It's December 3rd

Wow, time sure flew the past couple months. I can't believe it.

Since my last blog, 4 ponies have found their way to my farm. Haven, who is a Dun Haven Fashion King daughter, Holly, who is a Maestro daughter (she's on loan), Kitty, who is a niece (in human terms) of my stallion Cowboy, and Etta, who is an AGS pony (she's on loan as well).

Haven took to the herd well and integrated easily. Holly is a weanling and she had a month before she became accepted by my weanling pack. Kitty is also a weanling and is low man on the totem pole right now. Well we'll see for how much longer. She's gaining in strength and attitude.

And then there is Etta. Holy cow Etta has been a trip. She came from a herd of 70 mares. She had not been touched apparently since the day she was born and you can tell. I have had her for 4 weeks now and we just now got her halter taken off of her. I couldn't even catch her when she came. Not only that, she left a nice hoof mark on my right inner thigh. Silly girl.

Just a couple days ago she got her feet trimmed for the first time in her life. And it took a long hour to do what we did. But no one got hurt and by the time we were done, she was dealing with everything well. Then two days ago, I took her halter off for the first time in her stall and let her have the night off. I was able to catch her easily the next morning. And then again this morning. So today, I got brave and took the halter off so she's out in her paddock without her halter. I am trying to prepare her to be integrated with the other mares and fillies. She wants to go play with them, but I need to be able to catch her. So we'll see how today goes. I am hoping by the weekend I can split the older mares up and put Etta in with the younger babies for a couple days and then turn everyone loose together.

I also put a young stallion and Cowboy together and they play, all day. They come in very tired. I am very happy that they are getting along together, gives them plenty of exercise. Shiner still has the whole paddock to himself on his days out. But he tells me he is bored all the time. Poor baby.

The weanlings are growing by leaps and bounds now. Ringer is about the size of Cookie who is now going on 2. He actually maybe be a bit taller than her. But he has a nice top line and pretty face for a Show Pony. Biggie isn't going to be huge, I can tell. His growth pattern is that like Cookies, who is not tall either. She's about 42 inches tall. But he is pretty!

Most of the barn has been cutting teeth this past month. Everyone has been really crabby. But I am starting to see signs of teething slowing down. My little girl Honey is all kisses and hugs now instead of bites and dirty looks.

I see the first signs of winter, cold weather and snow flakes falling slowly. Can't wait for snow on the ground. Tulip is a blast when there is snow on the ground.

End of Summer

Labor Day weekend is just 5 days away. Its sad really. The end of summer is near. Everyone goes back to school life, full time work life (we hope this year!), and finally, cold weather.

The ponies have had a full summer, lots of training, lots of attention, shows, and finally Congress. The past three weeks they have had off, just being ponies. But several have told me they have had enough time off, they want to go back to work. WOW! Really?! So I need to start thinking about getting the kids back into training.

The farm is slowly winding down for fall. Fall clean up, small construction projects etc. all happening. And time to spend with family as the hours of warm weather start fading.

This weekend my sister made it up with the kids for a visit and birthday party for Jellybeans, who turned one on Sunday. Let me tell you, she was more excited about the ponies and horses she visited than the birthday cake she had in front of her to tear into! (There's hope there!) After cake and chores everyone hopped on 4 wheelers and went out back into one of the hay fields looking for fall goodies. We were in luck - wild plums were basking in the sunlight ripening. So we stripped the tree of 60% of the plums to make wild plum jam. The kids had fun, its was one of the most low key entertainment things we have ever done and it was a lot of fun! We skimmed the perimeter of the field for other goodies and realized there was a bonanza of raspberries available that we have never taken advantage of. So that will probably change next year. Other than that we only saw a few choke cherry trees and a lot of non-eatable trees. But still loads of fun.

The ponies are out this am, all protesting the cool weather and the lack of the wonderful alfalfa hay they get at night. Oh poor babies! You will survive. Tucker is doing the rounds of fencing and barking at - well nothing really, but he's having fun. The kitties inside have gotten their pets, etc. Guess I need to go get some of those fall projects going again.

Have a great pony day!

Congress 2009

Despite many set backs this year, my show string made it to Congress 2009. I first want to Thank all my supporters (support system) for their support! I wouldn't have made it all if I didn't have that support system.

To one friend in particular - Thanks for listening to hours and hours of pony talk. I know its been a tough year and you were a life line. And yes I know I am way obsessed with my pony world. But as you know this keeps me going and is my entertainment of choice.

As far as competition goes, we did about as I suspected we would do. We on a national level, were showing in the middle of the pack. We've been in the middle of the pack for the past three years.

I asked myself why were we in the middle of the pack when some of the show string is exceptional?

One very poignant answer - because I am an amateur and don't know all the tricks of the trade. For instance, when I stand a pony for the judge, I can get the rear end and the front end, and even the stretch of the neck, but then I loose the facial expression and ears of the pony. Or I get the facial expression and ears and loose the rear end and middle of the stance.

How do I over come that? I guess I need to break down and find some help in collecting all parts of the pony at one time. So far only one pony does exactly what she is supposed to do when I ask to pose and that is Tulip. She just naturally gets it. Her sister Lady will be the same if i spend a little more time with her. So in the Show Pony division -seems I get it.

In the Modern Pleasure division, Smokie finally got the lift up my carriage and pull out of the basement into the air for me, but I couldn't get his ears and eyes. He twisted his neck and tried really hard to get the treat. I got one pic where he was seemingly all together - it was his last class of the show. Probably why we placed 4th overall.

In the classic division - Opal just is sour. I need to reset her, find a new job for her so she enjoys showing in halter again. I know these ponies are way smart and they get bored really easily. (Testament - Shiner, while I was gone at Congress. The caretaker left his halter tied to the gate of the pen he goes out to. He was bored, so he decided the halter needed to go for a run like his jolly balls do. Except, the halter was stationary. So he chewed the crap out of his brand new halter! Stinker!)

Cookie - well this was her third show and we only had limited amount of time to work together. I got her to stretch her body, but couldn't capture her neck and head and ears/eyes. While at Congress, I put her in every single class I could. And by the last couple classes I had her stretching and giving me everything but her ears. Stinker.

So I contacting someone I really respect, she always gets her all halter ponies to give them her all. Hopefully she can help re-tune one, get another one to put the picture all together and the third - well I need him to give it his all (and not be bored).

Work on the two show ponies - I need to get them set up with a new headstall and bit and work, work, work. They need to learn to drive.

So off to a new year of getting prepared for Congress 2010. And again, Thanks to my support system!

Manes and Tales

So its been warmer, much warmer, so one wants to stay out as long as one can. But what to do when you are in a flooded state, the round pen still has a sheet of ice on it, and you personally sink to your knees in the muck and mire?

Well – the barn is still dry, mostly anyways. So you decide to start tackling manes and tails. Of course everyone thinks you are nuts because all of sudden you care about their personal hygiene?

But as you work your way through the barn, everyone stops eating and watches you groom somebody else, with such disdain and jealousy……to the point that we try squirming our way into the way of you and the pony being groomed.

Everyone has their own stall you see, but everyone can see everyone and most ponies are paired off in teams of two.

Tonight I was determined to get to Opal’s mane and tail, she has the most damage this year it seems to her mane. So I pull out the hanging bucket of supplies. Tie her to the end of the stall and start the long process of picking out all the mud caked in to her coat, her mane and her tail.

Now she is paired off with Tulip, who normally could care less if I am working in the barn, until I start messing with her partner. Tulip watched with extreme interest. Often trying to move Opal out of the way so she could see what I was doing. She careened her neck, stretched it 3 feet longer than it really is, stuck her nose into the liquid I was putting on her mane and tail and had the biggest eyes I have ever seen watching me apply Listerine and baby oil.

Several times she thought if she just backed up to the wall between her and I, I would take the hint and scratch her butt. But each time she was a tad disappointed as I was seriously into getting Opal’s tail unraveled from the mud that she had carefully placed there today whilst rolling in the fresh mud patches.

I have never seen a pony quite so taken with the grooming process before. It was as if she was living vicariously through Opal.

Mind you, she was just brushed last night, but I didn’t add oil to her tail.

So where did that leave me….I couldn’t leave her without doing her mane and tail, after all, she did so kindly presented her butt to me without hesitation. So I transferred the products to her stall, got her halter and proceeded to start grooming her. Of course I started with the curry comb and then the wire brush and then the dandy brush. By the time I was coming around third base and heading home, she had had quite enough of being brushed – she wanted her tail done! She promptly side stepped into position and lifted her tail for me.

‘Silly girl’, I told her. ‘There is a process and you have to be patient for me to finish brushing you.’ So I pushed her back into place and proceeded to finishing the brushing part. She watched me carefully, waiting for me to finish with the brushing – PLLLLEASE ALREADY!

So I finally started on her tail. She lifted it up again and I started adding the Listerine and baby oil and started rubbing it into her tail bone. OH MY – you would have thought I had struck gold. For 20 minutes I massaged the mix into her tail and she blissfully stretched her upper lip out higher and higher. I could just hear the ‘AHHHHH’ coming slowly out of her breath.

To Tulip’s disappointment, I finished her tail and started working on her mane. Ah yes folks, we have grown about 6 inches of mane over the winter. So I explained to her we needed another 4-5 inches by Congress, so please don’t tick anyone off that might want to chew your mane off this year—and I looked sternly at Opal as I said it!

Tulip didn’t appreciate her mane being done as much as her tail, so she fussed some, but we got it done.

So what was the point of this blog??? None really, just that it was a great evening out in the barn, making ponies blissfully happy (and myself, i secretly enjoy doing it!)

Coughed up a lung yet?

That's the way its been for 9 days now. I ran into the flu bug about 2 weeks ago. When I didn't get sick in the first 5 days I thought I was good to go. But oh no - it took 2 weeks to incubate and then whammo - I spent 5 days in bed. Barely making it through chores each day and since.

Let me tell you a well run farm can come to screeching hault in a quick hurry if the primary person (and only person) is sick in bed. And when you come back in after 50 minutes of chores, drenched in sweat, that's sick.

So now I am only dealing with a few after effects. I still get played out, and I am coughing like I want to donate a lung to someone. That's the hardest part - this is the type of coughing that makes every muscle in your body participate whether it wants to or not, including your bladder. Yeppers, depends city!

I hear this flu is sweeping the country. I wouldn't wish on the worst person I know, well maybe as punishment to people who break the law, but anyways - its bad.

So what has happened in two weeks. We know I spent a week flat on my back, barely able to keep up with chores. Today I finally got all but 2 stalls cleaned. Let me tell you - after 8 days without them getting cleaned, that's a lot of poo poo! But I am happy. The mommies are in clean stalls again. I got the barn switched around despite everyone's protests on Saturday.

The first mare up is Sugar and she is all but ready. I am waiting for her milk to drop into her nipples and then it will be hourly watching her. I have the foaling stall ready, camera is up and I have been getting up a couple times a night to check, just to make sure she is okay. She's in great spirits, loves that she gets mommy attention, so the foaling stall is the bomb right now.

The next up is Laptop - she started bagging 10 days ago, so we have about 4-5 weeks left before she foals, which puts her two weeks out from her due date. But that's okay. Sugar and foal will be ready to go their own pen then.

And then Silhouette will come right in around Laptop. Bringing up the rear is Carnation, who isn't due until mid May.

All mares look great. And all stallions think so too! Let me tell you, 4 boys in the barn, gets a little noisy at times. But Smokie was moved over to the east wall, into Sugar's old stall and he likes it. Its right next to the door where the women go in and out. Let me tell you - he often is tied up for an hour or so because I am moving mares around. So he is learning patience.

The girls are doing great. Lady is huge! I need to get pics, because she is not the sweet little filly from last June anymore, she is as impressive as Carnation is.

Cookie politely reminds me not to forget her. I fuss with Lady more because she needs it. But Cookie butts her way into the middle to get her scratches too.

The kids (2-4 year old fillies), are all about getting my attention and seeing if I will come play, its warmer you know. But since I have been sick, I have only been able to pat noses for a few seconds.

Everyone is telling me they are bored to tears. I wish I hadn't gotten sick, there has been some great training days missed. And the clock is ticking down.

So the farm is on a low hum right now. The next two days (which I didn't tell Tulip about yet) will most likely be days the kids have to stay in. And that is a bugger because I will again be behind in stall cleaning, but hey - life keeps going on.

So on the personal front - still looking for work. Let me tell you, appreciate what you have right now. The funniest thing I heard was "Well, we don't need someone with your years of experience." Right - did I just hear you say, you don't need someone with my level and years of experience - that's a first.

So the circle of finance works like this - You have a job, you need someone to fill it. Your company has changed its policy on payment from net 30 to net 60 or net 90 now. You send out the request to people who know people. They contact people who do the work. Great you think - a job finally. Then you find out that you getting paid is now net 90 or net 120. Why you ask? Well because the people who contacted you can't get financing to carry you from any lender. Okay - so can you work for 4 months without getting paid, before we can pay you, because we aren't going to get paid for 90 days.

Right. So the job goes unfulfilled. The work remains. The company fumbles because much needed work isn't getting done.

Anyone got a couple million to float a bunch of people for 4 months? I could put 20-30 people to work for 4 months, easy.

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.

My Private Christmas Mornings

Opening the barn door, in the morning, just after sunrise, is always an intriguing gamble. You never know what you will be walking into. Take this morning for instance. I opened the barn door and cooed my normal 'Morning Babies, its just me', which normally promotes rustling of hooves, shifting of weight, which is incredibly audible, and rattling of feed pans or water buckets, whichever is handiest, and the wonderful sound of nickers. All this excitement reeks of Christmas morning and tiny tots with presents galore. And I get this every morning-- okay well most mornings.

If you recall, I put up a 10X16 stall and the two weanling (now considered yearlings) fillies in there. Of course, rushing the night before against the impeccable timing of the sun going down - I only tied their gates to their respective poles to secure their settings.

This morning I opened the door, all to my private Christmas morning, finding all the normalcy in the world with one exception. Many of the ties that secured the gates of the fillies stalls were dangling loosely from their posts. And a surprised filly with a yellow tie hanging from her mouth. Lady had too much time or too much energy on her hands. I am not quite sure, but after checking out the gates and fillies out, there was no foul play, just good old fashioned fun for them.

I took the yellow tie out of her mouth and congratulated her on staying 'in' all night and not letting herself out to play. And then made the promise that I would fix her wagon as soon as possible.

As the day waned, I found myself in front of a not too happy boy. His stall was the last to get mucked out from the previous weeks deep freeze. You might ask, how do I know he was unhappy with his stall - well he had a nice little pile of hay that he decided to use as a pee box in front of his stall. And it was rank by the time I mucked it all out. When I brought my little boy back in, he was delighted again as he had a fresh bale of shavings laid out waiting for him, and he didn't waste a moment of his time taking in the indulgence laid before him. He was fully clothed in shavings in a matter of seconds and a sigh of happiness escaped his carriage into the air.

Tulip - now my Tulip - got her real first spanking for not listening to WHOA today. I was adding water to her bucket and the gate was left open with enough temptation for her to try to rush by. She tried it twice and I told her WHOA twice and back up once. Which she did. But the temptation got the better of her and she blasted past me. Of course me, I had a bucket of water I was pouring into her stall mates bucket, which spilled all over the place and I was almost knocked off my feet. She didn't go far, just down the way to her other friend's stall, whom had her ration of alfalfa hay for the night.

I had a thought that she was starving. I went over to her and she let me catch her right off the bat. I scolded her. Started to lead her back and she stopped dead in her tracks. Well that's when the 'pop' came. It surprised her and she decided following me would be better than being 'popped'. So we went back to her stall. When I put her in, the stall not as open as when she rushed out, was still a bit of a temptation, so we had a 'No you can't rush out the stall door' talk. And it left her in a state of 'Gosh - I need to think about this'. And so I closed her stall door and let her.

Between my own private Christmas mornings and disciplining of children, it seems my days are full and never dull.

BEAUTIFULL DAY!

Well it wasn't exactly 32 degrees out - but, it was warm enough today. I did it, got two more posts set in the frozen tundra ground. Okay I know they will have to be reset in the spring, but, for weanlings, it will do. I will have to permanently put the gates up tomorrow, but I did get them secured for the night and the babies are now in a big 10X16 stall, which later will be split in half and they each have their own stalls.

So everyone tonight was bratty - okay not everyone, but all the mares and fillies were brats. Sugar ducked through a gate and visited the boys. Someone ought to tell her she is already knocked up! Tulip got popped for almost knocking me over being flamboyant. Honey decided she didn't like her stall tonight and it took 3 times to get her completely inside the stall! Opal jumped all over the place like a little puppy dog - sheesh! I had my hands full. Don't know what was in the water today, but.....

I have one more stall to muck out. But I just got in, its 9pm - I am so tired! But it is a good day, despite the upset barn, because I moved ponies around (its like moving furniture on your husband when he isn't looking!), it seems everyone will be settled down shortly. Chores will be just a bit easier when everyone has their own stall. It will be dump and run! YIPPPEEE! No more babysitting!

Okay, gotta go rest the tired dogs.

And just a big ole hello!

Just a big ole hello - seems my 2 year old Mizzie woke up today! She was all over the pasture - making her own headway, instead of trailering behind Tulip. She showed attitude, charisma and spunk! Came up to me all by her little lonesome without checking with the older mares and fillies. Just before I brought her in, she was tail swishing all the way across the pasture from one end to the other, a bright streak of bay and white! Tulip watch out!

Tulip on the other hand, did the most marvelous thing tonight when she came in. I tucked Mizzie into her stall and then asked Tulip to stand pretty, and by gosh, after two little shuffles with her hinnie - she stepped back, stepped up and held her head high, with only a touch on the lead! WHOOHOOOO Tulip! So, if you know me, I ask for the extra. I asked her to extend her nose to my palm, and after asking her to flatten her hips, she pressed for the gold! Another WHOOOOHOOO Tulip! What a pretty picture that will be in the ring. I couldn't contain myself - I jumped up and down and then hugged her. And to my atonishment - she let me drool all over her. Okay for a minute, then she, being the teenager that she is, was too embarrassed to have me hanging on her, she ducked and ran for her stall. Okay but I am still jumping for joy! I won't ask for a couple more nights, but if she will give this to me on queue, WOW!

Smokie was filled with fun and frolick today and he is begging to get back to training. I have two more stalls to muck out from last week yet, but I think the ponies feel it - warmer weather! Will have to pull out the rig and set him up.

Pregger mares were laying down in the sun on top of hay out in the pastures, it was great to see them relaxed.

My two babies are starting to ask for more attention. Lady is letting me pat her all over, and she backs up to me, just like her big sister and wants a butt scratch! It is too hilarious, I have three in the barn that live for the butt scratch. Cowboy dances while you scratch his itchies. Lady reaches for the heavens and Tulip just presses hard into the scratch. I need to get the cactus cloth out and start using that instead of my gloved hands. I go through so many pairs of gloves with these guys!

As I said, two more stalls to much out tomorrow and then things will hopefully go back to normal, things can resume. Ahhhhh.

Whew!

Well the wind was considerably less today. I only have 4 more stalls to cleanse all the way to the floor mats! YIPPPEE!

Well on one of my breaks I was sitting reading some of the emails I have received and I looked ou the window and low and behold a head held high and a huge tail flag was going from one side of the pasture to the other in high tail fashion was a pony on a mission. The mission today was 'Kill The Bale'. I mean if you were to see this you would roll over on the floor laughing. Tulip decided she was going to kill the bale of hay on the other side of the pasture. I watched as she jauntily picked up speed and headed straight for it. I thought she would stop, but nope, she cruised right over the top of it. Non too gracefully either. She kind of half fell, half tripped and then picked herself up like a dizzy blond that tripped over her own feet and barely caught herself upright. The other ponies stepped back about 2 steps and stared at her.

Tulip wasn't done either, she popped her head up and bowled her shoulder into the bale and proceeded to try to move it to some unknown destination. Not moving it, she reared up her front feet and pounced on the bale. She hung out for several seconds and then tried to jump up and over the bale. Not succeeding , Tulip trotted a few feet away and turned around, looked at everyone, like nothing ever happened.

But the other ponies didn't let it slide - they each took a turn at poking fun at her in their own way. Tulip didn't take it hard though, she started them all running around with their heads cut off. Atta girl Tulip, make it your own, own it! LOL!

My babies are starting to loose their weanling guts ! It could take along time, unless you know the secret. Everyone thinks they can handle grass hay, some omolene 100 or 200 and work their little hooves to death to get rid of their pot guts. But the real trick is, they need all their essentials and a great source of protein, 16% or better. I have seen weanlings turn around in a short time with the correct nutrients. I have also seen weanlings hang onto their weanling pot guts for more than 6 months because their feed program isn't keeping up with their nutritional needs. Then you get a strung out looking yearling. But all is well. I was sweating it, but its all good now.

Oh and speaking of weanlings (who are now really yearlings), my ASPR filly has been watching one Shiner very carefully lately. She has the stolen 'Tucker ball' in her pen right now. I wondered who threw it over the fence in the mares and fillies pasture. This morning I had my answer. Lady picked it up, she was moving it around, and flipping it up and down like Shiner does. Little stinker! Talented she will be.

I did mare check today and I am happy to say, my ASPR mare is starting to look preggers. I wondered for about the past month if she got missed, but she exploded over the cold snap! I have had no doubt on my Classic mare, she is happily preggers. And the maiden mare is starting to stretch her bag out, so she is on track for her due date.

This year I will have to rig up a foaling stall as the first foal is due the end of March, so anytime after March 1st I need to be ready. So I got some of the supplies to insulate the walls and board up the inbetween wall. I have a heater on the way, I will have it ready to go by the first of February and ready for the first foal to arrive.

Its kind of exciting. I love having the babies in the spring and summer. They are so much fun to watch and interact with. Such curious little things. And if you ever want a great kiss - all you have to do is ask and you are bound to get a big wet milk smelling kiss!

Well off to dreaming of new babies for this year!

When will the wind quit?

It wasn't a bad morning, until the wind kicked it up again. I now have a driveway that is half drifted in. Oh well!

I did manage to take a couple loads of manure over to the pile, but the wind was still whipping around today. When will it quit? LOL!

Ponies were out today. It was a mixed bag day today. No real work done. I did try to get Tulip to cooperate to set up, but we were coming in from the pasture and not far from her feed pan. She had eyes only for it. I did manage a half way decent set up and told her I was proud of her for focusing long enough to get the job done!

Smokie is ready to go back to work. He won the crabcakes award for the day! What was funny was I specifically stopped what I was doing this afternoon to watch crabcakes speed around, buck and rear in his pasture. So I know it wasn't for lack of expelling energy!

Arnold, is my special lil guy. He's 20" and a dwarf. I finally freed him from his pen and turned him loose so he could frolick and play in the barn as he wanted. Man did he take off! He was so happy to run and buck, it was good to see.

Okay I am ready for winter to be over. Anyone else?

Slow Motion

Everyone seemed in slow motion today. Air temperature was warm enough, above zero - I think I read 13 at one point. But oh my the wind still whipped a lot. Sent a chill down my body when I was out.

Seemed like the ponies, although released from their temporary prisons, were in slow motion today. Not much moving around and mostly had their tails to the wind. Even Shiner, the stallion who was in for 6 days rather than 5, backed up to the wind break he has instead of his usual romp and stomp the jolly ball today. Oh yeah - I found his jolly ball finally. His brand new one, as well as the ball he stole from my dog a couple weeks ago.

My poor 2 year old stallion had to stay in today, he got to go out yesterday. Hopefully tomorrow all will be set back to right and all the boys will get to go out for their share of the day.

The barn is a mess, still. I declared it still too cold to transport poo poo to the manure pile. Tomorrow should be better. I decided to do more research.

I received an envelope full of articles from an old Magazine called Hackney World from a friend in KY. Wow is all I have to say. I did not realize when I bought Carnation and Tulip what I was buying into. But now I have some semblance of their existence and why their breeding is the way it is.

The packet also had a controversial article in it, about breeding and the true destiny of the Hackney pony. Although it was informative, I took debate with the author's ideal pony - always to be more than 13H tall, head set to be natural not man made. A few other comments about conformation rang true and I couldn't disagree, but it was the author's intent to try to sway the reader into discarding all of the smaller, under 13H ponies and for the breeder to never breed for the smaller version pony. He thought them to be unhearty and weak. I beg to differ, if he were to meet my Tulip, who is a mere 46" (that would be 10.3 Hands), and to see the lineage that she came from, it might have set him back in his chair.

Another article, written in commentary form expounds on breeding 'form to function'. Something I have had a very good friend of mine repeat to me over and over. She is a judge, and judges according to the creedo. "An eye for excellence, a solid knowledge of genetic inheritance, and a commitment to quality are readyily evidenced in the breeder of merit....all this plus a little genetic luck." The article pens that 'new genetics cannot be created from within a species or Breed, so the challenge comes form using the existing genetic variances within the population to create the next generation of superior individuals.' Extremely well put and has made the muffled thoughts in my head become crystal clear. So far, it has been by sheer luck and a good solid prayer that my breeding program has benefited much.

When pieces of a puzzle fall into place, the jagged edges of our precipiece that is set out before us is smoothed into a firm walking ground. That walking ground is the show ring. Our placings become our proof that the breeding program we set out on, or lack thereof, comes to fruition.

It is done

I couldn't stand it any longer. I repeat I could not stand it any longer. At 1PM I let my ponies loose, well all but three. Oh my it was a sight. As soon as I let the first three mares go out the door, the rest of the barn exploded into action. Neighing, pawing, rearing, kicking, bucking, screams of delight echoing back and forth across the barn. A building crescendo ensued.

In turn, Tulip is let out after the first three mares. It was all she could do to contain herself. Her mommy told her she had to be cool and patient all week long, and outside of a little mishap that her stall mate, Opal, started, she was a perfect pupil of patience and contained energy for 4 very long days and nights.

Tulip had to have her halter put on, that was a quick dive with the nose into the halter she hates, does that tell you how badly she wanted to go out???? Then a little step, which she quickly muffled before it was seen. The lead rope was next, the gate opening and-- "BINGO" -- I could just hear it in her head, explosions of joy rippling through her contortionists body. She tried to muffle everything as best she could. She knew she had to walk all the way to the barn door, just 25 feet away. No aires above ground, no striking a higher pitch with her front hooves, no sashay with her rear end. Just a straight walk. It was almost too much for her. She kept gathering herself, I could feel it. Her neck arching ever higher, her eyes widening with every step. Ears alert, forward, almost touching. Pure containment was winding her so tight...... Then finally, the door. I opened it for her and she couldn't contain herself anymore. Before her rump was out the door, all four hooves were level with my ears. Every muscle in her body exploded with pure ecstasy. And then she came down, light as a feather and catipulted again to ear level with all four hooves. Now let me tell you, that is a tad intimidating, a pony her size, you just don't know where it will all land. After all what goes up, must come down. But she never came close to my toes. Four times she did that, on the fifth ascent and descent, she came down unbalanced and went backwards. I let the lead go and she bounced around the courtyard for a full minute before she realized she forgot to deposit her halter at the door. Tulip came back, stood as still as she could and gave me back her halter. She was actually quivering with excitement. After that, all I saw was a tail flagged as high as her ears as she ran to the pasture gate to let herself rip out of control.

Okay, so that was Tulip. Opal flat out threw a fit. I am talking knock down drag out fit. Throw herself on the ground, roll, get back up and stomp, stomp, stomp. Hay, poo poo and water collided in the air as she stirred the pot with invigor. I barely got into her stall to catch the bottom of her halter. Man, it was not a contained walk to the barn door to let her out. And she is a year older than Tulip! It was hippity hop, hop, hop, rear, kick, bolt, snort, paw, you name it I saw, felt, heard and tasted. When I finally got her to the barn door, Tulip was impatiently waiting for her, she was tapping on the darn barn door!!!!! If she could have opened it herself, she would have. So Opal and Tulip greeted each other with a nice rear in the air and off they went, back out to the pasture to take a turn around it.

Of course that was not all. The other two year olds were beckoning - 'Don't leave us! Don't leave us!' 'That's not fair' 'We wanna go too!' Both had the same hippity hoppity dance to the door. Tulip and Opal sped back to the barn door and waited for the other fillies to come out before they made the round out the pasture again.

As I headed back in the barn, the otherside of the barn exploded. Lady was pitching a hissy fit herself. Cookie was talking to me. Silhouette and Carnation - well for a couple old ladies, they sure could cut the rug as well. So I took them out next. Once everyone was out, well let's just say I only had to say once 'Let's go girls' I had snow flying everywhere as the mares and fillies exited the back paddock to the north pasture. I ran as fast as I could to catch the gate before they came back in. To my dismay, I was not as fast as I needed to be. Tulip, Opal, and the othe girls were on their trip back into the back barn paddock. Theybran past me, a swirl of air and snow cirlced me, I am sure all in jest to tease me. They circled the paddock and left in another flurry of snow and frolick through the gate, which I promptly shut.

I could hear behind me the screams of Lady, she was frantic to get out and run and buck as well. Cookie caught the excitement and both were dancing on the ceiling as I tried to snap leads on their halters. I couldn't even get Lady to the barn door - I knew it too, as we were moving to the door, I unsnapped her and she was gone. Cookie I could barely stop to get the lead off and she sped past me.

I watched for a few minutes, everyone was running around their pastures with their heads cut off. Everyone pleased their stay was finally acquitted.

A tad later, Tulip, in her true form, stopped to make sure I saw her. Amid the other ponies flying by her in a flurry of snow and wind, she stood as majestic as she could on a little hill of snow. Her head held high. Her ears perched straight and forward. Her eyes wide in splendor. She connected her eyes with mine, her ears came forward a bit more, and she gave a small a gentle yet noticeable nod of acknowledgment.... and then was gone with her flag proudly displayed in the air for the world to see.

Oh to own such a proud pony that one connects with on such a level, it is an honor.

And more BRRRR!!!

Today is the 3 1/2 day the ponies have been in. And everyone has been patient and not crabby until this morning. Tulip has been just a jewel. But then it all broke loose. My other lovely filly - Opal started it. She decided she had to buck and kick and rear, so pretty much the whole barn did a big hick-up. I had to yell at everyone to settle down. I reminded them they were in for their own good this week. Patience, if nothing else - patience.

Let me tell you that is a hard lesson to convey, when I myself, am fed up with the cold! My patience is just about at its wits ends! But forge on I must, composure to keep, sanity is checked (or lack thereof).

So I took my young stallions only play toy away ( actually not a play toy, but the electrical cord that heats his sisters water buckets). Smokie keeps pulling it out of the wall socket if he doesn't think I am moving fast enough with the grain wagon. Unfortunately at $70 a pop, I can't really afford him to break it right now. Stinker. So I took it away, and do at feed times. In retaliation - he decided to break his water bucket holder. Oh Man! I could not believe it. I thought it was Cookie moving her grain bucket around. (I gave Cookie her grain bucket tonight as she was insistent on eating from it instead of her regular feed pan). But oh no, I come out of the door and there it is, water bucket on the ground! Sheesh!

One more 1/2 day of this - hopefully they can go out and run and buck and kick for awhile tomorrow!

So on a sad note - two of the kittens went home with a young couple tonight. They did not pick the manx kittens, they picked my Freddy and Charlie. I can only take comfort that they took both, so Charlie would not be lonesome. That is an answer to prayer. Boom Boom has a home, but will have to stay with me for another 2 months while he waits on being old enough to neuter and declaw. Jet on the other hand is a bit agressive, so I don't know what I am going to do. Maybe he will settle down now that there will be more time for him.

Well I need to run out to the barn (yes its now -17 below!) and check waters and give more hay out. So off I go. Tomorrow - please be above zero, even for a couple hours!