another (mostly) photo update

 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.

Also playful baby ponies. They play, they eat, and they sleep. And I'm still obsessed with them and they're huge time wasters.

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.

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 :)

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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 :)

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

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.

Photo Thursday

Not a thing, except here, this once. So, yeah, not a thing. 

 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.

It's chaos out there lately.

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.

I just love them though

When you've got a welsh cob rib cage and appetite but your chest hasn't caught up

They're getting bigger so quickly, but they're still long legged enough that grazing looks awkward.

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.

Because even the palomino is slightly too quick on a dark day for my camera to track and focus well

So fast

We had a sunset that one time at 5pm

But I have lights! I'm happy

Sophie desperately wants out to play with the little guys. Hopefully by spring that will be safe.

Barn Kitty portrait. She always looks slightly disapproving

I've been riding and Sophie's been great

There are always ghosts beyond that corner but she waits until after we're done to fixate on them. Compromises :)

Operation Lite Brite

Every 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! 

Sophie doing her annual 'new winter raincoat' dance this week. Is not planning to hibernate.

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. 

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 :)

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.

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.

So, here's what I've ended up with:

I bought mine last year, so this is the newer version of what I have. Website Link

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.

75' of Christmas lights (x2)

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.

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 :)

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.

solar lights on the posts and in the sand marking the perimeter of the ring.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Sugar and Spice

 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.

Dramatic reenactment of how catching the little beast was going for me last week - simultaneously annoyed and appreciating the fancy.

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.

Thinks he's all that

but we all would like to add some better manners to him. You keep working at it, Buck

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.

posing for the standard over the shoulder shot - going to be a blogger pony yet

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). 

here comes trouble

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.

starting to rock her winter beard

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.

Coming Soon to A Theater Near You

 I totally got sucked into the 'make your horse into a Pixar movie poster" AI trend.

Results:

"Disney Pixar movie poster of two foals playing. one is black, one is bay. title is Buck and reggie" :

"Disney Pixar movie poster of palomino horse causing chaos. background is a destroyed city. title is Sophie"

"Disney Pixar movie poster of palomino horse. Title is Sophie"

"Disney Pixar movie poster cute black foal with a white star. title is buck"

"Disney Pixar movie poster bay foal running. title is Reggie"

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).

Uneven Progress

Weanlings. 

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.  

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. 

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.)

They are growing so much already

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.

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. 

Easily bribed with food and scratches.

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. 

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. 

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.

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 ;)

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)

 It does put into perspective though just how lovely and easy Sophie is now and how the work at the beginning is so valuable. 

Comes when you call her, like the giant yellow labrapony she is.

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.

Obsessed

I'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.

Ponies incoming! How was this almost two weeks ago already!

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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 :)

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.

looking for ghosts is always a fun activity though

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.

going to be so handsome

long legs and an awkward duckling currently :)

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. 

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 :)

Is a little tank

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 :)

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.