A quick note about some fun we had today. My neighbor Vicki is looking for an energetic horse to ride, since she hasn’t had a horse in some time. Today she came over to meet Drew, who was quite happy to meet a new human.
Re-enactment
He was a good boy and came running when called and walked up to be haltered. Of course, he showed Vicki his pushy side, but she handled it just fine. We groomed him all up and I did some ground work to show what he can do. He was extra perky, having not worked in a while, and really seemed to enjoy himself.
Look how pretty he got.
It was a very positive first meeting! She’s hoping to lease Drew and do lessons on him.
Later in the afternoon, Vicki came to watch my lesson on Apache, which was good for all of us. We hadn’t had a lesson in a while, and not much practice thanks to the rain and my job’s hours. But we learned through his stiffness and had a good time. I’m glad Vicki got a chance to see a lesson before she has hers with Drew next week.
Hoping some fun times are ahead. I need encouraging horse experiences! And Apache needs more exercise with all this green grass around.
Whew! I’m glad to be in my spacious, bland hotel suite and resting up for a bit, because it’s been quite a day of coming and going. It started early when I blasted through tons of errands and things on the to-do list so that I could focus on the horses for most of the day.
I guess I could have concentrated on caterpillars. This grows up to be the pretty salt marsh moth. Estigmene acrea
The horses had no idea what they were in for, though to be honest, they never do, except they know food shows up when I pen them up. I had a terrible time getting them to come in to eat. That all ended when the familiar rumble of Sara’s trailer coming up the driveway. They know that means someone is coming or going.
Who’s leaving or arriving this time?
I ran around and arranged the gates so that the paddock with rocks in it is separate from the rest of the pasture. That way, our surprise arrival will have her own space.
Who’s that?
Well, VERY long-time blog readers may remember this red-and-white mare. It’s Spice! Spice showed up a decade ago when Sara realized Apache had so many foot issues that she couldn’t do what she wanted to as a rider. Spice had more of a spicy red mare temperament and love of movement. So, Sara started working with Spice and I inherited Apache to groom and love on (and ride when he felt good). When Fiona showed up, we had quite the riding group.
Eventually Spice started having pain issues, which is when Aragon showed up with his fancy moves. He was quite a few levels up from Apache and Spice! Thus, Spice retired to hang out with the other horses for the past few years.
See? From Sara’s memories. Past Spice and Apache in his standard high-headed stance.
Apache has always loved Spice. He looked longingly at her sometimes after he moved to our pasture. So when Sara planned her move to Wisconsin, knowing her older and arthritic mare couldn’t come, I offered to take care of her for her remaining years. Happy to help out my old friends!
Fiona and Dusty haven’t reacted much to Spice.
We will try to keep Spice separated for a few days so the herd can get used to her.
Old friends.
But wait, there’s more. While Spice was coming in, I got Drew all dressed up to go on a date. I think he knew it was important, because he was a perfect gentleman as I groomed him. I even got burs out of his perfect hooves. That cracked me up.
Look at me, enjoying my spa time!
It was my turn to drive a horse in a trailer, as I took Drew over to Tarrin’s. He met a woman who needs a second horse without some of the issues of her other one. They got along great, too. So, there’s a chance Drew may have a more appropriate place to live with someone who can keep him working and sound. I’ve felt sad that I’m unable to do what he needs to feel good.
Because as you can see, he’s a cutie pie. And I want him to have his needs met.
Anyway, Drew was on his best behavior and made a good impression. We will see if anything comes of it, but I was proud of him no matter what. The idea of rehoming him has taken a lot of thought. I wouldn’t do it with anyone Tarrin didn’t recommend. And I felt good having her share about Drew honestly.
I’m doing my best.
A funny thing happened as we were talking in Tarrin’s parking area/pasture. Drew found something interesting on the ground and started sniffing it. Then he curled his lip in a spectacular Flehmen response.
That means something smells different.
He kept sniffing and curling for a long time.
Oooh.
He finally settled down. Tarrin thinks a wild animal must have peed on the ground, which no doubt smelled extra intriguing!
That made driving out here worth it.
When we got home, Drew immediately checked out Spice, very politely. However, Apache was having none of that. He inserted himself between Spice and Drew. When Drew tried again, Apache was very firm. We will have to see how this additional feminine energy will affect things. Luckily, Mabel and Spice seem fine together. I hope I won’t have to separate the boys and girls!
The weird thing is I was supposed to leave for Hilton Head today. I moved it to tomorrow so the horse stuff can happen. So, as soon as I got everything settled, Lee and I took off for the Austin airport. I leave in the morning.
The bland hotel suite.
Yeah, we got the upgrade for no good reason. It’s pleasant, and I got to eat at the restaurant at the airport Hilton, which I always like, even though the menu was different. I had celery root/asparagus soup and zucchini noodles with rainbow broccoli and delicious mushrooms. No photo of the food, but here’s a sparrow that got into the hotel.
Horses are so educational. Today I spent much of my day with mine, and I greatly enjoyed working with their moods and personalities. Our canine and equine companions each are unique, and reminding ourselves of that helps humans like me feel like a part of something larger than just our contentious society.
So, how did today go? I resolved to get all the horses groomed (and bur free) and put Apache’s boots on to help his feet while the green grass is here. I started by trying to get Apache, only oops, the gate blew open and the other horses got out. Apache just gave me his annoyed look and walked off. I got Drew and Mabel in with food, and Dusty let me halter him. So I doctored his sore tail and made him pretty. He’d rather hang out with humans than escape.
Not bad for an old man.
Since Mabel was in a pen, I haltered her and worked on her coat and burs. She enjoys being rubbed, and kept touching my hand as I brushed her. She was great as I got a few burs out of her tail, but let me know she wasn’t fond of the work I had to do to get the knotted mess from the last rainstorm out of her mane.
You see, my very tall very dark gal loves to get herself even darker by rolling in mud. I think she’s of the opinion that a mud crust is a fashion accessory. Her favorite accessory, though, are mud balls in her mane. They harden into pottery balls, and are matched by mud-covered burrs. It’s quite a sight. And not easy to remove.
No photo, so here is a not-very-artistic rendering of her mane.
I’m glad a bought a gel detangler, because I can rub it in, which is less disturbing to her delicate Thoroughbred nature while I remove burs. I got everything out but the big clay ball and three burs (see excellent illustration) and then I was stuck. The mane had festively rolled round and round the muddy objects. I tried wetting the clay, banding on it, and squishing it. Nope. It was permanent. So I cut it out. Mabel only lost length on a few mane hairs, even though I also had to remove a big matt. I figure she doesn’t have much of a mane anyway, and no one looks at her but me and occasionally Tarrin.
Her mane before the mud ball.
On that note I went to lunch. I needed a break.
I flew away, like these Cedar Waxwings in our tree.
When I got back from exhilarating lunch discussion (and two yummy tacos), it was time to hunt down Drew and Apache. I fed everyone, and got them all lined up except Apache. His snit from yesterday continued and all I could do was get him to take his medicine in the pasture. He was an angry horse man, I guess.
Nope. Not coming in.
However, I did manage to halter Drew over his crown of burs, and settled him in front of a hay bag. Kathleen had agreed to help me out as I tried to get the burs I’d been working on for weeks off him.
He looks deformed, but it looked kind of like this.
Previously, Droodles would last about ten minutes before the head tossing, snapping, and kicking indicated he was done, so I never got to his forehead. However, the two-human approach worked way better. Kathleen crooned at him and did facial massage on him while I removed burs. He was quite calm and, dare I say, relaxed. All in all it went quickly, with no head tossing or stomping (other than at flies).
No burs!
I wish I had a helper more often. I might have done better with Drew. But I’m sure grateful for help from someone who’s studying anatomy and knows where to massage. Maybe he’s feeling a little better now.
Of course he smeared food all over himself for photos.
We took a nice walk together and ended this success on a high note.
He even still has some forelock hair!
So, three out of four horses were accounted for. Kathleen and I went and sat by the pool a while and relaxed. Meanwhile, I saw Apache go into the pens, probably for water and a nap. I seized the moment and headed back over.
My favorite picture from last week. Worth a repeat. All burs are hidden in Drew and Mabel.
The good news is that his snit from yesterday seemed over. He stood still to be haltered and went out with no issues. He was patient as I cleaned his feet and stood like a gentleman while I struggled to put his boots on. They are challenging. No photos because I was too busy grunting.
Then, he walked over to the exercise area and did a lively walk, trot, and canter sequence on the longe line. I didn’t even have a stick to encourage him. That means he feels good AND I was only a day late with his boots.
It was nice to see the normal Apache back. We just have to figure out that gate obstacle!
Maybe. I figure if I keep acting up I won’t have to canter under saddle again.
Whew. Each horse had its own moods and preferences today. With a little help, I accomplished my missions and didn’t get stressed.
PS: Kathleen and I both removed burs from Fiona. She still has some, though.
Today was a test of my ability to be calm in a (perceived) crisis. I’m still here, though covered in white hair.
Looks great on a black shirt.
Most of today was fun and productive—a highlight was visiting a house a friend is renovating accompanied by two women who had lived in it in the 1950s and 1960s. The house is all modern now, and it was fun watching them figure out what happened to old features.
Homecoming!
Later, after a bunch of retired person work that made me fall asleep, I headed out for a grooming and riding session, since the weather was cool and cloudy.
And hooray, we finally have Texas paintbrush! I was worried.
First, I realized poor Dusty’s hair issue is rain rot. All that hair, sigh. I felt so bad for him, but he will get better. Poor boy.
Dang.
While I worked with Dusty, Apache ate tied to a post where he could get some grass when he was done. Normally that’s fine, even though it was sort of close to the welding station. However, I hadn’t banked on the arrival of Apache’s nemesis, the riding mower, which had made him jumpy last week when I was trying to ride.
I guess he won’t want me to learn lawn mowing sounds. I’ll stick with phoebes.
My son had been mowing at his house and drove the mower back here, which I should have figured would happen when I saw his truck. Anyway, the mower’s appearance startled Apache as I was grooming him, and since I’d given him some extra rope for grass eating, he got his foot hung up in it.
I lost my cool.
The ensuing thrashing got both me and him some cuts and bruises, though once I got him still, I could easily get him untangled. Training him to lift his feet was a smart idea.
That’s too close to his eye!
I was annoyed that my knot that was supposed to give way easily did not. In fact, it took my son quite a while to untie the lead rope. But he did it!
Ow.
After moving Apache, I assessed the damage and did first aid. One scrape and one cut needed bandaging, and everything else got nice aloe spray.
Purple bandages. So stylish.
While I was working on him, Mabel and Drew stayed right with him, checking on him and helping calm him down. Their caring was very sweet to see. Apache seemed to appreciate it, too, as well as my soothing and grooming.
We will take care of you.
I finally finished and decided riding would not be a good idea, so I walked him towards the pens, but he headed straight out to the exercise area, like he was ready to do groundwork. So, we did it and he was just fine! There was nice cantering and trotting and jumping, so I guess he felt okay. It’s a good thing he already had some pain medication in him.
The worst scrape, the only one that bled.
I’m proud that I didn’t panic and just took care of things. I’m also glad neither of us was hurt more than we were. The other horses being so attentive warmed my heart. I even had a hard time getting Apache into the pens, because Drew and Mabel wanted to check on him.
When he was little, my son wanted to be instantly successful at any new thing he tried. He’d get very frustrated if he had to listen to instructions and practice. I had some of this tendency, too, and it didn’t help that I’m a quick study on most things.
Just like a Mockingbird learning new calls.
However, I’m not as talented with large motor skills as I am with fine motor skills (knitting, etc.) or mental things. I know that about myself. Because of that, once I realized I wasn’t a natural at horsemanship (way back before Tarrin), I didn’t pressure myself to improve quickly. I wish I could have, but I am who I am and Apache and Drew are who they are, so things have had to take some time.
Ya know, just like it takes a while to grow a tree.
With Drew, it’s become apparent that his issues are beyond my ability and time. I don’t love him any less, I just know that me trying to work with him isn’t a good fit. Neither of us is to blame, but it’s a hard realization.
He’s just wild at heart
Knowing I struggled with Drew makes the slow but steady progress I d made with Apache (and Mabel) just that much sweeter. It’s been good for us to build a strong relationship and skill set slowly over time.
I almost forget how hard it was to keep him from twirling around, how long it took to get his laminitis episodes under control, and how afraid I was to trot. Bit by bit, Tarrin has guided us towards our goals.
I was a challenge.
Her goal for us has been cantering, which has taken longer than expected, thanks to Apache starting out with a dysfunctional canter that had to be fixed with strengthening and practice. I was happy to see Tarrin able to ride him at a canter earlier this year.
Whee
Today it was my turn to do it. We had been building up from fast trotting and taking off after backing up, to get him working off his hind legs. I have gotten pretty comfortable, and like I said today, it almost feels like I know how to ride a horse.
I laugh at that idea and he has no comment.
After three days on pain medication, Apache was feeling much better than he did Tuesday (yes, two lessons this week due to scheduling issues), so he was up for a lot of running. we ended our lesson in the round pen where he was to practice going over jumps properly, I was told. Ha. Tarrin knew he’d canter if I approached the jump really fast.
I lived, though I did hold onto the saddle horn. Slow and steady success is sweet! This was our big goal ever since we started our lessons. We did it! Now to get good at it.
Don’t we look proud?
My goal for the rest of the week is not to talk about horses constantly. I’ll switch to wildflowers tomorrow. No surprise there.
All the ideas I got from reflecting on my tarot reading last night swirled around me today. With the nudge I got that maybe I CAN get through these times and help others if I do what it takes to keep me centered, I decided to up my grounding ante.
I got enough time in today to enjoy nature, meditate well, and really see the big picture of what I’m surrounded by—the natural world and its order. Not always peaceful or perfect, but adapting as things change. Thanks, birds and clouds!
The clouds and sunset were gorgeous today.
After all the warmth and grounding I got from Apache and Dusty yesterday, I decided Mabel from the Stable needed a turn. She’d been looking at me with kindness and interest lately.
She looks happy, not worried.
So, after Apache did his workout, I haltered Mabel, which is her least good skill, and gave her some extra alfalfa while I groomed and de-burred her. Neither was easy. She had mud dried into clay on her coat, which even with my nails I couldn’t completely eliminate. And while her tail is a breeze to get smooth, her mane is another story. For one thing, it’s way up there. She’s a tall Thoroughbred-style mama. And it’s very fine. But I did it, and noted that she was pretty patient.
At least her tail finally grew out.
As her “reward” I took her on a walk, and just for fun, did some longe-line work in the round pen. She was fine, other than getting a little excited toward the end. Her ears were always forward and she stayed focused. I got her to back up and side pass a bit. Well.
That was a lot more fun than working with Drew has been lately. I think we will pivot and play with Mabel while Drew gets a break and maybe finds a home with someone who can work with him the way he needs. If not, he may be the pasture ornament for a while. An expensive one. But I still love him! He’s just too much for my skill set.
I’d look much better without the burs. Yes, I’ll working on him tomorrow.
On the other hand, I feel very calm and centered working with the other three, so that’s good!
Another bucolic scene of nature and peace, brought to you by our back pond.
Ooh! Ooh! I know the answer to this one, and it involves a certain bur-headed gray gelding in my life, Andrew “Droodles” Kendall. I’ve alluded to having anxiety and concerns that have been weighing me down recently. One was Drew.
Me?
Since getting kicked in the head by Fiona the mini-donkey followed by unexplained pain on his right side, this horse has been a challenge. To be honest, I haven’t been up for the challenge, for a couple of reasons. One is that, even if he were my only horse, my schedule won’t let me work him consistently almost every day, which helps him hurt less. The other is that his aggressive behavior made me wary of him and want to work with him less, not more, even with all I’ve learned about horses and how pain affects them.
I need special stuff. Mabel says she does, too.
I’d discussed options with my trainer (Tarrin) and neighbor (Sara), who are wise and honest.
I could find him a new home with a more assertive rider with more available saddle time. I’d just hope to get the money back for his saddle, not all his training.
I could stop working with him and let him be a pasture friend like Mabel and Dusty. I’d cut down on all those supplements and medication though!
Or I’d hope to get him to a point where I’d enjoy working with him and he’d enjoy learning. I’d hope to ride, it maybe groundwork or liberty could happen.
In the meantime, I’ve let him rest and have been observing him. In the past couple of weeks, he has been friendly and let me pet him without biting at me. He’s let me remove his tail burs and some mane burs. This made me a little optimistic when our next scheduled lesson came up today.
I’ve been eating well, as always.
Both Drew and Apache were filthy from rolling in mud, both covered in burs, etc. I realized that I’ve finally learned to just do what I can to get ready in the amount of time I have. Yay. A lesson learned. I got them brushed and removed all Apache’s latest burs (not too many) and Droodles’s tail burs. I only got half his mane. But he was great about it. Just let me pick them out and chat with him, just like Apache does! I was pleased.
When we got to the lessons, I realized I’d left Drew’s girth in the tack room. So I couldn’t try to ride, with nothing to hold the saddle on. Maybe that was good, because we had a wonderful ground lesson. He did not act like he hurt anywhere, and was calm and willing to do whatever we asked, with no tail swishing or foot stamping. I realized he was coming to me to be petted when he’d stop an exercise. Nice!
Then we worked on a new skill. Tarrin started it but I finished. It involved walking while straddling a wooden pole. I’d watched Sara and Aragorn work on this one. It is a bit challenging.
I’m encouraging him to put the left rear hoof on the correct side of the pole.
Drew was very calm throughout the training, and seemed intent on learning to keep the feet on the correct side. Besides that, he was friendly and sweet. He nuzzled us nicely and even licked Tarrin.
He seemed as pleased as we were when he made it all the way to the end of the pole. It was like working with him just before he got hurt. Wow.
Almost there!
We were all so pleased! Tarrin posited that he might have had a virus in addition to hurting his right ride and neck. There’s no way to know, since horses can’t talk. But it looks like Drew and I have things we can do together! We will try riding next.
Oh yes, Apache had a lesson, too. Having them more frequently has helped him get back in shape, and he’s been a champ about working with me at home, eating at least some of his food, and slurping his powdered medicine mixed with applesauce.
I’m sorta tired, Suna.
In lessons, he’s been gaining new skills with speeds of walk and trot, and with moving off my leg. Maybe cantering will happen next year. We say that every year.
Must walk briskly.
But he makes us laugh by having to pee after a lot of trotting and getting all lathered up in sweat on unseasonably warm winter days. I’m so glad he’s healthy and his feet are doing so well (thanks to Tarrin’s gradual trims).
Pee break )pre-pee)Butt sweat only an owner could love
So, I’ve learned that I need to give my animals time to heal and learn, Apache with his feet, and Drew with whatever was causing his irritability. I want them both healthy and content. I’ll just keep trying and extend my patience.
It took a lot of patience to get this image of a titmouse snacking on an old wasp nest.
The best news is that sadness about feeling I’d failed Drew is no longer weighing on me. I have hope in at least this part of life!
I haven’t done a horse update in a while. That’s because not much has changed and I’ve been focusing on sick dogs. But today Jackie came to do bodywork for the first time in a while, so there’s a little more news.
I’m here, too. I enjoy taking food containers out in the pasture where Suna can’t find them. Fun!
All the horses have decorative cocklebur crowns these days. It only takes a few days to replace them, so I’ve given up on daily removal. It’s too hard on my hands and my gloves.
Why remove them? It’s a fashion statement.
Drew, as I’ve noted, is having some movement issues. Jackie determined that his back end is doing way better, so yay for that, but he’s still stiff, sore, and unhappy in his neck and shoulders, including the ribs. He let her know just how it feels, like he was doing with me earlier this year. She worked on him a lot and gave me suggestions for getting him to swing his front legs out and round his ribcage.
The look.
I’ll do that stuff and continue to work on extended walks on the ground and in the saddle. At least he still likes doing that, until he stomps his perfect little feet. By the way, I got his tail and back 3/4 of mane cleared up, but he was in no mood for forelock work after his adjustments.
Apache with invisible bur crown, last week.
I got no photos of Apache, because I was busy removing a bucket o’ burs this morning. He is the only horse that got completely bur free. I was happy with his body report. For a horse who eats no supplements and tries to spit out his daily medication, he’s doing well! His feet still look good, too. He’s been fun to work with and ride, as well. I think he will do ok at this weekend’s horse show. We need to get out there and just have fun doing our best.
That head. What a head.
Mabel is still great. She’s shiny, fit, and pretty darned sound. There’s only one crack in her white hoof! She let me get all the burs out of her tail, but only a few out of her mane. I’m just happy she’s happy and holding her own in the herd.
This is Mabel booking it to get away from my picking at her mane. At least she has one.
Dusty is still Dusty. So gentle, kind, and compliant. Well, unless you’re messing with his tail. His mane has no burs, but I only got a few out of his poor tail, which looks like it’s been braided with burs.
Mane, beforeTail, looking better than it does in person. Old Cow Horses like their burs.
Dusty has been getting extra grain most days, because he is looking thin. But he eats well and is cheerful most of the time. I know his back hurts, even with supplements. But he still loves to hug and craves attention.
Feed me.
Goldie is improving. She’s tapering off pain medication and is getting around better. She can pick up the pace when she wants to, and now easily climbs the steps on the patio. She even managed to tell me her water dish was empty this evening, got me to take her out to drink, then stared at the water dish spot until Lee remembered it was in the dishwasher. Clever.
Goldie and dead house plant. I travel too much.
No one read my post yesterday about moths. Oh well. What I find fascinating isn’t always what the audience finds fascinating!
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
The first thing that popped into my head when I saw this prompt was that I’d love to canter on one of my horses, to see what it feels like and finally go sorta fast. That’s just a little thing, but I’ve not moved forward in my skills enough to do it on Drew and Apache hasn’t moved forward in his skills enough. The one time I tried I ended up on the ground. I’m trying not to let myself get discouraged and enjoy the journey. But I’m human.
And I’m just a horse who won’t take my meds.
Little things can be good, though. For example, at the end of the work day I’d gotten to a good stopping point, and was looking out over my laptop as I sat at my porch “desk.” Something moved suddenly.
Hi!
It was this absolutely adorable jumping spider, Phidippus arizonensis. I watched as it explored my laptop then jumped onto my mouse and checked out all my stuff. It waved its first legs around as it explored, and moved its mouthparts like it was tasting the air.
Okay, I think it’s a male. It has bulbous pedipalps. Those are the things that stick out in front.
I can see why people have jumping spiders as pets, because this fellow was very entertaining and not at all concerned by my presence. I prefer them in the wild, but I do enjoy the bold jumping spider who lives in the mailbox.
One of many around here. Too bad you can’t see the cool green eyes.
I’d never seen an arizonensis before, so I looked it up. It’s definitely confined to this part of the world.
I had the best time watching this spider. That’s living for the moment. Mindfulness for the win.
I did not enjoy observing this one. A black horsefly.
Another little thing that made my day was just watching the dogs play. With all the medical issues in our canine community it’s easy to forget the happy, healthy ones. Carlton and Penney love it when I’m outside so they can run and play with an audience!
Dogfight, for fun.
Time to get some rest and talk to my high school friends in Florida who are going through the hurricane. I do keep up!
Carlton is ahead of me in the sleep department. He’s already dreaming.
In my frazzled state of late, I’m not only being clumsy and forgetful, I’m not noticing things. That’s not at all helpful. And my powers of investigation aren’t their strongest.
I’m invisible.
For example, this morning I got up and couldn’t find Goldie. Oh no! Something happened to her! Oh, maybe she’s outside. No. Not in my office. Hmm. It took me ten minutes to figure out that she was in the other bedroom. Duh.
Take a flower break. These Mexican petunias look like they should be a painting, not a plant living in the middle of the driveway!
I got through a hectic and confusing work day fairly well, though our team meeting was moved to the afternoon and ran long, making me unable to groom the horses. I rushed out and easily got Droodles.
I’m a good boy, but I don’t pay attention either. I sorta missed the goal of standing beside the mounting block and just plowed over it. I’m so cute.
Apache was another story. It’s as if he knew we were running late. He ran and ran, galloping hither and yon, but eventually went into a pen. That was very strange. I hurriedly put on his halter and marched him into the trailer. Drew followed nicely. He was an a good mood from eating good grass.
We got to Tarrin’s and quickly tied the horses to the trailer. I saddled Apache on his left side (this matters) then we walked to the lesson area. I began lunging him over the little hill. When I turned him to go the other way, Tarrin stopped me. Look at his eye!
Well shoot. Neither of us had looked closely at this right side. His eye was full of goop and all swollen. I could have paid a bit more attention when I was rushing to get to lessons. Tarrin hadn’t noticed when taking him out of the trailer for me either. We felt bad. But we are both barely coping. Give us a break!
Swollen eye after being cleaned.
So, Tarrin ran and got a wet cloth and a shot of Banamine to reduce the swelling. None of that went over very well with Apache, but it did give me time to remove his burs. Tarrin said I should ride him some to get the meds in his system. I said that was fine and put my helmet on.
I did not pay attention.
Sigh. I put it on backwards. That at least gave us a laugh and a funny photo. And Apache did very well. He even side passed vaguely correctly. Good boy. And me.
Believe it or not, this is a huge improvement.
Drew’s lesson was pretty good once he lined up right so I could mount him. I did a good job dealing with some reluctance on his part to hold himself straight, too. I was proud of us both.
Back at the trailer we decided Apache should wear a fly mask to go home, to protect his eye. This began an adventure as none of Tarrin’s spare ones fit Apache’s rather bulky head (hard to believe he’s part Arabian).
I liked this one best because it made him look like Batman’s horse.
We all laughed through this, especially at how curious Drew was about the mysterious headgear.
I’d like to chew that, please.
He kept breathing down Tarrin’s neck as she was trying to fit the masks. Once she left, Apache told him to get back.
This is embarrassing, Drew.
We did make it home safely. But I wasn’t finished being inattentive. You see it was dusk by the time I was heading to the house. I went over to shut the henhouse door. Then I looked in on the chickens. I saw this.
Oh look, Cindy and Cathy are roosting! They found the branch I put in there.
But, someone was missing. Where was Bianca?
Turn the light off! I’m trying to sleep!
Well look at that! She was in the coop! She does remember how to get in! See, I’d never checked them this late before. I feel a bit better about how they are settling in. I just needed to pay attention.
I paid attention to my birthday flowers and they’ve made it to October! It’s a first for me. This ranch is hard on decorative plants.
Tomorrow is another day. Hope Apache is better. Otherwise, off to the dang vet.
The Hermits' Rest 