Barefoot trimming is hard work

I went out to the barn today thinking I might ride.  I saw Lee Ann B. leaving as I was arriving.  She is going to visit her family in Canada tomorrow so she will be gone all week.  Lee Ann P said she didn't want to ride when I saw her on the back wash rack.

 I knew that Biscuit's feet needed to be trimmed so I brought him up.  I put on my handy dandy cool vest and dipped my Chilly Pad so I could put it around my neck.  I rolled up my jeans so they wouldn't get wet and put on my Ariats so my toes didn't take a beating if Biscuit decided to compare feet again. 

I took the time to spray Biscuit's tail with Oxyclean.  It is dingy looking.  His mane and tail are cornsilk colored right now instead of white.  I think it is time for a spa day.

I think my round knife needs to be professionally sharpened - I used it to clean out his frog area and there was some thrush going on.  That wasn't surprising since it has been wet as all get out.  His front right hoof looks like it is getting some good concavity.  He was pretty good about letting me do his feet.  His back hoof has that nasty hole in it again.  Sigh...who knows if that will ever be truly gone?

Lidia came with feed for the old girls that are staying in the arena.  Biscuit was highly interested in that.  They were feeding early today so I had her bring Biscuit's feed too.  She is such a sweet girl!!!  Biscuit was delighted to dig into feed early.  I also gave him a few handfuls of alfalfa.  I rinsed his tail out and brushed it and his mane.

OMG it was so hot today.  I had on a cool vest, a Chilly neck wrap and two fans going on me and I still had sweat pouring off of my face.  It wore me out - barefoot trimming is hard work!!!

When I got home I had a FB text from Ricky V about the bobcat track thing out at Tyrrell.  He asked where it was and said he was going to work on the trails tomorrow!!!  Woot!  I sent a link to the trail on Everytrail where I had made a waypoint for it.  I asked if he could make us more trails and he said he would ride the trails tomorrow and look for places to add us some trails in.  Wow wee!!!!  That will be fantastic!!!  I would love to have more trails out there in the woods.  I love riding at Tyrrell Park!!!  I may go riding there tomorrow.  It was blazing hot yesterday and today so maybe they have dried up some.  A few more days of hot days and it should bake that stuff to clay instead of mud!!

Muddy Ride around Tyrrell Park

Biscuit and I loaded up for a trip to Tyrrell this morning.  He ate his breakfast in the trailer on the way there.  I got to the park and unloaded Biscuit.  I brushed him and considered putting boots on him but changed my mind.  His saddle seems to fit so much better since pulling out the shims of his saddle pad.  Kellie arrived and tacked up Elan while we chatted.

We went around to the park road and went in where I had checked out the trails Friday.  They were muddy.  Dang, I didn't get much rain yesterday but obviously Tyrrell Park did.  We went down the trails and they were muddy and wet but not sloppy.  I took the lead on some of the trails, giving Biscuit a few pops on his shoulder.  Once he refused and kept backing up right into a tree.  LOL  I was wearing limbs and leaves for a hat.  We were swatting spiders left and right.  One got wrapped around my crop but I was able to shake it off!!!

We got down to the end where we would go out to the bayou and the grass hasn't been cut in ages and was as tall as our seats in the saddle.  Ugh.  It would have been like that for 7 miles if we had gone to the back.  We decided to just go back to the trailer.  We went forward as it was the shorter route.  It was a good training process for Biscuit.  He will sometimes still refuse to lead in muddy conditions - even popping him on his shoulder with a crop didn't change his mind - but he would follow Elan.  It was pretty boggy going forward in one spot and Biscuit picked up the pace but he never got nervous or goofy acting.  We got back to the trailer and rode over to check out the cute little Halflinger that Kenny has over there.  OMG he is darling!!!!!  I wanted to load him up in the Brenderup and brind him home with me.  He has the prettiest mane and forelock.  So cute!!!  That grey horse that got away a few weeks ago was over a ways in the paddock and was cribbing.  Poor guy - he has issues. 

We then untacked the horses and washed them off.  I cleaned Biscuit's hooves and sprayed his face.  He isn't crazy about it but he is getting better at it.  He was trying to drink the spray of the water today.

He licked some Diet Coke out of my hand. He is so funny.  I tied him to the trailer and Kellie and I went over and gave the horse in the arena some water.  I petted the Halflinger - way way too cute.  He has such a chunky little body...he moves nicely too. 

Kellie and I decided to try and ride at the beach next Sunday.  Until the trails dry or they cut the back, Tyrrell is not going to be a fun place to ride!

Biscuit and I go for a solo ride

Horse trailers come in handy for all kinds of work.  Barry loaded up his Zero Turning Radius Lawn Mower and hauled it to Jarrod's house today.  He took out the divider and drove up the ramp!  On top of that, he hauled in my Rav...the nerve!!!

I drove over to Tyrrell Park today to check out the trails.  I went in by the pavilions and the trails were dry as the could be in both directions.  I was surprised as we have had a lot of rain and last week the trails right there were lakes.  I went home and baked cakes and Devin helped me put the breast bar back in the trailer.  I hauled over to the barn to get Biscuit.  He went to the other side of the pasture when he saw me.  Cash Kitty in the next pasture took off and so did Biscuit.  He cracks me up when he canters along bouncing like a cat - tail flagging like he is an Arabian - he stops and faces me, snorting and blowing hard.  He runs down the fence line and back, runs up to Sarge and rears up...backs off and is blowing to beat the band.  I walk up to him and he just stands there while I put his halter on.  He slowly walks to the trailer.  LOL he is so funny.

He loaded right up - he is such a good boy.  I loaded my tack and then got a bucket of water for my cool vest.  We hauled out to the park stables...I saw Kenny turning in before I got there.  I spoke to him and Traci briefly.  They were headed for Sam's. 

I got Biscuit out of the trailer and he was soaking wet.  It is hot but not blazing as it is nearly 5:50 PM.  I tacked him up.  The saddle fits better without the shims in his saddle pad.  He startled once at the chickens.  I mounted up easily - he stands like such a good boy. 

We go into the woods and to the right.  Water is on the trails until I turn the corner and then it was long patches of dry with some patches of water.  We got to the second ride away and it looked pretty wet going forward so we went down the ride away.  Almost to the end when it got mushy and Biscuit go a little disconcerted.  He wanted to turn back...he wasn't familiar with that trail!!!  So we turned back.  I wasn't nervous but he seemed to be.  Once back on the trail we hit a jog.  He collected up nicely and did as I commanded.  I went to brush off a mosquito and touched his flank with my crop and he scooted up fast.   We got to the trail head and I asked him to go forward.  He wanted to leave...I wanted to go forward.  I won.  He did as he as asked.

I took his tack off and gave him more carrots.  He was hosed off too.  I cleaned his hooves out.  He was just a doll.  I even sprayed his face.  He is very trusting of me now and is such a good boy.

I read today about someone who said someone was not taking care of their horses and one died of colic...sounds like from starvation.  That sickened me.  When I brought Biscuit to Plum Nearly he was nervous as a cat, scared of everything, would freeze up and look terrified.  He was also quiet a bit under weight and poor muscle tone.  He would spaz out in the arena and try to take off before I got in the saddle.  He would refuse to walk off from other horses.

Now, he is filled out, good muscle tone and while he will still get scared, he trusts me not to hurt him.  I rarely have any trouble with him anymore.  He will stand to be saddled, stand for a bath even if you are spraying his face, let me pick up all of his feet.  He has came a long way - he has wormed his way right into my heart.  I absolutely adore him now.  He is such a good boy...full of personality and not the frozen little zombie that I bought.  He is my buddy. 

Changing Stirrups on the Allegany

I went out to the barn Monday afternoon to try the saddle again.  I talked to Lee Ann and she suggested changing the stirrups from the endurance stirrups.  I have another set that came with the other saddle.  I got the saddle stand and put it on the wash rack and changed the stirrups.  I tacked Biscuit up and mounted up.  We rode around for a total of 40 minutes - 10 minutes just sitting there talking to a lady who brought cake money for me.  We walked and jogged.  He was a total patootie at times like he always is in the arena.  We drilled a hole down to China at one point.

My foot NEVER went to sleep - and I was riding in my riding pants - not jeans.  No seam problem - no foot problem. 

I went out again today and Lee Ann P and Allison were out at the barn.  Allison thought the saddle was a little snug at the withers as I do.  Again I rode round and round - most at a jog, Biscuit being a total turd as he was yesterday but not as bad!!!  I got off of him and the sweat marks are perfect.  It was sprinkling when I got off and I tied him by the tack room and took the saddle off.  I took the shim pad out of the Equipedic and put the saddle back on.  Allison and I thought that fit better.  I am going to get a pillow slip to put the pads in if I ever need them or want to sell the pad.  Woot!!!

The fenders need to be softer but that will come with time and conditioning.  I am sitting correctly for endurance riding in the saddle.  It isn't a trail saddle and doesn't sit like a trail saddle.  Barry asked why get one of those and I said that when I ride with The Lee Ann's that is what we are mostly doing - jogging or long trotting.  I would one day like to do a 25 mile Limited Distance ride. 

I will go ride him again tomorrow. 

Short ride up at Ebenezer

Barry hauled the horses to Ebenezer on Friday morning.  When he was leaving I told him to make sure he put Biscuit on the left hand side of the trailer.  He and Red always cut their hocks on the round head of that bolt in the side.  They are both longer horses than Sarge and their hocks are right on top of that stupid bolt!!!

I was working on a wedding cake and a groom's cake.  They rode Saturday morning and afternoon.  Kellie said Biscuit paced his pen all day whinnying for Sarge.  When I got there at 7:00 PM Saturday evening I could tell he had lost weight this week.  I hadn't seen him since Tuesday as I was working on cakes.

We got up Sunday morning and visited with Kellie and Randy.  Then we saddled up - this would be my first ride in the new Allegany.  I told Barry just a short ride as I was very tired.  Wedding cakes can wear you out!  We went down the road to the gate, through the gate, back to the four way and then back to the park.  My feet went numb within 7 minutes or so.....the middle seam in my jeans were pressing in a spot that wasn't happy to be pressed by jeans.

Kellie said "That saddle doesn't fit you."  I said my feet are numb!!!!!  They finally got feeling back in them and I was glad.

I rode all of 1.5 miles.   Just too tired to ride and my feet were not happy.  I took Biscuit's saddle off and it seems to fit him perfectly.  I think the pad is a little thick.  If this saddle doesn't work out I will order a Steele, sell this one and ride in my Aussie!

Biscuit is the Purple Bomb

It has rained all week - I am sick of the rain and it has stopped me from riding like I wanted to this week.  Oh well.  My saddle arrived from Allegany Mountain Trail Saddles on Monday.   I took it out to Plum Nearly on Tuesday but it had been raining and so I just dropped it off.  Lee Ann P and I examined it closely and I put my pommel horn bag on it.  We looked at different ways to attach it to the pommel since I don't have a horn on this saddle. 

Opening up the box

My original hoof pick pouch!!!

Left Side

Bobwire stamping

Wide endurance stirrups

Allegany Mountain Trail Saddles stamp on each fender

Cantle bars and stitching is very nice

Stitching on the seat - very chooshie

Cantle

 

My saddle arrived from Allegany Mountain Trail Saddles on Monday.   I took it out to Plum Nearly on Tuesday but it had been raining and so I just dropped it off.  Lee Ann P and I examined it closely and I put my pommel horn bag on it.  We looked at different ways to attach it to the pommel since I don't have a horn on this saddle.  I am going to get some velcro to use around the opening of the pommel to hold it on. 

I went out to the barn a few times this week just to see the horses but it was raining everyday.    I finally got out there Saturday afternoon and pulled Biscuit up.  His pasture was standing water in some spots so there has been a ton of rain out there this week.  I checked Wunderground weather today and it is showing over 4" of rain Friday morning at the airport which is a stones throw from the ranch.  That is a ton of rain!

We got up on the wash rack and I brushed Biscuit.  His face/blaze was shedding and hair was flying everywhere.  He was also pretty darn sweaty and so was Sarge.  It was HUMID as all get out there.  My face was almost immediately dripping with sweat. 

I got out the Equipedic Saddle pad and the saddle.  It took a little bit to pull the leather ties so I could put the girth straps on.  I finally had to get a hoof pic as I was killing my fingernails.  I kind of pulled the skin from under the nail of my left thumb...dang that STINGS.  I finally got his saddle on and I put his bridle on.  We were ready.  I closed the big arena gate and took the steps over to the corner.  I maneuvered Biscuit to the place I wanted and mounted up.  Saddle was firmly in place but the stirrups were too short.  I got off and moved them.  The Blevins Buckles are covered on this saddle thank God but OMG they were stiff to move.  I moved them down one notch and remounted.  They were still a little short so I will have to move them down again but Biscuit and I went ahead and went a couple of rounds in the arena.  The saddle feels nice.  It was soaking wet with standing water so I just wanted to get a feel of it.   I dismounted and took his tack off. 

I got a Diet Coke out to drink and Biscuit was very interested so I poured some in my hand and he actually was licking Coke out of my hand.  Hahahahaha  he is so funny.  I hosed and scraped him off and gave him a handful of alfalfa. 

Monday Morning Solo Ride

I hauled to the barn and picked up Biscuit.  I had to load tack and talked to Lee Ann P for a few minutes.  Biscuit and I got out to the park and I tacked him up.  I spoke to Ricky V. and he said he was feeling better.  He was talking with another employee on the porch.  The guy asked if I liked the improvements on the trail and I said yes we did.  I also mentioned the bobcat track thingie and Ricky said he didn't see it when he went down the trail.  I told him where it was and hoped that it could be removed.  The other man asked me about my trailer and I explained about Brenderup's and said Barry wouldn't let me take his truck so I had to buy one I could haul with the RAV4.  LOL  they totally sided with Barry about a truck!!!

I mounted up and walked Biscuit to the trail.  We got around the first corner and he spooked at something to the right.  I saw something a little less than knee high and very dark.  I don't know if it was a wild animal or a dog/cat.  Biscuit was snorting for 30 yards or so.  I kept telling him to calm down!  We kept going and got around to the back - that little turtle was in that pothole!!!  We came around the back and started jogging.  The big tree across the entire trail had been moved.    We kept going and about a 1/4 of a mile or so from the stable Biscuit kicked off his Easy Boot Glove.  I got off and put it back on and was unable to remount - the saddle slipped.  DANG!  Walked him over to a stump and it crumbled.  Oh well.

We walked to the trailer and I took his saddle off quickly and rinsed him off.  I loaded him up and it was sprinkling.  By the time I got to Fannett Road it was raining.  When I got to Cardinal Drive it was raining hard...and West Port Arthur Road it was practically a white out.  When I got to PNR I got soaking wet getting Biscuit out of the trailer.  I cleaned the trailer as I was already wet!!  I put on a dry shirt in the car and put one under my butt!!!  I need to keep a dry/clean set of clothes in the car and a heavy towel too.

On Sunday when we rode Biscuit and I were swarmed by those yellow deer flies.  There were so many of them I thought they were bees.  I yelled at Kellie to see if they were swarming her too;  she said no.  They were all over me and The Biscuit.  I was swishing them away as fast as I could.  Gaaa!!!  Glad they weren't bees.

Pouring Rain

I was hauling out to the barn Friday morning at 6:35 AM to go riding with Kellie when Martha called and asked if I could come to St. Martinville and help them with 3 weddings because her hubby had had a heart attack.  I hauled the trailer home, threw clothes in a bag and headed out.  I didn't get home til Saturday night at 11:30 PM.  I went to Opelousas, Morgan City and New Orleans delivering cakes with them - I did the decorating on one of the cakes.

I got up at 6:30 AM today and hauled out to the barn.  Biscuit ate his breakfast in the trailer.  I had got in the new Equipedic saddle pad and took that with me.  I brushed Biscuit off and tacked him up.  When I went to mount the whole thing slid sideways and I stumbled back onto the steps and darn near killed myself.  Ugh.  I jarred my back and that didn't feel too good.  I took the saddle off and got the Aussie pad to go with it and tacked up and mounted up.


We went to the right and rode around.  It was overcast and not hot at all.  Nice weather to ride in.  Saw a small little box turtle in the trail about the size of my Garmin.  We got about 2/3 of the way around and it started sprinkling - then pouring down rain.  Kellie and I were soaking wet.  She said she wished she was in her saddle and not Randy's!  We got back to the stables and there was a flash of lightening.


We started trotting and then came the boom of thunder.  Biscuit startled a little but that was it.  Took his tack off and loaded him up.  He was a good boy today.  It was a short 1.8 mile ride but a ride is a ride.  I have a 174 miles for the year.


Lee Ann sent me a link to this place (I had looked at it a number of times over the years) Lazy F Working Guest Ranch and said she'd like us to go for a Wednesday through Saturday.  She has someone putting an awning on her new trailer and then it will be ready to go!!!  Hopefully we can go soon!!!

Thursday Morning Ride

I left the house at 6:30 AM to get Biscuit. I had to walk across the pasture to get him. He was walking just fine. Yay. Up to the wash rack and I put his feed in a bucket for him and started on his back hooves. Bruising there too. Poor guy. I haven't even hardly rode him in the past month. Kellie said Reagan's hooves does that. I will be more mindful not to let them get even the least bit long again. His back hooves have better concavity than the front. His yukky split in the middle was lumpy at the very tip of his toe like it used to get. I think I got almost all of it out. I was sweating like crazy before I was through. Ugh. Since he seemed still tender footed I put his Easy Boot Gloves on him.

I loaded Biscuit up around 7:30 and hauled to the park. I saw Kellie pull in just ahead of me. I unloaded Biscuit over a pile of poop. The chickens came running to go through it for a piece of grain. I shared my PB&J sandwich with Biscuit and gave Elan a piece of crust too. Threw a bit to the chickens and they plucked it up quickly.

Sue arrived, clanking in her trailer like crazy. Kellie and I waited for her to saddle up, Dulce got away from her and was running around the stable with Sue in tow. Dulce has more energy for an old girl that I have ever seen. I hope Biscuit is like that at 28 years of age!! She is always raring to go.

We were finally ready and headed into the woods hoping they would be dry enough to ride and WOW were we surprised. They were dry except in a few spots. Saw a little water moccasin going through a rut parallel to me going in the opposite direction. We rode all the way around and Sue peeled off as Dulce can only go 2 miles under vet's orders. Kellie and I turned around and went the other way for a different look.

Kellie only wanted to ride that long as she is worried about Elan's back. Her Steele saddle hasn't been completed yet. My saddle will be here Monday! Woot!!!!

We got off of the horses and Kellie got up on Biscuit to sit in the Aussie. She didn't like where the stirrups connect. It isn't as smooth as my other Aussies. I think this Aussie doesn't fit Biscuit that well...I think it is too wide at the withers.

I got out the other PB&J and shared it between Biscuit and Elan. Biscuit wasn't too crazy about the middle and refused the last of it - he is a crust man. Elan liked it just fine and scarfed it up. I took Biscuit over to the Water Office and rinsed him off and he was pretty good about his face. Not great but way better. Kellie and I let them eat grass while they dried off. The chickens had gone through his poop with a fine tooth comb and were drinking water out of his water bucket. I swept out the trailer and emptied the water.

Kellie and I plan on riding in the morning so I will bring either some chicken scratch or bread and leave them a bucket of water they can share while we are riding. I only have one wedding this month so I am planning on riding as much as I can. I have two weddings on the books for August - the 4th and the 11th so I am going to ride in August when I can. Gotta catch up!!

I Ride

I found this on a Face Book page. I wanted to share it with you.

This was written by a still very active, horseback riding, 87-year old woman.....

Subject: : I Ride
I ride. That seems like such a simple statement. However as many women who ride know, it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side ofthe freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride.

The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'the sickness'. It's a sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my model horses and dreaming of the day I would
ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand the meaning of 'the sickness'. It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and, in some ways, who we are as women and human beings. I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle, whistle up my dog and I ride. I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees and savor the movement of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my ball cap down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the dust. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth.

I consider the simple statement; I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade into a freezing lake, race a friend through the Manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment.

Still I ride, no matter how tired or how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse related injuries hurt.
I ride. And I feel better for doing so.

The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold, beside rivers full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams. The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on the wing and bobcats on the prowl add to the empowerment and joy in my heart. I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie amongst the bunch.. We haul 40ft rigs, we back into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We understand and love our companions, the horse. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, wait and doctor. Your hands are a little rough and you travel without makeup or hair gel.
You do without to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one.

"My treasures do not chink or glitter, They gleam in the sun and neigh in the night"

Sarge gets his front hooves rasped

Nosy Sarge had already knocked over the shampoo!


Sarge's shapely toes


Where is the Chuck Wagon? It is LATE!!!


Beautiful Sarge

I can see the Chuck Wagon...it will be coming around the mountain soon!!



I need to get back to my pasture so my dinner can be served

Sarge and Biscuit waiting on the chuck wagon looking shiny as all get out!

I went out to the barn today to do Biscuit's back hooves. He was fine walking up to the barn and even trotted for a while. But when he got on the concrete he was suddenly was crippled...the lawn mower went by...omg...it was a Biscuit eating machine. I hosed him off because he was sweating. Lee Ann came out and I had her look at his front hooves. She didn't think I had rasped them too short but Biscuit did have red streaks in his coronary bands and on his white line. He had some bruises. Bless his heart. Edgar and I gave him 1 cc of Bute to make sure he was comfortable - he was fine in the grass and wanting to canter going back. I decided to not do his back feet until Thursday because his feet are tender. I don't know if I will ever get his feet to NOT be tender. His feet are flat and I kept hoping they would start going concave. I sometimes get a LITTLE concavity but not much.

I am going to have to do some research on that. I want to help him get to where he is no longer a tender footed boy.

I pulled Sarge up and gave him a bath and washed his mane and tail. I scrubbed his face with Baby Shampoo using a brush to scrub the rain rot looking stuff off of his face. I used Cowboy Magic in his mane and tail - his tail does like Gal's used to...it wraps around itself in a spiral. I got that cleared out and hosed out his sheath gently.

I then started on his front hooves. He had some nasty thrush moldy looking stuff that I scraped out with my circular knife. I know it has been wet and nasty and what a great place for that to grow. I scraped out the white chalky material and then rasped his feet down. He has such BEAUTIFUL concave hooves - not cleft in his frogs - just gorgeous feet.

He can be a little snot sometimes doing his feet but we got through it. I gave him some alfalfa for being such a good boy and took him back down to the paddock. I took a bunch of pictures of him and Biscuit.

Beauty Shop Day for The Biscuit

Biscuit's feet have grown like weeds. He looks like he has some bruises on the coronet band and bulb. Cracks have come back and his front hoof was chipping. OMG!!! I went and got him and gave him a bath. I was whitening his mane and tail and it looked so much better. I also sprayed water up in his sheath and cleaned out some gunk.

I was able to do his front feet and he did have some reddish streaks but nothing bad. He has such thick hoof walls but the places where they would chip from a long time ago is where they were splitting. I got it all out of the front hooves. He gave me some grief like he always does and omg my back was killing me. I am going out there tomorrow afternoon to finish his back hooves. Then I will have to start of Sarge's. I took him back to his paddock and he seemed quiet comfortable on the grass but a little tender on the concrete. I don't know if I will ever make this horse NOT have tender feet. Reagan still after 3 years has tender feet. Perhaps not having their feet tended to for so many years has left its effects and that may never change.

When I turned him out, he went a little ways and stopped to pee. Good grief....he was grunting away - I wanted to laugh at him. I guess he felt total relief. He is a good boy...he won't pee on the cement - I think he has done that ONCE.

Biscuit and I missed a ride!

Yesterday (Sunday) I got up at 6:00 AM and left for the barn at 6:40. Realized I didn't have my phone. Loaded Biscuit - LOL he was laying down in his shelter. He loaded up quickly because his breakfast was in there!!! We hauled to Tyrrell and I unloaded him and shoveled out the poop. I waited for Kellie and she didn't arrive. OK...it is spitting, sputtering, thundering and rumbling so I was sure she wasn't coming. I left at 7:47 AM and hauled home. I got home and my phone showed she texted and said meet at 8:00 AM. I missed her probably by 3 minutes or so. Gaaaa!!! Oh well. Barry and I went to church and I think I needed that! I saw Ray Langley there and it was nice to see him. Music and sermon was nice.

Here is Biscuit and the chickens out at Tyrrell.

Language Translation

I look at the stats on this blog and I get hits on it from all over the world. I saw this translation widget so I added it!!! If you are reading this now in your own language drop me a line and let me know how it looks!!! It is always a kick when I see people have been on here from every single continent - well, not Antarctica - but hey, maybe some day a scientist that is a horseman will pop up from down there!!! I'll let y'all know if that happens.

Here is a partial list of countries I have seen on the stats:

France
Canada
Mexico
England
Germany
Italy
Scotland
Switzerland
Australia
Brazil
New Zealand
Ukraine
Poland
Ireland
The Phillipines

and just today Poland, Ireland and the Philippines

I will add to this list and I think most of the states in the US have logged on!!!

Woot!!!! Post or send me a picture of you and your horse - I'd love to see them!!

States:

Texas
Washington
California
Georgia
Mississippi
Minnesota
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Ohio
Wisconsin
Missouri
Illinois

This only goes back for 100 hits to the blog and that is as far back as I can go...it is to June 22, 2012!