Still soggy. I think we had about 15 minutes of sunshine over the weekend. Not really but it felt damp all weekend. It's not been very cold, but then this is Northern California and we only get so cold in the valley. Heck my grass, roses and weeds are still growing - and THE FLIES HAVE NOT ALL DIED!!! Had to get that out, but a break from flying bugs would be a treat about now.
I was going to take some photos of how much grass we have, it's well past ankle deep (as can be seen when I come in from feeding soaked to the knees). I'm glad for the grass, it keeps the horses busy in this blucky weather. All of them seem to be doing fine. I keep looking at the potential pregnant ones, and either they're all carrying tiny foals, hiding it well or aren't pregnant. You know what, I'm fine with any three of those options!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Another Soggy Monday
I keep saying I know we need the rain, but we're so soggy. Everywhere. The horses don't seem to mind, although I'm sure they'd love a break in all this wet too.
I can't keep the dogs dry or all their bedding. Get it washed/dried and it's wet/dirty again. But, enough of my whining!
I've been busy yesterday and today cleaning up all the files on two PC's that I have for the horses. I think (crossing fingers) that when it's all said and done I don't delete anything I was wanting to keep! Manually going through each document and saving or deleting - amazing how much I can accumulate, but then I always think I just may need it one day! Plus the endless photos. Digital is great, but then it's actually making the decision to hit delete on alot of them! But one PC is cleaned up, now to go through all the camera disks and sort/delete/file those. I'm not going to tackle all the CD's, but still have two backup external HD's to cleanup too.
I can't keep the dogs dry or all their bedding. Get it washed/dried and it's wet/dirty again. But, enough of my whining!
I've been busy yesterday and today cleaning up all the files on two PC's that I have for the horses. I think (crossing fingers) that when it's all said and done I don't delete anything I was wanting to keep! Manually going through each document and saving or deleting - amazing how much I can accumulate, but then I always think I just may need it one day! Plus the endless photos. Digital is great, but then it's actually making the decision to hit delete on alot of them! But one PC is cleaned up, now to go through all the camera disks and sort/delete/file those. I'm not going to tackle all the CD's, but still have two backup external HD's to cleanup too.
Monday, December 13, 2010
A bit of a dreary Monday in December. Overcast, damp and well typical Winter in Northern California.
My big question of the day... WHY DO WE STILL HAVE FLIES? I'm convinced nuclear holicaust, alien invasion, another ice age - flies and cockroaches will never die. I've killed more flies today than I did all summer. ARGH!
The horses are all doing well. It's winter they eat and wander around basically. Half the day it looks like we don't have the big herd we have, as they disappear into one of the valley on the hills.
The rescue group is coming along nicely, no illness, eating well, bright eyed, so today we blended them in with the mares/foals. They're all on a larger pasture (two adjoining pastures opened together) with free choice grass hay and a fairly heavy alfalfa feeding. I took a few (bad as usual) photos of them about an hour ago.
Celena out on pasture. She spends most of her time grazing on the hill, she actually ran a few steps today, the first time I've seen her do that. She's slowly filling out, but it's likely to take through Spring to get back to not looking like a bone. The rest are doing well too, grazing and moving around. The healthier ones went for a lovely gallop earlier (of course no camera handy), and really seem to be enjoying themselves. It's probably very nice for them after being locked up in pens for a few years.
My big question of the day... WHY DO WE STILL HAVE FLIES? I'm convinced nuclear holicaust, alien invasion, another ice age - flies and cockroaches will never die. I've killed more flies today than I did all summer. ARGH!
The horses are all doing well. It's winter they eat and wander around basically. Half the day it looks like we don't have the big herd we have, as they disappear into one of the valley on the hills.
The rescue group is coming along nicely, no illness, eating well, bright eyed, so today we blended them in with the mares/foals. They're all on a larger pasture (two adjoining pastures opened together) with free choice grass hay and a fairly heavy alfalfa feeding. I took a few (bad as usual) photos of them about an hour ago.
Celena out on pasture. She spends most of her time grazing on the hill, she actually ran a few steps today, the first time I've seen her do that. She's slowly filling out, but it's likely to take through Spring to get back to not looking like a bone. The rest are doing well too, grazing and moving around. The healthier ones went for a lovely gallop earlier (of course no camera handy), and really seem to be enjoying themselves. It's probably very nice for them after being locked up in pens for a few years.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
It's December which in Northern California can mean - warm in the 80's or wet and gray. We have the wet and gray right now.
We need the rain, so I can't really complain but my mood tends to go into the gray bleah too, when it's like this. I want a roaring fire, hot chocolate and a good book. My guilty side says how many things I need to do, so I'm sitting at my PC going through more horse related stuff.
I did get stallion reports done and dove into the AMHR paperwork yesterday. It's not quite as bad as I thought - yeah! Other than photos and filling out a registration for Remy (so Binks will be double registered too), it's coming together. I think I've been building up my ant hill into Mt. Everest for no reason at all!
Monday, December 06, 2010
Paperwork
As per my lovely iPhone reminder I started sorting paperwork early this a.m.
DNA/PQ tests were first up. Pull those out and still missing hair for two... /sigh. Add to the 'to do' list to pull Remy and Surprise's hair.
Stallion reports. All done for 2010 - w00t! I thought I still needed to do Frenchie's 2009, so did that too, and then found the receipt in the Stallion Report file. Hmmm. Call AMHA and yes I did that two months ago and with the correct mares tha
t have since blessed us (Cookie and Remy). Cool.
Set up all the files for the rescue mares and 2010 foals. Now to print file toppers and labels. I threw out some more old papers and filed all the recent paperwork back from AMHA. I'm down to 2009/2010 foals - which is huge considering how far behind I was in June.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Soggy Sunday
It;s a wet and gray Sunday, catching up on the endless paperwork that life seems to provide. Since it's December that means one thing to me with the Minis - deadlines! Therefore, tomorrow is going to be joyously paper-filled, as I'm doing Stallion Reports, hopefully (please God let me done!) registration catch up, sending DNA/PQ tests out and membership renewals. The digital age apparently hasn't reduced the amount of dead trees I deal only a daily basis! Therefore today is prep and get my plan for all the stuff I need to do tomorrow!
I'm actually, (in my never-ending attempts to achieve organized) going to set up and USE this time, a remind on my Google Calendar for due dates on Memberships, foaling, permanent paperwork due dates, etc. I love Google as it sync's with my iPhone and really need the reminders to keep me on track. So, adding all the horse stuff makes sense. That and I've started to keep my main paperwork on the cloud (backup on the PC), but I can now access it from any PC which can be handy.
I'm actually, (in my never-ending attempts to achieve organized) going to set up and USE this time, a remind on my Google Calendar for due dates on Memberships, foaling, permanent paperwork due dates, etc. I love Google as it sync's with my iPhone and really need the reminders to keep me on track. So, adding all the horse stuff makes sense. That and I've started to keep my main paperwork on the cloud (backup on the PC), but I can now access it from any PC which can be handy.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Rescues continued
The Minis we rescued November 16th, are doing well. Slowly putting on weight and acting more like Minis and less like walking death. The person that had them pulled some more stuff, and has basically 'hidden' the other eight Minis. (If you live in or near the Exeter/Freso area and have any word on "free to good home" Minis in the past week or so, please contact me. Hopefully they're receiving care and out of her hands.
I will give her credit, at least the three we received yesterday had been brushed, obviously fed and some attempt at trimming them. It's just unfortunate she chose to not care for the others the past year. We all have financial constraints in life, but I'll be damned if I'd be getting a manicure (she did) while I had a horse walking on these hooves:
That to me is reprehensible. I can't imagine, putting a cosmetic need of my own over this. We all have to make choices at times when it comes to care and some aren't easy ones, but this? There is no reason what-so-ever to have a horse suffering in this condition.
I will give her credit, at least the three we received yesterday had been brushed, obviously fed and some attempt at trimming them. It's just unfortunate she chose to not care for the others the past year. We all have financial constraints in life, but I'll be damned if I'd be getting a manicure (she did) while I had a horse walking on these hooves:
Christmas Presents Mini Books
Pat Elder at Rosa Roca Training Stable has written a new book for us Miniature Horse lovers, making a perfect gift for Christmas! Pat has put out some excellent books over the years and this should be no exception. It's definitely going on my Christmas list!
Product Description
Pat Elder brings her unique teaching methods to the subject of training a halter horse in this excellent how-to book for Miniature Horse owners. Using her well-known natural and humane methods, Pat walks the reader through every step of the process. Over 90 photographs and illustration emphasize every point the author makes.
The table of contents provides a peek at what's included:
Selecting the halter horse: conformation, movement, foals as prospects, bloodlines
Basic training: dealing with disrespectful, pushy, frightened, or head-shy horses; catching the horse, leading the horse; kicking and biting, crowding
Condition: round pen work, jumping, backing, movement enhancers, neck sweats
Halter horse care: nutrition, water, housing, blanketing
Special training: setting the feet, using the neck, pricking the ears, learning patience, a flat toppling, the quick release knot; showing stallions, loading onto a trailer
Body Clipping: the head, razoring, the mane and tail, the ears
First show: show clothes, horse attire, entering the show, show supplies
Show time: preparing the stalls, measuring the horse, final preparations
The halter class: visualization, class procedures, setting up the horse, show ring etiquette
Check out Pat's other books and DvDs available at Amazon.com:
Product Description
Pat Elder brings her unique teaching methods to the subject of training a halter horse in this excellent how-to book for Miniature Horse owners. Using her well-known natural and humane methods, Pat walks the reader through every step of the process. Over 90 photographs and illustration emphasize every point the author makes.
The table of contents provides a peek at what's included:
Selecting the halter horse: conformation, movement, foals as prospects, bloodlines
Basic training: dealing with disrespectful, pushy, frightened, or head-shy horses; catching the horse, leading the horse; kicking and biting, crowding
Condition: round pen work, jumping, backing, movement enhancers, neck sweats
Halter horse care: nutrition, water, housing, blanketing
Special training: setting the feet, using the neck, pricking the ears, learning patience, a flat toppling, the quick release knot; showing stallions, loading onto a trailer
Body Clipping: the head, razoring, the mane and tail, the ears
First show: show clothes, horse attire, entering the show, show supplies
Show time: preparing the stalls, measuring the horse, final preparations
The halter class: visualization, class procedures, setting up the horse, show ring etiquette
Check out Pat's other books and DvDs available at Amazon.com:
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