Friday, February 7, 2014
Snow
Banana says, "Why would I go in the barn when there's perfectly good falling snow to stand in?"
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Bad, bad Oliver
No good Oliver somehow got himself through the fence into the neighbor's pasture today. He's lost his "go out with the big horse" privileges.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Learn about equine nutrition
I don't know how I haven't mentioned this, but the University of Edinburgh's free equine nutrition course has just started on Coursera I took it last year and it's a great, basic course and you can do as little or as much of the course as you like. It's how I ended up hearing about their Equine Science Masters program, the one I am currently in. The Masters level nutrition course tried to kick my butt, but I finished it out with an A. I'm actually a TA for the online course, which is cool and frightening at the same time.
So, if you want to go learn some stuff take it :)
So, if you want to go learn some stuff take it :)
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Four horse day
I haven't ridden four horses in a day since I stopped toiling in the desert as a working student. I am exhausted. It started out with riding the BN/N packer one of my pony clubbers is leasing. I am no longer envious of her having that horse. He might be a great jumper, but oh are his gaits weird and uncomfortable. He feels off, but he isn't. I have never appreciated Banana more after riding something so uncomfortable. After him I rode a friend's horse, another short strided uncomfortable ride. Fortunately, the friend I was riding with wanted to switch, so I got to ride her very sensitive, adorable QH. Then I came home and rode Banana, checking the fence line.
And now I can write no more, as my brain is too tired.
And now I can write no more, as my brain is too tired.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Minis
Since acquiring Oliver I've been doing research on minis, to see if there's anything I need to know about them that I don't. It's astounding, actually frightening, how little horse knowledge the average mini owner has. Things like people with no horse experience buying pregnant mares. Asking for advice on their colicking horse on facebook instead of calling the vet. I could spend all day answering stuff on facebook (I really need to get off the facebook group. It just pisses me off.)
The best info I got from my vet: that they can't do rectals on them, so determining type of colic can be a bit difficult.
They're so damn cute though. And there's mini chariot races!
And mini jumping!
And of course, there's Oliver!
The best info I got from my vet: that they can't do rectals on them, so determining type of colic can be a bit difficult.
They're so damn cute though. And there's mini chariot races!
And mini jumping!
And of course, there's Oliver!
Monday, January 20, 2014
If only money grew on trees
My checking account has been perplexing as of late. Where was all the money going? Oh yeah, grad school. Even though I'm paying by the course, and I'm only taking one at a time, it's still not exactly cheap. It is completely depleting my horse fun budget. I didn't exactly think about that when I went on this, "Yay grad school!" track. Don't get me wrong, I really love the program I'm in. I just hadn't quite realized the implications of all the ways it was going to affect my life. For example: the friday Girls' Trail Ride was an hour and a half from me last week. That's three hours of gas. No ride for me. Some friends went to Albuquerque to school the XC course on Sunday: that's 8 hours of gas for the down and back, not to mention paying the trainer. No XC for me. Then I realized I won't be able to compete as much as I do, even though I barely get out. Nooooooo!
I can't imagine not going to St Johns in April. The event is always hanging on the edge of not being held due to lack of competitors. Despite being in the middle of nowhere with hellacious winds I really like it there. I find its middle of nowhere relaxing. At so many other events we're trying to get errands done because we're in civilization, or finding places to eat we don't have at home. There's only one restaurant in St Johns: a really good mexican place. There is nothing to do but be with your horse. I know the Pre-comp XC course so well I could draw you a map from memory. Of all the events I would want to go to this year it's #1. So, that's the one I should go to. But, I also have a free entry for Coconino...
Anyway, had a lovely bareback ride on Naners today. I think working on the stepping under in hand has really helped her. She carried herself quite nicely on a ride down the road yesterday and as well today with the bareback pad on. This gives me hope we won't need too much help this year, since as I said above, I'm not going to be able to afford it anyway. But! I can tell you what your horse should be eating and now I'm learning all about stereotypies (which is a word spell check is convinced doesn't exist. It does so!) Side note: fence walking, Banana's vice, is a locomotor stereotypie believed to be cause not by boredom, but by a horse's motivation to move (like towards another horse or food) is thwarted. Weaving is in the same category. Banana fence walks when she doesn't have enough of a herd with her. She was fine with Kokomo and Oliver. Kokomo left, now she's fence walking again. At least she's only doing it when they're locked up, not out on the perimeter fence line like she was when it was just her and Penny. Or just her and Sonny. She needs two or more friends.
I can't imagine not going to St Johns in April. The event is always hanging on the edge of not being held due to lack of competitors. Despite being in the middle of nowhere with hellacious winds I really like it there. I find its middle of nowhere relaxing. At so many other events we're trying to get errands done because we're in civilization, or finding places to eat we don't have at home. There's only one restaurant in St Johns: a really good mexican place. There is nothing to do but be with your horse. I know the Pre-comp XC course so well I could draw you a map from memory. Of all the events I would want to go to this year it's #1. So, that's the one I should go to. But, I also have a free entry for Coconino...
Anyway, had a lovely bareback ride on Naners today. I think working on the stepping under in hand has really helped her. She carried herself quite nicely on a ride down the road yesterday and as well today with the bareback pad on. This gives me hope we won't need too much help this year, since as I said above, I'm not going to be able to afford it anyway. But! I can tell you what your horse should be eating and now I'm learning all about stereotypies (which is a word spell check is convinced doesn't exist. It does so!) Side note: fence walking, Banana's vice, is a locomotor stereotypie believed to be cause not by boredom, but by a horse's motivation to move (like towards another horse or food) is thwarted. Weaving is in the same category. Banana fence walks when she doesn't have enough of a herd with her. She was fine with Kokomo and Oliver. Kokomo left, now she's fence walking again. At least she's only doing it when they're locked up, not out on the perimeter fence line like she was when it was just her and Penny. Or just her and Sonny. She needs two or more friends.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
A rose by any other name
Banana's name is officially changed from the silliness that was Zips Smokin Annie to the sentimental Dragonlady Anne.
It wouldn't matter if all we were doing is eventing, but if we do indeed start doing straight dressage and we try to go for the quarter horse dressage awards the horse has to be shown under its registered name. This does mean I also have to get her a new brand inspection, which is sort of a pain in the rear, but I'll survive.
(What's a brand inspection you ask? Out here in many of the western states you have to have a piece of paper saying your horse is yours issued to you by the brand inspector. The brand inspector checks out all your paperwork to ensure you actually own said horse. Bills of sale mean almost nothing: brand inspections do. You can't travel out of the state without one. There are short term brand inspections that are good for so many hours and then there's the "permanent card." The permanent card is what I need to get replaced. At least it shouldn't be as big of a production as getting the first one.
It wouldn't matter if all we were doing is eventing, but if we do indeed start doing straight dressage and we try to go for the quarter horse dressage awards the horse has to be shown under its registered name. This does mean I also have to get her a new brand inspection, which is sort of a pain in the rear, but I'll survive.
(What's a brand inspection you ask? Out here in many of the western states you have to have a piece of paper saying your horse is yours issued to you by the brand inspector. The brand inspector checks out all your paperwork to ensure you actually own said horse. Bills of sale mean almost nothing: brand inspections do. You can't travel out of the state without one. There are short term brand inspections that are good for so many hours and then there's the "permanent card." The permanent card is what I need to get replaced. At least it shouldn't be as big of a production as getting the first one.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Lazy, lazy me
I'm having a small problem: I planned to spend December and January huddled in my house, being a hermit. Banana and I both needed vacations. Instead we've had unseasonable warm weather with days in the 40s. I should be out riding every day, taking advantage of this. But, I can't get beyond, "No! I'm not supposed to be riding right now!"
I decided if I'm not going to ride I need to at least do something with Naners every day, even if it's put the halter on and give her a cookie. So, that's what I've been doing. Then yesterday I remembered I could work on that stepping under herself stuff in hand so we're doing that. Now I've added on training her to ground tie. It's such a handy skill for a horse to have. I'm thinking about training her to the same commands the dogs know. It's definitely something I should train Ollie to do.
Speaking of Ollie, I've definitely decided I want to teach him to drive. It will have to wait though, as grad school is eating up my spare cash. Including eating up my competition budget. Good thing I have no plans for this year. So glad I bought a truck and trailer so I can be stuck at home.
A new fox is hanging out. It could possibly be Hunter, but definitely isn't Split Ear.
I decided if I'm not going to ride I need to at least do something with Naners every day, even if it's put the halter on and give her a cookie. So, that's what I've been doing. Then yesterday I remembered I could work on that stepping under herself stuff in hand so we're doing that. Now I've added on training her to ground tie. It's such a handy skill for a horse to have. I'm thinking about training her to the same commands the dogs know. It's definitely something I should train Ollie to do.
Speaking of Ollie, I've definitely decided I want to teach him to drive. It will have to wait though, as grad school is eating up my spare cash. Including eating up my competition budget. Good thing I have no plans for this year. So glad I bought a truck and trailer so I can be stuck at home.
A new fox is hanging out. It could possibly be Hunter, but definitely isn't Split Ear.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)