A Barn of our Own - 2 (Prospect #1)

I didn’t think I would write a second post of this so soon.  But guess what, fate just stepped in, or has it? 

Our family friend is working on a house through a Realtor, that was foreclosed and needs to be fixed up to be up to code I guess?  This house has 1.5 acres and has a nice sized newly built shop, a smaller, older 3 bedroom house.  There is not a barn, no horse amenities once-so-ever and is very in need of TLC.  It would be a fixer upper most definitely.  When I saw the property, I in-visioned the perfect area for a Dressage arena and a shed-row of 4 stalls or so.  It’s not a big piece of property, but for my brothers and dad the selling point is the nice new shop, with a studio on the second level.  The property is very over-grown, but my mom and I could take care of that.  I already have a green, cost-effective way of building an arena.  It could be a nice place once we fixed it up.  But this is all up in the air for now!  Did I mention it is like 1 minute from the current barn we keep the horses at?  Interesting, I would have never thought this place would be where it is.  Downside to the property, there would be no turn out space for horses if we built a small barn.

This evening we went over to the horses and gave grain.  It was chilly and windy, worse than yesterday.  To think just the other night we were outside enjoying the night with our shorts on.

Barn of our Own

I get a wee bit excited when I read over that title.  It would be an absolute dream come true.  My mom told my dad that we need to move somewhere with some property, room for the race cars and horses.  It’s a buyers market, but not a sellers.  This idea is up in the air right now, but mom wants to “keep her ears open” for a place. 

I haven’t blogged since Friday, the weekend was just ‘blah’ and nothing too interesting happend.  Saturday was very warm, in the high eighties and I knew I should have taken up on that to give Errika a bath.  Tonight was much cooler and I ended up putting the horse’s sheets on.  We were at the store today and bought some bath things for the horses.  More shampoo, conditioner, combs and some of those scrubbing, loofa type gloves.  The horses are going to love those! 

Farrier Friday!

The new farrier came to shoe Ink today.  He was really nice and even early to the appointment!  He brought along his dog, who cleaned up most of the hoof trimmings.  Ink’s hooves look fantastic.  When the farrier was trying to do his back hooves however, Ink was having a hard time or just felt like giving the guy a hard time.  The man said that he couldn’t tell if Ink was just stiff or if he was just acting up.  It does sound like something Ink would do, but it’s hard to tell. 

I lunged Ink afterwards in the round pen and he looked great.  He didn’t look lame at all.  I was really excited to see him moving so well.  After lunging I decided to ride and worked on getting Ink to go low and deep.  We also worked on bending his body because he kept pushing to go to the center of the roundpen where Errika was standing.  It was a successful day.

The next thing on the list is to have a Chiropractor/Equine Massage Therapist come and do some body work on the big guy.  I think it would really benefit him.  When I thought more about what the farrier said about him being stiff in the hind end and looking how Ink is moving, I do really think that there might be something causing problems, that a visit from the chiro/masseuse would be helpful and then we can go from there. 

A Rain Storm

I thought about it and thought about it some more.  I spent about, at least, a half an hour explaining to my mom about the day with Ink.  From the annoying beginning, that didn’t have to do with the big guy, to the terrific end.  I talked so much about what happend today and how we are progressing from the ground, building carriage and “Dressage,” training overall.  I was burnt out and didn’t feel like writing over what I explained to my mom, but here it goes. 

The day was cold and gloomy, a little windy.  Perfect conditions for horses to get their buck on ;).  To get straight to the point, there were two mares that were put in a make shift pasture next to the round-pen.  Being the ladies man Ink is, he had to go over and greet them.  Nonetheless it was usual mare behavior and the girls who so eagerly greeted the big guy were doing that striking, loud whinny noise.  When I got the lunge whip I asked Ink to move on, we were getting to work.  Social hour would have to wait.  He was enthusiastic, expressive, a big show off.  No bucking surprisingly.  I wanted to do some more lunging with the stretcher and ground pole work, but before I got to that point I had to make sure Ink’s mind was in the game and not floating around with the flirty mares.  I was strict and demanding in the beginning.  I kept the lunge whip at, my, hip height, driving Ink forward.  When he would wander, or even attempt to stop by the mares I would ask him to focus back on me by raising the whip above my hip, vertical and snapping it towards the ground.  It only took about one time for Ink to realize that it wasn’t the time for play and we had some work to get done.  The rest of session one went smoothly and Ink was very responsive. 

After that, I waited until Ink was showing submission before I asked him to come in and proceed to session two.  The following was working Ink over two ground poles, to help him pick up his feet.  We did that for about 10+ minutes and went to session three.  I tacked up the beast and put the stretcher on.  We did some consistant trotting.  Afterwards I removed the stretcher and decided to take a quick ride in the round pen.  Ink felt good, better than the last ride.  He is becoming more athletic and is able to carry himself more consistantly.  I asked for a little bit of trotting and a nice extended walk.  At the end, it began to rain more and more, so I hesitantly dismounted. 

Saturday, Beachy

Saturday was spent away from the horses.  Sad, I know :(.  But it was little Sophie’s turn for some fun!  My little pomeranian cross.  Matt had the day planned, sort of, to do something other than go to the races.  I was feeling blue about myself.  Pity, but really I suffer from acne and I was having a bad week.  I start self loathing and stay home in a box or visit my horses.  When I’m with the horses I forget about whatever is bugging me.  I can truly relax.  So I told Matt from the beginning of the week that I wasn’t going to the races.  But he was welcome to go and I would stay home or go over to the horses.  Matt said he wasn’t going to go to the races if I wasn’t and he would love to spend a day with me.  On Friday night when we were talking over the phone, I asked him what we were going to do.  Maybe ride or hang out with the horses?  We weren’t sure.  Every weekday we are able to be with the horses after work and the weekends are our opportunity to do something a little different.  Matt happily said that he was going to surprise me.  I felt like we were going on a first date or something.  It was cute :). 

The next day I wake up, take a shower and am ready to go.  He got off work really early, so we managed to leave a lot earlier than planned.  I knew where he was going to take me.  Hmm.. “Dress warm,” he said the night before.  The beach!  Before we left I guessed where we were going and told him we should take our dogs.  I’m really not into the whole ‘romantic walk on the beach’ lol, but if the dogs were there, it would be fun and they would get a nice outing.  Matt was hesitant, but the proved awesome with the dogs in tow.  I took Sophie and then we picked up his families black lab.  His mom offered us to use her car since Matt’s truck would be pretty cramped with all of us.  Although ‘Shooter,’ Matt’s lab, was going to ride in the back of the truck.  Matt’s mom was un-easy about that idea and let us barrow her expedition. 

You would think we wouldn’t have one problem making our way to the beach.  We were going to one that I had never been to before.  Matt got the directions on Mapquest and we ended up further north on the coat than we were supposed to.  To make a long story short, two hours later, we made it to the RIGHT beach!  You would think we were out of state tourists…  When we got to the beach it was sooo windy.  The wind must have been going at least 40MPH.  There were branches in the road and everything.  I would be very nervous if I were driving a convert able, as some people were.  It was cold too, so I don’t know why anyone would? 

At the beach we walked the sand dunes and Sophie ran down and up them.  We found a tennis ball and my little dog was a crack up.  We walked up this huge sand dune and she had to carry the ball up, the whole way.  Half-way up and she stopped and I had to pick her and the ball up and carry them up to the top.  Then we walked down and there was this marshy area where cows graze.  Weird…  Anyway there were cow patties everywhere and luckily none of them were fresh.  EXCEPT, for one.  Right in the middle of the path and Sophie got to it before we could stop her and was covered.  It was nasty!  She had to ride the whole way home on the floor mat stinking of cow poo.  We couldn’t hose her off at the beach because it was so windy and cold.  When we did get home she got a bath and now smells fresh. 

I guess we are going back today, so Klint and our neighbor can come.  They are bringing things to slide down the dunes on. 

Pony Photos

The Ink beast showing off his handsome-ness.

No webcast my friends.. Various technical problems forces yet another week, cast-less. 

On a good note, however, Thursday was another escapade in the “greener” pasture.  Klint rode Errika, I rode her and Ink happily grazed. 

He has a nice bum

Errika, after our ride :).

Beautiful eyes

Ink’s color is fully back!!

Errika - (Our ride yesterday)

Beverly Brightman - Dressage to Music

from piaffe.wordpress.com posted with vodpod

Greener Pastures & Other EI information

Today I was quote & quote supposed to make a “quick” trip over to the horses.  It wasn’t..hehe.  Quicker than what is “normal” for me.  But not quick enough for the followers, Klint and Matt.  Along with them and my mom, we spent the day introducing the ajoining pasture to the horses.  Not for turn-out, but to ride in.  It has much better footing than the Ink and Errika’s pasture and it’s more suitable for riding.  I could just see some little xc jumps out there if it was kept vacant during the winter.  Because although it does have better footing in general, during the muddy season rain water runs through the low part of the pasture, draining into Ink and Errika’s field.  The horses that vacated it during the winter, left muddy hoove divots everywhere where that water ran through.  The high spots of the pasture are like little rolling hills and are flat and good riding area.  I could easily see the low spots become a water jump combination area.  Ink was really excited about getting to play in the pasture he looks at through a fence.  He was full of himself.  I tried to make a course for Klint, Matt and I to ride around with Errika, a timed game, but when it was Klint’s turn and he rounded the white round feeder thing, he fell off Errika.  It was a classic fall, slid right off the side, while Errika was just walking.  He was fine and Errika stood looking at him, confused, “hey you’re not supposed to be down there..” 

Other news here at TEI..  The Friday webcast was not completed because the camera was MIA.  It was just returned today.  So this week’s webcast will happen!  Not to mention pictures, I need to take more of.  I have a few topics to cover this week for the webcast.  I think I’ll explain the normal routine for my horses and talk about their feeding and show you Ink and Errika’s hooves and the process we’re going through with getting Ink’s hooves to the best they can be.  Any other ideas for topics to cover PLEASE let me know (comment below)!!

Enjoying Himself

Yesterday I managed to get over to barn in the evening with enough daylight to spare for lunging, grooming and a lesson for Mom on Errika.  When my mom, Matt and I made it out to the field Ink waited for us, while Errika stood across the field watching.  I think she was apprehensive about coming out.  Ink stood rather impatiently as I grabbed his halter, opened the gate and put his new black halter over his nose.  As I placed the lead over his neck and began the undo the belly straps for his sheet, he began to move about, ready to get out of his field and enjoy the evening I had planned.  I use these opportunities to teach him manners, while he’s a little anxious.  Every step he took forward, or tried to, I would correct him by tugging or pulsing lightly, according to his action.  Every step he moved, was what he had to move back.  He responded well but I feel like I could have been more direct by taking him a little further away from the gate and going about the process of correcting him while removing his blanket and having him stand patiently until I felt like he was being submissive and I made the call to start walking out.  It’s a learning process!

I reluctantly gave Matt the job of leading Ink out of the field and to the round pen up at the barn.  I look back and regret not doing it myself.  Ink was behaved the whole time, but I was tired and didn’t feel like doing the job.  That was a lazy move on myself and I will try not to do that again.  On thing positive about asking Matt to walk Ink, was because Matt learns as well, even if it is just a walk to the round pen.  I’m constantly trying to better the understanding and communication through Matt and Ink’s relationship.  Ink is not a fan of men and even if they approach him wrong, he reacts with his ears pinned.  I think he like’s the soft approach of a woman and therefore responds differently.  So through Matt I can help Ink over-come his view of men.  He see’s Matt as a leader and listens to him.  It’s been nice to see a relationship develop with the two of them. 

Once Matt and Ink got to the round pen, I took the big guy and turned him out in the round pen, where my mom and Errika were already waiting.  Errika was enjoying her grooming and while they stood in the middle, I free lunged Ink to see how he was feeling today and to warm him up before we started doing the more strenuous exercises. 

The day went similar to the previous ones this week and the week before.  I put the stretcher on Ink to help him learn to use his back and carry his head properly.  I’ve noticed his top-line is improving and the muscle over his back bone is starting to fill out.  He was a little sore again on that white hoof (without the shoe).  But once we did get him trotting around for a little while there was some improvment with his reach with that hoof.  It appears to me that it helps loosen him up. 

After Ink’s session he came in the middle and stood very quietly as I helped my mom get on Errika bareback and I gave her a lesson.  My mom has a problem with disciplining Errika.  She’s sooo passive with her because I think she’s afraid to upset or hurt her.  My mom is just very gentle with Errika and I really like that, however I do feel that Errika needs discipline in some areas from my mom to build respect because it’s like the horse is taking advantage of my moms’ weaknesses.  Teaching my mom how to properly round pen Errika will help, but it’s also going to take some riding work as well.  I had them walk around on the rail.  Now since Ink was in the middle Errika wanted to come in.  She wasn’t abrupt, but at times she would try to take a step in to test my mom’s response or ability to correct her.  We worked on how my mom should respond and how to use her leg and rein to correct her with an emphasis on the leg.  They both did well, however I need to get my mom a little tougher, because the key is consistency and my mom kinda goes “oh errika, hehe
 occasionally when she does something wrong..lol

The Bay Horse Muse

So when I started to write about another topic off of Errika and Ink I forgot to report on Errika’s visit from the barefoot trimmer and our favorite horseman, Stanley.  I wasn’t able to make it to the appointment because I was feeling down in the dumps, being sick.  My mom and younger brother made it over to the barn a little while before so mom could lunge Errika before the appointment. 

When I ended up making it out of the house later on, I went over to the barn to visit with the horses and get the report on how the trimming went.  Plus we wanted Stanley to look at Ink and his hoof that we’ve had problems with.  First my mom told me about how good Stanley thought Ink looked and that was a very nice thing to hear.  Then he told my mom he was so impressed by Errika and how she has come back from the colic and post-colic state, so strong, being 24.  I felt like a proud mom, but not only that but it was nice to hear that when we all worked together to help Errika through that tough time, we united and did it successfully!  Stanley says that Errika should be in a magazine because of this journey she has traveled.  We are very proud of her :). 

I lunged Ink yesterday and he was sore on his left hind, the one that is missing the shoe.  That same hoof is the one that had worn down before we put shoes on him.  Stanley said it was very soft and the filed the flares down and cleaned it up the best he could.  Stanley does not do shoeing anymore, nor does he carry those supplies with him,  so he couldn’t tack the shoe back on.  Well we’ve found two farriers and one is a family friend of ours.  I’ll report on that when we narrow it down to one and have an appointment.