Done Hibernating!

Ok - a brief glimpse of spring this past weekend...but now back to 40's and windy.... geez....I'm going back to the cave!!!!!!

Barn has been full and busy.....everyone seems to be having a lot of fun with their horses - which is excellent.

We hired to have the water line finished back in the new stall barn - that will hopefully be in today. We can then start on the new tack room - as I know most of the boarders have run out of space to put their belongings.... we are very sorry about that - but we needed to wait for the frost to come out of the ground. The plan is to have the new tack room done by the end of the month - so lets cross our fingers!!

Mary Ellen had a scare with a bad Abcess with Tanya in the last few weeks - but luckily it broke and she is walking sound - so it looks like Tanya is still headed to the horse fair. If you have a chance - Mary Ellen & CArol - are taking both of their adopted Standardbred horses for the Standardbred demo at Midwest Horse Fair - stop in and say hi if you have a chance.

Hopefully the big pile of snow in the outdoor arena will soon be gone - and we will drag and work up the outdoor for everyone's use.

Bo now officially has his learning permit - so he is driving officially...... I feel alot older this week than normal.... he is also in golf - so he is very busy with that as they started practice last week.

Kara is still doing karate - but she has lost some interest - our "contract" renews at the end of the month - and I'm not sure we will renew. I don't want to make her go if she doesn't want to.... course I'd like to "make" her ride horses too.....

That's it for now!

Sick of Winter

Ok - sick of snow, cold, ice, wind, etc etc.

I don't even think it's pretty anymore.....instead of snowflakes, I see dollar signs, of what its going to cost to plow out the driveway for the millionth time, and the fact that I had to pay someone to do snow removal around the barn, with the hope that when the barn floods (notice when NOT if) that it won't be as horrible as if we had left the 7' tall x 120' long pile of snow next to the barn.

I do have some interesting pictures....that I will download and post....

Until then, I'm waiting for anything over 40 degrees that is NOT accompanied by a lighting and rain storm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geesh......

Kara at Karate

Kara at karate class on Saturday February 8th.

Trail Challenge Pictures

Remembering Simon

Shy As A Shadow 1996 Bay Quarter Horse Gelding

Simon was Randy's show horse that we bought in Kentucky in 2000. I was pregnant with Kara when we drove down to get him. Bo showed him halter and showmanship. Randy rode him in everything. I even did a little speed classes and won the BHSA versatility award one year. Kara rode him as a baby. Rhea Scherbert rode him one year and won all the Tiny Tot Year End High Points. Alex Harvey tried out a pleasure class or two on him. Karissa Chapman took him to the State 4-H Pleasure show.

I ran across some pictures. One of the few horse's that I miss and regret having sold. The last I knew he was well taken care of at a show barn near Stevens Point, so that makes me happy. I look at horse's for sale every week on dreamhorse and equine.com, in the chance that he might be listed (well that's one good reason to go on there isn't it?).

The only other horse that I really really miss, is my horse from my teenage years, Shadow, a grulla quarter horse mare. She was my horse that I did everything with. There are pictures of us in interesting places - tied to the gas pumps at the Mason Station in Briggsville, to an alley in Portage. Unless she's a grand age of 35, she's no longer with us, and I'm sad to say that I don't know where her "final resting" place is.

I have to honestly say at this point, that unless it meant not feeding my kids, that Gus has a permanent home with me. It's taken YEARS to find a horse that I have that "special" something with....as there was frankly a huge "childhood" spot to fill with Shadow's memory. My best friend, Shelley, likes to pick on me about this, as she's known how many I've bought and sold in the last 15 years or so. But horses are like husbands - you need a good fit....lol...

Trail Challenge

We had 10 riders for the 1st trail challenge event at the barn. Shannon Ryan is our "judge/clinician", and is setting up a trail pattern. Everyone has several hours to practice and get instruction on doing the different obstacles with Shannon. After that, then the "competition" started, with everyone going thru the set course. A refusal or not done obstacle was a 10 cent fine. A partially done obstacle and/or hitting logs was a 5 cent fine. This money is going into a kitty for a pizza party at the end.

Our first trail challenge course consisted of: rope gate, trot thru cones, small bridge, back thru cones, trot over poles, then walk over poles into a box, do a 360 to the right, and walk out of the box.

Feedback was very positive and everyone had alot of fun. MaryEllen was taking photos' so I'll get some from her and post.

Next challenge is set for February 24th.

Today we are having a teaser of warm, then going back to snowy cold b.s. for the rest of week... I'm SICK of winter.... sigh....

news

Ok - it's been 7 days since the last cigarette......I know eventually I will feel healthier instead of crabby, edgy, grumpy, ornery, fidgety. I'm taking prescription Chantex, which does help with all of that....problem is that I often forget to take in the mornings and often just dont want to, as it does NOT mix well with my morning coffee. So I feel that I should be able to "tuff" it out....

Hardest times that I'm trying to avoid:

1) When Randy and I are standing outside of the barn talking....I'm usually ALWAYS steal a smoke from him then. This has been hard, and our usual conversation ends with me being bitchy.... hopefully that goes away soon..

2) Driving the car.

3) Reading (I would often smoke the most then, especially if a good book).

4) First thing - with my 1st cup of coffee (this might be the hardest time).

The common things most people say are hardest about quitting smoking that have not been for me: after I eat and after sex (cuz well, I want to sleep), and it really doesn't bother me to not have a cigarette in my hand /mouth either.

I'm very concerned about weight gain at this point.... I've already packed on my "winter" weight, being only the 1st part of January, this is a concern... So I shopped on ebay, and bought tapes for Pilates and Yoga.... I do need to OPEN them however...lol... and make time to do them. The idea was to get up earlier in the morning..... yeah well, it was a thought...that needs to be acted upon. Randy of course says that I can do them at night, but I DON'T want him to watch.... Anyway, I'm not so much really overweight as I'm terribly un-fit.... I know I have stomach muscles, as everyone does, I just haven't been able to locate them for some years.... my arms are weak as 2 wagon loads of hay just about did me in.... that is a shame.... my saddle feels heavy to me...... YIKES! can't have that...... maybe that would be a good motivator.... I refuse to buy any clothes that are bigger.....hopefully don't end up wearing sweats to work... ha ha...

Side note on the smoking thing..... Damn Twinkle likes to go down and yap at my dad's dogs (yeah suicidal), and one of the dogs was loose Sunday AM, and all I heard was crying and crap, which I was in the barn, and ran as fast as I could to try to "save" her.... Twinkle met me at a dead run (well as fast as a dead run a dog that is barely 12" tall can do).... so that was good, and I honestly can say that I didn't keel over from lack of oxygen!! I'm thinking a shock collar might be in twinkle's future.... i have repeated nightmares of her being slaughtered by the german sheperd...it's not been fun.

All right, back to work.....

2008

Ok, holidays are done, over, gone! Bah humbug can go away and not return until mid-december....

Our New Year's Eve was more fun than last year (Kara had the flu), and this year's rotation was at our house. Paul & Denise Bandt, Shelley & Seth and us get together for new years. We often get together thru the year for dinner, campfires and trail riding. New years see's us playing Pictionary. We've all decided that we are getting old, cuz no-one really had anything to drink. I think I drank the most, which was 2 (two) mike's hard lemonades....and that was enough for me.

I decided to get serious about quitting smoking. I've been bouncing around it the last couple of months....and as of Jan 1st, Wisconsin increased the cig. tax by another dollar - raising a pack of cig to $4.48 each... I averaged a pack + a day - so even figuring at 1 a day - that is $31.36 per week, $125.44 per month and $1,505.28 per year... very scary numbers. R. smokes 1 to 2 packs per day - and even if we figure him at only 1 - that is a combined total of $62.72 per week, $250.88 per month, and $3,010.56 per year. Wow.....

Someone asked me what I was doing with the extra $$$...... my plan is to take $30 per week and put in a savings account.....for something for ME..... BUT I have to stay on course first....

Kara's First Solo Ride on Charisma

These are pictures from Shelley was here in November. This was Kara's first Solo trip on Charisma. A good possiblility that Charisma might be Kara's walk/trot show horse for this upcoming season!

News

Thank you to Shannon Ryan for coming to the barn for lessons and training. We are happy to have her and look forward to working with her. We will be doing lessons on every other Saturday - next date is this Saturday, Dec 8th. Please contact me for scheduling.

Also, I posted previously about our new filly, Sugar. Well, sadly, she was diagnosed with Wobbler's Syndrome, which is a neurological spinal disorder - which is incurable. Fortunately for my pocket book, I was able to take her back to the owners, and picked up a new filly. Her name is Dafnie and her registered name is "Zip With Me". She is very sweet and gentle, and I really like her alot. She is also, my Gus's half sister - they share the same sire. I also got to meet Gus & Dafnie's "daddy" at the breeders, and it was really cool to see him. Here is a picture of Dafnie from at the breeders. I haven't gotten around to taking any photo's of her at home yet.

I LOVE feeding under the lean-to....let me tell you!!!!!!!! After the snow this weekend, I could just go under the lean - feeding grain and hay without plowing thru snow, fighting off hungry horses, searching for frickin feed buckets in the snow, carrying bales of hay....all that - GONE - .....was it was worth $60,000.....a STRONG possibility.....

I haven't ridden much in the indoor arena, as I normally don't ride much at all in the months of December and January. It is a well earned rest for my horses, and a very good mental break too. Before we built our own place, I had lived for 8 years at a place that had an indoor riding arena. I normally would get started in February, riding 3-4 days a week to start conditioning the horses - often spending the first couple of weeks on ground work and not riding at all.

I'm anticipating the barn to get really busy starting in February. I have had recent inquiries about openings, so that is good. Randy is busy digging in the water lines in the barn.... better late than never right??? The plan was to run automatic waterer's thru the new stall barn, but we've run out of $$, so he is running the water pipes and stubbing up to where each waterer will be. We needed to do this BEFORE doing the stalls, as once the stalls and footing is in, it's alot more difficult and expensive to do. He is also running water hydrants to the back turn-outs. Right now we are dragging 150 feet (yes, not a typo) - out to tanks in back. Can we say MAJOR Pain-in-the-ass.... Of course, as my friend Paul, has pointed out - why would I need Curves or other weight loss programs - with this extra work.... Ha Ha I say!!!

Bo received a C on his big Biology test last week and an A on his binder. He wasn't happy with a C, but I pointed out to him, that he had a big FAT F on the last exam along with a zero on his binder - so that was a great improvement.

Kara is loosing her two front teeth....very SLOWLY..... she was playing with Twinkle and bumped her mouth and was all bloody and gross, and wiggling that tooth for all it's worth, and still stayed in... I have vague repressed memories of my Dad just yanking those out......I haven't the heart to do the same.

I best be getting back to work!

Too Many to Pick From!

The photoshoot with Shelley Grabow was a lot of Fun - despite a gloomy cold day. Several people showed up to take pictures.
We coaxed Kara out on Charisma too!
The indoor arena footing is complete - and we can ride inside. There is a few more days of electrical work to be completed before the lights are on - but I've been promised before "turkey-day" on completion.
The lean-to area is wonderful and I can't wait until its done. We've been "frantically" fencing since the excavater has left. Unfortunately some slow going - as we are putting in "permanent" fence - which involves digging holes, wood posts, gates, etc etc. Randy has spent alot of time thinking things thru and measuring ....while I'm in hurry up mode, as I HATE feeding horses in the dark...lol....
Once the lean-to's are complete, and the indoor walls are up - we will then start the new stall side of the new barn...
I have to hold off on posting pictures - they are too big of file....
Until later!

Champion 2007

Kara was Reserve Champion Leadline for BHSA in 2007

And Grand Champion Leadline for Red Ridge Pleasure circuit 2007

Sugar

Our new horse - a yearling filly - registered paint - her name is "Pleasure the Moment" - Kara has named her Sugar - as she feels that the brown sugar and the white sugar got all mixed up.

The weekend looks busy

This weekend looks crazy busy - we will start putting fencing up and clean up. Hope to sneak out for a couple hours on Sunday to go trail riding too. Kara has karate on Saturday, which she seems to enjoy alot at this point. Here are more pics of the new building!

Bo had a lot of fun at the homecoming deal. He hooked up with friends (not that I could tell you ANY of their names) and went to the football game. He also attended the dance - but a crowbar is needed for any more info on THAT...

Pictures

They set trusses on Friday.

And of course, had to toss one in of the puppy too!

The Farrier Saga

Most of you close to me, know Gus has an on-going "hoof" problem for the last couple of years. Well, just call Gus the money pit - :

Chronologically:

Wore shoes all last winter to help "solve" his problems. He started having even longer toes and underrun heels really becoming obvious in March or so.

Roman Miller, my current farrier, who I respect and feel has always done a good job - I now feel maybe not so good about. So in June of this year, I haul Gus over to Dean Johanningmier - the specialized farrier who also works at the UW Madison Vet School. He resets in him in a shoe that is 2x bigger than what Roman was using and a wedge pad on his worse right front to balance him. Dean J and I both feel that Roman would be able to continue after that. This was $175.00

Mind you, that Gus has not been the show horse of the last few years, he was cranky, didnt want to work, seemed high strung all the time and just wasn't himself.

Anyway, I decide to go to re-setting Gus every 4 weeks this summer to try to get control of that "runaway" toe he was growing...

Gus's last reset was on September 5 - after having been reset - his toes are longer than they have been all summer.... I'm SCRATCHING my head, as I dont know what to do... here I'm paying EVERY MONTH $150 for his front feet & trim the back, and feeling that its not working..... Of course, I do not say much to Roman (ummm...chicken shit is a good description here).

So about 3 weeks ago, another boarder had a "natural hoof trimmer" come to the barn.... I think to myself and I did some research on line - and it all makes sense to me - so I have this guy look at Gus. He swears that Gus has such a bad of case of thrush that it will take 3 to 4 MONTHS to treat and that I will more than likely NOT be able to ride my horse for almost a year - while he works on him on a MONTHLY basis to correct his feet. He explains it all to me (and at the time, it does make sense) - and leaves me medicine and etc - to the tune of $100.00 and, by the way, didn't trim his feet at all.

Well, at this point, I'm more than a little disgusted, but I spend at least 4 days wrapping and medicating Gus's hooves. I think and think on this, and then some of the other boarders are going to have Dr Meyer out for fall work. I make the decision to have Dr Meyer (who is a vet that i have routinely used for 15 years) to have Dr Meyer look at Gus's feet.

Dr Meyer was running late that day, and I had to leave and go back to work - but Randy was able to be there for him. Lo and behold, the VET says there is NO thrush in my horse at all, and that his angles of his hoof to his leg are whacked (well not the word he used)... and he suggested x-rays and then take the x-rays back to Dean Johanningmier to have his feet done again. This was $144.00

So today, I took Gus to Dean Johanningmier - explained to me about the wrong angles and such - per an X-Ray - Gus's COFFIN bones are out of alignment from the other bones in his leg by about 4 degrees....which is a huge difference. So Gus is again wearing shoes again - both feet match in angles and toe length. However - it is funky looking that's for sure - he has a HUGE pad under his right foot along with some foam stuff to support his frogs (which are messed up too). This shoe job cost $209.00.

Most of what Dean J said to me hasn't really sunk in on the technical side of things - but the most important thing was to make sure that Gus's feet match and that Gus more than likely will never grow a "normal" foot again....he might get correct enough to not have to wear such "funky" shoes, and we should know if that will happen some time in the next 6 months.

The most promising thing is that Dean J said I should see a huge difference in Gus in the next couple of days....and that he should be going totally sound on his fronts. That sure sounds better than not riding my horse for a year.

So, the moral here is stay away from the "kirby salesman" - and feel free to sink all your extra money (all right not extra) - into the horse that you love.

Current arena progress

The Retaining Wall

The great sand box....isn't the Puppy tiny!

Spot & Ronny - Very interested in the activity!

Wow!

Charisma and I out in the pasture this afternoon - she's relaxing and having a well deserved day off.

We competed Saturday at the Wisconsin State Horse Council Championship Challenge Show, and received Grand Champion in Western Pleasure, 3rd in open walk/trot pleasure, and 6th in Trail.

Past Due News!!!!!!

Hi All!

Much is happening around the farm! Murph has started the excavating for the indoor arena. We had several contractors out to give estimates as this one of the most important parts of putting up the new building. Most told us they would have to bring in more dirt to make it work - which was additional cost. Murph was the only one that told us that he felt we had enough there and could make it work. BOY WAS HE Right! The dirt pile in the back of the property would make the most incredible sledding hill. They had to keep going and going to level and the hillside is now a 8 foot embankment (which creates a new set of problems). It looks so completely different. I have taken pictures which once I get them off the camera I will share.

Randy & Curtis are building the retaining wall - which also includes the footings/beams for the building. We were thankfully allowed to borrow Jessica Cole's post hole attachment for her tractor. Well - the rocks were big and plentiful....Murph, the excavator, felt sorry for us and came out with his skidsteer & post hole digger... Well, THAT didn't work either, and they still had the CAT there and dug a few,,,ummmm, BOULDERS out with that! So thankfully all the holes are dug, and Randy has most of the posts in the holes - but they all have to be filled and packed to finish - then he has to put up the wall part. Randy thought he could get this done in a couple of days....and yeah, though he doesn't drink - he sure was delusional in regards to THAT!

So, we have piles of dirt which we have to find a home for - so the outdoor arena is going to get an overhaul - as this dirt has a lot of regular dirt/clay texture - and we will scrape of a few inches of the broken down sand on top of the arena - and bring in this dirt and level it out more. I've been blessed to be able to keep riding even with diluges of rain - and the goal is to keep that as best we can.... my fingers are crossed!

The builder is scheduled to start October 8 - and he states he should have it all up in only 2 weeks. So the end of October is going to be very busy for us - we will be putting in the back wall, stalls, shavings storage room, and a new tack room.

Charisma is riding extremely well - I've very proud of her - we have several "bigger" shows to go to yet. Tomorrow we are heading to Elkhorn to show at a WQHA sponsored open show. Then on the 29th is the Wisc State Horse Council Championship Challenge show. Charisma is qualified for the Western Pleasure class - which is grouped by rider's age - so I will be in the Sr Sr age division. We will also be doing the Trail classes at these 2 shows. I'm also considering taking Charisma to Crown Point, IN on October 13 & 14 for a AQHA sanctioned show. I have a few weeks to decide though.

Gus is still having continued lameness and hoof problems. I tried a new farrier yesterday who is a "natural" hoof trimmer - and he pointed out that my on-going problems with thrush in Gus's front feet have to be addressed 1st and foremost before anything else can occur. Poor Gus. His heels have contracted alot over the summer and I have just not been able to get the thrush totally cured. So we have pulled Gus's shoes, and have packed his feet with medication and vetwrapped and he is wearing easy boots. This new guy stated to me that it could take 3 to 4 months of daily medicating and wrapping to cure it up - then another 6-12 months for the heels to come back to where they belong. He honestly told me that he felt Gus should be completely UNRIDDEN for at least a year..... (Ummm, that will be hard)..... He also suggested that we x-ray his fronts for navicular changes - as he is showing "slight symptons" of navicular. But it could also be soreness from thrush/contracted heels ...SO - will do that this Tuesday ( cuz at this point what's more vet bills???)....... And will keep you posted....

So, anyway, with the saga of poor Gus - Could this explain his poor performance this summer and his "attitude" problems etc? I'm thinking so...... So, if this works, and then maybe I'll have my horse back......

Sammy left Wednesday for his new home with Susan LeMay. I got teary putting him in the trailer, but I was happy with Suzan and she was very comfortable on him, and he was LAZY for her - so time will tell, but all indicators of a good match and great home for him. She has promised to keep me posted.

Ace has been sold to Jessica Julson and she will be boarding him with us. Jessica already loves him and has been out several times to brush and play with him, and she is intending on showing him next season. Many thanks to Kathy C who spend time with Ace over the summer so he wasn't a wild mustang....

And yes, if you've paid attention - I am down to only having 2 horses, Gus and Charisma. I'm tentatively shopping for a horse for Randy. Though he hasn't shown much interest as of late, so I'm not sure how hard I will be shopping, but it's ALWAYS fun to look.... the catalog has been posted for the Sept 30th Cannon Falls MN QH sale, and there are several good ones listed....so I might make a trip to that sale or hold off to the October cataloged sale too. Or who knows!!! ha ha....

Until later!

Chicago Vacation

Some snapshots from our 1st family vacation. Many thanks to Carol & Cindy for holding down the fort!