Big Girl Pants

I've had to put on my big girl pants and make one of the hardest most heartbreaking decisions.  There comes a time when you need to be an adult and make decisions that aren't necessarily best for you but are best for the animals in your care.  That is what I did even though I do feel like crying.  You see, I've been so stressed and so worried about all the things on my plate that I came to the decision that something had to give.  I've been feeling as though I haven't been doing a particularly good job at anything.

This is not a decision I've made lightly or rashly.

I've been extremely worried about Guinness.  I've been worrying about how he's ready to work with yet sits in the field because I don't have time to work with him.  I've worried about sending him out for training, getting him back and having him sit, because I'll be working on school and working on work.  I've worried about Guinness ending up wasting away.  I love him so much.  I can see so much potential in this great little package.

So I sold him.

I didn't sell him for much.  I was more concerned about finding the right home.  He's gone to a home that is super excited to have him.  A home with teenaged girls who will love on him and develop his potential.  A home that wants to keep him as "their" horse.  A forever kind of home.   The kind of home I'd like to provide but can't at this time.

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.

Saddle Up

Just because I'm slightly twisted I decided to have some fun with the horses today.  I saddled and lunged Johnnie.  He was pretty good if a bit bug eyed.  Next I eye balled Guinness.  Guinness is only a yearling so too young for training or riding.  However,  the curious person inside of me wanted to see what my beefy baby would do with a saddle.  I figure I might as well test this out while he's still small enough for me to keep under somewhat control.  So I saddled Guinness.  All appropriately and slowly as fitting a baby.

He was surprisingly good.  He only got broncy after he'd been leaned on.  I think he didn't like the feel of the saddle on him with the added weight.  Boy can he buck!  He even made those nasty grunting groaning noises you usually only hear rodeo broncs make.  After his episode he calmed right down and I was able to walk and trot him around.  I'm very happy with how his mind works.  For the most part he was calm and accepting of everything that happened.

Guinness Got Gelded

I am pleased to announce on Thursday we had a successful castration!  I was worried because it appeared his manly bits had not dropped.  This would mean a surgery vs a traditional (vet) castration.  Sam knocked him out, helped him lie  down and tied up his leg.  Getting in there she smiled and said he  was up high but could still be easily and safely done.  I was thrilled.  This meant a major difference in the size of the vet bill.  

He'd been rather sassy.  But of course, the day I try to take pictures of him is the day he decides to join up and follow me around.  Here's my little boy (on day two after his "operation").  One year old already!

Bad Boyz!

The men (er, animal men) in my life have been giving me grief.  Ryder for some reason (best guess is he's feeling unhappy with me) has started to mark in the garage.  He's peed a number of times on the "dog" couch and peed a few times on the tires of the lawn mower tractor (the previous owners had a male so that doesn't surprise me).  I was less than thrilled to be cleaning up pee in my previously unpeed in garage.

Guinness, well he's just pushed me over my frustration threshold.  How can such a nice boy turn into the devil?  The last few times he's been hard to catch.  It really irks me to see my horse who's been handled from birth give me the bug eyes when I go to pet him and then do the "Peppy L'Peu" canter across the field.  It took me an hour and half to catch him last night.  He is now at my place in "halter" jail.  He is in a smaller pen, with a halter and lead attached.  (Yes, I know the risks...)  This morning I felt bad for him and was going to unclip the lead, however when I went to scratch him he went flying backwards.  This ticked me off so the lead stayed on.  He'd walk up to the fence and act all snorty like he'd never seen a human before.  Little rotter.  My brain knows this is just a phase but the rest of my body was not impressed.

Darn critters, will get ya every time!

Working Sheep Horse?

After working Ryder on the sheep, I untied Guinness and followed him out into the field.  I was hoping to get some pictures of my growing boy.  He went from being adorable like this:

To highlighting his beautiful stride like this:

To playing scatter and chase the sheep like this:

To full on working - er - sheep?  horse like this:

Poor sheep - they had thought the "work" part of the day was over.

Guinness on the other hand meant business.  

I'll have to ask Jason if Guinness needs to move into an isolation pen.  It appears I just may *if the stars align* have a cutting prospect.  At the very least he'll make a handy reined cow horse!

Contentment is...

Dirty Hair Ball

Guinness - The Mule?

Saturday was horse day for me.  I hauled Bacardi to Jason's where she had an awesome work on the flag.  He noted that she's improved a tremendous amount since I've bought her.  Not enough to make a nonpro cutter - sooooo, if anyone's looking for a nice cattle penner, ranch or perhaps even working cow horse - the price is right!!  Would even do a trade for a decently cutting bred baby....  *smile*

Where was I?  

Oh yeah, I rode at Jason's and had oodles of fun.  He popped me on his turn back horse (NCHA earner) and let me work the flag on him.  LOT'S of FUN!  Have I mentioned I had fun?  

I drove out the the farm next.  I wanted to work on loading Guinness.  With Bacardi as the "babysitter" and my dad's help.  Guinness was loaded and unloaded.  He was pretty good.  The trailer is very high (over his knees) and he had to work at getting in and was a bit worried about getting out.  But he did it.  Nicely and quietly too!  I also worked on tying up, leading and turning around on the hind.  I wanted him to cross his front feet over, which he did, and pivot on his hind.  Working on this for the halter classes this summer.  

I really wanted some nice pictures of him.  Except, I've discovered he's rather obstinate about standing nicely.  The moment the camera came out he gave his best knock kneed mule impersonation.  I must say I find that rather frustrating!  He's actually very nicely put together in real life.  

Tie Up Lesson

Mule attempt #1

A bit better - now stand still you little fart!

I give up.  Here we are.  To give perspective in how tall he is - I'm 5'8".  (In my very attractive farm gear!)

Hard to believe the little fellow is already closing in on 8 months old!

New Friend

Yesterday was one of the perfect days for me.  It's December and the temperature was not minus frigid.  I got to load my truck with dogs and had a trailer on behind me.  We ended up spending the day at Ken's.  I was going to pick up a yearling to take to keep Guinness company.  Both babies were to be moved to my place.

I pulled into his yard and promptly tried to get the truck and trailer stuck.  Hitting a soft spot in the snow = not cool.  I managed to solve the problem myself with some creative language, sweat, and ace maneuvering.  One of my favorite things about Ken's is that I have someone who loves horses and dogs just as much as I do.  Our first job was to catch his baby, trim his feet, tie him up, and make sure he loads.  While we were doing this we chatted horses.  Ken has a lovely, lovely 3 year old that was his top futurity prospect (cutting).  She got caught up in oil lease wire and tore the tar outta her hock.  It was heartbreaking because she's now worth virtually nothing and the oil company won't pay the vet bill (1900 and counting) or loss of value.  He is understandably frustrated.   We went and looked at his weanlings.  I picked out my favorite.  *huge smile*

Next I worked Ryder.  He gave me some feedback on things I'm doing and gave me some things to think about.  On leash Ryder was really weird.  Ken has a young guardian pup that Ryder took a dislike to.  No ruffled back, just growling.  I could lie Ryder down, move him around, have him focus on me.  Yet he continued to growl at the pup.  Any suggestions for making him "give up" the behavior?  He was completely in control and didn't make any negative moves towards the other dog.  Just staying in heel or sit/stay.  But growled.  Big sigh.  He's normally so soft so I was slightly startled that he was that determined to keep growling.

Afterwards horse was loaded, dogs had a potty break and we hit the road.  Once home at the farm, Guinness was a naughty brat who decided he was not leading.  Not. For.  Anything.  Yes, it's timely he comes home for some work.

Here's his new bud.  (As of yet - no name.)

Ooo! Ooooh! I Gotta Plan!

A stroke of brilliance came upon me as I was driving home yesterday.  (While I was listening to that song that goes "Ooooo!  Oh!  I gotta feeling!")  *humming*  I need... er.... want a buddy for Guinness.  I also need to pay for school.  This was putting me in a bit of a quandary.  But in a moment of genius it occurred to me that my buddy Ken has a gazillion horses.

Tonight I called him up and outlined my plan.  Surprised he was happy to agree (once he realized it wouldn't cost him anything).  I'll be driving to Drayton Valley to pick up one of his yearlings.  I'll keep it here, play with it when I play with Guinness, and give it lot's of regular handling.  When he's ready to start we can switch it out with something different.  This is optimal for me.  It won't cost me anything and solves my problem of having Guinness either live alone or having to buy something to keep him company.

An absolute win-win situation as far as I'm concerned.  Now cross your fingers that this wonderful mild weather we're having here stays!

Animal Pictures

Ryder and Diva racing in the park.

Guinness catching a nap.

Guinness and Bacardi stalking me - kept following me making picture taking very challenging.

Bacardi

Buddies having drink.

New sheep.

Wild...

Guinness - fat little fart!

Perhaps this is why he's so fat!

Bella, with her sheep.

Superstar

Yesterday was farrier day.  It was Guinness' first time having his feet picked up!  And I was stunned with his behavior.  It was totally unexpected.  Normally, when a young horse gets it's feet picked up for the first time there's some jumping about.  Often you'll see some mini rears, speedy backing up, and pawing or swinging of feet.  (Based on my past experiences.)  

So this is what I was expecting.  It didn't happen.  First we trimmed Bacardi.  Guinness hung out and made a general pest of himself.  Next, I walked up to Guinness and slipped a halter on him.  I led him closer to Derek.  Derek gave him a few pets and then reached down and asked for his front foot.  There was some swinging of the foot, but it was as if a light bulb went off in his head.  "Oh, all you want to do is pick it up??"  And that was the extent of the expected baby tantrum.  Blew me away.  His head came down, his ears relaxed to the side and he chewed and licked his lips.

The other four feet went easier.  Derek said when he asked for his feet Guinness gave them gentle, and Derek didn't need to use much pressure in the asking.

It has made me believe with every fiber of my being that you can't train a nice temperament into a horse - it's either their or not.  Case in point - Buddy the demon horse.  He was a blank slate horse, range wild when I got him.  And his disposition and attitude remained awful.  I'm convinced he was bi-polar.  This is the horse that would hunt you down and chase you in the pen.  He couldn't live with any other horse or livestock because he was so mean to them.  And after three months of training he decided he was going to buck and that was the end of the story.  This is a horse I gave up on - sold for $500.  Best decision I've ever made.  The only thing I worried about is that he'd hurt someone - but he did kick the man who bought him (while he was looking) and showed his true colors.  So he knew what he was buying.

Guinness, now there's a whole different experience.

Weaning Time

It's that time of year.  Where in the natural cycle of things the babies leave the nest.  Figuratively speaking.  Yesterday afternoon, I brought the horses in, tossed down some hay, caught Whiskey and loaded her up to take her away for a week or so.  I thought things would be easier if they couldn't hear each other.  My hope was that this would be the safest way to do things.  After consulting with Rhonda and GB - very experienced breeders - the decision was made to take Whiskey to their stable.  This would leave Guinness in a familiar environment with his buddy Bacardi.  

As I drove off, Whiskey started to call and Bacardi answered but no one started to run around.  At the stable Whiskey was a bit bug eyed but settled into her stall fairly easily.  When I checked on Guinness and Bacardi they were both contentedly eating their hay.  

Buddies

"Where's Whiskey?"

"I guess I'm OK..."

"Where's my baby?"

"I guess I'll survive..."

I went and longed Whiskey today, just to make sure she was getting enough movement.  Her poor udder is full to the top.  Youch!

Whadda Ass

If you've ever scrolled the Internet looking at AQHA's you'll notice a plethora of Rear View pictures.  This tickles my funny bone...

So.....

Here's my collection...

Guinness (3 months)

Whiskey - can you see where Guinness gets it from??

Also thinks it's funny that the only part of Bacardi in this pic is her arse.

Love the expression on Bacardi's face, "Whacha lookin' at?"

To give you an idea just what a monster Guinness is - perspective - Whiskey stands around 16hh.

Future Herder??

Guinness makes me giggle.  I think he may have a future in herding.  You see, he's intensely interested in creatures - big and small.  He seems to believe his place on earth is to chase things.

Here, he's eye-balling the cat.  You can just see him wondering what the cat is doing out in the field.

And here, he's chasing the cat up the field.  He chased after it all the way to the fence where the cat climbed up to safety. 

I've seen him do this with the sheep, cats, and dogs.  

What do you think?  Do we have a future herder?  Of just baby hijinks? 

September Animals

Ryder, carefully guarding the Flying Squirrel from outside attack.

Diva, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

Ryder, in for the kill, while Tessa defends her right to hold onto the toy.

Guinness, alarmingly handsome.

He's three months old!

Oscar, trouble on the paw!