Midgey, Cindy’s on the Phone!

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Exechorseluver

For at least 15 years, day after day, year after year

I called my mom every afternoon, no matter what

often Jim would answer the phone and he would yell-

“Midgey, Cindy’s on the Phone!”

how much I would give to hear that again!

my mom may live awhile longer, we don’t know

but my mom will never answer a phone again

she will never ask how my day was as she did

every day for years

no one else in the world will ever support me

one hundred percent, no questions asked

as she did all those years

now,

every day as I head home, I go to call her

every day

and I am saddened that I cannot talk to her

I mean, like really talk to her

I am lucky she is here with me

I am lucky she is still alive

I love her dearly and want all the best for her

but the momma that loved to talk

to Cindy on the phone

is gone now

the momma that was a momma to me

is gone as well

I miss her so..

Feather flys In Oklahoma City

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Exechorseluver

The Gateway of Champions at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

As all things in life, there is never a perfect time for anything. Lauren has never in all these years, showed her horse out-of-state. We had planned and scheduled the OKC trip long before we had heard of Pultar Road or contemplated moving. And it was long before Ally and Luke scheduled a cruise with the kids sharing time at both their grandparents which they will leave for this weekend. And it was before we had boarders in our barn or seven horses to care for daily. And most importantly it was before my mom started her rapid decline into ill-health.

Had we known any or all of these things, perhaps I would not be at work, afraid to journey anywhere while awaiting news on my momma (of course, I am so crazy busy at work, that I could not have gone anyway but I like to think I could be at her side as she heads into the ring).

For weeks we have debated if Lauren would really go. I did not want her to go-just selfishly. I can barely manage my life and my mom without the added extras of the barn. But Ally has stepped up and made an excellent barn manager in Lauren’s absence. Not only is she doing all the barn chores efficiently but I came home yesterday to the trash already set out, a chore that involves moving the heavy cans down the long, winding drive.

Bruno has come up lame again-both front feet this time. It appears he has abscesses brewing in the good foot and the bad foot has just had the shoe torn off too many times. He is sporting wraps on both feet and Ally is getting to be a pro wrapper, quick with the tape, fast with the vet wrap. Jordyn knows how make a duct tape boot which perhaps we can illustrate here for other needy horse owners. Point is they have really stepped up to help.

Bru’s feet wrapped up once again.

That adds a whole lot of extra time to the daily routine as Bruno walks around like he is on broken glass. Carefully stepping down with his badly aching feet. We got x-rays back last night and think this is just a minor set-back. The vet and farrier are actively developing an action plan and hopefully he will be back to work soon.

Lauren took Feather and boarder Cody to Dev’s Sunday night where they would start their trip to Oklahoma in his trailer the next morning. Feather had been bathed, clipped and whitened to get ready for her first trip across state lines to show. Cody, previously AQHA World and Reserve World Champion in Jumpers in OKC, told Feather it was really no big deal.

It all got a little crazy right before Lauren, Libby, Feather and Cody were supposed to leave. Dr.Criner and farrier Sean showed up to check out Bruno. Ally and family showed up so Jordyn could ride. Dr. Criner’s son and husband were along for the Sunday ride as well. For my poor OCD daughter who likes everything ordered and structured it was almost too much. Trailers and vehicles angled across the drive. Lauren was struggling to pack last-minute hay and feed. But they got safely off and safely onto to Oklahoma City.

This morning was their first time in the show ring and I got a text full of excitement and joy. Their first round had been a good one!

I know I have some Oklahoma kin who might want to wonder over to the Fairgrounds and keep an eye on Feather and Lauren for me. They will be showing through Sunday. Here is the link to the schedule and she should be in the main coliseum each morning doing the 1.0, 1.05 meter and perhaps the 1.10 meter if things go well.

I say “Go Oklahoma Go!” it is the Go Show after all!

Click to access sked_140716.pdf

Barn Metamorphosis

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Exechorseluver

We took on the project of creating a working show barn (okay, not a fancy barn, but still) from the shell of a 32 x 58 metal barn. Here is the transformation with beginning and current pictures.

The green carpet of pasture surrounding our old “new” barn.

Looking a little less green but so much more complete

The old barn is getting a new concrete center aisle.

Originally in the barn were just a couple of cow stalls, we used some of the walls and support beams and then added our own.

Stalls built now.

Under construction.

It has come a long way with the original lights hanging by hay string. Now full electrical runs throughout the barn.

Kona posing by the new tack room.

Making the add-on stalls tall enough for the big girl my little girl will become (did you follow that?).

Not long after we thought we were complete we added the “annex” to house

Try Delta, the OTTB and the baby when she comes from Colorado.

It has been a wonderful journey and we are really enjoying our new place. Thanks for always riding along!

Jordyn Leases Mickey

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Jordyn taking a ride after she announced she wanted to lease Mickey.

My grandchildren are all smart, of course they are, they are my grandchildren. Each of them possesses some unique traits, is clever and intelligent. Jordyn as the oldest has been called smart the longest, Riley and Lexi clearly are as well and little Kendyll is definitely hearing it a lot these days.

Based on that, it didn’t take Jordyn long, hanging out at Granny’s farm and around the new riders there to figure out something was new wit the horses. Both riders, Isabel and Mia, lease their horses, they do not own them. In a situation much like a long-term rental agreement, people with a horse they are not currently riding or using, look for a rider with the right skills, to lease the horse for a period of time. I know long-time riders who have never owned a horse. When the lease ends, they re-new it or walk away, none of that pesky have to sell the horse problem.

Likewise, leasing offers a specific type of horse to do exactly what level of riding is desired at that point in time. Mostly, horses do one or two things well. People, especially children, increase their knowledge, skills and abilities. Easier to lease horses with varying abilities than have one unable to do what you want or try to buy and sell the right one at the right time.

Anyway, Jordyn figured out these two riders were leasing their horses and learning to ride. Jordyn has been stymied with the horse riding process. All of us, Lauren, Jordyn’s parents and myself, have alternately encouraged her and admonished her and her riding abilities (or lack thereof). It had gotten to the point she didn’t want to ride at all (which was sad indeed).

Jordyn figured out in her head that if you lease a horse the following happens:

you get to ride a lot and no one yells at you
you get to hang out with the other girls at the barn on horseback
you get to take lessons with Uncle Dev (who has never told you that you must trot)
it must be better than buying a horse because all the girls are doing it

The other night, Lauren was going out to ride Feather. Jordyn, as always prepared to ride, dressed in her pink breeches, Zoc socks, and paddock boots, even though it was over 90 degrees in the dark of night during summer in Texas, asked if she could ride Mickey. I helped her saddle up. Then she asked if Lauren would help her put a hair-net on and put her hair up in her helmet (that was when I knew she was seriously mimicking the older riders).

As we walked to arena, she announced to Lauren and I that she wanted to lease Mickey. I caught Lauren’s eye and silently begged her not to laugh. Jordyn was dead serious. Of course, the idea makes no sense in our situation. We own Mickey. Jordyn is family. We are not going to make her pay a lease payment for the use of our family horse.

But, Jordyn had thought it all out. She would talk to her parents and they would help her work out a way to pay the monthly amount. Then she told us that if she leased Mickey she could ride all the time with the girls and just get used to being in the saddle (with no pressure was left unsaid). She could take some lessons with Dev and get better at riding. Then she could start doing shows.

Lauren and I jumped on the ‘lease Mickey bandwagon’ quickly. We agreed it was a great plan and would have a good outcome. Jordyn insisted we print out the lease agreement so that she could sign it. She had a good ride with Lauren and Feather. Instead of working on lesson things, I did “Simon Says” and some “Red Light, Green Light” to help her develop skills without stress. I have to say Mickey was an all-star.

That night Lauren dropped Jo off at home and Jordyn immediately went in to tell her mom that they needed $1500 a month (not the real price-not sure where this number came from) to lease Mickey. Ally choked back a gag and inquired as to why they would lease Mickey. Jordyn sold her plan again.

Mickey is now officially being leased by Jordyn. I know many of you wanted him in your own programs but really, family does come first. Since this night when her lease plan was hatched, Jordyn has ridden every day (still wearing the pink breeches-Ally must wash them every night). We have gone down the driveway and down the road. She has ridden with the older kids. She has trotted Mickey on her own. She is working up to her first official lesson.

Kids, especially high achieving kids, have so many demands on them. It is difficult to meet the expectations of parents, grandparents and teachers. Jordyn found her own way to make sense out of the horse world. She saw happy kids riding fun horses and thought she could do what they did. In Jordyn’s brain leasing is a non-stressful approach to riding and I am so happy she initiated it and we took it seriously!

OTTB Bruno goes to the Dressage Master-A Bruno Story

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Amelia making it look beautiful and easy.

We have owned OTTB Bruno for over 18 months now. He came lame. He had surgery on his hoof to correct an infection in his coffin bone. He was stall bound for over five months. He has been lame off and on for over three years.

This last Christmas Lauren tried to start Bruno over fences. They had two weeks of intense instruction and came a long way to getting Bruno to learn and listen. He still had a long way to go. He is over 1500 pounds and 17.2 hands. He is strong and can be opinionated. Lauren was told by the trainer that Bruno would never be an easy ride.

Lauren also has a major project working; bringing along a Flagmount mare who is doing very well in the jumper ring. Getting time to consistently work Bruno was not easy to find. His on and off shoeing and lameness issues caused in part by the constant mud at our old place did not help.

My daughter Ally rode and went to school with friend Amelia back in Florida. We had lost track of Amelia in the 14 years we have been in Texas. Then Facebook to the rescue and Amelia is back in our life. I had a strong feeling about Bruno and Amelia. Amelia has an eventing background and knows all the tools to help Bruno. When we finally got to our new place, Amelia came and started her education of off the track Bruno as a show horse.

Nancy Lindsey, the quintessential dressage master.

Right around the corner from us in our new place was an instructor, Nancy Lindsey, who had earned her place in the dressage world. I heard about her reputation from many of my friends. We had driven by and seen her place not even a quarter of mile away. I called to introduce myself and see if she might be available to help Bruno and Amelia. She said she wasn’t really taking new students but would consider it if the timing could be worked out.

Nancy Lindsey agreed to come to my arena to give Bruno his first dressage lesson. It was hot and humid, the kind of hot that just hangs in the air and you feel you can’t breathe through the heavy mist. Nancy pulled up in her truck and bounded from the seat. If you imagined what a seasoned Dressage instructor would look like, this was it! She was slim and strong in breeches and boots. She wore an old faded Rolex ball cap. Her face was tan and her smile engaging.

She headed over to the arena where Bruno and Amelia were warming up (a stupid term on a day like this). I bet seven year-old Bruno lost gallons in sweat. I told her Bruno’s story and they got to work. Nancy alternately rewarded and commanded Amelia and the big horse. I could not believe the giant horse could move like this! I have seen him constantly improve under Amelia’s guidance and was excited to see him do so much.

Here is a short video of their canter. Not perfect but coming along!

The trot.

Look at the stretch in this canter!

For all the months and years that we waited to see what this horse could do, it was a pretty exciting morning. Through the dense air emerged horse with a future, an off the track thoroughbred that had managed to make his way through injury and set-backs. I believe one day soon we are going to see the horse take on a competition and triumph.

Have a safe and happy fourth of July weekend. Thanks for riding along!

___________________________________________________________

You can read all of Bruno’s stories and see pictures of hoof before and after surgery by searching the “A Bruno Story” category.

Momma

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Momma, today.

I met with the administration of the nursing home this week. My mother suffered a fracture high in her femur or in pelvis. It is close to impossible to move her without exacting extreme pain from her. I broke my pelvis. Worst pain ever.

The ladies gently suggested moving my mother to hospice care. I am from the oncology world and usually this means a patient with less than six months to live. I understand the definition is a little broader in the nursing home world. She may live awhile. Still not long enough.

What we do know is that her bones are so fragile that they breaking in the hands of her caregivers. She is eating less and less. She is now equipped with a hospital bed which makes moving her when we have to, easier.

The hospice coordinator talked with me Thursday. Amongst the questions she asked was if I had funeral arrangements made. Well, no I don’t. I mean, I know she will be buried in Denver but how that will occur, I don’t know.

I am pretty raw right now. I feel my momma has them fooled. She isn’t dying. But perhaps that is my own denial.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Rescued Cats-lost Little Girl

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Beautiful Burmese cat, Sebastian, headed to his new home.

A lonely teenaged girl had little in her life. She lived in a beautiful home in a gated community. Her mother was lovely and mostly kind. The girl’s favorite things were her Burmese cats. She had the two cats since their kitten hood. The two cats meant everything to the girl. She was a little overweight and not like the ‘cool’ kids at school but her cats understood everything. Things changed when her momma got sick. Her dad left, just left. Her mom got sicker, money got tight, plans were made to move. She knew it was the only way and was okay until she was told the cats couldn’t stay.

The cats went up on a rescue site. Some lady from Houston was coming to get them. The day arrived, the rain came down. The woman showed up right on time. The girl held her babies one last time, she cried. She begged her mom to let her keep the cats -but she got the same answer. She helped carry the cats the lady’s car, tears blocking her sight she watched her best friends disappear in the rain. They had been rescued but what about her? Who was going to come rescue her?

Jordyn loving the new rescued kitty, Bella.

I have rescued so many animals over the years. Some owners had neglected their animals, some had deserted them but never had I been confronted with owner that desperately wanted to keep their animals but life had pulled a simple twist of fate and they could not keep their well-loved animal. I will never forget the tears shed by this haunted young girl as she handed me, a stranger, her life’s most precious possessions. I promised her faithfully to do my best to care for her babies for the rest of their lives. I am so sorry, Kennedy, I am so sorry.

What story can I tell you tonight?

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Exechorseluver

An extended view across the farm.

I know I gave a few teasers about the weekend. Things are never dull. First, my mother has broken her femur. They are not saying hip, but it is high up in the leg and I feel like it is the hip, or at least the head of the femur. She needs more x-rays, but it is impossible now to take her anywhere with her high pain level and limited mobility.

She was brighter today, thank God! Because Saturday she just laid in her bed. Wincing occasionally in pain but not eating or recognizing me. Things are deteriorating health wise for her. The osteoporosis has made her very fragile. It is increasingly difficult to move her, dress her or get her to eat. I just pray for her not to have to experience the pain any more.

Lauren is still gone on her trip to Florida. Boy, is she in for some surprises. Ally and Luke have been wonderful, caring or me, helping with the chores, facing down Bruno when I am too tired for one more step. I am so grateful. I saw the orthopedic surgeon for my hip as well. I was born with hip dysplasia. My left hip has been replaced and now it is time for the right. I am trying to hold on for later in the year, but the pain is more intolerable every day.

Riding buddy Renee cam over Saturday. Enjoyed the ride but really appreciated all her help.

Riding buddy Renee came over Saturday. Enjoyed the ride but really appreciated all her help.

Saturday a friend from Whipple Tree days, Renee, contacted me about coming over to ride. So, we rode Mickey and Snow, changing horses half way through and it was nice to have company. Renee just jumped in and helped with the stalls, chores, moving horses and filling troughs. Now that is the kind of visitor to have. Dr. Criner came over to play with the new mare (the mare may not have thought it to be a fun game since she got shots and had a sonagram to check her breeding parts) but TeeDee was so well-behaved. Then farrier, Sean came to remove the special racing plate shoes that horses wear on the track. They are light weight and have ridges for extra grip on the track. Sean also re-did Bruno’s bad feet. We are having problems keeping shoes on him. He is pulling them off every few days. Dr, Criner said even with all Bruno has been through she has never seen him so lame. Not good! I will have to post a picture-but between the vet and farrier they came up with an innovative approach of shoeing him that is working so far.

As Renee and I were riding, we spotted a tiny deer over by the wooded portion of the fence. I thought it had just wandered into the clearing and surely mom was close by. Later in the day after I got back from my mom’s, the barn was busy again with Snow’s rider, Mia and Ally and Kendyll. The baby was still by the fence. Investigation showed us that the tiny thing was torn up and bleeding from running hard into the fence without a way out.

We tried to call the game warden and the sheriff but no one picked up the phone on Saturday afternoon. As Ally said, thank goodness it was not a giant alligator we were needing help with. In the end, I couldn’t stand it anymore and we decided to try to corner the baby and carry her to where she could get back under the fence to her momma.

Stuck in our pasture between fences made to ensure nothing gets in or out. Well, it worked-sort of.

Note its face and leg-

I was letting him go, but unclear if he was headed for certain death.

It was a difficult and emotional deal for me. I am not agile but I am determined. The front leg was bad. I know several of you would have gotten a dog crate and nursed the deer back to health but I could not. I let him go under the fence. The next day Ally saw him with another baby and their momma near the corner of the property so I hope he does okay. Thanks to Wendy and Mia who helped in the great ‘save the deer’ campaign and also fed the horses and closed up the barn so I could go in for some much-needed rest.

There were so many ridicules points of the weekend it is hard to pin point one, but I would have to say, it had to be when I went to help a friend who had run out of gas. I had the truck with Lula and Kona riding shot-gun. We were in a what can best be termed a sketchy part of town. I got out of the truck to help with the gas and left the dogs inside with the air conditioning running.

We got her truck running and I went back to mine to find I was locked out. I did not have an extra set of keys. Lauren keeps them conveniently placed in the truck in the console. My phone, purse and two sets of keys were in the truck. I called multiple lock smiths, but if I could not give them a credit card, they were not coming. That was convenient as well. A woman without teeth came by and asked for 89 cents. I guess I would have given it to her but my purse was in the truck. I was ready to break out the rear window, in fact, had already started beating on it, when the dachshund Lula unlocked the truck!

How great! Too bad, I am pretty sure she is the one that locked it in the first place.

Thanks for riding along. Please keep my momma in your prayers.

Off the track to Six Meadow Farm

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Exechorseluver

OTTB TryDelta, just barely three years old came home today off the track forever.

Showing that thoroughbred speed as she easily out runs the white pony.

In an absolute contrast to her A. P. Indy cousin, Bruno, TryDelta, by A.P. Delta, out of Native Penny by Saxton, is petite, refined and race track lean. Barely three years old, she has not finished growing or filling out. She might be 900 pounds after a particularly large meal and stands about 16 hands. Bruno is almost double her weight at 1650 pounds and sticks at 17.2 and some hands high. Bruno sports lots of white “chrome” as we call it and this mare does not have a spot of white.

Moving pretty cute for the first time in a pasture in months.

So how in the world when I have every stall accounted for and finally had given up on the whole let’s breed a mare to Feather’s sire Flagmount’s Freedom, did this new A.P. Indy mare show up here?

Well, let’s back up a bit for those of you who maybe don’t manage to catch every word of “Exechorseluver”. Feather, a Flagmount Freedom mare had been sent to my friends in Florida. She was young, apparently had some major trust and training issues and wasn’t near the size her half sibling, Prince had been. She was in fact a disappointment to this solid eventing group. She was offered on Facebook for a very reasonable price. I jumped at the chance to pick her up, hoping some part of the Flagmount jump, determination and personality lived within her.

Watching her unload with a group of top-notch horses from Irish Day Farm and the Bruheim’s Nordic Lights Farm was a little like watching you country cousin come off a bus in bustling New York. All the parts were the same but Feather was not looking very special.

Dr. Lynn Criner has cared for her since the first days. She has followed my stories about Feather’s rise in jumping, higher and higher, as she keeps accomplishing more. And even a quick look at Flagmount’s Freedom Facebook page, will show you various youngsters he has sired. What do they have in common? Boy, can they jump.

But Lynn had never seen Feather actually compete. The slightly neurotic and often frightened mare, becomes super mare when she heads in the jumper ring. She jumps anything and everything and only stops in Lauren makes a mistake. I guess it impressed Lynn. Saturday at the show we talked a lot about a mare to breed to Flag as he is getting older and time (for this year anyway) is getting short. And, yes, I do remember clearly in the post on Betty Sue that I swore off mare hunting and breeding.

But then things changed. We had a friend who volunteered her warmblood mare for breeding services. We were excited about this. Seemed perfect! The next day, they backed out saying they didn’t want to risk the mare in childbirth. I get it-but I had already contacted the Flag people saying we were ready to breed.

Unbeknownst to me, Lynn had contacted the trainer of the A.P. Indy mare to see if she was still available. On Father’s day, Lynn suggested to her husband, an avid pilot, that they fly to San Antonio. It couldn’t have been greater! Her husband got to fly and they went off to the track to see the mare. Lynn didn’t mention she was a vet. Why complicate things.

Just as I was contacting Lynn to tell her we lost the services of our friend’s mare, she was reaching out to me, to sing the praises of TryDelta, soon to be an OTTB. Dr. Marden, owner of Flag (the sire) told us to find a smaller, refined thoroughbred to offset the Irish bulk that comes with Flag babies. We love Bruno and his A.P. Indy lines and we couldn’t have drawn a more perfect match to what Dr. Marden requested.

Sometimes things just happen and you trip along stupidly until you see the solution that has been under your nose for some time. Lynn loved the way the mare moved, she is exceptionally thin and just barely three years old. She will grow some. It felt exceptionally good to take her away from the track and head her home to my meadows of green. Another rescue gone right!

Yesterday in the trip from hell, (which I will write about later when time soothes some wounds) we drove the trailer down and picked up the little mare. Essentially for many months now, she has stood in her stall except when out to exercise or race. She seemed to know instinctively that we were there to save her. The trainer warned us she didn’t like people much, but she dropped her head into Lynn’s arms as we arrived. I took her halter and she slowly licked my hand. Sweetest mare ever. I swear they know.

She loaded easily and quietly into the trailer. We headed home. After dinner I took her out to graze and learn about the pasture. She could not have been happier about the beautiful green grass-it was gold to her.

I started her out this morning in a paddock on her own, afraid she would run a lot and be a little silly. But she quietly inspected things and talked with cousin Bruno over the fence. She and Bruno bonded over the fence and later I moved him in the pasture with her. They were inseparable the rest of the day.

Jordyn’s cousin is here for the summer and she just met her for the first time. But as time has passed, they have found many like traits, similar expressions and hair spun the same golden brown. It was much like that with Bruno and TeeDee today. They are absolutely the same color. TeeDee is missing her cousin’s white chrome but is just seems elegant-like she has on a simple black dress.

We will try to breed her this season if we can. Hopefully, next year at this time an A.P. Indy/Flagmount Freedom baby will be making their way out into the world. What a horse that will be!

As always, thanks for riding along!!

Can it be done?

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Exechorseluver

Over eight weeks ago Rodriquez Construction, out of Richmond, Texas, walked onto our property to find a structurally sound but basically empty, 1600 square foot barn, several acres of pasture with broken down gates and fencing, a giant slab of concrete seemingly dropped from the sky in front of the barn and a mother and a daughter full of dreams for a new life.

From the first day we have pushed to complete the stalls to move the horses, to complete the long lines of fencing to let the horses out, then to complete the big arena to let the riders ride and a whole bunch of little projects to make this place our home.

Every time we got close to saying goodbye to our friends we had made with contractor Richard and his crew, we found one more project to do. Most recently with the barn only 30 days old, we added two more stalls and a feed room. I don’t think any of those HGTV heroes could get more from the barn space than we did. Oh, and the giant slab of concrete, well it is now a wash rack.

The new eastern addition includes two stalls and a feed room.

Lauren and I love it! It is a dream come true. Richard and Lauren are already hatching a plan to do another barn extension in the fall, complete with bathroom and expanded tack room. In the meantime, for the very first time since this house became our home, I look around and there are no stacks of lumber. No trailers filled with supplies tucked under the pecan trees in the pasture. The saws and nail guns are finally quiet. I really can’t believe it. Can it really be done or as done as it is getting right now? I will sincerely miss our contractor friends with whom I have been starting and ending my days.

For tonight as the warm breeze blows across the arena, it is quiet and tranquil and at peace.

Day is done.