Didn't get what you wanted this Christmas? Have no fear, I have the perfect gift you can get for yourself...a tea cup piglet! I suppose their upside is that they don't shed or claw the furniture. Aside from that they seem an odd pet choice.

For Christmas I got a sick horse and a kick to the head. It was great. Oh, I also got a really nice camera from Rob, and a lovely necklace from my parents. Wait...come to think of it, Dexter gave me the camera...(I think he wants to make sure he doesn't get sent for glue seeing as he is not rideable any time soon). The cats gave me an Air Purifier, and Ginger gave me things for the CRV.

Ginger got TWO balls for Christmas. One squeaks. And squeaks. And squeaks. Ginger can make it squeak in the most pitiful manner if you opt to not throw it for her or want her to stop squeaking it for a while....it may have to be banned from the house.

Poor Rob had all sorts of plans for the week, but it looks like he is stuck helping me in the barn during the times Natalie is not out until I am fully functional again. We were both thrilled to spend most of the morning/afternoon in the hospital. Apparently neck injuries get you in fast though. I think it helped that I wore a turtleneck too, as I had to take it off to get the neck brace on, and so of course I needed to be in a room, and I think once you are in a room they want you out of that room as soon as possible. Or maybe it was because I smelled like a barn and likely had bad morning breath too....

I saw irony in the nurse having to drip Children's Motrin into my mouth via a syringe...it even smelled a little like bute. Although I always offer the horse's a treat after being given bute...the nurse did not!

Thanks to Nicole, Laureen and Carolyn (tamara's mom) for helping out today!

And the sick horse seems to be getting better, so fingers crossed for her too. It doesn't seem like anything contagious, just some odd, albeit mild, symptoms....that of course had to show up on Christmas morning. I am sure Lana (our vet) was thrilled to hear from me on Christmas day!

I hope you all had a great Christmas though!

Karen

Anyone else have this problem?

So why am I planning to be out shopping on Christmas Eve Eve? Because I have a significant other who goes out and buys himself gifts on the week before Christmas. And not obscure things, but something he had been talking about wanting.

Isn't there an unwritten rule about not buying things for yourself in the week before Christmas?

But I have learned from past years, that this is the case, so off I will go later today to fight the crowds to finish my shopping.

As an aside, I didn't think there was a good toy store in Sherwood Park, but the Laugh n' Learn on baseline near Save-On has some pretty cool stuff!

I hope everyone else is done there shopping so they can sit back and enjoy the holidays!

Karen

Finally a Christmas party when it isn't 30 below out! Thank you to everyone who came, and I hope that all of you who spent the day at home sick are feeling better soon.

Miranda won the match the poopy stall contest, and we had a three way tie for the "which horse is this" contest where I took close up shots of certain distinctive parts of horses and had people try to match it with the horse. Three people got 7 out of ten, with Kelsey winning in a draw. (Clare and Joan were the other two top finishers I think). I still have the poster in the barn if anyone else wants to see if they can make a guess.

We might need a bigger barn for next year's party!

Yesterday I spent the day judging an in barn show at Cholchester. They had a variety of classes including dressage, hunter, western, english, command class, and showmanship. It was a long day with the judged classes going from 9 to 4:40, but we managed to stay close to on time.

Judging dressage was harder than I expected, particularly in a small ring, as the different moves happen so quickly that it is hard to find time to make a comment on one move, while still watching/judging the next move. The first level tests were the worst as they way they have some of the scoring isn't even in the same order as the movement; The rider has to do a free walk a short diagonal, then turn fairly sharply and do a medium walk across the next short diagonal....yet the score card has you mark the free walk, then the medium walk, THEN the transition between the two...which is followed right away by a score for a trot and canter transition, and then another score for a canter circle...comes up way to quickly! Thank goodness my scribe was on the ball.

I am surprised to find though, that I am SORE from judging! How pathetic is that? Standing for that long or sitting on a hard bleacher is apparently harder than cleaning stalls and riding all day. if I judge jumping there again, I must remember a seat cushion!

Karen

When I was young I remember there being a lot of snow before Christmas. I only remember one "green" Christmas in my childhood...and being a kid, not having snow was such a disappointment! Lately though, it is seemed that December is just as likely to have grass still showing as not...and as an adult it is such a pain in the butt to have so much snow while doing Christmas running around! Amazing how a few decades of age can change perception so much. I guess the skiers and snowmobilers are likely happy though...and kids under the age of 12!

Natalie and I decorated the barn yesterday; Flair was not impressed by the little Christmas tree. Not sure if her silliness was due to her knowledge that trees do NOT belong in the barn, or if she was making a commentary about our decorating skills...everybody is a critic. Milo on the other hand seemed oddly disinterested in the garland and Christmas balls. What sort of cat isn't fascinated by shiny objects?

Speaking of cats, our stray has a name now; Rolo. You may have seen Rolo without knowing it; he is a tabby so can be mistaken for Milo at first glance, but he is a little fluffier, and a lighter coloured tabby with more white on his chin and chest. Rolo is also likely to be the fattest stray cat you will ever see. We feed our stray cats well.

I am hoping that if the weather stays cold he will move on to our covered deck as Milo did a couple years ago, and we can catch him that way and get him looked after at the vets. I think Rolo is a true feral cat though, and not an abandoned pet who was pretending to be wild like Milo.

I know the roads have kept many of you safe at home, but fear not, the horses are doing well and seem to be enjoying playing in the snow...well except Lily who cannot comprehend what she did to deserve this, and Brie who didn't want to leave her shelter all day yesterday despite being fully covered in a fluffy blanket.

I like the idea of the full neck blankets on windy and snow days like yesterday, so I am slowly trying to outfit the lesson horses with new neck covering blankets. So far Zander and Rocket have been the lucky recipients of new blankets. Zander was less than thrilled as he ended up being allergic to the blanket I got for him....fortunately he is not allergic to his new blanket, and the one I bought for him has been passed to Rocket. Of course a side effect of the full neck blankets is that the horse's name will be pressed flat...is Rocket still Rocket if his mane is not standing straight up? I hope his super powers are not contained in his spikes....

karen

This week in lessons...

This week in lessons we are working on Broken Lines and different ways to ride them. Hopefully the snow we are supposed to get today doesn't make it hard to get to the barn!

We are also doing a little work on Counter Canter.

...

Christmas Party Update: Thanks in part to Tudor Tack Shoppe, we will have Door Prizes at the Christmas Party. Names of clients that come to the party will be drawn throughout the afternoon to win one of 10 or so horsey prizes! If you have any questions about the party, post them in comments, give me a call, or send me an email! Anyone who has been a Hillside Client in 2010 is welcome to come, as are family members!

Karen

Wow, it is actually looking like it might be warm for the Hillside Christmas Party on Saturday! That would be nice for a change...

Went to Rob's work Christmas party on the weekend. I like dressing up, but hate the late nights, particularly with Flair needing medication that takes a fair bit of time to give at night. It is just no fun staying up late when I have to be up before 7 each morning. Fortunately Rob has a cold so didn't want to stay late for this one, so we had planned to be home at a decent time...but the company held us hostage with the lure of door prizes! Not not just any door prizes, they had big screen TVs, a fancy Bar-B-Que, Blue Ray players and so on... and they dragged out the draws....draw a few tickets, then give some speaches. Draw a few more, then have some loud music playing for dancing (music from the 70's it seemed....). But the lure of the big ticket items held us captive even though I was pretty much falling asleep on Rob's shoulders. But did we win any of the 50+ door prizes? Nope...and neither did anyone at our table.

The most entertaining part of the evening was the eclectic mix of outfits; from people in jeans and a sweater, to the girl in a short black dress with BRIGHT PINK high heels. Then there was the girl with the veil. Who wears a veil? Looked cool, but out of place.

I escaped the music briefly by making a run to the ladies room...which I thought would be a nice quiet place, but this girl was having a very loud conversation while sitting in a stall, with two people at the sink...two people she apparently didn't even know! (she was complaining about the prize she won...she was bitter she won something before the TV's had been given out). I found the toilet talking very odd. Maybe she was trying to talk over whatever she was doing in the stall?

And it seems my Luminosity training to help with remembering names isn't helping so far...I only remembered 4 names from the party...unlike in the games, I can't really sit and just stare at someone for a minute to try to figure out how to remember their name. Fortunately I am unlikely to come across most of those people anytime soon! Still, I would like to be able to remember people's names as well as I do horse's names!

Karen

Brie

Had some fun trying something new with Brie today.

It was harder than I thought; Brie was good, but perhaps I should have started out by practicing flatwork without a bridle before attempting to jump without one. The tricky part was knowing what to do with my hands; when I would pull left, the neck rope would slide left and I didn't know what to do with my right hand and vice versa. The other tricky part was steering with leg but not having her interpret that as an invitation to go forward.

She is a super fun mare who tolerates my foibles well. Hopefully we can find her a great home that appreciates her and will treat her in the manner to which she deserves!

Karen

This week in lessons

This week in lessons we are working on:
1) Bending lines.
2) Trot and canter cavaletti grids (to improve gaits and rider balance)

It will be fun.

Karen

Ginger

Poor Ginger had been behaving oddly of late. Looking sad and mopey. Alternatively staring at me like I should do something to help her, and shunning me. I thought she was in mourning over the loss of Mike as the timing fit. But no, she was in mourning for the loss of her green ball. She is now revived, rejuvenated, and regingerfied with the purchase of a new green ball...one that mercifully does not squeak. She even slept with it a few nights.

She even picked the ball over a visiting puppy. If only we could all find completeness and happiness in such a simple (and cheap) way.

I should learn and stock up on balls though...hopefully this one isn't left in the snow to hide until spring...

Karen

Christmas Party!

The Hillside Christmas Party is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday December 18th, from 2-4 pm. As per usual we will have a secret Santa gift exchange ($22 value), Hillside trivia contests for prizes, and a snack type potluck with Hillside providing the drinks, plates and cutlery. We are also hoping to arrange to have samples of our logo wear for people to try on for size in case they wish to place an order. We will also be discussing our show schedule for 2011.

The party is open to all Hillside Clients and friends, as well as their families. We have lots of new clients this year and want to give everyone the opportunity to get to know each other!

Hope to see you then!

Oh...and it tends to be -30 on the day of our Christmas party so plan for a cold weekend!

Karen

Games

Games make learning fun, and work less boring. I try to think of games or other fun ways to train the horses or to keep riding interesting so I don't get stale and the horses don't get bored with a winter in the indoor arena. Today's game for Tango was a new invention that I shall call "Flair Attack". The game involved turning Flair loose in the arena while I ride Tango. Tango and Flair are friends, and as Flair can't go outside for a while, it is a good opportunity to get her out of her stall yet under supervision.

Phase one of the game involves riding Tango while Flair tried to cut us off, or stops dead on the track because something catches her attention. What is really interesting is how much faster Flair can trot vs Tango!

Phase two of the game is tricky...once Flair tires of cutting us off, I have to be on the watch for her attempting to roll...she is not allowed to roll until her eye is more healed, but the tube going into her eye is getting itchy, so she really wants to roll...so at the first site of her going down to roll, Tango and I have to race over to distract and discourage her...at which point she swishes her tail at us to show her displeasure. Tango is better at racing away rather than towards something...so this is a good game to get her more alert and ready to go.

Perhaps all dressage riders should ride with a loose horse in the arena...there would be a lot less staring down or at the back of their horse's head if that was the case!

For non-barn/horse entertainment to fight my brain turning to mush over winter is :http://www.lumosity.com Very addictive. I like the word games. The Penguin game is painful for me...I am NOT good at it and my poor penguin keeps finding himself being rammed head first into the walls....

Have fun this winter!

Karen

Important information for cat owners.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/kitty_pet

Karen

Did the dvd fairy visit your house too?

I went out to the barn to feed last night, and found the dvd fairy had visited, leaving a video on how to get your %!&@(^ horse into the trailer...well, that is not the actual title....I think it is something like "Get'em in the Trailer", but I like my title better. I wonder if the fairy left it for Laureen...curious.

I wonder when the Chocolate Fairy is due to come? Or the New Laces for my Boots Fairy?
....
I went to visit little Morgan mare at the vet clinic yesterday. She seems quite happy despite now having a tube sewn into her head. The tube was inserted so that eye drops could be administered more easily, with less risk of accidentally poking the eye. Her eye looks good and isn't goopy. Hopefully she is able to leave the vet clinic on Monday. She will have to be in the barn for a while though to keep the eye safe and warm.

Karen

Experiments that just aren't worth it...

You may not want to read this if you are squeamish..

You remember when you were young, kids would dare each other to lick a metal pole? The metal in the pole would conduct its cold to the tongue and cause insta freeze of tongue to pole...and unless the victim was patient enough to wait for someone to pour warm water on the tongue, then a portion of tongue is left on the pole.

That is bad enough...now imagine it was your eye and not your tongue stuck to the pole. And it is -30 out.

That is what we speculate happened to the poor little Morgan I am training. Found chunks of ice stuck to her face when I fed, so had Natalie bring her in to clear her up...but we couldn't seem to get all the puss/gunk out and it just didn't look like a case of hay stuck in the eye so we called Delaney Vet to come out. Meagan was also expecting a mere eye infection. Instead she found that the remaining white stuff pooled in her bottom eye lid was not in fact puss, but rather rolled up cornea. She had peeled the front half of her cornea, with just a 1/4 thickness left to hold her eye in. That is gross.

No noticeable tears or damage to any other part of her eye, so it doesn't look like it was hit...it was as if (in Meagan's words) someone just peeled it off. Our best speculation is that she somehow hit her open eye to something very cold and metal. And the cornea stuck. Fortunately enough was left so that the eye innards didn't fall out.

So, the poor mare is in the barn for a while. She is on multiple eye drops 4 times a day and pain medication. The vet will be in touch and will come back out for further treatment once we know how much of the cornea is still alive...the dead part will be removed.

And I hate the idea of even putting contact lenses in...

Poor little girl.

Karen

Welcome Perseus

Nicole's new horse arrived safe and sound yesterday and proved himself to be sane for his first ride today. Percy is a tall black gelding who is being kept with Coda and Chris for a while so we can pile hay into him...he is a tad on the thin side. He is also a tad on the obnoxious side. Reminds me a LOT of Jerry, not only in look, but also in how obnoxious he is in the barn! Nicole has her work cut out for her in that respect.

karen

The benefits of aging

Despite what young people think there truly are benefits to getting older.

I think a benefit of being truly old (as in people look at you and can see your days are numbered) is that you have the freedom to speak your mind. The withered old lady can get away with commenting on your weight, unmarriedness, or bad hair cut and somehow get away with it. Age gives the freedom to abandon the internal filter of political correctness.

I myself find that I am firmly entrenched in middle age. And with the arrival of middle age comes a certain freedom...the freedom to be comfortable rather than fashionable. Warm rather than "cool". And it is good.

When I was a kid I remember that the "cool" winter boots were either Moon Boots or these tan insulated hiking boots. Everyone in my family had the hiking boots. I wanted the hiking boots, but alas neither they nor the moon boots would fit my deformedly narrow feet and ankles. So what would fit? Ladies dress boots. These were not cool. So instead of wearing the dress boots I wore runners in the winter. Frozen feet were better than wearing uncool boots on the way to and from school...

Now that I am accepting of my middle agedness, I want warm feet, and I don't care what is on my feet to get it....but I still have to deal with my chicken feet. So this weekend I was thrilled to find some insulated rubber boots at Welshes that actually fit my feet and legs. The fact that they are brown, with off-white, rust, green, and yellow swirly patters (aka ugly) matters not. They fit and are warm. And to top of off, I wear them with my pant legs TUCKED IN! Good thing I don't have kids; they would be mortified.

I also would never wear a toque as a kid...it would lead to staticy hair and I couldn't have that. Frozen ears were preferred. Now I am ok going out in public in my goofy looking Mennonite fuzzy ear flap hat. I want warm ears, and I figure the static in my hair will help keep the hay in place.

Yes, I am quite a catch...Rob is one lucky man...

Karen

I think Peter Pan and Rocket are related...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWd_r2sOPhs

Karen

So I know it is cold, and driving is likely not much fun....but isn't it pretty out?

The snow makes it seem so much brighter and cleaner and the early mornings don't seem so dark and dreary with the coating of white.

Now the frozen nasal drippings as I feed hay I could do without...

The horses seem to be enjoying themselves in the snow though. Well...other than Lily who didn't know what to think when the barn door opened to reveal a ledge of snow out the barn door yesterday! She is not entirely sure what she did to deserve being brought here from California...

Stay warm and drive carefully!

Karen

Well it seems winter is here. A skiff of snow was on the ground when I woke up and it has continued to snow since. Good think one of the new training horses is hard to catch...I would hate for it to be warm and sunny while I coerce him to come in to the barn.

Horses seem ok other than being a little miffed that their hay would blow away.

I guess the cold and snow was bound to come sooner or later. It was just the wind I could do without.

Karen

Road Trip!

I have been needing a vacation for a while now. A change of scene to refresh my mind. Rob and I talked about getting away this fall, but with his new work project, Mike's illness, and Coregel's stall rest, it just wasn't to be. So when Rob suggested a road trip to see his project in Hardisty, it sounded like it might be the closest thing to a vacation I might get! I planned to go on Saturday as Nat looks after barns and lessons, so I could leave right after hauling over a new training horse...I figured I could leave by 10 at the latest.

But the fates continued to be against my ever leaving the area; Natalie had the flu and wouldn't be able to work. I was not willing to give up so easily though, so I got up extra early to do barns, rebooked her lessons, picked up the new training horse (cute little arab named Embers...looks like Zander crossed with a Marshmallow), cleaned up quickly, loaded stuff to take (including Ginger) and was off before 11 am. Later than I thought, but I was determined to go!

We arrived at 1pm, which was perfect timing it seems, as Rob was able to take me on site to view the work while the men broke for lunch. It is an impressively large project. As far as I can tell they are building alien landing pads. (you can just barely make out round landing pads in this photo)

Some great toboggan hills around there too (poor Rob was showing me all the work they are doing and that was my comment...)

Ginger was both excited and confused to find Rob at the end of our drive!

We then went to lunch at a small town diner, complete with 5 old farts that look like they spend all day there nursing the same cup of coffee. My tomato noodle soup had carrots, onions and potatoes in it...but no noticeable noodles. I had to pick the potatoes out...I didn't think to ask if tomato noodle soup would have potatoes...now I know to ask...

Time was running out as I had to head home to do afternoon chores, but I got to see where Rob lives when away (not a bad place), and we checked out a touristy looking log general store...which offers things like Tarot Card reading, Rainshower massage, and Resonance Rebalancing.

I would have liked to have had time to take Ginger for a walk down by the lake, but it was time to head home.

So that was my vacation...go me.

Karen

2011 already?

Amberlea already has their 2011 show schedule up!

http://www.amberleameadows.com/Horse%20Shows.htm

Karen

New Training Horses

Two new horses came in for training yesterday. They came a bit later than expected and arrived under the cover of darkness while I was teaching, so this morning is the first time I really got a good look at them. The big black/bay one is Coda; he is a very tall Quarter Horse. The pretty bay is Chris. Chris is a Trakhener and is also a good size. They are both for sale if anyone is looking for a young, good sized prospect!

Chris doesn't seem to understand what Crunchies are...that will be his first lesson.

I brought Coda in to the arena today, and he is a very curious fellow...rather than just stand by the outgate, he wandered around looking at the jumps and even walked over a vertical all on his own just as his owners came to see him!

They also brought Chris' dad for us to try out; nice horse but not quite what we are looking for, for Nicole, but may make someone a very nice hunter/jumper if they are willing to work through some greeness.Very nice to ride on the flat, and quite soft/light in the mouth.

Karen

I used to like the "Fall Back" daylight savings time...but my brain is so used to getting up at the same time everyday, that it just means I am up an hour earlier and so have that hour less of sleep! Maybe I need to live in Saskatchewan where daylights savings time never changes.

Is anyone going to the rodeo? Rob and I went to Farm Fair on the weekend. It isn't like it used to be; not nearly the farming stuff, and no big equipment. Must have been too expensive to rent the space needed. This year there is one room for kid orientated stuff (including a "what we get from horses section that shocked me...do kids really want to hear that horses are used to make violin strings and are eaten in France?). There did seem to be a lot of kids in there learning how to grow herbs, and rope a fake cow...or clean a stall.

The next room was "Buy Local" where local producers sold a variety of things. We spent a fair bit in that room! Lots of samples and really good stuff. The silly berry man didn't bring any berries to sell though...he didn't think anyone would want to cart around 10lbs of frozen berries....as I stood there with a 10 lbs box of other stuff.

Then there was the main trade show stuff. Stopped at the orthodics booth, but $399 for a shoe insert? I am too cheap for that...plus not sure of the theory comparing the ball of my foot to a horse's frog, leading to the theory that more pressure on the ball of my foot would help me overall. We did by a fancy shower head though. And a book. Tried on winter muck boots, and looked at fancy horse trailers.

Might not be a bad place to do some Christmas shopping I suppose.

We also looked at all the cute little Quarter Horses getting ready for the sale. There were some cuties! Small though...but obviously well fed and groomed. Rob and I were looking at one sad looking yearling whose stall was wet as he had tipped his water over...so as we are standing there looking at him, his owner comes over and says "tipped his water over again? Dumb ass"

Yes...that is how you sell a horse.

I wonder what the prices were?

Karen

Remember it is daylight savings tonight! This is the good one where you get to sleep in an hour...with the downside being it is a prelude to the dark cold winter months...

Hey, Michelle, just for you: videos of Warrior:

Oct 15

November

Karen

So apparently the flu is making the rounds. Great. Who wants to be sick during what is likely the last nice days of the year? I prefer to only be sick when it is -30 and I wouldn't want to be outside anyway.

A reminder too, that it is daylight savings time this weekend! So if you have a lesson on Sunday, be sure that you changed your clock and hour back so you don't show up an hour early!

Karen

If you are like me and check out the horse ads on Kijiji, it is plain to see the horse industry is in a bad state even in Alberta, where the economy didn't full out tank. The ads are flooded with both very young and quite old equines, mostly of the QH or Paint variety. Many of the ads are familiar to me as they have been refreshed and redone over and over. What is even sadder is to read the market reports from the local horse auctions:
Westlock Auction
Tofield Auction

Note how many stock breeds there are, and what percentage of those went to the dealers. How many untrained, but adult horses. Also note how high some of those meat horses went for...I have no idea what the per pound value of horse meat is, but it is apparently higher than I thought for those prices to make sense. Now I know the dealers don't drive around to check out horses advertised on Kijiji, but it does make me worry about the horses for sale for under $600, and makes me wonder about the ads for people wanting horses for super cheap (I would like a potential jumper for under $350 please, or a pony that is rateable for under $200). How many of those ads are honest? I have been around enough to know that people will use kids to get sellers to sell them a horse for cheap...that is then sent off to slaughter for a quick buck.

Now I am not against slaughter, I just wish it was much more humane, and that people truly understood when they bred their random QH mare, that this was going to be the fate of the baby.

Seems very sad that there are so many unwanted horses, and it makes it very difficult to find good homes for less than perfect horses. On the flip side though, there are not that many good quality jumping prospects out there for sale...just a flood of 14.3 hand stock breed horses.

So why so many homebred unwanted stock breed horses? I am sure part of it is because it is just so easy...lots of mares to be bought cheaply, and lots of people with stallions that will pasture breed a mare for a few hundred...no worries about ultrasounds and breeding exams in that world.

And further, there is incentive to breed...as a riding stable, you get a lower tax rate if you breed horses...so paying a few hundred to breed a couple mares may be financially worth it even if they only sell for a hundred dollars each at auction as weanlings. Perhaps the county should rethink this for the sake of the horse industry.

On a more postive note, our little pity buy Carma is going well. Wonderfully easy to get to the jumps, although still pretty green on the flat. Would love to find her some worth junior rider to take her to the show ring. I feel a tad on the big side on her, but plan to show her next spring if she is not sold. I would like to find her a new home so we can help another horse get a good start at a riding career!

If you want to do something to help horses in need, Bar NK rescue is holding a silent auction on their webpage/forum. Nicole Krill of Bar NK rescue helps take in and rehab a small number of horses, but on a larger scale she helps TB and Standardbred breeders find suitable homes for their race track failures; interviewing and screening potential buyers to make sure it is a good match. You can check out the Silent Action at: http://excoboard.com/barnkrescueandplacement/144263

Karen

Comings and goings...

Sailor and Tucker are back for the winter! Sailor is back in his usual stall, and this year Tucker gets to be in the barn too. He doesn't seem to be so sure about it though...and has quite a high pitched whinny.

Lily and Kokanee will be moving in to the barn starting tomorrow...it was nice having only three stalls to clean for a while, but also good to have the barn more full for the winter.

Calvin left today to go back to Grand Prairie for the winter...we are hoping more time off will help him recover from whatever happened to him this summer. Apparently they got rid of the tail chewing goats, so hopefully his tail recovers fully too.

Triton and Christine left on Saturday, so one less black and white pinto around the place. We look forward to seeing them at shows next year though!

.....
I took Ginger for a walk in Sherwood Park today. We walked around Clarkdale Meadows checking out the rather impressive Halloween decorations...and one house that was already decorated for Christmas...

City folk take their dogs to the country for a treat, but to a country dog, the intense smells of the city and all the sights and sounds...and the paved bike path...all heaven. She was a little peeved when I wouldn't let her chase a bunny. I tried to tell a toddler that Ginger was really a kid dressed up in a really good costume.

I was surprised a little by how early teens were out tricker treating. I could see little kids out by 6pm, but teens? I was also shocked by the teen girls in rather slutty costumes. Seriously? Walking door to door in the dark in slutty outfits? Short skirts, fishnet stockings, overdone makeup. To parties...maybe acceptable. Trick or treating? Dangerous.

When I was young, I don't even remember going tricker treating past elementary school, so maybe that was why my costumes were so tame. I remember dressage up as Santa, as a cat, and as a horse. I liked the horse costume the best of course. I made costumes designed to be able to be warm...it seemed that we were more likely to have snow on Halloween back then.

Of course we don't get any tricker or treaters out here on the farm...doesn't stop me from stocking up on candy though!

Karen

Why are we sometimes drawn to "window" shop for things we know we can't have...*sigh*...

Hey, Laureen, maybe you and I should head to Germany in December to find a horse for Nicole...

Check out this one being auctioned off in December:
Balcord Oh, wait, he is a stallion...size, XL...no idea what that means, although I am sure that is how most "stallions" would choose to label themselves.

Odd how most of the geldings are the greys. I wonder if that is a coincidence? I like this gelding though.

I like this one too...check out the video...the horse is just being ridden back and forth down a path, with the videographer apparently driving alongside. I have never seen it done quite that way before. No need to show turning or transitions...just each gait back and forth.

Sadly, the black gelding is likely one of the cheaper models as he doesn't have the show record or flash of the others, yet is likely going to sell for more in Euros than all of my horses would sell for combined in dollars.

PSI has done a nice job of acquiring nice horses and what a beautiful property.

So...Germany anyone?

Karen

If Ginger was a horse...

If Ginger was a horse, this would be her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emxI-nRGWBE

I love the look the horse gives the ball in the end...

Karen

Fingers crossed...

Coregel gets to start going outside soon...she will be drugged and in a tiny pen, but still, it has been three months since she has been out of her stall loose! The next step seems to be 2 months in a pen to get her moving a bit, then recheck her to see how she is doing. If she seems to be ok I am supposed to start working her...I guess work will help the healing from that stage forward. Although for now I am just hoping she survives turnout!

Karen

Is it ever going to stop snowing?

Rob thought I would be excited to take the CRV out to test the All Wheel Drive...no thanks! I am happy staying off the road on the first real snow fall for the year! I hope all of you got to work and then home safe today.

Karen

I planned to take the morning off, with Natalie looking after the barn and lessons, but the house was indeed too quiet today and things just seems off kilter without a Mikey to look after.

I considered it must be odd for Ginger to suddenly be an only dog now. Mike was here when she arrived, and they have done pretty much everything together. So I decided to take her for a walk out back. It has been a while since I have walked out there on foot rather than on horseback. So many more details to be seen on foot. And I realized once again that I would be a very spooky horse!

The spec at the to of the photo is Milo who tried to tag along.

Can you spot the Quail/Pheasant in the tree? Yes, I screamed as it squawked and ran up the tree as I passed.

Later on I passed by some long grass and was again scared when I heard a lot of rustling in the grass...but apparently whatever was making the noise was invisible as I could not see a thing. Ginger was quite excited by the smells though, so perhaps a snake?

Too quiet in the house...

We put Mike down today at 4pm; at the same time the sun made its brief appearance. The vet came out to our farm, so his last sights and smells were of the Farm.

Earlier in the day we took Mike and Ginger to Katie's Crossing to smell the smells and to dine on forbidden treats like vinegar soaked French Fries and Onion rings. I think the food and a squirrel were the highlights for the dogs.

Mike definitely still found enjoyment in his day which made the decision that much harder. How do you know you have made the right decision when it comes to something so final?

It tore me up to see Mike struggling to breath and stumbling on his disobedient hind legs. I wanted him to go with some dignity and to have both Rob and I there with him. But it is still hard to think of him being gone. I am so used to listening for him, waiting for him, and looking out for him. I feel a little lost.

Sleep well Mikey. You are missed.

Karen

I finally received the theraputic ultra sound I ordered. I tried it on myself first...on the medium setting. I maybe felt something but not sure...at the very least it didnt' hurt, which is what i wanted to ensure before trying it on Coregel's hind leg.

The treatment lasts for 10 minutes a day...which isn't that long, but seems like forever when you are bent over beside a very restless 2 year old's hind leg! After the treatment she needs to be wrapped in a tight support wrap (which she HATES) and then handwalked for 10 minutes. Hand walked! Finally! Seems like forever since she went on stall rest.

Started off just walking her down the alley. She was like a kid at Disneyland for the first time...everything looked so exciting and new, but she would just start to look at one thing when the next thing would catch her eye/ears! I tried walking her a bit in the arena, but she heard Natalie drop something in the barn (not even loudly!) and that was far too exciting and involved leaping and bounding...and wrenching my arm...so back to the barn. next time; chain shank.

Hopefully the novelty of actually getting out to walk wears off soon and she settles in to the new routine. Lana will be out to check her on Tuesday and we will see how she is doing. Fingers crossed!

I have also managed to get most of the horses dewormed this week; only a few more to do. This Equimax smells nice, but the horses don't seem to appreciate it much. So far Piper, Coregel, Zander and Flair have been the easiest to deworm.

Karen

The Story of Mike

As some of you may have noticed, our old dog Mike isn't doing so well. He has been having trouble lately with his breathing and isn't responding all that well to the medication, so it seems likely that this will be his last week with us; hopefully enjoying a sunny fall week.

Mike came into Rob and my life in December of 2002. We had just moved to our farm, and decided we needed a farm dog. Rob wanted something big...I wanted something that weighed less than I did! We opted to go to the SPCA to look. Rob looked in the cages, while I just read the notes on top, trying not to look at the wishful eyes starting out of each cage. I wanted a dog that didn't come with warning labels. At the very end of the row, there was Mike. No warning labels, and sitting oddly quietly while the other dogs barked like mad (Rob says he saw him barking, but I did not).

So we had them take him out, and we visited with him in the little room for that purpose. I think we may have taken him for a walk too. Poor guy had been in the SPCA for 6 months, and had been there before....we were his 4th adoption (yes, that had me a little worried). His lacked muscle and was definitely ready to be out of there.

Back at the farm he was in heaven! Running like a crazy man (and quickly learning that horses do NOT like to have their bum sniffed!)

He also didn't take long to convince Rob that my "no dogs on the bed" rule was unjustified.

And he has been a good companion ever since...

Well aside from the many brushes with porcupines, and habit of going through garbages when left along in the house...that was always lovely to come home to...I think Rob would stay late at work just to make sure I was the first one back!

But he has been good with our many visitors; human, equine and canine, and a good friend to our various cats (our now deceased cat Henry would climb on Mike to get onto the bed when he was a kitten...). And how many dogs would accept a duck sleeping in their bed?

I am sure Mike's favourite memories include trips in the Blue Truck...particularly those to the farm in Mundare or to family dinners involving Turkey!

He also did a great job of training Ginger.

When the time comes to say goodbye, it will be hard. He has been a part of this place as much as anyone or anything.

Karen

Wow, the Chili Miner rescue is impressive. http://atdhe.net/watch-bbc-news.php

I cannot imagine being locked in that tiny capsule and being slowly dragged up an very long and dark shaft...but I guess you average miner isn't likely to be claustrophobic!

I hope they are able to get them all up safely. It must seem like forever to those waiting to be pulled up...and for those waiting up top to see a loved one again.

Karen

I find it very odd/annoying/unscrupulous to see a barn advertising their facilities and services by using clip art or photos taken/stolen from someone else's website.

I find it equally odd/annoying/unscrupulous to see a trainer advertising their services using a picture that is of neither them, nor a horse they trained.

Ug.

Karen

What is in Convenience store egg salad sandwiches that makes them last for 10 days?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are all having a great Thanksgiving featuring friends, family and food!

Rob and I spent some time on Saturday at the Blackfoot with the dogs.

They were pretty happy to get to smell new smells! There were sure a lot of other people there, including a dozen or so horse trailers. Poor Ginger wanted to join in a soccer game and was very disappointed to not be allowed to join in.

Having the CRV has been great with the dogs; the back seats fold down to create a little doggy pen, and it is so much easier to help Mike into.

Sunday night we went to my parents for a traditional Turkey dinner. It was yummy. Something about the traditional family holiday dinners that is the ultimate in comfort food. Dad is doing great and has put on considerable weight since the spring, so my family was obviously pretty thankful about that!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Karen

Not sure who I am more impressed with; the rider, the horse, or the person that trained the horse!

http://www.dressagedaily.com/index.php?option=a_content&view=article&id=5503:stinna-tange-kaastrup-of-denmark-wins-double-bronze-in-para-world-equestrian-games&catid=282:maryblog&Itemid=381

Karen

Living in the moment

A little while ago I was reading an article in National Geographic about a tribe in Africa, that was one of the last known true hunter-gatherer tribes. They did not do any farming, or keep any livestock. They did not store food or plan for a rainy day. They were not nomadic. Rather they lived in an area that was able to provide for them as they needed; when they were hungry for fruit, they went and picked fruit. When they were hungry for meat, they set out hunting.

They also lacked any sort of daily routine or timetable. They simply ate when hungry, slept when tired, or danced when they felt like it!

What was further interesting was their lack of a need for spirituality. They had a vague concept of God, but to them, God was the sun. They did not morn their dead any more than they might miss someone who was moving to another tribe. Until recently, they did not even bother to bury their dead, but rather left them to the wild life.

They also had a poor (or perhaps just different) concept of time. They had no idea of weeks, months or years, and did not fear the passing of time. Time was just something that happened around them and was not to be controlled or catalogued.

This fascinated me as I think that this is what it is like for our pets and our horses. They live in the present, focusing on their present needs and wants, and not fixating on past issues, or potential future concerns. Yes, they learn from their mistakes, but they do not dwell on them. Nor do they feel pressured by the passage of time, or fear the passage of time.

I realize that I spend too much time concerned about an uncertain future. I ruminate about possible choices and their possible subsequent outcomes. I worry about what ifs and what thens..often regarding things that do not even come to pass.

And then there is the tendency to dwell on the past and to allow the past to control or hold back from the future. Yes, you want to learn from the past, but the past should not be allowed to control us or hold us back.

A horse, or dog, or cat forgives us for accidentally bopping them on the nose. They forgive us for being grouchy one day and do not take it personally. They do not seek revenge for betrayal and they do not sulk because their friend did not invite them to a party. A horse is happy to go for grass or receive a carrot, and does not care if its friend is getting better grass or fancy cookies.

A person on the other hand, that gets betrayed by someone, will tend to ruminate about it, and may lash out at others trying to hurt them back. They will stew about it, talk about, and mope about it. They will blame the cosmos and cry woe is me. And they will let that betrayal affect them and how they deal with life. They will let that an incident become magnified until it is bigger than it actually was in the first place. A person will see others with more and forget to be thankful for what they themselves have.

A horse will take things one day at a time, while people will focus on time lines, deadlines and compare themselves to those around them. Do you think Zander cares if Tommy has a nicer blanket than him or can jump a bigger jump...not likely. Horses just learn, accept and take it day by day.

By the same token though, the well being of a horse, and its quality of life, is held by its present condition. While a person may set their current pains aside in hope of a better future, or may suffer though a long standing condition so that they can watch their children grow, a horse has no such concern for the future and placed no such value on holding on until a certain event takes place. Their quality of life is based on the NOW...a now that is shaped by the past but not controlled by it.

Just something to think about.

I have a horse in training whose owners aren't 100% sure is trainable. We will protect the identity of this horse by calling it Bob.

Bob has been in training for a while. The first time I went to get on Bob, Bob pretty much went down on his elbows. Literally. My feet almost touched the ground. This is not a good feeling. And as I didn't want to know what was to follow, I decided to get back off and continue with ground work. Fortunately Bob's owner has not set a timeline and would rather I continue at my own pace rather than be hurt or hurt the horse.

So more ground work. Followed by a week of just getting on and sitting there. Followed by a week of walking a bit under saddle, and trying to convince Bob it WAS ok to walk between a jump and the wall.

Bob remains nervous and flinchy, and a little unpredictable, so I tend to stay at the out gate end of the arena figuring if things go badly, Bob will likely head to the out gate for comfort. Yesterday was a good example of that; a beam of sunlight attacked Bob's bum while I was riding and he bolted away. Reins attached to a padded nose band do not offer much for breaks. Fortunately Bob remembered that stopping is the right answer to being scared, so we came to a stop with me still on, and we did manage to get some trot steps. ( I ride him without a bit because he is so flinchy/flighty I can't count on not grabbing at the reins, and I don't want to inadvertently snatch his mouth).

So today I got on Bob after walking him around the arena once. He was fine for me to get on. So off we went at the walk. For some reason my brain kicked into day dream mode and I completely forgot what horse I was on. It wasn't until we had walked all the way around the arena, past jumps, and by the far end, that it occurred to me I was on Bob. The horse that bolted the day before, and leaped past the jumps the week before. Yet today we could walk around while I day dreamed. (We later also trotted more or less all the way around the arena a few times...kind of a trot a few steps then walk, then trot, then walk, then trot...but I want Bob to be ok walking when he gets nervous).

And it got me thinking about how sometimes we get locked into a certain judgement about a horse and can forget to look/feel what is actually there, but rather continue to treat the horse based on what we expect due to past events. Yes, you should use past events to keep yourself safe and to build from, but at a certain point, we need to reassess, and be prepared to move on. For me it can really help if I do try to pretend I am on a different horse with a blank slate when I am working with a horse with a past issue.

I have seen this too in lessons when we switch horses...the horse goes better for the new rider who doesn't have some preconceived notions or tensions regarding the horse, and just rides the horse that is under them.

It is easier for me I suppose, because I ride 6-10 different horses in a week, so I am less likely to get stuck on one style and one reaction. Harder when you only have one horse, but still possible I think...you just have to be aware of habits and patterns in your riding, and switch something up. And also remember you can't keep doing the same thing and expect a different result...you are the rider; if you want the horse to change, you have to change something first!

Karen

Superstore in Sherwood Park had a make over.

The store is brighter and the isles are spacious.

But the cheese is scattered about the refrigerator sections. Why? Did the import cheese fight with the domestic cheese? And I am not talking about a few cases down....the fancy cheese is by the deli scattered in a variety of places, and the cheaper cheese is in the other corner of the store by the bread!

I do not like it. And I have no idea why the taco stuff is by the chips...or the light bulbs with the pasta?

Karen

Rob has been wanting me to get a car for a while now. Something I can take grocery shopping or drive back and forth to shows that is not the big blue truck. Although I could agree that the big blue truck was a PITA to park, and more expensive to run/maintain than a decent car, I loathed the idea of spending money on something non-horse related, and Rob wanted to buy new so that we knew the car's history. But last week my parents called explaining that they were upgrading their CRV and asked if I would like to buy the old one. I left the decision more or less up to Rob, and so now I have a dark green CRV to drive. It is a sensible vehicle with room in the back for tack, feed, or dogs. It is clean and AWD. And it only requires one parking stall unlike the big blue truck.

So they brought it out to the farm yesterday and my dad showed me all its buttons. Today Rob scrambled to get the insurance and plates, and by 11am I had a car to drive! Its first trip was to take Mike to the vets. Rob came with me to help get him in and out of the CRV, but then had to head back to work. Mike's breathing as been laboured lately and he is not comfortable. Vet did some checking and some x-rays and has prescribed some antibiotics to see if they help. So then it was time to go home. I unlocked the CRV and opening the door...HONK HONK HONK...WTF? Hit some buttons on the key fob to shut it up, and assumed I had accidentally hit the Panic button...so tried again; HONK HONK HONK (which is car speak for; look at the stupid girl who doesn't even know how to get into her car!).

Frick. Called my mom. Apparently for all they showed me yesterday, they left out one key bit of information; if you lock the door with the key fob, you must unlock it with the key fob and not the key. That would have been nice to know...

Karen

Just reading an other horse for sale ad for a jumper mare..."Helen Keller can do a lead change on this mare."

?!?

Spent today looking at horses for Nicole. First horse as a nearby acreage. Knew the horse hadn't done much for a couple years, bu seemed worth looking at. She was as advertised and was a nice looking mare and a good size, but she was just too green for what we are looking for...and not the simple/willing green like some horses...this mare has some spark. Be a good jumper prospect for someone wanting a project though. Priced well for what she looks like she could do. If anyone is looking for a green warmblood jumper she would be worth a look!

Also looked at a gelding that looked like he swallowed a small pony before we got there...he was FAT. Hard to accept the owner's claim he was being ridden five days a week for an our a ride. It was hot out, but even so, he was puffing after less than one lap of the arena! Good attitude and nice size though...may be worth going back for another look when he is more fit. I just find it frustrating to look at a horse that is advertised as being trained to a certain level, and then you go look at it, and the jumps are half the size the horse is supposedly able/fit to jump.

Neither one had a lead change either...darn it!

So this is what I should have done with Coregel...why on earth am I wasting my time keeping her wrapped and on stall rest and paying the vet to treat her when I could have just left her outside and then given her away and made her someone else's problem?

(left untreated an injury like Coregel's would leave her fetlock unstable and severe arthritis would develop).

Reading between the lines...another horse shopping afternoon.

Yeah, I am still looking at horses. Somehow my search took me to Ontario, where I came across this website.

http://hardyfarm.webs.com/horsesforsale.htm

We have the Kind of Cute Rimsky...who was born late, so was started as a four year old. That sounds ok...until you get further down and read about Joker who is only 2 and already started...and interestingly has Rimsky as a father.

Somewhere above Joker is a mare who is 5. They are quite proud of the fact she has already had 3 foals for them! Can you imagine Piper, Coregel or Cara pregnant and expecting?

So...if it is ok to ride Joker at 2, and breed the mare at 2, why was the first horse left until 4 to be started? Maybe I am reading too much into this, but horse shopping over the internet does seem to require a lot of reading between the lines.

I have also learnt to always click "view posters other ads". Best way to uncover a lazy scammer. Like the person with the ad for the Hanovarian gelding named Jack for $1700.00. Sounds too good to be true...because it is. A quick click of View posters other ads will show the same horse advertised in various provinces. The scam isn't even that clever in its carry through either...the person claims the horse was in what ever province you inquire about, but that the owner moved to the UK and took the horse, but is now needing to sell it, so will sell it for the cost of shipping...yeah...right.

The Friesian scammers are the worst for posting the same ad in multiple states/provinces...although at least now they are changing the horse's name for each state. It must be hard to legitimately sell a Friesian for cheap...everyone will assume it is scam! What is it about Friesians anyway that make them so popular with scammers? Why not Gypsy Vanners or some other fairy tale breed? Maybe because one Friesian is hard to tell from another? I think that is what happened with one of the Friesians I had here for training that was imported and turned out to be greener than advertised...I think the trainers in Europe just swapped one horse for another in the video...how would you ever know?

I love the trade ads where the person is asking to trade for pretty much what they are offering in trade. There is an ad on Kijiji like that; wanting to trade a APHA stud colt for a....APHA or AQHA registered broodmare, filly or COLT. It may be legit...it may be that they just want a colt that is not related to their mare, but then they should put that in their ad. The way I read it, I am just thinking something is seriously wrong with their boy and they just want to replace him with something (anything) breedable and registered.


Karen

Getting ready for winter

In preparation for winter, Rob arranged to have the first load of Round Bales delivered today. 13 bales. Hay man was supposed to be here at 2:00 pm with his self unloading truck. Pulled into the driveway at 2:01 with 13 bales. Unloaded behind the arena. Pulled out of the driveway at 2:11. 10 Minutes to unload 13 bales. I was impressed. Hay looks good too. On time, quick and good quality. Wish it was always that way!

Natalie and I are also organizing the end stall to house winter blankets for this winter, so if you are wondering where your blankets are, look there! Coolers will still hang in the entrance way, but on the opposite wall so that Ginger can hide behind them like a tent. She seems to like that.

Indoor horses can once again have up to two blankets on their stall, and will have one hook in the end stall. Outside boarded horses will have two hooks allocated to them. Ideally we want any horses that will be blanketed to have at least 2 winter blankets in case one rips.

Karen

Thinking ahead to next year...

Already starting to think ahead to next year's show season...if anyone has certain shows they went to and would like to attend again, or that they heard were worth going to and would like on the schedule for next year, just let me know. In particular I am interested in hearing about jumper shows on sand...would rather not have to worry about corks on the lesson horses!

I hate waiting

I hate waiting for videos and photos of horses advertised for sale. if you have a trained/proven horse for sale, why on earth would you not have at least photos available? I can understand having to wait if I want something specific...but even then, is a week really a reasonable waiting period?

And DON'T tell me you have this horse for sale and then not let me come look at it for weeks! Am I supposed to put horse shopping on hold just in case your horse is the one?

Karen

No, I am not having an affair, Rob just has another new work truck. It is cool. The blue truck is jealous. The Caddy is feeling neglected.

This week in lessons we are working on transitions. Better transitions that come from behind and result in balanced gaits. Jump riders will also be working on flying lead changes.

Enjoy the weather this week!

Karen

Sneek Peek of the new tests...

The USEF website has the new dressage tests up. It seems likely Canada will use the same tests. It does seem that there are only 3 tests in Training to second level now.



The directives seem to be much more explanatory, the the cumulative scores have broken out the rider score into two parts, and the coefficients have changed.



You have to be a member to have an easy way to look at them, but here is a link to a few;



Training Test 1; now has a stretchy circle, as does Training test 2. The stretch circle comes after the canter which will be a bit of a challenge for young unbalanced horses. Training Test 3 is pretty much the same as the old training test 4.



First level 1: Totally different then the old one. Still no lateral work in it though, but lengthening at trot and canter included.



First level 2 has the basics similar to the old test 2 and 3. The new First level test 3 is something else though....leg yield from the corner to X, the figure 8 and X, then leg yield the other way. Still has the dreaded canter loop in it, similar to what we have been doing in lessons this week.

The main difference for First level though, is that you can now post the trot in first level.

Second level 1 is about the same as the old one, but they add the turn on the haunches to test 2, and test three has a harder counter canter than the old one did. Third level test 1 looks about the same as the old one, so that is still my goal for Tango for next year.

Not sure why, but I thought they were making the tests easier...

Karen

The new Java horse definitely jumps cute! I will have to find a show that has pairs jumping for her and Tommy.

I put her in with Carma and Lily today. Least exciting mare addition ever. Carma looked at her, then showed her where the auto waterer is. Lily acted like she thought she knew her. No squealing whatsoever. Maybe this is why people like Paints and Quarter Horses.

.....

Some new Hillside Rules for the new year:
1- Students who wish to buy new horses, must have the new horse approved by Karen or Natalie before it can come to Hillside. (and if anyone is thinking of buying a horse let me know...I am already looking for one for a client, it is easy enough to look for two!)
2- New horses must have at least two syllables in their name. The exception is mares...mares can have one syllable names as long as they are no more than 4 letters long, and include the letter "i". It just seems to be a pattern of success.

....

Rob says that if anyone wants to try the "natural riding" on Sunday, that he will set jumps no charge.

What can I say. He is a boy.

Karen

Well Ginger's new squeaky toy lasted one week. It had a good run, and the squeaker was starting to get a little annoying, but I was still hoping it would last longer as she is so happy to have a toy!

In her defence, it was not that she destroyed it; it has just gone missing. Ordinarily I would think was that she headed out back with it and dropped it to investigate something else, but in this instance I think she is blameless. Instead I blame our mischievous fox for taking it. The timing is just too perfect. Same day I notice the toy missing, the cell phone that Rob dropped/lost reappeared. And where did it reappear? In Dexter's pen in plain sight. There is no way it was laying there for over a month! If the fox took the cell phone it explains why we couldn't find it even with the metal detector...and it also explains why its fabric case is missing. My theory is that the fox exchanged the cell phone for the ball.

The fox has chewed up and stolen Jolly balls too. As long as it leaves the cats and duck alone I am ok with that though!

really, are there any words to describe this?

http://www.topdressage.tv/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1723

Bliss left for her new home today; she is headed over to beautiful British Columbia where she will have beautiful warmblood babies and be treated like the Princess she thinks she is.

Triton was also sold today...congratulations to Christine on the purchase of this wonderful gelding!

Karen

Have I mentionned I hate horse shopping?

This horse looks cute...but somehow I would be afraid to go look at it. "Come on out ladies, you know you want to come out and ride my horse". anyone else get that vibe? Cute horse though. Love his big white star.

This Stable's Website's top banner made me a little motion sick. I did like one of there horses though...once I could find my way to the Gallery . I like the look of Give-em-a-Lyckin, but really got a laugh out of the photos of Sweet Mystery Pride; check out the face of the kid on the pony, and the face of the kid behind her! I don't think either of them think she is going to survive the jump. Cute pony though. If I were them I would be more worried about the kid on All that Jazz. I really hope she found her saddle on the land. Again, another cute horse though! If we end up expanding the search to the Calgary area I think I would want to stop there, as their horses do seem nice...I would just have to get over the giggling at the sight of their logo!

I see that little paint mare I kind of like is still for sale too...sad as she likely is a nice mare, but kids should not be allowed to advertise their own horses. It really turns off buyers when your sales video shows the horse shying from your coach handing you a crop, and when you misadvertise the height of the jumps in the video or the height of the horse.

There is a black warmblood that has been for sale for a long time too. Price keeps dropping and I keep thinking...gee, maybe he isn't so bad...then I watch the video and see the head flipping all over again. Wouldn't it be cheaper to put the horse in one months training rather than pay month after month in board because the video you have to sell your horse shows something very green/annoying to ride...and the horse is not young enough for that to be excusable?

Now I just wish that some of the people I emailed get back to me...

Karen

Stupid Michelle

One day off...one day where I still do chores but don't teach or feel obligated to ride...so of course that is the day Michelle's farrier can make it out. Wait until she sees her bill...

I am sitting her with a cat on my shoulder waiting for our new matress set to be delivered. They said between noon and 2. We shall see.

The sun is nice today. The frozen puddles this morning not so nice.

Karen

Winter ?!?

September 16th and I had to put winter blankets on a couple horses?!?

Jeepers.

Stupid sleet, rain and cold.

I found a rain sheet to fit Tommy; Ziggy's old rain sheet. I had Nat put it on him, then stick him back out...the other geldings seemed to think he was a new horse...even mellow Mr. Calvin was chasing him!

I wish I could find out what happened to Rocket's rain sheet. I am sure someone just took it by mistake, so I am hoping someone figures out their mistake soon so Rocket can be warm and dry too.

Weather change gave me yet another nasty migraine. I wish I could find a way to keep them at bay, but as it is I had to cancel lessons for the night...which really sucks as I was eager to see Miss Java jump for the first time! She is such a cute mare!

Karen

Guess Who?

Any guesses on who this little jumping cutey is?

What a superstar; 3rd time jumping.

Apparently I need to put my stirrups up a hole or two though! Dressage legs do not make for good jumping legs.

Coregel's vet visit yesterday was neither good nor bad. The chip is still there, floating around, but it is not irritating the area, and looks like it is trying to settle down. It IS the collateral ligament that was torn off, it is just behaving oddly, as instead of being pulled down towards its other attachment point, it is being pulled up/out by some unknown force. I guess collateral ligaments are hard to ultrasound as they are twisted, so she shadows regardless of their status.

So...another 30 days and then we recheck her. Poor kid.

Karen

Today is the big day for Miss Coregel. Fingers crossed.

Weather is suitably nasty; if this was TV you would just know it was going to be bad news based on how dreary it is out.

But I don't believe in omens. This is a week for good news.

Rhiannon's new saddle came in yesterday; hand delivered by Tudor Tack. I rode Lily in it yesterday...is it every comfy! And grippy! The downside to the grippyness is that Lily is grey and shedding...so little white hairs fleck the saddle already. Why are the horses shedding so heavily this fall?

The Wintec Equisuede spoiled me though; to go from Lily's grippy dressage saddle to Michelle's super shiny, super slippery saddle was quite an adjustment! Michelle...stop cleaning your saddle with Pledge!

Karen

In need of tack?

Tudor has their tent sale coming up on the 24th if you need any new tack. They are also offering 10% off most items if you shop during their new business hours (Thursday they now open to 8, and Sunday from noon-5...I think). Saddles, helmets and clearance items are exempt.

Not sure how long the 10% off is going for though...I just heard about it on their voice mail!

Karen

Stupid Vet Priorities...

So the stupid vets thinks that performing a potentially life saving operation is more important than ultra sounding my Coregel! They also didn't want to spend their Friday night or weekend doing it. The nerve!

So now I have to wait until Wednesday. On the bright side that gives another 5 days for her to continue to heal so that hopefully that helps.

.....

I have been looking at sales ads for a new horse for Nicole. She found some good ads herself, but I am surprised by the number of people without a video of their well trained, show experience horses.

Found an ad on Kijiji that showed potential; big gelding, dressage and jumping trained. I don't think there was a photo. Emailed to ask about the horse's experience competing over fences, and for a video. He has jumped to 3'6", but only for fun, not competed. That's fine, but not what I am looking for. And no video. Then ads the horse has mostly done dressage....high level stuff. My interest is back, so I email to ask what level the horse has competed to. She doesn't know.

Does that seem odd to anyone else? It is not like the horse is 20 years old. I think sometimes people just throw stuff out there and see what gets the potential buyers attention.

It is like when we found an ad for a horse we had sold as a light use trail horse as being a level 2 jumping horse. I don't think the horse ever jumped higher than 18".... and was in no way sound enough to continue jumping (which the buyer knew and agreed to). Level 2 is 3'0"-3'3" jumps. But apparently that sounded good in the ad.

I need to come up with key phrases too it seems. I have no idea why I have been unable to sell Charmer (she goes home tomorrow). She is one of the most fun horses I have right now to ride; goes English, Western, bareback jumps a little, trail rides....just a fun little horse...and only 4 years old! The only people that wanted to try her were looking to buy for an under 10 child...as nice as she is, I think she deserves someone with more experience than that...as does the child.

New boarder should be coming today. Another pinto. Fortunately Michelle's chestnut comes Sunday to keep the Chestnut to other colours ratio stabilized.

Karen

It is fun watching someone ride a new horse when you are used to seeing them ride a horse of a different type.

Thursday night had Clare riding YJ...the first jump was a bit of a wake up call for her, but it definately got better as it went...he is just a little more enthusiastic than Sunny was, but a little less accomidating of rider foibles, and a little less adjustable.

Then Nicole rode Edgar. I have video. Edgar seemed pretty happy to have the freedom that comes with Jumping and it went pretty well. I am curious if Nicole can walk tomorrow.

I jumped Carma again today. Second try. She really does like jumping. It helps her keep her focus and she is much more settled with a jump in front of her than just hacking around. She was able to canter a little cross pole course without much difficulty at all. She is pretty fun to jump, and despite the fact she is only 15.2, I don't feel tall on her at all.

For next week in lessons (jumping lessons anyway) I think we might work on landing leads...with failed attempts resulting in payment of a $1.00. I figure this will help me pay Coregel's vet bills...err...I mean, motivate riders to try harder.

Karen

Rain :(

Cold and dreary rain. And so many of you seem to be fair weather friends. I am lonely. Ginger is feeling sorry for herself and Milo is getting fat. And the new students starting this week are getting spoiled by the empty barn and arena.

When you finally do decide to come out to the barn, there is a sign up sheet for Fall deworming. All the horses need to be dewormed after the first hard frost with a broad spectrum dewormer that does bots. We are going with Equimax this year, but you can also go with Quest Plus or Zimectrin Gold. Cost of us deworming your horse is $20.00. If you want to buy it and do it yourself, the cost is $18.00.

Is anyone interested in going to the Harvest show at Amberlea? Dressage, jumpers, and Hunters. I will go if we have at least three horses to go. Otherwise perhaps we will do a little fun show at the barn like last year. That was fun....and much more affordable!

The vet news on Coregel is still uncertain. The new x-ray isn't quite showing what would be expected if she had ripped her collateral ligament along with pulling off a peice of bone, so it is possible that it was not damaged....we are going to ultra sound on Friday to see what soft tissue damage is there....fingers crossed!

Dexter on the other hand continues to allude us with the source of his issues. It is very odd for him to be as wonky as he is, for as long as he has been, yet show no sign of muscle atrophy or uneveness. We had hoped that he would start to show some signs of wasting so we could get a better picture of where the issue could be. If only he could talk so he could tell us where it hurt! Of course we would likely have to sit through a week of compaining and begging for treats before he got around to discussing his pain issues. Perhaps the winter off will somehow allow whatever it is to heal. Or perhaps the Saskatoon clinic will finally get approved for Scintography and he can finally get his Nuke scan done....at least then we would be able to pinpoint the general area of concern.

Karen

I have been lazy on the updates lately!

Sunny left last week...first time since we openned that we haven't housed a horse belonging to Gloria. Sunny and a few other horses of hers are available to be leased if anyone is interested though...including what I am told is a very fancy pony.

Magnus took Sunny's stall, and seems to be loving it. Be careful what you leave in his graps though!

Mini Edgar sold and was replaced by mini Edgar's mom, Flair. Flair is here to be started under saddle. She is pretty sweet.

Calvin came back and seems pretty happy to be with his chestnut friends.

I find out today what is going on with Coregel. Fingers crossed, but I am really not sure what to expect.

Lessons are back on for the fall; I need to post the schedule on the web soon.

Karen

More safety

Why I cringe when I see people in flip flops around horses:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193583&id=196692248644&fbid=419373098644&ref=mf

Reno's first "ride"

I got on Reno for the first time today. It was uneventful. Like all baby horses, he thought my feet hanging on either side of him were fascinating...and as soon as he realized I was no longer beside him he headed over to see Natalie. I like just letting them more or less do what they want for the first ride whether it be to walk off or just stand there so they can adjust to the weight on their back however they choose.

Don't I look good on him? Hard to believe he is only three!

Horses and safety

I have been working with horses a long time now. I used to work for a big hunter/jumper barn with trainers that could sometimes be a little reckless, and so I have seen more than my share of incidents causing injuries. I also read horse related news and bulletin boards, so I read about needless tragedies that highlight the risks that come with working with horses, and how important it is to take reasonable safety precautions.

I realize though, that some of you are fairly protected from what can (and does) go wrong, and so take needless risk. Hopefully I can open some eyes.

#1; Footwear: Boots with a heel. And not just any heel...and heel that is at a right angle to the sole. A heel that slopes to the sole is pointless and just inviting the foot to slide through the stirrup. The heel needs to be sufficient that if the rider looses their foot position and weight ends up going down into the toe, that their foot isn't going to slide right through the stirrup. Why? so if they fall off, their entire leg isn't going to be caught up in the stirrup, leaving them hanging alongside a very likely frightened equine.

This weekend a small child was sitting on a pony with runners and her feet in the stirrups. Mom told me "oh, she is ok like that". To which I responded "well, me and my insurance company are not". All that had to happen for that kid to get very hurt is for pony to shake, kid to get shook off one side, kids foot to slide through stirrup and pony to spook from dangling child resulting in a hoof to kids face.

And then there were the two girls that rode up after the show in runners and no helmet. Watching them ride was painful as they had no concept of heels down.

Western or english, you want to minimize the risk of getting caught in the stirrup if something goes wrong...being dragged rarely turns out well, as even the most calm horse can panic when it finds its rider hanging of its side after a bad stumble!

Safety stirrups help prevent the risk, or hooded western stirrups.

But it isn't just a heel that keeps you safe, you also want to make sure the boot isn't too thick/wide for the stirrup. Those stupid winter riding boots drive me crazy as they are so thick that they pretty much wedge into the average stirrup, leaving the rider at a lot of risk if they happen to come off! Can you imagine having your horse spook, you falling off one side, but having both feet stay in the stirrup?

#2: Helmets: I am a big advocate of helmets. And no, I don't think adults should have the "right" to decide for themselves. If you ride at my barn you are setting an example to others, and have to wear a helmet. Plus, I don't think I could handle cleaning up brains.

The need for a helmet has nothing to do with level of ability or the horse's level of training. Courtney King-Dye was an international level dressage rider, riding an international level dressage horse....he tripped. She fell. Hit her head. Coma.

I really do NOT get the common perception that western riders don't need helmets. I dislike going to the little open shows where all English riders must wear helmets, but gymkhana rider's don't! I do not get the logic.

Do western horses not spook? Trip? Have heart attacks?

Look at what happened to that person at the Calgary Stampede in the Team Penning. Good rider, adult, on well trained horse. Horse has a heart attack. Falls on rider. Rider does not have helmet. Rider ends up in a coma.

I remember a while back...maybe 8 years, there was a news story that broke my heart. Girl used to ride down the road to meet her friends. Parents stipulated that she had to wear a helmet. Girl's friends did not wear helmets so girl would ride to the end of the road, take her helmet off, hang it on a post, and meet her friends, putting her helmet back on when she headed home. Went fine until one day horse made it home without her. Dad went to look for daughter. Found the helmet on the post. The saw his daughter laying in a pool of blood. No idea what happened as the horse was quiet and safe. Kid was in a coma for 3 days before mom and dad had to make the decision to pull the plug. NOBODY, not even a selfish self centered teenager should put someone else through having to make a decision like that, so even if you don't want to wear the gear to protect yourself, wear it to protect people that love you from having to go through that.

Parents tried to do the right thing by enforcing the helmet rule...although they should have gone a step further and told her she couldn't ride with friends that didn't wear a helmet. Of course I bet her friends do now...

Usually people don't use the proper equipment as they are either too cheap to buy it, too lazy to use it, too vain to wear it, or subcome to peer pressure. First year I showed dressage I was one of the few Pros to wear a helmet. Last year when I showed western, I was one of the few in the western classes with a helmet. That didn't stop YJ and I from placing very well...including beating some western pros in their Stetsons.

If you think wearing a helmet is cumbersome or uncool...imagine spending your life wearing a diaper because of a head injury...how cool would you be then?

Karen