Dental Day

I'm happy to report that Galileo is playing nicer these days now that (hot) grain isn't being offered.

In preparation for Galileo's Dental Day, we moved them up to the smaller paddock off the barn last night.

Elvis is always busy getting into something.  Here is he rolling the poles around.

This is a good example of what I often see in the large pasture - the two horses walking side by side.

Galileo is filling out nicely.  When the sun shines on him you can see dapples of red on his barrel while his black stockings contrast nicely.

J brought Galileo in from the front pasture last night.  This is going to be his riding horse and I was pleased to see how well Galileo behaved - putting his head down to be haltered and leading nicely. His ground manners are excellent and our Frainer (friend and trainer) who has put rides on him, reports him to be the same under saddle.  I think he's going to work out nicely for us.

Playing Nice

I was going to write a Post about the end of the summer/fall season and share some pics of the day early winter arrived but decided to share how things are going with Galileo.

"The boys" are usually not far apart.

They share the water trough.  But there is an issue at the feeder in the loafing shed.  Galileo doesn't play nice and won't allow Elvis near the hay.

When Galileo arrived there were no issues.  For the first four days the two horses stood next to each other munching hay which we always offer in addition to free grazing.  

On Saturday I decided to dole out some grain.  Call it a stupid gesture with Elvis already plump and Galileo filling in nicely.  I separated the buckets quite a distance to allow the horses to keep to their own food, which worked out fine.

It was after that when Galileo started chasing Elvis out of the loafer via barred teeth or turning his rear at him and trying to kick him should he get too close to the hay.  

Poor Elvis.  He's a lover, not a fighter and yes, Galileo is the dominant horse.  Elvis was perplexed about all of this behavior and stood outside the loafer looking forlornly at me whenever I was outside.

It was apparent that Elvis wasn't getting any hay so I started carrying a flake out into the field for him.  Initially Galileo chased Elvis from that flake and also the loafer.  Elvis would wait until Galileo went back into the loafing shed and then sneak back to his pile of hay.

A few days later our beautiful summer/fall season came to a close and the wind and rains moved in.  I went out to check on the boys and was relieved to find that Galileo had backed off on his aggression and allowed Elvis in the loafer (as long as Elvis is facing outside with his back to the feeder).  

So far the rains have come after Elvis has had a chance to eat the hay I leave out for him.  However, it's only a short time now before I'm putting a flake of hay out in pouring down rain and I don't want to start having to feed my horses out in the rain.

I'm hoping things are settling down and I can keep to my plan of wintering the boys in the loafing sheds in peace.  Our loafing sheds are all huge with rubber mats.  We've always used them to winter our horses in the past.  It's my hopes Galileo will realize there's no threat of going hungry, relax and allow Elvis back to sharing the feeder as he initially did.  

If not I guess I'll have to use our stalls this winter - something I don't want to do as I think it's better to keep them outside not to mention that means cleaning stalls daily and spending $ for lots of shavings.

Hoping this is a short-term issue.  Last night I observed them sharing Elvis's hay in the field.  Maybe Galileo will play nice once again.

Blessed

   

To be given an awesome horse is a once in a lifetime event and something I'm still humbled by.  But to have it happen twice?

Meet Galileo, an 8-year old Thoroughbred Gelding.

He comes to our home compliments of Lisa, my Cowgirl Pal and my Frainer (my friend and trainer).

A friend of Lisa's raised Galileo and used him for Dressage, trails and competitive trail events.  When the friend had a baby she lost interest in Galileo as well as his care.  Lisa had known and liked this horse since he was a baby and stepped in to relieve her friend and save Galileo.

At a recent Cowgirl Pal potluck I stood in line with Lisa and when I shared that Elvis was lonely and J was looking for a riding horse, she offered Galileo to us on the spot saying she knew he would have a good home and be loved.

We went home to "think" about it.  A text message from my Frainer a few days later after putting a few rides on Galileo said that this would be a perfect horse for J.  Calm, well trained, good manners and just a sweet guy.

Have you ever seen joy in your horse's eyes?  Well I did that morning I introduced Elvis to Galileo. This picture was taken within minutes of their meeting.

No drama, no squeals.  It was like they'd known each other for years.

Blessed.

Maybe

It's been a month since we suddenly lost Bob.

It's still an adjustment for both Elvis and this family.

I've watched and worried over Elvis like a mother hen.  Is he happy?

Elvis can't see any other horses from our place.  Our neighbors have a horse but it's behind their place.  A few weeks ago Elvis caught a brief glimpse of it and went into a full tizzy, flying around the pasture until he was exhausted and soaking wet.  I stood watching helplessly, worried about the large rocks that pop up from the ground due to living at the feet of a dormant volcano.

Once Elvis ran out of steam I haltered him up and led him to the barn where I hosed him down, paying extra attention to his legs.  No harm done but...that behavior answered my questions - and I don't like the answer.

I worry about the upcoming winter.  Elvis comes from a show barn environment and has always had warm blankets and a cozy stall surrounded by equine neighbors to protect him from winter's harm.

This was to be his first winter at home, with savvy Bob to show him the ropes and keep him company. How is Elvis going to handle being here alone when the winds are roaring at 60 mph and the rain is sideways - or when the temps hit single digits?

Board Elvis?  Don't want to do that.  It would result in having zero horses at home.  It's hard enough to look out the window and see one horse.  I can't imagine looking out and seeing none.

Have someone board here?  Don't want the hassles of additional insurance or lack of privacy.

Get a cow/goat?  Not for us.

So what option is left?

As we enter into a new chapter of our lives without children at home, Hubby and I have discussed another horse for him to ride.  Not a rescue horse or another yard ornament (and we've surely hosted many) but a steady, anybody can get on, low-key Gelding.

Maybe.

Looking at the Future

For the first time that I can recall, we are a one-horse family.

I find myself questioning getting more horses.  There is a cost to having a little herd of horses (duh). I've budgeted and planned in order to have (purchased and rescued) horses - making sure their health, feed and living conditions were always the best that I could provide.

But in doing so I've had to pass on other items here that need attention - like replacing old furniture, carpet, etc.  I guess it comes down to what one's priorities are and I guess right now as I approach my 61st birthday, I'm revisiting mine.

The fact is, I'm the only one in the family who rides and I have come to realize that I don't ride as often as I used to.

I had grand plans a few years ago of having two good riding horses.  I found Poco (on the left), one of the most steady/eddy, well broke horses I've ever owned.  He joined Bob here at home.  They got along great.

I called my friends, "Come ride with me!"  I was surprised to find everybody was busy doing something else.  Nobody was interested in joining me.  Nobody ever came out to experience a great ride on Sweet Poco.

I asked my family.  Same situation.  Although they enjoy the horses, neither of them was interested in joining me on a ride.

So I rode Poco.

And I rode Bob.

I even rode our "ornamental" Belgian Draft, Bear.

I hauled places.

And I boarded.

But these days I find myself not willing to ride at home alone, not enjoying riding in 80+ temps (which we've had a lot of), not wanting to expend the resources to join in some of the Cowgirl games that I have in the past.  These days I find myself busy and choosing other priorities besides riding.

I think I need a "jump start" of my battery!  I have one of the most talented, best trained, sweetest horses out in my pasture.  I have five acres of rolling pastures.  I guess I wish more than anything I had someone here to ride with.

My husband has mentioned "down the road" he might like to ride again and has also talked about taking some lessons.  If that should happen I'm thinking lessons on Elvis would be a good way to start for him.  But I don't think this constitutes getting another horse right now.  We can share Elvis and if husband decides he wants to pursue riding further, we can re-visit another horse at that time.

What about you?  Do you find as you get older that your priorities are different?
What do you do to keep motivated?  I'd sure love to hear from you on this subject.

The Truck

I write this at the dining room table.

My view allows me to see anybody coming up the drive on their way to our house.

I want to make sure I don't miss who is about to arrive.

Because I sit here waiting for the truck.

The truck that was only here a month ago.

It should not be here today.

But it is.

You may notice a change on my front page.  Someone has been removed from the line of pets I love...someone very special.

He lies out by the barn.

What can I say about the horse underneath that tarp?

He'd had a rough life before I met him.  With scars around his mouth and on his body, it was apparent that someone had laid a hard hand on him.  I used to raise my hand and he'd quiver in fear.  If I raised my voice he'd run.  I could never lunge him - it only amped him up.

It took him ages to trust me.  But once he did trust me, it was a strong and steady trust that never wavered.  From the day he accepted me, he'd visually track me each time he caught site of me, watching me steadily.

He allowed me to accomplish a dream I'd had since I was a child playing Cowboy - working cattle. Our first attempts were cumbersome because I tried to tell him what to do.  But once I figured out he knew more about this than I did, I'd merely point him at the cow, lean over and whisper, "Get him, Bob!" in his ear.  He did the rest.

We rode for a few years until his knees gave out.  I spent a considerable sum trying to rehab him to accept the fact that he was now a pasture pet.  And a good pet he was.

This past 3-day weekend he wasn't right. A consultation with the vet on call, some Banamine and he seemed ok. With the vet already coming out yesterday for scheduled dentals I chose to not pay for a holiday weekend emergency visit.

We never got the dentals addressed yesterday.  He had a kidney stone that had traveled as far as it could go.  A large stone, the size of a meatball, which had caused extensive internal damage on its journey.  The decision was made...

The truck has arrived.

I've handed the driver the money and thanked him for not needing my assistance because frankly, I'd be worthless out there.

I've dried my eyes from the tears I shed after returning into the house just in time to see the last view of the truck before it vanishes down the road with a large part of my heart in the back of it.

The truck is gone.

It's over.

Long Ago and Far Away

Long ago and far away I wrote my last Post.  Since that time much has happened.

Yes, I'm sad to report that we did put Prince down.  As always, it was bitter sweet.  We are so very happy we had an opportunity to rescue and have him be part of our family.  But he was failing quickly.  We keep our chins up knowing he's in a better place now.

In July I took a leap and returned to the workforce as a contractor where I used to work.  I took this picture on my first morning before I headed to work.  Just looking at this picture and recalling that early morning, I get the horrible gut feeling (I had on the day above) about returning to work.  I knew on that morning I'd made a mistake in giving up the "retired" life I'd loved for over four years.

And indeed to make things worse, they didn't go well from day one and for the first time in my life I quit my (first and probably last) job (and don't plan to make this mistake again).

It is absolutely glorious to have my "old" life back and to have the chance to sit down today and have time to write a Post.

I just went out to take these pictures and put on "Party Hats" (fly masks).  Elvis and Bob are together in the large summer pasture.  With only two horses there is no longer an issue of having to separate three horses (because when the three were together there were fights).  Elvis is always the first to come when I go out in the pasture.

Bob catches up, but you can see Elvis's chest to the right.  They are so funny, they gently argue with each other when I'm around and push each other out of the way to be closest to me.

Elvis has intercepted me and Bob is now in the background.  Trying to get their Party Hats on and not step on any road apples is tricky.

Party Hats finally on, Elvis moves off to graze.  Yet Bob's not sure if he should join him or stay with me.

When Bob finally realizes I'm not going to do anything but just stand there he loses interest.

Unfortunately, as you can see from the above pictures "The Boys" are pretty plump.  I haven't worked either of these guys for some time.  I'm just not an 85/90+ degree horse person and that's pretty much what our temps have been, not to mention lack of time due to my 30-day career.  However, the career is over and we are about finished with the warm weather so lunging/riding are right around the corner.

Thanks to all who have checked in with me during my "absence".  I hope Long Ago and Far Away will be things of the past and writing more Posts will be the future.  :)