Sunday Stills

This weeks challenge is all about showing what we have been watching on TV or movies we have been watching. Well, I wasn't going to do this challenge, until I came across a show on TV called Chasing the Wild Horses, about the Sable Island horses. At the end of the show, it portrayed some amazing still photos of the horses, which I tried my best to capture without all the glare on the TV screen- without too much success. Here is what I got.

Not the best quality photos, but some lovely images from another photographer.

What did you do today?

Since most of us are having a bout of winter blues, and all the trials that winter brings, lets see what we all do to keep busy. I did manage to get most of my chore list done today; I didn't ride Gussie or clean the mare pen, but did get in a little ride on Beamer, gave Velvet some time at the patience post, (she did a little better), plowed the driveway, split and stacked enough wood for three days, hauled hay, did two loads of laundry, and made mincemeat tarts -and gave myself a haircut. And went to the grocery store! Now it's time to make supper, and do the dishes for the second time today. All in a day's work! Actually, this is a non working day!

What am I , chopped liver? She didn't even mention the best part of the day, cuddling with me!

From ugly to lovely

Well, it's still cold out, but the sky cleared, the wind stopped, and I'll take the sunshine even if it does come with a big chill!

The wind blew all the seeds out of my bird feeders, and moved Beamer's shelter off it's foundation about 8 inches. Good thing it was tied down to the panels and trees around it or it would have gone sailing!

You can see in this photo how far this 6X6 slid; that piece of rebar was up against it to keep it from sliding the other way. Ted pounded it into the ground to make it safe. Come spring, we plan on demolishing both of the shelters; they were originally meant for cattle, and they are very shabby.
After the last couple of days being holed up in the house, it was so nice to be out in the sun, so I spent some time after work playing ball with the dogs as the sun set

Got lots to do tomorrow including hauling hay, cleaning the mare pen, plowing the driveway from all the wind driven snow, and I've got a couple of horses who'd probably enjoy getting out of their pens on a ride, and Velvet needs another session at the patience post. Have a good weekend folks!

A Year Ago

Today, the wind is howling, snow is blowing,  the horses are huddled in their shelters, and I don't even want to set foot outside. It's a good thing that I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom , because I discovered that we had no water when I went to wash my hands. My wonderful husband got up (at 3 AM!) to discover the problem; ended up he had to crawl under the trailer and plug in the heat tape; it seems a certain cat had managed to unplug it.
I was looking back on my blog from last year today, and it was a Wordless Wednesday in which I featured Coyote Belle, the day that I brought her home. She was looking quite thin, and the horse dentist worked on her a couple of days later which really made all the difference in her.She looks much better this year, and I am really looking forward to the new baby- which I have dubbed Babybel so far!

Stay warm folks, I know this storm system is hitting a lot of you.

Wordless Wednesday

Patience!

I was hoping to get a ride in today, but didn't feel up to riding in the cool wind, so I brought Velvet out and tied her to the hitching rail, which today became the patience post. She is not accustomed to being separated from the herd, and since she will be leaving us, I thought a little more training on patience would help her new owner.

Do I hafta stand here?

She did test it out a couple of times, but it didn't get her anywhere. I groomed her and let her just soak for a while.

C'mon mom, turn me loose!

A little pawing, and a lot of pouting, but she did relax after a bit.  I'm going to do this as often as I can until she leaves, because patience is so hard for babies, and it's a good chance for me to get some one on one time with her.

Soooo, if I stand quietly I can go back with my buds- whyn't ya say so!

Once she stood quietly, it was time to put her back with her buddies.
Like everyone else, I'm getting really impatient for spring, I want to do so many things and this end of winter just drags on and on. But there are a few things coming up to help with the boredom; starting in the beginning of March, it will be time to put Coyote Belle in her foaling stall for the night, so that she gets feeling at home with the area that she will foal out in, and once I do that, I'll start my annual foaling date contest. I'm hoping for a filly! I'll have to think up a really cool prize for you.

Sunday Stills

Old churches and graveyards- I did manage to meet the challenge this week.  This first church is on the Reserve south of Creston; I always think it's sad to see a church all boarded up.

I love bell towers, and the sound of church bells ringing.

When I went to Bonners Ferry, I found this old church; it's still in use as a community church. The building next to it, which I didn't photograph, had a window papered over and a yellow police type ribbon on it that said "warning; this house is haunted". I didn't stick around!
We do have an old cemetery here which has some neat old graves in it.

This one must have been a war vet. I found the cross and flag to be quite touching.

Riding the redhead

Sunny it was, but a bit of a biting wind too, but that wasn't enough to keep me from riding- just meant I had to don my chaps and hat to stay warm. Todays ride was a little longer, we went out on the hayfield . Gussie still is doing that little shuffle, and I keep asking for a nice free moving walk. She feels like she has some anxiety, and is herd bound. She never used to be like that so I'm assuming it's just from the disruption of coming to a new place and re inserting into her old herd. I think she'll settle down. I'd like to get her to do that shuffle only when I ask, because it is super comfortable to ride, just like floating along. I've always said that Gussie is the smoothest Quarter Horse I've ever ridden.

We found a coyote trail as we rode along, so I changed direction- I didn't want to come across them and get my dogs in trouble.

Looking north

The sun was so bright I was wearing my sunglasses today.
When we got back I asked for some work; turns on the haunches, sidepass and rollbacks. She's a little rusty as she hasn't been ridden since June of last year, but she sure is light! She will turn with just a little pressure from my calf, no rein or bit pressure needed.  She pops out of the turnaround about 3/4 of the way through, but we can build on that. I need some arena time!

Respite

One of those rough days at work yesterday was made all better by coming home and spending time with my horses and dogs- yes and my husband too! After a quick trip to Idaho for groceries, which didn't even seem like a drop in the bucket in the cavernous trunk of the Caddilac, I  had three pairs of Border Collie eyes staring at me, then at the ball then me, then the ball...... you know that shifty, begging look..... so we played for a while. I have to kick the ball high to get it past Sammi, she's the blocker,

Tess is the retriever, she won't let anyone else catch the ball, then she drops it 10 feet away and lets Reba bring it the rest of the way. Team work!

This morning the big ole moon was sliding behind the ; since my camera doesn't do good moon shots unless there is some natural light I hustled out to see what I could capture. I found Beamer doin' a little moon gazing

before it slid out of sight.

Have a wonderful day folks, we are going to be sunny and beautiful here.

More snow!

Woke up to a snowy morning here; the system that blew up from the Idaho panhandle- but at least it's warm and melting already. not like Edmonton that had -30C last night! Brrrrr! My car looked like it had been sprayed like a popcorn ceiling.

Yes, that's an '81 Caddilac

The upside of this is that the mud in the horse pens is all covered up, and most of the ice is gone so it's not too slippery any more.

Sure is pretty!

Even though it is snow, it's welcome as a break from the mud and it's easy on the eye-but the best part is I know it won't last long!

Wordless Wednesday

Mark her "Sold!"

I had a good visit with the young lady who came to see Velvet today.(We'll call her J until I get permission to use her name) First mark in her favour- she was wearing gumboots- smart girl! It's pretty mucky here right now. We caught Velvet, cleaned her up and worked her in the pen. I haven't worked her for nearly a week, and she did really well (of course!). We saddled her too, and I showed J a couple of things that I do and gave her some ideas on things she can work on. She did a nice job with her, and I think she'll do well with Velvet's ground work. I'm hoping she will start a blog, because I knowhow helpful all you bloggers are, and what a wealth of experience and knowledge there is amongst you.
I didn't get any photos today, I'll wait until J picks her up. We'll be keeping in touch, and it'll be nice to see Velvet grow up and blossom into a beautiful mare. I'm hoping that her and I and Janice can get together on trail rides in the future, as she lives fairly close to Janice.

A good weekend

Ted and I don't do a lot for St. Valentine's day, but on Saturday we went to a Valentine's dance, and took Debbie, our friend who hauled Gussie home for us. We had a wonderful meal featuring stuffed pork tenderloin- I got the recipe :o) - and there was a good band. Three elderly ladies came to sit with us, we discovered that they were all celebrating their 86th birthday, and they came to dance- and they had a string of gentlemen who kept them on the dance floor- they were still dancing when we left at 10:30! They were all good dancers, and we really enjoyed their company. Inspiring!
We spent the weekend hauling wood, Debbie took a load home, and we hauled two more loads yesterday. I'm a little sore today, but I bet Ted is really sore as he worked really hard and is still not 100% from his hernia operation in January.
Debbie went for a little ride on Beamer, it's always nice for me to see someone else enjoying my special boy. She commented on how powerful he feels; and I think it sure is nice that someone can feel that power and feel how easy he is to ride.

We have had a lot of rain over the last 24 hours, and the snow is rapidly disappearing, to be replaced by mud as we wait for the ground to thaw.
Today is the day that Velvet gets a visit from her prospective new owner, so I'm really looking forward to that- hopefully I won't have to groom too much mud off her to make her look respectable!

Sunday Stills

I'm having big internet troubles, often I can't upload photos because of a weak signal, and on top of that, my desktop computer won't hold a signal at all- so I'm using Ted's laptop which doesn't have my photos on it. So here is my contribution to Sunday Stills, the colours of spring:  taken today, a bright splash of colour- red roan, really brightens up my horse herd!

I rode Gussie today for about 20 minutes, she had a lot of nervous energy and managed to get sweated up even though we were only walking- at least, that was my plan, but she kept breaking into a little shuffling trot, so I would ask her to stop and back up, and stand quietly before asking her to walk off again. She was only ridden about 3 times last year, so I'm going over all the basics with her, I think with frequent riding, she will settle down into her new life and be the sweetheart she used to be. And when the snow goes we can hit the trails- I'm looking forward to that!
Even though this next photo isn't about colour, it is one of the signs of spring- the Canada Geese are on the move again.

We are having a big melt down here, there isn't much snow left, so we are about to get into mud season. Works for me!

Gussie comes home

Gussie arrived late this afternoon, and a big thank you to my husband for taking 3 days out of his week to make it happen, and to two of our good friends who helped out with the hauling.
When I put Gussie in with the herd, it was as if she had never left; she assumed her role as leader, with only one minor protest from Coyote Belle. The two younger girls followed her everywhere, and they settled down quickly; Gussie even was secure enough to have a good roll after the hours of trailering.

They have settled down for the night, all is quiet. It's all good.

Let's go for a ride

After work today it was nice and sunny, so I took Beamer and the dogs around the hayfield. The snow was really crunchy underfoot, and every step Beamer took he'd break through the crust, so no trotting today. It was so nice and relaxing just me'n' my dogs and horse; all the world was right.
I also worked Velvet again. This time I took my 15 ft. longe line and draped it over her to let her get used to things dragging around her legs, so that in the future if something happens and she is dragging a rein or lead rope that she won't run off in fear of whatever is dragging. Conversely, it also helps in teaching ground tying. In true diva style she wasn't too pleased at first, but all she did was walk around giving the dragging line the stink eye, till she realized it wasn't going to eat her, then she was fine. When I saddled her and longed her again, she was like an old pro. I put weight in the stirrups with my arms, and jumped up and down beside her- didn't bat an eye. She is ready for someone to step up and down in the stirrups. This filly is going to be fun to train, but it will be important not to push her too far too fast just because she is willing.
Can't wait for tomorrow!

What I did on Wednesday

Sorry about the ears and tail not being in the photo; I couldn't get far enough away in that little pen. I had her trotting out pretty good as I wanted her to feel that saddle bouncing around. She did get a little annoyed  and humped a little each direction, but a good strong growled "Here!" and a flip of the rope and she quit and leveled out. I also longed her first with the rope dragging on the ground to get her used to things around her legs and feet; she wasn't too sure about that "thing" following  everywhere, but that too was quickly figured out. She's a smart girl.

Doesn't she look like Beamer in this photo? I really wish I had a round pen to work in; I could do so much more with her. Her prospective owner will be coming to see her on Tuesday, barring any complications.
Ted is picking Gussie up today, and staying in Black Diamond, then hauling her home tomorrow. Happy dance!

Are we done now? Can I eat some hay?

I love how long and thick her mane is- more like her mama than Beamer.

Spring, wouldya hurry up?

Even though nasty weather is still hitting hard in a lot of areas, we are quite mild here, and it looks like the end of winter isn't too far away. Especially when I see things like this:

Only a horse person would be happy about this much hair flyin' around!

It was warm enough to give Beamer some turnout time today, and he had a blast in his usual style,

leaping,

 and cavorting,

 and making snow angels.

If things go according to plan, Gussie will be here on Friday afternoon. Yeah!

Sunday Stills-Emotions

Tough challenge this week! Well, we could all use a little humor after the beating winter has handed a lot of us, so I hope this tickles your funny bone! From my archives, my husband hamming it up.

Hurry up and wait

The farrier was here yesterday, and all the horses are sporting freshly trimmed feet. And they were all good too! Velvet got a little bored by the last foot, and Beamer fidgeted a little too, but over all I was pleased with them. The farrier said that they are all looking good, no problems, and that the shape of Beamer's left front is finally starting to change for the better; not so narrow, the new growth is wider and more open. Another year, I figure, till it's right.
I'm hoping to get some time in with Chickory this weekend; just a little reminder of what it feels like to have someone on her back. And I might be able to take Velvet for a walk, she is a little bored with working in the small pen.

I'm excited to report that I have someone who is very interested in Velvet, and after a lot of emails, I believe it will be a really good home for her, and sometime in the next couple of weeks she'll come and meet Velvet. Meanwhile, more good news, Ted will be able to go get Gussie within the next week, so you will all get to see some mother/daughter photos. Yeah! can't wait! The last winter storm that hit Alberta wasn't conducive to hauling horses, but I think we'll be ok next week.

Anyone remember her? I took this photo in the summer of 08, she would have been packing Velvet in her belly at the time.

Wordless Wednesday