while he's away. (Yay!!) Yesterday, before he left, I noticed that Diablo seemed off. It was subtle, but she did not seem too inclined to move around.

Today she is acting the same, standing in a typical "My foot hurts" stance.

 It looks like she's walking, but actually she was just standing there like that. Extending the leg out  takes weight and pressure off of it.

Abby, too, has stood that way. Here's a picture taken from Fox59.com's news story on Abby and her pasture mates just prior to rescuing.

That's Abby in the middle.

The close-up, albeit grainy, photo clearly shows her pointing her left front leg and hoof out, thus taking the weight off of it. (That's the hoof that was such a mess.)

Poor, gentle Diablo. I will monitor how she is doing, and keep Tim informed via text. Sure wish I could take her pain away.

Shoo, Fly! Don't Bother Me!

Shooing flies is as old as time and has been chronicled in our culture and history. There's an old song that goes,

Shoo, fly! Don't bother me!
Shoo, fly! Don't bother me!
Shoo, fly! Don't bother me!
For I belong to somebody!

There's also Shoo Fly pie, a "ghost train" incident from 1906 involving a train called the Shoo Fly, and the lyrics of the song Jimmy Cracked Corn sing about the blue tail fly that needs shooing from a horse

An' when he ride in de afternoon,

I foiler wid a hickory broom;

De poney being berry shy,

When bitten by de blue tail fly.

One day he rode aroun' de farm,

De flies so numerous dey did swarm;

One chanced to bite 'im on the thigh.

De debble take dat blue tail fly.

De pony run, he jump an' pitch,

An' tumble massa in de ditch;

He died, an' de jury wonder'd why;

De verdic was de blue tail fly.

Tonight the herd was fighting the flies. One thing highly distinctive about Abby is her near-constant tail swishing. And tonight she was on her game with that tail.

 Nose to tail with her buddy, Mason.

 A swish from Abby!

And then a swish from Mason!

I guess we have a little bit of syncopated tail swishing as the two buddies Shoo Fly!

Here They Come!

Abby has learned to come up from the pasture when she hears my call or whistle. And so have the others - they all hustle up to the gate when they hear me call.

 The herd was out in the far edges of the west pasture this afternoon when I arrived. Trouble and Hokey beat the rest up to get their treats. (The black horse is actually Mason; Hokey is way off in the back yet still beat everyone except Trouble!) Trouble and Hokey usually get to me first. I am not sure if they are greedier than the others or just have bigger appetites, but it is kind of fun to see "the boys" come running.

And it's usually Trouble who grabs that first carrot nibble or sugar cube. He takes it nicely from the palm of your hand, but Hokey seems to never have learned how to do that despite being twelve years old. He still flaps his lips around, seeking contact with your hand and the treat. More often than not, he knocks the goodie onto the ground.

Abby got a carrot and some sugar, plus a few handfuls of grass and the usual scritch or two on the neck, chest, and crest. In turn, I had both hands thoroughly licked clean of any particle of carrot or sugar. (I have never known a horse who licked like she does!)

"Today's Pictures"

When I got home this evening, I saw my neighbor, Lynn Wood, on the sidewalk and stopped to chat with her for a while. She asked how my horses were, and having just been out to the barn, I responded, "Would you like to see today's pictures?"

Lynn got the giggles at what I'd said. I realized that I must've sounded like a new mom who is taking multitudes of photos of her little one. We laughed together, and then we looked at these pictures.

 As I drove down the lane to the barn, I noticed these beautiful morning glories climbing up one of the fence posts.

 Hokey is always interested in what is going on. Love this boy!

 For some reason, the llamas in the next pasture over were very interested in what the herd was doing this afternoon.

Mason gave me a hopeful look as I rolled down the lane after my visit.

I took a video of Abby trotting up from the west pasture to see me, but it is too big to upload.

Gate Get-Together

This afternoon, Trouble was by himself in the old barn, while the other horses were in the west pasture. To get to the barn, the horses have to wind around past some scrubby trees, around a long fence row, and through a small paddock and past a hay rack.

He wanted his carrot, and the way Tim has the pastures configured at the moment (he has a maze of gates that can be opened and closed so that several pastures are growing up while the horses are in another) two gates to the same pasture are side by side. However, to get to each other from one gate to another, the herd must make that long and winding walk.

So, tonight I had horses at both gates - which actually simplified the carrot-giving process. Trouble couldn't bully Abby away!

 True to form, Hokey was the first up for carrots - he is so eager he always trots on up as soon as I call.

 Pretty Diablo, herd leader, comes up after Abby and Hokey. She will pin her ears and chase him off, but she and Abby get along well and are friendly.

 Abby looks like she's threatening to chew the bars of the gate if I don't hand over the carrots!

 And Trouble makes goo-goo snorts with Diablo. 

I think Diablo nickered at me tonight. She has done so a time or two before, but I could not tell if it was she or Abby who did the low nicker as I produced the carrots.

I am a little concerned that Abby may be losing weight. This photo shows how angular she is looking.

 Tim is going to get his weight tape out for me and check her plus he's going to deworm all the horses.

She just looks a bit angular to me, more than she should. I'll be really interested in finding out what the weight tape says she weighs.

The Soldiers Home Horse Show

As I drove through Soldiers' Home this morning to deliver groceries to my mother, I noticed a soccer game being held on the field near the water tower.

The site of my first horse show, both as a spectator and as a rider.

Our home was on Prophet Drive, and my sister, Leslie, and I would see horse trailers going down Soldiers Home Road on a Saturday morning, heading to the show. We would then beg our mom to take us over so we could watch.

The loudspeakers would blare western music (not country; WESTERN) as the horses and their riders would circle the ring. I can still hear bits of music and lyrics in my mind. "Cool! Clear! Water! (waterwaterwaterwater)." 

It's where I saw the first Appaloosa named Abby shown by her owners, the Hartman family, who lived down Soldiers Home Road to the south. (My Abby is partially named after this horse, a horse I loved from afar as a little girl.)

It's also where I remember seeing racism first hand. A family was cheering on their black barrel racing horse. His name? Nigger. They yelled, "Go, Nigger! Go!" and I cringed as our new neighbors, who were African American and horse lovers, stood ringside and watched that horse run, hearing a very rude word yelled repeatedly while some in the audience laughed at its name. I was upset and felt like crying, and the sad memory has remained nearly fifty years later.

I spent many happy Saturdays at this field, watching horses in halter, saddle, and harness classes. Dreaming of the day when I would have a horse and maybe even get to ride at this very show. And I did - the first time I ever showed a horse was here at Soldiers Home.

My first horse show ever. 

Amy and Lynn, 1971

Soldiers Home, West Lafayette, Indiana

(Notice the cast on my right hand. Nick had stepped on my foot when I was cleaning his hoof, I fell catching myself with my right hand, and he then stepped on my finger, breaking it.)

Peaceful Friday Evening

A peaceful Friday evening at the barn.

 My pretty girl, slaking her thirst.

 A few sips from the freshly filled tank. (I love the ripples in the water.)

Always hopeful, Miss Eagle Eyes watches my movements, knowing she will get the last treat!

What to Do with Show Ribbons

From the blog, Riding Aside. Great ideas! I have some ribbons I won with Amy and Cee, and tons of ribbons from model shows. Maybe I'll try one of these ideas.

What To Do With All of Those Ribbons...

Now, I am not one who is drowning in show ribbons... especailly not the coveted blue and red ones... but for those who are.. or even for the show barn owners - you might just find an idea that you could use right here. 

For your enjoyment - here we go:

A ribbon wreath - as long as it is done up well, it is attractive.  I have seen some not so nice ones though.

I love these frames - but to make them interesting - they need to include more than just ribbons - photos, show programs or pins are nice details

This is seriously cool!

Love this elegant idea with a Christmas decor twist.

 Never thought of putting the shadow frames in the barn. but why not!

Great desk decor!.. especially the desk in the barn office.

Now, I have seen many a show ribbon quilts and pillows...and most of them look like.. well don't get mad at me for saying this .. but most of them look like ribbon vomit!

BUT - when I saw this pillow... I had to save the photo to share with you.  This looks like a designer piece to me!

Anyone else have another idea for show ribbons?