Breaking News! What a Difference a Day Makes!

Okay, so my post from yesterday suggests that I'm freaking out (which I am). But what can you do? You have to roll. So, I went to sleep in my favorite summer pajamas. I got up, fed the cats, walked Zelia, watered the garden, stirred the compost, drank coffee and planned my day.

And then I went out to the stable by 8am to see the girls and baby. Hailee got her wormer and then baby led the way out to the pasture like a responsible, level-headed young man. Derek, the trainer-in-training, didn't have a speck of trouble from him! And then Violet's leg inspection showed that though things weren't 100% perfect, they certainly were much better than yesterday. Her front legs were not stocked at all and only her ankles were puffy in back a little bit. Her temperature was normal again and she was in good spirits. In fact, when I showed up, she was hanging her head out the window, watching all the fuss that Annie and her baby, Ruthie, were causing as they were led to the pasture! She got another smidgen of bute and then was sent on her way to play in her own pasture with her friend, Sedona. And I just have to say, Sedona is much nicer to Violet than is reciprocated. V gets a little saucy and enjoys her bossy moments with her yearling pal.

So, business handled. I came home, ordered Himalayan salt mineral blocks for the girls, and then decided that I would take stock of my first aid kit over the 4th of July holiday and order new supplies.

Anyway, I really enjoyed my morning with these creatures. It was a slice of heaven. The air was cool, sky blue, lots of sunshine, beautiful green grass. There was a young man there who weedwhacks the fenceline and he came to visit and talk tractors. Renny was good about foottapers, friendly game, and grooming. So, though I am stressed, this moment in time is wonderful. Namaste and protect these creatures!

A Beautiful Summer Day on the First of June!

This photo was taken on June 1st, the day that Hailee decided to take a good solid bite out of her beautiful baby! Who could bite such an angel! He's adorable. She took another swipe or two out of him since then, and he's dinged himself up good too with his little pointy dagger hooves! But that's because he's a healthy rough and tumbler!

My Equine Worries

Here is a photo of my little guy getting a kiss from his first love, Ruthie, taken just this morning, July 1st! He's such a wonderful little pistol. So, here are some random thoughts. I have been worried about Violet because over the past day or two, she has had a draining eye and then yesterday, I noticed that she was stocked up in her back legs. I went to the stable early this morning, and she she was still stocked up in back, and one of her front legs was stocked up too. So, I checked her temperature and it was normal and I gave her 2 grams of Bute. And I gave her dewormer today too. I treated her legs with medicine. And I mention all of this just to say that she was a wonderful girl. She lets me do whatever I want with her. She takes the thermometer, the syringes, the medications with sweetness. She's my beloved girl! So, she got put out with her friend, Sedona, and she enjoyed scooting about, bossing her young friend, eating grass, and then making friends (and bucking and threatening to kick) with the horse put out in the pasture next door! Tomorrow, if the stocking up isn't resolved, I am going to treat her with cold water again, poultice her, and call in the vet.

So, that has me worried because Violet is never stocked up. Then I worry because I feel like I'm not giving baby a good enough foalhood! I worry that he's not getting enough run around time, not enough love, not enough care, etc. He's such a good guy. For example, this weekend he stood still and calmly for his farrier on his 2 month birthday. He walked into the wash rack and let me spray his legs and stood quietly. He loves his grandma and runs up to me. He whinnys at me. He's adorable in all respects. Yesterday he ran to the fenceline to give me some love and I noticed a little flower hanging from his lips. He had brought over a bit of clover for his grandma.

Here's an example of his pure simple goodness -- one filled with a little worry. When I went out to the stable this morning, I went to his stall to get him and Hailee ready to put out. Hailee was standing over him and Renny was laying down, right by the door, under the waterer. He looked calm and sweet and patient, but it was perfectly patently clear that he was cast. His little back legs were curled up tight against the wall and his front legs were stretched out like a dog's toward his head. He laid on his side and looked up at me. And my heart filled with love. His expression said it all: "Grandma! Thank goodness you're here! I can't get up! Help me!" He stretched his front legs and looked up patiently at me. He didn't panic. He didn't struggle. He just waited patiently. And Hailee stood over him, waiting for me too. I got his lead line, placed them around his back legs, and pulled him over. Then, he gathered his wits and stood up quietly with his mom still standing in the same place looking on. It was such a quiet moment and when it was over, I realized that my little guy trusts me to take care of him. He didn't kick his legs, he didn't spin or fight, he didn't get weird when I wrapped the rope around his back legs. He just laid patiently until I helped him and then got all happy and wild boyish when I got him ready to go out into the green pastures.

So, you can see, I feel very much like I haven't earned the joy that these creatures bring me. They deserve such good care, such good care. And I'm not at all sure that I'm able to be responsible for such precious creatures. Namaste and lots and lots of prayers for your well-being, my Violet, my Hailee, and my darling sweet irresistibly funny Renny!

But here's a good thing in this troubled day -- I sent in Renny's forms for his registration as an American Sport Pony! I think he's a slice of perfection, but I want him to have some formal papers to go along with his solid rear, his great face, and his total smarts! And here's another nice thing: This morning, Darla and I were chatting about our foals and she said that she loved Renny's trot and thought his head was very cute, really good-looking. And she and I both agreed that he's got a terrific can! Plus she complimented Hailee's lope, she said that she'd always thought Hailee had a nice lope.

So, I have worries and I'm not sleeping well. And I am overwhelmed. There's a Cajun curse for what I'm experiencing: "The good times are killing me!" Namaste to us all!

Happy Canter Day

On this day, I turned a corner! In late May, I started to canter again, something I haven't done since 2006! Violet was great! And now, a few weeks from this great event, Violet and I canter all the time. We are working at becoming a team, a smooth team! She is such a wonderful horse!

My Garden

Here is the day right before Memorial Weekend when I was working slowly on my garden. That was a week or so ago, and now I not only have my garden planted, but all the newspaper and straw is down, and the garden vegetables are taking! I've been to Farmers Market twice now and bought my weight in strawberries and potatoes. And I buy eggs too! My Weston farmers remember me and we got to talk about our this year's foal crops!!! I am a farmer too!

Hailee is a Loving Teacher!

Here is baby on his first day out and he is already learning from his mother. He wants to be a big boy. So, if mom eats grass, well, he will learn how to eat grass too! Though his diarrhea the next morning told him that grass is an acquired taste!

My Macho Boy!

Here is a photo of my foal's first time outside on his third week birthday. He's such a macho little boy, but on that day, he was a little bit intimidated by all the other horses, by how big the world was. He wanted to stick close to his mother's side. He made a few short trips out and about, but always scampered quickly back when he was unsure of himself!

I am writing this on Sunday, June 1st, and he's had quite a lot of activity over this past week. He got over his foal heat diarrhea. He's been working hard at friendly game, foot tappers, walking over different textured surfaces, grooming, leading. He's played and run and bucked and kicked! He got his own crib feeder and is now eating grain like a professional like his mother! New teeth came in! And his testicles descended! He is beautiful. I wish that I could provide him with more turnout time, so I am going to work hard to make that happen!

Renny's Grandpa!

Renny's grandpa on his sire's side is very famous. He's earned the #1 hunter pony stallion breeding ranking for years and years now. Here is some film footage of him taken in 2007 and uploaded this past February, 2008 to Youtube. Hit the links below and watch that sexy pony run around!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNC3ucctrKM

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4jtym2KJgo

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szk53j5iAuc

My Family

Here we are on Memorial Weekend. Uncle Carlo and Aunt Mary Jane, Elena and mom, the girls, and Zelia! The weather could not have been more perfect and wonderful. Elena and Steve moved to Pittsburgh, so I am hoping they sell their home soon and find another for their lovely family.

My Tired Angel!

Here is a photo of my tired little baby foal. He is resting like a little angel. He's a proof of God's existence, a real treasure, a delight! Of course, this little angel is probably tired and resting in this photo because he just got put in his stall after running around like a crazy boy, and double-barrel kicking and bucking! He's all stud boy!

My Second Garden!

Here is Zelia, sitting in front of my composted soil, waiting for me to get the garden in. This year, I am putting in the second garden of my life. And I am thrilled to say that I am still excited by the prospect! I put in the usual -- basil, peppers, cauliflauer, broccoli, cabbage, and then I put in new things, like eggplant, zucchini, melons, cucumbers! I consider my little square footage of garden to be "Laurel Wreath Farm." I hope one day to have a little farm with my horses, and to be gardening away on my cabbage and be able to casually look up and glance at lovely old Hailee and Violet! Wouldn't that be bliss.

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Renny Outside!

d What can I say? Here is Renny on his third birthday going outside for the first time in his little life. I adore this creature, I want all the best for him -- mother's milk, fresh water, good food, and grass, grass, grass time to play, play, play and grow strong mentally, physically and spiritually! He's an unbelievably dear boy!

My Brave Boy, My Beautiful Herd

Today I went out to Showgate Stables to see my little herd. My lovely Violet was glad to see me, and Hailee and Renny were out in the ring because it had been a rainy set of days. Violet and I passed a quiet time grooming, getting a bath on her back legs with her medicine, and practicing Parelli. She's so great and smart. She backed up sweetly several times into the wash rack with just me pointing my finger. She backed at barely a touch to her muzzle. She backed with the lightest of touches to her tail. She's smart. She gets it! And what was amazingly funny is that after I shook the line to get her into the wash rack, she looked up at me, gave me the stepmother look gently and shook the line back. She was being playful and trying to reverse Parelli on me. She's the bomb!

Then I had a wonderful time with Hailee and baby. Groomed Hailee. Did grooming, leading, and foottappers with baby. And then when I led them back to their stall, my little man was so bold that he just walked up and down the aisle, greeting horses through the bars. It was so funny to see his little body, standing so tall and straight, and greeting the horses of Showgate. He wanted to be a big boy, but he wanted to make a good impression. So, he stood at the doors, with his nose pressed against the horses' noses, and clattering and chattering his teeth in submission. What an amazing little fella. Hailee and I left the stall to retrieve him, and she bumped her nose against his brave little butt, and he followed her into the stall.

Am I a lucky woman or what?!

Memorial Weekend with My Nieces!

I spent Memorial Weekend in Wixom with my mom, Elena, Steve, Uncle Carlo and Aunt Mary Jane, and, of course, my beautiful nieces, Emma and Clara!

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