'Tis the season....

 What's Christmas without a Beamer photo shoot? 

All decked out in his ribbons

Hoping the girlz will notice...

Oh girrrrlz, where are you?.... 

(They ran down to the pasture)

Hello handsome!

Come baaaack....
(He rolled and left his mane ribbons in the snow)

This morning we were blessed with a spectacular sunrise. Such a warm day too!  

Here's hoping all those of you who are travelling to be with loved ones and family will have a safe journey. Many blessings for all those who don't have family or are shut ins and spend Christmas alone. 

God bless you all!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Around the farm on a wintery day

 We got a dump of heavy wet snow- maybe it will stick around for Christmas!

There's always something to see- like cat tracks amongst stripey shadows....

and coyote tracks going through Belle's pen right where I feed her....

and sun stars....

and barn cats who can't decide if I am friend or foe...

and mama Belle looking good- although this damp cold weather isn't helping her arthritis one bit.

 Ruby and I went for a walk to check out the river. It's finally frozen all over. That halter though- it's the one that came with her and I am giving it to Shayla for some of her draft cross horses. I have one that will fit her better, or maybe make a new one just for her. 

Then there's this guy...

Yep Humphrey is back! Cleaning up the bird seed. I would love to be able to get a good photo of him but if I go outside he hides. So through the living room window it is!

So- are all your ducks in a row for Christmas? Mine are!

Fun in the sun

 The morning sun, that is. It was a brisk -10 C this morning, but the morning light was so inviting I had to get one of my big girl cameras out for chore time. I had a bit of fun taking unusual horse photos; what I call bits and pieces photos. When I first went out, the sky was all pink and purple....

but by the time I was done feeding cats and horses, it went orange and gold. 

Velvet is  the most photogenic (apart from Beamer!) because the light captures her red and gold so beautifully. Ruby, alas, would barely lift her head from the hay pile, so  Velvet photos it is!

I am totally smitten with her mane! I have never had any other horse whose mane splits to both sides and hangs below her neck. And doesn't need a lot of brushing to keep it nice!

Mama Belle in the shadows looks completely different than in the bright light:

Well, I did manage one photo of Beamer, but sadly the focus isn't very good- but the expression is priceless!

Please don't tell me you want me to stop eating for photos!

The (large) girls

 I saddled up Ruby. Well.... first she had to let me know she Wasn't Best Pleased about being haltered. She has Opinions about being caught, I have to convince her by walking and blocking with her. But I always let her know I'm pleased once she's haltered! Silly mare. 

The new stirrups didn't add any weight to the saddle, in fact they may be lighter than the leather wrapped ones it came with. That was the only thing I was concerned about, so bonus!

Ruby has definitely gotten... rotund, shall we say?

That back cinch is on the last hole, both sides and it's pretty snug! I always ride with the back cinch laying on the belly, so I reckon in another month I won't be saddling her, so I hope to get in a few rides this month while the weather holds, even if they are only round pen rides.  I didn't really ride this time, just had Ted longe me on her so I could get the feel for the stirrups. Her back has gotten really round too, so the saddle is wanting to roll a bit. I also had to go with a longer cinch. 

Baby belly bump! Due in 4 and a half months

I took her for a stroll up to the mail box and back through the hay field, we both enjoyed the walk. She strides right out beside me on a loose lead, not perfectly but pretty good. A couple times I had to ask her to move over and not crowd me. Although I wasn't riding, everything I do with her is a learning curve for both of us. I see that she is willing and not reactive, and she sees that I am paying attention to her and keeping her safe - and letting her have a bite of one of the bales that are still on the field! Partnership isn't always achieved only in the saddle. 

I will trim the excess strap from the bosal hanger, and add a throatlatch rope. 

Ruby isn't the only one getting large- check out Velvet's baby belly!

She looks huge already but remember she is only 14 hands. She is due in 4 months! For an older mare, she is holding her weight really well through this pregnancy, and I see no reason that she won't have a lovely healthy foal at the age of almost 24. (Which she will be on May 16 next year.) Here is what she looked like as a baby.

If her foal looks anything like that I will be over the moon!

Never assume

 Never assume the worst, that is. On the other hand, if you do, then it's always a pleasant surprise when you are proven wrong!

I had a pleasant surprise this morning when I went to feed the barn cats and Smokey was there, meowing loudly and demanding his canned cat food! He didn't get et by coyotes after all! 

The two Siamese, Misty and Smudge weren't best pleased though, as Smokey is a very bossy hissy cat. Just look at that crabby face! He hisses at me and I hiss right back at him. Now if only Bandit shows up I will be happy, he went missing 2 days after Smokey. 

We have another blast of cold air lately, nights down to -18 C and hovering around or just below freezing during the day. They are saying there is a probability of a brown Christmas- I'm ok with that as it means the mares can graze longer and that will save on the amount of hay I have to feed. 

I bought myself an early Christmas present 😄 Ever since I broke my ankle last year it has affected my balance and my confidence in the saddle, part of the reason I haven't been riding much this year. I still have pain in the arch of my foot and narrow stirrups make it worse. So here is what I bought to help with that:

A set of 5 inch tread stirrups, that I can rest the whole width of my whole foot on, and a night latch handle that buckles onto the swells of the saddle - something to grab if I feel off balance. With plus temps coming up for the next few days, it will be perfect for trying them out. Ruby won't be best pleased, I'm sure after having a few months off!

How pathetic!

I also finished the adjustments on my bosal, at least she won't have a cold bit to deal with!  That bosal is special to me, it is actually a bit heavy as it is designed for colt breaking and was braided for me by 93 year old (at the time, he is now deceased) Al Grandchamp, considered a Master Rawhider in his day. He lived to be 102 and passed away in 2009.  But it will do for now, if Ruby works well in it I may invest in a lighter one someday.