Full time...

So, Rebel has decided that "retirement" is boring and that he wants to work again... just not for himself this time. He also decided that he wants to be here full time.

*happy dance*

So, he's moving in...

*slightly less enthusiastic happy dance... until I think about finances... then VERY happy dance*

I'm excited. Those weeks when he was down south at his Sis's ranch were kind of sucky. Plus, this will be a good test before we pack up and move South together.

I'm sure there will be a learning curve. My place is small and there's nowhere to go to get away if things are tense. In the past, I've been able to ignore certain behavior because he was leaving in a few days and I could get over it without him being around. That won't be the case anymore. "Compromise" is going to have to happen. But I'm sure it'll be fine.

*famous last words*

And when it's not, I have you all to vent to. Which is a stress reliever for me and entertainment for you. Win/win, right? What could possibly go wrong?

*famous last words*

Goals for the ponies...

So, I've decided that I'm going to concentrate on getting Seven going (so he can be sold to a Junior rider) and do an easy year of LD's with Flash as well. To that end, I'm going to be trying to stick to rides that are multi-days.

The first one coming up will be Grizzly in April. Flash won't be a problem getting legged up for a 30. The real test will be getting Seven ready to do the 12 mile trail ride on Sunday (after I've done the 30 with Flash on Saturday).

That's the goal for Flash and Seven.

As for Goodwin, just getting him to not be quite so aloof (and reactionary) will be a start. To that end, he has to get messed with every night before I'll let him approach his hay. I'm hoping with consistent work, he'll start to see that people aren't so bad after all...

Someone needs to pay for my 15 kids...

 

I seriously have no words.

Except to say: pay for your own fucking kids. That shouldn't be my job just because I have a job.

Sometimes the little guy just needs a little help...

As you know, I have 4 horses... or maybe you don't know. But you do now.

Anyway, the state of the horses are such: Flash (arab, 15 years old) is home with me. Nice and fat. Needs to be in work, but the weather is not very cooperative. Storm (mustang, 13 years old) is at a friend's place enjoying retirement. Since losing a few pounds is doing well on her stifle that has been giving her a lot of trouble this past year. Goodwin (NSHxTB, 6/7 years old) is home with me. In good weight. Still a freak about everything. Working on it. Seven (arab, 7 years old) is home with me. After taking off blankets the other day was found to be too thin. Time to start segregating at meal time.

I discussed the situation with Rebel and how best to let Seven eat in peace without the chow hounds constantly pushing him off the feed. We decided to set up the corral panels just outside of the pasture and put Seven in there at night so we can get him some grain and constant access to hay all night. During the day he'll be out in the pasture with the boys.

Last night was our first night giving this new system a try. We gave Seven alfalfa pellets, some Ultium grain and around 4 flakes of hay. This morning when I went to check on him he was just hoovering up the last of the hay. Seriously... I cannot believe he ate that amount of food. He's maybe 13.2HH and weighs around 800 pounds. It's like watching a teenage boy go at the fridge. And at this rate he'll be back up to optimum weight in no time.

I love a horse that loves to eat. Plus, since he has a blanket on he's not burning precious calories trying to stay warm. Win/win.

I think we'll leave this system in place until the landlords take their horses back home and free up the other side of the pasture...