Appy Nostalgia

I was poking around in the basement earlier, one, to check on the sump pump, (yes, it's raining again) and two, to see if I had some ice cream in the freezer, and went thru some plastic containers stored under the steps. Could not believe I found a few of the horse scrapbooks I used to make. Most of the pictures are of horses from the Appaloosa News in the early 70's. King Plaudit, Major Plaudit, Johnny Snowcap, and one of my favorites, Navajo Breeze. The real eye opener was part of an article about James Brolin. In the photo he is in a tux along with his mare Fancy Free and weanling colt Stud Spider. The dates on most of the pics are '70, '71 and '72. Wow I was only................well, never mind that! I have the Breyer model of Stud Spider, and as I looked over my many Breyer horses, I was not shocked to see that the majority of them are Appaloosas! No wonder I see spots. Too funny. It was really kind of nice to spend a rainy afternoon reminiscing about the Appy studs that turned my head while my friends were already chasing boys. Riding for long hours at a time while they went to a dance, dated and most of the time got into trouble. I got in trouble too, but it was always horse related. Cut school, up at the barn riding, mucking out stalls or just hanging out with the fourleggeds. One time I cut school and was out riding for a bit too long and forgot to pick my mom up from work. Busted big time!

Sometimes I wish to go back in time, not to change anything, but just to relive the wild abandon of my youth. Yes, those were the days........................

This should be it!

I think I finally have this set they way I like it.

It was nice today, a bit chilly but sunny. I went up to the farm and just missed watching Paha being line driven around the grounds. He did pretty well. If I know my boys, I think he probably had way too much fun! Meins was just as happy being covered in mud. Boys, boys, boys.

I did not do too much this week with sinus and bladder infections keeping me from from being clearheaded. Dizziness and being off balance does not work too well with an animal that big with it's own brain.

Hopefully the meds will do their magic and I can focus on them.

Horses aren't my only passion!

My posts will keep changing as I experiment with this new way of information. So please bear with me! I'm still learning about all the cool things I can do with a computer.

I had wanted to put this up before as this is a second passion of mine when the weather or my Fibromyalgia keeps me from working with the boys. I made this quilt to put over my fireplace and I think it's so pretty. the background fabric is a light silver Batic print of conchos and the outer border is a batic print of dark, warm brown with bandana print. The mare, foal and horseshoes are laser cut outs that only need to be ironed on. Since I like to wash my quilts to clean them I sewed them on. I actually like the effect much better. I should have taken my hubby's suggestion to put spots on the butts. Maybe next time!

As you can see, my horses carry over into my sewing and The Traveling Trainer keeps me busy putting the sillouette of her logo on jeans. The hooded jacket was stained and had a logo on it of a company I no longer work for but it's comfy. What do you do? Recycle! Applique (and a bit of imagination) gives so many things a second life. This makes it all that much more fun!

It's a start!

The load of sand came for the roundpen as did the rain. Sigh! Local folks who have lived in the area for years say they have not seen so much water here. I won't be able to get any more deliveries until the ground dries up some. And that is on the slope!

Check out the tire marks on the left. But you know what? Everything will eventually dry up, the fill dirt will come and my boys can come back home.

I think Paha is either fed up with the mud or is not liking being alone. As soon as he saw me he stood at the gate snorting, circling, blowing and shaking his head. The look on his face when I started to walk away was priceless. Think of the first time you left your youngster with a sitter or First day of Kindergarten, that face! The slowly watering eyes and the quiver in the chin, looking so lost and forlorn you just want to rush back to them and scoop them up and hug them as tight and long as you can. Now, I can't rush out to Paha and grab him around the neck and give him a hug (too muddy! lol) but I guess the head rub and muzzle tickle did the trick and he was ready to let me go. Believe me, I'll feel complete when my "kids" are home.

I am so looking forward to sitting around the firepit this Summer with hubby roasting hot dogs and just eating them right there. YUM!
Yesterday I could not start the lawn tractor to save my life and today.......VAROOOOM! So I cut the grass and it gave me a real shot in the arm. We have topsoil and fill dirt coming next week so we will be busy.
Today is the first time I saddled up Paha. It was nice to see MY equipment on him. My trainer watched me work with him in the round-pen and boy oh boy I kinda feel like I'm learning everything all over again. I have a hard time holding the rope and lunge whip which makes me clumsy and it takes my focus off my horse. I still need to get my whoa down. It's not coming across firmly enough and Paha (and Meins too) take those extra steps or in Pa's case just keeps walking. Still working on my confidence.
Tomorrow the farm is going on a trail ride nearby and I think I might go too. It will be very warm tomorrow so I'm looking forward to getting the kinks out and enjoying my horse and friends.

What was that?

I don't know what happened to me the other day. I was just putting my right leg over Meins' back and had a sudden flashback that just dropped me to the mounting block in tears. My horse did not do anything. He was standing there waiting for me to get on.
I got bucked off last year but I was back on in less than 10 minutes despite being hurt. Don't worry tho I always manage to get over it. I have considered hypnotherapy but I had tried that before for weight loss and gained even more. I need to find and talk to someone who had gone thru a bad episode with their horse and got over that fear and how they did it. I find that talking to someone that has never had a serious injury, of any kind, not just with horses, really do not understand what that pain and fear is like. Nor do I believe they understand the mental anguish we go thru trying to "just get over it". It is not that easy. It was 30 yrs before I started to really ride again. I rode Meins for two years, stayed off (medical reasons) for a year and now I'm breaking down. The desire is there, I'm always suited up to ride. I've been on him off and on over the past year so what gives?

Horses have been too much a big part of my life and I am stubborn enough to keep trying. Giving up is NOT an option!
Any ideas other than psychotherapy?

See to shining see

No, I did not misspell sea. I just thought it was appropiate for what I am seeing out the back door. 12 hrs of rain and it has not stopped yet. Oh, our poor sump pump!

Yesterday I watched this little Equestrian ride a BIG horse. Rivers, in her pink jacket, green shoes and Disney riding helmet, her ear to ear smile was all she really needed to convey the sheer joy of riding a horse. Trainer, Ann-Marie and Denise walked alongside this quiet horse to complete her ride. With instructions on how to "whoa" and "go" this little rider may one day become a superstar rider! You go girl!

Meins' eye looked so much better this morning. But being inside so much he has decided to start using his feed bin as an inprompto "bed pan". That's my boy!

Brought a soaking wet Paha in to dry off so he could be worked and he was just a big itchy boy. I really did not realize he was so itchy. I honestly thought he was being a big fidget. Ann-Marie suggested I start scraping the water off, especially his butt and he kind of just melted. Now I know better. Yes, I am still learning ................

we're getting there

Ann-Marie is doing her thing with Paha. Flapping, rubbing, pulling on the saddle and making like she is going to mount up. He looks so relaxed and ready to do anything.

He is so handsome in the way he moves and tacked up. I hope Meins does not get too jealous!

Big brother gets hurt

Big brother Meins got cut just under his right eye on Sunday and although we treated it as soon as we saw it, it got infected. YUCK! The vet came out Thursday, morning drained it, cleaned it up, gave us meds and instructions.

I love my trainer, Ann-Marie! She lets me be hands on in learning to deal with issues that come up. I am not the best horse handler in the world but she tolerates my ineptness with "Is that how I taught you to do that?" and then I get it. So I got to help with Meins this morning and his eye looks so much better already.

Since it is going to be a beautiful day and weekend I'm going to get some work done in the yard and hang out with the dogs. Tomorrow I'll watch Paha be worked under saddle and if Meins is up to it (actually if I am) we'll ride tomorrow.

This pic is where we nearly lost Meins. The water in the pasture has never been this bad. Hubby is cutting down the horse chewed trees back here and up front we are clearing out brush and trash so we can lengthen and widen that part and completely close this off until we get this under control. Anyone want to buy some super rich black dirt?????

Back History

Just a quick history to those of you that have no clue as to why I decided to do this. I fell in love with Appaloosas during my childhood on a trip to the Ohio state fair. Then in high school a friend and I got jobs working for a woman who bred and showed Appys. Her stallion, WH Mr. Wild Spot, could make anyone fall in love with the breed. A few years later I bought my 1st horse. A spunky little QH mare named Brandy. Our partnership did not go well and in less than two weeks she fell on me after rearing up and falling over backwards. Crushing my left leg, ER docs wanted to amputate just below the knee until a little, quiet surgeon, Dr. Kevin Lee, saw the situation and started barking out orders sending me into surgery on what started to be a lifelong odyssy. Jump ahead 30 yrs to me in my late 40's deciding it was time to finally ride again. I met The Traveling Trainer, Ann-Marie Lavallee, in Dryden, MI in March of '05 and she helped me get "back in the saddle". In Oct. '05 I won E Arrow Bonds Butty from the Appaloosa museum raffle that sent me back into a world I loved and missed so much. Then last Spring I saw E Arrow Paha and knew he had to be my horse. So on Oct. 3, 2008 we got the "CALL". We had won Paha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So going from no horses to two in a matter of 3yrs and doing this all backwards has given us some real challenges. We got the horse first, then put in pasture fence, grass, hay shed, run-in shed and electric fence. Last year I was able to get a round pen. Next on the wish list; tractor, horse trailer and small barn, in that order. Just waiting for the little fairies to come make it happen.

I'm just as big

I thought this was interesting. Paha is not quite 2 yrs and his brother, Meins, is 5yrs, butt, oops!, but look at the butts back to back. Er butt to butt (Paha has no spots).I believe we are going to have a taller horse.

Meins is the dominent horse though and Paha is just a happy go lucky guy. He'll follow any horse anywhere. He seems a bit lost right now being in a big pasture by himself. He'll be fine!
After taking a really close look this afternoon, Meins is clearly taller, but Paha's butt is up there.

The mud

Looking out the window to see ducks swimming in the pastures is not what I envisioned for my horses. They have gone up the road to stay at a friend's farm until the water dries up or I can get more dirt in. Seeing a horse in muck up to his belly and stuggling to get thru is the scariest thing I've ever witnessed. I closed them off from that part of the pasture until Ann could come get them.