The Ramblings of an Artistic Equestrian

I might just start doing my horse's feet again.



Jasper and Zeke went eight weeks between trims. Technically Zeke had a touch-up trim abojt four or five weeks, but Jasper hadn't been touched for eight weeks because I kept waiting on FarrierChris to stick with a day/time and show up.

He charges $65 for the small horses, $75 or $80 for the big ones and more if they're being jerks. Last time he charged $120 for Jasper's wiggling. I still had to hold him, too. So I'm spending money, but also losing time having to hold horses. My current rate for private lessons is $65. If I have a group lesson with two people in it I make $70 and I will do up to four in a group. Basically a roundabout way of saying if I have to hold a horse I'm out over $120, and if I have to hold a horse who wiggles it pushes $180+ because I'm not working for that hour plus and I'm paying someone else to do it.

I managed Jasper's front feet in a little under an hour. He wiggles and moves, but he isn't really bad. It would take me 30 minutes if he STOOD STILL, I'm sure, but whatever. I don't have to have someone hold him and I do it by myself. I'll do his back feet another day and I'll still be ahead if it takes me an hour to do those, which it shouldn't.

I could save $500 or more a month doing it myself. Small horses take me about 30-45 minutes, the big ones an hour and a halfish, depending on how well they stand. The three small horses would be about a two hour commitment. The four drafts about six to eight. Less than 10 hours in a month. If I didn't have to hold the big ones for ChrisFarrier I would be ahead having him do it, but I have been holding them so I'm losing that time anyway. Might as well just go full bore, right?

We'll see.

Jasper got a ride from Megan this morning and later I harnessed him up.



Tristan and I took Jasper across the way to work. We started with the false shafts, Jasper was a little touchy on the left, but not terrible. I had forgotten the pull rope for the tire so I brought the sledge around. He stood as I dropped the heel chains, but we weren't close enough so I pulled the sledge forward and he did not like the sound of it and scuttled forward a bit, which meant I dropped the singletree with a BANG and that worried him further so Tristan got to lift and drop the singletree over and over again until Jasper relaxed. I am going to try and do driving stuff with him all this week.

I tidied up his feet a bit after we worked him and used the HoofJack. Even though he didn't do the best with it, it was easier to manage his feet with the stand and I appreciated him not standing on my knee to rasp his feet!



I played with the wheel guards Anita made me. I put one set on Zeke's and the other set on Jasper's bridles. The idea is to keep the metal off the horse's face and to distribute the pressure so you don't end up with just the rim of the wheel pushing in.



Jasper has inherited the boots I got for Talon last year. We have gotten Talon's flares under better control so she shrunk out of them! Thankfully they fit Jasper. Jasper does need some bell boots as he keeps clipping his right hind with his left hind hoof, poor klutzy guy. I may look into some Vitamin E supplements for him.

Jasper had his first trail ride Wednesday.



I even managed to take a picture.

He loaded up easy and came out of the trailer aware, but not stressed. Nelson met me and tacked up Kitt. He got ready first because Jasper is huge and the Easyboot Epics are the bane of my existence to get on Jasper's feet. Nelson took Kitt out of sight around the trailer and Jasper didn't even notice. He was a little confused about me using a bench to get on, but eventually stood still so I could swing up. He was a little looky and I had to keep him mindful of the fence as we left the parking lot as he was busy taking in the sights.

We took the usual Moonlight to San Tan to Service Road route. Jasper put on the brakes and stared at the first dip in the trail, but only needed mild encouragement to tackle the obstacle. He trotted out of it, whichn if I'm honest, just about every horse trots that dip. There is something about the slope and depth that encourages even seasoned horses to trot through. Kitt lead out and Jasper was content to mosey behind and take in the sights. We saw a couple of hikers which Jasper gave a passing glance to. H handled the "roller coaster" dips and hills really well without rushing. When we swung around to the Horse Eating Boulder he stared and requestred an extra three foot berth, which I allowed. Some horses give This Boulder That Does Not Belong a serious spook and carry on about its Otherness. The second, smaller boulder solicited a snort, but he stayed on track.

We had to teot to catch up with Kitt a couple times and he cane nicely back down each time.

His one "spook" consisted of a blow and some trotted steps until I spun him around and we saw the bikes coming up behind us. We pulled the horses off the trail to let them pass and Jasper was fine.

Jasper took the lead for a little and was a bit extra aware out front, but did well. Kitt overtook us at some point and Jasper decided he needed to pee and promptly parked himself and went rather than thinking about it off and on before committing as some do.

I was super pleased with how he did for his first time out. I hope to be able to get out a couple times a month if not weekly. It just takes beating my schedule into submission.

I've missed riding with Nelson, he's a good guy and has a lot of interesting stories.

Another week and some more new clients. I need to sit down and catch up on my bookkeeping. I also need to count how many students I'm teaching in a week, it has to be getting past 40 because there's 17 (I think) just from the AFE classes.

Brielle was super helpful this week, especially yesterday. I was able to clear out and add at least a half ton of pea gravel to Kitt's stall. Hopefully it will help keep her stall dryer finally and help her feet continue to progress. I need to do the same for Jasper's stall as he has a nasty quagmire in his that need ssome serious help.

We've been putting Talon in the boarder area to help dry out HER feet and hopefully beat back the thrush. Her feet looked pretty awesome Friday after galavanting around the property. She even did a series of flying lead changes. Maybe some day we can get those on purpose and under saddle.

Friday I rode her and Tru-D. On Tru-D I said to heck with it and did some cantering. She really dove on the left lead, but after some purposeful canters her trot became less rushing, imagine that! She mostly comes off the seat to canter, which is nice, but she is still getring organized. I would like her further along at six, but that's okay, we'll get there. Note: more cantering.

Saturday I had rode both Jasper and Tru-D during lessons. Jasper was first. Our sheep neighbor was lungeing her gelding Wall-E since he had a couple weeks off. Jasper was very fascinated with what was going on and alternated between wanting to trot off towards them and standing and gawking. I lunged him briefly as the student warmed up and then climbed on. He was distracted, but not bad until it was too much. He jumped forward into a canter, did a little head toss and then was trotting. I responded by insisting he KEEP trotting and we cruised around for several minutes as the student worked on trotting and steering herself. He finally started asking about slowing down maybe? and we trotted a little bit more before calling it good.

Once that was out of his system he did really well. He is coming along nicely for a three year-old. It did get my adrenaline going a bit and my right leg was a little shaky when I adjusted my foot at one point. I worked through it and we survived. I still really trust him. He does tell you when something is starting to get overwhelming.

He also has a pretty nice trot even if he is a bit of a giant doofus and not the most gracefully athletic creature. The little bit of canter I felt was pretty good too!

My third lesson canceled so I gave everyone their good stuff and got Tru-D ready a smidge early before the last one at 10am.

I took her into the roundpen to start. I was determined we were going to work on the canter. I haven't cantered her since the middle of last year. It was possibly a year ago, actually. Winter was just busy and riding during lessons she wasn't feeling good enough to ask for it with a student around and my own nerves were at play too.

Her five yar-old year she had some recalcitrance that we had to work through, which mostly ended when she did that flying leap and I hopped off of her mid-shenanigans and then got back on. She's been doing really good the last few months though.

Anyway, we were in the roundpen and I had the dressage whip so I didn't have to disrupt my leg position to insist on the "go." She actually really surprised me. She eye-balled the jumps a bit, but other than that she came off my seat for the canter pretty much every time after her first "you want me to WHAT?!" She did lean towards the inside a bit on occasion, but did start to sit up a bit.

She does have a nice canter. It isn't super springy yet, but I think it is a good base that covers ground and is smooth and easy to sit. Aubrey was a bit late so Tru-D got a good amount of work in and was able to mostly chill as I worked with Aubrey and her mare Dot. Aubrey is a decent rider and she may put some rides on Tru-D for me in exchange for lessons. I just don't have time right now to put even three rides a week on Tru-D and she needs more than just a weekly ride from me. She isn't doing bad but I would like her to move forward a bit faster than I can manage to do with my limited time.

Monday after I finished with Moonie and Jolene went home we hooked up to the trailer and loaded Talon up. We took her down to Horseshoe Park and had the public arena all to ourselves. She was looky and aware, but quietly so.

After tacking up we took a walk around the arena in each direction before I climbed on. She wasn't fond of the trail course area and was a little suspiscious of the little substation thing that occasionally kicks on its A/C and makes a good amount of noise.

Once her head dropped a little we picked up a trot and cruised. She was occasionally backed of, especially towards the scary parts and then a couple of times she was a little strong, but stayed containable. Were I a little braver I might have suggested a canter, but not quite in a bit, open arena that she's never been in before!



It is a gorgeous arena with lovely footing. It also makes her look like a regular-sized horse. Ha!



Sunday we pulled out Zeke and we long-lined him a bit. He got to wear the new training breastcollar. I need to find some more hame straps and secure it better. It looks so cockeyed here. He did good walk and trot and he had a little attitude here and there, but not bad and well, he's a yearling and I think this was the second or third time long lining him.

I was quite proud of myself all four young horses got worked over the course of three days. Success!

I am oing to enjoy this week minus a training horse. The one who was next in line needs to hold off for a month or so as she just bought a house. I'll contact the next in line the end of the week and see if she's ready to go or needs to wait longer and then I need to check with the NEXT one in line. Holy cow! We'll see if they pan out or not.

Today I had Dolly and we were just going to do a loop around the neighborhood with the tire. She did alright for the first portion, but as we got closer to home she was jiggy and did not want to stand and I even dropped her bit to the curb setting instead of the snaffle to get her to back off my hands. There were so many circles and we passed her house a few dozen times until she felt somewhat reasonable so we swung in. Then she was jigging in the arena (the arena has a gate off property) and I finally was feeling done because sand is a pain in the butt to walk it. If she had the energy to be a goober hauling the tire she could haul my butt. I sat on the tire until she walked nicely, got off the tire, gave her the chance to walk nicely, got on the tire again, rinse and repeat. She was being so heavy my right ring finger went a bit numb. It's about back to normal now. I ended up working her over an hour and a half. I'm hoping she is a bit more humble for her second hook in the cart tomorrow.

I admit I hadn't believed Christy when she said Dolly could be a bit of a pill sometimes as I had never run into such a persistent streak of resistance with her in the year or so that I have been working with her off and on and the last six months of consistent work. No idea what was going on with her. She even did pretty good passing the herd of horses and ponies (about 8 from 10 hands to 16) that were galloping back and forth and snorting and calling to her.

I have a former client who does videography and might have some old equipment they are looking to move on. I finally finished editing the first video last week and sent it off. I need to shoot another one and need to try and get that done this week.

I also picked up another Scottsdale/Phoenix client. She was thinking of full training, but we'll try weekly sessions to start and go from there. Full training is typically faster and cheaper, but if she can put in the inbetween work it might work out in her favor. He is completely green and just lunges. I'll have my work cut out for me getting him driving. He's also still intact. I have another young mini stud I just started working with last week too.

Anyway, things to do!

Last night I dreamed of a dark god who retreated to the depths of the ocean to protect his monster daughter. He had the form of a dark, wraith-like shark with a hammer head whose form shifted slightly and was never quite solid as he moved. His minions or subjects were similar wraith-sharks.

Except his daughter wasn't quite a monster, or she also shifted and changed as the years went on. She was light and fair and had some features like a unicorn.



There was more to it, perhaps a prince professing his love and the daughter changing to live on land instead, but it is getting foggy now with just whisps and suggestions.

Last night we had a freeze. The water buckets are coated in slush. Perfect timing as Zeke was gelded Saturday and this should take out the few flies that were still hanging around. He and Jasper have been in the small turnout together and somehow managed to push the buffer gate shut and lock themselves into the small area between the arena and the larger area of the small turnout. Knuckleheads. I secured the swinging panel this morning, which should prevent a repeat.

I started taking Jasper to get the mail as I did with Tru-D. I should still donit with Tru-D too and work up to riding her down there, but that is for another time.

The first time I took him down, as mentioned before, he wasn't sure he was allowed to leave. Then he was okay until the jets flew by, which triggered some jigginess on his part, but nothing too terrible.

Walk number two he remembered he was a two year-old and did some silly bouncing about, which is much less cute when the horse is 17 hands tall and you're not sure he is paying attention to the huma who is below his line of vision. He did prove he was paying some attention when he spooked and chose to go behind and around me instead of over the top of me. I appreciated that.

Yesterday was his third trip out and he remembered he was The Best Baby Horse and barely thought about jigging, was easily redirected, and only hollered a couple times.

Today we ventured out again and he was even better. He seemed more mindful of my space and only needed a few reminders to wait up for me as we headed home. A couple more times out and I'll consider long lining him out and back.

Jasper's bridle came in yesterday, but it was raining and the lighting was poor. It wasn't too good today either, but we made do.



I swear, he's straight Belgian, no mule here!



He looks pretty dapper.



Note the buckles on the brow and crown so it can adjust. We'll see how often I have to adjust it. DidI mention he is 15.2 now? Actually I think he is a half inch above that. Either way he is getting even more huge.

I may still need to employ a jowl strap to keep the noseband from twisting. I don't like having the nosebands tight if I can avoid it.

I tried to brush the mud off his face and noticed he was a little tacky. I sniffed it and sure enough, pine! Someone has been trimming the trees and then standinf under them and getting covered in sap. So pardon the filthy baby horse. He can't help himself.

The truck and trailer were hooked up and I found it really interesting.



I was loaded up in the trailer Saturday and taken somewhere new again. It was strange, but there were other horses so it couldn't be too bad, right?



My handler didn't seem to bothered so other than saying hello and keeping an eye on the cars I was pretty chill.

She took me over to some grass, which was tasty and then the vet came over and gave me a shot. It wasn't too bad, but I got a little sleepy.



... Maybe very sleepy.

I think I was on the ground at some point.



But I don't remember much else.



And then I kindof woke up, but I was still pretty sleepy and it took me a while to get to my feet. I don't know why everyone kept pestering me.



We went back to the trailer and I waited a bit before ahe came back and drove me home. I'm not really sure what happened, but the next day I was pretty sore. I'm feeling good now, though and am back to playing bitey face with Kash.

Would you believe this is a nine month old weanling?



Jasper is moving along in his training. He now does something that actually looks like lungeing at the walk and we've added in a little bit of trot.

The surcingle was also introduced this week and he was concerned about it flopping on him. While he is generally unconcerned he is actually quite the sensitive fellow. The other day I was asking for him to drop his head down and he was dropping it as my hand was moving towards the lead and I didn't even get a chance to touch it! I hope to preserve his reaponsiveness while helping him learn to deal with scary stuff like harness bits wiggling and making noises and giant stacks of hay covered in tarps (big concern for him apparently!).

I'm giving Tru-D the week off. Her leg feels good and tight now and I didn't liniment it today. I plan on seeing how she lunges Saturday and go from there. She's feeling good enough to run around and be a goober with the other horses so I'm not too concerned. It might just be like that time Charm-N stepped on her. (Filly and nearly one ton mare trying to go through a 4' gate at the same time...filly does not win.)

Mac's bloodwork came back better and he appears to be staying hydrated. We are down to 15 gallons starting tonight. We have his eyes scheduled next week (Merry Christmas McLintock, you get new eyes!) and then he remains banished for another month before we do a final blood draw and see where he is at and perhaps attempt to reintegrate him with the herd.

If he can't self-regulate, or at least do well enough with a bucket in his stall instead of an auto waterer and not drown himself while turned out with the herd, we'll have to look for a home for Mac that can cater to his soecial needs. He peed a lot when we first got him and I suspect this might be an issue that he has had before we got him. Hopefully he will do better and be able to regulate his salt and water intake after this reset, but I can't have a nine year-old hkrse that is that high maintenance that he can't be turned out with the herd.