Thank you to all of you who have been riding along with me!  Yesterday, I posted my 100th writing for the Exechorseluver Blog.  It has only been a few short months, but apparently I have several of you that constitute a loyal following.  It has been so gratifying to share the stories, the struggles, the victories and lives of all of us at (and part) of Six Meadow Farm.

Thank you dear readers-leave me a reply of what you would like to hear more of (or less of) please let me know!  Ride on with me.

I know, I know, you are sick of the Mickey and Lauren stories but today is truly a landmark day.  Nine years ago today, in 2003, Mickey came from Sarah’s horse rescue to the Diamond C Training Center in Sugar Land, Texas to be Lauren’s horse. 

We already owned Kid and were boarding him at the same place.  Kid was Ally’s and my horse and too spirited for Lauren.  Plus, Kid and arenas (from all his days of rodeo) were not a good combination.  Kid did not want to go through the alley way or through the arena gate.  Lauren needed and deserved her own horse.  Mickey was not her first horse-as she had one in Florida- but he was her first Texas horse and she was old enough to understand the privilege of having him.  Lauren had just gone to Dianne’s English Summer Camp at Whipple Tree Farm and was anxious to have a horse that could jump and go to horse shows. 

Mickey was born in 1998 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to the Herman family.  He was given the APHA registered name of “Irish Midnight” as their son Robie (and Mickey’s official owner at birth) was at Notre Dame (Fighting Irish) and he was born at… you guessed it, midnight.  Plus he was a dark (dark as midnight) bay, solid colored, colt born to two loud paint parents.  His first love was Kodi, Robie’s little sister still at home on the farm.  Kodi helped break and train the colt and even showed him as a two-year old in Oklahoma State Fair Western Futurity.

Things changed with Kodi and Mickey (medical issues) and Mickey ended up at a barn in Houston, Texas.  Apparently, this was when it was determined that the little gelding liked to jump.  A series of mis-adventures later, Mickey ended up with Sarah at the horse rescue.  He was not in good shape or spirits.  It took a few weeks, for Mickey to come around to even allowing young Sarah to ride him in any direction but backwards.  He would only back up and stand still.  Finally, he started moving ahead and we saw potential with him.  Certainly, it was not perfect.  He was young (Feather’s age now), stubborn, wouldn’t let you bridle him (old infection in his ear), didn’t like to load in the trailer and was prone to laziness, but he liked to jump.

While Lauren continued to learn to ride better and basic jumping, Dianne’s daughter Chelsie, at Whipple Tree, showed Mickey in the Junior Adult division.  Their first season together, Mick and Chelsie won the division for the year.  It was amazing time. At John deLeyer’s farm, the last show of season, and they had to hold on to the points they had, plus win some more to win the season.  I think Chelsie got three first places with Mickey that day.  I had a bottle of champagne and we all  toasted Chelsie’s and Mickey’s victory.  Secretly, I knew Lauren could not wait until she was jumping the ‘big’ jumps with Mick. 

And they grew and learned together.  Lauren had some rough years through middle school and Mickey was always there as her confidante and friend.  They progressed through the show ranks slowly, the victories not coming easily, but Lauren persisted in wanting to ride her boy.  As they both matured, they moved on to the rated shows, first in the hunter division that gave them mileage in the ring if not success and the past few years to jumpers where Mickey proved somethings we had never guessed about him-that he was blazing fast, could turn on a dime and was super careful over jumps. Here is his 2011 Zone 7 Jump off double clear round.  He ended up 12th that day.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3kn8i0jQk&list=FLL__kl0_aWNKe4VkaZJ715w&index=3&feature=plpp_video

Lauren and Mickey, they both have their imperfections, both have their opinions but both have worked hard and long to persevere in an industry that is not kind to amateurs and rescue horses.  I am proud of both of them on this nine-year anniversary that Lauren has stuck by her choice.  I think she has learned about loyalty, dedication and the value of hard, physical work.  I think Mickey got himself a pretty special girl as well.

And, boy does he know it!

When we were in Colorado my almost three year-old grandson loved singing “I am Riley and I know it” to the tune of “I am sexy and I know it”.  He would even get this vibrato thing going at the end.  Very cute.  Until in the car one day, he heard the actual song and was crushed.  His sister’s name is Lexi and he thought they were singing, “I am Lexi and I know it”.  “Granny, why aren’t they singing my name!!”.  Oh, the little things.

Yesterday, Mickey was truly singing “I am Mickey and I know it” as he jumped a few small jumps for the first time in over six weeks.  After our successful hack on Sunday, we  (with Dr. Criner’s blessings) thought we would try a few small jumps.  If he could not breathe well or coughed badly, we would quit and continue the wait.

Oh, boy!

Mickey headed toward the first small jump like he was pushing the pace for a grand prix.  Head up, ears perked, enthusiasm flowing, he sprang toward the jump.  Lauren said his glee was apparent in every muscle of his body.  He jumped every one of the little jumps (like 18 inches high) with ease, speed and most notably without coughing! Since he has not really done anything but an occasional walk and trot, for him not to cough as we picked up the pace was a good test of how things were going.

He did not cough, he did not breath hard (at least not harder than what you would expect for him being a little overweight and little out of shape) and did not seem to struggle. After they worked a few fences, he recovered to a normal breathing rate quickly.   It was a very satisfying to know Mickey and Lauren were back working over fences.  So, we will increase his distances, raise the jumps, and see what happens next.  He has one more treatment next Sunday (the 26th).  If he handles it as well as he has (and there is no reason to think he won’t) we could be back in the show business by early fall.

Dr. Criner seems to think the vaccine has helped the pythium problem and also changing his feed, eliminating as many allergens as possible and just cleaning up his environment have hopefully all aided his recovery from coughing.  I am glad to see this positive track emerging at this time.

Mickey is a fine flyer.

Mickey asked (after he finished his chorus of “I am Mickey and I know it”) if we would do a couple of rounds of his all-time favorite song,

“Oh Mickey, you’re so fine you’re so fine you blow my mind,
hey Mickey (hey, hey), hey Mickey”. 

Which Lauren and I obligingly sang.

Feather and Lauren on the cross-country loop (no more corn!)

Lauren and I took Feather and Mickey, respectively, out to do the five-mile loop today.  It was post rain shower and more humid (if that is possible) than normal.  And it was hot.  We started with a little trot to see how Mickey was doing today.  He did his now-normal three hard coughs and that was it.  I don’t want to be too optimistic but I think he is doing pretty well!  We continued around doing some fast trots, really asking the horses to extend and some walking.  It was nice as always to be out. 

As we finished up the loop and headed home, I noticed that Feather was actually breathing harder and sweating more than Mickey was.  What that tells me is that Mickey is really doing okay.  And Feather needs way more conditioning work to get her ramped up for the fall show season.  We can continue to work Mickey and maybe extend his workouts as long as he continues to do well.  Feather needs to do the horse equivalent of some wind-sprints and distance work.

BrownDog is better today with her foot noticeably less swollen.  Richie and Linda stopped by the house and she was happy to see her visitors!

I hear Mariah and Snow had great show weekends as well.  Thanks for continuing to ride along.

Did I mention how yesterday when we approaching the farm with Feather in the trailer, I put down my window so I could listen for Mickey?  Lauren honked the horn, his head came up in the pasture and he hightailed it to the front of the barn, all the while trumpeting for his Feather!  She was responding back to him from the trailer but without his extreme level of glee. 

As we got her unloaded, he paced like a stallion along the fenceline, strutting his stuff for his long-lost love (okay, its been two weeks!).  When Lauren walked Feather through the pasture gate, Mickey actually reared to his full height, no doubt in some manly attempt to impress her.  Feather just kept walking calmly along.  She was happy to be home, I am sure, but not crazy ecstatic like he was.  She trotted boldly out to the pasture and he romped right alongside.  I guess there is always one that loves more in any relationship and in this case it is clearly Mick.

When it came time to put them in their stalls for the night, Feather was a little confused.  Mickey had been moved to Leo’s old stall and she was looking for the big gelding.  Wary, because he always tried to bite at her when she entered her stall.  But instead it was just Mickey and if he could have been smiling, he would.

Lauren went to Dev’s to pick up Feather yesterday.  She took Feather and one of Dev’s client’s horses to Katy, Texas for the horse show.  First off, Feather loaded first try which was a great way to start off the day.  When they got to Katy, Feather was noticeably less stressed than she had been on previous trailer trips.

Lauren got Feather settled in and then saddled her for her first ride in huge, covered arena.  I am pretty sure Feather has never been in such a space before.  She definitely looked things over, but was not overly spooky or frightened way.  Lauren did well enough with her on the flat, that Dev decided to add some jumps.  It was a little rocky to start as they got their rhythm going, but quickly, Feather was jumping well in the new ring.

Lauren called me at work and I could hear that little hitch in her voice when she is trying not to cry.  She was overwhelmed with emotion, good emotion, great emotion, that this grey mare was doing so well for her.  Lauren was receiving compliments from other riders and people whose opinions were important to her.  We both knew it was just a start, but it was a good one for both of them.

Dev decided the mare could do two over-fence classes and then the one flat class.  Feather is not in shape yet to do anymore than that and we did not want to tire her or potentially hurt her. 

We left the house about 5:30 am today to make the trip north to the equestrian center.  It wasn’t long until the much-anticipated debut in the ring took place.  I just could not get over how pretty Feather looked.  For the show, the horses are washed, brushed and clipped.  They wear their best saddle pad, show bridle and saddle.  I guess I had not stepped back to see how pretty she has become or how grown up.  Her shoulders are sturdy and square.  Her weight is good and she has started to gain some mature muscle mass.  Plus I think she is just cute!

Looking every bit a show horse

Their first round was a little choppy.  There are a lot of details to master and Feather is not there yet.  But since her first full round of jumps was yesterday, no one was more thrilled than I to see her easily and gracefully clear each jump.  Absolutely, we have work to do but she was amazing for a first time jumper.  The division was aptly named, “Green as Grass” and she certainly was.  Her second round was not as good, Dev and Lauren blame me because I standing in the viewing area and Feather came around to the jump near me and tried to cut out (running from Granny, Feather?) but the good part was, Lauren easily brought her back around and she jumped without a further look in my direction.

There were a lot of horses to see today and it was after noon before we got into the ring for the flat class.  Certainly, Feather has never done this before and there was a lot that could have gone wrong.  There were 13 horses in the ring with her.  All young and green as she is.  Yet, she walked, trotted and cantered (correctly) as the judge asked.  The flat class was over ten minutes long (that’s long) and Feather did get a little fussy, throwing her head a bit and showing her impatience for it all to be over.  The last thing the judge asked is for the horses to line up, with their backs to the judge.  All I could think of was, whoa, we never practiced this before.  But she went and stood shoulder to shoulder with some pretty fine horses.

In the end, while we did not earn a ribbon for the jumping effort, Lauren and Flagmount’s Irish Freedom (her show name) were seventh in the flat class.  I was a pretty proud mama, carrying Feather’s very first ribbon back to Lauren. 

I think we really might have a nice horse and am so excited to see how far we can go with her.  What a wonderful, wonderful feeling to see her mature and grow like this.  Oh, and it was pretty terrific to see my daughter back in the saddle and excited about this young mare.  I am thankful for many things.

BrownDog bitten multiple times by a snake

Last Saturday saw my family coping with the horrible, brutal injury to Amber and Ryan’s Irish Wolfhound that resulted in his death.

This Saturday, with Lauren and I tired and worn out from the trip and drama last weekend followed by an extremely busy week and a couple of long horse show days, we really had not paid enough attention to our own dogs.  When we got home this afternoon, we let everyone outside but did not stop to spend any time with the dogs.

While we were over at the barn getting Feather settled back in, we heard the dogs barking frantically but thought it was about a cat, raccoon or possum that they had discovered in the old garage.  We never thought snake-which is pretty stupid considering Lauren has killed two here this summer.

When we went to get the dogs inside, BrownDog was not walking on her paw and it was hugely swollen.  It almost looked like it had been caught in a trap because the puncture wounds were so large.  I tried to clean it up, felt the heat in the leg and knew it was going to be another Saturday (after hours) at the vet.

Thankfully, Wharton Vet could see us right away.  It didn’t take long for Dr. Schmid to confirm it was a snake bite-multiple snake bites.  We were lucky to get treatment started quickly and BrownDog should be fine if infection does not set in.  She got anti-inflammatory shots, antibiotic shots. pain shots and something else I do not remember.  She is pretty quiet right now and resting.

I could do without a Saturday at the vet next week for my family or I.

Yesterday, Lauren went up to Dev’s where Feather continues in training. It would be nice if Lauren got to spend more time with her trainer but as it is a 200 mile round-trip the lessons tend to be few and far between.  We do catch up during horse show weeks when Dev and Lauren spend several days at a time working together.

Winter 2008-First time to Dev’s with Mickey

Dev has a way with horses.  The first time we took Mickey there, nearly five years ago, he changed the way Mickey and Lauren worked together.  Mickey immediately was more collected and had a better way of going.  Lauren and Mickey both had the skills but didn’t know how to put it all together.

Feather had her time at Sarah’s where she learned skills for “on-the-ground”, trailer loading, fly spraying, clipping and bathing.  At Dev’s, while continuing to work on these things, Feather is getting to be a better horse “under saddle”.  That means flat work, at the walk, trot and canter and learning to jump.  Everything that is done right now should pay off down the road in a horse that can negotiate the ins and outs of a jump course successfully.  I did not get to go see the progress made by Dev, not yet, but Lauren is singing like a newly converted religious fanatic.  Feather had a  good start under saddle and we give major credit to Melissa and Dee for making that happen.  She is smart and intuitive and seems to be able to process what we, humans, are asking of her into the right decisions.

Lauren was thrilled at the progress made over fences.  We will take her to the show at Katy Equestrian Center this weekend and see how it goes.  If she settles in easily we will let her go in the ring for her first class  over fences (jumping).  Although not physically a specimen for the perfection demanded in the hunter ring, we will start there so as not to rush her.  When you start as a jumper, it is about going fast, and there are many things this mare needs to learn about a jump course before we ask her for speed.  In the end, that will be her kingdom.  If Feather is anxious and spooky, then maybe we will just get her in the ring for a flat class (no jumping) and try the jumps next show.  I think it is good Lauren has this terrific mare to focus on with Mickey still out on sick leave.

Speaking of Mickey, I rode him last night.  Lauren was off at Blake’s and it seemed like a nice evening for a ride.  What I didn’t count on was the five-mile hay road trek was a lot slower last night when we only walked and trotted it.  Mickey did cough some but seemed happy to be out and didn’t seem like he was struggling to breathe.  I enjoyed the golden light coming across the land, watching the tractors still working at dusk and getting a close look at the cotton which is almost ready for picking in the back pasture.  I was actually marveling at the cotton thinking who figured out you could take these white puffs and make them into clothing and other items?  It is amazing to me.

Leo with his new friend at his new home

I got an update today from Leo’s new family.  They sent several pictures.  I thought this one was telling because they saved the image as “pretty boy”.  While I still miss him and tears still come unexpectedly to my eyes, I am happy he is loved, safe and content at his new home.  They promised to get a picture of him in the pond soon.

Kid is still refusing to go out with Mickey.  He is steadfast in his refusal to accompany out to the pasture, the horse who has bullied him for so long.  Although, I have to tell you as Mick and I left the property last night for our ride, Kid did, briefly, stick his head out from behind the barn and neigh at us.  I am pretty sure he was calling to me and not Mick!

Mickey-photo courtesy of Linda Potter-Potter Photography

Lauren and I got home Sunday afternoon after a bittersweet visit to Denver.  I will go back in just a few weeks to bring my mother home.  I am always apprehensive when returning home.  We had heard little from Richard who was staying at our house but you never know what you will find.  One time we returned from a cruise to find our beloved Yorkshire Terrier had just up and died.  I actually think my house sitters were more horrified than we were.  Nothing like being entrusted to care for animals and having them die on your watch.

But we got home to an oddly quiet place.  It was hot so the cats were hidden away in their secret cat cool places.  The dogs, usually out of sorts when we return, were happy to see us but not in that crazy “I have been lacking attention” sort of way.  Just the normal, nice to see you greeting.  Muffy, our reluctant, shy dog who usually is stunted by a change in routine, was exceptionally well-balanced and social.  I can only attribute this to Richard spending great quality time with all of them.

The barn was quiet as well with only Kid and Mickey in residence.  Mickey was trying to make Kid go out to the pasture with him and Kid was having nothing to do with him.  Kid told Mickey that five years of bad behavior cannot be made up with a couple of days of being nice.  Mickey had been tormenting Kid since we moved to Wharton, but with all the other horses gone, he was lonely and looking for a pasture mate.  Kid stuck to his guns and stayed at the barn with Mickey going to the pasture alone.

On Sunday, we gave Mickey his second treatment of three designed to make him well again.  Monday Lauren rode him lightly.  She asked him for a walk and then did some trotting.  When Mickey only coughed a few times, they did a couple of times around the arena at a canter.  Mickey did not cough at the canter and did not seem to be having any breathing difficulties.  So, keep your fingers crossed that he does well with the continued treatment.  He gets his final shot in two weeks (day 21).  Then it will be “wait and see” until day 45 when he will be scoped again.  Lauren is already wanting to hatch a plan to show him in the Southwest Showdown on September 20th.  I think that is way too aggressive but we will see how he continues to do.

Dev tells us Feather, away for training with him,  is doing well.  She was a little nervous the first few days but now is jumping courses and working hard.  Lauren is concerned that Dev is not dressing her in pink, her favorite color, when he rides, but I cannot confirm or deny that at this juncture.  Lauren will travel to Dev’s tomorrow for a lesson on Feather and bring her to her first horse show on Friday-even if it is just to get the feel of the show environment.

I haven’t heard from Leo’s new family and would like to, but feel no news is good news.  I picture him standing regally in the pond (if you can stand regally in a pond) and hope he loves his new mare friend.

The status quo is always welcomed on our little farm.  Thank you to all of you who let us know you were touched and saddened by Miller’s passing.