tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21243865500505159282024-03-13T09:21:55.477-07:00All the Pretty Little HorsesDapples and grays, pintos and bays......Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-74706982581166528222016-02-12T21:01:00.001-08:002016-02-12T21:04:55.941-08:00Oh, Hi There!Wow.<br />
<br />
The last time I posted on this blog it was 2012.<br />
<br />
So much has happened since then.... I feel like a totally different person than I was then.<br />
<br />
I recently decided to start posting again, as a kind of "therapy". As I start to feel "normal" again. As I embark on this brand new, exciting, scary adventure I find myself on.<br />
<br />
One thing I have seen as I look back on my life: there is a thread throughout all major life changing, life shattering events - and the thread is horses.<br />
<br />
My family probably thinks I am nuts; they've probably expected me to "outgrow' my horse obsession years ago; but I don't outgrow it. I don't out run it, and I never quit; it's like horses are key to my existence on this planet. And I don't know why.... I thought I'd try giving it up; but I couldn't escape it.<br />
<br />
Since my last post in 2012, my job changed drastically, suddenly. My husband's job ended suddenly.<br />
<br />
We lost Pippin suddenly; alive one evening and eating happily in his stall; the next morning dead.<br />
<br />
We gained a horse, via our local volunteer fire department and the local animal control (Long story, to follow.)<br />
<br />
And we lost our barn.<br />
<br />
We only rented the place; so staying was never a guarantee. Sharing the property with a lying, sneaking, undermining second tenant became stressful, and I was no longer enjoying the place. I didn't even feel like staying around long enough to do much besides do chores and feed the horses; so I ended up feeling like a visitor, who dropped in to visit with my horses and then left them. Leaving them with the other house tenant who would go in the pastures in the middle of the night; trashed our riding trails, leaving gates open, using the landlord's things, loosing, stealing or breaking them and blaming my husband, and generally being a nasty, sneaking, lying usurper who eventually succeeded in convincing the landlord to sympathize with and believe his lying, sneaking, shady side of things; and proceeded to push us out....<br />
<br />
The final straw was swearing out a warrant for my husband's arrest for allegedly "running them off the driveway" with our truck (lies). The final straw was seeing my husband arrested for this nonsensical, false, depraved lie; and the landlord siding with the lying, jackass tenant - without listening to one word of our defense.<br />
<br />
The day after my husband was arrested for something he didn't do, we decided it was time to go. But where?<br />
<br />
Our only option was to bring the horses home to our farm in Virginia. All we had was hay fields - no fences, no barn; nothing to accommodate horses at all. But we began to make a plan.<br />
<br />
I never thought I'd be so happy to give up such a lovely farm as we had in North Carolina. But I was. I had to get out; I had to escape the place. It had become a curse to me. The negativity there was like a cloud. I felt like I was always being watched. There was no peace, and I started to hate it - in spite of all it's outward loveliness.<br />
<br />
Because of the terms of his arrest and upon the advice of our excellent attorney, Kevin stayed far away from the farm. Meanwhile, I was left to move everything alone. I started packing stuff out - you have no idea how much stuff can be accumulated in a barn in 8 years! Tons of stuff.... in addition to this, I had a list of repairs from the landlord that he insisted I complete in 30 days - alone. Stuff I had no clue how to do - high tinsle fencing, gutter repairs, post and rail fencing. The landlord - who had in previous years been very friendly to us, even calling us "family" and always saying how much he "loved" us like family, turned into a real jackass and was nasty to me, despite the fact that he was the reason, and he knew it!, that I was doing all this work on my own. In the end, my Dad came to my rescue and we got the work done - along with help from other family members and close friends. Much of the work was damage caused by the lying, rotten tenant - who on one occasion "blacked out" on the tractor while mowing in my riding arena (which he was not asked to do) and ran into the gate post; breaking the gate off with the gatepost and taking two sections of fence boards along with it. The truth is, he was ignorant and careless while operating the tractor and miscalculated the width of the mower. He never offered to fix it; so the landlord ended up yelling at me about this. And my Dad and I fixed it. And on another occasion, the tenant was again on the tractor (he was not asked to mow our horse pastures) and bush hogged over a loose strand of high tensle fence wire that had come loose in a recent flood. (The pasture is right next to a large creek; and every time the creek floods it totally covers the pasture and fence.) The fence was wrecked, but of course he never did anything about it. The landlord yelled at me about it, and blamed my horses; even though the fence wire was left tangled in the blades of the bush hog for all to see plainly. Nevertheless, my Dad and I fixed that, too. And other things that were caused by my horses, admittedly. I've never had someone who called me "friend" and claimed to think of me as "family" turn on me like this guy did. He is a hateful, mean, and hypocritical person, obviously. And I can't believe I wasted so many good years putting up with him and wasting time keeping up his place for him. <br />
<br />
We put up a temporary paddock on a chunk of our back yard and hayfield, and I brought my horses <i>home. </i><br />
<br />
Where I can look out my kitchen window and see them graze. Where I can step out to the back yard and holler at them and wave and they look up and nicker at me. <i>Home. </i><br />
<br />
After the months of negative, hateful, deceitful, conniving, malicious behavior that added up to pushing us out, I was finally able to breathe again; think again; plan, hope, dream, and feel somewhat normal - instead of judged, demonized, hated, smeared, and cheapened.<br />
<i> </i><br />
We had our day in court, and our excellent attorney was able to get the charge against Kevin totally dropped - because it was an utter misconstrued lie. We didn't even pay any fines or court costs. It was totally erased. <br />
<br />
So here was are at home with our horses - not as grand as the Milton barn, but 100 times better because it's home and it's ours and nobody can spy on us, or push us around anymore.<br />
<br />
I will share more in the coming days. Getting everything "out" and off my chest helps me get it behind me. Thank you for reading. But even if nobody reads this; it's mainly about me being able to get it out. Readers are a bonus. So if you're still here - thank you. :)<br />
<br />
Photos: L<i>eveling the spot for the new equipment shed, putting in fence posts, and my babies at home in their new "temporary" paddock.</i> <i>All of this was August 2015. </i><br />
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<br />Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-84001250318463972912012-08-22T16:35:00.001-07:002012-08-22T16:35:21.263-07:00Horse Trading in 1916I found this little book some place. I don't even remember where it came
from. Probably some box lot from an auction, or stashed in a box of
postcards dug out of the attic when we moved in, or who knows where else
I could have gotten it. Today I peeked in it and realized there was
this letter stuck in it's front pages and I never knew it. It reads:<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
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<i>Louisa, VA</i><br />
<i>May 11, 1916</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Dear Robert.</i><br />
<i>I want to thank you for the many nice things you have done for me
lately. The box got to Louisa with Gipp all right. She looked so pretty.
After Hugh Goodwin knew he would buy at $135 he backed out after I got
her here. I think he thought he would get her for $100 but - he didn't. </i><br />
<i>Suppose Mr. Covington told you all the Lousia news. J.W. got home
yesterday. Tad is also expected soon and Josie comes latter part of the
week. Would be glad to have you come to see them any time. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Very Sincerely,</i><br />
<br />
<i>Mildred -</i><br />
<br />
I figure Gipp was a horse - a pretty mare. So she arrived in a "box" - I
figure, a truck with tall sides on it, that they used to transport
horses in before horse trailers; or a box car on a train. Nearest I can
figure.<br />
Hugh wanted to buy her, but Mildred wouldn't come off of $135; so Hugh
left empty handed. And Mildred sounded pretty proud of herself. Robert
had probably advised her not to take anything less than $135 or she'd be
a fool.<br />
Or. I thought, maybe Gipp was a dog. A dog could arrive in a "box". But I
can't see anyone paying $100 or even $135 for a dog in 1916. That
amount of money seems more reasonable for a horse. <br />
So I am sticking with the horse story. <br />
<br />
I just love things like this. I only wish there was a photo to go along
with it - so I could see the pretty Gipp and her gutsy owner, Mildred.<br />
Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-244371567568591492012-07-02T13:38:00.001-07:002012-07-02T13:41:18.838-07:00Hay, ManWe grow and cut all of our own hay for our horses. We plant several fields of oats for oat hay; which our horses love. The rest of it is regular "meadow" grass hay.<br />
<br />
This year we baled and picked up about 1200 bales in a weekend; which buttoned up 1st cutting. Cutting the hay is done earlier in the week, and raking the day before baling. It's a good week of hard, hot, exhausting work. But we gotta feed the horses in the wintertime!<br />
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<i>One of the hay fields</i></div>
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<i>Kevin cutting another hayfield</i></div>
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<i>My Dad and my brother Eli (and Brendan supervising) transfer oat hay bales onto a trailer to go to another barn. </i></div>
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<i>Naomi baling hay in the field behind my house </i></div>
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<i>Me, changing the shear pin on the flywheel. </i></div>
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<i>Naomi. Below, my Dad is baling the lase several hundred of the first cutting. </i></div>
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<i>Ethan and Emilie - this was actually taken last season. </i></div>
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Haying time is a family affair; almost every family member - from Grandparents to grand kids - come to the fields to help; including the little ones; who come along for the hay ride. When they're tall enough to reach a gas pedal; then they're put behind the wheel of one of the trucks. By then they're also strong enough to pick up some bales, as well.<br />
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Lord willing, we do it all again in September for 2nd cutting; much of which is sold.<br />
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I complain, but it beats<i> buying</i> that much hay, that is for sure!<br />
<br />Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-90902200138039314512012-06-25T15:11:00.001-07:002012-06-25T15:11:11.492-07:00Vintage Equestrian PurseI am a collector and seller of vintage clothing and accessories, and antiques. Very seldom do I find an item that combines my two greatest loves - old stuff and horses; but I did when I discovered this 50s era purse at Goodwill a few weeks ago.<br />
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<br />Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-67744751908251175732012-06-24T07:38:00.001-07:002012-06-24T07:38:43.587-07:00Naomi and Pippin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sister Naomi chose "Pippin" as her first OTTB project. We've had him a year and a half. He just turned 5 this January, so I don't think he had an impressive career on the track and was "recycled out" pretty young. He is such a laid back, easy going, unconcerned, friendly guy! He seriously has one of the best personalities of any horse I have ever known. He was raced as "Bold Commet", but Naomi called him "Pippin" because he reminded us so much of the happy-go-lucky Hobbits Merry and Pippin in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy; and obviously if we'd called him "Merry" people would think he was a girl. Which he is not, of course. <br />
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He is extremely curious, and not afraid of much of anything. (Can you tell? He had so thoroughly sniff that tractor all over.)<br />
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We started riding him the week after he arrived at our barn from PA; with no issues ever. He's a little fidgety; so one of his nicknames is "Fidgety Feet" after the 1920s song. The first time I took him on a trail, he hesitated at every hill; going down. He wasn't too sure about those; and I almost figure he'd never been ridden anywhere besides the track - which is flat - and certainly never on trails and in the woods. He wasn't scared of the hills; he just wasn't sure what it was or if he could go down safely, carrying a rider. Keep in mind, too, that he is just turning five; so he was only 4 at that point. He went down the hills, slowly, one careful step at a time. It was so cute.<br />
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Naomi is doing a great job with him, and we thoroughly enjoy having him in the herd!<br />
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<br />Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-20816897939047560652012-06-22T16:39:00.000-07:002012-06-22T16:39:19.849-07:00David and AmberWhen my friend David (who also happens to care for our horse's feet with great expertise) bought this mare (a Paso Fino), she had been living in a show barn and had been pretty badly mistreated. As a result, she had developed some dangerous behavior as a defense mechanism against the abuse she suffered. Rearing, bucking, bolting, kicking, biting... you name it, she did it. David told me that one day she reared up and flipped herself over on her back in a protest against being handled. Using Natural Horsemanship techniques, David was able to gain her trust and teach her new skills and re build a good life for her.<br />
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Today, she is as gentle as a lamb, and <i>so</i> sensitive to every slight movement of her handler/rider.<br />
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David has taught her to lie down on command, which displays her compete trust in him.<br />
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She also lets David stand on her back. I think he usually does this with a saddle; so his boots don't hurt her back. He did this briefly as a demo on this day.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-77785306090888726432012-06-21T08:13:00.002-07:002012-06-21T10:36:53.060-07:00More of Nell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We took Nell and a couple of the other horses to a de-spooking clinic last weekend.<br />
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I decided I am no good at this Natural Horsemanship stuff on the ground. In the round pen I feel clumsy, un coordinated and confused. So I am sure that Nell feels this way too.<br />
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Thankfully David stepped in and helped out. I think she appreciated him a lot more. <br />
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I am so much better at working horses under saddle than on the ground/ at liberty.<br />
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I would love to be one of those masterful horse people that can work multiple horses at liberty using only a stick to point and voice commands and get the horses to do things that would blow your mind. <br />
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I just do not have the skills nor do I think I <i>ever </i>will have the skills. <br />
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I have much more confidence in my riding.<br />
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I've also decided that Nell must have been switched with a Quarter Horse foal at birth; because she is so unlike all the other TBs I have ridden in my life. She jogs like a Quarter Horse; she's even built like a QH - or at least an appendix QH. If it weren't for her lip tattoo I'd think she was a full blooded AQHA mare.<br />
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I joked to Kevin that I need to change her name to "Switch" because of this. <br />
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Ha, ha.<br />
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Anyways.... still hoping to make some progress with Nell so I can begin riding her.<br />
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I am on the verge of forgetting this round pen stuff and just skip right to the riding part; even if it means getting tossed on my butt a few times.<br />
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It's tempting but I am going to keep trying.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-89614746288011478932012-06-12T08:14:00.003-07:002012-06-21T10:37:51.495-07:00Recently - With Nell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nell was having some silly issues with fly spray, as I mentioned yesterday. Just downright goofy. So I realized it wasn't <i>just </i>the flyspray.... It's just that she is jumpy about <i>everything</i>. Fly spray is just <i>one</i> thing. A very silly little thing, but a huge big deal to her. I mean, a life and death, huge big dealio.<br />
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So I took the <i>sceeeeeeeery,</i> terrifying bottle of fly spray and a towel, and went into the round pen...... and basically did a sacking out.<br />
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"Sacking out" sounds so bad, like you're purposefully trying to terrify your horse and freak it out so it has a stroke or something. I have heard some people express the opinion that "sacking out" is cruel. It may have been cruel back in the day when "sacking out" included tying them up to a post and basically beating the fear out of them. (Yeah, like that can happen -beat the fear out of them? What were people t<i>hinking</i> then?) That is cruel. Nothing I did with Nell with my harmless little towel was cruel, though.<br />
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First I worked her in the pen, and did some flexing with her. <br />
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Then, I put her on my 14 ft. lead and I just started flipping the towel about, and around her; touching her with it. Of course she shied or bolted away to the end of the rope. I just kept doing it, and talking to her in a calm voice and pulling her in a little closer and closer.<br />
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Finally she stopped and let me touch her all over with it, under, around and even on her head. And she was very accepting of it. Then, and only then, did I break out the mean old bottle of flyspray.<br />
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And you know what? She stood still and let me spray her without moving away. I could see in her eyes that she wanted to but she was choosing to trust me and let me put that sceeeeeeery flyspray on her, despite her doubts and fears. <br />
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So now, it's the same thing every day for the next few days: repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat - till it's old, and boring to her.<br />
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Then we'll move on to the next thing; which will probably involve riding her.<br />
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Me, in my new OTTB Tee's shirt I bought on Etsy, with my "crazy", silly girl Nell.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-25054782702029633112012-06-11T15:45:00.001-07:002012-06-12T07:09:16.270-07:00Money Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is Nell; raced as "Money Back". She is one of the stockiest OTTBs I have ever seen! She looks more like an appendix Quarter Horse.<br />
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I've had her one year but in that time she's had some issues; some soreness in her hips noted by my blacksmith. All that was required was some long term rest; so this spring I finally was able to get serious about starting her under saddle.<br />
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Though she was raced and obviously "broke in", she displayed some "un broke" behavior when I started trying to ride her. Like, bolting sideways as I draw up on the saddle; and when sitting in the saddle, jetting jumpy and bucky when I move my legs along her barrel.<br />
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Someone suggested that I simply start her like an un broke three or four year old. So I have been doing that, and she is responding wonderfully.<br />
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I've really been enjoying my Christmas Gift - a 60 ft. round pen for practicing some natural horsemanship techniques I am trying to get better at. <br />
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I have been using my favorite western saddle for working this horse; I am just more comfortable breaking in horses in western saddles. This one is very lightweight; so it's not like she is lugging around 45 lbs. of heavy western saddle.<br />
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Also, I work her in a four knot rope halter and 14 ft. lead. Also you'll see in this pic. a headstall with a snaffle bit, a towel and a bottle of flyspray (she is having issues with running off when I try to flyspray her). The stick coming out the back of my saddle here is a training stick like ones used by some resistance free trainers today. The stick is never used to hit the horses, just a lot of pointing and tapping.<br />
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Glad to report that Nell is responding very well to the natural horsemanship methods; I hope to be riding her in a few short weeks. Or days, depending on how much I get to work her this week with rain moving in and all......Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-78950951773392210002011-12-03T19:20:00.000-08:002012-06-21T07:34:47.966-07:002011 SEFHA Extreme Cowboy CompetiitonKevin and I are members of SEFHA (Southeastern Farriers and Horseowner's Association) which was started and headed up by our farrier, David Tuggle.<br />
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This past October, the association held a "Cowboy Competition" at the Tuggle Farm and I competed with Jett, one of my OTTBs.<br />
I had been practicing with my paint mare, but brought both of them, and at the last minuted, decided to give Jett a go - with no practice!<br />
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Jett and I ended up somewhere in the middle, points-wise, but I was so proud of him. He was a little freaked and excited, but kept it together, and finished all the tests.<br />
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However, when I competed in-hand with my paint mare Princess we came in second. Of course, she was who I had been working with.<br />
I decided next year, each of the OTTBs will go and compete, as ambassadors for their fellow OTTBs out there! People need to know, and see, that these horses can and will do anything. Not just jumping, CX and dressage.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-69973641088481308872011-11-30T20:14:00.000-08:002011-11-30T20:14:54.097-08:00My Childhood Dream.As a horse crazy girl I dreamed of horses..... all I could think about was horses.<br />
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Eventually the dream came true, and is still coming true to this day....<br />
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After all these years the romance has kind of worn off; and "spark" is not always there.... and sometimes horses are a downright chore.<br />
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When I have to muck stalls in 20 degree weather or 100 degree weather, I tell myself:<i> "This is my childhood dream, coming true."</i><br />
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When I am raking hay on the hottest afternoon of the year, breathing in tractor exhaust and getting sunburned, I tell myself: <i>"This is your childhood dream, coming true."</i><br />
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When I write the check for the vet bill, or the farrier, or the new winter blankets....I tell myself,<i> "This is your childhood dream, coming true."</i><br />
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When I scrub out and dress a wicked, bloody, stinky, large laceration, I think to myself, <i>"This is your childhood dream, coming true."</i><br />
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When I break ice off of water tanks, pay a fortune for horse feed, deal with rain rot, fix fence boards, scrub buckets, and find a hoof abscess, I tell myself: <i>"This is your childhood dream, coming true."</i><br />
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And somehow, it makes everything seem better.<br />
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Because I am living in my dream.... and the dream didn't end with adulthood; it just got <i>better</i>.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-78158087523335811162011-03-15T08:44:00.000-07:002011-03-15T08:44:00.862-07:00Nervous and Fidgety Horses and Weight Issues - Is There A Link Here?The last two TBs we got off the track included a mare and a gelding. The mare adjusted to life on our farm wonderfully, and after a brief period of weight issues and skin fungus, she is now totally "normal".<br />
The gelding, who we now call "Monty", is a different matter. We have had him a year and a half and are still having weight issues with him.<br />
I have tried everything the feed stores have to offer - high fat feeds, pelleted feeds, weight gain supplements, alfalfa pellets, alfalfa cubes, corn oil, yadda yadda yadda........ in addition to free choice quality hay and fresh water. And while we did see a lot of improvement (For a while last summer I thought he was just going to die; and no one could figure out what was wrong.) I still think he looks ribby and underweight.<br />
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This morning when I went to the barn to feed, I had a revelation, I think. I had turned Monty out in the barn yard to eat his nightly hay, as I think the mares in the herd paddock don't let him eat the hay we set out for all of them, and chase him off.<br />
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There, in the barn yard spongy wet turf, he had worn a trench next to the fence from pacing it all.night.long. It looked like someone had gone in there with a shovel and dug out a shallow trench along the fence line! The 50 lb. chunk of hay I had set out for him last evening was gone, as well as several other leftover hay droppings under the hayloft door; so I know he ate.<br />
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I then proceeded to feed him his morning ration (Several pounds of high fat sweet feed and "hay replacer" pellet - a new experiment) in his stall, and left the door open for him, while I fed the other horses and did morning chores. He would grab a bite from his feeder, and walk out, up the isle, make a large circle in the barnyard, and walk back - (rinse and repeat)......<br />
I shut the stall door. He grabs a bite, circles his stall, and gets another.<br />
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About a month ago, we had to have his pasture buddy, a very aged QH gelding, put down. After that, we have been trying to gradually integrate him into the herd with the other 5 horses. And he has gotten increasingly fidgety, nervous, and worries all the time.<br />
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We only stall the horses for nasty weather, and feeding, and to hold the horses while we're doing various chores in the pastures and have to have the gates open for tractors, fence repairs, etc. And when he is in his stall, he paces, weaves, and works on shredding his heavy plastic feeder that is attached to the wall. He doesn't crib, just shreds.<br />
<br />
So I am beginning to wonder now if his nervousness, worrying, and fidgeting is a factor in our on going weight gain issue. Has anyone else had a OTTB do this? Do calming supplements work? I've thought of giving those a try.<br />
<br />
I also switched my radio station from hard rock to classical.<br />
<br />
He just seems to be getting worse since he lost his buddy and cannot seem to get along with the other horses and just stands in the corner waiting for me to come and feed him twice a day; pacing and weaving.<br />
I could understand it if I kept him in a stall 24/7 but I don't. It's like paranoid stall behavior in a paddock/pasture situation.<br />
<br />
?????????? <br />
<br />
PS - He's not being ridden yet, because he was so "sick" last summer and fall and no one could figure out what was wrong so we didn't put him under any training stresses. Then in the fall he was plagued by abscesses in both front feet and was lame for a couple of months while we worked on it with our farrier. He walked around in Easy Boots for weeks. Even at his hoof trimming appt. a couple of weeks ago, there were still issues from the abscesses. I have only just in the past few weeks started working him a little bit on a lounge line. So perhaps the nervousness is penned up energy finding a release. I dunno. I am stumped.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-17054081891040545772011-03-03T16:53:00.000-08:002011-03-03T16:53:18.031-08:00Sooooo....I rode in my vintage jods yesterday and it was interesting. I didn't wear tall boots; I actually wore a new pair of western Justin ropers I had bought recently because they need breaking-in.<br />
Anyhoo, the jods were "tight" in some places and loose in others - obviously; they're loose through the hips.:P<br />
I think it was less "tight" and more that they have no stretch and it is an unusual feeling, for someone used to riding in modern day stretchy breeches.<br />
But for the most part I can report that these vintage jods are super comfy!Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-69439230726269295722011-02-21T07:57:00.000-08:002011-02-21T07:57:39.378-08:00Vintage Jodphurs!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pdKAM-EM6SepmAy-qpbTYeL7Nex_nDT56O3fJt35L_N0fv9o2iRBnxivZpcSkTsXLqMjmKWb_BsPF39m0L71Prp9sfn8VpgmbgBGFiy1ReH5z47dLWf-cSbc5MIsqXRq-mx9iW2kLx5O/s1600/DSCN1526.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pdKAM-EM6SepmAy-qpbTYeL7Nex_nDT56O3fJt35L_N0fv9o2iRBnxivZpcSkTsXLqMjmKWb_BsPF39m0L71Prp9sfn8VpgmbgBGFiy1ReH5z47dLWf-cSbc5MIsqXRq-mx9iW2kLx5O/s400/DSCN1526.JPG" /></a> </div>LOVE these vintage jodphurs I bought on Etsy. They're from the 30's - 40's, I'm guessing. They're a little bit big for me but easily customized to fit.<br />They're from back in the days when almost all riding gear was unisex; women had to wear smaller men's sizes. They're surprisingly comfortable to wear, and made from a soft cotton twill that has been nicely broken in.<br />I was inspired by Nicole Kidman's 1930s riding outfits in the movie "Australia" when she went cattle droving with Hugh Jackman. *Swoon*<br />I wonder what funny looks I'd get if I wore these to ride in a show, clinic, or trail ride?<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-66728634340328559112011-02-16T19:30:00.000-08:002011-02-16T19:36:38.510-08:00I Want To Give Jackie Kennedy A Riding Lesson<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcba_PU6BSm-2Izg0ulttaEBtbrDP0rKc7zp24VSi5g8sHQ983CWNg1NCA4NUGOdb5Jb-CEaOuTIxDyVfNFd54ahcNRYhVusf8YlDyRFWci17taGEJFuXV2wMCCbqTywMy0QepoeP_tMrh/s1600/jackie+kennedy+on+horseback.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcba_PU6BSm-2Izg0ulttaEBtbrDP0rKc7zp24VSi5g8sHQ983CWNg1NCA4NUGOdb5Jb-CEaOuTIxDyVfNFd54ahcNRYhVusf8YlDyRFWci17taGEJFuXV2wMCCbqTywMy0QepoeP_tMrh/s400/jackie+kennedy+on+horseback.jpg" /></a> </div><br />
When I saw this photo of Jackie Kennedy, the retired riding instructor in me cringed.......<br />
<br />
I wanted to yell at her - as politely as I could - to STOP pulling that lovely fellow's mouth!<br />
<br />
I wanted to tell her to relax her elbows and for Pete's sake - BREATHE!<br />
<br />
I also wanted to tell her that she had to work at the walk and trot in 2-point position and get her leg back where it belonged; instead of it floating clear out to his shoulder; and to drag her seat forward a few inches in the saddle instead of practically sitting on the cantle.<br />
<br />
Oh well. Anyway, there is a whole book about Jackie O's love of horses and riding; and some very elegant photos. Including this one - which to me is not so elegant but never mind. :)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Private-Passion-Jackie-Kennedy-Onassis/dp/0060524111">The Private Passion of Jackie Kennedy Onassis: Portrait of a Rider</a><br />
<br />
I know it's been a while since posting here; and I intend to do so more often. I've decided to get out and do more things with my horses this year, and devote more attention to my favorite hobby.<br />
<br />
I recently became fascinated with vintage riding outfits, and bought some nifty old breeches - the kind with the puffy hips!! They are so cool; I'll post photos soon.<br />
<br />
In other news: we said goodbye to Cisco a few weeks ago; the winter is always so hard on the elderly horses, no matter how well we care for them. :( He was well into his 30's, and had a very happy retirement; of that you can be sure.<br />
<br />
Farewell for now!<br />
<br />
PS - Biggest boo boo of all....... NO HELMET! :) <br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-13798101956120436492010-10-25T16:49:00.000-07:002012-06-12T07:40:01.668-07:00Beyond the HomestretchI saw this book for sale in a catalog I get with gift items for horse lovers; and I went on Amazon and bought it.<br />
<a href="http://www.beyondthehomestretch.com/"><br />Beyond The Homestretch - What I've Learned from Saving Racehorses, by Lynn Reardon</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Well, I got it in the mail today, and am a couple of chapters into it.....<br />
<br />
And let me tell you, I am LOVING it. <br />
<br />
And I promise, I will get back to the story about "Secret Time" (aka Montana) very soon......<br />
<br />
I have been extremely busy opening a shop in an antique store....<br />
<br />
Anyway, please do check out this book. Anyone who loves their OTTB should, I think. <br />
<br />
See Y'all later on!Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-75800550008208660142010-10-05T05:20:00.000-07:002010-10-05T07:10:40.212-07:00In The Beginning.......It was September 2009.<br /><br />We had made the trip overnight to Philadelphia, arriving at the race track/casino in the very early hours of the morning. It was still dark, so we parked our truck and horse trailer in the empty casino parking lot. <br />Exhausted, we reclined our seats and tried to catch a few moments of sleep before hitting the road again later.<br /><br />Activity starts on the race track early..... it was still dark when I heard the first noises and ruckus from the stables and saw the shadowy forms of horses being exercised on the track.<br /><br />A little while later we called the trainer to let him know we were there. He, in turn, called the gate and said he'd meet us there to get us through. Security is tight on the track, and no one comes or goes without passing the security guys.<br /><br />Travelling in our trailer was a three year old colt, "West", who we had collected from the "lay up" barn in Virginia where he had been since the spring, recovering from a surgical procedure to his knee. He had stayed overnight in our barn, before heading out late in the evening the day before. He was expected to go back into racing again; and in the year since, has gone on to win many races and earn a lot of money for his owner. <br /><br />West was unloaded, inspected, approved of, and stalled. We were then introduced to the horses we'd be hauling back to Virginia - a tall, bold dapple gray and a fiery chestnut - "Secret Time".<br />The gray was going back for someone else; the chestnut we were keeping. At least for a little while; till we could re-home him; as we had planned to do with the retired racehorses we picked up from the track. We had already successfully re-homed one of the horses that we had picked up the year before; and two we had personally kept because we fell in love with them. We also had picked up a mare the month before, and we were unsure about our plan for her. <br /><br />The trainer - who, unlike some cruel, sneaky trainers who find ways to secretly spirit horses off to slaughter in a round-about way - is a kind man; older, caring, and refuses to allow the horses in his barn to go to slaughter, or for that matter, questionable homes where the horses are not properly fed and cared for. He shows us around, and we chat in his office, where he has security cameras feeding images onto screens in front of his desk where he can see all the activity going on in the stable. <br /><br />Exercise riders come in and report about horse's progress, and get instructions from the trainer on how to school the next horse. <br />We conclude our business and paperwork; and I snuck off to get my own personal tour of the track and stables. <br />Horses that were not being saddled and ridden or unsaddled and cooled, were being hand walked around the stable for their exercise. Their stalls were clean, and the doors were all fitted with stall "nets" so the horses had few view of their surroundings and open air flow. The horses were glossy, in excellent condition, and friendly; unlike some of the skinny, mean looking horses I had looked at in ads from other tracks on the east coast.<br /><br />Kevin and I headed to the track kitchen for some breakfast, along with the other grooms, trainers, jockeys, etc. <br /><br />When we got back to the stable, the vet had been there, to sedate the two geldings for the ride back to VA. I didn't understand why they needed to be sedated - the other horses we'd picked up had not been.<br /><br />We also spoke to the vet about the issue with our horse's knee. We were fully aware that he had a bone chip in the knee, and that it could flare up at any time. <br />They loaded our horse first; and as the groom led the muscled chestnut out, the trainer warned me to move back ..... which I thought was odd. We'd never had an issue with any of the other OTTBs we'd picked up from here kicking. <br /><br />The geldings were loaded, we said our goodbyes to our friend the trainer, he wished us a safe journey back home to Virginia, and away we went with our newest horse.<br /><br />I did not know then that that was the first day of a whole year of problems..... mysterious, "unexplained", frustrating problems.<br /><br />Stay tuned.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-84157748687635276312010-09-30T10:45:00.000-07:002010-09-30T10:49:03.416-07:00Well Hello ThereI know I have been dreadfully absent from my blog..... But I decided to take the summer to rekindle my enthusiasm; which I lost early this spring after the loss of two special friends a week apart. <br /><br />It was a long, hot, difficult summer riddled with problems..... and I have so much to tell. <br /><br />I am collecting my thoughts and will begin at the beginning ... a very good place to start!<br /><br />My horses and I have been on such a journey; and I have learned so much about myself, them, and the power of positive thinking.<br /><br />More later; I have to run now.......Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-29938641720232219292010-07-02T12:08:00.000-07:002010-07-02T12:33:10.113-07:00Karen and David O'Connor Three Day Eventing CampThis past Wednesday I drove up to Lexington, VA (A couple of hours) to the Virginia Horse Center to audit one day of the O'Connor Eventing Team eventing camp being held there.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=CopyofDSCN7653.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/CopyofDSCN7653.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />(I have to do audits such as this to retain my CHA Instructor Certification.) <br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7666.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7666.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />(Inside the main arena)<br /><br />It was the first time I met any famous equestrian, and I was pleased to find that Karen and David, while extremely professional, are also real, down-to-earth people. <br />In fact, David signed my schedule form that I have to send in with my re-certification paperwork. :)<br /><br />They used a dummy for teaching XC positions:<br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=CopyofDSCN7650.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/CopyofDSCN7650.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />(Karen in the pink shirt.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=CopyofDSCN7657.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/CopyofDSCN7657.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I was thrilled to see that the O'Connor's are implementing the natural horsemanship techniques of Pat Perelli in their instruction. Here, Karen is observing the campers as they warm up on the ground, using the "give to pressure" type of exercise the Parellis are famous for. <br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=CopyofDSCN7656.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/CopyofDSCN7656.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7663.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7663.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7662.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7662.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />David teaching showjumping.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7678.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7678.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This is Brew, Karen's dog. He came right up to me the moment I got there and sat down. He was my buddy for the day. Here, he was resting in the shade I cast in the 150 acre CX field.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7674.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7674.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Me in a judge's box observing Karen work one of her competition horses. I look like such a slouching slob here..... I think this is one of my biggest problems in riding, also. The slouching slob look. :(<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=CopyofDSCN7660.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/CopyofDSCN7660.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7686.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7686.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7685.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7685.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />For an unmounted lecture, the O'Connor's groom used Mandiba for demonstrating proper turnout for a show. Mandiba is the horse Karen placed 7th with in this year's Rolex Three Day Event. He was such a cute, people-oriented horse. <br /><br />During the lunch hour, I observed both Karen and David and one of their team members workout their competition horses.<br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7667.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7667.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br />David.....<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7670.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7670.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7677.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7677.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Karen....<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7675.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7675.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7676.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7676.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />In this shot, Karen shows exactly what it means to turn and look at your next fence on a showjumping - or any - course of jumps.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7673.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7673.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Kathy, the other instructor and team member.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7679.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7679.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7684.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7684.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7683.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7683.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN7680.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN7680.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I really enjoyed the clinic/camp, although I wished I was riding instead of auditing.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-87919774463319210512010-04-04T10:45:00.000-07:002010-04-04T11:06:32.157-07:00FinallyMy month long stint of working 100 hours a week is over today! I am so frigging excited!'<br /><br />From now on I plan on devoting a lot more time to Jazz so she can be placed in a new home, and Montana, with all his issues.<br /><br />All three are shedding out, of course, and they shed out to being nearly bald! Today I plan on bathing Montana, his skin/coat condition is pretty nasty.<br /><br />I rode for the first time since Major's death the other day. It is my policy to never ride when I am at the farm alone; after as many falls, crashes, and accidents I've had with horses, I cannot afford to get hurt and have no one know where I am. But I did ride her, in her paddock, at a walk. There are many things you can do with a "green" horse in training. For that lesson, I was schooling her in responding to leg pressure. (Away from.) And bending. One thing I have noticed about these OTTTBs is that they don't quite get "soft" and bend readily. They tend to like to lean on the bit. <br /><br />(But not nearly as bad as a spotted saddle horse/shire cross fox hunting horse named "Johnathan" I rode in one my my instructor clinics at Zion Farms, in Georgia. This horse would snatch that bit and nearly yank your arms off, pulling you out of the saddle and rattling your teeth out of your head in the process. NONE of the TBs I have ridden are this bad.) <br /><br />So we had a talk about that. She really is a good girl; a bit "mare-ish", but a good girl. <br /><br />I have also been thinking about when to get another horse. Major was "my" horse. He was the one that I had decided to keep, and event. When he died, all my desire to show, compete, and ride at all this year died with him.<br /><br />I've had a couple of offers on horses already, and I just cannot get motivated to pursue any of the offers right now. I think once I place Jazz and get our Quarter Pony sold, maybe I will be ready to begin again, with a clean slate.....<br /><br />Anyway, I'll be posting some pics, and maybe videos of the horses. I have never posted videos of them on this blog before! <br /><br />So....... stay tuned. :DHosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-71752410270656351792010-03-16T08:19:00.000-07:002010-03-16T08:44:47.201-07:00Moving OnConvicted by my husband's "lecture" to me about the other horses, and knowing how right he was, I resolved to do better.<br /><br />I called my sister and we decided to do a big Barn Spring Cleaning on Friday morning. It was drizzly, but warm, and we attacked my mess head on.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5867.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5867.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Naomi wonders how my feed room got into this mess in the firs place...."what the"....?</span><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5872.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5872.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5868.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5868.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The tack room was just as bad...... I have just been dumping stuff in piles everywhere. Bad, bad, bad.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5875.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5875.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5873.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5873.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />My English saddles on their floor rack are hidden behind those bridles somewhere....<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5876.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5876.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Air compressor tack rack in the middle of the floor - has to go.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5879.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5879.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />And, we're keeping things like this old broken curb chain <span style="font-style:italic;">why</span>? Toss it....<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5883.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5883.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />The dressage test Major did in the eventing clinic, still on the bulletin board.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5871.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5871.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5892.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5892.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Yes, yes, this is my butt. And I am ok with this. <br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5886.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5886.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />While Naomi and I were cleaning the barn, Kevin and Daniel fixed fences and gate posts.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5895.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5895.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Halley and Millie look on.....<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5896.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5896.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Done! All clean!<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5897.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5897.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Wow - I can see my things in there now.<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5899.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5899.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Still not great in the feed room; but better. I think I need some shelves on that back wall, and I'll be all set. I think I know someone who could help me out with that.....<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5900.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5900.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Even Jett gets some attention to his appearance. A little clip about the face...<br /><br /><a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/?action=view¤t=DSCN5866.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv141/HosieB/Horses/DSCN5866.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Major's stall................Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-23504935574777236752010-03-15T08:37:00.000-07:002010-03-15T09:07:09.488-07:00FalloutMy sister drove up and jumped out of her car in her PJs. As she walked towards us, I shook my head. She broke down and started stroking his head and neck.<br /><br />Paul, Kevin and I spoke for a moment about the whole day.<br /><br />"What do you think about his being dehydrated?" I asked. "The tank was full; I just can't see him not being able to get to the tank to drink."<br /><br />"Nope," Paul said. "I don't think this was caused by him being dehydrated. I think he got twisted early in the morning, and then didn't drink all day because he had a 'tummy ache', and that's why he was dehydrated," Paul said. <br /><br />" Ok, because Dr. Smith acted like he was colicing because I let him get dehydrated," I told him. She had indicated that she thought it was my fault because I "let" him get dehydrated.<br /><br />"Noooooo," <br /><br />"I was here this morning, and he was fine. So if he was twisted then, why didn't I catch it then?"<br /><br />"It would have taken a few hours to start. The circulation was cut off to part of his gut, and then the gas started building. So you wouldn't have known immediately, anyway," Paul explained. "You can do everything right - less feed, more hay and grass, turnout, less stall time, exercise - everything you do for him - and it would still have happened. Freak things just happen like this. They can be fine and dandy one day and drop over dead the next and there is nothing you can do about it. And it sucks - totally sucks that he was so young and talented..... I am so sorry."<br /><br />We covered him with blankets, and went home. I cried my eyes out on the drive home, and crashed from physical and emotional exhaustion when I got to bed.<br /><br />The next day, I went to the barn to do my morning feed and chores, I parked my truck in front of the barn and looked at his body under the blankets, and lost it. <br />Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility kind of freaking out. My feet felt like lead, every breath was a chore. <br /><br />From there I went to my parent's farm three miles away to feed, and when I saw the fresh grave of our old horse Cavort, it made it worse.<br /><br />We brought our backhoe to the farm and buried Major on the hillside behind the turnout shelter. Watching Kevin move his body to the grave brought fresh tears.<br /><br />We shut his stall door, and hung his blanket and halter there. I still haven't cleaned his stall. I'm just leaving it be for awhile.<br /><br />When my mom called me to find out how I was doing, I told her I just felt like taking a break from the horses for a while. Kevin knew how I felt, and he sort of chewed me out. "You can take a break all you want," he said. "But there are other horses in the barn than need us. Jazz and Montana still need attention and training. We can't just give up on them because we feel like crap about Major. They need us, too."<br /><br />I knew he was right; I have to set aside my instinct to retreat from the pain; and be there for Jazz and Montana, who are still in need of lots of care and training. <br /> <br />So I am going to the barn, and I am doing my job. And I cry a little less each day. It still feels like a rock in my stomach when I pass his empty stall; his blanket hanging there, and his halter.<br /><br />I haven't ridden yet. My sister and Daniel have. But I plan on it, soon.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-39729284414345492782010-03-14T11:28:00.000-07:002010-03-14T12:07:18.365-07:00Only The Good Die Young<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyfB8teWRnDtoxbEeUUdOYThfnU4Qd9kkmhyphenhyphenm_84L0BaiS-ZnoErLICvO7opuWHidhu3nyWKXr7X0s4HamBoiDS4ebSXwT7V9hLs8jVQGh00KtSsRWucW1fCMRd0TICLo9hZAbx-jfud7/s1600-h/2008-Mar+2010+096.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyfB8teWRnDtoxbEeUUdOYThfnU4Qd9kkmhyphenhyphenm_84L0BaiS-ZnoErLICvO7opuWHidhu3nyWKXr7X0s4HamBoiDS4ebSXwT7V9hLs8jVQGh00KtSsRWucW1fCMRd0TICLo9hZAbx-jfud7/s400/2008-Mar+2010+096.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br />My sister Naomi and her friend Daniel have been helping me with schooling and riding the horses recently. Naomi has been working with Major on his canter transitions, and Daniel has been riding my Perch/Tb cross mare that will be turning 6 in a few weeks. It was she and Daniel who found Major that afternoon. At that point he was standing, but clearly not right. She called me, I called our vet's office, and Kevin and I headed right over. The vet got there within 30 minutes and by that time he had collapsed in his stall. She examined him, gave him pain meds, determined he was not impacted, and tubed him. This was about 3 PM. He was also dehydrated, and she heard a heart murmur.<br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8eSvYbRJYZQsXkATbbPHDo3rVYIjy-1hT2ftitVcetI13r0IlcGjEHUhK2XNCXSzmlg-f17tL9S7vgEZ1peciH3ybi8ZMT17d2NqoM4FkVkMTQsnMWM04zIACBa6EIxTcZvzvxVkXvKk/s1600-h/2008-Mar+2010+171.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8eSvYbRJYZQsXkATbbPHDo3rVYIjy-1hT2ftitVcetI13r0IlcGjEHUhK2XNCXSzmlg-f17tL9S7vgEZ1peciH3ybi8ZMT17d2NqoM4FkVkMTQsnMWM04zIACBa6EIxTcZvzvxVkXvKk/s400/2008-Mar+2010+171.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br />He was up and down all evening, drank some water, nibbled on some hay; etc. We were hopeful for a few hours that he was going to pull through and make it.<br /><br />By 9 pm, he was not better, and a sickening dread had begun to fill me. He should have been getting better by now. <br /><br />By 10 mp he was worse. Kevin gave him a second dose of Banamine, and we waited.<br /><br />He started groaning, trying to thrash about, and was sweating. At 11pm Kevin said "Call Paul." (Paul is our regular vet. The vet from earlier was Paul's associate.)<br />"I can't do it," I said. "You call."<br /><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOWgT7qVYYPG-6mvBPKGLi9S1L6cuWfpf3uirV_nXk4-W0ZTPTalxfl8ZHYLMktkLfONRJOXo21vUPYg3jtBXGH38Xo-SyNyUdh1ToF4oG-92AuJlph4faLOTJDNc6MQq5ekqUNyTzWPg/s1600-h/2008-Mar+2010+177.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOWgT7qVYYPG-6mvBPKGLi9S1L6cuWfpf3uirV_nXk4-W0ZTPTalxfl8ZHYLMktkLfONRJOXo21vUPYg3jtBXGH38Xo-SyNyUdh1ToF4oG-92AuJlph4faLOTJDNc6MQq5ekqUNyTzWPg/s400/2008-Mar+2010+177.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br />Paul got there shortly before midnight. I was so thankful that it was Paul on call that night. I have known Paul since he first got out of vet school and came to this area to practice. He is just a few years older than me, and we've always been friends. We've been through some dooseys together with horses. (One time, he did send me with a horse (belonging to a friend who was out of town) to Sate; she came through the surgery, and fell over dead the next day.) He is honest, funny, brilliant, good with horses, explains everything to you so you know just what is going on, sympathetic, practical - the perfect vet. Much of the time, I call him on his cell, say "This is what is going on", and he can walk me through a treatment on the phone. But not this time - this time, we really needed him.<br /><br /> He checked him over: guts, gums, heart rate. He slowly stood up.<br /><br />"He's not good," he said. "More than likely he is twisted, and at this point I don't even know if he'd survive the trip to NC State, or the surgery." <br /><br />"Surgery isn't and option for us," I said. "We just can't afford it." (With Kevin out of work, the $8000 - $10000 or more bills would sink us.)<br /><br />"Well, I could give him a more powerful pain drug....."<br /><br />"Why?" I asked. "What good is it going to do him?"<br /><br />"Right. If I did it, it would buy him a few more hours; but..."<br /><br />"NO. No, I can't do that to him.... I can't sit here and watch him suffer for another hour,"<br /><br />"No; that is not right."<br /><br />He paused, and then said the words I had been dreading and knowing were coming all along:<br /><br />"Well.... do you just want to put him down, then?"<br /><br />Kevin and I nodded. Kevin went to the tack room, weeping.<br /><br />Daniel knelt by Major's head, soothing him.<br /><br />Paul went to the truck for the fatal dose.<br /><br />I thought about retreating to the feed room and avoiding the whole scene. Then I decided I owed it to my boy to be there until his last seconds.<br /><br />Paul Came back from the truck and stood next to me. "Are you ready?" he asked, quietly. I nodded.<br /><br />I had to turn away as he put the needles in Major; then I went to his side. Kevin came out and stood with Paul in the cold and the silence.<br /><br />Major took three deep breaths, and lay still. I thought he was dead. Then I reached and touched his face, and he took on last shuttering breath.... and was gone. <br /><br />It was exactly midnight.<br /><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o8Tc6OqsOOrQ_vQSQw_BE1GlrKaWRGMMrGDjtUWxneNZJWWF4ynDYeU3I4d-h3WuDofHnc9Jz1BZnHChADYr25V-2NO8h4viiRP8gCf_nykCZCvgA1Xk6teqCOqMYmggOgdj2z4GQPBq/s1600-h/2008-Mar+2010+180.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o8Tc6OqsOOrQ_vQSQw_BE1GlrKaWRGMMrGDjtUWxneNZJWWF4ynDYeU3I4d-h3WuDofHnc9Jz1BZnHChADYr25V-2NO8h4viiRP8gCf_nykCZCvgA1Xk6teqCOqMYmggOgdj2z4GQPBq/s400/2008-Mar+2010+180.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;'lign='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-36950214375027731502010-03-09T07:46:00.000-08:002010-03-09T07:52:42.603-08:00Why? Why, why, why.........again.My dear friends............... once again I bear no glad tidings for this blog, which seems to grow increasingly dark and morbid.<br /><br />Last night, at exactly midnight, I tried to soothe my horse, Major, as he took his last shuttering breaths in the darkness.<br /><br />The pain is too much, I cannot bear it, I cannot elaborate right now; I cannot think right now, I can hardly see through my tears to write this right now, I cannot.<br /><br />Just please, think good thoughts and say a prayer for me these next few days because I am ready to give up, throw in the towel and quit all together. <br /><br />This pain is too much. My heart can only bear so much.<br /><br />We bury Major this afternoon. He was 5 years old. I had him 2 years. <br /><br />And now, he is gone.<br /><br />Just like that.<br /><br />Gone.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124386550050515928.post-68327628981676910112010-02-28T06:52:00.000-08:002010-02-28T07:30:43.129-08:00Beautiful Blogger AwardJuliette at <a href="http://honeysucklefaire.blogspot.com/">Honeysucke Faire</a> very kindly passed this Beautiful Blogger award on to me. Thanks, Juliette! Although, I haven't felt like much of a beautiful blogger recently. In fact, I feel like I have not blogged at all on this blog of late.<br />This has been a really awful winter for me; and I am so looking forward to Spring, and finding a new start.<br />Anyway, the rules are: Link back to the person who gave you the award, (check) tell seven things about yourself, and pass the award on to 15 other bloggers. I'm afraid I don't really know 15 other bloggers but I am going to do what I can do... <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">7 Things about me:</span><br /><br />1. I sort my snack foods. Candy, chips, crackers. I sort them by color, size, and shape - then I eat them according to how I "rank" them - which I will not go into here, it's far too complicated.And with chips, I eat the folded ones first. It's a little OCD, but true.<br /><br />2. I ran for public office in my home town when I was 27. I lost; but I ran my own campaign and took the State's treasurer's training so I could handle my own campaign finances. It was one of the coolest things I ever did in my whole life thus far; and something I hope to repeat one day.<br /><br />3. I was home schooled through the 12th grade. The only thing I regret about it is not being able to be in marching band. I think I would have liked that.<br /><br />4. My family took a road trip from NC to Montana when I was 12 years old for my brother's wedding there. Ever since, I have loved that state, and want to go back.<br /><br />5. I have an extremely touchy sense of smell. Smell is a big deal for me. <br /><br />6. I hate spiders; but not snakes. Snakes are ok with me. I have picked them up on several occasions, to rescue them from people who want to kill them, or mow over them..... just not venomous ones. <br /><br />7. My Dad's pet name for me as a child was(is) "Chickadee". <br /><br />And here are the blogs I am bestowing the Beautiful Blogger Award onto:<br /><br /><a href="http://theforsheyfour.blogspot.com/">Herb of Grace</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jodielyzabeth.blogspot.com/">Journey of a Daughter of El Shaddai</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hoofprintz91.blogspot.com/">In the morning when I rise... give me Jesus</a><br /><br /><a href="http://">Pink Porcheshttp://pinkporches.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://benandsusi.blogspot.com/">Further Up and Further In<br /></a><br /><br />Thanks again, Juliette. <br />And sorry the blog is so bare and sad these days, folks - it's just a really bad time for me in the horse department.Hosannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410674663475994132noreply@blogger.com1