A visit and some fancy moves

 Yesterday, I hauled Gussie to Shayla's, where she will be bred to her stallion Absolute Playboy aka Simon

Simon is a very good minded and quiet stallion who has sired several successful show horses both quarter horses and paints. He should be an excellent cross on Gussie. 

While I was there I got to visit the twins, who are both thriving. They are so cute! Their mama was ok with me checking them out. 

The filly has a star and it looks like she will be grey and the colt will stay black.

Hope is the filly, you can see that she is smaller than her brother Cruiser. 

Those eyelashes! 

I also got to visit Louie, her QH colt who is sired by Simon- he is just adorable and super friendly. He will make someone a good show horse. 

Tomorrow I haul Dally for her vet appointment  so I should be able to determine when to haul her in for the rebreed on the stallion Gussie was bred to last year. I haven't had a lot of time to spend with Dally in the last week or so today she will get a good grooming, gotta have her looking good for the vet!

Tuffy and Happy got some turnout in pasture yesterday, I know Happy was pining for some fresh grass so I gave them the afternoon in the middle pasture for a few hours. 

Surprisingly enough, he didn't get too zoomy out there. But he made up for it this morning! We have a weather front coming in so it is a bit colder today. That could be why he was showing off! 

He literally floats across the ground like he is dancing- and then he lights up the after burners and zooms full speed!

The halter training is going slower than normal- every time I try, Happy quietly moves in between me and her boy, as if to say, no, not yet. I will give her a bit more time to be less possessive of him before I get serious about his halter training.

Oh Gussie

 We all know that red mares have no qualms about showing their displeasure in any given situation. Gussie makes me laugh with her so expressive face. Case in point: 

Me: 

Gussie, stand back while I fill your feed tub. 

Gussie:

No. I don't have to. 

Me: 

Oh yes you do. I have my stick here that sez so. 

Gussie:

I hate you. Gimme my grain.  (She has been listening to Carmen..)

She has the best snarky face ever! 

She has been rather lazy lately, may just be her age but she spends a lot of time sleeping standing up. Still no lying down to sleep. 

Such a tired eye

It has been a long time since I have seen her being energetic. This is mostly her day:

Her lack of true sleep has me hesitant to ride her anymore; I have seen her collapse on several occasions. I may do just a few rambles around the fields on her but her mountain days are over. 

I should get Dally home in about a month. I am hoping that she will be good to ride and will have her assessed when she gets here. 

Shuffle

 Today I did some shuffling. This morning Gussie got snarky with Happy and as she jumped out of the way she skidded on some ice so today became moving day for her. She now has access to the foaling pen which includes barn access, as well as the adjacent pen which has access to the automatic waterer. 

She was quite willing to go in the barn and check it out. 

Awful photo, sorry!

Gussie and Velvet have full access to the shelter and the winter pasture and the other side of the waterer. They also have a brand new  round bale to eat. However, they are Not Happy that Happy has their favorite pen!

Happy is quite unconcerned with their drama.

 

Wide load! 

She is starting to bag up and baby is still quite active so she is on track to be 4 to 5 weeks away from foaling. 

She seems to be quite content to not have to deal with getting chased out of the hay. 

Velvet is the most emotional about being separated from Happy. I reckon she will just have to get over it. 

The Eyes Have It

 Well St. Patrick's day brought the big change in weather! From -24 C two days ago to +15 C today- yay let the melt down begin! 

Here is what we have to melt yet:

I spent sunshine time raking muck again and just hangin' with the mares. They were soaking up the warmth all relaxed in their shelter, that is, once Gussie gave Velvet the stink eye for daring to move a little closer to me. 

 Those snarky nostrils! Velvet just ignored her. 

I took the chance to do one of my favourite shoots, the equine eye. 

Such long lashes, Gussie! 

If anyone has any hints for uploading videos 

directly from an android phone to blogger please let me know. They seem to go, but once I hit publish, it says not available. I really don't want to have to use You Tube if I can avoid it. They publish fine on facebook but not on blogger. I want to put videos of Happy's very active baby  on here!

The mares

 What to do on the only warm weekend in the next two weeks? Well... spend time with the mares of course! 

It warmed up enough that I was able to rake their feed area, then I walked down to the winter pasture to see if they are pawing yet- they aren't- and they obligingly followed me so naturally I took a few photos. 

Happy's baby belly is at wide load stage. 

She really is the sweetest mare I have had in a long time. 

She is very smart and keeps herself out of trouble in the herd. 

She always places herself so that Velvet is between her and Gussie. 

Velvet is the herd watchdog. This morning she had her eye on a moose across the river; while Gussie and Happy were up in the feed pen she was down in the winter pasture standing guard. 

Disregard the broken fence board please! Spring project. 

Velvet is losing her topline and the muscling along her ribs. Sadly, at 26 years old her time grows short. I will see how she fares this summer and won't let her get to the decrepit state that will make another winter too tough. But I hope she bounces back with the good summer pasture we have here.  I really enjoy her company as she always walks beside me when I am in their pens. 

She is still in charge of the mare herd here, no matter who I bring in. 

And then there is Gussie. 

She expects to be treated like the diva she is. One must acknowledge her presence but on her terms  

She tends to stand back and watch to see if there is any benefit in engaging, such as getting brushed, or scratches or food. 

Does anyone else have a horse with a nose swirl?

And if so, she makes sure that I know to give her the attention she desires!

And then she ignores me. 

All three of them just make my day! 

Here we go again

 February just won't let go....

What do you think Gussie? Had enough yet?

Done with February, bring on March!

The mares, although they have plenty of shelter, choose to stand on the lee side of the barn during storms. 

Photo taken from the comfort of my dining room window

They are still well insulated though and seem to be handling this weather like good ole northern horses. Velvet is starting to show her age though with her topline dropping and not quite as much padding as she usually has. The old girl  (age 26) is still perfectly sound though. Gotta love that old time foundation breeding. 

Happy is starting to shed but still has dense fur. I haven't been brushing her, as I want her to keep as much of her coat as possible to keep her warm.

Those spots on her are not dirt, it is her bay roan coat showing through. 

I am so looking forward to her foal. The sire has Seattle Slew in his pedigree 4 generations back, through his son Louisiana Slew. That thoroughbred blood in there intrigues me!  

Beautiful day

 Well when it warms up to +7 C one must get outside and enjoy the lovely sunshine! I decided to take Gussie for a bit of a walk, so I caught her and brushed her and took her over to the gazebo . She wasn't overly impressed with stepping into its narrow space, but she did. 

Then we headed to the round pen, I wanted her to stir up the snow so it would melt faster. 

We have about 8 inches of snow and it is now soggy instead of crusty- perfect for playing! 

C'mon Gussie, make tracks!

Velvet was calling to her of course so Gussie visited across  the fence

And off again!

My favorite photo

Being out of shape, she soon gave up. 

Nice pose, Gussie!

The next couple days are supposed to be really nice,  so I may throw a saddle on her and see if it fits. Still not sure if she is in foal.