Out with the Old

It's taken me 4 long years, but I am finally cleaning my closets of full horse size tack and items (you can see them on ebay). It's amazing how much I accumulated for 1 horse. But then he was a special horse. We did a lot together.

The last couple days - or week- have been cold again. So on the farm, not much has been going on. Just basically maintenance.

Although - my youngest stallion, Smokie, decided to show me how talented he was. He thought he could be like his Daddy and beat the heck out of a jolly ball. Well he eventually did--but not before he had all four hooves up in the air! I never laughed so hard. It didn't help that he was on glare ice when he decided he was going to beat the jolly ball up. Guess that is what made it so funny.

He did get right up and shook himself off - then proceeded to beat the jolly ball.

Beating a jolly ball is an art. You can't just do it like normal. You have to craft your approach. Build up to the stomp. And generate an effective dismount. You might think this was easy, but obviously in Smokie's case, it wasn't that easy.

An odd thing has been going on in the stallion pasture. They have a full size 4X5 round bale of hay for the enjoyment when they are out there. Right now, it is about 12 feet from its original location. Giant Jolly Ball?

Tulip has been a bit gassed up this week. I suppose it does have to do with my adding a little extra feed to try to put a few extra pounds on her before we start training. But she has been fun to watch. Actually all the mares have been fun to watch. They too have hay in their pastures - 2 round bales. One on each end of their pastures. Their movement is about every hour and a half. One group of mares will move to the other bale and push the younger ones off to the other bale. Of course how they go about going to the other bale is a whole other story in itself. It is never mundane in their pasture.

Back to Tulip. I have been working on her setting up when I stop her. I try to remember to say 'Whoa' everytime I do, but its about 50/50 right now. But a snap on her lead tells her she should whoa. So tonight I was bringing her and her roomate in for feeding and the night, I put her roommate up and popped the end of the lead accidentally. And to my amazement (or maybe I am just expecting it now??) she stretched out and lifted her head, put her ears up and of course - WAITED FOR PRAISE! Spoiled? Hmmm.

My other little filly, which I have been most concerned about because she is the smallest in the mare pasture, was put in with the youngsters about a month ago. She is back up to her normal self and is happily trotting along side me, trying to figure out what trouble she can get into. I am happy with this development.

On the pregger mare front. The one due on March 25th, has stopped bagging. Thank goodness! I keep whispering in her ear the usual - "FILLY!!!!", but also I add, not until March 25th! So she has slowed her development.

My best mare is coming along nicely and yes I whisper in her ear everyday as well 'FILLLY!!!!' Not that I would not be upset with a colt. Smokie is such a beautiful boy, but--I have enough boys for now, Thank you!

My next best mare, or I should say bestest mare is due in May and she is coming along nicely. I just heard from the great grandson of the founders of the AHHS - that the mare I bought last year is from a long line of National Champions and was impressed that I was able to obtain her. he also noted that this line produces the smaller versions of their breed. So I am very pleased to hear that. I can't wait for the "FILLLYY" from her this year.

So the past few days I have done much shopping on ebay. What a great garage sale out there! I found some much needed Hackney Journals, Hackney World and other small equine magazines that are vintage or close to vintage ages. And at decent prices too! That's how I met the great grandson of the founder of AHHS. He says he misses the mags. That's nice to know.

So out with the old - but finding some old to come in too.

Busy Busy Busy

Gosh its been almost a week. I have had so much to do this week. I finally located my breeding calendar from 2008. You see one of my mares, a maiden mare, has already started bagging. I just couldn't think when, but I thought the end of March. I was right - March 24th or 25th. But she has half a bag already, so I am thinking we are heading for the first week of March.

Ooohh - Sugar is due in 5 weeks! Did I mentiont that already - although she has already started bagging, so I think she will go earlier. I have been working on the foaling stall. The electrical is pulled through and the box hooked up. I have the insulation for the walls and will be replacing wood because Cowboy and Smokie have been playing with it.

Okay moving on - Laptop was bred about the same time as Sugar, but she hasn't shown any signs yet. But then again, I checked this am, and by gosh I think I felt longer nipples!!!!! Can I say that on a blog? Will be the first miniature foal in 4 years, oh gosh!

Okay so Silhouette is due late April and I am super excited, she looks marvelous! And Carnation is last of the preggers, she comes in early May. She doesn't look like the boat she was last year when I picked her up, but I keep reminding myself, it is only Feb. and she isn't due until May. So that's 4 months yet.

I have started dreaming of the summer show plans. And it is so easy to be taken away - wait Calgon???? No Ponies! LOL!

Okay, I did 5 ponies last year at Congress. I only had Tulip clipped when I arrived. This year I will have everyone clipped before I go!!!! But I am thinking I can handle 7. I have to round up catch handlers for ASPR classes though as I have 3 girls that will be in the same class. Tulip, Lady and Mizzie (I will be double registering Mizzie).

Opal is going to be classic as usual.

I am trying to decide what to do with Cookie, classic or MP? Right now it is so hard to tell. She could do either.

Smokie will continue in MP, hopefully get his other 4 Grand Championships this year and then finish his points out for his HOF.

I would love to pull Cowboy out and show him this summer! If I had room and the boys all behaved, I would take Shiner too.

I need a bigger trailer! I could totally empty my barn out and take everyone that doesn't have a baby beside it! Wouldn't that be a summer!

Off to more dreaming!

Deep Freeze

Ha another few days in the deep freeze. That'll do ya! So instead of doing stalls and stuff, because ponies were in again. I thought , with my Dad and Grandmother, we would try to go to Denny's for their free Grand Slam meal today. Ahhh yeah - I think everyone heard about it. The place was jammed packed. We had to settle for Perkins and a very pricey Perkins too. When did they decide to be so upscale?

Anyways. I don' t normally blog about anything else but ponies, so today I watched the entire video we shot on Sunday and I believe I can do it! I am ready to go out and wrap someone unsuspecting ponies tail up! mmmmmmoOOOOWWWWHHHHHAAAAHAHA!

I just have a mad scientist thread running threw me right now.

So. Mmmmmmmmoooooowaaahahahahaha!!!!

The Pleasure Is All Mine

Ever hear that one? Well, it isn't exactly what you were thinking, but it was a pleasure!

Today I took a trip down the road for a few hours and visited with someone who has been in the pony business for eons, well since the 1960's at least. She started out in Shetlands, but now has Hackneys.

Why did I go that far to visit - well to learn and I was not disappointed either. I saw some beautiful ponies and had a lot of questions answered.

So my dear Tulip looks to be a Road pony or a Pleasure Pony. Well, I hope its Pleasure Pony, although I don't know how long she will stand still. At this point, not long before the wiggles get to her! Road Pony sounds scary to me right now.

And tails, how much can you learn about tails, well there's a wealth of information out there. But I learned and captured what I needed and can't wait to get my fingers working! If all works out well, the girls will be decked out for Congress!

Well I gotta get to bed!

Again???

It still did not warm up enough to send ponies outside. I don't believe we even broke 0 degrees today. Everyone is taking it in stride. I am glad I made the stalls big enough for everyone to move around in. Only one pony is in a 8X 10 which is a tad small for her. But no one is crabby today!

Hopefully tomorrow I can send them out for a bit to stretch their legs.

Weekend

Not much happened this weekend, ponies were stalled since Thursday night due to sub zero temperatures and windchills that once again reached depths I care not to experience.

Last night I spent time surfing the net and I found a contest in which I entered, of all things - review items that I use everyday (almost) in my pony world. I had fun writing the few reviews -- the directions said to make it entertaining, so I did. We'll see if I win.

Sunday I went on a visitation to a friends house and enjoyed her children's company as well as hers. Came home and did chores - late, but everyone survived.

And so goes, off to give the ponies their tuck in (when the weather is this cold, I feed 2 extra feedings of hay to stave off the cold) the ponies. One more day and we start thawing out again! LOL!

Can we say deep freeze again?

Have you checked your freezer lately? Did you leave the door open accidentally? I am wondering because it is below zero again where I live and it is expected to stay that way for a few days again.

The ponies stayed in today, we had 30 mph and gusty winds from the North. Even though the thermometer read 13 above, the windchill said -15. Fun? I think not.

So not too much got done today. I just played with the babies a bit, talked to each pony individually. Not much else. So I spent time on the internet reading articles about the equine industry and what laws are being passed by each state.

One disturbing article was from New Hampshire - they are going to try to pass a law that each horse has to have a rabies license. Not only that, the vet has to come out and administer the rabies vaccinations for each, which includes the rabies shot and possibly a certificate stating so. Which most likely will also have a small fee attached to it. Then each horse's record will have to be taken into the nearest municipality and registered and given a licensed tag. The cost will be $25 to start out with. So imagining - it will be $100 per horse to get its license all said and done.

I already have the vet come out and vaccinate on my place, we have discussed rabies shots, but my vet hasn't heard of a rabies case in horses in my area in all his years of practice. So what does that tell you? Does New Hampshire have some sort of rabies issue in the equine world we are not aware of??

Not only that I read another article regarding how the 2009 United States Congress and House will deal with the Equine Industry. Did you know we generate $102 Billion and add 1.4 million jobs to the economy? At one time the Equine industry was the 5th largest industry in the US.

Basically the article wonders if all the recent bills passed that helps the average equine business increase its business a bit by allowing $250,000 in tax deductions, but that had expired as of the end of 2008.

'The increase of the Section 179 expense deduction to $250,000, and the reinstatement of bonus depreciation, were included in last year's tax stimulus bill. Both expired at the end of 2008, but the American Horse Council thinks it is likely that Congress will extend both provisions in this year's stimulus bill.'

We'll see if this holds true. On another note, it is highly unlikely anything else gets tied up as the Ag jobs falls by the wayside in 2009 Congress. Surely there will be other legislation evolving and introduced, but....

'No matter what legislation is introduced in the coming months, it will be important for the new Congress to hear from members of the horse industry. This is why the AHC, in cooperation with its member organizations, has launched a new grassroots initiative called the Congressional Cavalry program. All individual horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, trainers, competitors, recreational riders, service providers, or anyone who desire to join the grassroots efforts of the horse community in Washington, are encouraged to join. Through this free program the AHC will let you know when legislation that affects the horse industry is introduced and when and how to contact your members of Congress. To sign up for this program call the AHC at (202) 296-4031.'

Let' s hope are voices are heard.