Ballenger Training Blog

The Houston Mull Memorial Cattle Drive

Earl and I went on our first cattle drive on Saturday. I’m still hurting – sore and stiff all over. When I last saw Earl he was galloping across the field, bucking and farting. I don’t think he’s stiff or sore…

The day started at 5:15 AM when I left home for the farm and feeding. It was a foggy morning (so much for the good weather report) and driving to the farm was accomplished by concentrating on staying between the white and yellow lines on the highway. Once I hit the back roads it got a little tougher with only ditches to let me know when I was straying. I had to aim my headlights towards the corrals to find the horses. Earl and Bob are used to this. Mariah and Freedom aren’t. Freedom was her usually spooky self. Mariah just wanted her breakfast. She’s gonna be one great little mare for her adopter.

I got everyone fed and left the gate open as usual. Bob and Earl are busy eating so it’s ok. I thought. After rounding Bob up and putting him back I got Earl out and we headed down the hill to the trailer. Then back up the hill I went to fetch my truck and a bale of hay to take along.

Lady (Gerry’s 21 yr old mare) and Earl loaded just fine and off we went. This is Earl’s first time off the farm and I was just a little worried how he’d behave, but taking Earl’s personality into consideration I figured he’d be ok.  

We arrived at the Mull farm by 7 AM to a field full of trailers and horses of almost every kind imaginable, from bug Clydes and Belgiums  to mini mules and ponies. The unofficial count later was over 200 horses and riders, plus non-riders traveling in the wagons. I started to get a little more worried – How would Earl handle all this commotion and all these animals? If it can be worried over I’m gonna worry, that’s just the way I am. As usual, I worried for nothing.

Earl was interested in his surroundings of course, but as soon as I hung the hay bag up he was done being curious about anything but the hay. That’s my Earl. What can I say? He’s a food processor.

Earl and Lady ready to go

The horses got to munch on hay while we riders were being served a chuckwagon breakfast of biscuits and gravy, sausage and scrambled eggs, along with all the orange juice and coffee we could drink. It was a great breakfast!

We got off to a late start, people and horses were still arriving and there was that fog to contend with also. It was somewhere around 9:30 or 10 AM before we set out to ride to the cattle, approximately 6 miles away. At first Earl was a bit excited. For Earl this is something of an event. He swung his head twice and did a prancy trot for a couple of strides twice also. And, that was the end of his excitement. He settled in to enjoy the scenery and all the horses surrounding him.

Every once in awhile there was a “rest stop” set up with the porta potty thingies and people taking pictures of horses coming through.

Draft team behind us

We were also asked to hold up for everyone behind to catch up so we could keep the group sort of together. At one of these stops we ended up with a team of horses and a wagon directly behind us. I got off Earl to take some pictures.  You have to look closely to see the team behind Earl and the grey horse. That’s Gerry’s friend Bud, riding him. Excuse the dark dot in the center of the picture, it’s the result of my swimming incident with the camera.

Horses in front waiting

This picture is more horses and riders up in front of us. At this point we were somewhere in the middle front of the pack, with more behind us than in front of us. You can see how foggy it still is and this is well past 10 AM, maybe closer to noon. A light misty rain has been falling, lending a surreal quality to everything.

Throughout this ride I got several comments on how well behaved my horse was for a mustang, or that he was built nice for a mustang. Hmmm There’s mustangs out there with much nicer builds than Earl’s, that’s for sure, so I wonder where they get their notions from? As for behavior I responded to every one that his is typical mustang behavior! Trent Loos, the celebrity trail boss for this fundraising event took the time to comment in a positive way on my mustang. “How’s that BLM Mustang doing?” was his opening remark. Gerry knows Trent from previous years with the cattle drive and let him know that Earl’s only a 3 yr old and this is his first time off the farm. Trent was duly impressed and we talked some more about mustangs and what great mounts they are. He asked if I had any from Nevada (they’re his favorite I guess?) and well, of course I had some from Nevada and told him that Earl was from Butte, Nevada. Gerry told him all about Bob and that he’s from Nevada too. I filled in the HMA (Deer Lodge Canyon) and also told him about the TIP mares and explained that program to him. Once Trent paid attention to us other people got curious and there’s a few more people in the world who now who have a new appreciation for mustangs thanks to Earl. It turns out that of more than 200 horses, Earl was the one and only mustang on the cattle drive. That in itself is such a crime! In my opinion that is. We crossed water and paved roads, had 4-wheelers going past us with cameras, people up on stands in the backs of pick up trucks with cameras. Earl went through everything without a second thought while some other horses pitched their fits and gave their riders grief. We had only one teeny weeny problem. Railroad tracks. Earl just didn’t like them shiny things in the middle of the road. He had no problem with the painted lines or anything else we saw. But those railroad tracks were just too much and he planted his feet and wouldn’t budge.  I had to get off and lead him across. Waving a peppermint and Gerry behind him with a slap on the ass and we were good. He crossed with big long steps and a real wary expression. The next set he crossed with just a little bit of balkiness.

We reached the cattle by noon and it was time for lunch. This consisted of various sandwiches, home baked cookies, bottled water, apples and bags of potato chips. We were in a freshly harvested corn field so there was lots of munchies for the horses and a huge water trough, which Earl made good use of. He wanted to share my lunch and stole half Snickerdoodle cookie, the whole apple and then wanted my sandwich. People around us found this rather amusing. Their horses were resting or rooting through the corn stalks on the ground. I kept my sandwich to myself but had to share the potato chips. Earl shared the apples with Lady then decided it was time for sightseeing, or maybe it was a food hunt, you never know with Earl. I’d been warned plenty to watch out for the wagons, even Lady spooked at them the first year. Earl saw, Earl looked and Earl proceeded to see if there was any food. So much for spooking.

Got Lunch?

This particular wagon was pulled by a mule and with the cooler in back, Earl thought there might just be something in there for him.  Alas, there was nothing for a horse and he began looking elsewhere.

Wagon and saddle bags

That other wagon didn’t have anything edible either. Maybe those bright orange saddle bags have something fit for a horse? That’s Gerry, leaning on a miniature mule in the left side of the picture.

Longhorns!

We brought up the rear on the drive back to the Mull farm. I figured there was no point in taking Earl up near the front and blocking holes to make sure cattle didn‘t escape. Earl’s too laid back and lazy to be of any use when it comes to chasing stray cattle.

By this point I had made the realization that I am a wimp. I was saddle sore and not looking forward to another 6 miles back. Earl was fine. He’s good at conserving energy, the lazy bum. I had some concerns about him staying sound. He’d cut his front left leg on Wednesday and it had swelled and still had some filling on Saturday morning, before the ride. He never took a lame step on it so I rubbed him with liniment and bandaged him for the ride, as an added precaution.  The cut was more like a small scrape, not deep, but still a bit nasty looking, but it was on the side of his cannon bone and not where there’s a tendon or any ligaments to worry about.

Earl also loped for the first time with me on his back during the ride out to get the cattle. He’d stopped to sight see and was being left behind by Lady. In his rush to catch up he kinda fell into a lope. Falling into it is the best description I can think of to say this. It was a loosey goosey all over the place lope for about 4 strides then he drop back into a trot. We did this twice. It was pretty comfortable to sit to despite him being all over the place with it. We were also in a soft field with perfect footing for this sort of thing (soy beans had just been taken off). Now I can say that Earl and I have finally loped!

The ride back was pretty uneventful with cattle getting away from the riders only a few times, but of no concern to us at the back of things. None ever tried turning and coming back through us.

Earl and Pee Wee on the trail

Me and Taylor, Gerry’s grand daughter on her pony. I was thinking Earl and Mini Me…

That little girl is SO GUTSY. Her pony was bing a lil shit and reared, then bucked with her before we started off. She sat it all out and told her dad to tie a bucking string on him. That was it. No fear, no panic and no theatrics. I can’t remember if I was that brave when I was her age. I probably wasn’t! She loves Earl and I promised her she could ride him the next time she comes to the farm for a visit. Maybe next year I can take Bob on the cattle drive and Taylor can take Earl. She’s wanting a “real horse”, she thinks she’s big enough for one now!  I have no doubt either, she could probably handle a big horse with no trouble at all.

Here she is trucking along with Grand daddy

Gerry and Taylor riding along

The horse in the far left corner is her daddy, Al, on his horse. The guy on the paint is a friend of Al’s and I don’t know his name, but he was nice enough to take my camera and get a couple shots of Earl and I with Taylor and her pony, Pee Wee.

We got back to the Mull farm around 3:30 PM and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to step down off a horse! Who am I kidding? I didn’t step down, I slid off, that’s all my legs could handle! Earl in typical mustang fashion was a bit sweaty under the saddle and around his chest. He trotted the last ¼ mile to the farm once he figured out that the trailer and hay bag were just up ahead. We got the horses untacked, led them to the water trough for a drink and then settled them in at the trailer for some well deserved hay and rest. Then Gerry and I hobbled over to the big barn for the steak dinner and the socializing portion of the day. Steaks were bbq’d by the Saline County Cattlemen, and man, were they ever good! They came with giant baked potatoes, baked beans and cole slaw.

For information on the cattle drive event and the fundraising it’s for see here.

http://www.facesofag.com/cattle_drive_details%202007.shtml

All in all it was a great day even though Gerry and I have both been complaining about our stiff, sore bodies. We’ll do it again next year, it’s fun (at the time) and raises money for a very good cause – scholarships in memory of the Mull’s young son who was killed in an accident at only 15 years old.

The end of the day. This glorious sunset accompanied us on our trip back to the farm.

Sunset

Tags: Earl, Houston Mull Memorial Cattle Drive

I recieved an email back from Tina Trenner. Now I don’t know what to say to the woman. She makes some good points - points that I can’t argue as I don’t know the facts, and I will not argue something I don’t know about. I too wondered why there’s so much range land available to cattle. Cattle and horses graze differently, this I know from having grown up with both grazing the same acerage and there being enough for all. Horses will eat what cows won’t and cows will eat what horses won’t. Well, we had sheep too and they weren’t let anywhere near the pastures the cows and horses shared because they do eat everything in sight, right down to the ground and below. For the life of me I can’t remember why we had sheep! We did though, until a fire wiped out the old, original bank barn. Shortly after that the sheep were gone and a new pole barn was built for the cattle with stalls at one end for horses if needed. Interestingly I never missed those sheep! The pigs weren’t a problem, we had them too, and farrowing crates and all that other good stuff. I’m glad I grew up on a farm, I learned that pigs are very clean animals. So, why did my mother always tell me that my room was a pig sty?  Oops, I digress, back the wild horse issue…

Tina plans on doing some more research into this issue, she’s discovered that it is a hotly contested issue and no one has any right or wrong answers yet. I was happy to hear this from her. Alas, she will not be adopting a mustang. She is of the belief that mustangs are wild things and should remain wild. Well, many other people also feel that way and I’m not going to say yay or nay to it. My sister in-law is in agreement with Tina. I’m sure there’s a lot of other people out there too who feel/think mustangs should be allowed to remain wild. In a way I also agree, but you won’t catch me advocating for it, not with Earl and Bob nickering to me every day and very happy to greet me. I love my boys and wouldn’t trade them for the world. If I had the choice of setting them free again would I do it? Hmmm tough call, and I would probably elect to not set them free purely out of selfishness for myself. I don’t want to part with them, it’s as plain as that. Earl was captured as a baby and probably doesn’t know what he’s missing. Bob does know what he’s missing and picks me over a romp in the pasture any time (especially if there’s a mint in my pocket) so I like to think he’d elect to stay with me given the choice. Earl no doubt would stay. He’s protective of me and takes it a little too far at times. He laid his ears back at Michelle today when she got between us to say Hi to him. He didn’t like someone coming between him and his mama at all. Once I was beside him he was just precious Earl again and looking to Michelle for a treat. So, no, you won’t hear me advocate for leaving mustangs wild and free.

Anyway, here is Tina’s reply to me. She was very quick to reply and I appreciate that she took the time to do so, AND to speak her mind. You have to admire that even if you were ticked at the show.

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Judy,
Good Girl…you have passion and I really like that…I love all horses and care very much for their welfare.
That said let me explain to you that I have not had ONE good experience with the BLM, too the contrary I have had nothing but ugly experences.
From roping and choaking the horses down in the middle of the summer heat,to kicking the burros in the head ( all on camera) I can only say I find them to not give a hoot to the real welfare of the horses, but rather to further the current administrations( all administrations for the last 40 years) goal to elimentate the horses from the range.
If holding 33,000 horses in corrals and having dicussions about killing them seems like good management to you, then we disagree.
I am not an expert on all of the issues with in the mustange community, but I can see by the e mails I am recieving that it is a contrversial issue.
I am how ever a life long horseman and can tell you this is a mess….
Adopting a wild horse to a person who has NO idea of the care or treatment of that animal is curel…and dangerous for the people.
I have seen these adopted horses standing in pens for 10 years, still as wild as the day they came off of the trailer and in a 24×24 pen with no other horse and people who just throw hay over the fence…..That is not a life…its an exestance.
My main problem with the BLM is their drive to remove horses from ranges that are not threatened. Here in Nevada we had a herd removed for the “enviorment” because the horses were over eating the grass…..with in 2 months of re moveing the horses the BLM let sheep herds in on the same land..NOTHING eats more grass and roots than sheep…..its a farce.
I am glad there are people who have the passion you have and I am working to bring  someone on the show to talk about the Mustang issue…but I can tell you can not win in this arugument as everyone has an opinion and it seems many folks  are on the fight…..I do not have a dog in this hunt…I just care that the horses are handled  PROPERLY!!!! Wild things should be wild….and although I understnad these are animals that can be trained and will easly fit into a human enviroment,  it seems they really belong on the range…not in BLM pens waiting to die.
I will not be adopting a mustang  but I can tell you they are offered for sale for almost no money all the time in our local papers, or even Craigs List….I think that is awful….and it breaks my heart to think they end up skinny, eating in the dirt,drinking our of old bath tubs and stepping over junk in someones filthy back yard….Not all end up that way , but sadly many do!!!!
The answer is complex only becasuse humans make it so…..I will be addressing the mustang issue again and I encourage you to let me know what is on your mind…I listen to people and come to my own conculsions…so keep watching and I will do my best to help the horses.
Tina Trenner

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Unfortunately Tina has had far different experiences with the BLM than I have had. I’m the greenhorn here; I’ve never witnessed a gather and I wondered if it was BLM employees she saw mistreating horses or was it contractor employees. I’ve heard from another source that Tina is correct, it was on TV or something? All I can say is I hope those employees were fired and charged with animal cruelty. My experience with the BLM has been nothing but positive and I can give an example right here and now, 3 of them in fact. My foster gelding and the two TIP mares. All three are adopted. All three remain with me until every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed. They’re by the book and don’t make allowances when it comes to the horses. I’ve been apologized to for the delays when there was no need whatsoever for an apology. I for one am glad that the BLM is insisting that the adoptions be handled properly even though one potential adopter has called me wanting to know why they can be approved in 10 minutes at an adoption event and it takes weeks adopting this way. All I can say to that is we all know patience is the main training tool with a mustang.

Tina makes good points with her experiences - a horse sitting in a pen for years, ungentled, with no other horses for company. We all know that horses are herd animals and not meant to be alone. However, this doesn’t happen with just mustangs, this happens across the board with all breeds. It’s called neglect and cruelty and there are laws against it. It’s not just mustangs, so I don’t feel it can really be used as a valid arguement. In the greater scheme of things a neglected horse is something for the Sheriff to deal with and the local Animal Welfare organization. Mustangs sitting in pens in long term holding waiting to die: Yea, this doesn’t sit well with me. From what I’ve heard the current government would like nothing better than to clear the ranges of horses and hand grazing rights out left and right to the cattle ranchers. How true is this? I don’t know. I’m ignorant to these issues, I’m not a political minded person at all. Never have been and probably never will be. In my opinion, simple logic can be put to work here. If there’s no grazing for the horses there should be no grazing left for the cattle or the sheep either. I’ve yet to see a plain and simple explanation for why this is not so. Cattle ranchers may drill wells so the livestock have water, but they also likely fence that water source off from the wild horses. Since when do ranchers have the right to fence off public lands?

Several of us on the different wild horse groups (Yahoo groups) have expressed a desire to see a REAL Extreme Mustang Makeover, using the older horses who are sitting in long term holding waiting to die as Tina puts it (and basicaly true). Yes, trainers would need more time to get to these horses and gain their trust. But think about it for a moment. Older horses means more maturity in mind, spirit and body. Soundness issues would be almost non-existent. Mental breakdowns again, almost non-existent. The younger horses we use now are easier to work with only because they trust quicker. They get  a lot drilled into their heads in just 3 months and their bodies go through a grueling physical routine in order to be ready to show and compete. How some of them manage to do the things they do is beyond me. I can’t imagine pushing my horse that much to learn to go through fire and do flying lead changes etc. I’ve been there and couldn’t do that with Bob. He had soundness issues almost from the beginning. Little things here and there, but they sure added up by the end and he’s just finally looking like he’s back to normal again, after being off for 7 weeks. That said, why not take 6 to 8 yr olds, give the trainers 125 days (nice round number) and see what happens? 180 days would be better for the trainers and the horses but wouldn’t pack as much “shock value” for the public. Giving trainers an extra month for the gentling process would hopefuly be enough time. A month ago I would have said yes, an extra month is all we’d need. Then came Rhy, now known as Freedom, and it’s taken more than a month to touch her on both sides. Yup, today I touched and rubbed her left side from butt to shoulder. She wasn’t happy or comfortable with it but she allowed it, that’s what counts.

Sheesh, I’m really rambling off track today aren’t I? Tina’s not done with this issue, she wants to have someone else come on the show. Here’s where emails can help. Write her with suggestions. She doesn’t need any more emails criticizing her. She probably got enough of those already. Who would be a good source for her to talk to? Who might be a good presence on her show? Who will people sit up and listen to? She’s right in saying the whole thing is a controversial issue, and there’s probably no one right answer out there. It took years to get into this mess, it’s going to take time to get out of it. It’s not going to go away on it’s own. In the meantime, foals are going to be born every year, adding to the problem. None of us wants to see the mustangs in the long term holding facilities euthanized or slaughtered. A really extreme Extreme Mustang Makeover is one solution for about 100 head. That leaves 32,900 more waiting for a solution. Some of those mares can be spayed and turned back out, but where? An independent census organization should be brought in to do a head count on the ranges - of horses, cattle and sheep.  Along with this perhaps another independant company should be brought in to evaluate the grazing situation since there seems to be so much controversy over the BLM’s numbers. Lastly, when all that is said and done it should be remembered by all parties concerned that the horses were there first and do have rights, protected by the Wild Horse and Burro Free Roaming Protection Act of 1971. Not all that long ago, the numbers of wild horses on the ranges were in the millions. Wild horses are vanishing faster from the west than any other species known to mankind. Supporting 30,000 plus shouldn’t be the problem it’s being made out to be.

And, that’s my opinion.

On adopting to inexperienced people I assume that the BLM also assumes that people will educate themselves on how to feed and care for a horse. That is not an unreasonable assumption for anyone to make. All of us had the first horse experience when we didn’t know what we were doing. We found out what to do and did it, and still do it. None of us can control what happens to our horse once we sell him or her to someone else. How many have been stiffed on that “First right of sale” clause?  The BLM has the advantage of being able to control what happens for that first year. As in everything else they (the BLM) is dependant on people seeing and notifying them that all is not right. Just as we have a duty to children to report suspected abuse we also have an unspoken, unmandated moral duty to report suspected animal neglect or abuse. We cannot resonably expect the BLM to have the staff to personally run around and check on each and every horse adopted. If we want that right, then volunteer to pay more taxes to get it.

Finally, I know it doesn’t appear this way, but I do want to state (for the record) that I am not taking sides. I’m trying to see both sides and show some empathy for both. It’s a hard boat to row and I can only say that I’m glad I don’t have the responsibility of one of those oars.

Tina, Thank you for your response, it’s much appreciated! I can only imagine how busy you must be, and to take the time to respond to my email shows your depth of caring in regards to this issue.

Excuse any typos, I typed as I thought it up, with no spell check…

Judy.

Tags: BLM Mismanagement, Tina Trenner

I watched “In The Company of Horses” the other night on RFD.  You can find the link to her site here: http://www.rfdtv.com

Tina was interviewing Dina Titus, who is running for congress or senate http://www.dinatitus.com.  They had a fine time bashing the BLM and the adoption program. Below is the email I sent her. It will be interesting to see if she accepts my challenge to go and adopt one instead of sitting there bitching and complaining about what the she thinks the BLM should be doing – Geld all the stallions and turn them back out onto the ranges. *rolls eyes*

I encourage you to also email Tina Tina@CompanyOfHorsesTV.com  and challenge her to step up and adopt a wild horse instead of complaining about it.

Hi Tina,

Normally I enjoy your show and the interviews you conduct. I have to make an exception of the interview with Dina Titus. What I watched and heard was nothing less than a slice and dice the BLM Extravaganza.

Instead of criticizing the adoption program, how about some credit for doing it in the first place. Washington AND discrimination laws will not allow them to discriminate between an idiot and a savvy horseperson. If they (the potential adopter) has the required facilities they get to adopt. The BLM hasn’t managed the horses the way every Tom, Dick and Harry out there would like them to. What else is managed in a way we’d all like to see it managed? Instead of being so critical both you and Dina could have suggested some reasonable solutions. All I heard was “we need a coomon sense approach”. That doesn’t solve a thing. Encourage people watching to step up and adopt a Mustang. There’s programs to enable people to adopt if they’re frightened of a “wild” horse. The Mustang Heritage Foundation wasn’t mentioned at all. Why not? There’s the Trainer Incentive Program sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF). There’s fostering through the BLM. You can have a gentled horse if you’re nervous or don’t know what to do or just don’t have a 6′ high corral to keep them in until gentled. These two programs alleviate all three of the stumbling blocks I just mentioned. The woman in the feed store you mentioned who didn’t know what a halter and lead rope was - why was she ridiculed for her lack of knowledge rather than the optimisim she clearly showed in adopting a Mustang? People with no experience or knowledge have adopted before and succeeded wonderfully with their Mustangs! I challenge you to try it yourself, don’t listen to me and the numerous other emails you doubtlessly receive for being so critical of the BLM. Go and adopt a mustang, spend time with that horse and see what happens. It’s nothing short magical.

I’m Canadian and relatively new to the world of Mustangs. I now have four in a little more than a year and I love every one of them. In fact, my QH mare is for sale so I can get another Mustang. I was one of this year’s Extreme Mustang Makeover trainers. I’m also a trainer in the Trainer Incentive Program with the MHF. I took on two 4 year old mares and both were adopted within 30 days. I also have a horse I’m fostering for the BLM and his adopter until he is gentled enough to go home to regular fencing. That’s a total of seven Mustangs! I am that passionate about these horses and the programs meant to assist in the adoption process. Can you knock that? Can you top it? Many of us adopters act as mentors for new adopters or those thinking of adopting. There are Yahoo groups dedicated to Mustangs; their gentling, training, showing, etc and we love to assist new adopters in any way we can. It’s quite a network and a good network at that. I have yet to come across a BLM employee who can’t or won’t take the time to talk about anything to do with Mustangs and burros be it problems or accomplishments.

I really, truly hope that you will show some class and do another show/interview on the positive aspects of the BLM and the adoption program. And, include the Mustang Heritage Foundation and what they’ve done to promote adoptions, and let the public know that there’s all kinds of help and assistance out there for them if they’d like to own a living symbol of America. Finally, I want to hear that you’ve adopted your own Mustang!

Judy Ballenger

http://www.ballengertraining.com
http://www.ballengertraining.com/blog

Tags: In The Company of Horses, Mustang Adoption, Tina Trenner

Michelle is spoiling my horse. She brings Smarties for Bob and he loves them. That boy has a serious sweet tooth! His peppermints are still his favorite of course, but he associates Michelle with Smarties now and as soon as her hand goes to her pocket it’s all about Bob as far as he’s concerned. Hopefully I’m still #1 in his books, and he has Michelle and her Smarties for backup. I didn’t think to grab the camera for a picture either. It wouldn’t do any good, I have that promise to not make Michelle famous to honour.

Michelle's Pasture

The word “pasture” does  not do this piece of heaven justice at all. It’s one hell of a reward for Freedom, (Freda for short haha) once she decides to become a gentled horse. Too bad we can’t show her pictures and tell her this is what you get if you let me touch you all over. 

Freda, (formerly Rhiannon, formerly #8674) is making more progress. This progress is coming along about as fast as molasses in January but it is happening. Yesterday (Friday) I was able to touch & rub her chest and upper forearm. Right side only as usually, but hey it’s a few more inches of that huge body that was a no touch zone the day before so yea, we’re making progress. I had to force this progress and she wasn’t happy, relaxed or comfortable with it, BUT she stood and allowed it so YAY Rhy, err Freda.  I also did some more desensitizing with the lunge whip and we really did have a breakthrough in that area. She allowed it on her face. But… There’s a but with everything when it comes to this mare isn’t there? But I had to accomplish this while standing… can you guess where? If you guess her butt you’re the winner! There’s me, standing beside her big powerful butt throwing the lunge whip around, flicking it off the tin walls. Oh, did I mention that I’d locked us in the shelter for this session? Hehehe  Like I said, I forced the progress we made yesterday. So, here we are in this little 12 x 16 foot shed (I always thought it was big before yesterday) and I’m standing beside her butt waving the whip around and letting it hit the tin walls and land on her wherever. I did this over and over until she stopped flinching or jumping out of her skin at the sound or feel. This is the only way I can make any contact with that elusive left side. For all I know she’s got polka dots over there and is embarrassed of them and that’s why she won’t let me on that side. Anyway she’s finally ok with the whip landing on her body and neck, around her front and back legs. This is definitely progress  so I went for more. Her head. To make a long story short I’ll just say that the walls are still standing and I didn’t get hurt either. The only reason the walls are still in place is because when her butt did hit them the noise scared her and she jumped forward. I kept at it and I think I finally found a spot that she might actually like having rubbed – underneath, between her jaw bones. I was able to rub that spot with the whip and she didn’t move at all, not even to raise her head higher, so I really think she might have liked it. Or she was froze solid with fear, it’s a coin toss … She did get to the point where she stood and tolerated the whip dragging over her face and ears. I’d be flat out lying if I said she was relaxed or comfortable with it. Pushing the whip up her neck and trying to rub behind her ears brings a head shake as in get away from my ear or I’ll stomp yer head into the ground kind of head shake.  All this took 1 hour and 45 minutes to accomplish, 40 minutes of that was moving her in the round pen until she’d finally stand still and let me rub, not just touch, but rub her rump and back. When I ask for a whoa she always turns her head to me now so that’s some more progress. It’s not a lot compared to Mariah but hey, it’s not a competition between the two mares anyway.

Speaking of Mariah, she had two potential adopters come to visit today. They liked her enough that an application was filled out for me to send in. There are several more expressing interest and at least one more has an “appointment” to come and see her Monday morning. This person booked his appointment before these two contacted me so if he wants her then he’s first on the list even though his app isn’t in yet.

Orion is ready to go to his new home, we’re just waiting on the BLM to finalize the paperwork. He has somehow picked up the nickname Scooter and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t suit him. LOL Ron continues to have his fun with Rick and Buddy about “Scooter” being an ex-con. There have been lots of tasteless jokes. Rick got his revenge today by informing Ron that Jake needs a therapist because he’s got issues. According to Rick Jake herded Earl up to the far end of the pasture this morning and then left him there. Headed back and once he was about half way he started hollering for Earl. So he has issues and needs therapy. Personally I think Jake was just making sure that Earl would still humour him and let him be the boss in some things. I’m missing my boys and want them back home. I’m sure they’re enjoying having 10 acres to run around and pig out on, but I still miss them. I’m hoping we bring them home when we take Orion aka Scooter to Rick’s. Earl and I have a date to go on a cattle drive Nov 1^st so he’ll be home by then for sure.

There’s still no date for the chiropractor to visit Bob. That means the holiday continues. He was faltering with that right stifle again today. Michelle and her husband were there before we got there and she told Ron how she saw Bob’s stifle give out. I didn’t know about it until after they’d left so I didn’t get to ask her exactly what she saw. I assume it’s the same thing I’ve been seeing.

Poor Ron was dragging today. He didn’t get home last night like he’s supposed to. He ran out of hours and park his big rig and stay out one more night. He made it home this morning and I met him at the truck and hauled him up to the farm with me. He was sorta ok with this because he’s still on a high over his new truck.  He now has a “long-nosed” Peterbilt, black with a huge bunk. It’s like a motel he says after the narrow bunks in the truck he was driving and the trucks he drove for FBI. As late as it was and as tired as he was last night, neither stopped him from stopping to have his “new girlfriend” washed and polished up. It’s beginning to look like I now have to compete with a truck for his attention.

Ron's New Girlfriend

I’ve got a video up on You Tube – I call it Bob being weird. I remembered to take the camera to the farm with me. Bob wasn’t cooperating with that 2-step thingy he was doing the day before. But, I did get a good shot of him knuckling over on that right hind, doing nothing more than taking a step forward. I finally have on video most of what I’ve been trying to describe to people. Jill’s been more than helpful in helping me sort through Bob’s various, well, more like my crisis over his continued problems. I’ve been using the wrong terminology for one thing. What’s awful is I know this so why didn’t I realize it sooner. I’ve said his stifle is locking up whereas it’s collapsing. Two very different things! And different treatments. With the time off for his shoulders Bob’s stifle is acting up again now. So we have tight, stiff shoulders and a collapsing stifle. Wonderful. Not.

BY the way… Please keep in mind that we all have “pet names” for our horses, umm sometimes uttered without thinking. hehehe You may find my commentary more amusing than usual. I forget that this camera records sound too!

There is good news. I found a real chiropractor who is also a vet and spoke with her on the phone yesterday. She will be coming this way in the next little while and Bob will be first on her list as she’ll pass our road on her way to Sedalia. This might be as early as next week, or as late as the beginning of November. In the meantime Bob’s holiday will have to continue.

I found another blog with a fantastic, in depth article on the stifle joint and the afflictions that can plague it. I have permission to reference it and point you to it if you’re so inclined to read up on stifle injuries. The blog is titled Behind the Bit, and I’ll have her over in my links section too. If you’re into the big horses, dressage, eventing and such, as I was in my former life, you’ll find her blog very interesting reading. I have to admit that she has me longing for that life once again. Wait! I’m too old for that nonsense. What am I thinking??? Then again, I did say I’d love to find a dressage instructor for Bob and myself…. Who knows…. The url for her site and this particular entry is

http://behindthebit.blogspot.com/2008/10/stifle-mother-of-all-joints.html

Watch for “Behind The Bit” in my list of links. It’s a good blog and very informative, and has its whimsical side too, as in Pet names for your horses. I may have to write about that too one of these days now that the pressure of the EMM is off Bob and I.

Other news is that Rhiannon has found her adopter and new home. Remember Michelle by chance? She’s a fan of Bob’s and the same gal Ron bought his latest saddle from back in August. Being such a fan of Bob, Michelle has become interested in mustangs. So the thought occurred to me to introduce her to Rhy. Well, I’m a matchmaker, what else can I say? It was love at first picture, then deeper at first sight. Even Bob took a back seat (much to his disappointment) to Rhiannon once Michelle laid eyes on her.

WOO! We have contact!

I had to promise not to make Michelle famous by posting her picture so you have to settle for one she took of me rubbing Rhy’s back.

  After this I put Rhy in the round pen and showed Michelle the basics of free lunging a mustang and how well Rhy is coming along with voice commands and my body language. Then Michelle took over and had a pretty successful session of her own with Rhy. Rhy quickly showed her new Mama how important body language and positioning is with her reactions to Michelle’s movements. For her part, Michelle is a very apt pupil and caught on very quickly where to position herself in relation to Rhy’s drive line and how to hold the whip and where to point it. These two are going to get along fabulously. I have no doubt that they’ll form a strong partnership and have some happy times together in the future.

Rhy's healing nose

Mariah is still available for adoption and is coming along well. She still doesn’t like the bit going in her mouth, but once it’s there she settles down and accepts it.

Jack is learning patience – a very hard lesson for this boy to learn but he is learning. Along with patience comes respect. He’s a work in progress. LOL

Orion is doing well, he’s in with Jack now and they’re a funny pair to watch. Both want to be the boss or should I say the bully? It’s akin to putting two schoolyard bullies together with no little guy to pick on. They’re still trying to figure out which one gets to be the boss. The rest of the time they ignore each other.

I’ve been battling the most miserable cold I’ve ever had since last Friday. Just when I start to feel better some new ache comes along and tries to knock me flat again. I would love to just take a day or three and lie in bed and be catered to. See? I’m that sick that I’m hallucinating. Like that’s ever gonna happen in this house.

Michelle also got a nice picture of Bob and I, and me wearing my Bob shirt. I can now show off my Bob shirt! hehehe

Me and Bob and my Bob shirt!

I’ve got a ton of these shirts. If you’d like one let me know, I’ve dropped the price to cover my costs, plus $5 for sending it to you. The total is now $15.

Last, it’s personal but I’ll mention it anyway. 29 years ago today, I lost my mother as the result of a car accident. A kid, probably high on drugs but never tested hit her in a 30 mph zone. He wasn’t doing the speed limit and my mother paid for his recklessness with her life. There are still days that I wish she was there for me to call. I guess you never get over wanting to call your parent for advice. Even if you don’t listen to them….

Tags: chiropractor, new blog, stifle injuries

Bob looked so great on Saturday while bucking Albert off. Now he’s lame. I’m not talking about the off stuff with his sholders but LAME - That right hind again. Why the vet couldn’t ascertain what’s going on back there I just don’t know. He seemed to be moving aorund fine whenever I looked over at him for most of the day. At feeding time I’m mixing grain and adding whatever for whoever - Rhiannon gets powedered antibiotics and Bob gets MSM and Bug Check (Thank you Sandra!); anyway Bob does his nicker hurry up and feed me routine and I look over to laugh at him and tell him to wait and I stop dead in my tracks. He’s walking up and down the fence line and he’s doing some weird thing with his right hind. The best way I can explain this is to tell you to try walking, but land on your heel first, THEN drop your toe or toe first then drop your heel so that you are turning it into a 2-step process. Now, I’m not saying that Bob was heel first or toe first - I couldn’t tell from where I was and he was also landing in grass, but I could see what his stifle was doing and it wasn’t a smooth process. He wasn’t knuckling over per se but there was a definite delayed process in putting his weight on that foot. What the hell??? I get in there with him and walk back and forth (he follows) so I could better see what was going on. The left hind stifle was fluid - I could see it move up then move down into place as he put his weight onto the foot. The right hind was still that 2 step process. The stifle went up ok, then down, then down some more finally “falling” into place. It leaves the ground fine, it doesn’t connect with the ground fine. I couldn’t get a look from behind as Bob kept turning around to follow me. Did his antics on Saturday knock something out of place? If so, why does it wait until Wednesday to show up? Again there is no heat anywhere. I felt his stifle, hock, ankle and foot. No heat at all anywhere. No swelling, no nothing except that awkward routine of bearing weight on that leg. This horse is giving me a complex!

On the up side of things, Rhiannon let me scratch her from her rump all the way up to where her shoulder begins, without the whip as a crutch. I stopped where her shoulder begins while I was ahead. Earlier she had gotten too overwhelmed and backed away (fast) when I got too close to the front of her body. I wanted to end on a really good note so backed away once I had accomplished this latest feat. She looks at me when I back away as if astonished that I didn’t eat her after all. I dump a couple of apple nuggets in her feed tub each time, hoping that she’s connecting this as her reward for allowing me the touches.

Jack got ground work. I figured I better start at the beginning, do an assessment of sorts and find out what this horse really knows and doesn’t know. The one positive thing I can say about him is that he’s bull-headed in the extreme.  Ya gotta admire such dedication! LOL  How Mendy ever did anything with a bit in his mouth is beyond me. I can’t lead him with a snaffle never mind ride and control him with it. I’ve tried different snaffles - the O ring with the sweet iron mouthpiece, a D ring, an eggbutt, and a french link eggbutt, all with the same results - rear and fight. He did the same thing with the hackamore on Saturday and that was nothing in his mouth! Plus he bolted with Ron, which didn’t go over well…. To get anything accomplished yesterday I had to resort to using just the halter.

Mariah wore everything but a back cinch. I put a breast collar on her - the same one I had on Jack on Saturday. I had to fit it as loose as it would go whereas Jack was tightened up into the third hole on each side. Yup, this little mare is built! I watched her afterwards and with each step the collar tugged onthe saddle - good way to get her used to that saddle shifting I figured! Bridling was a bit funny. Getting the bridle over her ears and inplace was not a problem at all. Getting the bit into her mouth was a hoot. She got that nose going, trying to get my fingers into her mouth, but not that chilly bit. Around and around we went (figuratively, not literally) until I was finally able to slip the bit in there past that wiggling nose. She promptly spent the next 15 or 20 minutes trying to spit it back out or rub it off on the corral panels. As soon as she gave up I untacked her and rewarded her with a couple of apple nuggets. She’s such a gem to work with, except for one thing… No matter what I’m doing she just has to have her nose involved. I’m trying to get the saddle pad on and her nose is in the way. Put the saddle on and that nose is in the way. Cinch her up with her nose between my hands… and on and on it goes. If I could attach the brush to her nose she’d brush herself I believe! LOL I spend more time pushing her away than I do anything else. She’s also gotten very talkative when I arrive in the mornings. I guess she thinks she should be fed first?

Orion got his pen moved over by the fence to get him exposed to regular fencing so he can go to his new home maybe next week. He was quite happy to have grass underfoot and still hadn’t touched his morning hay when I fed in the evening.

I’m taking the camera today (I forgot it yesterday) and will try and get video of Bob doing this weird thing with his back leg, and pics of everyone else…

Later…

The past week or so has been busy. Bob finally got his feet trimmed on Saturday by Albert. He took quite a bit off. I must not have done all that great trimming them myself! I didn’t want to take too much off in case I screwed up, but it became obvious that I could have taken a fair bit more than I did.  And, even though I thought I had his feet level Albert said I didn’t. OOPS. On the bright side another week off seems to have helped Bob loosen up in the shoulder area. Albert was careful with his front feet when he extended them out front to rasp. No objections from Bob! Albert also said he “felt” pretty loose. Yay! I was really beginning to worry about Bob not showing any signs of improvement. After his trimming Albert asked when he could ride him. I said any time you want, I’d like your opinion on how he feels anyway. So… Bob was saddled and bridled for Albert to check him out. I asked if he wanted to try this in the round pen, after all it had been more than 3 weeks since Bob was last ridden and he’d been ridden only once the last week, so that’s 4 weeks with only one ride. Nope, Albert had to be macho and get on him right then and there. Bob immediately let Albert know what he thought of that decision.

After making sure Albert was ok I headed down the hill and up the road in search of Bob. Yup, he bucked Albert off. Bob was up the road a bit happily munching the grass in cousin Bo’s front yard. I called him and he came trotting over to me. I scolded him (not very seriously) and told him he was a bad Bob for dumping Albert and we headed back. Albert was determined to right this wrong done to him, and (I assume) soothe that male ego. He was getting back on. I again suggested the round pen or even the cattle pasture for a softer landing and more even footing instead of the downhill grade of the laneway. Nope, Albert would hear of none of that wussy stuff, but did walk Bob down to the bottom of the drive to mount. Bob behaved himself this time, for a minute or two…Albert rode him back up the hill and Bob was a good boy until they got to the top. Albert was about to get off and Bob decided to assist him. Albert stayed on longer this time - they made it almost to the bottom of the hill before Bob dumped him again, and once again took up up the road. Ron saw the action this time and came to assist Albert. After making sure Albert still had some sense I went after Bob once again. I found him in the next driveway, munching grass again but sans bridle this time. Called him to me again and we headed back home, loking for his bridle on the way. Thank goodness he wasn’t wearing a bit. I’m thinking he stepped on the reins and hauled the whole headset off. Nothing was broken, it came off in one piece and was laying in the ditch. Albert couldn’t get back on this time, he has a broken collar bone. Ron says someone needs to get on that horse and show him he can’t buck anyone off. Yea yea, I know this already. I did it the smart way, I took him into the round pen and free lunged first to make sure nothing was hurt. He was actually moving better than he’s moved in awhile. That floating trot of his is almost back! I sent him in both directions for a couple of rounds and called him into me. He was eager to comply as usual. I mounted and flexed his neck in both directions, walked him around, asked for a couple of figure-8’s and he did all this off my leg, so he obviously remembers his lessons. Not once did he offer to act up in any way. I felt bad about this because Albert and Ron had come to watch the show and there wasn’t one. I asked for 3 steps back and called it quits.

Whatever has been bothering Bob’s shoulders seems to be righting itself, or the bucking sessions with Albert put whatever was out of whack back in place again? Whatever, I have to say Bob sure looked great bucking and running down the hill and up the road, that little tail up as high as it would go! He looked like he was having the grandest time. I started him on MSM last week, but have a hard time believing that it was helping that quickly? I have finally got a name of a chiropractor - a real one, not a massage therapist. Although a massage therapist may work fine I don’t want to leave any questions or be left with any doubts. So, Bob will be visited by the chiropractor and I’ll take it from there. In the meantime he will continue to be on holiday just in case. I was seriously thinking about starting back with him and going for light hacks up the road, just around the farm. After thinking about it I can’t say that his problems are resolved so I will hold off until he’s seen by the chiropractor just to be safe.

Surcingle and Pad

On other fronts, Mariah wore the saddle on Friday, cinched right up, just like a real horse and didn’t seem to care one way of the other that she had this tight thing around her middle. This mare is blowing me away with her attitude to everything. She’s so accepting of everything I’ve done with her so far and just takes it all in stride with no fuss whatsoever. Leading is improving every day. She will stop when leading straight ahead, but will only put up with the pressure on her poll for a moment before coming forward again.  I put the pad and surcingle on her first and let her wear them for a bit before going at her with the saddle. There was no need for worry, she was very accepting of both.

Mariah Saddled

Rhiannon

Last week with her was a tough one. Her halter had to come off. Her nose was a mess after looking like it was healing well. Albert come to the rescue with a rope and we got it off her and treated it. I got antibiotics to add to her feed when it looked like it was becoming infected. It’s now on the mend but it will still be awhile before I can even think about trying to put a halter back on her.

Jack & Bob

We brought him home on Saturday. We exchanged Earl and Jake for Jack at brother Rick’s. But first we thought we’d all saddle up and go for a ride before making the trade. We brought Baby and Lizzie along for this. Ron wasn’t too sure how Jake would be in a new environment so he wasn’t saddled up. To make a long, funny story short, Jack dumped Ron and I got the honours of riding him afterwards. It musta been my day for cleaning up after the men with my horses. Jack also gave Shawna’s new van a “character dent” with his butt while Ron was on him… Needless to say Jack is not in Ron’s good books now. He is looking good though, the two months on good pasture did wonders for him. He’s no longer skinny, but nice and round without too much fat. I’d say he’s just about right. I got Jack saddled up for a ride and he was being an ass so into the round pen we went. I put a snaffle bit back in his mouth as he ignored the hackamore on Saturday. First he refused to face up with me after I had to force the whoas by stepping out in front of his shoulders. Flexing his neck - nope wouldn’t do that either. I regrouped by putting the rope halter back on under the bridle and attaching an extra set of reins to it. I used both sets of reins to get him to flex. He brought his head around but refused to give into the pressure. He laid into the halter and slosed his eyes and just waited me out. what a brat! So I made him hold the flex on either side as payback. Riding was another treat, he didn’t want to cooperate at all unless I was wanting to play Hi Ho Silver and do alot of rearing. Again I had to resort to the reins attached to the halter to get anything positive out of him. Eventually I was able to drop that set of reins and just use the bit, but it wasn’t easy. one thing he kept doing, which caused all this bad behaviour was put his tongue over the bit. I adjusted and readjusted I don’t know how many times but he kept it up. I’m assuming he quieted his tongue down eventually and that’s why I was able to use the reins atatched to the bit in the end. In the end Jack got to spend the night in the round pen wearing the old bridle I use for introducing a bit with an O ring snaffle and sweet iron mouthpiece. I hope he has a different attitude today. I’ll find out shortly…

Orion

Bob’s holiday continues. He’s now on MSM and I’ve ordered a DVD from Masterson http://www.mastersonmethod.com/ to learn equine massage therapy. We’re also working on some saddle fitting issues, which may have caused his sore shoulders. I say we because I’ve joined a yahoo group called awarnesssaddlefitting and the group owner, Kellie is willing to help me with this issue. I’m rather ignorant about western saddles.

Bob’s had white patches come up on his sides, probably from a saddle that didn’t fit him properly. I think I know which saddle it was but I can’t be entirely sure as I’ve switched a few around on him looking for a good fit.

White patches

The white patches are weird and just showed up recently (late last week). He has almost identical patches on both sides.

Earlier this week (Tue) I checked his shoulders again by extending his front legs. He’s still hurting and it’s been 3 weeks of no riding already. I’ve been taking Earl out and Bob’s not one bit happy about being left behind.

I’ve also had a busy week with the new mares. They both have names now, the bay is Mariah and the sorrel is Rhiannon. Mariah is an amazing little mare, very intelligent and curious, and not spooky in the least. She wore a saddle for the first time Monday, just set on her back with the pad. The pad elicited a small snort and a lot of curiosity. After that was over with and didn’t hurt the saddle was nothing.

What

I had the help of Albert for this, he was there to help with Rhiannon, which I’ll get to in a minute…

Albert’s taken a liking to Mariah, which saves me from being stomped on… He had her picking up her feet, accepting his weight hanging off her (sans saddle) and asked me if I had a saddle pad handy. Of course I did! When that went without a hitch he asked for a saddle. I was only to happy to oblige and he set it on her. We decided that was enough for one day and called it quits.

In one week Mariah has accepted leading, a new halter, brusing, fly spray, having a pad and saddle on her back, and having a man hanging off her bareback. WOW.

Yesterday (Fri) I introduced the surcingle. “And your point is?” was her reaction.

Surcingle

I let her ponder this for awhile and the thightness around her girth, but she truly wasn’t bothered by it. She did swing her head around to check things out, she’s very surious that way. She also likes to re-check things out when I remove them.

After about 30 minutes with the surcingle and pad I brought the saddle into the pen and switched them out. At one point I thought I should probably have put the lead rope on her, but hey, too late now… LOL

Saddled

She let one little snort out when I dropped the girth on her right side, and that was it. She was wanted to check everything out and had that head bent around supervising my every move. Igot her cinched up and stepped away, waiting for the explosion. Nothing happened except she moved off to get back to her hay.

Working this mare continues to be a thorn in my side. She’s simply too relaxed and won’t bother wasting energy on trotting in circles! I certainly don’t want to force her. So, we’ve more or less skipped the leader establishing part and gone on to the business of wearing a saddle and all that goes with it. This coming week I’ll start with the despooking, scary stuff and see if any of that gets a reaction from her. If not, we’ll proceed on to wearing a bit and ground driving.

Then there’s Rhiannon…

I STILL can’t touch her except by accident as she’s flying past me in a panic. Her nos, which was craped up pretty good in the chute at the adoption WAS healing nicely. The swelling had gone down and it looked like nice scabs had formed. That was Sunday, one week after she did the damage to herself. Monday morning I arrive and the first thing I notice is that Rhi is missing her lead rope. I see it on the ground, loosely wrapped around the center post of the barn/shelter thingy. I look at her again and that’s when I notice her nose. She must have taken a coupl eof turns around the post to get the lead rope wrapped around it, and then of course she would have paniced and fought it. Thank God the rope broke or she might have really injured herself. I fed them and then got Rhi into the smaller pen in hopes of being able to touch her and then get the halter off. It had to come off, there was no question about that. The original scrapes were opened and looked worse than they did originally. And the halter noseband sat right in the middle of this mess. There was no getting near her though, I tried for more than a hour and all I succeeded at was getting her worked up. I called Albert and asked if he could come over after work and rope her. I told him the problem and he said he’d come by as soon as he could. She didn’t take kindly to a rope either and ended up choking herself down. Albert got to her while she was down and got the halter off. He loosened the rope but left it on because we had to treat that wound, it was pretty raw and nasty looking. All I had with me was a bottle of Cut Heal. When she got up she started fighting the rope again, but not quite as bad. We were able to coat her nose with the Cut Heal and take the rope off.  She was left alone after that to calm down. This is when Albert decided he wanted to play with Mariah and had her picking her feet up, accepting his weight leaning over her,  and wearing the pad and saddle.

Rhiannon

 Rhiannon’s nose is healing, although slowly. There is infection and it continues to drain on her right side. I boght some of that wound powder that Farnam makes and was able to “squirt” her with it while she was eating. I’ve also got her on antibiotics, a powdered form, called Tucoprim, mixed into her feed with a bit of molasses. This picture was taken on Tuesday, after the wound had some time to start drying up and scabbing over. She was rubbing it on Mariah, making her neck all yucky, so I separated them and keep them separate.

This poor mare is not having a good introduction to people so far. BUT, each day she seems just a little bit more accepting of me in her space. Yesterday she ate her hay while I was sitting in my lawn chair. Before that she paced in circles and snatched a bite here and there. I think flies bothering her nose was part of that. She is getting calmer about the whip scratching and rubbing her. On her right side I can touch/rub all over from her neck to under her tmmy and front and back legs. I can also gently “bop” it up and down all over her back, rump and haunches. The left side it not quite so great but we’ve gotten to her shoulder now and will try for her neck today. Maybe then she’ll let me walk my fingers up the whip and actually touch her with my hand.

We will see….

By the way, both mares are still available for adoption, and if I’m not mistaken, because they’re 4 yr olds the adoption price may only be $25.00!

Tags: Bob, Mariah, Masterson Method, Rhiannon

My new project.

Yes, I think I have my work cut out for me. Bob sat down and I think I like that reaction much better than the up in the air stuff. She got her face scraped up pretty good with her antics.

Now, it’s been almost a week since this video was taken. She hasn’t tried to go over anything else thank goodness.

Before I go any further with stories of my new project horses, I better have Bob check in eh?

Bob is not a happy camper. He doesn’t like being on holiday. I think he’s missing the attention that comes with being worked every day. He’s not the center of my world and getting my undivided attention all of the sudden and he’s depressed and sad. He watches me with the new mares and looks so despondent and forlorn. He doesn’t wander off with Earl or Jake, he sticks around hoping for some attention. He does get it, I’m not ignoring him! He’s groomed every morning and fly sprayed. I put his fly mask on and give him lots of lovins and mints. It’s not enough according to Bob. He’s still not going down for his rolls in the mud, which is VERY strange for Bob, who loves dropping every chance he gets, including when saddled, with me on board. He’s got itchy spots, I can see scratch lines where he rubs himself against trees or the fence, but he’s not going down for rolls. He’s clean every morning when he should be covered in mud. I guess his shoulders are bothering him enough that it’s painful to get up? Whatever it is, he’s not rolling anymore. I haven’t heard from the massage therapist/chiropractor gal yet so I will fire off an email. Maybe Shelly forgot to have her contact me.  Bob is supposed to get his feet trimmed today, along with resets for Earl and Jake. I’ll have to remind Albert to be careful with extending his front legs while rasping those front feet. It will be a chance to see how Bob reacts to his front legs being extended again. After the way he reacted the first time I did it, I haven’t had the heart to try it again since. Otherwise, Bob is doing well, just not happy about it.

The Three Amigos

Bob bugging Earl

O'Ryan at the Adoption

O'Ryan

OOPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It went part way down before sliding off into the rhubarb. That’s Rick standing beside the trailer with the rope for Ron on the tractor to hook on to in hopes of guiding the trailer out of the bush and mud. It worked but wasn’t easy. Then we had to wash the truck before Jerry got home to see it!

The new Gals

Nice butts!

The sorrel mare with her scrapes