Sunday Stills ~ Focusing on the Foreground

I often find myself focusing on the foreground while on the road shooting landscape, however looking specifically for this type of shot was challenging. I tried several views, and learned you really need to be out in an expansive natural setting for this type of shot to work well. With this in mind, I did manage to get one new shot that fit's the challenge:

Below is a foreground archive photo, from the same location taken in August. It didn't make it into my Potluck Challenge, which includes a couple additional foreground photos.

life in the pen

It's been one week since we brought Koda & Nemo home. We continue putting them in the arena, separate from the resident equine. Since our boys were gone we never worked it up this year, turns out to be a good thing. Sometimes our horses are in there for the afternoon, sometimes the working day, or not at all - just depends. Being on someone else's random schedule makes me very uneasy.

No one is particularly thrilled with the situation. It's more of a hassle for everyone, equine included. Among other things, it's unfortunate the resident girls can no longer freely use our arena with both of their mounts together (only because it's either occupied, or they would have to lead an unpredictable Old Man through our herd). I am sure the fact that the resident horses are no longer getting fed with ours, has also crossed some minds. They want us to put Nemo and Old Man in the arena and let them at it. We won't allow that to happen. I don't see it much different then setting up a dog fight, where you know one (or both) of them gets injured - in this case Nemo. Letting a mixed herd work things out when you have lots of acreage for separation is one thing, this is another. Not to mention we didn't just send Nemo to training for nine plus months to set him up for injury. Maybe someday we'll try a better approach, but not anytime soon.

We are looking at other boarding options, and have had an offer at a friends private location. It's always a trade-off. We really just wanted to have our boys home. Not sure what we'll end up doing about this predicament...

Here are some view's of life in the pen:

(L-R) Harmony & Cierra, never far apart

Nemo

Crabby, muddy Koda
(pretty sure he wishes he was still being pampered at the trainers)

Cierra
(Old Man in the background)

even more lovely

A sincere thank you to Wolfie, from What was I Thinking, and Megan, from Operation Horse Rescue for this award. It was lovely to receive, and even more lovely to get to know both of you better!!

Seven things about me:

1) I'm an unperfect perfectionist. I used to be super organized, what happened??

2) I love olives, Kalamata are my favorite.

3) I'm a Lifetime Member of the National Home Gardening Club.

4) I recently bought a new saddle, after a looong search. I ended up getting the last one I tried.

5) Much to my mother's chagrin, I believe in using and enjoying things - no matter how good they are.

6) My favorite wine is a Riesling, called Relax - comes in a blue bottle. Perfect in every way. It's light, sweet-ish, and priced right.

7) I've used purple inked pens at work for the past 8 years. No particular reason, but if I use anything else now - people notice.

If I follow you, I think you're lovely!! Grad the award and if you so choose, tell us about yourself.

reunion, the rest of the story

The rest of the reunion story is an eye opener. Altho Koda & Nemo had never met Old Man, we assumed an old horse that was at the bottom of the pecking order would stay there. The Resident Pony even bosses him around. I drove my hubby nuts the two weeks prior to bringing Koda & Nemo home, speculating how we were going to merge the herd so that Old Man wouldn't get hurt.

Nemo really listens to Brad. If needed, we knew he would stop whatever action might occur. We've never seen Nemo move horses for any other reason then food, he just gestures - and they move. For the past six months we've watched Old Man move when asked, and figured it should be a non-issue. We completely misjudged the situation. Who knew Old Man would turn into a raving Alpha out for Nemo's blood??!!

Harmony planted a good one on him, I think it was a "don't even try it" message. That didn't faze Old Man, he bolted and cornered Nemo in the shed. Thank goodness Brad was nearby to get him away, and stop the attack. Nemo didn't know what to do, he didn't even try to fight back. Poor guy :( he got two bites with broke skin, that swelled up. It could have been a lot worse.

Needless to say we separated our four, and the two residents. Its been that way all week. We put our four in the arena so that the residents get some turn out time. Old Man is still charging and ramming himself into the metal panels. I've never seen a horse with blood in their eyes, that just wants to fight. It's not likely to change anytime soon. I'm not falling for his woe is me "I'm so old" act again...we are considering several options.

In the midst of the madness, our trio quickly re-bonded.

(L-R) Harmony, Koda, Nemo were glued together

Nemo has had a lot to say since he's been home.

"I didn't miss your camera"

When we came back to do chores the following morning, Harmony was lame. Her pastern was so swollen, she could hardly put weight on it :( No clue what caused it, might have been the kick or the footing in the woods? Her girl wrapped her up, and is helping her heal. Interesting how much better Harmony was able to walk with her leg wrapped.

Harmony

We spent the following Sunday morning cleaning up the wooded area in the pasture, cutting and hauling fallen tree's - and spending time with our horses. It's good to have them home all together, just wish the situation was different...

Some things are just better together, even water.
(L-R) Harmony, Nemo, and Koda