The day dawned cloudy!!! Which was just perfect because it meant there would be no slipping and sliding on frosty ground! :o)
Smokey didn't want to head off in the dark so he delayed departure by refusing to go on the float LOL. In fairness he has a brand spanking new canvas cover, that I'd thought to leave on him for the trip as it was still a bit chilly, but the cover scratching along the side of the float was enough to put him right off! Marcus up the front of the float with a carrot was in the end enough to prompt him (with cover off) to enter the float and off we went.
Thankfully after a hurried gearing up and getting changed we had enough time to warm up for the dressage (his first time on an arena set up on grass with chains) and he did a nicely average test and got a 67% (which gave us a start score for the day of 33)
Onto the Show Jumping which was only 65cm, but somehow managed to look big by the time I was ready to go in and the nerves were EXTREME! A couple of "eek" moments, but no stops, altho he dropped one rail, and tackled the Toyota sponsored wall like he'd seen it a thousand times before so I was very happy with him. He was even wanting to pick up a canter a couple of strides out so he's ready to start cantering some jumps now.
3 hours break until Cross Country time gave him plenty of time to have the breakfast grass he'd missed hehehe. Pete and Marcus and my horsey groupy Lisa arrived in time for the X-country and we were first out on the course! Smokey was already Tired with a capital T... not physically, he was rearing to go, but he objected to a few of the early things I asked of him (including not wanting to go down a slippery hill, and a refusal at the 2nd jump) and altho he didn't stop, he was still objecting at jump #5. After a good canter up a hill he was going more forward and the 2nd horse caught up to us so we let her slip in ahead of us and Smokey followed her down a wee drop and then she pounded off ahead and we settled back into our a lot slower rhythm LOL.
So those last 3 jumps were very settled and no objections and he hit the home flags having done all I'd asked of him and pretty much without having gotten a sweat up :o)
It was a huge day for the wee fella, and a big ask for the amount of riding and preparation we've done, so I'm very proud of him.
1 rail SJ, 2 stops in XC and a ton of time faults, but he was my wee dude. And he managed to get 2 ribbons!!! A first in the Combined Training part of the day (just Dressage and SJ) as the other person got eliminated in the SJ (a top show and dressage horse might I add!) and she didn't do the XC so we were it and we didn't manage to eliminate ourselves so I feel we actually earned that red ribbon, no matter how many faults we stacked up!!!
Tired boy then couldn't eat all his dinner at the float and Pete and Marcus were going to take him home for me so I could steward a XC jump for the rest of the day, so a bit more 'persuasion' was required to get him on the float to go home, but on he eventually went and they all got home safe and sound :o)
Our lovely neighbour came over on Saturday too with his digger and shifted my pile of crusher dust that was still dumped in the grass and finished spreading all the rest for me (God bless the man, you should see my blister, cracked, oozing hands after doing 2 piles with a shovel!) so no excuses now eh?! Smokey WILL be prepared for his next day out! (Dressage in 2 weeks time LOL)
And Mac will have somewhere to get his brain back into work mode and I'll have a potentially soft landing place for when I get back on him hehehehe.
And best of all.... another frost this morning, with a gloriously sunny day! The weather gods played the game for us on the weekend, gotta love 'em!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunshine and Jumping
what more could you ask for in the middle of winter if you ride horses?! ;o)
We have had NO rain during July yet, the ground has dried out, the frosts have hit and beautiful sunny, and semi warm days, lovely!
Smokey has had dressage day, a cross country training day, and has his first One Day Event on this Sunday (lets hope for NO frost that day or we'll be sliding out of the dressage arena and skipping the show jumping!)
His dressage was good, he got 5th in both tests and happy with his work.
His cross country training day was a blast, he had a ball, we jumped mostly the 55-65cm stuff but picked and chose and did some of the 75-85cm stuff too and he was great. He was unsure of a few of them and just needed to be able to put a nose to them and then it was all go.
Ditches (empty) and water will be somethingn we need to work on however, he indicated a wee bit of a dislike to those, a bush pony who doesn't like getting his feet wet! Who'd have thought it LOL.
So an early start on Sunday for his ODE, and really really hoping it's not frosty, I don't want to have to pull out of any of it for safety sake!
He just got a new cover bought for him today and looks fab in his burgandy gear (will pop a pic of him at the dressage up :o)
Chickens are all great and healthy (touch wood!) dogs are good, have new beds getting sorted and last bits for them should be ready tomorrow (the bean bag and massive soft toy horse they had claimed as theirs all disintigrated and went to the dump and Karma didn't appreciate nothing warm UNDER her in front of the fire, poor shivering little girl, so new beds sorted :o)
Work has slowed down a little which is allowing me a bit of a break so appreciating that too while I have it :o)
We have had NO rain during July yet, the ground has dried out, the frosts have hit and beautiful sunny, and semi warm days, lovely!
Smokey has had dressage day, a cross country training day, and has his first One Day Event on this Sunday (lets hope for NO frost that day or we'll be sliding out of the dressage arena and skipping the show jumping!)
His dressage was good, he got 5th in both tests and happy with his work.
His cross country training day was a blast, he had a ball, we jumped mostly the 55-65cm stuff but picked and chose and did some of the 75-85cm stuff too and he was great. He was unsure of a few of them and just needed to be able to put a nose to them and then it was all go.
Ditches (empty) and water will be somethingn we need to work on however, he indicated a wee bit of a dislike to those, a bush pony who doesn't like getting his feet wet! Who'd have thought it LOL.
So an early start on Sunday for his ODE, and really really hoping it's not frosty, I don't want to have to pull out of any of it for safety sake!
He just got a new cover bought for him today and looks fab in his burgandy gear (will pop a pic of him at the dressage up :o)
Chickens are all great and healthy (touch wood!) dogs are good, have new beds getting sorted and last bits for them should be ready tomorrow (the bean bag and massive soft toy horse they had claimed as theirs all disintigrated and went to the dump and Karma didn't appreciate nothing warm UNDER her in front of the fire, poor shivering little girl, so new beds sorted :o)
Work has slowed down a little which is allowing me a bit of a break so appreciating that too while I have it :o)
Saturday, June 26, 2010
As time goes on and I see how fragile life can be
for the chickens I'm getting more and more sucked in by the wee darlings.
Another shed is due to go in 2 weeks at the free range farm, this shed has had others added to them from the last shed to go to boost numbers up but production has taken a nose dive and breaking even isn't good enough so they are going early (nice in one way, one less shed to go into for a couple of months till the babies are up and running) but so sad :o( Any I can't spread the word about and get rehomed will be composted! Some of the girls have survived the shift from the last shed AND the moult they have already gone through (or are in the middle of for a lot right now) and are looking beautiful with feathers having come through again and they'll get turned into compost :o(
I hate it!!!! I want to save all the most scraggly, skinniest, baldest babies and give them a chance to live like a hen should, but I have no room! I also want to save the ones that have survived the shift and the moult (big things on their own to get through in sheds like that!) and are looking beautiful again so that suffering wasn't in vain! But I have 12 here already (10 was supposed to be my limit but hey, when they need you they need you!) I'm already eyeing up the "orchard" (was a HUGE horse yard I never used so planted fruit trees in) to chicken mesh and turn into a 2nd chook pen so I can have another 10 (or 12)
If I could find buyers for all the eggs they should be able to almost pay for their own food once they're up and running again...
Someone please tell me to be sensible and leave them be and just have my one crew!!!
Another shed is due to go in 2 weeks at the free range farm, this shed has had others added to them from the last shed to go to boost numbers up but production has taken a nose dive and breaking even isn't good enough so they are going early (nice in one way, one less shed to go into for a couple of months till the babies are up and running) but so sad :o( Any I can't spread the word about and get rehomed will be composted! Some of the girls have survived the shift from the last shed AND the moult they have already gone through (or are in the middle of for a lot right now) and are looking beautiful with feathers having come through again and they'll get turned into compost :o(
I hate it!!!! I want to save all the most scraggly, skinniest, baldest babies and give them a chance to live like a hen should, but I have no room! I also want to save the ones that have survived the shift and the moult (big things on their own to get through in sheds like that!) and are looking beautiful again so that suffering wasn't in vain! But I have 12 here already (10 was supposed to be my limit but hey, when they need you they need you!) I'm already eyeing up the "orchard" (was a HUGE horse yard I never used so planted fruit trees in) to chicken mesh and turn into a 2nd chook pen so I can have another 10 (or 12)
If I could find buyers for all the eggs they should be able to almost pay for their own food once they're up and running again...
Someone please tell me to be sensible and leave them be and just have my one crew!!!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
OK, Feedback....
Like the new look? Or return to the way it was? No comments and I'll gather it doesn't matter one way or another LOL.
It has been WET and COLD!
No riding for weeks! Been tired too, going to bed very early which is unusual, but am finally rid of the sore throat that's been bugging me for over a week :o)
Dozer the bull mastiff has just had another hot spot (wet eczema) flare up after Leo punctured his neck AGAIN! and Karma washed it beyond clean AGAIN! but yay! Got it under control and dried up without the vet visit or steroids or antibugs! 2 washes in copper sulphate, and daily washing with the Himalayan Crystal Salt and it's dried up, WOOHOOO!
Fantastic timing, I read about using tea and asprin to dry it out too, a wholistic vet sent out a newsletter with this in it just a couple of days ago, brew a cup of strong black tea, add an asprin and hold a cloth soaked in it on the site for 5 mins, then wipe over 4 times a day with apple cider vinegar (the same as the salt) so something I might try next time Leo plays too hard!
Communication wise not a lot that is new to report, tips are still getting put up on the FaceBook page for anyone interested.
It has been WET and COLD!
No riding for weeks! Been tired too, going to bed very early which is unusual, but am finally rid of the sore throat that's been bugging me for over a week :o)
Dozer the bull mastiff has just had another hot spot (wet eczema) flare up after Leo punctured his neck AGAIN! and Karma washed it beyond clean AGAIN! but yay! Got it under control and dried up without the vet visit or steroids or antibugs! 2 washes in copper sulphate, and daily washing with the Himalayan Crystal Salt and it's dried up, WOOHOOO!
Fantastic timing, I read about using tea and asprin to dry it out too, a wholistic vet sent out a newsletter with this in it just a couple of days ago, brew a cup of strong black tea, add an asprin and hold a cloth soaked in it on the site for 5 mins, then wipe over 4 times a day with apple cider vinegar (the same as the salt) so something I might try next time Leo plays too hard!
Communication wise not a lot that is new to report, tips are still getting put up on the FaceBook page for anyone interested.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A busy May YAY!
Thanks to the wonderful people and their support this month I've said I'll definitely do a Silver Sponsorship for the Kai's, save one life, and I hear at the last hour the applications came rolling in and they have about 80 confirmed homes for some horses and a record number of 2-4yr old's being sought by people, fantastic!!!
Smokey did his dressage, his first test was the best, we entered at A, we exited at A :o)
.... at a canter!!!! Little sausage came round off his 20 metre circle at A and zip, out we went! however I was happy with the test and only wish the judges had actually kept up with the marking and comments as the big elimination was actually very early in the test!
2nd test was rather crappy, he was tired and fighting and not wanting to canter and we came last there :o( However again, his manners there for the day were great, and although disappointed, was still happy with him....
We snuck in a jumping lesson ready for the Show Hunter outing we were going to have last weekend, but the chiro was in town on the Friday and Smokey was out down by his bum so would have missed the Show Hunter anyway, luckily for us in more way's than one, it was a rather wet weekend and the competition was actually postponed until this weekend, so we didn't miss it after all!
So we went and did that this morning, a practice round and 1 round at 50 cms, he did very well considering we're still just doing trot approaches right now :o) Doubt we would have been placed (left to come home before it all finished) but very happy with him, not even a hint of him wanting to stop :o)
More rain forcast for the next few days, good if the temps hold up just a little while longer to get that grass growing! And I'm setting out tyres for a partial arena in the paddock. Only 20m squared at the moment, a full size arena would take a whole months worth of grass for my boys, can't afford to get rid of that much grass! But it'll mean I have some where to school some circles at least in the middle of winter without fear of slipping over or chopping up their precious grass :o) All the tyre shops are gagging to get rid of their old tyres so using them will make that part free at least.
Chooks are all great, yesterday was 10 eggs from 11 girls so production is picking up again :o) Dogs are good, Leo is finally maturing, still a hyperactive noonah but he's turning into a very likable mummy's boy :o) Zak the old dude is 12 now and still as fit as a fiddle, my beautiful old boy. Marcus has started morning kindy 3 days a week YAY! and the martial arts clubs are expanding well for Pete, so all ticking along well here :o)
Smokey did his dressage, his first test was the best, we entered at A, we exited at A :o)
.... at a canter!!!! Little sausage came round off his 20 metre circle at A and zip, out we went! however I was happy with the test and only wish the judges had actually kept up with the marking and comments as the big elimination was actually very early in the test!
2nd test was rather crappy, he was tired and fighting and not wanting to canter and we came last there :o( However again, his manners there for the day were great, and although disappointed, was still happy with him....
We snuck in a jumping lesson ready for the Show Hunter outing we were going to have last weekend, but the chiro was in town on the Friday and Smokey was out down by his bum so would have missed the Show Hunter anyway, luckily for us in more way's than one, it was a rather wet weekend and the competition was actually postponed until this weekend, so we didn't miss it after all!
So we went and did that this morning, a practice round and 1 round at 50 cms, he did very well considering we're still just doing trot approaches right now :o) Doubt we would have been placed (left to come home before it all finished) but very happy with him, not even a hint of him wanting to stop :o)
More rain forcast for the next few days, good if the temps hold up just a little while longer to get that grass growing! And I'm setting out tyres for a partial arena in the paddock. Only 20m squared at the moment, a full size arena would take a whole months worth of grass for my boys, can't afford to get rid of that much grass! But it'll mean I have some where to school some circles at least in the middle of winter without fear of slipping over or chopping up their precious grass :o) All the tyre shops are gagging to get rid of their old tyres so using them will make that part free at least.
Chooks are all great, yesterday was 10 eggs from 11 girls so production is picking up again :o) Dogs are good, Leo is finally maturing, still a hyperactive noonah but he's turning into a very likable mummy's boy :o) Zak the old dude is 12 now and still as fit as a fiddle, my beautiful old boy. Marcus has started morning kindy 3 days a week YAY! and the martial arts clubs are expanding well for Pete, so all ticking along well here :o)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May is upon us... So it's all about the Kai's
just a reminder that 25% of all consults this month goes the the KWHWT (Kai Trust) to help sponsor a horse or 2 from the muster this month, perhaps the last muster of it's kind if the contraception trials work out, peoples last chance perhaps to get a horse straight from the wild!!!!
If you can help by taking a horse, or sponsoring one, or even just a $20 donation, I urge you to do it, these sweet ponies never asked to be mustered and slaughtered, they never asked to be ripped away from their families, their babies, their home and be trucked off to yards and people or death. We have taken it upon ourselves to "manage" these dear horses and kill off those not "wanted"... my darling Smokey was supposed to be one of those unwanted ones. Smokey, my gentle, sweet, giving young boy should be dead.... please help us save another Smokey, to give another young one a chance at life....
Again, the Kai Trust on facebook Facebook
Their website www.kaimanawa.homestead.com
Or of course, to make a donation at the same time as a consult, email me (email is all through the website)
And talking about Kai's, Kaimanawa Disciple (yep, that's Smokey :o) is doing his first level 1 dressage tests tomorrow, wish us luck!
If you can help by taking a horse, or sponsoring one, or even just a $20 donation, I urge you to do it, these sweet ponies never asked to be mustered and slaughtered, they never asked to be ripped away from their families, their babies, their home and be trucked off to yards and people or death. We have taken it upon ourselves to "manage" these dear horses and kill off those not "wanted"... my darling Smokey was supposed to be one of those unwanted ones. Smokey, my gentle, sweet, giving young boy should be dead.... please help us save another Smokey, to give another young one a chance at life....
Again, the Kai Trust on facebook Facebook
Their website www.kaimanawa.homestead.com
Or of course, to make a donation at the same time as a consult, email me (email is all through the website)
And talking about Kai's, Kaimanawa Disciple (yep, that's Smokey :o) is doing his first level 1 dressage tests tomorrow, wish us luck!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Marcus is now 4 yrs old!!!
He had his birthday on Tuesday and unfortunately I spent a lot of the day trying to sort out Amanda the chook I'd rescued starving to death, she came through the moult and had a beautiful new coat of feathers but had gone off colour for about a week, having just lost Becky to having been off colour, I grabbed her out of one shelter and was instantly covered in mites, oh my god, it was gross she was COVERED in them! I doused her with sulphur powder and then some surface fly spray to top her off (she wasn't going to be grooming herself so figured that was safe) and put her in the dog crate on her own. A couple of hours later she was on her side. Mites were just everywhere! Syringed some food and water down her and a couple of hours later she died. Unfortunately stupid stupid me syringed her to damn hard and I drowned her, evidenced when she died and exhaled egg and water :o(
I had her inside with me by then and was just plugging in the bioptron (have heard green light helps with fleas etc) but never got a chance to test it.
So now I need to find out where the mites are!!! have the powder to treat the girls even though I've checked another 3 of them over and found nothing, maybe Amanda took them all with her!
So it was a very sad day for me my poor girl died by my hand after she'd come back from the edge already...
But Marcus loved his day anyway, had chocolate cake with candles in it, he hates cake but loved the candles part and Pete and I loved the cake so all good!
Smokey has another dressage competition next weekend, two level 1 tests to do this time so worked on his canter tonight, not too bad once he stopped being frisky LOL.
And lo and behold while collecting eggs today I found a dwarf chook!!! She must be about a year old now and it's the first time I've ever seen her! I asked the boss about her and he only saw her for the first time about a month ago so I asked if I could have her, her face is just so "pretty". Everything on her is just small, although some of the photo's of her trying to look out the top of the nesting box when I lifted the lid makes her neck look like a giraffe! Amazing how they can stretch!
So here is Pet, the newest addition to the mad chook lady's flock LOL
I had her inside with me by then and was just plugging in the bioptron (have heard green light helps with fleas etc) but never got a chance to test it.
So now I need to find out where the mites are!!! have the powder to treat the girls even though I've checked another 3 of them over and found nothing, maybe Amanda took them all with her!
So it was a very sad day for me my poor girl died by my hand after she'd come back from the edge already...
But Marcus loved his day anyway, had chocolate cake with candles in it, he hates cake but loved the candles part and Pete and I loved the cake so all good!
Smokey has another dressage competition next weekend, two level 1 tests to do this time so worked on his canter tonight, not too bad once he stopped being frisky LOL.
And lo and behold while collecting eggs today I found a dwarf chook!!! She must be about a year old now and it's the first time I've ever seen her! I asked the boss about her and he only saw her for the first time about a month ago so I asked if I could have her, her face is just so "pretty". Everything on her is just small, although some of the photo's of her trying to look out the top of the nesting box when I lifted the lid makes her neck look like a giraffe! Amazing how they can stretch!
So here is Pet, the newest addition to the mad chook lady's flock LOL
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