Red throws and shoe and Barry comes off too!

Barry and I went out to the stables so he could ride. I was cooking soup so dinner was on and ready. We went out and saddled Red up and I walked with Barry down the road. He wanted Red to get into water and at first Red was side stepping and not too interested in getting his tootsie's wet. But...Barry has spurs. In Red went. And again. He still has his shoe on as you can see in the right picture on the bottom. We go down the road almost to the end. Barry is way ahead of me. About one paddock width. I look up and Red is facing me but startling like a deer and going sideways. Barry whipped sideways with him but then was suspended in air and off he came. Down on his feet and he fell sideways. Red kinda looked surprised and then took off towards me. I was saying whoa boy. easy...steady... yeah right he ran past me with reins flapping in the wind and I was hoping he would stop before he stepped on a rein and flipped himself.

I went to Barry and hugged him up. He was fine but I was not too thrilled to see him come off the horse. I called Krystina to tell her not to worry about Red being up there (he was almost back to the barn!) and she came out and snagged him.

That is when we realized he lost a shoe. UGH! LOST A SHOE AGAIN!

We walked back to the back - Barry thought he stumbled in a hole. We did find a hole but I didn't think that was it. He looked like he was shying away from something. We walked further back and found the place where hooves tore up the ground but not much. Barry said he felt like he sank in a hole but I didn't see anything that made me think that. Red's back left hoof has a little turned up lip now and he seemed a little gimpy on the front right but that is probably because he threw the shoe and was walking on the hard parts of the road. Didn't notice gimp in the grass.

Barry got back on him and rode him back up the road. Red was very well behaved. I don't know what he startled at but it was something. I do know know if I come off of him he is going to run like a spotted ape. Woo Hoo

I have to call Reagan tomorrow to come put his shoe back on. Sigh......

Dashing Big Red's pedigree

Just in case you would like to see Red's pedigree:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/dashing+big+red

Red on a trail ride of 4 and wearing a helmet for the first time!!!

Today I asked Krystina to go riding and we made plans to go at 3:00. I got out to the barn and tacked Red up. Jeremy came by in a dump truck right near Red so I did move him but he acted like huge dump trucks always went by him. I took him into the arena and it was kinda hard to get on. He kept wanting to walk away. Uuuugghhhhh NOO..I would lead him back around and make him stand. When I got on I made him stand there. While I was trying to mount there was another horse just standing there (Lee Ann's Rogue), Krystina was cantering the Arabian around and around and in the other half of the arena there was a horse being lunged so I guess considering all of that he was pretty good!

Ms. Jean came and wanted to know where my helmet was...I don't have one but she loaned me one so for the first time in my life I wore a helmet. I will go buy one tomorrow at Tractor Supply. I don't need my brains bashed in. Better safe than sorry!

So, me, Krystina, Lee Anne and I go down the road - an Arabian in an English saddle, a Tennessee Walker with an endurance saddle, and a Quarter Horse in a Western saddle! We met up with another person, (her name escapes me at this moment) and she was riding her little Quarter Horse gelding in an Australian saddle! I wish we could have had a picture of all of us! The little Quarter Horse was spooking and looking like he was going to pop and was startling at everything. Krystina's little Arabian was full of beans and stepping high and spooking too. They all startled once like a chain reaction. I think Red startled to get out of the way....on the way down the road he acted like the water was Satin. LOL was a suck up to Margaret! Anyway, Red was doing pretty darn good but the little Quarter Horse was startling and spooking and she thought it was her windbreaker snapping. I offered my water bottle holder to stuff it in. Arabian started being a pill so they both got off and decided to walk back. Lee Ann and I were still on. Red was rearing to go - it was back to the barn! Lee Ann rode a little and then got off too when Arabian boy started having a hissy....Krystina said she should have rode Fancy!! LOL

Red was pretty good...I could feel he was ready to go though...his head was way up high which is not his usual position, his ears forward, he usually has his ears to me and he was stepping high too! He listened to me though, backing up when I asked. Stopping when I asked but he really wanted to pop off too! I rode him all the way to where the little Quarter Horse went and this was past the horses that were galloping around in the pastures. He was a handful but he did listen. I got off there and walked him back. We worked on good ground manners. Stopping when I said stop, backing up when I said back up, all the way back to the barn which wasn't far. He listened to me no matter what and I was very glad to see how well he behaved. He is a pleasure to be around. I groomed him and gave him a handful of alfalfa for a treat - his feed and alfalfa was waiting in his stall. I took his halter off and he bolted in his stall like his backside was on fire. What a chow hound!

Red likes the water!

We picked up Red this morning and trotted up to Ronnie and Margaret's. Archie was already there and Margaret's grandson, Dawson was there too. We got Red out of the trailer and Margaret and Ronnie both thought he looked terrific and had put on weight. I tied him up and gave him his to-go bucket of grain Sergio had prepared for him. That was so sweet of Sergio! Red scarfed up his dinner, dropping grain like he always does.

We all sat around and shot the breeze while the crawfish were cooking. We all had a piece of chocolate cake that I made - I made a Triple Chocolate Cake with fudge filling and cherry pie filling and then iced in chocolate. It was really good and I don't even like chocolate that much.

The corn, potatoes and sausage was so good and Barry and everyone else really enjoyed the crawfish.

Margaret saddled Easy and Barry and I saddled up Red. Barry rode him to show Margaret what he had been learning and Margaret rode him a little. She said he was doing great - we adjusted his bits a little looser...they have been tighter and looser...still working on the best placement. Margaret and I went off on a ride. Easy was, at first, acting like a spastic - he was startling and backing up and side stepping into Red. LOL Red was stepping quick to get out of his way. LOL We got a little way down and Margaret wanted him to go through the water on the side of the road. He was not to sure and was just looking at it. Red was side stepping but when Easy went so did he. LOL I guess Margaret told him to get with the program when she rode him. He walked in the water which was a hoot. He usually acts like water is going to eat him. We went down the road and up another. We went through water several times and once it was fairly deep - up over his ankles...he wanted to paw it! LOL I was amazed because Red generally has hissies over water!!! We walked through several mini streams and standing water. I was so proud of him!! He stepped once in what looked like solid ground and he sunk down deep - but he was ok and did just fine.

He trotted when I asked for trots, backed up when I asked for a back up, turned and did just wonderful!

When we got back it was time to go. We had a blast. Cleaned the horse poo out of the trailer at PNR. Some was growing oats - LOL I don't know if Bruce cleans that rascal but I gave it a cleaning. Gave Red his suppliment and his alfalfa. That makes him a happy camper.

We were talking to Bruce and he said he got his first horse from my BIL John...a brown mare - lol it was GAL!!!! That was the last horse I owned before Red. I wondered what happened to her and Bruce said he sold her for 3K to someone for their kids. She would have been terrific for that - she was so gentle and sweet. Barry always said she was a glue pot and I told him I didn't want to hear that anymore!

We might go next weekend and watch Bruce rope in LaPort. Heck...that will be fun! I can't wait to get a trailer so I can go where I want - when I want. Margaret and I talked about going to the beach to ride. That would be so much fun!

Getting ready for the trail

We went out to Bruce Jr's today to get the trailer. He is such a sweetie and so is Tina. He rides in Crooked Stirrups too. He had several saddles in the garage and they all had Crooked Stirrups! I couldn't ride without them. We are going to the barn around 9:00 or so in the morning to get Red ready. There is always the chance that he is filthy - he is such a pig.

Barry said his backside was full of mud today when he went out there. I had a cake to do and then went with Barry to Bruce's so I didn't get to see my boy today...and he didn't get his alfalfa. I am sure he missed that treat but poop happens!

Grooming Red

I went out to the barn to day while Sherry was cleaning the house. Red was sweating under his mane and he was shedding. I got him out and brought him to the wash rack and brushed and groomed him. He is really shaping up and looking terrific. Krystina and I were setting him up square. It has been ages since I taught a horse to set up. I would like to show him in showmanship or something next year. That would be a blast. It was so HOT out there and humid as can be. I was sweating like crazy.

Barry went out to ride this afternoon and I went out there after going to Zeno's to get a container of fondant. I went to the barn and Barry was trotting Red up the back road. I tried getting on and was able to get my foot in the stirrup but should have tightened the saddle. I might have been able to get on! I will keep working on it. We took Red over to groom him. He is shedding left and right and I used a curry comb on him and scrubbed and rubbed. It is a good massage for him and helps get the hair off. I brushed his mane, tail and forelock and he looks terrific. Such a pretty boy. I used water to wash out his hooves and I did pick them up and check them. They look pretty good but he needs to wear those bell boots!

Red acts like an idiot

We went out to the stable today and it was raining. I got a flake of alfalfa and we went to his stall. Barry made him back up and then we let him get a bite of the alfalfa. I put it in his trough and he jerk his head back and spun around back toward the door like someone had whopped him. He did that twice. I don't understand why he is acting that way - he never did that before. It was raining and loud on the tin roof and had been lightening and thundering so maybe he was all jumped up but it is so out of character for him.

Tomorrow I will go in his stall first without the alfalfa and love him up and make sure he is calm before bringing the alfalfa. I will cut the alfalfa in half if needed. Barry says he acts like an idiot for alfalfa - must be the treat of all treats for a horse!

I am going to call Bruce tomorrow to see about borrowing his trailer Sunday. We are invited to Margaret and Ronnie's for a crawfish boil. I am bringing the potatoes, onions, lemons, and sausage - plus cake! We will get there around 11:30 or so and Margaret and I at least, will get in a ride. I am looking forward to it. I so need my own trailer. I don't like having to borrow one!

Red is in Love

Red is always very interested in Fancy - Krystina's little palomino mare. She is a darling little girl - she is just so pretty. Gorgeous golden color with a few dapples, pretty blaze and beautiful mane and tail.

Krystina and I were going to ride today after her lessons so I got Red out to groom him and he just to reach out to sniff Fancy - even craning his neck over the half wall to give her a sugar. He never gets nippy or snippy and I snapped a few pictures of them. Here is Red with Fancy - isn't that the cutest thing?

Video of Red in an Epicurean Delight

I took this video of Red chowing down on his alfalfa. That boy loves that stuff like I love latte

Seeing Red

I felt good enough to go out to see Red for a few minutes. I wanted to go to work but soon realized I was not too well! I got exhausted in just a few minutes. I kept getting overheated and breaking out in a cold sweat. UGH. I went back home and rested. I made a simple dinner of roast chicken and macaroni and cheese.

Barry put a ring of granite chunks around Betsy's grave and made her a headstone that had her name on it. It is behind the yellow flower bush thingy that Betsy loved to walk under - especially when the insects are bad. She used it as her own fly swatter! Barry covered the top of her grave with clean sand and we are going to plant some pretty flowers like periwinkles there. She is missed so much. Driving up to the house is not the same...she is not on the porch or sitting at the gate watching guard. She is missed.

After dinner I went out to the barn for a few minutes to see Red and take him his alfalfa. He dug into it like he always does. He sometimes throws it around and tosses it up, down and around. I was standing about a foot away from the feed trough and he picked some up and literally threw it on me! LOL I had alfalfa sticking out of my hair, all over my shirt and down my shirt. If it had been filmed people would have that it was trick photography or a gag. He kept right on munching but I think he was laughing his hinney off all the same. He is really slicking out and looking terrific. He still has plenty of fuzz from right behind his front legs back but his chest and neck are slicking out nicely. He will look terrific in a month or so.

I just stayed a few minutes and left. I was tired. I have rested this afternoon and will work tomorrow. Hope I feel better!!

No Beach Ride for Red or me

Sigh....if I plan something it will go awry. I was so excited about going to the beach with Cindy on the horses. I was planning on taking water buckets and water for my boy, alfalfa for a treat, brushes, camera, etc., etc.

I woke up at 4:00 AM feeling kinda funny. By 4:30 had had Montezuma's Revenge in a really nasty way....then fever. I felt like poop on a shingle. I ran fever all day - just a low grade - and Barry went golfing and then horseback riding. He said Red did a great job on his turns and he galloped at a speed that Red thinks is a race. He had better be careful!!

I took a nap from 6 to 7:30 or so and then went back to bed at 10:15. I think I woke up every 45 minutes for a sip of raspberry tea and to turn over.

I got up this morning with fever and chills so bad I couldn't stop shaking. I did have to call some WalMarts about some paint that had been deleted by accident and talked to Jeff. This is too ugly to go out and give to someone else!

I am running fever, vomiting (so sorry for the graphic language) still friends with Mr. Toilet. I am shaking right now. UGH.

I would like to go out to see Red this afternoon but that is just not going to happen. I am too sick to get in the truck.

I do have a wedding cake this weekend that I need to start on. It is a cowboy hat. I need to make the brim. Betty said she would come over and help me if needed. Bless her heart.....I couldn't ask for better friends than Betty and Christy.

Barry went out to the stables to give Red his alfalfa. Red acts like a semi-goober sometimes in the stall but it is just since he has been at PNR. If you reach out to him near his head he jerks it back...hum....don't know what is up with that but he then calms down. Barry stayed there for a little while. I am going to go see him in the morning. I do feel better. I got worse between 12:00 and 3:00 PM. Thought I was going to burn up and die. Ran a really high fever for awhile. I am feeling better though and have ate some jello but that is it.

Picnic at the stables and in the Paddock

I went with Betty to deliver her wedding cake and we got food at Sonic and took it out to the stables and had a picnic with Barry. We visited with Miss Jean and Mr. Gus. After I delivered my wedding cake yesterday Barry and I went out to the stables to see Red. He was already in his stall and had ate all of his grain. I got him a flake of alfalfa and let him out of his stall and he had a picnic on the ground. He steadily munched away until it was pretty much gone. I had been loving on him, scratching the backside of his leg and generally kissing him up.

Once he got through with his alfalfa he turned around and went and got in his stall!! He is such a funny boy. He is always a pleasure to be around.

I talked to Cindy and we made plans to go to the beach today to ride. She was going to come get me and then pick up Lady at Tyrrell Park. So much for well laid plans. I woke up with a raging Montezuma's Revenge and don't know why. Stomach wasn't cramping but it was UGLY. I couldn't go! I was so upset but now I am running a low grade fever so I don't know what is wrong with me but it doesn't feel good.

Barry went out to ride Red and I am stuck at home sick. That is just wrong.

It's a sad day

Rest in Peace to our sweet Betsy. Betsy has been going down for quiet awhile but was still in good spirits and she could get up and move easily and would eat her food. This past week it was not good. She was bleeding from her abscess more and more and her eyes were dull and tired. Yesterday she did not want me to look at it or move her leg. She twice snagged my arm with her mouth to let me know it hurt. That breaks my heart.

We made the decision to put her down Friday, March 20, 2009. I spent the day off and on checking on her and loving her up and choking up. Barry and the boys took her and Morgan met them up there at the vet. Betty was here with me working on cakes. The boys dug her grave and Barry said she went easy and quiet. The vet said she obviously had been well taken care of to have lived 13.5 years. We all were in tears. Barry gently picked her up and placed her softly in her resting place. I had tucked her legs up and patted her one last time. We remembered the good times with her and some of the funny things she did like dragging home a 10 lb turkey, jerking Devin down and ripping the butt out of his pants on a regular basis. She always had a sweet look and a wag of her tail for my brides - even those who called from the car to say "there's a big dog on the porch!!! Will she bite?" No... Betsy didn't bite but I am sure there are those who decided not to test that theory. The house doesn't seem as safe without her. She is gone but not forgotten.

Barry's Birthday Betsy
November 23, 1996 - March 20, 2009

We will always love and cherish your memory