Meanwhile Back at the Ranch...

So seems like I been missing out on everything that has been going on here except for the ponies, so here's an update.  Well Jamaica is home.  He is out in the pasture with the mares and happy to be there.  Sure loaded good.  I asked Jardi to give me a hand and I never needed her, he just walked out of his stall, out of the barn, across the corral and right onto the trailer.  Pretty happy with that.  I think it is a lot like walking onto a stall, kinda dark, even though the stalls  are step down and the trailer was step up, much the same.

And the bulls are home.  A couple weeks ago we got a call for the community pasture to pick up our bull there and so Neil pulled all our bulls at home the same day.  They were pretty well ready to come home.  We also sold two, one who never tested that we kept as a just in case one and one was 7 years old and we never realized but he was fine but that's getting pretty old for a bull.

We got all our hay baled as well as the green feed oats.  They are just waiting on John Deere to fix our tractor and bring it back before we can haul them home.  Neil tried rigging up a system where his tractor can pull the trailer so he can use it to both load bales in the field and then unload them at home, and it seems to work, but takes a long time driving back and forth.

And the corrals got cleaned one day last week, sure was stinky for a while but much better now and healthier for the calves over winter.  Oh and we picked a weaning date of October 24, which is coming up amazingly quick.  Got a lot to do before that comes.  And about a week or so before that I will probly wean Casino and leave her in the filed and take Disco to Jardi's to see what she is like to ride.  It takes a couple weeks before the calves quiet down and don't get too sick before I can move the horses into the corral and I am not even sure who will live in with Casino yet, maybe Jazz and Jamaica, haven't decided on that yet.

And the cows (or in this case heifers)  are doing good, they sure like hanging around in the slough where the grass is really tall when its warm out.

And last night I got a call from a girl who wanted to come see Dinero.  She called last week and asked a bunch of questions and wanted to come down but didn't know when they could.  Well their schedules lined up and they came and tried him and took him home.  He will be rode in the feedlot by her husband and she will pleasure ride him.
All in all life is progressing and I am not ready for winter but looks like its on its way anyhow.

Big Day for The Boys

Yesterday was a long day for me and a big day for the geldings.  Jardi phones and says Greg will be there around noon and if I want Jamaica feet trimmed I can meet him there, so I goes over at noon.  Well Greg got hung up in hussar and was late and Jardi had to take Neil to Physio so I was there waiting for him to show up.  i decided while I was waiting I would just ride Dinero in the arena then I am close by for when Greg comes.  And the horses he was shoeing were tied to the rail so he could just start anyway without me.

I have been thinking for a long time I would try and ride Dinero in my English saddle and I thought this was the perfect opportunity cause I don't want to ride out yet so arena it was.  I was a little unsure how I would feel in it cause it has been a long time since I rode English and last time was awful, I felt like I was slipping to the side with every step especially around corners.

Dinero thought I was a little weird with this tiny saddle I put on him.  I was kinda worried the cinch wouldn't fit when I could hardly get it done up to the bottom hole on each side, but once I had it on and he moved around it was up to the third hole on one side and second on the other, so seems to be the right fit for him.

Well then I was worried about how the heck I was gonna get on, I was sure I couldn't mount from the ground and I had never asked him to stand by the step in the corner by the poles, but then I remembered there was a oilfield pylon I have used before to get on and it works really well cause its is round so even if they move they don't usually get too far from it.

Well that worked good, I got on and then he wasn't sure if he should move or not,I am sure it felt really weird to him, but I actually felt comfortable. So I asked him to walk and we walked a couple time both ways around the arena and then I asked for a trot.  He was pretty good, a little unsure but after a couple rounds he was fine.  So we did a couple figure wights and some more walking and then trotting again and then I decided that was enough for us and he was soo good so I couldn't complain.

We only rode for about 25-30 minutes which was okay with me.  And turned out good cause just as  I got off, Greg showed up.  I put Dinero away and went to visiting.  I don't get a chance to visit him very often so it was kinda nice.

After the others were done, we got Jamaica out and he was really good.  Kinda a little fighty when pulling his back feet backwards, but he got over that really well and Greg is sooo good and patient, he trims the puts the foot down the files and puts the foot down.  So all in all a good experience for the boy.  I forgot to take pics of his feet while in the alley so I tried to get them in the stall afterwards and I got weird things on the side of my pic which I finally realized was his whiskers!  But they look so weird in the picture.

More Dinero and Jamaica

This week I been doing quite a bit of work with Jamaica. On Monday I went over and took him out of the stall and he was soo good.  Now he is so quiet, almost looking for people to visit him or to let him out of the stall.  I can just walk in and halter him no problem.  When in the alley way I tied him up and then brought over the wheelbarrow and cleaned his stall.  It was 30 there, so I didn't do a real good job cause I was melting, but good enough to last a few more days.

I rode Dinero alone cause no one else was around and I thought it might have been cooler to ride in the arena but after about 5 minutes I realized I forgot to water the arena so as soon as I started trotting it was really dusty, so we headed outside.  We walked out in the summer fallow field and he headed for a slough that I didn't want to go in, but he sure did.  So we headed there.  Since so many horses (like Kali) don't like to cross water I have a hard time not letting them go to it when they want to.  But since the edges were soft and muddy, his feet were black when we got home so he got another bath.

Yesterday I went over a little later in hopes it would be a little cooler, and it was a little bit, only about 25.  As soon as I got there, I caught Dinero and tied him in barn then got out Jamaica and tied him up too, and went to brushing him and I even sprayed his mane and brushed it and he was soo well behaved.

(its really hard to take pics in the barn)

Then Char came and we went out riding and were out a long ride about hour and a half and  we did a little loping and Dinero can go really fast!  It was funny, usually he does a slow arena lope, but he was really moving.  And best of all, when we slowed down to a walk, he was really calm.

Then today I went out with Char and Susan and Kendra and we went for another long ride and it was hot again!  Whew I was tired, but Dinero was good, he is getting so the dogs don't bother him anymore, he still tries to eat them if they walk in front of him, but okay with them running all around.  I also brushed Jamaica again, and maybe tomorrow I will takcle his tail, havent been brave enough yet, but he is so good with everything else, so no reason he should be a problem brushing the tail.

Friday, August 20, 2011

It's been a super fun week so far, I have gotten Jamaica gelded on Monday, and he is doing awesome.  And I been riding pretty much every day.  Tuesday and Wednesday we went on trail rides, and Wednesday Dinero had to go out twice cause I rode with Char when she rode both her horses, he wasn't sure what was up with that. 

And yesterday we went to the neighbors and rode in her outdoor arena.  We were planning on riding inside but she had buffalo's in and the outdoor has such nice ground and is bigger so outdoors it was.  It was really hard for Dinero to concentrate with so much going on, but he did really good.  There is a road right beside it and trucks drove by, then a quad, then another quad spraying the weeds, and more riders, so much to try to ignore for him.  But no more scary than the helicopter that flew over us on Wednesday.  That was weird.

And this morning there was supposed to be someone to come and try out Dinero, but her husband had ended up buying her a horse (not what she wanted but she is gonna keep it for a while)  I don't know why husbands have to do that, a horse is really a personal preference, he might as well see what she wants and then buy it for her.  Sometimes I just wanna stay home and not talk to anyone!  So frustrating.  No wonder I haven't sold a horse to a stranger, they all back out at the last minute. And I try not to let it judge the way I treat other people, but I am mighty suspicious of anyone who wants to buy now.

Other than riding, I haven't gotten a lot done this week, which is alright, and tonight I am going scrap booking and tomorrow is a wedding which will be a ton of fun :)  Although I have been playing out in the garden and watching flowers bloom.  I also tried to pick some chokecherries cause my neighbor said no one makes chokecherry syrup anymore, so I thought I might but they are not quite ready yet.  But when they are, there will be a lot!

(These Pretty pink Lillies are from my Mommy's garden.)

Behind

Its been so crazy and my Internet hasn't been working, but I got a new computer and its great!  I love the fact I can actually post a blog all in one sitting!  My mom came out for a couple days last week and that was so much fun, but nothing got done.  But that's okay, its nice to just relax for a few days. 

(Kali had to shake as I was taking the picture)

I helped my friend move last Saturday and stayed over at my sisters house so we could take her kids to camp on Sunday.  Sure a nice drive up to Gull Lake.  Of course on the way home, we had to go shopping!  We didn't end up with a whole lot but sure was fun.

And I took Jamaica over to Jardis and he is gonna get gelded on Monday afternoon hopefully.  He is much improved, I led him off the trailer, all the way to Jardis barn and in the stall and he was fine, then Tuesday I walk in the stall and he walks over to me and just stands there while I put on the halter and pick up all four feet, so I am pretty happy with him.  He sure is a talker though, every time a person goes by he is talking.

And then I brought Dinero over for a week too cause I figured if I am going to be over there everyday with Jamaica, I might as well ride while I'm there.  I gave him a bath and he was actually pretty clean, except him mane and tail of course. I was surprised cause he hasn't had a bath since last summer. And the first ride I had on him ovet there we seen a moose and 2 deer, and he didnt freak out over them which I was pretty happy about.

And yesterday I helped my aunt put up wainscoting in my Mom's house, sure looks nice!  It still needs the top rail and caulked and painted but what a difference!

Moving Cows

On Thursday I was asked by one of Jardi's neighbors if I could help them move thier cows.  Of course I did!  So I took Dinero and he was coughing still.  His nose was a little snotty, but he seemed energetic and wanted to go so off we went.

He moves his cows into the corrals in his yard then split them into two bunches and we moved them from there 7 miles  for the first bunch and came back and moved the second bunch 4 miles.

The cows are moved this way every spring to pasture and every fall back home.  Most of the move is on roads cause its all cropland around his place.

His daughter and granddaughter come along for the ride.  I think they both enjoyed it.

There was so much water this year, ussually we don't move the cows through the water, but there was so much around we just went through it all.

Sometimes along road ways there was fence and it seemed easy to let the cows follow the fence, but it wasn't very good fence in a lot of places and calves got pushed through to the other side.  So we started keeping them in the middle of the road.

That seemed to work better except the cows kept going towards the edges of the road and diving at the grass out there.

The second bunch was a lot harder to move, not sure why, but we really had to push them and especially when we got to the top of the hill where the pasture was.  It was kinda mucky and echoy and they didn't want to go down there, but once they were down there, they were okay.

Afterwards we had a meal of chilli and garlic toast and apple crisp.  It was so worth it for the good meal at the end!

Can't wait till this fall when we move them back to the yard.

Dineros First Branding

Its been a fun week here, I haven't gotten a lot posted about it cause I been enjoying it too much.  I went to a branding yesterday and took Dinero, cause Razz is a little sore on her right front foot.  Not sure what it is, cause its warm on the inside but doesn't hurt to poke or twist or anything.  She just wont walk on it, I'm hoping its not an abscess.  If its not gone by nest week I will take her to the vet to try to figure out whats going on.

Anyways back to the branding, he was a little excited when we got there and there were lots of other horses.  He was good to mount and away we went.  he wanted to trot, but he would come right back down to a walk or stop if I asked him.  After we got about halfway to the cows we trotted up to them and we loped a little, and he was so relaxed and his nice comfy lope.  We got to the cows and started pushing them, I kinda stayed by Neil and his horse George cause they are pasture  buddies and I didn't want to push him too hard yet.  We got the first bunch in the corral no problem and sorted the cows from the calves, then mounted up again and went to get then next bunch. 

They were a little farther away and Dinero was quite happy to just walk for the first part.  He was really good, even when two riders headed over to the fence to get a bunch over there.  Then Neil went away as well and I stayed where we were just pushing cows in the middle of the pack.  He got a little distracted and was calling but I just put him to work and we went through a few sloughs no problem and then he tripped and after that he paid more attention to where he was going rather than where the other horses were.  We actually had to move some cows on our own and he did it really well, never got worried when we got in the bunch and was calm.  Hard to believe he had never seen a  cow before he come to my place.

We got them all in and tied up the ponies and took a break and then it started to rain. Not really hard and Grant still wanted to go I think he thought the rain would quit.  We put the horses in the trailer so the saddles wouldn't get wet and they got to watch all the excitement from there.  I really wanted him to stand tied to the fence so he could watch what was going on, but maybe next time.  We did vaccinate, castrate, ear tag, and no branding cause the calves were too wet.  I got no pictures cause I didn't bring the camera to ride a colt and then it was too wet to use anyways. 

All in all I was pretty happy with him for only having four rides this year and the last one was a month ago.  He is sure a nice boy.  But big.  He was probly as big as most of the horses at the branding.  Not filled out yet, but sure tall.  I should measure him one day.

More Dinero

Yesterday I posted the pics of George and Dinero I got when I went out last week to check on them.  In the comment section, Shirley mentioned that I should zoom in on the last one and use it as a sale picture.  I had thought of it, but before I got a chance, Sherry had done it for me!  This is what she come up with.

But I had not intedned on using that photo, cause I went out the day after and got some different ones I thought I would use, and this is what I came up with.  This is straight from the camera.

And this is after I was playing with it.  I just cropped and auto contrasted it.

I think he just takes good pictures!  I should get him out and brush him up and then take some pics, but this afternoon we are heading to a branding and I am taking him to roundup, so I guess it will have to wait for another day.

I do have someone who is interested in him, but we just haven't gotten together to see him yet.

Wordless Wednesday

Dinero and Jamaica

Well my two ponies for sale. I have had lots of inquiries on more pictures of the two and many people have refered them to my blog for pictures, so I thought I would post a few new ones taken this morning.  For those not familiar wih a blog, if you click on the names in the bottom beside labels, it will bring up all the posts with that label.  Kinda handy when looking for something specific.

Anyways first Dinero, he is a palomino paint.  3 years old and started and really gentle.  he can be left in the field and easy to catch and anytime you ride him he is the same as ever.  Even if it has been a long time.  He had 4 months riding last year, little arena work but mostly trail rides.  Alone and with others he is good.  Of course a little unsure when alone, but does what he is asked anyways.

Then Jamaica, he is out of my Belle mare.  He was born last year on May 23, and he will not be very tall, but he is solid.  He has been handled a few times and is okay with it.  He is pretty quiet and willing to work with you.

These two boys are pretty nice, but I just have too many.  It gets complicated around here where to put everyone and who to ride.  I didnt realize four horses is way more than I want to ride on a regular day.  I think two is enough, actually some days one is more than enough.

Oh and dont forget to continue to guess for the foaling contest, it will keep going till we get a baby here.  I was a little concerned yesterday when the mares never came up for grain, but nothing they were just eating.  I think they just thought I needed the excersize.

Prairie Fire

On Saturday morning I was just getting ready to head over to Jardi's to start Jamaica on his first walk outside the stall and then we were gonna load up and head to Airdrie to work cows.  Before I could get ready, Neil comes in and asks if I will give him a ride to his bike cause he run out of gas and walked home.  So no problem, we head out and as we get there we look over towards the highway and there is smoke, so we look a little closer and can see its on the other side of the highway but not too far.  We phone who we think the land belongs to and head over there.  Of course we don't have any fire fighting gear and I am in rubber boots.  But we found some old clothes of Neils in his truck and there were lots of sloughs around so that was nice.

We first seen the fire on the neighbors road and since I only had my phone with me I got a  couple shots of it on the way there.  It was bad cause there was so much leftover grass from last year and its really weird to see flames from a grass fire.

It turns out the fire trucks couldn't get to the fire cause the ground was too soft.  We had to put it all out by hand.  But about 30 people showed up and we finally got it out about 1:30. We were the first ones there and luckily the second people there was a neighbor who works for Conoco and she shut down the pumpjack cause the fire was already burning into the lease.  It was a little close.

We rushed home and I changed drove to Jardi's, hooked up the trailer and loaded the horses.  Thanks goodness Char waited for me and brought lunch too!  We got to the arena about 4 and rode our ponies and Razz was awesome on the cows, she did everything right ( I made a few mistakes though).  Then I rode Dinero there and he was such a perfect little guy, we walked trotted and loped and he was even good when the guy came in the arena with the backhoe and loaded up the panels.

Jardi and Susan had left before we did so they had worked thier horses on the cows and Jardi rode Kali and she was pretty sweet!  I can't wait till I get to ride her on cows.  She is a little afraid of them coming at her, but I'm sure she will get over that soon.

We finally got home, unloaded, unhooked, the horses all fed and put away and I headed home.  Never got home till about 9:30 and I had a bath and went to bed.  I was exhausted!