Morning Breakfast Routine

It's a chilly day in the neighborhood and we awoke to a fresh layer of frost and overcast skies.

Baby Ponderosa Pine

Misty and Marley were eagerly awaiting breakfast. They have a rigid routine they follow every morning. They stare at the house, using their combined mental powers to lure me out.

"Come feed us. Come feed us."

Then as soon as I step outside and begin walking toward the barn, Marley rushes directly into his stall and waits to be served, while Misty invariably does one leisurely lap around their paddock before strolling into her stall. It never fails; she always does that one lap.

Each horse gets fed in their own stall and I open the paddock gate so they can have access to the dry lot all day. Marley gets a couple pounds less hay than Misty and he eats much faster than she does. So as soon as Marley cleans up his hay, he goes right into Misty's stall and together they finish her hay. She is the Alpha horse and could easily chase him away, but she is a kind mare and is happy to share with her little pig-boy pony pal. We've managed well with this situation for a year and they both maintained a healthy weight, but Marley has packed on the pounds lately. I think I let him have too much time in the pasture without his grazing muzzle.

This morning, I closed Misty's stall doors so Marley can't get in there. I also had to lock the door latches so Marley can't work them open. He's clever that way and has actually taken a stall door off its hinges.

It's been suggested that I divide their paddock into separate runs, but I really don't want to do that. It's a small enough paddock already and Misty & Marley get along so well and like to groom each other and spend the night together in Misty's over sized stall. I hate to take that freedom away from them.

But I have to get Marley's weight down because we know that can lead to serious health problems in our equines.

The Gluttonous Pony is going to be a little cranky on his diet and I'll be running back and forth to the barn more to let Misty out of her stall.

What is your morning horse care routine?

Misty's Monday Muse

I would like a back scratcher like this. It's cute, friendly, and functional.

Misty's Monday Muse

My barnmate, Marley, received a new item of Equineware today.

A harness!

There are plans being hatched to acquire a cart for Marley too.

Marley has been a pretty good riding pony this summer. But we suspect his real forte is pulling a cart. He looks handsome in harness, don't you think?

Marley in June 2008

Summer Fall Winter

You-hoooo...Mother Nature!

You forgot something.

It's supposed to come between Summer and Winter.

Please correct this oversight by the weekend so I can go horseback riding.

Although, Marley has no complaints. He appears to be right at home today.

Misty's Monday Muse

Peek - A - Boo

I've been staying in my stall most of the day and I don't want to come out. It's cold outside and it has been snowing off and on all day.

Snowing!

It's inappropriate to snow on the last day of summer. I'm not ready for this. I'm still wearing my summer clothes. Marley has a head start on his winter coat. He started getting fuzzy a couple weeks a go. I'd better get busy and grow some hair.

Equine Rabies in Colorado....It's Baaack

First equine rabies case in Colorado in 25 years:

The Horse: Rabies Reported in Colorado Horse, Multiple Skunk Cases

I had Misty & Marley vaccinated in Spring 2008. Misty had a very bad reaction to the rabies vaccine; she developed a huge lump at the injection sight and was very sore and uncomfortable. So I decided to skip the vaccine this last Spring 2009.

I talked to a couple vets and horse owners; I read that rabies is very rare in Colorado and mostly found in bats. My vet recommended the shot but said half of their clients were skipping the vaccine because they don't want to over vaccinate their horses and half were having the vaccine because they didn't want to be the first equine case in the state.

Wake up call!

Misty & Marley will be getting their rabies vaccinations with their Fall shots. I'll have the vet send us home with something to ease discomfort if Misty reacts again.

Skunks are the wild animal most likely to infect a horse and skunk rabies is on the move and headed west. More information from Colorado State University is here.

Nice Weather, Good Neighbors, Let's Ride!

The weather was beautiful through the first week of September, so I've been absent from the Blogosphere in favor of spending more time in the saddle. I know you will all understand. Misty and I have been doing some arena riding and have gone on a couple more trail rides.

On Labor Day, a few of us neighbors got together for a ride in our community. We had a wonderful time and it was great fun to get to know some of the other equestrians in the neighborhood.

From left to right we had a Spotted Saddle Horse, Haflinger, Norwegian Fjord (Marley), Percheron (Misty), and a Paint (Andy who has been Misty's trail buddy this summer). Andy's owner let one of our horseless neighbors ride Andy while she rode Marley. (Thank-you Neighbors! Marley enjoyed being included this time.)

This was only my 3rd trail ride with Misty and we both did well, with one nerve-racking point on the ride.

We crossed a small dam that doesn't look intimidating at all in this picture taken from the ground. But atop a horse, the path is narrower and the sides of the dam are much steeper.

We started along the path at the top of the dam with no problems, but half way across there is this cage-like structure where water runs through the dam. It makes weird gurgling noises and Misty is sensitive to strange and unfamiliar sounds. As we approached this point she became very worried and nervous about this odd burbling object below to our left.

She went on high alert and began to shy to the right, the problem being, there is nowhere to go to the right but down the side of the dam to where the water dumps out on the other side:

Misty was freaking out a little and I was getting terrified that if she exploded, we'd both go tumbling down the right side of the dam.

My own fear is an issue I'm trying to conquer as an older equestrian returning to the sport of horseback riding. It annoys me to feel fear and insecurity that I did not experience as a younger rider, especially now that I have a young mare who particularly needs me to be confident and relaxed.

I talked to her and applied my right leg to say "no girlie, do not go that way!", and fortunately she responded and remained on the trail and we quickly passed by the rackety monster and all was well. Whew.

We had an enjoyable time and look forward to more rides with our equestrian neighbors. I'm sure we'll be confronting the monster in the dam again.

Alas, our perfect riding weather is coming to an end, so I'm hoping to catch up on blog reading this weekend...and maybe do some housework too.

P.S. On this day I would be remiss if I didn't share my appreciation for my country and the men and women who have made huge sacrifices, some the ultimate sacrifice, to allow me the freedom to enjoy a beautiful ride with friends like the one on Monday. Thank you to all good people around the world who strive for peace and freedom. Ride on in good health!

Good Morning

This morning is too beautiful to feed Misty & Marley in their stalls. I've scattered their breakfast hay outside so they'll get a little exercise while dining.

It's going to be a lovely day.
Sigh....I wish I didn't have to go into the office.

Alas, Misty & Marley like to eat; therefore I go into the office.