| HORSIN' AROUND WITH WENDY behind the scenes Newsletter for Abrazos Adventure, the horse connection March 28 - 31, 2008 |
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© Copyright March 2008 Wendy Toombs
March 28 The last two days we’ve been having wind and dirt. Today began fairly cold but turned into a nice afternoon. Smudge got turned out with
no work out. She was in the round pen and I left her there until I put up geldings. She didn’t pay too much attention until I had the last two. Then she
ran, squealed and bucked. I decided to go get her while she was in the excited state to see how much attention she would pay to me.
She came right over but had left over energy. We went over slowly and she had to be reminded several times of manners. All in all, I think she did
well.
While my riders were getting ready for their lesson I kept hearing a repeating, very loud thump. I identified it as coming from Fred’s pen and found
him reaching into Cluie’s pen, grabbing the edge of her water tank, lifting it up then dropping it. He was not able to put his head in and drink, just
catch it by the rim. By the time the lesson ended and I got over to taking care of things he had splashed many gallons of water out of it.
March 29 Lee Anne came out early today and we took grooming buckets to the pony pen. Each pony received a thorough comb out including
manes and tails. We did Red and Peanut first then Midnight and Pepper. When we went to get Pepper and Midnight, Cricket indicated she didn’t
want to be caught. We got to the grooming area, tied the boys and got started. In about two minutes Cricket was over with us and eventually in the
way. Needless to say, she was no trouble to catch for her grooming.
The bad, bald spot on her rear end is healing up. There is still no hair and a little irritation under the tail so I put Corona ointment on her before
turning her loose.
Fred and Cluie were the next on our list. Lee Anne had not met Fred officially so this was a nice way for them to become acquainted. I took on Cluie
who decided today was the day to let hair fly. She looked like an orphan when we began and looked pretty good when I finished.
I led her on the sand for the length of the big pen to see how she is walking. On the straight she looked pretty good and her turns didn’t seem as
painful. Hopefully she is on the road to recovery and will stay on it. I have her on the list for Doc to check when he comes in April.
We went to Copper’s place and he was lying down taking a nap. He was in REM sleep and even though I was calling loudly it took a minute for him
to come to. When he did he raised his head as if to say ‘what do you want?’ then dropped it back down and went right back to sleep. I wakened him
again and convinced him to get up. I haltered then tied him. After that I caught Patches and introduced her to Lee Anne. She tied her away from
Copper and we both went to work.
Copper’s mane had three very bad mats. I sprayed in a detangler and by the time I got to them, I was able to pull hairs out of the mat. Eventually
my efforts paid off and he actually had a long mane free of tangles. He really enjoys being worked on. There is just one little problem. He likes his
rear end scratched and groomed and if possible will move around so that is all you have to work on.
Lee Anne caught Lil and worked her out for about thirty minutes. She is being receptive to what Lil has to teach and is finding that if she listens to
her she (Lee Anne) is making progress with what she wants from Lil. She learned a lot about how little tiny adjustments in balance affect the ride.
While she was riding in the arena I decided to take Smudge out. This was her first time to be on a lead with another horse moving around in the
same area. She did well with it – she was curious but paid pretty good attention to me. I had Lee Anne ride by us pretty close and Smudge was okay
with it.
We left the arena to do some walking around. I took her to the junk area where there was a lot to see.
S – I don’t think I like this. Too many things down around the feet. What’s going to grab me? What’s that?
She did a lot of looking and snorting. Her little nose was busy rubbing on anything presented to her. She did a lot of looking with wide eyes. I
opened the door to the trailer and stepped up into it. She didn’t want to come close at first.
S – What’s this with all the caves? I’m not going in there with her – no way. It smells funny. It does smell like horses were in there but …. What’s that
noise? (The wind was blowing the door a little and it was creaking) I don’t know how MW got up there – that’s too high.
I didn’t try to get Smudge to step in. I just wanted her to check things out and not go nuts about it. She did. We then went to the hay barn and I
convinced her to go into it with me. She was doing okay until a bird flew out.
S – I just don’t feel comfortable in here. Why are we going? What’s over there? Agggghhhh – what was that? Why is there whooshing and
squeaking up in the air? Gotta get outa here – gotta run!
Smudge got a little excited when she heard the bird fly. She was good about stopping and turning when she hit the end of the rope and felt the pull
on the halter. I did get her to eat a couple of bits before leaving the barn but she was still upset.
As we turned to go out, Lee Anne and Lil were leaving the arena. Her head went up and she didn’t want to listen as we walked their way. I had her
stop a few feet from them and stand. We did have wiggling.
S – Who are you? I haven’t met you yet? Do you like me, huh, huh? Can we go play? Come on, go play with me.
I took her to the arena and turned her out while Lee Anne finished putting Lil up.
I had a little rider this afternoon – a cute 4-year-old named Nathan. He rode Jody and mom and I took turns walking with them. After the ride he went
to visit ponies and decided he wants to ride a pony next time.
no work out. She was in the round pen and I left her there until I put up geldings. She didn’t pay too much attention until I had the last two. Then she
ran, squealed and bucked. I decided to go get her while she was in the excited state to see how much attention she would pay to me.
She came right over but had left over energy. We went over slowly and she had to be reminded several times of manners. All in all, I think she did
well.
While my riders were getting ready for their lesson I kept hearing a repeating, very loud thump. I identified it as coming from Fred’s pen and found
him reaching into Cluie’s pen, grabbing the edge of her water tank, lifting it up then dropping it. He was not able to put his head in and drink, just
catch it by the rim. By the time the lesson ended and I got over to taking care of things he had splashed many gallons of water out of it.
March 29 Lee Anne came out early today and we took grooming buckets to the pony pen. Each pony received a thorough comb out including
manes and tails. We did Red and Peanut first then Midnight and Pepper. When we went to get Pepper and Midnight, Cricket indicated she didn’t
want to be caught. We got to the grooming area, tied the boys and got started. In about two minutes Cricket was over with us and eventually in the
way. Needless to say, she was no trouble to catch for her grooming.
The bad, bald spot on her rear end is healing up. There is still no hair and a little irritation under the tail so I put Corona ointment on her before
turning her loose.
Fred and Cluie were the next on our list. Lee Anne had not met Fred officially so this was a nice way for them to become acquainted. I took on Cluie
who decided today was the day to let hair fly. She looked like an orphan when we began and looked pretty good when I finished.
I led her on the sand for the length of the big pen to see how she is walking. On the straight she looked pretty good and her turns didn’t seem as
painful. Hopefully she is on the road to recovery and will stay on it. I have her on the list for Doc to check when he comes in April.
We went to Copper’s place and he was lying down taking a nap. He was in REM sleep and even though I was calling loudly it took a minute for him
to come to. When he did he raised his head as if to say ‘what do you want?’ then dropped it back down and went right back to sleep. I wakened him
again and convinced him to get up. I haltered then tied him. After that I caught Patches and introduced her to Lee Anne. She tied her away from
Copper and we both went to work.
Copper’s mane had three very bad mats. I sprayed in a detangler and by the time I got to them, I was able to pull hairs out of the mat. Eventually
my efforts paid off and he actually had a long mane free of tangles. He really enjoys being worked on. There is just one little problem. He likes his
rear end scratched and groomed and if possible will move around so that is all you have to work on.
Lee Anne caught Lil and worked her out for about thirty minutes. She is being receptive to what Lil has to teach and is finding that if she listens to
her she (Lee Anne) is making progress with what she wants from Lil. She learned a lot about how little tiny adjustments in balance affect the ride.
While she was riding in the arena I decided to take Smudge out. This was her first time to be on a lead with another horse moving around in the
same area. She did well with it – she was curious but paid pretty good attention to me. I had Lee Anne ride by us pretty close and Smudge was okay
with it.
We left the arena to do some walking around. I took her to the junk area where there was a lot to see.
S – I don’t think I like this. Too many things down around the feet. What’s going to grab me? What’s that?
She did a lot of looking and snorting. Her little nose was busy rubbing on anything presented to her. She did a lot of looking with wide eyes. I
opened the door to the trailer and stepped up into it. She didn’t want to come close at first.
S – What’s this with all the caves? I’m not going in there with her – no way. It smells funny. It does smell like horses were in there but …. What’s that
noise? (The wind was blowing the door a little and it was creaking) I don’t know how MW got up there – that’s too high.
I didn’t try to get Smudge to step in. I just wanted her to check things out and not go nuts about it. She did. We then went to the hay barn and I
convinced her to go into it with me. She was doing okay until a bird flew out.
S – I just don’t feel comfortable in here. Why are we going? What’s over there? Agggghhhh – what was that? Why is there whooshing and
squeaking up in the air? Gotta get outa here – gotta run!
Smudge got a little excited when she heard the bird fly. She was good about stopping and turning when she hit the end of the rope and felt the pull
on the halter. I did get her to eat a couple of bits before leaving the barn but she was still upset.
As we turned to go out, Lee Anne and Lil were leaving the arena. Her head went up and she didn’t want to listen as we walked their way. I had her
stop a few feet from them and stand. We did have wiggling.
S – Who are you? I haven’t met you yet? Do you like me, huh, huh? Can we go play? Come on, go play with me.
I took her to the arena and turned her out while Lee Anne finished putting Lil up.
I had a little rider this afternoon – a cute 4-year-old named Nathan. He rode Jody and mom and I took turns walking with them. After the ride he went
to visit ponies and decided he wants to ride a pony next time.
Right top, Lace joined us for a guest ride on Drafty Sunday.
March 31 Unfortunately the weather forecast was right – wind and dirt. It did calm totally down by the time to feed the horses. On these days we
feed close to sunset and the wind seems to break about that time.
Our farrier, Richard, came this morning and the wind was blowing by the time he got here. He trimmed Lil and Newbie. While we were taking care of
them I put Smudge on her tie line. I happened to look out of the barn and saw Smudge walking around. She had pulled the line loose and was
exploring. I walked out and up to her. When she heard her name, she stopped, turned toward me and let me catch her without a problem. I then tied
her to the fence itself for the first time. She was good about that. Next time Richard comes we will try holding her and picking up the feet. Richard
slipped in and out of her pen before I even knew it this morning and he was good about picking up feet.
Newbie was in a mood when we brought him in. He wasn’t cooperating at the level I wanted so I picked up a whip and showed him. He had to have a
last word. Richard was at the front and bent over. Newbie looked at me then opened his mouth and slowly moved it toward Richard’s back. I showed
him the whip and sent him and explicit picture of where the whip would be applied if he finished his thought. He decided it wasn’t worth getting
slapped.
March 31 Unfortunately the weather forecast was right – wind and dirt. It did calm totally down by the time to feed the horses. On these days we
feed close to sunset and the wind seems to break about that time.
Our farrier, Richard, came this morning and the wind was blowing by the time he got here. He trimmed Lil and Newbie. While we were taking care of
them I put Smudge on her tie line. I happened to look out of the barn and saw Smudge walking around. She had pulled the line loose and was
exploring. I walked out and up to her. When she heard her name, she stopped, turned toward me and let me catch her without a problem. I then tied
her to the fence itself for the first time. She was good about that. Next time Richard comes we will try holding her and picking up the feet. Richard
slipped in and out of her pen before I even knew it this morning and he was good about picking up feet.
Newbie was in a mood when we brought him in. He wasn’t cooperating at the level I wanted so I picked up a whip and showed him. He had to have a
last word. Richard was at the front and bent over. Newbie looked at me then opened his mouth and slowly moved it toward Richard’s back. I showed
him the whip and sent him and explicit picture of where the whip would be applied if he finished his thought. He decided it wasn’t worth getting
slapped.