And then there were two

 When I originally bought Rally, I had big plans to breed her to a good stallion, to produce foals that would suitable for rodeo events. However, since she seemed so trainable, I put that plan on hold while I worked with her. About a month ago, her former owners came for a visit and were really pleased and surprised with how well she was doing. I told them that if they wanted to buy her back, I would do that for them; they have a daughter who barrel races and a grandson who is a steer wrestler. We delved into her pedigree and I showed them all the top notch speed horses in her pedigree. They discussed it as a family and took me up on the offer. 

Today they came to pick her up; she will go to a trainer in southern Alberta who competes in calf roping and who starts colts, and has his own indoor arena. 

The young fellow who is leading her is another grandson who will be ranch riding her once she is started. 

It took a while to get her loaded, even in his big stock trailer and with her former bff mare in it. 

Unloaded Molly to see if Rally would just follow her in.... ummm hard no. 

We ended up using my round pen and loading both mares together at liberty; it took quite a bit of pressure for Rally to think better of saying no and jump in with Molly, her nice quiet friend. 

I am going to miss her! 

A few days ago, Shayla came and picked up Patsy....who of course was an absolute angel to load! I am going to miss her friendly self too. 

Patsy was a real pleasure to have around- no muss no fuss,  just an easy to please filly with the sweetest personality. 

Velvet will not miss Rally, she was always getting chased off and nipped, poor old girl. She now happily has Gussie all to herself. 

The old girls club, back in charge again.

Sunday Silence

 

Let there be light and love.

 In all the sadness of the recent weeks, I choose to look for the things that make me happy, to deflect my thoughts from the creeping darkness of this world. 

Hello little ladybug, how simple your existence is. 

Being injured and in pain definitely slows  down one's ambitions, plans and goals. 

But it's nice to get extra Thumper cuddle time.

Having plenty of pasture left for the winter makes me happy, as do shiny, healthy horses.

Patsy aka Pattycakes will be headed back to Shayla later this week. She has grown a bunch and is still the sweetest filly. 

Flowers and bees and butterflies? Happy making for sure!

The moose hung around the riverbanks until the next morning. And now the deer are starting to come back, like these 3 does who didn't have fawns this year, showing up at daybreak. 

View from my dining room window. Can you spot the third one?

Sunday Silence

Its been a minute...

 The sprained knee has become a really annoying setback. I ended up having to use a walker for the last week, and Thumper thought that was a perfect vantage point for him at the breakfast table.

We had frost last week, I covered the beans and tomatoes and they survived. The flower gardens fared well, no frost kill and they are still blooming and attracting bees. 

Ted and I went to a herd reduction sale last weekend, a fellow we know was downsizing and changing up his program. One buyer from Ontario bought 20 horses, mostly bred broodmares, to start her own breeding program. I had my eye on a couple mares but they went for more than I had in my pocket   

Really nice bay mare, now headed to Ontario

I stole a photo from Facebook, the Ruby/Beamer filly who got registered as Lil Spicy San Sue (can I say I don't like the name?) sure is gorgeous, but it looks like I wont be buying her. 

I haven't been able to do anything with my horses except wheel my way down to check on them. I have to be careful going in with them so I don't get knocked over when they do their pecking order shenanigans. However, I am progressing to the cane today and am waiting for a physio appointment .

My hay barn is full now, and most of our winter preparation is done- I am figuring an early winter- just waiting for the hard frost to come before turning the mares out on winter pasture; last year I turned them out before hard frost on the 15 acres and they got covered in what I figured were tick bites, so I am waiting a little longer this year. 

Setback

 Following my little bareback ride on Rally, I decided to step it up and try getting on her saddled. 

I did the prep work; longeing, bitting her up and longeing, asking her to give to the bit as I walked beside her, etc. She was willing and all seemed to be going well enough for me to get on. 

I had Ted with me to make sure all went well. She parked nicely at the mounting block for me, so I climbed on. 

All went well.... until it didn't. 

I made the mistake of not doing enough to test her limits of tolerance. In retrospect, I should have stepped on and off her several times, as well as prepping her previously by attaching things to the saddle - such as things with weight, things that flap, etc. to get her used to strange things and see what she tolerated and what needed working on. I assumed that since she was so good with things like the tarp and ropes, that there would be no issues. Mia Culpa. 

With Ted side walking, I asked her to move out, which she did. However, within about 20 ft. she tensed up and went to bucking. I am no bronc rider, and I hit the ground hard, twisting my knee on the way down. 

She stopped on the opposite side of the pen, staring at me on the ground with big eyes. Since I was in no shape to get back on her, I opted to bit her up again and work her around the pen. both ways, until she softened up and paid attention to me. And no, not a single buck did she offer. She actually has never bucked before that moment, so it really caught me by surprise.

 

I will continue to work her saddled, once my knee is sound again. But erring on the side of caution, I probably won't be the one to get on her next time. I don't blame Rally, I blame myself for skipping a step in preparation for riding.