If the temps would have been cooler yesterday we might have been in for a doozy of a snowstorm. Luckily it was just rain. We got just under a half inch of rain. Too much for my thinking.
I didn't dilly dally around like I do some evenings after getting home from work. I knew the horses would be grumpy. I knew the mares would be miserable so I started Sam and Jim on their warm mash and pulled the mares into the hayshed. I was a little worried that the hayshed roof would rattle too much for Babe but she didn't seem to care. She snarfed down the warm mash and attacked her alfalfa. I think she was just happy to get out of the wind and rain. Queen wasn't as content but the ol' girl needed to get out of the rain. I prefer to pamper my oldsters.
After getting the mares settled for the evening meal I snuck around the corner to see if anyone else was shivering. If Zeke sees me he sometimes fakes me out and shivers to get sympathy. Or that's what I think (but I'm not really a hard arse!)
I snuck around so Zeke couldn't see me and he was shivering. That answered my question. In go my "delicate flowers". Rain and Zeke went into the barn. There's no sense in letting the barn sit empty when there are horses outside shivering.
Maverick and King were shivering too but once they attacked their hay, the shivering stopped. Luckily by 10pm the rain had stopped. I know King, Maverick, Dude, and Chaos can handle the weather a little bit better. They are all pretty "husky" boys and can handle the changing weather better than some of the others. I guess I don't pamper those four as much as the others.
I was surprised to wrap up my chores by 7pm last night. But by that time I was soaked. Silly me didn't put on my Tinglies. Instead I wore my steals so my feet were absolutely soaked. So much for having white socks! I was smart enough to put on a baseball cap to keep the rain out of my face. By the time I was almost done with chores, water was hanging off the brim and I think was about to start soaking my head. Almost everything dried out overnight. I hate putting on a wet coat. It always makes things feel that much colder.
This morning everyone was happy to get out of the barn. The mares weren't too fond of going back into the mud bog. They weren't even hungry so I couldn't distract them with food. Those ol' girls, they always change their minds. I do need to get in to the mud bog and replace a windblock that blew down. I was going to take care of it last night but was already fed up with the mud and wet feet. I didn't want my already heavy and wet steals to get sucked into the mud or make me carry another 10pounds so I opted to leave the windbreak where it blew down. Luckily Mike will be home tonight so I'll have him help me put the windblock back up and maybe haul water. :-) I missed my "Water Boy."
I'm still thinking about last Saturday's horse auction. I never did get a response from my inquiry about that old paint with the kind eye. My stomach continues to turn thinking about the upcoming sale April 17th. But no matter what, I'll be there.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
An Ache in My Heart
Was going through some pictures from last year around this time. Came across pictures of Bob. Didn't realize how much I miss him. If only every horse could be loved and missed so much.
Dearest Bob, may you have the greenest of pastures and the best of friends in heaven. We miss you.
Dearest Bob, may you have the greenest of pastures and the best of friends in heaven. We miss you.
Moving Mares
On Sunday I moved the mares from their winter pasture to the small drylot pen. I don't want the horses tearing up the pasture when they haven't even gotten to enjoy it for very long. Since Queen was wandering everywhere in the pasture, I decided the sooner the better.
I finished off the second round bale of alfalfa and moved the mares on Sunday to the drylot. I think Babe prefers the drylot since there are no obstacles and she can't get lost. I do think she likes the summer pasture since it's smaller and has a distinct hill for her to help her find where she's going.
But since I've moved the mares to the drylot I may have to change up my evening routine tonight. The winter pasture has lots of places for the mares to get out of the wind. Unfortunately this little drylot isn't as nice. Now that it's raining and super windy, I'm thinking I'll pull the mares into the hayshed stalls and let them enjoy a windfree and dry stall for the evening. It might be a bit loud in the stalls, which is my only concern for Babe. She has to have everything super quiet so she can use her ears to see.
I guess I'll have to play it by ear to see how windy it is and where to put the mares. I'm hoping to get out right away to get started on chores. Mike is at training tonight so I have just a few extra chores to take care of.
Hopefully there wont' be any surprises like there was this morning. We occasionally have a wandering TomCat come on our place. He's such a doll but won't stick around. I call him Stubby because his tail is about half as long as it should be.
This morning when I went into the haybarn to turn on the light, I saw something sitting up on the strawbales. I was afraid it would be a racoon but figured I might as well turn the light on to see exactly what it was. No racoon, no skunk, no possum. Just good ol' Stubby. We cuddled for just a couple minutes and then it was on to chores. Hopefully Stubby keeps the mice down in the haybarn.
Nothing else exciting going on so far. The weather has turned chilly again so not a lot of time to do much outside. I do have to say, doing chores in the evening without coveralls is so nice. I'm starting to get spoiled again.
I finished off the second round bale of alfalfa and moved the mares on Sunday to the drylot. I think Babe prefers the drylot since there are no obstacles and she can't get lost. I do think she likes the summer pasture since it's smaller and has a distinct hill for her to help her find where she's going.
But since I've moved the mares to the drylot I may have to change up my evening routine tonight. The winter pasture has lots of places for the mares to get out of the wind. Unfortunately this little drylot isn't as nice. Now that it's raining and super windy, I'm thinking I'll pull the mares into the hayshed stalls and let them enjoy a windfree and dry stall for the evening. It might be a bit loud in the stalls, which is my only concern for Babe. She has to have everything super quiet so she can use her ears to see.
I guess I'll have to play it by ear to see how windy it is and where to put the mares. I'm hoping to get out right away to get started on chores. Mike is at training tonight so I have just a few extra chores to take care of.
Hopefully there wont' be any surprises like there was this morning. We occasionally have a wandering TomCat come on our place. He's such a doll but won't stick around. I call him Stubby because his tail is about half as long as it should be.
This morning when I went into the haybarn to turn on the light, I saw something sitting up on the strawbales. I was afraid it would be a racoon but figured I might as well turn the light on to see exactly what it was. No racoon, no skunk, no possum. Just good ol' Stubby. We cuddled for just a couple minutes and then it was on to chores. Hopefully Stubby keeps the mice down in the haybarn.
Nothing else exciting going on so far. The weather has turned chilly again so not a lot of time to do much outside. I do have to say, doing chores in the evening without coveralls is so nice. I'm starting to get spoiled again.
Investigating
I think I might have tracked down the skeezy horse trader that bought the paint with a kind eye during the horse auction last Saturday. I sent an email, we'll see what type of response I get. I'm sure if he did buy the horse and is willing to sell, he'll jack the price up. That or the horse has already shipped. But at least now I'll have at least tried. It's better than nothing. But not good enough.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Depression or Self-Pity?
I'm in a bit of a depression but I'm guessing that it's actually self-pity. Saturday was the first horse auction of the season. I dread horse auctions. Auction days are dreadful and exhausting. By Saturday evening I was absolutely exhausted. At this point, with everything going on, I am mentally and emotionally exhausted. I know there's something I should/could do but I'm at a loss. I'm so close to tears right now I don't know what to do and simply want to scream.
Saturday afternoon Mike and I went to Kramers. I walked through the aisles and saw approximatley 20 horses. I fell in love with two and could have brought a couple more home. It was 3:30pm and they were just starting tack. I decided I didn't want to stick around since we had other errands to run. So Mike and I ran errands and headed home.
There was an old paint that I couldn't get out of my mind. When we got home at 5pm, I decided that I'd go back to the auction and see where they were at. I figured they'd already be into horses and I would have missed my chance at buying that old, lame paint with the kind eye. I started to panic that I was missing all the horses so I sped. I dont' normally speed, that's how riled I got.
When I arrived, I rushed in only to find that they were still doing tack. I could have gotten a number and gone through the horses one more time but I wanted to secure a half way decent spot. I guess there was no need to worry about that. Once they brought the horses in the crowd thinned quickly.
Right away they started bringing in the horses I was interested in. The first horse in was a big white gelding with the most gorgeous mane that went past his neck. He would have been considered beautiful under saddle if someone would have taken the time to ride him in. But of course they dumped him and left. He was so upset by being away from his friend that he didnt' do well in the ring and went for $60.
Next came the paint I was in love with. I was going to buy him if he didn't go over $100. But he did. The worst part, he went to the evil horse trader who I think was trying to fill a load. After I finally settled my heart back into it's right location and slowed it to the right speed, I continued to watch horse after horse go for way cheaper than they should have even for spring.
They brought in a beautiful buckskin that I liked too and would have bid on her if she only went to $100. Again she went for more but luckily to a private buyer. In walked an old gentleman with arthritis. I'm not sure why I didn't bid on the old guy. Again he went for about $50.
They also ran in a 3yr old white stallion. Why, WHY, WHY!?!? Why do people not geld their stallions?!?!? WHY!! He went the cheapest at $12.50. He was massive (obviously). But he would have been a good match for Chaos in body size. Why did I not bring him home?!? Because I have mares and dont' want a vet bill?! No excuse. The next horse in was a 3yr old appaloosa stud. The same owner as the other stud. What does he do. No Sales the appy because he couldn't get $100. WHAT THE HELL. Excuse my language but COME ON! Geld and you'd get more! WHY!!?!?!? You're willing to let one go at $12.50 but you won't let the other one go because he has spots?!?
Everything except the ones I was interested in went for under $100. Even the three Tennesee Walker yearlings went for less than $50. But seeing them made me feel better about Jim's funky feet. I think it's a Walker thing.
But people didn't even bother to brush their horses. Led them in but didnt' give them the time of day to even brush them. It doesn't take much elbow grease to really shine up a horse.
I left the auction exhuasted. The sad part is, I may have been exhausted but I was able to go home. HOME. Those horses wont' get to go home. Some of them will be shipped around until they head to slaughter. Some of them won't know a kind voice, a kind pat on the neck, a bucket full of grain, they won't know love. They will only know fear and cruelty.
Before I left, one of the scary vets made an announcement. Due to PETA, no auction will be allowed to take thin horses or horses with long feet who have foundered. No auction that I know of currently could take thin horses, blind horses, or horses who couldn't travel on all four feet. But I guess they are going to crack down even more. The scary vet went on to say that if you bring one of those types of horses, the owner will be turned away and turned in. The owners will then be investigated. So now these horses have no chance of someone rescuing them at an auction.
These horses are going to die out in a pasture with no food, no water, and no vet care. How are we ever going to save these horses?! We cant' report neglect cases because no one pays any attention to those types of reports. So what's going to happen?!?! I know what will happen. It will be an excuse to open slaughter plants in the US again and to not prosecute people.
Even the stupid auctioneer said he was turned in and told to feed the horses. It cost him $500 because he had two thin horses. It should have been a wakeup call but it wasn't. I think he may be the one with the horses that got loose and hit on the road and the ones that DoubleHP were involved with.
Yesterday's auction left a bad feeling within me. I have been disturbed ever since and cant' seem to shake this bad feeling. There has to be something more that I can do. I know there are some things that I can do. But I need time to get papers signed and the ball rolling. But I'm so exhausted. I'm beat down and can't seem to find the strenght to stand up. I know that I need to find the strenght. If it's not for me, who will help the horses?!?! Who will go to the auctions to see the horses. Someone needs to remember them. Even if it's only for a feeting moment or a fleeting glance (like that paint horse gave me). Someone must remember these horses. Someone must stand up for them.
I'm not sure that anyone actualy reads this blog. But if there is, please, please, please help me. Please give me advise, please give me strenght, please help me to help the horses. I know my plea is vague but I'm at such a loss right now I don't know what to do. I need help. I need your help. I need to be the strong one. I can only be strong with moral support.
Saturday afternoon Mike and I went to Kramers. I walked through the aisles and saw approximatley 20 horses. I fell in love with two and could have brought a couple more home. It was 3:30pm and they were just starting tack. I decided I didn't want to stick around since we had other errands to run. So Mike and I ran errands and headed home.There was an old paint that I couldn't get out of my mind. When we got home at 5pm, I decided that I'd go back to the auction and see where they were at. I figured they'd already be into horses and I would have missed my chance at buying that old, lame paint with the kind eye. I started to panic that I was missing all the horses so I sped. I dont' normally speed, that's how riled I got.
When I arrived, I rushed in only to find that they were still doing tack. I could have gotten a number and gone through the horses one more time but I wanted to secure a half way decent spot. I guess there was no need to worry about that. Once they brought the horses in the crowd thinned quickly.
Right away they started bringing in the horses I was interested in. The first horse in was a big white gelding with the most gorgeous mane that went past his neck. He would have been considered beautiful under saddle if someone would have taken the time to ride him in. But of course they dumped him and left. He was so upset by being away from his friend that he didnt' do well in the ring and went for $60.
Next came the paint I was in love with. I was going to buy him if he didn't go over $100. But he did. The worst part, he went to the evil horse trader who I think was trying to fill a load. After I finally settled my heart back into it's right location and slowed it to the right speed, I continued to watch horse after horse go for way cheaper than they should have even for spring.
They brought in a beautiful buckskin that I liked too and would have bid on her if she only went to $100. Again she went for more but luckily to a private buyer. In walked an old gentleman with arthritis. I'm not sure why I didn't bid on the old guy. Again he went for about $50.
They also ran in a 3yr old white stallion. Why, WHY, WHY!?!? Why do people not geld their stallions?!?!? WHY!! He went the cheapest at $12.50. He was massive (obviously). But he would have been a good match for Chaos in body size. Why did I not bring him home?!? Because I have mares and dont' want a vet bill?! No excuse. The next horse in was a 3yr old appaloosa stud. The same owner as the other stud. What does he do. No Sales the appy because he couldn't get $100. WHAT THE HELL. Excuse my language but COME ON! Geld and you'd get more! WHY!!?!?!? You're willing to let one go at $12.50 but you won't let the other one go because he has spots?!?
Everything except the ones I was interested in went for under $100. Even the three Tennesee Walker yearlings went for less than $50. But seeing them made me feel better about Jim's funky feet. I think it's a Walker thing.
But people didn't even bother to brush their horses. Led them in but didnt' give them the time of day to even brush them. It doesn't take much elbow grease to really shine up a horse.
I left the auction exhuasted. The sad part is, I may have been exhausted but I was able to go home. HOME. Those horses wont' get to go home. Some of them will be shipped around until they head to slaughter. Some of them won't know a kind voice, a kind pat on the neck, a bucket full of grain, they won't know love. They will only know fear and cruelty.
Before I left, one of the scary vets made an announcement. Due to PETA, no auction will be allowed to take thin horses or horses with long feet who have foundered. No auction that I know of currently could take thin horses, blind horses, or horses who couldn't travel on all four feet. But I guess they are going to crack down even more. The scary vet went on to say that if you bring one of those types of horses, the owner will be turned away and turned in. The owners will then be investigated. So now these horses have no chance of someone rescuing them at an auction.
These horses are going to die out in a pasture with no food, no water, and no vet care. How are we ever going to save these horses?! We cant' report neglect cases because no one pays any attention to those types of reports. So what's going to happen?!?! I know what will happen. It will be an excuse to open slaughter plants in the US again and to not prosecute people.
Even the stupid auctioneer said he was turned in and told to feed the horses. It cost him $500 because he had two thin horses. It should have been a wakeup call but it wasn't. I think he may be the one with the horses that got loose and hit on the road and the ones that DoubleHP were involved with.
Yesterday's auction left a bad feeling within me. I have been disturbed ever since and cant' seem to shake this bad feeling. There has to be something more that I can do. I know there are some things that I can do. But I need time to get papers signed and the ball rolling. But I'm so exhausted. I'm beat down and can't seem to find the strenght to stand up. I know that I need to find the strenght. If it's not for me, who will help the horses?!?! Who will go to the auctions to see the horses. Someone needs to remember them. Even if it's only for a feeting moment or a fleeting glance (like that paint horse gave me). Someone must remember these horses. Someone must stand up for them.
I'm not sure that anyone actualy reads this blog. But if there is, please, please, please help me. Please give me advise, please give me strenght, please help me to help the horses. I know my plea is vague but I'm at such a loss right now I don't know what to do. I need help. I need your help. I need to be the strong one. I can only be strong with moral support.
The look the paint horse gave me as I walked away will haunt me. Please help me fix that. Please help me so that I don't have to walk away from a pleading look like that ever again. Your advise, your suggestions, your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Prayers on the wind for that old paint horse with a kind eye.
Brego and More Training
To be warned I'm going to rant just a little bit these next two posts.
I got a call Saturday from my trainer. He was calling about Brego. When we talked at the horse fair he admitted that Brego was the first horse in a long time to actually spook him out. Great! Just what I want, a horse that actually scares the trainer. I figured Brego may need another couple weeks put on him to make sure he's safe.
Lo and behold, that's what the trainer was calling to talk to me about. I could go ahead and take Brego "as is" but apparently he's not following his nose very well. He's also not going at all at a lope. He's barely going at a trot and doing some naughty stuff, like dropping his shoulder and not following his nose.
When we dropped Brego off I warned the trainer that he wasn't very smart. The trainer laughed and said most people talk up their horses even when they arent' as smart as they really are. I'll be totally up front and honest with anyone getting on my horses. If I'm not willing to get on, I'm going to make sure that whoever DOES get on knows everything I know.
The trainer called it "mental blocks" instead of being dumb. I guess that's the politically correct way to call it. I was a bit disappointed but I know that I need to follow through and put an additional 15 days on Brego to make sure that he gets it. I'd thought about sending Maverick back to the trainers just to put a refersher but he's going pretty well. That and I don't really have the money to put another horse through training. I hadn't figured on putting Brego in 45 days of training but I guess if that's what it takes, that will be what it is.
As a two year old Brego was sent to a terrible trainer. He was there for at least 30 days but I don't believe he was treated well or was really trained. When he came home, he bucked the owner off. I'm afraid the "trainer" blew Brego's mind and that's why my trainer is having a hard time breaking through to him.
I'm just a bit disappointed. Here I am putting $550 + $275 in to a junk horse. I know... how dare I call Brego a junk horse. But really, he has poor confirmation, no pedigree (even if he is registered which I doubt), no brains (sorry, telling the truth), and fairly fine boned so he'll never be a true brute horse.
For the amount of money I'm going to sink in to him, I could have bought a really good horse at yesterday's auction. That's my next blog that I need to vent about. Everything seems to revolve around dollars and cents and I just can't seem to figure out how to make it work for me.
I'm headed over the to the trainers on Tuesday to try Brego out and then make my decision. I've already decided that even though he's not going at a lope (and I won't lope him any time soon), that I'll go ahead and put the extra time on him to make sure that he actually understands what he's supposed to.
I was willing to put him in to training and willing to give him a second chance in life. He would have ended up at Kramers Auction as a three year old, barely handled gelding that was skin and bones. He would have been No Valued and who knows what would have happened then. So I guess if it takes him an additional 15 days to break through that "mental block" then so be it.
Sometimes you in with rescues and sometimes you don't. I think I lost on Brego.
I got a call Saturday from my trainer. He was calling about Brego. When we talked at the horse fair he admitted that Brego was the first horse in a long time to actually spook him out. Great! Just what I want, a horse that actually scares the trainer. I figured Brego may need another couple weeks put on him to make sure he's safe.
Lo and behold, that's what the trainer was calling to talk to me about. I could go ahead and take Brego "as is" but apparently he's not following his nose very well. He's also not going at all at a lope. He's barely going at a trot and doing some naughty stuff, like dropping his shoulder and not following his nose.
When we dropped Brego off I warned the trainer that he wasn't very smart. The trainer laughed and said most people talk up their horses even when they arent' as smart as they really are. I'll be totally up front and honest with anyone getting on my horses. If I'm not willing to get on, I'm going to make sure that whoever DOES get on knows everything I know.
The trainer called it "mental blocks" instead of being dumb. I guess that's the politically correct way to call it. I was a bit disappointed but I know that I need to follow through and put an additional 15 days on Brego to make sure that he gets it. I'd thought about sending Maverick back to the trainers just to put a refersher but he's going pretty well. That and I don't really have the money to put another horse through training. I hadn't figured on putting Brego in 45 days of training but I guess if that's what it takes, that will be what it is.
As a two year old Brego was sent to a terrible trainer. He was there for at least 30 days but I don't believe he was treated well or was really trained. When he came home, he bucked the owner off. I'm afraid the "trainer" blew Brego's mind and that's why my trainer is having a hard time breaking through to him.
I'm just a bit disappointed. Here I am putting $550 + $275 in to a junk horse. I know... how dare I call Brego a junk horse. But really, he has poor confirmation, no pedigree (even if he is registered which I doubt), no brains (sorry, telling the truth), and fairly fine boned so he'll never be a true brute horse.
For the amount of money I'm going to sink in to him, I could have bought a really good horse at yesterday's auction. That's my next blog that I need to vent about. Everything seems to revolve around dollars and cents and I just can't seem to figure out how to make it work for me.
I'm headed over the to the trainers on Tuesday to try Brego out and then make my decision. I've already decided that even though he's not going at a lope (and I won't lope him any time soon), that I'll go ahead and put the extra time on him to make sure that he actually understands what he's supposed to.I was willing to put him in to training and willing to give him a second chance in life. He would have ended up at Kramers Auction as a three year old, barely handled gelding that was skin and bones. He would have been No Valued and who knows what would have happened then. So I guess if it takes him an additional 15 days to break through that "mental block" then so be it.
Sometimes you in with rescues and sometimes you don't. I think I lost on Brego. So be it.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
No Horse In Hand
No horse in hand. I behaved and didn't bring a horse home from today's auction. There must have been about 20 horses. Each of the ones I was interested in went for $150 or more. Those that I wasn't interested in went for less than $100. There was a 3yr old stud that had the same massive body size as Chaos and he went for $12.50.
I wish I was like Nor Cal Equine Rescue where they go to auctions and bid against the kill buyer. I could have brought a bunch home tonight.
And they announced that no auction in the state of South Dakota will accept thin horses or horses with super long feet who have foundered. They'll turn them away and then report them. So what's going to happen to those horses now?
The next Kramers sale is April 17th. I'll go again to watch and put a prayer on the wind for each of them.
I think I'm going to finish off my chocolate easter bunny and then hug each of the horses.
I wish I was like Nor Cal Equine Rescue where they go to auctions and bid against the kill buyer. I could have brought a bunch home tonight.
And they announced that no auction in the state of South Dakota will accept thin horses or horses with super long feet who have foundered. They'll turn them away and then report them. So what's going to happen to those horses now?
The next Kramers sale is April 17th. I'll go again to watch and put a prayer on the wind for each of them.
I think I'm going to finish off my chocolate easter bunny and then hug each of the horses.
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