Well Broke

She's got me trained. Very well broke. With a nicker I fetch carrots and handfuls of grain, flakes of hay, the curry. She waits patiently until her friends have left the barn and puts on her cutest face and I melt. Anything for Prissy.

She herself is well broke. I could ride her in my sleep. I never have to ask twice or get rough. She knows what I want and she does it. This mare is priceless. She is also lame again. Continues to pull something in her right fore slugging through the mud. I am positive it is not her feet. They are cleaned and probed daily. I have the dirt to move in as soon as it dries. In the meantime, the days are cold and wet making her arthritic body protest. Plenty of time spent in the barn perfecting her treat requests. Yep, she's got me trained. My life is blessed.

True Love

I read Beyond the Homestretch this week. It is a great story. It makes me want to go out and buy Rumba, the adorable bay Thoroughbred from Retama. He is a hottie, draws attention. The thing is, I have a beautiful TB right here already. Bec is an Appendix but is extremely thoroughbred-y. I am in love with her. There is no room for anyone else.

Becca is the most affectionate, kind horse I've ever known. She loves on you in her way and lets you love on her in the human way (with hugs). But, I always end up a little bit wet. She likes to make out. Arms work fine but she'd rather suck on your neck or hair. And when she's done she will groom you ever so gently with her teeth. It feels great.

This is where you call me ignorant and crazy. If you knew her, you'd understand. She loves everyone. She would never intentionally hurt you. And she is so gentle. Would I let Diesel do that? Heck, no. He is not even allowed to put his mouth near my body; not even his muzzle. He is a different beast.

Becca is most beautiful on the inside. She has a face that is refined and feminine. She is a perfect bay. And she is kind to a fault. Poor girl gets run out into the rain on a regular basis. Herd dynamics are tough. But not her. I love her. My life is blessed.

Fuzzy Wuzzy

...was a bear. The girls are fluffy. A good butt smack brings a cloud of dust. They need a haircut, too. Not gonna happen. It's that time of year.

As usual, the boy is relatively slick. And don't think he'll keep a blanket on. Prissy spends her mornings in the barn with her protected butt to the north. Her old bones move slow. Of course, by evening she is raring to go.

You should have heard the thunder this evening. The three amigos came running in at break-neck speeds for dinner. I had to make them slow down and breathe before feeding. Makes me wish I had not been sick during the ENTIRE thanksgiving break and been able to ride.

I am taking a break from the boys. I vow to ride even if for only a few minutes in the evening. Crazy sun doesn't stay up long enough. And Prissy will not live forever. A tragedy. My life is blessed.

Pinch Me

Sometimes the best horsey time is spent on the ground. This morning I brushed everybody. They lower their heads and breathe deep, horsey language for I love you. Becca was so appreciative that she groomed me. She got just the right spot. She gently pinched my arm that she so kindly broke a few years ago. It was like a deep muscle massage. Still feels good. Go figure. My life is blessed.

Ride On

Walk-Trot-Canter-GALLOP ride. Haven't done that in forever. What fun! Prissy is a blast. Mostly we W-T. Feels good to get out there again. And she loosened up well. Old Lady, my butt. Had to hold her back the entire ride. No ill effects this evening, either. Riding keeps you young. Horse and rider. I just couldn't resist letting her go. She wanted it so bad. She's so good, though. I asked her to slow and she responded immediately. I feel I have to be careful with her age- 23 years young.

To top it all off, I rode Becca outside of the round pen. I stayed close to home but she did well. She got a bit nervous but did not misbehave. The saddle barely fit her. But, it worked. Thank goodness for XL gullets. The Bates actually fits her best. And she did not need a riser. Her body shape has changed with the EMS. I did have to use the larger girth, though. She was one big fart the whole ride. Literally, not figuratively. Poor, beautiful girl is a gas bomb.

Now, I just wish I had a bigger western saddle or a smaller butt. Which is easier to get? Dunno.

The Simple Life

I stand by my statement....A ride doesn't cure a broken heart. However, two rides does. I guess it wasn't as broken as I thought. My brain says good riddance. My heart feels light again. Who'd have thought it was so simple?

Bec did fantastic considering I haven't been on her in months. She was a little strong but came back with just a bit of pressure. She has a fantastic stop. And she's a beauty. Not necessary but it sure helps. Find the hottie in everyone in your life. Bec has a great face. Diesel has a gread bod. Priss has a great mind and hot spots. I have great legs. It's simple. Find the beauty.

Just One

One crowhop, that is. Not so bad. Prissy is so funny. Bec cut her off and she had nowhere to go but up. We had fun. W-T-C around the place. No cracks, just mosquitos. Made 3 laps. The only one sweaty at the end was Diesel. We left him in the round pen. Boy does not like his ladies leaving him. But boy kicks. Gotta leave him at home.

I need a bigger western saddle. Not gonna happen. I'm more likely to get skinnier. Scary.

A ride doesn't cure a broken heart but it sure helps. Thank goodness for horses. My life is blessed.

Ups and Downs

Life wouldn't be normal if things weren't going crazy. Last week brought good and bad.

I started the week on Sunday with a migraine that would last 3 days. Tough stuff. Monday there was another freak attack. Now, you'd be a fool not to see it coming. Two dogs who were once best friends and they cannot even go out in the yard to pee together. There were 4 punctures in her neck before they could be separated. No one saw it begin. One could wonder if Scruff started it when he got excited about the lawnmower. Crazy dog likes to chase it. Of course, no one saw it, we'll never know. Spooky is dangerous. By Wednesday there was infection. Thursday morning, first thing, the vet put a drain tube in. Drip, drip. It drives me crazy to see her in pain. It will be removed tomorrow, it's job done.

The thing about bad luck is it is always followed by good luck. I've had a taste of the good. We'll see if it lasts. I sure hope so.

The horses are doing fine. The cold fronts are pretty hard on Prissy. I imagine they will get harder. But, it continues to rain a little here and a little there. The cracks are filling in. Soon, we'll be complaining that it's too wet. Oh well. My life is blessed.

Blessings

Got about 3 inches of rain this weekend. It is not enough but will help close those cracks. Dad brought HIS tracter back and we filled in some of the worst holes. I should have plenty of grass for winter. My neighbor had hay on the ground when the rain started. Lost most of it. Mixed blessings. The horses have plenty to eat. I've been seeing very little of them at the barn. Diesel has a snotty nose but is feeling alright otherwise. Always something. My life is blessed.

Oldtimer Moments

Priss is finally acting normal. One day last week she refused to move or eat breakfast. She wasn't hanging with the herd. And, she spent alot of time napping in the barn. I'm very relieved that she is back to her normal grumpy self.

Today she hurt herself. Both her left legs are stocked up. This, too, will pass. These animals drive me crazy!

Got Bit!!!!!!

Good news and bad news. Bad first- I got bit by something in the dark. My finger is swelling. I'm thinking spider. I hope!

Good news- The round pen is mowed and ready to use again. It is amazing how fast that grass grows! I lunged Diesel a bit and he was sound. Just a couple times around, walk-trot. He remembered his manners. I love that big, orange boy. I'm itchin' to ride Bec. Tomorrow is the day. After I mow and weed-eat the yard.

Things I Hate

Hate is a big thing. Powerful. I hate that Diesel is still lame. I hate that Bec is still lame. I hate weed eating. And snakes.

Threes

Bad news comes in threes. So they say. This week has been rough. I went to work on Tuesday to find all but one fish dead in the saltwater tank. I lost Snappy, who has been with me for about a year. He was one tough fish. Wednesday, we got news that Ron died. He was our new Chem teacher. Just eleven days in the classroom and now he's gone. So sad to lose the good ones. I came home that evening and only one dog came to the door. Scruff had gotten scared of the bad weather and hid in the bathroom. He somehow got the door closed and was stuck. He somehow LOCKED the door. And then he crapped himself and ran around in it. And damaged the sheetrock. In my new house. I've gotten very little sleep this week. He is panicky. Sedatives aren't doing much good. He is finallly relaxed this evening. Hope it lasts. Today, I get news that Rhonda shattered her arm. Bad news. And my grandfather has cancer. And Brian has a staph infection. Next week will have to be better. I got double dose of bad this week.

What does this have to do with the horses? They are my saving grace. A few hugs will cure anything. I haven't decided which is the best. Becca offers sweet, gentle snuggles. Diesel has the puppy dog hugs. And Priss has the love of a lifetime thing going for her. She may grunt and growl but her love is powerful. Combine all three and you have a cure all. My life is blessed.

RAIN!!!!!!!!

So far I've gotten 1 inch. But, there are chances all week! Hooray! Only 35 more inches to go to get back to normal. Darn. Take what you can get with a smile :)

True Love

She blows me away. What a perfect animal. I've said it before. Prissy is special. There is something that sets her apart from every other animal I've ever known...and there have been some good ones! I have brown britches and a smile on my face. Bet you don't hear that very often. I am in love with her. There is no way to describe how wonderful she makes me feel. Sorry boys. She is the one.

The Bugs are back!

Ticks and skeeters. Lovely.

Hay for Horses!

I found hay!!!!! Big relief. Not that the ponies were worried. The dude took a midmorning nap up close to the house. He was not happy that I disturbed him. Check out that stretch.

Lame-O

The big guy is lame, lame, lame on his left fore. Hard to tell what is wrong with so much going on. He tested great with the hoof testers. No tenderness. What is wrong with this horse? He's lame-O. Good thing he's a hottie. I guess I'll keep him around ;)

Spot the Love

Stupid Boys

Disappointment is the word of the day. I learned the boys-are-stupid lesson long ago. Sometimes, I guess a refresher is necessary. Seriously, they are all assholes with a good story to tell. I can see through this fairy tale.

I feel the same way about geldings. Diesel is a butthead. He's lazy. And tenderfooted. He really does not want to GO. I can't tell if he really is sore or if he is just not ready to work (repeat, butthead). Just further proof that they are all stupid boys.