Show Prep

I am going to head up to the Stone Country Fair next weekend - it was a last minute decision as usually May is FAR too busy at school for me to have spare time, but the class list was very similar to GLC's March show and since I had the spreadsheet of entries for that one, they easily transferred to this show.

 Deciding who to take and then checking for condition, washing the models, making tags, etc. is very time consuming; having essentially everything already done meant all I had to do was to pull the ponies and pack!

When I unpack from a show, I repack my tubs so I can easily grab and go the next time. That made it much easier to get ready for next weekend's event, too.

 There were a few differences on the class list and I had four new documentation cards to make as a result, but really, the preparation for this show only took me about three hours. (A new record!)

I'm ready to go! Well, except I have a week to wait and I still need to pack my suitcase...

Derby Decorating

Next Saturday is the Kentucky Derby, and I have put a few things out in honor of the big race.

My Kentucky Derby salt and pepper shakers and a porcelain rendition of Kip Dideriksen on Refrigerator are on the mantle. (He was a Quarter Horse, but he was also a descendant of the Thoroughbred and Kentucky Derby winner, Native Dancer.)

 I have my small collection of Kentucky Derby glasses out on display.

Each one is the birth year of my children - 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1988.

I made a small table runner, but I am not really sold on the fabric. An online search turned up several different fabrics commemorating the race, but they were pretty lackluster. So, I bought a yard of this fabric to see how it looked. (I'll keep looking.)

I'm headed to a model horse show next weekend so I will miss the race itself, but we'll DVR it and watch after we return.

Tagalongs

Abby knows my car and often has made it up to the gate before I can even get parked. Recently, two other herd members have begun coming up with her.

 (I love how they're all peeking through the mesh of the gate and watching me approach.)

I don't give Sultanna and Snickerdoodle treats; maybe they're just nosy?

Often I have to shoo them off - they are young and still learning manners, so sometimes they crowd me and make it difficult for me to visit Abby. Still, they're very sweet and I'd rather have young horses who want human companionship than those who shy away when you get close. Tim is doing such a nice job with them.

Happy Anniversary!

Five years ago today, I brought this girl home from Indiana Horse Rescue.

Best. Decision. Ever.

Happy Anniversary, Abby!

Spring in Indiana

Spring in Indiana is beautiful (despite the severe weather and tornados.)

 Everything is bright green and lush.

Often you find yourself behind a piece of farm equipment being moved from field to field as you drive out in the country.

 We quit feeding hay because the pastures have greened up and have enough grass to sustain the herd.

And this girl...

... sheds her winter coat! I pull brushful after brushful off of her until I, too, am covered in horse hair and look like I need to be groomed, too!

Horse "Auction"

Our church youth held a fundraiser Saturday evening, and it was an auction of their services for babysitting, lawn mowing, cleaning, baking, car detailing... just about anything. The adults were able to show support by offering goods or services to auction off, too.

Tim stepped up to the plate.

 I love his sense of humor! And I have to admit, even though I could ride with him any time, I sort of wanted to bid on it! But I didn't and it sold to someone else.

Other horsefolk that attend our church also offered something horsey to help out the youth.

There was a lot of joking about this lot, but it, too, sold quickly and for good money.

Hokey, Trouble, Tim, Abby, Sultanna, and Snickerdoodle. (Diablo took off as soon as she saw the bridle - she was in no mood to be ridden today!)

Diablo, Snickerdoodle, Abby, Trouble, and Hokey.

Tim chose to ride Sultanna today - who would YOU choose to ride if you'd bought the auction lot?

Under the Weather?

Yesterday when I went out to see Abby, she seemed a bit under the weather. While the rest of the herd was grazing, she was standing with her legs in an unusual placement and not eating.

 But, as soon as she saw my car, she came right up to the gate for a visit.

 We visited for a while and I did my usual check for cuts, bumps, or scrapes. Everything appeared as though it were fine.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was a little off, and as I drove down the lane to go home, I stopped and watched her some more. Again, she stood oddly for a few moments, and then resumed grazing.

With thoughts of colic or founder on my mind, I decided to come back in a few hours and check on her again. I also texted Tim and let him know I thought she might be off, but would go out and check her myself and then let him know if anything was amiss.

I returned about three hours later as the sun was beginning to go down. Unable to believe her good fortune at having two visits in one day, Abby eagerly hustled up to the gate as soon as she saw me.

Again we visited (and she got another candy cane) and this time she seemed more like herself - alert, a little sassy, eager to lick my hands, and not listless or acting oddly at all.

Still, I watched her closely for any signs that she was not feeling well, but there was no odd stances or indications that she was off.

As I drove down the lane to go home, I stopped and observed Abby for a while, just as I had several hours earlier. She was with her BFF, Diablo, grazing contentedly, and just fine.

I'll go out this morning again and  do a check, but I think whatever it was has passed. Abby has never been ill in the five years I have had her; looks like that run of good health is continuing.

My Barn Clothes

I work full time as a teacher, have children and grandchildren living close by, serve in my church, and like to spend time with Craig. Life is full, life is good, and life is BUSY.

Abby-time gets squeezed in around all those things, and that means that, if an opportunity arises to stop by the barn, I take it.

 Even if it means I am dressed in clothes better suited for work or church!

I've learned to keep carrots, candy canes, and barn shoes in the trunk of my car so that I can take full advantage of any chance to see my horse.

All my clothes are wash and wear (after all, I am a teacher and with children all day - only makes sense!) so a little dirt, horse hair, or slobber doesn't really hurt. And I don't mind that wonderful horsey-smell that I bring home on my clothing.

Barn time is precious, and I don't want to miss out on seeing Abby just because I am not dressed in "barn clothes."

Featuring Lynn's Oldie

I love to write, and I love to read. Add in horses, and I am a happy girl. Needless to say, then, that horsey blogs are my favorite, and I follow many.

Collecting model horses is a long time hobby for me, and so those blogs that focus on collecting are favorites. Imagine, then, my smile when I clicked on the link to Kirsten Wellman's Model Horse Collectibility blog and saw my own model featured!

(Screenshot of Kirsten's blog taken and posted with permission.)

It was fun to see a photo of my earliest custom piece, Pace's Hi Hopes, from Hoosier Pony Live.

(Photo by Kirsten Wellman and used with permission.)

I bought this piece in 1971, and he was the oldest custom piece at the show. I'd included his old show photos, several of which were date-stamped and thus documented that he really was as old as I said he was.

Thanks, Kirsten, for featuring my guy and making me smile!

Small But Meaningful

I was a stay-at-home mama to my six children for sixteen years. When all of them were old enough to  attend school, it was my turn to finish the degree I'd interrupted to have them. I graduated in 1998 at age 39 from the University of Illinois with a degree in Elementary Education.

I was hired to teach a 4th/5th grade multiage class at Yankee Ridge Elementary School, the school where I had done my student teaching. It had an excellent reputation, and I was thrilled to join the faculty.

I'll never forget the first time I walked into my new classroom and sat down at my desk. I was thrilled, scared, excited, intimidated.... so many emotions ran through me. I remember opening the drawer of the desk, and to my surprise, finding this:

A tiny blown glass horse figurine.

I remember a big grin spreading across my face as I cradled the glass horse in my palm. How appropriate - as a life long horse lover, I already had a large collection of horse figurines, so finding one in my new desk seemed very much like a sign of good things to come. And while blown glass isn't quite to my taste, that little piece has become a very treasured possession.

I have kept it in my school desk since first finding it. When we moved back to Indiana in 2006, I brought it with me and I see it every time I open my desk drawer.

I'll be retiring in a few years, and you can bet the little glass horse will be coming home with me - in keeping with long standing tradition, I'll probably put it in the drawer of my desk upstairs.

Was it a good sign? I think so - I have had a very happy career and taught nearly 500 students during the nineteen years I've been in the classroom. Many have remained in touch and enriched my life.

I think of so many good memories whenever I see that little horse - it is a tiny but very meaningful symbol to me.

On the Hunt for HSOs

Yesterday I went down to Indianapolis to take my sisters out for lunch for their birthdays. We had a lovely lunch at Jenny's favorite Mexican place, La Parada.

 Leslie, me, and Jenny.

A drive to Indy is an opportunity to hunt for HSOs in the wilderness! (Horse shaped objects, as they are called in the collecting world.) Game on!

I actually went the wrong way, heading down 231 instead of 52. 

But that meant that I could stop at my favorite resale shop, the Romney Toy Shop. The owner scours garage sales and auctions and has amassed a HUGE collection of toys in good shape to sell at reasonable prices.

 There are always some HSOs, including some Breyers.

I have never had a big find at her shop, but I have found some good things, so it's fun to look. This time I found a cute little drafter for 25 cents that I bought (see below.)

Fortunately I was able to easily cut across the countryside and get to 52 (the highway I meant to take) from Romney. I resumed my journey to Indianapolis and made another stop where I had more finds at Countryside Antiques.

 A two point Hartland Clydesdale (with cart) and an unusual china bull.

 I've never seen the bull before, but he looks like a Breyer/Boehm knock-off. I learned long ago to grab those for resale, and at $12.50, felt I could get my money back if not make a little.

 The beer cart (ick) is in scale to the Clydesdale and they were sold together. I don't find any reference photos, but I think it may be authentic.

It was a good day for me as a collector!

What Love Looks Like

This is what love looks like.

 Craig, in white shirt and tie, 

 helping me haul a water tank to the paddock and put out hay 

 for these two sweeties.

Tim was out of town and Snickerdoodle had been doing his escape routine, so I'd put him in a more secure pasture with his sister as company. Sunday was a very busy day for us, so we drove out to the barn right after church in order to feed and water them.

Snickerdoodle and Sultanna sure appreciated it; I hope Craig knows how much I appreciated his help as well!

Abby in Class

I found this little addendum Friday on GS's Vocabulary test.

Hmmmm. I wonder if I talk too much about Abby at school? Haha!

Horse Wrangling...

Or... why I don't live with my horse.

I've lived with my horses, and there are many aspects to having a horse at home that I love and even miss. But I just don't have the energy or the time to do the upkeep of the property and horses now. And, if there's  a problem, I can't drop everything and take care of it.

Such as what happened today.

I had visited with Abby and was turning to go home when I noticed that Snickerdoodle was loose and in the hay field. (I can't tell you how many times that boy has gotten loose. His name should be Houdini.)

Tim is in Arizona visiting grandchildren, so it was up to me to catch him. I hurried back to my car, popped the trunk, and grabbed a halter, lead rope, and pig whip (to shoo off the other horses, especially Trouble, who is notoriously curious) and returned to the main pasture.

As I went through the gate, I saw Snickerdoodle lift some loose wires of the fence and step back in with the rest of the herd and then stand there looking innocent.

I had to do something, but what? I texted Tim and let him know what had happened and then decided to put Mr. Houdini in the small paddock. I approached him, and as soon as he heard the jingle of the chain on the lead rope, he shied away from me. His sister and Abby, however, were quite ready to be friendly and so I decided I would see if I could not catch the little stinker through them.

Shooing off Trouble, Hokey, and Diablo with the pig whip, I opened the gate to the paddock. Eager for the fresh grass, Abby and Sultanna trotted through, with Snickerdoodle right behind them. Hah!! Got him!

Tim texted back, agreeing with my solution, and telling me he had a friend out who would come haul water for them.

I haltered Abby and put her back with the older horses (much to her dismay; she got an extra candy cane as consolation), checked to be sure all the gates in the paddock were secure, and started the drive home.

I'd gone a few miles when I got another text from Tim asking me to put some hay out for them that he had in the new barn. I turned around and went back, found the hay to which he was referring, and put it out for the miscreant and his sister.

Abby looked at me hopefully from the far pasture, but I had had a bad migraine earlier this afternoon and just wasn't feeling well, so I hopped in the car and headed back home.

I love my horse but I am glad Tim usually deals with all the extra "fun" a herd can provide!