Wordless Wednesday

Girls day out

No, not a shopping trip to the city.....

or a spa day.....

it was a horse girls day out.

Shayla is visiting, so we hauled Rosalee and Coulee to the arena. This was Shayla's first chance to ride Rosalee, and assess her for showing next year.

It went fairly well. A little bit of resistance with a leap and a hop when she didn't want to lope, and some dropping her head into the bridle and pulling on Shayla's hands, but she is out of shape and hasn't been asked to hold herself in frame for over 2 years, so I'm ok with that; she will improve.

Then it was Coulee's turn. Until Shayla worked with her, she probably didn't understand just how crabby she is. Before Coulee was worked, she had a lovely soft expression; I had her saddled up and was leading her around a bit as Shayla worked Rosalee. When she put Coulee on the longe line it was like a switch was flipped- she went from sweet and quiet to instant bitch. She resisted forward movement and backed up and glared and switched her tail- just like she does with me. Shayla worked her through it and got her going around, but as you can see by the next photo- she had a serious hump in her back.

To her credit, Shayla did get on and ride; I rode alongside with Rosalee as Coulee didn't want to go forward, but she still had that hump in her back, so Shayla stepped off and ponied her for a while to see if it would help.

Bitch face and tail swishing

Hey Rosalee, tell us what you really think!

After some discussion about Coulee's future, it comes down to how she does as a brood mare. I am not willing to get on her, especially after riding a good horse like Rosalee, and I don't want to sell her as a riding horse. We think this is learned behaviour with her, as apparently her full siblings are nice minded horses. I have had her teeth done and body work done so there is no physical excuse; I think she learned that she could boss other horses around and learned somehow that she could intimidate people too. She is very self-protective. In the right hands, she would probably make a good using horse, but it would take a lot of miles and wet saddle blankets and I don't know anyone who would want her as a project. Once she foals out and it's weaning time, she will be sold one way or another. I do have an idea of where she could go as a brood mare, as her conformation is so good. We will wait and see how her Beamer baby turns out. 

Speaking of Beamer babies, here is a recent photo of the paint colt who is a long yearling now. Check out the cool smudge marks he is sporting!

Sneak peek

Yesterday we had the chance to visit the new place to negotiate on some appliances. Photo op!

View of the pasture that we will start fencing in 9 days..... 9 more days I just can't wait!

View from the barn. Elderberry tree on the left, maybe I'll start making elderberry jam, been wanting try that.

This is the front yard which will be turned into Beamer's turn out paddock, or alternatively a turnout for mares and foals. Yes, foals. More on that some other time. :o)

Beamer gets frisky.

After the full moon and the rainstorm the next night, the morning was cool and Beamer was feeling pretty fresh when I went out to get this moon shot.

Of course, I couldn't resist  taking a few photos of his antics to share with you.

Yes those are mushrooms growing in his stud-poop pile and yes, he is a little "fluffy"!

Umm Rosalee, you're missing the show!

Stomp them shrooms!

Doin' a little break dance.....

What did you think girls? Does he still have it or what!

Of course I still got it! I'm da man!

Sunday Silence

Change is coming

We officially gave notice that we are moving a couple of days ago. As of October 1st I'll be busy fencing to set up corrals and paddocks for the horses, as well as painting and helping with installing flooring  in the house. I actually love painting. All these years I have always chosen earth tones based on greens and I'm tired of that so this time I'm going with soft greys and blue tones. I have about 40 swatches so far.... (grin....)

Since my sister and her husband will be the landlords, we will pretty much have free run on design and set up of the place as well as building a shop for Ted and an overhang off the barn for hay storage.

Meanwhile, I'm packing and sorting through stuff and making trips to the thrift store with donations. I have a lot of paper files to go through and most of it will go in the burn pile.  It's been 7 years since we moved last, I've gotten out of practice! It used to be every 3 years. We set a record this time. (Bigger grin.)

Move? Did you say move? Can I move the horse for you?

Thea! Leave the dang horse alone!

THEA! NO BITE!

Good thing Rosalee is a good natured horse.

As you can see Thea is really wanting to work. There are cattle right next to the horses but she leaves them alone because she knows they are not my concern. But if I do anything with the horses she is right there trying to help. My sister said I could get some sheep, as we know a shearer so I'll look for some dog broke sheep to start her on, sometime this winter. Ahhhhggghh I said that W word.... It will be upon us too soon.

Tonight was the harvest moon and of course I had to take about 50 pics, a couple of them turned out. I like this one.

Playin'

I found out that the local indoor arena is hosting a Cowboy Challenge show later this month, and they have obstacles set up in the indoor for people to practice on.
I took Rosalee down there and tried a few of them. She was cool calm and collected as usual! I led her over many of them; the only one she wouldn't do was the narrow bridge. I think that would come though if I pursued it.
Then we rode. One of the obstacles is a plastic kiddy pool; when I led her she didn't like it too much but eventually walked through it. I was curious to see if she would do it under saddle:



Good girl Rosalee!

Then there was the ball. I've never had the chance to play with one of these and I think they had one at the place I bought her from, but I had no idea if she would roll it. After moving it with my toe, it clicked and she began to nose it around.



She did well on the bridge too, I could ride her onto it halfway, back her off and then go all the way across. There was a platform, I didn't get her to put all 4 feet on at once, but she did go up with fronts, step off and stop with both back feet on, so that is something I can build on.
The gate and low poles  were no problem. I didn't jump the barrels under saddle but she did jump them in hand.
There was a series of poles set up in a daisy chain pattern (one in the center, 5 around it in a circle with enough room to trot a figure 8 around around each one using the center pole as part of each 8). Ideally you are supposed to lope them with all the lead changes required but I just trotted, using the opportunity to work on my timing for Buck Brannaman's reaching exercise.
Which my timing still sucks.

Our dentist appointment got pushed back to the 21st, so I won't ask a lot of her face-wise until then. But she still bridles up nicely when I put leg on her with just a suggestion of rein. She has a lovely lope departure and picks up her leads perfectly- just got to get her to stay in the lope but that will come after the dentist work.
I talked to a lady I know who saw this mare in her show days and said she has a terrific stop, lead changes and spins. So I plan to spend the next 6 months working on getting her back into show shape and hope to hit some of the smaller shows to start off with- more to build my confidence than anything. Because I'm pretty sure Rosalee can handle it!
She is going to be a versatile horse for me. Reining, Cowboy Dressage, trail riding, kids lessons, and maybe if I'm gutsy enough Cowboy Challenge. And did I mention my husband wants to try mounted shooting?

No Rosalee, that isn't a gate for horses to go through. Even if that couch looks big enough for your butt!

Happy 15th birthday Reba!

Officially 15 years old today.

She thinks she is working Beamer in this photo. 

She has lumps and bumps and a bare spot on her elbow, her hearing is almost gone except for sharp noises, but her desire to work is still strong. Her appetite is good, and just her hind end doesn't work so good especially for going up and down stairs and for standing up after lying down. She sleeps a lot now too.

I took a video last week of her trying to play ball.

I love this old dog, she has been with me through many moves, been down a lot of trails with me and Beamer and several other horses, raised 2 litters of beautiful pups who are loved by their owners, including my Tess, has put up with several kittens and puppies and she loves people. Above all, she wants to work. 

Here are some of my favourite photos from years gone by.

Another win for Rio

Rorie showe Rio at the 55th Stavely Horse Show and took champion in halter geldings and went Grand Champion too! Congratulations young lady, you are doing a fine job with Rio!

One for the Beamer fans

Didn't get any more riding in during the week- seems when I get home from work around 1 p.m. and get everything else done around the house then it's supper time.. then after supper is about the only time I get to spend time with my husband, so even my best plans to ride get pushed aside. However I do still spend a little time with them, and this week it was Beamer's turn to have some turnout in the paddock that is mostly burned off now.
He found lots of dust to raise.....

He obliged me with a pose or two....

What do ya think, is this my best side?

Or maybe this is my best side?

Oh Beamer, you don't have any bad sides. (That's dirt on his lip)

I did some touch up on his feet, he sure grows a lot of heel. Got most of the embedded bar gone now, but it sure is sad that he has arthritis in that left knee. Can only do light riding on him now.

I am da man!