Smoke Surroundings

All around us there is smoke. Last time I heard the news, it said there was 200 + fires throughout Northern CA. Luckily all this seemed to have by-passed this area. Except for all the smoke, which is now surrounding us like a grey blanket. You can smell fire in the air no doubt and I wonder how this is going to effect the horses that are closer to the fires? The smoke is fairly thick here and must be un-bearable in other places.

Today was much cooler than yesterday and the day before. We battled some 100 degree weather and now it’s suddenly in the sixties. I was actually seeking out the sun for warmth while outside. I’ve heard some people blame global warming.

Ink had his shoe appointment today. It didn’t go as smoothly as anyone would have liked. I sensed something wrong with the farrier. I couldn’t put my finger on it and it wasn’t my place to ask, but something wasn’t right. Ink wasn’t being quiet. He was moving a bit and wasn’t listening to S* very well. He pulled back twice but gave to the pressure and came back without a problem. I’m not sure why he pulled back in the first place. Ink wasn’t being really bad or spooky, he was just being mischievous, like he usually is when he gets bored. Most of the time he was falling asleep, so it had me a little puzzled.

Taking a Break

I’m taking a break from posting for a few days, until we work things out and we can all settle back down into work again. Hopefully by the end of the week.

I got an interesting comment from someone.  Not a blogger, just a person, maybe a lurker that finally decided to comment?  I require email to post, so in response to this comment I emailed.  I know the internet is filled with lots of different people.  Sometimes it’s scary to think you can have some great horse person here and a creep next door.  I know Mikael at Mikael’s Mania - Arabian Horses has been through similar things with some people.  In response to this comment I wanted to go over some assumptions.  On the internet you have to be aware that YOU as the commenter, have no credit to your posted name, no matter what or who you say you are, especially when you show up from no-where.  Just because someone has a horse-related name or says they are a horse person doesn’t automatically give them the right of passage to be suddenly a ‘trainer’ or knowledgeable on all things horse.  I could say I’m a doctor living in palm springs, but that doesn’t and shouldn’t just give me sudden credit nor does that mean I actually am one. 

I’ve blogged on here for almost two years.  I wanted to start blogging because I wanted a place to write, or type, down all my experiences with my new horse.  Not to give reason for people to assume information about me or my personal life.  When I blog on here I usually try to stay as horse-related as possible, but then again my life also revolves around my horses.  So both usually go hand in hand.  I also encourage ALL people even thinking about commenting to do so, because you can always learn something from a different perspective.  With that, I finally got a, not spam, comment from someone that was something I never had gotten before.  I’m not surprised, actually I think it has a good point to it, but also was offended.  I’m probably giving this person credit that shouldn’t be given by writing a whole post on it but I feel it needs to be addressed.  I’m going to defend myself when necessary and clear up things when needed.

First things first.  Addressing a comment,  when you do comment assume nothing.  If I say that my horse is “quick” for example, that leaves many questions to be had.  What does ‘quick’ mean in this case?  Aggression, under-saddle behavior, spooky?  If you use “quick” as a way to describe a fast horse under saddle, maybe someone uses it to describe an aggressive horse that is “quick” on the ground.  So ask questions.  Get solid answers that clear up your questions.  

When reading a blog also take into account that although you have public access to a blog, that does not mean that you can suddenly forget manners or respect and hide behind your computer screen.  In some cases blunt comments can be said, but doing so in a more respectful manner is always the FIRST route to take before leaving a comment. 

When leaving a comment, usually you have to leave a name.  Often times one you can make up without any registration and some blogs don’t require an email address.  I personally prefer that the commenter leaves an email and I now moderate.  If you feel like you want to leave a comment, you should feel confident behind what you say or express and therefore comfortable to leave your valid email and/or web address.  If you feel like you need to hide behind your computer screen, then chances are your un-sure or un-comfortable with what you’ve typed.  Why would you feel that way?  What are you motives behind leaving that comment? Answer those before clicking submit.  If your un-sure on you motives don’t comment OR try taking a different route and ask questions to figure out if your point is indeed something that this person would benefit from.

Lastly, the infamous statement regarding blogs and blog commenters: “If you don’t have the spine to sign, then don’t whine.” 

In going through this or-deal it was and is stress-ful.  By writing about it on the blog I don’t intend to complain or whine.  We all go through tough times, I’m no different.  I’m not a person who likes things done for me.  I work for what I have, appreciate what my parents have done for me and always make sure they know that.  I’m lucky to have a mom who is actively involved in horses with me.  We share the love and responsibility to properly care for our horses.  I’ve ALWAYS gotten reward out of doing anything revolved around my horses.  I would clean stalls all day in a heart-beat because I love doing anything that can get me that closer to horses.  I’ve taken the care for my horses seriously and that is why I am always evolving, learning, gaining in my skills and knowledge as a horse owner.  I could have had a show horse, boarded at a full care facility if I really wanted to, but that’s not for me.  I took in Ink because I wanted to go down that path.  I’ve loved on him, cared for his needs and took to this with a positive out-look.  By no means have I ever whinned or complained about doing that. 

During these last few days my horses have not been ridden.  We are moved to a different place temporarily right now and they will be back in their normal routine as soon as we are settled.  But I don’t think that puts me in the bad horse owner of the year category.  I don’t even know where the heck I come off as a drama queen but I don’t know how to address that.  All I know is that in the situation we were in it wasn’t a “boarding” place.  I wasn’t dis-respectful, dramatic or rude.  By writing it on here, I was just venting.  I think that is fine. 

Well I’ll be back as soon as we’re settled into our new place. 

 

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. 

Friday Podcast!

New series here at TEI, I’m now going to do a Podcast thing every Friday.  I thought it would give you, the readers a more personal insight into my life with Ink, and Errika as well.  I will be narrating the video in the future, next week’s will be, but yesterday when I took the video for today’s podcast I didn’t.  I just did a short video of Ink on the lunge.  Unfortunately my ‘post to wordpress’ thing isn’t working, so I cannot embed the video here.  To view it, click the link below.  Please feel free to leave suggestions/advice on the video here. 

Click here

Below is Ink on the lunge yesterday.  He was looking over at the pregnant mare (due any day now) that was turned out next to the arena. 

I have a looking down problem…

And lastly giving Ink loves after being a good boy.

It was a short day.  If you do watch the video you can tell Ink is a little short strided on his right side. 

Everyday Horse Life

Nothing super interesting to report on in my horse life.  I wanted to thank you guys for all the nice comments left on the last post!  I really appreciate the time all of you take out to read and comment :). 

I’ve been doing catch up on reading posts on my fellow equine blogs’.  I’ve really enjoyed the reading lately that I have done and wanted to congratulate once again 20Meter Circle of Lifeand her Arabian horse, Abu’s 3rd Place USEF Horse of the Year award!!  I have to state this line again, but it’s so refreshing and exciting to see various breeds and sizes stepping out of the shadow of the 17hh Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods.  Although I do own one, I am certainly a fan of the little guys throwing their hearts into equestrian sports. 

So what to report on with the horses today..  Well Ink was a tired boy, probably from his work-out yesterday.  I found him nearly asleep in his field.  I thought he’d greet me with his ears pinned saying “mom you are not taking me out today,” as he sometimes does, but alas he was welcoming.  From Thursday to Saturday I wasn’t able to get him out and do the general routine like I do almost everyday and it showed.  It usually shows when that happens, he’s sour and mad at me.  He wants to get out and hates when things don’t go along as a normal day.  Needless to say Ink is settled into his way of things, into our little life.  I’m happy to see him enjoying life and work.  Since the beginning it’s something I’d been hoping for.  Now it’s a goal reached. 

If you’re wondering about the lameness delima, I wanted to report on that as well.  I’m going to call M* to schedule a time for her to come by and look him over.  Now that her reiner is in training with the trainer at the barn, she’s able to get over our way more.  Today, free lunging, Ink looked good.  I notice a little bit of short strided-ness with the right hind, otherwise things look good. 

 On Sunday I was delighted to see Ink and Errika’s blankets off before I got there.  M* took them off for me when she came by in the morning to feed.  It was a nice gesture.  I laughed at Matt and said, “no one has ever done that for me!”  He was quick to remind me that he has done so many times before, but he missed my point.  I know M* really cares about horses, not just as “uses” but as animals and she was the first horse person who has ever taken the time out to do something nice for them like that.  You’re probably laughing thinking, ”wow is it that big of deal, a frigging blanket taken off?”  lol. 

Ink did get another free lunging session with the stretcher again, he did very well this time and looked so nice.  I’m hoping this will help build his top-line.  Is there any other benefits and exercises to do while uses the stretcher to help his muscle development? 

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. 

The Ham..Again & More Horses

The barn neighbor asked me to ride her horse, I wrote about this a few weeks ago.  So tomorrow is my first day.  I’ve never met this mare but it will be exciting to work with a new horse.  All I know is she is bold at xc and is rusty on Dressage.  Primarily this will be just exercise for the horse but I think the goals are to focus on her Dressage and work in that department to better round her out as an eventer.  She has some problems with stadium, but I need to talk more with the owner to determine what and why that is.  I’ll be updating on that as well here on the blog and maybe some pictures?  Mom the photographer has some new assignments :).

So the ham has this burn on the inside of his right hind hock.  It’s a hard area to keep clean and to help heal.  I’m usually anal about keeping hind boots on him to help the process, but he keeps opening the scab up when he’s turned out.  The other day I was free lunging him over a gymnastic and he clipped the pole with that hind hoof and somehow opened up the burn, again.  But when he did that it started to swell and so I cold hosed it, cleaned it and put that bright yellow stuff on it to help it heal and wrapped it.  The swelling went down afterwards but that area is being such a booger to heal.  It’s now started to scab over a little bit, I guess I’m just going to have to watch it day by day.   

Mother, Teacher and Love, Errika

I have a heap of photos from yesterday.  Ok maybe not a heap but enough that it’s going to take more time to upload them. 

 

 

Yesterday I gave an informal lesson to Olivia.  Our family is friends with her’s and my dad has known her dad for a long time.  She is 8 years old, I think.  She loves horses and riding.  Fearless as almost every 8 year old is.  Errika was great for her.  On Saturday Olivia got to ride a little bit, but yesterday she had almost a whole day with the mare.  I decked Errika out in pink and purple.  Her pink rope halter, pink bareback pad (which was an x-mas present to my mom last year) and her purple woof boots :).  

Errika enjoyed taking around a child.  She’s good with kids and listens to them.  Her ears were always turned back listening to her little rider.  I was a proud mummy.  During the beginning Matt or I would lead Olivia on Errika.  But then I decided that Olivia was ready for a little something more.  I took two of the cavaletti x’s and set them up for Olivia to walk Errika around, to practice steering.  The fearless 8 year old had been on horses before, but never had actual instruction.  Well the steering went good.  I was impressed by her natural ability to ride. 

I’m hoping that this summer and maybe before I will be giving Olivia regular riding lessons and do a little camp thing in the summer. 

Long Days with Horses

Yesterday was a long day over at the barn.  I lunged Ink again, rode Errika and cleaned stalls.  I had Ink eat his grain in the round pen while I cleaned Squirt’s stall.  When I was done, Ink was finished with grain and it was dark.  I grabbed his blankets and walked to the round pen.  I put the blankets on and reluctantly started walking to the back.  Last time I drove the quad back there, thankfully I was on wheels, I came across a possum that glared at me and just kept walking towards me.  I rammed the quad in reverse and floored it until I was back at the barn.  No way was I going to go back there again in the dark and I swore, not on foot.  But last night I was all alone and I walked Ink to the back.  I kind of hid next to him and stomped really loud, so if something was there it would hopefully run away after it heard us coming.

 No scary possum or rat was around and we made it safely to the field.  I was so relieved.  But then I had the walk back..  Alone..without the big guy to protect me.  I ran all the way back, as fast as I could.  

 It was such a loong day.  It rained, got sunny, was windy, man the day was full of adventures. 

Ink looked really good yesterday.  I didn’t notice any lameness and he wasn’t short strided at all.  I’m not sure what that means.  But maybe a feed through joint supplement and a chiro or massage therapist is all he really needs.     

I’m off to the barn, have a great weekend everyone!!