Aziim, Spa Day

Spent time with Aziim today and he was perfect! He was far enough away in the pasture that I waited and called him and called him and waited. Paris and Khol appeared first, more calling and waiting. When I turned to walk back to the gate, they hurried over and Aziim pushed the others away to come see what I wanted. We went into the barn for a long grooming session and easy-peasy hoof picking.

Funny face.

Handsome face.

He doesn't mind the iPod at all anymore and we worked on "head down". He probably knows well what it means but I'd not asked him before. He loves his neck scrubbed with the curry comb: so I'd scrub him, stop, ask for head down & tug his halter down and if he put his head down I told him good boy and scrubbed instantly. We did that until I thought he knew what I was asking him and he most often did it when I asked.
We also worked on rubbing his poll and ears. I got him to 'head down' and scrubbed that poll, which he enjoyed so much he didn't notice that I was sometimes rubbing the base of both ears and twice the whole ear got a swipe. We did this with me standing in front of him and to the side of his head, facing the same direction. He remembered that he doesn't like his ears touched a couple of times and pulled his head back up. I think he likes the scrubs more than he doesn't like the ears touched.

Orange cat hears the music.

Keeping an eye on that cat.

Orange cat chill-axing.

I brushed his tail, and don't tell Willow I told you, but it's a nice treat to comb a clean tail!
We were there for about an hour: he dozed, I scrubbed and sang along to the iPod, the orange barn cat dropped by for a visit, we watched Mister & Marie go by on their way to the beach and we had an overall grand time.
On our way back to the pasture we took our time, one of us grazed and one of us shooed big flies off the grazer. Good boy, Aziim!

Is Tammy here?

Handsome Aziim.

Aziim's Ball

Went down today to brush Ginger and feed her some lunch, she munched grass in the yard while we did this. She wandered over to the pond pasture and stopped grazing to look at the lonely purple ball that was sitting by the fence. When we were finished, I took the ball down to the Arabs (Aziim, Paris and Khol) and tossed it into the middle of them. Aziim ignored the ball and came over for a scrub instead. Until, that is, Khol went over to investigate - then Aziim left me, pinned his ears and told Khol to get the freak away from HIS ball.
That's how I know the ball belongs to Aziim!

Cafe

Went to the cafe yesterday.  (Avon Emporium in Summerville).  Love this spot




So many memories.  Love this spot out on the deck.  Honestly, if I could put "time in a bottle", this spot is one of the memories I'd stuff in there.

I can remember so many times when the white paper placemats placed on the table were used for drawing:
-maps of the "bog" whenever a local person came in and sat down with us (they have all the knowledge)
-ideas for a barn
-maps of Chevarie back road whenever a local person came in and sat down with us
-ideas for a barn
=maps of Goshen back road whenever a local person came in and sat down with us
-idea or a riding area
-maps of the quarry whenever a local person came in and sat down with us
=ideas  for a hay loft
=maps of Riverside whenever a local person came in and sat down with us
-idea for every corner of the barn, arena, outdoor area, hay loft....
-maps of any area of the backwoods for 50 miles around not already mentioned above...whenever a local person came in and dared to sit down with us!




















Goodbye cafe.  I hope we get back sooner this time to pay another visit and draw again on those wonderful, plain, white placemats!

Hot, hot, hot!

It's been so hot this week that the best time for riding (for us!) is evening and early morning. Got out this morning to ride and it was so nice. Willow was surprised (and not too thrilled) to be offered her bridle instead of her breakfast - this was only the second "before breakfast" ride. We followed Mister for one lap of the pasture, trotting a couple of times to catch up with him. Then Mister changed diagonal so he could speed up and Willow & I could do our own thing (walk/trot/halt transitions). They both were wonderful, fun ride!
Closed up the sunny side of the barn, topped up their water tank, and waited for them to stop waiting for their breakfast - then gave them their breakfast in the shade. They're out there now, hiding in the barn from the sun. happy, happy, happy

67 miles in +/- 30 degree heat!

What a whirlwind competition in PEI!  That wonderful horse of mine!  Spirit raced 67 miles in two days in grueling heat and HILLS like we have never ridden before!  On Saturday he took me 42 miles through tough terrain and scorching heat...Eight and one half hours of adrenaline packed riding!! (Holy Mowly) We placed 6th in the competition.  The next day, he introduced Shelley Scaeffer to  her very first limited distance ride and they completed the 25 mile ride....placed 3rd and received honourable mention from the vet!  What a wonderful horse.

Troy and Wind also competed on Saturday and had a great ride.  EVERYONE who competed on Saturday should be very proud of themselves and their trust steeds!  It was grueling.

Troy and I had the most amazing pit crew ever!  Special, special thanks the Schaeffer family --Todd (Pit Crew Boss!), Shelley and Kathleen, and to Tammy Beazley.  Will post pictures later...may have a bit of video.

Lessons Enjoyed

Some lessons I've learned or re-learned during our first week of horse ownership.
1. A barn isn't a barn until it smells like a barn. That took us about four days. I love the smell of our barn!
2. One seems to use a lot of the same muscles picking manure as when riding: legs, core, shoulders, smile.
3. Picking manure almost fun, even on a holiday, even in the rain, not so much in the baking heat.
4. Mister sometimes prefers to have his breakfast/supper delivered if he is very far from the barn.
5. The brim of my ball cap is not just style, it keeps the pouring rain off my smile while picking manure.
6. The second person can never find the empty feed dish, no matter how great you think your directions!
7. Seeing your husband empty a wheelbarrow that you've left to lock a gate inspires a new kind of love.
8. Checking to see if the fence is on is best done with a tester, not your husband.
9. You need extra electric fence thingys.
10. Your face hurts when you've been smiling non-stop for a week.

Cheers!

Distance, Schmistance!

Beautiful Ginger on Canada Day 2012

Ginger would like to say that although the distance horses around here get accolades for being great athletes, they don't know athleticism until they've ponied children around on a hot July 1st Canada Day! Not only must one be an athlete, one must also be very pretty and always be very friendly to all manner of children. That takes a special kind of equine. Ginger is that special equine.
Her day started out with a thorough grooming. She's being brushed regularly by Seth, Ronan, Eric, Magnus and Markus but she still had plenty of winter coat left. Lynn had said that when she really starts to shed you can just pull it out by the handfuls and Lynn was right. Today, so much of her winter coat was loose that Carrilee and Marie just kept pulling until there was enough hair to make another pony!

Marie helping to get Ginger ready.

Carrilee smiling at Ginger.

Marie took her out for some cool grass, Ginger is all ready!

Marie made her a tiny braid in her forelock and one to match in her tail. Carrilee had a tiny red halter in her tack room that fit Ginger nicely - red for Canada Day.
When she was all ready to go, we took her outside for a bite of grass and when she spied that trailer she went right over. She was excited to be going on her own adventure.

Ginger, happy to go on her own adventure.

Gary took her to Harmony Park in Summerville for the Canada Day celebration and Ginger was a most popular attraction. Sharon and Shelby and Jade helped out with the leading of Ginger and the riders, which was fun for them and Gary enjoyed some Summerville Fire Dept. barbecue and some great music.
You can see by these pictures that Ginger had great fun today!