Equine Challenge Day 7

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 7/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

I loved showing Frolic but when I was in Vet school that wasn't really happening any more.  I decided to bred her to a Quarter Horse.  Little Girl was the outcome.  This was the morning she was born.  J is leading Frolic and I am guiding Little Girl up to the house where we could keep a closer eye on things.   Hot Toddy with his protege Baby Two are following.

Equine Challenge Day 6

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 6/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

I was 16 when I bought Last Lucky Frolic as a halter broke 2 year old.  She was the first horse that was really mine.  I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her standing the the round pen when we pulled up to the farm to look at a different horse.  That horse was a dud, and I kept whispering to sister L, "ask about the filly".  After spending an appropriate time on the other horse, we finally asked about this one and I was surprise to find out she was for sale too.  She was advertised as a POA (Pony of America) but matured at 15 hands.  I was looking for a 16 hand green broke gelding and ended up with a 14,2 - 2 year old unbroke filly.  Sometimes you get what you need and not what you want.   I trained her myself and at the State 4-H horse Show won the Western Riding class with her.  She was my childhood dream horse.

Equine Challenge Day 5

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 5/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

Since this is my blog, here is the explanation.

 Two pictures today because they both represent my involvement with horse judging.  It took me until my last year in 4-H to finally make the State Judging team by winning the State Contest.  It was a lot of work but it was worth it.  Dr. Arden Huff was a wonderful coach driving us all over the east coast in a 15 passenger van.  I wasn't able to compete at this Quarter Horse Congress (I can't remember the rule, maybe since I was in college) but I still got to go.  I did compete at other national events that year and had a blast. 

I then moved on to the College Judging team.  Dr Tom Meacham was another great coach.  Our team cleaned up at Arabian Nationals, High team overall, reasons and performance, and I was High Individual overall and reasons.  It's not in the picture, but I won a saddle (which I still use).   I think horse judging maybe had a greater impact on me than riding.  There are so many aspects to it and so many benefits.  That is why I pushed V and E so hard to make the State team when they were in 4-H.  The opportunities it provided were amazing. 

Equine Challenge Day 4

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 4/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

I am the one doing the backbend.  It was then followed by a kickover to a handstand then push off and land on my feet on the ground, tada.  This was when I was much more flexible and fearless.   I'm not sure how our 4-H group got started with vaulting.  I think someone saw it once, then got us a vaulting saddle and a book with diagrams.  One of the dads welded a couple of handles onto a barrel and covered it with carpet so we could practice.  Then we rounded up a couple of small, calm horses and off we went.  We were the only vaulting group in the area, so we never went to a competition, but we did do several exhibitions.  On one of our packing rides, someone asked for a demonstration.  We didn't have the vaulting saddle with us to we improvised with a couple of loops tied in a rope then hooked to a girth, not really the same thing.  All went well until this maneuver.  I missed the horse with my hands and was hanging upside down with my head between the horse's front and back feet while it was trotting, and Julie wouldn't let go of my legs.  She eventually did, I dropped to the ground, the horse jumped over me, the crowd gasped, I got up unhurt, then everyone busted out laughing.   Good times.

Equine Challenge Day 3

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 3/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

And OK, I broke down and started nominating people 

Hot Toddy was an amazing horse. 1/2 Thoroughbred and 1/2 Appaloosa but everyone thought he was a Quarter Horse or Arabian.  Sister A bought him as a 2 year old, started him, then went off to college.  Sister L took over training but didn't get along with him very well.  I had no problem with him and started showing him, and winning lots.  Judges seemed to either really like him and place him first or they didn't and we didn't place.  He had a stumbling issue that, when I was in vet school, was diagnosed as being a wobbler.  So that explained why he drug his feet, tripped and fell a lot.   Several of my injuries can be attributed to this.   Not only did Hot Toddy have an impact on me (in the equine world), but so did these two sisters.  Thanks.

Equine Challenge Day 2

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 2/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

When I was in 4-H our state had a yearly 4 day pack ride.  We would haul into base camp, spend the night then in the morning load up the pack horses and head out.  We would then set up camp with just the stuff we packed in, spend 2 nights then pack back out.  It was an amazing time.  We camped together in our different county units and had an unwritten challenge of trying to pack in
 the most luxury items and best food.  It sounds pretty simple now, but I brought in a radio one year and it was a big hit.  I think we always won on the food part, I remember everything tasting so good cooked over an open fire when we were tired and hungry.  Our base camp looks very basic compared to all the fancy trailers now, but we had some good times.

Equine Challenge Day One

There is this challenge going around on Facebook.  I thought I was staying well out of it until I got nominated by someone at work.  Here's the challenge, 

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 1/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

The madness is ending with me as I am not nominating anyone else (unless you want me to them by all means, let me know)

Since this is my blog and not facebook, I will add my explanation.

My first blue ribbon at the Newport Fair on Sammy. (1973 or 1974 not sure)  Sammy was an amazing horse, a lot like Hank.  He was game to try anything you asked of him as long as it didn't include deep water.  I learned how to ride, sit the roughest trot and get on a 15.2 hand horse when I was 8.  He would put his heart into everything, western pleasure, equitation, bareback, hunter under saddle, jumping, trail class, barrel racing, pole bending, western riding,  showmanship, command class, western riding, competitive trail riding... If I asked, he tried.  He wasn't much to look at but he had a heart of gold.  

Starting The Move

Checking the weather forecast earlier this week, I decided to start moving my daylilies before the rain started.  I spent Tuesday digging, and digging and digging.

 The soil was in surprisingly good shape.  But thinking back to when I was watching Monty Don, the British gardener, I decided if they could dig around in all that mud in Britain, then my soil here shouldn't be a problem.

 I started off laying down a tarp, staking down the ends then digging a trench the width I wanted. 

 Then I used my garden fork to dig up bunches of lilies from the driveway side, going toward the trench I just dug.  I then separated each plant out and nesseled them into the trench.

Finally, I shoved the dirt back into the trench.  I am pretty sure I will have hundreds of plants left over by the time I am done.  I might plant some down the driveway, and one sister has spoken for some.  Not sure what I will do with the rest of them yet.

Gaining Weight

My two old horses got a little thin this fall.  I wasn't expecting to have to start feeding them that soon, but with the dry spell we had in the late summer, they just weren't getting enough grass.

 Little Girl is now 28.  She has pick her weight back up with the grain, mild winter and extra pasture I have her and Hank turned out on.  With her bad stifle though, she doesn't need to get too heavy. 

 Hank is back up to a good weight too.  I feel bad for not paying better attention to the situation earlier, but I am glad they have done so well so far this winter. 

At 24, Hank is still ready for the trails. 

Good Excuse To Ride

Not that I need an excuse to ride, but it is nice to have a job to do.  Still not totally clear on what we did however.  It entailed getting 3 hopefully bred cows, a cow calf pair and a bull up out of the field behind the house.  The bull and cow/calf were sorted out at the barn.

 Then the 3 bred cows were turned back out, moved through the field they were just in, and into the next field over.  Then the bull turned back out behind the house.  Then the cow/calf pair hauled up the road to the other farm.  Then a bred heifer from the other farm brought back and turned out with the bull behind the house.  J tried to tell me why and where everything is, "in case something happens to me," he says.  I keep telling him to not let anything happen. 

 Meanwhile, the 3 cows were a little challenging, going in 3 different directions at 3 different speeds. 

 But J was in the right place at the right time and turned them to go through the gate.

Otoelene was a dream to ride, and other than a little wind, the weather was nice.  Job done.