Clipped Coat Changes

 

I gave Ink a bath today.  It was a little bit windy, but in the sun it wasn’t bad and luckily we are sheltered from whatever wind there is with the barn. 

After the bath I put him on the hot walker for about 10-15mins.  I didn’t have it on because I didn’t want him stirring up dust and defying the point of a bath lol :p.  Next door the old man has two new pigs and Ink hasn’t seen them yet.  He saw the last two from last year, but now there are new little pigs and he was scared of them.  Probably because he couldn’t see them very well from where we were.  So I put him on the side of the hot walker where he could look and observe.  And he did just that the whole time.  A little spooky in the beginning but he soon just stood looking with curiosity. 

Matt and I sat with him during his stay on the hot walker.  I ate my snack and then was able to get some shots.  The camera was getting low on battery and I had a full memory card and after compromising with deleting some photos, I had four spaces left. 

I’ve been curious as to see how Ink’s coat might change or what would happen after he was clipped.  Someone said that they don’t get their color back for two years.  Now I don’t know if that is true or not, but in the last week Ink’s regular coat color is coming back.  I think it should be back in full by at least the end of April, if it continues to go at this rate.  But right now it’s, interesting..  I recently read the blog of The Eventing Percheron at http://eventing-draft.blogspot.com/ talk about her boy’s coat color.  I’m having weird things happen with Ink’s coat.  His neck is really light, probably because it’s been exposed to the sun, when he’s been blanketed most of the time.  It was so noticeable and looked really funny, but it’s kind of blending in now.  And his head is shedding out now, but his ears are probably going to be last, they are soo fuzzy! 

Ink didn’t just get to be pampered all day, he had to do some work, since I’ve been light with him the past week.  I put the stretcher on and free lunged him in the round pen.  He didn’t like it at first, some times bucking and striking out, but then settled down fine and remembered about the release when giving to pressure.  He looked great going around.  Errika joined us and then my mom took her out for a little trail ride around the property and into their field. 

Enjoying Life

 

Ok, ok.  I have to admit, everytime mom goes out to lunge Errika, she take’s advantage of her.  The horse, Errika, does.  Mom is passive, a little too much.  I know Errika really likes her, but she doesn’t see her sometimes, as a leader, just someone to “mess” with.  She has fun acting like she’s never seen a lunge line and doesn’t know to go a certain direction.  And once Errika does get going on the lunge, she seems to say, “whoo, YAAHHHH!”  And then, “What does stop mean!!?”

Regardless I trust my mom with her and vice versa.  And I know that even if my mom is a little too passive, she takes her time and has a heap of patience.  Mom’s seem to have that touch.  The animals love mom because she is so kind and gentle.  Even if they may get a little bit extra room, they always come back to her for the love she has.  Errika will stand still for days on end just to endure the greatest grooming session filled with kisses, hugs and lots of love. 

My mom recently told me that we should be proud of what we have done with Errika.  Her recovery from the colic surgery has been amazing and she’s looking like the horse she was before she went through the surgery.  I am so thankful I have such a nice boyfriend/best friend like Matt and a great Mom, to help me with her recovery.  The first two months we fed her morning and night and went over to the barn to give her grain 3 times a day when she wasn’t on hay.  We had many sleepless nights in the beginning.  Initially all I could think about was seeing her back out in the field where she loves to be and seeing her healthy. 

Seeing my horse as skinny and down as she was during that time was hard, but as a team (my mom, Matt, Errika and I) we were determined to get her back to where she was. 

The above picture was taken two days after she returned from the ICU at UCD.

September 11, 2007 ^

That picture ^ was taken October 4th

A little under a month!

When I look at those pictures I am so proud of all of us and Errika for trying so hard and making it through. 

Today she is a frisky little mare, like she’s always been.  Living the good life, enjoying her grooming sessions, rides and having fun with mom!

Feb 29th, 2008

Coming Along

 

 

The progress Ink has made in this last month has been exciting and pleasing.  He pick’s up on things quickly and always tries to get it right.  I can only remember really riding him in the beginning and thinking, “oh this is going to be a long haul.”  Ink is such a tank and getting him on the bit eventually, was just way far out there.  I’m in love with how he feels now when he goes along soft in my hands and on the bit. 

Yeah, yesterday we did some more jumping again.  It was good practice for mom in the picture taking department.  Although she only got one of us actually going over the jump, I still give her props for the ones that did come out!  She’s getting ready to enter the contest =).

After the jumping, I just worked around the whole arena getting him to bend into the corners.  It was fun.

My mom rode Errika bareback and they did their own thing in between my mom taking shots.  Just the kind of day Errika likes.

Handsome Horse

Alas!  Some pictures to share with you guys!  Isn’t he looking great?

Errika had the day off.  She enjoyed a nice long grooming/pampering session from mom.  After I tacked Ink up, mom and Errika joined us out in the arena.  Errika nearly fell over because she was trying to nap.  I didn’t see it but my mom did.  The warm air, generous sun and grooming made Errika relax into high heaven and apparently she left her mind drift so far she forgot that she had four legs to keep on the ground.  My little sweet pea =D. 

Ink too, wanted to relax.  But he had to do some work.  In the beginning we walked and then trotted over a ground pole, did some circles and set up a small cross-rail to work over.  I must say he is getting jumping down pretty well.  He comes in deep sometimes, but he feels good other than that.  Mom said he looked nice over the jumps. 

For now we’re just working at the trot.  I figure that since we keep jumping light, it’s not an everyday thing, sometimes he gets weeks off for flat work and the jumps are small, we can work on a lot of jumping things in detail.  Like his confidence and mine.  (He’s come in deep sometimes and tripped over the jumps and it makes me a little jittery.)  He also can get a little rushy towards the jump, so I take my time and bring him back down if he gets a little too antsy.  Wee jumps are good just to help get things down, solid.  I know he doesn’t have a problem working over higher things, but it’s better we work our way up as well as properly developing muscles and strength. 

For the most part, at this point, I’m OK at jumping.  I’ve gotten rusty without having regular lessons.  I really miss jumping like I used to during weekly lessons.  I’d say Ink is better at jumping than I am.  Having days like this, I truly remember how much I loved jumping and dreamed of going big in stadium. 

I forgot to add this ealier but Ink is getting lighter and lighter in my hand all the time.  After jumping, he was so light.  Barely any movement from my hand made him bend on the bit.

VOTE for The Equus Ink in Blog Village

Equine Inspiration

The following came from TB Friends, the place where I adopted Ink from and Joe, the owner and dedicated horse advocate writes every morning.  Here is what he wrote today:

Thursday, February 7th… This tiny little website, and there are dozens of requests each week. Also dozens of questions, mostly from young girls, and they want to know about thoroughbreds. Many of our readers ask who am I voting for? Do Cathy and I go to church? How do I handle the depression when visiting feed lots? Just how big is my nose?

A question the other day came from Kristy, she is 16, and lives in Sacramento. Kristy wants to know who do I admire most in this world?

A toughie. And I would hate to offend someone by not mentioning their name. Cathy and I are associated with amazing giving people, who never hesitate to put others first. Who never hesitate when a horse needs help. If you are a regular reader of this morning journal, you know who these people are.

But when one person is responsible for saving gobs of horses, when one person takes on a billion dollar company and puts a halt to their expansion, it is time to give credit. We call her Michelle, and she works at the race track.

You should wait and see what Michelle has planned next. If successful, she will rock this world.

During early morning hours, while horses are working out at the race track, Michelle takes pictures with her cell phone. She has photos of horses about to be euthanized. There is a picture of a horse who during a workout completely lost his left front leg. There are pictures of grooms beating a terrified horse. Many pictures of horrific injuries, and they are difficult to look at.

Last year a company called Magna wanted to build a new race track in the town of Dixon, which is not far from us. A date was set for a special vote. Citizens of Dixon would decide if Magna, a billion dollar empire, could build this race track.

4 and 5 nights a week Michelle would walk the streets of Dixon. She knocked on doors. She stood in front of a burger joint in the middle of town. And she showed those pictures taken on her cell phone. Terrified horses in trouble. And Michelle would ask citizens of Dixon, do you really want this in your town?

And all the time Michelle would hear the same reaction. Voters had no idea. They told Michelle her pictures changed their minds. They thanked her. More than once Michelle was invited into a home for supper.

The vote was close, but the billion dollar company lost. No new race track. The empty land is now for sale.

One person can make a huge impact. Anything is possible.

Michelle has written a book about life on the race track. She has a publisher, but the book will not be for sale until Michelle has quit her job.

We often hear from young girls who want a thoroughbred. Who want a job. Who want a car. Who want their lives to be better. If it is in your heart, you can do it.

Enjoy your beautiful blue sky Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses.

Joe

 I think that pretty much explains it. 

In the Shark Tank!

Last night I went to my first NHL game!!  The Shark’s were playing the Canadian Canucks.  The score was 3 to 1, Sharks, it was great!  I had a lot of fun, although the seating was scary.  We sat up top and it’s like straight up and down.  Not a bad seat in the whole stadium though.  I had a massive headache while we were driving down there and this morning I woke up with it. 

I’m going to see Ink and Errika later today, let them out to stretch their legs.  Maybe ride the beast =).  You know what was weird, I had a dream last night about horse racing.  Very odd, I’ve never had one that consisted of horse racing before..  We were at this track and there was some riders that came for a play-day.  None of us had raced before.  We didn’t go into a starting gate, we just started at a line.  I remember the footing was this lighter color, like a light tan and there was grass in the middle, it was sunny out.  We all got assigned horses to race I was assigned this dark bay gelding with a very small star on his head.  When I went to warm him up around the track I grabbed the reins, and they were those white rubber kind.  And when he started galloping, not fast, I felt so relaxed and solid on him.  We ended up winning the race.  Half the pack got stuck on the last turn because a rider fell.  As we went down the last stretch I remember asking him to really go and feeling so happy.  After the race I asked my mom how he looked and she said he looked awesome.  A little bit after the race I went into his trainers part of the barn and wanted to ask him about buying the horse.  This is where it was got weirder, I remember the horse’s name, it was Sweet Steven.  The trainer was on the phone, in his little office, and when he was done talking I asked him when Sweet Steven is for sale or done racing I want to buy or take him.  The man said “Ok,” and asked for my name and number.  Then I woke up.  It was so weird.  I don’t know what it ment.  Maybe I’m destined to be an off-track mom?  Any ideas?

Errika!

 Wow I had such a great ride today on Errika!  I got to ride her beautiful canter =).  She’s such a forward horse that it’s hard to get her to just do a nice, relaxed canter.  Even when I would ask her to slow down she would kind of get freaked out because I would pull and then she’d get frustrated and speed up so usually our rides would be constantly working on getting her to relax just so I could ask her for a nice canter.  But today it came so nicely.  We were working at her “normal” pace canter when she slowed down, because she was going to trot, and I asked her just a tiny bit to keep her canter and she gave me this very nice, relaxed, fluid, easy-to-sit canter.  I was utterly delighted so the whole time I was just re-enforcing this excellent job she did.  And as soon as Errika realized I was so pleased, she kept trying to do it over and over again.  And it made her happy that I was happpy, the right kind of circle you want to be in.  I was so proud of her! 

Ink was looking pretty off today.  Matt lunged him while I rode Errika and he wasn’t looking his best.  Meghan says to put back shoes on him as well. 

That’s it for now!

Circling with the Wind

Believing is my foundation for this blog.  In people, horses, life and most importantly love, which brings all of those things together.  Kind of interesting how things suddenly come to you, generally in the oddest of places.  I know mine come to me a lot when I am driving, and I think “wow, I have to remember this to write in my blog!”  I get all excited and can’t wait until the later hours come when I can sit down a write my little heart away.  But often times the almost perfectly synced words that came so easily in my head hours before, are sunk down, back in my brain and only memories left which are a left a bit blurry. 

The main thought that came to mind was life and love.  I suddenly began putting puzzle pieces together in my head as my mind sat silent in utter fascination.  Life is the true meaning of love.  Every-time a person is brought into this world, every-time a soul is born, it is the product of love.  The love of two people, the love of the creator.  You just didn’t get created “just because.”  But of a greater reason, a greater purpose, and at the core of that, as all the other meanings float around, love sits in the middle.  Almost like a person meditating while the world moves about around them.  Love is joy all the time.  Love will never give up on you, and love is what you are and what you will always have.  And in the lyrics of Miss Alicia Keys’ new song ‘No One’ “Everything will be alright.”  When you feel frayed from the real meaning of life, stuck in stress, sit back in your own circle, locking arms with love. 

Lock arms with your horses, because love is what they will always want and truly give to you.  Beyond training, riding and all those other things we do, there is something sitting silently at the other side waiting to embrace you.  Never believe a horse is just an H-O-R-S-E, love is the greatest thing life can give you, and vice versa.  Horses are one of the greatest teachers and examples of that.

My greatest desire is to know the true horse beyond Ink and Errika’s eyes.  That is the truly the strongest draw I have towards them.  Someone one is teasing me.  I haven’t been granted that opportunity to go there yet, but it’s so close I can feel it.  The power of their true being is pulling me in, and at times it’s almost frustrating because it’s right there, but I just can’t stretch far enough.  I get glimpses into their secret society. 

I know I’m getting closer though, because now when I look at a horses eyes, when they don’t know it, I can see them and who they are.  I took slight glimpses over at Tim while he was riding Stevie today (the cute red QH) and I watched Stevie’s hooves move in the sand, as if I was in a dream, and saw through his eyes to his center, where his mind sat concentrating. 

When I walked to get Ink, Sweetie stopped and raised her head and we exchanged thoughts, a simple moment.  It’s a soft song, powerful, but soothing and it takes your entire body in a gentle embrace across a pasture and sits you inside their circle, locking arms with their love.  If you need physical proof, you get chills.  I usually do, and it then calms me.   

“Red Horse.”

Meet “Red Horse,” Stevie.

Isn’t he beautiful?  Before he went off to training I believe two years ago his name was “Nick” and I looved calling him “Nicholas.”  I know, silly, well kind of, but I thought that fit him.  He came back with a new look, all grown up, and a new name.  But he’s still the silly little boy he’s always been.  There is something about him that I really like.  He does have a nice eye huh?  The sun was just lighting up his red coat and I had to take up the opportunity. 

Don’t worry I didn’t forget about Ink and Errika!  Errika is in heat so…  she was a wee bit interested in the big guy and some of the mares..  She got to go out for grazing and turn-out for about an hour in Ink’s field while Matt and I lunged Ink in the round pen.  I rode the big guy too. 

That’s about it for the day, but before I leave let me leave you with some more pics of Mr. Handsome, red man.

Enjoy!

Cool Love

Picture taken 10/31 

Yesterday we were taking down the haunted house, and now it’s gone until next year.  Matt, my mom and I went over to see the horses later on, so it was starting to get dark when we went back to visit Ink.  Errika came with us, and she was a ball of frisky-ness =D.  There wasn’t a whole lot of time to do much, so I got on Ink bareback with his halter and we walked around.  He’s the sweetest man.  He stood still so I could mount and kept standing still until I asked him to walk forward.  I’m so blessed to have him in my life.  Ink has come a long way since we got him last year.  I was waiting until the day came when I could ride him in a halter, bareback.  Last night wasn’t the first time, but is was the first time out in his field =). 

Today my mom and I are going to buy some hay for Ink and Errika.