Catching Up

Happy Holidays and New Year!

The last time I posted was November 11th.  I have tried since to write Posts but have been met with multiple challenges which have been frustrating to say the least.

The internet connectivity to my office, which is the tack room in our barn, is mostly to blame.  It has been sketchy after some unusually strong (for us) thunder and lightning storms this past summer.  One storm in particular was something of the likes I've never experienced.  After that particular storm our router no longer worked.  We replaced it and since then I've had sketchy service in my office which is inside a metal barn.

Trying to work and write in the house is distracting so although I've been able to focus on getting my part time work accomplished, I found myself hitting a mental block when I try to write my Posts.

So here I am today back out in the barn.  It's a New Year and I am determined to get back to posting events that surround my life.  I just climbed up on my 3-step mounting block and sprayed the outside internet connector with WD-40.  This was J's suggestion - of course he is 6-6" not 5-3"...easy for him to do but a bit of a challenge for me!

Yet I've had a few bumps in my internet as I've written the above.  Windows ran a diagnosis and tells me my cables are bad - maybe we need to change out the cable that direct connects to my laptop. Since Windows ran that diagnosis awhile ago all has been well so here's an update on everybody:

Elvis:  Since Elvis entered my life it seems that I am always running, running, running - another reason why I don't post as much as I used to.  Elvis is doing wonderfully well and I can't even come close to telling you how much I love that horse nor the joy he brings to me.

I found a resolution to the naughty by being too nice issue.  I've never quite understood the concept of riding with my seat.  I've watched others do it but when I've tried in the past I just can't figure out what I'm supposed to do.

I finally had a breakthrough about a month ago when I was taking a lesson with my Frainer.  I found Elvis's response to my legs improved dramatically and we moved right out when I requested.  I find riding with my seat to be quite a workout and I can't do it for long so this will be one of my goals for 2014 - to increase my stamina (and stomach muscles) to be able to ride for longer periods via my seat.

Now that Elvis is "mine" I find myself no longer feeling like I am walking on egg shells - which was totally self-induced.  So calling him on certain behaviors is no longer an issue.  I don't have to do it often and I try not to nag but I am no longer hesitant to correct him.

I am blessed to have a horse that really only wants to please.  I've yet to have him do something really naughty and when I remind him who is the boss he falls right in line.

I am still so humbled to have been given this horse!  On a clear, cold night last January I was awake in the middle of the night looking out the window at all the stars when a brilliant shooting star flew across the winter sky.  I made a wish on that shooting star for a horse like Elvis and that wish came true.  I sit here as a believer in wishing on shooting stars.

Peeb:  One of the reasons I'm out in the barn is because today was the day where a decision about Peeb's future with us would be made.  Being a rescue horse you get what you get.  And we got a sweet 30+ horse who is a great companion for Bob, but we also got a horse whose care had been neglected for so many years that we are now dealing with the consequences.

Peeb had three teeth (at last count).  Although he still tries to graze and eat hay, he basically cuds it. Although we still provide free choice hay and pastures to graze on, we now feed both Peeb and Bob compressed orchard pellets and senior feed soaked in water twice a day.  We have come to call this feeding as "slop" which is actually what it looks like.

We have been able to keep a good weight on Peeb by feeding him slop.  He happily slurps it up.  But we ran into an issue with shoeing Peeb.  He has had issues trying to stand on three feet while being shod/trimmed.  His knees are in terrible shape and at last shoeing he almost went down multiple times.

I have an awesome shoer and the last thing I need is for Peeb to collapse on him so my shoer and I made an agreement that if Peeb could not be shod at this appointment today that we would need to make plans to put him down.  Unfortunately, his feet are in such bad shape that it would be cruel and painful for him to go barefoot.

I decided to butte Peeb for the past two days in prep for the appointment today and I'm happy to report that the butte helped!  Peeb was able to remain solid while his fronts were shod and his backs trimmed!  We have dodged a decision that although we know will arrive some day, it won't be in the near future as long as I can medicate him prior to being shod.

Bob:  It is terribly hard to watch Bob gallop freely in the pastures and know that he can no longer be ridden!  Our days of sorting cows may be over but Bob and I still have a special bond.  Bob is such a sensitive horse - so very focused on what is going on around him.  He is so different than any horse I've ever owned.  If you go back in my Posts you will see that I struggled with Bob.  It took a long time for me to "get him".

But "get him" I did.  Bob trusts me like no others.  He is a horse that would do anything I asked of him - he indeed has done that.  I am "his human".  When I'm out in the yard or working around the barn, there stands Bob - watching me intently.  He comes when called and always enjoys my company.  I love to go out and just stand with him in the field.  We communicate in silence, the only sound being his signature blubbering sighs of happiness of our being together.

Well that pretty much sums up what's generally been going on around here.  I've been posting for almost an hour now out here in the barn with no glitch in my internet service!  Maybe the WD-40 worked!  I look sure forward to coming back out here and writing like I used to.

2014 is the year of the horse and for me it is a pivotal point in my life as I entered the six-oh digits in October.  With a horse like Elvis the future is ours.  I have places to go and things to do this year that I could never have considered in the past.

Stay tuned, it's going to be a glorious ride!

50+