In which sheath cleaning makes me smile

Today was "Spring Violation Day" at the farm. All of the horses got their spring shots, Coggins pulled, teeth checks and floated if needed, and fecals pulled.

Awaiting breakfast

Hamps ended up having some pretty sharp points - especially toward the back of his mouth. In fact, an ulcer was forming on the right side. It wasn't open or bleeding, but it was there. Poor guy takes after me in that he is not a fan of dental work. They had to give him additional sedation because he just kept squirming and fussing. I can not blame him one bit.

Hampton ... WASTED.

While he was still drunk I decided to clean his sheath. Normally, I just snap on some latex gloves and use water-based lube. (I wish there were cute guys at this barn ... who wouldn't love a girl walking around in latex gloves with KY jelly?!) But someone had left a bottle of Excalibur at the barn and so I decided to try that.

Something about the smell of the Excalibur + the stench of his sheath was just so disgusting I started to gag.

I have watched dozens of foals born ... horses with massive bleeding ... gross wounds ... melanomas ... you name it. I can stomach it all. But for some reason, not this.

Smiling suppresses the gag reflex (learned that tidbit from CSI, thanks).

Imagine if you will, me wrist-deep in my horse's crotch ... smiling away.

First impressions

Our move was non-eventful and smooth, as I expected it would be. Hampton thinks we are at a horse show where there is turn out.

I literally unloaded him off the trailer and put him straight into the Big Boys field with his new friends. (Nope, I don't baby him).

Summer 2011

There was some passaging around, snorting, tail-flagging ... but no kicking or screaming. The boys settled down in about 3 minutes and continued their busy day of grazing. This morning Hamps seemed settled - he wolfed down his food and other than some ... ahem .. "soft serve" poo piles, he seemed calm and OK with his new environment.

Today, it became apparent to me that Hampton is certainly not at the bottom of the pecking order in that field (5 geldings). When I went to go get another horse from that field (for a vet appointment), Hampton was not happy about that and proceeded to pin his ears and try to chase this other horse away from me. Sheesh. When I finally got to the gate and left, Hamps turned around - bucked and cantered off in a fit of jealousy. haha.

In the meantime, that horse's owner/foster mom (he's a OTTB from a rescue), was walking out of the barn just when I said "Come on, you dumbass!" to her horse, who was refusing to walk across a very mild patch of mud right in front of the gate. I needed him to get moving because Hampton was literally breathing down my neck and I didn't want there to be a fight.

Did I mention that woman had her 5 year old daughter with her?

Yeah. Way to make a good first impression. Oh Hi I'm the girl that called your precious OTTB a dumbass.

She is actually a very nice lady and didn't seem offended or put off by my language. Maybe she didn't hear that?

Spring 2011

When Hamps moved in, he moved into a stall that is about 8 inches larger than the other stalls because of the way the boards were put together. Well, another boarder's 14.2 mare was kicked out of that stall and moved into a normal one to accommodate Hampton.

This lady was PISSED.

I was not there, but the barn manager said she was slamming and throwing things ... then outright refused to speak to anyone. This morning I found a snarky note on the dry erase board: "Remove the salt block holder from stall 12 and return it to me" ... and I honestly tried to unscrew the damn thing but couldn't. This lady also gave me the cold shoulder all morning.

Oh, did I mention this is a lady in her 60s with a tenure at the local university?

The barn manager said she has gotten angry before when her horse has had to move. And also, this is a boarding barn. The stall your horse is in is NOT your personal property. The horse's health comes first and the manager and I both felt Hampton should be in the bigger stall.

I am just going to lie low with this lady until she cools off. The manager is on my side so I will just let her handle the crazy lady.

SPEAKING of crazy ... the old BO from the old barn apparently was ticked off at my instructor for "stealing her business." My instructor is the one who tipped me off about this new barn and the job. I thought it was so inappropriate for the old BO to approach her and blame her for the fact that the (old) barn lost business due to my moving. It was 100% my choice to 1) take the job and 2) move my horse.

Barn drama!!!!!!!!

But in all honesty, I really love this (new) barn so far. The boarders (except Cold Shoulder Susie) have been super friendly and welcoming. And I love working in the mornings. It's ever better now that Hamps lives there. Can't beat seeing his furry, adorable face at 7 a.m. :)

I promise photos soon!

You move me

... true.

After a week of wind, rain, hail, tornados, snow, sunshine and more wind, I finally got to ride Hampton today. I worked mostly on rhythm and relaxation - letting him stretch and taking that time to make sure my position was accurate. (ahem - right toe!!). His canter was lovely today as well. I added some work with shoulder in and ranvers and then we called it a day.

It was also a bittersweet ride ... it was our last at this barn. No it's not perfect but I have some great memories there and will miss it. The BO was wonderfully understanding about our move which makes me feel a lot better. I don't like burning bridges and she is also my friend and I do plan on visiting the barn every once in a while. (Plus, they are a Tribute grain dealer so I will have to go get noms for the horse anyway).

After our ride, I packed up the trailer for our move. So tomorrow I just need to throw the beast on board. The new barn is about 20 minutes away so not too bad.

I also gave Hampton a haircut. Pulled his mane (and by pulled, I mean took my clippers and hacked it off), clipped his face and his fetlocks the best I could. So now he looks like someone might actually own and love him, instead of looking like a freakishly tall, feral mustang.

Hippie mane and fetlocks are gone now.

Tomorrow we move!!

It's not you, it's me

I sent the breakup letter.

You know, the "Hey, um, I'm moving my horse. Buh bye. It's not you, it's me," deal.

Hamps doesn't care where he lives, as long
as he gets his mid morning naps.

I feel sort of guilty since the current BO has been very nice to me and I do consider her a friend. She had told me that the barn was losing money and that they need more boarders. Which then made me feel more guilty.

*sigh* But in the end it is my horse, my money, my life.

So we are moving. Looks like Monday is the day. :)

The job doing chores in the morning is going well so far. It's just 4 days a week but I think that is enough for me. Yes, I'm exhausted and sore but in a good way. (Thankfully my newspaper job only requires that I sit at a desk.) It has been a while since I have cleaned 16 stalls each morning. I'm looking forward to getting nice and fit for the summer. As you can see, I am writing in simple sentences because I am damn tired. :)

So until we get moved, Hampton gets a little mini vacation. I simply don't have enough time to do chores, drive to the other farm (about 20 minutes), tack up and ride and drive home in time for work. I'll ride him this weekend though - hoping to run through First-3 and see what we have.

In the meantime, I've nailed down a couple of really super opportunities. First, we will be participating in the Christoph Hess clinic in May (hopefully!). And then in early June, we will be attending the adult dressage camp at Forrest Hill Farm. I have my eyes on some shows, too, but that will depend on whether I move or not. So that is on hold for the time being.

More on those later. But as I am slaving over stalls in the morning, I keep my eyes on those goals. Extra money = good thing. I also need new contacts and a visit to the dentist ... but, uh, my extra funds will go toward Hampton first. Duh.

The job situation has had some nibbles, too. I have a feeling this will be a busy month.

Goodbye, Sparkle.

I had a great lesson on Hampton today, but unfortunately I also received news that my old Morgan mare, Sparkle, died this morning. She had a severe case of colic. The vet said she would likely not survive the trip to Purdue (the closest large animal clinic for surgery ...)

She was euthanized.

You can read more about Sparkles HERE.

She was easily into her 20s and had enjoyed a wonderful retirement with a great family. Before that, she gave my family 2 gorgeous fillies. And before that, she gave me and my sister more victory passes than I can count. (Including a World Champion title in 1998).

Sparkle was there through college, graduation, numerous boyfriends, 2 jobs and other life changes. She was really part of the family. I am so sad, but know that the family did the right thing for her. She was never sick a day in her life before this.

She had the most unique, sassy nicker at feeding time. I remember how quiet the barn seemed when she had left to her retirement home. She hated cats and once picked up a calico and flung it out of her stall. She also hated shots. You had to pin her against the wall and hope for the best for vaccines. But for everything else she was perfect.

I will miss her.

Spice O Life Sparkle Plenty

Indiana All Morgan 

Mid-A Regional in Hershey, PA

Gold Cup Regional, Columbus, Ohio

You got peppermints sir?

Sparkle let my dad lead her around while I tortured her baby.

When Sparkle was in heat, she would sit on the doors.

T-Bone, Sparle and Corinne at Triple Creek

licking my glove

Corinne, her first baby

and then she had Piper. :)

Piper nommin' her leg

I have a baby now? When did this happen?!

Ft. Wayne Indiana

YES!! You DO have peppermints!

Fuzzy Sparkle.

To move or not to move?

So other than being slammed with a nasty flu bug this week (what happens when you take 2x the amount of recommended Mucinex? Guess I'll find out!) ... my life has been pretty busy and interesting.

The potential new barn (and job)

So I have been offered a part-time job at a barn across town. It's just basic farm chores for 5 hours in the morning. Pay is not great, but would certainly give me enough extra cash to pay for Hampton's board there and a little extra for my pocket, too.

Aisle

The indoor

Moving to this new barn has several advantages.
• Indoor arena (!!! YAY!!). It's a nice size, with good footing. Plus poles and standards to use.
• Outdoor arena (pretty big - more like what we are used to now. Also good footing.)
• Hampton would have a stall with regular feedings. The hay was GREAT. Nice and green and fluffy. This barn is very well organized on how the horses get fed and turned out.
• Nicely lit barn. Cross ties with rubber mats to groom on.
• Trails around the neighborhood (the barn is in a neighborhood subdivision).
• My current instructor can teach there.
• Horses get turned out 8+ hours a day. In at night.
• Friendly people (my first impression.)
• Place to park my trailer.
• It's actually closer for me to drive there from home. (Takes the same amount of time, though, since I have to drive through campus)
• Lots of other eventers ride there.

Disadvantages?
• Board is more expensive.
• Working 5 hours in the morning means less sleep for me (since I am still going to work my regular 3-11:30 newspaper job for now). It means I will have to be at the barn by 7 a.m. in order to do chores and also work Hampton. I will have to be prepared to be exhausted. But ... this could also be good for me.

It isn't that I hate our current barn. But you all know that I am not happy with the hay provided and also some of the drama that goes on. Frankly the only reason I was staying there is because two of my closest friends were also boarders. They are both gone now and I spend most mornings riding alone (like, not a soul on the property) which makes me nervous for my safety.

What do you guys think?

***

In other news - lesson tomorrow! Guess I better suck it up. I hate being sick.

Home.

Made it to Kansas and back safely with no major complications.

Lilly settled in and promply fell in love with a 2 year old gelding who lives next to her. I guess I will have to break the news to Hampton that he is yesterday's news to her.

Lesson this week and going to try and ride as much as I can.

But now, bed.