New stuff

 I took a little trip to Alberta a few days ago. I stayed with a friend and got to spend some time with her, as well as getting in a visit with my daughter and her fiance. They traveled all the way from Ontario to spend some time with me; I don't get to see them very often as I don't travel, and all the restrictions from the last 2 years have screwed up a lot of their travel plans. 

It was really kind of my friend Carol to host us over the couple of days they were there, and really great to reconnect with her as it has been 7 years since I have been able to visit her; she lived a little too far for a day trip but recently moved just under 5 hours away. The bonus- I got to spend time with her dogs too; she has a Tess daughter, Pip and the cutest Jack Russel ever. 

Pip does not like her photo being taken!

Midge was absolutely adorable and forever changed my mind about Jack Russels. 

Both these dogs are very adorable and cuddly as you can see:

The day I drove home was just after a big snow and wind storm hit, but it was short lived and by the time I started my trip home it wasn't too bad. 

That was about as bad as it got; mostly the wind had blown the snow off the road in all the areas where traffic was moving along, only the areas where there were turn offs for towns or side roads were compacted snow. 

I stopped to fuel up at  a place at the foot of the Frank Slide. 

Although it was wonderful to see my daughter and my friend again, it's always nice to be home! Also nice to get a gift in the mail-

This is the book I won courtesy of TeresaA over at Journey With A Dancing Horse. I am really looking forward to reading it! I have a feeling it's going to tug at my heart strings.

Ted did a good job of looking after the horses for me. And keeping the home fires burning- (literally, we only have wood heat, so we can't go away together in winter). 

I made Sophie her own halter testerday, and went down to check the fit on her today. 

But first, we had shenanigans. She was sleeping when I walked into the pen, but not for long once she saw I wanted to put a halter on her. 

Silly mare. 

Once she is caught she is as sweet as can be. I can't wait for spring and getting lots of riding time!

Blogger author

 Any of you who read the blog Journey with a Dancing Horse will already know this, but she has contributed to  a book which is now available on Amazon.  Head on over to her blog and read about it! 

I think people who blog and stick to it over the years despite the attractions of faster instant gratification social media, are a very talented and creative bunch. It takes time, preparation and persistence to write blog posts, so it's no surprise that TeresaA has contributed some of her writing to this book. 

Thanks, Lisa!

Yesterday when we checked the mail this book from Lisa at Laughing Orca was there, along with a cute little note card. It was a prize for Ted for being the closest guess on the amount of snowfall on day at her place. He looks forward to reading it and says thanks Lisa! Hope you don't get any more snow this season.

Wholesome kid stuff

Looking for some good Christian fiction that includes horses? Check out this website- Sonrise Stables. They are also known as Christian Cowgirl. Check it out for all the little cowkids in your life!

At the Swap Meet

My husband and I attended an auto swap meet yesterday, and we found this really cool book, published in 1889. It contains vet info on horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, dogs, and birds.

It also has a section on horse training. Most of the training in this section we would now consider barbaric and cruel, as he advocated a lot of restraints, and some methods that are downright rough. It is wonderful to compare this to today's methods and know that our beloved horses are benefiting from the most humane methods in history, thanks to the pioneering of such great men as Tom and Bill Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and all the wonderful trainers who are carrying on this tradition. Some of the things that Oliver W. Gleason wrote, however, are timeless:

Never quarrel with your horse.

Never say whoa unless you want your horse to stop.

Bad hay is not cheap at any price.

To put an unwarmed bit in a horse's mouth in frosty weather is rank inhumanity.

Remember that you have no business trying to control a horse unless you can first control yourself.

And my favourite- if you have a horse which you want to match, don't tell the dealer or he will make you pay dearly for the size and colour.