Wordless Wednesday - Dash on the Track

After the Storm

Hurricane Irene paid us a visit Saturday and Sunday.  We opted not to go to the 4H Regional show on Saturday, given the looming hurricane and stayed at the barn to batten down the hatches.  The rain and winds were pretty fierce but everybody - 2 legged and 4 legged - did just fine.  The horses all hunkered down in their big shed and we stayed inside with the dogs and listened to the tornado warnings.  No fences or trees down, just a little washout of the driveway at the barn, the chickens were fine in their coop.  Whatever hay was out was waterlogged and the horses hoovered the hay we had put out Sunday morning so they headed out to the grass.

The howling wind didn't bother them and at least it was warm out.  A fresh round bale later and all were happily munching away.

Maccabee leaves for his new home tomorrow.  We wish him well with his new owner and hope to see him again in the show ring!  Someday the pony will have a name...

Bracing for the storm and stressing about the weather

Hurricane Irene is on its way and Philadelphia is in the direct path. We are about 35 miles west of Philly and will definitely be impacted. They are predicting 5 to 10 inches of rain with high winds, trees down and power outages. A hurricane warning has been issued for Philadelphia and a tropical storm warning has been issued for the county we live in. And to top it all off, the 4h Regional show is scheduled for tomorrow. As of right now, the show is still scheduled. I'm afraid that we may end up hauling home in high winds, rain and lightening. Not sure yet how we are going to handle this...

No Name Pony

It's been almost 2 weeks and we still haven't found the right name for him yet.  Any suggestions?

Wordless Wednesday - Stubs the Barn Kitty

Building a herd

When we got started with horses 11 years ago, we really had no idea what were doing.  We listened to advice that "experienced" horse people gave us, some that worked out for us and some that didn't.  Over the years, we have learned a lot - asked lots of questions of the vet, the farrier, other horse people, figured out the things we want to do, the things we would like to avoid, the type of horse that we prefer, how to take care of a rescue, rehabbing feet, losing a beloved animal.  We learn new things all the time.

We recently gave Rosie away to a wonderful 9 year old girl who will love her for the rest of her life.  We've also reevaluated what we want to do with our horses and the type of showing that T wants to do.  We decided to offer Maccabee for sale since he is kind of being wasted on us.  He's a really excellent English show pony and we were able to find a girl T's age in 4H who shows hunter/jumper locally.  If I could have picked a person for Maccabee, this girl would be it so we're really happy for both pony and rider.  We have also agreed that Rocky will become the barn owner's daughter's new horse.  It seems like a good fit all around.  

So, now the herd consists of Zip, Rooster, Dash, and a new, unnamed dun pinto pony that should be excellent for gaming with a little bit of time.  We're still figuring out what Dash can do (he's some kind of gaited breed) and enjoying him immensely.  No Name came from a farm where he was kept with only cows so he's pretty happy to be part of the herd.  Will post pics soon.


Prepping for Regionals this week.  The top 2 in each class make it to States and T is competing in Barrels (horse) and Poles (horse).

Macro Monday - Chickory in the Field

Sunday Stills - the Letter B

Wow, I managed to get some pics for this week's Sunday Stills - the letter "B".

Baby horse with his mama

T's boots in front of the my blue tack trunk in the barn

View other challenge participants here

I'm so behind...

...on blog posts, reading blogs, posting pics. Someday I'll catch up. Feeling under the weather and not terribly motivated but I can hopefully find some time. Hope all is well with everyone!

Wordless Wednesday - Jumping Dash

Busy Busy

Lots going on...I ended up working 12 hours on Friday which started the weekend off just great.  T was supposed to do a gaming demo at the 4H Fair last Friday night but felt the footing wasn't good so decided not to.  We don't need a repeat of Roundup and falling over.  Farrier came Saturday to pull Dash's shoes and T walked ponies at the 4H fair.  Trimmed horses and ponies on Sunday and then it's back to work.  Counting down the days until Regionals...

Wordless Wednesday - 3 Little Swallows

Meet Dash

When we got Jet, we didn't really know anything about him other than he was very well trained.  Someone noticed his brands and told us that he was a Mexican Mustang.  This person had 4 of the same type of ranch horses - Cockroaches, they are called - and used them for gaming and trail riding.  I always said I would have a whole herd of these really awesome horses.

We found Zip at a farm not too far away who, every once in a while, will have a Mexican Mustang for sale.  Then came Rooster from the same farm.  Each time a Mexican Mustang comes up for sale, we have gone to look.  Last week, a flea bitten gray was listed so of course we had to check him out.  He's bigger than most of the horses that we come across - just over 15 hands but stocky - and is as well broke as we had hoped.  The timing worked out that Rosie found a new home and we were able to bring this new guy home.  T named him Dash and he has a great personality.

She Gives Me Gray Hairs....

Saturday was the County Roundup show for 4H.  This show qualifies for Regionals which then qualifies for States in Harrisburg in October.  It's a big deal and the one show that T has been working for all year. I was supposed to take pics for the day.  The day started off with the alternator going on the truck so I spent about an hour on the phone and texting trying to find a ride plus trying to get a hold of someone on the club grounds to let them know I wasn't able to take pics.  Luckily my friend Jeanine, who keeps her horse at the same farm, was willing to change her plans and haul us.  So we managed to get to the show grounds with plenty of time for her 3 classes - Pole Bending, Clover Leaf Barrels and Keyhole.  She knocked down 2 poles and had time penalties in Poles so she placed 3rd.  She won barrels but at the end of the run, Zip caught a toe and went down.  He tried really hard to stay up but had too much momemtum so down on his knees he went and he rolled onto his side and onto T.  She completely disappeared under him but the horn stopped him from going completely over and he got back to his feet.  Somehow he managed to avoid stepping on her.  Luckily she has a high horn on her saddle, she was in the sand ring which gave her some cushion and she's pretty tiny.  Craig and I ran into the ring and she popped right up and announced that she was just fine and was going to ride the next class.  Just about gave me and most of the people watching a heart attack.  She skinned her elbows and Zip skinned his knees a little bit but that was all.  PHEW!  She gives me gray hairs....She knocked down a rail in Keyhole so she was disqualified for that class.  She moves onto to Regionals on August 27th for Pole Bending and Barrels.

Poles

Coming home from poles

Barrels

Barrels

Coming home from barrels, about 2 seconds before he fell

Keyhole

Rosie gets a new home

We decided that perhaps it was time to find Rosie a new home.  She really deserves more individual attention and we had hoped that we could find her a family that had kids that would love her as much as we have.  And we were going to be selective.  I put carefully written ads online, listing her as an adoption, and hoped that we would get some really good responses.  Rosie is definitely pony sized but rides more like a horse and is very well trained.  She isn't for a complete beginner as she's still got some pep to her and she's very responsive.  I got a reply to an ad from a woman named Julie.  She was looking for a kid safe pony for her 9 year old daughter to ride.  Her current horse has developed some issues and wasn't a good fit anyone.  One catch - Julie lives 3 1/2 hours away.  She was willing to drive out to see her so we made plans for yesterday.  Her 9 year old daughter Logan is absolutely adorable and did well on Rosie.  They loaded her up in the trailer and drove Rosie to her new home late yesterday.  We are thrilled that Rosie will have a girl that will love her and take excellent care of her and we know that she will bloom with Logan.  I am happy that she found an awesome home but sad to see her go.  We wish you well, Rosie, and many happy years with Logan!!

Wordless Wednesday - Head Shots

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

I am taking some much needed vacation time from work and having lots of family time. Hopefully some horsey time too and taking lots of pics. Saturday is the 4H County Roundup show. T is showing in 3 classes and I am the show photographer. We'll be spending Friday getting ready.

Brave Boy

After T and I rode in the ring the other day, we took a walk up the hill.  Rocky had never been up there before but he was a brave boy.  He sure turned into a pretty horse.