Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I will soon be in horse heaven!

(Suzie and Ely)


That's right. I will soon be responsible for the care 20+ horses! Seems my cousin Suzie and her fiance have had enough of this cold weather and are going on vacation for a MONTH in Florida starting this Saturday. So hubby and I get to farm-sit for them. I've been scrambling to get packed, make sure the house is clean, and get all my horse stuff in the trailer. Oh, did I mention she just asked me yesterday and I have to be there tomorrow so I can get the hang of everything?! The horses I can handle but she also has a huge herd of cattle, some of which are real Houdini's when it come to getting out of the pasture. I told her if they give me that much trouble while she is gone, she may come back to a freezer full of fresh beef! lol

I'm pretty excited. This is going to be a fun mini vacation for us. Daya will be happy because she will get to be with Ely again. She threw a bigger fit when I hauled him back to my cousins place then when I weaned the baby. She loves that goofy gelding. Once I get up there and get settled in with the routine you can be expecting lots of photo's and videos. As for now I have to get hopping again. I have tons of laundry and packing left to do. Happy trails...

Thursday, January 20, 2011

I've been awarded!


There are 4 duties to perform to receive this award:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

Thank you Jess, over at From Bones to Beauty for naming us as one of her 15! You are awesome!


7 things about myself:

1. I absolutely, with a passion, hate winter months in Ohio (not the worst winters I know but bad enough)! I was meant to live in the south. Snow, breaking ice, frozen water buckets, not being able to ride more than 20 minutes without my fingers and toes freezing off, and slick footing are just a few reasons. Oh how I’m counting down to the days of warm sunshine, sleek coats and picking stalls without my fingers freezing to the shape of my pitch fork!

2. I’m finding that the older I get, the more I have to actually work and concentrate on my riding. My seat just isn’t what it used to be after taking a few years off. Sure I can still ride just about anything but I just don’t look as graceful as I used to! lol

3. I can be a little bullheaded but in all honesty I think with horses you have to be. If not we would all have a bunch of pasture puffs who walked all over us and never learned anything.

4. My cousin Suzie is my hero! She can train anything, ride any discipline and is always smiling! This woman gives free riding lessons to children, any discipline they choose. Barrels, poles, roping, dressage, jumping… you name it. She simply hopes it will teach them responsibility and keep them out of trouble later in life.

5. I got a call the other day from an old friend. Her husband wants to offer me a job in his vet clinic when he opens it up in a few months as an equine technician. I’m pretty pumped and hope everything goes as planned so that he can open soon.

6. I’m addicted to tea! I’ve always been a coffee drinker but recently discovered loose leaf tea. Its amazing.

7. I get to house sit next month for my cousin Suzie who is taking a month vacation to Florida. I will be taking all my horses to her place and be looking after all 13 of hers too! I’m going to be in heaven.
My Favorite Blogs

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I fell off the blog wagon...

Im alive! lol Its been a rollercoster at the barn since I last posted.
Daya is still my golden girl even though I've had some ups and downs with her. When Lootah was about 3 months old Daya started dropping weight at an alarming pace. No matter what I fed or tried, she would not gain weight. So after having her checked out and noting that the baby was growing like a weed, I made the really hard choice of weaning her early. She did really well and both momma and baby handled it like pro's. Daya is a one in a million mare. She called out a few times that day and smelled around but never acted up once I got her home. Within 2 weeks of being weened I saw her weight coming back and for the time being all my prayers were answered. I haven't been working with her as much as I should be. I've been so busy its hard to find the time. Im hoping once springs comes around and the days get longer that will change.

Lootah! The ham of the barn (both in personality and in weight!). She is growing up and turning into a great little filly. Sharp as a tack and loves to be loved. Her only downfall, she is club footed. Yep, my vet thinks from the sudden growth spurts she was having (and the reason she was sucking the life out of her momma) has caused her bone to grow faster than the tendon. Fixable by surgery if it is done before the age of 2 but my vet wont except payments and I'm laid off. I've listed her as free with the exception that her potential either uses her as a pasture ornament or pays to have the surgery she needs done. I've about lost it a few times talking to people who are interested in her. I've had so many "I want a foal for my children to grow up with" that I think I'm going to pull my hair out. Sure she is cute and cuddly now, just wait until she is a 800lb yearling with hormones!

Katie is also up for sale. Love this mare to death but she really needs someone who would appreciate her more. This girl is dead broke. I hauled her a little bit last fall to different trail riding events and she did so good. Perfect kid or husband horse. I've just my hands full with...

this guy. Ely, my new barrel gelding. I was in no way, shape or form looking for another horse. My cousin sabotaged me! Told me she had a barrel horse with gate issues she needed ridden and worked with. The first time I rode him he stood straight up in the air with me! Of course my mom and husband just happened to be there... they almost had a heart attack. I took him around the arena a few times and was hooked. He was the hottest yet most responsive horse had ever been on, like a hyped up dressage horse. I was in love! I was going to have a horse like this someday! That's when Suzie gave me the look and said " You know he is for sale!"... and I wanted him! This was my future horse! I felt that instant bond, he was "the" one. That woman knows me better than just about anyone, and before I had the chance to tell her he was probably waaaayyyyy out of my price range, she piped up again and added " and I bet he is in your price range and on a payment plan!" So, Im now up to 4 horses and its only January!