Day to Day

The first of the Journey North entries.

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:00 -0500

Due to my lack of internet, it has taken me a very long time to get started on this project - transcribing the details of the journey - the journal entries. It will be a drawn out process, feel free to check back for new entries and pictures as my time and circumstances allow...

Day Minus 3 - Monday June 29

I love my job, at least most days

Let me tell you about a horse named Blaze

Nice kid’s horse and was I amazed

To see Blaze’s hooves blazing at my face

What a race of my heart and out of my mouth

A blue streak of cursing north east west and south

All the words they knew

And a few new ones too…

The nice Glenside farm family got a lesson in determination

That hot summer day when I got kicked in the head

And rather than execution or evacuation

I bent over and finished the job instead

Day minus 2 - Tuesday June 30

… Spent the weekend at Lake Diefenbaker with Jasen - took a quick trip over to Glenside Sunday morning (should have been “coming down” but miraculously evaded hangover, the first of 2 headaches evaded that day). After trimming the yearling Paschia at Dawn’s, she and I went to her neighbour’s to trim up Blaze, a horse she had sold (who I have trimmed many times previous).

I was in my squishy blue shoes (had packed everything for trimming but proper footwear) and he was pulling and stomping his feet a bit so got a couple reminders about standing still on the first two feet, both right side. Upon beginning foot three, the hind left, Blaze got another reminder to which he responded by taking his foot back and walking off in a circle around his young and novice owner. Irritated, I went around her the other way while instructing her about letting him circle her. Right hand on his right side shortly behind the shoulder with Dawn somewhere behind me, I raised my left hand, nipper handles extended , to ask his hip back to “square one”. At about three inches from contact I got a lightning fast surprise when his hip slammed into my sending me back toward Dawn, with who I collided smartly and halted my propulsion in time to see a pair of hooves and a big red rump coming quickly at my face. Having Dawn to my right and the truck behind me I ducked down and to the left catching a hoof on the outside corner of my right eye, about a quarter inch from the sweet spot that should have killed me, and a little closer still to crushing my eye socket. Somewhere in the mix the tool exited stage left (I assume) and blade first took a chunk and left a dent in Jasen’s passenger door. Whoops.

After telling the gods and all who was interested just how I felt about most definitely being kicked in the head I took the rope politely from the girl and told Blaze in no uncertain terms the terms of his retaining his life. I then returned his to his proper standing place, told his he was most definitely getting his hooves trimmed, and handed the rope back to a very shocked and dismayed young woman. Of course, before I was allowed to go back to work, a very shocked and dismayed father requested a quick examination of my bleeding head. I assured him I was fine and shaking like the first time I sang in the dark on the stage of the Big River Theatre, I proceeded to trim a very obedient horse’s feet.

Meanwhile, my navigator, who was apparently also hurt, was lying on the ground near to my sunglasses and going into shock. She was hit in the arm and thought it wasn’t bad but suffered it worse than I. The girl’s mother, fresh out of the shower, arrived on the scene, displaying similar signs of shock and dismay, initially I am sure at the colourful language that summoned her out, and then at the scene she stumbled upon. Being a nurse and afraid of horses to begin with, she was as near to a casualty as I and she insisted we go to the hospital and get checked out. I of course wanted to return immediately to Danielson park and soak my head in the lake, knowing that if I had problems Jasen would drive me in later. Seeing Dawn’s condition which obviously needed attention, I relented and the best part of the afternoon was spent awaiting a pardon for my titanium skull. Dawn’s arm was not broken either.

“Did you black out at all?”

“No, I went back to work.”

“Oh. Well that’s a good sign…can you move your arms?…touch your nose?…good. . ….other hand please.

“Yes, and I can rub my belly and pat my head, too, see? I’m fine.”

Wow. It takes a lot to convince some people.

Well I got back to the lake at 2:30 and ate before going to lie on the beach and eventually (finally) do some fishing. Sunday was a reasonably early and sober night, and Monday morning we packed up beneath the threatening sky.

The end of yesterday saw me napping the afternoon, making some phone calls, packing up my food, planning my route and finally logging on to the computer for the first time in a month.

Today so far I have mined up pasture for Clearwater for the duration of my stay, lined up some trimming for today and tomorrow, organized a BBQ in honour of the missing Mitchell on his birthday, and tethered the horses on my new high tech picket lines - from the halter to a length of 3/16 chain (6-8 feet depending on horse size) attached to 15” doubled tarp strap for shock absorption, and followed by about 10’ of 5/8 cotton rope, with a swivel bull snap on the chain end.

I will be packing up the whole camp and doing a trial run this afternoon .

At 4:30 off to trim Jolene’s 3 then driving my laundry to Jasen’s and going with Jack to play ball in Conquest at 7. After ball, back to J’s to do laundry and sleep. Tomorrow bright and early will be moving cows and llamas to Jasen’s, followed by a trip to the east side for about 6 trims then a bit of shopping in the city before the BBQ at 7. Following that will be the fireworks by the river with Jasen and Paul, and then home to BED. Early morning Thursday heading north to Grandora.

Day 1 - July 2 2009 Thursday

Started with 5 but decided to drop one

Since then it has been a lot more FUN

Minus 2 miles, 1 pony and a whole lot of headache. Finally across the highway and a couple miles north - made adjustments to all packs once, tore down one road sign and narrowly escaped death for the second time this week.

THANK YOU

Wanda for taking Wilbur. Mom, Jack and Jasen for all your help and support. Ken Thomas for the water bowl pit stop practice. RM of Vanscoy for the road sign - sorry about the ruin, and of course - ARLIE & BRETT for the use of their pasture and lovely clean barn in which my hammock swings gently.

Last but CERTAINLY not least, thank you Dana for your smile and wisdom and your sisters and your waterbag and cowbell, and to the mosquitoes for not biting me… could you maybe lay off on the horses, too?

My cuticles are suffering but not like my index pointer but more importantly strumming finger which has had the nail peeled back just enough to feel laminitic - glad I don’t have to walk on it. I believe that was the repack and road sign adventure. I believe also that I am tucked warmly in and all of my things remain dry. They are calling for rain tomorrow. I am going to turn out the lights on these mosquitoes and hope they don’t find me in the dark.

…just kidding.

Chutney - bosal, endurance saddle w/shock pad. Good sweat marks. Behaved reasonably well for the most part with a couple brief episodes. Walked good all day. Electrolytes at 3 and 7:30 pm, didn’t drink before departure or at pit stop, but licked a bit of salt and drank good at night. Sponged off, stood good. Good with fly spray and rope under tail and traffic and annoying dogs. Scared of big signs and water tanks.

Danza - pack saddle, 80 lbs of cargo. Repacked once in the first mile, pack was slipping to the right - the light side - weird. Height, size and shape make a difference. She told me it was bad, all fired up. Sweat mark was dry around the white spots. She was dragging most of the trip. ‘lytes 2x, drank little.

Tandu - Rocky Mountain saddle, ties to Danza’s tail - pulling FORWARD hard all the way. Packed horse blankets, slicker and treasure chest (about 10 lbs). no back cinch. Worked excellent, nice sweat mark. “lytes 2 x, drank none till night, then good. No salt.

Cisco - Eamore saddle, Tandu’s tail. Pretty good but pulled every now and then. Packed about 60 lbs. Awsome. Electrolytes 2x, didn’t drink at all at pit stop and ate litle all day, but drank pretty good at Arlie’s. No salt.

Sponged off all the horses before turning out in 5 acre pasture.

Wilbur - never made the cut, or did he cut and run? More likely. Before the highway he broke loose of Cisco’s tail so went to live at Lauscher’s for July. Cisco is (seemingly) fine. My finger hurts. Good night.

Up to Snuff - Stone

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:13:00 -0500

This is just a little note that I sent off this evening and thought I would share with you all as well Stone's latest escpade in the wilderness, his first ride this year, and since August long weekend.

He took it all like an old trail horse. Better, in fact, because he still knows how to side pass and take both leads. We walked, trotted, loped circles in the pasture up the road, which means we also went up the road, with the dog and another horse, who we rode with and without. Cars passed in the daylight and dusk, on the way home, with us right on the shoulder (ditches are too deep and hard right now). It was a cold wind blowing on an otherwise decent day. He didn't stand great (wanted to walk off) when I mounted the first time, but was better when I had to get back on after boosting my friend up. I wouldn't say he neck reins but he has a basic understanding and I don't think it would take him long. That was the first time he was ridden since... hmm, probably August, early. My neighbour was cutting hay. Lynda thinks it was August long, she rode him. He is a nice relaxed loose rein ride. Wanders a bit in the field both in the lead and following, and while he was reluctant to lead at first, I think it was because the mare we were riding with is fairly aggressive with him in the pasture, and he was keeping a close eye on her for the first part of the ride, but he relaxed and took the lead with a good walk later on. He looked sideways at the saddle blanket when I approached him with it but stood while I saddled him and took the bit good. I haven't loaded him since last winter when I hauled to my neighbour's arena. He has been ridden in an indoor arena, only once by me and I was alone (other horse in the arena, but not being ridden). It is possible he was ridden indoors by whoever started him before I got him, I don't know. Anyway, I had a real nice ride on him, it made me happy. :) I wanted to take a picture for you but didn't take my camera out and it was dark when we got back.

A Different Sort of Winter

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:48:00 -0500

Well now, it has been just as white and probably colder than the average Saskatchewan not-so-sunny-Season, but otherwise, at least around here, things have been a little different. That is to say, I have not been around so much. For much of December and the first part of January I was entertaining life (and, primarily, work) in another province, while my flocks and herds were well tended by the dearest of neighbours and friends.

My roommate of 4 years, dear old dad, has moved on and taken his cats if not his cars with him. I have had a new roommate, however temporary, since the beginning of January, a friend from gradeschool with whom I have grown quite "chummy", you might say. I don't reckon I have ever used that particular description for any of my relationships thus far, but on this paticular evening in this particular mood it seems a fitting term. At any rate, she has been most helpful in providing me freedom to move about, working & playing where I must, which has been wonderful, and of course, being a good friend, listener and companion when I am home. Alas, she prepares to leave the country and exercise her own freedom of movement in a couple short weeks and we will all miss her but wish her well and safe travels about the land overseas, and also great thanks for her contribution here.

I have started into some renovating of the trailer, first the bathroom, which is now pretty much finished, and next the kitchen. The bathroom got a complete overhaul including new sink and toilet and floor and paint and, well, the whole nine yards. I did it myself and it all works and yes, I am proud :). I have visions of a farm kitchen, with adequate counters and cupboards and new paint on the walls and tile on the floor. At least I think there will be tile on the floor, if the tile gods should eventually choose to smile down upon me, which so far they have not (so I have postponed the project). Yes, I have big visions for improvements inside and out this year, just try and stop me. No, really. If you decide you want to buy the farm, I can let you pick the floor colour.

So I am feeling pretty good about my decision to take a year off training. I have once again signed on to coordinate the beer gardens at Ness Creek this year, why I cannot say for sure, but there you have it - I am going to need some extra holidays before and after, so it will be good to not have outside horses in the yard! I plan to spend more time roaming about in my Mazda 323 bringing the magic of good working relationships to horses and their people all over, and spend more time in the bush. It is high time for that development. So clinics, yes! Tell your friends! Rally your troups! It has been lots of fun so far, so I hope you will join me. Forgive my exuberance, I am feeling pretty good just in general. I blame the chocolate. I have added some information to the website regarding clinics, camps and riding lessons, and am just generally in the process of bringing the whole site up to speed, check it out!

Well now I am tired and ready for a book in bed, so I will leave you with visions of little red horses bounding through the snow, as John and I took Chutney and Stone for a jaunt this evening and it was lovely and wonderful, and I was very pleased with my mount (Stone) and his very good and quiet behaviour, and Chutney looks fantastic, even if she is a bit saucy. So goodnight and good winter and I hope you are having as much fun as I am, or even more. Don't let the winter bring you down, the mosquitoes will be back soon enough.

Changing Focus

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:16:35 -0500

You may have garnered from other pages on my website that my career focus is going through some changes. Foremost, I am not booking any outside horses for training next year, but rather hoping to train people to train their own horses. I have several reasons for this change, not the least of which is that it is so obvious to me that every one who handles a horse is in effect a trainer, and most of them don't even realize it. How many times I have heard someone say, "well, I am no trainer, but..." The fact is, if you have a horse, you are a trainer, if you do anything more than just feed it. My goal for the next season of my career is to help people realize the effect they have on their horses through different actions that they may not even know the horse is noticing, and teach them to communicate and work with their horses, not against them. For information on lessons, clinics and camps that I will be offering, please check the fees and guarantees page.

My holiday was wonderful. It was not quite long enough, however, and when I got home after 2 weeks of longing to ride every time I saw a horse and dreaming of my cow at night, I had to go again. I spent 5 days at home, milked the cow, caught up on a bit of farrier work, then headed up north for another 5 days in the bush. Through all this holiday time I figured out what I needed to do. No more outside horses. Focus on hoof trimming and horse/human interaction education. I am going to try it for one season. I already feel my resolve slipping from time to time, I have a hard time saying no and am addicted to training, but I will stick to it.

When I got home from second holiday, I went to work for 3 weeks straight, doing various things including hoof trimming and shingling, and enjoyed every minute of it. Getting hay in was a bit of a nightmare and a major part of my reason for not taking outside horses this fall, but I got it done. Now I am in a lull between intense farrier dates and taking advantage of this time to winterize the place. I have been blessed with a long fall which has given me some much needed time to get caught up and I finally got the third water bowl installed! What a long time coming that was! So I now have automated water in all but one corral. I am still hoping to get a shelter built in the first pen, but not sure if it is going to get done, as I have some priorities in the trailer, but we'll see how long the weather holds.

The winter residents include 6 (or maybe 7) horses, DayZ, Dahlia & Davenport -er- House for bovidae and about 16 chickens. The chicken coop has been renovated so the flock has a cozy little room on the north end which will be equipped with heated water, nest boxes & roosts, as well as a feeding station. They will still have access to outside if they want it, and access to the south half for sunning when it it too miserable to go outside. Those birds are tough though, and still nesting in the tree! Cino, of course, will also winter here, and a select few cats. My dear old dad is talking about moving out, and a friend of mine is moving in from December until March. It will be nice to have someone around on the chilly winter nights when the blizards blow through.

Stone and Wilbur were supposed to be going to sale in October, but I was a little slow on the uptake and missed the sale deadline, so I guess I will feed them, and hopefully ride them, through the winter. I have been riding Chutney and she is coming along very nicely. She walks about like her mother and I am toying with the idea of her being a keeper. Danza is not doing as good as I had hoped. She is good to ride at a walk and slow jog, but any exhertion and she breathes horribly. She still, of course, wants to rip up the neighbourhood in traditional Danza fashion, but I worry about her well being. I have been riding the black bandit, also known as Tandu, son of the great Dancing Queen, who has been known to some to be a bronc fit for the rodeo circuit, bareback with a halter. He is quite good under these conditions, though we are still walking. I just can't quite give up on this one, and if it takes me till he turns 10 I will get a partnership out of him. I have a few rides on Wilbur, and he is a real gem. Stone I haven't ridden since summer. John is talking about moving Pride, but hasn't said when, so who knows?

I still maintain ownership of one little ewe, though she stays at Gillian's. Some of you may know of Tinkerbell, the Cheep Sheap who thought she was a chicken for the first 3 months of her life. We are currently looking for a ram to sire her first offspring as the shetland Gillian has is her daddy and her other ram is quite big, Arcott, and perhaps not the best choice for first lambs. So, if anyone knows of a wool ram who is looking for some girlfriends, we have about 5 I think.

I have decided to give up on leaving for the time being and start living here, making it home finally after 4 years. I am looking for various bits of furniture as well as will have various bits of this and that to rehome over the next few months. That which I am seeking includes: shelving! practical and functional, and not unattractive, preferably solid wood. I am open to picking up unwanted bits for free and also paying reasonably for pieces I most crave. Like a solid oak table, for example. Preferably 48" with a leaf or 2. Chairs with it would be awesome. Prefer a pedestal, or a sturdy (not wobbly) legged one. And bookshelves. Not particle board. I will be redoing the kitchen as well and looking for cupboards if you or your neighbour happens to be renovating.

One of my spring projects will be a greenhouse, and if you have any old windows or heavy plastic you would like to get out of the yard/garage/shed/bassment, do let me know. I am also looking for 16' rails to complete the arena.

That's all for now. I will try to be more current. I know, I know. I say that a lot.

Good Time For a Drive

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:55:22 -0400

The weather is perfect, the colours are beautiful, the air is lovely.

Well, I stopped in Sicamous yesterday for the traditional ice cream cone from the dairy there, and being homesick and missing my critters, I went to visit the animals before getting my ice cream. I didn't get any ice cream after all, just pictures and video and a sore heart and a bitter resentment and a firm decision to end that traditional cone. Telling my family will be difficult.

I had a good time in Airdrie with Courtney, and a good but long drive to Kamloops yesterday. I am at my aunt's right now and we are visiting (my cousin Lindsay is here too, currently visiting with Ev). She has an absolutely beautiful place, this is my first visit to the "new " house that they have lived in for only 4 years - moved right after my last visit. I started my day with BC plum and an expertly brewed bodum coffee with DayZ milk, which has so far survived the trip. Then we got the tour of the yard complete with strawberries and raspberries and the last apple from the apple tree. Gramma is all done golfing for the year (Ev thinks maybe for good, but gramma says for the year), so I guess I was a little late on that one :( She is going to come over for supper tonight though. I will likely stay here again tonight and head north-ish in the morning after doing some postering around Kamloops.

I resurrected my old 35mm canon and Courtney lent me a 75-300mm zoom (mine is 28-80) so that'll be awesome for getting lost in the mountains, which I intend to do this week. I think I will go to Williams Lake/Big Lake after all, so probably Tuesday - Friday I will be offline.

White Lightning likes the mountain driving, I got an extra 200 km for only 4 more liters between Calgary and Salmon Arm! Of course, gas is .15/liter more in Salmon Arm than Calgary, so it still cost $40, but much better than I had anticipated. I am very happy with the little car thus far.

As for gas prices, the big cities (Edmonton/Calgary) are totally random! Within a block gas can vary .10/litre. 121.9 here and half a block down, 125.9, and shortly after, 128.9. I fueled up at 118.9. That was okay with me. Calgary I found one selling for 119.9, but mostly it was 124.9 or higher. Golden, as Jesse warned me, was a full 146.9 (I didn't need fuel, thankfully) and the station at Roger's Pass was 148.9! I was glad to find prices back down to 135.9 in Salmon arm, though I could have made it to Kamloops on the Calgary tank. Kamloops is not much different from Salmon Arm, though I believe the price varies throughout the city. Speaking of salmon, we are having some for supper :)

Kamloops is so beautiful at night. I pulled in shortly after 8. The sky was black and the city to the south was twinkling up the hillside. I am going to get a picture of that tonight, as I am fully prepared for it this time around (I have failed in the past).

I just sat down to fill out my passport application and botched it twice in 2 minutes. Perhaps it is just not meant to be.

I am definitely missing the physical activity. I have been mostly in the car or sitting visiting since I left home on Tuesday, with the exception of the bike ride & walk in Edmonton and dancing up a storm in Airdrie. We also walked to and from the bar, so I guess I have been out some, but I feel like a cooped hen. So glad my hens aren't cooped. I think I will go for a run today, and would like to find a park with some monkey bars and invert myself. I have been threatening that since Lloyd and haven't been there yet.

Holidays for Real

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:25:27 -0400

Well, epiglottis or none, I am going on a holiday after all. Today is day ... 3? Inclusive. I sent all my client horses home on the weekend of the 13th and hit the road Tuesday afternoon west bound.

Somehow, I managed to leave an hour and a half behind schedule and still get to Lloyd on time, without speeding! Remarkable. I am obviously getting better at planning.

So Tuesday I went for supper in Lloyd with Jason, Erin and Ayden, and then headed over to Lynda's for a quiet evening in, involving lots of stretching and chatting. Wednesday morning dawned with me trying to apply for my Canadian passport, only to discover that I needed my birth certificate in hand and did not have it - after an hour and a half of working on it. So, forget that, I will hand it all in on the Monday after I get home. Lynda had to work a couple hours in the morning and I ended up leaving before she got home, tracked down Mel's Hair Shop for a visit and a cut and then headed out to find a post office, for which I had an address, to pick up a passport application and mail a letter. I did not find it. After finding that the address I had did not exist and getting directions from 2 random passers-by, I decided Lloyd does not, in fact, have a Canada Post office, and carried on to Charles Lamb to get my passport photos done.

The lady at Charles Lamb was very dear and it was difficult not to smile in my passport photos, which, interestingly, look not entirely unlike my first driver's licence photos - not too bad :) Slightly less natural born killers without space between my lips. Anyway, so Mrs. Lamb asked me if I had my application yet and I told her my post office story and she said, "you don't need a post office, go out the door and look to your right." ... effectively pointing me at the travel agency. She also sold me some batteries for my old camera and tried to sell me film and a $300 zoom lens (which was tempting, I gotta be honest) and gave me a real strap for my camera which, coinincedentally, was made for my camera. I am not certain the old girl (my camera, not Mrs Lamb) still works actually... I have to get some film in it to see - I don't remember if the auto focus is supposed to work with no film in the camera or not, but it currently doesn't. Hmm.

So I haven't yet got the cheque sent (the other need for the post office) but I am sure I can get that done without.

I returned to Lynda's to day good bye and play a few tunes before hitting the merry trail, once again 1 1/2 hours behind schedule, and once again arriving relatively on time. All in all things have been working out pretty well.

I rolled into Edmonton at rush hour and managed to find Jesse & Jacquie without getting terribly lost, and after a brief interlude at the house we wandered out into the world and found an open stage at which we all sang, and most of us played. It was entertaining to say the least. After that we went to "The Pawn Shop" where Jesse was playing with a band (who's name escapes me), followed by NQ Arbuckle (who were quite good) and Elliot Brood (who I could take or leave). Had a relatively early night and slept like a baby with a cat on my chest, only to dream of cows and snow. Never mind.

Today Jesse and I had a fantastic breakfast that he created with fresh veggies and curry, topped with Saskatchewan free range eggs. We then went postering for the show tonight and looked at some $30'000 guitars at the biggest Fender dealer in Canada, apparently. The weather is fabulous and I am thoroughly enjoying myself. Tonight we'll make a feast including some more Saskatchewan produce and then go to the show (featuring Jesse Dee & Jacquie B) at the cafe. I am not sure which cafe. Tomorrow I head to Airdrie for suppertime.

Holidays from Holidays and Danza's follow up.

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:03:27 -0400

Well, that was a long and workful week. It was a lot of work running the bar and I felt like the festival was just starting when it was over on account of having been tied up and missing the festivities and the people most of the weekend. Now I am home and I am tired, but things are going well, and there is a new brood of chicks! I came home to another banty hen with 10 little fluff balls running about her feet. Fun.

Danza's appointment on Wednesday went very well indeed, her epiglottis looks great, the little flappy deal that Carmalt didn't like healed up very well and you can't tell there was ever a problem there. Her epiglottis is somewhat short, it doesn't lock onto the soft palette like it should and sometimes gets displaced, but she recovers it well.

DayZ is getting huge in the midsection and starting to bag up - very exciting, though I hope it doesn't come early. Short and to the point, yes. The beauty is in the shining grass fed coats and the prospect of peas in the garden. The sheep did some harvesting while I was away

Time Out

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:43:14 -0400

Well, I am leaving tomorrow for a week of working holidays (honestly, is there any other kind?). I will not be able to answer any correspondence beyond tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, or POSSIBLY Wednesday morning. Ness Creek is calling, as are my trimming clients up around Blaine Lake/Leask, as they have been put back too long with all this Danza-in-the-hospital business. Well, Danza is doing wonderfully. Yesterday and the day before we went riding, and she is the same horse she used to be, though perhaps, just maybe, she is a little more reasonable. She did seem to toss her head less, but not eliminated entirely. No doubt after 9 years of head tossing, whether it originated as a physical condition or not, it is liable to become a habit when a horse is excited. Anyway, she did seem more reasonable much of the time, but was sure to make my life interesting. My friend Lynda was out for the weekend, and both of those rides out on Danza, she rode Stone. It went very well. He did come home without her once, but that was a completely harmless no-fault-of-the-horse mistake. Well, he came home without her, I guess that was his fault, he could have stood and waited, but she did turn him loose. We had a good weekend with lots of laughs anyway.

The McNinch horses are coming along well, especially Beau - he is a real gem of a horse. Funny how upon arrival he seemed to be the more difficult. We are up to flagging and saddle blankets, and working on feet, which seems to be his major weakness trust-wise. Charlie is coming about the same rate, except less trusting. Beau is looking like kid's horse material. Chet is doing well, but sometimes his progress is masked by relapses. Overall he has improved, but he still has terrors that jump up and bite him with surprises. They will be in the care of my dear old dad for the next week. The rest have gone home.

Samurai was the last to leave, he went home on Saturday. Nicole and I rode in and rode out and rode him bareback too. The noseflies were RIDICULOUS and the horses were being driven mental, so we mostly rode IN, but had a good go of it anyway. I rode Stone along with her. His first ride in months. Peppy went home earlier in the week, and Vicky and I went for a ride out as well. She rode Samurai and I rode Peppy, then we switched. We had a great ride, beautiful weather, beautiful backdrop, perfect little horses. Vicky has sent a couple notes, very positive. They are getting along well. John also went home last week - I haven't heard how they are doing. I didn't put a full month on him, as it didn't seem necessary. He was doing very well, no more fits and foot stomping.

After Ness I will be picking up Brenda's horses from Mullingar, and Melissa will bring Phantom down (who is looking for a new name, by the way... I will post pictures). Danza has an appointment for a recheck on Wednesday, July 23, I will be sure to update after that! Have a great week, I know I will.

Completely Off Topic...

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:23:15 -0400

Beauty. I went to see Mark Knopfler last night. For years my dad has said he is the best guitar player. The best. I have always been a fan - Dire Straits - always. But I did not know just how good. Mark Knopfler. The man can play guitar. He can make it sing. He can make it dance. He can make it cry. Make me cry. I cried. Brothers in arms. The man can play guitar into the core of my soul - to that place in my stomach that does that funny little thing when I fall in love, and he can make it do that funny little thing that it does when I fall in love. Yes, I think I am in love with Mark Knopfler's guitar. And his voice. And his stories. And his band. His bass player can dance with the big lady, and his fingers don't walk, they dance too. Sometimes they outright jig. The drummer - the most impressive drum kit I have ever seen - versatile, variable, very, very good. Every musician multi talented. They rocked the Ukulele, ripped up the fiddle, cascaded secluded waterfalls with the flute. They played so soft, so strong, so sincere. They played to every emotion. The body responded. The heart, the mind, the soul. Was it worth the money? Yes. Would I do it again? About once a week. I would only have to train one more horse a month to cover the expenditure, and I'd say it'd be inspiration to work harder.

That is not all I came to tell you about. This entry has been brewing in me for days now. This journal has been lacking in time, essence, beauty. So matter of fact, so this is, this was, I hope this will be. No mention of the fantastic sunset the other night or the glow of the girl on her horse with the sun behind them, glistening off his fiery coat and her golden hair. No mention of the long shadows behind the well conditioned paint horses with the sun lighting their coats ablaze the same. A forgotten thought the moment I noticed the bluebells blooming - I love the bluebells, and the lilies. My favorite flowers. Wild. Independent. A forgotten tale the day John (the horse) & I walked right beside a young fawn, hiding in the grass by the fence - leaped up and bounded toward the bush in search of safety and her mother. No mention of the large drop rain fall with the billowing black clouds edged by blue sky and sunshine, the freshness of the air and the rainbow hanging there, across the water and behind the bushes to the east.

It seems like so many others that I have hurried through life and forgotten to notice nature around me, like I take for granted the hawk & the sparrow, dipping and diving and dancing in the sky. There is so much more than riding in circles, so much more than educating and moving from one day to the next in search of the dollar and getting things done. I do notice. I notice when my own herd comes thundering across the pasture with the water colour sky behind them, and I stop, and I look, and I listen, and I know how lucky I am. I know this is off topic, and hardly what you may have expected to come here and find, but what the heck, this is my journal, these are my thoughts, and I hope everyone reading this can take a moment if you haven't lately and notice. Just notice a little something beautiful, and appreciate for just a moment that you can.

Where Does the Time Go?

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:03:33 -0400

Danza is doing very well. I removed her sutures 2 days ago and the incision is closing up nicely. Her trach hole is nothing but a small scab and some scar tissue under the skin - a bit deformed, hopefully it will shape up as time goes by, but I guess we'll see. Not all went as planned - the Friday night after surgery she managed to get rid of her trach, and it so far has not been recovered. I would be THRILLED if someone came up with a metal detector to help with that task! Fortunately she didn't apparently need it anymore. I still have her by herself in the front pasture until the incision is completely healed, then she will go back out with the herd. She will be thrilled, I am sure.

Oh yeah, there are other horses on the place, too! Samurai is a super cool dude who was basically broke after 3 rides. He has been all over the neighbourhood alone and accompanied, I was opening gates off his back after 4 rides. His girl was out last week and rode him and it went very well, and on that day I learned that she is taking lessons from Laura, and she rides Django! And loves him Peppy has gotten over his rodeos and we are now riding out and about. He has been most excellent, with only a little bit of breaking gate the first time out and a bit strong on the bit the first lope, but otherwise great with traffic, the dog, ATV's, etc. Oh, and perpetual infatuation with food. John - did you meet John, my 18 year old student? - has gotten over his herdboundness at least for the most part, he is good by himself if a little slow leaving home, doesn't throw fits anymore and rides home on a loose rein. Dakota was a long process but we are finally in the saddle and have moved him out at a trot in the round pen, and loaded in the trailer. Hopefully we will be loping today and will keep working on loading. Firecat went home a couple weeks ago with sore feet, diagnosis uncertain, as per vet's advice. I haven't heard from them since he was delivered, but he is supposed to come back when he is sound.

I have received 3 of the next session's horses: Beau & Charlie from Turtleford area, a pair of 3 year old QH geldings, very nice, halter broke, not handled much. Charlie seemed to be handled more but Beau seems to have a nicer attitude & shows more progress already. Of course, I don't actually know who is Beau and who is Charlie, so I have designated Charlie the roan and Beau the brown, because I once knew a roan Charlie and Beau is more like my friend (and, I just realized, I also once had a friend named Beau Brown... so obviously...); Ricochet (who will herein be known as Chet... another of these names that should not be given to a horse... taking off madly in some random direction, predictable only by the expert ) is a 3 year old Morgan/Canadian gelding hailing from Edmonton (but more recently south of Saskatoon) who has had a fair bit of work both in harness and under saddle but is VERY nervous and had a wreck with a vehicle so has been designated saddle horse prospect. He is big and he knows it and we are in the round pen working on a little "pay attention" and "I'm in charge".

Stone is still here and looking fabulous. I should really be taking new pictures of HIM. Not sure what the plan is for him, I have asked his owners to come pick him up, but they might just as soon sell him locally. It is up in the air. In the meantime, he is keeping the front yard mowed and being a fine looking lawn ornament indeed, one of these days I hope to find some time to ride him.