All the other goin' ons

 As I wind my way back to health, slowly increasing what I can do each day, I am thankful for all the well wishes I have received, and work on making my plans for the winter. Mostly, I have everything all set up to be simple when it comes to chores; all hay stored indoors and small square bales instead of the big rounds that I usually buy that require the use of the tractor to move as well as pitchforking the hay into a sled or wheelbarrow to put in the desired feeding area- this year, I can just toss the required amount out into the shelter or the barn. Also- the automatic waterer is the only one needed this winter, as I won't be using the big barn where Beamer was which needed water to be pumped from the stand pipe into my insulated tank that Ted built for me. I often had to take a heat gun to the stand pipe handle to free it up when the weather got really nasty. 

It's coming...

Having only two horses definitely makes the work load lighter, but it sure seems odd to me. 

We are ok with just us two

I did find a farrier that Velvet ok'd , a young lady just starting out with barefoot trimming. Velvet loved her. Gussie tolerated her.  So that is something I can check off my list- I don't have to attempt to trim the mares!

The mares got covered in deer tick bites, nasty lumps that have a yellow crust to them similar to rain rot. Vet said they are deer tick bites and to deworm with ivermectin and spray the mares with Virkon. Done. I did some research on those ticks- they aren't the kind that latch on and suck blood like the wood ticks. Apparently they like pasture with long cover as they are not fond of sunlight and don't we just have pasture with a lot of long grass and tall weeds. We are looking into getting a rough cut mower in to fix that, although it may have to wait until next spring. We are hoping that the recent numerous heavy frosts will have knocked off the ticks, which usually make their first appearance in September, so that gives us some time. 

We got an update on Boe via facebook-  he is doing really well and they love him. They renamed him Willy. 

If you care to check out her page, she posted videos of him trailing cattle on his 12th ride.

Also I have been getting Theo updates, he is thriving and growing. As with all the Beamer babies (like Willy) he has an exceptional mind and they have been working on getting him soft to lead- their 4 yr old daughter can lead him and it's the cutest thing- if he hits the end of the lead rope she scolds him and he softens right up to her. 

I am looking to breed Gussie next year, I have a couple of choices which I will be deciding on within a couple of weeks. I will keep you updated on that!

New routine and a Theo update

 Change is in the air with fall on it's way- today is the last of the 30 C (86F) temps in the forecast. The poplar trees are starting to get yellow leaves, but everything else is still in summer mode. I m hoping that the frosty nights will stay away for a while so my garden can mature- that June 1st frost was a big setback. I really would like some vine ripened tomatoes! But if not, I will be making a batch of green tomato mincemeat. Yum!

I never was after roan horses, I always liked the blacks and the bays best, but now, I have two red roans to look at, and I sure can't complain! I have put Gussie back to work, short rides so far and she isn't excited about having to earn her living now. She  probably thought that at age 21 she should retire!  I won't work her hard, just enough to keep her and me in riding shape. So far I will only be riding on the 20 acres of pasture we have, and maybe up onto the hayfields and the sand pit area, depending on how Velvet reacts. I think she will be fine, but she really doesn't like being alone and may get a little frantic if Gussie gets out of sight. 

We don't do frantic.

They do hang out together a lot, but I notice that they do wander away from each other either for grazing or to go back to the shade of the barn. 

The first day I invited Velvet to come along, which she did until she became bored and stopped to graze  and then head back to the barn. Gussie was certain that she too should be done with being ridden, but mean ole me had other plans. I headed close to the barn and put her to work so that the barn would not be the place to quit. 

As you can see, Gussie is quite disgusted that she has to work for her living these days!

Yesterday, I decided to pony Velvet  and take a bit of a longer ride. Velvet of course, was Not Impressed! Once I got her lined out (she thought she should lead) she was fine. I let her go after a while and continued to ride while she went back to the barn. She is still moping a bit about Theo leaving. 

Since Gussie thought she should follow Velvet, I rode partway to the barn and used it as a place to put her through several exercises, so that she doesn't think that going back to the barn is such a good idea- I think that will continue to be part of our rides as Gussie has a history of being barn/buddy sour. 

Today I will ride out alone and see how that goes. Riding Gussie is all about getting to her mind; she's an emotional girl and being a red head isn't afraid to let her opinion be known. I think I will be doing a lot of away and back, away and back, to help her mentally. 

Now for a Theo update: the hauler reported that he travelled well,  ate and drank well and was easy to load and unload, and Jared (his owner) said that he didn't seem to lose any weight.  He settled in well, slept good and is just being that chill good boy that he was here. He is across the fence from 4 minis, and will be getting turnout with them and will be taken on walks with a warmblood weanling who will be his pasture mate soon. 

Aren't they cute little toe rags!

Today was the day

 Theo's person came to see him and pay for him last week. 

He was quite smitten

He has a gentle hand and seems to get along with Theo. He had to book a hauler for him as his own truck is in for repairs. He also brought a leather halter (as per the hauler's request) and a tube of Gastroguard for Theo.

The hauler for Theo was scheduled for around 9 am today. Around 8:30 I looked out the window and got a surprise.....

Stray cows!  Theo and the girls were quite surprised too but didn't  get overly excited.

But I  thought it might make loading Theo difficult if they were hanging about; fortunately they moved off to the hay field so issue averted. 

I brought Theo out for a few farewell  photos. 

When the trailer pulled in they had a couple of horses in there so of course all the horses got to calling. This is a 4 horse head- to - head set up with a box stall in the middle so that was where Theo would travel. He wasn't  impressed with having to go up a ramp so we brought Velvet out and loaded her. He loaded with her but as soon as she came out he did too, so I  just held Velvet beside the ramp and we used his grain  to get him to go in by himself. A couple of tries at that and I  was able to get the ramp and windows closed while the hauler held Theo in there. 

Of course  once he was closed in the hollering began. 

Velvet paced and hollered for about 15 minutes before she gave up and she's  been quiet ever since.

Gussie was calm and quiet so I  think that helped Velvet to calm down. 

Theo will have a 2 day trip to his new home, overnighting in Kelowna before heading to Vancouver Island. 

Sure is different here with no stallion and no foal!

A thank you, and moving on.

 My heartfelt thanks to everyone who left comments on the passing of Beamer. It means a lot to me that you all loved and admired him too. He was an exceptional horse in looks and temperament as well as in personality. 

Moving on to this new phase in my life is not easy; as is to be expected. I have been filling my time in working with Theo. He is such a delight to work with, and he gives me as much joy as Beamer did- probably because he is so much like his sire. We had a really special moment this morning; I went to the barn to feed the cats, the mares and Theo were out in the pasture. Theo spotted me and came strolling into the barn to see what I was up to, and the mares paid no attention to him leaving them. We had a nice quiet moment together, I brushed him and bent over to scrape the bot eggs off his legs. He laid his neck over me and gave me what  seemed like a horse hug. Not trying to nibble or investigate, just a quiet moment of peace that filled my heart. 

After a bit I went to the house to get my phone for photos on this beautiful sunny day (we had an inch of rain over the last 24 hours) and he hung out at the barn until I came back. I haltered him and led him to the trailer for his daily loading lesson, and he spotted a couple of deer on the front lawn and paused to look at them. He wasn't alarmed or spooking, just stood quietly looking at them for a while before getting into the trailer for his morning bit of feed. 

Trailer training went really well over the last week. The first day, it went like this:

Theo: You want me to WHAT?

Me: Come and get your ration. Yumm!

Theo: Well... maybe. 

He had a few bites of ration, then I called it and tried again in the afternoon. 

Theo: You been holding out on me! Haven't had this for a while!

That evening went much quicker. Right to the door and started munching. 

Doesn't he just look like Beamer here.....

3rd session: Next day we got one foot loaded. And then two. 

 

Theo: I think I got this now

4th session: Me: Good boy, Theo! 

Theo: I am a good boy!

And that's all folks! After that Theo loaded every time without hesitation. Not only that, he willingly backed out right from the first time I asked him. I have yet to close him in the trailer, but that will have to wait for his person to teach. He will be here tomorrow to meet Theo, not sure if he is hauling Theo himself this weekend or if he has a professional hauler coming in a few days. 

I have a little update on a dog I had, remember Thea? She was so intensely wanting to work that I sold her back to her original breeders and now she has a job at the sheep trials that they attend; she sets and holds the flock along with her owner on horseback as they await each contestant. Best thing I ever did for that dog was letting her go. 

Theo 'n' other stuff

 A few things to catch up on in this post. Theo continues to be a delight, and I got a few of his antics to show you. 

When Gussie was in heat, he got a bit excited when Beamer started roaring and the mares were a bit ramped up. 

They weren't too impressed with him

Velvet was rolling and he got all excited- good thing he didn't pounce on her! 

I managed to get an airborne photo- cell phone pic so not very good stop action.  He is all shed out now and looking fantastic. 

Mr. Handsome Jr. 

I'm sure gonna miss him. His person will be here on August 31 to pick him up for the long ride to Vancouver Island. 

Derpy little dude!

I guess it's time to start teaching him to trailer load. He already is easy to catch, leads well, and is pretty good with his feet. I need to start slowly separating him from his mama, so far he doesn't seem too worried when she is a long way away, like when he stays at the barn and she goes out to graze. It's more about Velvet not getting upset than him when I start the process. 

There have been a few photo worthy things too like this little bee sleeping in a cosmo early one cool morning. 

The rain left pearl drops on this spider web.

 

I never notice how very many spider webs there are until they get all covered in dew!

The fire situation seems to be under control. Not nearly as much smoke now that we have had a few days of rain. The rain also softened up horse feet enough so that I could trim Gussie, today is Velvet's turn. I hope she cooperates with me, as she doesn't like my farrier, so I get to do her myself. Silly old mare. 

Theo

 Theo turned 3 months on the 20th, I wanted to do a really good photo shoot but it has been so darn hot I can't take much time outdoors. I did get a few photos though. 

Those orange ear tufts!

Not much baby hair left on him. The weeds he's loping through are wild mustard, all the old corrals here are infested with it. We will, at some point, be spraying with Grazon. 

Plenty of muscle in that hind end!

Straight legs

Velvet outdid herself with Theo. He is better than she is. The mark of a good broodmare. 

Lovely trot

We have news. 

News? What news? 

I put an ad on the Facebook page Horses in Alberta, and got a response from a man in B.C. 

Here is the text from my ad, which included most of these photos: 

This black colt sure is a looker. He is available when weaned in a month. Registered AQHA. Preference will be given to a ranch, rope or performance home. May as well ride a pretty one!
PM for more info. Located just south of Benalto.

After many messages, we made a deal and Theo will go to Vancouver Island at the end of August. Funny thing is, his only complaint was that his head was too pretty! The plan is for Theo to replace his 22 year old heel horse.  While this guy is a team roper, he also has an equestrian center for hunter jumpers and western riding and has clients that show. Check out his page if you wish. Arrowsmith Equestrian

I'm going to miss his spunky li'l self, but it I am glad he will go where he will get used and he will also have a little girl to love up on him ,and eventually become a mount for her. (The warmbloods are too big!)

What's growing here

 I will start with the flowers- yay I have flowers! 

I love this color of snapdragons

The Bill Reid rose survived the -40 winter weather. Highly recommend Morden roses for places that get cold winters. The frothy stuff in the photos is volunteer Cosmos. They self seeded and so did the Calendula, both should flower soon.

This little red bloom is the flower from the Mezoo in my baskets

The verbena and white Alyssum in my baskets

Also growing- the kittens! They are at that delightful stage where they play hard and crash hard. I am feeding them everything the big cats get, plus some milk. It has helped make them easier to pick up and cuddle. 

This one is my sister's kitten, which they decided to name Cece. They will be picking her up on the 20th. Now to find homes for the other 2!

Also growing is Gussie's baby belly. 😊

She's very deceiving, the kind of mare that doesn't get as big as a house like Belle did.

She's in fine form! Getting to that stage in her pregnancy where bursts of speed like this are few and far between. 

Something that isn't growing but is diminishing is Theo's star. That cute little white spot is now just a few white hairs. 

But he is growing in cuteness! He is very friendly and easy to be around. He let me clean his feet this morning as he was laying down snoozing in the sun. They are ready for a proper trimming. I will have to see if my farrier is willing to try, or if I have to do it myself.