Patience

My dogs have been teaching me about patience.  You see, I unexpectedly became very sick Saturday night.  My high energy Diva, trailed me from couch to toilet and back to bed.  She "watched my back" while my body was ravaged with a severe flu.  Ryder maintained his watch beside me in bed.  As I shivered and shook he shoved his body against me and rested his head on my lap.

The following day, I spent on the couch curled up and fighting nausea with every movement.  Diva and Ryder took turns curling up next to me.  The were incredibly patient.  They didn't get walked.  They didn't get played with.  They didn't even get toileted properly - instead just got tossed into the run.  Finally by 3:30 I gave up and called HealthLink (a hotline to a nurse).  They insisted I get myself to a hospital.  By 6 pm my mom was navigating the very icy roads to take me to the Fort Saskatchewan Emergency room.  By 4:30 am I was being released with a strict "diet" and no physical activity mandate.  It was 5 in the morning when I pulled in to go to bed.  The dogs were pumped to see us.  (And bonus the little Boston Terrier I'm babysitting didn't have any accidents!)

They patiently settled back in to sleep.  They remained quiet letting me sleep until 10 am.  Even as I've moved from couch to bed and back again they've been incredibly tolerant.  There has been no whining.  There has been no destruction.  They've taken turns sitting or lying with me.  As I type this Diva is curled up with her back pressed against my thigh.

My dogs humble me.  Teach me patience.  And teach me the power of unconditional love.

Moxie Moves In And Assorted Acreage Announcements

With my hay in my barn I was worrying about mice and had begun the process of investigating cats.  After much thought I made the decision to move the kitties here.  A couple of weeks ago my parents noticed that Oscar went missing.  He hasn't returned which in farm cat world is an ominous sign.  This weekend I moved Moxie into my barn.  I set her up with a heated water bucket, food, litter tray, and a styrofoam cat house.  My little barn is insulated with south facing windows so it doesn't get crazy cold.  

She's a bit uncertain with and chatty, but seems to be settling in well.  I'm just happy to have a star mouser in charge of keeping my barn vermin free.  

Guinness is growing like a weed.  He's maintaining a nice going into winter weight.  I was thinking he was around 14 hh, until I was at a friend's looking at their stick.  He's probably closer to 14.2 or 14.3 and bum high right now!

Teaser Alert!
More horse news coming soon!

This or That?

This?
http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-pets-livestock-for-sale-Saint-14-yo-QH-Gelding-W0QQAdIdZ427279147

Or That?

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-pets-livestock-for-sale-Updated-2-Reg-APHA-2012-foals-W0QQAdIdZ425393188

Both have pros and cons.  Both have potential for right now.

Tandem

This has been a rather busy week.  I began it with a case of the flu.  This was followed by two nights of Parent Teacher Conferences, one night and one day of University.  By the time Saturday rolled around I was a wee bit tired.  Tired enough that I needed a nap when I got home from school.  (Sarge hurt his back and was waiting for his snow tires - so no visit this weekend. ~And yes, things are going well...)  Sarge called me an hour after I fell asleep as my wake up call.

Eyeballing the fading daylight I decided to run out to the farm and work the dogs.  My poor babies had been cooped up with minimal interactions and stimulation over the past four days.  I began with working Diva.  She's coming along.  Her listening is improving and she's starting to view me as her "team".  Quickly loosing light I decided to kill two birds with one stone.  I wanted to work on Diva's drive and still needed to work Ryder.  Taking a leash I hooked one end around Diva's neck, and snapped the other end onto Ryder.  Asking to walk up he led his sister behind the sheep.  Diva is at the drive stage where she wants to stay right by my feet, she'll only go if I'm walking right beside her.  Ryder however will drive an easy 100m away from me.  It was pretty funny watching them figure out how to work together.  Ryder helped Diva learn to walk up to the sheep, and Diva shared her enthusiasm with Ryder.

Today when I worked them, I was also chasing a fading daylight and thought I'd once again work them together.  I began by working Ryder.  I was surprised at how confidently he went out down the field and gathered the sheep.  It was an epiphany.  Ryder is getting broke.  He's starting to know his job.  The sheep have had a dog holiday all summer and are rather zesty.  They have no problems breaking for the corral to go hide in the shelter.  Ryder was even able to go after them, and bring them back from the corral.  This meant he was working out of my sight.  I waited and sure enough the sheep appeared over the hill, heading back out into the field.  Unleashing Diva, I worked both Ryder and Diva.  Sending them on outruns, and having them do short drives.

The one thing I found interesting was how even if I set them up to go one direction, one of the dogs would want to go the other direction.  They consistently wanted to do this.  I'll have to ask someone who knows more about working multiple dogs to find out if this is a natural "team" instinct.

The dogs and I had a lot of fun either way.

Someone Talk Me Off The Ledge

I am standing on a slippery slope.  A ledge.  One I'm about to leap and free fall off of.

Quick!  Someone talk me down!

Hello, my name is Andrea and I have a problem.  I have an addiction to Kijiji and all things horses.  I have a deep and compulsive need to horse shop.  I can't control this impulsive behavior.

Someone tell me now all the reasons I don't need any more animals.  Quick!

Here's the problem: I'm dying to ride.  I dream of it.  I imagine it.  I fantasize about it.  This has led to the next issue.  Logic need not apply...  I got to thinking about Guinness, and how Guinness would benefit from a friend.  (Jonnie will be moving home sooner rather than later.)  This got me thinking about cutting and university.  I realize that I won't be doing anything resembling cutting until I'm done university.  Just the thought of trying to do both time wise and financially gives me hives.  That got me to thinking about some of the coolest horse I know.  Which in turn made me want one.

Following?

Long story short?  There are two paint weanlings on Kijiji - cheap!  They are PRR breeding.  I really want a PRR horse.  My dilemma?  Buy the baby cheap, or contact the breeder who happens to take payments, who also happens to have many lovely horses for sale...  Lovely horses that would be wonderful all around, even working cow horses...

Quick!  Someone tell me NO!  Stop and think!  Guinness will go for training in the spring.  I'll be riding him in the summer.  I don't NEED another horse.

But I've gotta tell ya - I sure want one?

Which would you pick - Kijiji or something straight from the breeder?  And if from the breeder which one would YOU go for??

Spittin' Mad

There is a reason that if I choose to sell one of my dogs they are priced up.  People value things that cost them more money more.  Stupid, yet true.  Particularly when you look at livestock or animals.  I received a phone call from the Edmonton Humane Society today.  Joe had been hit by a car and taken in.  Because I had him microchipped when I neutered him, and his "new" owners never changed the information, I was called.  This was the second call about this dog since I rehomed him.  I feel mad and responsible for my little rescue not ending up in the kind of forever home he deserved.

I believe part of the problem lies in his price point.  I only asked for the money back that I put out to neuter him.  Realistically this is less than what he would have cost as a puppy.  (He was papered.)  The lady at the Society assured me that they'd find him a new home.  They said the lady who brought him in was interested in adopting him.

Either way, I'm irked.  How dare you lead me to believe you'd be a good home?  How dare you not care for this dog the way he deserves?  I hope Karma gets you.

Growing Guinness

This is Jonnie - Guinness's Arabian friend.  He's about 15.1hh.

This is Guinness.  He's a growing monster.  We're getting our first "winter" storm today.  Pretty minor.

He's a bit lacking in wither, but sure has one huge arse...

Not entirely sure where our journey will take us but it should be an interesting one.