tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83599156513097862412024-03-18T17:02:04.773-07:00Raincoast RiderTraining and adventures of Bridget, Sophie, and their human.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.comBlogger1446125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-13762051257909867502024-03-18T11:15:00.000-07:002024-03-18T11:15:27.242-07:00Weekend Scenes and Further Arena Building<p> We went from snow last week, to summer temperatures this week. The ponies are all well started shedding their winter coats, but I think we were all feeling the surprise destination vacation temperatures (and I managed to get a sunburn).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe1tkhxbsRDN35oAGQpjnXkyMUA1S4BPOkOeGx1veaaBkURlC5MTMulqgoeAoKZl1G0I6pk1VVC4Lqwn7TwkZAYEJCXRu3Gx-0Qc6BUNio-UG9EKZVj9zulhEEFzSXY-8abeI_Xdt35wVKxu_ZDCN2037CHtWaDkKEruRT0ek67L5YXwxTMyrLa6o8DIj/s6240/3-_DSF0988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe1tkhxbsRDN35oAGQpjnXkyMUA1S4BPOkOeGx1veaaBkURlC5MTMulqgoeAoKZl1G0I6pk1VVC4Lqwn7TwkZAYEJCXRu3Gx-0Qc6BUNio-UG9EKZVj9zulhEEFzSXY-8abeI_Xdt35wVKxu_ZDCN2037CHtWaDkKEruRT0ek67L5YXwxTMyrLa6o8DIj/w400-h266/3-_DSF0988.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry blossoms appearing!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The big project this week was that we had a giant dump truck load of sand delivered for the riding arena. I probably haven't discussed here, but this project is taking forever partly because we essentially live on an island and the materials available are the materials available locally. I checked into barging some in from the lower coast and it's just way too cost prohibitive. The local pits sell drain rock, 3/4minus/road base, bigger granite rock sizes...and sand. We don't have the crush rock/limestone/clay/whatever you'd normally use to cap an arena. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQGTV0og7d2QAwajHqDNZX-MlGf0rgXUDbHe5nhEa88TgCRpCwlPBmxgFCQPsy8nF7i8FjlHGKVok85rQZyr8JXcIt8-Wz66qe1mH_bw2a1AXG3lO9i9Of2lw1YjP1FCRwKDLuiqO5naMe9GNQUMII3T5MPJBUms3ZWkrY7l4Lmj4eNQQzS1JgO_TWopo/s6240/12-_DSF0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQGTV0og7d2QAwajHqDNZX-MlGf0rgXUDbHe5nhEa88TgCRpCwlPBmxgFCQPsy8nF7i8FjlHGKVok85rQZyr8JXcIt8-Wz66qe1mH_bw2a1AXG3lO9i9Of2lw1YjP1FCRwKDLuiqO5naMe9GNQUMII3T5MPJBUms3ZWkrY7l4Lmj4eNQQzS1JgO_TWopo/w400-h266/12-_DSF0247.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chief inspector</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>There are a couple of local arenas I like the feel of, so I'm just trying to do what they did, which means giving the base a winter to settle, then re leveling and adding a super thin layer of sand on top and compacting that. There's a sand locally that has a bit of clay and fines that seems to do the trick as a nice 'mid layer' between the base and the footing. The thing with this plan is that I just spent three days of my life raking and dragging and levelling 1" of sand around a 80x120' space. For the right person, this might have felt very meditative zen garden, but I'm not that person. The temptation to skip this step and just dump some footing on top and call it good felt very very real even about an hour into raking and spreading :) But, it will all be worth it in the end, right?</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAHzQV2g-JEKcFnGOM2F8ac0UWRxOdxwmUrchdAZ8pMj0kQStl8OGKlSfQbWIjWi-W1XOGzsaojK6qdcdTaJl04IwD1IleQ1FSHUVJsKgvo_raDvQjTYzeaVAwYThKPgVFRiDqsCT0lc1HncujdtxpLqfHCp0SWTLuDIzcZf3sv6lI9wO4SaBxyQpJgZI/s6240/9-_DSF0355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAHzQV2g-JEKcFnGOM2F8ac0UWRxOdxwmUrchdAZ8pMj0kQStl8OGKlSfQbWIjWi-W1XOGzsaojK6qdcdTaJl04IwD1IleQ1FSHUVJsKgvo_raDvQjTYzeaVAwYThKPgVFRiDqsCT0lc1HncujdtxpLqfHCp0SWTLuDIzcZf3sv6lI9wO4SaBxyQpJgZI/w400-h266/9-_DSF0355.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yellow labrapony loves to 'help'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Other than that, I kept busy prepping the garden and replacing some fence and harrowing and planting more grass seed in the front so the horses can go out there again. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpMjQYoXHWma2if626nR5FhJn2iqK5hgzd40ULdk4XAGQzde7od2em1NRNdk88dGxhriH0lxJV_58hCo6U7xkhK0351dwGTnaWUikd4KFATFmbVqT8FPM_giQiGyFwgwHGKjN-lUq2M4zzM6dxIntCY7OpHHTuhqQa8cjNOI7tP5izb1zlkn2wngiTm4i/s5797/2-_DSF1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5797" data-original-width="3865" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpMjQYoXHWma2if626nR5FhJn2iqK5hgzd40ULdk4XAGQzde7od2em1NRNdk88dGxhriH0lxJV_58hCo6U7xkhK0351dwGTnaWUikd4KFATFmbVqT8FPM_giQiGyFwgwHGKjN-lUq2M4zzM6dxIntCY7OpHHTuhqQa8cjNOI7tP5izb1zlkn2wngiTm4i/w266-h400/2-_DSF1009.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is not allowed in the garden but would like to be</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FNjLvY37VyMA0Lhbx7ssFzjLcVYUqwbcXaU8gvYq-NLQsLA_gt7gkNtJZ79R8QidSqqRsGhh6cICPjmn2Ly6gYl-JhAiCokT6HuZl-OqWALwmbrMm2co5Ru7PaYFKZr6bgM3CzVFiGzYLe4DkIZrFIFg8GYuGjoC3xdhr6RrkIFkHJv-mgUyktoTigyW/s6240/1-_DSF1020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FNjLvY37VyMA0Lhbx7ssFzjLcVYUqwbcXaU8gvYq-NLQsLA_gt7gkNtJZ79R8QidSqqRsGhh6cICPjmn2Ly6gYl-JhAiCokT6HuZl-OqWALwmbrMm2co5Ru7PaYFKZr6bgM3CzVFiGzYLe4DkIZrFIFg8GYuGjoC3xdhr6RrkIFkHJv-mgUyktoTigyW/w266-h400/1-_DSF1020.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to tempt me to forget the garden, she brought me her ball. She's so distracting and cute.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Sophie just had some short rides barely worth mentioning as I'm still feeling pretty cautious about the saddle. I have a bodyworker person coming next weekend so that will be good for feedback.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgX8QbDyteEMpkTGc3lFB_IJa9msXGn26oo0Dm9RV2v4iOaHq17PXqJNBc3ZTwHRV34hMuXTrrlMe24mbHsdzNxWDDfn1QaJluLjijhgiuKa5Dd4BgW2jhVKFwwCZwlWCuIYY2HJ8wMz7LuMtxuz26QE1GWYbBqObJxm23SD_Qkc0wglcFQ8sGN7bpSO1/s6240/7-_DSF0463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgX8QbDyteEMpkTGc3lFB_IJa9msXGn26oo0Dm9RV2v4iOaHq17PXqJNBc3ZTwHRV34hMuXTrrlMe24mbHsdzNxWDDfn1QaJluLjijhgiuKa5Dd4BgW2jhVKFwwCZwlWCuIYY2HJ8wMz7LuMtxuz26QE1GWYbBqObJxm23SD_Qkc0wglcFQ8sGN7bpSO1/w400-h266/7-_DSF0463.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reggie is finally starting to level and fill out a little</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePXgitXM311Hd5zHlJgRTM-F58FSzj1BzoXGr6QRJaCTgg4g53M1VvOCWtDtFVjq48L2pjVwynO9U5keK-r2pk8tMjkWHFVhPkZ9liL9tt3v3DxnI0X0UmVpg8lvhl-yE-oVdURv2K3lG8OenrbR-mK7qHLDthbZjxZpq_avsk47KmMiaFEXp9BYDrekD/s6240/6-_DSF0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePXgitXM311Hd5zHlJgRTM-F58FSzj1BzoXGr6QRJaCTgg4g53M1VvOCWtDtFVjq48L2pjVwynO9U5keK-r2pk8tMjkWHFVhPkZ9liL9tt3v3DxnI0X0UmVpg8lvhl-yE-oVdURv2K3lG8OenrbR-mK7qHLDthbZjxZpq_avsk47KmMiaFEXp9BYDrekD/w400-h266/6-_DSF0590.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little more suspicious of our activities than Sophie is but I like letting them hang out while we do things in the yard, it doesn't normally take too long before they're hanging out and investigating everything. A really easy way for them to see a bit of the world and trust us a bit more.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iITSFaG_saJyK318Mnm5-pxFaE6_K6AQpuKShcM3sZEphV2yIwS14oIJILbErD3Ro1qdbdng-IVxlKkbEL0zdAVNLo5fbQANXVAWVcfQi5iJUxq_Fw_eA-CFy136oEfD8w68CTXktv8n7HpM-y3oPo-4zJmmhvMupcqLDnXFOcZiF-D5Bk43gjkxSEDv/s3079/5-_DSF0594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2052" data-original-width="3079" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iITSFaG_saJyK318Mnm5-pxFaE6_K6AQpuKShcM3sZEphV2yIwS14oIJILbErD3Ro1qdbdng-IVxlKkbEL0zdAVNLo5fbQANXVAWVcfQi5iJUxq_Fw_eA-CFy136oEfD8w68CTXktv8n7HpM-y3oPo-4zJmmhvMupcqLDnXFOcZiF-D5Bk43gjkxSEDv/w400-h266/5-_DSF0594.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He'd come visit and investigate then 'scare' himself and run back to his friends (definitely a game and not actually scared)</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>The boys are still pretty low key as far as any 'to do' lists. They get groomed, they get their feet handled, they go for short walks, they get reminders on basic manners. There's a long list of things I can see need to be addressed (they're both very sensitive and reactive, Reggie in a 'chaos is fun and exciting' kind of way, Bakari in an actual 'this is worrying' way), but also the nice thing about babies is that there's really no rush and a little bit every day is far more productive right now than 'training' things head on. They're light years ahead of where they were when they arrived as far as trusting us and doing all the things. (I mean slow and steady feels like best case with every horse, but baby ponies brains fill up so quickly you really aren't tempted to push anything.)</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KpGpTtc_-BIQQV7Ov53ucC0BIDReFA3bZX0ZS9ZJwv8gDOWrdIJv71NJJF7nHBjO_Qiq_-_rHvJWqGwf33SimgrYdahvqygrmrAQYv4pJG4eQwjtFqHr-pNgSwK_bu39QWK4V9cLF39okqJ40T8wWHP8rdHZ0bwav40foJuKos_gOMHWjTFKg6JjolIX/s6240/4-_DSF0980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KpGpTtc_-BIQQV7Ov53ucC0BIDReFA3bZX0ZS9ZJwv8gDOWrdIJv71NJJF7nHBjO_Qiq_-_rHvJWqGwf33SimgrYdahvqygrmrAQYv4pJG4eQwjtFqHr-pNgSwK_bu39QWK4V9cLF39okqJ40T8wWHP8rdHZ0bwav40foJuKos_gOMHWjTFKg6JjolIX/w400-h266/4-_DSF0980.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck is a lot more reliant on his friends so he just grazes and naps up closer to them. He can be curious and he's actually super friendly, but he's a lot more reserved and cautious than Sophie and Reggie are. He actually reminds me a lot of Bridget in a way.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Depending on what I'm up to with Sophie, I have a clinic booked in April that was originally for her, but I think it could also be fun to take the boys for a baby horse outing and short groundwork lesson.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Lek1eo0S2LMU2c3G5PPvFm8r77MDZSqW-SEVjnw5jMQ-HiUZ6BugyTn7G2uwYdqxK8l2bctkrGfV11WLtOTuWbl1-ZSRnulFxRFVsM1exKie7Aq0EX2qbOEeMAID5OfUXMnoX6W3sT5TvnVyH8vwtqODkcQM63KlcPsdv0jZ_iO40oSBH7b3K-v7_SG7/s6240/10-_DSF0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Lek1eo0S2LMU2c3G5PPvFm8r77MDZSqW-SEVjnw5jMQ-HiUZ6BugyTn7G2uwYdqxK8l2bctkrGfV11WLtOTuWbl1-ZSRnulFxRFVsM1exKie7Aq0EX2qbOEeMAID5OfUXMnoX6W3sT5TvnVyH8vwtqODkcQM63KlcPsdv0jZ_iO40oSBH7b3K-v7_SG7/w400-h266/10-_DSF0304.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick trip to town for lunch, with a Vancouver Island view reminding me why I like it here</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Looks like the beautiful weather will be here for a couple more days then we'll be back to the usual. I'm loving every minute of it. It's so easy to feel depressed here with the never ending rain and cold so this has definitely felt like a nice vacation from it all.</p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-79076575239335782802024-03-11T09:27:00.000-07:002024-03-11T09:31:01.707-07:00There and Back Again<p> I'm getting to be not so great at this blogging thing this spring.</p><p>I was having such a good start to the year, then of course we had a sore backed pony which led me down the inevitable rabbit hole of saddle fitting, tack issues, hormones, maybe we need a vet, maybe a smaller jockey, maybe the ulcers are back etc etc etc. That one can spiral fast (and of course I let it and went to Level 10 Worry rather than 'maybe we just overdid it on the day' :/)</p><p>It's still pretty early in the year, but our little detour did still impact a few of my plans and our calendar is clear through mid April. Which is fine, because the spring feelings are strong in the Banana Pony and the chaos levels are higher than ideal in all the creatures inhabiting our little backyard Ponyville.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXzHwfqVtyxjNzR4EpFbPpkc42z67LfcN4EXtZ5CtHebWbZvG0oVZBrFB_ks7Reuk7Mp-TyWF5GfxBxdj10Qd7Rbbd-B1VgGhHpJPt-1EbVjrRxn7ZWxeE3pP_g94dHvKDqFgkdf9h4oDLXXU3HKema3hYKneMI9dZfnVkVjiyzOVQ8MJH1mjhJCIHNaf/s6240/7-_DSF0144.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXzHwfqVtyxjNzR4EpFbPpkc42z67LfcN4EXtZ5CtHebWbZvG0oVZBrFB_ks7Reuk7Mp-TyWF5GfxBxdj10Qd7Rbbd-B1VgGhHpJPt-1EbVjrRxn7ZWxeE3pP_g94dHvKDqFgkdf9h4oDLXXU3HKema3hYKneMI9dZfnVkVjiyzOVQ8MJH1mjhJCIHNaf/w400-h266/7-_DSF0144.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not helped by the beginning of March bringing absolutely ridiculous weather and leaving snow on the ground for a week.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIY_hxlhEE_BCTNojza5ouxKwQtuzqpKTjokgkWRs1EmHmM8O6vaP5vVDSxmicjH9I_JSBeewmSM8q0u7pYWoLkt8Gx9SIh4vcPWVe2Bsw-EdcYCF4Ykmxd1fLPYNrIaYYtWbDR2YhRabJNg0nrhHPIZgpgvNojDtboK6Ep5Q1kkpZGon_n30Fz5tfWtW/s6240/10-_DSF0073.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIY_hxlhEE_BCTNojza5ouxKwQtuzqpKTjokgkWRs1EmHmM8O6vaP5vVDSxmicjH9I_JSBeewmSM8q0u7pYWoLkt8Gx9SIh4vcPWVe2Bsw-EdcYCF4Ykmxd1fLPYNrIaYYtWbDR2YhRabJNg0nrhHPIZgpgvNojDtboK6Ep5Q1kkpZGon_n30Fz5tfWtW/w266-h400/10-_DSF0073.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie's 'let me outta here' face. She gets out to graze most days but it's just so wet and everything is so muddy it's pretty limited right now. We've had numerous windstorms too, so it feels like it's been a part time job picking up all the branches and fixing fences.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I did of course have Sophie's saddle checked (it got a thumbs up which...I hope is true, lol I have no faith anymore) but I also added this <a href="https://thinlinecanada.ca/shop/english-saddle-pads/basic-pads/perfect-fit-pad-english/?v=3e8d115eb4b3&doing_wp_cron=1709746740.9739201068878173828125" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thinline pad</a> because I thought it might be the safest thing that might help but also not impact the saddle fit. I went down the rabbit hole of looking for actual science on any of them and came up pretty empty, but here, take my money anyway, I guess. She also got a new (<a href="https://stubbennorthamerica.com/product/equi-soft-girth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stubben Equi-soft</a>) girth which is kind of a 'meh' for her currently, but I think once summer comes or if I clip her it will be a win (she's annoyed by her winter coat getting caught/laying the wrong way in it so we're sticking with her sheepskin crescent girth most days). It's actually slightly fascinating how loose you can leave the Stubben girth though and still have it doing it's job. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRp_wxJWeMmBuwL02GBwasEos1VO5qokbmMNrVKce8csWCDmXm4iR7nz4yMErwo65TjHXo0fpju2sdbybwRIccMLc33NcVM5Ft8rE2_dwaR1kujxSyGj9FU66S9XM9Sy65ZUrK8TB1BDcpp-a8-B-6JB1d1aRRJcCi7axklcPbMJccmNEz6e-bvXx5Ydu/s3365/3-IMG_20240309_172830.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2507" data-original-width="3365" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRp_wxJWeMmBuwL02GBwasEos1VO5qokbmMNrVKce8csWCDmXm4iR7nz4yMErwo65TjHXo0fpju2sdbybwRIccMLc33NcVM5Ft8rE2_dwaR1kujxSyGj9FU66S9XM9Sy65ZUrK8TB1BDcpp-a8-B-6JB1d1aRRJcCi7axklcPbMJccmNEz6e-bvXx5Ydu/w400-h297/3-IMG_20240309_172830.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing something about that fence behind her is my other current part time job. It's horse safe, but it's on it's last legs. As you might be able to see in some of my pictures, the neighbours on both sides have a lot of stuff piled or built right up against us. We've been slowly reclaiming the space and replacing fences and planting hedges. That rock pile behind her is also a work in progress, I would like to get them installed before we put the ring footing down.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4EeoarORQy_kl65UZ-nQtT336-LtK7Lv3zMpCDWawRDT97TNaeOT4VZIlnoZcNJEyl0GHJ5gGmFQqM1t0gNwY25rzcd0DEpXOVp9lPoddArUs55MsE2pZUUB6a_Wjxn8xJbVWtPrKVoKPdg0ZQ29_s9i5W_5uQtZCBlLK7vi0EXKg90o1OEs3hDQX-8p/s4000/2-IMG_20240309_173703__01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4EeoarORQy_kl65UZ-nQtT336-LtK7Lv3zMpCDWawRDT97TNaeOT4VZIlnoZcNJEyl0GHJ5gGmFQqM1t0gNwY25rzcd0DEpXOVp9lPoddArUs55MsE2pZUUB6a_Wjxn8xJbVWtPrKVoKPdg0ZQ29_s9i5W_5uQtZCBlLK7vi0EXKg90o1OEs3hDQX-8p/s320/2-IMG_20240309_173703__01.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitty Judge at E</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The obvious of having the vet take a look isn't as obvious as you'd first think because the vet visits us once a month and is very busy in her own practice, so I'm looking at mid April for non emergent appts. But, fingers crossed Sophie seems pretty happy (and has a bodywork person coming to take a look in a couple of weeks) so I'll let it wait.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcKg_EPabgDgX8BTo85uegeh6piscipdP5s-WI0Ooz3zHbiQtKzyA08lbCLohqbS6YdSmt7JMiV3CPkENWIS3x3SlN3nOew1Q-X8C9caDOvEyNd6RsP5l_T6hoBr3spiU8tJhbTCIvUNuZ5-hBtnEOOlMvBbqUcY-yiNT3LJ_Lu40p7UcnzSn3chsRrHo/s4000/1-IMG_20240310_113756.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcKg_EPabgDgX8BTo85uegeh6piscipdP5s-WI0Ooz3zHbiQtKzyA08lbCLohqbS6YdSmt7JMiV3CPkENWIS3x3SlN3nOew1Q-X8C9caDOvEyNd6RsP5l_T6hoBr3spiU8tJhbTCIvUNuZ5-hBtnEOOlMvBbqUcY-yiNT3LJ_Lu40p7UcnzSn3chsRrHo/w300-h400/1-IMG_20240310_113756.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No turnout plus windstorm meant I had some regrets this day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Speaking of vet visits, the terrible twosome are in need of gelding. I might actually take them over to the vet clinic on the island for a special trip rather than wait the month or two for a local appt. Buck continues to be a pretty standard baby cob, my guy though is giving signs he'll be a much nicer gelding and that we should get that done soon-ish. Even if the cocky boy thing just who he is, being able to turn him out with adult horses (hopefully Sophie can do the job) will be a win for keeping him in check. I can't even believe I am implying there is any scenario where Sophie would bring chaos levels down, but I think we might have found one!<p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_qCnjWFj-c6lRPgSkjSVwwf3wlK-kno7waxFKkGzY98s_rEX0E0kXubg2_vti7Xh7ek-VVj3qhb_e6BCh0iuiwm3TyhmrnthcwhPX8nDnSCb9NXH-b6l4fUPX-vyztfNzENKnerlvgG0JJRRMmyGFBJbJpdNEGOU_YjDNlcZ6j2MOuSyISRSRV_aYXHo/s4000/4-IMG_20240309_101545.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_qCnjWFj-c6lRPgSkjSVwwf3wlK-kno7waxFKkGzY98s_rEX0E0kXubg2_vti7Xh7ek-VVj3qhb_e6BCh0iuiwm3TyhmrnthcwhPX8nDnSCb9NXH-b6l4fUPX-vyztfNzENKnerlvgG0JJRRMmyGFBJbJpdNEGOU_YjDNlcZ6j2MOuSyISRSRV_aYXHo/s320/4-IMG_20240309_101545.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fingers crossed for group turnout this spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht77bWcxRCGjHK8gP9P1dOk0Pi-FEnqmg5lpIAc6Ao8X8Nd7i_KjRAC02Dt8s52WPb0Y2MUJKRQA9_zfZgcbauWtAQHt-EGdwk6hKC9LwzgQlolbi13Ugg8T6WMydB29Zm4X0i64Zzzr8of8qemzGo3QsFSJe2DsG4yFduNbWTDKhnuCtukSE4IpeffxLT/s4000/5-IMG_20240305_164928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht77bWcxRCGjHK8gP9P1dOk0Pi-FEnqmg5lpIAc6Ao8X8Nd7i_KjRAC02Dt8s52WPb0Y2MUJKRQA9_zfZgcbauWtAQHt-EGdwk6hKC9LwzgQlolbi13Ugg8T6WMydB29Zm4X0i64Zzzr8of8qemzGo3QsFSJe2DsG4yFduNbWTDKhnuCtukSE4IpeffxLT/w300-h400/5-IMG_20240305_164928.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought the potted plants would look nice, but we're on version 2.0 of 'horses definitely wouldn't eat this plant (RIP expensive palm trees)' and yet they live to tear them apart and pull them out of the pots.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S0munjdlzAzdRV2FCkruE_EKrvl2b4zyhwoHfB6S0adu06MP1KXw6CWDhbm2JfHjNFfQK2Dprxx56HJSJEPZidXRPFB3mRsbfhyphenhyphenpxvVkRzkGgbLGzcAnbwfpBWxmgi-rU8sVmFfAB8ZjQxOLKp87I_i6tZV83fvbVPnLYYlgT5l_s2_pj9AWV9fBVjJO/s4000/IMG_20240302_114716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S0munjdlzAzdRV2FCkruE_EKrvl2b4zyhwoHfB6S0adu06MP1KXw6CWDhbm2JfHjNFfQK2Dprxx56HJSJEPZidXRPFB3mRsbfhyphenhyphenpxvVkRzkGgbLGzcAnbwfpBWxmgi-rU8sVmFfAB8ZjQxOLKp87I_i6tZV83fvbVPnLYYlgT5l_s2_pj9AWV9fBVjJO/w300-h400/IMG_20240302_114716.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Been keeping track of how much they're growing. This isn't super accurate, just a weight tape and trying to measure height on a non level surface, but you can see the trend.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-10380652965404140412024-02-27T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-27T06:00:00.242-08:00Weekly Happenings<p> It's been about forever since a Bridget update! You'll remember she's with riding friends across town. I get very regular updates and ride with her new family every now and then, so in my mind she's always right here and good, but then I never actually give the blog proof of life.</p><p>Her little girl loves her and they make the perfect pair. Also B may or may not have found herself a new friend.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06Js0UY-GF4OVe1jVH390PH6GLYYuycxAS0tG0kefiXM1VZdy_Gx-4kkGHDoicUl15CNtayEIJx3-jgmav5kpViWP0dGR0CU0ngzIBQFjkbfslT87DrhH9Xfhyocz2wqPrkJ3geZ81O6LAysZSpuiNUPtqK1VQVsaM0HIPepLVNfb04AtCqZmYnmTipJy/s1600/IMG_20240226_114929_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06Js0UY-GF4OVe1jVH390PH6GLYYuycxAS0tG0kefiXM1VZdy_Gx-4kkGHDoicUl15CNtayEIJx3-jgmav5kpViWP0dGR0CU0ngzIBQFjkbfslT87DrhH9Xfhyocz2wqPrkJ3geZ81O6LAysZSpuiNUPtqK1VQVsaM0HIPepLVNfb04AtCqZmYnmTipJy/s320/IMG_20240226_114929_01.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet the new friend, same as the old friend</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OJ7aA_4E37BVsfT4BVnK9m_H-uPzh3es8-MPnkQcyvF7a4g74cyAv-yXzYQvxtZKkNkcpkALBC1OQwUcPB45mcHFpkCRkbUkCkIjZBjTDCa5b10X8J_Zdaxs3wsY2y4W2BjC1MTNNpbq9gVvgQHz588ULW_RIdjYmWpJVfwZLOiq3z0VJ-IOMufG54__/s1600/IMG_20240226_114828_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OJ7aA_4E37BVsfT4BVnK9m_H-uPzh3es8-MPnkQcyvF7a4g74cyAv-yXzYQvxtZKkNkcpkALBC1OQwUcPB45mcHFpkCRkbUkCkIjZBjTDCa5b10X8J_Zdaxs3wsY2y4W2BjC1MTNNpbq9gVvgQHz588ULW_RIdjYmWpJVfwZLOiq3z0VJ-IOMufG54__/s320/IMG_20240226_114828_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kidding, that's not Sophie...but he is definitely her twin and I find it pretty cute. I suspect he keeps much healthier boundaries than B and S did though (the fact he's sleeping peacefully next to her rather than jumping on her is my first clue lol)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The weather has still been unpredictable, but we've had some surprisingly nice breaks. Everyone gets a spa day when the sun shines, because I can't even with their winter coats this year and my lack of blanketing. They just get so gross in the constant rain and mud and being hairy ponies I've yet to find a brush that actually gets down to the skin. The no clipping or blanketing thing is not an experiment I'm eager to repeat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFnlsPJ4v0UXknIRzMOzVfNHX6RwLRJauuK_DTcdO-XC6_7usYVS63EVGH6w7-ixRrPzT4ArgTDNbVdrV0617VJ1zelt5evO4qU9rczJPhtAeaEg7O7EETVrranFHtpikERhQm3sv37zJyBEhhqnZVmwqU93_bU9XU5KLPhpy-CXrARnPit6dmSTfS8z8/s4000/IMG_20240217_101244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFnlsPJ4v0UXknIRzMOzVfNHX6RwLRJauuK_DTcdO-XC6_7usYVS63EVGH6w7-ixRrPzT4ArgTDNbVdrV0617VJ1zelt5evO4qU9rczJPhtAeaEg7O7EETVrranFHtpikERhQm3sv37zJyBEhhqnZVmwqU93_bU9XU5KLPhpy-CXrARnPit6dmSTfS8z8/w400-h300/IMG_20240217_101244.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is shiny underneath it all. This guy always has little horse proportions, no awkward baby legs. I'm wondering if he's going to trend to the Bridget corgi pony end of the spectrum with the bigger body and shorter pony legs. He is an absolute sweetheart, I keep waiting for him to start being a boy but I feel like this guy would be one of those ones that was a stallion and you just wouldn't know, the whole bitey face, testing boundaries, showing off thing his 'brother' has going on is not in this guy's vocabulary at all. (but they are both getting gelded this spring, don't worry!)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlHM1SC_ecSZ7ZeFrer9P9yzG6bvxYReNLGWzTte-9n0qlUtwnwpxj71cjvU3GtUGv1GCKVJr8J2Q17cWte0_fE8YdEdSb6K430kvApFxy7d9JBV0db3aRXE34_VeRw_NhppUMxryOJXvR4nZ8R9LsjrmgowlOql65vc6awAKx3D9kFaU5K8HdnHPGikF/s4000/IMG_20240217_095913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlHM1SC_ecSZ7ZeFrer9P9yzG6bvxYReNLGWzTte-9n0qlUtwnwpxj71cjvU3GtUGv1GCKVJr8J2Q17cWte0_fE8YdEdSb6K430kvApFxy7d9JBV0db3aRXE34_VeRw_NhppUMxryOJXvR4nZ8R9LsjrmgowlOql65vc6awAKx3D9kFaU5K8HdnHPGikF/w400-h300/IMG_20240217_095913.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remains completely awkward and his goofy personality only adds to it. We could blame it on the photo angle but really this is his current best angle. In motion is still one of the nicer moving cobs I've seen, so I'm holding out hope ;) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QMYRhvyji3JRTBm2n4gcW7UOlfSSDKnT6ENs4afm-WC6ikEGwcJ1n7YrJreZu4khZk31jnp1GSmNHb0yCzEyJW29JOFL2fUNkW1HPxQv3SuyPp57iC1oN1OOQ6hWOJp80BNrhoDNhyphenhyphenPmBo22v4ZMY7U6qfq6xOh-kAj2Ro2mZqcJ_wGdv3AhvhcLfcDs/s1305/IMG_20240226_135644_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1305" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QMYRhvyji3JRTBm2n4gcW7UOlfSSDKnT6ENs4afm-WC6ikEGwcJ1n7YrJreZu4khZk31jnp1GSmNHb0yCzEyJW29JOFL2fUNkW1HPxQv3SuyPp57iC1oN1OOQ6hWOJp80BNrhoDNhyphenhyphenPmBo22v4ZMY7U6qfq6xOh-kAj2Ro2mZqcJ_wGdv3AhvhcLfcDs/s320/IMG_20240226_135644_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the regular state of them (and their house) every morning. They are not tidy creatures.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Sophie's been enjoying green grass along with returning to some lighter riding. So far so good, the new girth maybe helps? Don't want to say too much and jinx anything!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoeOYEU7PQkuGVPDOh9j8oXTLgObl6EIjBCmR3xuIXnjkRrOvztvxQ3gkA_oLSoSeS_h3J8-P16Rt0Ukc4Pf-LR34TIXyKv7QZdMYujKT6WH4e77jwJ8EI14HuOq7-ABsB0oV1Rm1Mue74ZlZyQiBWzULrqP3TL5DIXdj6A2h3qvLivqWrWJLIfNlvOur/s3573/IMG_20240217_101325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2796" data-original-width="3573" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoeOYEU7PQkuGVPDOh9j8oXTLgObl6EIjBCmR3xuIXnjkRrOvztvxQ3gkA_oLSoSeS_h3J8-P16Rt0Ukc4Pf-LR34TIXyKv7QZdMYujKT6WH4e77jwJ8EI14HuOq7-ABsB0oV1Rm1Mue74ZlZyQiBWzULrqP3TL5DIXdj6A2h3qvLivqWrWJLIfNlvOur/s320/IMG_20240217_101325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvO-mxF1ueuSa0h6HDM12WeUCObEXT4IzgVTPkQTBVLkB16Tr5kp_96TJoWL_QiiXAVrQimMShQ6ZoFUAbpmNU4-J_GQ5qlcuryro4mKUF6DW4GxyapGxJASjGfTY2vKG5VbCizKWQi_RokR619n4kP1Lm2GB8_RwNE0-R3ZFE0nYbhsIaJYFmGPEIFpw0/s6240/_DSF9479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvO-mxF1ueuSa0h6HDM12WeUCObEXT4IzgVTPkQTBVLkB16Tr5kp_96TJoWL_QiiXAVrQimMShQ6ZoFUAbpmNU4-J_GQ5qlcuryro4mKUF6DW4GxyapGxJASjGfTY2vKG5VbCizKWQi_RokR619n4kP1Lm2GB8_RwNE0-R3ZFE0nYbhsIaJYFmGPEIFpw0/s320/_DSF9479.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwtPrjc9D2NfBIBzob6W41EAJwL8ifyRXp0bAaDnhwotkyACM6e_kQtBKuztkpsVQ3bh4KWooyL4TPGjEx3YC9VT-HbhL2MCnSw8gWe7XFstgpt2vRpDR9WOzzlTriGHwoPB6t9h4QqJ7QOkuWcvi9b8ff4HrrT8W7bpvuN5U3tsZCFzfbt9N-mzazcK_/s2968/IMG_20240219_165118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2195" data-original-width="2968" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwtPrjc9D2NfBIBzob6W41EAJwL8ifyRXp0bAaDnhwotkyACM6e_kQtBKuztkpsVQ3bh4KWooyL4TPGjEx3YC9VT-HbhL2MCnSw8gWe7XFstgpt2vRpDR9WOzzlTriGHwoPB6t9h4QqJ7QOkuWcvi9b8ff4HrrT8W7bpvuN5U3tsZCFzfbt9N-mzazcK_/s320/IMG_20240219_165118.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">is fuzzy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I've been pretty busy with work, but it's good. This is the time of year I work more in order to take more time off when the weather turns nicer so it's all part of the plan! </div><div><br /></div><div>Property wise, the to do list remains endless. The neighbours on one side have taken the initiative to build themselves a new fence, which is fantastic but also means we've been busy pulling out the ancient page wire disaster beside it that got left on 'our' side. At this point it's buried about a foot under ground and woven through several trees due to 40 years of neglect. I'll be happy to have it tidied up.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a 'genius' moment of raiding the scrap/dump pile for some old pallets and wood and bricks and made the ugliest arena drag. We have a proper harrow, but I really needed something to level the base back out without disturbing what's been compacted,</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NATEMQ9HMufek-2NvE5JkuXdNK-_8FnerialdZMBX1-emd5tD9mgD1XskFKhNzsKu75DZiDs-bb1Yv4fQdUovI7ymUTRyeOo1oVeUzYxLhQbcBhVR9-GoRhHh93YA8rT1a2aM7lISCRfrQ2479aOvlVk9AFA-NzM0PEcuBTrvwv6mVuRi4W0Xf_rkmOd/s4000/IMG_20240225_115009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NATEMQ9HMufek-2NvE5JkuXdNK-_8FnerialdZMBX1-emd5tD9mgD1XskFKhNzsKu75DZiDs-bb1Yv4fQdUovI7ymUTRyeOo1oVeUzYxLhQbcBhVR9-GoRhHh93YA8rT1a2aM7lISCRfrQ2479aOvlVk9AFA-NzM0PEcuBTrvwv6mVuRi4W0Xf_rkmOd/s320/IMG_20240225_115009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it worked shockingly well. Fingers crossed a few more times levelling and compacting and then we'll bring in some sand before summer.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Finally, an appreciation post for our cat, who does whatever he can to slow productivity<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGMqtES97NU8L9P6-BkdQBCc1ZeVxkErt2axPHalrdoPH_B1fyHAq0rxB3LyVUil56QWi3UFZnzRtxerbYT7ueQAeMH-s9FxHe67E2O_cq58KaYjEt70JTN0REGG9l9RaLdw3QWyPUXrg4krKaW4sdcNOv0lISlK3U2KAZYp0JhyphenhyphencOZODyIiQcoyMaJrJ/s4000/IMG_20240226_135455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGMqtES97NU8L9P6-BkdQBCc1ZeVxkErt2axPHalrdoPH_B1fyHAq0rxB3LyVUil56QWi3UFZnzRtxerbYT7ueQAeMH-s9FxHe67E2O_cq58KaYjEt70JTN0REGG9l9RaLdw3QWyPUXrg4krKaW4sdcNOv0lISlK3U2KAZYp0JhyphenhyphencOZODyIiQcoyMaJrJ/s320/IMG_20240226_135455.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Stop typing and admire me!'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-25235329670916837362024-02-21T08:21:00.000-08:002024-02-21T08:21:00.141-08:00WW: Chaos Ponies<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GRzv7bPZgX4MxRzB2TP8FVxOVOoVjt8xfSv3VPWaavHIuEqM-EL_xOvzjSkC6-6yFzJqT4oYoFFRrL0DjH2O5In5e-Ka9gPM4DJR9Z5a_LDq-6WZVXym7AxqfIYh_y4EVmICKw3HeWelcsRUIZMekRv0aKjeDB5TXKaII_hRQOe16vOKJHT0UMQ_cGQ7/s5956/_DSF9738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3971" data-original-width="5956" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GRzv7bPZgX4MxRzB2TP8FVxOVOoVjt8xfSv3VPWaavHIuEqM-EL_xOvzjSkC6-6yFzJqT4oYoFFRrL0DjH2O5In5e-Ka9gPM4DJR9Z5a_LDq-6WZVXym7AxqfIYh_y4EVmICKw3HeWelcsRUIZMekRv0aKjeDB5TXKaII_hRQOe16vOKJHT0UMQ_cGQ7/w400-h266/_DSF9738.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G8_-pEipHZTiEwXrYmOdFLz0RQTP6iIROlODUsxG6jfisp6-nIUuAIz1Atvny_F8aQ1aNjPjndAGpSSQ2jGlxnRx-4u9UtWKTfG_xAsQ7w6ndEH1aET0QPIb_MltuZZtifIqypOtHtzA2KY-E1y9sgNlwWULq-TNT2_fiI5QWNTLgXzx_RBmbYQ9x4Nl/s6240/2-_DSF9663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G8_-pEipHZTiEwXrYmOdFLz0RQTP6iIROlODUsxG6jfisp6-nIUuAIz1Atvny_F8aQ1aNjPjndAGpSSQ2jGlxnRx-4u9UtWKTfG_xAsQ7w6ndEH1aET0QPIb_MltuZZtifIqypOtHtzA2KY-E1y9sgNlwWULq-TNT2_fiI5QWNTLgXzx_RBmbYQ9x4Nl/w400-h266/2-_DSF9663.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4gBAhZhSxxWcGKq-xzSoqw76-KEnWukgslMBt0VaSc_1e3kG7ZrGln8XWL8EK2tjziiOzDB6GEsI2MbdAbMBD-KbtsG9ZswHTzO76bZOGTI3a6gRRGZdYgFH2RC2_bG49s6VVgHG6A1ya7nl2bBoUQsnQFsD5YulqlQOLJDwHwV3kqDyZ_ZLgF0N9gis/s6240/1-_DSF9662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4gBAhZhSxxWcGKq-xzSoqw76-KEnWukgslMBt0VaSc_1e3kG7ZrGln8XWL8EK2tjziiOzDB6GEsI2MbdAbMBD-KbtsG9ZswHTzO76bZOGTI3a6gRRGZdYgFH2RC2_bG49s6VVgHG6A1ya7nl2bBoUQsnQFsD5YulqlQOLJDwHwV3kqDyZ_ZLgF0N9gis/w400-h266/1-_DSF9662.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafi372ilIqIQhyVG6Ktwu0WXMIu_5xAYRYPVXh_rNSMNk8ZXZzFFmjNuMbD0OMaqRx0xzprp2QnQGlEGIDXa4k5-fsIG41Cgo5rlFf6oOCK6mT6AmG9mP0gXXNAmxlKfePyjv05VYjSKtBS5oYKT9yhewntGMMrIuunCHcPEZhYnLXfxaMBKG-fEPEIYV/s6240/1-_DSF9647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafi372ilIqIQhyVG6Ktwu0WXMIu_5xAYRYPVXh_rNSMNk8ZXZzFFmjNuMbD0OMaqRx0xzprp2QnQGlEGIDXa4k5-fsIG41Cgo5rlFf6oOCK6mT6AmG9mP0gXXNAmxlKfePyjv05VYjSKtBS5oYKT9yhewntGMMrIuunCHcPEZhYnLXfxaMBKG-fEPEIYV/w400-h266/1-_DSF9647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-12388863330268603382024-02-19T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-19T07:00:00.137-08:00The Dude Abides<p> And by The Dude, I mean me. It just didn't work for a blog title and once it was in my head I couldn't tink of another title. The T Abides? I Abide...ANYWAY. I have a title. Let's begin.</p><p>When we last chatted, the weather had been and was going to be horrible forever. I wasn't feeling happy about that. Sophie also had a sore back and I was questioning saddle fit. I was even less happy about that. I think I had an even longer list of complaints, but I don't recall them so let's take them off the list because I must have either resolved them or buried the 'trauma' deep enough to forget it ;)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKHuM2SbS_HaRolwsm1608qrpNrBjeAzQeRFCfDWfwzceK7gkr-kYtBedd3dLuVGDJmpmV6-8TBnUfXCXNWuBZ3P_HjMq6-1rfEOmQ7350Kw78bwnF-jfn1S_O9uGc5186F0-e3AtIfQgv3EqBJroZIuoXDCgQauX0yzSgBPsBdRE9n-srBlyXNCI7W6X/s6240/_DSF9564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKHuM2SbS_HaRolwsm1608qrpNrBjeAzQeRFCfDWfwzceK7gkr-kYtBedd3dLuVGDJmpmV6-8TBnUfXCXNWuBZ3P_HjMq6-1rfEOmQ7350Kw78bwnF-jfn1S_O9uGc5186F0-e3AtIfQgv3EqBJroZIuoXDCgQauX0yzSgBPsBdRE9n-srBlyXNCI7W6X/w266-h400/_DSF9564.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Since we live at the end of the earth, I went with another virtual saddle fitting for Sophie and it was decided that the saddle looks good and is not in need of any changes. Which really gives me no clarity as to why she was progressively getting more miserable with it. I'm trying to set up a travel day to meet up with someone in person, but even finding someone willing to meet within a day trip for me is looking like it's months away. So, not ideal.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGGurTEKU_SDBnxwDUPBTiZ4U-P8GqSxETLGeH5HfwnYcohD9lCEXa1jtm4DrdjdaiTLSY8tEoJkHOc-OFnHnSNLE5VNHZC56zajyeurbq32cI7zOuzxKKR0O1m_mrKIKyRfC5RXXThlP0INortSPY1uYwUHz8DkUBsLQlLGtQW7n_LSOQmcf8Q7Zoygc/s4000/IMG_20240217_110633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGGurTEKU_SDBnxwDUPBTiZ4U-P8GqSxETLGeH5HfwnYcohD9lCEXa1jtm4DrdjdaiTLSY8tEoJkHOc-OFnHnSNLE5VNHZC56zajyeurbq32cI7zOuzxKKR0O1m_mrKIKyRfC5RXXThlP0INortSPY1uYwUHz8DkUBsLQlLGtQW7n_LSOQmcf8Q7Zoygc/w300-h400/IMG_20240217_110633.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn kitty proof of life</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p> In the meantime, it was suggested I play with girth options, because the other place Ms Sophie is/was super cranky about was her pecs, all the way from the center of her chest back under where the girth would sit. It's always been a bit of a touchy area for her (and why finding a blanket with front buckles she doesn't hate is a bit of a thing). It's hard to know with her sometimes what is a legitimate complaint and what is something she should reasonably be able to deal with...this is after all the same pony who has a full on tantrum if she gets a little sweaty and has maybe 2 brushes she finds borderline acceptable to touch her golden self.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk846g7dunj7dO0XNYvzJj96MOpI1ho5Vmx8eZ-VFZ5lowMzY0HEdsYuel_VTGrDJIH4I_tradgxadZC5o1LOv4nbCGiE-rUFYEiUquLTPxcdAj7NIG85BXlOsfnkzKxpfd2SyR6mYX91JSbQNC7_SKes5-cSPzgMqHYtWWte282wj3E9vv6vI9lj9MhYH/s512/Screenshot%202024-02-16%20160150.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="512" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk846g7dunj7dO0XNYvzJj96MOpI1ho5Vmx8eZ-VFZ5lowMzY0HEdsYuel_VTGrDJIH4I_tradgxadZC5o1LOv4nbCGiE-rUFYEiUquLTPxcdAj7NIG85BXlOsfnkzKxpfd2SyR6mYX91JSbQNC7_SKes5-cSPzgMqHYtWWte282wj3E9vv6vI9lj9MhYH/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-16%20160150.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprisingly accurate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>But, there's about zero excuse for letting riding be uncomfortable for her, and she was definitely a bit sore. Feeling constricted/uncomfortable with the girth would cause bracing and a reduced range of motion in front, and that can actually also cause lower back soreness (as well as the tight pecs). This of course could be a pointless rabbit hole to travel down, when maybe the issues originate with the saddle (or my riding to be fair), but hey, it's only money, so I've ordered yet another girth that promises miracles. Wish me luck.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1JPbxX6c6B16rV8L8arbFdW59vf80LK2iHTX0zw_mkFffudOqaTIEXAdxqURJ0e8xulCmSdXSP0834kJ1keL5Rj46Aei4jSykchluQ7abi_K-xcWnwzC4PWqZ7bxPtxjyzFOZyOpM_SZ_Z1_mmMUeEJcGIGQBGJ-LwTQpj1DBw3IjjCvF3jtG5ZWIRQ1/s5470/1-_DSF9998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5470" data-original-width="3429" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1JPbxX6c6B16rV8L8arbFdW59vf80LK2iHTX0zw_mkFffudOqaTIEXAdxqURJ0e8xulCmSdXSP0834kJ1keL5Rj46Aei4jSykchluQ7abi_K-xcWnwzC4PWqZ7bxPtxjyzFOZyOpM_SZ_Z1_mmMUeEJcGIGQBGJ-LwTQpj1DBw3IjjCvF3jtG5ZWIRQ1/w251-h400/1-_DSF9998.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I've dug out every other saddle I own or have access to and nothing is even close to fitting so I have to admit I really don't see anything off about the one she's got. Ordering a nice sheepskin bareback pad is tempting but also might be a dumb way to die with my less than mad riding skillz and a winter fresh pony. We'll see.</p><p>For now, while we continue to try various saddles and girthing options in an effort to find something she's consistently happy with, we're doing a lot of in hand pole work and stretches (Jec Ballou's books coming in handy once again), plus long lining and then longeing in side reins one a week or so to help keep her muscles and fitness up. I have some goals this spring and I'm motivated to get back to a regular riding schedule.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqiV7U7tXdOheCB5bs-F81xdNGBG1YSetWR9GIvk7kWBhflEGxE_v7rqsSRakQukFSvi1OxjQeaBPQq6TbgIZvjE6-bbx1tsKogdQ58a9s-6dh7VJjvgadYcAzGD3SYbBakYJwQhvJa9yXC7j4tblL6JyFOE6kS0lV3yLdU0RA3ujRdKeAxSirexlE_pY/s3878/IMG_20240204_110146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2909" data-original-width="3878" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqiV7U7tXdOheCB5bs-F81xdNGBG1YSetWR9GIvk7kWBhflEGxE_v7rqsSRakQukFSvi1OxjQeaBPQq6TbgIZvjE6-bbx1tsKogdQ58a9s-6dh7VJjvgadYcAzGD3SYbBakYJwQhvJa9yXC7j4tblL6JyFOE6kS0lV3yLdU0RA3ujRdKeAxSirexlE_pY/w400-h300/IMG_20240204_110146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As for the babies, they continue to grow like little weeds and they continue to cause chaos and destruction wherever they go. I've put the work in and they're actually really nicely mannered to handle, but left to their own devices one of their favorite games is stealing anything within reach and using it as a chew or stomping toy. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhCldKFrqBRIvFMWIsrt8ZPTHkmbJuh2QbgMQhlALaQafBTFX-tqJCXfH1_DQB4C0NdhSbocu3_5LDALDnu9MFvNRWHXUdF2eAXdYL2YEetY8I36uecws_KEU84dpsi9b4VCoDn3y51vbsY_57RcBNIMMkpfba_X4PImabemqPT1qjfpjeeE9lP8_skT5/s6240/4-_DSF9910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhCldKFrqBRIvFMWIsrt8ZPTHkmbJuh2QbgMQhlALaQafBTFX-tqJCXfH1_DQB4C0NdhSbocu3_5LDALDnu9MFvNRWHXUdF2eAXdYL2YEetY8I36uecws_KEU84dpsi9b4VCoDn3y51vbsY_57RcBNIMMkpfba_X4PImabemqPT1qjfpjeeE9lP8_skT5/w400-h266/4-_DSF9910.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caught in the act</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>They're also not tidy creatures and their paddock and Pony Cottage looks like a bomb went off every morning. "This is why we had mares for so long!" I like to say to G. Even though the little guys are so, so easy compared to the mares I've had...they're forever cheerful and agreeable and generally have no opinions about anything, as long as I don't. Their gelding day inches ever closer and I'm interested to see if group turnout with Sophie over in the neighbour's big field is going to be a possibility in a couple of months.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ofidUXf8d69XcEckUCCWry6t2xKog2v5K2UKhV-q3YT2reCZ6kl-wZ1Un9lcfQtxjFkDY6xAct9ixpmi4aDrpzM3w4UJ5hnCt1KaC3ckFSY8zlAJ5epOC6ljdv2nSEBt-jYhOuzwbY_xfS2ue4WURwGxFg2x7m81NOPZPsGISKE91pahXWflODT77oQ6/s5943/_DSF9528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5943" data-original-width="3877" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ofidUXf8d69XcEckUCCWry6t2xKog2v5K2UKhV-q3YT2reCZ6kl-wZ1Un9lcfQtxjFkDY6xAct9ixpmi4aDrpzM3w4UJ5hnCt1KaC3ckFSY8zlAJ5epOC6ljdv2nSEBt-jYhOuzwbY_xfS2ue4WURwGxFg2x7m81NOPZPsGISKE91pahXWflODT77oQ6/w261-h400/_DSF9528.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-60085778416900043382024-02-05T09:20:00.000-08:002024-02-05T09:20:31.929-08:00Country Time<p>I've typed out a few blog posts since my last one mid January but not matter how hard I tried it came out sounding like a depressingly bad country song.</p><p>In no particular order:</p><p>-The truck broke</p><p>-The saddle don't fit</p><p>-The hay didn't come</p><p>-The rain won't stop</p><p>-I'm tired</p><p>Obviously all of those are solvable issues and I think I got a handle on all of them bar the saddle fit thing still pending. Even the rain has given up for a couple of days this week.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYtqrmX0cSBw0jJ468669yJLk0TCwTZui0EWdSeoQ5mtylkZIVzbRdQP2rEgJtNpmsWPGbf-sF5Er8aVZ2ajAO8qMXjJsyySgzK-tgY5MgWg9zSb5MzTDSCCT45N4VDn0dy7t2nHIvzUy-PEN9Zjvb5J2o1NrxxO9PqFdCHGZIxAXT-psNOCZxzRJnR5x/s4000/IMG_20240124_163731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYtqrmX0cSBw0jJ468669yJLk0TCwTZui0EWdSeoQ5mtylkZIVzbRdQP2rEgJtNpmsWPGbf-sF5Er8aVZ2ajAO8qMXjJsyySgzK-tgY5MgWg9zSb5MzTDSCCT45N4VDn0dy7t2nHIvzUy-PEN9Zjvb5J2o1NrxxO9PqFdCHGZIxAXT-psNOCZxzRJnR5x/s320/IMG_20240124_163731.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding in the gloom. Apologies in advance for the randomness of the pictures in this post...they're basically everything I have since last time and for the most part the weather's been to gross to have phones and cameras out.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIU9wwS7zi_-HHH5H4BxAU1mVVUeSqedn1KJBebHaZLHTPGB0eU3UZwSwK_Dj0e82-kDDuEXxiFXYjvbFbTIRdsC1bw2oBN6et37fuGsHM8PnXEAAaderJL-_8O9k8qvTm4sL8bl_GfreNoBJo2Fg2lhK4868qZoJPe931QW6JIPEi5SDjt-t1eU3GE_I/s2160/IMG_2752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2160" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIU9wwS7zi_-HHH5H4BxAU1mVVUeSqedn1KJBebHaZLHTPGB0eU3UZwSwK_Dj0e82-kDDuEXxiFXYjvbFbTIRdsC1bw2oBN6et37fuGsHM8PnXEAAaderJL-_8O9k8qvTm4sL8bl_GfreNoBJo2Fg2lhK4868qZoJPe931QW6JIPEi5SDjt-t1eU3GE_I/w400-h300/IMG_2752.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ugh</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The saddle issue burns me a lot, because it's new and professionally fitted and I really thought we'd cracked the code, and also poor pony...her saddle making her sore (again) is beyond horrible. I trailered out to the big ring last week so I had a bit longer and more intense ride than normal (but not by much), which resulted in a very back sore pony the next day. I've been having some doubts for a little bit, and I was pretty upset to have those doubts confirmed this way rather than listening to my gut and getting it looked at sooner.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoFLpy9kcyyq1Q-tIZTcUTZ80_mFfI2ALGt2F_lWtqj_UT4dp6dPFobGciP-LNdNrAZy7P922qPNI5BJd4MTKEkRp6EN4V0NWP46hKbTaWx8mFtW44mmNFqOtUVr3YzXHAY8ixGjxD03Wcry7mCuzyV5QzRpLKpXhQTV27wTa-E3rqJKIsOMoPY8H8Nus/s3807/_DSF9410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3807" data-original-width="2538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoFLpy9kcyyq1Q-tIZTcUTZ80_mFfI2ALGt2F_lWtqj_UT4dp6dPFobGciP-LNdNrAZy7P922qPNI5BJd4MTKEkRp6EN4V0NWP46hKbTaWx8mFtW44mmNFqOtUVr3YzXHAY8ixGjxD03Wcry7mCuzyV5QzRpLKpXhQTV27wTa-E3rqJKIsOMoPY8H8Nus/w266-h400/_DSF9410.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had snow, then we had a big pineapple express and everything turned into an aquarium</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Anyway, I love where I live. Mostly. This time of the year is always a challenge though, where I feel our winter gloom and lack of access to the outside world and it's equine services extra strongly.</p><p>If I can get the saddle thing sorted in a timely manner, Sophie and I do have some fun things to look forward to in the next few weeks. For now, though, she's having a little vacation. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxOM8TyIYXMMmgzuB0u6dalToUheAbXavRWhj0wujZz64m4X8VcvmwHcLDFQ1Qsv7_HS9qI1vGUsgAdk-aYo-Ek9Ot4Z9o5953DtR7agZh21N6oMUm7VNSuxAngSMCKNmX5kxnLeHwdiqkGfrFfxmtuOQmkfjB44MmTywyGP9WL-SIWD6zBjQLrkXrzMz/s3878/IMG_20240204_110146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2909" data-original-width="3878" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxOM8TyIYXMMmgzuB0u6dalToUheAbXavRWhj0wujZz64m4X8VcvmwHcLDFQ1Qsv7_HS9qI1vGUsgAdk-aYo-Ek9Ot4Z9o5953DtR7agZh21N6oMUm7VNSuxAngSMCKNmX5kxnLeHwdiqkGfrFfxmtuOQmkfjB44MmTywyGP9WL-SIWD6zBjQLrkXrzMz/w400-h300/IMG_20240204_110146.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longeing yesterday.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The babies remain the best little guys and are growing like little weeds. They're both about 13hh right now at 10 months, and Buck is substantially heavier than Reggie. At the end of the day we're expecting Reggie to be about 15hh and Buck more like 14.2. I wouldn't be surprised if Buck always weighs more than Reggie though, they're built very differently. It's probably about 0% useful for me to keep measuring height and using a weight tape on them, since previous experience tells me they grow at their own rate, but it's fun to document anyway. It'll be fun to see how they mature.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ7o7KjzBzcuXbnC2rsDL0ah9Lgtdr4hEhAyr2JuRP2cp5z9EDctLUsjv4EtpcC4Wd2mWNRxeNaiQW3wz7Y7Vvw2VQxRksD9jLo7JEdY5WolTjkoy7a1mGlI_S7mNdCx9l_7NtPmamDI3IvbNbpLEjqeldadfjNlk-d-tfhCAxk5ROvdCF3UugdwSc90h/s4000/IMG_20240120_103515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ7o7KjzBzcuXbnC2rsDL0ah9Lgtdr4hEhAyr2JuRP2cp5z9EDctLUsjv4EtpcC4Wd2mWNRxeNaiQW3wz7Y7Vvw2VQxRksD9jLo7JEdY5WolTjkoy7a1mGlI_S7mNdCx9l_7NtPmamDI3IvbNbpLEjqeldadfjNlk-d-tfhCAxk5ROvdCF3UugdwSc90h/w300-h400/IMG_20240120_103515.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">helpful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We've just started taking them on little solo adventures around the neighbourhood. So far, they've both been super about that (Sophie has the biggest issue with anyone leaving without her, of course!). </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07XhyjijwJghD-2Lm89L6sGVBSCEkVM2K42uY-svtoIPF5MQ4JelL6QyJMxfVN7rIVbLM4yF7DS4HyJ7uAbEA1R66ow-4nvIHpH8ycsbqvGf3QqVYrBHfxQB-2GK6pi-nF7g3Anpl7tzNgP8Y71dFSq-C1MkftkGXvdKG8bd416C74fuyKpw4pN_lfWmO/s6240/_DSF9279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07XhyjijwJghD-2Lm89L6sGVBSCEkVM2K42uY-svtoIPF5MQ4JelL6QyJMxfVN7rIVbLM4yF7DS4HyJ7uAbEA1R66ow-4nvIHpH8ycsbqvGf3QqVYrBHfxQB-2GK6pi-nF7g3Anpl7tzNgP8Y71dFSq-C1MkftkGXvdKG8bd416C74fuyKpw4pN_lfWmO/w400-h266/_DSF9279.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's claimed them as her own</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Reggie off property is as you'd expect, a little sharp and very bold - he's interested in investigating everything. Buck is a bit of a pleasant surprise, he is of course a lot more reserved and cautious and I was ready to take it in very small steps, but he's very trusting of us these days and happily follows our lead. He's gaining confidence like crazy. They have both been super about their feet and standing tied and being groomed lately as well. They're positively simple to have around after so many years of baby Drama Llama ;)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxRuCh7GqZufaI6Nt3Foji-ahO_O9VDkguoyl9uQeSjbIgR2M-uuPFlu89j-H5XES-rkdlMDBwTzY6QFQW_rAN4SQ0jfC7McrGceVm93MziyyQ8x8zKk1nnJqFVIrxAl1yK0ornRmhV06JRePqfVVtzSffcKwhyNqxoxh8-cuUcHKCEfbi1uemRWOX32h/s2999/IMG_20240126_115159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2999" data-original-width="2250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxRuCh7GqZufaI6Nt3Foji-ahO_O9VDkguoyl9uQeSjbIgR2M-uuPFlu89j-H5XES-rkdlMDBwTzY6QFQW_rAN4SQ0jfC7McrGceVm93MziyyQ8x8zKk1nnJqFVIrxAl1yK0ornRmhV06JRePqfVVtzSffcKwhyNqxoxh8-cuUcHKCEfbi1uemRWOX32h/w300-h400/IMG_20240126_115159.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The llama herself</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-55685497752665088022024-01-18T12:23:00.000-08:002024-01-18T12:23:59.564-08:00Snow Day<p> I was feeling skeptical we'd get any, even given the forecasts. Plus, the horses are shedding a bit, which means spring is coming in my world. But, it happened! A nice change after all the rain. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7ZuL6fGkSVMLX10eYvy5jTnAQYxuOIftACJjJdJCjsTavm0ABl6ufwDcnI6UmPRYCDzCXPMODXFV8qFeIMBvA0YGz2UPN8kaavvlqHPr_3iyLbHhFnH0zWp1T-sFoEvNVS7kYqklfDAj-dENxCZ32gxwuSjgPeaNJ8CmhXRoH_ndUBQe7m8DHFIJYFbH/s4000/IMG_20240117_121441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7ZuL6fGkSVMLX10eYvy5jTnAQYxuOIftACJjJdJCjsTavm0ABl6ufwDcnI6UmPRYCDzCXPMODXFV8qFeIMBvA0YGz2UPN8kaavvlqHPr_3iyLbHhFnH0zWp1T-sFoEvNVS7kYqklfDAj-dENxCZ32gxwuSjgPeaNJ8CmhXRoH_ndUBQe7m8DHFIJYFbH/w400-h300/IMG_20240117_121441.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! No mud!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPKWA9FTReCOGHC_gxwi-3OdQz7rBi89i0ejv-FgnKHSI91xMKD4YKFHE_FdENlDpBO83-IG7O1aAItwo1_AdDFqhPqQOX7SCnr5t_BaXHVuciFmCqVMjZw0wTDPFmntqXpeiUW4riEm1dYwxCCxdcULTtkZ56RslSrM7jMb9xL4hg35q7e8uoxj_XyS2/s6240/_DSF8544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPKWA9FTReCOGHC_gxwi-3OdQz7rBi89i0ejv-FgnKHSI91xMKD4YKFHE_FdENlDpBO83-IG7O1aAItwo1_AdDFqhPqQOX7SCnr5t_BaXHVuciFmCqVMjZw0wTDPFmntqXpeiUW4riEm1dYwxCCxdcULTtkZ56RslSrM7jMb9xL4hg35q7e8uoxj_XyS2/w266-h400/_DSF8544.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pony cottage's first winter. Building such things myself brings late night worry and googling to triple check whether I did a good enough job designing and building to withstand things like wind and snow loads. It's overbuilt if anything, but still, it's built by *me* and I know me and I don't think I'm a qualified contractor, lol. So far, so good though ;)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We were snowed in yesterday morning. The only downside to working from home is that despite everything being closed due to road conditions, I could and did still work. While I didn't get a real snow day to enjoy like the school kids did, I did sneak out for a couple of hours mid afternoon. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRy7X9_jpbHOWDoZ9qhqh-Ca7IqCsL4IA_kbOjV0u0yZSgE8jb4o6HVnI7bwP7Geql3g1kjjS40Qoynt2E7__Qkga72dbqbEJb00F2ZyPrutpMqOMoNbuLcN6pZA2ZajXTwQ5-swY5OYRJ2ITwAU5crpHy1jglH01kRCXqPZRuVXZ1267Qs0JXsFFrPNRv/s6240/_DSF8510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRy7X9_jpbHOWDoZ9qhqh-Ca7IqCsL4IA_kbOjV0u0yZSgE8jb4o6HVnI7bwP7Geql3g1kjjS40Qoynt2E7__Qkga72dbqbEJb00F2ZyPrutpMqOMoNbuLcN6pZA2ZajXTwQ5-swY5OYRJ2ITwAU5crpHy1jglH01kRCXqPZRuVXZ1267Qs0JXsFFrPNRv/w266-h400/_DSF8510.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi Sophie!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>It was already melt-y by then but I did my best to commemorate Buck and Reggie's first snow day by bring the 'nice' camera. Spoiler alert, my efforts at nice photos were for nothing because it turned dark and grey and started raining and no one was feeling my vision. <br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmV9nSSvSQGdeht4ZrH8CC91k4rNpKyyg5Ty9N7gZEJWxqV639_wrtnFrWnTGynTD1Wrc9w6zsAa55zpvdS5J6gV02qQRX5DTaC0Ffpe1yALLoL2o-5YJ30nhyXk6M6AF4NvmRXDY2H6yNQ5lRboNcklnNa4-0-DHhswOuO8C68wLOW68Gj9ZK6Oq3Rta/s6240/_DSF8657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmV9nSSvSQGdeht4ZrH8CC91k4rNpKyyg5Ty9N7gZEJWxqV639_wrtnFrWnTGynTD1Wrc9w6zsAa55zpvdS5J6gV02qQRX5DTaC0Ffpe1yALLoL2o-5YJ30nhyXk6M6AF4NvmRXDY2H6yNQ5lRboNcklnNa4-0-DHhswOuO8C68wLOW68Gj9ZK6Oq3Rta/w266-h400/_DSF8657.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reggie tried</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFUbdqOxEbeMmva-ABTzrBQnRx6KacBe9Z3wnzLttCJNC8sHRLWf5D9lMfJ70_3eZbcVsWS5PyexGKkBLcCEPv43w6YQF7XeAJNIs_YJ0BGa5KRpb2HnksI1wzyvdlrhfBfAteItM-wZVxM-dy3ePUgjhZrnyn4j1Xyd5RoqoUlo7tks_PWpmu0m0Kz0g/s6240/_DSF8674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFUbdqOxEbeMmva-ABTzrBQnRx6KacBe9Z3wnzLttCJNC8sHRLWf5D9lMfJ70_3eZbcVsWS5PyexGKkBLcCEPv43w6YQF7XeAJNIs_YJ0BGa5KRpb2HnksI1wzyvdlrhfBfAteItM-wZVxM-dy3ePUgjhZrnyn4j1Xyd5RoqoUlo7tks_PWpmu0m0Kz0g/w266-h400/_DSF8674.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As did this one. They crack me up because they *really* want to be around us and try to entice us to play with them, but also they are aware of boundaries. So you get two ponies running and wrestling about 10 feet from you all day. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf8FxMNgBZKhHD5HvWy53rjemwH8wiyA6177DEgpvLRhjNUkZTJkgcl6Q_yOpoPO5lIE3b7dxJxjdbnLVXpZ7zNcT80mC1-tz9jzUIGDbqfmeqSo6YEQJWpVEt4Mk5oP_I3gKGSoVOViauhqwva-eI8JGeYMv2QHnnz63hNns6I3USgMba8AI_o_K5i3F/s6240/_DSF8745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf8FxMNgBZKhHD5HvWy53rjemwH8wiyA6177DEgpvLRhjNUkZTJkgcl6Q_yOpoPO5lIE3b7dxJxjdbnLVXpZ7zNcT80mC1-tz9jzUIGDbqfmeqSo6YEQJWpVEt4Mk5oP_I3gKGSoVOViauhqwva-eI8JGeYMv2QHnnz63hNns6I3USgMba8AI_o_K5i3F/w266-h400/_DSF8745.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They wanted to wrestle and play bitey face all day rather than my vision of them running across the sunset on a snowy landscape. We all knew it was never going to happen lol. Boys! :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT-hUFYce2KzV-CIZ-4L-R1FEa-8h0A69nDE5lijmynpJxxU7X5h9MFUD5Bup_A4ZbYBWyoEViV7m83S-zJGHaZQBwNZuWklUDgqc8HIGcTiiOYxpOjjooqBEwrAvF3pDtebNI_VD2iWwMLAtXFZUrM2-j2xvBMajz8Yvw9gQUwfwRo1Kg5rZWe7OdvZV/w400-h266/_DSF8897.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Sophie was full of awkward pony model poses this day lol</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nTO9OY5NaNSYyDjB_4SpGRsL7vV_V_etlhizHpp7vIL9DbBBDY1gfpu_g3FAnFnAOD12Wi6rE3NQAoYl_xSywV_evc_t3BxEQRX9Vt3hsdnw1rlzV3tOfnPmxqDu0GT6lTAn7C9KPfy2c0hWKan9ggCmv5w64fuO-6Qt96_g9SNRAxCxbFoLtADX37G9/s6240/_DSF8747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nTO9OY5NaNSYyDjB_4SpGRsL7vV_V_etlhizHpp7vIL9DbBBDY1gfpu_g3FAnFnAOD12Wi6rE3NQAoYl_xSywV_evc_t3BxEQRX9Vt3hsdnw1rlzV3tOfnPmxqDu0GT6lTAn7C9KPfy2c0hWKan9ggCmv5w64fuO-6Qt96_g9SNRAxCxbFoLtADX37G9/w266-h400/_DSF8747.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have about a million variations of this picture at this point. Reggie always starts it, Buck finishes it, usually by just slamming into him and knocking him over lol. I forgot how rough colts are with each other, but also it's incredible how gentle they actually are...the only evidence of their non stop games is that they're both usually covered in filth and slobber from the other :)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXONdNOSqaQkPO807SsVMIB-hplnr-bdSYk2-jx0hxr22QCT2Sm8Vyc0_jyaAXR5VK_siJzmA4w1ZeHo76ODeXyNN-SQiBgdlido76RsZfxvQ7nE5QFFy1MxOPV1T0j8mCbCu5jHdyWHstaZg3ygWacqDyOV4hjzFQx3pNXGOaHDoru6HSEetM7QZVH80/s4160/_DSF8954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="2773" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXONdNOSqaQkPO807SsVMIB-hplnr-bdSYk2-jx0hxr22QCT2Sm8Vyc0_jyaAXR5VK_siJzmA4w1ZeHo76ODeXyNN-SQiBgdlido76RsZfxvQ7nE5QFFy1MxOPV1T0j8mCbCu5jHdyWHstaZg3ygWacqDyOV4hjzFQx3pNXGOaHDoru6HSEetM7QZVH80/w266-h400/_DSF8954.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am feeling guilty we've only got about an acre of space for them to run on in the winter, meanwhile they all prefer to just run in tiny circles around the clump of trees to Sophie's left as a main form of exercise. I have no idea why that is the game. I think the goal is to be fastest so I think Buck is actually 'winning', he's pretty handy around those turns. Sophie does dolphin moves or big pirouettes (pictured), Reggie is just all legs and chaos.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_L8ba26oLv-CfaXHSEnlVNtWNLvGRrFMRsbTrZ7r-LMNSqVOOg4aeHkcsy7mfGGAMtRL9bDomn9AxZlatddncbepIx499tebyjKOxwA7btP7X2X1Ji_eCrGEa74yqPvKPD5LGs0WKQUN_McTsQEYvIaKlL1oVDqiFFxt9U6FYjsX08Cms7mZ8ZhQi_7j/s6240/_DSF8985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_L8ba26oLv-CfaXHSEnlVNtWNLvGRrFMRsbTrZ7r-LMNSqVOOg4aeHkcsy7mfGGAMtRL9bDomn9AxZlatddncbepIx499tebyjKOxwA7btP7X2X1Ji_eCrGEa74yqPvKPD5LGs0WKQUN_McTsQEYvIaKlL1oVDqiFFxt9U6FYjsX08Cms7mZ8ZhQi_7j/w266-h400/_DSF8985.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves digging and throwing things around, so is pretty in to snow days for that reason This year she's added picking up the chunks of ice we take off her water trough and either eating them or throwing them around.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLZTdu7l1tcPSbbAywveSBO2aOPiKzZMwMzJuD8lY03bJHvsbI543Las5B_loNJ7Ma8N9B0M_yXo0c0VpsU4LwxurLa9ixnwptVehQ6UrQNfWxOKHFuJuKpFPrDq_P3PDyLKkpehcGMFqmu3jc8zRseukmp47dwwMJwQlGerCSna95yP-fXQvabNfG3z3/s4000/IMG_20240117_172917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLZTdu7l1tcPSbbAywveSBO2aOPiKzZMwMzJuD8lY03bJHvsbI543Las5B_loNJ7Ma8N9B0M_yXo0c0VpsU4LwxurLa9ixnwptVehQ6UrQNfWxOKHFuJuKpFPrDq_P3PDyLKkpehcGMFqmu3jc8zRseukmp47dwwMJwQlGerCSna95yP-fXQvabNfG3z3/w400-h300/IMG_20240117_172917.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a little daylight @ 5:15. The days are getting longer!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOpgwvGMwxFUlOTIPHJfZbjL7e4_nZ8YVFih1CqYP8y_1EIzrLYrneMJH2OJX48xPl3cnDHD2BGp-xQezqUTh6_71aH9wi6HyONK7FplofyMYeYqF3VVFYfq1DmP-Ue-UYcCEiN8sgimg5yCtiP_QgpOjX2qduhh5JekhE4xqG4muBndpAAGqTEcvFGQ_/w400-h301/IMG_20240118_105631_01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every angle is an awkward angle right now. One of the highlights of my day is being met at this gate by these two little faces though <3</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOabY0YsU5tHlLqmf_l67mTgxGdQV9QzKk03wyY4lmU7wzxutObP7TwXXGTnj-_2l5Y7QWTRwOsdVMaJnmBTQOKkOyhy1B2tihQn9OL9o-xqr6dEGG6ctjlpQ1CZvYE3jKmLBGYdzUSzrDxyGql3YaWQIGEaI7bfxYsqOyg7hKp9ofIqMt8mXRYNEvzR-0/s6240/_DSF8993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOabY0YsU5tHlLqmf_l67mTgxGdQV9QzKk03wyY4lmU7wzxutObP7TwXXGTnj-_2l5Y7QWTRwOsdVMaJnmBTQOKkOyhy1B2tihQn9OL9o-xqr6dEGG6ctjlpQ1CZvYE3jKmLBGYdzUSzrDxyGql3YaWQIGEaI7bfxYsqOyg7hKp9ofIqMt8mXRYNEvzR-0/w266-h400/_DSF8993.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They all just have the happiest, friendliest, playful personalities. I'm pretty sure something went wrong at the factory and I've been given Labrador retrievers shaped like ponies. </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-14572386339732238312024-01-15T09:19:00.000-08:002024-01-15T09:19:36.317-08:00“Winter” Break<p> I’m an absolute wimp, because I haven’t ridden at all this past week or so. First we were dealing with incredible amounts of rain and standing water everywhere, plus multiple intense wind storms, then it froze and we have had record setting cold, and likely snow (gasp!) coming mid week. The indoor arena I used to go to on a drop in schedule has expanded their own program and doesn't have a lot of free time available that fits my schedule, so it's been a bit of a no go this year as well. Maybe if I win the lottery I'll build my own, until then I remain at the mercy of the weather.</p><p> The “record setting” cold stretch here is just a few degrees below zero, which is an embarrassing benchmark for shutting down my world compared to basically everyone else in North America right now. I’m so ill equipped for actual winter it’s comical. It feels like a lifetime since I spent a winter on the prairies, like who was that person with a proper winter coat out riding in the snow? Also, whatever happened to that coat? What I wouldn’t give for that coat this week. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb9ZxtoGHqAuaVyaUmT9SIghUApZ6RLYoz-TaCNY9ds2c-LTvWNPdO0H4BczLpZQwiTbkpnxDhtelliAg718PLjhlREnSrZY_9lW8BUD_Iwf8zNpHi4Zwk9bDW_545I7HeekKJmqqC4f5hk8Bu3maYw2Z9pZccBrl_U-uCxqgMJS6dYSCUWQSy3W4tTnV/s4000/IMG_20240109_162625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb9ZxtoGHqAuaVyaUmT9SIghUApZ6RLYoz-TaCNY9ds2c-LTvWNPdO0H4BczLpZQwiTbkpnxDhtelliAg718PLjhlREnSrZY_9lW8BUD_Iwf8zNpHi4Zwk9bDW_545I7HeekKJmqqC4f5hk8Bu3maYw2Z9pZccBrl_U-uCxqgMJS6dYSCUWQSy3W4tTnV/s320/IMG_20240109_162625.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pony winter coat statuses = above average</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuqw0smzpEP8yvEYjVP16yw4_K7jzLWFxG-CHut_SEaskYrCYRTFcb9Y-xbU6dfuTJmRGIq5f_06oYNCq9uWLHwTi0ZVsSqJZjOMbibjJ9bblzLCZqJmAGopVt8W5bCHBDYs_AXV9MCHihJv1zzaDEgFMVwV8iahl6viCFlV3hX9EFgfGHiV53EJUYZ8l/s2266/IMG_20240109_161801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="2266" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuqw0smzpEP8yvEYjVP16yw4_K7jzLWFxG-CHut_SEaskYrCYRTFcb9Y-xbU6dfuTJmRGIq5f_06oYNCq9uWLHwTi0ZVsSqJZjOMbibjJ9bblzLCZqJmAGopVt8W5bCHBDYs_AXV9MCHihJv1zzaDEgFMVwV8iahl6viCFlV3hX9EFgfGHiV53EJUYZ8l/w400-h360/IMG_20240109_161801.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he's going to be such a handsome guy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wFtLEcar8qgPpuS-LBBtY3ejwpzwNDalQusPbaXz9Bc_k0oDRg7_4Jz6bRSmRG0yIv6M_rdRsJl_jxUtt9ktX_QJd_ft2XIGwKFMqMo3ureRHs9rTXgFsgCAozkZD09hVRtIOPlPRfmfSLtRdrhglwybpDLQ5S6RE6WdpqA_BGpTQ_dQPAsEiletaFcg/s5196/_DSF8279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5196" data-original-width="3463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wFtLEcar8qgPpuS-LBBtY3ejwpzwNDalQusPbaXz9Bc_k0oDRg7_4Jz6bRSmRG0yIv6M_rdRsJl_jxUtt9ktX_QJd_ft2XIGwKFMqMo3ureRHs9rTXgFsgCAozkZD09hVRtIOPlPRfmfSLtRdrhglwybpDLQ5S6RE6WdpqA_BGpTQ_dQPAsEiletaFcg/w266-h400/_DSF8279.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Currently needs a bit more imagination to see the handsome grown up pony inside, but I believe in you, Reggie! :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Every year, we get a few days below freezing here and I have the realization that I could really use hot water at the barn, warmer clothes, heated buckets, (heck, even winter rated windshield washer fluid rather than the summer bug “instant ice creating fluid” I annually spray before regretting the errors of my ways). Those would all be really good things. Where are my gloves? Mittens even, I’d wear those, I should order some. Days are spent making extra trips to break ice in the water troughs and shivering and running back to my truck because I’m weak in the face of actual cold weather. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApALzRdwMMN6-RSFAIxKYw9R1sJhcUVOHrlFV_6DfctcKan0bSda97-NnjV4sLkAG-DbbGYgrflQQTeGC0sb-tmLb3r52Rj7tD9xZPhTerjQ6f4uJqctj7uTYaRpvmNv_m9TD5WikxhY7jwhgqVGcDFdiZwT49QYOYKUOeNPsmCPZ4AAYaHIxmAi_gA7Q/s3918/IMG_20240111_073759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2938" data-original-width="3918" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApALzRdwMMN6-RSFAIxKYw9R1sJhcUVOHrlFV_6DfctcKan0bSda97-NnjV4sLkAG-DbbGYgrflQQTeGC0sb-tmLb3r52Rj7tD9xZPhTerjQ6f4uJqctj7uTYaRpvmNv_m9TD5WikxhY7jwhgqVGcDFdiZwT49QYOYKUOeNPsmCPZ4AAYaHIxmAi_gA7Q/w400-h300/IMG_20240111_073759.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">riding not helped by some in office days lately, meaning I'm on a ferry at dawn, and home after dark. No free time in the daylight for me!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Then the rain returns, things feel normal again, and I quickly forget all about it. That Amazon order of winter essentials gets put on hold. </p><p>The horses, of course thrive in the dry cold. I’ve elected not to blanket anyone this year and so far that’s working out for me. They’re not as sleek and shiny as they would be if they were consistently blanketed, and they spend far too much time standing out in the weather for my feelings, but they’re all happy. Fingers crossed, no one has lost weight or gained any skin funk so my experiment is a tentative success. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpe6br5OH-gnOLyMfibAf_brG5sBMM7zcKx88PX9nQK2Otg-k6kT1FqDciJB1HQ5RvHzvk5v35hyWbngZrRoFVhWe_HuFSHZL5OAsVOj3ZII_I2wSLu30hFowyvABWCejIjkeCDq8cixhzFM75chLFQ6gyDWkszo_ABfpoJVrmJdSPHKSsyV_crCkindQ/s4000/IMG_20240109_162724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpe6br5OH-gnOLyMfibAf_brG5sBMM7zcKx88PX9nQK2Otg-k6kT1FqDciJB1HQ5RvHzvk5v35hyWbngZrRoFVhWe_HuFSHZL5OAsVOj3ZII_I2wSLu30hFowyvABWCejIjkeCDq8cixhzFM75chLFQ6gyDWkszo_ABfpoJVrmJdSPHKSsyV_crCkindQ/w300-h400/IMG_20240109_162724.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neither sleek nor shiny</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I’m not anti blanketing, in fact I’m usually pro rainsheet at least. The convenience factor is high and I don’t need to worry about rain scald or the other fun things they pick up here by standing in the rain all day instead of under shelter. Everyone here much prefers being at one with nature, I'm blaming the Welsh breeding for that.</p><p>I went back and forth over blanketing the babies this winter - Reggie especially since he looked a bit rough we he got here. So I caved and got a little rainsheet for Reggie to wear when the weather is truly awful. I would still like to see him pick up a little more weight and wearing a blanket feels like horse skills 101, something he should be comfortable with.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSXjGXW73TK08UHNF0elTTL8QmarRKxs_RPTrmHLr82_8ZdnbndxG7OQLEReGGHK9KjuC0eyXq1osAC7Vce-4mje4keq4mrwVk9_bvJnK2rwawBXhhjZuo_gQ55Bem4yf627656_lyGbd8Bvq_vQmlP1NmX4rWZMvwjMr7RuI4vrintijxaoCOtmiB57_/s2273/IMG_20240109_162553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2273" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSXjGXW73TK08UHNF0elTTL8QmarRKxs_RPTrmHLr82_8ZdnbndxG7OQLEReGGHK9KjuC0eyXq1osAC7Vce-4mje4keq4mrwVk9_bvJnK2rwawBXhhjZuo_gQ55Bem4yf627656_lyGbd8Bvq_vQmlP1NmX4rWZMvwjMr7RuI4vrintijxaoCOtmiB57_/w400-h266/IMG_20240109_162553.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck was scared of it so of course Reggie took full advantage and chased him</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY2NcY1JXLukMAvRjItf6MCmg3xGeTcUijR_yCXj77dadWX8C6XzHUyHHwm3GoNLG7uo2YFyd8yO8dNJgmAUvPszzM0VCihTtOitTAij0SzOFr3jJmKJnTSbhABK41zbKGgle3-9WGMhPtKIIed4pflotpzYkxAZKY9HotUzSvugBG93ZgY19_1oWU_v3/s2466/IMG_20240109_162505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1644" data-original-width="2466" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY2NcY1JXLukMAvRjItf6MCmg3xGeTcUijR_yCXj77dadWX8C6XzHUyHHwm3GoNLG7uo2YFyd8yO8dNJgmAUvPszzM0VCihTtOitTAij0SzOFr3jJmKJnTSbhABK41zbKGgle3-9WGMhPtKIIed4pflotpzYkxAZKY9HotUzSvugBG93ZgY19_1oWU_v3/w400-h266/IMG_20240109_162505.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's already outgrowing it in the two months he's been here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>While I'm chatting winter management, the other big change I made this year is that everyone has 24/7 local hay hanging in nets in their stalls. That was previously a recipe for disaster with Bridget so to keep the peace I had to get creative and it felt like a lot of work. Now, with B living her best life on lease, Sophie can have access to all the hay 24/7 without me needing to shuffle everyone around multiple times a day. Jury's out on this working long term for little guys, but so far so good. Longer term, I can see Buck being more of a Bridget type and needing a bit of monitoring so he doesn't get overweight, but Reggie seems like Sophie where he eats what he needs.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFG8SqcnSPN4Gx4j2_ZZTNrU8My_V3admuhC81z0nEn5sHY-nkrRnDSVdSKG7TgZ2UZWbi1o7Bm99rxaYdGnrGVjt49NmJzGPfPTcmxV5wsNpb9F80JwJm6gbeezi1hUxnMD3c0nNgEl3iyg4sk9WcMNveBJSR8SSc3vjakFKF17QKcvKIE58XuTiGyvk/s4036/_DSF8241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4036" data-original-width="2691" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFG8SqcnSPN4Gx4j2_ZZTNrU8My_V3admuhC81z0nEn5sHY-nkrRnDSVdSKG7TgZ2UZWbi1o7Bm99rxaYdGnrGVjt49NmJzGPfPTcmxV5wsNpb9F80JwJm6gbeezi1hUxnMD3c0nNgEl3iyg4sk9WcMNveBJSR8SSc3vjakFKF17QKcvKIE58XuTiGyvk/w266-h400/_DSF8241.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">shenanigans</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRXg8Be0Wu5pzsanbLHCQE6ICg31d3I06YVNthk7fKaMxz6cvStWqIS4uu0zD9xLJuQPSiSHOl2eVD-1zxMGD0t1sSbnk7FVW4x2D15xPUXQKSO86fEytZqs2TJ3PcDOH4VlLE4ruUYqEtE3_sKJ_qta9ZGUiPjrk7veP7qTUuoqO_sbhi42dkYVlph9h/s5853/_DSF8223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3902" data-original-width="5853" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRXg8Be0Wu5pzsanbLHCQE6ICg31d3I06YVNthk7fKaMxz6cvStWqIS4uu0zD9xLJuQPSiSHOl2eVD-1zxMGD0t1sSbnk7FVW4x2D15xPUXQKSO86fEytZqs2TJ3PcDOH4VlLE4ruUYqEtE3_sKJ_qta9ZGUiPjrk7veP7qTUuoqO_sbhi42dkYVlph9h/w400-h266/_DSF8223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIcDLD7B-Chs-VBZZqVnSITTi3f3s0GF1NghMOdHVmbKfTD971I7wkHoUo8XmuvUfQdmMPI3rj1N4kaxep02qlnsHeNq7lsH_C2Ch_D8EBZwMg0UwLNx4CHBkGD9CEIUqcZyo9d8tN1KLabIwG9j8xiCAsOT3mwF1alwCdMUq0q3bPYXpS4f4JmLYse7p/s2883/_DSF8207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2229" data-original-width="2883" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIcDLD7B-Chs-VBZZqVnSITTi3f3s0GF1NghMOdHVmbKfTD971I7wkHoUo8XmuvUfQdmMPI3rj1N4kaxep02qlnsHeNq7lsH_C2Ch_D8EBZwMg0UwLNx4CHBkGD9CEIUqcZyo9d8tN1KLabIwG9j8xiCAsOT3mwF1alwCdMUq0q3bPYXpS4f4JmLYse7p/w400-h309/_DSF8207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The really nice thing for me is that while I still give them the 'nice' hay and their grain and supplements 2x a day, mealtimes are a non event and nobody's upset if I'm a bit random about when I'm actually bringing breakfast or dinner. It's created a way more relaxed feeling around the place and honestly, at least with this crew, they aren't eating any more than I would have expected so it doesn't cost anything extra (this is sadly quite important when the best price for 'cheap' local bales are $20 each and alfalfa is $40 (50lb bales)).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp0Rsekrv6h6KgdNNYK7LzDUpKsCg8ZlyggpZjnqtpu3gOrBKI_r95CXrXoAcd7TKDbnXazFa7acGsqbZFJwEpSTDUoG-e96KAl9Pka58qQZ8W91QSxtzhzqG7_b6NE0u0kVc7yMP4XdKsV8ZAnL2AX4PB3LG9P4ZPNSFbvYqYPLDq36uYzhLrWZTw8oy/s4000/IMG_20240109_161408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp0Rsekrv6h6KgdNNYK7LzDUpKsCg8ZlyggpZjnqtpu3gOrBKI_r95CXrXoAcd7TKDbnXazFa7acGsqbZFJwEpSTDUoG-e96KAl9Pka58qQZ8W91QSxtzhzqG7_b6NE0u0kVc7yMP4XdKsV8ZAnL2AX4PB3LG9P4ZPNSFbvYqYPLDq36uYzhLrWZTw8oy/w300-h400/IMG_20240109_161408.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only I had more grazing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>See you next time - who knows, maybe I'll have ridden my horse by then!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-38358044582812656172024-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:002024-01-04T07:00:00.139-08:00photo catch up<p> I actually took quite a few pictures in December, then for whatever reason didn't put them in a blog post (or on social media - I really need to get more consistent with that!)</p><p>Here's the purge, so they are not forever lost in the vault, and we can start the new year all caught up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB2TtSvIlreLmzg8Y8MNyIBuP-9vBpnaTKmoeJT0IiS0LIBw2WE3FLQgMOaLz0hNrwXLGrzTqDpUVeFUCPRYt-wyqa7YZOEQIxLkz-A-juty5jCmBlhiBmSyuSvMw7cQT0ImhI0ZT2ESYi4fR1jP2k1KkknOjxODWgQGmV8NUuh4EemZpetZLakU4H28u/s4368/_DSF7756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2911" data-original-width="4368" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB2TtSvIlreLmzg8Y8MNyIBuP-9vBpnaTKmoeJT0IiS0LIBw2WE3FLQgMOaLz0hNrwXLGrzTqDpUVeFUCPRYt-wyqa7YZOEQIxLkz-A-juty5jCmBlhiBmSyuSvMw7cQT0ImhI0ZT2ESYi4fR1jP2k1KkknOjxODWgQGmV8NUuh4EemZpetZLakU4H28u/w400-h266/_DSF7756.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's got a lovely trot and canter, but we never see the walk ;)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyEtIeDIFJAUfhID1P-_T1JbkHKxGtPWITYybXXehd8TnAYJjB4fnH0hkt4oYExt_spkylcfLgaVuIUOAc8Kkdl82SPBHajlcX3zgC-AFkgP5WpXD0_kRsrl5Zo9NykT0D546FdENK35MbDMLdCTBmk7dPmlwNmIADObcj2G_26eE7kXIVfcipkAS-gpG/s4000/IMG_20231226_090450%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyEtIeDIFJAUfhID1P-_T1JbkHKxGtPWITYybXXehd8TnAYJjB4fnH0hkt4oYExt_spkylcfLgaVuIUOAc8Kkdl82SPBHajlcX3zgC-AFkgP5WpXD0_kRsrl5Zo9NykT0D546FdENK35MbDMLdCTBmk7dPmlwNmIADObcj2G_26eE7kXIVfcipkAS-gpG/w400-h300/IMG_20231226_090450%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chaos twins, even Sophie can't keep up right now.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpPArelFYfLwH6xibWIeG7ryI66-8rjWbaPZyZ1Xv5zAgPH8FGgAvrgqd-54t3ggYIxTFOuZHGyVQVsNQDYYZNxEhmMrzNmKhgELTfE-4nLGiIYG_PVP0mv6IUjKFZkWEUQGUvf-nKJUFeoieEycDZcH-7VM-RtSYC1PJ3LiNgeZaQAZUXeOLSclgokFl/s4583/_DSF7757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3055" data-original-width="4583" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpPArelFYfLwH6xibWIeG7ryI66-8rjWbaPZyZ1Xv5zAgPH8FGgAvrgqd-54t3ggYIxTFOuZHGyVQVsNQDYYZNxEhmMrzNmKhgELTfE-4nLGiIYG_PVP0mv6IUjKFZkWEUQGUvf-nKJUFeoieEycDZcH-7VM-RtSYC1PJ3LiNgeZaQAZUXeOLSclgokFl/w400-h266/_DSF7757.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfF0S-ZgAaEalEzGP998QBBS9BRV27ar54uMF-MdpXSRAXtuAh_xdPYTQgbYGITHvzmwbJaX8XlnC_sZzhJkVJtjE588m_UuvebpDuA7QSquQc766mx0bpvuPxDsIc22lmddQv1tQWzzaEydWxve0_ENys_z-8ATVY6GuAcZK09NYR_Wa1IDM8ZF5vfHxu/s2724/_DSF7855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2724" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfF0S-ZgAaEalEzGP998QBBS9BRV27ar54uMF-MdpXSRAXtuAh_xdPYTQgbYGITHvzmwbJaX8XlnC_sZzhJkVJtjE588m_UuvebpDuA7QSquQc766mx0bpvuPxDsIc22lmddQv1tQWzzaEydWxve0_ENys_z-8ATVY6GuAcZK09NYR_Wa1IDM8ZF5vfHxu/w400-h266/_DSF7855.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV4mQR5wphxDXY_YuUoNEAvG3JrDABE6OvtPX30p-9J9CnySS6vSDZQW_DDbd7czpuTzaRNOWZWVkIZmKCpA2vMmLZorBEsNcwq1kgiQV4647FEHjwJjK05swDolso-vLVpHq1DkH2xuFv-PKu_o8SBDTxiuTzaCzcdXk00rXKA3_b8QgGEnPFQQEvNUB/s4796/_DSF7938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3197" data-original-width="4796" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV4mQR5wphxDXY_YuUoNEAvG3JrDABE6OvtPX30p-9J9CnySS6vSDZQW_DDbd7czpuTzaRNOWZWVkIZmKCpA2vMmLZorBEsNcwq1kgiQV4647FEHjwJjK05swDolso-vLVpHq1DkH2xuFv-PKu_o8SBDTxiuTzaCzcdXk00rXKA3_b8QgGEnPFQQEvNUB/w400-h266/_DSF7938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbzK5s6AZcXG-Ec8kZ-wDlkHMvmZgCM3ZqIfm18DNrNeofpXn4A8M6bYRHyyZEv7urUWGMplxyGbaQpi_T035mLEaJ-9dQ65DJ1-OD6TMuxVX9PWBJr8oEKHYYceGwIB1qkJi_c1DEgyol2pZzlBXP3BCFtUQB14lrIFUhHQOU0LgSS9P-aGYy4u14UHw/s6240/_DSF7940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbzK5s6AZcXG-Ec8kZ-wDlkHMvmZgCM3ZqIfm18DNrNeofpXn4A8M6bYRHyyZEv7urUWGMplxyGbaQpi_T035mLEaJ-9dQ65DJ1-OD6TMuxVX9PWBJr8oEKHYYceGwIB1qkJi_c1DEgyol2pZzlBXP3BCFtUQB14lrIFUhHQOU0LgSS9P-aGYy4u14UHw/w400-h266/_DSF7940.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUMyCIIEPICuwVSfEdrI4YZkV8bXGPJr5CsSqJJIjCRx47IAa-guegoBpacL-JSDHeco-GXTGGrY0ZiETrC3hv0Jy_6I7tZFBBdIFCxxY40pA4UAG3-OSHAP1d3Tc0K0ZUQh4c1Pd0x-GG5m0UMYsiRXoqspMWfSJ9VdPjxq52q0dXOe9-Un-j_eLylUz/s6240/_DSF7966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUMyCIIEPICuwVSfEdrI4YZkV8bXGPJr5CsSqJJIjCRx47IAa-guegoBpacL-JSDHeco-GXTGGrY0ZiETrC3hv0Jy_6I7tZFBBdIFCxxY40pA4UAG3-OSHAP1d3Tc0K0ZUQh4c1Pd0x-GG5m0UMYsiRXoqspMWfSJ9VdPjxq52q0dXOe9-Un-j_eLylUz/w400-h266/_DSF7966.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hid some solar lanterns in the trees last summer and they make me happy on early winter nights.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CBXxsD1paLFq-48hm8_ZXn4sINnpi77cZLBcX3Ky48zuMqcch4uA1ZZYQht4hGI_eFwSYklGDcfGwW6MswyfCqHe9d4ancblfHEfixxfI9DT2h-Rt0OCwmR1INP-o31dcsVjGExwMMDRex3tP1vegZqK-Qn7Qz-7ioKcHEQxDjctyNEdTR9nomw3Er3T/s4161/_DSF8032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4161" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CBXxsD1paLFq-48hm8_ZXn4sINnpi77cZLBcX3Ky48zuMqcch4uA1ZZYQht4hGI_eFwSYklGDcfGwW6MswyfCqHe9d4ancblfHEfixxfI9DT2h-Rt0OCwmR1INP-o31dcsVjGExwMMDRex3tP1vegZqK-Qn7Qz-7ioKcHEQxDjctyNEdTR9nomw3Er3T/w400-h400/_DSF8032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWnzbhRVf9ngVl-77fE5Z6VHXq_hRVQhvvVJOmMSHEYOw5iJHLFqMG294dLt3lrvbaYCbrnbC2w_6-7OPdwaU3xgeUM9rxftYl0oVeHxrT6B9MuxVEs-a3yKpH21wUVT5YDPULLITTZnJ0LqwphG6rsvXk1Z4KQf-4jAwSdNM2Z02mGg9aAiTUaDD4kJG/s6240/_DSF8042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWnzbhRVf9ngVl-77fE5Z6VHXq_hRVQhvvVJOmMSHEYOw5iJHLFqMG294dLt3lrvbaYCbrnbC2w_6-7OPdwaU3xgeUM9rxftYl0oVeHxrT6B9MuxVEs-a3yKpH21wUVT5YDPULLITTZnJ0LqwphG6rsvXk1Z4KQf-4jAwSdNM2Z02mGg9aAiTUaDD4kJG/w266-h400/_DSF8042.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The face when you're not sure about being left tied</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19nOoKkPopHiPJ3z5io_0ylt22UlnYwvOt-npoZRvkXk_atiqgqvTtKTexgXkWpOHZD7tAH26NJp6-MzZUsgkKf95J_VTWVMXk-Of5DhNfxY8qJY9fwGNpibzzxmzuH6VqbC2cFCuJYd7ivkLmxtPAI7drtmchPowo6mERGyb3QgQxV71Mcj4tcvb-QRn/s6240/_DSF8091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19nOoKkPopHiPJ3z5io_0ylt22UlnYwvOt-npoZRvkXk_atiqgqvTtKTexgXkWpOHZD7tAH26NJp6-MzZUsgkKf95J_VTWVMXk-Of5DhNfxY8qJY9fwGNpibzzxmzuH6VqbC2cFCuJYd7ivkLmxtPAI7drtmchPowo6mERGyb3QgQxV71Mcj4tcvb-QRn/w266-h400/_DSF8091.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6BKWK4BTQJt1D9q1GTy2hjZ_tjvvk0ynLHUW-juh_iKE6K7bslEkk4ML_qgmT_3fUBAAApJCKZYnA7EhQsqv33U4JqJLZSxjoBpY07cj7AaiH4UYsvwkWJeBlga0JBxUrqby9i6tmoOi76GqPAM1Y4Is71o9dqTOIZOJS0BLs4dxWveibUYh3ezocEMW/s4000/IMG_20231222_153348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6BKWK4BTQJt1D9q1GTy2hjZ_tjvvk0ynLHUW-juh_iKE6K7bslEkk4ML_qgmT_3fUBAAApJCKZYnA7EhQsqv33U4JqJLZSxjoBpY07cj7AaiH4UYsvwkWJeBlga0JBxUrqby9i6tmoOi76GqPAM1Y4Is71o9dqTOIZOJS0BLs4dxWveibUYh3ezocEMW/w300-h400/IMG_20231222_153348.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we got the blanket on eventually, but it's a bit too big to wear.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxKhmKXswl0cM1Zb-AqMzICsgTaJ7zqpB4Kj_1vt0BRU-0uITAR0bYxMsHaYkSf9Onljv3dbOjYWJYFHVP3yC1H5qKxbzet1LwV6mQ_5CJcgxdniJEm_Aup0ucC-5NJvnvkJsNNi_-wdhFOF6b-P1E20V3RcnMI8-hYIKF-8EeqAzAqAqFMfC_Qg_5I5k/s4000/IMG_20231223_144729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxKhmKXswl0cM1Zb-AqMzICsgTaJ7zqpB4Kj_1vt0BRU-0uITAR0bYxMsHaYkSf9Onljv3dbOjYWJYFHVP3yC1H5qKxbzet1LwV6mQ_5CJcgxdniJEm_Aup0ucC-5NJvnvkJsNNi_-wdhFOF6b-P1E20V3RcnMI8-hYIKF-8EeqAzAqAqFMfC_Qg_5I5k/w400-h300/IMG_20231223_144729.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had an absurdly warm and rainy December. The grass really was neon green (and growing)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7IdTtdmPRYaaJkB7Q7cGjWqfkKiCckYfNwbNzCGVzALsQrCDSjjKy3l-xtLvftNRdlqGMcaPl1SLK3H5vjCjGveuyMh72_ulIvuow4fKYZm5qCMtm8ZQi7j3HgEZlc-emZqtHuV5azV_cS8Lzsu7WboXo92Gj7X76udNHqdHzjCOqFL6SDdxTVlJj64n/s3958/IMG_20231224_114553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3958" data-original-width="2226" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7IdTtdmPRYaaJkB7Q7cGjWqfkKiCckYfNwbNzCGVzALsQrCDSjjKy3l-xtLvftNRdlqGMcaPl1SLK3H5vjCjGveuyMh72_ulIvuow4fKYZm5qCMtm8ZQi7j3HgEZlc-emZqtHuV5azV_cS8Lzsu7WboXo92Gj7X76udNHqdHzjCOqFL6SDdxTVlJj64n/w225-h400/IMG_20231224_114553.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">everything in their mouths atm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZH0yK8UXDZbwkqbCY4xeWdxSs5MQe72ka1vuz8it-Oqx-4NaLuXDxwv3pgA_eY9LtBb6Kihsy70_0bMxD4ivw_TJRbdHsD2CTOFICsBY7IhFFSSDjof7vxlX7nE-u5MZaAliUa9BlxigoDFgzuaKi6qJdnf0-Ztg2uxK6x_-R5S3R_Z_97b_u-Jw0h4o9/s4000/IMG_20231226_093942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZH0yK8UXDZbwkqbCY4xeWdxSs5MQe72ka1vuz8it-Oqx-4NaLuXDxwv3pgA_eY9LtBb6Kihsy70_0bMxD4ivw_TJRbdHsD2CTOFICsBY7IhFFSSDjof7vxlX7nE-u5MZaAliUa9BlxigoDFgzuaKi6qJdnf0-Ztg2uxK6x_-R5S3R_Z_97b_u-Jw0h4o9/w300-h400/IMG_20231226_093942.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asking for scratches</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlWe8ylueQ6N7v-Q6Y-xgu58u0WA_JrY4Ilg21Lk0Txpo40gWJyx36jXS828izhVGN5OiQiIHczr5MLWNVrX7nQfcJEtJYdQecasZ7kEHLOFOf05cJKck7FyTjR1f3dZfeEV8hGkynpXWAU8jNEWkk9HEzGpmx3o7iaoKhvJ956epqYDLHDss_LY-IYCh/s4000/IMG_20231230_123609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlWe8ylueQ6N7v-Q6Y-xgu58u0WA_JrY4Ilg21Lk0Txpo40gWJyx36jXS828izhVGN5OiQiIHczr5MLWNVrX7nQfcJEtJYdQecasZ7kEHLOFOf05cJKck7FyTjR1f3dZfeEV8hGkynpXWAU8jNEWkk9HEzGpmx3o7iaoKhvJ956epqYDLHDss_LY-IYCh/w300-h400/IMG_20231230_123609.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Has been surprisingly good and non distracted by the chaos twins. Reggie was throwing buckets against their house this day, making satisfyingly loud and unsettling noises to scare Buck with (and Sophie and I to ride with)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHGojP76Sx-NYL24ewUXi3FAfE0EfPm8qy3mpXtYH5Rha537oP9BZxvPGqxz-8sJ3Sp1CeV4v-kAneec3HK8EBipRLHS_Tqpo_1norjyqT6h0M8lPD-UHw7lWqY77qbVcMNWwu-qpedV72LeUfU5rThOMk_BjHEo6DlPJPQqYSQL9y4bAptlLnlF8KKEG/s2209/IMG_20240101_100228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="2209" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHGojP76Sx-NYL24ewUXi3FAfE0EfPm8qy3mpXtYH5Rha537oP9BZxvPGqxz-8sJ3Sp1CeV4v-kAneec3HK8EBipRLHS_Tqpo_1norjyqT6h0M8lPD-UHw7lWqY77qbVcMNWwu-qpedV72LeUfU5rThOMk_BjHEo6DlPJPQqYSQL9y4bAptlLnlF8KKEG/w400-h266/IMG_20240101_100228.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie had a glow (and dapples)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBePn0MRIwT6pF1xcmfJyE0_96osU3xdsfwA_hQVqZCrM5NIrKaCTFFXZcjuQTbA04D8IEg1zPwqgpPd5ZhfGt6cm6S_ayWekBJvNn6YvFbPfClIV8uxckdD7cOtpWMIyhzNM9h7VjWzSUhs7THXdQCAg3Df3ic7gsqnZ5d4VtmveIcgLQUQxsOudtPrM/s3116/IMG_20240101_103308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2609" data-original-width="3116" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBePn0MRIwT6pF1xcmfJyE0_96osU3xdsfwA_hQVqZCrM5NIrKaCTFFXZcjuQTbA04D8IEg1zPwqgpPd5ZhfGt6cm6S_ayWekBJvNn6YvFbPfClIV8uxckdD7cOtpWMIyhzNM9h7VjWzSUhs7THXdQCAg3Df3ic7gsqnZ5d4VtmveIcgLQUQxsOudtPrM/w400-h335/IMG_20240101_103308.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of these creatures is way more chaotic than the other. Hi Reggie, lol</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-6722236097587671082024-01-02T09:07:00.000-08:002024-01-02T09:07:17.148-08:00looking forward<p>So, this past year...happened. I was stuck in a rut and needed to make some changes. Then I hurt myself and those changes felt like they needed to happen sooner rather than later. And reliable me, who loves a routine and predictability, made a few uncharacteristic YOLO type decisions. The fun thing is, once I got over the initial feelings of change itself being uncomfortable, my decisions felt all sorts of right. The long term plan is easy to imagine and something I’m excited for again. The short term plan for 2024 feels manageable and fun. I think I did OK.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdc4nBC1Uu8LpMDkL9LKf4hsmyIvzYVS0yj6bfOSivysWAyo4pAwl290zORD6Vf9TIcSRn9NB3uRI2hvR3ZNkUhUGBhDoy3NhO19v07QejTPoxD_NcAbZTrOOflv1ouMlIYPNk-bQ9Mdbv9jcwf0RSBkBOYVD-7WWJjNMSfIWTnHuQ6y_gbuZP2qopsfO/s6240/_DSF8055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdc4nBC1Uu8LpMDkL9LKf4hsmyIvzYVS0yj6bfOSivysWAyo4pAwl290zORD6Vf9TIcSRn9NB3uRI2hvR3ZNkUhUGBhDoy3NhO19v07QejTPoxD_NcAbZTrOOflv1ouMlIYPNk-bQ9Mdbv9jcwf0RSBkBOYVD-7WWJjNMSfIWTnHuQ6y_gbuZP2qopsfO/w266-h400/_DSF8055.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plus, they were cute decisions</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>This is where I should set out a show and clinic schedule and impress you with my goals and dedication (or imagination ;)). I DO have an aspirational schedule filed away and some lessons planned, but I'm going to let that come as it may. I'm in a good place mentally, and past experience has taught me that pushing too hard to hit certain goals or benchmarks takes the enjoyment right out of thing. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo5Sp7TV566GXH9mAhQN-leiBwyWSs2DZxHQRy5pCW7pSav4ZHdB5GmVPcB1eVQte37oD6z66n141-y5Dyr34PTZco9ScchWcFGgKToDkvNe9tjIUnUxg-E0DLiJyKGu9DXmcDfp6H308lmQEwpJ-Uj53b0_frHm4TkdCast7104qDhCfsoF3ETIjcrLh/s4160/_DSF7873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="2774" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo5Sp7TV566GXH9mAhQN-leiBwyWSs2DZxHQRy5pCW7pSav4ZHdB5GmVPcB1eVQte37oD6z66n141-y5Dyr34PTZco9ScchWcFGgKToDkvNe9tjIUnUxg-E0DLiJyKGu9DXmcDfp6H308lmQEwpJ-Uj53b0_frHm4TkdCast7104qDhCfsoF3ETIjcrLh/w266-h400/_DSF7873.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The current fluff level is kind of misleading, but also who would have had elegant baby Sophie maturing to be wider and bigger than Bridget on their bingo cards? She's 7 and I feel like all the filling out only came this past year.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The boys are getting gelded early spring and then I'll have some more options for them. I don't have any big things planned, just want to see them run around and play and grow up well. While I am intrigued by breed shows, I can't justify taking them for a multi travel day trip to go to one. I’ll get them out to some local events so they can see the world a little, but it's going to be super low key. I definitely have some plans for the pair of them, but those won’t be 2024 (or even 2025) happenings. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHJ9Eqicne6uKhbsmVUK7sDoaPMbJ7ShXrq5aZABRM9BMXZQfZHCgkrWjrTfQ-3WhR98R7N99jhZecVWCuoufQbY3rteg5VlDieaDgwfqnIbEK-PHrsHEZ9L3KuYIiSqiJ5Aee6Mj3sIQ2EjC4ytQPAkwvswojACg4-1cJ0SquL7vpdKRZDQZl7MaYRIQ/s3161/IMG_20240101_103307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2524" data-original-width="3161" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHJ9Eqicne6uKhbsmVUK7sDoaPMbJ7ShXrq5aZABRM9BMXZQfZHCgkrWjrTfQ-3WhR98R7N99jhZecVWCuoufQbY3rteg5VlDieaDgwfqnIbEK-PHrsHEZ9L3KuYIiSqiJ5Aee6Mj3sIQ2EjC4ytQPAkwvswojACg4-1cJ0SquL7vpdKRZDQZl7MaYRIQ/w400-h320/IMG_20240101_103307.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaos level 10/10</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I feel like I say this every year, but I’d be better served saving my money for regular trips to one riding coach than attending the variety of local clinics and events. I say this and then I get sucked in because it’s so darn easy to just trailer down the road to whoever’s here, especially when they’re more than qualified to teach us. Our club events committee works hard to organize those opportunities and I feel guilty if I go my own direction and don't support their efforts. That being said, I think that I would be better to have consistency with one person moving forward, so that’s my plan for further learning this year.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oekNwdYxhLWj-KKEtfxfAjWj0HZRmrBZ2-hHNOLwyB6SZqWXpc73Nk4m1BBcaqynGlUiyDVu3j93pt0QcSgUf2f1210IspqJGae2sLhL_wxW1IEukUs2BX1WBVAeMsujQlcKBRMcR77e2UwT7YLgkxa_q0D-mzJkyYmcXlfLqzBXItfES5IxMOsjL5V9/s4000/IMG_20231226_093959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oekNwdYxhLWj-KKEtfxfAjWj0HZRmrBZ2-hHNOLwyB6SZqWXpc73Nk4m1BBcaqynGlUiyDVu3j93pt0QcSgUf2f1210IspqJGae2sLhL_wxW1IEukUs2BX1WBVAeMsujQlcKBRMcR77e2UwT7YLgkxa_q0D-mzJkyYmcXlfLqzBXItfES5IxMOsjL5V9/w300-h400/IMG_20231226_093959.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie would just like more chin scratches in 2024</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>As far as really tangible things on the to do list - finishing the riding ring and moving into the house are the two big ones. We're also exploring some bigger plans surrounding relocating at least part of the year, and I want to incorporate a plan for the horses and continued riding in that. I suspect that's one of those things that's going to feel like A Really Big Deal to organize and research, but once we actually are in a routine of doing it, it won't be too much of a thing. On a more emotional level, keeping a focused and positive mindset about riding and related goals is the biggest priority. I'm way too hard on myself.</p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-593234628192843012023-12-28T13:03:00.000-08:002023-12-28T13:03:57.105-08:00Year End Check In<p> I was pondering a full year in review type post, but you’ve all been so supportive, invested, and encouraging through the last roller coaster of a year that it feels kind of unnecessary to write out a full recap. It feels like there was a virtual barn family who were all right there with me, and for that I’m both humbled and appreciative.</p><p>To wrap up the year, I’m feeling so much better. Back surgery will still be a thing at some point in this lifetime, but everything has stabilized so surprisingly nicely on its own that it’s no longer an emergency. Currently any pain or mobility issues are minimal, even with me being back to normal riding and activity levels.</p><p>Sophie also feels great. There’s the odd day that keeps me buying those ulcer supplements, but she’s happy and healthy and so much easier to keep weight on. She’s way less anxious. I miss Bridget, but their intense attachment was doing Sophie no favours. </p><p>Bridget is of course doing well, I saw over the holidays that Santa visited her in her lease home and brought her Christmas presents, something that never happened here ;)</p><p>Buck and Reggie - zero regrets over bringing the both of them home. They play non stop and I can’t imagine the struggle that would have been trying to keep just one that entertained and busy all day. They couldn’t be more different from each other, either, which is wonderful - it balances things nicely. </p><p>The house and property: we made huge progress there this year, but there’s a lot more to be done. I can’t check moving in off my list quite yet, but the ponies are of course all nicely settled and I’m really enjoying having them “home”. The next big horse related project is to finish the riding arena, which I’m very excited for.</p><p>See you in 2024!</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-46549566248947183432023-12-21T09:39:00.000-08:002023-12-21T09:39:25.969-08:00Welcome to the raincoast<p> It's rained a fair bit more since my last update and we're at a really depressing place where I have zero turnout because the ground is oversaturated and most everything is under standing water. This is the first year I've ever seen it this bad, which is kind of ironic considering we spent the $$$$ to put in tons of drainage across the whole place last spring to avoid just this situation. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9q3YXlFg7Fxt5ZP9rCkqHjiagN3I6bxmoiM8UNBLGlYCOZSctonBcxsHl8BMY6xk8UPm5Qu5xZkroPxqqUbEl-pLdtDnBAfkLrPn6yiSMviJ1wAwnVTVUd94yUoU5S6B4AC1h8mQVM761gSevB1jz4GvBpkaIot0xRW1MSauFAZHwec0oRrNTPC4DMHB/s4000/IMG_20231215_103041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9q3YXlFg7Fxt5ZP9rCkqHjiagN3I6bxmoiM8UNBLGlYCOZSctonBcxsHl8BMY6xk8UPm5Qu5xZkroPxqqUbEl-pLdtDnBAfkLrPn6yiSMviJ1wAwnVTVUd94yUoU5S6B4AC1h8mQVM761gSevB1jz4GvBpkaIot0xRW1MSauFAZHwec0oRrNTPC4DMHB/w300-h400/IMG_20231215_103041.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course no equines are remotely worried about it or have any desire to be inside.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7Q3qyPP4HOWTSSiX6qSzghYa91NamJNaKJ68yUiYu-CA_6SI-gNy6oHO8WzYeIbdtL_DqEILkgZgwvglt7PTyhe4bAmLtfbgsvfnpY8Ay6zq4Gc6MNAJetjqPDbpaQedcjvjfEWFDrdhrDs4N9gaAgpFxgP1ZsMYVTluIlk6X8ffE_1JGhPvIJlyhMZh/s4000/IMG_20231216_114613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7Q3qyPP4HOWTSSiX6qSzghYa91NamJNaKJ68yUiYu-CA_6SI-gNy6oHO8WzYeIbdtL_DqEILkgZgwvglt7PTyhe4bAmLtfbgsvfnpY8Ay6zq4Gc6MNAJetjqPDbpaQedcjvjfEWFDrdhrDs4N9gaAgpFxgP1ZsMYVTluIlk6X8ffE_1JGhPvIJlyhMZh/w300-h400/IMG_20231216_114613.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bought these two blankets, as you can see said blankets are not wanted. (In all seriousness, I'm working on that and it sounds weird but it might be the bright blue color?)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHS-jb8d2U_slqKzKTohTV6Bisfje2GZiBIwHXEqzASPnD7yHZ2GjM1OgnJzTGIHn6CltrxUxZQcJNwkItLPvbHbLh18kslZPRimQZnZMQ7jRi1mGhcirNNf5dtHxW3fvXtXdQFE6jlLkDhT6PHbl1uLNSttmmuPgoRsHr0cd7enikN6csxxkNt4kKSid/s3537/IMG_20231218_132629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2402" data-original-width="3537" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHS-jb8d2U_slqKzKTohTV6Bisfje2GZiBIwHXEqzASPnD7yHZ2GjM1OgnJzTGIHn6CltrxUxZQcJNwkItLPvbHbLh18kslZPRimQZnZMQ7jRi1mGhcirNNf5dtHxW3fvXtXdQFE6jlLkDhT6PHbl1uLNSttmmuPgoRsHr0cd7enikN6csxxkNt4kKSid/w400-h271/IMG_20231218_132629.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my cat looks like he's planning a vacation though</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p>"Think how much worse it would have been if you didn't do the drainage!" is what my lovely and ever optimistic grandmother would have said. And, she's right. Our basement isn't flooding (knocking hard on wood), and I have zero control over city storm sewers being overwhelmed and backing up. So we've done our best. There are a few minor upgrades I'll make next spring, but generally speaking, this is winter here and the big struggle with having livestock.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd-qaQkIfYH3SiZW1ZlKiCFRxIYqbTtQfkapQ6j4l_1fVc0hAcH0g4xeRI_4fyklmOB-mpuCNbOU2ZG8DfYULVBLvQDIvcU8rhUJzBmd-3HOuGyRatTFhY6PQzWAPOv60GDaRsxC90QuAwK1kdwf9njxStLp-ERX6B87a3R5tCaWg5Y8Q7Wjg7bub9ylr/s4000/IMG_20231216_144544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd-qaQkIfYH3SiZW1ZlKiCFRxIYqbTtQfkapQ6j4l_1fVc0hAcH0g4xeRI_4fyklmOB-mpuCNbOU2ZG8DfYULVBLvQDIvcU8rhUJzBmd-3HOuGyRatTFhY6PQzWAPOv60GDaRsxC90QuAwK1kdwf9njxStLp-ERX6B87a3R5tCaWg5Y8Q7Wjg7bub9ylr/s320/IMG_20231216_144544.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">even very helpful livestock (is it a yak? or an equine of some sort? can't tell)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJvm-fLeTD9RlXXCMkOb9L9_-ZToJuXg30sGYoZj6Cyt_U5iC7XLBAQgRQemBVhDf5fAAh5_gXdiQUQqLmud7OUkynjkUAnaUJ8UMnGpFgDApMmsh4MdishbEEutaxXjfPtbI6rqkwcaKzrhRajJZaMD_J6Qgqollvzd6-HiNWMuMquKl_4XEdgGQTay0/s4000/IMG_20231216_144532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJvm-fLeTD9RlXXCMkOb9L9_-ZToJuXg30sGYoZj6Cyt_U5iC7XLBAQgRQemBVhDf5fAAh5_gXdiQUQqLmud7OUkynjkUAnaUJ8UMnGpFgDApMmsh4MdishbEEutaxXjfPtbI6rqkwcaKzrhRajJZaMD_J6Qgqollvzd6-HiNWMuMquKl_4XEdgGQTay0/s320/IMG_20231216_144532.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">starting to resemble an equine again, but this poor guy, the awkward stage has been...awkward.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> The ponies still have decent sized gravel paddocks that they can have a little canter in if they like and (mostly) dry barns. The rubber mats are the saving grace there - there's definitely been some water seeping up from the ground if my flooded hay area is anything to go by. My hay is up on pallets on a plywood 'floor' but standing water in there not a warm fuzzy feeling. A sawmill local to us has been providing us with nearly overwhelming amounts of free sawdust, so I don't feel too terrible if a bit of wet gets in to the horse stalls- I'm bedding them super deep and just changing it out more often than I normally would if it gets damp. The hay area is definitely getting an upgrade this summer, though.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAduezyl77sYjwMUFMGbExI8SyeToKVsvt8ogtJKGdHSujqD7NGw4bZYGR6LqrXKXozA4O68XwPOADilFpk87LJ1zUzEQYZ5r0tej3mUWt4AreGx5IV-RcHXg_auqiEy_C511jA1DnoNxcGMMDqo_S10T-A6YD1iXZVfZf9iHZhBF-H8ThAELV7fi9i_-/s4000/IMG_20231216_144336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAduezyl77sYjwMUFMGbExI8SyeToKVsvt8ogtJKGdHSujqD7NGw4bZYGR6LqrXKXozA4O68XwPOADilFpk87LJ1zUzEQYZ5r0tej3mUWt4AreGx5IV-RcHXg_auqiEy_C511jA1DnoNxcGMMDqo_S10T-A6YD1iXZVfZf9iHZhBF-H8ThAELV7fi9i_-/w300-h400/IMG_20231216_144336.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hey Buck!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs0MSr5ST0l2Nlo3PGZt1org3WejN04u8vBDIiGPiGwJFwmZNO9zPo88Z7TMsmFwqF_E3zK9N7UTnp3bn1VAhBu4HIril9aPtDvO5I9kO3mjbM7jDmQhRzTPw8Ycyj4XM9gV3_t1lI3ip7SyqK8gmuaOS0P4nBY15juHvRUa2JGWq9PmS8ynGIn8SMp5_/s4000/IMG_20231216_144249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs0MSr5ST0l2Nlo3PGZt1org3WejN04u8vBDIiGPiGwJFwmZNO9zPo88Z7TMsmFwqF_E3zK9N7UTnp3bn1VAhBu4HIril9aPtDvO5I9kO3mjbM7jDmQhRzTPw8Ycyj4XM9gV3_t1lI3ip7SyqK8gmuaOS0P4nBY15juHvRUa2JGWq9PmS8ynGIn8SMp5_/w300-h400/IMG_20231216_144249.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey Reggie!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>In a second bit of ironic news, all that water around and still someone (it's me) apparently didn't soak the hay cubes thoroughly and Sophie choked a little on one. I recognized *that* cough right away thanks to a previous unlucky experience with another horse, but luckily it was minor this time. So, she's been getting extra soupy grain and soaked hay this week and seems better. I've been keeping a close eye on her because there's always the concern she might have aspirated some, but fingers crossed it's been a few days and we're hopefully in the clear.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfaRiTzV145ia7h53RmHYyRF1gbwFVIfFDjkXfY412Mho1YBBeZzHMaDhYN8k7S2a24qbGXiLuLWi2g2eNj9Q6K6GVCptL0sqEZTwf0niFsPZlIw6w3qoo0KeXfz6mlhapfnGMPoBlzeNo7tIPMIxWeorhXjFvuE3YR6q5ogRzpQSYVvyEmhomJTJWZfy/s3795/IMG_20231220_170949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="3795" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfaRiTzV145ia7h53RmHYyRF1gbwFVIfFDjkXfY412Mho1YBBeZzHMaDhYN8k7S2a24qbGXiLuLWi2g2eNj9Q6K6GVCptL0sqEZTwf0niFsPZlIw6w3qoo0KeXfz6mlhapfnGMPoBlzeNo7tIPMIxWeorhXjFvuE3YR6q5ogRzpQSYVvyEmhomJTJWZfy/w400-h304/IMG_20231220_170949.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a regular 4:30pm post work rainy Tuesday night longe in the dark, as you do. Loving that the days are going to get longer again!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Today's my last day of work before some much needed holiday time that takes me right through to the beginning of January. The weather, of course, does not look promising, but I'm looking forward to getting some ride time in and having a nice quiet break. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-77287742552451987682023-12-18T10:04:00.000-08:002023-12-18T10:04:05.481-08:00Seeking Sunshine<div><br /></div><div>It's been dark and rainy and windy and all the non desirable weather things for long enough that I'm once again second guessing all the life choices that brought me back to coastal BC in winter...with horses.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcc6izVTwqrLj9oVRxOXgsL37mfF9J5uKdeyQOYp5mb7gTtL4qzy-ogBbCuYlontyJmh2jVQOl9bYqxFj_CT7LR1eJvwxGO2kpor6Sxg3f4ptn3x4oXAlQsyCQVv3RkKpVoUwkgcqq4paNFBMDw0C4x_EK7yWc6Ca1m1OZfpVs_9sYkzAk3a953UYIcBf/s4000/IMG_20231203_162332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcc6izVTwqrLj9oVRxOXgsL37mfF9J5uKdeyQOYp5mb7gTtL4qzy-ogBbCuYlontyJmh2jVQOl9bYqxFj_CT7LR1eJvwxGO2kpor6Sxg3f4ptn3x4oXAlQsyCQVv3RkKpVoUwkgcqq4paNFBMDw0C4x_EK7yWc6Ca1m1OZfpVs_9sYkzAk3a953UYIcBf/w300-h400/IMG_20231203_162332.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grateful for a dry area to ride in though</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>It's kind of my annual tradition - it seems this is consistently the time of year I find tough enough that I start imagining life somewhere warm, without horses making mud everywhere. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are aiming to be some of those people who have a second residence in a warmer, drier, locale but that is still very much in the research and planning stage. Wanting to bring horses with us and potentially continue to work remotely makes it slightly more complicated than buying a condo on a beach somewhere in South America lol. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEH-bJ7js6VX61R09R5j8rJT2JnOSRfFYKYlrACfFH7GHrBSQTVP3fm0iJIFATS4jyT3chVXWBQtfr7_OoWP7BV6zAhTPRmm_FM_OAgHYnrz8wP9vEKHXX5aMa_E-faYC40II0-VvnIVFvYzL6_geghdd6TLdeOfxAE8KztOrE8glCugXU0gMgVb-wqRn/s2573/IMG_20231211_084158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2573" data-original-width="1744" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEH-bJ7js6VX61R09R5j8rJT2JnOSRfFYKYlrACfFH7GHrBSQTVP3fm0iJIFATS4jyT3chVXWBQtfr7_OoWP7BV6zAhTPRmm_FM_OAgHYnrz8wP9vEKHXX5aMa_E-faYC40II0-VvnIVFvYzL6_geghdd6TLdeOfxAE8KztOrE8glCugXU0gMgVb-wqRn/w271-h400/IMG_20231211_084158.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not enough words for the chaos Mr Alfalfahead brings into our lives. Also my gratitude for the truckloads of gravel G had the foresight to bring in for their paddocks </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSnYHKPeZgZJACRg4qsw8zeBhFQ5i6U8uqLNSyXj0XmAYI9qgvYA3upryrjaMKCHTVwBy3ePzWQ87nLQiD9ftWCRRcJti4AG4KHuaLI_yZQfWqkRACj2a2TI6zIFqfft22D11HSujz1xWnC6vVpEpSSMMO2asaSCuuSTkNYUfD-sB7w92k1C6MYNCJh9q/s4000/IMG_20231209_100331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSnYHKPeZgZJACRg4qsw8zeBhFQ5i6U8uqLNSyXj0XmAYI9qgvYA3upryrjaMKCHTVwBy3ePzWQ87nLQiD9ftWCRRcJti4AG4KHuaLI_yZQfWqkRACj2a2TI6zIFqfft22D11HSujz1xWnC6vVpEpSSMMO2asaSCuuSTkNYUfD-sB7w92k1C6MYNCJh9q/w300-h400/IMG_20231209_100331.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone here prefers standing out in the rain to being dry and warm in a shelter (except me). </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, enough with the whining about the weather. It's grim, but with the right rain gear and lighting I can at least get out and ride most days. Which I do very much appreciate. I also find that once the beginning of January rolls around and I'm fresh off a couple of weeks vacation from work, I'm all positive and motivated again and ready to start a new year off right. Spring is coming, after all. So funny how a mid winter date on the calendar has become associated with fresh starts and brand new opportunities, but hey, it works for me lol. Bring on 2024.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORtd8-etyBSYr_CY8_JkA981-PFiht9a5jECmrkVGR7YvrN1EDxzILY41sBABaZ-A_ThAcPEE_12AJkwU-4nL8EAokUTOoGDM1kkuLZ-VCe3cUwWeZVbdZwbvSkLY7XXKdqbzQnsTc-upZsXJB2IKpjlNoTbJyjMWdCqn1rqHzaf6B5zYNmAmLTtTTIel/s4000/IMG_20231208_170752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORtd8-etyBSYr_CY8_JkA981-PFiht9a5jECmrkVGR7YvrN1EDxzILY41sBABaZ-A_ThAcPEE_12AJkwU-4nL8EAokUTOoGDM1kkuLZ-VCe3cUwWeZVbdZwbvSkLY7XXKdqbzQnsTc-upZsXJB2IKpjlNoTbJyjMWdCqn1rqHzaf6B5zYNmAmLTtTTIel/w400-h300/IMG_20231208_170752.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my attempt at a festive spirit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, I've definitely been in need of a pick me up, so rather than putting money aside for that long term vacation condo gain, I did what any reasonable horse owner would do and doubled down on short term gains and went online shopping at the tack store. They had a great sale on those Haas brush sets, and despite my skepticism that I really needed a different brush set for a different color of horse, or the miracles the reviews promise, I went ahead and got the bay/dark bay/black set, thereby justifying the purchase by statistically incorporating 3/4 of our equines.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB-RcdT9pG1o4ePjvsdWbUTgUZyB46VJWysJk1_gNFB1N6SZgUwOja0uoPv613-1yQcR1xNZ6x9GeP_BrDa1wMBfZbxQi1N9JiAiSCTN6iJFvppdVo_UCLF0ocfvuhyfrj4XLQ4Es_ETtuORxJV10XvN4q3SehhsIrgbrU3h35J0wdmXZvROACLyfHKJi/s4000/IMG_20231208_163714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB-RcdT9pG1o4ePjvsdWbUTgUZyB46VJWysJk1_gNFB1N6SZgUwOja0uoPv613-1yQcR1xNZ6x9GeP_BrDa1wMBfZbxQi1N9JiAiSCTN6iJFvppdVo_UCLF0ocfvuhyfrj4XLQ4Es_ETtuORxJV10XvN4q3SehhsIrgbrU3h35J0wdmXZvROACLyfHKJi/w400-h300/IMG_20231208_163714.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"but why?" I'm sure he wonders. Giving the brushes (bottom right) some serious side eye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The brushes arrived, and I tested them on Sophie. She hates them, all of them. Dramatically. Squeals, bitey face. All of it. I don't know if it's the horse hair? She's highly offended even sniffing the box they came in and would like to stomp it and destroy the brushes one by one. But, she likes her routine and they are not advertised as palomino brushes ;) so back to her favorite cheap plastic brushes I go.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other drama llama, Reggie, tolerates them. Which actually is nice, because he has been quite fussy and anxious about grooming. In all seriousness, I did cave and buy the 'fancy' brushes with him in mind - all of my others are cheap plastic curries and bristles that he finds to be too much. I wouldn't go so far to say he enjoys it, but standing quietly to be groomed and not feeling like he is being tortured is a big win for him.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhtvbo53bXf7y-hVFaW3R3J8JS93Wj_WSEGbJteWiNi1DH_hi4A3dQAQV2CNY5VOTZk9HBE-sV_J0Nq1ptLhflWtfWqSDQ98Ud3e7p14RX1uRNOYIUwf5OF-ZXmFhxYIsEQXlD19D3kzAleF4W2XUu3zYcwN6Qecu4IbFIssmPwXg9jRlL2B6vHjAI97R/s4000/IMG_20231203_163605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhtvbo53bXf7y-hVFaW3R3J8JS93Wj_WSEGbJteWiNi1DH_hi4A3dQAQV2CNY5VOTZk9HBE-sV_J0Nq1ptLhflWtfWqSDQ98Ud3e7p14RX1uRNOYIUwf5OF-ZXmFhxYIsEQXlD19D3kzAleF4W2XUu3zYcwN6Qecu4IbFIssmPwXg9jRlL2B6vHjAI97R/s320/IMG_20231203_163605.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the bitey face game is a firm favorite with these two. This past week it's graduated into biting hind legs and trying to pull each other down. I'm actually a little surprised how rough they play (and appreciative that they are so respectful of us)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're curious about the actual efficacy of said brushes, I'm definitely not the dream review. I think these brushes are designed for equines of the finer, more sensitive, sort (or identify as such - looking at you, Reggie), not shaggy ponies. They don't do much of anything on a winter coated Welsh Cob. I'll probably get more use out of them in summer or if I clip. But, for now, I'll keep one or two in my grooming tote for Reggie, because being able to get him halfway groomed is better than not at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll leave you with a quick riding update. The weather has put hold to any Friday off property adventures the last two weeks, so we've been stuck at home. I'm a bit precious about my new saddle getting wet so if it's really chucking it down I longe. It's been about 50/50 lately. Sophie needs the exercise to stay sane but also I don't think it's fair to longe in circles day after day, and there's only so much groundwork we can do before we're both bored. So, I've had to be creative in trying to keep it interesting with ground poles and different exercises every day, and yes my saddle has seen a lot more rain than I would have liked it to.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNWpWapq9cYL2rwLs34XTTNwa5CIIXqyMhWFKDnMm1OJxucqoJqPbgfE1aCp-vKRXjZZa6McpzWXMviT1EVfEiaAy2_lWmL2mx30QTMk8dI35lODApwelce0VbqZO5cRIX0W9H2YmXaFbBP5u82ljjoiO0k57e8IEOK4XkTh3S1pYKHDO1REmyOj-Qa2M/s4000/IMG_20231208_161730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNWpWapq9cYL2rwLs34XTTNwa5CIIXqyMhWFKDnMm1OJxucqoJqPbgfE1aCp-vKRXjZZa6McpzWXMviT1EVfEiaAy2_lWmL2mx30QTMk8dI35lODApwelce0VbqZO5cRIX0W9H2YmXaFbBP5u82ljjoiO0k57e8IEOK4XkTh3S1pYKHDO1REmyOj-Qa2M/w400-h300/IMG_20231208_161730.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy with her weight and muscle tone this winter. Long term readers will know she's a harder keeper prone to ulcers and worrying, so it's been a bit of a struggle to get it right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As far as actual rides, she's been good. There is still the odd moment of bolting off from imaginary ghosts, but I've been quite diligent about going into my ride with a plan and letting the exercise do the work for me. Given my current available space and the half constructed nature of my arena I am a little limited, but I've got more than enough space for 20m circles and figure eights and square turns and a million transitions and I am nowhere near out of ideas. I have hope that this winter of picking away at the basics will pay dividends and I'll have a much more rideable pony come spring. Fingers crossed, though, the weather cooperates a little more and I can get her out on a trail (in daylight, even!) or at least to the club grounds across town for a change of scenery.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYk3YpLZpkTaKeEMkzMqTdPPSwA_v4yUyjCJDmwhDMv7tRQBC39APm46PA0DekpI3ILy5VZwnxUwY1EtaXiRAmuHDbdLwZKTg-nz9Plm0J7GjKzitqlGsY_fD5zosXlb4eeLAlC7eHiSnB3t1jNcBAJy9vRZqiWBxfR4YaitspTDtnX8AyHxs4FfwiNba/s4000/IMG_20231208_162035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYk3YpLZpkTaKeEMkzMqTdPPSwA_v4yUyjCJDmwhDMv7tRQBC39APm46PA0DekpI3ILy5VZwnxUwY1EtaXiRAmuHDbdLwZKTg-nz9Plm0J7GjKzitqlGsY_fD5zosXlb4eeLAlC7eHiSnB3t1jNcBAJy9vRZqiWBxfR4YaitspTDtnX8AyHxs4FfwiNba/s320/IMG_20231208_162035.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dreaming of adventures outside the fence ;)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>If you're wondering why this is the second winter of 'half constructed arena' basically the gravel sub base continues to settle. It sits on pretty heavy clay on a slight slope. We put in a ton of drainage, and it's 'OK', like I could just add the cap layer and the footing and go for it, but also this is going to be my long term riding space, so I want to level it one more time this spring and get it as close as possible.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-81588154664631766182023-12-08T07:00:00.000-08:002023-12-08T07:00:00.169-08:00Let's Trade<p>You can see all the media, even visit your foal in person and think you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Then, boom, they're weaned, they come home and...things might not play out exactly as you thought. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklIJz8TogXnlzBj_ZhGxejwBboal8POppziy5mZCXGHIelWnhoVCsEVzNbbMlZg2T5o4Ye2l4ynVQvypciV3BM8vzjAUuOfhE0xyrrWJDSDgIUma-6c7K9ZLoyJihGBVMF0XMYhIWSmO_iFOWsG9SztAInv7K7HKLpq51JuIs9Hm_nVLxSbYG7gzw63ff/s4134/_DSF7367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2756" data-original-width="4134" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklIJz8TogXnlzBj_ZhGxejwBboal8POppziy5mZCXGHIelWnhoVCsEVzNbbMlZg2T5o4Ye2l4ynVQvypciV3BM8vzjAUuOfhE0xyrrWJDSDgIUma-6c7K9ZLoyJihGBVMF0XMYhIWSmO_iFOWsG9SztAInv7K7HKLpq51JuIs9Hm_nVLxSbYG7gzw63ff/w400-h266/_DSF7367.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a few weeks of being suspiciously quiet, it feels like all they ever do now is run and play and roughhouse with each other. Best decision getting two.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Don't get me wrong, it's all good here! It's just fun how as humans we tend to want to write a narrative about how it's all going to play out, but also it's real life and we're not actually able to predict the future, plus there's the whole nature/nurture thing and you'd better to be ready for it.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jV4JyhjeMiVTqHE1r-nuwvdxQ4J-zxI7IL8MbdDre4ZEfpnkIrSb57GXR_zN6_5E96WTg0zXM_H34tTqUl9hCh9N6rpS0Ji5dOW5ZTbhvWHP1YfGReinJHPSH3Gb6Y4XJI3QP6mFMkAB9I9n9fuhc3ps4VvvEhf_jgHBLALgrtLZeqXXxFt5dgEwq3wZ/s3376/_DSF7028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3376" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jV4JyhjeMiVTqHE1r-nuwvdxQ4J-zxI7IL8MbdDre4ZEfpnkIrSb57GXR_zN6_5E96WTg0zXM_H34tTqUl9hCh9N6rpS0Ji5dOW5ZTbhvWHP1YfGReinJHPSH3Gb6Y4XJI3QP6mFMkAB9I9n9fuhc3ps4VvvEhf_jgHBLALgrtLZeqXXxFt5dgEwq3wZ/w400-h266/_DSF7028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Our quiet, easy, friendly little foal we got to be Reggie's buddy (and husband G's (driving?hiking?) pony) Buck. He is all those things, or should I say could be all those things. Currently he also takes things very personally and is no stranger to holding a grudge for days. He's not the type to be dramatic about it, he just internalizes it and then opts out for next time (and who can blame him - it's been an eventful couple of months being weaned and moving across country). He's absolutely super and I'm his number one fan, but he does come with a healthy dose of that Welsh Cob sense of fairness and self preservation.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktQCQrohyphenhyphentXHA6mqN2Eq2EB-BQyHx_ycIHAhRv1pxX38a2Uwm4DRmj_yjkKLxybP5yQIa1UMQF5Lm7sDyON8VDab6-hLzFSluvxTqO34V4AogdzOuE6yEY75c8vvUC0s8e-YNIkGsT3-x_fQLkICtZw95eIIyFXg9sKa0b4T-jWOZLxVoxzozcW32E0O_/s5598/_DSF7550%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5598" data-original-width="3731" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktQCQrohyphenhyphentXHA6mqN2Eq2EB-BQyHx_ycIHAhRv1pxX38a2Uwm4DRmj_yjkKLxybP5yQIa1UMQF5Lm7sDyON8VDab6-hLzFSluvxTqO34V4AogdzOuE6yEY75c8vvUC0s8e-YNIkGsT3-x_fQLkICtZw95eIIyFXg9sKa0b4T-jWOZLxVoxzozcW32E0O_/w266-h400/_DSF7550%20(1).jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is also rapidly becoming a tank</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Reggie is incredibly brave and bold and curious about everything. He's maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed, but the flip side to that is that he is just happy to be busy, and never takes anything to heart. He's always just moving on to the next thing. He loves having human buddies to hang out with. Like really, people can do no wrong in his books...we're on day 7 of gastroguard and he's still running up to me like "Oh hi, hey what is that tube thing? Yes let's put this halter on! Oh wait why is the tube in my mouth...oh no...it tastes GROSS...why does this keep happening to me? :("</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhh7ENBm_S011hv6tH3RQZodVnMbNwIPFxEvmMQCP1lN_XQpuurK-tZhhWXXX2OIwaH3G4bs_lZ9QCMxYQsKo_BN_EG5QAiPomEDe1gUu0PPlD1sOGQIwELiinrOyNiUeYuZPBr7vfjxz9PaKDY6mJaT3j_gZ7sX1JTeoIovB505a4Mn7WJbvA_B40ud9/s5230/_DSF7128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5230" data-original-width="3486" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhh7ENBm_S011hv6tH3RQZodVnMbNwIPFxEvmMQCP1lN_XQpuurK-tZhhWXXX2OIwaH3G4bs_lZ9QCMxYQsKo_BN_EG5QAiPomEDe1gUu0PPlD1sOGQIwELiinrOyNiUeYuZPBr7vfjxz9PaKDY6mJaT3j_gZ7sX1JTeoIovB505a4Mn7WJbvA_B40ud9/w266-h400/_DSF7128.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incoming!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Buck got dewormed once and has been wary of tubes of things or hands near his mouth ever since, like he needs to inspect what you've got (or in this case don't have) before the hands and halter get near his face :) </p><p>So, it's evolved that if we’re both around, G does most of the things with Reggie and I do most of the things with Buck. Reggie is easy for G because G assumes he'll do the thing and so he does. Simple, just get on with it, exactly how little Reggie's brain wants it to be. G's also super unflappable with baby horse shenanigans and is decent at setting boundaries (thanks for that, Sophie). Reggie is fine with me, but G and him just seem to have some kind of mutual understanding going on. I get a whole guys doing guy things, drinking beer and watching the game vibe from those two. I’m the mean mom and not nearly as fun. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryN9CQxIQom1AZ6bCLKjVSi72XXbeKjmgi3L_qOhruLIBY8SVgnjmFaO2SSaHW9Ct6a7KBmBLTnyqsMGwYjeqSlXe0-3FudYKjq1Xrx2-7ALdhRoR-lN6OzVsbzIAl7pr7SNjTkHaT2ny76xXsCkfVy8ESFkMI7W9gKIlrjcGmnPhyFF_J-fhwukCGarP/s320/IMG_20231202_122725.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This about sums it up...we had a tarp laid out to dry and I was so proud of this little guy for thinking a little, then calmly putting two feet on it when I asked</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DBC2Nbw-meFpOGT33b98knqQOT5ggodDLo_Wq0w37AqwGrqRRzaUuTVgAIqSDtYr55inNRBvwEKvMN_RVzfETxobo52E0RgyuFfzz4WDwNS7hzxJL2HAwb3v9N-VzFlVHh-iv_LmLVBA1o2DpgcM4HnOqtdmTDBWl9RvpNByZmQrFOjHCKVpzTOZ3Jju/s4000/IMG_20231202_122752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DBC2Nbw-meFpOGT33b98knqQOT5ggodDLo_Wq0w37AqwGrqRRzaUuTVgAIqSDtYr55inNRBvwEKvMN_RVzfETxobo52E0RgyuFfzz4WDwNS7hzxJL2HAwb3v9N-VzFlVHh-iv_LmLVBA1o2DpgcM4HnOqtdmTDBWl9RvpNByZmQrFOjHCKVpzTOZ3Jju/s320/IMG_20231202_122752.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile this guy was already fully invested in trying to pick it up and take it with him and then contemplated rolling himself into a burrito, much to Buck's dismay. (please excuse his filthiness...and continuing general state of awkwardness. This shall pass (we hope;)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p></p><p>Buck needs a bit more encouragement and needs to time to think and process. He's a fun mix because yes, he's quiet, but also he's not forgiving if pushed beyond his happy place. So you know if you messed it up, but maybe not til later when he's processed it and judged you wanting. So, for now he's 'mine'. Because maybe you guessed it, but he's not G's hugest fan (yet). I'm smaller, I'm quieter, I'm more patient, so he's gravitated to me (and me to him, really). We're the two overthinking introverts in the room.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B35Ik2XPM9NpzP9F4hXbDVTb9cyL04zGZfqSNs12W0FY04_KyujYvqYCDMC6bSCuDzTk2AzY9cCXhDzTe1UVVua24VzbkjE7WGXml9Dg-KLKCrlL-RgeFxTPRwgPwfnGas6uVoNEZNBgcQXmUfgivzaegnhnQtlVBKFZjYU0Gj5xqvzL5tLVEIiledDH/s5046/_DSF7226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3363" data-original-width="5046" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B35Ik2XPM9NpzP9F4hXbDVTb9cyL04zGZfqSNs12W0FY04_KyujYvqYCDMC6bSCuDzTk2AzY9cCXhDzTe1UVVua24VzbkjE7WGXml9Dg-KLKCrlL-RgeFxTPRwgPwfnGas6uVoNEZNBgcQXmUfgivzaegnhnQtlVBKFZjYU0Gj5xqvzL5tLVEIiledDH/w400-h266/_DSF7226.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mud and winter fur situation is real, maybe I'll have 'nice' photos again next summer.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>So they've chosen their people and it's not gone the way we'd planned. It's going to be really interesting to see how this plays out long term, I feel like Buck is only going to gain confidence and once there is a stronger baseline of trust between him and G it will be fine. Reggie has the perfect temperament for what I want in my future sport pony, we'll just have to be careful to keep it fun and interesting for him.</p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-77656797211219520992023-12-06T07:00:00.000-08:002023-12-06T07:00:00.141-08:00WW: Tales from the Backyard 5*<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXbxOm9gspvriUaZRPUmq6RYAYtIeAfIG0vc0oxXh9xf_jJCdRN-YDmD74LzdLWMXi_SkTbV43OlwoxzNNTPD8N4KiYUq11-J41-BN35C_pc_J-enC4_hlebQOIw0mIGr_zQxzUS09F-2XpgFI-2GROyW-sQ5aAF1PKcEd7iIKf-Sp5-1-Z62Vw13UqtC/s6240/_DSF7089.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXbxOm9gspvriUaZRPUmq6RYAYtIeAfIG0vc0oxXh9xf_jJCdRN-YDmD74LzdLWMXi_SkTbV43OlwoxzNNTPD8N4KiYUq11-J41-BN35C_pc_J-enC4_hlebQOIw0mIGr_zQxzUS09F-2XpgFI-2GROyW-sQ5aAF1PKcEd7iIKf-Sp5-1-Z62Vw13UqtC/w400-h266/_DSF7089.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> XC day brought challeging conditions - the area had seen an 'atmospheric river' the night prior so the footing was deep. Trademark is undaunted, and has prepared by rolling and becoming one with the footing.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OQCtR4_sNXc9OqCHWC-S8wICJ1kiBQRbI0UaNwh6ghsY1Hl0M083v_tu6Rq7aObqrAsmK1CuxBi34ha8PoILlVBpP6xFJGeQuWN31nBTCeSt6bMwFFIbhUUQ_K7NGuI_4XLqE3SYyyemmvxU7ZU5xosy2KVeTT1DaShBZOwJ-sxMJNAeEsIyz-13FG9s/s6240/_DSF7090.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OQCtR4_sNXc9OqCHWC-S8wICJ1kiBQRbI0UaNwh6ghsY1Hl0M083v_tu6Rq7aObqrAsmK1CuxBi34ha8PoILlVBpP6xFJGeQuWN31nBTCeSt6bMwFFIbhUUQ_K7NGuI_4XLqE3SYyyemmvxU7ZU5xosy2KVeTT1DaShBZOwJ-sxMJNAeEsIyz-13FG9s/w400-h266/_DSF7090.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He commits to the long one. The only choice, really...the infamous Garden Hose really demands a good galloping stride.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuT1p0M04VGRJBeKrH3ImHKHgjNXoYGuLyCUfFtzXWzuh2QjO6os3YgGY4Xe808na_XVFcxnpL6NrwNeCRXaNziwnWgutgVbfkpC4ylKCest81QZYB4MP0UKDf6bDDkaXqLv5GOvBmN7fGF-yxOh4ANXB15hFhtQMasbv51DGzL2i3DmmiY1gW9zb_yLB/s6240/_DSF7092.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuT1p0M04VGRJBeKrH3ImHKHgjNXoYGuLyCUfFtzXWzuh2QjO6os3YgGY4Xe808na_XVFcxnpL6NrwNeCRXaNziwnWgutgVbfkpC4ylKCest81QZYB4MP0UKDf6bDDkaXqLv5GOvBmN7fGF-yxOh4ANXB15hFhtQMasbv51DGzL2i3DmmiY1gW9zb_yLB/w400-h266/_DSF7092.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwHQivEeO_zxeujYVRAEWbWAuvdj6EiZNG5yycCEMKUO9NlUCbz9YnwtJMtGLwSESQh8Ir5Us_2CuBZOJT02i2_jOEGwLW-YyzEujZPnYXPx_tld5b0erzjCGLb8GbeI3xHFHR2zLzbtXT0Z160OqA0d9sBRwdYKUbTkdpqnF1r-428ykDj7hHTTUe5Th/s6240/_DSF7093.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwHQivEeO_zxeujYVRAEWbWAuvdj6EiZNG5yycCEMKUO9NlUCbz9YnwtJMtGLwSESQh8Ir5Us_2CuBZOJT02i2_jOEGwLW-YyzEujZPnYXPx_tld5b0erzjCGLb8GbeI3xHFHR2zLzbtXT0Z160OqA0d9sBRwdYKUbTkdpqnF1r-428ykDj7hHTTUe5Th/w400-h266/_DSF7093.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conscious of the clock, he's also elected to take it on the angle, a risky strategy indeed.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS2Dnap3l_ss-rtZN3tU8dUno4bFaNKs_7tl44X6s2h7Wh_KIPD3dFNm2wLpenIKETCDawAHT92EOauP496f1hlls2Vmm6j1yONoZEC0ttM4deNVxNKuNnRJBUEfq11eJJeyZ5AnaCGDnAB8ppiCTtjAOc5NKK8E9JhU4eO9PSq0P_EcoV8DtLO8tE4-O/s6240/_DSF7094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS2Dnap3l_ss-rtZN3tU8dUno4bFaNKs_7tl44X6s2h7Wh_KIPD3dFNm2wLpenIKETCDawAHT92EOauP496f1hlls2Vmm6j1yONoZEC0ttM4deNVxNKuNnRJBUEfq11eJJeyZ5AnaCGDnAB8ppiCTtjAOc5NKK8E9JhU4eO9PSq0P_EcoV8DtLO8tE4-O/w400-h266/_DSF7094.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7HyBRQ_JReU100617RApkzzHF-uGwp67AJztpFUaP-kMT_CyT6d5b9lfEnhPW3ajHIOhyx18hU3fqV12N364ODhETS1zS0tJWYo8QqSX8vAU6PEmzvjLhZGNLrq2qYzCvKgq2DkkFrWbhufAAjHkcbeb2Od-mtvUrs4AsJ0JqAJ-oTEBR16FUNXqwKZe/s6240/_DSF7095%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7HyBRQ_JReU100617RApkzzHF-uGwp67AJztpFUaP-kMT_CyT6d5b9lfEnhPW3ajHIOhyx18hU3fqV12N364ODhETS1zS0tJWYo8QqSX8vAU6PEmzvjLhZGNLrq2qYzCvKgq2DkkFrWbhufAAjHkcbeb2Od-mtvUrs4AsJ0JqAJ-oTEBR16FUNXqwKZe/w400-h266/_DSF7095%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYIhg-g7dR8n6Bb4YTQbqn-AzKaZOCiX9TGnYTwzSrjUCBSYKKY9M5cnJZ6bnUo02K9Uq1pY-j-37z3w0J77BclLFLejtb2KIg47azEWoX0PJwvjrO3ELPDqQTnWUR9lZ7a3PYFmxkkZ1N6Og6qYsdT-P1uDi8zSoXEynumpGEVt-20-3cbh7uErFPGvG/s6240/_DSF7096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYIhg-g7dR8n6Bb4YTQbqn-AzKaZOCiX9TGnYTwzSrjUCBSYKKY9M5cnJZ6bnUo02K9Uq1pY-j-37z3w0J77BclLFLejtb2KIg47azEWoX0PJwvjrO3ELPDqQTnWUR9lZ7a3PYFmxkkZ1N6Og6qYsdT-P1uDi8zSoXEynumpGEVt-20-3cbh7uErFPGvG/w400-h266/_DSF7096.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYGf819qsZQ5cNeQ9ui6yDhZus1TIAwJ2YFVEbglGWBW-ur9iMPf4oqF_NjjFmuAvuJ2M3Bib4BEflJdEvBIsA1YXZHDF1iYMPP2i8lPd5NNmq4INyhsiRHNrDGfEsfGlKGgD8uUtqgFz7nipqA7zAWZWvxrGPxt5jDNbiLno-0SXRXrr-v4wC0HJZtyG/s6240/_DSF7097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYGf819qsZQ5cNeQ9ui6yDhZus1TIAwJ2YFVEbglGWBW-ur9iMPf4oqF_NjjFmuAvuJ2M3Bib4BEflJdEvBIsA1YXZHDF1iYMPP2i8lPd5NNmq4INyhsiRHNrDGfEsfGlKGgD8uUtqgFz7nipqA7zAWZWvxrGPxt5jDNbiLno-0SXRXrr-v4wC0HJZtyG/w400-h266/_DSF7097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rImUeO5xyRd2eHlZoJoPqHyVYUl8lZLy2dj9mpcnmSVzNqL-XTsX5mRkIp2fkAr4VLXc2-c76Efnrr4n_Sx0MwVlkLbNYpoaWCM7bmt2sGxgpTrBD5mgYlPoD-SEjGaU8twQZUqICMRCNbvUIRDwYWLG2wA70NDD_QOdvi3VcUHdyKCh4mkdoYJK0vWi/s6240/_DSF7098.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rImUeO5xyRd2eHlZoJoPqHyVYUl8lZLy2dj9mpcnmSVzNqL-XTsX5mRkIp2fkAr4VLXc2-c76Efnrr4n_Sx0MwVlkLbNYpoaWCM7bmt2sGxgpTrBD5mgYlPoD-SEjGaU8twQZUqICMRCNbvUIRDwYWLG2wA70NDD_QOdvi3VcUHdyKCh4mkdoYJK0vWi/w400-h266/_DSF7098.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still cutting it close on landing. You can really see how this is a complete test of scope and training<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rUKhyphenhyphensNIw3i5by9gtQIRVvNOS3f697jzHwIB7bhmi8-YY4NEcoIccUlsYIXh3OUoqTbsrxVjXPg7D_WXmtnMQnyDX2NajZMCbRRNHPAMweQ5EoM9pKkP718Uchcvw0bnnnWG4AJCGE9h0SUr5glAutr4jKQbaBoofisHj_syLA-LWxsKGt2IO39xVdeC/s6240/_DSF7099.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvL2lPtQRhRmudSMsrITTyq-1D3_tWG9VaiyBYnq6nYT5ynCJ2qwak0rMrbH54kQT0rj6SiQ-Vn90Rgws0tzSTPqXoBhRZsGl4K5LxyTutGGF297IAHm4kGzwOMscOLDsM_WySI4v8PcbkmHZ7Jz9nGh4PWoL-MvqqznmmEPU4h69qUK9tbaZwxY85tJk/s6240/_DSF7099.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvL2lPtQRhRmudSMsrITTyq-1D3_tWG9VaiyBYnq6nYT5ynCJ2qwak0rMrbH54kQT0rj6SiQ-Vn90Rgws0tzSTPqXoBhRZsGl4K5LxyTutGGF297IAHm4kGzwOMscOLDsM_WySI4v8PcbkmHZ7Jz9nGh4PWoL-MvqqznmmEPU4h69qUK9tbaZwxY85tJk/w400-h266/_DSF7099.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtnedtrDtxdykzbpMMlPZpPhGBQBdG0RrOu45exiOfU97ScKp7V2d6bOyLlYnZ-8dPN2KS5QKlarzCq_cKp7DFHQ-xu6xJDBhqC3T_hO2iDvv_IXumj0cdTLT5NCF0U-5c6aH2RRSeiLdgSL_1EZSqR4DrJfLBW6UUCbq50I8lYUlidcrZKZ-FcxnzKsZ/s6240/_DSF7101.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtnedtrDtxdykzbpMMlPZpPhGBQBdG0RrOu45exiOfU97ScKp7V2d6bOyLlYnZ-8dPN2KS5QKlarzCq_cKp7DFHQ-xu6xJDBhqC3T_hO2iDvv_IXumj0cdTLT5NCF0U-5c6aH2RRSeiLdgSL_1EZSqR4DrJfLBW6UUCbq50I8lYUlidcrZKZ-FcxnzKsZ/w400-h266/_DSF7101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick recovery, and onwards to the next.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>Bonus: I zoomed in on his little face. Look out, he's super fierce with those ears and knees:)<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpVlF50fNNuuAFtJfQff8iCgpXIveNergiKlI93k4a6eYv0278ZabaYnZTK94WcQoNICRBdmeLgoPgsdbBqPJI9dOAld4njwK_CZNIkMJLGJP08IUQX8aq9Xr5uB1ovGczB9IIL8tq6REGKmMF1PN3LeeWWKHIHdLyYyeggCLdyvt866wgzwSYv4dGR_n/s1981/_DSF7095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1981" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpVlF50fNNuuAFtJfQff8iCgpXIveNergiKlI93k4a6eYv0278ZabaYnZTK94WcQoNICRBdmeLgoPgsdbBqPJI9dOAld4njwK_CZNIkMJLGJP08IUQX8aq9Xr5uB1ovGczB9IIL8tq6REGKmMF1PN3LeeWWKHIHdLyYyeggCLdyvt866wgzwSYv4dGR_n/w400-h266/_DSF7095.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-22485840651561814782023-12-04T07:00:00.000-08:002023-12-04T07:00:00.143-08:00Exhale<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> We still haven't moved into our little house with the horses, but it kind of feels like I've checked all the major things I signed myself up for off the list...the rest is waiting on contractors or forces outside my control. Soon, I hope. But also, whenever. Because I'm enjoying the break.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL2KZGSVMAX5RwljhyphenhyphenxLm00PBT7m0BXQ9ph9PbXoP__veDrnDEKaXgU2Ni5KiWXA_buZD7T4vI0M1Gf1kyl976Xqv2-XADD2tDVsW4N2TP6_FOQsXE_qexUjNaUYcTQhS747OpgBSbAxx_5p_djVu1PS_QTfSy-qYXf7_BmSwiKTMmQc1r41oh5WorUhm/s4241/5B37CC68-AE5E-48C3-B567-6274C33FD2CB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="4241" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL2KZGSVMAX5RwljhyphenhyphenxLm00PBT7m0BXQ9ph9PbXoP__veDrnDEKaXgU2Ni5KiWXA_buZD7T4vI0M1Gf1kyl976Xqv2-XADD2tDVsW4N2TP6_FOQsXE_qexUjNaUYcTQhS747OpgBSbAxx_5p_djVu1PS_QTfSy-qYXf7_BmSwiKTMmQc1r41oh5WorUhm/w400-h266/5B37CC68-AE5E-48C3-B567-6274C33FD2CB.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather has been absolutely horrible, but we had a sunny afternoon and so I took all the pictures </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>As always my number one go to with any free time is the horses. Riding, in Sophie's and my case. Colt kindergarten in the little guys' cases. I'm really, really loving the baby horse thing. It's so rewarding to see them growing and gaining confidence daily and so neat to be creating a bond with them at such a young age.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2dMJ-EPLJExcePz1sExHlt1BvOoGW-30vpt5H7TLPhHJuG7idTKzMtzDj00955RmewDRyzq1wBq7ywdT5Uryx6R2cRr3NjNjSspKUxVU94P9GtxoqpAaAmoaQut84bZ2a10aLXI8gZbHar0R7DzV__bcg1WGkS0G0RqM1wD6mDafXWredlhlIo1JGnVK/s4000/1CBD855C-9821-4E3E-AF93-2F7BF3D234C8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2dMJ-EPLJExcePz1sExHlt1BvOoGW-30vpt5H7TLPhHJuG7idTKzMtzDj00955RmewDRyzq1wBq7ywdT5Uryx6R2cRr3NjNjSspKUxVU94P9GtxoqpAaAmoaQut84bZ2a10aLXI8gZbHar0R7DzV__bcg1WGkS0G0RqM1wD6mDafXWredlhlIo1JGnVK/w300-h400/1CBD855C-9821-4E3E-AF93-2F7BF3D234C8.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come on in, we’ve got candy! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Riding also feels like such a good thing right now. I think that's the one fantastic thing about the forced time off this year, I've come back to it with fresh eyes, full of enthusiasm and appreciation. I spent a long time in my head prior to being hurt always feeling like I wasn’t good enough, then more recently, asking myself why I was trashing my body with minimal enjoyment as the trade off. But somewhere in that time off, along with the physical healing, I mentally got back to a healthier place. The anxiety has been replaced by gratitude. The self criticism and overthinking is still there but the enthusiasm and desire to ride wins out.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbCDUDrwkrOQ2sRT-AdblWviY7ffEswq62CxscTNMl1pWWcyFHBLNX5T7WtAZgqZjHJ00a6joSZhatU3dAWxO1AxNlvXjYVtMmGD0duc6IoDVPD5kziYjISY5r4-L31vee8YKDagI0dnC-5E3XoR2iQGUEz7yOrvki8AgtRIFMPGiBh_uBzVvxeJjb10c/s4000/C0C463FD-D151-423E-88B1-25C848EB993C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbCDUDrwkrOQ2sRT-AdblWviY7ffEswq62CxscTNMl1pWWcyFHBLNX5T7WtAZgqZjHJ00a6joSZhatU3dAWxO1AxNlvXjYVtMmGD0duc6IoDVPD5kziYjISY5r4-L31vee8YKDagI0dnC-5E3XoR2iQGUEz7yOrvki8AgtRIFMPGiBh_uBzVvxeJjb10c/w400-h300/C0C463FD-D151-423E-88B1-25C848EB993C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We longe over poles sometimes too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I renewed my RideIQ subscription last month and it's paid for itself a thousand times already. Pressing play and having someone in my ear, confidently talking me through a ride plan is absolutely worth every penny. I'm coming away from each ride feeling positive and like I haven't been giving myself enough credit for the work I've put in. The pieces are all very much there, it's just me needing to sit up, quiet down my noisy brain and ride to a plan. It’s a positive feedback loop too - riding confidently makes me better able to both mentally and physically handle unexpected winter pony shenanigans, which increases confidence further. Being able to ride regularly means the not so great moments don’t stick and I don’t dwell, there’s always a new day. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLurBBpsXrNVCWKjIqBgPAmQ9JnvFWpFz51p1nIQg67XOMujpoLG4shiJMRJE5J1MiDxHfgv3vQZjhPxO0lHTdTpkHgxkeyXfu2kCuu7VTKXQbONg88ZdzftUszUaIRsPrF6kzMlIDpc-NNaLsFEOoh2AXFEg3d9P4IaKqMgdnDisw581rpYuYdfRWHQ4j/s4608/3918B3A9-85C9-4BEA-8166-66EFFAB10ABA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLurBBpsXrNVCWKjIqBgPAmQ9JnvFWpFz51p1nIQg67XOMujpoLG4shiJMRJE5J1MiDxHfgv3vQZjhPxO0lHTdTpkHgxkeyXfu2kCuu7VTKXQbONg88ZdzftUszUaIRsPrF6kzMlIDpc-NNaLsFEOoh2AXFEg3d9P4IaKqMgdnDisw581rpYuYdfRWHQ4j/w400-h266/3918B3A9-85C9-4BEA-8166-66EFFAB10ABA.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She prefers to not be blanketed all the time so I’m trying a cooler pre ride to get the worst of the mud and damp under control, because of course she’s also a lover of standing in the rain, and highly offended about being tacked up when damp 😁<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BKZD1biiHM6hCF64Lte9kxssbk93prxYbgme56xBMN1jIUOVvqJ1GCBmCwaA4GG2_cTFLPBCSzRmi8TCC7pXL4RuwrfN2zG9cFaM8TC3opeznN_h4zlagT3y3kcbsKoesfi-OU7Jyg3SDjCNhlF7DWsLGOne0P3crzE2Ru0PReeUifjWvO8h8CJDpVIr/s4608/3F1DC607-8B65-4F74-A46D-D4EF552764B8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BKZD1biiHM6hCF64Lte9kxssbk93prxYbgme56xBMN1jIUOVvqJ1GCBmCwaA4GG2_cTFLPBCSzRmi8TCC7pXL4RuwrfN2zG9cFaM8TC3opeznN_h4zlagT3y3kcbsKoesfi-OU7Jyg3SDjCNhlF7DWsLGOne0P3crzE2Ru0PReeUifjWvO8h8CJDpVIr/w400-h266/3F1DC607-8B65-4F74-A46D-D4EF552764B8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spent $$$$ on footing but 2 of them prefer mud. Bakari is a baby genius and prefers lounging in clean shavings. Take notes, Sophie. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE2FrxkKl2tvQuiBYJfbm_8wvq2P6MKMNElQ8dD2tYfECcVFlKjEflU_wWbiUEUR0y7gOrEqSARJwE2fzgL9VqHJhoP8wbSI1rHQ0OzBGz8FFsv68DjeVMrXQWzO8kg_6sS_E-QaURiShn85Z5Ce8dQMO2mxo_6YnYqn0jgLHzYyYQvreqrMUHCakjeij/s5220/8DC366A2-6BB0-44F2-9B97-BF7AF3B356C2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5220" data-original-width="3479" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE2FrxkKl2tvQuiBYJfbm_8wvq2P6MKMNElQ8dD2tYfECcVFlKjEflU_wWbiUEUR0y7gOrEqSARJwE2fzgL9VqHJhoP8wbSI1rHQ0OzBGz8FFsv68DjeVMrXQWzO8kg_6sS_E-QaURiShn85Z5Ce8dQMO2mxo_6YnYqn0jgLHzYyYQvreqrMUHCakjeij/w266-h400/8DC366A2-6BB0-44F2-9B97-BF7AF3B356C2.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I <3 him</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The lights have also been a huge help - I used to feel rushed against the clock and I know that was affecting my enjoyment of things. I was definitely carrying that 'I only have 15 minutes of daylight!!!' mentality onto the saddle with me. Fun story, this weekend we’ve been having some typical grim west coast winter weather and so Saturday night I zipped up my best raincoat and got out there with my headlamp doing evening paddock and stall tidies, then fed dinner, feeling all accomplished.</p><p> I got back in the house and it was 3:30 pm. So, I mean only 3 or so hours early, lol. The ponies got a second dinner later on. The super dark days are tricking me! </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1eE1bKg2UpstQRXZTa0veZdes5GNzncSsWMp4T2789Tup5a3y04P-mXfJoVv5qGAp2SVL1JjrTO9fhU2_9nG7tKGtWRYDba3jLZxXqToOJWYpx3pa9yKt4r76m0Agy-wg4D_lQsJBFkAKLPQWohWX-Sm_bpHUelqh7gt5H9K_tbfIbaoVlJ9etR4krtK/s4000/D50A376C-E0EC-492F-A4CE-1B65D45AAA21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1eE1bKg2UpstQRXZTa0veZdes5GNzncSsWMp4T2789Tup5a3y04P-mXfJoVv5qGAp2SVL1JjrTO9fhU2_9nG7tKGtWRYDba3jLZxXqToOJWYpx3pa9yKt4r76m0Agy-wg4D_lQsJBFkAKLPQWohWX-Sm_bpHUelqh7gt5H9K_tbfIbaoVlJ9etR4krtK/w300-h400/D50A376C-E0EC-492F-A4CE-1B65D45AAA21.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical grey day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Tentatively hoping Sophie and I will be be fit enough to resume regular clinic and lessons after Christmas, but we’re in a great place now and there’s no rush. It feels very important that this stays fun so I’m going to be even fussier than ever about coaching and surrounding us with positive people…and keeping my schedule manageable. Actually that last sentence is pretty much the only thing on the to do list for the foreseeable :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyTCJNjfp3jdS7ohWs9Z-ks6izgVgTCLUrgMpi1BK0gy0oV-4ozBF6BJ7owH3wxy2VlB_S3GTBI-8xFcmffywrbukAdGA7xSOu8Pop7hw4stFy-OkQM4d8zEMNGeIqaxm3OpScUs9RJ48BrdgbsR5ISxMf3fFENEB2Rx0i8Y5QoHJE05ZszIsW-91_OkT/s5170/B0EC1739-53FC-4699-AC14-93D07C606CF5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3446" data-original-width="5170" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyTCJNjfp3jdS7ohWs9Z-ks6izgVgTCLUrgMpi1BK0gy0oV-4ozBF6BJ7owH3wxy2VlB_S3GTBI-8xFcmffywrbukAdGA7xSOu8Pop7hw4stFy-OkQM4d8zEMNGeIqaxm3OpScUs9RJ48BrdgbsR5ISxMf3fFENEB2Rx0i8Y5QoHJE05ZszIsW-91_OkT/w400-h266/B0EC1739-53FC-4699-AC14-93D07C606CF5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-46289607111807402972023-11-27T08:45:00.000-08:002023-11-27T08:54:10.765-08:00Uneventful<p> You can’t accuse me of clickbait titles. </p><p>In my defence, I think that “uneventful” being first word that came to mind to describe this past week is a lot more exciting and indicative of success than anything else. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT6Z1MykQlWaMrEaDdkDh7YURb1tXU-LkyZfhFUzbBjpglE4jATkmsLrYPuu-415_rDtjF2LzP9RaRV-XDFEdWVdGssWLMDJ77mh5g5X-uCjQlTH0LNg_vz4VK7dDgYWWtz9isyg9k-ILP9X71HDDtLv7R9rNe-sjR6jcxK3kaZJYfXSln9mDvlLMDbG1/s5057/_DSF6666.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3371" data-original-width="5057" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT6Z1MykQlWaMrEaDdkDh7YURb1tXU-LkyZfhFUzbBjpglE4jATkmsLrYPuu-415_rDtjF2LzP9RaRV-XDFEdWVdGssWLMDJ77mh5g5X-uCjQlTH0LNg_vz4VK7dDgYWWtz9isyg9k-ILP9X71HDDtLv7R9rNe-sjR6jcxK3kaZJYfXSln9mDvlLMDbG1/w400-h266/_DSF6666.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoilers: The Chaos Tail was flying, but no chaos ensued</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I had a pretty standard week, doing all the things both riding and horse care that I would hope to do on a regular basis. And there is nothing noteworthy to discuss. Keep in mind I currently have a Sophie and two weanling colts at home. Sophie is the queen of all things chaos and the two new guys are not far behind. They’re definitely more solid citizens than her by nature, but also they are 7 month old colts still learning about the world.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsl6LNgGbKJ_cLVyIL77sJvw4OFAU9G7Yx7IpV7yBEubqDGzKMgF-NAsee2q_boc32l5I8KDCYsGH4IUwNFPBzBnSVlPjdP0HMz9wRlsxrtOMf-L-tXxCE6bEo4FHFojSLwUAP5ipy0ALl8qcDzNWRHQdQzgQ_K8Ah4kU6-7dEopAldRyCmeMp1dywxDM/s6240/_DSF6715.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsl6LNgGbKJ_cLVyIL77sJvw4OFAU9G7Yx7IpV7yBEubqDGzKMgF-NAsee2q_boc32l5I8KDCYsGH4IUwNFPBzBnSVlPjdP0HMz9wRlsxrtOMf-L-tXxCE6bEo4FHFojSLwUAP5ipy0ALl8qcDzNWRHQdQzgQ_K8Ah4kU6-7dEopAldRyCmeMp1dywxDM/w400-h266/_DSF6715.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They grow up so fast, I saw them playing baby stallion games the other morning (the whole kneel down and bite at legs and faces, mixed with rearing and chasing routine)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>At the risk of completely boring you, I have a list of all the things that happened this week with absolutely zero drama. (Sounding super dull? Consider reading anyway, I also have more baby pony pictures to sweeten the deal)</p><p>-Rode at home a few times after work in the cold/dark/rain after minimal turnout.</p><p>-Haltered, medicated, groomed baby ponies daily after work in the cold/dark/rain.</p><p>-Trailered Sophie out to meet up for a trail ride with a friend over the weekend.</p><p>-The boys had their first appt with my farrier.</p><p>-Everyone took turns doing trailer loading and manners practice, everyone got a gold star.</p><p>The boys were both perfect gentlemen for their farrier appointment and it was zero percent complicated or stressful. It felt like the last check on the list of things the baby horses needed to know and be reliable about ASAP. They’re polite and easy to handle, they’re feeling comfortable and settled in our routine, and that’s all either of us really need to worry about for now. Also, have I mentioned how much I love them? They’re the best, most willing and personable little guys. We’re so happy with our choices. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUOmPnZUAHWWbHwJxC0Ir1BkXAF4-idMcwtu1m0Nh-mIw6SSQ3BnY5hyphenhyphen-CUpvdnfNe1VLSxW5vnLSnD-3GQqdcu1b2OpitdOVp8THBWa9WehWH4GKXALM61eUkhEWV3M1LQzcAymbzyxIt5e0jMEMfUHKTSXg88VRvsDgFoF9TFaETCwiBsRVfpZOq8zG/s6240/_DSF6639%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUOmPnZUAHWWbHwJxC0Ir1BkXAF4-idMcwtu1m0Nh-mIw6SSQ3BnY5hyphenhyphen-CUpvdnfNe1VLSxW5vnLSnD-3GQqdcu1b2OpitdOVp8THBWa9WehWH4GKXALM61eUkhEWV3M1LQzcAymbzyxIt5e0jMEMfUHKTSXg88VRvsDgFoF9TFaETCwiBsRVfpZOq8zG/w400-h266/_DSF6639%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ml0EC95gzuBZNeKgwOt-_tYYGSeo6EnlIxKmVqUzA8G50GSQK5qU6zPUBQIpObVfVmXLgRwqsdohix27L9R8gpbK3Di8S_mmeKTyGTrBuxp3kMjgmynyFGqHYjK4WqPSGEJVYs3ZL_HkN-QeR_VBNOQmnH9u0hQDhhj1lQbCpydMlW2fAuu-IePCREz/s3725/_DSF6611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2483" data-original-width="3725" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ml0EC95gzuBZNeKgwOt-_tYYGSeo6EnlIxKmVqUzA8G50GSQK5qU6zPUBQIpObVfVmXLgRwqsdohix27L9R8gpbK3Di8S_mmeKTyGTrBuxp3kMjgmynyFGqHYjK4WqPSGEJVYs3ZL_HkN-QeR_VBNOQmnH9u0hQDhhj1lQbCpydMlW2fAuu-IePCREz/w400-h266/_DSF6611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2DBSJMukvzloGsYcn5nAR5u9WnaWDayexpxaGDWZlCU3-vNvU_VeJLhzW78tDhb1qpNCCeHteInrgUNB7ATfo_nmm5xVUaK9Y-m1unE7t-BGtYolzIyX5nPAwmjwosyUa82WnoDythHmokkmvYWstHKaog4ArJYY2SGHQsUkocVAuZ74CIRapDZaUrWa/s6240/_DSF6396.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2DBSJMukvzloGsYcn5nAR5u9WnaWDayexpxaGDWZlCU3-vNvU_VeJLhzW78tDhb1qpNCCeHteInrgUNB7ATfo_nmm5xVUaK9Y-m1unE7t-BGtYolzIyX5nPAwmjwosyUa82WnoDythHmokkmvYWstHKaog4ArJYY2SGHQsUkocVAuZ74CIRapDZaUrWa/w266-h400/_DSF6396.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Sophie. And me. It’s been a journey this year, to put it mildly. So I’m very happy and appreciative to just be out there doing normal horse people things with a pony that’s happy to be there too. She’s been super lately, I’m starting to think she just needed a bit more maturity and time and positive experiences. I’m going to protect this at all costs by being super choosy about when/where/who we ride with, but it’s feeling good. I’m especially not sure I would have believed she’d ever walk chilled on a loose rein out on the trail, but it’s a thing now and I’m here to celebrate it. I do love my flatwork and arena time (and no hard feelings if the wilderness isn't ever really the fancy pony's thing) but it's such a better routine for everyone if we can safely add in a nice hack every few days.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTrzXeDUWo0Gwd05VKNfos5oaTI95FU4J409iiAf9B2_xET47Vvgfr61YC-myh-fToClbIMryaw_RYQ13c2O5k_3wftwbVGsoUIpztY-NJXB653qW7hSIEEPPeY28j8KAMl-XeTmuFO8hDOCd0j59_GBIMkejHgYW0qppH3BQ2X9cCHibHpYyAxNvMiFy/s4000/IMG_20231124_102203__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTrzXeDUWo0Gwd05VKNfos5oaTI95FU4J409iiAf9B2_xET47Vvgfr61YC-myh-fToClbIMryaw_RYQ13c2O5k_3wftwbVGsoUIpztY-NJXB653qW7hSIEEPPeY28j8KAMl-XeTmuFO8hDOCd0j59_GBIMkejHgYW0qppH3BQ2X9cCHibHpYyAxNvMiFy/s320/IMG_20231124_102203__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P-JEUuoH-7dVn7Ca9mzz9kmLpAm8R8WDHJbPbwo5aNPcjKEafYrHgw74zNpjDJAE5Yxu6sfoxuslHUP_Y71WWbwEhq709odJUY8sCmhMURrohBVoXl_jfbSOLTy5H1_0L_hFqYB0pnlN_kC9M7vBvXWAgJydcqv99t4jfHsDEguBaVAILH5tPAoozMTJ/s6240/_DSF6901.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P-JEUuoH-7dVn7Ca9mzz9kmLpAm8R8WDHJbPbwo5aNPcjKEafYrHgw74zNpjDJAE5Yxu6sfoxuslHUP_Y71WWbwEhq709odJUY8sCmhMURrohBVoXl_jfbSOLTy5H1_0L_hFqYB0pnlN_kC9M7vBvXWAgJydcqv99t4jfHsDEguBaVAILH5tPAoozMTJ/w266-h400/_DSF6901.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really should clip her but also look at the dapples.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XaKctHvlGMCZFOPXQ0cGid1qo4ruLkWsc_PwrdNLc7C2VbDqr3E7cnVmMf9-l0hEOwChKaddcevnJwkWGN9R3hPy9bczaLMh5HVpKCOsHc4fgljvOlvF-0BP_1sepNfwZnQoBqWcBAq63NfqVsaUUiwetYb98B5sd6pF6rbljhX84Z7WtEkwrkll2bhS/s6240/_DSF6711.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XaKctHvlGMCZFOPXQ0cGid1qo4ruLkWsc_PwrdNLc7C2VbDqr3E7cnVmMf9-l0hEOwChKaddcevnJwkWGN9R3hPy9bczaLMh5HVpKCOsHc4fgljvOlvF-0BP_1sepNfwZnQoBqWcBAq63NfqVsaUUiwetYb98B5sd6pF6rbljhX84Z7WtEkwrkll2bhS/w400-h266/_DSF6711.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And do I really need to clip? I'm not boarding so it's not a big deal to leave a cooler on for and hour or two and take if off and give her a quick brush when I get a moment.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSJOXgUhjH6fxmY4_aYfn4HGU6V_JXamEPJXS4SI32pthX1GHCUHM8xMfSHWFpn3uZxl6fubMNK6t2cAHK0_Uey6iDIChoeYFPC5djy1bSFQlNAJHt6kJ0ZuZpvFag0_bPJSAd66BeE16wTtR80XhnEKQFoieRKzJgs0m_ACbUbUzu8wVzQvU-z3Cnu15/s6240/_DSF6454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSJOXgUhjH6fxmY4_aYfn4HGU6V_JXamEPJXS4SI32pthX1GHCUHM8xMfSHWFpn3uZxl6fubMNK6t2cAHK0_Uey6iDIChoeYFPC5djy1bSFQlNAJHt6kJ0ZuZpvFag0_bPJSAd66BeE16wTtR80XhnEKQFoieRKzJgs0m_ACbUbUzu8wVzQvU-z3Cnu15/w266-h400/_DSF6454.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Also me, loading up my pony solo and driving us out for an adventure. It really wasn’t that long ago where that felt more anxious making than fun and I’d try to talk someone into coming with me, but it feels totally fine now and very nice to be independent again.</p><p>I feel like we’re also overdue for a little Bridget update. She’s doing fantastic and she’s very much appreciated and loved. She’s with a horsey friend Sophie and I see often, but with the intense herd bound silliness still feeling quite recent I’ve been cautious about Sophie and B meeting up again in the real world. Soon though, I think there could be a little Bridget meetup content.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-62592640095000838032023-11-20T10:20:00.000-08:002023-11-20T10:20:42.258-08:00another (mostly) photo update<p> Things are still just coasting along over here. There have been no big exciting 'I should write a blog post about that!' moments, but also there has been a ton of incremental positive progress worth documenting for myself.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Zfix9cOLGrNzDfz8uiLesfdW-RFzE1fd6NhpL_LejjNRyGYcIF-zKDRbH0vO0KztL4n7GcbapKXgPGBEfBqFcp4n-GT27XA4HxKpR2lLLbGck_ZTePscJd65ae20p8qTOjYI2DyTCH1Lic1oeC_z6RL1LU-OnwuWyQfJOV6NVjGEutSY4ay_uJ0ZMnZj/s3198/_DSF6227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2132" data-original-width="3198" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Zfix9cOLGrNzDfz8uiLesfdW-RFzE1fd6NhpL_LejjNRyGYcIF-zKDRbH0vO0KztL4n7GcbapKXgPGBEfBqFcp4n-GT27XA4HxKpR2lLLbGck_ZTePscJd65ae20p8qTOjYI2DyTCH1Lic1oeC_z6RL1LU-OnwuWyQfJOV6NVjGEutSY4ay_uJ0ZMnZj/w400-h266/_DSF6227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also playful baby ponies. They play, they eat, and they sleep. And I'm still obsessed with them and they're huge time wasters.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJa8OjVrKeAd49pLgh-lJaitkqmtNJrQRQZrABUqqbI-UMqQO7lDuZ8IPbwYaXaGk_0W0V_fxZFQUk23lnXGIsHrw0ar9rFBC7F29odD2s4L_U3sE_gWEsHUdFn0vWIxRFJN682m4D6FuL4nxC8zZfp-YMWjPpdTS95hRBq870_AUV6DE48-vj5GYo6Luq/s4000/IMG_20231118_154203%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJa8OjVrKeAd49pLgh-lJaitkqmtNJrQRQZrABUqqbI-UMqQO7lDuZ8IPbwYaXaGk_0W0V_fxZFQUk23lnXGIsHrw0ar9rFBC7F29odD2s4L_U3sE_gWEsHUdFn0vWIxRFJN682m4D6FuL4nxC8zZfp-YMWjPpdTS95hRBq870_AUV6DE48-vj5GYo6Luq/s320/IMG_20231118_154203%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every second day, I try to have them do one grown up thing. Reggie is still very opinionated about grooming, but it's getting better every time. His 'little' brother is way easier, but I'm careful to give him his own time too - I feel like he's just as sensitive, he just internalizes it a lot more than this guy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGPpfwG-ny-ve9guSmqXfUkXaozeWXFgNXEhP1hNoGjcx4mUNqObDIi4qxQ5Mar7yt4Yuz53bkikz5Q8M2iOH6SvZogyhl6HUBxLvgcD15xY20_TQujOepsNRUWWFB5Nl1jTu2z4y8HjyxKOeYOxjgfgTulDbqBQbd8x6-6gbc1FnrB3lYEjTYsKo0XKv/s3690/_DSF6186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2155" data-original-width="3690" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGPpfwG-ny-ve9guSmqXfUkXaozeWXFgNXEhP1hNoGjcx4mUNqObDIi4qxQ5Mar7yt4Yuz53bkikz5Q8M2iOH6SvZogyhl6HUBxLvgcD15xY20_TQujOepsNRUWWFB5Nl1jTu2z4y8HjyxKOeYOxjgfgTulDbqBQbd8x6-6gbc1FnrB3lYEjTYsKo0XKv/w400-h234/_DSF6186.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buck is about 2 inches shorter and already 50 pounds heavier than Reggie. I think they're supposed to end up in the same 14.3-15hh ish height range but I have a funny feeling he's going to be twice the width :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I still feel like I'm missing out and falling behind on all the riding goals I have. Part of me wants to beat myself up for not trying harder to get out there and make it happen. This is always the time of year where I'm more susceptible to that. In the spring and summer I'm much busier and more practical about what I can or can't prioritize. <p></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCxXur2Hj1_4FaGBzl3CjFVxbRrMaBxg9HT6NPBhnL58qkgLgyF1EVYLn6MgYwhu6oQy0-zek2nSr68dmmyBt8yz0a2Xu1D1aJR85dUGGLRlVimYi8V8djZ4guD9uVBK4FCgKB8d8sURiRLxzBKW1E0NL-3f2zkdEQmZrqttkYBe8WXTa0A0Eo90tT49u/s4000/IMG_20231118_153922%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCxXur2Hj1_4FaGBzl3CjFVxbRrMaBxg9HT6NPBhnL58qkgLgyF1EVYLn6MgYwhu6oQy0-zek2nSr68dmmyBt8yz0a2Xu1D1aJR85dUGGLRlVimYi8V8djZ4guD9uVBK4FCgKB8d8sURiRLxzBKW1E0NL-3f2zkdEQmZrqttkYBe8WXTa0A0Eo90tT49u/w400-h300/IMG_20231118_153922%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought colts would like toys to play with. Not so much. But no prizes for guessing who loves to play and now has a pet yoga ball.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>But, I have been riding. And yes, we're both much less than perfect feeling and despite those nagging goals that currently feel forever far away, I love riding just for the sake of riding. Any minute up there is a good one. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4SUnd0bryh_p4TN9wlqy8BivNWOMBEfcV3ibzsj8kdFLi0nF90Ko_5hmyAs_rALjpDcCOcYPXWx7Ior8m6wjcyG4u6L08KbS5ygf0ldtl-NRyp7Sz4_lCkyHi5yQm2HfCQbcfK50n1R7LkEtBcZPxnLJKpRTKekfUbgdUDZ7aSZCz4Gx5RftCPR0v2ph/s2400/Screenshot_2023-11-19-16-31-48-15_92460851df6f172a4592fca41cc2d2e6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2400" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4SUnd0bryh_p4TN9wlqy8BivNWOMBEfcV3ibzsj8kdFLi0nF90Ko_5hmyAs_rALjpDcCOcYPXWx7Ior8m6wjcyG4u6L08KbS5ygf0ldtl-NRyp7Sz4_lCkyHi5yQm2HfCQbcfK50n1R7LkEtBcZPxnLJKpRTKekfUbgdUDZ7aSZCz4Gx5RftCPR0v2ph/s320/Screenshot_2023-11-19-16-31-48-15_92460851df6f172a4592fca41cc2d2e6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pivo skills are rusty. But this ride made me happy because the weanlings were going absolutely nuts and were within view of us. But Sophie was cool and unbothered - a very big change from the super tense and reactive pony of last winter. I'm holding out small hope these months of non goals and getting to the bottom of ulcer and saddle fit (and rider health) is going to create lasting positive changes.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>It's when I'm out of the saddle that it's easier to talk myself into not bothering, or not having time, or start nitpicking at myself over my lack of progress towards where I really want to be. This is such a little thing, but I'm going to go back to scheduling riding time in my calendar a few days a week. Just having that time free makes me very happy...it's been a ridiculous year and I've felt run off my feet and stressed about having too much on my plate for most of it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG204Oi9cjhqwDfZyyoiKtdZ_IeCMfnsUK0Q0dp4wr9I6b_KflO0okqaBZrc4Xpm1JEiuOP00OTMsakHaijNhRel7iPLn0llOlEQeJRvujuMpp4zUNcwyG02ocn0TefsMf9qIkWS40UTjZgQTmAVVxtT61L8IBbwU9ovIAWmUjin4GK2cicIQztNquQhxg/s4000/IMG_20231119_115004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG204Oi9cjhqwDfZyyoiKtdZ_IeCMfnsUK0Q0dp4wr9I6b_KflO0okqaBZrc4Xpm1JEiuOP00OTMsakHaijNhRel7iPLn0llOlEQeJRvujuMpp4zUNcwyG02ocn0TefsMf9qIkWS40UTjZgQTmAVVxtT61L8IBbwU9ovIAWmUjin4GK2cicIQztNquQhxg/s320/IMG_20231119_115004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The floors are finally finished so it's time for moving houses chaos. Standard disclaimer the walls are more of a greyish green, I don't know why they want to be a bold grass green in every picture I take :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiiRHQDUtK4gme9xk3-5IcXLTLZVQjwOj1Bp8h7dh1Fv-SG0OntiR3K60ffBXAZ7ECsw960vbNCRGYLulzfFQDsomxVIBRXRuk67Zbc2HT92PkPOAzhsD4MIi1ZgsWaReWletylyPnCbTgrDhpvcTxWFHVwWweYDgHRwuYdswhwtAG-1CBlPZ8F0dudIb/s2048/IMG_20231119_115133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiiRHQDUtK4gme9xk3-5IcXLTLZVQjwOj1Bp8h7dh1Fv-SG0OntiR3K60ffBXAZ7ECsw960vbNCRGYLulzfFQDsomxVIBRXRuk67Zbc2HT92PkPOAzhsD4MIi1ZgsWaReWletylyPnCbTgrDhpvcTxWFHVwWweYDgHRwuYdswhwtAG-1CBlPZ8F0dudIb/s320/IMG_20231119_115133.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This room was supposed to be the dining room but it has a view of ponies so maybe it's wanting to be my office because we're not dining room people anyway. I keep waffling over it so I think we'll just let the sizes of the furniture decide</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8DFW7n7wKtYGiycXuZDkK8XgQKv5ut68a2EScEf7F52r-Ao40U4pX2P33W5hv6tL7zn75VqsF7GsnrMDlr3AlghboUeHMKW397YFTGv9lcrC-n99L40Q3t4WI2mGDq9U7wzJYgul2f5lXDV9mkxGeletSbake4DQvMS1RRee78-DeG0BKFisQGeZXqnC/s3945/IMG_20231119_094220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2959" data-original-width="3945" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8DFW7n7wKtYGiycXuZDkK8XgQKv5ut68a2EScEf7F52r-Ao40U4pX2P33W5hv6tL7zn75VqsF7GsnrMDlr3AlghboUeHMKW397YFTGv9lcrC-n99L40Q3t4WI2mGDq9U7wzJYgul2f5lXDV9mkxGeletSbake4DQvMS1RRee78-DeG0BKFisQGeZXqnC/w400-h300/IMG_20231119_094220.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New cedar stairs and exterior paint (which actually is more of a dark teal green than blue/grey lol) and a major yard clean up this summer, but also the new front gate is now crooked thanks to the bears climbing over it this fall. It's always something.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><br />Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-4124306945061896782023-11-16T09:14:00.000-08:002023-11-16T09:14:22.839-08:00Photo ThursdayNot a thing, except here, this once. So, yeah, not a thing. <div><br /></div><div> I've been trying my best to get a ton of media while the new guys are still so little, but the weather has not been cooperating - it's been dark and gloomy out there more often than not so the quality isn't what I'd hoped. Still, I have a long tradition of posting whatever media I've got and that won't stop now.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aqjVcH9QdeE8ppDdUaygEqUlbe6Koge5vplTL3aGFZzTFLT8SowpP54As6IwYlbYAqNwTqnewpFNoWuY-SNRtIU5nGdDPCer8FlutOeez6dETVbMFWh26Km0Chg22Td4RJxZGzMmhCmPgc2CW0TYOw8MJj2eZIhJJwePH6adJYAXOSUXZ4cG4LjSiZMQ/s6240/_DSF5919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aqjVcH9QdeE8ppDdUaygEqUlbe6Koge5vplTL3aGFZzTFLT8SowpP54As6IwYlbYAqNwTqnewpFNoWuY-SNRtIU5nGdDPCer8FlutOeez6dETVbMFWh26Km0Chg22Td4RJxZGzMmhCmPgc2CW0TYOw8MJj2eZIhJJwePH6adJYAXOSUXZ4cG4LjSiZMQ/w400-h266/_DSF5919.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's chaos out there lately.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl6dcGY1AR3fJYe356zhZFTZ_2xSo1HRi6FosSZ1kTxmqtj5Ftp_sOMTvtzIWma-4XqkNwvdw0AIIeJLujvF5nSeSfRP3OMavRrZ1db0kMLdA8qzq8ocrtZ4QdWb4koZMgry1fzzu_ONdLumyt8jg2ibVGFrFqQ5W4uGv69moWkZQ3M7wwm2AfWSvoWYd/s6240/_DSF5880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl6dcGY1AR3fJYe356zhZFTZ_2xSo1HRi6FosSZ1kTxmqtj5Ftp_sOMTvtzIWma-4XqkNwvdw0AIIeJLujvF5nSeSfRP3OMavRrZ1db0kMLdA8qzq8ocrtZ4QdWb4koZMgry1fzzu_ONdLumyt8jg2ibVGFrFqQ5W4uGv69moWkZQ3M7wwm2AfWSvoWYd/w400-h266/_DSF5880.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I slightly envy people have actual quiet and well mannered weanlings...mine are definitely on the semi feral side of average. I can do everything I need to and they are good boys, but there's a bit of thinking required to set it up for success.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCRF0a1zHxPgy35ukRuB-vjOklL22Dw0pRn7BraRFPXSgIz0XPUAoBeb9IfVwQf_C8JZGN8K1cS0UPq8ZwnHcIRZvBhWIUOC4atXmD7WGrkTkXoStDUsnJPDo0vzTI1JjIx8T37GX1KDBLSufeaOU_3tqBSosKSE6n3_5KlWlpTqHO7k2HbQRJ2egWXZ6/s6240/_DSF6036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCRF0a1zHxPgy35ukRuB-vjOklL22Dw0pRn7BraRFPXSgIz0XPUAoBeb9IfVwQf_C8JZGN8K1cS0UPq8ZwnHcIRZvBhWIUOC4atXmD7WGrkTkXoStDUsnJPDo0vzTI1JjIx8T37GX1KDBLSufeaOU_3tqBSosKSE6n3_5KlWlpTqHO7k2HbQRJ2egWXZ6/w400-h266/_DSF6036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just love them though</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-DFREwnpyHQAVHBILfOjXqrwN-F-M0qiMb0mb9gdzirPVDwi25kOyNcxoMAWHFXWIyPEhMnTJF1247jMBj_pIZbEHcUqHNqklE9mKE7jwOTnqWa39tdg1SD3xczPVy6yeFsLfEa0vOMQ1byUEXNEqNlApl1vGhDSNwX8IUWEr7pmQ3hRxrwfJjc3riG-/s6240/_DSF6052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-DFREwnpyHQAVHBILfOjXqrwN-F-M0qiMb0mb9gdzirPVDwi25kOyNcxoMAWHFXWIyPEhMnTJF1247jMBj_pIZbEHcUqHNqklE9mKE7jwOTnqWa39tdg1SD3xczPVy6yeFsLfEa0vOMQ1byUEXNEqNlApl1vGhDSNwX8IUWEr7pmQ3hRxrwfJjc3riG-/w266-h400/_DSF6052.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WDIK58wPj1AW6qHWDGwbcEBlLkG0u0iiGVrh7aNz5P_vWH_hmY6ae90MI9SDhgdiPgWwq4gsjXEfB390tDBIV3Ebli44q-jCPX-jcV56y9GXnkAhrxOx4zXoQi5lMn7Z-Vu-jvRQss72iHQoFXSXTRwmtDfgdiWqzeDRBGJrApVfZ7kFnetn9aJ-_ueS/s6240/_DSF6061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WDIK58wPj1AW6qHWDGwbcEBlLkG0u0iiGVrh7aNz5P_vWH_hmY6ae90MI9SDhgdiPgWwq4gsjXEfB390tDBIV3Ebli44q-jCPX-jcV56y9GXnkAhrxOx4zXoQi5lMn7Z-Vu-jvRQss72iHQoFXSXTRwmtDfgdiWqzeDRBGJrApVfZ7kFnetn9aJ-_ueS/w266-h400/_DSF6061.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you've got a welsh cob rib cage and appetite but your chest hasn't caught up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s-9KVbZ_xG64Br071PhdTvE70yvZA4HiIHOo_n-SvRRO_CdyYgMXEebxEbn1ZaWiXHeKXBK2FboNrwyhiLOHHojjABWHsAxfR-BbJf0G1_ufXOBvBLUCXJ1qkxxHnm1LKL7vXt7MLhTEsc04aTI3XnZvICfV4N8kdJthuFwolEREtZmUGq7j2jIiVuFU/s5371/_DSF6088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5371" data-original-width="3580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s-9KVbZ_xG64Br071PhdTvE70yvZA4HiIHOo_n-SvRRO_CdyYgMXEebxEbn1ZaWiXHeKXBK2FboNrwyhiLOHHojjABWHsAxfR-BbJf0G1_ufXOBvBLUCXJ1qkxxHnm1LKL7vXt7MLhTEsc04aTI3XnZvICfV4N8kdJthuFwolEREtZmUGq7j2jIiVuFU/s320/_DSF6088.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're getting bigger so quickly, but they're still long legged enough that grazing looks awkward.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Pro tip - if you want cute baby horse pictures and you live on the west coast in winter maybe don't purchase black or dark bay ponies. A nice grey might be more the thing, one that prefers to stand and pose, rather than run everywhere.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUvppOADZTiQYAot0ljBQ93Ur8-j40I_HoWx0_ZZT3DtrFjEQv6DSeth4fSIn9RA0ESi6GRgSq9DzCQ4XX8ceqImqMJe3IktL4WEzbNNnjTLmaNTQOg6mFV7g7N8gIQBhDUD9_J9jgsr6Y525nfcJnx7QR6MkY1v2aRLWJetNIDUQwlTxyhYsgeppyztg/s3597/_DSF5737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3597" data-original-width="2398" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUvppOADZTiQYAot0ljBQ93Ur8-j40I_HoWx0_ZZT3DtrFjEQv6DSeth4fSIn9RA0ESi6GRgSq9DzCQ4XX8ceqImqMJe3IktL4WEzbNNnjTLmaNTQOg6mFV7g7N8gIQBhDUD9_J9jgsr6Y525nfcJnx7QR6MkY1v2aRLWJetNIDUQwlTxyhYsgeppyztg/w266-h400/_DSF5737.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because even the palomino is slightly too quick on a dark day for my camera to track and focus well</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAoDbhKYgaFHFrnManbgJ39m_qgI8qogPh0D2lCzNbp63mljZpAMWpIfrR1ddhEnWgq_huxR-KWdEM2WXPrf5RMsv2uNJu3sM0cOzoUVi_yZLt80EJBQSLk0XKphcudX4DjkjqUkQf0a2xKPquUn_i-ncqyAa8rWQu9wKonhFOc2_N3NKwW9oe7f_3GyT/s6240/_DSF5945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAoDbhKYgaFHFrnManbgJ39m_qgI8qogPh0D2lCzNbp63mljZpAMWpIfrR1ddhEnWgq_huxR-KWdEM2WXPrf5RMsv2uNJu3sM0cOzoUVi_yZLt80EJBQSLk0XKphcudX4DjkjqUkQf0a2xKPquUn_i-ncqyAa8rWQu9wKonhFOc2_N3NKwW9oe7f_3GyT/w400-h266/_DSF5945.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So fast</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y4zIkikik6opQKyudLqPbQVlZSfDWPJQ60YEXHcVGYnpSwQZMFFRp-LsD6DRXcgi8XQBvu2HAKoD5zsSi7cc3khh1DrneY2rBck-bit72FWBGwsbBZPUSnxBYUNneMxjKqkDRJE1WDqUTCh5O3JQjGyay6yWrAOoPSc8ehb3P1jLnT4BW3zR6qxDkOo8/s4000/IMG_20231114_164823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y4zIkikik6opQKyudLqPbQVlZSfDWPJQ60YEXHcVGYnpSwQZMFFRp-LsD6DRXcgi8XQBvu2HAKoD5zsSi7cc3khh1DrneY2rBck-bit72FWBGwsbBZPUSnxBYUNneMxjKqkDRJE1WDqUTCh5O3JQjGyay6yWrAOoPSc8ehb3P1jLnT4BW3zR6qxDkOo8/w400-h300/IMG_20231114_164823.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a sunset that one time at 5pm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnzEU4J4LH2WtJYYdU5jCyHvSlYF5heAS5yZUBirIjXP4QvPC-JreMjfXXKW6M9-YPTMRmoE9HWrcSwUtI2N9stz2UneDHeUYln_IxAfr3a1l96JMKqxDybUaIK49wGI8E_ijrsMwZ_ZDOsaXTtt-d2aofR4ivvNr_9ca5pCcvaORa5k4pNuDRHtO-ghA/s4000/IMG_20231115_172902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnzEU4J4LH2WtJYYdU5jCyHvSlYF5heAS5yZUBirIjXP4QvPC-JreMjfXXKW6M9-YPTMRmoE9HWrcSwUtI2N9stz2UneDHeUYln_IxAfr3a1l96JMKqxDybUaIK49wGI8E_ijrsMwZ_ZDOsaXTtt-d2aofR4ivvNr_9ca5pCcvaORa5k4pNuDRHtO-ghA/w400-h300/IMG_20231115_172902.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I have lights! I'm happy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mLJbgqVf3kiGh_oPoyxJvSWD8rCck6ai6D8gZ9DVykWkyRGHG328L4HVvovqGCu1HodcpvKqgTV2stuaRYG0P1uR7a929ZwndwoGWYy_izlNgD44SG5qm-skF9LXNHcvBeOf24Ff3S7v_vwQEWXO0-U3oYB94-Ls-7i6z86JkZ88vphKiVnGCwJRoHFf/s3539/_DSF5386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3539" data-original-width="2359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mLJbgqVf3kiGh_oPoyxJvSWD8rCck6ai6D8gZ9DVykWkyRGHG328L4HVvovqGCu1HodcpvKqgTV2stuaRYG0P1uR7a929ZwndwoGWYy_izlNgD44SG5qm-skF9LXNHcvBeOf24Ff3S7v_vwQEWXO0-U3oYB94-Ls-7i6z86JkZ88vphKiVnGCwJRoHFf/w266-h400/_DSF5386.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie desperately wants out to play with the little guys. Hopefully by spring that will be safe.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIQCGKFqJkUNoDuAq9r-H-Md6GKdD2DMaEuIgzsmuDeiZNQHiTC4OCSfR8TW8kk7ZquLyHyL2SZjCPjegiJoKxKk0VIBg5HTMQ09SEXzff3an18zXakELCdtYq-bTrj0VYtraRDblOUFx6x55pQJSaXVoaYfzkHP-3vlXBF6y8TVeG4wLWZ9svYJYBsGV/s4665/_DSF5556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4665" data-original-width="3110" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIQCGKFqJkUNoDuAq9r-H-Md6GKdD2DMaEuIgzsmuDeiZNQHiTC4OCSfR8TW8kk7ZquLyHyL2SZjCPjegiJoKxKk0VIBg5HTMQ09SEXzff3an18zXakELCdtYq-bTrj0VYtraRDblOUFx6x55pQJSaXVoaYfzkHP-3vlXBF6y8TVeG4wLWZ9svYJYBsGV/w266-h400/_DSF5556.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn Kitty portrait. She always looks slightly disapproving</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOylSptQBJ3ne64KKtnvHmk4EQvjzMyuRdY9TBZ9ig3RgsxRuboAoGbSsVSHqp2MSfzBwOkvimPlHjZbaFNaF_SpF3E2ynebtjdduDP07u_x-Dc1AlWmnlbaN41eXOtW-UfBqHO7cF5uJoCMeTWYI_jIV965qCQj2Ocm10MkK5xt_gNq0GvkKdpffeqRr/s4000/IMG_20231102_165236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOylSptQBJ3ne64KKtnvHmk4EQvjzMyuRdY9TBZ9ig3RgsxRuboAoGbSsVSHqp2MSfzBwOkvimPlHjZbaFNaF_SpF3E2ynebtjdduDP07u_x-Dc1AlWmnlbaN41eXOtW-UfBqHO7cF5uJoCMeTWYI_jIV965qCQj2Ocm10MkK5xt_gNq0GvkKdpffeqRr/s320/IMG_20231102_165236.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've been riding and Sophie's been great</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR6Fj0_PM1MHUUH3Mw9Bk_KywxEbG92rKI9233MIo5h5LWjMl39hcn9jfWgTPhUuYs8kAEL2bCyB0p45a9KBXPRtW-6p5nVEzffa0qFpFFoOLPQzvLDMjZY0Npveibyfqp9K-J0FleblB2dGMPzxhblbpQOS6NfAGasij3-QIogzfk_NLenEn1nIctOSg/s4000/IMG_20231102_171409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR6Fj0_PM1MHUUH3Mw9Bk_KywxEbG92rKI9233MIo5h5LWjMl39hcn9jfWgTPhUuYs8kAEL2bCyB0p45a9KBXPRtW-6p5nVEzffa0qFpFFoOLPQzvLDMjZY0Npveibyfqp9K-J0FleblB2dGMPzxhblbpQOS6NfAGasij3-QIogzfk_NLenEn1nIctOSg/s320/IMG_20231102_171409.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are always ghosts beyond that corner but she waits until after we're done to fixate on them. Compromises :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-24587145033186850642023-11-14T10:52:00.000-08:002023-11-14T10:52:51.391-08:00Operation Lite BriteEvery fall, the clocks go back. Every year I manage to be simultaneously surprised and annoyed by how dark it suddenly is. One of the downsides to living on the west coast of BC is that it's generally damp, dark and gloomy all winter anyway....so I guess do what you will with the clock, most of us are just entering hibernation anyway. So, see you again the next time the sun shines! <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4CPCNh4smdHC7PLc12a_UFfDECAARunPeLqSdDniVqDL3Y5BX7P7lfa6gO9GAZuNbSjvUXLplrPU4mnYe5aWVQLh3OPNSDMdvpixIex3GEv1dtlOYDf7VuiUqt5jGTOKqD3PL9dvDbh2UAfvqH8lbStobvMaJhkatP-ziDDP7n4K5dEUAT-QuKcGElCY/s2045/IMG_20231110_150019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2045" data-original-width="1511" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4CPCNh4smdHC7PLc12a_UFfDECAARunPeLqSdDniVqDL3Y5BX7P7lfa6gO9GAZuNbSjvUXLplrPU4mnYe5aWVQLh3OPNSDMdvpixIex3GEv1dtlOYDf7VuiUqt5jGTOKqD3PL9dvDbh2UAfvqH8lbStobvMaJhkatP-ziDDP7n4K5dEUAT-QuKcGElCY/s320/IMG_20231110_150019.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie doing her annual 'new winter raincoat' dance this week. Is not planning to hibernate.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Just kidding, I have horses. And I like being outdoors and busy. The obvious solution to my dilemma was that I needed some better lighting around the place. </div><div><br /></div><div>There was a missed opportunity the run power from the house out to the barn and ring last year, when we already had it all dug up for water lines. We opted not to, thinking the annoyance of potentially sharing a hydro bill with a tenant wasn't going to be worth it. I briefly explored the option of having a separate service and meter, but they only do that for secondary residences, not horse barns (despite the fact I arguably spend more time in the barn than my home :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously now with us deciding to move on site and live in the house, we could rethink the situation and run power everywhere, but I'm reluctant to spend time and money digging everything up again.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, for now I wanted my barn and arena power to be off grid. We explored the usual options as far as solar and batteries and more permanent off grid solutions all and I just wasn't feeling it...I had a set cost for this in mind that was not high, because I do still have those longer term plans of having power out there.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here's what I've ended up with:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY3Ze__yoMBWH-jZGb8qo8SUZiPyKKMpXPbv62Qafgr9SlhVduGAKy4KPSwtISxlKcpU5Wj-wI3AKQu3n_FeE45uIDByY-3VUobstHGXGEKQYPReZUXKwpboVxQqYfc23PwiC1SF092htMi1nAFxIeADReE-PkEniyhUUMRTn7ATEa720VH8Pgvor2qaX/s1519/ecoflow.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1519" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY3Ze__yoMBWH-jZGb8qo8SUZiPyKKMpXPbv62Qafgr9SlhVduGAKy4KPSwtISxlKcpU5Wj-wI3AKQu3n_FeE45uIDByY-3VUobstHGXGEKQYPReZUXKwpboVxQqYfc23PwiC1SF092htMi1nAFxIeADReE-PkEniyhUUMRTn7ATEa720VH8Pgvor2qaX/w640-h285/ecoflow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bought mine last year, so this is the newer version of what I have. <a href="https://ca.ecoflow.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website Link</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm7YrRlW4VgNmSSgBRI_4NvgCiBJdNRkyT1z332prSzU6boYeBgvj1cf72IOjh45A4pA_a-J97hVWtHp4fKGOfcuw0mJ7SHR0_xUG5G3VkDn3fFIaEXFQE4W8wUNub2UPoClRAW_R-5Ofdq-uG_8YCM_uD-FQCxAUNtRBdOq5uPxxsPEsqppO4aSFY4xgv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1378" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm7YrRlW4VgNmSSgBRI_4NvgCiBJdNRkyT1z332prSzU6boYeBgvj1cf72IOjh45A4pA_a-J97hVWtHp4fKGOfcuw0mJ7SHR0_xUG5G3VkDn3fFIaEXFQE4W8wUNub2UPoClRAW_R-5Ofdq-uG_8YCM_uD-FQCxAUNtRBdOq5uPxxsPEsqppO4aSFY4xgv=w640-h390" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon lights (x2 packages of 2). They were $60 when I bought them, and I didn't need the color changing...so I'm pretty sure this can be done cheaper.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHsaE79MOzsEgVtjOMyTPqfS46phv-ONi0-eQJoVm3bAlypejKTSWit4BCTyGrxtrqigsMV_6o1TdulmNqFT2Ea6rKEssFR1pBg9JqveLqi5sZpwTIY0RuPQfSz3t9xI83aRi-rgGy9m0XEpWpTWvn7mmUIonZj7ub1uzjE2c3kfw7uTDi5dk0hC0zw_-/s1768/xmas.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1768" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHsaE79MOzsEgVtjOMyTPqfS46phv-ONi0-eQJoVm3bAlypejKTSWit4BCTyGrxtrqigsMV_6o1TdulmNqFT2Ea6rKEssFR1pBg9JqveLqi5sZpwTIY0RuPQfSz3t9xI83aRi-rgGy9m0XEpWpTWvn7mmUIonZj7ub1uzjE2c3kfw7uTDi5dk0hC0zw_-/w640-h278/xmas.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">75' of Christmas lights (x2)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I ended up spending about $500 of my canadian dollars with some extra solar lights for fence posts thrown in. I wouldn't say my expectations were high, but also I had hopes of this being semi functional for a few years until I figure out what it actually is that I want.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb_4GDKPxJgp_TJMsmwO_9XYOsgt5xiz_r0hN9rvXs3k8eE0T_ZN6wQMhBtdBkiNQ0HO3oP21WGolkN8BftVqnP2W0bEh1YbfeVcIc5ccTgGVIdPuoRifu1Q6xmm9BZQ00EoIL9PZqbMbRC7VkV9NIqOBKT9MD1IADPyM_UWq9zTrn2XAKhqHzF26XfST/s4000/IMG_20231113_172246.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb_4GDKPxJgp_TJMsmwO_9XYOsgt5xiz_r0hN9rvXs3k8eE0T_ZN6wQMhBtdBkiNQ0HO3oP21WGolkN8BftVqnP2W0bEh1YbfeVcIc5ccTgGVIdPuoRifu1Q6xmm9BZQ00EoIL9PZqbMbRC7VkV9NIqOBKT9MD1IADPyM_UWq9zTrn2XAKhqHzF26XfST/s320/IMG_20231113_172246.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard using my cell phone to give you accurate lighting pictures, but I hope you can get the idea, the christmas lights are very low power consuming, and wrapped around the ceilings of interior areas are adequate to muck out and feed with. Also, it's festive :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwGDqFA5_4irKaaVVqXoZXNRE8i09njTy4IOdv4XeOvEVSNrIAK_do8gnWMUiBhlc0XeSjQxZ8403Gj5m2VO4l8pLE6_nKdf7e1D6LKa3zsBNzOQZYPeis6-m22skTTr0ESyojtLvdKNeHgQk0L5IKF50G3TysUK0Jk2Kfv4JJa3avQlL9ovJLxb4mSAW/s4000/IMG_20231006_171131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwGDqFA5_4irKaaVVqXoZXNRE8i09njTy4IOdv4XeOvEVSNrIAK_do8gnWMUiBhlc0XeSjQxZ8403Gj5m2VO4l8pLE6_nKdf7e1D6LKa3zsBNzOQZYPeis6-m22skTTr0ESyojtLvdKNeHgQk0L5IKF50G3TysUK0Jk2Kfv4JJa3avQlL9ovJLxb4mSAW/s320/IMG_20231006_171131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So far, I'm happy. The power box has been in use for a little over a year now and gets regular use in the winter. In the summer it lives in my horse trailer and has come in handy for changing phones and laptops and running lights and air compressors for camping or other off grid horsey adventures. It's super small and light (I think the website says it weighs 6 pounds) so it's no big deal to move it around or pack it away when I'm not using it. Downside is it only lasts 3-10 hours depending how many lights I'm using at any time. On the plus side it has a big digital readout giving you an estimate of how much time you have left with current power consumption, and it only takes about an hour to charge when I plug it in at the house, a little longer if I use my truck to charge it when we're camping. I arguably could have gone for something bigger since arena lighting is not a small ask, but I don't find it overly inconvenient and like the flexibility of it being small and portable. It would be rare for me to be out there running all the lights for 3 hours straight - with my normal use it lasts about a week between charges.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviR4HZKQAH7V-geCzWnVjqiFCwp4zUgz_4X1hFU6LLmuaHG2sDR3WYwiws1v98H89RJeme-spM0WRR-TksmD3LkINCtFH7qfIa5lv8ZhehjInHhUuV6q805qnS5KiTsSkwYPsLwpOf4xeA_-Ol7_4mV9u0LIWkqly04q71iIS3qLgWP9R3WjRpXCnBdTI/s4000/IMG_20231108_171457.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviR4HZKQAH7V-geCzWnVjqiFCwp4zUgz_4X1hFU6LLmuaHG2sDR3WYwiws1v98H89RJeme-spM0WRR-TksmD3LkINCtFH7qfIa5lv8ZhehjInHhUuV6q805qnS5KiTsSkwYPsLwpOf4xeA_-Ol7_4mV9u0LIWkqly04q71iIS3qLgWP9R3WjRpXCnBdTI/s320/IMG_20231108_171457.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">solar lights on the posts and in the sand marking the perimeter of the ring.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Those little led floodlights are the thing, though. I currently have 3 set up in trees around my ring, and one up by the barn where I groom and tack up. The single one at the barn is almost too bright for that purpose, but very handy. The ones in the ring area are honestly barely enough by normal standards (I should put the fourth one there instead or just have gone for the higher wattage option, but at the time I was worried about battery consumption and also annoying the neighbours). So, I wouldn't be using them and setting up a jump course, but for walk/trot/canter on a dark night on a horse that doesn't mind the odd shadow, they're more than adequate lighting. Again, my photos are letting you down, so I'll describe it as better (but trending close) to one of those old school indoors that used to use rows of regular lightbulbs.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkyfmwQY2eYVURGA1FlBUOip87b2YXTbcthmoLfp31sPFWUFkIgCjsl1WOOIfhskvHavCH5rBXrtf46aLmN_5oNSF5RNVRNyVLc9-Fc_zTVcWkKy9TZsoEcY9XQ1aAsXUt-w4BNrn22lWytAoVlpkgoWfok4fSD3nAjtLzxZMXC6euwdYBHqCyeBIPUbK/s4000/IMG_20231108_162756.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkyfmwQY2eYVURGA1FlBUOip87b2YXTbcthmoLfp31sPFWUFkIgCjsl1WOOIfhskvHavCH5rBXrtf46aLmN_5oNSF5RNVRNyVLc9-Fc_zTVcWkKy9TZsoEcY9XQ1aAsXUt-w4BNrn22lWytAoVlpkgoWfok4fSD3nAjtLzxZMXC6euwdYBHqCyeBIPUbK/s320/IMG_20231108_162756.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They came with an app, which was actually super handy - I have all the ring ones set in a group so I can turn them off and on or adjust brightness in unison.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWU3h5NC2tqsyQchORlaGZR_-x-e0__xNX_aNchDdDjdRrFyVImwU85eT4saJvOdbWycin344eAtO_4ttLKjkMOJ8vev7cugiq5pVBRSHTfWttRCLVnKS2tTB-rABVm29wfi5ar-UlBmfWErPwwH4mDspXYV-gJKT948ItaglYzlaHE3UmA-xF5MvHOdq/s4000/IMG_20231108_162834.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWU3h5NC2tqsyQchORlaGZR_-x-e0__xNX_aNchDdDjdRrFyVImwU85eT4saJvOdbWycin344eAtO_4ttLKjkMOJ8vev7cugiq5pVBRSHTfWttRCLVnKS2tTB-rABVm29wfi5ar-UlBmfWErPwwH4mDspXYV-gJKT948ItaglYzlaHE3UmA-xF5MvHOdq/s320/IMG_20231108_162834.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I somehow missed the memo these can also change color or be set to music, lol. I noticed there is a rave/party setting but I'm not convinced that's what Sophie needs while I ride this winter.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm pretty sure there are endless ways this could have been done better, but I'm liking the flexibility and cost effectiveness of what I've ended up with. When I was searching for ways to make this work I didn't see a ton out there for equine specific options and reviews, so I thought I'd post this just in case it helps someone else out there. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-90415088299732543262023-11-06T11:30:00.002-08:002023-11-06T11:30:30.330-08:00Sugar and Spice<p> It feels like baby ponies have lived here forever and we have our routine, and then I unthinkingly do something it turns out they have a problem with. Chaos reigns for a second or ten and I remember that they are brand new at grownup horse things and I shouldn't assume anything. Last week, I learned Reggie is actually not cool with ropes around him. At all. Didn't occur to me to 'test' that since he actually leads nicely. But it turns out if he can see the rope 'following' him or it touches his body it's an issue. So we backtrack to work on that.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5rr7GuB0rsU7goqEbkK8gJD4hX4M-aptYah-rNHz4lfGEOl84Dqgl7ud8zMjjeHoImBXBgUgw7pmbz6w5PQxCQJ98MLrGwrDiEfemwGM8NqzS1jfkOmolFgTawgCGA1bmQK3fVWbO4GAsZkPZzEj4N4jWAJIwi7IsbUsukZigBwIy6U0QP4dXDa9U1rW/s6057/_DSF5957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4038" data-original-width="6057" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5rr7GuB0rsU7goqEbkK8gJD4hX4M-aptYah-rNHz4lfGEOl84Dqgl7ud8zMjjeHoImBXBgUgw7pmbz6w5PQxCQJ98MLrGwrDiEfemwGM8NqzS1jfkOmolFgTawgCGA1bmQK3fVWbO4GAsZkPZzEj4N4jWAJIwi7IsbUsukZigBwIy6U0QP4dXDa9U1rW/w400-h266/_DSF5957.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dramatic reenactment of how catching the little beast was going for me last week - simultaneously annoyed and appreciating the fancy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>He's a super sensitive little dude and is genuinely scared and while he'd like to trust me more we are not quite there yet. It's fun trying to walk the line of setting up little positive experiences for things he really needs to know now, without sending him over (to be fair to myself a very, very low) threshhold. I had a mare (Ginger) when I first started this blog, that he currently reminds me strongly of. I'm excited that in this case I have a 6 month old and am not walking into buying a 4 year old who's similarly untrusting and spicy. Ginger turned out wonderfully because once you win her over, she does anything for her person. I'm hoping we're on a similar path here and once we win him over and he can relax a little it will be smoother sailing.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxalJO_U9o7CKo9o8vNfAnxXzqSCb-xAy_B0QbZ1cSfSfWEgXCbwyqm0mT7mHiPYvwsrOU6AVVmS_WehdulO5wWTrqK787Plx93EIEfmVLFmty0SfkyYr_qHmH6Fu4LjdWTVNsSv0spcfy1GUzCQ_jqEaLZP88c3MOrDm968G777IiHyv9cV7dMz-npyR/s6240/_DSF5881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxalJO_U9o7CKo9o8vNfAnxXzqSCb-xAy_B0QbZ1cSfSfWEgXCbwyqm0mT7mHiPYvwsrOU6AVVmS_WehdulO5wWTrqK787Plx93EIEfmVLFmty0SfkyYr_qHmH6Fu4LjdWTVNsSv0spcfy1GUzCQ_jqEaLZP88c3MOrDm968G777IiHyv9cV7dMz-npyR/w400-h266/_DSF5881.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thinks he's all that</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yTbks6pN_HyahHzzj3Xboy47LUPIV5bE8zdhF9zXSMlyffgK5oxhUdZClmYTJ9Kr_wF6a9atFgGABFkPkIvrPHtOtfzkh1AnxRTsoVF4zb5K4DNPY2n48O1B4IIUUMUttl4bk3u0bYkEshkBhaygtHnRliKEfrrMdcDkLRb8A1FedLGMT08CA8Ih7V-4/s6240/_DSF5775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yTbks6pN_HyahHzzj3Xboy47LUPIV5bE8zdhF9zXSMlyffgK5oxhUdZClmYTJ9Kr_wF6a9atFgGABFkPkIvrPHtOtfzkh1AnxRTsoVF4zb5K4DNPY2n48O1B4IIUUMUttl4bk3u0bYkEshkBhaygtHnRliKEfrrMdcDkLRb8A1FedLGMT08CA8Ih7V-4/w400-h266/_DSF5775.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but we all would like to add some better manners to him. You keep working at it, Buck</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Buck is much more your standard Welshie and is learning and adapting like the curious little baby sponge he is. Smart and sensitive without being over the top. It's nice he's here because I'm not sure how I would be feeling about a Reggie and Sophie show and that energy feeding off each other with out some sort of a balancer.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHCYb_2ly95hoPxPl0vmBKwvXElX9WMpuzDW5FWz0d0eptsEZR5khmE8YbTCanHZ7B00BRH1ybr7yD8FgaL0ts9cV_jljhR_JESaOg7abCuUMgU-CcfUtedHoe8GPjameR3MtJnQxCzUE_YDzF7kMxa-ObqRfVHCQc7-EIJ69Rj4KzBv4U7IjH8OYYMwL/s2415/_DSF5833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="1610" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHCYb_2ly95hoPxPl0vmBKwvXElX9WMpuzDW5FWz0d0eptsEZR5khmE8YbTCanHZ7B00BRH1ybr7yD8FgaL0ts9cV_jljhR_JESaOg7abCuUMgU-CcfUtedHoe8GPjameR3MtJnQxCzUE_YDzF7kMxa-ObqRfVHCQc7-EIJ69Rj4KzBv4U7IjH8OYYMwL/w266-h400/_DSF5833.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">posing for the standard over the shoulder shot - going to be a blogger pony yet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Speaking of Sophie, she's been the most fantastic girl. I haven't felt like blogging about medical issues (not something I want to focus on at any time, but with baby ponies to obsess over it's even easier to turn it into a non topic). I've been pretty stiff and sore and generally not feeling my finest. That's to be expected, progress is never even. I've also not made any final decisions re: footing for the ring since it hasn't seemed a priority with the amount of riding I've been doing (I'm quite conscious I am still unbalanced and unevenly strong so I am so I continue to work on that outside of horses. I'm uncomfortable using riding as much of a pathway to improvement, it's unfair). </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqwA7fMc-9ka6U3i4xttmk0Iq8guuOSXhmGUBiQCGHU824UpMiElO925CbJYcWG4ZuafdSIc0D72rb2s-mHyAfPQXsjBpFqqsF285Cvo9I0caKg9BbmTPeeemEwpwMN7cyFtNkV1BclwvydYaayHyFQ7wqUSGNToLv4tT9a_XVhSiFyN2EigIBbhuVWup/s4270/_DSF5725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2847" data-original-width="4270" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqwA7fMc-9ka6U3i4xttmk0Iq8guuOSXhmGUBiQCGHU824UpMiElO925CbJYcWG4ZuafdSIc0D72rb2s-mHyAfPQXsjBpFqqsF285Cvo9I0caKg9BbmTPeeemEwpwMN7cyFtNkV1BclwvydYaayHyFQ7wqUSGNToLv4tT9a_XVhSiFyN2EigIBbhuVWup/w400-h266/_DSF5725.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here comes trouble</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>So, for those reasons Sophie and I have mostly just been walking around and stretching our bodies every day...something you'd think would be a recipe for disaster with a spicy banana pony in cold weather. But no, she's wonderful and happy to have the job. The routine of riding most days, even if it's just for a relatively short time, keeps me pretty happy too.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuURijWltvzUyjtyOty94kssYojDmM335mnX4PpkIfOThawxibW2O3jhT4cJpOT0VcTuF3QwpAtHkPMdtQb9wdn675-uJ-Fo4ZNvkhtWLIHeAE8GcekQJdg8SxTG-vUAgqqvXbKtNQx2GS84yw4VTe4ORHgxltjoJMjEfYd3esFl2bpCoLpanwbDYmikpQ/s4935/_DSF5711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3290" data-original-width="4935" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuURijWltvzUyjtyOty94kssYojDmM335mnX4PpkIfOThawxibW2O3jhT4cJpOT0VcTuF3QwpAtHkPMdtQb9wdn675-uJ-Fo4ZNvkhtWLIHeAE8GcekQJdg8SxTG-vUAgqqvXbKtNQx2GS84yw4VTe4ORHgxltjoJMjEfYd3esFl2bpCoLpanwbDYmikpQ/s320/_DSF5711.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">starting to rock her winter beard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I do have a test load of sand (with a little pea gravel mixed in) incoming because I am hoping to be able to ride properly at home this winter. The house renos, however need to take precedence. We're SO nearly there. I'm hoping to seal the floors this weekend and get the bathtub plumbing done. Then we are good to go! I can't wait to move in...it's coming up on a year of working on it when I have spare time, but it's going to be worth it.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-69435305807638595632023-11-01T07:30:00.000-07:002023-11-01T07:30:00.137-07:00Coming Soon to A Theater Near You<p> I totally got sucked into the 'make your horse into a Pixar movie poster" AI trend.</p><p>Results:</p><p>"Disney Pixar movie poster of two foals playing. one is black, one is bay. title is Buck and reggie" :</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGjbLJin8yBH9f-IQHgL64lvTbd_CgFCTdBZhQROMH-HTVqMNUpT12xJzn0HNtWHd9qrIxHsheDPIiItddztiM3VlGzj_YrYi8Wo8az8AjEcTvJ6JK6qYRqC068XXrAWMONP9fbWB46iFNMLD2-BHVBRyj46qwLnK7V5PKBKK3FftIYC0k5cSlaGLq-fM/s1024/_5217aae0-01c0-452c-9e6c-757be01fe66d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGjbLJin8yBH9f-IQHgL64lvTbd_CgFCTdBZhQROMH-HTVqMNUpT12xJzn0HNtWHd9qrIxHsheDPIiItddztiM3VlGzj_YrYi8Wo8az8AjEcTvJ6JK6qYRqC068XXrAWMONP9fbWB46iFNMLD2-BHVBRyj46qwLnK7V5PKBKK3FftIYC0k5cSlaGLq-fM/w400-h400/_5217aae0-01c0-452c-9e6c-757be01fe66d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>"Disney Pixar movie poster of palomino horse causing chaos. background is a destroyed city. title is Sophie"</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn593snaKH9yLH-cc3Cy5vwn1XAtZRzqBdSLU2B8MFAs2Y_IJRyZwebkn7vQDdqZ0C0I7vJjg5IeFBwQVkJ9ZXOLs0usFfLBDnrOzG5gH5FLLCr8pOmElSA6gKFYlfw-YVX8JJaJtJNQN_RJYtk-Q7bxWeQewjftQUSMJ6jFxAvejOnn_iUW8C05Ps1mr-/s1024/_036eaab7-087d-4e8f-abbf-62fedc6d16c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn593snaKH9yLH-cc3Cy5vwn1XAtZRzqBdSLU2B8MFAs2Y_IJRyZwebkn7vQDdqZ0C0I7vJjg5IeFBwQVkJ9ZXOLs0usFfLBDnrOzG5gH5FLLCr8pOmElSA6gKFYlfw-YVX8JJaJtJNQN_RJYtk-Q7bxWeQewjftQUSMJ6jFxAvejOnn_iUW8C05Ps1mr-/w400-h400/_036eaab7-087d-4e8f-abbf-62fedc6d16c6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW2Kf7uKvmlabYRD9lkQPY_at4idIJ3Pb454YR7T6MgUb9OEkFw7DcqooCkVS35H-G3iPIEs5uegnQAgtFNy59NlLkAda2Y-KoCGVlCImcJJ6-V5btr2RIaEXjlujTz_eSkb-_YqP7TpxS8Vt9E7I8dytSoz2ith8CyjxqA6Zj0KfWRb8nPwglM13o26e/s1024/_774577ff-d081-4b47-ac4c-806e6c37b31d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVW2Kf7uKvmlabYRD9lkQPY_at4idIJ3Pb454YR7T6MgUb9OEkFw7DcqooCkVS35H-G3iPIEs5uegnQAgtFNy59NlLkAda2Y-KoCGVlCImcJJ6-V5btr2RIaEXjlujTz_eSkb-_YqP7TpxS8Vt9E7I8dytSoz2ith8CyjxqA6Zj0KfWRb8nPwglM13o26e/w400-h400/_774577ff-d081-4b47-ac4c-806e6c37b31d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>"Disney Pixar movie poster of palomino horse. Title is Sophie"<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIXcgj6HbKgc0bEnska-PUcn5_7FCCtCVrxbGy8CHDXido9bMtvfcVkGCY9bXyfyKoqlV3R8ja0dr26y5CuSKeJsNL-aEZKEAw4tR5EdJbVwFPadq-HGV8LHrFx6st7dij-KSHZw5GGTNyw2y_OGkTgHq46mESRDUq2iKJuVazsSG0wTtrvD-owt4CFay/s1024/_67fff998-89e9-455c-b8ae-934efc9c22f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIXcgj6HbKgc0bEnska-PUcn5_7FCCtCVrxbGy8CHDXido9bMtvfcVkGCY9bXyfyKoqlV3R8ja0dr26y5CuSKeJsNL-aEZKEAw4tR5EdJbVwFPadq-HGV8LHrFx6st7dij-KSHZw5GGTNyw2y_OGkTgHq46mESRDUq2iKJuVazsSG0wTtrvD-owt4CFay/w400-h400/_67fff998-89e9-455c-b8ae-934efc9c22f6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>"Disney Pixar movie poster cute black foal with a white star. title is buck"</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9BRHNqOQxwScb6tdwQC_bBvOVKxZnvEDUEIjqdc9j7ee9o0_hewEXXSKVX-nD25A21bgofh84AzpJtapemIo359zsAw9J3mP4epCfpKSuMd7Vq5Lr6jCImF7rSS-H7LpHNSEeb0nfwbfHWec_D1V1eAEQwcMdusIHdf1sPMOY76A-f35VvpcnkTsG5yM/s1024/_1de9dc9f-e73c-4229-83cd-1646c3404920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9BRHNqOQxwScb6tdwQC_bBvOVKxZnvEDUEIjqdc9j7ee9o0_hewEXXSKVX-nD25A21bgofh84AzpJtapemIo359zsAw9J3mP4epCfpKSuMd7Vq5Lr6jCImF7rSS-H7LpHNSEeb0nfwbfHWec_D1V1eAEQwcMdusIHdf1sPMOY76A-f35VvpcnkTsG5yM/s320/_1de9dc9f-e73c-4229-83cd-1646c3404920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>"Disney Pixar movie poster bay foal running. title is Reggie"</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu9r0r6NyRZjTEXid1YIq2ZXQ92MvuSGTzD1ZHtjY1fAujdP9MVYkzRT8YGClz4lJhiPS_zHpKhVbftpRGgCWQxv4iH8LwkHRPZyeD9gk5j-AQ2sbA7JjZn8NHWr7Wd3aEmXvaLKrPWkrheZfjnjaN0QbmaPXlvWc4SMCg_y6aC0gbSh0Ltpz0e-E6F6r/s1024/_158bdd6e-d8df-414b-aca9-472e29c26f68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu9r0r6NyRZjTEXid1YIq2ZXQ92MvuSGTzD1ZHtjY1fAujdP9MVYkzRT8YGClz4lJhiPS_zHpKhVbftpRGgCWQxv4iH8LwkHRPZyeD9gk5j-AQ2sbA7JjZn8NHWr7Wd3aEmXvaLKrPWkrheZfjnjaN0QbmaPXlvWc4SMCg_y6aC0gbSh0Ltpz0e-E6F6r/s320/_158bdd6e-d8df-414b-aca9-472e29c26f68.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET_2EMyi6HSG0e7XARaVyTJPv5iU3L6zbLjKYTe20ZgUI9TwKCS-KxtAUi0Av6ZNtGl51VwMQHO6kvXqfR68nS-w36gLhReLZd5aA8ts02UyWexNPp55iNoLta7ShYW_BsY_eE6cw97aYop7BC9BD6TtIk_6d6TMS1VRASNFE-2tQS9h4M5MoAKzhSW3o/s1024/_94006564-bc78-4c78-920a-045671c0ff3c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET_2EMyi6HSG0e7XARaVyTJPv5iU3L6zbLjKYTe20ZgUI9TwKCS-KxtAUi0Av6ZNtGl51VwMQHO6kvXqfR68nS-w36gLhReLZd5aA8ts02UyWexNPp55iNoLta7ShYW_BsY_eE6cw97aYop7BC9BD6TtIk_6d6TMS1VRASNFE-2tQS9h4M5MoAKzhSW3o/s320/_94006564-bc78-4c78-920a-045671c0ff3c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Warning - it's addictive and the results are often completely unexpected and hilarious (and in the case of horses, often contain a disturbing number of legs).</div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-19721678789284695292023-10-31T10:23:00.001-07:002023-10-31T10:23:39.843-07:00Uneven ProgressWeanlings. <div><br /></div><div>On one hand, I'm Team Leave Them Be and Let Them Grow Up. They've got years before they are mentally and physically ready to do most adult horse things. <div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, it feels like the Things They Need To Know Now is a broader topic than you might at first think. Also, no pressure, but we're building the foundation for their entire lives with humans. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>With the way our place is set up, I clean paddocks and stalls twice a day. The new guys would like me to know That Is Not How It's Done. So, wheelbarrows, manure forks, brooms, and mostly - us people in their general vicinity - have all been a thing at one time or another. They're already getting pretty good, but I'm mentioning it because it really does feel like we're starting at the beginning. (No shade at the place they came from either! This is a new place with new people and a new routine and they are suspicious baby ponies.)</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4pMPnuQOwZocAWNQyMCWWA0pRG_QpSjRvJrwb9-lKu15XUupMjcdZN52Lbr4TclK-9VGRE4j5lU9P0USohFtMwrFDIBXNl0ODMNr15kCnu42cHOqxWwGog64nd1ALM5ncs6h5fOypvn2QU3ExgJX1C6ozc-PAvSXUmpDhT0F1hcjAr6NcRDuR8Aa89lF/s6240/_DSF5418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4pMPnuQOwZocAWNQyMCWWA0pRG_QpSjRvJrwb9-lKu15XUupMjcdZN52Lbr4TclK-9VGRE4j5lU9P0USohFtMwrFDIBXNl0ODMNr15kCnu42cHOqxWwGog64nd1ALM5ncs6h5fOypvn2QU3ExgJX1C6ozc-PAvSXUmpDhT0F1hcjAr6NcRDuR8Aa89lF/w400-h266/_DSF5418.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are growing so much already</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>G's is an angel and really coming out of his shell. He's the boss of the two but also pretty laid back and the kind of guy who just wants to get along. So, he quietly makes space or follows us around waiting for scratches. He's the one we thought might take a bit to come around but he's already my BFF. Reggie is less so, he's quite concerned we might steal his food and generally gets a little dramatic, either running around or trying to act tough. Luckily little Bakari/Buck also is setting boundaries with him (in a much more physical manner than I do) so I'm hoping his little brain starts to compute soon :) I kind of figured his momma might be spoiling him rotten and now I'm starting to believe it might be true lol.</div><div><br /></div><div>Part two of their daily adventure is going out to graze for part of the afternoon before they come back in for dinner. Since neither of them were crazy about being haltered, it seemed like a great idea to incorporate that and lead them in and out the 50 feet (rather than just opening gates), with the intent that halter = good things coming. G's clued into that right away. Mine...you guessed it...not so easy. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsg9I6_JFESXvMIFTDsZtdo4BxfxqPjrllL0wJftVTYQihCD7pFDJFofrzNfXXGJ5y9bk9ibilGL-3MHAVxG9hjRD8UquwfBNE51uuYBHS2ddGP1ffGUHPXY7MuBjfpi4mpQ2gUj01EpH-Xt0DjLALEFSXUisgM1l8s7TQ6uqos2WCAhjASyBCkGZti7mF/s5425/_DSF5509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5425" data-original-width="3617" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsg9I6_JFESXvMIFTDsZtdo4BxfxqPjrllL0wJftVTYQihCD7pFDJFofrzNfXXGJ5y9bk9ibilGL-3MHAVxG9hjRD8UquwfBNE51uuYBHS2ddGP1ffGUHPXY7MuBjfpi4mpQ2gUj01EpH-Xt0DjLALEFSXUisgM1l8s7TQ6uqos2WCAhjASyBCkGZti7mF/w266-h400/_DSF5509.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easily bribed with food and scratches.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm able to groom Buck and he's about ready for my farrier. He's obviously not perfect with his feet, but he's polite enough. Tying is a work in progress, as is leading but he's made huge progress and is so genuine. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reggie is quite well behaved to lead from place to place, but very much dislikes being groomed and having his back feet handled and is not shy about letting you know it. So again, with the boundaries (which he takes very personally). It's a fine line I haven't found yet but I'm grateful he's not the type to escalate the behavior, he just seems confused as to why I wouldn't like it/bow down to his amazingness and then starts to get really worried. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVuGj4iMLM48u98Z2hB-zuT_rs29WzHFxF87Vw-m6TR_XGJ9o14wtTKMGYxgBgl6XuC1yeNWmOL73dY-jWjJSIDKCrg-Ck8Q_DIbLm920OAg3DAen56gUrapp5UJe_AKg8mB7qHkhl-rViakH9QyCdfBt7YUfxir8gBwezZ-GnPomy01_uzDu2RbXMw3j/s6240/_DSF5375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVuGj4iMLM48u98Z2hB-zuT_rs29WzHFxF87Vw-m6TR_XGJ9o14wtTKMGYxgBgl6XuC1yeNWmOL73dY-jWjJSIDKCrg-Ck8Q_DIbLm920OAg3DAen56gUrapp5UJe_AKg8mB7qHkhl-rViakH9QyCdfBt7YUfxir8gBwezZ-GnPomy01_uzDu2RbXMw3j/w400-h266/_DSF5375.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over here keeping it real with the most awkward of all awkward stages. I should not post this on the internet, but also it's going to make an epic before and after one day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>G commented "how on earth did you pick another Sophie just from some foal pictures and a video?!" Which, fair, I can see the comparison with Reggie's current little dramatic self, lol. But really he's wonderful, he just needs some time to adjust to the real world. I have all the faith he's going to be a really good boy. He's still so young. I need to be careful to not mentally put him into a box of 'he's like this' and have it become self fulfilling. So let's say 'he is currently like this' and leave it there. Tomorrow has endless possibilities ;)</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpSqBL_rEqWT1XNi3IFI_x_HLMkPNKE_DMK1QPiF4mAAmxHpuuxjv-G5Fo1Q2zQxjawN4azs1UdPIKEKszI05P1BC-OH3YHo_p8Bnhwrf1p0_Hz3nUrcZA176hHeke2iZ2y0qEQ1TnJ4nnZdRLvs5iyoRiMiwcTbuRYfQV1AfmxFPWOJ-xbbDgw3D0ykw/s6240/_DSF5499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpSqBL_rEqWT1XNi3IFI_x_HLMkPNKE_DMK1QPiF4mAAmxHpuuxjv-G5Fo1Q2zQxjawN4azs1UdPIKEKszI05P1BC-OH3YHo_p8Bnhwrf1p0_Hz3nUrcZA176hHeke2iZ2y0qEQ1TnJ4nnZdRLvs5iyoRiMiwcTbuRYfQV1AfmxFPWOJ-xbbDgw3D0ykw/w400-h266/_DSF5499.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver linings, had a few opportunities this week to see what a nice mover he is (as he runs away from me in dramatic fashion lol)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div> It does put into perspective though just how lovely and easy Sophie is now and how the work at the beginning is so valuable. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF6S5qrL5dSDJtGH1CN94-Ly9mkaGIsJK3R-rOupQJ1P90Ei5fQ9bqHjyDmHKmnrczjZFJy5RI26wMNJ-hQ_GZc2XS8PNSyaeK-gJ_vwm_m-oz52dFJnHj9JB63MjngkOAx4iP1he8Tj2wZAix_logutIyDwDsxCjSsPciRTvMLExd0xHuHCKgEOniX0B/s4754/_DSF5403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3169" data-original-width="4754" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF6S5qrL5dSDJtGH1CN94-Ly9mkaGIsJK3R-rOupQJ1P90Ei5fQ9bqHjyDmHKmnrczjZFJy5RI26wMNJ-hQ_GZc2XS8PNSyaeK-gJ_vwm_m-oz52dFJnHj9JB63MjngkOAx4iP1he8Tj2wZAix_logutIyDwDsxCjSsPciRTvMLExd0xHuHCKgEOniX0B/w400-h266/_DSF5403.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comes when you call her, like the giant yellow labrapony she is.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once we get to a place where they are comfortable with the routine I'm going to leave it coasting along for a bit. (To recap: We want to be able to clean stalls while they are eating with minimal pony anxiety, need to be able to reliably catch and lead a short distance daily, need to be able to tie them and handle feet safely a few times a week.) I had visions of getting out and doing things but I think they've had a ton of change recently and they'd both benefit from a bit more of an adjustment period where they can feel confident in what they know.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-12026933815492592192023-10-26T12:15:00.000-07:002023-10-26T12:15:16.426-07:00ObsessedI've gone totally and completely obsessed with our new additions. I just love them. I'm probably scaring them with my crazy horse lady energy, and no doubt I'll scare you with the amount of 'cute baby pony' media I'm collecting.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR3Y8wElSHc5KqN3yjh9olPhYFFe_ua-bnjN9SxzLt5354EYEqBTcUAsn-8bYpPnnBPrmO1CR_OI8_biaXw_BswZv-ul_cXurR1dbpKfczIN7QtOXTlPoQ7i_EhYizVItGte0M3Mb73_EdAdFQNmuy7c_JTKLgVITLmLj-OsjB03DDbKzqmqqWKYCKdaC/s1600/PART_1698178226090_image000000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR3Y8wElSHc5KqN3yjh9olPhYFFe_ua-bnjN9SxzLt5354EYEqBTcUAsn-8bYpPnnBPrmO1CR_OI8_biaXw_BswZv-ul_cXurR1dbpKfczIN7QtOXTlPoQ7i_EhYizVItGte0M3Mb73_EdAdFQNmuy7c_JTKLgVITLmLj-OsjB03DDbKzqmqqWKYCKdaC/w400-h300/PART_1698178226090_image000000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ponies incoming! How was this almost two weeks ago already!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>We're coming up to a week sans Bridget and I have to say that as much as I miss her, the vibe around the place is so much more relaxed and easy. That sounds crazy, because B is by definition a pretty relaxed and easy horse and Sophie plus two weanlings should be a recipe for chaos. But, B is also always permanently 'starving' and food competitive and I never did find a satisfactory way of slowing her down enough to make her meals last longer than a few hours (or get her body condition down past a 6). Sophie, on the other hand, ideally has food in front of her 24/7 that she prefers to just pick at when she's hungry. The new guys also just have a large net they can eat from as they wish. Currently I just give them all small dinners mostly consisting of vitamins and minerals. There's no need to pop out there multiple times a day to feed, no one is fussed about it, feeding is kind of a non event now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sophie and the new guys also have much healthier relationships and so there is minimal calling or anxiety if anyone is out of sight of the others. So far everyone seems happy in their own space. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8Y3Mlys9NIgcPtMsCSRGqTLtcNyYFVLwKmK8CpvFprYX6c_RXYDx0S4jtwaaQDfC9LoB-UXqSsNPzz5vZgmePYu2E7FVXrZqrnoR0YSSSj5e1ChbKT-pzNldEwdI8pQTfiRFd4Eyg5MWEatl5MlpL4CdiP2g_DvdEqG0JkAdHHPoxl9_fVB95jN2exQv/s6240/_DSF5297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8Y3Mlys9NIgcPtMsCSRGqTLtcNyYFVLwKmK8CpvFprYX6c_RXYDx0S4jtwaaQDfC9LoB-UXqSsNPzz5vZgmePYu2E7FVXrZqrnoR0YSSSj5e1ChbKT-pzNldEwdI8pQTfiRFd4Eyg5MWEatl5MlpL4CdiP2g_DvdEqG0JkAdHHPoxl9_fVB95jN2exQv/w400-h266/_DSF5297.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie keeping an eye on her new friends. This whole letting them out to graze thing is new and a work in progress since they're pretty sure they're feral if you show up with a halter and lead and intentions of bringing them in again.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sophie of course is still herself and far more ridiculous, dramatic, and playful than any weanling colt could think of being. But it's good. She's happy with her new paddock neighbours and settled easily back into having her own space 24/7, and that's all I could have hoped for.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkojEG6kAtwXttW_A5jKmASzzKHp5Dbo4m-riubZ-bilIuY5i2SLO-CB3TWu3oubtUnphIAEqdkQw2grD4rV2GacbINsiEjpacVD_tfF-U7D7hYQEWhsH1xMFK2bcdusRYOHohJP4h9S5sGbZgR94GxlhIdUBgfBDCeO-o7qS8HNy5Rzo4XnZVm6cRUvP2/s4241/_DSF5219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="4241" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkojEG6kAtwXttW_A5jKmASzzKHp5Dbo4m-riubZ-bilIuY5i2SLO-CB3TWu3oubtUnphIAEqdkQw2grD4rV2GacbINsiEjpacVD_tfF-U7D7hYQEWhsH1xMFK2bcdusRYOHohJP4h9S5sGbZgR94GxlhIdUBgfBDCeO-o7qS8HNy5Rzo4XnZVm6cRUvP2/w400-h266/_DSF5219.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desperately wants to go out and play with them. I have a feeling she would actually be fine with them, but she's so much bigger it's not safe. You know they're tiny when a 14.3hh GRP mare seems like an absolute giant in comparison :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I've been riding again this week, and it's been good. Sophie's been good. She lost her brain for a while there last year...maybe we want to say it was an age thing, maybe ulcers, maybe that toxic B friendship, maybe my anxiety, who knows. But it's felt like she's really grown up this summer, both mentally and physically. I'm optimistic we're starting back on a good path and it really does feel like she just gets better and better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR21wdCC5f136Y6ClSEIcedsCDBvF-T6bujfSQtf9CtilU51X14JPeEuxShJsiizYErmmL47EyLCQiMvngso52XVfkrT9daoP3tZs0B5sYDTOxu6edkNzYSwHDkQWxHTp9AaKFoBD4WeFDunlp78Gp24bOBLtHf_0Jp_nAlVYQOqPKdyDnHoI7w4HyPzD/s5320/_DSF4921%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3546" data-original-width="5320" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR21wdCC5f136Y6ClSEIcedsCDBvF-T6bujfSQtf9CtilU51X14JPeEuxShJsiizYErmmL47EyLCQiMvngso52XVfkrT9daoP3tZs0B5sYDTOxu6edkNzYSwHDkQWxHTp9AaKFoBD4WeFDunlp78Gp24bOBLtHf_0Jp_nAlVYQOqPKdyDnHoI7w4HyPzD/w400-h266/_DSF4921%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIqabMlKUKjm04VhCcd5dF8Uv1V1C64qptz-HTXgW_2S-uxMrw6cVrQZa82_3ZTZLJmx6lOxNJxp8r4o_62fmG3-6ZjirIQhIZcs6BAJPhOqMasYbzM9Za2U2QxsjQ092SAX8sedCSBzG03yS4j4oEh4je9hS8XbDhOzHS5HSbDgPSSSQeUZ9mtftOw7I/s6240/_DSF4940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIqabMlKUKjm04VhCcd5dF8Uv1V1C64qptz-HTXgW_2S-uxMrw6cVrQZa82_3ZTZLJmx6lOxNJxp8r4o_62fmG3-6ZjirIQhIZcs6BAJPhOqMasYbzM9Za2U2QxsjQ092SAX8sedCSBzG03yS4j4oEh4je9hS8XbDhOzHS5HSbDgPSSSQeUZ9mtftOw7I/w266-h400/_DSF4940.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking for ghosts is always a fun activity though</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finally, back to the babies. Oh are they ever just the most fun things ever. It's so fun how they're already so much their own little personalities. Mine gives off some strong Sophie similarities where there's potential for everything to be a game or get dramatic, but with an added cocky boy vibe. Willing to push and test his opinions, but immediately back to "so sorry, I'm just a cute baby horse, please like me!' vibes every time I need to correct him. Which is daily, he's kind of a little monster at the moment, lol. I think he's going to be the one we'll get out for some adventures first, he's brave and curious and he's also the one I really feel like needs more life experience instilled before he gets big.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNh73o6kKEh574Ttec7UgQ9-Zp1feBmHTqueVir8EbN2abuUwKMmOzotmIya_wd59zHEnUikP_nrhG5kmmGZbEDiTZLXxizty5Cc0QfO7yVUN3C0khSmrEbm0uOcbm0VwLPiV_CmNXmXzoWliJZY9hoKwd-nfn1MdxvBk-v3Eo2J3BEW9s_Ci8qd0GGnt/s2198/_DSF5072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2198" data-original-width="1465" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNh73o6kKEh574Ttec7UgQ9-Zp1feBmHTqueVir8EbN2abuUwKMmOzotmIya_wd59zHEnUikP_nrhG5kmmGZbEDiTZLXxizty5Cc0QfO7yVUN3C0khSmrEbm0uOcbm0VwLPiV_CmNXmXzoWliJZY9hoKwd-nfn1MdxvBk-v3Eo2J3BEW9s_Ci8qd0GGnt/w266-h400/_DSF5072.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">going to be so handsome</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4pkEK2FuevWjhTs55790aw-nKdKz3N0A6tCppBKReNg36_jOyoD_nR9uGxTkLw49a6I_89g_aYCkspckq9wnRG4xJxzy0n3BYHfnCU9X9uYXIfJxfrm1385bLWVqB6HTnxHVW8ulOkqPt070Krh3H3g6f0tF2RqWuFoiSH0xYlqBXK4QWtsnYelQHiRw/s6240/_DSF5122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4pkEK2FuevWjhTs55790aw-nKdKz3N0A6tCppBKReNg36_jOyoD_nR9uGxTkLw49a6I_89g_aYCkspckq9wnRG4xJxzy0n3BYHfnCU9X9uYXIfJxfrm1385bLWVqB6HTnxHVW8ulOkqPt070Krh3H3g6f0tF2RqWuFoiSH0xYlqBXK4QWtsnYelQHiRw/w400-h266/_DSF5122.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">long legs and an awkward duckling currently :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMMSJRrkQlUhDHfg7I58vKq9ZX81AcoLNw_NiTdoTdb2JYbugHiUCHD__WEE9FLk8WvqrJ9ifsI3jGSYUel_Wh9eL9WjCZm_EBCaGBSmVVKpUX3DP-GakFddnF-fi2VJVHDMfdYWOJEurspz5L-yyNKNCOI4twrIhA9Ij49N-XUKHO66Up7PmcD9cavI8/s6240/_DSF5269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMMSJRrkQlUhDHfg7I58vKq9ZX81AcoLNw_NiTdoTdb2JYbugHiUCHD__WEE9FLk8WvqrJ9ifsI3jGSYUel_Wh9eL9WjCZm_EBCaGBSmVVKpUX3DP-GakFddnF-fi2VJVHDMfdYWOJEurspz5L-yyNKNCOI4twrIhA9Ij49N-XUKHO66Up7PmcD9cavI8/w266-h400/_DSF5269.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The belly is a thing to behold though. One consult with the vet later, he's not wormy and perhaps it is quite literally a hay belly, hopefully to be resolved as we gradually increase protein levels and hay quality for him. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>G's is still a bit reserved. I think that's just him, even watching the two little guys interact he's by far the quieter of the two and more of a think before you act type. I'm getting the feeling he's going to end up the boss of the two, he's pretty steady and self assured and not shy about pushing little Reggie out of his space when he gets too silly. I'm cracking the facade gradually. He loves being groomed so that might be my way in. He does all the things, but also I feel like he might just be internalizing it all, so I'm being very careful to go slowly and not take advantage and give him tons of positive encouragement every time he does a thing. He's still a little worried about G whereas mine thinks G is the best thing ever and I'm the mean enforcer lady. I joke we need to trade, our ponies have chosen differently than us :)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYwPrTy7mO-NlUQaPC68NsGRcCAy55bqTzXqLamNxdG2fRoNN_8rRUyYgXce3aRZ4HzisqLQVmoF_5yxEaBE6WO7Tq9r28nlZG2pqUed-gdyEciDKExaW3dSjYH_mdCtiMADjR_S0Oh0hZRc6YWIlhWbk9tGgQ8M2id5-vB_RULyFFpfgOsiSRyESScop/s6240/_DSF5251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYwPrTy7mO-NlUQaPC68NsGRcCAy55bqTzXqLamNxdG2fRoNN_8rRUyYgXce3aRZ4HzisqLQVmoF_5yxEaBE6WO7Tq9r28nlZG2pqUed-gdyEciDKExaW3dSjYH_mdCtiMADjR_S0Oh0hZRc6YWIlhWbk9tGgQ8M2id5-vB_RULyFFpfgOsiSRyESScop/w266-h400/_DSF5251.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is a little tank</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkvuxd4rSyjr1telBste0u7nzJpAtbv00r1zcYM06dsU-VLR2qYAJc0wcoEO-anpwFyADv3WzfO5enzeaB_78L99djFDINMZon3HBKaV_U2uzQaFd5AlHzry4e6-qBKwKp6EvpcPMU5RMxBBOlZPPA_gZHKgW-BK7at9NSVhh8pmMiLEBpF073toG6qfV/s4661/_DSF5105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3107" data-original-width="4661" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkvuxd4rSyjr1telBste0u7nzJpAtbv00r1zcYM06dsU-VLR2qYAJc0wcoEO-anpwFyADv3WzfO5enzeaB_78L99djFDINMZon3HBKaV_U2uzQaFd5AlHzry4e6-qBKwKp6EvpcPMU5RMxBBOlZPPA_gZHKgW-BK7at9NSVhh8pmMiLEBpF073toG6qfV/w400-h266/_DSF5105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dS1P8zcnXGUUkWeDHxPrcTaHzxTPpvS0ico19MGEWeX-ebUGkKj3YXOxd85uBzaf04NC61kGEpyPm9ohfNJKJFbLzol5zpCBCCWTzOK5ZQ-ACoaBdQ-1Ur1KAVT6koIpgviCECw_tuAM2fgpEufyXy1tmdgxxd-fYofB2kpE38-9MZprkw-yQzSicavl/s6240/_DSF5188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dS1P8zcnXGUUkWeDHxPrcTaHzxTPpvS0ico19MGEWeX-ebUGkKj3YXOxd85uBzaf04NC61kGEpyPm9ohfNJKJFbLzol5zpCBCCWTzOK5ZQ-ACoaBdQ-1Ur1KAVT6koIpgviCECw_tuAM2fgpEufyXy1tmdgxxd-fYofB2kpE38-9MZprkw-yQzSicavl/w400-h266/_DSF5188.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hadn't actually seen him move before we bought him, he's really correct and cute. (The breeder is fantastic so I took her word for it :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeeumc8gHUcYoYwEc624JyuRfwkX1dPB3_G1FssePcfrvViMz2XkiSuAkitYYmnSl9W1aT8DyI2NjnHa5KoKdWNKdBwoJXLjYFyy9jJ1-P9xMwrixv-kTV9jtueBYGvtILvycGf1zgv6npoWR-jR4L3oEYrz7s56mtk_oaCiTttpi30Gn6hPOs-fb1sCU/s1600/PART_1698343658282_image000000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeeumc8gHUcYoYwEc624JyuRfwkX1dPB3_G1FssePcfrvViMz2XkiSuAkitYYmnSl9W1aT8DyI2NjnHa5KoKdWNKdBwoJXLjYFyy9jJ1-P9xMwrixv-kTV9jtueBYGvtILvycGf1zgv6npoWR-jR4L3oEYrz7s56mtk_oaCiTttpi30Gn6hPOs-fb1sCU/w400-h300/PART_1698343658282_image000000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic from G this morning. About sums it up, mine's like "No worries, just napping" and G's is ready to step away if he gets closer too quickly.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8359915651309786241.post-29453653622271154892023-10-22T16:16:00.007-07:002023-10-22T16:19:45.426-07:00A week of change<p> This past week just flew by. </p><p>With the two new boys here keeping Sophie company, it was appropriate timing for B to leave for her lease home. That happened Saturday and is sad and happy all at the same time. Despite how perfectly it’s all worked out and how thrilled her little girl is with her, I’ve had 10+ years of daily Bridget so it definitely feels weird to not see her in the barn. There have been more than a few tears here and there. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J_bTfpr5kgFYHaWx0f3aQm070tzk_dpHk_ADqgYB57gUNasS-Y1JE85Ru5JCoBqFEp6-DKJ5WAz8nFXLr7m55QbtSfUia1lmY4D8jVkC_x96GIEox5dhv6Gijtd9TDLuq4e0zhtQZr1N7TxsrugeJ7V0LZf17SObZGOANChytREdZT2z2Kt5jIqAEw4a/s3532/A0DE90E0-DAAC-4EC2-A3FC-7A61A00B958D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2354" data-original-width="3532" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J_bTfpr5kgFYHaWx0f3aQm070tzk_dpHk_ADqgYB57gUNasS-Y1JE85Ru5JCoBqFEp6-DKJ5WAz8nFXLr7m55QbtSfUia1lmY4D8jVkC_x96GIEox5dhv6Gijtd9TDLuq4e0zhtQZr1N7TxsrugeJ7V0LZf17SObZGOANChytREdZT2z2Kt5jIqAEw4a/s320/A0DE90E0-DAAC-4EC2-A3FC-7A61A00B958D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best pony</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>In one of those moments where the stars aligned perfectly, a lovely lady who was visiting the area just happened to be an equine performance vet. She had interesting feedback about horses movement in relation to being sore somewhere vs it being a straightness/training issue. A friend of mine mentioned B, she was interested, and so she volunteered to take a look. And FINALLY we have some answers for the minor off/on lameness I’ve been feeling. It’s real, it’s a thing. I’m not crazy. It’s nothing alarming and B gets the green light to keep on keeping on (and was valued at “priceless” for our ‘PPE’ ;), but also it was felt that this is an appropriate time for her to step down and have a lighter workload (we all want her to last forever). So, this is the right decision and I don’t need to harbour any doubts. I can wish I’d met this lady a few years ago, but also can we appreciate how perfect the timing was to meet her now? </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS4CQkZwOdFrwLuahsTpwR6-ew5vfNfUUrPGGAqLzGN9vXfHM8CX-flOFgFZoF2BPesP5p5BYHV5UuybAejgkbyOX632A-E344BMry3smZNpMyVj9TJHgAmVrdAi8CjdX32Jqfku7YYzgtRUEWpEA7NQaHlijY_g7peIkKTLJW4IDoM8TpaJv2PFgodfX/s3048/502E1BED-44C9-41C7-A2EB-C19D1453AAFB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3048" data-original-width="2032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS4CQkZwOdFrwLuahsTpwR6-ew5vfNfUUrPGGAqLzGN9vXfHM8CX-flOFgFZoF2BPesP5p5BYHV5UuybAejgkbyOX632A-E344BMry3smZNpMyVj9TJHgAmVrdAi8CjdX32Jqfku7YYzgtRUEWpEA7NQaHlijY_g7peIkKTLJW4IDoM8TpaJv2PFgodfX/w266-h400/502E1BED-44C9-41C7-A2EB-C19D1453AAFB.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby horses have no personal space requirements</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bQmXYjR6Jq1IYkKKt2TS6EXWvLsqXaTLNjViaAZuBHepbvoRJFOTLwbuElDIlValVeNK01quMl50zOtVM6krcCtIMv6nDY3ChOQAju680G_isFTk5pDbbyYYZLKychAhqJ8n45aVtzIDSGe6Nwxtyaa9IKkWZ63W1xpCgNUhglWWrJy3NlD96a0s26GN/s5505/7BACE3F2-5041-46C6-9EA3-EB480EE675C2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5505" data-original-width="3670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bQmXYjR6Jq1IYkKKt2TS6EXWvLsqXaTLNjViaAZuBHepbvoRJFOTLwbuElDIlValVeNK01quMl50zOtVM6krcCtIMv6nDY3ChOQAju680G_isFTk5pDbbyYYZLKychAhqJ8n45aVtzIDSGe6Nwxtyaa9IKkWZ63W1xpCgNUhglWWrJy3NlD96a0s26GN/w266-h400/7BACE3F2-5041-46C6-9EA3-EB480EE675C2.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The baby horses are doing baby horse things…they sleep, they eat (a lot), and then they sleep again. G’s is a bit shy, but an absolute sweetheart. He’s steady and quiet and just the nicest little dude. He’s good for grooming and handling his feet. Haltering and leading need some more work so that’s something to keep playing with. He reallly wants to do the right thing, he’s just a little unsure. He finally decided to try eating grain last night so I can stop worrying about him getting his vitamins. If you can’t guess I absolutely love him…like G can pick out all future ponies, he chose a good one.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtSjDpaGoZmT8imi4-94ond-RSMmDZUBpsUx8ZuS2f0G4jz9xfZgKHLcW7T_AHMmtIr4Sf_d-Qm3Jxddm70Wcf5jCG-B7y6M2tLSa5OGxW1ZuRLnVlwlYLAwmuvQxRbW7c5rTFb78j_GVa5u1CrU0hb86xTeHZflvxjeNfCdaJH3ug8Ny6S5ZogGLVkxB/s1877/2F8EDA07-C58B-4FAF-89CF-E5FCD3343834.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="1251" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtSjDpaGoZmT8imi4-94ond-RSMmDZUBpsUx8ZuS2f0G4jz9xfZgKHLcW7T_AHMmtIr4Sf_d-Qm3Jxddm70Wcf5jCG-B7y6M2tLSa5OGxW1ZuRLnVlwlYLAwmuvQxRbW7c5rTFb78j_GVa5u1CrU0hb86xTeHZflvxjeNfCdaJH3ug8Ny6S5ZogGLVkxB/w266-h400/2F8EDA07-C58B-4FAF-89CF-E5FCD3343834.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How is he so cute? G has decided Bakari —> Buck and yes I am letting that happen. So, hi Buck(y)!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>My little guy is the troublemaker of the two, and also the more opinionated one. He’s outgoing and willing to test boundaries. I say that, but he’s also really quite sweet, just compared to his little buddy he’s a bit more your typical weanling colt. He’s not so much of a fan of standing still for grooming, and we need to work on handling his back feet. I’m very happy with him and think he’s going to be something special. They’re both settling in very well and it’s super amusing to be that they’re happy to be the calming safety net Sophie looks for.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjIHEIJyT3EbyDtu-goY8hlPY28tgNsEKvRnAsgD_VBHre0jwr4q7BNc-DGWTGshlIc46Bq7XEtHuuFXkT0ipwrxqzFwGAb4Ll01VjqdFEkqONnFs0RkYKl4CeRQb0d9Opeah4BXNMjuQVLBlKtSKmk5PI6S1PzZXtVH7bYLaL0MC-lQFSnJWiD-CGEr-/s4608/85591E29-A2A2-4E29-BB4E-3C9DB9DD6DDC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjIHEIJyT3EbyDtu-goY8hlPY28tgNsEKvRnAsgD_VBHre0jwr4q7BNc-DGWTGshlIc46Bq7XEtHuuFXkT0ipwrxqzFwGAb4Ll01VjqdFEkqONnFs0RkYKl4CeRQb0d9Opeah4BXNMjuQVLBlKtSKmk5PI6S1PzZXtVH7bYLaL0MC-lQFSnJWiD-CGEr-/w266-h400/85591E29-A2A2-4E29-BB4E-3C9DB9DD6DDC.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByaKbR9bhsQ03zg6ZbPdWMQz956YvVBmCkrlingUZhtoimOv2TYn3nnrddWrALfUR11QR9FxD9Gj4X9aZLL6gK8hES03L7u0sbs5IyARkm3KpH-U4X4Z6XsPhboKbs6prdu7XXOHr5TB8FkPIVNWZJvOKbg832GkZxLBch8fWjhtJ1izVFilKRsFgz8U7/s3403/8D475C7B-8669-4F19-93A3-4D6BFDD76C70.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="3403" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByaKbR9bhsQ03zg6ZbPdWMQz956YvVBmCkrlingUZhtoimOv2TYn3nnrddWrALfUR11QR9FxD9Gj4X9aZLL6gK8hES03L7u0sbs5IyARkm3KpH-U4X4Z6XsPhboKbs6prdu7XXOHr5TB8FkPIVNWZJvOKbg832GkZxLBch8fWjhtJ1izVFilKRsFgz8U7/w400-h266/8D475C7B-8669-4F19-93A3-4D6BFDD76C70.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking a lot more grown up than his brother</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_WuKYS5Lr2QE182snI5asmHoc98YvNWS_gii1JyTKK5IBLyPQPHlvca4VP0Svm98zXpFg1WnM7BGVFTlLlxKhLIBqVO61bJupO0jkdUHgXZ1ZUW_M6w7j6v4fEQnr_SD2HXGnDe5BFmBpT0xPyW5eI0CZUmXOW5nPy2TGdCqzucvTA1ZJlntqMkAqlLY/s4005/1D5F4341-F408-49F0-9895-DBF4B2EAFF22.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4005" data-original-width="2670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_WuKYS5Lr2QE182snI5asmHoc98YvNWS_gii1JyTKK5IBLyPQPHlvca4VP0Svm98zXpFg1WnM7BGVFTlLlxKhLIBqVO61bJupO0jkdUHgXZ1ZUW_M6w7j6v4fEQnr_SD2HXGnDe5BFmBpT0xPyW5eI0CZUmXOW5nPy2TGdCqzucvTA1ZJlntqMkAqlLY/w266-h400/1D5F4341-F408-49F0-9895-DBF4B2EAFF22.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little guy (Trademark) is going to have the barn name of Reggie…I’m so sorry I forget who suggested it but it totally suits him and thank you for the suggestion. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Because, yeah, as you can imagine it’s been a tough week for Sophie. She misses B a lot. She’s in heat because baby ponies. It rained non stop so pasture time was limited. She’s having a lot of confusing feelings. Obviously she can’t share space with the boys (she’s weird, and also they are tiny in comparison to her) but I notice when she gets agitated and starts looking for B, one of the little guys (usually Buck/Bucky) goes and stands quietly near her along the fence and she seems be comforted by that. I had concerns they’d possibly match her energy, but so far they’re the opposite and just up the calming vibes. “hey crazy lady, calm down!” They both had higher maintenance moms who were pretty protective so I imagine they’re programmed now to go and be little angels when the mares are unhappy :)</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hs1pP0fIFn-Dr1rn74x53G3DHibQhm_-QP_VAOiZlPTqABrCrrQxc9nmhhSrjZNKK_6unCQwruqi3nGPTJhYc55Y4gOL6RwfLlDaWmfCsTuwMP_j0foWymVl6almkXzDRSMwp8Epg4e6bNA8olIV_zkhAzXvW6GZRwZ7WJ9wmQS4Rsf3cer_fnohcNHl/s3627/D46D29BB-1BCE-4BA7-98A2-86CCB134D997.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3627" data-original-width="2418" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hs1pP0fIFn-Dr1rn74x53G3DHibQhm_-QP_VAOiZlPTqABrCrrQxc9nmhhSrjZNKK_6unCQwruqi3nGPTJhYc55Y4gOL6RwfLlDaWmfCsTuwMP_j0foWymVl6almkXzDRSMwp8Epg4e6bNA8olIV_zkhAzXvW6GZRwZ7WJ9wmQS4Rsf3cer_fnohcNHl/w266-h400/D46D29BB-1BCE-4BA7-98A2-86CCB134D997.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun came out today so she went and had a good play (while the baby horses ignored her attempts at showing off, lol) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS_gaUV3zPWL0-3T7fWpLu1MT1iJ_bXZjyKugmZX6UHtoFz5PO6stjv9gKBnSlosisLkv2SwNft-2F18Iejqe0TFoWv29bK0lBs2sJnZ7N7OIp4LDD2J01oV5HaftOyqIVxwhHVsxvz-MvHh5RSxSjRYulL5g4FuZBDeEUAeA3Ccya6KXkFXSEmdnKS_U/s3569/BFFF1DEA-6DB4-430F-890D-B6A4E8A48619.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3569" data-original-width="2380" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS_gaUV3zPWL0-3T7fWpLu1MT1iJ_bXZjyKugmZX6UHtoFz5PO6stjv9gKBnSlosisLkv2SwNft-2F18Iejqe0TFoWv29bK0lBs2sJnZ7N7OIp4LDD2J01oV5HaftOyqIVxwhHVsxvz-MvHh5RSxSjRYulL5g4FuZBDeEUAeA3Ccya6KXkFXSEmdnKS_U/w266-h400/BFFF1DEA-6DB4-430F-890D-B6A4E8A48619.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbezNKuNPMsYO0nLFf3VPaskig1ov3-g0h_OnaabCAUq5KyFc-y8WBlgYVRXfDqWU_WLgHDTp45Ludcdl3W6PrELIHVayqQfdoFoiFNy4k5gfDQoxNfEg_2KCfvpSI0ALkAfeO1t8V_XUpbmwtClUPcvuHxUICt7-biERUQavT3kgzuWKLQh9qHhezOh4/s4608/979D91E3-D01F-4B9F-AC78-3ACC75D29AF5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbezNKuNPMsYO0nLFf3VPaskig1ov3-g0h_OnaabCAUq5KyFc-y8WBlgYVRXfDqWU_WLgHDTp45Ludcdl3W6PrELIHVayqQfdoFoiFNy4k5gfDQoxNfEg_2KCfvpSI0ALkAfeO1t8V_XUpbmwtClUPcvuHxUICt7-biERUQavT3kgzuWKLQh9qHhezOh4/w400-h266/979D91E3-D01F-4B9F-AC78-3ACC75D29AF5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It’s a one stride</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhE4wGYXjsA3f676sVuGd2kLPEYsOflrPBq-E0ft_W4icA1g4rktFnch-ylcMq2BE1LDXC6Fo_P7d7YffXAjl7Ptr9iO1uyP0sftcplDSP19FN2e_xAnThFBuT7AuxLcM8BQxva3oQRc2vJJpzb0cT38behcR30QUKb8q27ZwTwMWk7hIlEHHgS-8uoUp/s3201/5DC739C6-110E-443E-940A-AD05BF56A1C8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="3201" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhE4wGYXjsA3f676sVuGd2kLPEYsOflrPBq-E0ft_W4icA1g4rktFnch-ylcMq2BE1LDXC6Fo_P7d7YffXAjl7Ptr9iO1uyP0sftcplDSP19FN2e_xAnThFBuT7AuxLcM8BQxva3oQRc2vJJpzb0cT38behcR30QUKb8q27ZwTwMWk7hIlEHHgS-8uoUp/w400-h266/5DC739C6-110E-443E-940A-AD05BF56A1C8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We’re diving back deep into the world of house renos in hopes of finally moving on site November 1st. So on one hand, it’s been a tough week seeing B off on her long term lease. On the other, there’s so much to look forward to. I especially look forward to getting back to a normal riding (and living) routine. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xvA0R_ccSUAD4wgc1EhFPOvUv2OwvHDE_WOEBoK_zsQqL2TSnnlylPJqMF2xDj3oa6y38EuFk9M6NmMx-Sa6R3wiYCHsiPsvoY1n686ue8ORYOwh9VY6GQHfFDnCZysFcxjwyBnhXe2gx2VM4jw39Fzez7hAHg725iWShgo4s1qykycyFKrMwdzssTsu/s3502/C43C7A29-09FD-43FF-9950-8EFA4ABB06A7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2712" data-original-width="3502" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xvA0R_ccSUAD4wgc1EhFPOvUv2OwvHDE_WOEBoK_zsQqL2TSnnlylPJqMF2xDj3oa6y38EuFk9M6NmMx-Sa6R3wiYCHsiPsvoY1n686ue8ORYOwh9VY6GQHfFDnCZysFcxjwyBnhXe2gx2VM4jw39Fzez7hAHg725iWShgo4s1qykycyFKrMwdzssTsu/w400-h310/C43C7A29-09FD-43FF-9950-8EFA4ABB06A7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the back deck won’t take too much getting used to :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438372155463437107noreply@blogger.com12