Other critters

One thing about living on a farm, there's plenty going on. Aside from the horses there are cows:

This is a nice bunch of heifers that are joining the cow herd.
The birds are a never ending source of amusement. There was a large flock of ? not sure what kind of bird, but they were upset about something- they would wheel around and land in a tree, squawking all the while, and then  all pile out and wheel around and go into another tree:

I watched a bit, and discovered the reason for their nervousness- they were being dive bombed by this guy:

I'm pretty sure its an accipter; they feed on birds up to the size of pigeons, and small mammals. It is most likely a sharp-shinned hawk. He sure was raising a rukus! He would fly right in to the tree the other birds were seeking refuge in, and they'd all leave in a hurry.
And then, there are all the spiders. I've learned to live with them as long as they are outdoors. Yesterday when I was closing up a panel gate, I could feel a spiderweb, and just a couple of inches from my hand I could see that I had disturbed this one:

I think I'll just use another gate for a while!

Rio's groundwork- continued

We did move on to the beginning of rope work today, but first I did a little review. I walked him over the cavaletti poles- he nicked the first one but picked up his feet nicely after that. Then over to the tarp, apparently he considered it beneath  him....

Although he did at one point get a hind hoof underneath the tarp and it startled him when it slid up his leg, he just kept walking over it and parked on it when I asked him to.
I also reviewed the stick and string. flipping it beside him and then over him. He did get a little goosey on his right side, but soon settled.

This was a prelude to doing the same thing with the lariat. I flipped it beside him a couple of times and then over his back. He goosed a little at first, which I don't mind, because then when they accept it they are aware of it and don't get taken by surprise. The only thing is when Rio startles he jumps towards me because I am his safe zone, but he is learning that that isn't acceptable, that I have a personal zone he must stay out of. Soon I could lead him by the rump, from the off side, both directions.

Then I put the rope in the cinch area, holding both ends and leading him.

Again, the first time I tightened the rope and asked him to move forward, he jumped a little, and then accepted it. Good boy Rio! Next step was to have him drag the rope from both sides at once, again a cause for concern and quick acceptance.

This gets him used to things around his back legs and helps when it's time for ground driving.

Are we done yet?

He was awesome! Tomorrow I will review all this and get him comfortable with the rope all over his body- I did lead him from the flank area a little and will do more of that tomorrow, as well as roping his feet. He is proving to be as easy to work with as I thought he'd  be.

Rio's groundwork- the next step

After a lazy day yesterday, I worked Rio today. I set up poles for him to walk and trot over, and a tarp in the middle of the pen.  Poles were a piece of cake....

Then it was back to sacking out with the saddle blanket....

After that, I introduced him to the tarp.

A quick sniff assured him it that it didn't contain any horse eating monsters...

even when it was on the ground, and when I asked him to walk over it.....

No problem!

A few repetitions, and back over the poles, then I showed him the tool we will be using tomorrow...

Rio, you are a good horse, but your halo is a little crooked!

Wordless Wednesday

Starting Rio's groundwork

So, Monday, my day off, I decided it was time to get to work on Rio's groundwork. All the little things I've done with him over the past year have really paid off in how easy he is to handle and how willing he is to trust me. But first, I had to wait for the weather to smarten up, a system rolled in and it was early afternoon before I could start.

Check out all the birds on the wires

In the round pen, I started out by rubbing Rio all over with the stick. When I first showed it to him he kind of jumped sideways, but then he just stood as I rubbed him all over and under, legs, neck, head, everywhere.

He kept wanting to turn his head away, so I worked at it until he stood straight before I moved on to the next thing, which was rhythmically swinging the string beside him on both sides, and eventually flipping it over his back, and swinging it in a circle above his head. Then dragging it across his body.

For all of this, he stood stock still like a good boy, except the first time I stood on his right and flipped it to his left he stepped out a little. After that I moved him out on his 12 ft. lead rope and worked on the whoa vocal command until he got it, and then I put a saddle blanket on him, sacked him out a little with that.

I had him move around me (can't really call it longeing) carrying the blanket;

which was just fine with him. That was enough for one session, on a colt who just turned 17 months old today. I let him wear the blanket as I took him back to the hitching rail, and he carried my jacket for me too.

Good boy, Rio!

Some zoomin'

Ed commented that he would miss the zoom-zoom photos, so this morning, Nitro and Rio were enjoying the brisker air and did a little zooming; I had to be quick to catch photos!

Since the light was not so great, I played around with photo editing on these photos.

I love seeing them run together.

Nitro will be zooming away this weekend. Beautiful boy, we will miss you.

Sunday Stills

Today's challenge: Faces..... 

The happy smiling face of one of Nitro's two new owners

From my archives:

My youngest sister and my dad, from my visit last summer- I love the contrast in textures.
And.... nobody said they had to be human faces!

Merle puts on his best "don't mess wit' me" face....

which Beamer thinks is hilarious.

A visit and a foggy morning

Nitro got to meet one of his new owners yesterday. Veronica came over to see him, and had a good visit.

You can see in this photo that he is in a growth spurt (please ignore the muddy legs!)
We looked at  all the horses and when the mares discovered that Veronica came bearing gifts (apples, carrots) she got mobbed. Gussie of course, was front and center. Big pest!
This morning was a little foggy- for me, that means photo op! There is a short window for photos because the sun quickly  scatters the fog.

Whatcha doin'? Is it edible?

No Chickory, it isn't edible. Now move so I can get another photo.

It didn't take long before the sun turned everything to gold- including the boys when I turned them out.

Rio's colour always amazes me, he can look completely different, depending on the light. 

They say....

no matter 

 where you are

in the world

 you are never

 more than 6 feet

from a spider.

These were all taken this morning, in a 20 ft. radius.

5 months today

Who, me? You talkin' bout me?

Yes, you, Nitro. 5 months ago, you delighted us all with your presence.

May you continue to delight people all over the world, special boy.

Wordless Wednesday