While I have been working on teaching Chance to trust people, stay awake (not shut down) I have turned him into a spoiled horse. I have confused him with all my hugs and kisses, no boundries. I have let him get as close to me as he wants, wanting him to feel loved. I have to admit that I like it too. He can be very lovable, but I learned my lesson today when he bit me.
I was opening up the feed room door when he walked up behind me and bit me on the hip. I can't say I was very happy but I have no one to blame but myself. So as of today there is a bubble around me and he is not allowed in. I decided how big the bubble is and stood there waving my arms and mittens around like an air traffic controller. When he tried to come in he bumped into my waving arms and mittens. When he stood at a respectable distance I went to him and loved him like crazy. We worked on this for about an hour in the dark and it was very cold. Of course if I had made this a rule from the start I would not have had to freeze my butt off doing this. He just continues to be a great teacher!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Flexibility
Having horses and children has taught me a very valuable thing. To be flexible and willing to make changes at a moments notice. The last couple of months have been busy, people have
been out of sorts, and Christmas is really never what I imagine it will be. Last month I listed
some goals that I wanted to accomplish by the end of the year. I don't think I have finished
one of them. Every year we go out as a family and cut a tree down at a tree farm about 2 weeks
before Christmas. This year David and I bought a little display tree at Target 2 days before Christmas. Marissa and I decorated it on Christmas Eve night. Most of the family has
been sick, some family members have been fighting. On Christmas Eve morning I woke up to
find Chance completely in the tack/grain room. How he fit I'll never know and how he didn't
get stuck is a total miracle! The room is barely big enough for 2 people to stand in, never mind
a horse! And the biggest miracle was that Chance didn't touch any grain at all despite the fact that there were 2 open bags in reach. I guess he thought it was way more entertaining to torture Phoebe (the chicken). He was eating her bed of hay as she was huddled in the corner unharmed. I'm not sure if I left it open or if he figured out how to open it. It is now latched with an extra clip.
So now it is the evening of Boxing Day. An English holiday that David's mother enjoys celebrating. We eat another huge meal and have a fun Yankee Swap. Everyone is stuffed and
sitting around chatting. I have snuck off to check my e-mail and write this. Another Christmas is over, New Years is next week. Time is flying by as usual.
I have to say it has been a wonderful year and even though things seem out of sorts and really kind of weird this Christmas I'm grateful for it all. I have wonderful friends, a great new career, my kids are growing up and getting along (doing very well in most aspects of their lives), my husband and I have been able to laugh most of the craziness off and made time for a snowmobile ride the other day, and all of the animals are healthy and happy.
Life is good and I think the only New Years resolution I will make for 2008 will be to continue
to remain flexible. Everything else will fall into place.
been out of sorts, and Christmas is really never what I imagine it will be. Last month I listed
some goals that I wanted to accomplish by the end of the year. I don't think I have finished
one of them. Every year we go out as a family and cut a tree down at a tree farm about 2 weeks
before Christmas. This year David and I bought a little display tree at Target 2 days before Christmas. Marissa and I decorated it on Christmas Eve night. Most of the family has
been sick, some family members have been fighting. On Christmas Eve morning I woke up to
find Chance completely in the tack/grain room. How he fit I'll never know and how he didn't
get stuck is a total miracle! The room is barely big enough for 2 people to stand in, never mind
a horse! And the biggest miracle was that Chance didn't touch any grain at all despite the fact that there were 2 open bags in reach. I guess he thought it was way more entertaining to torture Phoebe (the chicken). He was eating her bed of hay as she was huddled in the corner unharmed. I'm not sure if I left it open or if he figured out how to open it. It is now latched with an extra clip.
So now it is the evening of Boxing Day. An English holiday that David's mother enjoys celebrating. We eat another huge meal and have a fun Yankee Swap. Everyone is stuffed and
sitting around chatting. I have snuck off to check my e-mail and write this. Another Christmas is over, New Years is next week. Time is flying by as usual.
I have to say it has been a wonderful year and even though things seem out of sorts and really kind of weird this Christmas I'm grateful for it all. I have wonderful friends, a great new career, my kids are growing up and getting along (doing very well in most aspects of their lives), my husband and I have been able to laugh most of the craziness off and made time for a snowmobile ride the other day, and all of the animals are healthy and happy.
Life is good and I think the only New Years resolution I will make for 2008 will be to continue
to remain flexible. Everything else will fall into place.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sharing horse time
Something I have been struggling with for a while, trying to make time for my pony. I wonder if he is okay with just hanging out with his brother and being a retired pony or would he like to do more? His health is getting better, he has put on weight, looks bright eyed and happy for the 1st time in months. I have so many things to accomplish with Chance that Shadow does get left out. Chance is young and has a lot of energy. And Chance is the horse that I ride. Having Chance around has been so good for me. As much as I do worry about Shadow's health, having Chance has given be something else to focus on. Also, CC will go through the fence if I take Shadow out of his sight. That is probably the only thing that has made having the ponies together difficult. And I guess without really thinking it I have started to pull away from Shadow. He is 29 and not in great health. I didn't think he would be around when the weather got cold. I am not in anyway trying to rush the rest of his life, but I think I have been trying to prepare myself for his death. It is going to be hard, I love that pony so much, and saying goodbye to him is sometimes not even comprehensible.
I guess in trying to make more horse time I will fit in small amounts of time in for Shadow. Not enough to effect his health but hopefully enough to help his mind. And mine also, I miss playing with him.
I guess in trying to make more horse time I will fit in small amounts of time in for Shadow. Not enough to effect his health but hopefully enough to help his mind. And mine also, I miss playing with him.
Goals for the rest of this year
These are in no particular order. I wrote them as I thought of them.
Goal #1 - Get organized! Organize the office - plumbing/heating work and find a way to fit biscuit paperwork in here.
Goal #2 - Decorate for Christmas. I didn't do anything but the tree last year which was fine but I would like to do more this year.
Goal #3 - Clean basement garage for the car, clean and make room for biscuit packaging on the finished side.
Goal #4 - Make appts to visit the school with Derek.
Goal #5 - Make time to play with horses. Even though we are always training our horses whenever we handle them, if I call it play it won't seem like a project. Make sense? I love my
horse time and I love the projects with them but I am feeling overwhelmed with work. Chance also LOOKS younger and I get the feeling he wants to play. Something I think he hasn't had
in a long time. I will put it in the schedule starting next week. This week is for reorganizing inside.
Goal #6 - Make some fun time for me and David. We need to get away again, we went away overnight last week but it was kind of a flop and I want a do-over. We had a yucky room and waited for ever for the meal at dinner (the server forgot to bring us lots of stuff, food, drinks etc....) We kept our sense of humor, but I would like to do it again.
Goal #7 - Make my x-mas shopping list. And keep it simple this year. More homemade stuff, that is actually more work, but way more enjoyable. Enjoy Christmas this year!
Goal #8 - Get started!
Goal #1 - Get organized! Organize the office - plumbing/heating work and find a way to fit biscuit paperwork in here.
Goal #2 - Decorate for Christmas. I didn't do anything but the tree last year which was fine but I would like to do more this year.
Goal #3 - Clean basement garage for the car, clean and make room for biscuit packaging on the finished side.
Goal #4 - Make appts to visit the school with Derek.
Goal #5 - Make time to play with horses. Even though we are always training our horses whenever we handle them, if I call it play it won't seem like a project. Make sense? I love my
horse time and I love the projects with them but I am feeling overwhelmed with work. Chance also LOOKS younger and I get the feeling he wants to play. Something I think he hasn't had
in a long time. I will put it in the schedule starting next week. This week is for reorganizing inside.
Goal #6 - Make some fun time for me and David. We need to get away again, we went away overnight last week but it was kind of a flop and I want a do-over. We had a yucky room and waited for ever for the meal at dinner (the server forgot to bring us lots of stuff, food, drinks etc....) We kept our sense of humor, but I would like to do it again.
Goal #7 - Make my x-mas shopping list. And keep it simple this year. More homemade stuff, that is actually more work, but way more enjoyable. Enjoy Christmas this year!
Goal #8 - Get started!
Not a lot of horse time lately
Boca's Biscuits have taken over any horse time I have. I'm grateful for what I'm doing and that
this new business is giving me the extra money I need to take care of my horses. But I am whining because I want to play! Now that I have said that out loud I guess I need to do something about it. My mission this week is going to be to regroup and organize the business.
It is nice to watch Chance walk around out there with a peaceful look on his face. He looks happy and that makes me feel good. He has come a long way in a year. I can't remember the last time he had that shut down look on his face. Let see, he has had all his vax, been chiropractically adjusted, his teeth have been done and no more shoes and no more ouchyness. His feet look great. Oh, they have a new round bale feeder with unlimited hay. It's like a giant
candy bowl!
this new business is giving me the extra money I need to take care of my horses. But I am whining because I want to play! Now that I have said that out loud I guess I need to do something about it. My mission this week is going to be to regroup and organize the business.
It is nice to watch Chance walk around out there with a peaceful look on his face. He looks happy and that makes me feel good. He has come a long way in a year. I can't remember the last time he had that shut down look on his face. Let see, he has had all his vax, been chiropractically adjusted, his teeth have been done and no more shoes and no more ouchyness. His feet look great. Oh, they have a new round bale feeder with unlimited hay. It's like a giant
candy bowl!
Dentist
The horsey dentist came on Saturday. All 3 horses where very good! I had no idea if Chance had ever had dental work done so she approached him like he had not. It didn't take long for
him to decide that he really liked this lady and because he can get mouthy when nervous, having things put in his mouth was a good thing. He was allowed to chew on the files and I think the filling must have felt good. He was more than happy to stand and let her do whatever she needed to. She was able to get a good look into his mouth, he is approx. 7 like I
thought and his wolf teeth are gone which means he did have some work done at sometime. It
has been a while though, he has horrible sores in his mouth. Hopefully they will be better soon.
Oh, the ponies were very good also. Poor CC thought he was getting a shot though. He ran around the paddock away from us looking horrified. The treats in her hand made him think twice about the running and as soon as he realized there would be no needles he was fine. Does anyone have any ideas about how to work on this problem? Giving him a shot is a horrible experience for everyone.
him to decide that he really liked this lady and because he can get mouthy when nervous, having things put in his mouth was a good thing. He was allowed to chew on the files and I think the filling must have felt good. He was more than happy to stand and let her do whatever she needed to. She was able to get a good look into his mouth, he is approx. 7 like I
thought and his wolf teeth are gone which means he did have some work done at sometime. It
has been a while though, he has horrible sores in his mouth. Hopefully they will be better soon.
Oh, the ponies were very good also. Poor CC thought he was getting a shot though. He ran around the paddock away from us looking horrified. The treats in her hand made him think twice about the running and as soon as he realized there would be no needles he was fine. Does anyone have any ideas about how to work on this problem? Giving him a shot is a horrible experience for everyone.
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