changing routine

We've had an ever changing routine since Koda & Nemo came home a few weeks ago. One that is not conducive to riding. Weather is changing, we are rapidly loosing daylight. Work is busier then ever, with both of ours experiencing change of it's own. Harmony's injury care changes things up, and even the resident equine turn-out situation has changed again. It's all part of life. Fall just seems to bring it on full force, and you feel it more.

In regards to the resident equine turnout, the girls felt it was unfair for our four horses to be put in the arena while their horse and pony got turned-out in the pasture. They think Old Man should get turned out in the arena. Fine with us, it's in our favor. The way the girls see it, it's one vs four. I think they also want Resident Pony to be turned out with our herd, they love our horses and so does the pony. The five of them are a happy bunch. In fact, Resident Pony is the only one Nemo allows eating right next to him at the hay bunk. She is so persistent. I think Nemo gave up a long time ago, and allows her into his space. So far this turnout routine has worked out better, less musical horse. Other then threatening gestures, there has been no additional altercation. Good thing too, Nemo is still healing.

We've only ridden once, in over two weeks. Makes me sad not to ride, especially when the weather is pretty decent. I miss it. I called our Frainer Patty at Iron Horse, it's time to start trailering. Too far to do often, but a scheduled ride is just that. Setting aside time to do what you love is important. We headed up there this weekend! Post to come.

Among the changing routine, are familiar sights that carry us through...

My two loves, my husband and my horse

Sunday Stills ~ Rocks

I was going to opt out of this weeks Sunday Stills, because I couldn't fit a road trip in to shoot some of the beautiful rock formations in our area. I love rocks, always have. They can have such unique textures, colors, shapes, and embedded (or lived) stories. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to shoot a sample of some of the many rocks in our gardens, and remember the beauty in the little simple things that easily become ordinary in our rushed lives.

Geranium growing between rocks

Rocks surround our stream

Hens & Chicks fill in a large rock retaining wall

Rock walk way

Tiny sedum, finds a home in a rock crevice

Large rock

Red Rock

Blue Gray Rock, that sparkles in the sun

Self planted sedum, finds a home among the pond rocks

Corner boulder, good resting place

Self planted sedum, among the rocks

A different kind of rock, with my children's hand prints

My favorite rock.
Years ago my husband found it for me (disposable, from a construction site).
He carried it around in his work truck for weeks...
It is sizable and has a unique shape, a lot of texture, and varied color.

not a happy mare

After a week of Harmony's girl wrapping, hosing, giving bute and caring for an injured pastern - it was time to call the vet. We thought Harmony was good to go, the swelling was gone. By mid-week she had stopped favoring her left rear leg and was moving fine. The wrap came off, she ran faster then anyone. That didn't last long. Harmony is now on strict stall rest. She has been pastured all her life, and dislikes being stalled for long - not a happy Mare when she can't be with her herd.

We started noticing some oozing, coming from a small bump that developed on the back of her pastern. Appears Harmony got stuck/stabbed with something, and now it's infected. Her girl added Tri-care to the regiment, but the lameness returned and got worse. The vet came out this morning took xrays, applied a DMSO/Furacin (nasty stuff) sweat wrap and put her on antibiotics. The wrap comes off after 12 hours, her leg gets rinsed and she continues healing in the make-shift stall. We'll see what tomorrow brings...hopefully a horse that is on the mend.

One of my favorite pictures of Harmony & her girl

first 2011 ride at home

Yep, you read the title right. Today was our first ride of the year at home. We had a very windy, but good sunny Sunday ride. We haven't ridden for almost two weeks. I was SO happy to be back in the saddle!

One never knows how horses will behave when they return home from an extended stay at the trainers, and are asked to go to work in a completely different (relaxed) setting. Koda's ground manners were great. I really think he misses Iron Horse, and was happy to do something structured. Nemo got himself in trouble and had to be reminded what is not acceptable, however that didn't last long and the good boy that he is showed up for the rest of the time.

The resident girls were sooo excited, they came running down to watch everything. They are very sweet. We hope they'll join us in more horsey related things, eventually maybe even trail rides? I briefly lunging Koda, much to my surprise he listened better then usual. We did a short warm up ride in the arena. I asked him to turn on the haunches, and got nothing. Really? I have to put my spur on and roll?? This was unusual. Nothing worked. I know darn well he knows what I am asking for. I lifted my rein to encourage him, but didn't have to use it. He gave me a sloppy turn, but I''ll take it - next ride I'll make sure to leave my spurs on (I prefer not to trail ride with spurs) so I can roll, and remind him the same rules apply at home. 

Out on the trail we went...Koda & Nemo did well walking past the big machinery, and other farm stuff and onto the path, that leads to the fields. With the crops rotated, much is different and yet the same.

Hay fields can be pretty.

The sun was very bright and shadows were long. On the way back, I got a big spook from Koda. Not sure what that was all about, no one else saw whatever caught him by surprise. Shortly after we kicked up a big pheasant in a different field. Brad said it's been years since they've seen any of them on the farm. 

The sun made everything glow.

I'm looking forward to many more farm rides, and once the fields are harvested, even further ones. It's going to be another busy week, have a great one!