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).