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

face of hope

Yesterday while waiting for the farrier, I watched in awe as Harmony and our daughter Ali interacted. It's been forever since I've seen the two of them together, and I had all but forgotten the bond they have. Not sure who I was more amazed with, the daughter or Harmony.

After clipping bridle paths, and grooming, she hopped right on Harmony bareback and halter rode her around in the pasture - in shorts. Harmony obeyed every request both on the ground, and while mounted - even after such a long time off. Ali is such a natural with animals, something she inherited from her dad. I only wish I had half their natural ability.

Horses can be so forgiving, this is when it all sunk in:

Ali & Harmony and Brad & Cierra

Yes Harmony, I know...

Ali trying to figure out what is so special about the horses favorite corner.

Havin' fun & trotting around

Nothing is as heartwarming as a horse and their girl...

Harmony's girl knows all the right spots

...and the feeling of hope...

Ali & Harmony

...something I saw and felt, over and over again this weekend :)

Harmony has a new home

We moved Harmony to a new home last Wednesday. She will be living at Mandt's Equestrian Center, a very active show barn. Her stall is right next to Bill's, a haflinger that used to live at her former home. It will be a familiar nicker. Mandt's is a huge barn, the largest I've ever seen, and not without it's issues. Bill is owned by our daughters friend, the haffie that unfortunetely got the unwanted haircut (see hitched posts). However, that was an isolated incident and Harmony will be turned out in a different area. Everyone (horses included) seems happy when we've been there. All the shows we've been to are well run, and attended. Lots of fun happening there. We know several super people at Mandt's, including the barn manager, and feel it's in our daughter and Harmony's best interest. We have been suggesting she try Mandts for years. Heck, lets be honest - we've been trying to get her to just plain old move on from the old place, and all it's injustices, for a long while. Change can be daunting, maybe she just needed the buffer of having Harmony at home before trying a new place? Who knows. What we do know is we are excited she'll have new opportunities, friendships to foster, and new friends to make. This was "her idea" and trust me when I say it's better than us forcing a switch.

As for the horse, Harmony has been at our place doing lots of nothing since October. Winter, boyfriend, and no arena got in the way. Winter has changed to spring, the boyfriend is gone, and we are working on an outdoor arena. The mare has been bored, especially since our boys are in training. She needs a job again, and misses her girl. She has lived her life being a 4H, lesson, show girl, with lots of people and horses around. I think she's going to like Mandt's, and will get to do many more fun things with her girl. Harmony has never lived in a stall, but we feel it's the best board option considering the factors. She is starting her daily turnout with a timid mare called Chloe. So far, so good.

We look forward to seeing them ride together again!!

less than a week

I was surprised to see Harmony get all worked up when we took the boys out of the pasture this morning, so Koda could work on - you guessed it trailer loading. We fed her hay first, but she didn't care - she was less than happy the minute they left the pasture to go...10 feet away (I kid you not). She was a whinny machine, and worked herself into a sweat - is it possible to get so attached in less than a week?? Things are going really well with them all together. We are all loving having her home, she has been a very polite mare - but apparently had a few things to say this morning. Ali came down shortly after to work with her, rode her around a bit and then Harmony got to meet the cows! I think she likes it here.

We continue making progress with the trailer, today Koda loaded on his own repeatedly (maybe he's been watching Nemo?) was more relaxed eating and backed out slowly. It was an unseasonably warm sunny day, enjoyed by all! It's not very often you can say your hot outside in WI in November, hope the weather repeats tomorrow!

wi state fair 09

Our daughter Ali, and mare Harmony, did well at their last 4H event - WI State Fair. Below is a call back photo from their Hunt class of about 45, they are in the middle of the row. Can't really see them, but I like the arena shot complete with flags. Unfortunately I didn't get very good photos, added a couple regardless.


 
State Fair was down about 140 horses this year, besides the economy - it's a sign of changing times. Apparently less are participating in local 4H events, opting for "the big shows" instead...missing out on the 4H experience. I witness a lot of camaraderie and kindness among talented riders (and trainers & parents) who earned the right to be there. It was run well, and had stiff competition. The kids came from all over the state, and were riding beautiful mounts. If you ever get a chance to go to one, do it - it's worth it.

horses with wings

Horses with wings can fly, just take a look at our mare Harmony in this unedited photo:


This was our daughter Ali's last year in 4H, she went out with flying colors. 
 It was very hard to get a good picture with the lighting/movement combo in the arena - I got a lot of glowing eyes and/or artistic movement (aka blurry). Below is a short video clip of the drill team in mid-action, Harmony is the one with purple wings.

Mandts Show

We had a good time at the Mandts Show this weekend. Ali and Harmony did awesome, and took home many ribbons - but more importantly, they had fun. Always more enjoyable when a friend is showing too. Ashley used to board Bill at the same stable as Harmony, so the four of them know each other well. Enjoy the pics, but don't laugh too hard at the adult dork on a lead-line who got called out of the audience to hop on Harmony for the last fun class of the show!

Ashley (Ali's friend) on Bill (Haflinger) and Ali on Harmony


Ali and Harmony waiting to hear the results


Four buddies in a friendly competition


Ali (in blue) riding Harmony western

Fun ending to the show, smiles all the way around

someone has a crush

Got up at the crack of dawn to take our daughter & Harmony to their first show of the season, they did good. Not too big of a turn-out, 4 - 8 in her classes. Nice show to start off the season. It was great to see Harmony again! That girl has gotten even more muscle on her, the pictures don't show it. Now I can plainly see why our western saddle doesn't fit her anymore...it's always something isn't it? Needless to say, Ali didn't ride Harmony western. Snapped a few pics of one of her english classes, and a short video.

The morning was so rushed, it felt good to take our time with Koda & Nemo in the evening. They keep progressing slowly but surely. It was pretty funny when the resident pony snuck into the round-pen with Brad & Nemo - at least from where I was standing. She doesn't live with our boys, but pastures with them in the afternoon. Glad she listened to me and got out right away, she's hard to catch if you don't get her the first time. She took off and did laps around the outside of the round-pen, through the woods & pasture like a total nut case!! It was pretty obvious she has a crush of some kind on Nemo. He on the other hand could have cared less, it was his turn with his human. Ended the evening taking a calming hike with the boys, when we returned to the pasture the pony was put away in her paddock. We had a good horse-filled weekend, despite the cold crappy weather.
 

our horses