Summer Storms

Here, in the land of plenty we can have some truly spectacular summer storms.  When the temperatures heat up we have not only thunder boomers but we live with the potential for tornadoes touching down.

Last Saturday, my area was host to a wind, hail, rain, thunder storm for the record books.  I took these pictures as the storm moved into the area.  It didn't actually hit until about 5 hours after these pictures were taken.  Years ago, the nearby large city was hit with a massive tornado.  It's legacy, is people in the region get very nervous when big storm systems hit now.  We have a very good storm warning system that takes effect very quickly when systems move into the capital and surrounding area, keeping people informed.

Living in a region where tornadoes are reality means I've been exposed to a few of them.  I remember as a child watching a tornado move across the fields before my grandmother ushered us into the root cellar.  Afterwards we drove out to inspect the damage.  Minor really, only a few granaries moved to new locations.  I've learned that unless the sky turns bizarre colors and is heavy feeling to not stress too much.  Once we have confirmation of a tornado touching down, if it's near where I live, then and only then will I move into the basement washroom with my blankets, dogs and battery radio.  My house has been in the "path" a number of times.  Mostly when this happens I worry about the animals outside and cross my fingers.

Earlier, prior to taking these pictures I did see a small funnel cloud but it disappeared fairly quickly and I kept working the dogs.  This storm did produce winds in excess of 130km/hour and hail ranging from pea to golf ball size.  My house didn't get the fierce part of the storm and had no damage aside from trees down and stuff blown around.  I thought the clouds looked beautiful.  Hard to imagine how something so pretty can be so destructive.

First Baths

Reba Pre-bath

It would appear she suspects something's up...

Reba Post-Bath

Notice how she refuses to look at me...

Joe Pre-Bath

Completely unsuspecting!

Joe Post-Bath

Strangely enough still pretty happy.

I just love the spikey hair look Reba developed!

Recall! Retreat!

Tessa, Reba and I went for a run today.  As it's going to be a hot one my plan was to do a 30 minute run.  To change things up we were going to go through the horse gate into the park and do part of the run on the horse trails, part of the run down the road.  This would allow Reba to run part of it off leash.  Tessa, being a seasoned campaigner always runs off leash unless we are in highly populated or busy areas.  

I was feeling good and the dogs were feeling good.  Hitting the park gate I dropped Reba's leash and focused on not turning my ankle on the rough clay path.  We passed a hiker with no issues.  Reba and Tessa were scouting the path always staying within 10 -20 feet of me.  At each curve they would wait for me before bounding ahead.  We had travelled about 500 meters when both dogs dove off the path into the underbrush barking madly.  Not too concerned I let them bark.  Until I heard a coyote barking back.  "Tessa, Tessa, That'll Do!  THAT'LL DO!!!!"  "Reba, Rebe here!"  I yelled.  With relief I saw my two black and white critters bound back onto the path, Reba leading the way.  Tessa was still quite stirred up, barking wildly forcing me to lie her down.

Panting I stood and listened.  Listened to the coyote barking at us.  Barking freakishly close to us.  As in under 10 meters away from us.  The brush was very dense and I couldn't see it and I really, really didn't like how it was holding it's ground.  Most coyotes when faced with a human and outnumbered by dogs would retreat.  Not this one.  Grabbing up Reba's leash, calling Tessa we began to retreat.  Moving slowly at first (scared to attract an attack) then flat out sprinting, off we went back the way we came.  Tessa would run ahead then stop and bounce on her front legs watching my back.  As we passed the hiker I panted out "Coyote on trail - make lots of noise." Tessa in protective mode had to bark at the hiker (completely out of character to her - she's never met a stranger she didn't love).  

Hitting the park gate, wheezing, the dog's and I walked out onto the road.  After a short recuperative break we continued our run along the road.  It's funny how things work.  One of my deepest fears is being attacked by a wild animal while out running.  I know it's not completely rational but today's experience hit a little too close to home for me.  In large part, the coyote did not act normally leaving me to wonder if it doesn't have a den nearby with little one's in it.  The other option is that medically there is something wrong with it and that's even more scary.

Today, we ran further, faster - you could say I've done my speed work for the week!

Long Day Done

It's been a long day today.  At 7:30 in the morning I hauled Bella (Maremma) into the vet's for her spay appointment.  Being a Livestock Guardian Dog she is not used to being confined or being indoors.  Lindsay the vet tech and I had to heave, ho her inside the building.  Once in she pancaked.  Lindsay, this petite blond thing, looks at my 80 pound dog and proceeds to lift her up!  

With Bella airborne, we head to the kennel area of the clinic, only Bella panics, and with Lindsays arm under her bladder begins to spray pee everywhere, including down the vet tech's leg.  Poor Lindsay, poor Bella - I felt bad for them both.  So I made Cinnamon Buns to bring to the clinic (which I might say were much appreciated).

Once home I took Tessa out for a quick run (with me) before my Cinnamon Bun operation.  In between Cinnamon Buns and Derek the Farrier, I had a quick shower.  Next, Derek trimmed both horses feet.  Once this was complete I zipped over to pick up the trailer and loaded the truck with dogs.

Joe, Tessa, and Reba were all headed to the vet clinic to have their shots.  Whiskey was also headed to the clinic to get preg checked.  Dogs were all great.  Whisket not so much.  It appears Whiskey is confused.  She is clearly not pregnant but sort of thinks she is.  This is why she didn't come into a full heat cycle at the stallions.  So I now have a shot of Lutylase (spelling??) which is a hormone and will cause her to come into heat.

Now all I need to do is figure out when to give her the shot and get her back down to the stallion's place.  

Horse Shopping??

At a bit of a crossroad, I've been scanning through the horse classified ads.  As of right now I have a lovely 10 year old mare who (fingers crossed - find out tomorrow) should be bred and as such will have a holiday from riding, and a yearling filly.  Basically, I have two horses, neither of which I can ride.  And I crave riding right now.  Not so much trail riding but focused doing something, anything riding.

After the Buddy debacle, I think I'll steer clear of anything young.  I've decided I need a stress free and fun horse.  Something I can hop on and ride.  Something that won't turn into a train wreck if it doesn't get rode 7 days a week.  Part of me wants an old rope horse I can putter around on and when I'm ready, move back into the heading box.  Part of me wants something I can show the local circuits with.  I really don't care about breeds, other than some feelings of nostalgia for the Arabians I used to show.  Ultimately, I think for the summer I may look into finding a lease horse.  Then save my dollars and purchase something later once I figure out what I want.  

It feels like it's been ages since I've had a low maintenance horse - oh wait - it has been!  (About five years since I sold my steady eddie rope horse.)

Loss of Pressure

To put it mildly, yesterday was a stressful day for me.  With the sale of Buddy I felt equal parts relief and guilt.  Guilt because my gut (which is never wrong) says there is something not quite right with the horse, and here I was fobbing him off on someone else.  After his display would I have bought him?  Absolutely not!!!  Relief because he is no longer my problem.  

I knew he stressed me out but what I didn't realize is how much he stressed out those people around me.  My sweetie expressed his thanks that the horse was gone, he spoke of how worried he had been that this horse was really and seriously going to hurt me.  (Sweetie is an experienced horse person too.)  My mom was happy and thankful the horse was gone.  She expressed her concerns about him being a danger to everyone around him.  (Mom has her own horse experience - she used to ride horses to school!)  

Even after he was gone I remained a tense ball of nerves.  Feeling as though I had done something bad or dishonest by selling him.  In reality, the horse displayed his true colors clearly to the purchasing people and yet they still chose to buy him.  To help me let go my mom loaded up her bike, I laced up my running shoes, and we (including Tessa) went to the nearby park.  Mom biked while Tessa and I ran the short (about 5 kms) loop.  With each stride I could feel the tension drain out of my body.

After we returned home, I hopped in my car and drove the five miles to the local gas station where I bought Ice Cream treats and rootbeer - to celebrate Buddy's sale.  Last night mom and I gorged ourselves on ice cream and today I'm looking forward to a rootbeer float (pop poured over ice cream - yum!).  I also plan on doing some celebratory baking (my form of therapy) today.

Gone!

This afternoon the Buddy saga came to a shocking close.  I had posted him on kijiji and received some interest.  When people asked I said he was cinchy.  Two people had asked to come out and see him today.  The first family showed up around 1pm complete with stock trailer (always a good sign).  

And how did Buddy do?  He was fully and completely awful!  As in the absolute worst I've ever seen him act.  Granted the carnival atmosphere the running and flapping kids contributed probably didn't help but still.  He started out being jittery, and moved into rearing and pulling back when I placed the saddle on his back (all new).  I didn't even get the cinch done up when he freaked causing the saddle to hit the dirt.  May I say my expensive cutting saddle hit the dirt.  Gack!

Next he moved into his bucking spree.  He continued by refusing to lunge (not like he's ever been lunged), and his finale... wait for it... he kicked the guy when he walked around behind him.  Fabulous!  What an outstanding horse!  

You can imagine my shock when the man offered $500 cash for the horse.  Causing me to enter a bit of a quandary, you see, $500 was lower than what I wanted (800) but the horse had been truly awful.  I also had someone who wanted to come out tonight to see him.  However, based on his performance today I was more than a little apprehensive as to how he'd behave.  What if the second guy walked away?  Then I was stuck with the demon horse.  

Long story short, I took the $500, handed over his papers and wished them good luck. Buddy - so much potential and so many issues.