Heather and her family are excited!

Heather texted me and said they were so excited about getting Red.  I am so happy for them and for Red.  Sad for me.  I went to the barn today to give him some alfalfa and he so loves his alfalfa!  I called Billy to replace his shoe but that is a no go for the time frame which bites.  He has only had them on two weeks.

A Sad Decision has been made

I have made the sad decision to let Red go to another owner.  He is not able to ride trails for hours on end in the heat.  He is fine from September though May but he must have special care from June - August and I have found the perfect person to give him that care...my cake buddy, Heather. 

If this were not for Red's health he would never leave my care.  This has been so hard - I couldn't sell him....I would have nightmares worrying that someone would not be taking care of him like I do - or love him like I do.  I called Heather and said I was letting Red go and would she be interested...she said she would love to but couldn't afford a horse like Red.  I said "he is not for sale - it is more important that someone give him a good home".  She can give my boy a good home thank God.

Heather is a former vet tech and she and her daughter are working on dressage.  Her daughter was in a show a few weeks ago and did a good job!  Red is more than capable of that in the summer and he can also hit the trails in the fall and winter.  I think they will be a perfect match.

Still, it is hard for me to say goodbye or actually happy trails til we meet again.  I plan on going to see him in shows if I am able to.  That would be so wonderful to see my Dashing Big Red in a show with a ribbon on his bridle. 

Red will be going back to Louisiana where he was born and bred.  I will be taking him on October 1st.  I will be a mess I know when I leave him there.  Just thinking about it makes a lump in my throat.  Heather blogs too, so I will be able to keep up with my boy and we can talk on the phone so I can hear all that he is doing so he is not gone - just living somewhere else - making someone else a wonderful boy.

Red is so Funny!

 Click on this to see Red running for his alfalfa - that is about the only thing he will run for!!!

Red Runs For Alfalfa

Fungus Among Us

Went out to give Red and Sarge some alfalfa.  Red had a scaly patchy looking place on this back.  I went up to the barn and got my soft scrubby thingy and Furazone.  I scrubbed and scrubbed his back and his hips - he had a spot on his butt near his tail too.  He seemed to enjoy the scrub and quit eating to enjoy his "massage".  Here is the yukky spot - I slathered it in Furazone and will give him a scrubby hot bath tomorrow when I get off of work.  Archie said to put capazan on it - it is for fungus.  Poor Red!

Kellie and I got site shopping

Kellie and I went over to the Houston, Spring, Conroe and Huntsville areas today looking for sites to ride and stay at.

We went to Cypress Trails Woot!  Can't wait to stay there, drove around Pundt Park and Sam Houston State Park.  We have many options and hope to check them out soon!

Red is SWEATING

We went to the playday at Tyrrell Park this afternoon.  It was blazing hot when we got out to the barn.  We hauled down to the paddock and Red felt damp...they were under the shelter so he is smart enough to stay out of the blazing heat.  We hauled them up to the barn and unloaded them to clean them up.  Red was soaking wet WOWWWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOWO when we got to the barn which is just a 2 minute ride in the trailer!   I rinsed him off, brushed his mane and picked his hooves.

I tacked him up and put 1/2 rations in the buckets in the trailer.  We loaded the boys up and hauled to the park.  It was UBER hot.  I got on by the bleachers and headed for the arena.   We had such a good time.  Rode around with Kellie and Allison.  Randy is always funny and Kenny is a doll.  Traci was at home sick...poor girl!  Esther and her hubby visited and it was good to see him again.

All of us girls, Barry and Mr. Miguez ran the barrels and poles for fun.   Kellie was blazing on in after running the pattern and Elan did a little buck and it hurt Kellie's back.  GAAAAAAAAA  She got off of him and later took his saddle off because he was hot. 

I trotted the pattern with Red and he did a great job and didn't try to go way out or over shoot the barrels.  He would make a fantastic Barrel Racer but I am too chicken to run barrels.  I trotted the pattern for the poles too.  Red did ok but he did better on barrels. 

Barry and Sarge were a hoot on the Barrels.  Sarge is such a show off that he is funny to watch!  We had a good time and are looking forward to more riding.

Red was sweating nicely!  That was such a thrill - Esther said there is someone local that does acupuncture!  Krystina had this doc out for a rescue she has now... and the horse was sweating buckets after the treatment.  Wow wee....I am calling Krystina tomorrow to ask about it

Now Sarge is Cranky

Barry and I went out to see the horses this afternoon.  We were hugging them up...Red was busy grazing and I was checking his sweat levels - powdery salt all on his neck, shoulders, chest and face.  He was very salty!!!  His face was sprinkled with salt crystals and his hair felt sticky with sweat.  Barry and I were just looking at him and I thought he'd lost quiet a bit of weight this week. 

Sarge comes along side of Red standing shoulder to shoulder with him and all of a sudden reaches up with his left hind leg and kicks at Red.  Red moved quickly to the left, nearly knocking down Barry and then moves quickly forward the corner by the gate and I was stepping quick to get out of their way. 

Alrighty then...Sarge is a big giant asinine and he is always such a sweet boy.   Barry ran him off with a pop on his butt and followed him out to the pasture Back BACK BACK he made him go.

I assume he was jealous because he is an attention whore.  Sarge loves his attention but we were hugging him up and petting him.  Geeze...what a pill.

Red is sweating and not as cranky

Every day this week when I have gone to the stable to see Red he has been sweating...not massively like Sarge - but he is damp and moist feeling.  He has also been kinda cranky...poor guy.  I was thrilled to feel the sweat on him and see crystals by his mane.

Red being shod

Inspection at the Park

The first time I went to Ebenezer last year I took the boy's Coggin's Papers.  Never took them again but something told me to take them this weekend as it was a holiday.  Good thing!  The Animal Heath Inspector, Charles Woods, had been there the day before and asked someone to leave as they didn't have a current Coggin's.  The person was cranked up about it and was told they could be issued a $300 fine if they would like!  Gaaa!!!  The park attendant didn't realize what a big deal it is to have a current Coggins until I told her that horses will DIE from the infection - that they have the test for a reason and that is to keep horses safe. 

Sure enough, Friday afternoon here comes the Health Inspector.  He was a total doll....of course, I had papers so that was a good thing!!!  We liked Charles and he has a fascinating job - we want HIS job!!!

Cranky Boy

I went to the barn to check on my boys - and wow wee was Red one cranky boy.  He felt damp on his neck and shoulders.  He acted like he was going to nip me and I pushed him away.  He had a deer fly on his jowl.  He moved his face toward me and his mouth was open and he really acted like he was going to nip - he got his ears boxed for that.    I don't know why he was so cranky but he was!

Labor Day Rides at Ebenezer

Barry & Sarge cantering on the beach

We had such a good time this weekend at Ebenezer!!!  I got the trailer packed Friday and loaded the horses.  They both self loaded - they were ready to go.   I met Barry at the house and off we went.  We got up to Ebenezer around 2:30 or so.  We unloaded the horses and cleaned the trailer.  We saddled the horses and took off on a ride.  We rode down the trails to the Eagles Nest hill.   Red seemed to be having a hard time...he was breathing pretty heavy going up the hill.  I made him go first so he wasn't rushing Sarge.  Going down the hill I made him go first again.  He did WAY WAY WAY better going first than following someone!  I told Barry we would not go to the lake at that site but go to the right to the other beach so that we would have the time because we were going to Archie's for dinner.  We went up and down hills and Red did well going first.  He doesn't particularly like going first but I made him anyway.  We got to where we go down for the water and he LEAPED off a ledge and was trying to rush to get down.  I know he could smell the water and he was HOT poor guy.  His skin was very hot and he wasn't sweating.  I got him into the water and soaked him with my Sham Wow rag.   We finally left the lake and he was moving fast up the hill.  It is not a steep hill at all but he was wanting to canter and it felt like two little tiny bucks were thrown in.  Maybe not bucks...he is so high on the back end.  He also feels like he is going lunge forward so fast but he did calm down when asked.  He sometimes makes me a little nervous when he does that...yes I am a sissy...I can't help it.

I got half way down the road and realized my Sham Wow was gone.  That BITES.  We went to Archie's for dinner and had a good time.  Margaret, Millard and Barbara where there too.

I didn't sleep worth a darn on the new cots I bought...they were torture chambers.  I was up almost ALL night.  Gaaaa!  We saddled up and took off.  We went down the road to the where I lost my Sham Wow.  Found it!  Red was leading and doing a piss poor job.  He walks so tentatively when he is with Sarge and leading.  We got back on the road and went all the way down to where you would turn to the right to go on the trail to Eagle's Nest.  Kept going.  I was tired from not sleeping.  We went to the left back into the other side of the park.  Down to the center and I told Barry I would go back to the park by myself so he could ride a faster/harder ride.  I went down the trail towards the Park.  Three times I heard Sarge calling for Red!  I stopped and talked to some ladies on the trail.  Got all the way to the trail head and took the front trail all the way down to the creek.  It was a long solo ride and I was so proud of myself.  I made my way back to camp because I was tired, hungry and thought Barry might be back and cranked up because he wouldn't know where I was at!

Barry & I drove to Letney Park Road and looked around and then around the road that goes around Ebenezer.  Woot...it comes out on Letney Park Road.

Barry & Sarge on the beach

We went for another ride later Saturday afternoon.  We went down to the lake and there were a bazillion boats.  We went to the far left side and I got in with Red.  A dog came charging up to us and Barry got in between us.  LOL  The guy annoyed Barry because he didn't say anything to us or really try to stop the dog that was baring its teeth.  Red is not fond on dogs - glad there were no issues.  We got to the top of the hill and went left.  Nice trail until it ended!  We went back to the road and down towards the park.  We went right at a gate area.  We went down a wide road that was going towards the center of the park.  LOL When we go to the middle where the trails meet Red hung a hard left!  LOL  he knows his directions and that was the way BACK to camp.  We went back to the camp and got cleaned up and went to The Stump and met Ronnie and Margaret for dinner.  We had a good time.

Barry & Sarge - gorgeous scenery

I slept better and woke up around 4:00...got up at 6:00 and watched the sun come up.  Margaret came and we rode to the lake and all around the park.  We rode some trails I hadn't been on.  I cantered a few times and Red did terrific.

Margaret was going to lead Red through the fanoodles.  She hooked onto his halter and went through - omg he sat back and I was screaming for her to turn him loose.  It was scary.  She dragged him through a second time and it wasn't fun.  She jerked him up and he bopped her in the mouth with his bit....we were our own rodeo.

Barry & Sarge on the beach - isn't the cliff beautiful

Margaret had called her little friend Billy Morian to shoe Red.  He was a darling young man.  He did a good job on Red.  We packe dup after lunch and hauled home.  Red was a little tender getting out of the trailer - he always is tender on those toes!

Barry cantering down the beach

Boats at Ebenezer Beach

Horse that was actually hurt - he was throwing a major fuss

Denise riding the trails

Red and Denise in the lake - Red plowing in because he was hot

Denise coming up the trail

Denise & Red enjoying the cool water

Denise & Red in the woods

Spiders abound

Enjoying the scenery

Denise & Red

Denise & Red

Coming up the trail Denise & Red

Coming up the trail Denise & Red

Margaret turning Cub

Margaret, Cub, Denise & Red

There are no purple funnoodles in the forest Sister so why should I go through here?  It ain't happenin'!

Red goes back to the pasture!

Red went down to the pasture this afternoon.  I walked him down the road to his pasture with Sarge.  They stood there nibbling on each other with their teeth clacking!   Later Red took off, bucked so high sending mud from his hooves sky high, thundered across the pasture (Sarge started out with him and decided he couldn't keep up and stopped) with his tail flagging.  I am hoping he does well this month.  He was sweating ok.