I'm not going to lie, I was kind of sweating it getting back into the english saddle.
As y'all know, I was finally able to get my hands on an affordable, nice, WIDE close contact, an HDR Rivella, which far exceeded my expectations for quality (which are ridiculously high!).
Sadly for us, Chev has gotten so fat over the winter that none of her girths fit her anymore. We had one shaky, wobbly ride in the saddle, since I was only able to get the darn thing up 1 hole on each side.
It was pretty discouraging.
I should also mention that I've become very comfortable in the El Dorado training saddle. I feel a little over-confident, like I can't come off--which of course isn't true--but it's solid enough that I don't feel nervous at all about climbing up there.
The english saddle is another story.
What's that, nothing around me? Nothing to wrap the leadrope around? No swells? No slouching? Nothing??
It all made for a pretty nervous me. I am comfortable in that western saddle. I feel safe there.
My nervousness was combined with the stress of a horse that doesn't tie on the washrack anymore for tacking up (for now).
So I tried to wear my thick cotton breeches from highschool--nope! Not gonna work anymore--well, that was 10 years ago--found my stretchy lightweight riding tights instead, yanked on my boots, which, I might add, are getting awfully tight in the calf, grabbed my saddle and my new girth extender (Yay Chev! We both got chubby this winter), and drove on out there.
Tied pony up, brushed pony out, led pony to car where saddle was, tacked up, booted up, and headed to the arena for a quick lunge session.
Chev hates switching between saddles. She's always been like this. I think she gets annoyed when her routine changes, and part of that is that her routine really hasn't changed much over the last few years. So I wanted to make sure she figured out the different feel of the english saddle on the lunge line before I climbed my wimpy self up there.
She was fine lunging, so I bridled her (with her western snaffle bridle--ugh, I hate mix-and-match tack, but I wasn't going to take the time to untie the bit from all the goofy western ties and pop it on her english bridle), and climbed on up there.
My goodness, did that saddle feel small.
It has literally been a year since I've really ridden in a close contact saddle.
I really forgot how much work it was.
But Chevy settled right down and I remembered how much easier it is to give cues, re-balance the horse, and feel everything that's going on.
And I daresay I settled right in, too!
I've always thought there was something sort of glamorous about a well-turned out hunter hack.
A polished, solid, pleasant horse, a lovely saddle, and a well turned out rider with gloves and hat.
We definitely did not look like that.
But, I got some of the best trot out of her that I've had in a while.
And we did some gymnastics with poles and a little pile of logs in the arena that's used as a trail prop.
Chev did have about 3 "hind end failures" (as my old trainer used to call them) where her back end gave out mid-stride--I'm noticing this a little bit lately and I think it's a lack of strength back there. We really interrupted her whole training routine this winter, and it's meant a big loss of strength for both of us. To her immense credit, she recovered from every stumble gracefully with nary a squeal, which is a long way from how she was a year ago! She hates to take a mis-step. I need to work more on spiraling in and out, hip-in, two tracking, etc to help strengthen up that stifle area. We did a fair amount of that too today--working on refining the cues for shoulder, side pass, and hip.
She seemed to really enjoy cantering over the logs, and I felt secure by that point in the saddle, remembering my "hunt seat legs" and my center of gravity, could count her canter strides well, adjust them as necessary to get her up and over the little log jump.
So, maybe there are some jumps in our future after all!
I would be thrilled if my little western pony wanted to get into some little hunter jumps.
So it was a great day today. I brought my camera, but of course I forgot to take any photos. Suffice to say she still resembles a hairy moose...but she is slowly shedding a bit and I hope to be back to her dark, lustrous liver-chestnut coat soon!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Better and better
Okay, so things pretty much went as-planned today.
I tied her up in her paddock, brushed her out, booted her up and straight to the roundpen we went.
Almost.
She refused to go in said roundpen, because as I mentioned before, shooting backwards is her new answer to everything.
My immediate response was to make her work. Disclaimer: I never like to work a horse before they've had a warm-up. Just like an athlete, it's always best to start slow and then build up the workout. But in this case, she just needed to move, NOW. So when she shot backwards, I pushed her into a circle with the leadrope and the lunge whip and around she went. Still no go. So I "lunged" her again, and after two tries of that, she walked right in with me.
Whew.
I had her work hard enough in the roundpen to get all her attention back to me, and then I spent 10 minutes just doing stretching exercises with her until she was giving to pressure easily.
The ride was good. She feels unbalanced, of course, since I've been really inconsistent with my riding lately, but we did a lot of shoulder-ins and moving the hip in one step at the walk. I really avoid lateral work--I used to think that I just hated doing it, but lately I've realized that I really avoid it because it hurts my hip.
Oh, the hip. I managed to tear a ligament in my hip while jogging when I was in highschool. I am always really aware when I'm riding of how much more stiff and closed my right hip is compared to my left. This is really unfortunate for a lot of reasons.
When riding, one of the major goals is to be as straight and balanced as possible. Good communication is much easier when the cues are even on both sides of the horse.
Unfortunately for me (and my horse), I'm crooked all the time. Because my right hip flexor doesn't work as well, I don't sit as deeply or move as flexibly in the saddle on the right side.
Bummer.
I think I'll write more about imbalance later.
Anyway, we did a lot of lateral work (all I could handle) and I spent the whole last 20 minutes of cool-out riding with one hand and trying to give her all the signals with my legs and seat. What an exercise! It really shows you how much (or little--in my case much!) you rely on the reins to get your directions and movements.
Man are my legs sore now.
I did hose her off after the ride with hardly a look from her at the hose (which was the source of this whole pulling back problem we're having, ironically!). It's been 70 and HOT in Wyo lately, and she seemed to appreciate the hose down. I brushed her out and put her up, and both she and Speedy got quite a few carrots.
I also bought a girth extender for my English saddle, because Ms. Chubby outgrew all of my girths.
I'm hoping to get out there tomorrow too...stay tuned for how well that plan turns out!
I tied her up in her paddock, brushed her out, booted her up and straight to the roundpen we went.
Almost.
She refused to go in said roundpen, because as I mentioned before, shooting backwards is her new answer to everything.
My immediate response was to make her work. Disclaimer: I never like to work a horse before they've had a warm-up. Just like an athlete, it's always best to start slow and then build up the workout. But in this case, she just needed to move, NOW. So when she shot backwards, I pushed her into a circle with the leadrope and the lunge whip and around she went. Still no go. So I "lunged" her again, and after two tries of that, she walked right in with me.
Whew.
I had her work hard enough in the roundpen to get all her attention back to me, and then I spent 10 minutes just doing stretching exercises with her until she was giving to pressure easily.
The ride was good. She feels unbalanced, of course, since I've been really inconsistent with my riding lately, but we did a lot of shoulder-ins and moving the hip in one step at the walk. I really avoid lateral work--I used to think that I just hated doing it, but lately I've realized that I really avoid it because it hurts my hip.
Oh, the hip. I managed to tear a ligament in my hip while jogging when I was in highschool. I am always really aware when I'm riding of how much more stiff and closed my right hip is compared to my left. This is really unfortunate for a lot of reasons.
When riding, one of the major goals is to be as straight and balanced as possible. Good communication is much easier when the cues are even on both sides of the horse.
Unfortunately for me (and my horse), I'm crooked all the time. Because my right hip flexor doesn't work as well, I don't sit as deeply or move as flexibly in the saddle on the right side.
Bummer.
I think I'll write more about imbalance later.
Anyway, we did a lot of lateral work (all I could handle) and I spent the whole last 20 minutes of cool-out riding with one hand and trying to give her all the signals with my legs and seat. What an exercise! It really shows you how much (or little--in my case much!) you rely on the reins to get your directions and movements.
Man are my legs sore now.
I did hose her off after the ride with hardly a look from her at the hose (which was the source of this whole pulling back problem we're having, ironically!). It's been 70 and HOT in Wyo lately, and she seemed to appreciate the hose down. I brushed her out and put her up, and both she and Speedy got quite a few carrots.
I also bought a girth extender for my English saddle, because Ms. Chubby outgrew all of my girths.
I'm hoping to get out there tomorrow too...stay tuned for how well that plan turns out!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday: the day where nothing goes as planned
Well, high wind warning + cramps = I didn't get out to the barn today. Bummer.
On the upside, I finally have a plan.
Whenever the weather permits, here is what I am going to do.
1. Drive to barn. Or, get gas first. Whatever. Drive to barn.
2. Take brush out of front seat, tie Chev in her pen, brush her out. Put boots on.
3. Straight to roundpen for some much need groundwork (see last post).
4. Straight to tack shed. Saddle.
5. Ride the ever loving bajesus out of her. It's time to stop treating her like a 3 year old.
6. Nice long cool out, maybe hit the trail.
7. Put horse up.
8. Drive home.
For now I'm just going to completely avoid the wash rack. I'm not going to make a big bloody deal of it, and just move forward. I think if I can fix some of the other little things it will cease to be an issue. What I don't want is a big fight every time I come out, so I'm just going to ignore it for now.
Plus, when something like this crops up I tend to forget all about the many awesome things she does. Like for example: She has had 2 rides in the last three weeks, due to my vacation and other things. When I rode her the other day she was wonderful, despite a loud and very near tractor dragging a pen right on the other side of the low arena fence, a squealing, crazy Arabian flipping out on the lunge in the arena next door, wind, and all kinds of other distractions. She was calm, focused, and didn't flick an ear as we loped by just a couple of feet from the tractor. She picked up both leads without a hitch, and she was so balanced I even forgot we were on her "bad" lead several times. So I have a lot to be thankful for. I think I'm just a lot better at fixing problems in the saddle than on the ground.
So, here's hoping.
On the upside, I finally have a plan.
Whenever the weather permits, here is what I am going to do.
1. Drive to barn. Or, get gas first. Whatever. Drive to barn.
2. Take brush out of front seat, tie Chev in her pen, brush her out. Put boots on.
3. Straight to roundpen for some much need groundwork (see last post).
4. Straight to tack shed. Saddle.
5. Ride the ever loving bajesus out of her. It's time to stop treating her like a 3 year old.
6. Nice long cool out, maybe hit the trail.
7. Put horse up.
8. Drive home.
For now I'm just going to completely avoid the wash rack. I'm not going to make a big bloody deal of it, and just move forward. I think if I can fix some of the other little things it will cease to be an issue. What I don't want is a big fight every time I come out, so I'm just going to ignore it for now.
Plus, when something like this crops up I tend to forget all about the many awesome things she does. Like for example: She has had 2 rides in the last three weeks, due to my vacation and other things. When I rode her the other day she was wonderful, despite a loud and very near tractor dragging a pen right on the other side of the low arena fence, a squealing, crazy Arabian flipping out on the lunge in the arena next door, wind, and all kinds of other distractions. She was calm, focused, and didn't flick an ear as we loped by just a couple of feet from the tractor. She picked up both leads without a hitch, and she was so balanced I even forgot we were on her "bad" lead several times. So I have a lot to be thankful for. I think I'm just a lot better at fixing problems in the saddle than on the ground.
So, here's hoping.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Good day/Bad day
I definitely lost my temper with Chev today.
Sigh.
She has very rapidly developed one of my most-hated vices. After a terrifying incident with a hose the other day (ie, I turned it on and she lost her marbles), she has decided that pulling back is the answer to everything while tied.
I was really hoping that when this cropped up for the first time a few days ago that would be the end of it. She pulled back, she pulled back harder, she pulled back as hard she she could until the halter dug into her little ears and then she stopped. And she was fine. She did not try it again that day.
So that was four days ago. I haven't been out to see her since then because my SO had surgery and I've been stuck at home doing the nurse thing.
Today, I get her out, tie her at the wash rack (which is actually just a hitching post outside with rubber mats because I don't trust her in cross ties), which is where she has been tied every time since I moved her here EIGHT MONTHS AGO, and she starts getting all fidgety and starts to pull back again. I talk her through it, and re-tie her with one of those ties that's just a wrap around the pole so if she pulls back again no knots will get stuck. She doesn't. But I can tell she really wants to. I figure some work will get her mind back.
We actually have a really stellar ride. She is balanced, I really work on being straight in the saddle. It was great. I take her back to the wash rack.
She starts getting all squirrely, doesn't want to go in the corner, pushes her shoulder all over me, it's a nightmare.
She pulls back as hard as she can.
Long story short, it ends with my hands bleeding, her being hit quite a few times with the lead rope as she tries to freight-train over me, and her deciding that she's just going to shoot backwards whenever I try to lead her anywhere. Making her back up more when she goes backwards does nothing. She likes going backwards. I am swearing, bleeding, huffing and puffing. I've made it all worse.
I really hate her at this point.
Then an idea comes to me. A much better idea. An idea that doesn't involve me yelling, slapping, getting run over, or further tearing up my hands.
So I hustle her over to the round pen, which is about 8 horselengths from the wash rack.
And I make her work. HARD. She runs and runs until she has sweat dripping off her neck.
Then I snap on her lead rope and take her back to the wash rack. I am completely calm and neutral. She slams on the breaks before we get there, so I about face her and back in the round pen she goes.
I make sure she does at least 10 laps at the canter both directions before we try again.
Basically just repeat this about 15 times. I didn't know my horse had that much stamina. I also felt a lot more calm by this point, since watching your horse go around and around you in circles has sort of a therapeutic effect somehow. Plus I was thinking, Ha ha, sucker, who's huffing and puffing NOW?
Finally we get to the point where she realizes that if she just steps up to the wash rack, she gets a good long rest. Wash rack = happy place, rest. Pulling back = roundpen, hard work.
I did try tying her when I got her on the rack--big mistake, she pulled backwards before I even had it tied and it was right back in the round pen for her. And 10 laps each way. I figured I had to make it really clear that it was the pulling back I was punishing, not anything else.
A couple more goes and I had her standing quietly on the wash rack again. I didn't tie her, just let her sit there and air up some. She seemed calm and actually, pretty relaxed.
It's been really warm here--T-shirt weather--and very breezy, so she wasn't super wet but she was hot. I threw my bareback pad and a bridle on her and we went to walk around the arena for half an hour until her chest was cool and her nostrils were no longer flared.
After that I took her straight back to her pen and brushed all the salt off of her coat out there. We bypassed the wash rack completely for now. I felt like I had made my point, and the last thing I wanted to do was start that whole cycle over again.
ARGH, I am just so frustrated! I was hoping this was a habit she'd NEVER pick up. I think from here on out I'll try to stick with my plan though. The second she tries any pulling back she'll go into the round pen. That way I don't lose my temper and she gets to associate the wash rack with a good place to be again.
On a related note, I have not been pushing her hard enough. I think this latest problem stems from me not being assertive enough. She is still a dream to ride (because I don't allow her to get the better of me in the saddle--EVER), but she's getting to be a nightmare on the ground--she's lost a lot of her respect for my position, and I think it's because I do the same thing every time: Snap her on the lunge line, she goes around for a few minutes, I ask her to walk, trot, canter, halt, both directions, that's it. No groundwork (which I sort of hate, so no real huge surprise there), no real insistence that she obey what I'm asking her to do or that she do anything complicated. She's learned to sort of ignore me. So it's time to step that up a notch.
Now that the weather's getting better, maybe I can make up for these things I've let slide or lost over the winter.
Sigh.
She has very rapidly developed one of my most-hated vices. After a terrifying incident with a hose the other day (ie, I turned it on and she lost her marbles), she has decided that pulling back is the answer to everything while tied.
I was really hoping that when this cropped up for the first time a few days ago that would be the end of it. She pulled back, she pulled back harder, she pulled back as hard she she could until the halter dug into her little ears and then she stopped. And she was fine. She did not try it again that day.
So that was four days ago. I haven't been out to see her since then because my SO had surgery and I've been stuck at home doing the nurse thing.
Today, I get her out, tie her at the wash rack (which is actually just a hitching post outside with rubber mats because I don't trust her in cross ties), which is where she has been tied every time since I moved her here EIGHT MONTHS AGO, and she starts getting all fidgety and starts to pull back again. I talk her through it, and re-tie her with one of those ties that's just a wrap around the pole so if she pulls back again no knots will get stuck. She doesn't. But I can tell she really wants to. I figure some work will get her mind back.
We actually have a really stellar ride. She is balanced, I really work on being straight in the saddle. It was great. I take her back to the wash rack.
She starts getting all squirrely, doesn't want to go in the corner, pushes her shoulder all over me, it's a nightmare.
She pulls back as hard as she can.
Long story short, it ends with my hands bleeding, her being hit quite a few times with the lead rope as she tries to freight-train over me, and her deciding that she's just going to shoot backwards whenever I try to lead her anywhere. Making her back up more when she goes backwards does nothing. She likes going backwards. I am swearing, bleeding, huffing and puffing. I've made it all worse.
I really hate her at this point.
Then an idea comes to me. A much better idea. An idea that doesn't involve me yelling, slapping, getting run over, or further tearing up my hands.
So I hustle her over to the round pen, which is about 8 horselengths from the wash rack.
And I make her work. HARD. She runs and runs until she has sweat dripping off her neck.
Then I snap on her lead rope and take her back to the wash rack. I am completely calm and neutral. She slams on the breaks before we get there, so I about face her and back in the round pen she goes.
I make sure she does at least 10 laps at the canter both directions before we try again.
Basically just repeat this about 15 times. I didn't know my horse had that much stamina. I also felt a lot more calm by this point, since watching your horse go around and around you in circles has sort of a therapeutic effect somehow. Plus I was thinking, Ha ha, sucker, who's huffing and puffing NOW?
Finally we get to the point where she realizes that if she just steps up to the wash rack, she gets a good long rest. Wash rack = happy place, rest. Pulling back = roundpen, hard work.
I did try tying her when I got her on the rack--big mistake, she pulled backwards before I even had it tied and it was right back in the round pen for her. And 10 laps each way. I figured I had to make it really clear that it was the pulling back I was punishing, not anything else.
A couple more goes and I had her standing quietly on the wash rack again. I didn't tie her, just let her sit there and air up some. She seemed calm and actually, pretty relaxed.
It's been really warm here--T-shirt weather--and very breezy, so she wasn't super wet but she was hot. I threw my bareback pad and a bridle on her and we went to walk around the arena for half an hour until her chest was cool and her nostrils were no longer flared.
After that I took her straight back to her pen and brushed all the salt off of her coat out there. We bypassed the wash rack completely for now. I felt like I had made my point, and the last thing I wanted to do was start that whole cycle over again.
ARGH, I am just so frustrated! I was hoping this was a habit she'd NEVER pick up. I think from here on out I'll try to stick with my plan though. The second she tries any pulling back she'll go into the round pen. That way I don't lose my temper and she gets to associate the wash rack with a good place to be again.
On a related note, I have not been pushing her hard enough. I think this latest problem stems from me not being assertive enough. She is still a dream to ride (because I don't allow her to get the better of me in the saddle--EVER), but she's getting to be a nightmare on the ground--she's lost a lot of her respect for my position, and I think it's because I do the same thing every time: Snap her on the lunge line, she goes around for a few minutes, I ask her to walk, trot, canter, halt, both directions, that's it. No groundwork (which I sort of hate, so no real huge surprise there), no real insistence that she obey what I'm asking her to do or that she do anything complicated. She's learned to sort of ignore me. So it's time to step that up a notch.
Now that the weather's getting better, maybe I can make up for these things I've let slide or lost over the winter.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Shameless plug
For my new Etsy page!
I know it's not horse related, but it kind of is, indirectly, because if I sell work than both the horse AND I get to eat.
Please check it out!
clicky ---> M Andrews Gallery on Etsy
There's not a lot of content yet, but I should be adding more soon!
I know it's not horse related, but it kind of is, indirectly, because if I sell work than both the horse AND I get to eat.
Please check it out!
clicky ---> M Andrews Gallery on Etsy
There's not a lot of content yet, but I should be adding more soon!
Big bad life woes!
I think there may be some big changes on the horizon.
I am struggling with a desire to move back to my homeland. I deeply miss my family and my close friends, my art connections, my equine connections and the availability of good jobs.
I know this is going to come as a shock to many of you--but I am really, truly, a very poor artist. While it's great to not have a day job (haven't had much luck in finding one, actually, in this bustling metropolis of 6,000), it's not great having no money.
Plus, I miss my farrier.
I know that last thing is something only horse owners will understand.
Anyway.
All this has combined to make me feel sort of down in the dumps lately. As I mentioned last time, I just returned from a lovely visit back home, where I remembered all the reasons I love Oregon. I can deal with the rain. Seriously.
But there are bills bills bills, student loans to be paid, etc, etc, etc. Sometimes I feel like there isn't any way out of it all. And then I think I'm being ridiculous. Because of course there is. I just need to find a job.
My work experience so far has been eclectic. I am highly skilled in high pressure and customer service type positions. I worked for 3 years in a high profile, high stress medical testing laboratory, where I climbed quickly through the ranks of temp-hire to workflow coordinator. Did I like it? Heck no. I was exhausted every day. But I had a lot of money in the bank. And there were a few things I did enjoy. I loved helping people. I loved working hard. And I loved making sure everything was done RIGHT.
I decided in the end that the stress was getting to be too much though, and transitioned into a veterinary receptionist position at (probably) the most expensive clinic in town. I learned that people pretty much trample you when you're a receptionist. Most of our clients were great, but there were some who thought anyone who was wearing a receptionist tag was a doormat. I learned the finer points of client services finesse while at that job.
Plus, you have to have a little finesse when you're delivering a $6000 bill.
And darn it, I was great at my job. If you'd been in the hospital in the last few weeks, I knew who you and your pet were, what you wanted and how I could help you before you even opened the door to come in. I was that good. And we had hundreds of clients.
But after about 3 years of some great times, some terrible times, and a whole lot of heartbreak, since it turns out I'm just not able to deal with euths on a daily basis, I moved to Wyoming.
Well, to clarify, I'm able to deal with the heartbreak as it's happening, but not when I'd come home to my kitties and stare at the wall for hours. That stuff just isn't healthy. Plus, I kinda had to stop at 3 cats, and it's pretty impossible to not accumulate animals when you work at a clinic.
I wanted to simplify my life. And boy howdy, I got simple.
So now that I've had simple, I kind of want a little more complicated. Like maybe a town that has more than 5 restaurants.
But MOVING is complicated.
I have 2 kitties who are mine--err, I'm theirs--err whatever--Chat and Muffin--and one big, expensive horse. Naturally there's no question about them coming with me. I will drag them all over this darn nation if I have to.
It will be about $800 to ship Chevy back to Oregon.
Somewhere around $700 to rent a moving truck that will fit my stuff and is capable of pulling my little car.
Another $600 in fuel for said moving truck.
So what're we at now? 'Bout $2100 to start?
I need to sell some paintings. Seriously people, I'm kind of desperate here.
Take a gander over at my webby: www.mandrewsgallery.com
I do custom work as well, and I'm very flexible on prices. I have clients all over the US, but times are tough and it's hard to make connections in my little town. If you've ever thought about having a drawing of your pony, now's a great time! I'm just finishing up a logo project this weekend and then I'm wide open.
Help me feel like my advanced degree in art was worth it :)
Speaking of money drains, here are a couple pics of Chev from today.
At least I'm not the only one who's getting a little tubby this winter.
I am struggling with a desire to move back to my homeland. I deeply miss my family and my close friends, my art connections, my equine connections and the availability of good jobs.
I know this is going to come as a shock to many of you--but I am really, truly, a very poor artist. While it's great to not have a day job (haven't had much luck in finding one, actually, in this bustling metropolis of 6,000), it's not great having no money.
Plus, I miss my farrier.
I know that last thing is something only horse owners will understand.
Anyway.
All this has combined to make me feel sort of down in the dumps lately. As I mentioned last time, I just returned from a lovely visit back home, where I remembered all the reasons I love Oregon. I can deal with the rain. Seriously.
But there are bills bills bills, student loans to be paid, etc, etc, etc. Sometimes I feel like there isn't any way out of it all. And then I think I'm being ridiculous. Because of course there is. I just need to find a job.
My work experience so far has been eclectic. I am highly skilled in high pressure and customer service type positions. I worked for 3 years in a high profile, high stress medical testing laboratory, where I climbed quickly through the ranks of temp-hire to workflow coordinator. Did I like it? Heck no. I was exhausted every day. But I had a lot of money in the bank. And there were a few things I did enjoy. I loved helping people. I loved working hard. And I loved making sure everything was done RIGHT.
I decided in the end that the stress was getting to be too much though, and transitioned into a veterinary receptionist position at (probably) the most expensive clinic in town. I learned that people pretty much trample you when you're a receptionist. Most of our clients were great, but there were some who thought anyone who was wearing a receptionist tag was a doormat. I learned the finer points of client services finesse while at that job.
Plus, you have to have a little finesse when you're delivering a $6000 bill.
And darn it, I was great at my job. If you'd been in the hospital in the last few weeks, I knew who you and your pet were, what you wanted and how I could help you before you even opened the door to come in. I was that good. And we had hundreds of clients.
But after about 3 years of some great times, some terrible times, and a whole lot of heartbreak, since it turns out I'm just not able to deal with euths on a daily basis, I moved to Wyoming.
Well, to clarify, I'm able to deal with the heartbreak as it's happening, but not when I'd come home to my kitties and stare at the wall for hours. That stuff just isn't healthy. Plus, I kinda had to stop at 3 cats, and it's pretty impossible to not accumulate animals when you work at a clinic.
I wanted to simplify my life. And boy howdy, I got simple.
So now that I've had simple, I kind of want a little more complicated. Like maybe a town that has more than 5 restaurants.
But MOVING is complicated.
I have 2 kitties who are mine--err, I'm theirs--err whatever--Chat and Muffin--and one big, expensive horse. Naturally there's no question about them coming with me. I will drag them all over this darn nation if I have to.
Here's Chaton
Here's the Fluff Man
Of course you already know the Queen Bee
It will be about $800 to ship Chevy back to Oregon.
Somewhere around $700 to rent a moving truck that will fit my stuff and is capable of pulling my little car.
Another $600 in fuel for said moving truck.
So what're we at now? 'Bout $2100 to start?
I need to sell some paintings. Seriously people, I'm kind of desperate here.
Take a gander over at my webby: www.mandrewsgallery.com
Bolt, an APHA--an example of a $150 drawing.
I do custom work as well, and I'm very flexible on prices. I have clients all over the US, but times are tough and it's hard to make connections in my little town. If you've ever thought about having a drawing of your pony, now's a great time! I'm just finishing up a logo project this weekend and then I'm wide open.
Plains Storm #2
Wyoming Painting
Help me feel like my advanced degree in art was worth it :)
Speaking of money drains, here are a couple pics of Chev from today.
At least I'm not the only one who's getting a little tubby this winter.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Back in the saddle, and some thoughts on (de)worming
Well, I'm back. Finally. After a lengthy hiatus. I successfully orchestrated (with a little help from my brother) a surprise trip back to Oregon for my mom's birthday, and just got back yesterday. Lord, do I miss the Pacific Northwest. I visited Whole Foods. I ate tons of sushi. I went to bars that were non-smoking. It was amazing.
It is getting harder and harder for me to leave and come back again. But that's a story for another blog.
So I was able to ride for the first time in about two weeks today. The weird thing about being gone is how quickly I slip back into what a life without horses could be. But she is always in my mind, and it was wonderful to see her again.
It always amazes me how quickly Chev gets completely out of shape. It isn't that she forgets things (necessarily), she just loses some of her strength that makes her canter nice and even, and her other gaits cadenced. So. I noticed that right off the bat.
We had a large herd of antelope cross the road and jump some fences, and that was more than enough excitement to get her tail flagged.
Afterwards, it was time for her bi-monthly deworming. I'm from a wet area, so I believe in and grew up with rotational or feed-thru worming. I grumbled something about my dewormer only going up to 1,100 pounds, and the barn owner responded with:
"How often do you do that?"
"Every two months," I said.
"Well I only worm once a year. They don't really need more than that." She then proceeded (as per usual) to make me feel like my way was wrong, stating that it's a waste of money, that you can tell by looking at poop and hair coat, etc, etc, etc.
I said I'd keep to my schedule.
Having known horses who succumbed to dangers of lackluster or non-existent deworming programs, I believe in sticking to it. In fact, I'd wager that good deworming programs are largely to thank for the greatly increased average equine lifespan over the last 20 years.
I also worked in a vet clinic, and saw plenty of nasty parasites--and I know enough to know that most aren't visible to the naked eye. And if they are, boy howdy do you have a BIG problem!
I order my deworming packs ahead of time through horse.com and write the month on them in sharpie to help me remember. And with my old guy, I had fecal tests done to make sure my deworming schedule was working. The vet was surprised to find not a single ova in his sample the last time I had one run, but I have yet to do one on Chevy.
So how do you feel about deworming schedules? Do you stick to an every-two-monther, or do you just deworm when you remember?
It is getting harder and harder for me to leave and come back again. But that's a story for another blog.
So I was able to ride for the first time in about two weeks today. The weird thing about being gone is how quickly I slip back into what a life without horses could be. But she is always in my mind, and it was wonderful to see her again.
It always amazes me how quickly Chev gets completely out of shape. It isn't that she forgets things (necessarily), she just loses some of her strength that makes her canter nice and even, and her other gaits cadenced. So. I noticed that right off the bat.
We had a large herd of antelope cross the road and jump some fences, and that was more than enough excitement to get her tail flagged.
Afterwards, it was time for her bi-monthly deworming. I'm from a wet area, so I believe in and grew up with rotational or feed-thru worming. I grumbled something about my dewormer only going up to 1,100 pounds, and the barn owner responded with:
"How often do you do that?"
"Every two months," I said.
"Well I only worm once a year. They don't really need more than that." She then proceeded (as per usual) to make me feel like my way was wrong, stating that it's a waste of money, that you can tell by looking at poop and hair coat, etc, etc, etc.
I said I'd keep to my schedule.
Having known horses who succumbed to dangers of lackluster or non-existent deworming programs, I believe in sticking to it. In fact, I'd wager that good deworming programs are largely to thank for the greatly increased average equine lifespan over the last 20 years.
I also worked in a vet clinic, and saw plenty of nasty parasites--and I know enough to know that most aren't visible to the naked eye. And if they are, boy howdy do you have a BIG problem!
I order my deworming packs ahead of time through horse.com and write the month on them in sharpie to help me remember. And with my old guy, I had fecal tests done to make sure my deworming schedule was working. The vet was surprised to find not a single ova in his sample the last time I had one run, but I have yet to do one on Chevy.
So how do you feel about deworming schedules? Do you stick to an every-two-monther, or do you just deworm when you remember?
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