New Pasture!

I turned some of the horses out into the new pasture this afternoon. I only turned out three because the new cross fence isn't done and I knew if I turned out all six, I would have to hunt them down at feeding time. Well I chose to turn out the boys today. My reasoning is that Colty always comes when you call and Cash can't bear to be away from Sadie. Jacob's steer rounded out the trio. After grooming, I turned each horse out the gate. They immediatly dropped their heads and began grazing. No problem. Soon Sadie realized that Cash was gone and she could not get to him. She began calling wildly and galloping around the pasture. Val joined in for a bit and then decided that it wasn't worth it. Cash heard Sadie's call and came thundering back over the hill to the adjoining fence. He ran the fence line trying to get back to Sadie. My daughter (it's her horse) and I watched incredulously as Cash ignored the knee deep grass to come at Sadie's call. I guess thats love. Well finally after about 10 minutes, Cash headed back to the pasture. Sadie began calling again, but Cash did not respond. Sadie became more and more upset (she even stomped her foot). Ren made the comment, "UhOh, Cash will be sleeping on the couch tonight." That is exactly what the situation reminded me of - an old married couple with the whipped husband. He finally gets a backbone and the wife can't stand it. Well Cash wandered back some time later to "check in" and Sadie gave him the cold shoulder. "Just like a woman", my husband joked. Finally it was time to feed and I went to the gate to call the boys back. I hollered Colty's name and just like the great boy he is - he came. I really love that horse. I need to get some pictures of him and post them. He isn't the best specimen of horse, but that doesn't matter. I love him just the way he is!

Rain, Rain, Rain, ...

Well we are now on our 7th day of rain. This is where access to an indoor arena would be great!!! But alas, no such luck. No horse training (except for light in-hand work), no riding lessons and no fence building. I scored a big one this week! I leased the adjoining 80 acres to our home! That brings us up to a grand total of 460 acres! Last night we totaled up our remaining cattle herd and with the new calves this year - we own 49 but feed/care for 62 head. Each group must have it's own pasture - big bulls, yearling/two year old bulls, cows, heifers, horses. This takes alot of grazing pasture! Wahoo!!

My daughter began try-outs for her high school cheerleading team yesterday. I'm pretty sure she will make the team (they came to her ( an 8th grader) and asked her to try out). My concern is how many extra-curricular activities can a kid keep up with? Ren is an extremely organized kid, but she still needs time to be a kid. She already has to carry around a planner to schedule her life - 4H Leadership, 4H Equi-Spirit, Butner 4H, training her horse, softball/basketball, and now cheerleading. Her father and I have told her that she really needs to pick her three favorites and give them her all. She has her eye on the prize of college and knows that extra-curricular looks good on college applications. Has anyone faced a similar challenge?

The Kentucky Derby was awesome! I love those come from behind runners and WOW 20 lengths behind to win! The story behind the horse is great too. I swear, if I did not know better, I would think that I was watching a made for T.V. movie - unknown small time trainer and his unspectular horse come to the big show and triumph. Even the race reminded me of the Black Stallion book - the match race where The Black, a horse from nowhere, is waaaayyyy behind but still manages to pull out the victory over the more expensive and favored horses. I would like for him to win the TC, but it is highly unlikely. With the fresh horses that always race in the Belmont, there won't be any TC winners. I can see Kevin Costner playing the trainer in the movie though.

What a weekend!

Saturday was the second in the Playday Series. Wow! What a difference a couple of weeks made in the girl's riding! It might actually become competitive for the buckles. We had alot of fun with even some of the adults getting involved in the barrel racing - Crystal had the fastest time on Sadie - You go girl! My son had the fastest kid time - only thing was he ran on foot. LOL Good news was that the fastest offficial time was a full 20 seconds faster than last time. Way to go Ren! Outside leg to turn Cash! In the other events - the rain on the metal roof unnerved some of the horses during the trail class. They thought the gate was a horse-eater. The poles were something to be jumped not trotted over and the bridge was a portal to nowhere. Needless to say not a clean round to be seen. The western pleasure class was pretty uneventful, however it was done one horse at a time. Some of the newbies were having trouble controlling their horses. The poles went much better - the kids and horses are getting familar with the pattern. Cash did not try to jump them this time. I am hoping that with some good weather, the kids will get out and ride. The competitive juices are flowing. Maybe that will compel them to practice and be ready to compete! The rain postponed all additional riding for me this weekend. No real training all last week because of the rain and me under the weather. Yesterday a couple of the bulls decided to go roaming (someone left the back gate down - probably one of the fisherman going to our back pond) but came back when we called. What good boys. We finally caught the cow/calf pair that has been in the bull pasture for the last month. She was MAD! Daryl was threatening to take her straight to the sale barn. She had worn out the two cattle dogs, chased Daryl up the fence numerous times and broke one of the feeders. As much as I tried to reason with her (It's for you own good. You are going to better pasture. All your friends are there. ;) nothing worked. Finally, Pup acidentally led her up the alley or she chased him up the alley, either way, and she was caught. We wormed her and hauled her to the cow pasture. Called up the cows, fed and turned her out. She stepped off like nothing happened, walked over and began eating. Cows are soooo moody! Does anybody else have any crazy cow stories? Everybody that comes to visit is so scared and intimidated by the bulls. Not me - it is the cows that will get you!

Well I am back!

For anyone who cares, I am back. I have been trying to die for the last couple of days. Darn swine flu! Just kidding, I only had a bad chest cold. It did make everyone look sideways at me when I coughed though. As a joke I tried to oink when I coughed, but only ended up choking myself. There's Karma for ya! I have been following several other blogs lately and an getting a little tired of the self righteous prattle. Everyone has an opinion (God's right) and everyone is jumping at the opportunity to point out the faults (published words leave you open for that). I get that, but why does everyone have to be so vindictive, vulgar and mean? I mean I love a great debate between differing views - a debate being insightful, articulate and nonjudgemental. At the worst, the participants agree to disagree, but many times points of view can be changed on both sides. Why would you want to tear someone down when they are making an honest effort, all be it, ignorant or ludicrious. Thoughtful criticism or logical explanations might make a point better. People are so quick to see only their side as right - Black or White/ Right or Wrong. Well the world is made up of many more colors than that. I am 40 and I hope that I never cease to open my mind to new things, points of view and techniques. I am also disheartened to find that in the quest to find blog's that my 4H kids can read to learn and broaden their base of knowledge I am continually obliged to keep looking even though the blog has some wonderful information with many points of view but the profanity, rudeness and closed mindedness make it unsuitable for the kids. Anyway - here I am spouting my view. Please let me know your thoughts. Just remember - there are young 4H kids here. Please be a good example of how real adults communicate. Thank you!