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| Late afternoon sun behind the clouds |
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
And His Name Shall Be...
Rocky
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| He's got a very cute face! |
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| Life is good when you can scratch all the itchy spots |
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
We Couldn’t Leave Him Behind
We planned a trip to New Holland for Easter Monday, mostly for the tack sale and to hit the tack shops on the way back. Little did I know….
As we were walking through the horses, we saw three men leading three horses – one horse was in good weight but the other two were very skinny, one more skinny than the other. Skinny enough that one of the auction workers told him that he couldn’t bring him through. I happened to be standing there when the man holding the horse looked at me and told me a price – less than what it would have cost us for lunch. I must have “Sucker” written across my forehead. This horse – or pony – looked more like a yearling but they told me he was 3 1/2 or 4 and had been ridden (OMG!). How on earth am I supposed to walk away, especially when a horse dealer saw the horse and loaded him up (you never know what will happen once they step on the truck). The whole group (5 of us) had a discussion and we worked out a way to get him off the truck and get him home (luckily we knew enough people to get a hauler). It took most of the day but he’s in our barn now in quarantine in a large broodmare stall with a sign on the door. T and the barn owner’s daughter (commonly referred to as The Girls) have a project pony and are excited.
Pony sized with long legs, cute face, no idea what breeding but maybe some Arab in there (slight dish to the face). The age of about 4 seems to match his teeth. And he’s intact so gelding will be one of the first priorities along with groceries (we have a call in to the vet). He smelled horrible, has bugs (EWWW!!) which we are treating, looks and smells like he’s been laying in pig manure. He got a bath with 2 different kinds of medicated shampoos and lots of scrubbing. Long feet which we took down a bit to make him more comfortable (the farrier can’t come for a week) – surprisingly good feet under the mess that is there. An old abscess that had blown at the coronet band and has started to grow out. A red dun with a dorsal stripe and a nice coat under there somewhere. He walked on and off the trailer like a gentlemen, stood for a bath and let me nip and rasp his feet so somewhere someone taught him manners. We are going to handle him a lot now that he's quiet and docile to reenforce whatever training he had. Weight tape estimate is 580 pounds, maybe 13.3 hands. No name yet but I’m sure we’ll come up with something in the next few days.
As we were walking through the horses, we saw three men leading three horses – one horse was in good weight but the other two were very skinny, one more skinny than the other. Skinny enough that one of the auction workers told him that he couldn’t bring him through. I happened to be standing there when the man holding the horse looked at me and told me a price – less than what it would have cost us for lunch. I must have “Sucker” written across my forehead. This horse – or pony – looked more like a yearling but they told me he was 3 1/2 or 4 and had been ridden (OMG!). How on earth am I supposed to walk away, especially when a horse dealer saw the horse and loaded him up (you never know what will happen once they step on the truck). The whole group (5 of us) had a discussion and we worked out a way to get him off the truck and get him home (luckily we knew enough people to get a hauler). It took most of the day but he’s in our barn now in quarantine in a large broodmare stall with a sign on the door. T and the barn owner’s daughter (commonly referred to as The Girls) have a project pony and are excited.
after a bath much scrubbing and a little bit of hoof work
he's standing on a slight slope so he looks a bit awkward
Monday, April 25, 2011
Macro Monday - Raindrop
I took a bunch of flower pics for Sunday Stills and was playing around with the settings on the camera. I was able to capture the raindrop at the bottom of the cluster of lilac blooms.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday Stills Challenge - Flowers and Wildflowers
I am finally back into the swing of things for Sunday Stills. This week's challenge is Flowers and Wildflowers. The early spring flowers in my garden are finally blooming and were covered in raindrops yesterday morning. Makes for a gray day but pretty pics.
View other Challenge participants here
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| The grape hyacinth are starting to fade but I love the color |
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| The lilac is going to bloom any day now - I love the smell of these flowers! |
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| A tulip is just starting to open |
View other Challenge participants here
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Photogenic
Not sure what it is but some animals are just so photogenic. This is Poppy and he is owned by a friend of mine. His barn name is Poptart and his show name is Heart to Heart (he has a white heart and a black heart on his rump that he was born with). I have yet to take a bad photo of him but I just love this one, especially the way the sun was hitting his eyelashes. I swear he poses for pics.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Hard Working Horsewoman
I took pics yesterday of some racehorses in training. This is Jamie working with a 2 year old filly who is being trained for the track.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Please stay tuned....
Wow, can't believe another weekend went by so quick! I am taking a much needed vacation day today to take pics at the farm. Last week was crazy with a Buxmont meeting, chorus concert, crazy weather (including a tornado to the west of us). This week is 4H plus T's spring break. Lots of spring cleaning at the barn yesterday. I've got lots of pics to edit and post so please stay tuned....
Friday, April 15, 2011
Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 40
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| My girl and Zip doing their thing at the 4H show last weekend (this is the Clover Leaf Barrels class) |
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Alive and Kicking
Rosie has certainly come into her own. She's rounding out nicely and really looks like the sturdy pony she should be. She's quite the pistol under saddle and wants to go, go, go. Her hair is growing back slowly - right now she has a deep red peach fuzz and I can't wait to see what color her new coat will be.
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| The darker batches along her chest is where she completely shedded her winter coat |
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Morning Snooze
Every morning most of the horses on the farm take a snooze in the sunshine.
All is peaceful and quiet in the mare's field
Monday, April 11, 2011
4H Gymkhana
Saturday was the first 4H show of the season, hosted by the Bits & Pieces Club. It was a fun show with all gymkhana classes and T was definitely looking forward to getting back into the showing groove. Zip has been doing well and she's been working with him a lot to get him ready. T did 12 classes and placed in 11 - 8 first place, 1 second place, and 2 fourth place. She had a good time and the weather cooperated. I've got a whole bunch of pics to go through and some videos to splice together but will post more later.
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| Pole Bending |
Holy cow, where did the weekend go??? It's back to work for me today.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Almost Show Season
The first fun show is this weekend and T's been practicing. She's been doing a lot of riding - in the ring, in the field, on the track and on the trail. She's looking forward to getting back in the show ring and I think they are more than ready. Gotta love a well trained horse!
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| Practicing patterns in the big field |
Buxmont's first show is next weekend.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sweet Rosie
Rosie seems to very much enjoy her life these days. While we were riding on the weekend, she had the whole field to herself and spent most of it soaking up the sunshine.
She is very unconcerned about people around her, even when she's laying down. She loves to get attention and she is shedding like a fiend right now. When we got her last July she was so emaciated and hadn't shed most of her winter coat. It seems that her body is in overdrive now and she's got patches where she's shed out completely bald. It's something that the vet mentioned can sometimes happen with horses that are really undernourished. She looks pretty threadbare right now.
She is very unconcerned about people around her, even when she's laying down. She loves to get attention and she is shedding like a fiend right now. When we got her last July she was so emaciated and hadn't shed most of her winter coat. It seems that her body is in overdrive now and she's got patches where she's shed out completely bald. It's something that the vet mentioned can sometimes happen with horses that are really undernourished. She looks pretty threadbare right now.
I got to hang out with her in the field and groom her with my hands
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| She was perfectly fine with me down on her level - Maccabee is always mugging for the camera |
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| She loves to have her face rubbed |
I hope her hair grows in soon!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Hitting the Trail and the Road
T and I got the chance to do some trail and road riding both days this weekend. It was really fun!! There were 5 riders total including one rider on Maccabee (who did fantastic). We did a loop in the woods that included going into the creek and then a road loop each day. Saturday we finished with a gallop up the hill at the farm. The weather cooperated, the horses all behaved and both were great rides. I'm so looking forward to warmer weather and more time in the saddle!
Rooster was pretty full of himself so I didn't have the opportunity to take pics but Craig was able to snap some.
Saturday's ride
T took a couple with her cell phone
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| I was in the lead - you can see Zip's ear at the bottom of the pic |
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| The riders behind T - I was pretty impressed with her coordination :) |
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| Me and Rooster back at the barn |
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| T and Zip galloping up the hill |
Sunday's ride
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| Heading into the woods - the entrance is just to the left of us |
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| Coming back on a gravel road |
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Peekaboo, I See You
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| Rooster peering over the top fence rail |
I just loved the way the late afternoon sun lit up just his ears. This really shows just how tall he is (or isn't). He stands about 13.3 hands.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 38
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| Turkey vulture soaring against the blue sky on a cold, crisp morning |
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