Sunday trail ride

I met Kara and her 3 year old, mostly TB, mare Tessa this morning. We started working in the indoor. I almost had a mishap - I didn't quite have the saddle tight enough (Daniel had a belly full of air, that I thought he exhaled), so Kara saved me and tightened the girth. Daniel had a spook in the corner of the indoor (we blamed the jazz that was playing over the speakers!) but settled right down. We got brave and decided to venture out on the trails.

Ted was kind enough to let us out - Daniel did his little "I'm not going through my friends with you on my back" thing... I'm thinking that he's being more protective than pissy though. The other boys like to play and nip, I'm thinking that maybe he's taking care of me, and concerned about me being aboard if the boys get silly? Who knows! Anyway, I got the voice of Leeandra in my head, made a wall on the left and made him go right and walk through the field to the gate. Kara and Tessa went through the tunnel and were there to let us out.

We rode as much as we could in the outdoor. Someone was there with her son for a lesson, and parked in the middle of the outdoor. We were talking about it and figured that someone new to horses, might mistake an outdoor for a parking lot. It could happen! :-)

Tessa did a little spook at something in the woods, but was otherwise really great!! Kara dismounted halfway out, and we explored a little and went up a trail that was new to us. So much for an adventure, it just brought us out to a huge field that ran along behind the trail we were just on and let us out to the outdoor again.

I had some hiccups dismounting... frigging Kerrits tights! I hate them and I'm throwing them out! They have this great little pocket for your cellphone or treats, but dammit, you're GLUED to the flipping saddle! I have a helluva time dismounting whenever I wear the damned things! I came home and ordered another pair of the Irideons! One pair was fine when I only rode once a week, but riding 2 or 3 times a week, and only doing laundry once a week... math tells me I need a few more pair!! :-)

After the ride, I picked out his hooves again, brushed him and flysprayed him, put his flysheet back on him and took him out to the boy's pasture. He turned to me, let me take his halter off, walked off dropped and rolled!!! Yay!! I was so happy to see him comfortable enough with the other boys, that he's laying down and rolling around!!!!

Hanging out

I haven't been out to see Daniel since Tuesday - damned classes! So, I went to see him today, just to check on him, flyspray him, and give him some carrots. I had to go to the city for my aunt's birthday, so I didn't have time to ride today :-(

Riding day is tomorrow!!!

Tuesday afterwork

Daniel was hanging out with the boys tonight. The grey is Elvis, and the bay is Charlie. I didn't ride tonight... but classes start this week, and since I won't be there tomorrow or Thursday night, I just wanted to swing by and see how he was doing. Oh, and give him a few carrots, too!!!

Braid day with Francesca

Francesca was nice enough to go to the barn with me today! She rode Daniel a little bit (it was still HOT), and then she helped me give him a bath and braid him. I wanted to get all that mane off his neck in this heat!

He was really funny, he LOVES drinking out of the hose, so when I was going from one side to the other, I stopped to let him drink. After his bath, I braided him... my arms STILL hurt! He was cute though, when I complained to Chezzie that my arms were hurting from reaching up to braid, Daniel lowered his head...

He was a perfect gentleman with her, as you can see in the pictures :-) What a good boy I've got!!!

He's one of the herd now

Right smack in the middle :-) I guess he's one of the boys now!! I was so happy to see this!

I brought him into the barn, groomed him, tacked him up and rode in the indoor with Kara and her mare Tessa. Tessa's still green, so we just walked and trotted in the indoor. Daniel was a good boy, but it was HOT and humid, so I didn't want to push him too hard. After we rode in the indoor, Kara suggested that we go out on the perimeter trail, with me riding Daniel and she would walk along leading Tessa. Rather than dismount to walk through the gelding field, I thought I would ride D to the trail. He did NOT want to go through the field, and I was NOT going to let him win.

So, I heard Leeandra's voice in my head, telling me to block him from going left with the rein and my leg. So I blocked him from going left and pointed him to the right and gave him a kick so he'd know I wasn't kidding. Then I felt him chew the bit, and walk where I wanted him to go.

Kara manned the gate for us, and we had a nice walk along part of the perimeter trail. We only went about 1/4 of the way, because, it was HOT!!

After we got back to the barn, I hosed D off, and let him do his favorite thing: drink from the hose. I put him back out with a fly mask and fly sheet on, because I'm convinced that NO fly sprays on the market work... But, with him out with 7 other geldings, I'm totally expecting both of them to be in tatters when I go tomorrow!!

Tomorrow, the plan Chezzie is going with me. I'm going to let her ride a little (she's about 90 lbs soaking wet, so no matter how hot it is, it won't be too taxing!) and then give him a bath and get her to help me with braiding his mane. I'm sure it'll help him feel cooler!

Another Friday visit

Today started out bad. Any day that starts with a funeral is a bad day. I haven't seen Timmy and Cindy in a while, and was shocked to learn that Cindy's Dad was diagnosed with CJD, a horrible brain disease, in March and died a few days ago. Her father was just such a great guy, a real gentleman and there were so many people there, it was incredible. Their son is old enough to know that his Grandfather is gone, but their little girl is too young to realize what's going on. The good things were that I saw Timmy, Cindy, Robin, Josie and Benny. Funerals remind you of how short life is...

So, after the funeral (which was at the same Armenian church where they got married and christened the kids, so I had NO CLUE what was going on... I just thought the priest with the black hooded cloak and staff looked pretty scary!) I went to Dover for more fly spray, blanket wash, and a new saddle pad for Daniel, and then I went to see the old boy!

When I got there, they were mowing the small field off the barn, and I saw some of the boys around in the back field. Daniel was one of them. So, I walked past the indoor, saw Elvis, Donny and Cayuga in there, and I continued past to the back field where Daniel was under a tree with Alex, Sam, Charlie and Runner. For the horse that he got into the kicking war with his first time being turned out, he's gotten pretty chummy with Runner! I was thrilled that he was right in with the herd :-) Today was three weeks since we moved, and I'm really surprised at how well he's settling in!

I brought him up to the barn, noticed he's missing a lot of mane (Jill said he's rubbing it out, so Monday is bath and braiding day!) and was sweaty (it's like 85 degrees today) so I picked his hooves, groomed him and sprayed him with more flyspray.

I turned him back out, and went to the barn to clean the barn aisle and fill up the water tubs. When I was leaving, I drove to the outdoor arena (you can see the fence line of the outdoor in the pic of Daniel in the field above this post - you can see most of the big pasture from the outdoor) to see where he was. In the 15 minutes since I'd turned him out, he walked back to the herd, and when I drove up, he was right smack in the middle of the herd! He wasn't near the herd like he usually was, but he was right in the middle of the boys - all 7 of them were all around him.

So, 3 weeks in, I guess he's "home"...

Now tomorrow, it's my turn! Kara, one of the boarders, suggested that the 4 boarders and 2 leasors get together and organize the tack room! My stuff is stuck where there seemed to be room. Jill said there's probably stuff there from boarders long gone... so, we're going to work tomorrow morning on that, and then I'm driving to Hampstead to help Leeandra and the gang promote Legacy. I'd rather not be doing that drive, but I want to help.

So, probably no post until Sunday. The plan Sunday is to ride with Kara and Tessa (who's pretty green) in the indoor for a while. She may want to walk her along the trail while I ride Daniel... we'll see how she does in the indoor.

The plan for Monday is to give him a bath, and get that mane in braids before he rubs the rest of it off!!!

new plan....

I'm going to start taking the dogs with me the days I'm not going to be riding... it'll be interesting to see how long THIS lasts...

But, for tonight, Tuesday, I didn't take the dogs, and I hopped on Daniel and rode for only about 1/2 hour. We did some walking, trotting, and shoulders-in in the outdoor then hit the trail along the perimeter of the geldings' pasture. (The view over his ears is of the geldings' pasture, the run-in shed, and in the far background is the indoor.)

I was happy to see that he was pretty much right in the herd this time!

Fun day with Kathy!

Had a nice brunch at American Grill with Kathy (who helped me navigate the ride to Hampstead the first time) then went to ride Daniel. I didn't ride today, but I picked hooves, groomed, tacked up and let Kath ride. Daniel was really being a good boy today and Kath looked like a pro on him!!

Daniel's pedicure

Dawn came out this morning for Daniel's trim. The hoof on the left is before the trim, the hoof on the right is after. She suggested a 3 week schedule until she has me up and running with beveling the edges myself once a week.

After his trim, we went on a trail ride with Jean and Cayuga. We got to trot, even canter when Cayuga's TB speed got him way out ahead of us, and Daniel wanted to catch up. We even rode out a big spook when the guy that handles the grounds, fired up something gas-powered outside the outdoor. Daniel did he jump to the side, as did Cayuga. We can't blame the groundskeeper, the way the outdoor is, there was no way he would have seen us.

Going back tomorrow with Kath!!

Friday night trail ride

We took a short trail ride after work tonight. What a way to shake off the week! We only were out for a half hour or so, but it was so nice to be able to do!

No pics, no posts

I visited Daniel Monday and Wednesday after work. He seems to be settling and learning the routine. He's not part of the herd yet, but he's not really banished either... So I'm sure in a few more weeks he'll be one of the gang.

Jill told me that she had to hold his hand with the run-in. He seemed to be afraid of it, but she got him to go it, and he was also in the indoor. I'm just glad he knows where to go when the weather gets bad!

I worked with him on Sunday, trying to show him that the run in isn't bad. I brought him in. showed him the mesh wouldn't hurt him, gave him treats... It all takes time, I guess!

Rode the trails today!

He's adjusting pretty well to his new home, Tory Hill Farm, and I'm LOVING the 15 minute commute! We rode the trails for the first time, and he was a huffing, puffing boy today. It was REALLY windy and his first time on the trails here. There were a lot of limbs going down in the woods... he was on full alert mode, but not spooky. We kept it to only about 45 minutes, then I let him go back out with his boys.


Rhoda stopped by while running her errands, and helped me weave his "tail" so he could swat flies!

I should change the name of this blog

Some pics from today - not the greatest quality, but all I had was my Blackberry...

I should change the name of this blog, since I can go see him almost every day now!

I went to check on him and he was out in the big gelding's field with the 7 other boys. The horse he had the run-in with on Wednesday, Runner, was far away from him... I hope the differences are worked out now! My Mom went with me today. I'll be damned, but Daniel will follow her ANYWHERE for peppermints!!

I didn't ride today, but I'm planning to trail ride tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Daniel meets my Dad

My Dad hadn't met Daniel before, I snapped a pic - just for reference, my Dad's 6'4"!!! Groomed him, gave him some carrots, picked out hooves... and told him that he just needs to find the loudmouth and kick his ass, then he'll have smooth sailing. Oh, I forgot! He did that Wednesday! I feel bad that Runner's still a little lame, but from what I heard, he started it!

Turned out with the boys

Jill turned him out with the boys yesterday, and when I got there after work, he had two hoofmarks on his left rear hip! He was sound, and there was no heat, but there was some swelling. I helped Jill feed, and she seemed to think that Runner did it, especially since Runner was lame.

We decided to put Daniel back in the paddock attached to the barn, and let him have access to the barn (the mares were in to keep him company). I didn't have his halter, and he let me lead him back with simply hay baling twine!

I can't go tonight, so I'm hoping my boy had a better day today!

no pics today

But I swung by Tory Hill on the way home from work to check Daniel. He looks good! Not losing weight, keeping good muscle tone, seems happy. I asked Jill how he was today and she said, "Excellent!!!" They took him to the indoor and let him wander around while they were working some other horses today.

I just wish it would stop raining! I would love to tack him up after work and just explore the property a little. I think Daniel'd would like that! I know I would!

Daniel filling the grooming area

Today was the 3rd full day after the move and first time riding in the new indoor! I got there about 9:00 and Daniel was in a stall, munching away on hay. I groomed him, tacked him up, and everyone asked if he'd go through the tunnel (that runs from the barn to the indoor). He looked at me as if to say, "OK, if you say so!" and then he ducked and walked through with me. He was good in the indoor. We walked around together so he'd see that there were no monsters. Then I mounted and walked around with him, and did some 10m circles at a walk. He met Donnie and Sam in the indoor, and said hello to the others over the wall.

After I hopped off him, Sue and Joy hopped on him, only they preferred to ride bareback!

Luckily, he was dry enough to put a turnout sheet before I left... I felt better with him covered in the pouring rain, even though he has a stall he can go in and out of...

Rain, rain and more rain!

No pics today - the weather was awful! It was POURING and Daniel was out in the rain when I got there. They had taken Charlie out of the pasture with him. He was alone, so he was very willing to come into the barn with me.

I picked his hooves, brushed him, and gave him some treats... but the grooming area is made for a horse half his size! When he was in the cross-ties, his butt was smack up against the wall!!! We met some more of the people, then I walked him down to the run-in shed. I think he was confused by the blackmesh netting that they use to keep flies down and provide some shade. So, I walked into the run in, showed him it was ok, and I held the mesh up to him, crinkled it up, moved it this way and that, and after all that, he walked back out in the rain. Oh well, I tried!

I'll go back tomorrow, and if it's not raining, maybe I'll get a ride in!

Day One at Tory Hill Farm

Kate met me and we got to Tory Hill at 8:00am... Daniel was in the stall, he had 3 manure piles in the yard, drank 1 1/2 buckets of water, ate most of his hay, and the straw bedding was all spread around so he must have been laying down at some point during the night... all my worrying was for nothing!

After they seemed like they didn't mind each other's presence, Jill told me to take Daniel out into the paddock attached to the barn. Daniel saw all the lush grass, set his head down and grazed. Then they let Charlie out. Charlie ran all over the paddock... and Daniel just grazed. Charlie came up and sniffed Daniel, Daniel sniffed back, and went back to grazing... and Charlie went back to running around the paddock.

I left to go to a graduation party, and went back at feeding time... I was glad I did because Jill was doing PM feeds and I offered to help so I could learn how they did things at Tory Hill. We hopped on the golf cart and went to feed the geldings. I got to meet Runner, Alex, Sam, Elvis, Cayuga, and Donnie. Funny thing is, just like at Legacy, every horse there has a "story" and in some way has some sort of limitations :-) We then went to feed Daniel and Charlie. At Tory Hill, they feed the horses dry grain in feedbags. Daniel's used to wet food, (he'll gradually be switched to what they feed), so Jill suggested that we put Charlie's feedbag on him, and put Daniel's feed in a tub... After they were done, she wanted to see who was "boss". As I expected, Charlie walked over to the feed tub, and Daniel just pinned his ears back and glared at Charlie... that was all Charlie needed to leave!

It felt SO GOOD to leave tonight and tell Daniel, "Be a good boy and I'll see you tomorrow" instead of, "Be a good boy and I'll see you next week!"

Then they settled down to just grazing.

Jill put a horse called Charlie in the yard next to Daniel. The sniffed each other and then Daniel went back to his hay. Charlie just paced, I think he just wanted to be out!

Last day in Hampstead

Today was to big move to Glen Mills! We didn't get on the road until late, and never got to Tory Hill until about 10:00 pm!

We stopped about halfway to check on Daniel, and he had a mouthful of hay and left a pile of manure. OK! 2nd leg, here we go!

When we got there, Jill suggested that we put him in the U-shaped barn (all the other horses were out), which had a stall that let to a small yard. I went in with him and showed him where the water was, where the hay was, etc. He started to eat, he peed, and had lots of gas (not unusual at all for him). I was worried about waiting for him to poop to make sure everything was moving, but Leeandra suggested that he may not have any more manure in him to pass, based on what he left us in the trailer!

So, I said goodnight to him and Jill, asked what time they were feeding in the morning, and drove home. I told Leeandra how to get to I-95, and headed home. I was up all night! I was so worried that he was scared or worried...