Soggy Days

We have had rain 4 out of the last 5 days, sometimes really heavy. Other than not being able to get much done outside, it sure has made the grass grow! The lawn requires mowing twice a week.

 The horses are happy with the new grass. I have been introducing them to fresh grass for about two hours a day to try to get their systems adjusted. The expression "loose as a Goose" also applies to horses!

 Brooklyn is not really scowling, just finishing up a rawhide bone. This is her leave me alone face. She is rather pampered.

 Guess where the horses are. Boots is having to sit up now in order to see his herd.

The horses here are just easing back into the holding area, heading for the barn so to speak. Friday is supposed to be a better day so I can resume my summer activity, lawn cutting.

I Stole a Horse!

Elaine's that is! Elaine was busy and it was a nice day, so I cleaned Alpine up, tacked her up and headed off to the mountain.

It was peaceful with only Brooklyn coming along for the ride. Boots was sleeping in the sun, and being deaf, did not hear us leave.

The road up was muddy, but not overly slippery and the day was sunny and 18C, not bad for this time of year.

As we were going along, I noticed two mallards in a little pot hole and thought "This might be interesting" They took flight right under Alpine's nose. All she did was stiffen up. I was expecting a good spook! It did not happen. Once we got up on the high country field she definitely did not like the wind! We had a couple of differences of opinion to sort out. She wanted to go home, I wanted to go on. We went on for a half mile, just to remind her who is boss, then I turned her and started home. She likes to trot, so trot we did, for about 2 miles. I slowed her to a walk going up the driveway, again, to show her who's boss.

It took a while to get the sweat and mud off her. The sun was hot enough that after a good brushing, she was dry in about 10 minutes. Brooklyn lagged about a half a mile back and was worn out. A few trips like this and some of that extra weight will come off her. I must be getting in shape also as the pain wasn't so bad this time.

Hints of Spring

 The tops of the pussy willow trees are just starting to bud out, a sure sign of spring!

 It's a good thing that they haven't fully come out yet. It is still going down to -10C at night.

The feet however are still in about 4 inches of snow (more like ice). They are tough trees!

The upper pasture should be bare by the weekend, with temperatures in the +9C range.

 Maybe I am just an optimist.

The sky line is about 25 km away, for those that are inquisitive.

The horses are just standing around soaking up the rays. 

Does somebody look a little chubby? Or is it just the camera lens?

Only 4 more days 'till it's officially spring!

YAHOO!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Alpine 2012

Canso, Kenora, 1967

A Little Ride

It went up to the freezing temperature today, and being as caught up as I ever get around here, I decided to take Alpine out for a bit of a ride. She knows all the tricks to prevent a rider from mounting. We worked through that.

She really did not want to leave to the herd! We worked through that too.

All in all, a good hour or so  well spent.

It was a busy time yesterday and today. We went over to Edson and picked up a new (well, new to us) SUV for Elaine. The all wheel drive is great in the snow and on the hills around here. It appears that I might have banked some "Atta boys" for future need.

I also managed to strip 4 teeth out of the main drive sprocket on the quad. That required about an hour's worth of work in the field doing enough repairs to get back to the garage. Now I have to re-do it when the new sprocket comes in. I guess when the sprocket comes in, that will eat up one of the "atta boys". Or maybe more than that!

The next 10 day forecast is all around the freezing point which is good as I plan to wear off some of the fat on the horses.

Only 54 days 'till spring!
Bring it on!

Training Continues

With the warm weather of December, and continuing on into January, it is time to start the training of Alpine again. Besides being overweight and herd bound, she was starting to exhibit some disrespectful attitude, like turning her butt towards me. Unfortunately, in one way, the warm weather has meant that the roads etc are too icy for riding. However, on the other hand, the problems need to be addressed on the ground first, before getting into the saddle. I am getting old enough to not enjoy the healing process very much anymore. Now, that is an old thought, and I should not be having those!

So, it started yesterday. Brush her down and turn her loose in the paddock, followed by 20 minutes of moving her around with a swinging rope and no lunge line. After the 20 minutes, her ears were on me, she stopped and started chewing, IE. thinking. I turned my back and waited and she hooked up to me and put her head on my shoulder. She then followed me to the gate where I hooked her up to the lead line and took her for  a half mile walk. She was as good as gold with no attempt to go back to her herd.

Today, I figured on doing the same thing to Biz, who also had the above symptoms. Instead, Alpine came up to me and nuzzled the halter. So off we went. I brushed her, moved her around the paddock until she hooked up, then we went for a one mile walk, both of us. Again, she was extremely well behaved. She didn't spook when 4 of the neighbours horses came running up to the fence, nor did she spook (other than laugh) when I slipped on the ice and went down.

A real bonus occurred when two kids came up on two VERY loud snow machines, you know, the kind with a large engine, but very small muffler. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt by suggesting that there may be a muffler involved somewhere. She didn't like it at all, went to high alert (Defcon3), but did not try to run. The kids were good, they slowed down and went by real slow before hitting the throttle again.

Tomorrow, I may throw a saddle on her in the upper field where there is some snow and good traction.

I will also find out who is hurting the most, me or her. This is the part that I like, training or retaining a horse. Maybe I should look for a young filly in the spring. Nope, bad thought as Elaine said "No more animals". I guess that I should work with what I've got and be thankful for the blessings that the Lord has given us!

Black on White

November 12 was the first day that we awakened to a full covering of snow! The contrast between the hairy horses and the snow  was rather startling. Fortunately they have all got their winter coats.

Even the protective wire on the trees was covered.

The landscape has really changed from the posts of a few days ago.

 Happy winter everybody!

Perils of a Horse

 One of the biggest fears of a horse is that some critter may be lurking in the bushes, waiting to pounce and devour the horse.

 Lets have a closer look. Bear, wolf, coyote? Nope, only Boots.

No matter what the hazard, I can swish with the best!

A Great Weekend!

Elaine has gone to summer camp with the grand kids so I kind of had a honey do list. However, yesterday, I played truant and saddled up Alpine. I figured she needed some miles on her, and I needed a trail ride. So, off we went. The gate was open to our neighbour's half section and the cows (bulls) weren't in there yet. Alpine was a little skittish at first, but settled down into a steady trot. Can that horse trot! Two hours later, she was still trotting on the way home. It was very difficult to get her to walk. She just wanted to trot! I am not sure if that is a trait of the Morgan horse or not. It took a good half hour to catch her rhythm, which appeared to be totally different from the other horses. I was tempted to go to a cantor, but decided as I was alone in the middle of 320 acres populated by deer, moose and whatever, it was probably not a good idea.

I hate to say it, but I think that I am a little out of shape, as my legs did not want to work very well after the two hours.

Boots came along for the ride and man, was his butt dragging by the time we got back! I could tell where he was in the hay field because there was a bow wave spreading out. Brooklynn started out, but disappeared about 20 minutes into the ride. I found her sleeping under the deck looking very comfortable. 

Today we have a high wind so it's back to chores. I trimmed some brush growing around  hiding the shed, transplanted my slightly root bound mint, weeded a garden and picked a half gallon of our raspberries. It looks like it's going to be a good crop! Last year we put 100 pounds in the freezer and will probably get the same amount this year. Now, all I need is a good recipe for raspberry crisp, or ?

Tomorrow its back to town to water the church plants (Elaine's job, normally) then over to check on the hay cutting/ baling. I am hoping my truck will last long enough to get the hay home. Fortunately, it is only about a 2 mile round trip times ten to get the 300 bales home. It turns out that I not only blew a plug, but lost a valve. The transmission is also starting to slip. I really like the truck, but it is a 2001 and how much money do you feed into it?  It's 16 hours labour at $80/hour plus the cost of a used motor. I haven't looked at the transmission cost . It is probably time to cut the cost and look at a good used replacement. Drat!

I hope all you folks in Canada had a really good long weekend, and that you folks in the U.S can get a working compromise regarding debt reduction. We don't need another world recession!