Happy Hour

Just spent some quality time with the horses. Did stalls, water and got the hay ready for their night but haven't put them in yet (too early). Alexis followed me around trying to talk me into holding still and petting her (which I often did). At one point, she went into Cody's stall, which has a large gate on one side. She untied the gate and shut herself in it. THEN after a few minutes, she opened it again, walked outside, picked up the rope tied to it, and pulled it shut again. ROFL. Alrighty then!!! I don't know if she's just that smart, or she just loves to manipulate things so much. She's always picking things up and carrying them around; the hose, fly masks, towels, brushes, my PHONE. Jagger came around and I brushed him, then he followed me around when I emptied the wheel barrow. 

That's my kind of "Happy Hour"

While Cody is Down

I was going to ride Champ while Cody is out of commission recovering from his surgery.

But he's just too much work.

Gets in the trailer fine one time, refuses the next. So naturally, you have to keep working until you get him in. And by that time, I miss my ride start time. (when meeting others).

Won't let me mount one time, is fine the next. Will I be embarrassed today trying to get on the horse in front of people?

It's like he really just doesn't like me sometimes. We've just never bonded. It's sad. He's a smart pretty horse. Maybe too smart. We just don't mesh.

Nostalgic Video - The Leopard Skin Ninja starring Cody as a yearling and Luc at 13

Playtime

Grumpy

Cody's stifle is so much better already.

But I see an evolution of his nature. Well sort of. He's the herd boss now. And he's much sterner. Grumpier. Pinning his ears and herding everyone.

But once in a while he pins his ears at me so I have to get onto him so he doesn't think it's appropriate.

My Boys Bonding

Luc is home for Thanksgiving.

He got to meet Jagger and bond a little.

Cody's Surgery - Second Stifle

Peg and I took Cody and T to the Halloween Ride/Obstacle Course out at Little Manatee River State Park.  We had a really great time.

There was a horse chiro there and so I decided to get Cody adjusted. I mentioned to her that he had a stifle issue on one side, and she said she had some exercises to show me to help it. She looped the leadrope around his rear fetlock and pulled his leg out to the side slightly. Then released, then pulled it out, then released.

He didn't like this and the first step he took after she was done was halting. I tied him back up when she was done so he could finish his hay.

When we went to load in the trailer he was very ginger on that rear leg.

The next day, he could barely walk. The ligament on that stifle was completely out of groove.

So Today the vet took one look at it and did the surgery on the second stifle. He's now had both cut.

He's very sore and unhappy. 





 

Horses and Ponds Go Together like Peanut Butter and Jelly!

Twins?

Took this picture yesterday when they were still a little "drunk" at the vet. Alexis and Cody are going look so much alike when she gets a few years on her. She's 2 and he's 6, right now he has about 6 inches on her with height and several hundred pounds. She also has a star on her forehead. Other than that, they are the same color and conformation.

Drunken Horse Party

Alexis has been gaining weight rapidly. Her belly is looking... maybe TOO big. So when Cody and T went in for their teeth floating, I brought her along for a Preg check.

NO Baby, thankfully. And here's a pic of the Drunken Horse Party.

Playtime for Jagger!

I took the dogs out this morning and saw Cody and Jagger playing!! Poor Jagger is always wet from laying down on wet ground. I'll be glad when everything dries up. But it's better than last year.

A Ride In the Valley

Had a great ride in Myakka Valley Ranches today with Pati Davidson. Pati rode BlackJack. He's doing great! We ran into the Myakka Valley riding club and joined up for the ride. Great ride, great horses, great people!!! Cody enjoyed himself. I had my POV video camera all charged up and ready to go in my saddle bag and TOTALLY forgot to bring it out. AUGH! Still... had a great ride (even without pictures!)

Stifle a little catchy. He was holding back a little. Not forward. 

No Problems Loading Here!

Tonight, before the rain, I drove the truck and trailer back to the barn to put the alfalfa and feed away. I got the alfalfa out first and put it in the feed room, leaving the trailer door open. When I came back out, Cody had loaded himself in the trailer and was just standing there like... "Let's go!!!!" So I laughed and started putting feed bags away. Every trip I made, someone else was in the trailer. First Cody, then Jagger, Then T, then Cody again, then Jagger. Finally I had to SHOO Jag out of the trailer so I could close the door and drive back out of the yard.

They are crazy... and they make me laugh so much!

Bonding!

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Alexis is starting to bond pretty well. She's getting cuddlier ever day.

Jagger is a total love bug. Follows you around, tucks his head under your arm. He's a bit of a stalker. He just stares at you... with those weird green eyes. it's kind of ........... creepy. 

Nothing But Love

Cody, Alexis, Jagger, Annie and T are getting along just fine.

How Many Hands?

I got a new measuring stick so I put it to the herd (except for Bo and Champ who are across town).

Cody - 6 1/2 years old - 16 hands
Alexis - 2 years old -  14.3 hands
Annie  - 16 - 17 years old - 15.1 hands
Jagger  - 13 months old - 13.2 hands
T  - 15 years old - 13 hands
 August 13, 2013


 

Midnight and Meteors

Last night I went out to the barn and sat on a stool to watch the meteors. Cody stood with me for a while letting me pet him, then finally he got tired and laid down next to me. Then T came over and laid down behind him. After a while Alexis and Jagger came over for some petting and then laid down behind me. I had four horses laying around me as I sat on the stool. It was pretty cool. I took one pic but it was so dark it's hard to see. Plus they didn't appreciate the flash.

Alexis even laid out flat and snored a while.

Champ and Bo go Native

We moved Champ, Bo, and Jackie over to the acreage. The grass is amazing there and they'll love it. 10 acres of fun!






















Meanwhile back at home, we let the new babies out with Cody, Annie and T today for about a half hour. Annie could care less, T's already been loose with them yesterday and today, and Cody made an ugly face or two then wandered off. Happy to say it was uneventful. Separated them for the night but a few more turnouts like that and I think they'll be fine.

Drop It Like a Rock

The vet came out and checked Jagger's lungs and put him on pred and antibiotics. Alexis was congested too so he put her on a lower dose and gave her vaccs. She immediately collicked.

She dropped like a rock (picture was taken when she crumbled, I was just about to take a pic of her standing there and she just collapsed). Vet was only a few blocks away and came right back. Banamine and a bucket of oil to the rescue.

He checked her teeth, counted and inspected and said she's just barely two.
 



This is her backstory according to Sarah from Kentucky. Sarah bought her from an auction in Spring. She was sold as an untouched two year old who had been out running on large acreage with a herd. She had never even been haltered. Sarah spent a month or so with her and broke her to ride in late June/early July. During the process she used her to move cattle, run the dogs, hunting and general trail riding. 

Squealing Contest

Oops. Two More in the Barn

So...

I've been mare shopping. Originally I wanted a pregnant mare because I want to experience raising a foal from an egg (so to speak). I saw some very nice mares, but they were all too far along. Just not ready and prepared for the actual birth yet. So I thought, well.. I'll get a unbred mare and start the process from the very beginning.

In the process, I found this 2 year old mare that I very much liked. And drove to Tennessee to look at her. And ended up with a package deal!

 

A champagne walker/saddlebred yearling and a black two-year old walker mare. He's going to make a great racking horse. She's already got a pretty fast rack and has been started under saddle.

Here they are newly arrived in the barn. Unfortunately they came down with shipping fever so they aren't feeling too good. They're weary and weak right now, but acclimating very well despite it.

From left to right. One More Night (Alexis) and Moves Like Jagger (Jagger). 

4th of July BOOM

Our barn is a little wet after all this rain, so we didn't put the horses in it over night like we usually do on the fourth of July. So after I started hearing the booms and such I went outside to check on them, especially since I haven't seen how Shammy (Champ) takes the whole Boom thing. So, Jackie the mule is standing there at the fence watching the fireworks in awe, with Cody and T behind him, looking up the pretty sparkles, not even flinching at the booms. Shammy was ignoring the whole thing. Only Bo and Annie were flinching, even so barely. The La Macha goat however, was screaming his fool head off.

A side note, Cody's other stifle is hitching a bit. Not badly, but noticeable.  The one he had operated on is perfect (other than the little bump)

Barn Extension!

Barn extension and shed for tack room. We added plywood along the back today si no one puts a hoof through sheet metal.

 

Champ is a Butt

He seems to be one of those horses that needs constant work or he just tests you to death. 15 minutes to get him to stand for mounting. 15 to 25 minutes to get in the trailer...

It's kind of exhausting.

If you work him regularly, he does MUCH better.

Cody Opens my Birthday Presents.....

Janice King sent me a birthday present via Amazon.com. unfortunately Cody got to it before I did ran off with the box and tore it up. Luckily it was a beautiful iron hanger with running horses on it so no harm was done but Oh.... he tried

 

Champ and Cody Playing in the Pasture

They only LOOK like they are trying to kill each other. The truth is Chammy (aka Champ) and Cody have become very good friends and they race and fight and have a blast. Uploading a video in the next hour