A Harrowing Experience

Could it be spring?

Glorious spring has come to this corner of the world....at least until Friday when snow is predicted again - boo, hiss! I took advantage of warm temperatures and sunshine to work the boys. What fun we all had...uh, didn't we Pippin? Don't you think so, Doc?
On Sunday I groomed both hairy beasts. Is there any way to groom a shedding animal without wearing half the hair? Warning...whatever you do, do not wear fleece! Oh, and did I mention velcro? I ran to a meeting last night and didn't notice until I was there that the velcro closures of my barn jacket have their own collection of honey-colored hair enmeshed in them. Luckily I was with horse people who would understand! And then there is the annoying fact that no matter how hard you try, the outcome is hair in your mouth as well. And, if you try to remove an offending hair, you end up with at least three more. Bleeechh! Ptoooey!



After our grooming I harnessed Pippin and we went on a walk-about in the neighborhood. I was thrilled with his behavior. He hasn't been in harness since just after Thanksgiving and he was good. Oh, yeah, there was the problem with the pole on the ground."THAT pole has never been THERE before!" Oh, and there was the horse that cantered about 200 feet away from us. "Can I canter, too? Huh? Huh" I never realized that Pippin could perform Grand Prix dressage movements...in harness! Well, I exaggerate, he didn't really do a piaffe, it just seemed that way! After about a mile with Pippin, it was Doc's turn. Again, we had a wonderful walk. With both boys I concentrated on 'easy walk' and 'walk on'. It was interesting to watch the changes in their strides in areas that still had snow on the ground. Walking behind provides a great opportunity to observe the length of their strides.
That evening, as I lounged on the couch only occasionally complaining to my better half about my aching feet from walking several miles in my muck boots and my sore arms from grooming the lovely hairy beasts, I wondered, as I sometimes do, just why I thought having two horses was such a great idea!



Monday was another beautiful day. Not quite so warm and sunny as Sunday, but it seemed like a great day to get the boys out again. Since my better half was away for the day I didn't want to attempt hitching by myself and Lord knows, I didn't want to go on another walk-about since my toes were still screaming at me. So, off I went to a neighbor's indoor arena to take advantage of better footing than we have outdoors. I worked with Doc on transitions and attempted to get him to collect and extend at the walk and trot. I am pleased to see that he is getting better about bending and staying in line instead of swinging awkwardly to the outside on turns. Progress...slow but steady! Then, it was Pippin's turn. Pippin has ADHD. He finds it hard to stand still and likes to move as a person tries to mount. I won't stand for that. So, I asked Pippin to move around me on a long line, change direction, change speed and halt. I'd wait for some lip-licking. I'd approach and go to his side and prepare to mount. When Pippin moved, I'd send him out again and repeat the procedure. After doing this quite a few times, Pippin finally stood. I mounted him and let him know what a fabulous Haffie he is. We walked and trotted around the arena a few times before I dismounted and began the procedure again. It didn't take nearly as much time...so maybe this is working. If any of you have a better idea, or think that I am way off track with this approach, please speak up!

A third beautiful day. Three in a row! Wow!
It seemed like it took forever, but I relieved the boys of more hair, harnessed them, did ground work with both of them and then harnessed them to the forecart for a conditioning drive around the community. We have some gentle hills so for about 45 minutes we walked around, up and down, then down and up and around again. Both boys were happy to return home. They both enjoyed a nice roll and a late afternoon nap in the sunshine.

 "Oh, no...you aren't going to make me get up and work again, are you?"

Pippin's Point of View: The Haf Laugh

I pulled a prank on Mrs. Owner! ROTGL (no floor in the paddock...has to be G for ground, instead)!
This morning when Mrs. Owner came down to feed us, I didn't stick my head around the corner of the barn and whinny at her as I usually do. [Giggle] I wasn't in my stall walking in circles waiting, not so patiently, for hay. [Snigger] She couldn't find me! [Chortle] Guess where I was? Do you give up? Huh? Can you guess? I was rooming in with Doc! [Snicker...Snort] I spent the night with Doc and Mrs. Owner can't figure out how I did it! [Yuk, yuk, yuk] Yup, there we were, in his stall together! Mrs. Owner scratched her head. The stall doors were shut and latched. The stall wall was in tact. The Priefert panels were all standing, and none were bent down (as if I'd be stupid enough to try to climb up the panels)! [Guffaw...Hee...Haw] The gates between the paddocks were all latched. [Cackle] And here's the best part [TeeHeeHee] she figures I musta jumped the panel! Me?! Jumping 5 feet from almost a standstill? Now, that's funny! Well, [Hiccup] anyway, it was the best prank and I'm not telling anyone my secret! It's so deliciously funny!


Note from Mrs. Owner: I like to give credit where it is due. I did not take this fabulous picture...it looks just like Pippin, though, and I can just imagine him laughing like this after his prank! Photo came from Those Funny Pictures.

I am so honored! Once Upon an Equine bestowed the "Beautiful Blogger" award upon my site. Thank you for this recognition. If it weren't for Once Upon an Equine I might not be blogging at all! I had never really thought about putting my ideas online, other than sharing brief statements on Facebook, until I met Once Upon an Equine and read her blog. I liked what she was doing and wanted to let my equine boys have a voice, too, as well as to share other aspects of my life with all y'all (my sorta Southern roots are showing)! Thank you, again. You can see Once Upon an Equine's Beautiful Blogger Award post here.

The Beautiful Blogger award rules are:
1. Link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award to 15 other bloggers.


So, seven things about me....

1. I love life! I was an educator and I loved teaching and working with teachers to help them become better teachers. I am a mom of two grown sons...well, almost grown, and I love being a mom and watching the boys grow and become independent young men. Now that I am retired, I love having the time to do things I put off when I was working.
   
2. I learned two lessons from my dad that help define who I am. My dad would always tell me to A) do something constructive and B) finish what you start. Now, don't get the wrong impression about me! This doesn't mean that I am always doing something constructive or that I always finish what I begin. What it means is that when I am not engaged in some sort of productive activity, or when I leave things undone, I feel guilty! Thanks, Dad!
3. I love animals. All kinds!
   
4. I was ADHD before they had a term for excessive energy! My mom and I cracked up when the FDA came out with research showing that food additives in hot dogs can cause hyperactivity. That's all I would eat, willingly, from the time I was 3 until I was 7. Even now I find it difficult to sit. I don't watch TV...I 'do' TV. I have to be knitting, working on puzzles, reading, etc. And whatever else, don't feed me more than one caffeinated beverage or I can not be held accountable for my behavior!
5. I love sweets. All kinds!
6. I enjoy doing crafty things. I do not consider myself to be artistic, however. I am a great copier, just not a great creator. I enjoy knitting and crocheting. I also make greeting cards and have dabbled in stained glass. I smock and I sew, but only so-so. (I couldn't resist that one)! Visiting a hobby store, a knitting shop or a fabric warehouse can be dangerous for my bank account.
   
7. I am torn between being a homebody and traveling. I love both - how can that be? What a puzzle. Oh, and I love puzzles as well!

I am supposed to pass this on to 15 bloggers, but I am so new at this game, that I haven't regularly visited 15 bloggers enough to determine if they are truly beautiful bloggers! I mean, I think you all are probably beautiful bloggers, but I've only been following a few of you for a week or so...and some that I've chosen to follow haven't even been active. So, I am going to pass it on to my top 5, and later, after I've had more time following folks, I'll return to the award and pass it on to more.
If you have received this award and don't want to post your 7 things again, you don't have to; I admire your blog, I enjoy reading and learning from your posts, and would like to share your link.

Confessions of a Slave Driver
Green Slobber on My Shirt
I is Roxie!
Life at the Rough String
Nuzzling Muzzles
Oh HorseFeathers & Related Twisted "Tails"

Oh, and did I mention that although I taught Math for many years, I sometimes find that I am challenged by simple problems....like, just how many is 5, anyway?!

Goofus and Gallant

Remember these? Highlights Magazines were the only thing that made going to the dentist at all bearable when I was younger! Well, heck, I still like the hidden picture puzzles!

In thinking about my team I've realized that they should have been named Goofus and Gallant, for they truly epitomize the characters:

Goofus grabs huge hunks of hay, then tries to take more from Gallant.
Gallant chews his hay slowly and only gets mildly annoyed by Goofus' thievery.
Goofus pushes the stall door open and escapes into the barn if given the opportunity.
Gallant stands patiently in his stall, door open, while his owner brings in hay or water.
Goofus upsets the grooming bucket and mouths each tool.
Gallant stands for grooming, even if not tied.
Goofus paws with impatience and has been known to stamp his size 2 hoof to add an explanation point to his statement.
Gallant cocks one hip and waits ever so patiently.

Can you tell Goofus and Gallant apart?

Pippin's Point of View: Brand Inspection

The Brand Inspector came to see us yesterday. I was a little confused at first. I looked on my left flank and looked on my right flank and I couldn't see any brands. So, what would he inspect? I was a bit afraid thinking that if I couldn't see a brand, maybe I was going to get one. I think getting a brand would hurt terribly. Are brands like tattoos? Maybe I'm going to get a tattoo. Ooooh, wouldn't it be neat to have some sort of fearsome tattoo? Like a lion. That would scare off other predators if they think I'm a lion. I'm the same color as a lion. My mane is thick and bushy, like a lion's mane.I could be so cool!
Anyway, the Brand Inspector guy turned out to be nice enough. No brands and no tattoos. And....no food. I checked. I snuffled his right pocket and his left pocket while he was trying to color pictures of Doc and me in his little coloring book. He showed my picture to me, since I was kinda curious and hanging my head over the fence to get a peek. The horse didn't really look like me. Its legs were too skinny and it had a long, long neck compared to mine. But, he did an awesome job drawing my blaze.
Anyway, I found out that my Mrs. Owner has to have a piece of paper from the Brand Inspector to prove that I belong to her. If she takes me on a trip in the big rattly noisy box and goes more than 75 miles away she needs the paper. If my Mrs. Owner is going to sell me she needs the paper. Oh, horrid thought! Is she going to sell me? I didn't do anything wrong! Did I? I haven't bucked with her on my back in a long time...I didn't step on her toes...I didn't nip her while looking for treats. Oh, oh, oh. I am going to have to be extra special good from now on! I'll keep my stall really clean. I won't slosh my water all over the ground. I won't push my Mrs. Owner out of the way to get to my hay. I'm going to be really, really good. I'll be just like that goody-goody Doc!

Doc's Diatribe: Rabies Alert

Ok, guys, (and you fillies, too), I know shots probably aren't on your "Happiness is..." list, but please make sure that your owner gets you vaccinated against rabies. Mrs. Owner went to a workshop and the 'horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary' talked about a case of rabies in our area. In fact, the horse lived only about 2 miles from me.

It seems that this horse was a curious and friendly sort. He saw a funny looking black kitty with a white stripe in the pasture and went up to say, "Hi"! The 'horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary' said that the funny kitty was a rabid skunk, and the skunk probably bit the horse. That horse's Mrs. Owner saw the skunk in her yard that day and it is very strange, indeed, to see the black kitties with white stripes during the day, and this one was acting kinda strange. Several months later the horse wasn't feeling so hot. He didn't even want to come in from pasture with his buddies for dinner. And when his Mrs. Owner coaxed him in he was lame. She checked him all over and couldn't find anything that should make his leg sore. The lameness was worse the next day and the day after that he wouldn't let anyone touch his leg. The 'horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary' came on the fourth day and the horse wouldn't even let him get near that side of him, even when the 'horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary' gave him that stuff that makes you feel all woozy and goofy and makes your head feel like it weighs three tons. The horse was afraid. The horse was rearing up, sitting down and beating on his back legs with his front feet. The horse was struggling to stand and ripping the skin off of his knees. The 'horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary' thought it was some sort of neurological problem but wasn't sure of the cause. He took him to his clinic and used strong drugs to calm him and to stop swelling in the brain. The horse got worse. The horse's Mrs. Owner and 'horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary' decided euthanasia was necessary. A few days later the State vet school confirmed that the horse had rabies.

This poor horse went through 4 days of awful pain and and terrible suffering before he died. There is no medicine to fix rabies or stop it from getting worse once it is discovered. There is nothing the "horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary" can do to save you. It can take up to a year (but usually only 2 -4 months) before an animal gets sick from a bite. Since all of the horse's buddies and other four legged predator-type friends were exposed to the sick horse, they had to be quarantined for a long time. They couldn't go on trail rides for 6 months! My Mrs. Owner taught me a new word today. She said that rabies is zoonotic. That means it can pass from animals to humans. So everyone who handled the sick horse had to have shots.

So, like it or not, if you haven't had a rabies shot, have your owner check with the "horse doctor guy who smells kinda scary' where you live to see if he thinks you should have the vaccination. Different areas of our country have different situations with regards to rabid animals. This map shows the location of rabid animals in 2008.

Stay healthy!

My Mrs. Owner put some links to Web sites with more information on the right. Check those out if you want to learn more.