farewell summer? horse update

Labor Day holiday weekend marks a passage of time in several ways. At least at our household. Among some personal things, Summer's crazy @ss weather finally shows welcome signs of change. The WI State Quarter Horse final show of the season is always held on Labor Day weekend. 

Brad is continuing to enjoy reconnecting with Padame. After two off/on years dealing with her bouts of lameness, their partnership is growing stronger. They are having good weekly lessons and a lot of practice rides and time together during horse shows. However, Brad decided prior to the last show that they were not ready. He did not show Padame this season. His trainer showed her in Ranch Classes at the State show. They are both happy with Padame's progress. This was her third show this season. 

Sorry no photos. I did not attend this show as planned. New issues with one of my knees is severely restricting my mobility - and - both of our chore back ups were out of town. Brad came home from the show to help with chores each day Tuesday-Friday. Some folks stay onsite for 7 days! Saturday the Ranch classes ran late. Thankfully we have good horses with manners that are willing to walk at the pace of hobble!

Before all this, I took advantage of nice weather and managed a photo-a-horse. Without fly masks. Which is rare on a Summer Day around here. Doing what our horses do every day. Stand around grazing/eating. Not very exciting for an action loving photographer. The main reason/s you don't see many posts or photos of our horses on this blog. 

.................

A brief horse update in descending order of age:

Harmony (25 yrs old)

Harmony continues to be our easiest keeper. She raised Cierra, and now Hope. Hope really (really) loves her! If you asked Harmony, she would rather be turned out with Nemo. Not much to share about her. Happy to say all continues well with our daughter's girl.

trio of looks

Harmony, Hope and Koda (L-R)

Koda (18 years old)

Koda continues retired from riding. His lameness all but disappeared by using Streamz Bands, but has since returned. Likely due to the added stomping of flies. We make quite a pair gimping through the arena to come inside at night. What has not returned is his turn out/in agitation. Koda remains much calmer while using the bands.  No clue why, other than they help him feel better.

Our new lameness game plan is getting him trimmed every four weeks (vs six). Brads idea. It has helped Padame. Our farrier agreed it was worth trying. He mentioned about 200 lbs of pressure is added for every centimeter of toe growth.

Nemo (18 years old)

Nemo was born the day after Koda on the same farm. They are related but polar opposites in every way. Sadly, they can no longer be turned out together.

So far, there are no signs of his chronic bladder calcium build up. Knock on wood! I am convinced the difference has to do with Brad's expert field management, growing quality hay.

Nemo continues to self control his allergies during turn out. With the help of maintenance allergy shots. It is really obvious when his allergies get to be too much for him. Nemo's human staff brings him inside as needed. Being away from the elements quickly calms allergies down.

Nemo and Cierra enjoying the lower pasture

Cierra (15 years old)

Cierra's allergies made Summer challenging for her. I think it shows. We are doing the best we can to help Cierra breath normally and live her best life. She is such a sweet girl! Having Summer stingers gone is ideal for her.
 

I previously wrote about Brad tuning Cierra up and bringing her out of retirement for show practice under judges. It was a great idea and gave Brad confidence showing a horse he knows so well.

Checkers and Cierra were long time show buddies and remembered each other :)

(L-R) Brad & Cierra, Trainer riding Checkers with her owner standing.

(Borrowed photo was shared with me)

Hope (2 years old)

Hope is doing well. Over the Summer she was allowed to be a young growing horse, with intermittent lessons. She is always open and eager to learn. Brad really enjoys working with young horses. Hope takes everything she is presented with fairly easy. She continues to be handled at least twice daily, as with all our horses. Hope will get her teeth floated for the first time early Fall.

.................

When I started this post, our weather had cooled off and greatly improved. We have since returned to Summer weather :( Mosquitos have re-hatched and increased in numbers. I have never experienced anything like this.

Here is a short clip of the three dog walk I took yesterday, as we approach our woods. I almost turned around and headed back home. Almost.

9/11/25 (7 secs)

land of wonders ~ august 1/2

The first half of August just flew by...where on earth did it go? Poof!! I can answer that, into the past!

The rapid passing of time is in part my why to highlighting a series of land wonder finds. That and losing years of phone photos when my phone landed on Water Street. This Winter I hope to draw some of these dated finds in my Phenology Journal :)

Leaves have already started changing
8.1.25

a familiar afternoon sight

Koda (L) & Harmony (R) not so patiently waiting to get out of the elements.
Hope is out of frame.

Harmony makes it clear she wants inside. The horse who for the first 6 years of her life was part of a large outdoor herd. The rest of her years were with us, and she preferred rough board. Not that she always got it. My how things have changed. When Harmony wants to come inside these days, she wants in NOW! Just ask her.

The three sallies have spent the Summer in the back pasture. They are nearby and can hear when Cierra and Nemo come inside early. Some days the duo is ready for indoor barn relief by early-mid afternoon. As you may recall, they both have allergies. In certain undesirable conditions one or the other (or both) are a mess if we wait longer. Our other three horses stay out until early evening. Sorry Hope. Just because a fly lands on you doesn't mean you get to come inside. She is a delicate flower.

second crop hay was put up/sold during rainless days
8.1.25

Our woodland ground dried up. I was able to walk dogs through our woods without a head net for the first time in over a month! It was a glorious few days. Common lingering mushrooms continued their random appearances throughout the pines. I thought perhaps the more unique (to me) fungi and ooey gooey stuff was done along with the rain. It wasn't.

tiny bubbles being enjoyed by Mr. Ant
8.2.25

they were sun baked the following day

I have come across a lot of feathers over this Summer, of all sizes. A lot of Turkey and some Hawk, along with common Blue Jay and Morning Dove feathers etc. Below is a more unusual feather find:

flicker feather

I also found some fuzzy wuzzies to ID...

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Virginia Tiger Moth Caterpillar

and some winged wonders...

Eastern Comma

Brad sent me these photos of a winged friend he made.

Tawny Emperior

Love it when Brad shares his nature finds!



8.6.25

it is surprise Lily time, better said surprise Aurora time!
8.7.25

These Surprise Lilies are also known as Resurrection or Magic Lilies. Their green Spring leaves die back. In August, flowering stalks appear. Not only pretty, but a fun surprise! 

colorful skies continue to delight
8.7.25

sumac leaves turn early
8.10.25

another "under sea like" find

something 'er someone chewed the ends

a rare 22 legged walking day
8.13.25

(Remi, Tank, Jameson and cat/s Tinkerbell, with Leo for a bit, plus me)

Rainy days returned. Gee, what a non-surprise. We received more than sprinkles. Over a two day stretch, we added another 5.25" of moisture. Our sandy ground just slurps it up. 

 white moldy growth started re-appearing
8.13.25

natures peculiar collection (not staged)

Remi taking a break (Tinkerbell photobomb)

For the first time, one of the cats left a dead present near our front doorstep. Blech! 90% sure the poor dead bunny's demise was Tinkerbell's doing. The cats usually share the "treasures" they find outside with Brad. They carry them INTO the barn and leave parts on the hay side.

While disposing of what was left, Brad called me over to figure out the most unusual and DISGUSTING wiggling things! 

not scat

You know those tiny sticky black Bot eggs that are hard to scrape off your horses? Well, it turns out these Bot larva are part of the Bot Fly cycle. They wiggled and were big (1.5-2"). Double Blech!!

Our daughter spent years working at our Vet clinic. She educated me further on what to look for on an animal. Eggs hatch and larva burrows inside. Leaving a hole. Reminded me of a vampire bite, with two holes close together. Cuz you know, I have seen a lot of vampire bites in my days ;) 

We are fairly sure the larva came from the rabbit, which I learned is a common host. Thankfully Tinkerbell didn't eat the actual larva and we found them before our dogs did. Good thing all our animals are vetted.

Enough of that. Onto other earlier August finds. 

patterns on this 'shroom caught my eye

Invasive weeds are on the increase, along with things that make me sneeze. My eyes non-stop water these days. Fun fun. More like rub rub.

 poisonous White Snakeroot

Goldenrod is loved by wings

large white mushrooms in the woods (and lawns)

nature claimed another tree
(and one less tree stand)

This tiny blue flower stopped me in my tracks. I have only come across them a few times. Apparently they are edible.

Asiatic Dayflower (aka Common Dayflower)

8.15.25

a different show

The June WQHA (Wisconsin Quarter Horse Association) show got moved. Inconveniently to a different venue over two hours away. On a holiday weekend. Not sure what they were thinking. I know there are issues with the preferred little-big city venue, and attending numbers continue dwindling. All Breed classes were added. Sadly, entries were still pathetically low.

Brad showed in one class (two different days) which is less than two minutes. Driving over four hours to wait around for unknown timing, in humid heat with nothing to do. Did not make sense for me to go. Someone has to take care of our other animals.  

It would have been nice to be there to support him and his horses. Not going to lie, it made for a long lonely four days. Thank goodness for our animal family at home!

Hope (separated by divider) Nemo and Harmony
7.3.25

Cierra is no longer retired. Brad "tuned her up" himself at home and hauled her to the show. He did not show Padame by choice. He bumped his lessons on her to twice a week. They are going really well! Brad's thought is they are at a good place as a team. He did not want a set back due to show nerves. Sorry no visuals of his blond beauty.

Brad is really (really) proud of Cierra!! She was only recently ridden at home a handful of times, and then he hauled her to ride once at the trainers arena. Cierra came home and was retired in 2020. A sign of good training.

A couple show pics from Brad:

Cierra

For many years, Brad wished for a directors show chair that would be easier on his knees.

 

day one 7.2.25

We finally decided on a land logo. Always harder creating your own stuff. 

Brad's directors chair

The show went on without me. Can you even believe it lol?! It was a different show. Brad chose to ride Cierra in an All Breed Open Ranch Riding class (vs AQHA). She is on allergy meds that AQHA does not allow. Breathing is apparently considered enhancing (insert eyeroll). You are done showing if you get caught. Not a big deal. Cierra already has plenty of points. His goal was to practice showing in front of judges. 

They had a good first day showing. Brad and Cierra took second to his trainer (riding Padame) in a small class of three. Padame went on to take "first" in her Ranch trail class, as a sole entry. Not sure about any other classes. 

Padame threw a shoe and sadly was only shown the first day. Brad didn't want just anyone slapping a shoe on her, considering her past lameness issues.

Brad & Cierra's second day of showing went even better. Scoring 73.5, 69.5 and 70.5 on their pattern. Every Ranch rider starts with a score of 70. They get plus or minus points from each judge, on required pattern/skills. They ended up Circuit Champ at that level. Padame would have most likely won, had she shown both days.

Showing is not my jam, but Brad is very happy living his show dream. Even with smaller numbers.

At home, we had to shift the herd. They were a noisy bunch, calling out. Harmony was turned out with Nemo, which left Hope with Koda. They were really good for me at chore time :)

Hope says "you can have Cierra, but please don't take Harmony"

hot horses

This stretch of muggy/horrid/hot and rainy weather we find ourselves in has been hard on all critters. We do what we can to lessen their discomfort, and ours. 

We take shorter dog walks, earlier in the day. Potty breaks happen between rain drops, whenever possible. Dog towels hang by exterior doors and water bowls are filled more frequently. Hummer feeders and bird bath water also gets swapped out more often.

My heart goes out to the farmers doing what they can to keep livestock from overheating. Our friend shared multiple calfs aborted due to excessive heat. I can only assume similar happens with wild life altho they may/may not have more options.

As for us, we are thankful for air conditioning! I come in/out often, to feel renewed. Gone are the days of spending time planted in front of fans. For fear of melting. I used all the tricks to keep a house cooler. The old farm house shaded from large oak trees was appreciated regardless.  

Our horses let us know it gets hot out here in sand country. When they really want to get out of the elements, our split herd uses the shared shed (with divider) or they hover around the gate. Swatting bugs with their tails/legs/nose. Hoping their staff will notice and bring them inside for relief, and OH what a relief it is! No plop, plop, fizz, fizz required. All you have to do is walk through the barn door to feel cooler air. Our arena stays amazingly cool. Without air conditioning. Nice for when Brad is working with Cierra and/or Hope. Which he has been doing more frequently.

We are not bath crazed equine owners and do let our horses be horses. Mother Natures showers are the best. However after repeated hot-n-sweaty days our horses do appreciate getting hosed off and faces wiped with a cool wash cloth. 

Even Ms. Hope. Who turns into sweet softness with a wash cloth rub. They all do to some extent. She is too funny! Hope wants to drink the hose water, and have water run onto her nose/nostrils. Hope does need to be reminded that big girls stand still, but is doing really well.

Below is a short clip of our trio coming in early from the back pasture. Not Harmony's normal response. It is usually a race and "whoa" can be heard. She must have been too hot to run. 

6.23.25 (26 secs)

Later in the day, Brad spotted light beams peaking out of the cloudy sky. By the time I grabbed my phone and got outside, the first beam that went straight up had all but faded. I enjoyed watching the sky morph, and wondering...

6.23.25 around 8:35pm

We woke up to close to 5" of rain in our gauge the next day. 

Have I mentioned it is **STILL** raining and hotter than blazes outside?!!

spring sunning

First Calendar Day of Spring

3.20.25

early morning view through our window

spring snow quickly melts

beads of water droplets caught my eye

I took the labs for a late afternoon walk, on the first sunny day of Spring.

Hopee

She frequently joins up with us on walks, our most photographed horse.

this will be a big year of growth

spring light is so varied and inviting

listening is important

Upon the hill I heard then saw, a bright red cardinal singing. 

The bird was perched high in the trees, looking down at me.

It sang and sang as if to say, I am still here with you today.

3.20.25

The very next day, not a sign of snow anywhere.

Harmony, Hope and Koda

3.21.25

Nemo joined the spring sunning