Happy New Year

Dec 312008
 

I thought that I would share with my readers a small bit of what has inspired me to follow the path that I am on. Here are a couple of excerpts from this lecture link, Healing the Handicaps, by Yogi Bhajan, my teacher.

On communication with nature and I would expand that to animals …

near Tired Dog Ranch, Westfir, Oregon

near Tired Dog Ranch, Westfir, Oregon

“In every church, in every synagogue, in every temple, people tell you what to say. They are the registered voice. They give you a visa between you and God. But question is, if you want to learn how to talk to God, you must learn how to talk to His creation. If you do not know how to talk to a redwood tree (it would look like insanity to you, but that’s a fact) After all, life must talk to life.

Is redwood tree not alive? Doesn’t it grow at its own rate? Doesn’t it have its own identity, own shape? Do you know how to talk to the ocean? Do you know how to talk to winds? You think all this is a lunatic, that’s what you think. No! You are lunatic because you have never learned to talk to the entire atmosphere which God created around you. If you do not know my entire house, how can you walk into my bedroom? You’ve got to meet the man outside. You’ve got to meet and sit in the waiting room. You have no relationship. And anyone who has no total relationship with the entire earth, cannot claim to be happy.”

On religion and being in the world …

“You do your prayers for mental cleanliness, spiritual advancement — nothing else. People ask me, “What is a religion?” I say, “It is a very, very most powerful selfish trip. It has nothing to do with God, I can assure you that.” No, no, no, don’t misunderstand me, it is true! What? God is bothering you? God is everywhere, you are nowhere, what is the problem? I mean to say, we have no problem. To feel spiritual is to feel your own spirit. It doesn’t matter which religion you belong to or which person you belong to. After all, you have to complete your day. And there’s no B12 injection all the time you can keep in left arm and right arm, you can make your day as it’s your day. Your day not only has to be your day, but your day has to be everybody’s best day whom you meet that day. That is called “one day.” If your day is your day, you goofed. It doesn’t make any sense because that day you made barely your day. But if that day you met fifty people and the fifty people have not made their day then you have lost fifty opportunities, fifty chances… and that is the sacredness in life that you go, you feel, you touch and somebody’s day is made.

Then what happens? One day you make one person’s day, next day you make ten people’s day and 3rd day you make 100 people’s day. In the end of the month you’ve made 10,000 people’s day. Then you have 10,000 psycho magnetic energies focusing at you. “Oh, he is a good man.” It’s a mantra. It’s a constant vibration. Now bad cannot come near you. Power is in the remembrance. “Remember God, meditate on God.” Whatever they call it, that doesn’t mean anything.

Power is in remembrance. Your child is somewhere in the university, your power is in the remembrance as a mother, as a father, as a boyfriend or girlfriend. That is the power. It is psycho magnetic communication. That’s the only power man understands or has, even without knowing what he has got.”

My lovely daughter, off to learn film photography, just like I did many years ago.

My lovely daughter, off to learn film photography, just like I did many years ago.

This past year has been personally challenging at times, yet filled with insights as well. In 2009 I would prefer more insights and less challenge. But I’ll take whatever comes. I guess it’s hard to have one without the other. I know that it will be filled with many new and interesting choices to be made, wonder and beauty.

I wish all of you a Happy, Joyful and Prosperous New Year!

Clowning around

Dec 282008
 

Today, I hung out with Cirro and Lily for a while. I have a few odds and ends in the paddock for toys. There is the standard jolly ball, plastic apple that you can hang and a rubber boat bumper with ropes tied to the ends.

Then there is the Hula Hoop.

I got it for fun to see if it would be useful for desensitizing the horses. One thing it was useful for was getting them to move for good photos! It has the standard rattles in it, you see. Paisano would barely tolerate being touched by it. Lily was a little more accepting, but Cirro… Cirro let me put it over his head the first time I showed it to him. In a couple of minutes, I was leading him around with it. He’ll be trained to neck rein before he ever knows a bit. ;) These two photos are from that session over a month ago.

Hes not quite sure about it yet.

He's not quite sure about it yet.

My daughter was videotaping. She said, “Put it around his neck.” I didn’t really intend to go that far, (I had visions of him tearing around with it on his neck and not being able to get it off…) but he was fine with it, so I did. No photo of that though. Maybe I’ll get the video edited and put it on youtube sometime.

More interested, after it was moved away from him.

More interested, after it was moved away from him.

I use advance and retreat type of movements when introducing new stuff like this. I watch carefully to see that the horse isn’t pushed too far from their comfort zone, just a little. Then I back off. When they see that nothing has eaten them, they become more brave and curious about exploring the new thing.

Today I fiddled with him and the hula hoop for the second time. As usual, he was crusted in mud, but today it was dry. Ah, just ready for some grooming! I held up the hula hoop and let him nibble on it. Whenever he touched it, I rubbed him. Pretty soon he was holding it in his mouth. Every time it fell, I stopped scratching and rubbing him immediately.

In a few minutes, he figured out that picking it up got him praise, scratches and made me laugh. What a way to get some grooming done! He ended up holding it and shaking his head to make it rattle. After about 5 minutes or so, we took a break. Soon after, he went back to it on his own. It is somewhat flattened from being out there for the last year, so he had some difficulty at first. When he tried picking it up on his own, it would flip up. He got it over his head a couple of times, then figured out how to get it straight in his mouth. Oh, then he went to go wave it at Lily! That really made me laugh! I thought that he might spook her, but she stood her ground. No way that the pipsqueak was going to tell the boss mare where to stand!

After that, he carried it around a little. A few times, he put his head to the ground and stepped into the hoop, while still holding onto it. Did he let go? Did he freak out? No… He pulled on it and pulled on it. I could practically see the wheels turning as he tried to figure things out. Needless to say, I was also laughing the whole time. It was dusk and not worth running to get the camera. I will try to get it on video next time. He did eventually figure out how to get his feet free, while still holding on with his teeth.

What a clown!

Update…. I caught him yesterday at lunch time.

This is his, Arent I smart? look. :)

This is his, "Aren't I smart?" look. :)

Updated Photos

Dec 262008
 

I would say that these were of AR Cirro, but his name may change shortly… In any case, here are some photos from today of my two year old colt, Lily’s and Paisano’s first foal. With what is going on with Lily now and in the foreseeable future, I wouldn’t mind finding a good home for the little guy. Though it’s more likely that I will keep him forever.

Here he is in all his muddy glory! When spring rolls around, it will be fun to see what’s under all that fur and dirt. ;)

Strutting!

Strutting!

A few bucks were thrown in for good measure!

Thowing in a few bucks for good measure.

A little flash of his papas personality...

A little flash of his papa's presence...

... and his carriage.

... and his carriage.

And his sweet nature.

And his sweet nature.

And playfulness! He will let me put the hula hoop around his neck and lead him.

And playfulness! He will let me put the hula hoop around his neck and lead him.

Feed, Hay & Feet

Dec 252008
 

I had my hay analyzed in August. I had bought my entire supply for the year off the same field. It was cut on the property I board at. I figured that it would be good to know what they are eating. When I got the results, I didn’t know quite what to do with it. It started putting the values in a spreadsheet, with the idea of adding in the rest of what I feed and seeing how it all stacked up. I only got so far before other priorities came up and I never finished.

Last night, I took Lily down to the indoor to ride. Rain was pounding on the roof, like thunder. We were snug and dry inside the lighted arena, while the storm raged outside. I check Lily all over without her sheet. I hadn’t done a ‘hand grooming’ session for a couple of weeks. I like to do this regularly. I run my hands all over, massaging and finding any lumps, bumps or other issues. She did have some scabby spots around her rump and flanks. This seemed odd, as she’s been wearing her rain sheet. She couldn’t have gotten scratched or have rain rot, so they must be sores from something else. She used to get oozy spots on her crest years ago. Those went away when I started feeding flax. She’s been getting it ever since. That was 3 years ago. These spots looked like that. The other thing I noticed was that her saddle area on either side of her spine was hard and unyielding.

When I asked her to walk off after massaging her, she did not want to move. When she did, she was lame. At a trot, most definitely. Rats! I checked her legs and feet. The left front coronet was pretty warm; the right less so. I immediately though founder (laminitis). Without access to the net to do some quick research, I decided to cold hose her feet, give her some bute and put her in a stall for the night. I wrote a long note on the white board and gave her some hay. I also bedded her stall pretty well in shavings.

Then I headed back to my horse’s paddock area. I have all my hay and feed up there. It’s away from the main barn. I looked over my feeds and the week’s worth of supplements I had set up. I found some beet pulp without molasses and put it aside for Lily. Then I redid all her supplements to only flax and Equery vitamins, both at half what she’s been getting.

I suspect that the cold snap and substituting Equis Senior for their regular BP is the main culprit. Though I do think that this has been building for a while. when I look back at photos I’ve taken and remember her attitude, it’s apparent that she was not quite right. I thought that she was just tired of the cold and wet and not getting much time with me. I’m not thinking this way to second guess myself, but more to learn what might have added to this happening.

Since it is Christmas, I’m not going to call the vet today. I will follow up when the office is open. I’ll consider x-rays and blood work for a more definitive diagnosis. I’ve also joined the yahoogroup on Equine Cushings and am in a steep learning curve reading up on diet. Members there have already been a huge help. My biggest frustration is having an hour round trip drive to the barn. I can’t just pop out and see how she’s doing. It’s a push sometimes to get there every day. I’ll have to do that now that she is in a stall, just to clean. With her in her paddock/shelter, I could manage 4 days a week and it was just fine.

I also have two tons of timothy (also local) saved for the last couple of months of Lily’s pregnancy. I’ll have to send that for testing too.

Looking perkier today out with Cirro

Looking perkier today out with Cirro

Today, Lily was better. She was not lame trotting. I turned her out in her paddock and let Cirro in with her. Cirro wasn’t too sure about being allowed in with boss mare, Lily. Once he was there, he had a great time running and bucking, showing some bravado. I figure that he will help keep Lily moving. She is definitely lead mare and pushed him around some.

Pesky boy!

Pesky boy!

I had a nice talk with the barn owner today. Lily will be staying in a stall with turnout in her old paddock. I removed the divider in the shelter and the electric cross fencing, so it is back to one paddock instead of two. Cirro will have almost an acre 24/7 with Lily visiting during the day.

Any spare healing vibes for Lily are welcome. I am also happy for any advice on laminitis for me.

Tack-a-holic? Me?

Dec 212008
 

I picked up a couple of saddles from the consignment area of the feed store last week. I am not quite sure why I keep doing this. I guess I remain hopeful that there is a saddle out there somewhere that will fit Lily. I’ll preface this by saying that I’ve realized that it’s no use to do any more of this until she is done being pregnant. That said, here are the results of my recent experiments…

Most western saddles that I put on her may look fine, but as soon as I tighten the cinch they do this.

Circle Y

Circle Y

If they don’t pop up in the back like that right away, they usually will when I lunge her. The Circle Y was a no go from the moment I cinched her up.

Next was an Ausie flavored endurance saddle.

Endurance saddle

Endurance saddle

I’ve forgotten the brand on this one. It was a much better fit for Lily. She happily trotted, cantered and gaited about. Unfortunately, the seat a a little small for me and I wasn’t crazy about the way that the pommel and poleys were so steeply slanted backwards. So this was a no go as well. I am also looking for something with a horn. I doubt that I’ll be doing any roping, but it is nice to have something to hang the reins on and I will be ponying Cirro at some point.

Last, I tried a saddle that someone at the barn had for sale. It was an old stock saddle. We couldn’t find a maker’s mark. It was heavy too.

Roping saddle

Roping saddle

This one fit the best. It didn’t pop up in back. It sat in a decent spot on her back and the seat fit me. I prefer a higher cantle, but that’s a detail. The stirrups were too short for me at the lowest hole too. It was also covered in mold. I know that once leather gets to this state, it is a never ending battle to be rid of it. I did consider buying it for the tree. I tried it on her again tonight and it wasn’t good enough to go so far as that. Again, a no go.

This leaves me back to riding in my dressage saddle or bareback, until I can afford a custom tree. Or if the right fitting saddle happens to appear. I will likely go to bareback soon, as my dressage saddle slides forward now too. I’m blaming it on that expanding belly!

I also bought a nice set of romel reins when I got the saddles. I thought that they were a lovely color that tied my headstall and noseband together nicely.

Weaver braided leather/rawhide reins

Weaver braided leather/rawhide reins

They turned out to be about two feet too long in the loop and a couple feet too long in the romel. I had to loop the rome through itself, so that it didn’t drag on the ground. The reins did have a very nice feel though. I would like to get a pair that are the right length. I might start searching the web for pony reins. Or I could ask Alan Bell to make me a pair…

So that was the last couple of weeks. Then yesterday, I took my husband to my favorite feed store. We were out looking at property for sale around where I used to board. I miss going to this store, as the owners are really nice and helpful. They remembered me, even though I haven’t been there for over a year. As we were leaving, I saw a bucket of bits. This is not something that I can easily pass by. I am always fascinated by the various things that we humans choose to put in horse’s mouths. Anyway, there was a mullen mouth, short shank curb. I bought it, with the owner’s offered promise of taking it back if it didn’t work.

I tried it tonight. First with my bosalito underneath, so I could ride on the hackamore part of the time; then alone. Lily liked it well enough that she didn’t want to give it up, when I took off the hackamore. She wanted to chew on it for a while and happily took it back.

She would not smile for any photos today...

She would not 'smile' for any photos today...

It’s not terribly pretty, but that doesn’t matter as long as Lily likes it. I’ve tried a few other western bits on her and she was never comfortable with them. This one was a gamble, as it does have a pretty thick mouthpiece. I was actually surprised that she liked it as much as she did. I guess that she has more room in her mouth than I thought she did. One thing that I will do it bend the upper rings out slightly.

It does have pinchless side joints.

It has pinchless side joints.

After all that, we also had a ride. I practiced transitions, moving off the leg (she’s getting quite sensitive to that with her growing belly), and a bit of shoulder fore and leg yielding. It was interesting doing all this with the curb bit. A new twist on things for me! Lily gaited nicely when I asked her for it. She got trotty a few times and we would come back to a walk and try again. After some canter transitions up and down, we quit. It was cold and had been pouring down buckets during our ride. So some cool down time was in order.

Oh, I also trimmed Lily and tried fitting some Renegade boots that came a while ago. I had needed to shorten the cables and that took me about a month. ;) I still think that the straps are too long. The boot part seems to fit well. So I think I need to get back in touch with the manufacturer. I LOVE that they come in colors! And the company seems very responsive to questions and issues.

The Ruby Slippers - Yes, they have spakles!

The Ruby Slippers - Yes, they have spakles!

So, I have bared my soul and revealed all (well most) of my horse accessory buying for the last few months. What have you tried lately?

 Older Entries