Fear and Friends

I heard the awful screaming again. Both cats were at the door. Both spent the night in the house. This never happens. They are afraid, also.

I have left a trail of horsey friends all across Texas. It always hurts most to say goodbye to the people who share the love of horses. Now it is my turn. My horsie friend is moving away. I will miss the companionship. I will miss her talent. I don't put just anyone on my horses. It is a safety issue as well as a training issue. Diesel and Becca can both be alot of horse.

I moved to Port Lavaca for the fishing and the beach. I stayed for the people I met here. This is a wonderful town. I've made it my home. Forever. I madly miss horse people, though. I have met no one that rides English. I have not heard of a single trainer (as in train me, trainer), let alone a good one. I miss having an arena. Even more, I miss having an arena with other riders. Camaraderie. I miss it terribly. I've said this before. I still feel it. And now, my riding buddy is moving. My only riding buddy. Damn. Double damn.

On the upside, I had another good ride today. Riding Buddy rode Diesel and had a great ride. It was a good day. I like those. It makes me want to ride more. Once a week is not enough. My ride on Prissy was comfortable. She's worth a million bucks. No lie. Nothing but years can create a bond so strong. There will never be another like her. There will be others that are great. But, Miss Priss is the love of my life. That sounds weird. I feel it deep down. This is it. Savor every moment. My life is blessed.

Mourning

I have 3 horses, 2 dogs, 2 turtles, and 2 cats. I think. Emmie has been AWOL since last weekend. I heard cats screaming last week. Now she is gone. I fear she has been run off by the bigger, meaner kitties. I fear I have a bobcat. I fear she has met an early end. She had not left the vicinity since moving here.

Last night, I heard screaming and went out to scream at Pumpkin. I found Blue at the door wanting in really bad and Punk in the back yard sitting peacefully. No mad cats. No strange cats. No Emmie. My thought then was bobcat. Who knows?

Emmie is a plain, black cat. She is aloof, shy. She does not seek out human attention. I am the only person that can touch her. This is a nice way of saying wild. Crazy wild. Out of 10 pets, she is the least committed. I wish I knew what happened. I have this feeling that she is gone. I hope she felt unwanted by the other cats and went next door. I hope she comes home. She left for days at the old house. She just never left here. I still have hope. I go outside a dozen times a day hoping to see her. And every time I come back with renewed sadness. She's just a wild cat. I miss her terribly. How do we get so attached? I have 10...or 9 pets. How does it hurt so bad for every one? If she is gone I would like to bury her and plant something. Just to know what happened...

Second First

I survived my second first ride in a new place. Diesel was L- A- Z- Y. I actually had to dig in to keep him in a trot. However, I asked for a canter on his weak lead and he picked it up immediately and stayed steady. Nice, but I don't like that I had to fight for a straight line. Also, he evaded the bit the entire ride. Dodo. Overall, a good first ride in a new home and first ride in almost a year. Who'd have thought 25 minutes would leave me so sore. Must ride more. I wish the wind would cooperate. It is howling. So bad I gave up on watering my new grass. It never hit the ground. Crazy.

I rigged a new set of reins for him. He is so big my standard reins are not quite long enough. So I laced together an old set of split reins and I'm gonna rough it. Functional if not pretty. I can't wait to try them out. We'll see. I hate riding in the wind. And tonight I wouldn't dare to ride. Talk about fruit loops. They spun out of the barn half a dozen times just cuz. Running, bucking, silly. It's a sign even I can't ignore!

Birthday Season

Diesel turned 8 last week. How come he doesn't act 8? He is a goofball. You should have seen him earlier. It is cold and rainy and he was not happy about being wet. He was pawing and shaking his head. Most of all, he didn't want to be alone. Hollering like a fool. His ladies were out grazing and were completely ignoring him. The more they ignored, the more he bounced around. Eventually, the rain picked up and they returned to the barn. He was happy as a lark. As if they came back for him. What a fool that boy is. Gotta love him.

Becca turns 16 next month. Priss will be 23 in May. And my 8 year old thinks they are his own personal harem. Ha! They've been around the block too many times for that. I love my crew.

Chunky Monkey!

Chunky Monkey! Chunky Monkey! Monkey! Monkey! Monkey! Chunky Monkey!

Can't you just hear my excitement? Becca is a cow. An itchy, furry, fatty patty cow.

She has really not been herself since the move. She's been aloof. Flighty. She really doesn't handle change well. Tonight I got some Becca love. This comes in the form of a hug and wet kisses. For the first time since we moved here she snuggled. I am so glad to have my girl back.

Soon we will have green grass. This is bad for the Bec. This means restricted turnout and a grazing muzzle. She is not going to be a happy camper. In the meantime she munches on old, dry grass just outside my window. How lucky am I? My life is blessed.

I'm in LOVE

Diesel is such a gorgeous creature. He knows it. He demands attention when he moves. I can't wait to work with him some more. He is just plain fun. I hope to ride Sunday. Who knows what the wind will be like? I'm ready for a nice, calm day. One can only dream.

Scruffy is breaking records every day. I am so proud. Of course, he destroyed a roll of paper towels today. But no spots on the floor. Go Scruffy!

I wonder what my horsie friends are up to. Ana, Haley, Margaret. I hope your life is full of fantastic equines. My life is blessed.

Secret Weapon

Scruffy has been 3 days without an accident. He is about to explode when I come home. He goes and goes and goes when I let him out. He has NOT gone in the house. I am such a proud parent. He really is a good boy. Nevermind the 2 pillows he destroyed last week. My secret weapon is limiting water. That sounds horrible. I take the water up when I am at work. No water, no yellow explosions. Plenty of water the rest of the day. Come home ASAP. Can you see my smile? Good dog. My life is blessed.

I have been lunging the ponies. Diesel is such a gentleman. This weekend I will ride. Bec is a fruit loop. Lunge, lunge, lunge. Diesel is my man. He is so handsome. And obedient. He lives to please. Great quality in any kind of man...especially the 1200 lb kind. My life is blessed.

24 Hour Chip

I should start a 12 step program for the little pisser. He got his 24 hour chip today. And I was late getting home! No tinkle spots. I knew he had it in him. What was different? I took the water up during the day. I hate to do that for so long. But, it worked. I really think he tries to hold it but cannot. When he has "accidents" it is like he unloads a flood. He's a little dog and it is alot of pee. Maybe I can train him after all. Stay tuned for more exciting potty talk.

Chunky Monkies and Mo-rons

I should change this name to 2chunkymonkies. Prissy is no longer chunky. It is winter. She's old. It is down to me and Bec. Bec holds her weight well (code for she's a fatty patty). Priss will chunk up in a month or two. She is by no means skinny. Just thinner than normal. She actually looks pretty darn good. The grass here is native and will not green up until April. Then, Becca gets to wear a muzzle. I've been grooming them a couple of times a week. I love the pony time. Everyone is starting to shed out and is itchy. I'm happy because I have no choice but to spend time with them.

Now for the mo-ron part. I've always been a little foolish when it comes to the ponies. My arm is doing quite well. The shoulder is aching less and less. It was only 3 years ago that I ate it on Becca- bareback, windy, halter only, first time in a new place. Tonight I rode Prissy. First time riding here. Bareback in a bridle. The thing is...I feel safe on her. She is predictable and conscientious of her rider. She tripped a few times. I barely felt it. She compensates for you. She is truly worth a million dollars. Miss Priss is the horse of a lifetime. The others have great qualities. She is just the one. Every day with her is special. She has her quirks. She grunts, she's head shy. She was not always so good. I have to keep that in mind. She was a fruit loop in the early days but she always took care of me. Miles and miles of riding. The others will get there.

Tonight I had a great ride. She was perky but not spooky. I took her out of the round pen and she did fine. Next time I will put a saddle on and really RIDE. After my ride, I groomed everyone. I'm afraid they will get thorns in their feet so I have been picking out hooves almost every day to check them. Talk about concrete. We need rain so bad. I flood near the trough but it just hardens and gets stuck while sucking the moisture out. It is too cool to hose them down.

Diesel set back while grooming tonight. It is sooo my fault. Scruff was hanging out too close and I lunged and fussed at him. All I managed to do is scare the big boy. Neither went anywhere. Diesel just broke the twine I had him safety tied to... and stood there. Scruffy is driving me nuts. He needs to get out and run. Which he did- right over to the neighbors. He came back eventually and followed me and Prissy. Way too close. Priss is a saint. I hope Scruff got some energy out. He is just about out of toys and pillows to destroy. I don't mind when he eats toys, the pillows are another story. He confuses them. Both are filled with stuffing to pull out. I am his last chance. If I give up he has nowhere to go. I do have thoughts of letting him go. Gretch would be alone. She doesn't handle that well. I went from 4 dogs to 2 in no time. It is definitely a better number. It breaks my heart that Spooky loves living with my parents so much. I'm glad but heartbroken. She hasn't visited in two weeks. And she won't for two more, at least. I miss her.

This is about the most random post ever. Welcome to my life. It is what it is. And it is blessed.