A Good Weekend

Do you like my new outfit?

It was a good weekend around here. No rain...well, not much. Cloudy days, but still able to work the horses.

I got a phone call from someone who'd purchased a couple of sheep from me last year. She's got Icelandic horses and had seen my article on Northwest Horse Source last month. During our conversation I told her how I'd like to find a pack saddle for Sunny to wear in order to get her accustomed to seeing something out of the corner of her right eye. I feel like it'll help her with the transition of me going from standing beside her to sitting on top of her. Nancy was thrilled to be able to tell me that she had one, complete with boxes, and that I was welcome to use it. I went over the following morning and picked up not only that, but an older bosal that she was willing to sell, a saddle pad (also selling) and borrowed a special type of pack that attaches to a western saddle. I felt like it was a major score!

Perhaps I look better in blue?

I came home and saddled Sunny up with the western saddle that she was accustomed to, then put the big blue pack on top of it. She wasn't so sure about the pack crossing over the centerline of her back, but aside from a tiny snort and half step sideways she stood very well. The pack has a hole in the front where you push the horn through. It's a small hole and as I was struggling with it I thought it was similar to giving birth to a baby's big head. Eventually it fit, and Sunny stood patiently for me while I was working on it. The back of the pack has a slit that fits over the cantle. If a horse really wanted to buck, the cantle part would pop off pretty easily and you'd be left with it hanging on only by the horn. Thankfully Sunny wasn't bothered by the thought of the pack once it was over the top of her. I put a few light weight things inside like halters and sweatshirts to make it look bigger, then let her walk around the paddock on her own.

The following day I put the real pack saddle on her back. I'd hoped to actually attach the packs, too, but found myself lacking in knowledge. She didn't mind the breeching or breast collar and stood patiently for me as my fingers fumbled to readjust the sizing. The leather was stiff from sitting for years without use and any horse would be expected to side step impatiently...especially a youngster who'd never felt such contraption on her before. But not Sunny. She stood like a rock, allowing me to cross back and forth and work the straps, not flinching when they dropped down alongside her flanks and not really bothered by it back behind her tail. As you can see from the photo at the top of the page, she was very relaxed about the whole thing.

Quiet Storm tries to help figure out how to attach the boxes.
We never did get them on the saddle.

Darling had a good weekend, too. She saddled up Quiet Storm after school on Friday and we led her down to the tree farm for a ride. Quiet Storm, however, didn't feel it was a good use of energy, just walking up a trail that didn't appear to lead to dinner or anything else exciting. She plodded along until we were about ten minutes into our walk, then planted her feet and refused to budge. She's the perfect batch for Darling as they're both on the lazy side. Darling used muscles she didn't know she had in her legs, beating the sides of that little mustang. Our ride was only about 30 minutes and ten of it was spent at a stand still. I told Darling she may want to consider selling this little horse as she was obviously too wild for a child of her inexperience to handle.

Tacking up. Note Darling's new blue helmet!

I had to re-adjust the mecate for a little more room, but it works like a charm!

I spent some time on Jet, as well, out in the yard making circles around the driveway. I really need to get her out on the trail as she's a big girl with a thirst for adventure!

If any of you are shoppers online, could I direct you to Country Supply? Their prices are good, shipping is quick (and free for orders over $49), and they'll donate 5% of your sale towards Wild Horse Rehab! I bought Darling's new helmet there, plus the new saddle pad for Jet. They're worth a look. If you shop, be sure to use our Care Code: Wildrehab.

Wild Horse Rehabilitation and Rescue Center

70 degrees and Sunny

How long have I been wanting photos like this? Well...not exactly like this, because I was only leaning on Sunny's saddle. But other than that minor detail, it looks good, eh?

Yesterday was beautiful, so I saddled up and headed down to the tree farm for a nice afternoon walk. Aside from her usual sidestepping when it came time to being caught, Sunny let me saddle her up and willingly followed down the road. This was our third trip down to the tree farm and she's feeling pretty comfortable out on the road with traffic now. We still haven't encountered anything big like a dump or logging truck, and I'm sure we'll get a reaction there, but with cars and motorcycles and trucks pulling trailers she's doing quite well.

The trail begins as a logging road. It wraps it's way around the tree farm, which is where we went on our first walk up there. Yesterday, rather than do the same circle, we ventured off up the hill where to where I knew we'd find a bridge crossing the creek.

With all the rain, the water was high and I could hear it getting louder as we approached. It sounded like a loud truck rumbling through the woods. The fact that the sound was gradual rather than sudden gave Sunny no reason for concern. I thought perhaps when she saw the bridge she may refuse, but she walked right up to it without a second thought.

I, however, had second thoughts. Not about whether or not Sunny would cross it, but with the wet leaves on top, the steel bridge was very slick beneath. Plus, there were little drainage holes in it that couldn't be seen for the leaves and I didn't want to risk Sunny stepping on one wrong. Not a good place to panic when you're ten feet above a full, raging creek. So instead, we turned and headed back towards home.

Since I want these experiences to be as positive as possible, I always try to give her time to graze while we're out. She's such a polite horse that she doesn't fight to grab at grass while we're walking, but waits patiently for me to come to a complete stop before she reaches down for a nibble.

We encountered some folks walking their dogs while we were out, big mastiffs and a chocolate lab pup. The dogs had never seen a horse before and weren't sure what to do, although they certainly barked their concern. Sunny wasn't bothered by them, of course, and while the owners were worried about the whole scenario Sunny and I just plodded past. There were also folks who had just finished their ride when we got there; horses were tied to trailers and impatient to load. We stood and watched without any worries.

The only time Sunny batted an eye was on our way home, just as we were leaving the trees and heading onto the road. My neighbors were coming down on their horses...big, snorting Arabians who weren't used to meeting up with anyone, it would seem, as they stopped and refused to move forward when they saw Sunny and I walking towards them. I have to admit it made me laugh, as they live right across the fence and you'd have thought they were seeing some horrible snarling monster rather than the neighbor horse. Once they were alongside of us Sunny lifted her head and turned to watch them go past, side stepping just a bit to get closer to them. But a motorcycle was coming up the road and forced her to forget about the neighbors and continue on home.

Yesterday was lovely. But today? We're back to rain. And I've got a sore throat to boot. So no walks for Sunny and I. It will be nice when someday I may actually be able to ride her on those roads rather than lead her.

If you've been following along with Sunny's progress over these past several months, you know just how far she's come. In fact, I've decided that to the right home, I may be willing to place her. If you, or someone you know, would like to come visit with Sunny, get to know her personally and consider adopting, please let me know. She'll be needing someone who's quiet, kind, and not in a hurry to get things done. She's polite enough that even if you're a bit afraid to move forward, she won't take advantage of that; in fact, she'd be better off with someone who'd prefer to take it easy rather than someone who wants to push forward. Sunny's still under BLM protection and will be for one full year. Her adoption fee is actually just a transfer fee of $25.

Wild Horse Rehabilitation and Rescue

Demanding? Me???

I don't consider myself too terribly demanding. However, City Boy would likely disagree. Or perhaps, rather than demanding, he would call it nagging. Not that I'm a nag. At all. No, really, I'm not. Just because I know what I want and I ask for it (often) doesn't mean I nag...does it? Perhaps I am demanding...

MiKaela, from Rising Rainbow, tagged me in a game of "When I become Famous...", and says I'm to list my demands. Up until now, my demands have been from someone very infamous. Wait...non-famous? Well, an unknown. I can demand and stomp my feet all day and no one runs to get me a Nestle Deluxe Hot Chocolate with real whipping cream and those cute little sprinkles on top. Instead they leave me to my tantrum until I'm forced to find some form of substitute chocolate...usually a packet of Swiss Miss, minus whipping cream...and make it myself.

But if I were famous...

1) I expect to be met in the morning with my hot chocolate, perfectly topped with real whipping cream (whipped fresh, naturally, just before I walked through the room) and decadent chocolate shavings on top. Forget the little sprinkles, I'm famous now.

2) Someone shall have my riding gloves laid out where I can find them, because right now I haven't a clue where I've laid them last. And riding gloves are a must with young snorty horses who like to pull loose from you given half a chance.

3) It would be nice if someone did my laundry. I haven't the time, and eventually City Boy begins to complain about the stench that currently follows me. Honestly, I've no problem with people who smell like the barn, but City Boy claims smelling like the manure pile isn't all that appealing. So here, take this and wash it while I'm out, will you?

4) Um, still waiting for the chocolate on top of my whipping cream here...

5) Did anyone donate a trailer to my cause yet? Hello?! I need a trailer. Now. Like...yesterday! You'd think I was asking for the moon here, people! No, just a nice little gooseneck with living quarters, carries something like half a dozen horses, has a rack on top for their hay, I need a shower...you know, nothing too fancy, just enough to get by. And while you're at it, dahlings...a truck to tow it. Okay, like, just get on it already!

6) My boots are dirty. Who didn't polish my boots?

7) I'd like a new saddle. No, make that two new saddles. I'd like one of those Australian Stock Saddles because they just look so darned comfy! And I want a new reining saddle. Custom made, naturally, by Curt Storbakken.

8) Will someone put up my round pen for me, please? And footing. Simply must have good footing in there.

9) Hello? Still waiting on those chocolate shavings for my hot chocolate!

10) Sliding windows to throw hay into the stalls, please, dear. I know, I know...nag, nag, nag.

11) Can we please get some more gravel delivered? I'd like to build up the stalls a bit, put a path about 8 feet wide along the front of the top pasture so that I've got a dry 'trail' to lead the horses (or sheep) along from paddocks to lower pasture.

12) Excuse me?!?! My hot chocolate is now cold chocolate and we'll have to start all over again.

You see? I'm not that demanding...or desperate...or nagging...am I?

Desperate Horsewife
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