Well, it's official--DRITS has set in for all of us. And I mean all of us. Lynn is having withdrawals from her daily feeding of the horses--she rarely gets to see them at all. Shirley does a great job of taking care of them; she counts noses daily, makes sure the water is full, rounds them up for their shots, and brings them enough hay to keep them warm. She does it all. But the boys don't get any extra attention. No petting or sweet nothings whispered in their ears. No carrots or apples. I try to help her feed a couple times during the work week, but it doesn't always work out. Weekends, too--I usually come up to see my boy at least one day.
The weather has been crazy. Lots of wind, six inches of rain in one day, and cold nights. Shirley has had to look for them more than once. Sometimes she finds them all huddled up together under the trees. Sometimes after a couple of rounds driving on the trail, they come wandering toward the feeders from wherever they were.
On Tuesday, I called Shirley and said, "Wait for me! I'm coming." When I got to Lynn's, I expected to see Shirley waiting for me on the four-wheeler. Nope. So I walked over the trail to her house: my pink-polka-dotted boots galumping along. The horses were near their feeders in the woods. I had at least three of them giving me the eye, probably with these various thoughts, "It's about time! Where's the chow wagon?", "OMG! I think a monster is coming! I should probably act like a fool and run around and stir everyone up!", and "Is that my mom? I miss my mom. Does it have ear flaps on?" I'll let you guess which ones I'm talking about.
Anyway, I tore Shirley away from Matt Dillon and we went up to feed. As we were driving along the trail, I could see an orange horse bucking and crow-hopping and rearing to beat the band and it didn't look like Indy who screws his head around when he acts crazy. "Oh no," I thought, "which one is carrying on like that?" Shirley had warned me that Jupiter had started getting in the habit of bucking and getting too close to the four-wheeler. The carrying on continued through the trees as we approached. However, these were not little bucks and hops and rears--no, they were big ones. Big ones with long strides in between, racing around the outside of the feeders and the four-wheeler. A smaller orange horse ran alongside, encouraging him, no doubt. Yep, it was Zigman.
He carried on and put on quite the show. Wow. He is fast and can get way up there! Hind feet flying, crow-hopping three feet off the ground, and rearing like "Hi Ho Silver and away!" Then he came running up toward me as I unloaded the hay. Sheesh, he's big. Once I spoke to him and sent away from me a bit, he realized I was not the one he was looking for. Star and Brady both had their ears back reminding the youngsters running in circles that it was eating time and all that foolishness needed to be done somewhere else. Indy was eating as fast he could next to Brady, but the other two were needing some attention. Jupes is spoiled to me always bringing him a treat, so once he realized it was me, he was right there--nosing in my pockets. But like I said, Shirley is all business. I had to run down and empty out the trailer of hay in the last feeder. So I petted Zigs on the side real quick and kissed Jupe on the nose and away we went.
So, we are all missing our riding time and even just being together. We've been invited to ride with Suzy over Thanksgiving--cross your fingers and let's pray for continued healing and sunshine.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Building a partnership
Saturday, Jupiter and I built another level of trust. With Lynn's arm in a sling, her riding is postponed for a few weeks; but I decided it could be a possible learning experience for me and Jupes. I went up in the afternoon and caught both Ziggy and Jupiter. (Caught is such a misnomer--I walked up to Ziggy and put his halter on and Jupiter came to me and put his head into the halter himself, practically!) We took them over to the hitching rail and proceeded to talk to them and brush them and give them carrots. They were happy. They know they are well loved.
Then I saddled Jupiter and he and I went for a ride on the hill above Lynn's house. We started out a little rough, as he did not stand for me to mount and I hopped one time too many with my foot in the stirrup. I think I strained a little muscle in my butt! Anyway, I got his attention and he stood still and I easily got on. We headed up the road to the green gate with a few whinnies calling out to us from Brady and Ziggy. Jupiter did not whinny; he was focused.
We rode the trail that parallels the fence the line. It was pretty steep and the sweat was pouring off him. He was nervous, but he didn't attempt to turn back or call out. We came to a tree across the trail. He did not want to cross it where I wanted to, so I let him choose his way. We went over it and on up the trail as far as we could go. We turned around at the big pile of brush and trees. As we headed back to the downed tree, he started side stepping a little. He was obviously nervous and did not want to cross; so I got off and pulled the large branches around me and braced them so there was an clear opening to step over. He did not want to, but he came along and I gently let the branches ease back into place as both of us stepped over the tree. Then I turned him on the hill so I was on the uphill side and remounted. We continued on down the trail.
When we got back to the fork in the trail, I felt him relax. He saw the "trailer court" and knew he was in familiar territory. But then I turned him onto the upper trail toward the water tanks. I felt only the barest hint of hesitation, then he headed up the hill. We trotted a little and I had to stop him once as he took the side of the trail with stiff manzanita branches about rider high, but he adjusted and we went on. He gave the water tanks a good look, but did not shy. He carefully navigated down the steep side toward the horses's regular water hole and then down by the feeder boxes on the hill near Shirley's.
As we turned onto the road that parallels the pastures, all the horses were looking at us and starting to call out. I let him trot a bit, but kept it a controlled, steady pace. When we slowed to turn at the green gate, he whinnied for the first time. It was a short ride, but I took him back to the hitching rail where Ziggy and Lynn were and unsaddled him. He was dripping with sweat. I loved on him and told him what a good horse he was and gave him some carrots and grain. Hopefully that helped make his experience something he would want to do again.
It was a good day for both of us. I have never ridden by myself and I don't know if he has ever gone out by himself. We did well and our trust for each other increased. He did something he thought was scary and trusted I would take of him, and I was able to talk him into doing something he didn't want to do, which increased my trust in him.
Afterward, Lee and I moved feed boxes while Lynn supervised. Everything is about ready for them to go up on the hill for winter. With some gate opening help from Lynn, I fed the horses and had one last rub on Jupiter. Doing farm girl chores is always a pleasure as well!
Then I saddled Jupiter and he and I went for a ride on the hill above Lynn's house. We started out a little rough, as he did not stand for me to mount and I hopped one time too many with my foot in the stirrup. I think I strained a little muscle in my butt! Anyway, I got his attention and he stood still and I easily got on. We headed up the road to the green gate with a few whinnies calling out to us from Brady and Ziggy. Jupiter did not whinny; he was focused.
We rode the trail that parallels the fence the line. It was pretty steep and the sweat was pouring off him. He was nervous, but he didn't attempt to turn back or call out. We came to a tree across the trail. He did not want to cross it where I wanted to, so I let him choose his way. We went over it and on up the trail as far as we could go. We turned around at the big pile of brush and trees. As we headed back to the downed tree, he started side stepping a little. He was obviously nervous and did not want to cross; so I got off and pulled the large branches around me and braced them so there was an clear opening to step over. He did not want to, but he came along and I gently let the branches ease back into place as both of us stepped over the tree. Then I turned him on the hill so I was on the uphill side and remounted. We continued on down the trail.
When we got back to the fork in the trail, I felt him relax. He saw the "trailer court" and knew he was in familiar territory. But then I turned him onto the upper trail toward the water tanks. I felt only the barest hint of hesitation, then he headed up the hill. We trotted a little and I had to stop him once as he took the side of the trail with stiff manzanita branches about rider high, but he adjusted and we went on. He gave the water tanks a good look, but did not shy. He carefully navigated down the steep side toward the horses's regular water hole and then down by the feeder boxes on the hill near Shirley's.
As we turned onto the road that parallels the pastures, all the horses were looking at us and starting to call out. I let him trot a bit, but kept it a controlled, steady pace. When we slowed to turn at the green gate, he whinnied for the first time. It was a short ride, but I took him back to the hitching rail where Ziggy and Lynn were and unsaddled him. He was dripping with sweat. I loved on him and told him what a good horse he was and gave him some carrots and grain. Hopefully that helped make his experience something he would want to do again.
It was a good day for both of us. I have never ridden by myself and I don't know if he has ever gone out by himself. We did well and our trust for each other increased. He did something he thought was scary and trusted I would take of him, and I was able to talk him into doing something he didn't want to do, which increased my trust in him.
Afterward, Lee and I moved feed boxes while Lynn supervised. Everything is about ready for them to go up on the hill for winter. With some gate opening help from Lynn, I fed the horses and had one last rub on Jupiter. Doing farm girl chores is always a pleasure as well!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Broken Bones
Willow Creek's oracle (and her friends) are definitely going to be suffering from "Deficient Riding Time Syndrome" or DRITS for the next six to eight weeks. Hmmm. November usually means rain--our DRITS may last until February, when we usually get a brief look at spring. Otherwise, it may be April? May? If I don't ride Jupiter, will his feet stop growing? (: We just got shoes!
Lynn fell off the quad while feeding the horses with her mother-in-law Saturday night and broke her arm. Broke it so bad it had to be set. She will be put in a cast sometime late this week. Is it six weeks from casting? Or six weeks from Saturday? Are you sure you can't just buck up and ride? (:
Okay, enough selfish groaning. The woman is tough. She said how silly she thinks it is when the nurses and doctors ask, "What's your pain on a scale from one to 10?"
"'A two,' I told them," she says. I've had a broken arm, two of them in fact. Neither of them was a "two."
The doctor told her when he had to set it that it would hurt; "I'm not lying," he said, "it's going to hurt a lot."
Pshaw. He didn't know who he was dealing with.
So my riding partner is laid up. She needs her riding time in order to deal with all the crazies that inhabit her work world: "No, FedEx did not bring your package here!" "I don't know if Kimtu is full." "The weather is expected to be in the 80s for the next week." "I have not seen your cat with the big manhood."
Although I deal with fewer crazies, I'm going to be even harder to get along with than before (do you think it's possible?) and my horse is going to get fat (and sassy--make that sassier). At least Shirley will be able to go out of town without worrying that Lynn and I are riding and having fun without her.
We were hoping the vet would come out for a clinic and do everyone's shots. Now Lynn is saying maybe we will go out there and afterward Shirley and I will ride on the beach (because that worked so well last time! Ha!) and she will work with Ziggy and his leading problems.
They say it's the hard times in life that show what we are made of. . . .
Lynn fell off the quad while feeding the horses with her mother-in-law Saturday night and broke her arm. Broke it so bad it had to be set. She will be put in a cast sometime late this week. Is it six weeks from casting? Or six weeks from Saturday? Are you sure you can't just buck up and ride? (:
Okay, enough selfish groaning. The woman is tough. She said how silly she thinks it is when the nurses and doctors ask, "What's your pain on a scale from one to 10?"
"'A two,' I told them," she says. I've had a broken arm, two of them in fact. Neither of them was a "two."
The doctor told her when he had to set it that it would hurt; "I'm not lying," he said, "it's going to hurt a lot."
Pshaw. He didn't know who he was dealing with.
So my riding partner is laid up. She needs her riding time in order to deal with all the crazies that inhabit her work world: "No, FedEx did not bring your package here!" "I don't know if Kimtu is full." "The weather is expected to be in the 80s for the next week." "I have not seen your cat with the big manhood."
Although I deal with fewer crazies, I'm going to be even harder to get along with than before (do you think it's possible?) and my horse is going to get fat (and sassy--make that sassier). At least Shirley will be able to go out of town without worrying that Lynn and I are riding and having fun without her.
We were hoping the vet would come out for a clinic and do everyone's shots. Now Lynn is saying maybe we will go out there and afterward Shirley and I will ride on the beach (because that worked so well last time! Ha!) and she will work with Ziggy and his leading problems.
They say it's the hard times in life that show what we are made of. . . .
God's Country
Saturday was an unexpected pleasure; Lynn was expecting special company and had originally called off our ride. Fortunately for us, she worked like a demon and cleaned house all week and then decided we could go for a couple of hours. Shirley and I were there in a twinkle--no one has to call us twice. All the horses jumped eagerly into the trailer as well--after all, for two weeks in a row they had been somewhere new.
We went up the Hennessey and then headed toward the meadow. Sometimes we come around the north end of the meadow and go across the creek and back into the bottom of the run out (I call it that because Brady always ran up the little road to the top meadow and now Jupes thinks he should, too). As we went down to the upper middle meadow, I suggested we go backwards and go across the creek and into the flat, cow-grazing meadow area. As we rode along, Lynn looked up the hill to the north. We had come down a fun trail one day and then never really found it again.
Today, she turned us up into the woods to see what we could find--and what a find we found! (: There were new quad tracks leading up the hill. The trail was good and we climbed higher and higher hoping it would take us somewhere. In my heart I was praying it would not lead to a pot patch! Anyway, it was a truly nice trail and the boys were excited to unexpectly see new territory. We eventually ran into a dead end, and had to back track some, but we went bushwacking and after awhile found ourselves back in the meadow. Then we rode over to the east side of the meadow and rode around on different trails that brought us back into the lower meadow.
After the horses enjoyed some apples, we worked our way along yet another trail that took us to the Hennessey road where we dismounted and walked back to the trailer. It was a beautiful autumn day and even though we were home, we saw new things. Shirley maintains that we live and ride in the most beautiful place on earth. I think I have to agree. I know I am happy that I get to be a part of it and I don't know how I ever lived without riding and having a horse of my own to love. I am truly blessed.
We went up the Hennessey and then headed toward the meadow. Sometimes we come around the north end of the meadow and go across the creek and back into the bottom of the run out (I call it that because Brady always ran up the little road to the top meadow and now Jupes thinks he should, too). As we went down to the upper middle meadow, I suggested we go backwards and go across the creek and into the flat, cow-grazing meadow area. As we rode along, Lynn looked up the hill to the north. We had come down a fun trail one day and then never really found it again.
Today, she turned us up into the woods to see what we could find--and what a find we found! (: There were new quad tracks leading up the hill. The trail was good and we climbed higher and higher hoping it would take us somewhere. In my heart I was praying it would not lead to a pot patch! Anyway, it was a truly nice trail and the boys were excited to unexpectly see new territory. We eventually ran into a dead end, and had to back track some, but we went bushwacking and after awhile found ourselves back in the meadow. Then we rode over to the east side of the meadow and rode around on different trails that brought us back into the lower meadow.
After the horses enjoyed some apples, we worked our way along yet another trail that took us to the Hennessey road where we dismounted and walked back to the trailer. It was a beautiful autumn day and even though we were home, we saw new things. Shirley maintains that we live and ride in the most beautiful place on earth. I think I have to agree. I know I am happy that I get to be a part of it and I don't know how I ever lived without riding and having a horse of my own to love. I am truly blessed.
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