Are we up for a little contest?

So here you have a few pictures of the ladies

Peps 

 Jewel(Martins Jewel, not mine) 

 Jazz

 Ici

No pic from today of "That Ritchie mare"  by herself , but that will be your free hint . She is open this year .

The whole bunch

The contest is simple (or not ) who among these ladies is a "Lady in Waiting " for a 2012  foal ?

and who are they bred too? 

Go ahead and take a shot at guessing . If you get it right , there will be a bonus gift , but all guesses will be entered for the draw 

Stay safe and warm !

Some things to say

 Another long winded ramble , but I believe one worth reading
First and foremost , Thank you so much, to Country Gal, of  Our County Cove life , and also the 4 R's of 4 R Ranch for this lovely award

 

     Liebster means Dearest or Favourite in German."

Here are the rules:

1- Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.

2- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3- Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites.

           

So now I am to share this award with 5 blogs who  have fewer than 200 followers . 

I love all the blogs I read, which is of course why I read them . I have been known in the past to be a little lawless about  this and just give them to everyone, but I will try just this one time to follow rules. Sigh

1. Sally, from Ferngrove Farm who kindly shares her life and journey all the way from the other side of the world! 

2.Jeni of Super Size My Cob  With the beautiful  Rosie and Bonnie, and some  huge determination! 

3.Janice of Own A Morgan a  blogger friend , I have also had the joy of meeting in person! and she is wonderful! 

4.CutnJump  on her blog Cheap Chef Yummy straightforward , cost effective recipes! love it (met her too! I get around)

5. Dang it! I  tried , everyone else would like it  that I follow! 

 Secondly , I need to brag a little , well need is a strong word but I am going to all the same .

 Dandy , as you saw  on Yesterdays Post has gone to his  new home. I am very pleased with him, and his new owner . She has already been working with him, and as shown yesterday and again here , has sat on him , and steered him around the pasture a bit . Yes he is that quiet , and kind , and yes ,I think she is that good! She has a very nice way with her about horses, and as I said I have seen video and photos of her with her other horses and she seems to have the "stuff."

The brag part is , that Dandy, Maggie , and Timer are all foals from FV Jazz. The only daughter I kept  from my  sweet abused old mare C7Sparks Jewel

Fern Valley's Jazz

FV Sparks Image(Maggie) and FV Dandy Line(Dandy )

FV Jazz Time 

 as you may have read in the honorable mention ,Jewel came to me in a sorry state , and I never really did  truly  gain her trust. I got a long way with her, but .... Because of this , Jazz is a bit , different ,I had tired to work with her as a foal , and she picked up some of mom's nervousness. She is much easier to work with than her mom was , but can by times still be a bit goofy. With her foals  however I let them be until either they come to me , or they are weaned (so far it has always been the former and darn quick too. And I am careful when i handle Jazz to not let her "crank up the kids "  This has worked well and as a result ZI  am seeing the true nature of this line , coming though loud and clear ! Quiet ,kind , straightforward. Timer , went to my nephew , Maggie is , doing very well, with her very own Teenager, and Dandy , well...

I am proud of these horses, and of the line that in effect originated here with my old sweet Stallion Chips, and a sad scared little mare named Jewels.

C7 Sparks Jewel 

The only tarnish on this  for me is to think what Jewels could have been if she had had a kinder start .

So, that is part of what I needed to say, the last is a strong reminder to STAY  SAFE , and pay attention. As I was unfortunately reminded this weekend .Walking into Phoenix's pen ,totally distracted, and walking away without talking to him first, I got a rude awakening!  Fix , was an arse! Knocked me down with his chest, yes it was in play.NO IT WAS NOT OK!!!! And he is now firmly reminded of that fact ! I will leave it at that , only to say  that while his behavior was wrong , I was also at fault in that I was distracted, and in working with horses , you need to pay attention!

Stay safe and warm my friends! 

Warming up

The sun finally came out and gave us a break yesterday ! Which was much needed after this little cold snap we had ! Saturday Martin and a friend of ours installed a new pressure tank  for the house ! what a relief not to hear the pump kick in 20 times every time we use water!

In the process though we had to turn off the water to the farm, and ,we did have one waterer give us trouble .The float froze and it would not fill!.A couple  kettles of hot water fixed that !

The late in the day Dandy's new owner showed up to take him home . It went reasonable well all things considered. The footing was , well is poor , and it was dark, we actually wound up backing the trailer into he barn and building a bit of a ramp. Dandy was willing but due to the footing he got a little rattled. once we got him on comfortable footing and in the light he went right in. I think he will do well, as cold as we all were , his new owner ,maintained her composure , and patience. She did let me know he travelled well and she already loves him !

As you can see Sunday (yesterday ), was a much  brighter warmer day. So of course another waterer froze up!???This one has been the bane of my existence for years , and if you don't manage it exactly right it will do this . I think we have it fixed again , but time will tell. Might be time to just bite the bullet and replace it !

Anyhow after all that I went for a little walkabout and got a few photos

The discovery of the Jolly Ball

Anyone free for a pass?

Go long Comet!

Cactus , hanging out in his lair

Do I need to  tell you who this is?

"What  are we doin' next dad?"

I have a few other posts brewing , one on the ever important issue of safety and also I received an award , I need to share. Meanwhile,

Stay safe and warm everyone !

Quick update! 

Lookit this! doing well and  learning to be a big horse already! 

Breanna  gave me permission to use this , hope she keeps the photos coming! Dandy has found himself a dandy gal! 

Don't know , but I'll give it a try

Heads up gang ,thinking again!!!!

On Facebook I have seen several links to liberty horses today. The are all amazing and beautiful demonstrations of what  can be done with the horse/human relationship . Also Dandy is leaving today , the young lady who is taking him is quite the horse woman in her own right , I have seen videos of her riding ,jumping , and just peacefully sitting cross legged on her horses  in pasture . One of the videos that made me  really  "get " that this gal "has the stuff" is her and her beloved mare  in the field in  fairly deep snow . she swung up with  I believe a halter and the horse was blanketed , the video shows her laughing , loving on the horse , riding "hands free" at a gallop through the snow (which if you have ever done can be a bit bouncy ) and jumping logs. Sure she slid off a couple times , but that mare stopped and waited for her to stop laughing and hop up again! The pure joy and the depth of a trust bond she had with this horse  was a beauty to watch .
What does one thing have to do with the other . Well like the young lady , the liberty trainers didn't know they could absolutely do  this until , they tried ,
What could we accomplish in life and with our our horses,if we let go of the "rules " a bit , and really got into our own comfortable relationships with them . allow them to trust us ,by learning to trust ourselves ?And by doing so trust them ?
When I say let go of the rules, I don't mean let go of boundaries, those have to exist  for us and the horse to be safe. But let go of the rules in that "horses are  to be  ridden and driven only"
Don't panic my friend ,I am not suddenly going the route of not riding at all , but looking at the options of building  better bonds on the ground to enhance the riding / driving .
We each have our ways of doing this , and I am not here to argue for or against any particular clinician, other than to say , it needs to be about the work ,not the equipment .

I am just wondering if we can push the limits of what we already do, and see what we can really accomplish,
Take my dear old Catana , she was a horse that literally did anything I set her at , huge steep hill? I was asked , can your mare do it? I said"don't know , we will try" and up she went . And the same with crossing a bog, swimming in the lake, standing (yawning no less ) as a train crossed  in front of her . She had a huge heart , and I asked her to do things , because we had a great trust bond, and I had learned that she would not start something she could not finish ( That horse had a work ethic we should all strive for! )
Several years ago ,I was asked on short notice to come handle my sister in laws  warm blood stallion for collection  , he  was an older horse , and familiar with his own handler and not me . I said "I'll try " I could not would not guarantee success, but I sure didn't go in planning to fail. I was just taking into consideration the barrier to success I would face and how best to manage that. What I did is went in assuming he was no different than my (considerably smaller  stallion) expected the same appropriate behavior and manners , and... got  them. He was a prince ! the warnings I received that he might be rough with me and or try to bite , or ram me into a post (not that he is a bad horse , but they like to try new people ) were  totally unnecessary  . I expected him to be good , trusted him to be good , and he followed my lead .
And of course the Phoenix, didn't know he would dance for me, till I asked!

So lets take this a step further, I didn't know I could write a book of poetry , till I tried! Now I am not claiming to be a huge literary success, but I did it , and am ready to publish book two very soon. Now trying a few new things with my photography as well.
As I said , we never know what we are really capable of till we try.
And me ,
 I'll give it a try
Stay safe and warm!

Options

So I have been thinking about a few things lately . About my book, and the photos I take . I love the calenders and the blog . But whether I am just looking to spread my wings, or all the compliments have gone to my head I am not sure , but I am doing a couple new things  in this next while . exercising  some options,so to speak.

I will be attending the Mane Event  this year, but not with the ApHCC as in previous years .I  will be at a booth I am sharing with Drayden Insurance , who are developing a farm/equine insurance parcel . My sister in law Connie and I will be there all 3 days rather than the usual part time presentation I have done i n the past . I will obviously have  my farm stuff there, but I will also have my book (and maybe even volume 2 !!) I would love to take Calenders but it is really too late in the year to offer those for sale so I may have one for display but that is it . 

One of the new things I am trying is  photo cards . I have received many compliments on my photos and so I have taken a few of my favorites and had them made into note cards  through Shutterfly

 "Are you a Pony?"

 Wild 'n free

 FV A Shocking Comet 

Power Take off 

These are the ones I have chosen to start  with .Shutterfly has done my Christmas cards the last few  years , and they do a wonderful job. The price point is amazing so I am going to try  this selection for the mane event .Also have chosen  two to do up as mouse pads  (Wild n Free , and are you a Pony?) 

One other thing I like about Shutterfly is that I can send directly form them if someone orders the cards .  Rather than have them come here and then ship out which can be pricey! 

I figure seeing as I don't seem to be spending as much time as I would like on my horses (as in riding ) Which I also hope with this new health regime to rectify, I might as well do something  with the  side benefits I get from being with my horses. 

Unlike some  of my talented blogger friends ,I don't feel  able to book portraits , or photo shoots  for other, but I still do love taking pictures so for now I will leave the  pros  to it . and just puddle along at my pace . 

Any and all suggestions will be much appreciated ! 

bummed out bloggers

So blogger is still having issues for many. We have those who are unable to load photos , and others unable to log on tho their own blogs to comment ! My trouble seems to mostly be an inability to comment on some blogs . So If you feel I have been ignoring you , sorry I am still here!
I have tried a few things , some effective others, not so much ...
1.Scream at the computer, no so effective , but cathartic
2. I changed my comment window to a pop up a while back and it seems to be working despite the other glitches, all the blogs I read that have a pop up comment box rather than the other style seem to be allowing me access. pretty effective
3. I upgraded to Google Chrome  on my home computer and I am back able to access all blogs. That is not an option for some who access from a network, and I am slightly resentful that I was essentially forced into a new technology
4 I have considered changing to another venue , like wordpress, but I am sure it comes with its own issues , and for the most part , when it is working well I like blogger . I have it figured out for posting ,links and templates, and while I have learned a lot , I am still a veritable techno bumpkin so ...

So to those I haven't "seen" in a while , I miss you and hopefully we will get this sucker back on track . Meanwhile , stay safe and warm.

Merciless Monday

Let me open with, I don't actually dislike Mondays. I dislike some of them , but for the most part they are OK.After all you gotta get through  Monday to get to the rest of the week, and back to the weekend right?
That said , this one could have been better !

It started around 2am, when I stuck my nose out of the fleece sheets and comforters and noticed it was , well, more than a bit chilly. Now I often sleep with the window cracked open so I didn't immediately panic, just closed the window and prepared to snuggle down. But something seemed off , I could hear the furnace fan going but it was cool . By the time I decided to get up the thermostat  in the hall read 60F not bad , but a bit nippy. Went down to check the  furnace(no idea what I thought I could do ) then tried resetting the thermostat. no good and the temp was dropping . Grabbed a space heater and fired up the wood stove ,which made it livable in the kitchen and living room, but by then the temp in the hall and bedrooms had dropped to 54F .
Bout then I got worried about pipes and such and gave in and called for help . The furnace tech arrived at 4 am. And I have to say,wow! what a nice fellow , up at  that time of day and driving in  -holycrapitscold!
Apparently my meter had frozen?? who knew that could happen? Lucky I called because while the house might have been OK the barn is not as well insulated and the pipes more than likely would have frozen , causing at best frozen waterers and at worst ...

All fixed and working by shortly after 5 . I tried to go back to bed , but uit was still darn cold in the house so not a lot of sleep .All things considered though it could have been worse . Funny thing , I thought of later, here I was alone , letting a total stranger into my house at 4 in the morning ,in my pj's not to say I wasn't covered trust me I had on dang near everything I owned at that point ! But really not a common occurrence . Glad he was such a nice ,non creepy guy!
Today was nasty cold again , I have been getting away with  just a light flannel jacket and vest for quite a while now , but today was definitely a Carharrt day! Don't know what it is about those coats , but they are awesome!
Winston is still happy to be outside nekked but Skeeter is having trouble , even with his sweater and boots he is not lingering . I actually too k the truck to check waterers this evening , as it was just too much for him to walk all the  way there and back!

Stay safe , stay warm! (I plan too!)

careful what you wish for (be specific!)

So , I have said a few times , we needed more snow. and last night ...

we got it , along with blowing snow , and a serious drop in temp

I had commented too, that a little cooler would be better, the warmish season  seems to make colds and flus more prevalent and Quinn's wound is much harder to keep clean with the chronic melting . Guess I needed to be clearer about how much colder! We have gone from soup to nuts !

above zero last week to -21C dropping to as low as -37C over the next week . Too lazy to do the conversion right now , but suffice to say -40 C is the same as -40 Fahrenheit! 

the horses are fine, lots of feed , some straw (if it didn't blow away ) and fresh water 

Snow is staying on their backs , is a good sign 

took fresh bedding to Quinn and Comet (Or rather Quinn , who has claimed this bale as his!) 

"Hey hey ! What about meee?"

The ladies in waiting too are holding their own in this cold snap.

Guess it is just me and Skeeter who are  unhappy.

By the way , note to all , bored Border collie Blue heeler crosses are maniacal! Add a big old golden retriever to a housebound  Skeeter , and they will rearrange your furniture! 

Stay warm and safe! 

My week described in pictures(not my pictures ) But pictures al the same

Some weeks are just really looonnnggg

it is still very icy

we have had a few days where , sitting down with a bottle sounds about right

Still haven't made it to the pool , maybe next week

Yup, that pretty much wraps it up.It has been one long week. The traction on my shoes , makes a huge difference , I notice my back actually hurts less , since I am not pussy footing around  out there (who knew) Lots going on theses days. Hopefully I will get a horsie update going  soon , meanwhile thay are all doing  more or less OK, staying on thier feet .Quinn is  healing form the gouge he took out of his butt in the "safe pen" sigh . What is the line ?"if you put them in a padded stall they would suffocated on the lining?"

Anyhow , stay warm stay safe

Slippin and sliding update

So it is still very icy around here, and while the "winter trax " were helping I was still feeling pretty nervous walking in some area. Our cows are quite quiet, but while walking among them it is not a good time to wipe out!
Popped by to visit my dad today  during some down time and  also got  to visit with my Auntie Barb and cousin Laurie , they too have been having trouble with the ice . Auntie Barb quite enjoys walking , and while she had something similar to the winter trax  she said she still slips by times . Laurie had a different type , and says they have worked well, hers has sharp "cleats" on the ball of her foot . She ,also has  livestock to care for , and her property  has quite a steep hill. She  recommended "Campers Village" to  get some better traction , and better traction I got !!!!!

These puppies have some serious bite!!!! Similar to the wintertrax in that they are on a rubber  harness, but  they are chains with  several 3/8 inch spikes  throughout . They also fit better over the toe of the boot and so far don't seem to be able to pop off.

Wore them for chores tonight and I could walk every where! sure footed as a mountain goat! Well not really , I am still a klutz but , I wasn't slipping!

The only downsides are, they are a bit spendy, ($60.00 a pair , but honestly , what  would it cost me to hire someone for shores if I got hurt?) they are very noisy ! I sound like a herd of  horses walking around , but for  chores I am not actually shooting for stealth and I have to take my boots off outside ,as they don't work very well on ceramic tile! (there they slip!) But all in all I felt very safe and happy with them . Hoping Cousin Laurie see this post , in case she too wants to be a mini mountain goat !

Take care all, stay safe , stay warm!

Daughters of the land

Many poems  and songs have been written about  cowboys and farmers, and such . All about the men .Nothing wrong with that , but  today I will be giving the ladies their due

Daughters of the land

A daughter of the land
She will understand
When dinner is a few hours late

She will leave it to warm
And head out on the farm
And push the loose stock through the gate

If there is work to be done, she is the one
Who is out there right alongside you

Not afraid to get dirty, even if it ain’t purdy
She will do just what she needs to

Now don’t you laugh, she will carry a calf
That needs her without any question
To just let it lie, and possibly die
Is an Impossible suggestion

She is stubborn and strong
And will work the day long
With not even so much as a thank you

She has a heart that is tender

So please do remember
She’s human and your words can hurt her

Though she will never show it
Or let you know it ,
the damge is only too clear

Don’t think you are above her
Let her alone  or just  love her

It’s her choice, she should be allowed
She lives for her family; she is all she can be
And her wish is to make them proud

Water water ,its right there , across the skating rink!

Excerpted from the Rhyme of the ancient Mariner
The ice was all between.

The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!

Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.

 No I didn't shoot an Albatross , but the ice around here is  getting to be more and more treacherous. and while we all preach  animal care means  access to quality feed and fresh water , how much emphasis is put on the "access " part ?
I have been keeping a pretty close eye on things , around the waters for the cattle and horses, and most are staying relatively OK, but this farm is mostly on a slope , and while it makes for good drainage it does not work really well when we have so much ice .
The mares water tank is on a slight slope , and  while they were still able to get to and from it along the side of the fence it was becoming  very slippery around it , and it limited how many could be there at one time .
I don't honestly know if there is science behind this one or if it just something I was told on the farm as a child , but I was taught there is a large risk to pregnant mares losing a foal  due to a slip on the ice . Whether it is true or not , it certainly is a risk to safety and soundness .

SO I was fussing and mulling over what to do, sand works to a degree , but once it melts or rains again sometims the sand is covered , salt is not an option as the de icing salt is not  safe for them to lick , and regular salt they would lick up before it was effective ,also if it rains or melts and freezes I could be out there daily .
So after some thought I took out a bag of shavings.
I wet down the area with some fresh water (no point in just covering the ice ) so the shavings would stick  and layered  damp and dry shavings over the whole area. This is not a perfect fix either , if it rains or  snows a bunch they will be washed away or  covered. but for $5 a bag I can afford to do it again if it rains and if it snows, we will be fine as the snow will pack and add traction .

Most of the mares seemed to "get that I was helping , and Rich ,Jazzy and Jewels paraded right up for a drink ! Ici and Peps , however seems convinced it was quicksand , or some horse eating variety of  footing designed specifically to  burn off their little hoofies!

So I went with some  bales string , caught  each of them and led them  up to the water, they came, not willingly , but did follow eventually , then once there  were fully prepared to dance around like fools!! sigh , rocket scientists , the pair of them ! Oh well the things we will do to keep our precious ponies safe ! As I said the rest seem OK, but I will be keeping an eye on things , and at least I have figured out a temporary fix!

Stay warm and safe