Crickhollow Farm

Perfect Weekend for Horse Activities

Finally we got a perfect weekend for spending outside, doing things with the horses.  Warm, sunny, and not too windy.  It was great.

Saturday started with mucking and giving lessons, after which we did a little tackbox cleaning over lunch.  Then Bonni & I tacked up Rocky & Merry & went for a ride down in the arena.  Yes, there are pictures this time.

Merry did really well.  We got in some canter work -- on both leads!  It's not the prettiest yet, I pretty much just let him have his head and let him balance as he will, but he doesn't feel confident in the gait with me up yet.  Prettiness will come with time and a better balance.

Rocky did well, too.  He was petering out towards the end, but Bonni was able to get him moving again without any battles, so it's all good.

 

Green Grass

I have managed to get the horses out on grass a couple of times this past week.  They haven't been allowed out on it for very long -- we need no colic or founder here -- but they were very excited about getting out at all. 

Merry knew what was going on as soon as I started shifting the temp-fence panels around and got himself quite worked up.  It was particularly hilarious that first time, because Rocky had no idea what was going on.  Poor guy just stood up in the door to Zahr's stall and watch in confusion as the other boys went bolting out into the green as soon as I opened the gate.  I actually had to call him down and talk him through the gate.  He's an odd one, is Mr Rockmeteller.  (This is where I have to admit that, in my mind, he's not Rocky after the fictional boxer, but after Rockmeteller "Rocky" Todd of P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves & Wooster stories.  He's just that sort of hapless goof that populates those stories.)

Getting them back up off the grass is always a challenge -- I can usually get Merry & Zahr running & wound enough that they'll barrel up into the paddock & I can shut the gate behind them.  Rocky & Gimli I have to go fetch with a lead rope.

The girls all had to be fetched with the lead, too.  Although, I didn't nearly have the battle with Morgana that I sometimes have in the past.  Once I had the rope on her, she came along well enough.  No tricking her by backing her towards the gate this time.

Unfortunately, with all the rain we've had in the last day, & look to be getting over the next few, it'll probably be a while before I can get them back on the grass again.  I don't want them tearing it all up because the ground's too wet.

While I didn't have the camera when the boys went on their big tear their first day out, I did get some photos of them out grazing (and one of Rocky pacing the fenceline, looking forlorn after I locked them back in the paddock -- I won't post that one 'cause he'd just rolled in the mud and looks entirely too gross in it).  I'll post a few of the best here.

Saturday Night's Alright for Napping

I'm currently fighting the urge to nap.  It's proved to be a tiring day, which I partially blame on the damp chill that pervaded everything today.  The forecast had been for 70 degrees, but we only made it up to about 50 today.  Most disappointing.

Started out the day with mucking followed by Connor's second lesson -- his first actually mounted.  The wind was cold & cutting, so I only kept him up for about half the time.  The rest was spent grooming and ended with another quick lead-the-pony session.

Heading out to the north paddock to ride.

Grey Saturday

I'd thought it was supposed to be warm & sunny today, but apparently not.  The day started out in Brigadoon mode.  Thick fog lowered over the countryside, cutting us off from everything else.  In spite of what the weather service had told me this morning, it did not start to lift at 9 (it was actually closer to 11 when it cleared enough to actually see the road from the barn), which was very disappointing.

Diane came out to help with chores, and we mucked stalls whilst attempting to breathe in the pea soup air, running back & forth between barn & compost heap in occasional drizzly mist.  Once we were done with the mucking, it was time for her son Connor's very first lesson!

Being his first, we spent it entirely on the ground, learning about grooming, moving around horses, and how to lead them.  Gimli is his lesson pony and, for all that he can be wriggly and impatient about getting to the treat portion of events, he is good with kids and just the right size for someone small to work with. 

I find it amusing how hard it is to convince kids that they really can push hard with the brushes when they groom a horse or pony.  No matter how many times I say, "you can press really hard, he likes that" they always want to skim the grooming tools delicately over the pony's coat.  I suppose it's just a comfort-level thing that takes time.  It's hard to really dig in and put your weight behind the brush strokes when you're still at the stage where you're worried about being stepped on. 

Getting to lead Gimli around a bit helped Connor with that particular worry a bit, I think.  He did get his foot stepped on in the process of trying to keep the pony away from a tuft of grass, but he was having such a good time that he was laughing whilst telling me about the pony stepping on him.  I don't think Gimli actually put much of any weight on Connor, or even stepped on more than the very edge of his shoe, but it was a good way to show him that it's not the end of the world if the wee pony does step on you. 

Connor also found it very impressive that when he stopped moving and said, "stop," Gimli would stop and stand there with him.  Quite the confidence booster to have a pony who is much bigger and stronger than you do what you say!

Anyway, I'm excited to have a new student, especially a young one.  I like teaching adults, but it's fun to really introduce the little kids to riding and working with horses.  I hope he likes it enough to stick with it for a while, not just so I can earn a little extra money to buy things for the barn and actually feel like a professional again, but because I think it's a great hobby for a kid to have.  It teaches self-confidence, encourages them to get outside and do something, and teaches them to treat other creatures with respect and kindness (or it should, anyway, if you're teaching them properly).

Napping Horses

I got a shot of the boys napping after breakfast this morning.  Gimli, Merry, Rocky were standing in this perfect three-spoke configuration & Zahr was off on his own.  Of course, they were behind the tree from where I was, looking out the back door, so it's hard to see.  I didn't want to go out for a different angle because they would have heard me and all turned to stare.  They do it every time.

 

And on that theme, some shots of nap time a few weeks ago.  There was no snow then, so it's not as pretty.

Rocky Makes a Change

Today, Rocky got properly introduced to the rest of the boys.  Winter is fast approaching (it's snowing as I type), and he'd been hanging out near the others for a while now, albeit with a fence between, so I decided to move him over to the other paddock.  I'm not working for once, so it gives me a chance to watch what's going on, though I try not to stare obsessively.

Wednesday & Thursday this week, these are the sights that greeted me when I went out at lunchtime to toss everyone their hay:

 

This is what happened just before lunch today...  (seriously image heavy)

Rocky & Gimli (image heavy)

This afternoon, while I was moving a little hay up into the barn, I decided to put Gimli in with Rocky to let them get to know each other a little better away from the other boys &, hopefully, to play.  They did things a little backwards.

First, Rocky followed Gimli around...

Update

I know people are probably hoping for more Rocky pics.  I haven't had a lot of time to spend outside lately, and when I have been, the camera has not been in hand.  So, um, sorry?  I need to get a wee camera I can keep on a lanyard around my neck when I go out to feed, so that I can catch cute shots. 

This morning, Rocky & Gimli were racing up and down the fence line together whilst they waited for me to provide breakfast.  It was very cute.  Gimli was tossing his head and arching his neck -- very intense was he.  They seem like they'll get along well once they're in together.  I hope so, anyway.

Happy Autumn

Now that it's actually autumn, the weather is turning sunny again, just to be perverse.  We did get some rain for a few days, for which I am grateful, but it's nice to see the sun again.  It should be a good day to do some work in the barn.  It's cool enough that I'm hesitant to spent much time outside until my hair is at least mostly dry.  (By the time I'm done typing this, it should be close enough that I can braid it tightly and shove a hat on my head, at least.)

Barn agenda for today involves mucking stalls (big surprise there), washing everybody's blankets & hanging them to dry so they'll be fresh for the coming winter (I've had them hanging in the barn & then out under the overhang since their last use and they've become somewhat dusty.  I'm sure there are cobwebs, too.  Yuck.), and shifting a little more hay up.

Merry and Zahr (particularly Zahr) acquired some truly spectacular wind-knots in their manes during the recent windy, stormy days.  I made an attempt at untangling them last night whilst they ate their dinner, but more needs to be done.  Show Sheen or Cowboy Magic will definitely be needed on Zahr's.  I brushed Gimli a bit, too.  They all seemed to enjoy the attention, and Gimli would poke me in the back while I was working on Merry, looking for more attention.

I have a bad feeling that this is going to be a cold, cold winter.  It may be selective amnesia on my part, but it seems like the horses are all much fuzzier much earlier than usual this fall.  Myf isn't looking like a goat just yet, but Gimli's red beard is definitely in evidence already. 

I've been debating getting Annie a new turnout blanket or sheet for this winter.  The one I got her when she was pregnant ended up being too big for her otherwise, and is now Zahr's.  I've been using Toad's old stable blanket on her when it gets super cold, but it wasn't designed for turnout, and there are a couple of little tears.  She probably could use something a little more weather and Morgana-proof...  (Morgana is a pest and likes to tug on other people's blankets.)  I've been keeping an eye on the sale stuff in the tack catalogues.  Mostly, the ones I like are either expensive even on sale, or don't come small enough.  It won't be the end of the world if I can't find one for her, since she has the one blanket & it's not in tatters yet, but it'd be nice if I could.

Morgana herself has a turnout sheet for this winter.  Brand-new, I picked it up at the Expo tackswap for cheap.  Hopefully it will actually fit her considering I was pretty much guessing on how big she'd be by winter.  I should try it on her today/tonight just to see how close I was.  She and Annie don't need blankets much -- they hide in the stall when the weather is bad & get pretty fuzzy anyway.  Hardy ponies, don't ya know.

Hay Stacked

Here's what I accomplished today:

I also shifted around what's left in the shed so that the more alfalfa-rich bales from the second cutting would all be basically on one side of the shed.  This enabled me to uncover the rest of the stemmy first cutting so I can work on getting it up to the barn before third cutting.  I'd like to get the first cutting up so that I have mostly second & third for over the winter.  Save the best for last, what?

Best laid schemes o' mice an' men (and horsewomen) gang oft agley

I'd planned on schooling Merry over jumps today.  Had my wee jump course all set up out back.  I pulled him out to groom and tack up at about half-past noon, probably got down to the arena for our warm up a half hour after that.  We'd just started going 'round the arena when, back in the paddock, Zahr went, well berserk probably isn't really the word I want, what with the connotations and all, but that's about what it felt like to start. 

Merry startled and I looked up to see the idiot careening around the paddock, harrying Gimli, and generally flinging himself about like a mad thing.  Then he stopped, head & tail up, and let loose a blowing snort, before taking off again. 

I think he was pissed that he'd been deprived of grass for lunch (they got hay since I was planning on riding Merry after) and jealous that Merry was out in the arena (grazing-land) without him.  Never-mind that Merry was working and not eating. 

Whether it was, in fact, a temper-tantrum, or just high-spirits, it went on for quite some time, with both Zahr and Gimli flinging themselves about, into the air, etc.  Meanwhile, my planned jump-schooling session turned, instead, into a session on the art of remaining calm whilst your friends act like goons.

To be fair, Merry was really dashed good.  I just wasn't prepared to go out into the great wide open or attempt jumps with the Flying Gelding Show going on, being a distraction.  We did a lot of trotting, some cantering, and left the arena after the two twerps settled down.  By then we were both tiring, so only the cavalletti were attempted.  At that point, the girls were ready to be riled up, so they were being a distraction, and after a few wobbly passes over the two cavalletti, I called it a day and took Merry back to the arena to walk out.

It was my first ride in my new paddock boots and half-chaps, and I have to say I'm quite pleased with them.  They're much more fitted, so I have a better "feel" through them than the old boots.  Definitely better ankle support, and the grip of the nice rubber soles is a huge improvement over the old boots' cruddy, hard rubber (I really shouldn't have been surprised that they cracked the way they did; it wasn't nice stuff).  I'd definitely recommend them to anyone who's looking for a new pair of boots and either has a hard time getting the pre-made tall boots to fit properly, or who wants something a little more cost-effective than the good tall boots usually are.

Another hot day

It's been another of those bally hot days today.  Had the horses out on the grass most of the afternoon whilst I moved hay from the shed to the barn, and the boys were all distinctly sweaty when I brought them back up to their paddock.  After topping off their water trough, I decided that showers were in order & proceeded to spray Gimli and Merry down with the hose, which they seemed to appreciate.

Zahr looked perfectly miserable, but I knew that spraying him would be pushing it, so I broke out the bathing bucket & sponge.  It was the first time I'd tried bathing him since the infamous incident just after I brought him home where he flipped out and did a runner, going missing overnight.  He was a little concerned to start, but I think I won him over to the pleasure of cool water on a hot day.  Gimli tipped the bucket over at one point (quite deliberately, the little blister), and Zahr stood whilst I refilled it with the hose.