The day after

Thanks to Rob and his parents the two flipped shelters have been righted and pinned down, and the smashed shelter is in the process of being cleared out of the paddock. It is a very time consuming and complicated process to take it appart enough to get out of there...the roof is still left.

Hopefully the wind stays quiet for a few more days so we can get the work done.

With the change in weather I decided to bring Dexter and Ri into the barn a few days early...they seem pretty happy about it. So that YJ wouldn't be alone, I put him out with Beamer and Pilgrim (Rocky and Rocket are mowing the runway), and they are instant buddies! I think Pilgrim bonded with him as they are both QH, and Beamer likes a horse with lots of white like him.

Hopefully the weather manages to hold up ok for the Amberlea show this weekend...

Karen

Windswept Stable

I think that is going to be our new name if this crazy windy weather keeps up. Today was about as bad as it has ever been, and this was by far the most damaging storm.

It was pretty breezy when I headed to the barn this afternoon, but there were a few moments in the arena when it sounded like a train driving by...still I wasn't prepared for what was going on outside. Clare opened the door to go get Sunny, and then turned right back to look at me; "oh no, big problems". So I went to look and the BIG gelding shelter North of the barn entrance was completely smashed, with the roof impaled on the fence...so the fence between the two big paddocks was torn. All that was left standing was two of support poles buried in the ground...the other two were snapped in half.

So I called Rob to come out, and he Clare and I moved the horses to other pens...but when we went to put horses out front, we discovered the Twister shelter was...well...twisted. AHHH! So we got the horses safely moved to different pens and set about cleaning some of the carnage, but the wind kept coming. It was insane as we were pummelled with wind and sand. It was so windy there were times I could hardly stand up and hardly see. I was ready to curl up in a ball and give up as I felt overwhelmed by the unrelenting wind that was continuing to do damage. Fortunately Rob is a take charge kind of guy and was able to prioritize and keep us focused. (I think I was one panic attack from calling the boarders and telling them to take their horses home...)

So then I went to the barn to lock the south doors down, and as I left the barn there was a whoosh and a cloud of dust...and another shelter went down. At this point it seemed prudent to cancel lessons and focus on making sure the horses were looked after and the barn kept locked down. I was also fully expecting the power to be knocked out, but so far so good (knock wood!)

But, Rob got the busted shelter cleaned up, and we used panels to fix the fence (two posts were taken out by the shelter when it fell, so we use the panels so we could get the horses back in the one paddock at least. We decided to bring a couple extra horses (Magnus and Beamer) in for the night, and some horses are spending the evening on the grass pastures (it was cute when I put Tango out with the babies on the grass...she rushed over to protect them from the wind).

None of the horses were hurt, and were all surprisingly unfazed by the wind and sand. They weren't keen to watch their hay blow away though...so I did feed some pellets to the horses that were in the windier pens.

In total, two shelters flipped, one was demolished, and one is twisted....so four shelters in total knocked out by the wind. We also have a destroyed garden shed, some fencing to fix, and a whole lot of stuff blown about. And it isn't over yet as the wind continues to blow like crazy. We will have to wait until the wind dies down to right the shelters, but we had enough empty pens that all the horses have shelter for the night.

Forget thunder & lightening...I hate wind.

Karen

Hastings Lake Show

I wasn't sure how much I wanted to go to a show this morning, with the cold and the wind, but once again the Hastings Lake show was a lot of fun! I like that it isn't a crazy long drive, and that it doesn't start until 9:30...unlike the crazy dressage shows that start before 8am...and it only cost $40.00 to go in as many classes as you would like!

So anyway, here are some photos from the day!

YJ and Fancy in the English Pleasure Class. The senior division was 16 and up, so Sara was in the same division as me and Amanda.

YJ and Ri in my favourite class...toilet paper pairs! Amanda and I need to practice for next year. We did better than at the earlier show, and managed to survive a couple changes of directions ending up 5th. Same thing got us though...Ri not halting as fast as YJ, and YJ spooking at the toilet paper as it got near his head.

Amanda is sporting the vest that was our motivation for going to this show. You can't see the tassels and gold stitching in the photo, but it was pretty special.


And here is our final photo: all three horses came home with a first and a second as well as other ribbons!

Thanks to Janine for braving the cold wind to help us out and take photos, and to Rob for hauling the horses and helping out!

Karen

A little bit about wasps...

So I know some of you will be thrilled that the cooler weather will mean less wasps as it seems certain people have wasp phobias, and wow is the wasp population strong this year. I thought some wasp info may help you appreciate the little critters though, namely that wasps eat other annoying insects such as flies, caterpillars and crickets, so yes, they do have a purpose! The downside though, is that at this time of year they are more interested in sweet things, so tend to be more aggressive to people to try to steal their pop or candy. You can use this info to your advantage though; desperate to rid yourself of a wasp attack? Carry pop with you, and spray it on a nearby unsuspecting subject to create a diversion from you!

Alternatively you can do the wasp dance...ask Amanda to teach it to you.

I cannot imagine living in a country that doesn't have winter and having to deal with the giant bugs that some places have, so winter definitely has an upside. I would happily take a few months of wasps over an endless stream of giant spiders, scorpions and cockroach room mates.

Karen

Beamer

Michelle's pretty arabian horse came yesterday afternoon for some training. He came complete with enough sparkely equipment to make Bliss and any 5 year old girl jealous....although I think Michelle opted to not leave his frighteningly sparkly slinky behind...she saw how Bliss was eyeing it (or was that spooking at it?) Beamer sure has grown up and has a very classy arab head. His tail needs some help though...perhaps we can hire Amanda to coat it daily in Baby oil.

Beamer is in the wood pen right now, but I will be moving him down with Rocky and Pilgrim later today so that he isn't lonely.

Karen

Priorities people!

So I know some of you have money worries, but I think part of the problem comes down to your poor priorities. You need to start putting the needs of your horse and your horse's caregiver first, and quit spending money so recklessly on yourself...or god forbid your kids if you are foolish enough to have any.

First off, quit getting married. Far too many of your are spending money on a wedding. A Wedding?!? Seriously, what are you thinking. For the cost of a cheap wedding you could buy: a custom made saddle, a few show entries, new riding clothes, and a really nice christmas present for me (Dexter wants a sheepskin half pad). For the price of a normal wedding you could also buy a horse trailer and start taking extra lessons!

Next, there is nothing wrong with buying clothes at the grocery store. Grocery store clothes is well priced and functional. The T shirts are actually long enough to tuck in if you so choose...which I know isn't "cool", but it is functional. Cool is no longer cool people...functional for riding is the only concern you should have when clothes shopping. You can add a scarf or something to make it work for going to the office. Actually I think all you office work folks need to work together to make riding breeches suitable office clothes so your clothes can do double duty.

Finally, forget the hair dressers/salon. Cutting your own hair is both a time saver and a money saver! The key to cutting your own hair is to do it when you have nowhere important to be for a few days, just in case. Also try not to do anything drastic all at once. Really, the new styles of chunky layers and uneven ends is a godsend for those of us too economical to pay a professional to do something as simple as cutting hair. If you are unsure of the quality of the cut, then here are a few tricks to hide possible unevenness/screw-ups: Only go out in windy weather. Hats hide all. Hair bands and clips are also useful. if you are really worried about your hair style though, do what I do...hay in the hair ALWAYS distracts the eye from the hair cut...and really, who is going to comment on your hair cut when you have hay in your hair?

So with these money saving tips, you should have more than enough to pay for more lessons and a nice year end gift for Dexter and I...oopps I mean Rob and I, yes that is it, Rob and I. (Rob also wants a sheepskin half pad, honest)

Karen

Hot

Hot. Stupid Hot. First day of fall should not be this hot. Hay guy should not deliver hay when it is this hot. Dinner should not have to be made when it is this hot; (it should just appear in front of me like it does for others in this house). Fluffy cats should not sit on my belly staring at me when it is this hot.

I wonder if this weather is going to mess up the horses growing their winter coats?

I hope Tonka got to Ontario OK. He should be there sometime today. I am suprised at how well Ri and YJ adjusted to his absence, considering how close the three horses seemed to be. YJ actually seems calmer now when Ri leaves and YJ ends up all alone; before, if both Ri and Tonka left the paddock, YJ would race around calling.

I feel sorry for horses sometimes, having to leave their friends, make new friends, then have those friends taken away. Even worse, at some point they are turned out with an obnoxious young warmblood or similar and have trouble getting a moment peace. Horse's do form close bonds, some more than others; Fancy and Rosa, Coregel and Piper, S'Argent and Jerry, Ri and YJ.

Soon it is all going to get shaken up though. On October 1, I will be reorganizing the horses into their winter pens. The geldings will be coming off grass then too. The proposed winter turn out:

Mares: Stays the same except Tango will be moving to the west pen to keep Fancy company at night as Rosa will be coming in. The west mares will get a round bale for the winter, and will get pellets at night.

Geldings:
The north paddock will eventually be openned up to the hay feild, so they will get to run and play on the hills for the winter. I am hoping to condition them to come for pellets at 4pm each afternoon, so that they are easier to find/catch for riding. Horses in this feild: YJ, Dexter, Diesel, Rocky, Jerry, S'Argent.

The East geldings will be for the babies: Hans, Magnus, Kokannee...and baby sitter Sunny. There will be a round bale out there in the winter, and they will get pellets at night.

The West gelding will be for the rest: Sailor, Ri, Shawn, Rocket, Buddy.

Training horses will go in the lower South/west pen, and in the wood pens by the house.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding where your horse will be turned out.

Karen

Jelly Belly

Christine brought out Jelly Belly candies for the barn, as some sort of pre-inspection snack. I have had the Jelly Belly's before, but not for a while! So many flavours all in that one bag. Can you imagine having the job of flavour inventor and/or taste tester?

We concluded that some flavours weren't all that appropriate though, with buttered popcorn being the least appropriate flavour...and not because the taste isn't right...but that it is too right...and popcorn just shouldn't have that texture! Other flavours I am not so sure about being Jelly Bean suited: Carmel Corn, Toasted Marshmallow, Mocha, and chocolate. All decent flavours...but not in that form.

I do think the Jelly Bellys are a good candy though, as they encourage moderated snacking for two reasons:

1) The name "Jelly Belly" is there as a constant reminder as to why you should not eat too many of the candy.
2) You are encouraged to eat them one at a time, or risk mixing two incompatible flavours in your mouth. Butter Popcorn and Kiwi for example, or Mocha and Bubble Gum.

On that note though, I wonder if mixing other flavours could work...you could come up with a fruit salad (Watermelon, grape, orange), a smore (chocolate, toasted marshmallow) or a flavoured coffee (Mocha and Chocolate)

The downside to them though, is that you sometimes look at one, and think you know the flavour to expect and to look forward to, only to pop it in your mouth, and find that it wasn't at all what your taste buds were expecting; it wasn't water melon, it was a dark green black licorice jelly bean!

Karen

Photos from Saturday

Piper's mom and half sister...sis decided that mom had enough of a nap and should get up...

Mom tried her best to ignor her...

But then baby got a new idea, and decided that once she had one leg over her mom's belly, that maybe it would be good if she had her other front leg over her mom's back...

And here she is trying to nurse while mom lays down...this however caused mom to decide to get up...a bay mare walked in the way of the next photo, which involved mom standing up while baby slid off the back end! She seemed pretty proud of herself, but mom seemed a little annoyed!

Magnus and Clare

And below is the Hillside crew: Bliss in the foreground, Magnus on the left, and Piper on the right...as well as Clare, Christine, Amanda and I (hidden by Bliss' head). Bliss is being held by Claude.

Karen

Tonka's Departure

We had it all planned out; Tonka was to leave tonight, and they were going to call when they were near. We had arranged to have him picked up across the road, as we weren't sure if the big truck would have been able to turn around in our yard.

Fortunately Rob and I didn't end up going anywhere today, as at 12:30 there was a knock on our door...it was our neighbor Jon (they guy we bought Carma from) coming over to tell us the haulers were in their yard for us! Apparently they had Carole's number rather than mine.

Jon had just come home from buying groceries when they pulled up...so it was fortunate timing for us! Jon drove me to the back pasture so I could grab Tonka, then picked up Carole's stuff to take across the road. Of course Dexter assumed I was there to catch him, and chased the other horses away from me...bad Dexter!

But I got Tonka caught, and Rob and I took him across the road and loaded him up in the horse trailer. He was great walking up the ramp into the trailer and negotiating once inside to the front stall. He seemed comfortable with his lodgings. I hope the trip goes well for him, and that his early pick up doesn't interfere with Carole's timing!

The Art of Praise

Rob and I watched a bit of Spruce Meadows last night...wow the jumps are huge! I remember the complete terror I felt jumping in the region of 5 feet on a few occasions. I cannot imagine jumping an entire course of jumps that are bigger than, or about the same size, as the horse I am riding.

I would like to have a jumping horse again though...maybe Carma in a few years? Maybe S'Argent ?

While watching the show, I would see riders do the big arm slap to their horse's neck. I hate the neck slap thing. What is the horse supposed to get out of that? I get why it happens though...the rider has all that built up tension to release, but I vastly prefer the arm pumping. I know I sometimes feel the urge to slap my horses neck for a job well done, and I know most of my students want to do it to, but it really doesn't benefit the horse and so is an odd form of praise/thanks.

So, here it is, my take on how to praise a horse effectively: The Art of Praise

Karen

We can say we knew her when...

Bliss has always told us she was special and deserving of special attention, and now she has proven it...earning a very impressive score of 8.1 which classifies her as a Premium Mare! She actually only needed a 7.5 or higher to be premium, so the 8.1 is a noteworthy score and speaks highly of her breeding, conformation and conditioning.

The day started with Clare and I braiding Magnus and Piper for the Northern Breeders Classic. We planned to leave ourselves plenty of time just in case one or both of the babies didn't want to load, but they were both eager to get in the trailer, so we got there with plenty of time to spare.

We pulled in just as Amanda arrived to help, so Amanda stayed with the kids while Clare and I registered. Thanks you Amanda! I don't think we could have survived the morning without you! (She also brought the geldings in off the grass this afternoon, which my legs were greatful for)

The classes took much longer than we expected...about 10 minutes per entry. Which meant a lot of standing around holding our restless baby horses...standing and walking around attached to a horse is more tiring that I would have expected! Piper enjoyed seeing her family though...her mom and a half sister were at the show and were in a paddock by the arena. Coregel's half sister was there too...and super cute. Rob got some cute photos of Piper's sister annoying her mom...I will post them later this week....but I digress...

Piper and Magnus each had two classes, the "Triangle" class, and the dressage suitability class. Both horses scored 6's in the first class, but did better in the suitability class, with Piper placing 4th in the yearling class, and Magnus earning a 3rd in his class. It was about 2pm when we finished, and Bliss' class was still a ways to go, so we loaded up the babies and came home, leaving Christine and a runner Bliss' breeder procured to help show in the mare's classes.

By 5pm I was beginning to worry about Christine...that was a long day for them, but it turns out it was well worth it! Bliss won the 5-6 year old mare's class, so had to stay for the Championship class...and so was Grand Champion Western Alberta mare (ages 3 and up)...which meant she still had to stay for the Provincial Championship...and was Reserve Grand Champion Mare for Alberta! Woo Whoo!! Apparently this means that Bliss has to go to Olds for a Presentation at the Breeders Sale to get her award.

As tiring as it was, it was also fun. Perhaps I will go again next year...but if I do, I will enter earlier and have a stall for the day!

It was also weird being back at Mistral Wind...the barn that I had Tango at when she was showing in the Jumpers. It is nice showing at a familiar location; takes some of the anxiety out of the day for me.

Karen

Getting the barn ready for winter...

So if the barn is going to be fill this winter, then I need to get my butt in gear getting it ready!

First off, here is who is going where:

Sailor
Ri
Bliss

Kokanee Whisper
Quanta Sunny
Rosa Dexter

I figure with Dexter in the corner, he is less likely to cause chaos, but it also means I need the feed stall cleaned out!

Inside boarders can hang a maximum of 2 blankets on their stall. Other blankets are going in the new storage shed, which I will be getting a combo lock for.

Outside boarders will be able to hang a spare blanket at the barn entrance, with other blankets in the storage shed. We will be putting hooks in the tack room for hanging coolers.

Blankets to be stored MUST be in a container or plastic bag and must be labeled so I know whose blanket is whose in case a horse needs a replacement. If it isn't labeled, I will assume it is mine :)

I will be cleaning up room for the feed too...I will keep you posted where boarders can keep extra feed, but again, it MUST be in a mouse proof, labeled container. If your horse is on inside board, and is getting a medley of vitamins, we will need to work on a system so that the vitamins don't take a tonne of room...perhaps weekly portions in baggies with the rest stored upstairs?

I will also be shifting some horses around outside to accommodate some fall fencing repairs, incoming horses, and winter feeding, so if you can't find your horse, check the map in the barn.

This fall/winter, some pens will be getting complete feed (for the young horses) or Tiz Wiz at night. I will make sure to discuss this with the applicable owners before moving horses to these pens. There MAY be an additional fee...depending on what happens to the price of grain this year.

Karen

Blackfoot Trail ride

The trip to Blackfoot was great! I am a little sore, but it was great! Not sure why I can ride 3-5 horses a day and be fine, but walking on a trail for 2 and a half hours and my thighs and butt are complaining!

We took Tonka, Whisper and YJ. It was YJ's first real trail ride, so I wanted to see how he would do when I had 2 trail experienced horses and a nurse with me. The three horses were pretty well matched speed wise, with YJ being the slowest walker of the three, but I found it better to be on the slower horse, rather than on Mr Speedy (Dexter) like usual...easier to jog to catch up than to have to slow and stop to let others catch up. I am going to miss having a trail safe horse (Tonka) to help me get my green and/or arena bound horses out in the wilderness! YJ was pretty good though, and I feel pretty confident taking him out again. I wish he and Dexter were better matched speed wise though, for a more pleasant ride.

I am thankful to Carole, for encouraging me to get out of the arena and go with her and Tonka exploring the neighbourhood and the Blackfoot.

I wish I had taken my camera along on the ride as the fall colours were very pretty. We saw one large wild beast...we aren't sure what it was as it was sleeping in the tall swamp grass...but it was either a Buffalo or maybe a moose...or maybe a pile of brown fuzzy stuff. We also saw a Peruvian Paso...but other than that it was VERY quiet. Maybe other people didn't want to ride in a windstorm? At least it wasn't hot, and the wind kept the bugs away, but it did make conversation difficult!

It was weird tonight to be teaching indoors again. In someways easier to be in the smaller ring, but I missed the fresh air, the fact I don't scoop poop outside, and the larger space for jumping.

Karen

The colour green...

For the Warmblood Inspection this weekend, presenters are supposed to wear dark green shirts and black pants. The black pants isn't hard, but can anyone remember the last time dark green was a fashionable colour? Seriously...go to a store...do you see many shirts in dark green? T-shirts maybe, but anything a little more classy such as a polo shirt, or nice sweater?

I don't get why either...dark green is a nice colour. I like dark green and I would wear it...but then I have never really been fashionable so maybe that explains my taste.

Amanda had the idea that we should check out Thrift stores...but I think dark green has been out of fashion even too long for them!

My green options are: my fern (or is it moss?) green Hillside Polo shirt, or a dark green turtle neck that isn't at all fitted (and it is going to be HOT out!). I also have some dark green T-shirts...not sure which would be the better option.

So if anyone has a dark green (forest or similar) coloured shirt that Christine, Clare or I could borrow for Saturday...

Karen

More politics!

How your tax dollars are at work Kind of a neat, but somewhat faulty map showing where government grants and stimulus money is going. Awkward format, but I think they just wanted to show how it was spread out location wise.

Although to be more precise, this is more a map of your future tax dollars, as I am pretty sure most of this funding is coming from borrowing. I am actually ok with that...unlike the US, Canada borrows most of its money locally, so Canadians and Canadian banks can benefit from the interest...on the other hand do you know who owns a LOT (about 1/4) of the American debt? CHINA! Crazy...but explains why they keep importing so much of their junky stuff. Seriously...if the US started boycotting Made in China goods, and caused a serious economic crisis in China, they would risk having the debt called... The thought that China has that much economic control over the US should keep you up at night...

Of course what do I know about politics...I train horses for a living and hate watching the news...

Karen

Things I wonder...warning...this may not be politically correct...

- If someone weighs say, 200 pounds more than they should, then they are carrying an extra 200 pounds up stairs, down roads and so on...how do they do it? I couldn't carry 200 pounds without falling over. I do not get how someone can be heavy and not fit. I do not get how someone can go up stairs with that extra weight and not be super human strong. (Ok, I get that it is how the weight is dispersed, but still, it impresses me that the human body can adjust so well).

- When blind people dream do they just hear, feel and smell in their dreams, or is there some sort of light show?

- When deaf people dream, do they "talk" with sign language, or is there a different form of communication... or none at all?

-Why did I get an email from Senator Mike Duffy telling me how great the Conservatives are with some crappy video that cuts in and out? Is the fact that my name was used in the link supposed to impress me? Ok...it kind of did, but I couldn't under stand a darn thing in the video as it cut in and out... Did everyone get this email or is it because I leave vmails with the conservatives when things piss me off so I am now on a list? Wait...I don't want to sound anti-conservative as I think the best thing for the country would be a majority government, and I think they are the best bet...even if they do stupid things like give Norquest College money...

These are the things I wonder...

Karen

Fare Thee Well

Time sure sneaks up sometimes...

Carole is set to leave us this weekend! She might come out Friday if packing goes well. But tomorrow we are going on a morning trail ride for the last time...if the weather holds that is, and then Carole is packing her stuff (and hoping I remember to load it into the trailer with Tonka!). She drives east on Saturday. Tonka was originally going to leave next Tuesday, but now is leaving on Sunday night! What is Ri going to do? I think Tonka is going to have the better trip; in a box stall with an air ride system, vs Carole in a box laden car....

Bye Bye Carole, we will miss you!

Karen

Any wanna be editors out there?

It is still a work in progress, but...if you have some time on your hands, I am looking for some feedback on Hillsides NEW website! Complete with a new URL...we are now www.hillsidestable.ca !

For fun...see if you can count how many times Ri is on the website.

I am looking for feedback on such things as;
1) Grammar & spelling
2) Formatting on different computers...so if it looks funny, tell me what resolution you are using.
3) Content...what else would you like to see on the website?
4) Any FAQs I missed?

I am planning to add more photos to the FAQ and misc pages. Photo submissions welcome!

Karen

Babies are growing up!

The Northern Breeders Classic snuck up on me...and is this Saturday! I am not sure why I thought it was Sunday which works so much better with my schedule. I THINK I am going to take Piper, Clare is taking Magnus, and Christine may take Bliss. This of course means the three of us have to actually teach our horses to trot the triangle and stand up for the judge.

I tried trotting Piper on the lead today, and she was ok jogging, but to get her to move out sent her into an excited tizzy. I decided maybe I should take it slow and work on one step at a time rather than just expecting her to know what "Trot" and clucking means right out of the paddock...

Now if I take her, I need to decide what to show her in. I guess they don't follow EC rules, so she doesn't need a bit, so the in hand bridle can wait another year, but not sure if I should show in a purple halter...thoughts? Coregel wears Ziggy's old black halter, but I think it will be a little big around Pipers nose. Anyone have a small/medium horse leather halter I can borrow?

Piper and Coregel also got a bit of a make over with their manes trimmed...please don't make fun of them.

Coregel also got some training today, and walked over the scarey bridge and walked up and down off the platform once. I was pretty happy with her, as usually she is too upset when away from Piper to do much of anything.

Coregel and Piper are so different not only in personality, but also in build. Piper is much happier to be in the barn (but NOT in a stall as she made clear yesterday), and leads and stands quietly, only getting a little distracted by the sound of Coregel winnying. Coregel on the other hand paws and hits her shoulder into the wall...but she is getting better, and leads great. She just doesn't do well if left to her own devices, but when she is being asked to do something, she is super sweet.

Piper is much finer, and the darker of the two...but she is already 15.1 hands in front, and 15.2 at the rump...and she is 16 months old. Coregel is 14.3 hands. She seems to stay 2 inches behind Piper, but has a much heavier build with bigger legs and joints. She is going to be a solid warmblood when she grows up...no one will mistake her for a thoroughbred like little Dexter.

So...does anyone want to come and help Saturday morning at the breeder show? We need someone to help get behind the young horses to get them to trot, and to help as groom.

Karen

Rob reports that the boat he is sailing has come across dolfins, orcas, and seals. Why anyone would want that over horses, cats, dogs and crazy magpies is beyond me. I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round.

He sent me a photo from the boat, but I was silly enough to do the last Windows update, and now my internet settings are disturbed, and hotmail keeps freezing...which was particularly annoying as I was 2/3 through a long email response to Maile when it froze never to return.

I miss my Apple computer!

Karen

Stolen Horse Alert

This found its way into my email this week:


Our horse was stolen some time in August 2009 from Derochie Stables in Dewinton Alberta. He was being kept in a field behind the stable with several other horses.

He is 16.1, three short white socks (both back and right front), no blaze and he is a bay nut. He is 6 years old

IF YOU HAVE ANY CLIENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A HORSE THAT FITS THIS DESCRIPTION or have been approached with a horse for sale, please contact us immediately. Any and all leads are appreciated.

Valerie and Alexis Burke-Harland
(403) 873-0180 - home
(403) 831-6796 - cell

How not to sell a house...

With Rob away, and with my lack of experience using the TV remote, what else is there to do after evening chores but browse the web?

I found this site both funny and sad...a glimpse into how other people live...or rather what they are publicly and knowingly showing about the places they live in.

Karen

This week in lessons...

This week in lessons we are going to be working on:
- Halt-trot-halt transitions, which included feeling if the horse's halt is balanced enough to be able to trot off from.
- Turn on the forehand, including feeling if the horse is cross under properly.
- Leg Yielding parallel to the wall
- Jump riders will also work on position over fences, and having a straight horse in front of the jump, even when coming to the jump at an odd angle.

Also...be forewarned...I will have the camera out to take pictures of lessons in the outdoor arena this week! If you don't want me to post your picture on the website, or in future CHT articles, please let me know...or just wear a really odd outfit and I will take the hint. Don't worry...I only use favourable photos, but am also looking at educational/demo photos. I also need a good photo of Jerry and of Tango if anyone has one. Can be a face shot, a riding shot, a show shot? Jerry is a nice looking horse when being ridden, but not that photogenic otherwise, and Tango is so rarely clean!

Karen

Ri will be "Ri"lieved...he isn't on the verge of being the only Quarter Horse at Hillside. YJ ended up staying to become the first Quarter Horse Hillside (or myself) have ever owned. Now, before you ask, I have no idea what our plans are for him...do we turn him into a lesson horse? Teach him to barrel race and take him to Jack Pots? Improve his training and try selling next year? I am hoping Rob will find time to ride him a bit, but beyond that I guess we will let him grow up a bit and see what it is YJ wants to do. I will have to take him off the sales page.

Sailor on the other hand did leave yesterday. He is going to be spending the summer to grow up a bit, and may come back for training in the spring. Meanwhile he is for sale for $2500.00, which I think is a hack of a deal if you are looking for a BIG jumper prospect!

Karen

I finally did it...

I finally broke down and brought some jumps inside; despite my efforts, the days are still getting shorter and the evenings getting cooler. Soon the horses will need blankets! Have you had your blankets washed and cleaned yet?

I also had someone other than me do more than just walk on Dexter...I had Kelsey ride him in her lesson. Of course I didn't tell her that no one but me had ridden him at anything faster than a walk before. It was interesting and useful to see someone else on him, although at times I just wanted to get on!

Still looking for snack ideas; so far Christine is in the lead with her Peak Frean's Blueberry Brown Sugar Flax cookies....I will have to keep an eye out for them.

Rob has found me a bunch of healthy options which we are thinking of stocking in the barn for customers who come to ride right after work, so that will be good, but I am a confirmed snacker so I need some cheap filler filled snacks as well as the healthy options! Some of this stuff Rob has found is pretty cool though...including a gel dehydrator which would have been great at some of the brutally hot horse shows. Easy to keep a gel pack in your pocket.

There is also an anti snore spray...I wonder if that works on dogs?

Karen

Stupid Save-On...

Rob went grocery shopping today and brought home on of their bakery garlic bread loaves, so when I came in from teaching I decided to heat it up. I read the label which said to leave it in the bag and put it in the oven for 10 minutes. I wondered about the Save-On label, but it wasn't about to come off easily, so I figured it must be meant to stay on and was OK in the oven. 10 minutes later the smoke alarm let me know that my deduction was not correct...poor Ginger hates the sound of the smoke alarm! The bread was still good though.

Rob was kind enough to bring me some new snack options. One of which was the Pringles wheat Stix. I have had the Pizza ones and liked them, but he brought wheat flavour. So what flavour is wheat? According to Pringles it seems that wheat flavour is chicken and soy sauce...who knew? I hope they don't get into the bread making business...

He also brought home some Willy Wonka Nerds candies...basically Jelly beans covered with a sourish bumpy candy shell...they are YUMMY! And, before you question their health qualities, they are FAT FREE! Ok, so they have absolutely NO nutritional value...but they are fat free, and isn't that all that matters these days?

Karen

More stuff...

So there is more free stuff in the barn; size 30 breeches, a size 12 pink show shirt, tail bag, open front jumper boots and more! Well...it was in the barn...until Amanda took it all home to see how much she could get for it on ebay...she claims she is just trying the breeches and shirt on with plans to bring back what doesn't fit...

Also available are some tickets to Spruce Meadows on the 12th for the South West grandstand. Anna bought them but cannot go now due to a combo of her broken leg and a family emergency. She paid $63.00 each for them, but is open to reasonable offers. If you are interested let me know and I will get you Anna's phone number!

Karen

Warning...this is both disturbing and sad

Rob sent me this link...http://peopleofwalmart.com/ It is humourous, but in a sad and often disturbing kind of way...

Karen

Free breeches

Clare left some riding breeches in the barn that her parents dug up from her childhood; they are size 28R Harry Halls and are free to a good home. They are in decent condition, so if you think they may fit you, feel free to take them home to try on.

Carole (Tonka) has a dressage pad and 52" girth for sale as well.

Today was perfect riding weather; the sun was out, there was a light breeze, and it was just cool enough that it was easy to want to do some physical activity. I wish we had more days like this! The horses seemed happy about it too. While teaching I looked over to the chestnut gelding pen, and saw all four of them flaked out identically in the dirt. Even though Sunny is usually left out of the water trough huddle, those four horses do tend to do everything together. Poor Ri is going to be in for a shock when YJ goes home for the winter and Tonka moves to Ontario mid month!

I have found myself in a snacking lull lately. I need a new snack! My Quaker Granola bars just aren't cutting it lately, and I am trying to cut down on the foods make predominantly with Corn Syrup. Suggestions for a barn suitable and somewhat healthy snack are appreciated!

Karen

Time to think about warm weather vacations...

We finally got some much needed rain and welcome cooler weather. The rain sure pounded down for a while so I was worried the horses might be cold outside, but they seemed to be happy with the cooler weather and bug less day! Hopefully this will perk up the grass and I put the horses out in the back pastures again. Poor Amanda has been busy and not able to come out for a few days so she was worried that Ri might dissolve without his rain sheet on, but he managed to survive and even looked happy to be allowed to get muddy like all the other horses.

I am hoping it will dry enough that I can teach outside tomorrow, but I think it is time for me to start bringing the jumps in anyway...I will miss having the bigger space to create wacky jump courses outside!

So, with cold weather on the way, it is also time to think of warm weather vacations...I have one for Clare and Joan: Reno, Nevada. It is the 25th Anniversary of the Friesian Horse Association! Maile who owns Gjelt and Aiden has been invited to ride in it for a Canadian Breeder...how cool is that! The show has Friesians doing all sorts of things including western riding, jumping, and Chariot racing!

I can't imagine being the judge at a Friesian show though...how would you keep track of the different entries?

Karen

I had hoped my luck would hold and I could finish lessons before the storm...but alas Kelsey, Joan and I were not so lucky...we got seriously sand blasted. I thought we could wait out the first blast of wind...but it just built and built until we couldn't see for all the sand in the air. Yikes! We made it in safely thank goodness...albeit a little gritty. I think Joan helped conjure up the wind to get out of continuing to jump tonight.

Dexter was re-energized by the wind and galloped around annoying the rest of the boys. Hopefully this wind meant that the crazy hot weather is done with and we can get back to more seasonal weather. Training horses when it is this hot is not so much fun...I try to get as much done as possible outside before it gets hot, and then work inside later in the day. Sailor was one of the horses that ended up being worked inside today, so I decided to lunge him over a jump to introduce him to the idea and see if he has talent there...he certainly does! He jumped very cute and looks like he would make an efficient and careful jumper or eventer type. What a cutey.

Karen

Wow is the moon ever bright tonight! I don't even think it is a full moon yet. It is taking a bit to get used to the combo of the heat and the early nightfall. I start lessons overly hot, and by the end of the evening I want my jacket!

I guess all the kids are back at school now. Must be hard to sit in class knowing how nice it is outside.

We have a few horses to lease starting this fall: Rocky, Sunny, Tango and Buddy could all use some more work. Let me know if you are interested.

Sailor the lovely draft cross that has been here for the last 5 weeks needs a new home too...his owners new house has more problems than they expected, so all their time, money and energy is going there. Hopefully Rob can help me get some photos of me on him before his time here is up. I want to try free jumping him too. Here is the info/photos I have so far... http://www.compassionatehorsetraining.com/sailor.html If you know anyone who may be interested pass his info along and they can make an offer!

Karen

This week in lessons...

This week in lessons we are working on a few things: transitions on a straight line, picking up canter while circling/steering (multi tasking!), and hair pin turns when jumping (as seen at Eyeford).

Diesel and Christine pleasantly surprised me with their ability to manage the hair pin turns today...apparently they should have been at the show on Saturday! It was cool to see just how far that pair has come!

Karen

Every once and a while I have a training moment when things just click...when the horse learns something and in turn I learn something new about the horse. I had such a moment with Gjelt today. Despite being leery of Ginger in the tall grass, he finally seemed to understand the concept of leg yielding at the trot, and even balanced back into self carriage for a few steps while doing it. With that understanding came the ability to use my leg more for balancing and steering...and it turns out Gjelt loves the outside leg back. Suddenly the big boy was lighter on the forehand, and was able to carry himself on a circle that may have actually passed for a circle! His canter improved immensely too with this knowledge. Riding him was so much easier that it was hard to want to get off! He also became much more forward at trot and at walk, which was a welcome change.

So from that success I got on Aiden. Aiden was a little fresh, so I decided it was a good day to work on cantering...and he managed to canter the entire way around the arena today! He also trotted poles like a champ. I think he is going to be a lovely hunter when he grows up. He kind of reminds me of a spunkier Shawn.

Sailor has a bug bite right where the girth would go, so we did ground work instead...which he loved, and he finally stood quietly for bug spray on his belly.

Last for the morning was Dexter. I was still pumped from the earlier success so had planned to do some serious dressage work, but once Dexter had his bridle on he gave me this look..."it is too hot and I am too tired and wasn't I good enough yesterday you can't possibly ask me to work hard again today let's not go into the arena"...so we went for a trail ride. He seemed to enjoy that decision. We went for a little over an hour...him playing tourist and me trying to work on a better seat. Riding on the uneven ground of the great outdoors turns out to be a pretty good way of making sure of an independent deep seat, as it is hard to predict what the horse's next step is going to feel like.

I am a little annoyed though with all the garbage in the ditches...in particular the beer cans and bottles. Is it drunk rednecks or kids trying to hide the booze from their parents? I wish they would at least stick to cans...I worry about a horse getting cut on a bottle if they step on it.

Karen