Shedding season... is gross.

The weather cannot  make up it's mind! One night is freezing, then it's 80 and sunny, with 20 mph wind. All things considered, the horses are doing pretty well, attitude-wise, which is great.  They can tend to be bi-polar nut jobs during spring/shedding season.

Julius tried to drop some of his fur sweater, today. Not pictured is my hair covered, filthy body.

A little demo...

Waiting for people to become available to help with master bedroom/bath remodeling is just not happening these days.  So, we took a rainy afternoon and started on some demo.  Funsies.

The girls get going.

This morning (and yesterday) are unfortunately rainy and cool, but this past week has had some wonderful dry and warm weather that allowed me to get started working Cachet and Daisy.

Now, Cachet is fairly well started, but hasn't worked since October. Daisy, I don't believe has been ridden in perhaps, two years? She was lightly started at three, and then according to the breeder, had time off due to a less balanced/experienced rider giving her some back soreness. After that, they bred her, and she came to us with the baby just having been weaned.

I was pretty confident that the little G would do okay, and she was really wonderful and willing when I got on after such a long break.

I for sure think the combination of being endlessly patient, letting her grow up a bit (mentality and physically), and controlling her emotional variables as well as possible, ie, strict routines for turnout and stall time, and the addition of Regulate to address her heat cycles and hormone reactive phases have done her a world of good. If the weather stays good, and we can maybe get an arena base this year, I'm excited to think I can finally make progress this year with her. I'm for sure 100% confident in her talent and ability.

Daisy, being a bit of a mystery, I didn't want to jump the gun on and leap up too soon. But, since coming in January she has really bloomed, both gaining weight and proving to be an easy keeper (which I was worried about seeing her skinny, beat up "mombod" get off the trailer.) And also, personality-wise; she is showing her true her, which is subtle, charming, and polite.

Knowing she HAS been ridden in the past, I took a gamble and popped up, after a couple weeks of some hand walks, and making sure she wasn't reactive or scared with the saddle and bridle.

She took it like a champ. She's VERY green and out of shape, but quiet and willing, so teaching and conditioning her should be a fun time. And I'm happy for her, in that the point is to give her a sport horse career, versus a (somewhat) neglectful life of just having babies. She loves the special attention and definitely will do well with her own person and a show home when the time comes.

Vet Visit

Yesterday, the vet came out for spring shots, and to check teeth. As I had predicted, everyone needed their teeth floated! Not fun for them, or the pocketbook, but they all did great after being drugged up, and I'm SO happy they are all fixed up. No more sharp edges! Julius even had two caps (baby teeth that haven't shed on their own) pulled. Hooray!

Baby steps towards spring...

I feel like the end (of winter), might actually be in sight.  The ten day forecast is all at least 50's, with some days reaching...  70!!!  (of course, when I'm at work)

Friday the vet is coming out to check everyone's teeth.  I would be SHOCKED if Daisy doesn't need her teeth floated, and it's been two years for Cachet, so I'm banking on her, too.  Julius, I'm not sure of, but want to be absolutely positive he is in good shape before starting to teach him the bridle and bit.

Daisy has been on some hand walks in the past few days, just learning manners and starting to get back into shape in a very gentle way.  The "arena" area out front has some roll to it, so I know we are both getting a bit of a workout walking out there.

Once her teeth are given the okay, I am hoping to get on soon, and start lots of hacks for building muscle and strength.  She has skinny mom bod, and it's no good.

In addition to teeth, I think I've decided to bite the financial bullet and get Cachet on Regumate.  She is pretty much bi-polar these days, and hormones are really the only thing (besides just being nuts, which I can't get behind) to explain her crazy behavior.  I think it will be pricey, but a bottle should effectively "spay" her for the season, so it will be totally worth it, if indeed, she is just a sad victim of out of control cycles.  We shall see.  I'm actually kind of excited about it.  She needs to go back to work, rulllll bad!!! and I think she could make major progress this year with lady-rage variables controlled.

Daylight Saving Time is also LESS than a month away.

Oh man, winter is gonna end, and it's going to be GREAT!!!

January, how I hate thee.

Not much going on, since nice days only happen Monday-Thursday when I am at work.  Friday-Sunday, the weather is freezing ass cold, or raining.

Daisy and Julius are settling in.  At first they didn't know what to make of grain, but they got over that, and are now enthusiastic eaters at breakfast and dinner.  They still will not eat sugar, or carrots, or apples.

Without treats, I find it hard to bribe/corrupt them.  I will continue to work on this.

Holiday Building Fun

Meghan was in town for Christmas and the new horses' delivery, and THANK GOD she was.  We spent what time off I had from work, finishing the stall lining and it would have been impossible to do without her help.

I had been working on sanding the inside of stalls, pretty much the areas around where the plywood is hung, so that it can be painted later and is nice and smooth.  That sucked bad enough, and I for sure am taking a break before working on sanding the bars.

Anyway, Meghan got a sweet new drill for Christmas, and we put that puppy to use!  Himple delivered the plywood, and we spent some fun time measuring, cutting, drilling and hanging all the lovely lining of the stalls.

On the Monday between Christmas and NYE, it was snowy and icy, so I actually called in to work, which I have never done.  It felt kind of nice, and I also felt a little guilty.  That being said, I'm glad I did, because that ended up being a super productive day.  As with EVERY project we have thus far undertaken, this took WAY LONGER and was a lot harder than I imaged.

But, nice result, and it was fun to do with Meghan.  More sanding and painting to follow, but here is some before/during/after.

This build powered by beef sticks and beer.

Dressed for the weather.  Very pretty.

Meghan finished her first set of cornhole boards over the break, as well.  I need to practice, cause I suck at it.