a first for Hope

Our farrier appointments are scheduled every six weeks, before he leaves our place. Like clockwork. He is a good farrier and therefore a busy man. He has more work then wanted. It's hard to get on his schedule otherwise.

All horses get trimmed, in random order. This post baby visit, Cierra got trimmed at the usual spot. At the front of the barn, closest to his truck. Once again, she didn't mind being away from her baby. Hope on the other hand did mind and let us all know she felt left behind.

8 secs

I tried to calm Hope down, and it worked. Not a peep once I started scratching her.

14 secs

It was Hope's turn for a trim.

first trim at 10 weeks
6/21/23

being a big girl

picking hooves
(17 secs)

rasping after a trim
(9 secs)

Hope got her front feet trimmed. We didn't even try the back. She will also have them trimmed next visit. We need to do more work with holding her back legs up, so she won't resist and can figure out her balance.

Hope was such a good girl!

summer firsts ~ 1 of 3

It has been a quiet Summer, filled with love, joy and all things nature. I have been spending less & less time on the computer and more & more time living in the moment.

Our horseback rides are still far & few between, but when we do ride it is wonderful! 

We rode 3X in July. I blogged about our first ride and second ride earlier in the month. Weather and life got in the way and we didn't trail ride again until the end of July. The bugs were bad, and we haven't ventured out on our ranch since. 

horse prints in the Enchanted Forest make me smile

We are experiencing the buggiest season since we moved here. No clue why. Perhaps because we have had a lot of off/on rain. All needed moisture and therefore welcome. I really don't mind rain in general, but I do mind relentless flying pests.

I never thought I would chose riding in an indoor arena, over riding outside in the summer. 

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

We have watched our grandkids more often this Summer. In the past, they have helped bring horses in and feed them etc. They were SUPER excited to ride our horses for the first time!! Sorry, I decided not to share photos of the kids online. Our grands are 7, 5 and 2. Brad trusts Cierra the most, so they all rode her. First with grandpa Brad sharing a saddle, and then alone in hand. They all loved it, especially the five year old who was grinning from ear to ear.

It was the first time Cierra had kids on her back. She did great! Harmony is the only horse with any kid experience, and probably not this young. I was worried watching the littles perched up so high. They are all very tiny humans for their age. I wasn't sure if the two year old would suddenly start bawling. She didn't and they all want to ride again. I said "maybe later" to riding the last time they were here overnight and asked. We planned on letting them ride Nemo the following day (the horse they requested) but the kids had birthday party plans and got picked up shortly after breakfast. 

I have buddy stirrups on order. Having balance support, will make this grandma worry a little less. Hopefully they arrive sooner than later. We will be caring for our grands again soon. It may not be me in the saddle, but it is still enjoyable horse time for all. 

Caring for our herd and sharing them, has been very special.

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

At the end of July we had our first visitor trailer in:

(distorted phone photo)

Recognize this girl? It's Padame! She needs exposure away from home, so she came here :)

I haven't seen her in person in well over a year. It hasn't worked out for me to attend her training shows this season. There is one show left. If I go, I may write a future post about her training show/s.

I was sure our herd would come thundering up from the lower pasture when the trailer pulled in, but they didn't. In fact they cared less, until we took Padame's Palomino registration photos in the yard. Then it was all eyes on the new girl.

Prior to that, Nemo was very interested in reconnecting with our trainer. He totally remembered her. It was so sweet to watch them nuzzling. Nemo turned into a big mushpot. One of the things I love about our trainer is how much she genuinely cares about animals. She loves them and treats them like they are her own. It was really nice to see her again.

Below are the registration photos that were chosen. Excuse the busy background. I was told it didn't matter. I truly dislike taking conformation photos, but hey ~ she got accepted. I learned Palomino people have ALOT of rules about color & conformation. 

You may notice Padame is still a smaller horse. She continues looking/growing a year behind her actual age. However she has a great mind, and that is what really matters.

To be continued. "summer firsts ~ 2 of 3" will have more photos & a couple short video clips of Padame's arena time.

an indoor day

We've had plenty of ice to deal with this season. Like many of us. Even with a lack of ice storms. Winter temperature swings, have created terrible footing. For horse and human.

Our horses are careful. Looking for the best route. Nose to the ground. Shuffling along at a slow controlled pace. They pause and think. However, I could see the worry on Harmony's face when she wanted to move to a new area. Watching them do the step-n-slide is not my idea of fun. Nor theirs. By Saturday, there was no way to walk around the ice. You had to walk across it, to get to any place a horse would want to go. 

The ground around the hay feeder is clear of ice, but getting there and all approaches to the pastures, waterer, shed are an issue. I can't help but think, if one single thing would spook them...

We opted to keep the herd inside all day, for the first time this season. They got to stretch their legs during room service.

Their indoor turnout debut went something like this:

group wall inspection

(Cierra, Harmony, Nemo and Koda)

See the speaker mounted on the wall above Cierra? Let's just say Brad will be moving it. The horses were really interested in it and anything else they could get their mouth on. Cierra ended up unplugging the speaker. 

Ma, aren't you suppose to be in here with me?

(Koda)

We are suppose to line up, right?

(Koda, Cierra, Harmony and Nemo)



The look of innocence.

Nemo & Cierra telling on Koda, who is playing with the speaker wire. Again.



Any idea why we are in here?

(Cierra and Harmony, who decorated her tail for the occasion)

Pick 'em up & shake 'em all around!

(Cierra & Harmony)

Cones were added, they were fun for a little while. Koda tried putting one on Cierra's back. It was really hard to get photos. Horses don't make very good windows. I learned my 70-200 favorite action lens, was too long. Unless the horses are at the end of the arena.

Where do you think the horses were most of the time? By the front curved wall. Trying to chew on it. Reach over it. Pick up Brad's tools, or the whips, the poles - you name it. One of us had to horse sit the hooligans at all times.

The windows in the back of the arena became an attraction. Wherever one went, the rest followed. Once in a while a horse would bust out a silly move on their way back to the gate. Usually my horse.

Koda, Harmony, Brad, Nemo & Cierra

I just missed capturing the entire herd looking out the window with Brad. It was high sun, and didn't make for a quality one-shot photo. It's the memory that counts anyways. 

just walk beside me, and be my friend

Our first indoor turnout was a learning experience for all of us. We may blow up the equine ball next time they are stuck indoors. It's been a long time since they have played with it, especially without a rider.

nothing but smiles

The AQHA State horse show is this weekend. I am not going to the show. However, I am happy to report Brad said he was nothing but smiles! Day one & day two. I tried to talk him into writing a guest post. He declined, but sent me photos throughout the day complete with captions. All photo credit & quoted captions are Brad's. His sheer joy of being at the horse show with Padame, is nothing short of heartwarming. Brad is SO very smitten with her. I am super happy for him!! 

...........

Padame hasn't been trailered since she was delivered to us in February. She loaded and unloaded well. She backed out and into a bustling noisy strange world. Padame slowly made the big exit step down off our trainers four horse trailer, paused and just stood looking around. Not the typical scooting of a young horse with the unknown. Brad walked his very interested girl into the huge pavilion towards her stall, through typical show hoopla. Complete with children and dogs running amuck. Padame instantly made friends with a neighboring mare, who was even willing to share her hay. It was so sweet, like they were old friends. The mare's owner was okay with her horse sharing, and left the hay bag hanging accessible to both stalls. Most hang hay bags where it wont potentially become an issue.

"Hi mom. My world just got a lot bigger.
I already made a friend"

Brad is very proud of how Padame is taking everything in stride, and listening. Really really well, like a seasoned show horse. The huge five day show was quieter than years past. Perhaps due to lingering pandemic related things. In the Ranch circuit, there were multiple riders missing. They retired horses and are either still looking for new ones or not ready to show new mounts. Class days are always split, except for halter. Halter shows in front of all four judges in one day vs two judges per day for everything else.

"Waiting patiently for my turn"

(Brad said he was trying to do my eye photo thing. He did good!)

This year Ranch falls on Friday morning and Sunday afternoon. Padame arrived Thursday, and went home after watching Fridays Ranch classes. She will travel back for the day on Sunday with Checkers. The other ranch riding mare from the barn. Checkers is a seasoned older mare, being shown for the first and last time this season. It is just the way things worked out this weird year. Checkers has appeared on my blog before as well as her owner, who we trail ride with. 

...........

Padame calmly watched and soaked all show things in. Brad said her ears were constantly moving around like antennas. He started introducing her by watching arena activity, then lunged her in different scenarios.

"hurry up and get out of my arena"

excuse the wiggly lead
Brad is turning while holding a rope/phone/lunge whip
(37 sec)

The trainer had a good ride with her on day one. Brad declined to ride "this is about Padame, not me". Gotta love an owner putting the horse first. 

Trainer riding Padame

Padame (L) Checkers (R)

Day two was even more wonderful. Brad and his girl were on their own as the trainer was getting ready to show Checkers.

Brad riding in the practice arena, with Hunter horses

Padame wasn't fazed by the big horses. Not even when two side-by-side riders approached on the rail, and then split. Padame became a Hunter sandwich, and kept her stride in between facing big horses.

"listening to her first Star Spangled Banner"

"Finally, breakfast and some coffee (water).
This early morning stuff is for the birds. I need my beauty sleep"

"Do you know what they made me do all this morning? They made me go to work early. Made me ride in this huge arena with all them tall hunter horses (they are really stuck up). Finally, I got to eat breakfast and my morning coffee. What the hell. An hour later they had me back out riding again, and it's not even 11 am yet"

"I'm sorry. I'll share my hay with you"

Yep, Padame's world just got a whole lot bigger.

padame turns three

Princess Padame turns three today. I sent some carrots along with Brad, to offer to the birthday girl after his lesson. We have no idea if she even likes carrots. I hope he remembers!! If not, Brad will have a rabbit snack on the way home.

We are not big on treats. At first he said no, but c'mon it is her birthday. He agreed to give Padame birthday carrots for me. I opted to stay home. When I go with him, his lesson dynamics change. It is more social and less lesson. Last thing I want to be is another distraction.
 

Below are some select photos from the lesson I attended a couple weeks ago. This was Padames first time experiencing Brad's saddle, which has heavy metal wrapped stirrups. They really swing and clunk around when empty.

When Brad lunged Padame indoors, I found her to be more reactive. I didn't think she was listening to Brad as well as the last time I saw them working together. Just my opinion. She was better by the time they went outside for photos. 

Our trainer shared that some days she comes out quiet and other days more reactive (typical horse!) but what she loves about Padame, is she always ends quiet and composed. I guess that is all you can ask, especially of a young horse. 

Bridge work was easy peasy:

Brad's first ride with Padame made my heart swell:

If you missed the video's of Brads first ride, they are posted here.

They were suppose to attend their first horse show this week. Just to experience the atmosphere. Plans changed, due to other rider conflicts. It didn't make sense to go. I am glad they did not go, we are in for a very hot weekend. Padame will now be attending her first show in July, and a second one early September. It is fun watching them become a team!

first ride on Padame

I finally made it to one of Brad's lessons on Padame!! I did take a few photos, but haven't processed them yet. I've got another set of (horse!) photos to complete before I go through the lesson photos. I will share my thoughts with my photos in an upcoming post. In the interim, enjoy these video clips!

Groundwork (4 sec)

Groundwork (8 sec)

Outside groundwork (11 sec)

Brad's first ride on Padame (26 sec)

rare sights

I looked out the window while making supper, and wondered what was that red streak in the sky? It was coming up from low in the sky, or down depending on how you view things.

As mentioned in my last post, sky colors wrap around us frequently. I didn't find it too odd. I was drawn to the red beam, and couldn't stop looking at it. The color grew with intensity. I saw some faint blue & yellow starting to appear along the interior edge, and realized, it's a rainbow!!! I ran outside (well, my version of running lol) snapped a quick phone pic, and hurried to the barn to get Brad. He stopped what he was working on to oblige his sky obsessed crazy wife, and went outside to see our first rainbow at our new home!!

red sunset rainbow
(no enhancements)

We should have traded for our neighbors barn when offered,
there is a pot of GOLD in it!!

The odd part was the conditions were not the usual predictable East facing multi colored rainbow conditions I am familiar with. What?! You didn't know I was a Rainbow Predictor? Well I am ;) This rainbow faced North East, it was really red and apparently somewhat rare. 

Here is an interesting link on red rainbows. I learned finding them is different then "regular" rainbows. There is no such thing as a regular rainbow, they are all unique spectacular phenomena. This is how you find a red rainbow "if you’re watching a sunset, and there’s rain in the air, turn in the direction opposite the sun and watch for the elusive red rainbow."

The red beam started to reach higher, arc and look more rainbow-ish,
with faint blue/green/yellow interior colors

It didn't last long. I turned around to watch the sunset to the West...

No wonder there was cast light in the East forming a rainbow. I am sure my iphone does some processing to all photos. I haven't done anything to the sky pics, they do resemble what I see in person. Colors are a bit more dramatic, in particular the purple. What you don't see is the less colorful areas of the sky that balance it all out. All camera's process .jpg photos to some degree, unless you have a more advanced camera and shoot in a native RAW format. Like I do, with what I call "my real camera".

This morning I walked to the barn. Brad was working early on getting our tack room door up, his table saw caught my eye:

It was so cool! All pitch black in the storage side of the barn, except for the saw. I couldn't just walk past (I did add a filter to this phone photo). Light is such a spectacular sight!!

After chores I was wheelin' it back to the barn, looked up and saw an X in the sky above our barn:

X marks the spot

By the time I put the wheel barrel away and tried to get a better angle with my phone, the X had rotated and traveled but stayed in it's X format:

looks more like a cross

Just had to share what I think are rare sights :) I've always said, the best camera is the one you have with you - but I think I need to start carrying my real camera around with me!!