tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30912294281428195972024-03-12T18:29:00.517-07:00The Hard Wayequutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-83104708324715430062013-06-20T20:10:00.001-07:002013-06-20T20:10:25.685-07:00The Liebster Award<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wolfie over at <a href="http://wolfie-whatwasithinking.blogspot.com/2013/06/rockin-silver-bootie.html?showComment=1371780140885#c3345402530601979770">What was I thinking...?</a> nominated me for a Liebster award</span><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> - thank you!! It's a fun way to get to know each other. Here are the rules:</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">HOW TO
ACCEPT THE AWARD: The Liebster Blog Award is a way to recognize blogs
who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word
that means beloved and valued. Here are the rules for accepting the
award:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank the
person who nominated you and include a link back to their blog.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">List 11
random facts about yourself.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Answer the
11 questions given to you.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Create 11
questions for the bloggers you nominate.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Choose 11
bloggers with 200 or fewer followers to nominate and include links to their
blogs.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Go to each
blogger's page and let them know you have nominated them. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><b>11 random facts about me:</b></span></span><b><br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></span>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am an admitted, incurable horse addict. Everyone that knows me already knows this.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am also a sucker for any animal homeless, in need, injured or otherwise. I am incapable of killing anything except ticks, flies and other horrid pests. Once I killed a rat, but it was a mercy killing - it was spinning around in circles, fatally wounded. I hate rats, but if I find a helpless baby rat lying on the ground, I will try to nurse it back to health. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am hard-headed, opinionated and like to do things my way. Again, everyone that knows me knows this. I think I can be pretty diplomatic in dealing with similarly difficult people though - as long as they are kind to animals and other people.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I love nature and it's beauty - flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds, waterfalls... I also think Mother Nature is a horrible b%$@!# . I cannot watch nature shows featuring animals because I can't tolerate when one animal kills another or one is injured or dies - it infuriates me that the photographer/cinematographer stands by and takes no action.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I get annoyed with women who tell me they can't do something - yes, you can do just about anything a man can do, aside from peeing the letters of your name in the snow - and I bet we could even figure out a way to do that! So don't be afraid to pick up a hammer or saw and build something, or rip up and retile your own floor. Yes, some of these things can be physically demanding, but most horsewomen I know are tough enough to handle it!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I get overwhelmed with everything that is wrong with the world and some of the people on our Earth and it depresses me. I try to do the right thing, but sometimes it is logistically very difficult or impossible. For example, I know I shouldn't buy stuff from WalMart - I should support my small local stores - but what if I need to do my shopping at 11 pm? Is being a good person in every possible way even an attainable goal?! I want to save the world but I don't even know how to start...</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I love my cup of hot tea in the evening, even during the summer.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I like to try new things - for example, I was on a NASCAR pit crew for a few summers (an intermediate level team, not the Cup!).</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am terrified of heights. Ugh! I am also afraid of getting shocked and do not like to work with wiring, electricity or go anywhere near electric fencing. I am also afraid to swim in any water that is not a pool - thanks, Jaws! Oh, and I am afraid of flying. More afraid of crashing, really, but...</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am not afraid of snakes, spiders or bugs, as many of my friends are, so I'm not a total wussie.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am a little bit prone to road rage, I am ashamed to admit.</span></span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">11
Questions from Wolfie:</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">1. Who do you prefer - Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Can I answer "neither?" If pressed, I would choose Reynolds</i></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">2. What is
your favourite gait when riding?</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>A nice canter.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Have you
ever had a light bulb moment when riding?</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>Yes, especially when riding different horses and figuring out how each likes to be ridden.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">4. Do you care
what you wear to the barn?</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>Not really - my barn is at my home and few outsiders ever see me there.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">5. Do you wear
a helmet when you ride? </span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>Yes, 99% of the time. It is currently occupied by a nest of baby birds, which I don't have the heart to evict, so I will not be using it until they grow up and fly away. Right now, I don't have much time to ride anyway.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">6. What is/was your favourite book?</span></span>
</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>One of my favorites is A Prayer for Owen Meany, I don't have A favorite.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">7. What is your favourite part of the riding experience (grooming, competition, lesson, trail)?</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>I love seeing my horses content and happy and listening to them munch hay. I love their smell and just watching them.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">8. What is
your favourite season for riding?</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>Spring is my favorite season, period.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">9. Do you have
other interests in addition to horses?</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>Gardening, wildlife, reading - and my newest venture is building custom horse jumps!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">10. If you could only have one food if you were stranded on a desert island, what would it be?</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pasta with chunks of fresh tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil tossed with a bit of balsamic vinaigrette.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i></i><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">11. Would you
prefer a social person next to you on a long flight or someone who keeps to
themselves?</span></span></span>
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</span><i>Someone who keeps to themselves - I hate flying and am cranky when I'm nervous - would rather try to read!</i><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I am sorry to say that I only know one horsey blogger - that is Wolfie! I will, however, take this opportunity to nominate a friend who's blog, though not equine, is very witty and relatable... If this makes me ineligible for the award, I understand :) And I suspect this person knows 11 good bloggers!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://msforhypochondriacs.blogspot.com/">Ms. Crankypants</a> !!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">So Ms. Crankypants, here are your questions...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I am fairly certain you have no personality flaws but, if you did, what would they be?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">What is your biggest pet peeve?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Who is your movie star heartthrob of the moment?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">If you had the misfortune to be stuck on a long flight next to either an ignorant, blabbering fool or a racist, chauvinistic pig, would you parachute out the window or just stab someone?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Name one place you've never been that you'd like to visit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">If you could have dinner with any author, living or dead (though reanimated for the meal), who would you choose?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">If you had the power to erase five people from the face of the earth (not talking murder here, just poof, magic powers), who would you eliminate? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">What is your least favorite color?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">If you had to choose a natural disaster to endure, would you choose a volcano eruption, earthquake or tornado?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Would you rather spend the day with a two year old or a 92 year old?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">If you had to change something about your physical appearance, what would you change?<br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span>equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-13334641305358193242013-05-28T20:10:00.000-07:002013-05-30T19:40:26.985-07:00BAAAABIIIIEEESSS!!!I have a Thoroughbred stallion named Biskit. Well, his actual, registered name is Mustabeencrazy. He is by Valid Expectations out of a mare that was not terribly well bred, but a hard runner who did win some money. People always ask me if he's a Quarter horse - he and his sire look a lot more like stock horses than race horses: <a href="http://southernracehorse.com/valid-expectations-becomes-all-time-leading-texas-sire-closes-in-on-30-million/">here</a> is a picture of his daddy and an article about how he, this year, became Texas' all time leading sire by progeny earnings.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNEefxc_qfk/UaGIYWq6sEI/AAAAAAAAASw/etgbQ0qaQrM/s1600/IMG_1040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNEefxc_qfk/UaGIYWq6sEI/AAAAAAAAASw/etgbQ0qaQrM/s320/IMG_1040.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biskit looking winter scruffy</td></tr>
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I did not set out to obtain a stallion. I'd heard terrible things about what horrendous creatures they can be and I'd had some bad experiences with evil tempered colts. However, I had also met some colts that were fairly well behaved so, when I got a call from the racetrack asking me to take in a 2 year old stud colt with a fractured sesamoid, and when the caller assured me he was a darling to handle and would make a great horse for a kid, I decided to go check him out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiA-ura_gUU/UaGIyc9XaDI/AAAAAAAAAS4/0bZGNUeu60o/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiA-ura_gUU/UaGIyc9XaDI/AAAAAAAAAS4/0bZGNUeu60o/s320/IMG_0764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another scruffy photo of my stallion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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He had been taken back to the owner's farm to recuperate and was, indeed, as docile as they claimed. They told me his name was "Biskit" for Seabiscuit - he was smallish and had slightly crooked front legs like the famous racehorse. I brought him home, and he was put on stall rest to recover from his fracture. I think he had to be kept in for about three months. During that time, he continued to be easy to handle and, anyway, I couldn't have him gelded while he was on stall rest - the newly gelded horse must be able and encouraged to move around to facilitate healing. The recuperation started in the spring. By the time he was allowed minimal turnout, it had gotten hot and the flies had arrived - also not a good time for gelding. Biskit was turned out with another horse recovering from an injury, my "miracle colt," Forbes, and continued to act as if he was already a docile gelding. My students led him around and groomed him, he paid no attention to mares whatsoever, he was better behaved than some of my geldings, and so gelding him was never a real priority.<br />
<br />
A few years later, I was contemplating whether or not I should just go ahead and take care of the little operation, and one of my vet friends asked if I would be willing to let him breed a few mares first. By this time, Biskit had developed quite a reputation for his fantastic temperament. This particular friend was interested in breeding polo ponies, and thus Biskit's sprinting pedigree and compact, muscular build was ideal. We weren't too worried about Biskit's slightly crooked front legs - his sire has perfect legs and his dam raced many times, so we're pretty sure she must have been fairly sound. Just in case, Todd decided to breed just one mare as a test. This baby was born the following spring and was named Dr. Jones, after the doctor caring for Todd's wife, who was battling cancer at the time.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nt_HwC3Dl_U/UaGJH_e2brI/AAAAAAAAATA/JobPh5pvvqU/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nt_HwC3Dl_U/UaGJH_e2brI/AAAAAAAAATA/JobPh5pvvqU/s320/IMG_1250.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mug shot of baby Dr. Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PKlCYeewmGc/UaGJy1uObrI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rhUkPSu7K6w/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PKlCYeewmGc/UaGJy1uObrI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rhUkPSu7K6w/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Dr. Jones snoozing</td></tr>
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Dr. Jones had straight legs, a stocky build like his sire, and also turned out to have Biskit's super, friendly, docile temperament. Dr. Jones is two now, has been gelded, and is soon to be sent for some initial training. I have been told that he is quiet, smart and a very quick learner.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYMVcg-CZz0/UaGJbRqLBHI/AAAAAAAAATI/Kju95GBmzLw/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYMVcg-CZz0/UaGJbRqLBHI/AAAAAAAAATI/Kju95GBmzLw/s320/IMG_1241.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Jones at just a few days old</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZkrugkvW5M/UaGKM2D2tfI/AAAAAAAAATY/poCbezFaqr4/s1600/IMG_1245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZkrugkvW5M/UaGKM2D2tfI/AAAAAAAAATY/poCbezFaqr4/s320/IMG_1245.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Jones with his momma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Last spring, when Dr. Jones was a yearling, I brought Biskit over to Todd's farm for a few months again to pasture breed a small herd of mares. This year, those foals were born. They are a lovely crop of babies, nicely built, and all seem to have their daddy's winning personality.<br />
<br />
I hereby present Biskit's 2013 foal crop:<br />
<br />
This is the oldest, a colt named St. Patrick born on - you guessed it -
St. Patrick's Day. He is a flashy bay with lots of white and he
absolutely loves people. He is very curious and outgoing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0IDKarZK9_I/UaGLbPszANI/AAAAAAAAATk/a2ppvaus-lI/s1600/IMG_20130410_162254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0IDKarZK9_I/UaGLbPszANI/AAAAAAAAATk/a2ppvaus-lI/s320/IMG_20130410_162254.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patrick, just a few days old, with Kayla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6V3qn8Pmojg/UaF_ap6l0QI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/jVtKYcaeYOg/s1600/IMG_20130524_125325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6V3qn8Pmojg/UaF_ap6l0QI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/jVtKYcaeYOg/s320/IMG_20130524_125325.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patrick at approximately 2 months old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6P0Zs0zB3I/UaF_vVN3YJI/AAAAAAAAARE/WpBWHaiRRj8/s1600/IMG_20130524_125427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6P0Zs0zB3I/UaF_vVN3YJI/AAAAAAAAARE/WpBWHaiRRj8/s320/IMG_20130524_125427.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with one of Todd's sons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is the filly, Sarah, I believe she was second born. She is a flashy light bay or chestnut - I think she will end up being a chestnut like Dr. Jones. I was worried about her when I first saw her a few days after she was born - she had really long spider legs and her butt was far higher than her front end. She has leveled out nicely at approximately 2 months of age.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqqwHrYOe1Q/UaGMGf0WU-I/AAAAAAAAATs/JfLpxcW8j4E/s1600/IMG_20130501_172248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqqwHrYOe1Q/UaGMGf0WU-I/AAAAAAAAATs/JfLpxcW8j4E/s320/IMG_20130501_172248.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah, about 2 weeks old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gzs93lwcuY/UaGMje7eMYI/AAAAAAAAAT0/w368TM4hwHs/s1600/IMG_20130501_172312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4gzs93lwcuY/UaGMje7eMYI/AAAAAAAAAT0/w368TM4hwHs/s320/IMG_20130501_172312.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with her mom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah around 1 1/2 months old</td></tr>
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Next we have Cubed, Todd's favorite - a feisty bay filly, very well put together and stocky, perhaps a little hotter than her father but becoming sweeter and more people-oriented by the day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cubed, less than 2 weeks old, posing on the hillside</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She wouldn't let me touch her </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9AeTVcSCK8/UaGN7l9bHBI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/WnCs2jRmYWI/s1600/IMG_20130501_172509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9AeTVcSCK8/UaGN7l9bHBI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/WnCs2jRmYWI/s320/IMG_20130501_172509.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stocky little baby girl</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cubed and her flashy Paint mom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44-mI78OlZA/UaGDnr84rMI/AAAAAAAAARs/-Fp5K823xBc/s1600/IMG_20130524_125211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44-mI78OlZA/UaGDnr84rMI/AAAAAAAAARs/-Fp5K823xBc/s320/IMG_20130524_125211.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cubed just under 2 months old</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Wqwpb_S_Us/UaGD3g9pfII/AAAAAAAAAR0/PeMp1tXenK4/s1600/IMG_20130524_125459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Wqwpb_S_Us/UaGD3g9pfII/AAAAAAAAAR0/PeMp1tXenK4/s320/IMG_20130524_125459.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The attitude is still there</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FK_4nFXkYcU/UaGEp88jmKI/AAAAAAAAASA/0OEaIrkFJMM/s1600/IMG_20130524_125502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FK_4nFXkYcU/UaGEp88jmKI/AAAAAAAAASA/0OEaIrkFJMM/s320/IMG_20130524_125502.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She thinks she's the real deal</td></tr>
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<br />
And here is the surprise filly, Brisket (yes, I know - I had no say in the naming of the babies and tried to veto this particular name, though they claim it's an homage to her daddy!). She is a lovely chestnut out of one of Todd's best polo mares, who apparently broke down a fence to get into the pasture with Biskit and produced an unexpected foal to everyone's surprise (apparently she didn't even look pregnant, just a little chunky!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lB4iFIQkNM0/UaGPS_Ta5uI/AAAAAAAAAUk/z0KhHZedWd0/s1600/IMG_20130501_172446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lB4iFIQkNM0/UaGPS_Ta5uI/AAAAAAAAAUk/z0KhHZedWd0/s320/IMG_20130501_172446.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise filly Brisket with her mom at around a week old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brisket having a drink at about 1 1/2 months old</td></tr>
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<br />
And finally we have Telulah, a pretty little bay filly who has had a rocky start. She and her mom had to be sent to a clinic soon after birth - her mom foundered and also stepped on poor Telulah's leg. The tough little filly is in a cast and seems to be recovering well. She has some way to go to catch up to her siblings, but has a strong will to live and loves the attention she's getting - I was told she much prefers people to horses. Mom is doing a little better, but is a long way from recovery.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telulah sleeping in the sun soon after her arrival home from the hospital, just a week or two old </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYA-Ym1xXRo/UaVwr13pqcI/AAAAAAAAAVE/VpHyTLNbJWE/s1600/IMG_20130501_171759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYA-Ym1xXRo/UaVwr13pqcI/AAAAAAAAAVE/VpHyTLNbJWE/s320/IMG_20130501_171759.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea how that black box got there or how to remove it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telulah around 5 or 6 weeks old, showing off her cast</td></tr>
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<br />equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-65750621480241996982013-05-25T19:15:00.003-07:002013-05-30T19:42:52.806-07:00Wee Willie<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Several horses have come to my farm, Equutopia, after
suffering past abuse and/or neglect. In the cases I’ve dealt with personally,
the physical damage has been far easier to undo than the psychological
injuries. Interestingly enough, the horses I’ve received in the worst physical
condition have all been sweet and very easy to handle, a testament to the
generally forgiving nature of the horse.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Willie, a small, bay hackney pony, has been my toughest
psychological rehabilitation case thus far. He was genuinely afraid of people and very
difficult to catch when he first arrived. I kept him in a fairly small paddock
and, with time and patience, earned some measure of trust. Catching him was a
very time consuming procedure at first: I had to approach him walking very slowly,
looking down at the ground, facing sideways. It usually took many approaches
before I could touch him but, once I could start patting him, he’d stand still
for me to slip a lead around his neck and get hold of his halter. Eventually, I got to the point with him where I just stood in the middle of the paddock, called him, stretched my arm out and stared at the ground and he would trot right up to me. I think he figured out that it was easier that way, that I wasn't going to just leave him alone.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEbjc27uL1c/UaFvoOzs8TI/AAAAAAAAAQo/92FfUNU8VPM/s1600/IMG_20130525_215220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEbjc27uL1c/UaFvoOzs8TI/AAAAAAAAAQo/92FfUNU8VPM/s320/IMG_20130525_215220.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willie and Copper (sorry, terrible pic but only one I have of them!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Handling Willie was another challenge. He was never mean –
he would just freeze and tremble in fear. Again, with lots of patience and
gentle grooming, he came to realize that I wasn’t all that bad. He was always
reluctant to let me touch his right side – I have no idea why, and was never
able to completely overcome this issue. I suspect that the vision in his right
eye may have been bad.</div>
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<br /></div>
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One moment in particular with Willie will be etched in my
memory forever. I had him loose in a stall and was just trying to make friends
with him, patting and stroking his neck. I was standing sideways to him with
eyes downcast, arm fully outstretched to reach him while standing as far away
as possible. Willie seemed to be relaxing and accepting the attention, so I
decided to see what would happen if I stepped away. I slowly lowered my arm and
took a step away. Then I waited. After a few moments, Willie took a sideways
step toward me, and I resumed my attentions. It was the first real breakthrough and
brought tears to my eyes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh3ISLrZVVs/UaFwF81oYmI/AAAAAAAAAQw/zDif007IzyU/s1600/IMG_20130525_215234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh3ISLrZVVs/UaFwF81oYmI/AAAAAAAAAQw/zDif007IzyU/s320/IMG_20130525_215234.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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I trimmed his feet myself. It took some time before he would
even let me pick them up, and then he would extend the foot toward me and
freeze, trembling, displaying a horrible, resigned fear. That, too, improved
with time. He acted the same way for veterinary ministrations – he just steeled
himself in preparation for the <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E6YHo2h97VU/UZmTRIIHwSI/AAAAAAAAAQY/a14JDSQ9l9E/s1600/bigeyedpony.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E6YHo2h97VU/UZmTRIIHwSI/AAAAAAAAAQY/a14JDSQ9l9E/s1600/bigeyedpony.gif" /></a></div>
worst.<br />
<br /></div>
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Handling led to leaning, then sitting astride his back. I
did this several times, feet almost touching the ground on the small pony.
Again, you guessed it, the freezing and trembling. He would not take a step
with me on his back. Perhaps with time and persistence he would have become
rideable, but I felt he would be better off as a pet. He was around 4 when I
got him, and I had him for about 3 or 4 years. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had the good fortune to meet a wonderful lady, Julie,
through my job at the time.
She told me all about her hackney pony, Zoe, who was also a victim of past
abuse. Julie was able to successfully rehabilitate Zoe, and she was clearly a
pampered pet. Unfortunately, Zoe was very old and had some age-related health
issues and eventually had to be put down. Julie was heartbroken.<br />
<br />
After some time, I suggested that she might like to adopt Willie, and she did, along with two other ponies I had on the farm at the time, Willie's buddies, Copper and Sammie. Julie made progress with Willie as well, but we agree that he will never completely trust people. </div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-45890808600870206722013-04-30T19:50:00.000-07:002013-05-30T19:43:50.876-07:00Nature's First Green Is Gold<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> I have been really busy over the past few weeks working on an order of custom jumps, including a beautiful but time consuming faux brick wall. Therefore, I have not had much time to write. However, in honor of the arrival of spring and the new green grass, I wanted to take this opportunity to share an article I wrote several years ago about how hay is produced, featuring a local farming family, the Ritchies of Inglewood Farm.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Nature’s first green is gold” – Robert Frost</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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When spring comes at last after another cold, bleak winter,
and the fields of Virginia
start turning green, this poem always comes to my mind. For to horse owners and
the farmers that supply them, the green grass truly is gold – beautiful, leafy,
gold-green hay.</div>
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To walk a mile in Bill Ritchie’s shoes, you’d better be fit,
hard working, patient, part mechanic, part weatherman and love working outdoors.
You also must handle stress well, multitask and be good at dealing with people.
A farmer’s life is not an easy one, but Bill Ritchie, of Inglewood Farm in Bealeton, VA,
wouldn’t trade it for anything else. “I love the fact that I just walk out of
my house and I’m at work. No commuting,” he explains. “I also like that I do
something different nearly every day.” </div>
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Farming is a Ritchie family tradition. Bill’s grandfather,
Wilbur Ritchie, originally purchased Inglewood
farm approximately 70 years ago. He had four sons, including Bill’s father,
Calvin, who was the only one to stay on and farm the land. In addition to the
farming, Calvin started a grain business, Fauquier Grain Company, which was
later sold and became Fauquier Feed. While Calvin was busy with the grain
business, which included bagged and bulk feed for a variety of livestock and
fertilizer, Bill grew up farming and gradually took over that aspect of the
operation.</div>
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The Ritchie family turned its full attention to farming once
the grain company was sold and expanded the business by leasing land. They
currently farm approximately 2000 acres, of which the family owns roughly 500.
In addition to producing hay, Inglewood Farm grows and harvests soybeans, corn,
wheat and barley. The wheat and barley both help produce another golden
“byproduct” – straw. Inglewood
is also known locally for having the best sweet corn in the area. I can
personally attest to that; if you see the “sweet corn” sign out on Route 17, a
few miles south of Bealeton, it is worth the trip up the long gravel drive to
pick some up.</div>
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The average person might think that producing hay is easy…
it is, after all, just dried up grass, right? The process is actually
surprisingly complex and takes about three days to complete. First, the grass is,
indeed, cut and allowed to lie on the ground for a day. The next day it is
tedded, or fluffed, to allow for better and more thorough drying. On the third
day, the moisture level is checked with a tester – Inglewood does not bale any hay which tests
over 15% moisture – and then raked into rows. Once raked into these windrows,
it can be baled immediately.</div>
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Of course, this is assuming that the weather is good for
three consecutive days. Cutting is planned with this in </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tractor pulling a round baler</td></tr>
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mind, which is where
accurately predicting the future, or at least the weather, comes in handy.
Despite all efforts, sometimes the cut hay does get rained on, in which case it
is baled and sold as mulch hay. The farmer must work long hours during
nice spells, trying to get as much work done as possible while the weather
cooperates. Thus the expression "gotta make hay while the sun shines."<br />
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The soil must also be properly prepared and maintained for
optimum production. Generally speaking, the soil only needs to be tilled every
three or four years. Seeding is also done at this time, though overseeding may
occasionally be of benefit in between tilling cycles. Fertilizer is applied in
early spring, with additional nitrogen applications between cuttings throughout
the season. </div>
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Depending on a number of factors including type of hay grown
and the weather, a farmer can expect up to three or four cuttings from a hay
field over the course of a growing season. The first cutting, which is usually
harvested in early May, is a bit coarser than subsequent cuttings, but it also
yields the most hay per acre. Bill estimates that he can harvest roughly 100
bales per acre from the first cutting, whereas that number drops dramatically
to 20 or even just 10 bales per acre for later cuttings.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raking hay into rows</td></tr>
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Orchardgrass, timothy and alfalfa are the most commonly
produced hays in our area. Inglewood
focuses on orchardgrass hay but also grows a little timothy. They offer both
the traditional square bales and the much larger round bales. All hay is stored
inside immediately after baling. Inglewood
is fortunate to have acquired a hay stacking machine in recent years,
eliminating the arduous chore of stacking the square bales manually, as many
farms still must. </div>
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Bill cautions that hay production is the least profitable of
his farming endeavors. He further recommends that anyone interested in hay
production consider the difficulty of making a reasonable profit. The machinery
is expensive, both in initial cost and maintenance and repairs. You must also
consider fuel, fertilizer and seed costs as well as labor costs, unless you
have free help at your disposal. He emphasizes that “you really have to have a
decent amount of acreage as well – preferably several hundred. You just can’t
make a profit on less acreage.” </div>
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In addition to the cost, there’s the sheer hard work. You
must endure long days in the blazing hot sun and being assaulted by insects and
dust. .Inglewood is fortunate to have tractors with climate-controlled cabs,
but many farmers do not… I have seen many homemade “shades,” including
umbrellas tied to the tractor; as they say, necessity is the mother of
invention.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rows of hay ready for baling</td></tr>
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Our hay producers have certainly earned our respect and
thanks. It is a very difficult job, stressful, tedious and unpredictable at
times. So many things can go awry, particularly in regard to the weather… a
drought or particularly wet season can ruin a crop. Yet our horses depend on
the fruits of their labors, quite literally. It is important that we help
support our local farmers and, on a larger scale, that we care about and help
conserve the open land and the environment itself on which they (and we)
depend. Otherwise, the last line of Frost’s poem may come to fruition on a
permanent rather than cyclical basis: “Nothing gold can stay.”</div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-84790070753686229862013-04-24T19:19:00.001-07:002013-05-30T19:44:51.640-07:00Oh shed, spring is hair again!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRu2tk2g5nw/UXX6kijYnmI/AAAAAAAAAOk/JkQ-EiNfY8Y/s1600/IMG_20130419_161022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRu2tk2g5nw/UXX6kijYnmI/AAAAAAAAAOk/JkQ-EiNfY8Y/s320/IMG_20130419_161022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MMMMMMM...</td></tr>
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<br />
Aaaahh... spring is here again, and with that comes the seasonal rite of shedding. Horses shed particularly heavily in spring, then more lightly in fall. The accompanying photos were taken just recently, as my horses are trying to lose their winter coats to allow their summer coats to shine through. As you can see, some horses lose a dramatic amount of hair in what I like to call the "mangy horse" syndrome. Older horses in particular seem to like to grow a LOT of winter hair, then have to get rid of it all in the spring. Sometimes it comes out in lovely patches. The molting look is very unattractive!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PoQ0KTtFIU/UXX6v1Ul2nI/AAAAAAAAAOs/SAaKiyeLCVA/s1600/IMG_20130419_161031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PoQ0KTtFIU/UXX6v1Ul2nI/AAAAAAAAAOs/SAaKiyeLCVA/s320/IMG_20130419_161031.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little to the left, please</td></tr>
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<u><b>Benefits to manually shedding:</b></u><br />
<br />
The local birds get a bonanza of soft fluff to build their nests and cushion their fragile eggs. OK, they get that when a horse sheds naturally by rolling and rubbing on things as well.<br />
<br />
Less hair on your trees and fences <br />
<br />
Good arm, hand and finger exercise for the human shedders, even if you use tools...<br />
<br />
Great opportunity to bond with your horse, spending some extra time and attention on their care and comfort<br />
<br />
Grossing out your prissier friends <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NCpwnogIOQ0/UXX65aVlWmI/AAAAAAAAAO0/OFwO1Yd2Fis/s1600/IMG_20130419_162940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NCpwnogIOQ0/UXX65aVlWmI/AAAAAAAAAO0/OFwO1Yd2Fis/s320/IMG_20130419_162940.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, right there</td></tr>
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<u><b>Downfalls of manually shedding:</b></u><br />
<br />
Very dirty hands and fingers - it is amazing how tenaciously that grime sticks to the area under your fingernails, in particular! <br />
<br />
AAAAAAAACHHHHOOOOOOO!!<br />
<br />
Some horses can be a little sensitive or ticklish - be gentle and be careful!<br />
<br />
Loose hair never, never, ever will wash out of your clothing<br />
<br />
Enough of it will wash/dry out of your clothing to line the walls of your washer and dryer and "infect" your previously hairless clothing<br />
<br />
Grossing out your loved ones <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9poD9f2B7cY/UXX7MqMthyI/AAAAAAAAAPE/b57xECoU32U/s1600/IMG_20130419_163202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9poD9f2B7cY/UXX7MqMthyI/AAAAAAAAAPE/b57xECoU32U/s320/IMG_20130419_163202.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling itchy yet?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYHiEdL_LfI/UXX7B6ONNAI/AAAAAAAAAO8/iSSb_lotX1o/s1600/IMG_20130419_163154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYHiEdL_LfI/UXX7B6ONNAI/AAAAAAAAAO8/iSSb_lotX1o/s320/IMG_20130419_163154.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go ahead, sneeze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-39620678547587570322013-04-17T19:23:00.000-07:002013-05-30T19:46:13.424-07:00Gadgets and GizmosFirst, let me apologize for my lengthy absence. No, I didn't get tired of writing the blog - I've missed it, actually! No, I'm not a lazy slacker (not usually, anyway - I have my moments. What happened was that karma bit me in the butt. I had the audacity to write a post about winter survival tips at the very end of winter season and, as a result, the "dusting" of snow we were supposed to get here in Virginia turned into 4 - 6 inches of heavy, slushy, tree limb breaking snow. I lost power on Wednesday morning and didn't get it back until Sunday. To add insult to injury, when the power came back on, the surge killed my computer! It was plugged into a protector, just not, apparently, a very good one. Anyway, I finally managed to retrieve my information off the old hard drive (no, I did not have current backups, shame on me, another lesson learned the hard way!). Sooooo... glad to be back!<br />
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<br />
Over the years I have discovered various items and gadgets
to be indispensable on the farm. One of these invaluable gizmos is the head
lamp. Now, I must admit that the first time I saw someone wearing one of these
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi Ho, Hi Ho</td></tr>
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lights, I had to stifle a giggle. I would expect to see them worn by cavers or
miners, but it seemed a bit out of place at the farm. One of my friends has a
bit of a lazy streak and apparently had decided that there was no need to carry
a flashlight when one could be worn. He’d wear his light on an evening stroll
through the woods or, indeed, for any excuse he could find.</div>
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Granted, pride in my appearance at the farm went out the
window a long time ago when function won the battle over fashion. I was
unafraid of appearing “dorky” as long as I was comfortable. For example, one
winter I was having a lot of trouble keeping my feet warm and dry. I tried
several different boots, socks, etc. My rubber boots kept my feet dry but were
too cold no matter how many pairs of socks I wore. I had a warm pair of hiking
boots which, though allegedly weatherproof, still allowed my feet to get wet,
then cold. In desperation, I tried putting on several plastic shopping bags
before slipping on the boots. My moisture barrier worked and that was all it
took to sell me on wearing them for the rest of that winter.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I was a bit embarrassed on a few occasions when I had to run
to the store or another public venue between chores, wondering what people
would think – it was impossible to completely hide the bags without decreasing
their effectiveness and they peeked over the tops of my boots. It has always
seemed silly to me to take the time to change clothes and footwear for a run to
the store just to return and take more time changing back to work clothes, thus
I’ve learned to deal with the occasional stare or wrinkled nose. I have, however, long since invested in a good pair of insulated Muck Boots, soooo warm and wonderful, so plastic bags will be an emergency measure only. Oddly enough, the inside of my beloved boots are "don't shoot me" orange... why exactly is that?<br />
<br />
Speaking of embarrassing apparel, I now swear by those one piece insulated zip up suits. They keep me toasty warm no matter how cold it is. I have splashed water on those suits and walked around wearing a coating of ice, toasty warm inside! My city slicker friends refer to it as my ":serial killer suit." Not sure why...</div>
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Got a little off track there. Anyway, I was reluctant to try one of the headlamps.
When I first moved to my farm, Equutopia, 10 years ago, I was new and
inexperienced at farm management, a single girl trying to <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PgVl4z-v2Is/UWjJRny0UAI/AAAAAAAAAOE/GrE4qQQObsw/s1600/zombie.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PgVl4z-v2Is/UWjJRny0UAI/AAAAAAAAAOE/GrE4qQQObsw/s1600/zombie.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark Woods Dweller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
make a go of it with
little spare time and very limited financial resources. Unable to afford an
ATV, I was hauling hay down to my pasture in a wheelbarrow, flashlight tied to
the hay bale unless I was lucky enough to have a full moon on that particular
evening. The hill was steep and rutted, the wheelbarrow bounced everywhere and
the flashlight was often jarred loose. The return trip uphill was even worse,
trying to hold a handle and the light in the same hand while contending with
the panicky feeling that something or someone was looming in the dark, waiting
until I’d almost reached safety to spring their attack - the same feeling I’d
had as a child climbing the basement steps waiting for that hand to close on my
ankle. I no longer haul hay down the hill in a wheelbarrow, but it occurred to
me that a headlamp would have been really handy back then. These lights are
also fantastic when tending to a horse’s wound or bandaging a leg or any other
such situation when both hands are needed and no extras are available.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Most are familiar with the inherent value of duct tape and
twine and keep both handy at all times, so I won’t elaborate too much on these
items but to say that I use them most often for fence repair, hanging buckets
and temporary blanket repair. Few may know the handiness of keeping a few bit
guards or other thick, flexible rubber pieces around – if your copper pipe
springs a leak, a small piece of this rubber and a hose clamp can prevent a
flood. Thick rubber bands such as those found binding the broccoli in the
produce section of your local grocery store make excellent emergency
replacements for the bands on childrens’ safety stirrups.<br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farm essentials.</td></tr>
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During the winter months, when the occasional snow blankets
the ground and makes wheelbarrow locomotion nearly impossible, a childrens’
flat plastic sled works wonderfully for moving hay bales, muck baskets and the
like. Just beware of the downhill slopes – momentum is not your friend if you
happen to be standing in front of your loaded sled. I turn the sled around and
let it slide downhill backward so that I can control its speed (yes, I learned
this lesson the hard way after being the victim of a hit and run by a sled
loaded with hay bales).</div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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There are countless other improvisations one can make use of
on a farm – as they say, necessity is the mother of invention. Please remember
when trying something new that safety should be your first consideration – if
something looks dangerous, it probably is – keep thinking and find another way.</div>
<br />
<br />equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-75223416363312484442013-03-04T21:33:00.001-08:002013-05-30T19:47:32.787-07:00Winter Survival Tips<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-V5vdNiDcw/UTVj5xWubbI/AAAAAAAAALY/I4c5tR_HHXk/s320/biskit+in+blanket.jpg" title="" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cozy Biskit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!</td></tr>
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Here in Virginia, we are preparing for a winter "weather event" this week. In honor of this, I thought I would share
some tips to make life in the “winter wonderland” trifecta of cold, ice and
snow a little easier. Yes, a little late in the season, but, better late than never? Horses generally cope with cold better than they do with
heat and seem to handle our relatively mild Virginia winters with ease as long as they
are provided with food, unfrozen water and shelter or a weatherproof blanket in
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe and Torch at the water cooler.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad boyz stirring up trouble.</td></tr>
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I have found that my horses will drink more if I provide
slightly warm water – ice cold water may deter them from drinking as much as
they should, which, in turn, can lead to problems such as dehydration and
colic. I keep an extra trough in the barn during the winter months and keep it
full in case my hoses freeze, despite my best efforts. Usually, just draining
the hoses (I have a gentle hillside leading down to the barn and just lay them
out so they drain completely) works. I have seen people coil their hoses in the
barn and direct a heat lamp on them, but I'm concerned that one of my
cats might knock the heat lamp down, possibly causing a fire.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l59e0ZspL04/UTVk3aEV8OI/AAAAAAAAALo/TjfzUmIHahQ/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l59e0ZspL04/UTVk3aEV8OI/AAAAAAAAALo/TjfzUmIHahQ/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuuuummmmmyyyyy....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A good quality hay will provide the fiber horses need to
keep themselves warm. I feed round bales as well as square bales and sometimes
have to unload them by myself. My favorite method for doing so is what my
friends refer to as the “redneck unloading” technique. Step one is to either
remove any horses, dogs or other living beings from the area where you want the
hay bale. Distracting them with feed a safe distance away also works. Step two,
back your truck up to the gate and open it up. Step three, confirm that there
is nothing important behind you. Step four, accelerate backward at a good pace.
Step five, slam on your brakes. Presto – the hay bale rolls off. Beware that,
if unloading on a hillside, the hay bale may roll quite a distance. I have had
success making a barrier of wood pallets where I want the bale to stop. Having
someone on the ground “catch” the bale is very dangerous. Be aware that some dogs
view this operation as a game and may chase the hay bale as it falls and rolls
– also a potentially ugly situation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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I have been told that another method of unloading round
bales solo is to back up to a tree in the general area of where you want the bale,
tie a rope around the bale, tie the other end to the tree, and just drive your
truck out from under the bale. I have not tried this method myself, but would
advise caution in choosing a large, healthy tree – or you may just pull the
tree over on top of your truck!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3vY72TX1VI/UTVuZXDvizI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/6IyQ6-q_qt8/s1600/mweckel_Snowboarder.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3vY72TX1VI/UTVuZXDvizI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/6IyQ6-q_qt8/s1600/mweckel_Snowboarder.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaaaaaaaargh!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ice and snow are other winter evils that require some
ingenuity to deal with. Wheelbarrows don’t roll well through thick snow, so I
use a cheap plastic sled to haul square bales of hay and feed down to the barn.
This works pretty well, but one must heed the principles of physics; momentum
is not your friend. Do not walk ahead of the sled if going downhill – it will
knock you over. I let the sled slide down backwards and hold on to the rope
handle. I also try to aim the sled in a safe direction in case it starts taking
off with me and I have to let go to save myself from a fall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUPdbs7OfE8/UTVubujHpoI/AAAAAAAAAMY/JE5jBTgL1IA/s1600/Frozen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUPdbs7OfE8/UTVubujHpoI/AAAAAAAAAMY/JE5jBTgL1IA/s1600/Frozen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBBBBBBRRRRRR...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not cover ice patches with bedding – this just provides
an insulating layer and allows the ice to last longer. Break it up or use an
animal-friendly ice melting product. I have these neat rubber straps with metal
nubs on the bottom that fit over my boots and greatly improve my traction on
icy ground. They are available at sporting goods stores.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep extra hay and grain on hand in case you do get snowed
in. I once ran out of hay after one of our rare heavy blizzards and had to walk
several miles to my "neighborhood" hay dealer’s farm, in the snow, lugging a tarp and rope. I
thought I would have to stack the hay on the tarp and pull it home, but the
kind farmer gave me a ride back on his 4 wheel drive tractor, with the hay
stacked in the bucket of the tractor. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hsxL7MlJQU/UTVuQfT9KRI/AAAAAAAAAMI/oInV6Py8pps/s1600/On_Ice_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hsxL7MlJQU/UTVuQfT9KRI/AAAAAAAAAMI/oInV6Py8pps/s1600/On_Ice_1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I say BBBBRRRRRR?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike my horses, I do not handle cold very well. Granted, I
don’t have much of an insulating fat layer or a nice coat of hair but,
more than anything, winter seems to bring a lot of extra work, which means more
time outside in the bitter elements. I have a one-piece insulated work suit
which keeps me toasty warm – it’s not very fashionable (my friends refer to it as my "serial killer" look), but I highly recommend
them for outdoor winter wear. Layering clothing and keeping your feet dry are
the best ways to stay warm. If you have to spend a lot of time walking through
snow and your boots turn out not to be quite as weatherproof as the salesperson
promised, put a few plastic grocery bags on over your socks. Looks stupid, but
works.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MUSiBQrMu8g/UTV9AlAo86I/AAAAAAAAAM8/W-oY1UI34GQ/s1600/cleo+and+toby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MUSiBQrMu8g/UTV9AlAo86I/AAAAAAAAAM8/W-oY1UI34GQ/s320/cleo+and+toby.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or orange hoodie...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is also the time of year when hunters are lurking in
the woods. I’ve had a bullet whiz past me once, on a trail ride through some
woods. I don’t think I was being targeted – I think the shooter was just
careless, but it certainly got my attention and made me aware of the need to
make my presence in the woods known to all in the vicinity. I live in a rural
area surrounded by farms that are hunted, and, if I should have occasion to
walk down through the woods or pasture, I try to talk loudly or sing (that
alone is likely to drive the hunters away – I am no future “American Idol”). I
am also careful to sport my “don’t shoot me” hat, so dubbed by my students. My
blaze orange cap makes me visible at vast distances. Again, not a color that
generally complements most skin tones, but…<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBJqP0EToNU/UTWAJjx9sYI/AAAAAAAAANM/P32u240vqJo/s1600/fire.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBJqP0EToNU/UTWAJjx9sYI/AAAAAAAAANM/P32u240vqJo/s200/fire.png" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AAAAAHHHHH!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Perhaps the four most miserable consecutive days of my life were during "Snowpocalypse 2010," when I lost power for four days of nonstop blowing snow and daytime highs in the low 20s. Yes, I have a generator. No, I failed to periodically start it and make sure it was in working order. Therefore, when I desperately needed it, it would not start. Apparently, water had gotten into the fuel, then frozen, causing parts of the carburetor to crack. A hard lesson learned. Yes, I had a stockpile of hay on hand. I kept all thirty horses in their stalls and carried bales of hay on my shoulders, plowing through snow drifts (falling and cursing frequently) to keep them fed. Yes, I had troughs fairly full of water. I had to carry water to all thirty stalls by bucket from the (progressively farther away) troughs. Then, when that had all been consumed, I loaded a water trough into the back of my truck and drove over to a lucky neighbor's house, borrowing their electricity and well to fill my trough up.<br />
<br />
Incidentally, this experience also taught me a valuable lesson about siphoning.... I didn't really think about it, just hooked up several 100 foot hoses and ran them from the trough down to another trough in the barn, then thought it was a simple matter of sucking on the end of the hose to get the water started. You can stop laughing now. I think my brains were already paralyzed with cold at that point. I'm sure any reasonable person can figure out that you want to get the water moving with a short hose. The best Hoover couldn't pull water through 300 feet of hose! I now have a nice 250 gallon portable water tank with a lid and spout which has come in handy. The saving grace to my four days of misery was my woodstove... I had enough firewood to keep it cranked up on high, and the house stayed pretty warm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WiNVYPy4nTY/UTWC3k_0lRI/AAAAAAAAANc/IyU5oADo6iQ/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WiNVYPy4nTY/UTWC3k_0lRI/AAAAAAAAANc/IyU5oADo6iQ/s320/IMG_1198.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't wait!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are a few good things about winter. No flies, for one.
Algae doesn’t flourish in the water troughs, which means less frequent
scrubbing. Weeds stop growing. No extreme heat or humidity, which is really
tough on horses, especially if you have one like I do who suffers from
anhydrosis – he doesn’t sweat, and is prone to overheating, necessitating
frequent cold hosing and sponging. Best of all, winter means that spring is
just around the corner.</div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-84261243025993384362013-02-25T09:04:00.002-08:002013-05-30T19:49:16.209-07:00Companion Animals<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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My farm, Equutopia, is a little less than 70 acres, about
half of it wooded. I’ve had horses on the farm since the day I moved in, and,
being a true animal lover, have also experimented with a number of different
companion animals. Some of these have been strays that just moved in without
invitation and some have been deliberate acquisitions. The goats were in the
latter category, a well-intentioned mistake.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UxySP1fE1kc/UShcWD4xyUI/AAAAAAAAAHc/r3JLVypo8gM/s1600/cats+hard+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UxySP1fE1kc/UShcWD4xyUI/AAAAAAAAAHc/r3JLVypo8gM/s320/cats+hard+at+work.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, the cats aren't terribly useful, either.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iycW0SYDsP8/UShcvijjTII/AAAAAAAAAHk/atCVQhk7Vlg/s1600/slackerbeagles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Some time ago, I owned and operated a lawn care and
landscaping business, and I was all too familiar with the laborious task of
eradicating unwanted vines and undergrowth. Thus the seemingly brilliant idea
evolved that I should acquire a few goats – they are famous for eating vines
and brush and I felt that they would surely take over that aspect of my
grounds-keeping duties. Besides, it seemed like a great way to further the
bombproofing education of my horses.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iycW0SYDsP8/UShcvijjTII/AAAAAAAAAHk/atCVQhk7Vlg/s1600/slackerbeagles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iycW0SYDsP8/UShcvijjTII/AAAAAAAAAHk/atCVQhk7Vlg/s320/slackerbeagles.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zs7U7iPyUWk/USuYj30B3QI/AAAAAAAAAK0/ySfe_7ulb4w/s1600/toby+the+bandager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zs7U7iPyUWk/USuYj30B3QI/AAAAAAAAAK0/ySfe_7ulb4w/s320/toby+the+bandager.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Nor are some of the dogs.</td></tr>
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<br />
I found an ad for some “pygmy” goats and arranged to go pick
them up. Not having a trailer at the time, I borrowed a friend’s chicken
tractor and strapped it to the bed of my pickup in the fashion of a makeshift
cap. For those not familiar with this particular farm implement, it’s basically
a 4 x 8 contraption with a wood frame and wire mesh covering the sides and top. The idea is to put your chickens in the “tractor” and move it around your
garden, allowing them to perform their natural tilling duties as they scratch
and peck the ground. I thought the chicken tractor was a fitting accessory to
my pickup at the time – a brown 1979 Ford F150 with a 4” lift kit and big
tires.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wG3d2ZXbxmE/USuXr1cx1vI/AAAAAAAAAKs/y1UgHwuEwsw/s1600/old+brown+ford.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wG3d2ZXbxmE/USuXr1cx1vI/AAAAAAAAAKs/y1UgHwuEwsw/s320/old+brown+ford.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a girl, my lord, in a redneck Ford!</td></tr>
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The goats turned out to be half wild and not as “pygmy” as I
had expected. After much ado and several helping hands, I was able to get the
goats loaded and drove home to some unusual glances from fellow drivers. The
goats settled in to their new surroundings nicely and proceeded, in short
order, to eat almost everything but the vines and brush for which they were
enlisted. First, my strawberry patch was targeted and decimated. Then they
attacked my roses and ornamental shrubs. Afraid of the horses at first, they
soon realized that there was grain to be had around them at feeding time and
quickly overcame their trepidation. The horses were likewise initially wary of
the goats, but soon realized the goats would run away from them. They quickly
overcame their fear and accepted the goats as companions.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Cnda32fjQc/USuWS0qLcmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/aNkTwnTEChc/s1600/pandora.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Cnda32fjQc/USuWS0qLcmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/aNkTwnTEChc/s320/pandora.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pandora, one of the female goats.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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I put up with the goats’ destructive tendencies for several
years. Penning them up to save my preferred plants didn’t work; these goats
were little houdinis and climbed, jumped or butted their way out of every pen
in which I tried to contain them. The last straw was when I caught them
actually butting the horses’ heads out of the way to steal their grain. It was
time to admit my experiment was a failure and find them a new home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xs8bQ7_r6FA/USuWvWr9MbI/AAAAAAAAAKc/wf0TBkLrtVQ/s1600/grimm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xs8bQ7_r6FA/USuWvWr9MbI/AAAAAAAAAKc/wf0TBkLrtVQ/s320/grimm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grimm, one of the boys.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The next companion animal to come inhabit Equutopia was
Petunia, the pot-bellied pig. I knew she wouldn’t serve much of a useful
purpose other than, again, I thought it might be handy to acclimate my horses
to a variety of unusual animals they might encounter in our trips off the farm.
Also, I’d had a pig in the past, Tonka, who was a wonderful pet.Tonka delighted
in riding around in my truck, taking walks around the block with the dogs at
night (I lived in Alexandria at the time – this was in the pre-farm era),
playing in her kiddie pool and cuddling up in my lap. Besides, the friend who
told me about Petunia knew my soft spot for pigs and emphasized that she really
needed a new home. Something was wrong with my truck on the day I was to pick
her up, so I put down the seats and spread a quilt in the back of my Saturn to
transport her back to the farm.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXtl3zEGwrQ/USuW7RQoS_I/AAAAAAAAAKk/g9vioTYv8E0/s1600/petunia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXtl3zEGwrQ/USuW7RQoS_I/AAAAAAAAAKk/g9vioTYv8E0/s320/petunia.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petunia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Upon arrival, I quickly learned two things: one, Petunia was
a very large “miniature” pig and two, pigs cannot easily be forced into a car
or, indeed, anywhere they’re not inclined to go on their own accord. I’d been
lucky with Tonka. She was small enough to pick up and carry around and liked
being handled. Luckily, Petunia (whose name was actually Penelope at the time,
but I have a cousin of the same name whom I feared would not be flattered at
sharing her name with a pig, thus the pig’s name was changed to preserve
harmony in my family) displayed a weakness for chips and junk food. I ended up
laying a trail of snacks to my car and up into the back seat, and she
self-loaded with a supplemental little boost. Petunia spent the ride home with
her head wedged between the front seats, attracting even more attention from
passing cars than the goats had garnered.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Petunia lived a long and happy life at Equutopia. She and
the horses quickly became accustomed to each other and, in fact, we would often
find Petunia snoozing in a corner of one of the horses’ stalls. They evicted
her at feeding time but were content to share their space otherwise. Petunia
ended up being more useful than expected, cleaning up dropped grain in the
stalls, and befriended my students, submitting to their tummy rubs and
grooming. She died in her sleep, and is buried next to my rose
garden, which survived despite the unsolicited goat pruning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aq8nWggE91I/UShdhbfbNqI/AAAAAAAAAHs/JR_kp6ZZJzk/s1600/primrose+and+azaleas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aq8nWggE91I/UShdhbfbNqI/AAAAAAAAAHs/JR_kp6ZZJzk/s320/primrose+and+azaleas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primrose, the current pig.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Companion animals seem to help desensitize the horses to
strange sights and sounds and are sometimes even useful. Always introduce new
animals slowly and carefully over a fence and be sure to supervise them
carefully to avoid possible injuries. I teach all of my horses to lead from
both sides for safety reasons. When leading horses past the new animals, I
always walk between the horse and the new animal in case the horse decides to
spook. Research the animals you’re considering before you commit. If I’d done
some research before bringing home my goats, I would have learned that there
are certain goat breeds that are easier to contain in a pen and not inclined to
jumping heights grand prix horses would envy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make sure you handle your new pets regularly so you can trim
their feet and administer medications and vaccinations. Both the goats and
Petunia were unaccustomed to handling upon arrival at the farm, thus routine
care was always dramatic. I had to wait until evening, when Petunia was asleep,
to slip down to the barn and trim her hooves while she was unconscious.
Occasionally she’d stir, and I’d have to rub her tummy until she dozed off
again, allowing me to resume the trim.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1G5UmMqNjc/USheYsWot9I/AAAAAAAAAIE/is_BAJ-bgWY/s1600/primrose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1G5UmMqNjc/USheYsWot9I/AAAAAAAAAIE/is_BAJ-bgWY/s320/primrose.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another photo of my beautiful Primrose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be aware of the needs of your new animal, including
veterinary care and feeding requirements. Certain feeds can be hazardous to
animal species other than those for which they were formulated. For example,
horse feed generally contains copper, which can be toxic to goats and sheep. If
companion animals are taken on with eyes wide open and cared for responsibly,
they can be wonderful additions to any farm.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw73jJTM530/USuZBLQRhaI/AAAAAAAAAK8/gxoOWNBX6_k/s1600/emu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw73jJTM530/USuZBLQRhaI/AAAAAAAAAK8/gxoOWNBX6_k/s320/emu.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The emus were another failed experiment, but they will have their own story...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-41625663839061830212013-02-19T23:42:00.000-08:002013-05-30T19:50:47.204-07:00Pinball WhizzerI have mentioned in a previous post that I am not much of a speed freak. I prefer a leisurely hunter pace, or the controlled energy of dressage. However, I have been an exercise rider not once, but twice in my lifetime. Perhaps I thought I could just push through the trepidation and I would get used to the fear. I gave it my best shot. No dice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBcDkalSPJY/USRsgjzI2eI/AAAAAAAAAGM/3x6dq7Yfkls/s1600/rocking+horse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBcDkalSPJY/USRsgjzI2eI/AAAAAAAAAGM/3x6dq7Yfkls/s1600/rocking+horse.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, I'm not <i>that</i> much of a wussy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My first stint was shortly after moving to the farm, probably around the spring of 1997. My roommate was an exercise rider, and convinced me to give it a shot. I had a full-time office job, but we decided I could ride in the mornings before work, then go in to the office (thankfully, one of the only places I have worked that had showers in the restrooms!). Thus, I got up before the sun (also something I hate) and drove to a small barn with a training track. There, I gritted my teeth and rode a variety of Thoroughbreds with varying levels of control and steering. The head trainer started me off riding inside the barn, then we progressed to a small, covered track before moving to the big, open track.<br />
<br />
I will never forget the first time I had a real gallop on the main track. I was riding a 2 year old, very sweet, pretty easy to get along with in general, a handsome bay. I rode out onto the track alone. The trainer instructed me to just warm up by trotting about half the track, then ease him into a canter. Well, we accomplished the trot warmup without any problem. The canter, however, was not to be. My boy started off in a brisk canter, then decided he needed to stretch his legs and pull my arms out of their sockets. He took off, pounding the dirt, clearly enjoying the rush.<br />
<br />
I had never galloped so fast, and was torn between terror and exhilaration. Tears started streaming down my face. I was having a little trouble seeing, and felt completely out of control. I tried pulling back on the reins, pull and release, pull as hard as I can, nothing. We rounded the turn, and I could see the trainer standing trackside, watching. There were trees in the center of the track, so his view of our warmup and takeoff had been obscured.<br />
<br />
"How are you doing?" he asked as we streaked by, me desperately trying to appear nonchalant, smiling and trying not to pull back too obviously.<br />
<br />
"Fine!" I lied.<br />
<br />
We rounded the next turn and disappeared once again from the trainer's sight. I resumed my frantic attempts to slow down and gain control. By the time we made it back around, I was feeling a little more like the driver and I was able to pull up next to the trainer.<br />
<br />
"Wow, how fast were we going? I don't think I've ever gone that fast!" I gushed.<br />
<br />
"You weren't really going that fast - maybe a two-minute mile pace."<br />
<br />
That seemed mighty fast to me. I slid off the horse and my legs almost collapsed. Adrenaline shakes, I suppose. A little too scary for my taste. I began dreading my morning rides. Soon afterward, I realized I just wasn't cut out for that line of work and resigned.<br />
<br />
Fast-forward a few years. I guess my short-term memory wasn't so sharp. In early 2000, I was self-employed with my own lawn care and landscaping business. I supplemented my income by exercising foxhunters (that can be harrowing itself, but that's another story!). Then, one day, I saw a sign at the local feed store, seeking help in starting two young Thoroughbreds. I called the number and was soon hired for the job. It turned out that my new boss was a racehorse trainer, and she had two prospects that needed to be started under saddle. I thought that would be fun.<br />
<br />
Sure enough, the initial training went well and <i>was</i> fun. We got the two youngsters going very well at home, listening to the aids, stopping, steering... very much under control, I thought. I took them trail riding, then progressed to a little galloping in neighboring fields. Finally, the babies were deemed fit to move to the training track. I was asked to continue riding them there. I thought it was going to be different. After all, I had helped train these two from the start. I knew they had manners and that they understood what I wanted from them. What did I know.<br />
<br />
So, let me set the scene for one of the most harrowing rides of my life. We have a lovely, busy training track, full of activity, other horses and their riders. Then we have two horses, a gelding and a filly, that have never seen such a track. Add a rookie rider who also has never seen such a track (the previous track from Lapse of Reason #1 was a private, quiet track). We gave the horses a few days to get used to their surroundings, then the day came to get busy with training.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNRCrr-KbKo/USR9jtSWtgI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Q28CPh94wEI/s1600/pinball.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNRCrr-KbKo/USR9jtSWtgI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Q28CPh94wEI/s1600/pinball.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foreshadowing....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
It was a beautiful, warm morning in early summer. We tacked up the gelding, Chambord, and I was boosted up into the saddle. My trainer accompanied us up to the main track.<br />
<br />
"Now we just want to get him quietly around today, just let him get used to the track," she instructed.<br />
<br />
"Ok," I replied. I started to walk off. A set of two horses came around the turn behind us and galloped past.<br />
<br />
"Why don't you just let him follow those two horses?" suggested my trainer. Sounded like a plan to me. I pointed my horse in their direction and nudged him onward. There was really no need. Chambord had seen them go by and was excited to join them. He broke into a hesitant canter and aimed at their tails.<br />
<br />
In retrospect, it would have been a good idea to pony the two horses around the track and let them get used to the sights while under the influence of a calm companion. We did not do that. Perhaps my trainer had overestimated my abilities. Maybe she was secretly videotaping the occasion and has since cashed in big (I haven't seen her in a looooong time... hmmmmm...)<br />
<br />
The ride that followed was like sitting on a ricocheting pinball. Chambord would shoot forward, toward the frontrunning horses, then catch sight of one of the furlong poles and violently shy away. No sooner did he alter course, than he would notice a pole on the other side of the track and spook back in the other direction. I was struggling to stay aboard, clenching my teeth and my abs and steeling myself for a dive into the dirt. I thought about bailing out, but I didn't. I'm not sure how I managed to stay on, careening all the way around that track at varying levels of high speed. That was the longest half-mile of my life. I managed to pull up alongside my trainer and slide to the ground, legs shaking so badly I could hardly walk. Good times.<br />
<br />
You may be surprised to hear that this was not my last ride. I stuck it out a little longer, and gained some confidence, though I apparently quickly developed a reputation for being the slowest one on the track at any given time. I enjoyed tooling around at a brisk canter. Ok, so I was obviously not cut out for this line of work. The trainer and I agreed that it would be better to get someone with more experience on their backs.<br />
<br />
Nowadays, the only racehorses I ride have been retired from the track. I spend my time retraining them, teaching them to slow down and smell the roses. Yes, we have our exciting moments, but none to match the time I rode the equine pinball.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6PnmxiPgTnM/USR7w6GjwnI/AAAAAAAAAGk/7HDUnNJV1WM/s1600/cleo+and+roxanne2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6PnmxiPgTnM/USR7w6GjwnI/AAAAAAAAAGk/7HDUnNJV1WM/s320/cleo+and+roxanne2.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More my speed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-15429292514698576612013-02-15T22:45:00.000-08:002013-05-30T19:52:08.178-07:00Fear and Resolve<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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People often ask me, upon hearing my admittance of an
insurmountable fear of heights, how I manage to ride a horse. I answer that it
doesn’t seem that high up in the saddle – it’s a different kind of height, I
try to explain. What I don’t attempt to convey is my feeling that, once in the
saddle, I become part of the horse. It’s not just me perched up on high, I just
become a little taller. My non-horsey friends (possibly conjuring up an image of Cleo the Centaur) just don't seem to understand. I’ve
never managed to attain that feeling perched on a ladder or standing in a
hayloft, though, on the plus side, I’ve never been bucked off either of the latter. Actually, I
take that back; I was once on one of those handy-dandy collapsible ladders…
need I say more?. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Fear is natural and self-preserving. However, there are
times when you want or must do things that involve facing and overcoming some
of those fears, within reason. I certainly don’t recommend attempting to
conquer one’s fear of grizzly bear attacks! Respecting the danger of the
potentially risky situation and taking all possible precautions against injury
are key to balancing the accomplishment of your goals with a long and healthy
life.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u1g5vFs8Ykc/UR2543ehpAI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/jO5NfjFZY2E/s1600/bear.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u1g5vFs8Ykc/UR2543ehpAI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/jO5NfjFZY2E/s1600/bear.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, really, I'm harmless! I come bearing gifts!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Riding and handling horses is fraught with risk. As I have
mentioned in previous posts, I have been trampled (twice now, to date) and have
been the victim of multiple kicks and bites. Then there are the falls. I used
to tell all my students at Equutopia that, if you’re going to ride, you’re
eventually going to fall off – everyone has a spill eventually and there’s no
getting around it. You have to make peace with that idea. If you're afraid to fall off, you'd better not get on to begin with. Fortunately, the falls I have personally experienced and seen my students perform seldom caused more than a bruised
ego. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember vividly the great quandary of my childhood; I was
addicted to horses and riding, and my parents diligently took me to riding
lessons, but my stomach was always cramped up in fear on the drive to the
stable. My body was desperately trying to force me to quit but my heart
wouldn’t let me do so. I think I can attribute most of this seemingly
disproportionate fear to the “talents” of my first riding instructor.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ROSFeOeQ2Wg/URszy32vpyI/AAAAAAAAAE0/MG2S0OA1_2M/s1600/Eddie.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ROSFeOeQ2Wg/URszy32vpyI/AAAAAAAAAE0/MG2S0OA1_2M/s320/Eddie.bmp" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The frightful Eddie, as I remember him...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eddie was a tall, athletic young man (from the perspective
of a 7 year old, anyway). He was a hotshot who certainly could stick on a horse
but lacked patience with his young pupils. I have two strong memories of him:
the first is of him screaming at me to get back on and canter my horse after
falling off at my first attempt – he actually threatened to chase us with a
whip! The second memory is of him jumping on a young, green horse bareback and
galloping down the highway in pursuit of a loose horse. This happened one day
right after a lesson. As we were driving home, we passed him riding back to the barn,
leading the escapee, mission accomplished. He was the urban cowboy. I was in awe, but I feared and somewhat loathed him, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My later instructors had much better people skills and I
slowly started rebuilding my confidence. I have a particular fondness for an
instructor named Dale and a big, flashy Thoroughbred named Banjo – he used to
pull me around the ring and she would admonish me to sit back and, for
goodness’ sake, please start eating more pizza and sundaes! I should explain
that I was about 80 pounds at the time – I didn’t get over 100 pounds until I
was almost out of high school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9IToNfZCvg4/URsuHSJChfI/AAAAAAAAAEA/tkCKe6Xcn7A/s1600/bunny+and+carrot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9IToNfZCvg4/URsuHSJChfI/AAAAAAAAAEA/tkCKe6Xcn7A/s1600/bunny+and+carrot.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, no, no, no, no! Pizza and sundaes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ironically, perhaps, a big turning point in gaining back the
confidence Eddie so ably destroyed was when I survived my first really scary spill. I was competing in a hunter
pace event on a frisky gray gelding. My partner (it was a pairs competition) sailed over a large obstacle,
and I chose to go around. The gelding I was riding did not appreciate this decision,
punctuating his displeasure by dropping his head and bucking hard. I sailed
over his head and landed some distance in front of him, face down, in his path.
He jumped over me, but grazed the back of my hand with one of his hooves,
causing several lacerations. I still have the scars. We returned to the barn, I
received basic first aid, and went back out on a quieter horse. From that point
on, I lost a lot of my fear. In retrospect, I think I felt that I’d experienced
about as bad a spill as possible (I was naïve, I know) and survived, and if
that was as bad as it was going to get, well, I could live with that.<br />
<br />
I did discover, later in life, that I am unable to overcome my fear of riding at very high speeds. I love Thoroughbreds, and have tried twice in the past to exercise racehorses. Unfortunately, I am also a bit of a control freak, and I really didn't like the feeling of being run away with. I enjoyed working with the young horses, but once they got a taste for speed, forget it... someone else could fly around the track with them. One of my greatest joys has been working with former racehorses and retraining them to move about at a more reasonable rate of speed, turning and bending, and accepting soft contact instead of just pulling against it. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u7VQiWEERoQ/UR8pDHIP3yI/AAAAAAAAAFw/AUvKxig27io/s1600/jockey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u7VQiWEERoQ/UR8pDHIP3yI/AAAAAAAAAFw/AUvKxig27io/s1600/jockey.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In teaching my own students, I tried to remind myself of
these times, of how it feels to be too afraid to try something, of Eddie and the damage of which a poor, impatient instructor is capable. The
biggest challenge was dealing with fears associated with learning to ride over
jumps. As anyone who has been through this knows, if you’re nervous and stiff
approaching the jump, you tend to get popped up out of the saddle by your
horse’s jumping effort. This, of course, is scary, though normally you land
right back in the saddle. I constantly reminded my students to relax their
backs, sink their weight into their heels, and fold forward from the waist.
This is easier said than done when you’re worried about going airborne again.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifrF3Fn3X0g/UR27n23G9fI/AAAAAAAAAFc/NUTP3VNvTX0/s1600/flyiing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifrF3Fn3X0g/UR27n23G9fI/AAAAAAAAAFc/NUTP3VNvTX0/s1600/flyiing.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except that we don't have wings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
These days, my fears are mainly centered around surviving “airs
above the ground” when leading or otherwise attempting to control a horse from
the ground. A spirited horse can do a leap from a standstill to make Michael Jordan
envious, simultaneously kicking out with any or all of its legs. Woe unto you
if your head or any other body part is within range! I generally try to lead a
horse from a position next to their shoulder, a more difficult spot for the
horse to target. Unfortunately, that position is ideal for the
head-swinging-face-slam – anyone that has experienced this knows what I’m
talking about!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t mean to imply that my horses are ill-behaved rogues!
To the contrary, they are generally really easy to handle, even my one
stallion, who is arguably the most docile of the bunch. Still, even these angels can
be a handful when ill weather causes me to confine them to their stalls and
they build up excess energy, or if it’s a particularly windy, brisk day. The
rehabilitation cases are often the trickiest – I have had several horses that were on
stall restriction for 3-4 months or more. You can imagine how much energy they
build up and how happy they are once they regain even a little freedom! I
always make use of the magic of pharmaceuticals to sedate them when they first
start getting limited turnout, for their own safety and mine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2rKXJBpzok/URs0ed7fAyI/AAAAAAAAAFA/MG2x2_NNlr0/s1600/feisty+horse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2rKXJBpzok/URs0ed7fAyI/AAAAAAAAAFA/MG2x2_NNlr0/s1600/feisty+horse.png" /></a></div>
</div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-38211022615483240892013-02-12T21:30:00.000-08:002013-05-30T19:53:10.300-07:00The Blanket Incident (or, Trampling #1)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Many of my hard-learned lessons were, in retrospect,
possibly avoidable with the application of a little common sense. However,
there were some that came as a complete and shocking surprise. One of these
insights that left an indelible impression (literally as well as figuratively) was what I refer to as the “Blanket
Incident.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have always considered myself to be prudently cautious in
handling the half-ton horses with which I share my farm and life. To that end,
when turning out, I always put out the submissive horses first and dominant
ones last to avoid possible confrontations at the gate – I reverse the order
when bringing them into the barn. That system seemed flawless until the
introduction of extenuating circumstances – namely, horse clothing. Little did
I know that, apparently, horses don’t necessarily recognize each other when
they’re decked out in their winter wear.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJEs1QWeRu8/URmsAQE_V6I/AAAAAAAAADg/J_5zW816G5I/s1600/biskit+in+blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJEs1QWeRu8/URmsAQE_V6I/AAAAAAAAADg/J_5zW816G5I/s320/biskit+in+blanket.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This does not look like supervillian garb to me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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On the evening of the “Blanket Incident,” I was turning the
horses out after their evening meal. At the time, I had three mares that shared
a paddock. The most dominant, Figure, is a Thoroughbred mare purchased
privately after she went through an auction as a “no sale” – she was very thin,
obviously blind in her milky right eye and unattractive to prospective buyers.
A friend and I bought Figure and another mare who was similarly unappealing to
bidders by virtue of her uncontrollable shaking, soaking wet, lathered body and
foaming mouth and took them home, concerned that their next stop would have
been a livestock auction where they would probably have been passed up again by
all but the meat buyers. Figure put on weight, eventually had her bad eye
surgically removed, and turned out to have lovely conformation and movement.
The other mare, Sparks, was rehabilitated and eventually given to a lady who
wanted a few horses as pets, but she was in the paddock with Figure and another
Thoroughbred, Kelley, at the time of the incident.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ocake7wMwqk/USuTcsf-7oI/AAAAAAAAAJc/EzssR92bipM/s1600/beamer+just+born.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ocake7wMwqk/USuTcsf-7oI/AAAAAAAAAJc/EzssR92bipM/s320/beamer+just+born.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure, the trampler, looking all innocent and motherly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was one of the first really cold nights of that winter,
dark and muddy from recent rains, and I’d bundled the mares into their
weatherproof coats. I was bundled up myself in my undeniably unfashionable
winter wear: insulated body suit, multiple layers of socks topped by a layer of
plastic grocery bags (for extra moisture protection) and encased in crusty muck
boots, topped off with the blaze orange knit cap my students refer to as my
“don’t shoot me” hat. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The two more submissive mares went out without incident and
I brought Figure out to the gate. No sooner had I walked her through the gate
than one of the other mares ran at her, teeth bared, apparently mistaking her
boss mare for an interloper. Alas, this attack was to Figure’s blind side, thus
she didn’t see her attacker (though it may not have made any difference if she
had – she may not have recognized her underling either). The attacking mare
turned and started kicking Figure. Frantic to escape, Figure ran directly and
literally over me, pushing me down into the mud.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2SGcRKYdpU/URswKOz3GII/AAAAAAAAAEU/QR5pGVkUJxY/s1600/chalkline3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2SGcRKYdpU/URswKOz3GII/AAAAAAAAAEU/QR5pGVkUJxY/s320/chalkline3.bmp" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mud-stained chalk outline - yes, I was wearing my "don't shoot me" knit hat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was the first time I had ever been trampled. Fortunately
the mares all emerged from their scuffle without a scratch because I was in no
condition to do any doctoring that evening. After I extricated myself from the
half-frozen mud (I guess I was lucky it was muddy, as I sunk in nicely - if the ground had been completely hard and frozen, I might have fared worse), I struggled through the last of my chores and dragged myself
up to the house. I was really sore for a few days and my back bothered me for
weeks afterwards but I consider myself very lucky to have escaped an ambulance
ride.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have gone over the events of that evening many times in my
mind, searching for other possible reasons the submissive mare may have chosen
to attack Figure. After all, I’d used blankets many times without problems.
Figure was used to these mares being on her blind side and the other mares
feared and respected her on every other occasion. The only change on that
evening was the blankets. These three mares were relatively new to the farm and
I don’t recall having used blankets on them previous to that evening, though
they all accepted them calmly, leading me to believe that they were accustomed
to their wear. The lesson left an indelible imprint on the diligence of making
sure all horses sniff noses and acknowledge each other over the fence before
leading them through the gate into a group, especially when wearing their
disguises.</div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-69190026048902578532013-02-09T06:41:00.002-08:002013-05-30T19:55:09.034-07:00Water Hazards and other Foaling Perils<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Any small breeder who foals his or her mares at home knows
the stress associated with the whole process. First, checking your mare daily
for signs of heat, calling the veterinarian out to the farm to perform
palpations, ultrasounds and cultures to make sure the mare is healthy and ready
for breeding. Then choosing among the multitude of lovely stallions available (I do admit I love looking at the stud books, though it makes me feel a little "pimpy") and, in the case of live cover, setting up a date for the mare to
be bred with the chosen stud and hauling her to and from her appointment (makes me feel even more "pimpy!"). Next,
waiting the requisite 14 days for an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy, if you’re
lucky. If not, the process begins again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An anxious 11 months, 5 days follows as you watch the mare
carefully throughout her pregnancy, pulling her off any pasture that may
contain fescue for the last 4 months thereof, increasing the protein level in
her feed for the last trimester. As the mare expands dramatically, you have to
start maneuvering her more carefully through stall doors and other spots that
were never tight before. My stall door openings are 4’ wide – normally plenty
of space, but I have to make sure my heavily pregnant mares exit and enter
through the center to avoid getting bumped.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the final stretch – seemingly endless days and nights
of little or no sleep as you make constant checks on the mare as foaling
becomes imminent. The false alarms as the mare lies down, examines her sides
and starts groaning, only to get right back up and start eating. Some mares can
be pretty dramatic in expressing their displeasure at their large burden; I
have one mare that makes a big show of waddling, groaning and examining her
belly in disgust for the last months of her pregnancy. Maybe it’s just paranoia,
but I think she gives me the “evil eye,” knowing that I’m responsible for her
discomfort.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2006, we had two foalings at Equutopia and both were
adventures. Figure was the first mare to foal, showing signs around 10 pm on
April 13, causing me to call my backup out of bed; I always feel better having
extra hands available during the foaling process in case the mare or foal needs
assistance. I also had a student, Jenny, that made me promise to call when the
foals were getting ready to emerge into their new world. On that particular
evening, I had house guests, who also eagerly hustled down to the barn to
observe the proceedings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ocake7wMwqk/USuTcsf-7oI/AAAAAAAAAJc/EzssR92bipM/s1600/beamer+just+born.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ocake7wMwqk/USuTcsf-7oI/AAAAAAAAAJc/EzssR92bipM/s320/beamer+just+born.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beamer getting checked out by his mom, Figure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thus the birth or Beamer was well attended. My guests were
all briefed on the importance of remaining silent and out of the way. One young
lady crouched down in the adjoining stall to peer through the thin ventilation
slats in the stall wall. Alas, she soon regretted this vantage point – Figure’s
water broke and sprayed through the slats, showering her hapless victim! Luckily, she was a horsewoman. Her male friend, however, made an immediate, hasty exit from the scene. Beamer
arrived shortly thereafter with no complications and the guests departed,
leaving me and Bobbie, my friend and constant assistant, to make sure Beamer
stood and nursed within the generally recommended 2 hour time period. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mjNLuosavrk/USuT15_0UJI/AAAAAAAAAJk/r-bBWhY8qTo/s1600/figure+kisses+beamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mjNLuosavrk/USuT15_0UJI/AAAAAAAAAJk/r-bBWhY8qTo/s320/figure+kisses+beamer.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First kiss from mommy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About an hour went by, and the little colt made several
attempts to stand on his uncooperative, wobbly legs, lurching around the stall
as he tried to master mobility. With some assistance, he got the hang of
standing, balanced precariously on his four absurdly long legs, but still
seemed to have trouble nursing. Beamer was able to locate the fountain, but was
having trouble with the operational aspect. I started getting nervous that he
wouldn’t ingest the all-important colostrum, the mare’s initial milk, rich with
the antibodies he would need for immunity from disease in his first few months
of life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VE66nW1MAi0/URXrJO91BUI/AAAAAAAAACw/EhqvwNgcpZw/s1600/beamerfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VE66nW1MAi0/URXrJO91BUI/AAAAAAAAACw/EhqvwNgcpZw/s320/beamerfront.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with Auntie Bobbie.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was then that I discovered that the bottles I’d
purchased, just in case a situation like this came up where I needed to
hand-milk a mare and bottle feed her foal, were not foal-size. The nipples were
way too small. I ended up leaving Bobbie to watch momma and her baby and raced
to Wal-Mart to get a larger one. By this time, it was past midnight. Thank
goodness for 24 hour stores! By the time I got back, of course, all was well
and Beamer was nursing with gusto. We’d already dipped his navel with iodine
and decided to leave the pair so that all of us could get a little rest.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yvYuA1RMa9U/USuUJy5W0FI/AAAAAAAAAJs/cR1SEulpe7A/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yvYuA1RMa9U/USuUJy5W0FI/AAAAAAAAAJs/cR1SEulpe7A/s320/IMG_0150.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beamer's yearling mug shot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I missed the birth of Celera. It happened in the middle of
the afternoon, April 18. I had just run out to my vet's office for something, and I got a frantic call from my student, Shelley,
who had arrived at Equutopia for a lesson to find a gangly chestnut colt
wandering up and down the barn aisle. I have half doors on all my stalls and,
though I’d carefully blocked the lower opening with a piece of plywood, the
colt had managed to break down the barrier and liberate himself. I arrived
shortly after the call (luckily I was almost home anyway) and we teamed up to
wrestle the colt back into the stall with his mother, Violet. Poor Celera had
bumped his nose, either during his birth which, judging from the location of
the placenta, happened right near one of the stall walls, or during his
subsequent escape. He was having a lot of trouble nursing, so I called my vet’s
office and Dr. Tena Boyd came out immediately. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua25S5S6Myo/USuUfwJV3MI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/EsGd_4Z0BFo/s1600/celera+baby+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua25S5S6Myo/USuUfwJV3MI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/EsGd_4Z0BFo/s320/celera+baby+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Celera, a few days old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a careful examination, Tena determined that the
swelling wasn’t serious and would soon dissipate. However, until it did so,
Celera would be unable to nurse. He essentially couldn’t “feel” his mother’s
udder because of the swelling. The bottle I’d purchased on my midnight run a
few days ago was to come in handy. I had to milk Violet and bottle feed Celera
every hour for the rest of the day and all through the night. Finally, the next
morning, the swelling subsided and Celera was able to feed himself. Tena
returned to check his immunity level (a simple blood test performed on the spot
12 to 24 hours post-birth) and pronounced him healthy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQy1Mb_DD7k/USuUmmTPYnI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/s-2wgvuDn-8/s1600/celera+baby+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQy1Mb_DD7k/USuUmmTPYnI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/s-2wgvuDn-8/s320/celera+baby+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Celera, so cute and curious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Weeks of sleep deprivation had taken their toll, but I was
thrilled to have two big, healthy colts. The kids showered the foals and their
mothers with attention, providing the all-important initial desensitizing and
imprinting with humans that makes foals much easier to handle when they become
1000 lb horses. They learned to wear a halter, be led in and out, and submit to
grooming and fussing. We certainly had a few exciting moments, especially in
the process of teaching the colts to lead. It is crucial that a handler not
pull on these babies’ necks when they’re young – they are fragile and
susceptible to strains and worse. Therefore, though they wear halters and lead
ropes, the actual “leading” is accomplished by walking next to the foal, one
hand on his rump, the other on his chest on one of the shoulder bones,
essentially guiding the foal. The foal, of course, resists and often bucks, kicks
and lurches, resulting in all sorts of colorful bruises for the handler. They
are surprisingly strong and athletic!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YfWdX7EXdc/USuUzhMQxKI/AAAAAAAAAKE/c977AgYYvYE/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YfWdX7EXdc/USuUzhMQxKI/AAAAAAAAAKE/c977AgYYvYE/s320/IMG_0152.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celera's yearling mug shot, with Auntie Robyn.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been fortunate that all four of the foals born at
Equutopia thus far have been fairly healthy. I no longer do any breeding, I am already at capacity and feel that there are too many unwanted horses around already (not that my babies would contribute to that situation, I plan on keeping them until their last days). Yes, the whole breeding and
foaling process is stressful and has, no doubt, contributed to my wrinkles (my mom and more than one friend have presented me with gifts of wrinkle cream and skin care products!), but there are few things as satisfying to the horse
lover as being a part of the whole process and watching a helpless little foal
grow strong, play and develop their unique personalities and characteristics on their way to becoming an athlete, companion and partner.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6Qz-N81-mk/USuVfxaqcSI/AAAAAAAAAKM/7zyz4H6stkM/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6Qz-N81-mk/USuVfxaqcSI/AAAAAAAAAKM/7zyz4H6stkM/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with Auntie Robyn again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-16431193304784555192013-02-08T12:44:00.002-08:002013-05-30T19:56:15.346-07:00Saving the Mermaid<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ariel, wondering where the racetrack went?</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The call came on a Tuesday evening back in May of 2007 – a plea to help save a
doomed filly. The gentleman on the other end had gone to some trouble to track
me down. I hadn’t heard from him in several years, not since I adopted this
filly’s half brother, Ollie, a sweet chestnut gelding with lots of chrome and a
bone chip in his knee The gentleman remembered my willingness to try to salvage
Ollie, who was deemed a lost cause at the time I acquired him – his bone chip
had not been removed and his knee was showing a lot of arthritic changes; my
vet was sure it would continue to deteriorate and didn’t hold out much hope
that Ollie would ever be sound. I was able to rehabilitate the gelding and
adopt him out to a young lady who adores him and rode him regularly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ollie’s half sister, the subject of the phone call, had
apparently won her first race the preceding Saturday evening. Although she
seemed fine on the eve of her victory, she had been unwilling to put weight on
her left front leg the following morning. Radiographs were taken and the owner
received the news that the filly, whom they called “Mermaid,” had fractured one
of the bones in her knee. The prognosis was not good. She would require an
expensive operation to have even a chance to return to racing and, considering
that her win was in a low-level claiming race, that was not a financially
viable option for the owner. The non-surgical option was stall rest, possibly
with a splint, for 4 to 6 months. Unfortunately, Mermaid’s owner did not have
access to a facility where she could be rested and rehabilitated. He had
nowhere to turn and was faced with the prospect of having to euthanize his
sweet little homebred. That’s where I came into the picture.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So it was that I had to take Thursday off work and drive to
Charles Town Races. I drove into the barn area and found the appropriate barn
number with no problem. The barns at the track are very large and the trainer I
was looking for was, of course, at the end opposite from where I had parked. I
hiked what seemed like several miles, asking for the trainer as I went, and
finally located him cleaning a stall. Mermaid’s trainer was a very kind man and
also expressed his gratitude at my willingness to take and attempt to
rehabilitate her. He took me over to get my first look at the filly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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She was standing against the side of her stall, clearly
uncomfortable but nonetheless munching on hay. Her left front leg was bandaged
from just below her elbow all the way down to the hoof. Dark bay, almost black,
she looked small in the stall. The refinement of her body was carried over to
her chiseled head, which featured a big, kind eye and a large, white teardrop
star.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I backed my trailer up as close as possible to the barn and
Mermaid limped out of her stall. We loaded the little bay filly onto my trailer
with the assistance of a few helpful volunteers and I headed home, assured by
the trainer that her radiographs would be sent to my veterinarian straight
away. That drive was one of the tensest I’ve experienced, crawling along down
the road, creeping around turns, gripping the steering wheel and wincing at the
slightest bump. I was terrified that, despite the reasonably smooth roads and
the most careful driving I could muster, the trailer ride would aggravate the
injury. When I finally pulled into my driveway, my neck and shoulders were
aching from the tension and stress.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My neighbor, Sarah Lynn, graciously came over and assisted
in unloading Mermaid and getting her situated in her new home. She asked what
we were going to name the little filly. I mentioned that she was known as
“Mermaid” at the track and Sarah Lynn suggested that we call her “Ariel” after
the character in “The Little Mermaid.” My students loved the idea and it stuck.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a pretty face!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ariel was a bit tentative in her new surroundings at first,
protecting her stall space and pinning her ears at anyone who ventured too
close. She soon settled in and began accepting pats, treats and attention.
She’s been an exemplary patient from the first, standing quietly as we minister
to her injury. At first, we put a splint fashioned from a section of 3” pvc
pipe on her leg, bandaging the leg all the way down, then bandaging the splint
on top. That was quite an operation! It took two people, plus someone to hold Ariel,
to carry out that mission. I am always grateful to my students, boarders and
friends who always step up to help whenever they’re needed. The splint kept
trying to slide down or twist to the side of Ariel’s leg. Then we had
difficulties with the lower bandages sliding down the leg under the splint,
dragging the splint down with them.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished (and colorful!) splint job.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I received Ariel’s digital radiographs via email within days
and immediately forwarded them to Tena Boyd, DVM of Old Waterloo Equine Clinic,
one of my veterinarians and friends, who has always been patient with my soft
heart and tendency to take on charity cases. Tena examined them and called me
that evening, assuring me that the fracture was not as bad as we’d feared,
affecting one of the smaller knee bones rather than the largest. Apparently,
the bone Ariel fractured is one of the most commonly injured in racehorses.
Tena suggested that I bandage the leg in a stacked layer, wrapping first the
lower leg with heavy padding and a bandage, then applying another layer of padding
such that it overlapped the lower bandage and covered Ariel’s knee and just
above. I was relieved to hear that the splint would be unnecessary and that
Tena forecast a good prognosis for Ariel to be pasture sound in several months.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stacked bandage.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was fantastic news for the crew at Equutopia – none of
us had any experience with knee fractures and we were unsure what to expect.
Our greatest fear was that Tena would have to recommend surgery. I dreaded the
thought of having to try to raise thousands of dollars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ariel
stood perfectly and allowed me to re-bandage her leg morning and night. She
wore a support bandage on her right front leg as a precautionary measure, to
help support any extra weight she might have been shifting onto the good leg. I took her bandages off for short periods to give her a little break, rubbing a
little “Mineral Ice” onto both front legs and later hosing them off and letting
them dry before re-bandaging. She was quite a tough little girl. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">She progressed to turnout in a small area (sedated at first, to keep her exuberance in check), then she was allowed to be out with a buddy. Currently, she shares a paddock with two other Thoroughbreds, Forbes and Floyd. She runs, plays, and whirls in the air, seemingly completely sound. Ariel is quite the little diva, always throwing tantrums when she feels slighted. In the barn, she pins her ears and makes horrible "dragon faces" until you come up to her and scratch her cheek or under her jaw. Then she smiles and bats her big eyelashes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">At some point, I hope to have time to attempt to ride her, though she is quite the little fireball, and I am in no big rush to do so... In the meantime, she will enjoy a life of leisure on the
farm. </span>equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-7943403874996060012013-02-08T12:06:00.001-08:002013-05-30T19:57:35.268-07:00My First Rescue (or, the catalyst...)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vM-wwq7-tg/URVWmdMghEI/AAAAAAAAABQ/kY2qQohjCcM/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vM-wwq7-tg/URVWmdMghEI/AAAAAAAAABQ/kY2qQohjCcM/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little White Lie, aka "Linus"</td></tr>
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I have had the pleasure of working with several strong
equine personalities over the years, but none can compare with Little White
Lie, aka “Linus.” About 17 years ago, right after I’d purchased Equutopia, I
was keeping an eye out for a companion for my first horse, Salvo. In the past I
have found that horses generally do not do well when kept alone, and I didn’t
want to move Salvo to the farm until I found him a buddy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linus shortly after his rescue.</td></tr>
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I happened to drop by a small farm where I’d boarded Salvo
when I moved back to the Northern Virginia area after college and saw a small
Arabian stallion that could have been used as a teaching aid in a skeletal
structure class. His bones were covered with a disheveled, flea-bitten gray
coat – no fat, his feet were misshapen and the frogs had rotted off. He’d just
arrived after being discovered standing in mud up to his knees, with no feed in
sight, in a small paddock. The gentleman who spotted him from the road bought
him on the spot just to get him out of the awful living conditions but couldn’t
keep him and offered him to me. I fell in love with the cute little guy and
moved him and Salvo out to my new farm.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was actually even thinner than he looks in these photos!</td></tr>
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I had Linus checked out by a veterinarian, who estimated him
to be 10 years old. His teeth were worn abnormally because, they suspected,
he’d been chewing on rocks to find sustenance. It was December, and the vet was
concerned that he wouldn’t survive the cold. I kept him blanketed, in a stall,
and tried to put weight on him as quickly as possible. When you are faced with
a horse in this type of condition, you have to be very careful not to overfeed
them at first... after a long period of malnutrition, their systems are delicate
and very susceptible to colic and laminitis. A beet pulp based, high fat feed
fed in small amounts many times a day along with a good quality grass hay,
similarly rationed out, is one of the safest ways to accomplish this goal.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Linus was tough, put on weight and was soon in high spirits.
I’d been unable to have him gelded because of his poor condition. He started
acting studdish. One evening in February, I went out to feed and Linus whirled
around and kicked the bucket right out of my hand. I called the vet the next
day and scheduled his “brain surgery.” The same vet that had initially examined
Linus came out to perform the operation and expressed amazement at his
transformation. He was gelded and it was recommended that I longe Linus for
some extra exercise, to try and minimize post-surgical swelling. I did attempt
to do so a few times, but the prankster in Linus was really starting to show –
he’d go along with what he no doubt viewed as a silly little game for a few
minutes, then veer into the middle of the circle where I, unfortunately, was
standing. No amount of waving a whip or yelling deterred him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Hoof trims offered another opportunity for trickery. Linus
tried every trick he knew with farrier Brian. First it was the subtle leaning,
ever increasing the weight on Brian’s back. Then it was the slow and dramatic
stretching, sinking closer and closer to the ground as Brian tried to maintain
his hold on the hoof. Linus came to like and respect Brian, who is still one of
his biggest fans (although, apparently, Brian initially thought his name was "Lioness," as evidenced by my receipt for services!).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Spring came and I decided to see if Linus was rideable. He
seemed very calm and accepting as we progressed from walking to trotting under
saddle. I soon discovered another favorite prank – the first time I asked him
to canter, he eased into a lovely, rocking-horse gait, then I suddenly found
myself sitting on his neck. Linus had an unnerving habit of putting down his
head and slamming on the brakes. I developed abs of steel to keep myself off
the ground and we eventually worked through this little trick.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Over the years, Linus became a favorite at the barn,
and all learned of his mischievousness. He was perfect for
teaching an intermediate level student to really pay attention to their riding;
he could tell instantly if the person on his back wasn't, and was infamous for
taking advantage of those moments, either by veering towards and over a jump in
the ring, banging his rider’s leg against one of the barrels in our arena,
making sudden changes in course or performing speedy, unscheduled transitions.
He was not mean though, and didn't buck or rear. I think he saw those common
antics as being beneath his dignity.</div>
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<br /></div>
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At shows, Linus was a ham, clearly believing that all the
hubbub and excitement was due to his presence. He loved to strut around the ring
with a young rider on his back and rarely set a foot wrong, though he could be a challenge over jumps and only my experienced students could show him
over fences.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linus with two of his biggest fans.</td></tr>
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I experienced countless amusing moments with Linus over
the years. He was extremely curious and always had to be where the action is, even if
it involved a running chainsaw or swinging hammer. He had a vain streak and was
adept at removing any horse clothing he didn’t care for and making it
disappear. I suspect he buried the stuff somewhere. Once, I’d fitted him with a
sheet under his blanket. Apparently it didn’t suit him; he removed the sheet
without disturbing the blanket on top and made it vanish. Long ago, I had a
peach tree near his paddock fence, and fruit would periodically fall within his
range. I never observed him trying to eat the fruit and removed it frequently,
so I saw no need to cut the tree down. One day I was tacking up for a ride,
putting on his bridle. He opened his mouth for the bit and seven peach pits
cascaded to the ground. The little gerbil had been sucking on them and storing
them in his cheeks! I related this amusing anecdote to someone who then
informed me that the inside of the pits were toxic. I cut the tree down.</div>
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Linus was always extremely friendly and people-oriented, despite his
past mistreatment. Healthy and sound, he showed few signs of his ordeal.
Athletic and smooth to ride, he was a favorite of those familiar with and wary
of his ways. I liken him to an amusement park ride, fun and full of thrills.
The combination of high intelligence and a tendency toward mischievousness
led to some frustrating moments, but his fan club was large and extremely devoted.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvNx_k-NRP8/URXwkGlmoqI/AAAAAAAAADQ/LGgeVkoHhWw/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvNx_k-NRP8/URXwkGlmoqI/AAAAAAAAADQ/LGgeVkoHhWw/s320/IMG_1106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the last pictures I took of Linus, with my dad and oldest nephew.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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Unfortunately, Linus severely twisted an intestine and had to be put down in April of 2012. He is buried overlooking the barn, keeping an eye on his buddies. He was in his late 20s (our best guess) at the time. I still miss him every day, and don't expect I will ever find another like his naughty little self. </div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091229428142819597.post-22749794523651613442013-02-08T11:37:00.001-08:002013-05-30T19:59:24.843-07:00Introduction<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I was born in Amsterdam in 1969, on the day Neil Armstrong
took his “first giant leap for mankind.” My parents were a nuclear chemist and
an artist, more inclined to spend their weekends touring museums than cleaning
stalls. They nonetheless indulged my innate addiction to all things equine,
surely hoping that this phase would pass and I would take up something like
soccer or speed skating. We moved to the United
States when I was two so that my father could pursue his
career in art conservation, living first in New York,
then Massachusetts,
where I graduated from pony rides to real riding lessons.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-176l6jkaZk4/URVO3ZYi22I/AAAAAAAAAAM/-cuvdXTQQ6Q/s1600/cleo+and+roxanne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-176l6jkaZk4/URVO3ZYi22I/AAAAAAAAAAM/-cuvdXTQQ6Q/s320/cleo+and+roxanne.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me showing a young TB filly, Roxanne, probably around 10 years ago!</td></tr>
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I’m sure most parents of equestrian children can relate to
the hours spent trekking across the countryside in all weather conditions to
riding lessons and clinics, stopping on roadsides to pat random ponies and,
perhaps the most valiant sacrifice, getting up in the wee hours of the morning
on weekends and spending entire days at small schooling shows watching endless
horses and ponies circling the ring and jumping small courses. Yes, all parents
with children in sports programs spend lots of time and money in the pursuit
thereof, but only horse moms drive to the local sawmill after work to bag up
shavings or constantly pick hay off the upholstery of the family car. Now that
I have, myself instructed small children, I think I have a better appreciation for the
stress that this dangerous sport must cause parents, watching their children
fall off or even get stepped on, kicked or bitten – few other sports have the
inherent dangers of equestrian activities.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLKnbqyUNAY/USuQv8CdN0I/AAAAAAAAAI0/jFeATiyswc0/s1600/mam+and+pap+digging+postholes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLKnbqyUNAY/USuQv8CdN0I/AAAAAAAAAI0/jFeATiyswc0/s320/mam+and+pap+digging+postholes.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents, hard at work on the farm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We moved to Virginia
in 1984 where I got my first horse, Salvo, for my 16<sup>th</sup> birthday. I
will say that having my own horse kept me busy and out of trouble and taught me
a lot about responsibility, perseverance and hard work. Salvo moved down to Blacksburg with me when I
attended Virginia Tech. My mother still recalls helping me move into the dorm,
hauling tack and grooming boxes while other moms carried teddy bears and fluffy
blankets.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuBxy1sxM28/USuPz3G5FjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/dGcmOPbgNwc/s1600/salvo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuBxy1sxM28/USuPz3G5FjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/dGcmOPbgNwc/s320/salvo1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Salvo - isn't he handsome?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmUf1tdCFhI/USuPnluKN5I/AAAAAAAAAIY/nf7RaeAYLAg/s1600/salvo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmUf1tdCFhI/USuPnluKN5I/AAAAAAAAAIY/nf7RaeAYLAg/s320/salvo3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a mug shot of Salvo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I graduated with a degree in Psychology and an English minor
and moved back in with my parents, working to save money toward my childhood
dream – a horse farm. That dream came true in 1996 when I bought a farm in
southern Fauquier county and dubbed it “Equutopia.” The transition from the
suburbs of Alexandria
to the relative isolation of the farm was a little scary and reality hit hard.
While I’m not sure that I agree with the saying that “ignorance is bliss,” I
think my personal motto may be “naivete is courage” – tackling an endless,
seemingly impossible task is far easier when one is unenlightened to its true
difficulty.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Occasionally I have questioned my life’s path, especially on
those winter nights when temperatures dip into the single digits, everything is
frozen and my friends are out at the movies while I try to avoid slipping and
crashing onto the icy and very unforgiving ground as I go about my chores. In
my heart I know that I would be more miserable if I ever tried to break my
equine addiction.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VXiNJKQy0g/USuRQHNBscI/AAAAAAAAAI8/f6y16ROXxtA/s1600/horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VXiNJKQy0g/USuRQHNBscI/AAAAAAAAAI8/f6y16ROXxtA/s320/horses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back pasture at Equutopia.</td></tr>
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Over the last 17 years, I have had many adventures in my
evolution from city girl to horsewoman. Numerous characters, both human and
equine, have come into my life. Learning basic self-sufficiency, home repair
and emergency preparedness have turned out to be imperative as a single young
woman with very limited resources living in the country. In addition to taking
care of Equutopia and its (currently)30 resident horses, I own/operate a farm supply business and McCauley Bros. feed dealership and am expanding my business into building custom jumps. I have plunged into these undertakings with the eternal
optimism shared by most horsewomen, with little experience and even fewer
resources.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9KJQRQYnd8/USuPuKNJg7I/AAAAAAAAAIg/tiiSZHyjV60/s1600/salvo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9KJQRQYnd8/USuPuKNJg7I/AAAAAAAAAIg/tiiSZHyjV60/s320/salvo2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salvo in the back pasture at Equutopia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Many of the horses on my farm are recycled racehorses, some
were headed for or already at livestock auctions, and a few were given to me by
owners unable or unwilling to care for them any longer. They came to me in
various states of health and soundness ranging from a perfectly healthy but
aged school horse needing a home with a lighter work schedule to an emaciated
Arabian stallion whose teeth were worn from chewing rocks in his quest for any
sustenance. They have taught me about rehabilitation and dealing with illness
and death. Life is tough when you have a soft heart paired with limited
financial resources, but I have learned a lot about improvisation and
bartering. In this blog, I would like to share some of my many humorous,
frightening, heartwarming and enlightening experiences and the lessons I have
learned trying to live my dream the hard way.</div>
equutopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01235612703536922461noreply@blogger.com5