"If I Die Before I Wake, Feed Jake, He's Been A Good Dog"

So I don't have a dog named Jake, but when I think about this, I always think of that song. I did this once before on my old blog that has been deleted. Many horses and other pets slip through the cracks when their owner passes suddenly and can end up in terrible situations, so I figured I could publicly post what should happen with my many critters should I ever die.

If something should ever happen to me:

• Spicie is to be returned to Brenda Ramsell
• Sharade is to be returned to Cydie Bowie
• Prime is to be returned to my father, Thomas Beckwith for retirement. If he is unable to keep him, he can be turned over to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation in NJ for placement.
• Goody is to remain with Amy and Jim Dorsky & family or can be returned to Shantel Grenier & family. If neither families are able to keep him, then he is to be turned over to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation in NJ for placement.
• Tiger is to remain in my mother, Carol Beckwith's ownership, but can remain with Rusty and his daughter. Tiger may also be leased out to another good home.
• Alaric can remain in my mother's ownership and can be leased out or can be turned over to Molly McKellar to find permanent placement.
• Maybelle can remain with Rusty and his daughter or she can be turned over to my mother to stay or for permanent placement.
• Bocephus is to be turned over to my mother to stay or for permanent placement.
• Domino can remain with Rusty and his daughter or can be turned over to my mother to stay or for permanent placement.
• Lilly is to be turned over to my mother to stay or for permanent placement.
• Briggs is to be turned over to my mother to stay or for permanent placement.
• Calamity Jane is to be turned over to my mother for the remainder of her days.

Snow Day!

These are all out of order, but I spent the morning shoveling and playing in the snow with Rusty, "Little Feet", and some of our smaller critters and then went to the barn and did my barn chores and got some pictures of the horses in the snow.

Below: Rusty and "Little Feet" with Kiera (golden retreiver) and Maybelle (English Coonhound)

The four horses from left to right; Sharade, Spicie, Tiger, and Alaric

Tiger

Rusty, "Little Feet", and Roscoe (Beagle)

Domino

Bo

Spicie

Alaric


Calamity Jane coming out of her house after we opened the door, into the snowy world

Rusty and "Little Feet"

Don't Know How Long I Can Do This.

I need to make ends meet, so I'm looking for a part time job on top of the full-time job I already have. The horses are killing my budget or I should say their board is killing it. When it comes to feeding them I'm all set, but I need to find some extra cash to keep doing this boarding thing. I'm living right down to my last dollar to keep them. It's stressful and tiring.

I cut back from 6 to 4 horses with one on a lease and another staying with my dad, but can't seem to lease out any of the mares to save my life. I've had them listed as month to month leases on farm for the cost of their stall (meaning I still pay their feed bill, but leaser pays for the stall). Despite all three being 100% sound and two having very impressive show records, their older ages seem to scare away potential leasers. I can't imagine how hard it would be to sell a horse of this age considering the interest I get about leasing until age comes up. Had them listed as off-farm free leases for a short time, then realized that wouldn't really help because I'd still have to pay the same board rate, whether I use 4 stalls or 2.

In hopes of loosening up the purse strings a little bit until I find a part-time position, I am now an Avon Representative. Ya, I forgot to mention that few weeks ago... Anyway, anyone can order from me online at http://youravon.com/melissabeckwith. I also have catalogs, so if you are in the area feel free to let me know if you want one.

We're Having A Girl

Had my 20 week ultrasound today and everything looks great! I had an entire party in the ultrasound room. Rusty was able to come :) and my mom and two sisters, Christina and Kayleigh came to see some of the ultrasound too.

Everyone I know was making guesses at what the baby is going to be and almost everyone has guessed boy. Well we found out today that we're having a girl! So Excited! Will post ultrasound pics soon!

Some Fun Santa Websites

When I still taught riding lessons, I often had riding students and their parents share different kids websites with me that I used to pass on in the riding program's newsletter.

All of my horses, dogs, and cats have Christmas stockings... I'm kind of a holiday nut, so one of my favorite websites that was shared with me is www.emailsanta.com. On this website children can email Santa their Christmas list, write letters to Santa, his elves, the reindeer, or Mrs. Claus and you can even send emails to Rudolph from your pets! There are also games and jokes on the website. Every year around the holidays, I add Santa's blog from the Email Santa site to my blog list at the right. It's just a fun website for the kids.

Another Santa website that was recently shown to me by my manager at work, is a Santa Tracking site at http://www.noradsanta.org/. This website tracks Santa during his big night all over the world and you can even view clips of him sliding down chimneys in all the different countries.

Enjoy!

The Second Waffle Explained

NOTE: Not my waffle above, but similar

I never really got around to explaining the title of this blog and since I have a waffle story from this morning, I figured it's be a good day to do it.

So I mentioned to Rusty that I wanted waffles more often, so he actually went and bought me a waffle maker! So sweet, isn't it?! Getting a waffle maker is almost as exciting as when I got my big yellow wheel barrow. The waffle maker arrived a few days ago, but I hadn't had a chance to use it yet. This morning I got up, made waffle batter, and got to use my waffle maker. I read the waffle maker directions, set the waffle maker at the recommended setting, and I carefully poured the waffle batter in and closed the lid. This waffle maker is awesome, it tells you when your waffle should be done! So the little beeper goes off, telling me the waffle is done and I open the lid to find that my first waffle is a complete and total disaster. I almost cried. It split in two and I had to unplug the waffle maker to scrape off the pieces of the first waffle and then had to throw it away before Rusty could see it and make fun of me. I then had to set the waffle maker back up, adjust the setting higher, and try again. My second waffle was almost perfect; the next waffle almost always tends to be better than the last.

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So I borrowed the waffle theory from a book that my mother once bought for me, titled "Horse Play" written by Judy Reene Singer (Who actually came to my blog and commented on a post a few months ago!), that became one of my favorite books. It's about a horse nut, leaving her horrible husband to become a working student at a dressage barn and how she starts a whole new life. It's insane, funny, crazy, I love it! There is a quote from this book at the top right of my blog that explains the waffle theory and how it relates to horse showing and life in general. When I was getting divorced, while my life felt crazy and out of control and completely messed up, I soon realized that I now had the opportunity to start my life over; new life, new goals, new relationships, My Second Waffle. So there is the explanation of my blog title.

In barn related news... My ankle is still pretty sore, so Dad came with me to the barn today to do most of my chores (isn't my Dad nice!). Because I couldn't walk Tiger and Alaric out to their usual pasture, I turned them out in what is usually the donkey pasture beside Spicie and Sharade. They headed out and all four horses started running down the fence side by side, kicking and playing. It was great to watch them play. Wish I had my camera, especially when they all got to the small brook that runs through both pastures and all went running across it. The water went everywhere and surrounded them in a beautiful rainbow of water droplets. It would have been a picture moment had I had my camera.

How do they expect me to clean stalls on crutches?!

So today, while letting the dogs out, I slipped and fell and sprained my ankle. When it happened, I didn't think I broke it, but WOW, did it hurt and after it swelled up, I was worried that maybe I did. Two minutes after I fell, it swelled up to twice it's normal size and I couldn't put any weight on it, so I made my dad come get me and take me to the hospital, fearing that maybe I broke it. Dad hung around in the waiting room and got me breakfast from Dunkin Donuts! Linda fed and watered my horses for me in the morning so that I could go to the hospital. Turned out to just be a bad sprain and I'm supposed to stay on crutches for 7-10 days. How do they expect me to clean stalls on crutches?!

I tried to lay around all day with ice on my ankle, but I got fidgetty around 2:30-3pm and decided to go to the barn. I got there in time to feed up and was chased out before I attempted any stall cleaning on crutches. Linda even sent her son down to water my horses before I could attept lugging water buckets while on crutches. I did manage to lug hay and feed grain. I was going to attempt cleaning stalls because I hate leaving them dirty. I was soon told that I should not be on my feet and got sent home before any stall cleaning attempts could be made... They love me there, but they think I'm nuts.

Will Future Horse Nuts Be As Crazy As Me?

Last weekend was pretty rainy so I didn't have much to write about. "Little Feet" came to help this weekend and on Saturday before we left for the barn, Rusty cut down one of my old manure forks to fit her. No more dodging the handle while she helps clean stalls!

On Saturday, we picked up an extra large round bale from a farm just down the road from home on our way to the barn and had to have the guy that lives in the apartment at the barn help me roll it in. It was HUGE and about the equivalent of 20 square bales, so will save me approximately $40 on hay over the next 20 days. The square bales I've been buying are really nice second cut and $4 a bale, so I got a round bale to mix in and save some money. More work peeling the layers off to feed out, but totally worth it.

"Little Feet" was more than happy to try out her new little manure fork and was even more excited when I wrote her name on it with permanent marker. This kid is going to always be a horse nut. When they get that excited about a manure fork with their name on it, it's destiny! I can't imagine how excited she'll get when she gets her own wheel barrow someday... Wait, I can imagine; it'll probably be like the day I bought my big yellow two-wheeled wheel barrow. The one I wrote an entire blog post about on my old blog and even took photos of, because I was Soooooooo EXCITED. Man, I LOVE my big yellow wheel barrow! ... Oh, maybe I should hope that "Little Feet" doesn't become as crazy as me. Writing a blog post about and taking photos of a wheel barrow, no matter how excited you are is kind of nuts, isn't it?! Maybe only other horse nuts will understand this. It's our tools, how we get the job done so we can keep our overly expensive, completely insane, but totally worth it hobby, better known as horses.

We didn't get to ride this weekend, but we had fun getting all our chores done and because Linda was sick, we did get to help out more with the donkeys, which is always fun.

Editing Old Posts On My Blog

I just wanted to let everyone know that I decided to do some editing on older posts in this blog and deleted some of the negativity from before. It felt good to vent then, but most of it just doesn't apply to my life now and I would like to erase it. If you're noticing missing blog posts, that is why!

Little Helper

Both Saturday and Sunday, "Little Feet" came with me to the barn to help out. She wanted to help me with EVERYTHING and was soon even helping me clean stalls, which while cute was rather dangerous for me. There were no small manure forks, so while manure and shaving were being tossed around and picked up, I was ducking under, jumping over, and scrambling to get out of the way of the manure fork handle that was WAY too long for her to handle safely with another person in the stall. She was so proud of herself and so concentrated on helping get those stalls cleaned and then bedded, that I don't think she even noticed that I was ducking every few seconds to avoid getting a concussion or loss of an eye. Honestly, all I could do was laugh about all the near hits and tell her she was doing a good job. We need to find a smaller fork!

She also went with me to pick up a round bale and even "helped" me roll it into the pasture on Saturday. While I took all the rope off from around the bale and peeled some of the layers off, she kept Spicie and Sharade entertained with bits of hay and kisses on the nose. She then spent part of the day playing with the kittens and another young girl that comes to the barn on weekends to help out with the donkeys. I didn't think I was ever going to get her to leave the farm and go home!

On Sunday, she helped me with all regular chores and then helped me herd the Donkeys out to their pasture for Linda. We brought the camera with us on Sunday, so both of us took some pictures (One is shared above). She wanted to go riding, so I saddled Tiger up and led her around the yard for almost an hour! She didn't want to stop riding. She was so cute and so proud sitting up there and learning to steer. I was so mad at myself for forgetting the camera in the barn. After she rode, we headed to Bangor to meet Rusty for dinner.

Pictures, Pictures, & more Pictures: Hooves Trimmed, Horses Dewormed, & I Rode Today!

No trick-or-treaters last night. :(

Took lots of pictures today, they're at the bottem of the post! I arrived at the barn at 9am this morning to find that Sharade and Spicie had found themselves a mud hole in the pasture and were no longer clean. They were total mud monsters! Of course they had to have wet mud all over them only minutes before Mom dropped Dad off to trim everyone's feet. I found Dad a towel, but he was just as muddy as they were by the time he finished trimming those two! He also got Tiger's and Alaric's feet trimmed and he got to see the "march of the donkeys" through the barn isleway and out to their pasture. I still think the two-by-two donkey march is too cute!

After he left, I got all the horses dewormed. Then I spent some time trying to catch the remaining chickens and managed to catch and put two back into the chicken stall/coop. It was a beautiful day out and I still had some time, so I decided to take Tiger out for a short ride. We went out for only about twenty minutes, but the fields and the woods are beautiful! We trotted some and I did let her inhand gallop up the hill. It felt good to go out for a ride even if it was a short one!

Pictures, Pictures, and More Pictures!!!!

The Run-In Stall: Spicie in the pasture munching on hay and watching the donkeys

Tiger in her stall

Spicie in her stall
Sharade in Spicie's stall (sharing the run-in)

The Jennies

Sharade in the pasture

Mud Monsters!

Tiger in her stall

The Jennies

The Jennies Pasture

The Jennies

The Jennies

The Jennies

Mr. Bo Jangles (Herd sire) hanging out in the Jennies pen while they are out

The Wether Goat

The Nanny Goat

The wether Goat

Tiger's ears, the road, and the barn as we head back from our ride

The barn way far off

The barn far off

Sharade looking through the stall bars

Patches (another Jack)

Tonto (another Jack)

Fog Horn (another Jack)

Spicie and Sharade hanging out in the stall

Hanging out

Mr. Bo Jangles (herd sire) in the Jennies pen while they are out

Alaric too busy munching on hay to come see me for picture time

Catch Those Loose Chickens!

I got to get up at 3:40am all this week to drive an hour to the barn and back to take care of my horses before work. I got up at 3:40am, ate breakfast, and warmed up my car before leaving for the barn at 4am. I arrive at 5am, feed, turn horses out, clean stalls, and bring Alaric and Tiger back in. I usually leave for home just after 6am. The barn owner, Linda has been kindly doing the night feeding for me.

Today, I arrived at the barn at 9:30am and found out that last night Alaric had discovered that the chicken coop latch, which is just within reach of his stall, is fun to play with and that he'd let all the chickens out! After feeding and turning Alaric and Tiger out, I spent the morning helping catch chickens, but there are still about 5 running loose.

I also got to meet the people who clean the donkey stalls and pens every weekend. It's a mother and her 7 year old daughter, whose names escape me at the moment. They were the other two people running around trying to catch chickens. They also went with me to go pick up hay and helped me unload it. They were great! I got to meet my new hay guy that is just down the road and he seems very nice! We loaded up a bunch of hay and it was really nice second cut hay. Going back next weekend for a round bale for Spicie and Sharade. I want some more weight on Spicie before winter and Sharade wont over stuff herself, so I'm going to do free choice hay for them for a while.

With A LOT of help from the "stall cleaners", we got the fourth stall that was being used as storage cleaned completely out and set up for feeding time and for when the weather is bad. The front half of the pasture is completely lit up by a big light off the back of the barn during the night, so Spicie can see and she and Sharade have been sharing the in and out stall and pasture all week. They just get separated for feeding time. I also got the other pasture that was divided up, opened up for Tiger and Alaric to share all day during the weekend, while I'm there.

It was a busy day! I spent the last hour at the barn, brushing everyone and got them all beautiful and clean before I left. I really LOVE the new barn!

Tonight, I'm folding clothes while I wait for trick-or-treaters. Rusty says we don't usually get any trick-or treaters, but I'm hoping. Fingers are crossed that I didn't drag out and set up all those decorations for no trick-or-treaters to show up.

A New Day Started With Happy Horses!

I had a hard time sleeping last night because I was stressed about moving the horses and I was worried after yesterday, that maybe the move wasn't a good idea. This morning when I walked into the barn and was greeted by four relaxed, happy looking horses, I was reassured that though yesterday was a disaster with broken doors, stressed out horses, and an upset BO, today was a new day and it started out with happy horses. Always a good sign!

Things went great today! The BO was actually petting Tiger and visiting with her today. Then she remarked at how lovely she is when she's relaxed and asked if she was the Alaric's dam. Apparently, some of Tiger can be seen in him and the BO loves him, thinks he's beautiful. She said that she thought about it and all the horses have had a stressful time recently and just need to settle in. I was glad she understood that. This was their third move since February. Tiger was acting extra witchy and stressed when she first met her yesterday. While she was petting her this morning, she stated, "today will be a better day" and she was completely right!

The BO was shocked to find that though my BF built the door, my mother and I were the one's there putting it up. She asked "Shouldn't a man be doing this?" My mother laughed and said "Yes, but where is a man when you need one?" We all had a good laugh about that. It took us two hours to get the sliding door up.

I got Sharade and Spicie turned out in the pasture with the run-in stall while we fixed the door and they were visiting with the miniature donkeys over the fence. They spent all day out. Then I went out and fixed some fencing and checked the charge on the fences, and took a sickle to some tall grass that was shorting out the fence. Tiger and Alaric got a few hours out in there private smaller pastures once I got some of the overgrown pasture cleared out and got the fences in working order. Then I had to get my whole stable area cleaned up and organized. It was a very long day. My mother and I were there for 7 hours!

Spicie is spending the night in the donkey section of the barn in the donkey foaling stall until we get the fourth stall in the section I'm in, cleaned out. It is being used as a storage stall. She was hoping that two horses could share the foaling stall in the "horse section", but it just doesn't look like it's going to work 24/7. I can have two sharing the stall and pasture, but they act crowded once that door to the pasture is shut and that's when problems start up. Spicie has night blindness so leaving it open 24/7 isn't an option and Tiger and Sharade are too big to share a stall together comfortably and both can become very "marish" when together for long periods of time. We'll have to get it cleaned out this weekend, because she has a few donkeys coming due to foal and needs that stall back soon. The horses are completely fascinated by the donkeys. It's very cute!

For the past few months at the other barn, they haven't acted quite like themselves and I'd been kind of upset about it. Spice was stressed out and depressed, she just looked tired all the time. Tiger's attitude got sour and she started pinning her ears excessively. Alaric wasn't being social and he's usually very friendly with people and other horses. Sharade just seemed a little aloof, not quite herself. I had all my horses back as of today. I guess the other place just wasn't for them. They were completely back to themselves overnight and that's the best reassurance of all!

New Door Is Finished!

The new door is finished. Rusty did a wonderful job and it's actually nicer than the original door that they kicked in half! I take it over tomorrow.

Rusty examined the old door and found no kick marks, but he did find lot of my horses' hairs down the side that broke. I got thinking about it and I never checked the latch to that door before I left. They were going to share a foaling stall that had a sliding door going straight to a large pasture. So since my horses are talented at opening sliding doors, I'm wondering if it was left unlatched, they slid it open a crack and then tried to fit through, breaking the door. Which would completely make sense!

Then he explained to me that the frame of this door was not built with horses in mind. The side pieces of the frame were in no way connected to the top or bottom of the frame, nor the frame of the plexi-glass window, so the plywood siding was the only thing holding the frame together! They basically cut a frame and screwed it to plywood, so, all it would have taken was a well placed kick or a hard bump to the side of the door, and the door would break. Which explains why the only thing actually broken was the plywood, the wood from the frame though apart was not broken.

Moved Horses Today

Just a quick note. Moved the horses today. Spicie and Tiger destroyed an entire door in only the few hours it took us to go get Sharade and my hay. They destroyed something for the first time and chose today of all days, at a new barn to do it!!!! Just freakin fantastic! Thanks tons girls, way to make an impression on the new barn owner! So embarrassed and furious! Thank God Rusty is building a new one. What a wonderful guy he is. I could have just died when I returned to find that they had done that!

My Horses Are Going To Live In A Disney Movie!

Not literally, but it sure has that feeling to it. I mentioned that on Sunday, I took Rusty's daughter with me to go check out a donkey farm that had horse stalls available to rent. We got lost on the way, but eventually found it. I was worried about traveling in bad weather to care for them, but the farm owner told me not to worry, that she could make sure they are fed and watered should the weather be bad or I get sick. I don't have to make the trip everyday.

The minute we stepped out of the car, her place felt like a Disney movie; very charming, cozy, happy. If a farm could have feelings and be happy, this farm is! We were immediately greeted by the owner of the farm, an older woman and a couple of her cats. She's a round woman with wild hair and a friendly face. Personality wise, she reminded me of the maid in 101 Dalmatians, fussing over the animals and talking to them. She was very pleasant and was warm and friendly right off. She and her entourage of cats gave us a tour of the barn. I swear more cats joined as we walked through! Every time she entered a new section of the barn, her animals all greeted her, even the chickens! Every one of them were well cared for and just looked generally happy. All 17 miniature donkeys were fat, clean, had their feet done, and were very social even with us being strangers. You could just tell her animals all love her as much as she loves them.

The barn isn't fancy, but it's safe, cozy, and warm. It has several sections and my horses will have their own section of the barn with 4 stalls all together. One stall has a door that goes directly to the large pasture that they will have all to themselves. The farm has 100 acres and she has trails and a carriage road. We started talking about hitching my Standardbred up and going for a drive. When "Little Feet" and I got back into the car, she said "I like this place. It's like being at a movie". When a 5 years old says something like that you know for sure that I'm not crazy, it really is like a movie.

I just have an all around good feeling about moving them here and I'm so excited!

Decisions, Decisions

So my contract with the current barn is up at the end of this month. I have the option to extend it, but I don't know if I will. Nice people, nice place, but I'm used to having the option to shut my horses in during the winter and there they would remain in a run-in situation. The only one who would be brought in at night would be Spicie because she has night blindness. They have two stalls they like to keep for emergencies, so Spicie would be taking up one of their emergency stalls. They are a horse rescue and my horses being there will take up space that another horse could have.

So I spent part of Saturday making phone calls to local barns and networking through friends, in hopes to find some stalls to rent. I got some leads, and one was a woman who owns a donkey farm, that actually contacted me. Spicie's former owner's mother called her and told her about me and she was already looking to fill a few stalls in the barn. She seemed very pleasant over the phone, so I arranged for Rusty's daughter and I to go visit the farm on Sunday.

On Sunday, we had lots of projects to work on in the morning. A little before 11 we headed for the barn to visit my horses and feed them homemade horse treats from an online cookie swap. On the way there Rusty asked if we could meet him for lunch in Bangor, so we went to Bangor first and then stopped in to visit the horses on the way back. They were all happy to see us and made piglets of themselves eating all the homemade treats that were sent to us.

Then we headed to the donkey farm. I absolutely loved it and was all excited about finding this woman and her farm. I got home and all I could talk about was this farm. I was so excited. Then someone pointed out that an hour was a long drive every day for me to go take care of my horses and that I am not a good driver in the snow.

Considering everything, I now need to make a decision about where to put them for the winter. Board them where they are, board them at the new farm, or keep looking?

Alaric Was Gelded Today

Alaric was gelded today and it was quite a rodeo-like experience! Alaric was nervous about the vet, but only side stepped away from him as he got him tranquilizer. He went down nice and easy and the vet went right to work. I was holding Alaric's leg out of the way with a long rope, but it became heavy and one of the barn owners offered to hold it for me so I could watch the gelding procedure.

The vet was almost finished and was just leaving the clamp on a bit longer before starting to clean everything up, when Alaric's tranquilizer wore off early and he immediately decided he wanted to get up. The vet yelled for the barn owner to kneel on his neck and the barn owner tried to hold him down, but couldn't. I ran for his head and tried to get him back down with his halter. I got his head to hit the ground for a split second, but not enough time for the barn owner to sit on him.

The next time Alaric attempted to get up he swung his head and neck and sent the barn owner and I both flying in different directions. I landed in the dirt and quickly rolled away from him before jumping to my feet. He got to his feet, but was staggering and crashed back down. He wasn't ready to be up yet. About a minute later, he was somewhat stable standing up and the vet finished cleaning him up. Apparently, Alaric has a high tolerance for tranquilizers. The vet had dosed his for 1000lbs and he can't be much more than 900lbs. Everything looks good and he should heal well. He was eating hay and being his usual obnoxious self before I left.

Despite the gelding procedure not going exactly as planned, I'm sure Alaric will be happier as a gelding. The vet said he will be able to go out with mares in three weeks.

An Exciting Change In Life Plans

This year has been a crazy roller coaster between fights with my father's family, my divorce drama, friend drama, moving A LOT, and a new relationship. Right now I am content for the first time in at least a year, I am the happiest I've been in a long time, and I can't wait until we move and continue this new life away from this area, hopefully somewhere my horses can come back home and not have be boarded anymore.

I have followers, but I'm not even really sure if anyone reads my blog, so I was putting this post off until most of my family knew... I'm 12 weeks pregnant. Not planned, but we're very excited about it. I had my first ultrasound last week and it made this all so real. The baby was very active, kicking and "jumping" while the techs tried to get still photos of him/her. Ultrasound photo is above.

This means some of my "horsey" plans have to be put off or tweaked a little. Most of my horses are older and as long as they get attention are perfectly happy out to pasture for a while. Rusty's daughter is also very horse crazy and wants to learn to ride, so I'll probably get her started with lessons, which will give them some exercise. I'd like to compete, but I have a feeling it will be limited if any horse-outings next year. My horses have had limited showing in the last few years and I'm sure wont miss another year of not showing. Alaric should be ready to start some training next year and instead of planning to do it myself, I've started looking into trainers and training costs, so that I can have someone else get him going for me. Rusty did offer to get him long-lining and driving for me and honestly, he's broken enough race horses to harness to do that if I take him up on his offer.

Rusty asked me months ago, like almost at the beginning to move with him closer to Bangor when his house sells. We hadn't been together long at all, we still haven't been together all that long, but the two of us just "click", so I said I would. We've been looking at farms and houses with land for the last few months and have found some beautiful places (two have indoor arenas!). Now we just have to wait for his house to sell.

Everything sounds crazy and at the same time does not feel crazy at all. It's the first time I feel like I'm almost where I'm supposed to be and that is a wonderful feeling.

Hay Days

On Sunday, Rusty's daughter and I first made a huge batch of horse donuts, bagged anough for the 4 horses and took Rusty's truck to go get hay. We got 2 weeks worth of grain and 16 bales of some really nice first and second cut hay in Unity on our way to the barn. At the barn I unloaded everything and we visited breifly with the horses and shared the homemade treats. It was raining and we had to get to Bangor, so no riding.

Today, Rusty and I got up at 5am and headed to Bangor with the horse trailer to get more hay. Decided I'd like to have more like a month's worth there, so I don't have to scramble every couple of days to get hay to the barn. We loaded 60 bales at the hay dealers and unloaded 60 bales at the barn. Fun, Fun, Fun. I had hay in my hair, clothes, and up my nose. I got to visit with the horse briefly again, but had to hurry up and back back to get to work. I was 10 minutes late going in.

Memory Friday: The Goat Who Thought He Was A Dog

Yes, two Memory posts in one week! I was on a forum earlier and they were talking about sheep and goats. It reminded me of my goat and I had to share. Figured I'd add a little to my forum post and tell you about Little Man.

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I LOVED my goat. He came with the name "Little Man" and was quite the character. Someone I knew gave him to me after my horse, Mister died to keep the other horse company. Tiger was terrified of him so the idea, though sweet, didn't work out. Anyway, this girl had bought him at a day old and raised him in the house. He slept on her bed and he was house broke, but as he got older, his love of climbing put him on the kitchen table and on the counters, so she quickly decided he belonged outside. Instead of a fence with a shed, he was put in a harness and hitched on a dog runner with a plastic dog house as shelter.

The day I went to get him, I had meant to put the large dog crate in the back of my truck, but forgot. She wanted him gone that day, so I put him in my Ford Ranger and he literally jumped in and sat down in the passenger seat with his nose sticking out the cracked window. He was not a small goat either, he was a Alpine mix and probably a good 60-70 lbs.

When we got to his new home, I opened the passenger side door and he ran into the barn to check things out. Being a very friendly goat he ran to my grandmother thinking she'd scratch him and instead she hit him in the face repeatedly with a water bucket. He responded by butting her, which she completely deserved. From that day on he would share my dislike towards her.

He would actually wait for her to head out jogging and would chase her, butting her anytime she turned and said "shooo", which made my mother and I laugh hysterically. I should have changed his name to karma. He never butted hard, but she deserved every butt in the rear he gave her.

He walked on a leash and would sneak into the house anytime he saw a chance to sneak in. My mother was bringing groceries in one day and after getting the last in, turned to see that the goat was laying on the couch eating bread she just bought. He loved car/truck rides and I took him with me to get grain every week. He even went with me into the store to pick out treats! He and 4 dogs would squeeze into the cab of the truck when doing stuff around the farm and they would all go out together and follow the horses that my dad jogged on the half mile track. He was my riding buddy when I rode at home and my fence fixing buddy when there were fences to be fixed.

He hung out with the horses and once they discovered he was there to be a pest and not eat them, they tolerated him. The old stud, Double Hill loved him and when turned out they would hang out and eat hay together. Now they are buried side by side, in a field over looking the half mile track.

I sadly only had Little Man for a few months. He had had urinary tract issues in the past that I wasn't told about and he got blocked. I was going to have the surgery done, but his kidneys had already shut down, so I had him put down. When Double Hill passed away this spring, we buried him beside Little Man. Little Man was such a cool goat and left such an impression. I never really wanted a goat, but after having him, I think that someday, I might decided to get another goat, but I doubt I will ever find another goat as cool as him.

Memory Wednesday: "But I Still Loved Her", The Story of Sea Star

Today I'm going to talk about a wonderful pony that I leased as a kid. This is the type of pony I search for and the type of pony I would keep in my barn forever, should I ever find it. I don't have a photo on the computer right now, but I have one of us at horse camp and will add it later after I scan it.

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When I was eight years old I was talked into leasing my Standardbred mare, Skater out to her former half-owner to be bred. He wanted a foal out of her sired by Direct Scooter. Skater left in January of that year and didn't return until the end of August.

During this time, I started riding lessons with a family friend that rode Grand Prix level Dressage. I was too little and too inexperienced for her Grand Prix dressage horse, but her step-sons had an old camp pony that they never rode and so my riding lessons started on Sea Star.

Sea Star's head was too big, her back too long, and her legs too short, but she had the patience of a saint and more experience than you could ever imagine. Sea Star knew all her cues, did flying lead changes, put all her heart and soul into everything she did, and she loved kids. Sea Star was an ugly pony, but I loved her.

That spring, the family friend became too busy to teach lessons and I started riding lessons at another barn. I missed Sea Star, but enjoyed riding the school pony, Dutchess. Dutchess was sweet, but I still talked incessantly about Sea Star. Show season hit and with my horse out on lease and the family friend's step-sons not being very interested in the pony, I ended up bringing Sea Star home on a free lease about mid-summer. Sea Star did have some health problems and drank a lot of water and soaked her stall. I had to strip her stall and re-bed it everyday, but I still loved her.

I rode Sea Star everyday. I could tack her up and go without anyone's help. I rode her in the paddocks, in the hay field, on the 1/2 mile track. We walked, and trotted, and cantered. We went to horse shows and on the Saddle Up For St. Jude's Trail Ride. I loved that pony.

Sea Star stayed with us through the summer, the fall, the winter. I cleaned her stall and brushed her daily. Trudged through the snow with my dad to the barn and turned her out. Sea Star's health issues didn't end with the coming of winter. Her stall still had to be stripped everyday and she had to have two clean, ice free water buckets at all times. She required a little more time and work then some other ponies, but I still loved her.

The next spring, we took care of her coggins test and vaccines. While the vet pulled her blood for the coggins, her age came up. How old was Sea Star? Hemphill's had told the family friend she was 20, but when the vet checked her teeth, he whistled loudly, looked at me, and said "This is a very old pony you got here". He then went on to say that he was positive Sea Star was older than 35, but if he had to guess, he'd guess she was possibly in her early 40s. Sea Star was a very old pony, but I still loved her.

My own horse, Skater had her foal and I spent a lot of time with them, watching the young foal grow, but I still loved the old pony. I was riding Sea Star around the track and she decided that being an old reliable pony was getting boring and that the green grass looked nice. She jumped a banking, dove for grass, and I fell off, but looking up at her from the ground, I knew I still loved her. I took Sea Star to horse camp and for the first time since I'd had her, she turned up lame. I was disappointed and had to ride another horse there, but I still loved Sea Star.

I learned to braid and braided and bathed Sea Star myself. She looked silly and gave me pathetic looks, but stood forever and never put up a fight. We showed that summer and never won, but that was OK, I still loved Sea Star. I was planning to go to the St. Jude's Trail Ride again, but then the family friend called and soon after, came and got Sea Star.

I went to the St. Judes Trail Ride with a borrowed pony named Jackson, who acted like a complete ass and I cried for the first time out of frustration with a horse. I turned back early after being run into a tree and nearly "clothes lined" off. I wanted and missed Sea Star. The family friend was called and she told us that she had sold Sea Star back to Hemphill's. I skipped school and tagged along with my dad to Hemphill's to go see Sea Star. We got there and were told that Sea Star had died only a week before during the night. It broke my heart, but to this day I still love Sea Star.

BUB-BYE BALLIES!

Yesterday, I got to stop in and visit my horses with Rusty and his daughter, very briefly on the way to dropping Rusty's daughter back off at her mom's. They all visited us through the fence, but quickly got bord and went back to their grass.

Today, I started my day with getting the dogs out of the house for a house showing. Piled 4 dogs into my car and drove them to my parents' house. Then I got to go home help pick up the last of the house and then drive back to my parents' house with Rusty's truck to get the last of the hay I had stored there. Then I got to drive the hour and a half to Winterport, drop off hay and visit some more with the horses.

Alaric is still off from doing a lot of running around and due to a mare in the next pasture over being in heat, he hasn't been eating well and dropped some weight. He also started knocking some fencing down. The barn owner, Jen moved him into a smaller run-in situation a little farther away from the other horses. He can't run himself to death in this pen and will spend most of his day eating hay. Hopefully, this will put some weight back on him and get him sound again.

More good news (which explains this post title)... Alaric is also finally scheduled for his gelding precedure! As of the afternoon of October 8, 2009, Alaric will be a gelding! Yay! Woo Hooo! He can now think 100% with his brain and not with his yoo hoo. :)

Visit With The Horses

Visited, brushed, and spent time with the horses yesterday.

I did ride Tiger and Sharade in the round pen at the barn. Sharade was a crooked, hollow backed, head-in-the-air mess that I got straightened out during only a few strides of trot. She was busy trying to look at the horse-eating pigs during most of our ride and kept alternating between trying to pace away with me and stopping to snort at them. Tiger decided to be a witch and did a lot of bucking and kicking, but at the end we had an OK trot. I didn't think the ring was large enough for a canter. Wish they had a real arena, having a long side to work on, would have helped me a lot with both horses today.

Goody Ride: R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Taught a lesson with "Rider R" today. She rode very well, but Goody was being kind of a jerk. He's still being a pain about ring work and is being a little disrespectful about listening to his rider at all times. We're working on that. He did do some cross rails today on the lunge line and he was very good about going over them, though he was a little unsure at first. The girls are going to work some with him over ground poles under saddle during the week, but no jumping.

His manners on the ground need a check. He got pushy and came into my personal space and nearly stepped on my foot, which resulted in him getting a rude awakening. I had a big conversation with the girls and their dad about how Goody needs boundaries enforced by everyone, all the time, on the ground and under saddle. He acts like a big pet, but unlike a cat, he is 1200lbs so it is a very big deal if he tries to climb in your lap or tries to push you over! He's not allowed to have his own agenda unless he is on his own time. Personal space needs to be made clear at all times. It's never appropriate for him to walk on someone or push them out of the way. He'll remember his boundaries as soon as they start enforcing them again. I have a feeling after a week of everyone being consistant and clear about what is and what is not allowed, he'll be a little less of a jerk next week.

Love You Pop Pop

PHOTO ABOVE: Pop Pop & I hanging out on the couch

My grandfather, affectionately called Pop Pop by some of the younger grandchildren, myself included, passed away this morning around 3:30am.

Known as Earl Selfridge, Pop Pop was born October 12, 1924 in New Jerusalem, New Brunswick, Canada. Pop Pop was a veteran of World War II and later a hard working family man, a finish carpenter for Deck House, who took pride in his work. He and my Grammy (Irene Hazzard) were married in September 1948, and had 8 children; Earlene, Judy, Donna, Cindy, Nancy, Carol, Wesley, and George. When they danced, they floated and time seemed to stand still until they left the dance floor. Last year they celebrated their 60th anniversary! To date they have 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Every year around Christmas the entire family gets together and has to rent a hall because we outgrew everyone's homes!

Pop Pop was the best grandfather anyone could ask for. He was happy and kind and fair . He loved his family and made it known to every last one of us. No family member ever left family gatherings without a hug, a hand shake, or a kiss from both Pop Pop and Grammy. There will always be a place for Pop Pop and he will forever live on in the hearts and memories of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We all love and miss you Pop Pop!

Memory Monday: Prime's First Treat

The muscles of a well conditioned race horse rippled under a translucent red/brown coat as he came down the ramp of the shipper's trailer. Everything about this horse was picture perfect; his conformation, his condition, the way he moved. They shipped him with no leg protection and a ratty halter, typical for a trainer not wanting to give up his position training a decent horse. The shipper handed him off and I gladly led him down the isle way to the waiting stall.

That day and the days following his arrival, this horse had no personality. It was as if we had a beautiful robot standing in a stall. He ate, he pooped, he stood emotionless, uninterested. He wasn't friendly, his eyes were dull, and he had no idea what a treat was.

It was a night that my father was racing and I had fed the horses. I stood on a bucket in Mister's stall braiding his mane and talking to him incessantly about nothing. We had a show the next morning and he had been clipped, bathed, and was now in the process of being braided. I was on my second braid, still babbling away when I had this feeling I was being watched. I looked up and across the isle way. There stood Prime at his stall door watching me with interest. As I talked, his ears moved. His soft brown eyes looked sad, but curious and he moved his lower lip as if he was eating.

I climbed down from my bucket and out of the stall. Approaching him with my hand flat, I offered Prime a treat. He ducked back into his stall and hid in the corner. Disappointed, I went back to braiding and talking to Mister. Prime came back to his stall door to watch and listen to me interact with Mister. He seemed fascinated. His ears flipped back and forth and he watched my every move. His lower lip flapped and his eyes brightened. This was my first glimpse at Prime being a real horse. I finished up the braiding, gave Mister a kiss on the nose, and offered Prime another treat before closing up the barn for the night. He refused the treat and went back to hiding in his stall.

The next morning, dressed in my show clothes with sweats on over them, I entered the barn and began loading my things in the horse trailer. I was on my second armload of stuff, when my father stopped me and gesturing towards Prime's stall said, "You forgot to feed that horse last night. Not only did you not give him his grain, you forgot to toss in his hay."

I felt horrible. Forgetting that Prime didn't eat treats, I grabbed a handful of peppermints by habit and entered his stall to apologize. There he stood in his corner dully munching on hay. I stroked his muscled up neck and scratched up by his mane. Prime turned and looked at me with his big brown eyes full of curiosity and I swear they brightened just then. I offered the treats in my hand and fidgeting with them with his lower lip for a moment, he took them from me. Prime had just eaten his very first treats.

Sunday

So I spent my morning with Goody and his girls teaching riding lessons. They are looking so good on him! We went on a short trail ride and did some ring work. We worked a lot on his ring manners and w/t/c. He has come a long way with his canter. Next week I'll bring some jumps over to see how much he remembers about jumping. Sounds like the older two girls are interested in eventing if he can do it.

After riding lessons, I headed to my mom's for lunch and then my mother and I went over to the Ex's to get the remainder of my horses' stuff out of the barn. We spent the whole afternoon loading up large, heavy rubber stall mats that we had to lug around the "crazy friend's" Jacuzzi that they left sitting in the middle of the barn isle way, right in the way. Apparently, once the horses moved out all of her things moved in. I hope she enjoys the dirty bedding and horse urine that fell into her Jacuzzi as we tried to get the dirty mats outside to clean and then load in the truck. It was unavoidable, though I can't say I did anything to clean it up.

Then the Ex got home, started being an ass and refused to let me take my 16' gate. I did leave it after listening to his verbal abuse for a good 15 minutes. He ended up loading it in his truck and hiding it somewhere off the property. I sent a message to his mother and maybe she can talk to him.

Visit With The Horses

So I got to visit with the horses today. Brought lots of apples and my riding stuff. I brushed everyone and then rode both Sharade and Tiger for a short time. Spicie was too stressed to go out for a ride, so I just spent sometime brushing her. Tiger, Sharade, and Alaric look content and happy. Spicie needs some more time to settle in. On a good note, she does have a new best buddy, a pinto pony gelding who has decided to hang out with her instead of his mother.

Horse Update

Well I guess two of the horses have been causing their share of problems where they are staying. Alaric apparently decided to put a front foot over part of the electric rope fencing while trying to visit with other horses and took some of it down. He didn't get out, but fencing had to be fixed. He's also been a little sore on front from all the exercise he's been getting running around, that he isn't used too.

Spicie ran into the fence and got caught up in it. The electric was promptly turned off and she was freed. She has apparently run into and through this portion of the fence a few times since. This is not typical for Spicie. The fence is visible and it's electric rope, the same she's been turned out in in the past, but it was getting dark when these incidents happened. She also wouldn't come up for dinner last night until they went down with the four-wheeler to light her path. Where her daughter suffers from night blindness and I have never had Spicie anywhere other then a stall in the dark, we're all wondering if she might also suffer from night blindness. Due to this, the mares will be closed off in the board fencing portion of their pasture during the dusk and night hours to keep Spicie safe and will only be out in the other fencing during the day.

Sharade and Tiger are doing really well and enjoying the new place. I was just happy to hear unlike Spicie and Alaric, they have left the fencing alone. I can't wait to see them all on Saturday! It's been a strange week getting used to not caring for them myself and I miss them. I will also be able to ride my own horses for the first time in a long time!

Memory Wednesday: Tomorrow, You Should Wear Breeches

Didn't get around to writing on Monday...

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My alarm was going off, but instead of waking me, it just became part of my dream. The sound of my horse's feet hitting the ground in perfect four-beat rhythm soon turned to beep beep, beep beep, beep beep.

"Where is that beeping coming from?" I asked Mister as we galloped across the field. Stirring from my dream, I remembered and sat straight up in bed. It was 6am and a start to a new day at a new job working in trade for riding lessons with Molly. I hit my alarm, lept out of bed, and pulled on a pair of wind pants and a T-shirt. I had my own chores in the barn to take care of before heading to Molly's barn at 7:30.

I felt as if it took me forever to get stalls cleaned. I had two horses to feed, turnout, and clean stalls for. One was my beautiful chestnut Morgan/Saddlebred cross gelding, Mister and the other, my equally handsome dark bay Standardbred gelding named Star. Mister at the age of 17, was completely sound and ready for anything. Star, at the age of 14, had chronic arthritis that gave him good days and bad days. During that time, he was having few more good days than bad and spent most of his time in a pasture or being ponied beside Mister. His sound riding days were limited.

Finished with my chores, I threw a few flakes of hay and a halter into my blue LL Bean backpack, saddled up Mister, and headed to Molly's barn. I was running later then I had planned and forgot to change into riding clothes before leaving.

Upon arriving at the barn, I untacked Mister, dumped out the hay in my backpack, and turned him loose in the small paddock that Molly had shown me the previous day. Molly was already in the indoor arena with a student and called out to me to come in, take a seat, and observe. Their were two lessons going on, one on each half of the arena. Molly stood in the front end of the arena with a whip, a girl on a lovely bay Dutch Warmblood worked around her on a circle at the trot. On the other end, Molly's oldest daughter, Alison lunged a young girl on a large draft cross.

I sat towards the center of the arena taking in as much of both lessons as I could at once. My attention would soon be directed only at the lesson Molly taught as she became louder and stricter, demanding that the rider ask the horse to gradually bend and stretch first to the outside of the circle and then to the inside. "Can you see how crooked he is?!" she half yelled.

At the time, I had no idea what she was talking about. "Look at what you are doing with your hands! Look at what you are doing to his neck! Keep him moving forward! He's falling to the outside. Leg, leg, outside leg!"

Instead of using outside leg, the rider started using the reins to guide the horse back into the circle and Molly reached up and grabbed the rein, startling the horse and rider and bringing them both into a tight circle. She leaned up towards the rider, the rein still in her hand. The tone of her voice was firm as she gave directions, but her voice was barely above a whisper. I still have no idea what she said. The rider went back out on the circle and this time Molly seemed pleased with how they were going. About 10 minutes later, both lessons were finished and attention was turned to me.

Molly lead me over to the large draft cross that had been doing the lunge lesson and introduced him as John. John was a very big, very friendly 3 year old Belgium/Paint cross gelding and I would be riding him today during a short lunge lesson. With the help of a mounting block, I mounted up and began adjusting the stirrups. "You wont be needing those during this lesson", Molly stated as she moved the mounting block and put John out on the circle at the end of the lunge line.

John's walk was large and swaying. I sat perfectly straight, hands by my sides, heels down, trying my hardest to look like I belonged here. Molly asked John for a trot. His trot was large and powerful. I suddenly regretted my choice of not changing into breeches and arriving in wind pants, as I began to slide. I fought my slippery pants and remained in the saddle at a less than graceful sitting trot. "Those pants aren't really the best for riding", Alison stated.

"I was in a hurry and forgot to change" I explained still concentrating heavily on staying on.

"Posting trot", Molly announced and by some miracle, despite my slippery wind pants, I managed a posting trot. Smiling, Molly brought John into a canter. Again, I stayed on despite my wind pants.

"Knees up", Molly demanded. My heart sank, was she trying to kill me? I looked towards her with a puzzled look. "Knees up", she repeated. I was sure I was going to die.

I brought my knees up, depending only on my balance and seat to stay on at the canter. Somehow, I survived my lunge lesson, not only counter-clockwise, but clockwise too.

"Tomorrow, you should wear breeches"

Long, Emotional Day

My divorce was final as of 9:30am this morning. My name is changed back and I have 30 days to get the remainder of my horses' things out of the barn. I'm planning to go get everything this weekend.

After court, I had to drive to my mother's to ride with her and my youngest sister to Massachusetts to see my grandfather. He's not doing well at all. The doctor is giving him two days to two weeks to live and he doesn't recognize many people. When we went in he didn't seem to recognize any of us and he kept dozing in and out. It was very hard to see him that way.

Strange Feeling

It feels so strange not to go take care of my horses at 5am in the morning. I feel like I have forgotten something very important, but I know that they are all being taken care of at the new barn. This is going to take some getting used too.

Long Day, But The Horses Are Moved And Happy

So today was a long, busy day. Started the day off with having Rusty trim Alaric's feet. Then after lunch we hitched up the trailer, loaded a bunch of the hay that I had stored at my parents' house in the back of his truck, and headed back to the barn to get the horses. Sharade and Spicie were the first pair shipped. I filled up the hay bags and loaded them up for the hour and a half drive to the barn they will be boarded at for the next few months. There we unloaded them, turned them out in their new run-in situation, unloaded the hay, and then got to drive another hour and a half back to the barn to get Tiger and Alaric.

Same routine all over again. Loaded the back of the truck up with my grain bins and buckets, made sure hay bags still had enough for the ride, and loaded up Tiger and Alaric. Alaric got on the trailer and took his second lifetime trailer ride like a champ. I was so proud! When we got to the new barn, I had Rusty unload Alaric because it's a new place and he can be a little strong when he's excited. He was turned loose in his own run-in space and was overjoyed to be able to run without a lunge line attached! The farm did decide to put the mares in a different pasture and put Alaric by himself in the one they were supposed to have been in. He's beside other horses, but not out with any right now. He also had his first experience with an electric fence while trying to lean on the fence to visit other horses.

Tiger, Spicie, and Sharade have visitors in and out of their pasture; two ponies that can run under a section of the dividing fence run under and visit with them. Their very cute.

I left all their instructions, phone numbers to call, and fed all my horses their supper before I left. They were too busy with their new friends and surroundings to pay any attention to me before I left. I felt like a mother dropping my children off at daycare and not even getting a goodbye hug.

We didn't get home until after 8pm. It was a very long day.

Farm Visit

I'd seen the farm (a small equine rescue and shelter) that I will be boarding the horses at online and from the road, but I hadn't had a chance to actually stop in and get a tour until today. It's a wonderful setup, the owners are friendly and knowledgeable, and the horses all seem very happy there.

I drove up the long dirt driveway with my dog, Maybelle in the passenger's seat, to be greeted by two very large friendly dogs about halfway up. They escorted my car up the remainder of the driveway and greeted me happily as I stepped out of the car. Jen, the owner met me and gave me a tour of the farm. I met all the horses and saw a good portion of the farm. It's been decided that Alaric will be turned out with and share a run-in shed with the 24 year old gelding there, that was just brought in and gelded at the rescue last year. He's easy going and quiet, but will still keep Alaric in line. Alaric will be going down to the nearby vet clinic for his gelding within the next few weeks. Tiger, Sharade, and Spicie will be in the neighboring pasture and will share a run-in. These two pastures have some grass, but just enough to introduce them back to pasture safely. As they become used to grass again their pasture gates will be opened to larger pasture to allow them to graze more. I'm very excited about boarding them there!

Getting The Horses Ready To Move

I'm now scrambling to get everyone ready to move early next week. All of them need to have their feet done, the mares are due for the 6-way vaccine, and they are all due to be de-wormed. I have to get all their paperwork; negative coggins and vaccine records together. I need to figure out which two I'm shipping first; Alaric and Tiger, or Spicie and Sharade. I have a three-horse trailer, but have 4 at the barn, all moving to the same different barn, so shipping in pairs seems best.

Tonight, my dad trimmed Tiger and Sharade's feet and all vaccines were updated. Tomorrow, I'll be de-worming everyone and heading out to the farm they will be staying at to discuss where each of them will go. Friday, Spicie and Alaric will have their feet trimmed. Saturday, I plan to bathe everyone again and trim up bridle paths, to neaten their appearance. They will be moving either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. I need to talk to Rusty and figure out what days he has off to ship them.

I Could Have Sold Alaric Today

I had just fed the horses and was busy filling their grains for tonight, when the woman that works across the road entered my barn. I greeted her with a friendly "Hi!", but honestly, I was dreading what she might say next. I was already in a cruddy mood and didn't really need to hear how awful it is to have horses in stalls all day again.

"So, yesterday you said that the horse in the front might be for sale?" she asked, walking down the barn isle slowly.

"He might be available for sale to an experienced show home that is also experienced with young horses." I said, continuing to fill the horses' grain.

"Oh, my neighbor's other horse died over the weekend. She rides, but doesn't show. I was telling her about how nice he is and how much I like him and I think we'd like to buy him for $300."

I was almost speechless. How was I going to explain to this woman, that his half-siblings don't sell for less than $10,000 as weanlings, let alone their yearling and two-year old prices. Here he is a two year old, worth less because his mother isn't a Dutch Warmblood or other approved cross for the KWPN, but regardless is still beautifully put together, still has excellent gaits, and still has good breeding on both sides? I had him listed at $8,000. It's flexible, but he's ONLY available to an experienced show home. I've had a lot of interest, but no one that really stuck out. I wont sell unless I know it means he will have more opportunities with a good home.

I started off slow, trying to choose my words carefully, "Alaric, which is the one in the front, isn't your typical backyard pet-type of horse, he is bred to compete. I have him listed at $8,000 to an experienced show home. His father was the Leading USDF Dressage Breeding Sire in 2006 and his mother competed successfully in eventing. He has relatives on both sides that have competed at Olympic level."

Her eyes got really big and she looked back at him, and I continued, "I spent about $6,000 to breed him and have big plans for him when he grows up. The only reason I'm considering selling him is because of my divorce and I know there are other people out there who have more opportunities for him than I can afford, competition wise."

She looked thoughtful for a minute and then asked, "Can we borrow him to keep the other horse company?"

I don't want to lease him out, but I figured I'd ask and hope it was a mare, "What does your neighbor have for a horse?"

"I don't know what breed she is."

Got lucky. "Alaric hasn't been fixed yet, so he can't be turned out with mares."

She looked disappointed for a minute and then started feeding the clover she brought in to the horses over the doors, before heading back to her job across the road.

We'll Be Lucky If I Don't Put The Harness On Backwards, With The Crupper Over an Ear!

So I decided to go with Rusty to the Windsor fair and watch the races. His father brought two horses over that day, a two year old colt that was there just for the experience and a 3 year old filly that was there to race. The filly had originally been in for a later race, but the track had redrawn before the programs were printed and she was in a much earlier race.

They were hitching the colt up to jog, when Rusty asked me to harness up the filly so that she'd be ready to hitch and warm up when he got back in. I haven't completely harnessed a horse in at least seven years and told him so. "We'll be lucky if I don't put it on backwards with the crupper over an ear!" He laughed it off and asked me again to harness her up.

So they headed out and I was all alone, well me and the nervous 3 year old pacing filly were all alone with an unorganized harness that needed to be put on correctly. I started taking the mess of straps apart, setting the bridle aside and trying to figure out what the rest belonged too. I found the crupper and setting the harness on her back, slipped her tail through it. I adjusted the harness carefully, the filly stood like a statue giving me a look of "why are you going so slow, do you even have a clue?". I kept apologizing to the filly for being so clumsy and slow, telling her she is a saint of a mare.

I fastened the girth and was staring at the other straps, when an older man that has always passed out the numbers at the track, came over to drop off her number and helped me out with the breast place that had been snapped together in a way that I wasn't sure it was a breast plate. "You're doing fine", he reassured me as I explained it's been a long time since I harnessed one and went on with his work. I put her back number on and fastened the snaps onto the harness. Then came the hobbles. I adjusted all the straps in place and had begun to put the hobbles on, when I realised that there was a piece of the harness missing and it was no where to be found. Disappointed that I wouldn't have her completely harnessed before Rusty came back I stood there petting the filly.

Rusty came back in and found the missing piece hidden in the wash bucket. He happily finished harnessing her up and took her out.

She won her first race ever in 2:08. Neither I nor his dad realized that she won, so Rusty had to hold the horse for the photo in the winners circle. (OOPS!)

What a Monday!

So I had today off! I had plans to give the mares extra time out, take Alaric for a walk, and bathe everyone. The mares were out and I had just finished cleaning the stalls, when I heard something that sounded like branches breaking. I looked out to the paddock and Sharade was standing next to the apple tree shaking the branches. Apples fell everywhere and Spicie and Tiger were standing under the tree trying to stuff as many apples as possible into their mouths while other apples rained down on their heads. It was quite a sight. I grabbed a bucket and headed out to join the fun and gather some treats for the week.

It was while I was out taking apples off the apple tree, that this woman who works at the business across the road from the barn came over to ask how I'm doing and how the horses are doing. Then she started telling me how she visits my horses everyday through the barn windows and feeds them clover. Turns out she's been coming over and feeding large amounts of clover to my two year old colt, who is still intact and thinks he's absolutely wonderful.

It honestly bothers me when people feed my horses things and visit them without me there, without asking, but she was being very nice so I let it slide. After I answered several questions about the horses, she decided to tell me just how upset she is that they have to stay in their stalls all day and pretty much just stopped short of accusing me of abuse. I just gritted my teeth and said that they will be leaving to be boarded somewhere else very soon and there they will have more turnout time. She looked very sad about them moving and crossed the road to return to work.

I hate having horses in stalls all day and I hate that they have had limited turnout. They do get time out everyday, they have hay and water provided in the clean and shavings bedded stalls, and I removed all the windows so that they can stick their heads out and see what is going on outside. They are victims of my divorce, but far from abused. I feel guilty enough about them being in so much without being told how awful it is by a stranger who has next to no horse experience. I can't imagine how she'd feel about most show barns who also do limited turnout, but they do it BY CHOICE. I can't wait to move them!

After she left, I took Alaric for a walk and then bathed him. He was great until I asked him to go back into the barn. He refused and pulled me all the way from the front of the barn to the back of the barn and body slammed me into the side. He reared, he kicked, he body slammed me, he beat the living crap out of me and I was holding on to the lead rope for dear life and yelling and swearing and fighting back. Finally, I had him walking back to the front of the barn. I asked him to walk in and he refused again walking backwards. This time I slapped him on the rear end with the lead rope before he could pull me back any farther and he reacted by laying down.

I know I should have gave him a swift kick in the butt and told him to get up, but by then, I was overwhelmed and sore. I just stood there staring at my young horse having his tantrum on the ground and burst into tears. He stayed laying down and just looked up at me crying my eyes out with a look of confusion. Finally, he stood on his own and standing quietly, he stared at his overwhelmed owner trying to figure out what was wrong. He then decided the proper solution to my leaking face was to start licking the tears as fast as they were falling, which quickly turned my sobs into giggles. I picked up the slack on his lead and with minimal encouragement, he decided he could walk into the barn with me.

I spent the rest of my morning bathing the mares and feel much better having a barn of clean horses, even if they have to spend more time than I'd like in their stalls.

Memory Monday: Quest For A Trainer Who Would Get Me

For some odd reason, my blogs always end up just becoming a place for me to vent or end up a boring bibliography of my life, like I'm just telling you about it flat out. I really just wanted a place to be heard and a place to write. I love writing, I used to be a decent writer. We'll see if I still am...

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"You rode all the way here bareback?", Molly asked with a half smile. There we stood in front of the big white farm house on the tarred driveway at 8am in the morning. I was sitting on my gleaming and muscled up gelding, in jeans and sneakers, no helmet. All Mister wore was his brown bridle with a kinberwick. I imagine we must have been quite a sight. I had just finished my chores and disappointed in everything horse show related, threw a bridle on Mister and just rode. I didn't plan to end up here, I just saw her driveway and turned up. Somewhere there was a trainer that would understand me and considering she seemed to be the most misunderstood trainer in the area, maybe she was it.

It was the day before my sixteenth birthday, the day after not making the Maine Team for the Big E. 4H had never really been my thing anyway and my goals had never matched up with the leaders ideas of what they should be. While everyone else in our group were riding pleasure bred Quarter Horses and Appaloosas, looking picture perfect in Western or like an AQHA idea of what hunters are, I was proudly riding my Morgan/Saddlebred cross hunt seat, forward, on the bit, and with his head slightly higher than 4H liked it. I was not about to force my naturally high headed, forward moving horse, into a scene from an AQHA hunter show for a pleasure class. My scores were fantastic in Equitation, I hated showmanship, so it was a little weak, and my portfolio had been thrown together in 10 minutes and over-nighted two days before the deadline. When I was talked into going to tryouts, I didn't really want to go, but once they were done, I was upset that I didn't make the team.

I looked down, a bit embarrassed. "I didn't make the Maine Big E Team. The goals 4H has for me don't really fit. I was hoping that I might be able to work in trade for lessons with you and just rode up here to ask if that was a possibility?"

About a month earlier, I had officially met Molly when she was asked to do a saddle fitting at 4H horse camp. I pulled Mister out of his stall and brought him out with my saddle to be fitted. She liked him instantly, which wasn't a reaction I got often at 4H events. "He's very nicely put together", she remarked.

While every other horse had been put right back into their stall, I kept Mister out for awhile longer because he didn't like being in the stalls at the fairgrounds and would become very upset. Molly watched us for a moment and then said, "This horse has had some rough times in his life, but he is extremely happy with her. They have a good understanding of each other." There were many eyes that rolled and that comment was turned into a joke by a few 4H members later, but I decided it was one of the nicest things I'd ever heard at 4H camp.

The next thing I knew, Molly was showing me around everywhere. She had me turn Mister out in a small paddock in the back of the barn and told me that I could put him there everyday. She introduced me to all the horses. I was told to be there at 8am the following morning for a riding lesson and then we would go over my daily chores. I rode home looking forward to the next day.

The Search For A Place For The Horses Continues

So, I've been in touch with several farms and a few friends that own small fields over the past week, trying to find a place to move the horses before September 8th.

I have had two boarding barns and a horse rescue get back to me that are willing to work with me some on reducing board costs. The rescue was able to offer me board at $100 per horse for the month of September, I would provide my own hay, feed, and bedding. I am going to check out a new facility in Waldoboro on Thursday afternoon and need to call back the other stable, which is also new. I also spoke with a family friend about renting stalls, she has one stall open and just needed to discuss it with her husband.

I also had a friend from a previous job offer the field behind her house, that would be free to use as long as she doesn't have to do anything, but watch them out her window, and a family that leased a horse from me a few years ago emailed me to let me know that friends of theirs that used to own horses, have a field they are willing to rent out. They have horse experience and want horses again someday, just can't afford them, so would be thrilled to have a few to spend time with. Both sound like decent options for the mares, but I am nervous about having Alaric in a temporary type of set up, because he does tests fences and he is still not gelded (it's on the list, just keeps getting put on hold because things always come up when he's scheduled).

I have also posted an ad advertising my horses available on free lease until winter, when I will hopefully be moving to a farm near Bangor. I have a had a few people contact me about leasing horses and may have at least one leased out until winter. In my horses for free-lease ad, I mentioned that I had a Dutch Warmblood cross that might be available for sale to the right home and I have had several people contact me about him. Unfortunately, the people who have contacted me about him over that one sentence, are either 13 years old and can't afford him or adults with little or no show experience, who saw "Warmblood" and saw dollar signs. Sorry, only available to experienced show home only. I am not that desperate to sell. I can find a way to pay full board on all 4 for a month or two if I have too.

Things will come together somehow.

I'm Jealous

I'm jealous. Rusty may not own his own horses right now, but he gets to spend a lot more time with them. While he's getting back into what he loves, I'm lucky if I get 15 extra minutes to run a brush over my horses, let alone ride them. I wan to to ride, I want to compete. I'd kill for a trail ride right now or a few extra hours to spend time getting them all bathed. I need more time with my horses and right now, I can't get it.

When I first met Rusty he'd been away from harness racing for almost two years. He'd been in an accident at work that had crushed his leg and was told that he wouldn't be able to drive horses again. I can't imagine what he felt at that moment. He was a good driver before his accident, the 2003 Rising Star in Maine harness racing, a catch driver, driving in almost every race. When he got hurt, he sold all his horses, his race bike, his jog cart, and all of his equipment. He quit. He didn't even watch harness racing anymore. Then his leg started feeling better, he met me and remembered how much he loved the horses and driving, and wondered if he could go back. It wasn't a week after his doctor gave him the go ahead that he had his license back and was driving race horses again.

Now he's obsessed. When he isn't racing, he's watching racing on the Internet or talking about racing on the phone with various family members of his or telling me about racing. He bought a REALLY nice race bike and all I heard until it got here was how nice it was and why was it taking so long to get here? And then it arrived and he spent a few hours going over it and adjusting the seat and stirrups. *Rolls eyes* He acts as if he got a really nice new saddle!!!! I suppose to him the race bike is the equivalent of getting a really nice new saddle... I'd like a new really nice saddle. Maybe after the horse are moved to a permanent situation and my bills are caught up?

Not Sure Where To Move Horses

If anyone is looking for a free lease on a horse or has a field they would be willing to rent out for 4 horses please contact me at thesecondwaffle@gmail.com.

The Rabid Skunk, with couching from certain other nasty family members, has found ground to stand on regarding my horses moving to my parent's property. She can go to Hell as far as I'm concerned, but as for the horses, I have no idea where to put them. By September 8th, when the divorce is final, I need to have them moved.

Rabid Skunk

Frustrations with dad's family... I was chased down and yelled at today because a certain control freak family member thinks my parents have no right to let my horses live on their land. Though I admire this individual as a horsewoman, as a grandmother she's about as qualified as a rabid skunk. Her attitude stinks, and if she's not pissing on you, she's very likely to bite you.

Now, I don't care that she doesn't want my horses back at her barn. We don't get along and I don't want to move them back there because then I'd have to deal with her and I don't want too. She doesn't like me, never has, I get it. It's the telling everyone that she is going to rip down the fences and the buildings on my PARENT'S property if I move my horses there that gets me. All permits with the town are in place. What right does she have to complain, it's their property?!

I just need to remember to smile as she's yelling and not yell back. I do this by envisioning her going to rip down the electrically charged fenced with her bare hands. Ouch!

Maxbro Jack, Sharade's Youngest Had His First Win!!!

Jack won his first race at Scarborough in 2:03:1 on Thursday! He'll have to go a good 6 seconds faster for the stakes races, but I'm so excited that he won his first race!

I have been really busy making arrangements for fencing and shelter and getting horses moved, but wanted to share this photo. I will post soon I promise!!!

Riding When I Can

I'm not allowed to ride at my Ex's, so I have ridden very little since May. I'm trying to ride whenever possible, even offering to ride other people's horses until I can get my own moved. Rusty's family has several horses, no longer racing that have not been saddle broke, but need to start finding new homes, so I offered to do some training.

On Saturday, Rusty was heading to Bucksport to help his grandfather split wood for the winter, so I threw my saddle, helmet, and a bridle into the trunk and had him drop me off at his father's place, so I could start a horse there that they refer to as the "little mare". I need to ask what her name is. This mare is a very small Standardbred that Rusty's sister's husband bought at an auction and then left at their father's barn. She's so tiny she couldn't keep stride with the larger horses she would have raced against, so for the past couple years she has just sat around. She is only about 14hh at most and about 6 or 7 years old. She is a very nicely built little mare with flawless legs and with work will make the cutest hunter pony.

I put her on cross ties, brushed her, cleaned her feet, introduced her to the saddle, made sure everything fit correctly, and she was great. I lead her out and walked her around, lunged her, rubbed her sides with the stirrups, and she acted like everything was part of her daily routine. Then I had Rusty's father hold her while I mounted up and got the craziest reaction I have ever gotten from a Standardbred. Usually, they just put all four feet out and freeze and you just wait for them to adjust and take your time while they find their balance, but not her. She decided to cow hop sideways towards the fence, the minute I was in the saddle and started snorting. I dismounted quickly, walked her around until she relaxed and then with Rusty's father's help, attempted to mount up again. She decided to go sideways the minute I went to mount up.

I have to admit that I have become a chicken rider. A few years ago, I wouldn't have dismounted over a little snorting and cow hopping and I probably shouldn't have, but where I don't know her well and the fence was coming up close, I chickened out and dismounted. Next, I removed the saddle and decided to take things slow... With Rusty's father holding her, I climbed onto the mounting block and leaned over her to rub her other side, where my leg would be. At first she snorted and danced around, but then she decided that wasn't so scary and relaxed. Then I put some weight on her back, hopped up, and sat motionless. I waited until she relaxed again and then I dismounted. She accepted me at a stand still, we can do more another day.

Then because Rusty wasn't back yet, I went with his father to get hay. On a trailer that he normally stacks 85 bales on, I managed to fit 120 and we didn't lose a single one on the way back!

Goody Update Email From "Rider C"

I'm so happy to see and hear about how much fun the older two girls are having with Goody...

Hey Melissa!

I have some good news regarding Goody's trailriding skills...Yesterday "Rider R" and I joined some friends on a hack down the trail that we've been using for our lessons. The puddles have grown into small ponds over the past rainfalls and in time, Goody has grown out of his resistance of going directly through them... Copper and Chance, the horses that our friends were riding, love the water and eagerly ran through it. Goody merely paused at the edge, and then followed them reluctantly at first, through the mud and water. The second "pond", ans you know, is more of a river, that turns a corner and the end is not visible from the beginning. Goody wasn't at all phased by its length, and he eagerly splashed his wayacross. ( The end was about 5' from the turn.) We traveled through at leasttwo more ponds and over a small rock bridge ( Which we tested first, thenlead our horses over it... ) Before turning back because my dad had limited theride to an hour. I was riding double on Copper with my friend "B" on a loose western saddle... Chance turned a corner ahead and Copper decided that the separation was not his thing so he tried cantering through the muddy ruts towards the corner..."B" was steering and no matter what she could have done, she couldn't have preventedthe saddle from slipping... So "B" landed in the puddle, and lucky me landed in the middle on the mud. We were both covered by the time we looked up to see Copper happily cantering around the corner. "Rider R", on Goody, and "J", on Chance, blocked Coppers way a little shile up the trail and "B" and I caught up. I ended up riding with "Rider R" behind Goodys saddle, nobody was hurt, but Goody came to the rescue and carried an extra rider through the rest of the ponds and rivers all of the way back to our house...
~"Rider C"

Busy Week

This was a very busy week. I wanted to write about Acadia on Monday night, but I was exhausted after a very long day. My friend, Laura came up Tuesday night instead, so Rusty and I picked up his daughter and went to get hay on Tuesday before she got here. Then on Wednesday we all just hung out until the afternoon when we got a call that someone else was cutting hay and with all the rain hay is getting hard to find, so Rusty, his daughter, and I got hay again. This time we took the horse trailer and got 72 bales on. Laura wanted to go to the library and had had enough of riding in a car after her trip up here, so she stayed behind. :( That night Laura, Rusty, his daughter, my parents, and I all went out to dinner for a early Birthday dinner at Cody's Road House. Thursday I had to work, but it was also my Birthday, so after work Laura and I went for a walk on the breakwater in Rockland and then rented a movie, after baking a cake. I had to work again today and after 4 weeks of training, 3 days off, and 1 day of review, I got on the floor and took my first phone calls today.

Acadia was BEAUTIFUL! It rained most of the way down there and about a half hour from our destination, we were driving in a thunder storm, but we arrived safely and in good moods, despite that fact that we drove an hour and half out of our way and got lost. Upon arrival, we stopped at the office at Wild Woods Stable and found out that we couldn't park the horse trailer there because I forgot all of my horses' paperwork. You have to have proof of coggins and all vaccines to ride there, so back into the truck we climbed and back down route 3 we went looking for another placed to park the horse trailer. We found THE PERFECT PLACE to park the trailer, right off the main trails, AND unlike if we had parked at the stable, it didn't cost us anything to ride in Acadia!

So we unloaded the horses, tacked them up, and spent 3 hours riding the trails. Tiger hadn't looked so happy in months. Sharade spent the first half hour trying to figure out what Rusty was doing up there because he rides the same way he sits in a sulky; feet out in front and hands up. He did finally get his legs under him and look somewhat like he knew how to ride, but he would not change the way he holds the reins. I can't complain, at least he'll go riding with me and act like he's enjoying himself. Sharade also stayed in a pace for him every time we went beyond a walk, which isn't typical for her under saddle, but then again, I've never put a harness horse driver on her. Rusty said he was keeping her in a pace on purpose, because her trot was too bouncy. He did something with the reins that kept her in the pace.

One thing I'd like to warn riders about at Acadia is dogs. There were A LOT of wonderful, responsible dog owners walking the trails that would put their dogs on a leash when they saw us, but there were a few idiots out there too. Usually, my horses are fine with dogs, but when dogs get snapping at their legs, they are not going to hesitate to kick them. One woman had her dog off the leash and it came running at Tiger snapping at her feet. I immediately jumped off and told the dog "No!" because Tiger was getting ready to stomp him, but the idiot owner came up and said "Are you going to get that big horsey? Get him, Get Him!" in a "cute" playful voice, and didn't even bother to grab him as she approached. I told her that that behavior from her dog could get him kicked and she just smiled and continued on her way with him still running loose. After I mounted back up and we continued down the trail, the stupid little snapper came running back at Sharade from behind and got lucky that Rusty got after her before she lined him up.

Other than dealing with the idiot dog owner, it was a long, beautiful ride and I had a lot of fun. I did, however, forget my camera in the horse trailer so I don't have any pictures to share this time, but we plan on going back soon!

Busy Week Ahead

Went over and worked with Goody and the girls today. We all went for another walk/trail ride because Goody is better behaved and happiest out of a ring. He has been a little ring sour since I got him back, but is more than perfect out on the trails. He is doing really well there and they are seriously considering making this a long term lease. I couldn't be happier with how great things are going for him and his new family.

Tomorrow will be a busy day. Rusty and I are taking Sharade and Tiger up to Acadia National Park to ride the carriage roads. I CAN'T WAIT! And then my best friend, Laura will be coming up Monday night and staying with us the remainder of the week, so that she can be here to celebrate my birthday on Thursday. She comes up every year for my birthday week and we have tons of stuff planned. Should be a blast!

Acadia National Park, Here We Come!!!!

Rusty and I were talking about how much fun we had at the zoo with his daughter on Saturday and somehow it came up that I have never been to Acadia National Park. I started my new job on June 29th at a call center and because my manager needs to go for more training after training this week in Boston, the other agent and I get three paid days off next week. It's been decided that Rusty and I are going to load up Tiger and Sharade and head over to Acadia National Park on Monday to ride the carraige roads. The two mares and I are out of shape and Rusty hasn't ridden in awhile, so we will spend the day walking the easy trails, but I still couldn't be more excited!