The Almost Weanlings

These photos were taken about a week before the weaning. You can see my slim fella with his gorgeaus mane. You can see his gorgeaus conformation and bright red silky coat! This was on August 28th. Now on October 5th, he's a furry, dusty, scruffy, chubby little weanling! But his face is still the sweet calm face of intelligence! What an adorable sweetheart!

Christmas 2008: Our Little Elves!

Here are my nieces, on the evening of Christmas Eve, as we were getting ready to go to the church service. I love my dear sweet wee ones. They are truly sweethearts!

Quit Biting Already!

Here was a photo taken on August 28th of my boy causing a world of peskiness on his girlfriend. She was patient with it all -- the pushing, the biting, the pulling on her halter, the bouncing off of her. But she drew the line at hock-biting. And this summer, he was a real pro at hock-biting! My little baby terror! In the background, you can see his busy mom, eating grass, probably proud of her naughty baby boy! In this photo, he looks slim and elegant, but now he is a big fat furry baby!! I am writing this entry on October 5th!

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Christmas 2008: Mom and Cookies!

We spent this year's Christmas holiday at Elena and Steve's new home in Pittsburgh! They have a beautiful colonial home in this lovely neighborhood in Mars. Steve has done very well by earning a job at Valspar. And Elena is making a beautiful home for the girls and the soon-to-arrive nephew. Here is a photo of mom taken Christmas Eve with a plate of cookies by the tree! Namaste!

Handsome and Annoying

Here's my handsome little fella, biting his girlfriend's halter, pushing her face, bossing her around, and she is just eating it up! She loves her rock 'n roll boyfriend!

My Birthday Present!

The best gift I ever gave myself. My darling Renny. Happy Birthday to me.

Laughing over Mom's Ear!

Happy comfortable times with my mom!

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Chattering Baby

In this photo, my handsome boy looks like he is giving the raspberry to someone. He is really chattering away about some issue or other. Look how shiny his coat is and how handsome wit his ears forward and his mouth just working! He knows that he is the fat man of the herd!

Merry Christmas from my Little Reindeer!

Bless this little creature all the days of his life.

Christmas Eve Thought

This summer was a miracle. My mind rested knowing that my horses were happy. And no one could see more happiness than in my beautiful Violet who enjoyed her time with Sedona and just had a high old thoroughbred time when she was turned out with Hailee and Annie too. This summer was a blessing. I am grateful for the time she had in the sun, eating grass, and being a horse!

Gelding Week! -- Merry Christmas from My Herd!

Last night, I had a lovely evening with friends. I had a pizza party with Barbie, Tom, Montgomery and Karrington. Montgomery and KT gave me this beautiful handmade bracelet from from beads at the Coyote Beads. And Barbie prepared this beautiful montage of my herd, in black and white. She put all the horses out against the snow and made a Christmas montage. Just beautiful. Then I had a Merry Christmas drink with Danielle, Todd, Jorge and Christine and we talked about all the changes in our life coming up in the New Year.

And then this morning, my herd gave me the best Merry Christmas present too! Hailee just ran and ran and ran and ran, and got the herd all revved up, so they put on a race day show for me to show their happiness, health, and strength. My wild ponies. And best of all, no more swelling along Renny's incision. He looks just like normal. Except exquisitely and completely filthy and dirty. He got himself extra steamy from running and then rolled and rolled and rolled and rubbed his head in the dirt. He could not be more like a Pigpen. My happy, healthy weanling. And beautiful Violet gave me a Christmas kiss. Namaste to you all! Namaste!

Here is a video from yesterday, a very happy morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77jVWnOahzo

Baby's Big Boy Halter!

So, at one point this summer, Rennygot himself into trouble and just shredded his halter! He was due to get a new one, but he managed somehow to put the big crunch on his figure 8 foaling halter. So, I went to the Justforponies webpage and ordered this adorable green breakaway halter with leather poll piece. I love it because it's the baby version of what Hailee and Violet wear!

My Sweet Goofy Boy!

I just love these photos. My boy was all lively and happy on this day! He was goofing off and suddenly he just plopped down in the pasture to have a good scratch. He wanted to roll, but the goofy boy, laid down at the bottom of the hill and couldn't quite figure out how to roll uphill! What a sweetie! Handsome sweetie!

Gelding Week! -- Day 7 -- Bitter Cold Sunday!

Today was 8 degrees Fahrenheit with a cold bitter wind blowing when I went out to the barn. We had a wonderful morning despite the cold. Renny had a good breakfast and went out with his mom, aunt and girlfriend. Violet and Hailee got lunged and good old Violet even worked with the long lines.

I am a bit concerned about my little boy because though he doesn't have a temperature and is eating and drinking fine, today I definitely saw that the end of his scrotum sac is swollen, purplish and tender. The incision looks okay, it's just that the bulb at the end of his scrotum seems to be having trouble. Tomorrow I'll take a look and decide whether he'll need a vet appointment on Tuesday before I leave.

What else? I left him out with his four girlfriends and he was busy rearing, pushing, and being bossy. His girls are like him and are very patient with their naughty boy! You can see a video of our wonderful cold morning together at youtube at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRNCRk-bMoc

Elena's Wonderful Home!

This photo was taken on June 1st. We had just spent a wonderful evening playing cards and gossiping and making fun of each other. I am super happy in this photo because I am the new grandma of a few weeks old foal!

Gelding Week! -- Day 6 -- Post Ice-Storm Joy!

I made it out to the barn yesterday and though the world was icy and encased in frozen water, my horses were happy to see me and feeling silly. Renny is not having too much trouble with swelling, but I could see that the tip of his sack was a bit swollen and tender and a bit discolored. So, his bruising and tenderness is descending to the end of his bag. But at least the incision looks pretty good and clear or bloody liquid is the only discharge.

My Glow Girl!

Here is a photo and video from August 28th. My Violet is so beautiful, I hardly believe that I get to share my life with her. She truly belongs at a Lexington or Paris horse farm. I am just glad that Sheikh Mohammed has not had the opportunity to lay eyes on her because he would want her as the jewel of his favorite broodmare herd at Darley. She's just that good-looking! And as I write this note, on September 11th, she's spent a week looking clean, glossy and lovely. Plus she's played the thoroughbred card in this cool wonderful early Fall weather!

Gelding Week! Day 5 -- Icy Rain Keeps G'ma Away!

This morning at 4am, I woke up to rain. By the time I got up at 6am, the rain was falling harder. Zelia and I took our dark walk and the roads, while wet and snowy, felt fine and not icy. But by 7am, the news reports suggested that the rain was turning into freezing ice and on our walk home, I did see parked cars and tree limbs iced in sheets.

So, I am at home this morning, the second morning after Ren's gelding. Barbie said that Tom reported that he was in great shape at bed time and this morning, Doug has him turned out in the arena with a friend. So, I am leaving my little gelded weanling in the hands of his earthbound angels for now. He's ok. He's good. He's got lots of watchful caring experienced eyes on him. The only thing he doesn't have is his irritating grandma who is always up in his grill, making him look super uncool with his girlfriends! Namaste, little champion.

Here are some photos of Violet taken on the 18th when Barbie and I put out the girls for the day. It was an exciting day with the 5 grown mares in the front pasture and the goofy weanling and yearling girls in the bottom front. Lots of snorting, trotting and cantering around in the snow! They were happy for their long winter day relaxing!!!

Gelding Week! Day 4 -- My Ouchy Brave Boy!

Yesterday morning was the first after Renny's gelding. I went to the stable at 8ish and Barbie and Tom were there getting ready for the day! Ren was laying in his straw, all curled up like a kitten, so he let me come in and snuggle with him a bit before he stood. He was swollen a bit, but not too bad. Tom and I put him out in the indoor arena with his girlfriends to take a spin in the day's first running. He didn't want to run at first, but did get caught up in the fun.

Then Barbie and I put out the mares in the front pasture. And Ren got put out with Sedona, after taking his Bute paste -- which he did not want. He looked ouchy. He'd lift his tail and walk gingerly. But it didn't stop him from wrestling and pummeling and trotting and cantering around with his girlfriend or from making friends with the boys in the next pasture over or in taking an interest in his surroundings.

Barbie and Tom kept him out all day long, so he got a good opportunity to exercise and work on keeping the drainage flowing and the swelling down. When he went to bed last night, he was in great shape!!

Sick Babies!

Here is another instance of me demonstrating good horsewoman skills. I was standing way high up at the gate and peered out at my boy. And here is how he looked. I knew he was sick. I took his temp and he had spiked a fever. But then again, it wouldn't take a Horsewhisperer to see that this little fella was under the weather! Poor critter!

Gelding Week! Day 3 -- My Brave Boy!

So, yesterday, I gave my final exam for Jumbo Sociology, Sociology 101. We had a big snow fall the evening before, so it was a wintery wonderland for the early morning final. Then I went out to the stable. Barbie and Lexie were there. I groomed Renny who was in a sort of bad mood because he was feeling lively and didn't want a grooming. He gave a little back leg threat a few times. I was nervous, so I rode Violet and then Dr. Zimmerman and his assistant arrived. His assistant is a young girl named Jackie who is in her first semester in the veterinarian's program at Ohio State University and she was a BGSU alum!!

Renny was curious about the vet, so he was very good about getting his tranquilizing shot. We brought Renny out of his stall and he just looked so little and sweet to me. We brought him into the indoor riding ring and he was down within a minute or so. We put a towel around his head and a towel under his rear. It made me sad to see my little guy laid out and he was giving big deep groans every once in awhile. Not suffering groans, but deep, I'm falling away into deep sleep groans. The procedure was quick to remove his two testicles. We stood around talking for awhile and then the young girl stood up from off his neck where she'd been resting her knees. Renny rolled over onto his belly and stayed still for a few minutes and then Dr. Z patted his rump and Renstood up. He very quickly began looking bright-eyed. We put fresh straw in his stall. And I walked him for awhile.

The surgery happened pretty close to the door of the indoor, facing Hailee'sstall. Hailee watched the whole procedure with close attention. So, Dr. Z and I joked about what she must think about the vet now -- didn't like him to begin with and now this!

Now it is early morning of the 18th and I am going out to see him. I was so stressed out by this procedure that I went to bed at about 5:30pm yesterday. Wiped out! The Valentines are very good to me and my herd. Doug checked on Renny at night and then put him in the indoor ring to spend the night with Sedona, getting exercise. I'm now on my way to the stable to see how he is, watch him eat his breakfast, check his incision, and chase him around. If the weather holds, he gets to spend the day outdoors in the snow with his girlfriends.

Let me just say that yesterday, though worried, I was very happy. I spent the day with good friends and kind people: Barbie, Lexie, Jackie, Dr. Zimmerman, Tom, Doug, and Pat. Namaste.

Adorable Hill-Roller!

Here is a photo of my little man taken on August 19th and he is so happy and relaxed that he's taken a little time out to lay down and try to roll up the hill! What a nut! What a sweet, beautiful, adorable nut!

Rough Kissing

I like this photo because it's such a nice companion photo to the first gentle kiss. Now these two are rough and tumbler buddies. They rub snot on each other. They bite each other. They push each other out of the way to get things they want. Let's just say, they are super familiar with each other!

Gelding Week! Day 2 -- My Dirty Boy!

Tomorrow morning my little man has to be gelded. I know he'll be a brave fella. Also, as you can see in these photos from Monday, Renny is the dirtiest weanling in Bowling Green, if not the world!

Labor Day Weekend, Such a Handsome Boy!

I am writing this post on September 11th and here's a photo taken on Labor Day. Renny is standing by the creek bed and I am across the way with his mom. Look at that fine physique. I am sad because now his belly is distended from worms. He looks like a big tight ball! But I am getting panacur tomorrow and beginning his treatment. So, I'll report later. I hope that he looks lovely for his big inspection! Or as Darla says, "His big day of fun!"

Tree Lighting Ceremony!

Each year, Bowling Green has a tree lighting ceremony, using the big old beautiful tree in front of our town library. We went down for the festivities. They had carolers, treats, and even jambalaya and red beans and rice! We watched the lighting, listened to music, visited with the beautiful horses taking folks for carriage rides, listened to a symphony orchestra in the library, registered for prizes (which C and J won!) and went to the Grand Opening of our new wine bar with Jazz at the Clazel Theater. It was a real lovely evening!

Gelding Week! -- Day 1 -- Fleet of Foot!

Here is a photo of my darling Renny, jetting around the indoor ring with his herd of wild girls. He has four girlfriends now, though probably must still miss his long-legged Ruthie. Today he was ripping around for an hour with his mom, aunt, and Sedona, and then went out with his four girls. He was filled with vinegar and beginning to demonstrate his little stallion nature. He just wanted to sniff the girls and turn up his nose and indulge in his senses. Happy little boy.

I mention this fact because this week he gets his second set of vaccinations and faces gelding. He will be gelded on Wednesday morning. Everyone is being nice about it, but this is how I feel. I will do it, but I don't have to like it. I definitely do not have to like it. This will be a tough week for me and my little guy!

Raccoon Friends!

One day I was driving to Showgate and I saw what I thought were two fluffy large cats in the road in the curve right before Sautter Farm where my Appaloosa lives. But it turned out that the cats were really raccoons, two buddies, one regular-coated and one albino. They climbed the tree by the road and I got a few pictures of these sweet creatures!

Gary and Naomi's Holiday Party!

Here is a photo taken at Naomi and Gary's holiday party last night. The party is huge with lots of invitees. It's always the best party I go to each year. Anyway, this is a photo of just some of the guests, a sampling of folk from our Department of Sociology. Monica, Peggy, the Stockwells, and Ted were also at the party, but had left by the time we took this photo. I was very happy at this party because I had just bought a beautiful girly sophisticated dress to wear to this event and to wear at an upcoming wedding! I felt beautiful!

Snowball Scores Big for Science!

So, this evening, I'm sitting at BW3, reading the New York Times and they have their annual Year of Inventions. I'm reading away and an article suggests that science is proving that not only humans use dance as a tribal way to communicate connection, bonding, love, care, community. And then another article demonstrates that not only humans are prone to jealousy. And these articles talk about dancing in Snowball the Cockatoo, and jealous dogs who won't perform tricks if they feel unfairly treated.



And I am sitting at that barstool thinking, "Duh!" I have known this fact for years. Many, many is the time that I was cuddling and sweet-talking my beloved Teacake and I would look up to see Jackie and Zelia sitting close by just staring at us in our love festival. And many, many is the time that I've seen dancing, flirting, laughing, playing, connecting, jealousy, warmth, caring behavior among my little herd. Violet is super duper at doing dances of love.



So, my point is, DUH!



Here is video footage from Youtube of the dancing, swinging Snowball!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJOZp2ZftCw
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j_fxs8mUcQ
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoznO4WRbwg

How to Win a Holiday Basket!

This photo was taken earlier in December when Jorge, Christine and I went to our town's holiday tree-lighting at the public library. We had some goofy fun. And, in fact, here's a photo of J and C filling out their coupons to win a holiday basket. They put in to win a little girl's basket and I was in the middle to teasing them when I took this photo. Here's the punchline! Just a few days ago, J and C found out that they did win that basket, and so now they have a Christmas present for their niece. Weird wonderful world!

My Big Fat Foundation Mare

I am writing this post on Sunday, September 7th, a handful of days after taking Hailee's first foal away from her. She's in a regular stall. She can hear her baby, but not nurse or comfort him. She's got an eye injury. But she's still a proud and wonderful mare.

Today I was so proud to take care of her and bathe and clip and trim and groom her. I am proud to be in the life of this lovely girl. She made such a wonderful baby. I hope that she can have this experience again. She is a very high rated foundation mare. And she's also the foundation mare to my breeding operation! Wonderful, blessed girl!


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Baby with Mom

Again, I am writing this on September 7th and this photo was taken on August 20th. He's so handsome and sweet. And he's so relaxed and quiet with his mom. He's intimate with his mom. He gets his mom. And his mom gets him. I am sad that he's weaned.

My Sabbatical Begins Soon!

Today was my last day of classes before I begin my sabbatical. I need only to get through Finals week and then I can turn my energies toward retooling, restoring, and refocusing my heart and my career. I am tired and I look forward to the rest, recuperation, research, and riotous new opportunities.

Yesterday, I received my Flip Mino HD and so I've posted a video with it from my office. I *love* it. It makes it easier to online publish. It saves very effectively so that I can post many more minutes of video per blog entry. It is rechargeable, so no more batteries, and with a click of a button it saves video for various online publishing utilities. It's the best!!! So, look for more office and stable video postings in high definition in the future!

My Western Pony!

Here's a photo of my darling, incomparable, fantastic Violet. She really is someone I am very lucky to know. All of her ancestors would be very, very proud of her! I am the luckiest woman I know.

Snacking and Peeking at Grandma from Under Mom's Belly

This photo was taken on August 20th. I am sitting here on September 7th, Sunday, writing this entry and this photo actually makes me a little sad. This sweet, calm, satisfied, trusting boy, happy with his mom, relaxed with his world and grandma, is now weaned. And when I enter his stall, he is glad and relieved to see me, but mystified about why I took his mom away!

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Violet Finds Her Calling!

So, I decided that I would try to train Rennyto be a cart pony, but it occurred to me that I didn't know anything about long-lining or carts or harness, etc. But one morning, I had an inspiration: Learn with Violet! She's always eager. She's kind and forgiving. She loves a challenge and wants to please! So, I ordered long-lines for her, and a surcingle for baby and new cavessons for both Violet and Renny!

Anyway, this past Sunday, Barbie and I took Violet out to try her new long lines. And it was hilarious! Violet's reaction was of total sophistication and readiness. She radiated that she was ready to long line and ready for her own royal carriage. Barbie and I laughed at her hipness. So, the next night, I tried long-lining with her again and she was even more fabulous...serpentining, circling, figure-8ing, responding with quietness and voice commands. She's the bomb! I think she's a little bit like Shirley MacLaine. She has past lives and in one of her's she was the Royal Carriage horse for Her Majesty and used on the State Carriage to take royalty to coronations. She acts just that beautiful and special!

And here's another nice little anecdote arising from all of this fun. Next semester is my sabbatical, so I made a reservation for the last week in April to visit the Gayla Driving Center in Georgetown, Kentucky -- a 1,000 acre facility where they teach you how to safely harness, train your horse, pick a cart or carriage for your own needs, and cross-country drive! I am psyched because I'll be staying at their bed and breakfast, visiting the horse farms to see the new foals, and going to Rolex at the Kentucky Horse Park! Namaste! I am proud to be a horse woman!

Oh, here's another small happy anecdote! Last night, I visited my horses and little Renny was taking a nap. He must have been feeling all snuggly because he let me come in and sit beside him and give him a little baby massage while he lay curled up like a kitten! I love my little darling boy! I love my big old Hailee and I sure do love that big red Violet!

Christine's Birthday!

Yesterday was such a lovely day. We took Christine to The Jewel, an Indian Restaurant in Toledo, to celebrate her birthday. Jorge had purchased this wonderful quadruple chocolate cake and we brought many bottles of wine. It was such a cheerful, cozy, relaxed, fun evening. And Christine is just a hoot. She tells the funniest stories. We had a good holiday laugh! Namaste!

Defying the Laws of Physics

Here's some photos of my little man, working very hard to roll uphill! Though he's the most athletic and smartest young man I know, he didn't have much luck! But adorable. He radiated it!