A change in gears

Currently I have 4 tractors and a backhoe. 2 of the the 4 I bought for farming a 2,000 acre wheat farm. In a way I still miss the wheat farm. They are still great tractors but not really set up for haying. So after looking for 2 years I finally found and bought what I think is a nice used tractor that will fit my current needs better. Even at my age I am surprised that I still get excited about buying equipment. To balance out the scales though the other side is we were also looking at getting the wife a nice VW convertible. Now that would be as equally exciting. Sad that we can't get both but I think we will be able to start looking again this fall. My suspicion is that this won't be a 2 year tire kicking adventure. With 50 acres of pasture that are in sore need of repairs and the hay ground that always needs work this little tractor will be very busy this summer. Probably the best thing is that this is a tractor that the wife will be able to use for harrowing and turning the windrows. I have a sneaking hunch that this will be more my wife's tractor than mine. I offered that she could use it to drive to work and it would get great fuel mileage but for some reason it just doesn't compare to a nice little convertible.

Mojo the continuing saga

Well it's official, I have the sonnagram pictures, Mojo came back from the trainer with a bowed tendon.  2 deep tears and 3 surface tears. If anything can go wrong with this horse.......... He seems to attract set backs more than any other horse we have owned. 6 to 12 months off totally shoots any barrel futurities. Now comes the hard reality of making the decision on what to do next. He may heal up just fine but at what level will he be able to be used. I have no fear that he would be a fine western pleasure horse but anything beyond that leaves me with doubts. To me the stakes are higher after this type of injury. To take the risk and end up with a permenantly lame horse is something I can't get out of my head. We already have one pasture pet with a torn tendon sheath in the knee. A texan barrel clinician did that and at the time we looked at the tape and saw exactly when and what did it. I can go on a lot more but it does no good. At that time I swore not to let others on my horses to train. Mojo's situation just strengthen my resolve that if you want it done right, do it yourself. I'm just sick and dis-heartened by this and the only thing that helps for now is to ride Mojo's younger brother Tuff. A green broke 4yr old that is getting legged up for his training this summer.........by me or my daughter.

Mojo in 2009

Start of a New Season

Yesterday was our start for the new season. After a few months off the first order of business was to start legging up the horses. It takes a good 4 to 6 weeks to get our horses in running shape. We do have a set routine we like to do. Not that we are the best but during the competition season we don't seem to have as many horse issues as some we compete against. I believe it has to do with having the horses in proper running shape. We usually don't attain track fitness but we try to come close. The following is the general recipe we try and follow.
   Long trotting with the horse extended as much as they can and not break into a lope.
       We start at 15 minutes then up to 30 minutes when the horse can get there. At some point we then start making a circuit around the 50 acre field and hopefully can work up to 2 laps. When the ground is appropriate we will do wind sprints of 100 yds full out then collect for 100 yds to help teach them to run and rate up.
  Flexation and transitions.
     at the walk trot and lope we do big circle then as small as the horse can maintain small circle. Always helping the horse to maintain proper form.
     at the trot and lope large circle then spiral in until they break stride then immediately change direction and start it over again.
     Smooth transition from walk to trot then back down repeated until smooth then on to trot to lope then on to walk to lope. Finally from a stop to a lope at first a couple of trotting strides are allowed. We do the same on the slowing down portions.

 By this time hopefully the outside arena is dry and the snow is gone so we can now work on stations. These are set routines around barrels and poles that are not set up the same as when they compete.

  As for me I started 3 weeks ago getting in shape myself.

  This is the start of an 8 to 9 month season that by the end leaves all of us ready for a winters rest.

My youngest and I at an OMOKSEE

2006 Victoria (96-07)  and Tenor both out of Golda