Memorial Day 2010

The following words are from my Dear Husband. He summed up all I was thinking, and then some.

Living veterans should be celebrated not just on Veterans day but EVERY DAY. Memorial day was set aside as a somber contemplative day to remember those men and women who gave all so we could live FREE in the greatest country in the world. To remember that freedom is not free and the price those individuals paid in blood made us who we are.

May the loss of those lives laid down for our country
be not in vain.
May we remember them,
Pray for them,
Pray for their families,
And for our Country.

Expectations

Much like kids, horses can and do live UP TO or DOWN TO our expectations. If you expect your children to behave, and maintain a balance of boundaries, exercise, affection, and education, there is an excellent chance your children will grow up to be outstanding citizens. The same applies to horses- be fair, be consistent, be clear in your direction, and expect the best from them. Again- there is an outstanding chance that your horse will deliver.

This entire week has been a reminder in just that-- how expectations can either set you up for a wonderful client horse - hoof care provider interaction, or a not-so-good-one.

These expectations not only apply to hoof care providers- but to owners/ handlers as well. If the handler's expectations match the hoof care providers (ie: if you both believe and fully EXPECT good to excellent behaviour from the horse,) it happens. Yes, it might take a bit to get there, but that good behaviour does happen.

If the handler and hoof care provider expect opposites, well, the horse is going to listen to whomever is at their head. And that can be- and often is- a disaster.

We saw both ends of that spectrum this week.

The first was last Saturday, with my four favorite ponies on the Planet. All of them behaved in excellent fashion- even though two of them were in pain from recent laminitic flare ups. They stood like champs and did their level best to be good.

The same carried through to our next two stops- the first with two more of the Best Ponies On The Planet-- and they were wonderful too. How wonderful? Good enough that my five year old son could hold them for their trims. Something that I won't allow with any other client horse. The next stop was the same way-- a wonderful older mare whom we've been trimming for a few years. This old girl can be trusted to deliver the best every.single.trim. Why? Because she's been trained well, handled well, and her owner expects her to behave- every.single.trim.


Welcome to the Dark Side....
Later in the week- the next stop we will visit the opposite end of the behavior spectrum. What happened? Well, handler expectations coupled with a lack of consistent handling for the past year or so resulted in a very difficult day. The first horse of the day kicked Dear Husband in the ribs. All but two or three of the horses pulled, fussed, wiggled, and made life difficult. And the next to last horse ... well, the next to last horse kicked Dear Husband in the exact same spot as the first horse, cracking two ribs, and causing separation in the floating ribs.

What were the expectations here?
- On the part of the hoof care providers:
We expect the handler to be able to head off behavior such as kicking.
We expect the handler to provide necessary discipline as needed.
We EXPECT the horses to BEHAVE- No Biting, No Kicking, No Rearing, No Fussing... you get the point.

- The handler in this instance expected the horses to be difficult.
And the horses were more than happy to comply with that expectation.

Now- the horses the handler expected to behave perfectly- did indeed behave perfectly.
But the ones that the handler expected trouble from?
Gave all they could to meet that expectation as well.

Run! Run Towards The Light!
The LAST stop of the week, where we spent our day yesterday, was with a group of racehorses.
Now, everyone will groan and roll their eyes, as you are EXPECTING to hear a horror story, right?

Wrong.

Way, way, way wrong.

The horses with this particular group of clients all behave. Because they are handled calmly, consistently, and with the expectation of excellent behavior. Any adverse behavior is dealt with with fairness and firmness. Lo and behold, the horses stand up and behave.


Is it ALL what you expect to happen? No.
Is it breed/ sex/ job/ etc prejudice? No.


Horse behavior is a direct result of conditioning. If the handling is slipshod, hasty, rough, and inconsistent, then you can expect a horse to be tight in mind and body, because he will KNOW that something is going to happen and he KNOWS that it is out of the normal day to day routine.

I'll say it again:
Horse behavior is a direct result of conditioning.

YOU- as the handler- have a responsibility to provide proper conditioning to your horse. You can condition them to MISBEHAVE as quickly (if not quicker), as you can condition them TO Behave.

Training (ie: conditioning) starts with YOUR mind, and your mindset while working with your horse. If you expect that horse to be difficult, then he'll be happy to oblige.

The Appaloosa in the picture at the top of the post has a bad bad BAD reputation when it comes to hoof care. He was touted as a real pain in the rump to work on; kicking, pulling, wiggling, you name it- he tried it.

The very first time we met this horse, the handler was injured (non-horse related.) That Appy was just plain giving that poor man FITS. Dear Husband was no where near the horse, and that gelding- who is all of maybe 14 hands- was putting on a show and a half.

Dear Husband looked at me, thinking this was never going to happen. At that point, the horse just became too much for the injured handler, and I stepped up to him.

Within five minutes, the horse had his head down, was picking up all four feet for me and Dear Husband, and he literally fell asleep while being trimmed.

What was different?

Well, for one, I was mesmerized by his spots, his sheer athletic ability, and his eye. This was one S-M-A-R-T horse. Way smart.

But I also went with a purpose and intention, and the expectation of Excellent Behaviour.

We saw that horse again yesterday. He was hard to catch (I was trimming one of his pasture mates at the time, and was not able to step into the paddock to try my hand at catching him.) Dear Husband got a hand on him, and stood off the to side in the shade as I finished up his Lady Love.

Once I was done, Dear Husband and I traded places, and I once again got my hot little hands on a horse that (sshhhhh-- don't tell Sonny,) I'd just about give various portions of my anatomy to bring home.

If you are expecting to hear good things, you're right. Once again, my little spotted wonder buddy fell asleep during his trim. I chased flies away, rubbed his head, neck, and ears, and whispered to him about what a fine horse he was, and how he was such a grand boy.

Moral of the story?
- Expect the best
- Train and condition for the best
- Believe in YOUR ability to teach your horse how to behave.

The end results are amazing. I promise.

Let's Have A Contest!

What better way to kick off summer then a chance to win an $80 gift certificate? Ok Ok- I know. There *are* better ways for us horse folks, but shoot- for those who have to work to support our horses, at least we can have some fun with a contest, right?

Quite a few of you have been reading here for a while now, and know my aversion to shopping. (Which explains my Golden Hermit Status.) And being around "other people". When the house settles in for the night, I do however, like the chance to "window shop" a bit (I heard you back there- that is window SHOP-- not window LICK). For instance, right now I've been looking around at couches and sofas. So when I was contacted by a fellow from CSN Stores, I thought- "Holy COW look at all the stuff they have!" No kidding-- they even have freaking sofas. (I've always liked sectional sofas.... Thanks Sean for feeding that particular desire...)

Then, I looked down the list some more. Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog has been requesting a new bed (OK- a "real" dog bed) for some time now. What do ya know--- these guys have a great pet section.

In fact, the ONLY thing I could NOT find anywhere on their site was anything equine related. (Hey CSN-- what would you think about adding an equine section?? Any chance of that happening?)

So what the heck does this have to do with a contest? Well, lots of us are dog and cat owners.

Oh-- wait-- excuse me. DAT and Jo have just given me *THAT* look, explaining to me that *I* do not own *them*.... oh no-- THEY own ME. (All. Too. True.)

What do you say for the contest the funniest cat/ dog/ horse story wins an $80 gift certificate to CSNStores to be spent in any way your heart desires? Contest closes one week from today- June 3, at midnight EDT. Leave a comment with your story, and Jo and I, assisted by DAT I'm sure, will draw a name and announce the winner on Friday June 4th.

Fire away!

I'm Seeing Stars!

Thanks to theCHIVE.com for this bit of hilarity today!

Sonny's Sunday

Sonny said today is HOT. Dayum HOT.
He wanted to go and play in the lake.
Can't say as though I blame him, really.

However, we don't *quite* trust the bottom not to suck him in and get his Royal Red Highness stuck.

Instead, I took "his kids" to the water to splash and play for
almost three hours. Sonny, of course,
could hear us from the water, as the acoustics are fantastic here.

Instead, I'll take him out to graze and mow the lawn (again) once the sun drops some.
He's usually pretty happy with that,
until of course,
Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog gets in on the action.
(Which she always does.)

Yes, the other day ago, Johnny Reb gave Sonny an apple.
Being a delicate creature,
Sonny prefers his apples in tiny bites.
He dropped a bit by accident-
and of course,
Jo hoovered it up.
An apple.
Crazy dog.

So, Sonny is content to have a hose bath and mow lawn.
He still seems to think that he'd have fun IN the lake, but...
I'm just not willing to get him stuck in the water.
Yeah- can you hear THAT 911 call?

Pretty quiet week for the Big Red One, but he sure seems happy enough.
Except for the bugs. He has a thing about bugs.

Not Horse Related-- But Darn Important

Lance's Blog

Mackenzie's Missing Miles
"A Walk for a Lifetime"

I'd like- no let me rephrase that-- I *need* to introduce you all to someone.. someone incredible.
A former Army Ranger- which says a lot right there.
A talented writer, with drive and determination and just plain GUTS.
A Father.
A Father in mourning.

On August 28, 2008, a drunk driver stole his daughter in a wreck. Mackenzie was 16.

Now, the family has a connection with Lance Frazee, as my brother in law (BamBam) served with him in the Army. They remained in touch over the years- but never more so than now.

Lance Frazee, to honor his daughter's memory and promote awareness of what happens when you drive drunk, is walking across the country with Mackenzie's ashes and pictures of her. He left California on May 3rd. The goal is to walk to North Carolina.

I've never met this man- but from what I've heard... well, if anyone can make this trip, it's him.

Visit his blog. Follow along in his daily journey. Meet the Chupacabra with him (and see pictures of it too!) Read how effective Bear Spray is.
But show him some bloggy love, y'all. Donate to the Mackenzie Frazee Foundation from his site. Cheer him on. Let him know we're all out here, pulling for him.

Drive on Frazee. We're pulling for you.

Life Jumped Up

It has gone from about zero to 90MPH in the blink of an eye on us. Which is a good thing.

So I'll be absent for a few days as we get the job(s) done, and get caught up with clients while the weather is good.

In the meantime, I keep getting in rides on Sonny Bunz while I can.
(He is doing GREAT.)

We're swimming... and I keep thinking we might need to take Sonny down to the water and see what he thinks of it....

That could either be good..... or.. not so good.


Tonight, we'll be treated to extra special pony loves, from two of our Most Favoritest Ponies On The Planet.

Their owner is elderly, and I worry about her. A nicer, finer woman you will never meet.

Next week we see big horses. Lots. Of. Big. Horses.

One of whom is an Appy gelding... and you all know how I lust after a black and white blanketed Appaloosa gelding, with a powerful athletic build. (Yep. A heavy case of "lust" if you will is on the way....)

In the meantime, keep the book suggestions rolling!

Happy Hoofin' Everyone!
~MM

OK Everyone...

I could use some input from you.

A while back, I started slaving away over a book. A hoof book (obviously,) written FOR owners, in an attempt at providing an easy to use and understand format, so that horse owners could accomplish several things. Those things were basic: anatomy, disease/ disorder, emergency care, handling, a bit on training to have feet handled, scheduling, and what the job of the horse handler is during hoof care services.

It is... drum roll please.... almost ready for review.

BUT.

I wanted to ask: what do YOU need? Is there ANYTHING specific that you as horse owners and handlers need in this basic work, that will help you in dealing with your horse, your farrier, your vet, and other horse people?

Leave a comment, shoot me a direct email (swequine @ yahoo.com- please put BOOK in subject line), whatever you need to do.

And for the record: this is NOT -- I repeat-- NOT a book bashing shoeing and promoting barefoot hoof care. This is a book promoting owner involvement, understanding, and safety for all. It will tell you how to pull a shoe in an emergency, but it will NOT in any way, shape, or form tell you that shoeing is evil, and that barefoot will cure all that ails your horse.

Let's hear it. This is FOR horse owners- so as horse owners, I'll need YOUR input!
~MM

Adventures Of The Bisc-kinator...

See that cat? So sweeeeeet and Innocent looking?

Trust me-
She's
Not.

All this week, this is how I've been feeling.
Way off kilter,
dizzy,
and itchy with hives and rash type crap.
(Dear Husband said last night he could read Braille on my back.)

I hit the Benedryl, and toddled to bed.
Woke up about 11:45 or so, and needed to visit the little cowgirl's room.
I pulled myself up from the bed...
Stood up...
And promptly fell over onto Dear Husband.

Huh.
What do ya know about that?
He didn't approve.

I stagger out to the living room
(still off kilter mind you)
and make my way precariously through the kitchen
to the living room
towards the potty.

DAT was asleep in a chair in the kitchen.
She woke up.
First, she swatted my as I staggered by, leaning on the chair for support.
Then, the little turd hops nimbly down from the chair
performing her ever famous
"Escort Service".
You know-- the one in which kitty twines about your ankles,
in an attempt to see how much noise you make when you falldowngoboom?

By some miracle, she didn't get squashed and I didn't fall over.

Yet.
There was still the return trip to be made.

All I'm going to say on THAT matter is this:
I darn near had me a half a pair of really fuzzy warm kitty slippers.

Funny... she's giving me lots of room as I try to walk around today....
Wonders
Never
Cease.

While We're On The Subject...

Of sale ads, here are a few other things that get my goat, so to speak.

But first:
Yes, the rule changes in the registry of AQHA and APHA has been noted. Thank you to Amy for reminding me/us of that non-sense.

And, Thank you Lori for the email pointing out that a, "... Paint can be a pinto, but a pinto can NEVER be a Paint!"

Confused yet? (Good thing we can't ride the papers, right?)

Onto another day of how NOT to sell your horse.

-First, see that word above? S-E-L-L? Yeah-- you are going to SELL a horse. Not "SALE" him. He will BE "For Sale". And then, upon purchase by some lucky part, he will be SOLD, not "SALED".

- Next, measurements. People, it does not take that much effort to type: 16.2 hands. There are four inches in a hand. Which would make that horse sixteen and a half hands, correct? So just how tall IS your horse who is supposed to be "16.5 hands"? (And do ya wanna bet that when you go to LOOK at the horse, he *might* clear 15.1 before a proper hoof trim?)

- If you are going to include pictures, please do not state that the horse needs another "30 or 40 pounds", when the ribs, backbone, and hip bones are still prominent.

- If you do not have registration papers, you might be better off saying "for sale as a grade". GRADE meaning- no proof of parentage/ lineage/ registration. Say "Quarter Horse type- no papers- selling as grade." (For example- were I to advertise Sonny Bunz for sale- I know his breeding. I know he is registered. I do not, however, possess his papers. He would be listed as a grade, even though it is fairly evident he is well bred and probably has papers out there somewhere. And no- he is NOT being listed for sale! We're stuck with each other.)

- People, look at horses with your HEAD now and again, and not your soft and mushy HEARTS. Not. Every. Horse. Is. A. Rescue.

Just because a horse does not live in a palace, may have scuff marks, fly bites, or a sun bleached coat... or just because there is a sand/ surface crack in one hoof... or just because he may not be in a 20 acre pasture belly deep in grass.... DOES NOT mean he is a "rescue".

If you buy a horse from an auction- it is not a rescue. It is a purchase.
If you buy a horse from a horse dealer- it is not a rescue. It is a purchase.

See where I'm going here? Stop trying to play the "sympathy" vote folks.


Now this is a cute one I saw the other day....
Did y'all know that now TACK can be "proven"? Like, I dunno, a well bred, well trained horse that has gone out and done something, and done it well, before they are sent to the breeding shed? Yep-- no kidding. I saw an ad for a "Proven barrel racing saddle." I kid you not. It seems that the HORSES no longer have to prove themselves worthy, but the SADDLES apparently do now.

(For what it's worth-- good saddles in our little corner of the world are still being priced higher than decently bred, healthy, ready to ride/ start under saddle horses are.)

I don't know about you guys, but I am *totally* ready to hop in the truck and go take a gander at the Quarter Horse with pinto markings that is 16.5 hands tall and needs about 30 pounds on it still, with the proven barrel racing saddle that is priced $200 higher than the horse!

Y'all wanna come too?

OK, I'm Not Trying To Be A Meanie Here ...BUT

"This little girl is 21 months old and is up to date on her shots and worming. Other than that she is a sweet horse we bought a little while ago and just have too many now. She does not have papers but is a QH. She is small and probably won’t get past 15 hands, she is only 21 months old so she has a lot more growing to do. (she is a brown and white paint)"

Ok kids, is she a PAINT? A PINTO? Or a QUARTER HORSE?

Make.
Up.
Your.
Minds.

Writing a proper sales ad is not that difficult. I *promise*.
If the filly is a QUARTER HORSE, she will not have the Paint/ Pinto coloration.
If she is a PAINT/ PINTO, she will have coloration.
If she HAS extreme coloration, she can not be registered as a QUARTER HORSE. Therefore
you saying she is a QUARTER HORSE in one breath, and a PAINT in the next
is somewhat....
ridiculous.

Yes, the breeds are distinguished merely by the amount and placement of color.
Body styles are quite interchangeable.
But clean up your advertising, people.

Please.
***ETA: I stand corrected on the AQHA Rule Change, allowing for double registration of QH/ APHA horses. While I will withhold my thoughts on that matter, the writing of this ad would have been best served to read more along the lines of:
"Stocky QH type body, with Paint/ Pinto markings"



Oh- and one last pointer:
It Is A ROUND PEN.
Not a PIN.
A
PEN.
ROUND.
PEN.

I'd hate to see the horse working "in a round pin."
That sounds rather ...
excruciating.

PEN.
ROUND
PEN.


And it is FARRIER.
Not
"FERRIER".
Not
"FURRIER".

FARRIER.

And thus ends today's PSA,
Brought to you by
A Disturbance In The Force

Sonny's Sunday, A Mother's Day Edition

Here's the Bunz- Lawn Mowing is his favorite duty

Kitty Biscuits, The DAT, was the only one sitting down this morning

Bunz, waiting... waiting.... waiting.... wanting to go out and mow lawn, play, and be adored

Bunz, post pedicure, full of himself

Long, forward strides- moving out most excellently

He didn't get into the slow shuffling jog he likes-- we had a true TROT!

Jo The Wonder Nanny Dog had to watch and make sure Bunz behaved.

But the best part?

For the first time in five years, since my old Appy Jack died,

We.

Loped.

Yep, I still have the sh*t eating grin on my face.
And so does my horse.

Happy Mother's Day, to all of you out there with children of the two and four legged variety! May your day be as filled with joy and beauty as mine has already been!!!

~MM

PSA- Ponies Need Care, Too!

Ponies get a bum rap. At least most of them do, in my opinion. Me? I'm growing more and more fond of ponies, and I look forward to pony trim days. The ponies we've met in recent months have been charming, friendly, easy to get along with, and full of personality.

Unfortunately, some of them seem to have been relegated to the bottom of the hoof cleaning list.

I have a theory on pony hooves. Ponies are lighter weight. Ponies often times have much more concavity in their hooves. And ponies are often times confined in areas that are much smaller than their larger counter parts.

Which makes for a mess in pony feet. That deep concavity, lack of movement, and the differing soil conditions present here in the south east, makes for a "glue" to stick all that crap and mess in the pony hoof, which means a lot of thrush. Which means no frogs. Which leads to the below picture.








When I picked up this tiny hoof yesterday, there was a considerable amount of material packed in there. As I used my hoof pick to clean the hoof, Pony jumped and tried to take her foot back. Why? Because exposed was the sensitive frog- NOT the tough outer layer we are accustomed to seeing. Inside the blue circle, is where my hoof pick bumped into the frog. Yes, that is blood you see.

Which broke my heart-- this is a wicked sweet pony, and knowing that even an accidental bump hurt her, made *me* feel bad.

I finished the trim, and we packed her hoof with antibiotic, gauze, and duct tape.


We get a lot-- and I mean a LOT-- of questions on thrush. Treatment options, how to apply various treatments, preventative measures, how long to provide the treatment... those are just a few.

In a case like this little pony:
I'd pack that hoof in particular with antibiotic for five to seven days, apply a large gauze pad to help contain the antibiotic in the foot, with a duct tape "boot" to keep everything in place. Daily hoof cleaning for this pony will help- not only will it allow for close monitoring by the daily care provider, but it will loosen up any impacted material that happens to pack back in over the course of the day.

The other thing I'd suggest for ponies kept in smaller areas, where the ground might be a bit soft, is get them out and ride, drive, or lead around on harder ground every day to every other day. Harder ground will help the hoof function properly, and help it expel any material trapped in the hooves.

Thrush happens. All over the world, in all kinds of equids. Generally, is it not a dire emergency. But left untreated, it can be *quite* painful for the horse. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

If you see something suspect:
(you'll smell it too. Not something you will forget quickly...)
- Clean the foot well
- Wash the foot with warm water and some dish soap. This is two fold- it will clear away any "hidden" debris, and really allow you to see in there. Use a toothbrush, a small scrub brush, or something with shorter, fairly soft bristles. Rinse, and get a good look at the frog and the grooves alongside the frog.
- Examine the frog closely. Any areas that are ragged allow material to pack in and set up an environment for thrush.
- Look for any deep cracks- no matter how small- along the central line of the frog. Most often you will see this back towards the heels, and the crack will run along the length of the frog. Clean that area well. You can take a q-tip, and probe gently to see how deep the crack may go. If it is shallow, you are catching things at a good time, and will be in for an easy fix. If it is deep- say a half inch or more, you are in for a longer treatment time.

Treatments:
There are loads. LOADS. Any horse magazine, supply catalog, or trip to the feed store will overwhelm you with possible treatment options. My advice? Save. Your. Money.

Go to either Valley Vet Supply or Jeffers Livestock Supply. Look for something with ingredients similar to what is in Albadry Plus. Order it. Clean the hoof well, wash it out, and take the Albadry, gently slide the tip into the crack, and depress the plunger. Do this until you see a change in the depth of the crack.

There are other options: Clean Trax, developed by Equine Technologies in Sudbury Mass. is excellent. It is one of THE White Line Disease treatments that I trust 100%. The cost is reasonable, it is extremely effective, and the staff at Equine Technologies are fantastic people. BUT (and you knew that was coming, right?) It can be hard to use. It is a soak, that lasts 45 minutes. Getting some horses to stand for that long can be tricky.

Another one I really like is White Lightning. It has a gel formula that has been a HUGE help with some really tough horses. Reasonable cost, easy to use, and the people there are also great to deal with.


Clean the feet, exercise over a harder surface, (EXERCISE!!! Get Those Horses MOVING!!) wash and inspect, and treat suspected areas. It will save a lot of trouble in the long run to be proactive with this.

See the crack in the heel bulbs? Perfect entry point for deep tissue thrush.

Did you know....
Deep tissue thrush, that invades in the heels, can and will destabilize the hoof? Creating a foot sore horse, who travels landing toe first? And is often misdiagnosed as "Navicular Syndrome"?

Prevention folks... prevention. Thrush CAN be fixed- it just takes consistency and dedication on YOUR part.

Not Horse Related- Showing Off A Family Member's Blog

For those of you swamped in heat, or who just like a bird's eye view of life, pop on over to this blog: Alaska Flying.

Images from a family member, who migrated farther North, and took up the life of a pilot. There are some stunning images!

Sonny's Sunday

Sonny still has me low on his "Love List". I'm tellin' ya, it's going to take like a full *week* of grass time and grooming sessions to inch my way back up even remotely close to the upper part of his "List". (Oh, I'm on a "List" right now alright. The FECAL ROSTER.) Seems His Royal Red Highness is miffed over the time I devoted to his Dad this week. Seems that His Royal Red Highness thinks I should have left his Dad in pain, to fend for himself.

Gotta have PRIORITIES, ya know.

His Royal Red Highness looks good though. I need to get you all some updated pictures of how pretty his new summer coat is. He has a sheen to his hide this year like I've not seen on him before. Now that things are quieting down, I'm planning on getting he and I back into a routine, and riding again.

Of course, that means riding at about six in the morning now, as it has TA-DAAAA! turned to SUMMER on us already in the Southland. No kidding-- the Locust Brothers and I did a barn call this morning, and it was 70% humidity, and 85*.

*pant gasp sweat copiously*

Ahh yes. The Porch Cat. She is still here. (Are you SURE no one wants a cat?) She is content to live outside, and visits with me, the Locust Brothers, Dear Husband, Johnny Reb-- shoot, anyone who will sit down and rub on her for a few minutes. Ol' PC (cause calling her Porch is just..... stupid...) has a monster motor on her, and will purr like crazy. She still feels the need to go after Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog, which really ticks me off. (It is not fair to pick on a seventy pound chicken in a dog suit.) If the right home comes along, she's ready to go. Yeah, yeah.... for those who say she already HAS the right home, pppphhhbbbtttttttttt.
This was my supervisor today on the barn call. Someone stuck him under a shrink ray, and turned a really superbly built horse into a pony sized package. He is a trip, and was really making sure that we got the job done to his satisfaction. Of course, when it was His Turn, the beautiful Donkey Love companion had to comfort him too. (Well, ok. I confess. Donkey got a wee bit of Happy Juice to allow us to get to her hind feet better, and by the time I got to the pony, she needed to lay her head across his back to stand up. No, I missed out on getting a picture of it, but really wish I had-- it was adorable!!)
This was my Long Ears fix. Sweet as the day is long, smart, kind, and just a really nice girl. Her near side hind needs some work, but overall this is going to be a really fantastic girl to get to know and spend time with. Donkeys. Rule.

That is about it from this little corner of the world. Dear Husband is recovering nicely, and I got to tease him about not getting donkey kisses today. (Next time though... next time.) The only other bit of news is that it seems snake season has arrived here as well. (You are not alone Mikey...) After the Locust Brothers and I made it home, we got an emergency phone call from our blind elderly neighbor. Her little dog had something cornered out by her garage, and he would not come in away from it, nor would he let her near it. She heard it hiss, and didn't know what it could be, so she called for help. Dear Husband grabbed the 12 gauge, I grabbed the camera, and with Johnny Reb we trooped over to investigate. It was about a three foot long water moccasin. (Don't look Mikey...) Dear Husband picked his spot and dispatched the mightily pissed off snake, and his remains went to be turtle food.

(*Note: we have an ABUNDANCE of water moccasins on the lake. How the neighbors little dog did not get bitten is beyond me, as these guys are KNOWN for being cranky, aggressive, and for chasing people across lawns. Just ask Johnny Reb- he has run from more than one of them.)

Provided things continue as they are, I expect to be back posting hoof information this week. Yay! We have xrays in the file from Shiloh to go over still, and Sonny is in need of a trim as well. (Yeah. THAT is always fun. .... NOT.) And if the Weather Gods co-operate, there should be some radical donkey pictures around Wednesday afternoon. (Not this donkey from today-- she was long but not bad. This is another donkey entirely. Loads of Long Ear Love for ME this week!!)

In the meantime, enjoy your cooler weather, get in a ride, and love those horses!
~MM

Losing Charlotte

A while back now, I was sent a copy of "Losing Charlotte", by Heather Clay for a review on this blog. It tackles a tough subject- the loss of a mother shortly after child birth.

The book arrived promptly in the mail, right in the midst of the health issues with Dear Husband. It sat on my shelf until the other day, when I could finally bring myself to pick it up and take a look. The thought of reading about the loss of a loved one when things were so uncertain with my husband's situation made me hesitate.

I found the book to be very well written. The characters however, were buried so deep within their memories of the past that I never could connect with them in any way.

While I do not believe it was an intentional misdirection, the book was presented to me as more of a horse book. While it IS set on a Thoroughbred breeding farm, it is not a "horse" book per say. It is a book about life, choices, memories, and regrets- not at all about horses.

I'm sorry to say this was not my favorite. I had a very difficult time getting through it, and wound up putting it down and walking away from it several times. Not one to dwell on the past and allow myself to swim in oceans of angst, I did find portions of this book tough to stomach.

I do appreciate the time and effort put forth by Ms. Clay in this work, and I wish her all the best with her writing career.