Abby trotted without limping today as she came up to see me this evening. Her trot is so beautiful, and she even broke into a canter briefly. Lovely, lovely gaits.
Of course, the entire herd came along with her, all expecting some sort of nibble from me. Abby got hers, and then Mason, Trouble, and Hokey. Diablo, who is the alpha of the herd, made the boys leave so she could get her treat. To my surprise, Abby walked right up alongside her, and the two mares stood companionably together as I petted them.
Then, Abby pinned her ears at Diablo. Diablo did not get the message, so Abby actually nipped her to chase her off! This is the first time I have ever seen Abby be the dominant horse, except for her very first day when she put Trouble in his place when he got too nosy. Apparently Abby did not want any other horses hanging out with me tonight.
I have no idea how long the herd had been away from water, but they were not close to the trough when I arrived. So, I was surprised to receive a gusher when Abby opened her mouth to get her first carrot. And as I watched her throughout my visit, she continued to dribble water periodically, to the extent that I started watching her a little more closely. It is not normal horse behavior to carry that much water. I began to wonder if she had a sore tooth or something that was causing her to drool and which I was mistaking for water.
But her mouth did not seem sore - she chowed her carrots down with gusto. I also offered her some peppermints I'd gotten from various restaurants and had been saving for her. I'd never given her those before, but it was obvious someone had! She snarfed them right down and then proceeded to lick both my hands clean (er, as clean as they can be after being licked by a drooling horse.)
And then my little mare did something that melted my heart. Instead of going back to grazing with the rest of the herd when the treats were finished, she stayed and hung out with me. I began rubbing her neck, and then her jaw, her ears, and her crest. She would move her body so I could reach different places to scritch. She even turned her hips to me and was ecstatic when I rubbed her backside and the top of her tail.
My arm would get tired, and I'd stop for a moment. Abby would take a few steps, circle around, and present another part of herself for rubbing. I worked on her neck, her chest, her flanks, and her belly. More tail and backside rubbing. More circling around and coming back for some gentle rubbing.
It's times like that that your cares melt away while your heart melts with love for your mare.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
The Drought and Economy Strike Again
And claim another victim. I got this sad Facebook message from a woman I went to high school with. My heart breaks for her!
I can't take Beau and Lucky, but I have put out feelers into the horse community around here. I am crossing my fingers for Trina.
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Morning Lynn, not sure if you remember me or not but i went to schoool with you. I have seen you have horses, I have a buckskin mare and a donky, Beau and Lucky, i am needing to dfind a good home for them. My husband hurt his back and unable to work, so we cant afford them anymore and our kids are grown and no grandchildren, but they come together, they have always been together, very loving and gentle. W e are willing to give them for free, just no way to haul. Beau is (the vet said) about 13-15 years old and i am guessing thats how ould lucky is. Very well behaved, Beau hasn't been road since last year, when a frien paid andboarded them for us, so we wouldnt have to get rid of them, but things have not worked out financially for us to keep them:(. If your not interested maybe you might know someone. Thanks Trina
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I can't take Beau and Lucky, but I have put out feelers into the horse community around here. I am crossing my fingers for Trina.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Will Move Fast for Carrots
When I arrived at the barn tonight, none of the horses were visible. They were all out in the far west pasture and out of sight.
Not wanting to hike all that way out to them, I whistled for Abby, and then unlatched the green gate and stepped into the pasture to wait for her arrival. The trough had overflowed and there was quite a bit of mud on the ground. I was figuring out a way to negotiate it when I looked up and realized that all five horses, not just Abby, were thundering my way! They'd heard that whistle and come running, hoping for a treat!
Now, I don't mind being surrounded by horses at all, but when five are stampeding your way with food on their minds, it's a good idea to be wary. I put my hand out and said, "Whoa" and Hokey and Trouble, who were in the lead, slid to a halt and sidled up to me, poking their noses out, searching for a treat.
Diablo, the herd alpha came in behind them, and that started some ear pinning and milling about. I thought it best to get out of the middle of that, so I slipped back through the gate, barely beating Trouble who thought he should accompany me.
Of course, then their heads were stretching over the gate, hoping, hoping, hoping for a nibble.
Abby always gets the first, the last, and the best treats. She knows it, and so do the other horses. She was behind them, standing by the trough, watching me intently. As soon as I stepped in her direction, she began nickering softly - my favorite sound that she makes.
She got two big carrots and then I gave everybody a sugar cube. (Hokey cracks me up - he does not know how to take a treat from your palm. He makes clumsy, sloppy, lipping motions trying to grab the snack!)
Not wanting to hike all that way out to them, I whistled for Abby, and then unlatched the green gate and stepped into the pasture to wait for her arrival. The trough had overflowed and there was quite a bit of mud on the ground. I was figuring out a way to negotiate it when I looked up and realized that all five horses, not just Abby, were thundering my way! They'd heard that whistle and come running, hoping for a treat!
Now, I don't mind being surrounded by horses at all, but when five are stampeding your way with food on their minds, it's a good idea to be wary. I put my hand out and said, "Whoa" and Hokey and Trouble, who were in the lead, slid to a halt and sidled up to me, poking their noses out, searching for a treat.
Diablo, the herd alpha came in behind them, and that started some ear pinning and milling about. I thought it best to get out of the middle of that, so I slipped back through the gate, barely beating Trouble who thought he should accompany me.
Of course, then their heads were stretching over the gate, hoping, hoping, hoping for a nibble.
Abby always gets the first, the last, and the best treats. She knows it, and so do the other horses. She was behind them, standing by the trough, watching me intently. As soon as I stepped in her direction, she began nickering softly - my favorite sound that she makes.
She got two big carrots and then I gave everybody a sugar cube. (Hokey cracks me up - he does not know how to take a treat from your palm. He makes clumsy, sloppy, lipping motions trying to grab the snack!)
A long draught from the tank before heading back out into the field for the evening.
From the left: Hokey, Trouble, Diablo, Abby, and Mason.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Buggy Ride!
As I pulled up the lane this evening on my nightly carrot run, I noticed Trouble and Hokey were a bit out of sorts and fussing around in the pasture. Tim's car was by the barn door, so I figured something was up.
Was I right. Tim was pulling out the doctor's buggy he had restored! And he invited me to go for a ride in it! I sure wasn't going to turn that offer down.
Diablo was in the barn, already tacked up, and since Tim was in the process of preparing the buggy, I ran in and got her for him. I held her while he hitched her to it, and then ran back inside and got some reins and helped get those attached to her bridle.
First, though, he walked her around the buggy to familiarize her with it.
She was fine! So I ran ahead and opened the gates so Tim could drive her into the north pasture and see how she did.
Tim told me it had been a long time since she'd been driven and he was hoping she'd remember what to do and behave. That made me a little hesitant, but I figured that, horseman that he is, Tim would not give me a ride unless she really was okay. And I was right - Diablo was beautifully behaved!
I used a small step stool to hop in and away we went. Tim told me that some automobile parts are named after buggies - the dash and the trunk, for example, are both parts of a buggy. And I asked about Diablo's training for driving; he has Amish friends who train horses and he sent her to them to teach her the ropes of pulling a buggy.
He even handed me the reins and let me drive her back to the barn and my car. I've never driven a horse before, so that was a fun first for me.
Tim drove off down the lane and came back, then headed over to the house where his daughter, Melanie, and her husband Brandon were waiting for an evening ride. And I drove off in my mechanized buggy.
Which wasn't nearly as fun.
Was I right. Tim was pulling out the doctor's buggy he had restored! And he invited me to go for a ride in it! I sure wasn't going to turn that offer down.
Diablo was in the barn, already tacked up, and since Tim was in the process of preparing the buggy, I ran in and got her for him. I held her while he hitched her to it, and then ran back inside and got some reins and helped get those attached to her bridle.
He even handed me the reins and let me drive her back to the barn and my car. I've never driven a horse before, so that was a fun first for me.
Tim drove off down the lane and came back, then headed over to the house where his daughter, Melanie, and her husband Brandon were waiting for an evening ride. And I drove off in my mechanized buggy.
Which wasn't nearly as fun.
School Has Started..
... and my barn time is really being squeezed!
School began for the kiddos on Tuesday, but teachers (i.e. moi) started Monday. And Monday was a twelve hour day for me since I had to stay for the open house in the evening. Needless to say, I did not make it to the barn that night.
Then we had some heavy rains Thursday evening - a blessing since we've been undergoing a drought, but it sure made for muddy pastures. Abby was waaaaaaay back in the west pasture when I got to the barn, it was pouring rain, and my barn shoes were still in the garage at home. No carrots for her that night!
The next day was Friday, and I took a personal day to go to Chicago with Craig to attend a wedding at the temple. Because of the travel time to and from the temple, it made for a long day. I was tired when we got home, plus I was not feeling well - Chicago traffic REALLY stresses me. Sometimes I get migraines, sometimes I get gastric issues, and sometimes I get both.
So, when I got home, I lay down on the bed "just for a moment." And fell asleep. When I woke up, I was in a bit of a panic - I'd offered to help decorate the church for the reception plus I needed to check the horses and fill the water trough. I shot off a text, asking if I was still needed to decorate even as late as it was, and then jumped in the car and zipped out to the barn.
I think Abby missed me. I didn't even have to call her. She was in the far west pasture again, but she saw my arrival and came charging up to the gate. I was actually in the pasture, preparing to hike down to her, when I saw her coming up through the pastures.
(She has such beautiful gaits! Her trot was floaty and she was a lovely sight as she came trotting up to where I was in the south pasture.)
I have never actually been in the pasture when she has come up at any gait other than a walk. I did not think she would run me over, but I admit I thought, "She's a rescue. I have no idea about her history and how she has been treated. It's possible she might not stop, expecting me to move out of her way instead."
But I really did not think she would hurt me. She can be sassy, but she has never been mean. Quite the opposite in fact. So, I stood my ground and as she got really close, I help my hand out in a stopping motion and quietly but firmly said, "Whoa."
She stopped. And then she walked over, greeted me, and had her carrots and a good rub. (She was a bit of a mud pie!)
I hope to settle into my fall schedule soon so Abby can have her regularly scheduled carrots!
School began for the kiddos on Tuesday, but teachers (i.e. moi) started Monday. And Monday was a twelve hour day for me since I had to stay for the open house in the evening. Needless to say, I did not make it to the barn that night.
Then we had some heavy rains Thursday evening - a blessing since we've been undergoing a drought, but it sure made for muddy pastures. Abby was waaaaaaay back in the west pasture when I got to the barn, it was pouring rain, and my barn shoes were still in the garage at home. No carrots for her that night!
The next day was Friday, and I took a personal day to go to Chicago with Craig to attend a wedding at the temple. Because of the travel time to and from the temple, it made for a long day. I was tired when we got home, plus I was not feeling well - Chicago traffic REALLY stresses me. Sometimes I get migraines, sometimes I get gastric issues, and sometimes I get both.
So, when I got home, I lay down on the bed "just for a moment." And fell asleep. When I woke up, I was in a bit of a panic - I'd offered to help decorate the church for the reception plus I needed to check the horses and fill the water trough. I shot off a text, asking if I was still needed to decorate even as late as it was, and then jumped in the car and zipped out to the barn.
I think Abby missed me. I didn't even have to call her. She was in the far west pasture again, but she saw my arrival and came charging up to the gate. I was actually in the pasture, preparing to hike down to her, when I saw her coming up through the pastures.
(She has such beautiful gaits! Her trot was floaty and she was a lovely sight as she came trotting up to where I was in the south pasture.)
I have never actually been in the pasture when she has come up at any gait other than a walk. I did not think she would run me over, but I admit I thought, "She's a rescue. I have no idea about her history and how she has been treated. It's possible she might not stop, expecting me to move out of her way instead."
But I really did not think she would hurt me. She can be sassy, but she has never been mean. Quite the opposite in fact. So, I stood my ground and as she got really close, I help my hand out in a stopping motion and quietly but firmly said, "Whoa."
She stopped. And then she walked over, greeted me, and had her carrots and a good rub. (She was a bit of a mud pie!)
I hope to settle into my fall schedule soon so Abby can have her regularly scheduled carrots!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Pegasi - Flying Horses
(From the blog Riding Aside.)
Ever wonder how the horses are transported internationally for the Olympics?
The most common in-air transport vehicle is a special container known as an Airstable. Looking very similar to a horse trailer without wheels, one unit holds three horses and locks onto a standard shipping pallet. Some have movable side panels within the box to accommodate different size horses.
The horses arrive at the airport via regular ground horse transportation such as a van or trailer. The airport will provide a quiet place to load horses into the Airstable. It is then moved by truck or tractor to the plane and moved into place in the cargo hold by cargo elevator and rollers on the floor of the plane. Some planes have the horse transport stalls built into the aircraft. Commercial flights may be restricted to certain airports, and they may be routed through a hub city, increasing the travel time substantially.
Once loaded, it’s not possible for the horses get out of the shipping boxes at all during the flight. According to one shipping agent, most flights are 6 to 10 hours, and rarely is a flight longer than 14 hours. The horses have room within the transport boxes to move a couple of steps back and forth and, as mentioned, some air boxes have adjustable panels. Most airlines do not take more than 6 containers, so 18 horses are usually the maximum head count allowed per flight. Weight as well as space is a factor in determining the cargo allowed.
Although shipping by air can be stressful for some horses, particularly due to the noise and vibrations with certain aircraft, for the most part the flight itself is not much more stressful than it is for their human counterparts. Sedatives may be administered to problem horses, but horses are generally supplied with plenty of hay to keep them occupied. Although well-ventilated, the Airstables don’t have windows, just access doors for their human handlers to check on them. As with human passengers, the take-off and landings may be more problematic for some, but once the plane is in the air, it’s generally not as rough as an over-the-road trailer ride for the horse. Cross-oceanic flights often fly at higher altitudes than shorter domestic flights, so turbulence is not a major issue except in rare circumstances.
Some shippers offer experienced staff, sometimes referred to as grooms, to accompany the horses. Their job is to ensure the horses stay calm, to keep track of the consumption of food and water (hay bags are usually kept in front of the horse throughout the flight, but water is only offered in regular intervals to eliminate spillage and save space by keeping buckets out of the Airstable). Someone who is familiar with horses is necessary; someone that can recognize signs of distress and knows what to do about it. Some companies require their grooms be tested and qualified, including knowledge of veterinary issues as well as training in the different aircraft equipment they may deal with. The hours are long and due to the time changes, can be more stressful to the human passengers than to the horses. Often, the horses’ owners or personal handlers will accompany the stock on the trip, and some owners pay to have a veterinarian accompany valuable livestock.
Colic is the most common ailment during flights, and is difficult to deal with due to space constraints. Management via strict feed and water monitoring generally reduces the risk for all but the most unusual cases.
Ever wonder how the horses are transported internationally for the Olympics?
The most common in-air transport vehicle is a special container known as an Airstable. Looking very similar to a horse trailer without wheels, one unit holds three horses and locks onto a standard shipping pallet. Some have movable side panels within the box to accommodate different size horses.
The horses arrive at the airport via regular ground horse transportation such as a van or trailer. The airport will provide a quiet place to load horses into the Airstable. It is then moved by truck or tractor to the plane and moved into place in the cargo hold by cargo elevator and rollers on the floor of the plane. Some planes have the horse transport stalls built into the aircraft. Commercial flights may be restricted to certain airports, and they may be routed through a hub city, increasing the travel time substantially.
Once loaded, it’s not possible for the horses get out of the shipping boxes at all during the flight. According to one shipping agent, most flights are 6 to 10 hours, and rarely is a flight longer than 14 hours. The horses have room within the transport boxes to move a couple of steps back and forth and, as mentioned, some air boxes have adjustable panels. Most airlines do not take more than 6 containers, so 18 horses are usually the maximum head count allowed per flight. Weight as well as space is a factor in determining the cargo allowed.
Although shipping by air can be stressful for some horses, particularly due to the noise and vibrations with certain aircraft, for the most part the flight itself is not much more stressful than it is for their human counterparts. Sedatives may be administered to problem horses, but horses are generally supplied with plenty of hay to keep them occupied. Although well-ventilated, the Airstables don’t have windows, just access doors for their human handlers to check on them. As with human passengers, the take-off and landings may be more problematic for some, but once the plane is in the air, it’s generally not as rough as an over-the-road trailer ride for the horse. Cross-oceanic flights often fly at higher altitudes than shorter domestic flights, so turbulence is not a major issue except in rare circumstances.
Colic is the most common ailment during flights, and is difficult to deal with due to space constraints. Management via strict feed and water monitoring generally reduces the risk for all but the most unusual cases.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Toss those Carrots and Run!!
I went out to the barn earlier than usual this afternoon, heading out around 5:30 instead of my more normal late evening/after 8:00 PM. And a good thing I did, too.
Tim had emailed me earlier in the day that he'd moved the horses to the west pasture, but I was still a bit surprised to see the green gate by the water trough in the south pasture open. I could see tire tracks in the dirt; he'd been hauling hay through the gate. It was unusual that he'd left the gate open, but since the herd was in the far pasture, and with two more gates between them and the green one, they were safe. And perhaps it wasn't Tim; maybe the other boarder had been careless since the horses were in a different pasture and just had not bothered to close it.
I walked past the red gate (also open, to my surprise) into the north pasture and headed to the old barn to find Abby. Hokey spied me and came walking to the gate that separates the north pasture from the west pasture. To my consternation, I realized that that gate was open, too! I rushed toward it, hoping to swing it shut before Hokey got into the north pasture.
The gate was off its hinges and leaning against the fence. There was no way I could drag it shut and block Hokey from entering the north pasture.
The pasture with not one but two open gates.
Which could mean horses running loose.
Intent upon the treats he knew I was carrying, Hokey broke into a jog and quickly came through the gate. The rest of the herd had become aware of my presence and was heading over, too. Once they got into the north pasture, there was no way I could prevent them from getting out the open gates and freedom!
Thinking fast (and knowing that Hokey can be a bit of a pig) I tossed the carrots on the ground to distract him, knowing he'd stop to eat them. Then I took off at a run - I'm not fast at all, but my only hope was to get to the red gate and shut it before the horses reached it.
I hobbled as fast as I could go, and then my heart sank as I heard hoofbeats behind me. Hokey had finished the carrots and was pursuing me in the hopes of getting some more! Luckily, I barely beat him to the red gate and was able to swing it shut just as he got there.
Whew!! I felt pretty shaky, knowing what a close call that had been. I latched the gate with the chain and then called Tim to let him know that someone had left the gates open, but he did not pick up. So I texted him and then went and closed the green gate - I wanted EVERY possible escape avenue shut down!
Tim texted me back right away - sheepishly admitting that HE had left the gates open! Whoops! He asked me to reopen the red gate so the horses had access to the water trough, which I did, and then I went home.
I am now almost to the point where I can smile about what happened. I imagine Hokey was pretty surprised when those carrots came flying at him! I wish I could've seen his face but I was too busy hustling to beat him to the gate.
And I've been thinking back to the day I got Abby, and how that evening I had a very strong sense of the Lord's happiness for me having a horse again, that sense of fondness and "Just wait until you see what I have in store for you" I had felt as I prayed.
Now I wonder if the Lord was smiling and thinking then that one of those "things in store for me" was the time I would toss those carrots and RUN. And the image made Him smile and send me that paternal feeling.
It probably DID look funny.
Tim had emailed me earlier in the day that he'd moved the horses to the west pasture, but I was still a bit surprised to see the green gate by the water trough in the south pasture open. I could see tire tracks in the dirt; he'd been hauling hay through the gate. It was unusual that he'd left the gate open, but since the herd was in the far pasture, and with two more gates between them and the green one, they were safe. And perhaps it wasn't Tim; maybe the other boarder had been careless since the horses were in a different pasture and just had not bothered to close it.
The gate was off its hinges and leaning against the fence. There was no way I could drag it shut and block Hokey from entering the north pasture.
The pasture with not one but two open gates.
Which could mean horses running loose.
Intent upon the treats he knew I was carrying, Hokey broke into a jog and quickly came through the gate. The rest of the herd had become aware of my presence and was heading over, too. Once they got into the north pasture, there was no way I could prevent them from getting out the open gates and freedom!
Thinking fast (and knowing that Hokey can be a bit of a pig) I tossed the carrots on the ground to distract him, knowing he'd stop to eat them. Then I took off at a run - I'm not fast at all, but my only hope was to get to the red gate and shut it before the horses reached it.
I hobbled as fast as I could go, and then my heart sank as I heard hoofbeats behind me. Hokey had finished the carrots and was pursuing me in the hopes of getting some more! Luckily, I barely beat him to the red gate and was able to swing it shut just as he got there.
Whew!! I felt pretty shaky, knowing what a close call that had been. I latched the gate with the chain and then called Tim to let him know that someone had left the gates open, but he did not pick up. So I texted him and then went and closed the green gate - I wanted EVERY possible escape avenue shut down!
Tim texted me back right away - sheepishly admitting that HE had left the gates open! Whoops! He asked me to reopen the red gate so the horses had access to the water trough, which I did, and then I went home.
I am now almost to the point where I can smile about what happened. I imagine Hokey was pretty surprised when those carrots came flying at him! I wish I could've seen his face but I was too busy hustling to beat him to the gate.
And I've been thinking back to the day I got Abby, and how that evening I had a very strong sense of the Lord's happiness for me having a horse again, that sense of fondness and "Just wait until you see what I have in store for you" I had felt as I prayed.
Now I wonder if the Lord was smiling and thinking then that one of those "things in store for me" was the time I would toss those carrots and RUN. And the image made Him smile and send me that paternal feeling.
It probably DID look funny.
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