The Naming Game

To the tune of Lady Gaga's Love Game:  Let's play a name game, name game, name game.  Or something like that anyhow!  Introducing ?????.  To date I've had horses with the following names (some I've picked and others that came with): Maggie, Jet, Pilot, Pepper, Haida, Smokey, Charro, Roo, Charger, Whiskey, Roxy, Buddy, Shorty, and add on some long term training horses with Yeller, Sweetie, and Doll.  I need a name.  Currently my animal family consists of Whiskey, Roxy, Bella, Tessa, Reba, Joe, and Moxie.  

Sorry for the bad pics.  I need someone to hold her while I take the pictures because she likes to come right up to me, making things challenging.  

She's quiet, quiet, quiet!  This is her fourth day of handling and I can walk up to her, pet her on either side, including her bum, as well as scratch her entire head.  She will lead forward and backward.  Her feet and resulting angles are a mess but Derek my fabulous farrier will straighten them out.  She also needs some serious deworming but I'm waiting until she's been worked with more.  (I'm also itching to get after her with a scrub brush and clean up her messy stains!)  She was born a palomino and is grey.  I do have a drag line on her but don't really need it - probably pull it off tomorrow.  This little girl is just that - little.  However, this line does have a history of late growth and are slow maturer's.

My little girl's pedigree.  One friend has suggested Hollywood Hic which is cute but more for a gelding.  Farm name ideas I'm leaning towards are more basic type name like Kate (but Kate doesn't "fit" her.)  Thoughts?

Excited, But Scared

My new horse came home today.  Brad had pulled her in from the quarter section she was running on with the broodmare band two days ago, halter broke her for me (well, more or less) and introduced her to Whiskey this morning.  I must admit while I'm excited about her, I'm also kinda scared.  The Buddy fiasco is not far from my mind. 

When I unloaded my as of yet unnamed beauty (in the rough), I couldn't help but compare her to Roxy.  Which had better conformation?  Which had a nicer eye, head, and so on.  Seriously not fair to my new one who's been running wild with no extras, while Roxy has had regular vet, farrier, worming, vaccinations, supplements, and grooming.  So yes, as it stands Roxy looks much nicer - right now.  

My poor new baby has just had an unfortunate growth spurt and is in that very awkward adolescent stage.  But I know she'll balance out.  I know with regular care she'll develop that polished look.  I also know she is easier to handle than Roxy (or Buddy for that matter) was at this stage in her training.  I know she stepped into my knee high trailer without batting an eyelash - not a tantrum in sight.  I know she unloaded quietly, and walked nicely with me into her new pen.  I know she handled the giant white dog, sheep and chickens flapping with wide eyes but no hysterics.

I know I like her and just need to trust myself.  Now, all I need to worry about is a name.  Lucky me, the AQHA has lost the paperwork on Brad's last year foals (we know they had the paper work because they sent out the DNA packages - which they won't do unless a registration is on file), and I may get to pick her registered name as well as her farm name.  Any suggestions?  

Pictures coming tomorrow!

Cursed

I'm beginning to think I'm cursed.  Perhaps I'm just crazy collecting animals like there's no tomorrow.  Today, I went into the vet's to pay my latest bill (and yes, what I spend at the vet's would likely feed a poor nation), while I was there I asked Sam about some of the dog issues that having been coming up.  Issues like Bella's continued and excessive butt scootching.  Issues like Joe's nasty diarrhea.  (I have a pretty hardy stomach but cleaning up after the poor soul makes me gag.)  

Long story short, Bella now has a topical cream to be applied twice daily to her hind end which will hopefully stop what Sam thinks may be a minor infection.  And Joe has some antibiotics to help settle his stomach.  Sam gave a fancy name that I don't remember but she thinks he has some doggy illness (likely arrived with it) that we'll treat.  Ha, and here I thought I needed to change his dog food.  

I should know in 7-10 days if both treatments worked.  If they don't, we'll monkey with the dog food in case of allergies.  

Huntress

Moxie has been on a hunting spree.  While Bella was out of commission and in jail by the house, Moxie would deliver her buddy special "treats".  I like to think the cat was trying to cheer up the dog much the way you bring treats to someone in a hospital.  (Bella was spayed 12 days ago.)  

I've learned to watch where I step as more than once I've done the foot jerk as I realize there is a dead bird/mouse/creature on the sidewalk.  Last night I went to put Bella to bed.  Bella decided she wanted to sleep in the shed in her straw nest, as I went to shut the gate I discovered another of Moxie's treasures.  To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what it is.  It's big, kinda looks like a mouse but isn't.  Perhaps it's a mole or muskrat.  (Alberta is supposedly rat free.)  Whatever it was it gave me the heebie jeebies! *shudder*  As I was looking for and adding the links to pictures I realized the thing was clearly not a mole but could be a gopher, only the tail seemed, well, rat like.  If I was a gruesome person I would post a picture of the dead thing and ask for suggestions.  *Heh*

Each day I stumble across some new, dead creature.  I must admit I appreciate Moxie's diligence in keeping the place vermin free, I just wish she'd cease and desist in bringing her prizes to the high traffic areas.  

The Crazy Roll

All of my dogs enjoy the crazy and wild roll.  It usually begins with a snout drag through the carpet or grass, and is followed by a mad and wild gyrating, with legs flailing in the air, to be finished with a wild look on their face.  

Flashback

When I was a little girl, I grew up riding this old ranch horse named Pilot.  My mom didn't believe in using saddles.  She felt that riding bareback would teach me better balance and help me develop a feel for the horse.  When I turned eleven (I think), she decided I needed to start 4-H.  My parents then decided that Pilot was not suitable for a 4-H horse, so we began horse shopping.

Answering an ad in the Bargain Finder led us to my first 4-H horse Haida and a lady named Lorretta.  Lorretta ran a riding academy that catered mostly to children.  In my white bread world Lorretta was this foreign and exotic creature who held me in awe.  You see, Lorretta had emigrated from Iran and would tell these marvelous stories of her childhood there.  I would go there for lessons on Haida.  (Haida had bucked me off promptly the first time I rode her at home.)  My summer days were filled with Lorretta's love, with a side of learning.  This lady was generous and big hearted.  I remember one day asking my mom why on earth she left Iran.  My mom's terse reply was something along the lines of "They aren't nice to different people there."  

It took me many years before I understood she left in order to live.  I had not thought of Lorretta in years but yesterday I started reading this book called Prisoner of Tehran: A Memoir by Marina Nemat (ISBN:13: 978-0-14-305217-3).  The book is about a woman who spent part of her childhood being held as a political prisoner.  Her story is one of hope and resilience. It's moving and well written and made me realize just how amazing Lorretta is to have left the environment she did to create a new life for herself here in Canada.  

If you're looking for a good read this summer I strongly recommend this book.

I've Gotta Be Crazy!

I've decided that life is too short to regret and wish you could have done things differently.  Yeller has always "called" to me and I should have bought him at the time.  I fully and completely regret not doing this.  So I'm buying a new horse.  A yearling that I really don't need.  But she calls to me.  There is something about her that I just like.  I've decided I don't want to be thinking about her in a years time wishing I had bought her.  I'm taking a chance and if she doesn't work out then I can always sell her.

The past couple of weeks I've been thinking about the reality of owning two same aged babies.  The reality of the expense involved in starting two three year olds, in showing two horses at the same time.  I think if I stagger their starts I can manage it.  Because I want these horses to go to the Canadian Supreme I will be picky in choosing who will start them and guide both them -and me- on our journey.  Babies are unpredictable and who knows how this is going to turn out.  But it'll sure keep life interesting!  

My new girl needs a name.  She's very quiet and friendly, the first to walk up to you in the field.  She won't be big - probably around the 14.3 mark.  And yes - better pics to follow once I get her home. :)  Check out her pedigree (AQHA papers pending.)