Letting Go-Getting Strong

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Exechorseluver

Today I watched my mare Kalani disappear around the bend in the road headed out to a new trial home. She may be back but I doubt it. Usually unless you really misrepresent a horse, they usually work their way into the buyer’s heart and stay where they have gone. I feel great about the perspective owner as well. Leeanna and her business partner Courtney, bought my Welsh pony, Mimi, a couple of years ago and have done very well her.

Leeanna told me today that when she first saw the picture of my four grandkids on Kalani, she wanted to tell me if I ever sold her she would interested in perhaps purchasing her.

My Kalina, the horse I just recently bought to be my horse after losing my horses Kool Kid and Bruno, was proving to be the most marketable of our six horses. With deep regret, I watched her drive away. I am sad but thrilled about the life she may have with Leeanna. We will see, we will see.

Part of the push to get a horse out of the barn, was the increasing awareness that Snowboy, the pony that has brought so many kids so far, is just tired, or ornery or something. While he has continued to perform relatively well for the kids over 12, for Jordyn, he has not been an easy ride. She is still trying to learn so many things, like how to post the trot, handle the reins, direct her ride and learn her gaits, Snowboy’s with his stops, jagged beginnings and overall disruptive behavior interrupts her learning.

Jordyn does not have a beginner horse to continue her education with safely. We are searching for a quiet, unflappable horse to let her focus on her riding instead of correcting the bad pony. Just a note, and I have said it before, Mickey came back to be Jordyn’s lesson horse yesterday. He was moving a out in a nice fluid trot and Jo was posting right along. From Jordyn’s lesson, Mickey went back in the ring with Alex to gallop and jump. He is a pretty cool guy!

I am upping my walking goal each day. I have made 5000 steps both yesterday and today. My daughter, Ally, was berating one of her friends that on crutches, I was out walking them. It is great to be out at the barn again. I swear Betty Sue has grown so much!

I will keeping moving along. I appreciate you reading along!

Kalina in her new pasture.

Up and Around

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Exechorseluver

My clean bedroom before surgery.

I have become intimately aware of the details of my bedroom. For over 30 days now, I have spent at least 20 hours ( if not more) laying on my bed praying as time passes, my new hip heals and the pain subsides. Not that we are going to focus on this today (because we aren’t) but many of you know elderly friends and relatives that were walking right after a hip replacement. Because of my non-elderly age, my hip prosthesis is not glued into the femur bone. My new titanium femur and hip socket (all seven inches) was forced placed into what was left of my femur bone above my knee. Over time bone will grow around the metal and be way more stable, but in the meantime it is a slow go.

View from my window on this cold day.

My animals have been great companions,although the poodle sometimes wants to have a closer relationship than I really desire, wrapping his big self around my head or laying across my chest with his friend the cat.

Poodle hat?

Poodle Cat?

Enough of that. I am headed back to work in one week. Pretty frightening right now as I have not done much of anything for weeks. Last few days (New Year’s Res and all that) I have pushed myself to get up and get going. Jordyn has been protégé for much of my new workouts and attempts to get my life back to normal.

I heard once that it takes many weeks to build muscle but muscle starts to deteriorate in as little as ten days. I am a poster child for deterioration of muscle. Wow. I headed to the barn intent on cleaning and clipping my mare Kalani that broken-heartedly I have put up for sale. I just will not have the ability to work with her or to ride for a couple more months. I guess my dreams die first as Lauren and I have agreed we must pare down the horses we own. I hope to find her a terrific home.

Anyway, on unsure legs, I headed to the barn. Kalani is a very quiet mare. Even so I needed help getting her halter on. I approached her with the clippers and had difficulty keeping my balance even with this simple task. Lauren takes over and it is easily completed.

Lauren left for the evening and Jordyn is stuck with me to get the horses hayed and watered for the night. Jordyn is seven, tall for her age and knows her way through the barn chores. Together, (okay it was mostly her) we get a bale of hay into the wheelbarrow and head to the barn. We had some precarious balancing acts as we tried to get the wheelbarrow up into the barn and down off the concrete to the next barn. But we did it!

Before we went in for the night we put all 13 buckets of freshly made morning feed (in order by stall) into the wheelbarrow and left it in the first barn. This morning, 45 degrees and a howling north wind greeted my first breakfast feeding of the horses since the beginning of December. As I shambled out along the drive to the barn, Jordyn ran on ahead and had all the first barn fed before I even reached the gate. Together we moved the wheelbarrow with the eight remaining buckets onto the next barn. I really did not do much feeding but getting up and out accounts for something!

I have to admit I got a little overwhelmed with the thought of getting all the horses out to their respective pastures. Jordyn can handle many of the horses, walking them to their daily destinations, but the thought of holding and walking a horse with my unsteady legs conjured up immediate thoughts of me lying face down in the cold mud with hoof prints on my back or me flying airborne behind one of these magnificent steeds as he scampered off for morning grass. Either way, I was too scared to try.

Lauren, followed shortly by Ally, Luke and Kendyll, took over the morning chores as we waited for 70 bales of hay to arrive. I guess this was a pretty usual day on the farm, but it is the first one I have participated in for some time. Linda and Richard came to deliver the hay. It was good to have company and be part of the chores even if I did not really participate much (okay, I sat in a chair the whole time).

Getting up and around is a whole lot more fun than hanging out in my room. It is all about small steps toward getting fit again. Lauren got FitBits to measure our walking, sleeping, etc. Lauren set her goal at 12,000 steps per day. I set mine at 150 steps. Seriously, I have not walked anywhere but to the bathroom for a while. At the barn last night, I was startled by my wrist vibrating. My FitBit was telling me I had reached my goal! Wow, 150 steps!

When I got back to the house I moved my goal to 1500 steps a day and I think I just might make it. Step by step, day by day…getting back to life.

As always, thanks for riding along and another big thanks to all of you (especially my boarders) that have helped out this month. Lauren, Ally and especially Jordyn have helped keep the farm running smoothly!

I am Thankful

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Exechorseluver

The grandkids hanging on the back fence, Riley, Jordyn, Lexi and Kendyll

I had the first turkey cooked and it was pretty well eaten all gone (as the kid’s say) by Wednesday night after the arrival from Denver of Amber, her husband Ryan, and kids; Riley and Lexi. It was the start of good times, good eating and good conversation.

My dad used to be the designated driver to take my mom and her sisters’, Betty, Bill and Nova to Oklahoma City or Tulsa for their shopping trips. He complained they never stopped talking the entire time. I still think we scare Ryan (Luke has had a little more time to get used to us all) but when my daughters and I get to squabbling over something, four kids under eight chime in, seven dogs get to barking and a scared, crazy cat runs by, you know you are home for the holidays. It got a little loud and more than little bit crazy, but it was all well-intentioned and fun.

Wednesday after we polished off all the turkey for lunch, we took the four kids out to ride. What an exciting time! Riley and Lexi really have no exposure to horses or rural life until they come to “Granny’s Farm” but it did not affect their enthusiasm for wanting to touch everything and every horse. I think they had mastered the names of all the horses (and ponies) by that first evening. We took turns in the arena walking with Lexi and Kendyll while Jordyn and Riley made laps around the rail on their own.

Riley and Jo riding like pros.

Everyone pitched in to help feed and little Lexi, who at three years of age is a hair smaller than Kendyll at two, had to be lifted up as she held securely to the feed bucket and then dumped the night’s offering into the horse’s bucket. I had gotten Lexi and Riley new cowboy boots for Christmas but they opened them early so they could wear them around the farm. Riley’s had his favorite color, orange on the tops and Lexi’s were decorated with pink roses and pink horseshoes. After all, you can’t hang out in Texas without your boots.

Son-in-law Ryan, got assigned to bring in Betty Sue. I have to say I think he was a little enamored with her. Ryan took her down to the arena after she ate and worked with her on her leading. At this point in a long but fun day, he was definitely the most competent person to work with her. He made her follow him and back and turn. After her arena exercises were complete, Betty Sue got to have her ‘run in the arena’ time. I warned Ryan to hide behind a jump. She looks so small and innocent but when she comes running down the long wall of the arena in a full gallop she is a bit intimidating as she slides to a stop right in front of you. I saw both Amber and Ryan pull out their phones to video a little Betty Sue magic as she made her way up and down. I had Ryan watch her change her leads precisely at the corner and we both marvelled over how pretty she was. She is butt-high again-measurements tonight (Dec. 1st) so we will see how much she has grown this month.

We finally went inside to settle in for the night.

Amber told her kids that at Granny’s they sit on the floor and the dogs sit on the couch.

Thanksgiving dawned cool but beautifully clear. Lexi insisted on wearing a ruffled little grey dress. Her mom wanted to her to change, but I helped her figure out some sweaters and headbands to keep her warm. She was eager to pose in her strange outfit.

Lexi and her warm outfit.

The kids played as the day warmed up. Casseroles cooked in the oven and crock-pot. Luke was in charge of frying the turkey and it turned out perfectly. Luke’s parents, Blake and Libby joined us for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a grateful, appreciative group we formed around the table. It had been a hard year emotionally and physically for many of us, but we all were grateful to be together. Many times during long weekend I thought of my mom and Thanksgivings past.

After our dinner, Libby, Lauren and kids all rode. Luke, Ally and the kids stayed over and Friday found another gorgeous day ahead of us. By now, mowers had been fixed, fence boards re-hung and other tasks complete by the “boys”. Ally got the tractor going with the dump cart hooked up behind. The little kids, Lula and big kid, Lauren, all climbed in for rides around the farm.

Wheeling around the farm.

Friday night found us at our favorite local restaurant, Stevan Pho’s. Both Lexi and Riley have nut allergies and Chef Stevan had cleaned out a special part of the restaurant to prepare their meal with no nut contamination. Steak, crab legs and teriyaki chicken were a nice change from all the turkey we had eaten.

Lexi and Kendyll got matching dresses but different attitudes toward our dinner out.

We finished up the evening with s’mores over the fire pit at the farm. Mia and Wendy joined us as well. Wendy clearly had been holding out on us as she got on Snowboy bareback under the bright arena lights and trotted over some jumps. All we have heard from her is “I am afraid of horses”. I guess her days growing up on a West Virginia farm were still in her bones.

Our last day, Saturday, more wonderful Texas weather prevailed. I think we actually wore down Ryan over the four days with Houston weather on its best behavior. He vastly prefers Colorado over Texas (who doesn’t?) but there are some great times to be had in southern state. He enjoyed everything about the farm. He learned the horse’s names and figured out the chore rotation. I was a little shocked when in the arena on Saturday, I looked over to see him riding Kalina bareback. He insisted he had to a least get on a horse while he was here.

I wanted a Christmas card picture with the kids and had in mind exactly how it should look. My big quarter horse mare, Kalani was the go-to girl, when it came time for the grandkids to show their holiday spirit. I left to get some props and told the girls to dress their kids in jeans tucked into their boots. While the parents were a little skeptical, and I know I will hear about the lack of helmets, it was a magic moment aboard my wonderful Hancock mare as the kids rode together reminiscent of the de Leyer kids aboard Snowman over 50 years ago.

From littlest to biggest on Kalani’s broad back, Kendyll, Lexi, Riley and Jordyn

I am grateful, thankful and blessed. Hope you all had a great holiday too!

Leaving you with one of my favorite shots of the weekend—

Quiet, wet weekend

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Kona hanging out in the damp arena with Quest.

The plan was for Dev to ride new Canadian Warmblood, Quest, on Sunday morning. His owner’s plan was to wear down the young horse so Dev did not die on his first ride. So off to the arena the beautiful black gelding went. He ran and played accompanied by the black poodle. The skies may have been dreary and grey but the boys were stunning. My vet had commented that when this horse trots he moves so beautifully that it made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Must be a pretty cosmic experience. I have not seen him go under saddle yet but just his big flowing trot around the arena was something amazing.

Checking out the jumps.

I lunged the mighty Quest and he got away from me the first go around. Which lead to some excited galloping around the arena with lunge rope and poodle in tow. All Mia could say (as she sat quietly on Snowboy) was “I wish I had my camera, I wish I had my camera!” I think there is just something amazing about a solid black horse-it is the dreams from our youth with all the Black Stallion books and Black Beauty. And this horse of Jo Ann’s is stunning. Any of you looking for a great eventing or dressage mount, this guy is for sale!

Betty Sue wanting to come in out of rain and wet.

After the Quest events, my friend Gaylyn came with her new mare Annie. I had seen her when she had first bought her and she has grown and developed into a lovely young sorrel mare. Gaylyn, Libby and I rode our three Quarter horses in the cool afternoon. It was a very nice time full of talk and camaraderie. Soon enough the rain and cold hit us in earnest and we ran for the barn.

It rained all night Saturday. Lessons were cancelled. Lauren was out-of-town and I was on my own cleaning for company that will be coming this next weekend and enjoying the new tv that Luke, Ally and Lauren had arranged to have set up in my bedroom. I have not had a tv in my bedroom for at least 15 years. But with my surgery coming soon, it sure will be nice to be able to watch a movie or some mindless show while the hours pass.

My favorite part of the cold, wet weekend? I took all the dogs out to the barn with me to play while I cleaned the now 12 stalls we have occupied. I sent my horses and Cody out in the drizzling rain but left the rest of boarders in the dry, warm barn. I have been cleaning stalls for years. But just recently have we escalated to 12 stalls of horses. Twelve is a lot!! Like seriously, I am too old for this. When it rains, everyone stays in all night and day (and poops and poops!). Saturday morning’s chores wore me out. Sunday I was starting with aching bones and tired shoulders. But I wasn’t in any hurry. I did not have a thing I needed to accomplish or a place I needed to go. I actually hoped the big gate on the driveway would stay closed all day.

I worked my way through the boarder barn (called the Blue barn as all the geldings are housed here) and but was really dragging by the time I hit stall number ten in the Pink barn. It was raining. It was cool.

I took Feather’s stable blanket and laid it out on the dry concrete in front of her stall. I simply laid down on the concrete and rested my back. As I did, Lula the dachshund, laid down on my stomach, Muffy, the spaniel fit herself around my head. The Doberman and poodle took up guard along each side of me while the Corgi and wild border collie lay at my feet. It was a perfect time. There is no where else I wanted to be. My regret was that I could not figure any way to get a picture of my special friends joining me in rest. I watched the rain fall. I listened to the wind. I ran my hands over my trusting dogs. My back felt better. My attitude improved.

I had a great weekend in the wet, damp weather. I couldn’t have asked for more.

Betty Sue is coming and she is bringing her grandma!

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Exechorseluver

All kinds of stuff going on around here! I had taken this week for vacation as I knew it was the week Betty Sue would arrive. Also, Lauren will be headed back to the show ring for the first time since her broken arm. She won’t be pushing hard, just seeing how her paralyzed fingers hold up in the rigors of showing. Certainly worth mentioning quietly is Lauren’s own demons that she will need to face as she regains the confidence to jump a course once again. Dev will also show the grey mare some to keep her moving forward.

RPSI mare, Blonder Reflection, Betty Sue’s grandma.

When I was making the final preparations for Betty Sue, her owner suggested I should think about taking her nine-year old grandma as well. Stephanie would love to see this nice German mare in the hunter or dressage ring and the transportation was already available for her to come to Texas. RPSI Blonder Reflections (Fargo) by Blonder Hans (a German imported stallion) and out of a Rainbow daughter was started under saddle but has spent the last few years being an outstanding brood mare. I think Fargo will make a good addition to our family as a hunter (I hope, I hope!) and as a brood mare.

I also think Betty Sue will have any easier transition to her life in the south with grandma along. I am so excited for their arrival! Pray for safe travels and happy landings for the three ( another weanling is coming to a dressage friend here as well) journeying from Colorado tonight.

Thursday, on the way to the bank, I thought I saw something moving in the tall grass by the road. On our way home, we stopped and found this tiny, starved puppy. Of course we took him home. He was polite and did well with the other dogs. Lauren posted this picture to Facebook and we got a lot of people betting he would never leave our home.

Thin, scared and abandoned on the side of the road, this little guy is all heart.

The first night he slept on my pillow with the six other dogs and one big cat. The next night he slept with Lauren and her two Burmese cats. He was definitely a keeper. We have never managed to get rid of the neighbor’s border collie who attacked Sneaky and this pushed us to eight dogs, five cats and as of tomorrow, seven horses. Okay, a little much but this guy is only three pounds.

Saturday, we got a new shed built to hold feed and hay. With our new horses coming and a new boarder with two more horses, space is at a premium. Dev’s group with Lauren trailering them was headed to Pine Hill a local cross country and eventing place yesterday. Three of the girls spent the night and all were off early for the day. All the horses and ponies did great.

Mickey was made for eventing. What a great time he had.

Mickey loved it! He says to find him someone to do eventing! Snow was unflappable as always.

Olivia on Avery and Alex on Mickey at Pine Hill.

Mia and Snowboy!

Ally, Luke and Kendyll came to help me move hay and feed to the new shed. I am thankful they did as my hip was complaining in the first ten minutes. Luke’s parents dropped by and minutes later, the tiny puppy was headed to a new home with them. I actually am missing the guy. Now, if anyone wants a very pretty, fast, smart border collie, Elliott, is looking for a new home as well.

The new feed shed, insisted just in time for the arrival of our Colorado girls.

The new feed shed, just in time for the arrival of our Colorado girls.

They should be picking up weanlings Carter, Betty Sue and grandma Fargo any time now. I suspect tomorrow will go pretty slowly for me as I keep track of them on their southbound journey.

Thanks for riding along!

October is here (seems obvious, huh?)

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Photo from the inspection of Special Occasion GES (Betty Sue).

It seems that one minute ago it was summer and now we headed into October in a rush. Of course, when you live in the southseason’s don’t come with distinction and often not in sequence. We had a lovely fall like weekend with some low temperatures in the high 50’s. It was amazing. Today it is totally summer again topping out at 91 degrees. It tends to confuse my brain which grew up with distinct seasons, and my childhood memories do not include 90 degrees in October.

I headed into Wal-Mart for my weekly shopping. I wandered back to the gardening area to look for a new hose, new cushions for my outdoor furniture (the neighbor’s dog ate those as well as eating Sneaky) and some grass seed. You won’t be surprised to learn it was Christmas time in the garden center, but I was. I stood there lost. For a moment, I was completely confused. You know some of those little stores keep “special” holiday items at all times-but no, it is October and apparently time to think about the holidays.

I did find a hose and one bag of grass seed but no way was I finding patio furniture cushions. It may be 90 degrees but Snowmen have replaced lawn furniture here.

I got the news today that Amber, Ryan and my Colorado grandkids will be coming to Texas for Thanksgiving. We will actually get to spend four whole days together. It will be the first time that Ryan has been back to see our new house and farm. I cannot wait! I am happiest when the house is full and the kids are at the barn or riding in the arena. Thanksgiving day itself will include Luke’s family as well-they are pretty much our family, too!

My barn is looking like a pretty eclectic group as new ponies have moved in. Now we have three ponies (one Pony of America-Snowboy, one Welsh type-Avery and one quarter pony-Owen) along with one OTTB-TeeDee, one Irish Sport Horse-Feather, one paint-Mickey, two quarter horses-Cody and Kalani and one German warmblood-Prosecco. Betty Sue, hopefully arriving in the next couple weeks, will up the German warmblood count, but still what a conglomeration of horse (and pony) flesh. Maybe one day soon we will get everyone out for a group picture.

Lauren and I are both riding again which is nice. She is riding Feather and many of the others. I am getting my old Lauren back. She jumped Mickey around last night and remarked, “he doesn’t scare me any more”. Well, he used to, but with Feather jumping so much higher now, Mickey looks (and feels) tame by comparison. I guess if this whole Feather and Betty Sue jumping thing doesn’t work for Lauren, she can go back and spend several more wonderful years riding Mickey in the Greater Houston shows.

Jordyn, also riding Mickey, just trots away in the arena, often on her own for hours at a time (don’t worry, I am keeping my eyes on her at all times). I suspect a canter is coming soon. I am happy to see her confident and thrilled to be riding. She and Kendyll come to visit several days a week. Two year old, Kendyll, wakes up asking her momma if they are going to granny’s to clean poopoo today. Wow, the key to your grandchild’s heart, horses (and their excretions).

Jordyn showing Kendyll how to jump off the slide.

No Fear Kendyll doing exactly what her sister says.

And they scramble back up!

The horses have been enjoying long days in the pasture and my boarders are all pretty good amateur photographers. The horses all have fly masks on to keep pesky bugs away from their eyes. These pictures are by Mia Kuchner.

OTTB TeeDee out for a stroll with QH Kalani-gotta love those quarter horse butts!

Feather and Mickey grooming one another-#Lovetermloveaffair

Feather and Mickey grooming one another-#Longtermloveaffair

Signing off for today-thanks for riding along.

The end-Feather, Kalani and TeeDee. Is Kalani the tallest?

Ups, downs and all arounds

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Special Occasion GES (Betty Sue) was site champion at her inspection this week!

I purchased Betty Sue, a warmblood pinto, from a breeder in Colorado based solely on her Facebook picture (and recommendations from friends about the integrity of the breeder). Things I do like this, spontaneously, with poor impulse control, tend to not always work out for me. I still don’t have the almost six month old filly home, but she rocked the RPSI inspections in front of German judges this week to earn the award of Top Filly for the Site. Something I liked about the way she moved and her conformation clearly was appreciated by the judges as well. Awesome! I am still waiting for some pictures of her trotting or cantering at the inspection.

I am thrilled with this honor and owe a big thank you to breeder, Stephanie Wendorf from Golden Edge Sporthorses, who had the foresight to breed Special Edition GES (their junior home raised GOV stallion by Sempatico x Art Deco) to Silhouette GES (one of their home raised beauties by Sagar x Blonder Hans x Rainbow). Betty Sue should be headed to Texas in a couple of weeks. We already have some horse shows planned for her.

Last night I got home and did not get my usual reception in the garage by the dogs. Their garage pen is connected to the fenced back yard and usually the dogs come barking and scrambling to see me. Only Kona, the poodle, was looking at me expectantly from the pen. As I walked around to the yard, I saw Kena (our Doberman) laying on top of Sneaky. Sneaky was bleeding profusely.

Our neighbor’s dog, recently given to us as he fought with and was beat up by the neighbor’s other dog all the time, was standing off to the side. Lauren and I rushed the Corgi off to the vet. After examination, Sneaky showed multiple serious lacerations, one that exposed the trachea, tore the muscles and provide an open look at the anatomy of a dog’s neck. She had deep puncture wounds and was in shock. The vet told us Sneaky had hair and blood in her mouth so she had put up a fight. We left her to go into surgery for repairs.

Sneaky with hundreds of stitches and four drains after being attacked.

Once at home, I examined the short coated Doberman thoroughly. There were no signs of any bites on her. The neighbor’s dog is an intact male with long hair. And I cannot catch him. I did not see bites on him but they would be covered by his coat. I think Kena probably ganged up on Sneaky as well as the new dog but when things got serious, she laid down on Sneaky to protect her. I could be wrong, but my animals have been living a peaceful coexistence for over seven years (at least Sneaky, Lula and Kena) and I don’t see it would have suddenly changed. I am terrified that this new dog who also chases the horses and goes after my cats with deadly intent will hurt someone again.

I have made the decision that this dog will go off immediately to my friend in the country where there is a lot of room to roam and no other dogs or cats to bother. I know I may have trouble with Kena now but will have to work out how to handle that.

Sneaky came home last night after surgery with many stitches and drains. She is not having a good day today but hopefully will be on the upswing tomorrow.

Lauren with Alex and Isabel getting ready to jump her first course in over two months.

Lauren and I both saw orthopedic surgeons on Monday. Lauren’s surgeon was not happy with her lack of mobility and feeling in her two fingers (the pinkie and ring fingers). Although she continues in occupational therapy she is not making headway to get the nerve damage caused in her fall to reverse itself. The doctor told her she had a two in ten chance of regaining the nerves and use of those fingers. He gave her six more weeks and if no improvement, then it will be off to the neurosurgeon who will implant a transmitter device to mechanically activate the finger and the hands. Sounds pretty dreadful but at least there is a solution.

I am getting my solution as well. I was born with hip defects and lived all my life with restrictions and hip pain. I had my left hip replaced in 2004. I will have my right hip replaced the first week of December. My right leg is almost an inch and a half shorter than the left and the doctor will try to make them equal. It will be a tough road back but I have done it before and I will do it again.

Up, down and all around-we applaud the good, battle the bad and embrace the inevitable for better. It is the best we can do. Please keep us in your prayers and thanks for riding along!

Finally Fall

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Exechorseluver

The dawn’s early light on a much cooler morn Photo by Kristie Nichols.

The last few days have ushered in new cooler temperatures in the pre-dawn hours where I do not come in from feeding the animals sweat drenched. Today, I could even get dressed for work, go back to the barn, get horses out and not smell like I had hung out all night in the boy’s locker room. I feel this is an improvement not only for me personally, but for the my work colleagues. However, it may be a little too late as my cubicle at work has abandoned.

My desk-the messy one and then my co-workers-GONE.

Anyway, I am sure if they return they will be happy the weather is cooler and I smell better. Life continues at the farm. Pecans are falling in record amounts as this year has been one of the best pecan season’s in years. They are good-sized and I have many pecan trees. Please let me know if you want to come pick some for your very own.

Lauren is back on Feather although full use of her hand and arm has not been restored. She is working with a neurosurgeon to create a path forward that hopefully does not include further surgery. The riding on the flat is going pretty well although she has found it is way harder to get back in condition to ride than it is to stay in condition to ride. Her entire body is weakened from weeks of inactivity. Yesterday was her first full lesson back on Feather. After working leg yields and long posting trots, it wasn’t just her hand and arm that was complaining today!

Lauren back on Feather and she actually did some low jumps.

Dev continued his work with my mare Kalani. Snowboy did not even gaze up as the two worked around the arena. He was pretty busy with the new green grass brought on by the early fall rains.

Dev and Kalani with Snowboy grazing on the hill

I am still working to conclude the details of my mother’s life. I have a few jewelry boxes filled pink necklaces and trendy bracelets. I want to consolidate the stuff the girls or I may ever use and get rid of the rest. I still find myself leaving work headed in the direction of her place. Habits die-hard and I miss her dearly.

Ally and her kids have been horribly sick with ear infections, fever and vomiting. Ally actually has an ear infection as well and is totally miserable. I suspect the drugs will start kicking in today but sometimes I think we need a little reminder what our children go through. At this point, Ally wouldn’t wish an ear infection on her worst enemy. Hope it is better soon.

The days are getting shorter, dark is coming sooner. We are settling into new routines and looking forward to the fall shows. This maybe the first fall since 2004 that Lauren will not be riding boldly into the ring. But when she is ready, I will be there to support her.

That’s all folks! Photo by Mia Kuchner

Summer’s Close

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Jordyn headed off today, with much trepidation, to her new second grade class in the public school system. She has attended a private school for two years and this may be quite a change. Originally, she attended private school as her birthday on September 4th falls just after the deadline in Texas. Her parents felt she was mature enough and physically ready for school two years ago, but she had to attend a private school to get around the birthdate issue.

Now, with a quivering lip, trying not to cry she headed into the classroom. I hope she comes home with stories of her new friends and the wonders of her new school.

Riley started kindergarten in Denver and except for missing times with his momma, is really enjoying it.

It has been quite a summer here at the farm. A year ago, I certainly had no inkling as to what would become of us by summer’s end. We have the new place, new boarders and riders who come for lessons. The farm resounds with laughter and horse sounds. We have many new friends. I even got a note in my mailbox from my dressage neighbor asking if some of her group could take lessons here. I love meeting new people and especially meeting their horses.

This summer brought my mother’s passing. I moved her to Texas two years ago this weekend. It is well documented in this blog how hard the move was for all of us, yet, how right it was to bring her and I can only say how grateful I am to have had the time with her.

Lauren’s many horse related injuries were totally overshadowed by the horrific break of her arm over four weeks ago. Today, in a surprise move, the orthopedic surgeon removed her cast, said her x-rays were GREAT and all the incisions looked top-notch. He said although he had planned to cast it additional times, it was good enough to go it alone. Lauren is mortified. The cast was like her armour against pain and it is so scary to have something so painful exposed to the world. But her movement of her fingers (or lack thereof) continues to be problematic so for her to get moving on occupational therapy, the cast had to go. The nerves were sliced by the ulna bone as it ripped through her skin during the fall. Her little finger still works not at all.

Alex flying Mickey around the ring.

One of our favorite riders, Alex, who was just a little bitty thing when we first met her years ago, stepped up to show Mickey for us last weekend. Mickey is quite a change from Alex’s usual ride, so it took a couple rounds to really get his flow, but then they picked up the blue ribbon for the fastest round in Junior-Adult Jumpers. Mickey is 15 now (we adopted him at five) and he never missed a step when he galloped through the courses. Alex was outstanding with him. It brought big smiles to Lauren and I to see her favorite boy do so well after having been off so long. I hope Alex wants to show him some more!

A big, bay draft cross mare, sprinkled with splashes of white was pulled from the kill pen before she could be sent to slaughter in Canada. I am trying to adopt her and send her here to a forever home with us. I think she would be great for Ally and I as she is quiet and dependable. I am waiting to hear if my application for adoption has been approved. I realize I have more than enough on my hands but something about this mare just called out to me. We will see what happens, if she is meant to be a part of our family she will be. If not, I know she is off the slaughter truck for good with another family.

I have not written about it but Bruno has been laid up, lame, since mid-July. It has been almost six-weeks since he has walked without pain. I have my best team of vet Lynn and farrier Sean working innovative approaches to get the big man back to sound. Currently, he has a huge abscess draining from his good front foot, (I have video again for you all that love pus in action). I hope that with the healing of abscess we get him back to right again. It breaks my heart to see him stall bound in the hot barn, not moving a step, day after day. I will not let him continue if we do not find an answer to his pain.

Libby getting TeeDee started.

The Canter adopted OTTB mare, TeeDee, continues to gain weight, muscle and become a star horse. She will not be bred this year, so we are working to see what kind of horse she can become in the interim. Libby has been helping me work TeeDee, Feather and Mickey. I am very grateful. She has TeeDee cantering quietly and collected. We even started her over some Xes this week and she took it quietly in stride.

TeeDee taking her first jump,

I feel battered from the rough summer, emotionally and physically. But this weekend was finally a quiet one. I caught up on some rest, did a lot of chores, managed to go through many of my mother’s things and feel at ease about farm for the first time in many weeks. This morning as I went out to feed in the pre-dawn light, there was a hint of coolness in the air. A sea change coming bringing new times and life at Six Meadow Farm.

Thanks for riding along and thank you to all of you who have sent cards, flowers and meals to us. You are much appreciated!!

No writing or riding

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Paisley sleeping through August. Wish I could.

The dog days of summer are clearly upon us or maybe it is the cat days of summer. It is hot, muggy and afternoons seem to hold a hint of a thunderstorm. It is a time when riders are gearing up for the fall show season and Zone finals. It is a time when students are headed back to class. And even if they are reluctant to do, a certain excitement about classes, teachers and new adventures fills the air.

Neither of those things will be happening for Lauren this fall. There will be no riding or writing. She had to dis-enroll from college due to her horrific broken arm. She still cannot use her fingers of her right arm at all. They are paralyzed in to a sort of claw-like position from which they do not change. There is absolutely no chance of her being able to type or write for quite some time. When the bone dislocated through her skin, it severed nerves that lead to her hand. The really sad thing is that her hand hurts constantly. But it is without movement. We certainly hope this will change and that she will regain use of her hand but the time frame is unclear right now.

The two plates, numerous screws, two large incisions and the first of at least six casts. It is bleak.

Riding is so far out of the question right now that it isn’t even on the page. I can see as Lauren continues to push her abilities with her casted arm that she might one day climb up on Snowboy and let me lunge her around some at the trot, just to keep up her strength in her legs. She wants to join the local fitness center and walk on the treadmill or ride a stationary bike some. I feel that would be pretty safe.

At home, with the heat creating sauna like conditions, I worry about her sweating into her cast and perhaps causing issues with the still healing incisions in her arm. She has two lines of incisions, top and bottom, plus the multiple places where the bone left her arm.

But Lauren wants to try to help with the daily chores. I am juggling home and work responsibilities and always have more work to do than the day allows. I want Lauren to be able to do some things. Each day I come home and am surprised with what she has accomplished. But then there is the issue if she should have accomplished those things.

Lauren has (not necessarily wisely) taken over vacuuming the house again (with one arm). She bought 22 bags of 40 pound shavings for the stalls and she and six year-old Jordyn unloaded them into the stalls. She suffered deeply for that the next day but I cannot tell her anything.

I am sure many active people with bad injuries have suffered this same frustration at not being able to do any of the things they love, or even just feel they need to do. I have not necessarily set myself as a good role model in this area, doing chores with a broken pelvis or after shoulder surgery. It is no wonder Lauren tries to do all kinds of impossible things as well. I am constantly thinking of things for her to do and then realize they are just not possible for her.

Today Lauren and her barn friends are designing a new jump course in the arena. In spite of my warnings, I know Lauren will get too hot, will try to move jumps and standards and will suffer later. I guess she will learn as she goes what she can tolerate and what she cannot. In the meantime, the sight of her on a ladder, balancing on the top step, turning on fans high in the rafters, while she wobbles to maintain balance with her one arm, is a little too much to bear.

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My grandson, Riley, will start kindergarten tomorrow. Jordyn will be headed on to second grade next week. My best wishes to all of you starting back to school and onto the fall show season. We will look for you at the shows!