So It's been awhile

So yes, it has been months since I posted anything. Didn't know what to post. Lot of changes, lot of unanswered questions. A lot has happened this year. I always ask why and don't always get an answer, then I analyze and wonder and re analyze. Just a habit......

So in May, went to the spring show in Tulsa, in a lot of ways it was a disaster for me. I took 2 two year old's for halter, Prize so Patience could ride in the walk/trot class and Sally took Chester and Patience's new horse Rascle.



Sally and Chester did very well. Competed in Sport Horse in Hand, Geldings in a good size class, against horses that have won at Regionals in this class. He got a 3rd and a 4th I believe. I was very proud of both......


And Patience showed Rascle in Sport Horse in hand mares and did awsume, got a 2nd from one judge in a class of 7. Was extremely proud of both of them! They looked so good.

I, on the other hand had a nightmare of a show. First Sweety caused a scene and we couldn't put her in the trailer with anyone else, so we had to make 3 trips to the show. On the 3rd trip the truck broke down. Had to finish hauling horses the next morning. Was totally exhausted. Got all the horses there but just couldn't pull it together. Prize came up lame so Patience didn't get to ride. Never got to show Racheal, Sweety was still acting awful. Then finally the trip home. I was totally frustrated, exhausted, and out of sorts. Back to 3 trips with horses, everything was going well, then the 3rd trip down, a blow out. Took 3 extra hours before it was over. Random saved us on the side of the rode. Looking back was glad we hadn't picked up the last of the horses yet! So made it home and left it in the history books as my worst show ever.

Then Sally moved her horses, found a better place that was cheaper for her. She had some problems with getting a new job and such. She hasn't been around since.

Of course dealing with "family issues" all year has taken a lot out of me. But hanging in there.

Haven't got much else done on the barn but trying. Kind of on my own right now.

In August a friend from the horse show side of my life showed up and got me inspired again. Ended up taking Trucker to the Tulsa State Fair and showing him in Sport Horse in Hand Stallions. Was a much better time and a much better show for me. He was Reserve Champion.

Was getting more done around here and horses were back in the spot light in my life. Things seemed to be leveling out for me some.

And now winter is on its way and things seem to be falling apart again. I keep pushing and working and trying. Guess I'm hard headed and I'm definitely not a quitter. Have been riding Trucker some and the goal is Sport Horse under Saddle next year, maybe even all the way to Nationals in Kentucky. That's my goal anyway.

Did get to go to Nationals again. Watched some of my friends show and some win. It was great seeing old friends and meeting some new ones. It seemed to be a more relaxed show this year. Some of the same complaints, like "how can you put together a party around here." Although I did see a lot of champagne and wine glasses throughout the show. I guess for some it's about the party and the socializing and what...horses.....oh yea, it is a horse show. Did have wonderful comments from some locals that went out of curiosity, they were amazed at the beautiful horses and the versatility, they didn't know arabian horses could do so much. They thought the show was amazing and had a great time. I think someone should think about what is important to keeping this breed growing, parties and socializing or those wonderful, versatile, beautiful horses that make it all possible.

Just a thought...........

FtValleyStolenHorses

FtValleyStolenHorses

More work done! With the nice weather, they were able to finish putting up the doors on the first stalls in the barn. The boys did a nice job. It will look even better when painted and the wood on and the floors done.




They were welding the last latch on in this picture. Kept grumbling something about camera disappearing. I just laughed and told them to wait till they see themselves on line!

The doors are a little bit heavy duty, but should last a long time. My husband doesn't want anything getting out. I don't think they'll try.

I call it my elephant proof barn. Now I am excited to see what we get done this weekend! Maybe soon it will be back to training like I want to do. Have been lungeing horses but not real difficult work. My right shoulder is killing me right now and lungeing and unloading feed, etc. is only making it worse. Can't afford to take time off for surgery so just have to get through. First show is in approximately 6 weeks and I have to keep working to get ready.

The last picture is of one of the small outside doors. The top wooden panel folds down to let air circulate through the barn. That was my husbands idea. GOOD JOB!

Well hopefully, more pictures soon, either horses or barn.

New pictures, new progress

Well look, it's a door! Not just any door but a door my husband designed and with a little help from friends built just for me! The top has bars and the wood folds down to let the breeze in. Of coarse they are dutch doors so the top will open separate from the bottom or together. They are heavy duty too, I told him to just make them so I can open them without a struggle and he did.

This is the inside of that stall, actually will be 2 stalls when done and right now it is serving as tack/feed room until that room is done. We call it elephant proof. I told him Autograph would be insulted for thinking he might need something this strong.

This is my husband and his partner in crime Pete, aka big gnome. My husband is little gnome and as of today they thought it funny to call me momma gnome! HAHA, I don't know about that. Back to the stall, It now has the bottom door on and the bars. Next the side wall and the wood on the inside of the stall and the floor leveled and it is done. Then the tack/feed room, the real one!

These 2 pictures are my husband working on the outside door. They also put up 2 more doors but I guess I didn't get pictures of those. Oh well, it is definitely progress. Maybe next week I see more progress.

Maybe someday I will have stalls to put horses up in so they can look like real show horses, all pampered and stuff. I have the hose boom for the wash rack, planning ahead. A little encouragement for my "little gnome". I have shelves, small refrig., saddle racks, all kinds of stuff for the tack/feed room. Been waiting for a while. Soon, soon.!

Spring is here and a new camera.....

Spring is here! And the snow is almost gone!! Was trying out the new camera and it takes pretty good close ups. There are green things out there growing, ain't it wonderful.....




The only thing that was somewhat entertaining was Ms. Black. She was on the hunt for some excitement.....

She was just looking for something to do... or some way of getting into trouble I am sure...

Then Sally showed up and became my next victim......Her and Chester....

OOPS, forgot to rotate this one. I think he was telling me to just hurry up so I can get back to the green stuff that is out here!

Maybe today the mud won't be so bad and I can get prettier pictures of the horses. We'll see.....

Just some pictures

Just some pictures from yesterday evening. There were many oportunities for lovely pictures but my camera wouldn't work right. The cardinals would be in the trees, or a Robin hopping along the ground or a wren on the side of the house...


Everytime I would try to use the zoom the camera would shut off. Or by the time a would get the camera and get back the birds would be gone.

Finally gave up and just took pictures out the windows.

It was pretty, looked like Christmas, but I am ready for SPRING thank you very much!

Weather!!!!!

OK, it's official. Oklahoma weather is just crazy! The picture below is of my husband and stepson getting ready to go fishing yesterday, 3/19/10 at about 5:00 PM. It was 70 degrees and beautiful! Clint caught a 4lb 8oz bass and there were 10 other bass on the stringer. It was a relaxing day. Then.......

This is a picture of Clint and his bass just before he released in our farm pond. This was taken about 6:30 on Friday.

I got up this morning and when it was light enough outside, I took some pictures...




This is another angle of where the boys were standing just 14 hours ago.







They say this is just the start, the weather man says most of the snow will be tonight and tomorrow. You know the weather man has been wrong before. They were even wrong today, they said it wouldn't start till noon!

To wonderful Friends

Sometimes you forget or just overlook how wonderful people can be in the midst of daily life.





With that said, let me start at the beginning of this week. It's been cold and muddy again, not much horse working going on, couldn't do shoes on the horses on Monday, maybe Tuesday, it's at least supposed to be sunny and in the 40's. So arrangements are made....





I have to recert ACLS Tuesday morning at work. No problem, get through quickly, then back home in time to eat a quick lunch and call the farrier. Everything is goin well at this point. Then the call......Clint, one of my stepsons calls....There's a situation, dad needs to come out, one of us is in trouble! Marlin doesn't have his phone, he's not home, off to look for him....call the farrier, cancel....AGAIN......drive around, find Marlin, make arrangements, he's on his way......Well, now what. Just take a nap......





When I wake up, things are looking up some. Contacted a friend about the puppy Sally found to see if she knew of anyone that might need a cute poodle type puppy. From there it seemed fast and furious. Anne FB me a message to send her a picture of the puppy and she would put it on FB. I sent the picture to her.....

She is really cute, after Sally spent all morning Monday cutting out the mats and burrs and giving her a bath. She is very sweet.

Less than an hour latter I get a message from Anne that she has a new home for the puppy, seriously, less than an hour! And it will be a wonderful forever home, sounds like. Talked to June, a nurse, and this little cutie is just what they have been looking for since she lost her other dog. Yea!!!! Really great news, I just wish it was always that easy! Can't tell Anne thanks enough!

Called Sally who was on her way home from work in Tulsa, she was elated. And a little bit latter, Sally tx me that her car is broke down so on to the next crisis!

The farrier called this morning just as I was getting to Sally's house to follow her to the shop to have the car looked at. It would die everytime you stopped or sometimes when you slowed down. Well, didn't think I would have time today either, cause the new puppy person was coming this afternoon, and had to make sure Sally and everyone was where they needed to be. He is very understanding, the farrier that is.

Oh, by the way, my husband finally called this morning and is getting everything straightened out in Stillwater with the boys.

So now I am home and all the wind is out of my sails and just not motivated now to do anything! Maybe a nap and then out into the sunny, maybe dry round pen to work horses. Sounds like a wonderful plan.......

By the way, I may turn my phone off.......

Not really.

Another good day...

Was another sunny day, started off cold but warmed up nicely. Worked horses in the round pen again. This time started off with Sammy, a 2 year old colt. He did well. He is going to be English but his rear end will take some work. Really nice shoulder though.

Then came Gracie, another Diva. She either wants to stand still in the round pen and get attention or run with tail up and snorting. Not much in between with her. You end up just standing there waiting for her to stop. At times she starts off well, but then she sets herself off and away she goes!

Next was Tez, he is laid back. Needed laid back after Gracie. He is going to be an awesome western horse. And he's very smart. Makes it easy.

On to Sweetie again. She did much better this time. Behaved well, lunged nicely and learning whoa! It just takes practice.

Racheal was the next through the gate. She is very well mannered. She is going to be a great performance horse. My husband was there watching so he took some pictures with my phone. Not great, and you'll have to excuse the mud. Not warm enough yet to put the hose to 'em. But you can get an idea.

He could have left me out of the picture but he was asking what button to push. I had to stop and show him twice. Probably missed the great picture but this will do for now.

I grabbed Spot next. She is a half arabian, the other half is a registered Paint mare, Missy. Missy is a tobiano mare with lots of white. My husband bought her to breed to Trucker for color, well he got lots of color, almost liver chestnut with not one white hair on her. Have teased him about that for a long time now. I told him you don't breed for color. People can end up with something really bad. In Spot's case, got excellent conformation, a good mind, quick learner and found out today, she can buck like a quarter horse. No foolen around, she gets it done. She had just a couple spirts of bucking but they were all feeling pretty good today.

I worked with Narly too. He's not ready for the round pen but he was lead around and his feet picked up. He only threw one fit, and it was a short one. When Narly was younger, he threw a fit when being led and flipped over. Hit his head just right and had a seizure. Very scary, first time I had seen that. It took a week for him to recover and he has had no residual affects but I worry about him anyway. I definitely don't want him to hit his head again. So now he has his bluff in on me.

Was a great day to be outside. And then Sally came by to work with Chester. He got a hair cut...

After Sally worked with him on the ground, she got the saddle out and worked with him a bit. Not a whole lot of time in the saddle but he is getting used to having weight on his back. Taking baby steps so no one gets hurt, but lots of progress being made!

Sooooo, on to the next day...........

Baby steps...

Had a great Valentine's Day. My husband bought me roses! First time. Must have done something right, just not sure what!?

And now for baby steps....Have been in a slump for some time. With the weather being so bad, cold, snow, ice, and then mud and slime, haven't been able to work any horses. But we have had a few days in the past week that have been decent. Today was cold and windy but I still worked with a couple of the now 2 year old's. A little round pen work to get them started. Ease in to it slowly, they seem to learn faster that way. Don't want to throw too much at them at once.

Racheal did fine, she's a quick study and seemed to remember what she learned last year. She wasn't bothered by the other horses around her when going to the round pen either. She's getting quite big at right about 15 hands, and she won't be 2 until May. She has a great engine on back, nice shoulder and really level headed for an Arabian/Saddlebred cross! She will do well at halter and then be an awesome performance horse. Hunter pleasure I think.

Then on to Sweety. Please take that name with a grain of salt. She is very sweet in a diva sort of way. She just loves attention and would also like to think she is the boss. Her mom was the Alpha mare and it shows. She is beautiful, a dark, almost black going to be grey. She is one week younger than Racheal but just as big. Going to be a big girl! But very feminine. Just loves to show off. She was a little snortier going to the round pen but didn't try to run off with me. Once in the round pen it was tail up and snort but she did listen to me. She is very athletic, loves to run. I believe she is a lesson or two behind Racheal, she needs to learn woe, (not sure how to spell that). But she did do better than expected. She'll be great in halter, if she learns to stop and plant, she wants to be close, might have something for her in your pocket.

At any rate, it was good to get them out and working. Hopefully the weather will hold out and I'll be able to work them and the rest again tomorrow and the next day! Would really like to ride Trucker tomorrow and Auti. I really need to get something done around here. Just have to take baby steps.....