Where did May go

It has been so cold and wet around here with flood watches all over the state. I've been hunkered down waiting for it to warm up that all of May slipped by with little memory of nice days.

This last Monday we went and got one of our broodmares with her foal Bunny which has been now officially nicknamed Maggie. Here she is now a little over a month old. Enjoy :)

AND look green grass!

Well off to work and the wheel lines. (that is a post all by itself someday)

Later

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New Family member Bunny

Well that is what I call her though the rest of the family isn't sold on that name yet :)

Momma is "She is outta here" daddy is The Card Shark. Both are from good running lines. The mare was so kind and patient with her new born and was proud to she her off. By far this was a blessed Easter it has been some 17 years since we had an easter baby and I just feel all is right with my world right now. In a month we should have another foal. So I can start to worry in a few weeks but for now life is good

Our Horse History 1

When I started this I thought that I would just have a pictorial of our horses over the years. Over 90% of the pictures we have have our daughters on them so this is probably a historical mixture of the daughters and their horses.

The Beginning

  There was Golda. We bought her to be the family horse for all of us to ride.



Seems once you have one horse the next one is not too far off. Golda was A little big for our oldest at 9 so we bought a second horse(pony) This pony Velvet ended up having both daughters learning to ride.

As she got older it was time to pass the torch to her younger sister and ride Golda.

Since Golda had an injury that took hours of riding to keep that easy movement, off we went to get another horse Jerry

Hours and hours of pony club and 4H life was good but as the oldest got older the need for speed crept into our vocabulary. Golda's first get Buddy had a severe freak accident during halter breaking so off again to get another horse Barchic.
                                                                    Buddy

                                                               Barchic

Barchic started off as the english, western pleasure, jumping horse. As he got older he went off to Myllymaki's for barrel training. With a long stride and great speed he had the capabilities. After he got hurt at a clinic by the clinician we had one coming up named Coco. So the switch was made.

Coco doesn't really like people but he knows his job and if you get out of his way he just does it. HE is out of Chocolate Jody which was our other broodmare and I will do her papers at a later time.

She even queened as long as there was a horse involved she would give it her all.

As with all things the daughter became a young lady and now has daughters of her own. Thus starts the next generation of pictures with girls on horseback.

                                                    Mojo   Golda's grandson

  Golda had a total of 4 gets. Two are still alive. Her filly has been our lead broodmare since Golda passed away. She has been in our hearts and can still see her in her grandponies.

Part 2 will be the other daughter and her group of horses.

Genetics or learned behavior

I’ll admit it I enjoy cruising around to different horsey type blogs from around the world. I get to see lots of nice horses, see different ways to set up barns and learn how other people work with their horse. The one thing that just has a real different feel to me is the way riders dress in particular chaps and gloves. I guess it is the western way but I don’t even own a pair of riding chaps and only wear gloves when my hands are cold or absolutely needed. I will admit to sometimes remembering to wear my farrier chaps when trimming a horse but most of the time I forget. So I suppose spending the money on riding chaps that would just hang on the coat rack would be a waste. Out of the many choices shotgun, batwings, full dress with fringes and sparkles I guess I might be persuaded to wear shotguns in the hopes that it would ease the chaffing on the inside of my legs. The long and short I guess is that it would be one more piece of leather that would need to be cleaned and oiled that frankly I know I wouldn’t do. Besides who wants to show up at a branding with everything looking with a fresh newness that we know are going to be covered in mud and manure within 10 minute of starting.


Almost every coat I have every rig I drive and various other spots have a pair of gloves. At times they are needed but most of the time I won’t wear them unless I have to. It is a matter of feel especially when it comes to handling reigns. When I ride with gloves I feel like I have lost touch with the bit and the horse. Maybe if I had started riding with gloves I wouldn’t feel so out of touch but it is a habit that I probably won’t break. I’ve had a lot of rope burns when dealing with a horse gone unruly but when that happens it really lights a fire that the beasty needs some work.



Just an odd point of view

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Week at a glance

Week at a glance well actually just another list.
   1. The daughter went to remove one of the preifert stalls so we can start building a proper wash bay. She got the 12 ft. long 8 ft. high wall disconnected and realized it was way too heavey for her to move. So she threw a rope over the rafters to hold it up until I could get home. Got home and moved it out of the way. Maybey next time she will remember to remove the 2X6's from the metal frame first. :)

  2. Wifey Maria bought a nice well broke and bred running mare that is due mid April so hopefully we will have 2 babies to play with this spring. Downsizing isn't an option but I do think we have rounded out our wish list so we will see how this plays out.

  3. We have all decided it would be good for me to go and get my equine message certificate this summer. I am constantly petting and rubbing my horses so now I will be able to do it as a professional. ;) With this we will also be getting a thermal ir scanner. Some how I never seem to be able to feel the color red. I claim that it is because I am a guy and color blind.

 4. Tied up the old 30+ Appy to the tie ring in the barn and he proceeded to start chewing on the 2X6 rails. It seems once one horse has put their mark on wood the others are just obliged to put their chew mark on the wood also. So we went and got some 4X8 sheets of osb and put them up. Poor dears all they can seem to muster up now is a scrape which seems not to leave marks. Will be putting some nasty tasty stuff on soon!.

 5. Mud and more mud mixed with daily snow....arg. Went to clean out some runs and there was still an ice layer. The ground was so slippery that I couldn't even walk on it. It will be awhile before I can safely put any horses in those 2 runs now. It is a lousy choice; manure or snotty ground. Some dry weather would be nice.

6. Working on putting together a picture/lineage of our horses to post. Getting decent pictures of the horses seems to be a challenge since we are all shy.

 7. Rode my mare. Saddling isn't a calm time yet but at least it takes me less than an hour to get it done. on the last ride I did a lot of shoulder in and spiral in work at the trot. On the clockwise shoulder in she was feeling stiff then there was this popping sound and the back end dropped. She came right back to a much more supple relaxed trot. Hopefully this was a pop in not out. My legs were exhausted by the end of this ride so she and I got a day off.

Until the next list

    Oh! one thought/picture that keeps going through my mind is from the opening of the Secretariat Movie.
    the images of the horses coming around the turn and the voice overlay

     "Do you give the horse his strength . . . . . . or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?
      Do you make him leap like a locust,  striking terror with his proud snorting?
      He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
      He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;  he does not shy away from the sword.
      The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.
      In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground;
      he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds." Job 39:19-25

  Some things just touch the heart.

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Hibernation is over

Well at least it feels that way. The snow/ice is almost all gone now and I guess so are my excuses.

 So to catch up a list, I love lists.

 1. I graduate in 16 days. That is what we are calling my retirement from my current day job. It was just getting in the way of my work out at the farm. Sooo one of them just had to go......It was an easy choice.

 2. The daughter and I have been negotiating on what we will do here at the farm. Since she has a degree in athletic training, certified horse and people message, and a love for the horses we will be putting together a horse rehab facility. Should be fun and lots of work to get it ready.

 3. Bought a 2yr old filly out of Texas. just off of pasture but so sweet. She is bred to cut and is already showing signs of being very athletic. Will be starting ground work on her soon. No riding until she grows up some more.

 4. My mare that was doing back flips when I went to saddle her is on the road to being a saddle horse again. It has been slow but we are making good headway.

 5. My 2 horses that had tendon issues are sound and we will be building up their strength this spring.

 6. My lead broodmare is big and prego and should be due in a month and a half so I am already worrying over her.

 7. We are trying to book some clinician for this summer that should fit well with the other clinics that go on around here.

 Well that is all I can think of for now.
 Now this list is done I can start another list :)

 Later
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Sundays

This Sunday I went to Whitehall for a benefit O-MOK-SEE. I got to take my 9 year old mare. She is just learning the games and is showing to be calm and response at any speed. That really makes it fun. It still doesn't offset the 4 horses we have lost this spring. Each to a different issue. My mare is helping me get over this fact. Live in the present not the past. In one of the events Team Arena there is a team made up of 4 people. One horse at a time goes out and runs around the outside of the arena and then passes the batton to another rider. This is an all out top speed event where if the horse has any running ability you can feel them drop down and stretch out for a full ground covering run. My mare started to stretch out then had a little bobble on the front end but went right back to full run. Didn't phase her a bit. Our hand off was clean and she didn't shy away from another horse coming along side her at a full run. At the end of the day both of us were tired and in a good space. RIP Mona, Lacey, Lacey's baby, Magic, Close friends horses buried with ours this spring Farmer, Britchy---- and if you have time watch over the rest of the herd.

They all stood to nicker and watch

Not me though I hid in the barn with my granddaughter as my close friends and vet took my 2 year old filly for her last walk. It has been hard for me to get to this point where I can write about it. It was just a little nick by her ankle. Like most young horses getting them through to maturity without cuts and scrapes is near impossible. It looked like no big deal. We washed her up and put some salve on it and repeat. Two days later her lower leg swolled up like a sausage and very hot.  We picked at it cleaned it and started her on antibiotics. Four days later the leg went down to normal size but not the ankle. Off to the Vet then off to the Horse hospital ninety minutes away. Prognosis the infection had already damaged cartilage and was in the bone. The poor thing even with max pain meds was in pain and couldn't put weight on that leg. The next day the time had come. Our vet that we've known since her Junior High days and when she was in High Shool Rodeo she traveled with us and our daughters was there to perform her duties as our Vet. We had a total of three horses to have done that day. Our friends 2 horses that had been scheduled for that weekend were brought out so that all three could be done at once.  From my occasional peeks from the barn it looked so surreal and sombere all the horses from the 2 pastures and the ones in the paddocks stood there and intensely watched. At one point they all nickered out but then as on que they all turned around and went on with what they were doing before hand. With 14 horses and 2 outside horses being trained I really don't think we will have anymore baby horses in the future.The old man (daughters old barrel horse now 30+) will probably need to be put down this fall but at least I have time to prepare myself for it. It is always tough. I'm tired now of the effort to get a herd of broodmares to help with retirement time. The idealic thought of being retired and working with the baby horses to barrel futurities is just not going to happen. The hours of going over breeding programs and hauling mares just isn't fun if I have to spend waking momemnts worrying about a sudden loss. This filly was the the last of a line since we gelded Mojo now that line is done.Well I guess it is time to start working with the 4 yr old gelding again, his injuries have healed nicely.  Later

Confused....?

Was delighted to go to a Pole Bending clinic this last Sunday. It was a two day clinic but we could only make it one day. Our friend Peggy was riding Shamy who is out of our mare and her parent’s stud. Of all the horses we have foaled she is probably the most athletic and fastest. I have her older full sister that I will be competing on this year. She is a shorter version of Shamy so it should be loads of fun (if I can stay on that is). It may be vain but I was filled with pride when I saw the clinician desire for one of the horses we had a hand in, honestly the stud and our mare had such good gets that it is sad when I think back on our mare and the studs last meeting........poor old boy had a heart attack while trying to get the job done with our mare. He died the next day. There were limited exposures to this stud but all of his gets had a fiery temperament, the will to run and the athletic ability to take their riders as far as they had talent for. The only exception I can think of is Legs my wife’s horse. He ended up being a true baby sitter but guess what he has more than enough speed to be competitive.........I know I found the fast gear riding him so I backed off for it will be there when the wife is ready if the grandkids don't get him first. :)

So back to the clinic..........Confusion abounds. Not because of what the clinician was teaching but that it is totally different than what I have been drilled on for years. For years it has been pick up the inside reign to keep the shoulder up and round the horse with the outside leg. At this clinic I felt more like I was back at English lessons. Hands down....ah 3 inches above the withers give or take a scosh. Use the inside leg to round the horse around your leg and the outside reign to frame the shoulder in. I've ridden both ways over the years so it will be fun to see if I remember some of my old training. The one major thing I picked up at the clinic is that I don't release once I get to my spot. Probably explains why at some point in the run the horse starts getting wound up and stops listening. How many times have I been told pressure release with the emphasis on RELEASE.

The barn is to envy over.... I have been told it is the best (fancy) barn in Montana. I haven't been to very many fancy barns but the attention to details was a real eye opener. Sorry I didn't have my camera with me but I'll include an aerial. Well I have a lot to try. Later

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

Help

When one starts to help someone there is an implied agreement not to forsake them.

A few years ago we had one dog in the litter that was born different. Everything was a struggle.
He couldn't suckle so he was hand feed until he could suckle a bit but always had to have some hand feeding.He was one of the first to eat solid food but it had to be set up just right so he could work on the corners of the food. For the first couple of months it was touch and go with seizures that would happen at anytime. The wife took and made him a home in one of her old oversized purses and he was with her 24/7. He never learned to walk but could prance all over the place, high stepping it where his paws would almost hit his chin. At 5 months he had hormonal overdrive and at 6 months he was healthy enough to be fixed. Things went along pretty good and we thought he was out of the woods. His seizures got lighter and less frequent. A real dog personality was developing. We were begining to hold onto the idea that he would make it. At 8 months he passed away. At the beginning we knew his chances were very slim so was it right to euthanize him or go to what some consider extreme effort to try and help this pup. Right or wrong our belief is that one good day of life is better than none at all. It is remarkable that through this whole process there was a feeling of peace about what was happening. The will to live and grow is so strong that to be part of this will affect one at levels not often visited.

   And when you do not forsake them the rewards will change you. Good or bad it's your choice.

        

I try

One of the bloggers I read just rescued a horse. From the accounts it would seem to be a nice horse but. The prior owner had issues with the horse kicking them. I posted to please find out what caused the horse to kick the prior owner. For the second time another blogger I'll call her L seemed to think my post was wrong and it was the prior owner and not the horse. L may be 6 years my senoir but enough. A horse for any reason that has kicked someone needs to be evaluated on why. It usually doesn't take much to get a seemingly gentle horse to stop kicking but until that quirk is worked through they can be dangerious (PERIOD)

 When my oldest daughter was about nine we went to a horse auction and happened to buy a seeminly nice green broke 2 year old gelding. He was real gentle and loaded into the trailer very nicely. We got him home we unloaded him and were so happy with this gentle sweet...........well I go to lead him to his new corral and in the process he reached up with his hind leg and kicked me in the kidney. I was at his shoulders and went immediately to my knee with pain and the wind knocked out of me. This horse knew exactly what he was doing and I am sure it wasn't the first time. After a short time working with him he has never offered to kick again. He has been my oldest daughters' best horse friend now for twenty years.

Even though it is easy to blame a prior owner for a bad quirk just because you  are better, new owner, nicer, or more knowledgable Forwarned is the opertunity to know where and how to start.

  My lovely wife riding her first MT State OMOKSEE in 2006.
                           She has come a long ways since then :)

Listening is sometimes hard

Last Sunday it was a balmy 18 degrees here so we decided to take a nice Sunday drive north about a 120 miles to see how Mojo was doing with the trainer. We get up there and the snow is melting and 45+ degrees. The trainer has Mojo saddled up and already had been riddin but was just calmly standing there waiting. The trainer got on Mojo and showed us what he has been working on for the last two weeks. Mojo has made some good improvements in a short time between the -too cold days. Then we are all standing there talking and I ask 'well what do you think now that you've rode him.' I am a firm believer in when I hire someone to do something to take heed on there counsel. The first thing out of the trainers mouth was 'He's a real sweet boy'. Of course my heart sank at that catch all phrase that is used when there isn't much other to say. A little further in the conversation the trainer said that he would make an excellent kids horse. Another hard swallow. Twenty years of breeding horses with the goal of having good level headed athletic fast horses and I seem to have only gotten the first part right. How does one take and have good running lineage on the top and bottom and produce 'a real sweet boy' as his best and only quality. Luck of the draw.........maybe. On the way home we had some indepth and long discussions. An interesting pattern developed the mares are fire breathing speedsters with a controllable amount of attitude but all the geldings seem to be of the pocket pet mentality.
I have the two year old filly to break this spring so we will see if that theory holds. We can always use another horse for lessons but his younger brother may have to go if he follows the pocket pet mentality. As with any of this only time will tell.

                                            
   The lemonade in all this:
                                           Mojo's future jockey (in 8 years:)

Lifes left turns

Over the years I have sent horses to various people for training. I'll admit I have holes in my ability and as time has gone on it has become more of a time and size issue than ability. To correct the situation my oldest and I planned to have her do the training and me take care of the rest. Her with daughters (3 and 1) it became very evident that life loves to get in the way of plans. Mojo had been slated to be kept a stud and run barrel futurities. So when we had Jon a futurity trainer come out to assess Mojo we had some reality checks that were not rosy. Jon has been doing this with fairly good success for years so when he said that Mojo wasn't where he should be and that it would be difficult to catch up and also if he couldn't be at the top of the heap not to bother keeping him a stud. So off to the vet Mojo went to get fixed. Then we would send him up to Justin (reigner/reigning cattle trainer). Again life intercedes and due to infections and such we're set back another 3 months. For the last 2 months MoJo has been at our best friends parent's place where he is being rode daily (when it is above 15 degrees F). Now MoJo is fine and Justin has recovered from AQHA world so off he goes this weekend. In this whole ordeal what makes me sad is since we don't keep studs that we had a stud that was probably better mannered than any other horse we have. It took a lot of work to get him there but very little to keep him there. A program that we have been working on for some 20 years this one was a keeper. If life treats him well he will probably be the wife's last mount. Dear he is one of the smoothest riding horses we have and he will take care of you.

Below is a 2009 picture of our extended family friend who has helped us so much on a horse out of our mare and their stud doing poles low 20's all day long without pushing. Now if she (the horse silly) would just do barrels :)

Pride in one's Self

My wife is a therapist specializing in bonding and attachment for a non-profit organization that deals with pregnant teens. These girls come from all sorts of backgrounds. The one common feature is that they are unsure of their future and their soon to be born child. I don't blame them; I'd be just plain scared if I was in their situation.

Once a week some of the girls with their newborns come to the barn to get some horse time. Helping my wife is our horse lady friend (mother of the barrel racer shown in an earlier post and licensed riding instructor). I go out to feed the horses and on the other side of the wall I can hear the girls, their kids and staff giggling and laughing. For a short time life is without care and fun as it should be. At the end, one of the girls from an inter-city background calls me over she is so proud of herself. There is a twinkle in her eyes where suspicion used to dwell. She got to trot bareback on my horse. Before coming out here she had never touched a horse. In a short couple of months she now is riding. For these things I am thankful, it truly is about the kids.

  Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Mojo 4, Granddaughter 3 (2009)

Quick Note

Sorry to those about my not posting. This is turning out to be a busy time....seems to be a common theme :)

I am trying to get the fencing shored up so the horses can go out into the hay field.
We have 2 green broke geldings, a yearling and a weanling we are working with and I am in the process of upgrading a pasture pet into my competition horse for next year. My trusty boy that I have rode for the last eight years is being retired into a lesson horse. It is so hard to start over once you have a horse that will take care of you in any situation. He is retiring from speed events strong and healthy which is good but hard not just to grab him to go run when things don't go well with the mare. It is kind of a hard decision for the mare is faster and I could be more competitive but she can also eat my lunch at the drop of a hat. The one green broke gelding is to the point where my wife can now ride him which is a real good sign. He will be going off to training in two weeks so that will help in our trying to manage our time. Well at least it is a thought.

Hope things are going well with you.

Tuff as a 3yr old

A Sad Day

In our household the rule was trophies and awards could only adorn the mantle for a month and then had to be put in storage (the girl's bedroom if they wished)

After a bad run only up to 15 minutes of quiet time allowed then back to family and friends.

Thus after my whine; time to remove my comment.
Now that I have had my say time to move on for a better day.

2009 NSCA Nationals

What is success

Some 12 years ago I was assistant riding coach then after a few years I was the riding coach for our little 4-H club. For me a main goal for a coach is to look at the girls who are riding on the rail and determine 5 factors to help them achieve success. Talent, drive, horse quality, sadly money and parental support. It is  rare to have a girl come to 4-H with an abundance of all five though I think we were lucky to have such the rare group we did. Every so often at the club meetings there would be grumblings and movement to have attendance requirements to be in the club. My wife and club leader would always handle it as we are a club to help not judge. Some girls could only make it a couple of practices a summer. Between having to work and no parental support we always tried to help them succeed and have a good time.  At that time my oldest daughter and Aimee were well beyond what I could help them with. For me my job was easy just don't let bad habits creep into their riding. So a flash forward to current time. My daughter has a degree in athletic training, 2 wonderful daughters, a caring husband and more horses to work with than time. Aimee has moved on to be one of the top female natural horse instructors in that system and I saw in the paper her engagement notice. So to me both have been successful. The other girls to a one of them have had successes way beyond their young days on the rail. Yes I am proud of all of them.

 A couple of weeks ago I was at a benefit barrel race and roping for a young ruffie that I know. Broke his back riding a bronc. There on her horse was one of my past 4-H girls smiling ear to ear from her run and happy to see me there to see her run. As for me that is success.

2008 Newdy and Mona