Today when I went over to the barn there was a lot going on. Every thing was very well plowed out after our blizzard which I was pleased to see, and the horses were all out. Wendy told me that Louie was NOT happy about being in the previous day. Poor boy, he survived it. Guess you can't explain to them about it being a blizzard outside and it being best to stay in for one day.
I went down and got Louie. He led up to the barn like a good boy. Once in the barn he was all bug eyed and snorty at all the activity. I put him on the cross ties and he was not too happy. He wiggled around and pawed if I got out of sight for a second. And he pooped a hundred times I think! I brushed him and saddled him up. Taking my time and letting him settled down on the cross tied. The big outside arena doors were open and Louie eyeballed them pretty hard when we went in. I decided not to ride but just to lounge him once again as he was very distracted. It took a bit to finally get his attention and get him focused on working but he did finally settle in and was a good boy.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Night Before the Storm
I was tired today and had thought I might not go to the barn. But, with the storm coming, which sounded like it was going to be bad, I decided I'd better go as it might be a day or so before I could go again.
When I got there, the horses/mules had just been brought into the barn. Wendy was there and told me that Louie had been a very bad boy when she brought him up. She said he dragged her all the way to the barn. Then when she put him in his stall, she spun around, slamming her into the wall and bolted back out of the stall. She had not expected that kind of behavior so was not prepared for it. I did not expect that kind of behavior from him so of course had given her no warning. Wendy said all the horses had been keyed up and excited though. And this was the first time they had all come in the barn since Louie had been there. So, I'm sure he got nervous or excited or a bit of both about this sudden change and being handled by someone he didn't know, he just didn't pay any attention to Wendy. I can guarantee that won't happen again. Wendy will be prepared next time and will make him behave. I went out to my trailer to get my saddle and other tack. When Wendy saw me come into the barn with the saddle, she asked me if I was going to ride. When I said yes, she told me she thought I was crazy. She said she wouldn't want to ride any of them tonight as keyed up as they all were.
They were just starting to feed everyone and the woman feeding asked me what I wanted to do for feeding Louie. I told her to go ahead and feed Louie and then I would ride. She was very concerned about this. "You are going to wait at least a half hour before working him aren't you?" she asked. "And you aren't going to work him hard are you?". Well, as an endurance rider, so many of the things that I was taught growing up with horses such as: Never feed a horse and then work them. Or never feed a hot horse. Or never let a hot horse drink his fill of water. Or never let a hot horse just stand, you must walk them and cool them out slowly. You know, all the rules that if you break any, will cause a horse to die instantly. Endurance riding has taught me quite differently. (to a point of course, some common sense must be used as in all things) When distance riding, We ride hard, come into the holds with a hot horse, stand them as quietly as possible, saturating them with cold water, let them drink all the water they will and even do all we can to encourage this and feed them. Guess what, horses don't drop dead from this.
Now of course as I mentioned there is common sense to be used with this. I would not work an equine hard in the winter and just put him away wet. Putting them away hot would not worry me so much as putting them away wet in winter. That CAN cause them to get chilled. And I would not work them immediately after eating a large amount of concentrated feed (though I have seen this done in endurance riding often enough with no seeming ill effects) Louie only gets a small amount of concentrated fee. So, nothing to worry about in my opinion. So, I know this woman was a bit worried when I took Louie out into the arena right after eating. But, what could I do, and I appreciated that she cared enough about the welfare of my mule to say something when she thought some harm might be done to him. I did decide not to ride Louie but just to lounge him again.
I took Louie out into the arena and turned him loose. We walked and trotted around for just a bit but that was it. He was very quiet and finally just went to one end of the arena to watch what was going on as Wendy was getting the plow truck ready for the coming storm. So, I put Louie on the lounge line. He was VERY good and quiet. Just once when I asked him to canter, which we haven't done much of on the lounge line, did he decided to canter but NOT make a circle and headed straight down the arena. He dragged me a bit before I got him stopped. He didn't seem to know that he'd done anything wrong. And running straight wasn't the thing he did wrong actually. I was not whoa-ing when I asked him to. But, it was the only time that evening he didn't come to a quick stop when asked to whoa. I did a few more canter, whoa transitions and he did fine. So, that was enough for and I gave him some serious mule love and put him away. He was quiet and relaxed when I put him into his stall and went right to munching hay. Dolly, on the other hand, was NOT happy about being in a stall and unable to see Louie. There are solid walls between the stalls. Now, I just hope the storm isn't as bad as they say it's going to be. But, this will be one time the forecasters will be right most likely.
When I got there, the horses/mules had just been brought into the barn. Wendy was there and told me that Louie had been a very bad boy when she brought him up. She said he dragged her all the way to the barn. Then when she put him in his stall, she spun around, slamming her into the wall and bolted back out of the stall. She had not expected that kind of behavior so was not prepared for it. I did not expect that kind of behavior from him so of course had given her no warning. Wendy said all the horses had been keyed up and excited though. And this was the first time they had all come in the barn since Louie had been there. So, I'm sure he got nervous or excited or a bit of both about this sudden change and being handled by someone he didn't know, he just didn't pay any attention to Wendy. I can guarantee that won't happen again. Wendy will be prepared next time and will make him behave. I went out to my trailer to get my saddle and other tack. When Wendy saw me come into the barn with the saddle, she asked me if I was going to ride. When I said yes, she told me she thought I was crazy. She said she wouldn't want to ride any of them tonight as keyed up as they all were.
They were just starting to feed everyone and the woman feeding asked me what I wanted to do for feeding Louie. I told her to go ahead and feed Louie and then I would ride. She was very concerned about this. "You are going to wait at least a half hour before working him aren't you?" she asked. "And you aren't going to work him hard are you?". Well, as an endurance rider, so many of the things that I was taught growing up with horses such as: Never feed a horse and then work them. Or never feed a hot horse. Or never let a hot horse drink his fill of water. Or never let a hot horse just stand, you must walk them and cool them out slowly. You know, all the rules that if you break any, will cause a horse to die instantly. Endurance riding has taught me quite differently. (to a point of course, some common sense must be used as in all things) When distance riding, We ride hard, come into the holds with a hot horse, stand them as quietly as possible, saturating them with cold water, let them drink all the water they will and even do all we can to encourage this and feed them. Guess what, horses don't drop dead from this.
Now of course as I mentioned there is common sense to be used with this. I would not work an equine hard in the winter and just put him away wet. Putting them away hot would not worry me so much as putting them away wet in winter. That CAN cause them to get chilled. And I would not work them immediately after eating a large amount of concentrated feed (though I have seen this done in endurance riding often enough with no seeming ill effects) Louie only gets a small amount of concentrated fee. So, nothing to worry about in my opinion. So, I know this woman was a bit worried when I took Louie out into the arena right after eating. But, what could I do, and I appreciated that she cared enough about the welfare of my mule to say something when she thought some harm might be done to him. I did decide not to ride Louie but just to lounge him again.
I took Louie out into the arena and turned him loose. We walked and trotted around for just a bit but that was it. He was very quiet and finally just went to one end of the arena to watch what was going on as Wendy was getting the plow truck ready for the coming storm. So, I put Louie on the lounge line. He was VERY good and quiet. Just once when I asked him to canter, which we haven't done much of on the lounge line, did he decided to canter but NOT make a circle and headed straight down the arena. He dragged me a bit before I got him stopped. He didn't seem to know that he'd done anything wrong. And running straight wasn't the thing he did wrong actually. I was not whoa-ing when I asked him to. But, it was the only time that evening he didn't come to a quick stop when asked to whoa. I did a few more canter, whoa transitions and he did fine. So, that was enough for and I gave him some serious mule love and put him away. He was quiet and relaxed when I put him into his stall and went right to munching hay. Dolly, on the other hand, was NOT happy about being in a stall and unable to see Louie. There are solid walls between the stalls. Now, I just hope the storm isn't as bad as they say it's going to be. But, this will be one time the forecasters will be right most likely.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas day visit to the boarding barn
We had a lovely day today. Nice weather. Sunny and just around the freezing mark. My family did the usual of going to each one of our houses to open gifts. My parents, brothers and I all live on 50 acres of property we bought and split between us. So, we are all withing walking distance of each other. We actually skipped my house as I did not put up a tree. Fred and I took our gifts to my parents home and we started there with one of my dads delicious breakfasts then the opening of gifts. We then went to Dennis and Barbara's and ended as usual at Kevin and Angie's where we had a pot luck dinner.
I fed Marie at about 4:30 PM. She is missing the mules but was quiet today. She balled yesterday every time she saw someone. Then I decided to go over to the barn to see how Louie was doing. It was dark by the time I got over there. The horses/mules stay out at night unless the weather is bad. It was nice tonight so they were all out. I went out and got Louie. He was a bit excited when I led him up to the barn and was forgetting his manners. He was getting ahead of me and pulling a bit. I had to remind him that this was not acceptable.
No one else was using the arena so I just turned Louie loose to let him run. And run he did. He ran, bucked and rolled. Once he seemed settled down, I lounged him for a bit. He was pretty good. He was quite distracted but trying. The barn owners mother came into the arena with her horse to lounge him. He was quite freaked out by the presence of a mule in the arena. He would not lounge but rather snorted and reared and tried to stay as far from Louie as possible. Wendy's mom gave up and said that tomorrow she was going to put her horse in the paddock next to Louie so he could get used to the sight of him. She was very nice though. Not at all upset that I was there with my mule, just a bit disgusted with her horse being silly about it. When she took her horse out of the arena, Louie wanted to go with him. I made him work just a little bit longer until he was paying attention to me again. That only took a few minutes.
I then took Louie back to the paddock. Wendy's mom (I think her name is Tina but can't remember for sure.....old age....)was outside and we chatted for a while. She is such a nice lady. She showed me were all the lights were for inside and outside and the fence switch for the electric fencing. I then headed home glad that Louie seemed to be doing just fine.
I fed Marie at about 4:30 PM. She is missing the mules but was quiet today. She balled yesterday every time she saw someone. Then I decided to go over to the barn to see how Louie was doing. It was dark by the time I got over there. The horses/mules stay out at night unless the weather is bad. It was nice tonight so they were all out. I went out and got Louie. He was a bit excited when I led him up to the barn and was forgetting his manners. He was getting ahead of me and pulling a bit. I had to remind him that this was not acceptable.
No one else was using the arena so I just turned Louie loose to let him run. And run he did. He ran, bucked and rolled. Once he seemed settled down, I lounged him for a bit. He was pretty good. He was quite distracted but trying. The barn owners mother came into the arena with her horse to lounge him. He was quite freaked out by the presence of a mule in the arena. He would not lounge but rather snorted and reared and tried to stay as far from Louie as possible. Wendy's mom gave up and said that tomorrow she was going to put her horse in the paddock next to Louie so he could get used to the sight of him. She was very nice though. Not at all upset that I was there with my mule, just a bit disgusted with her horse being silly about it. When she took her horse out of the arena, Louie wanted to go with him. I made him work just a little bit longer until he was paying attention to me again. That only took a few minutes.
I then took Louie back to the paddock. Wendy's mom (I think her name is Tina but can't remember for sure.....old age....)was outside and we chatted for a while. She is such a nice lady. She showed me were all the lights were for inside and outside and the fence switch for the electric fencing. I then headed home glad that Louie seemed to be doing just fine.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Moving day
Today was the day to move the mules. I called the barn owner, Wendy, to let her know we would be coming today. She said all was ready and told us what stalls would be ours and what paddocks to put the mules into. I went out and fed the mules and Marie then went to get my truck to hook up the trailer. A week or so ago, we had picked up some plywood at Home Depot and Fred had put the ball down in my truck. It always come back up hard and you have to pry it with something. We had also had some snow so I jumped in the back of the truck and shoveled out the snow. There wasn't much. I got out my 4 way, slipped it into the slot on the hitch to pull it up, gave it a tromp with my foot as I always do. I hear a snap and the sound of metal hitting the ground under the truck. The flap covering the hitch come up........but not the hitch.......ACK!!!!! I pulled the trick forward to see what hit the ground. Yep, it was the metal piece that springs the hitch up. And of course the hitch is frozen down so I could not budge it. Fred came out and thawed it out with his blow torch and pried the hitch up. So, I was back in business. I badly wanted to get the mules moved today as there was a big storm coming on Sunday and I didn't want to take the chance of not being able to get my trailer out and being unable to move the mule for an undetermined amount of time.
I pulled the truck to the end of the driveway. Then Bonnie and I went and got the mules. They both loaded up very nicely. Louie backed out once after putting just two front feet in but then loaded right up quietly. Dolly was good. When we got to the barn, we unloaded and put them in their designated paddocks. The mules were pretty quiet. A few of the horses around them got excited and ran a bit but not much over all. Bonnie left before I did. But, when I left, Louie and Dolly were quietly munching hay and seemed relaxed. I was glad neither seemed anxious. The good thing is that Louie had been to this barn before as I've brought him here to take lessons a few times. Now, I can't wait to start working with Louie.
I pulled the truck to the end of the driveway. Then Bonnie and I went and got the mules. They both loaded up very nicely. Louie backed out once after putting just two front feet in but then loaded right up quietly. Dolly was good. When we got to the barn, we unloaded and put them in their designated paddocks. The mules were pretty quiet. A few of the horses around them got excited and ran a bit but not much over all. Bonnie left before I did. But, when I left, Louie and Dolly were quietly munching hay and seemed relaxed. I was glad neither seemed anxious. The good thing is that Louie had been to this barn before as I've brought him here to take lessons a few times. Now, I can't wait to start working with Louie.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Sweet Louie
I have never had an equine that seemed to enjoy my company as much as Little Louie. Though he seems to enjoy everyone's company so it is likely not any redeeming quality about myself he is attracted to. Today when I was picking the pasture, Louie was up on the other end of the pasture munching hay, watching me intently as he always does. Then, he comes all the way down to where I am just go get some mule love. Which he knows he'll get 'cause he's so stinkin' cute you can't resist him. He loves it when you wrap your arms around his face and just hug it tight.
He has been stalking me in the morning's though. He's been bored and playful and really is wondering if I'll engage in John mule play with him or not. He'll come sneaking up right behind me and follow me and if I spin around and look, he is making the funniest faces. The same one's he makes at my horse Marie when he tried to get her to play. She drives him off in disguest. I end of sending him off in fear of my life. I don't think he would ever intentionally hurt anyone but boy play can be rough! When he is right behind me like that I keep waiting for him to pounce on me. He sure does keep a smile on my face watching his antics though.
I can't wait to get him moved over to the indoor arena so I can start working on some serious training with him. It is long past time and he is so ready. Just a few more weeks.
He has been stalking me in the morning's though. He's been bored and playful and really is wondering if I'll engage in John mule play with him or not. He'll come sneaking up right behind me and follow me and if I spin around and look, he is making the funniest faces. The same one's he makes at my horse Marie when he tried to get her to play. She drives him off in disguest. I end of sending him off in fear of my life. I don't think he would ever intentionally hurt anyone but boy play can be rough! When he is right behind me like that I keep waiting for him to pounce on me. He sure does keep a smile on my face watching his antics though.
I can't wait to get him moved over to the indoor arena so I can start working on some serious training with him. It is long past time and he is so ready. Just a few more weeks.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Pulling shoes
So, the snow arrives here in Maine as was bound to happen, and my farrier is playing hard to get and I still have regular shoes on all my equines. Not safe with snow and/or ice! So, I know I need to get shoes off right away and decide to pull them myself this morning. Now Louie has only had two sets of shoes in his whole life so has only had shoes pulled once but is fine having his feet handled so I didn't forsee any trouble despite the fact that I am no farrier and take much longer then the farrier to do this simple chore.
Louie got to go first. I started with the front and the first shoe came off fine with him standing nice and still. Second shoe, he is starting to get bored and want's to go out with the others and starts wiggling around a bit but, I get the shoe off without too much ado. By the time I get to foot #3, he is done and no longer want's to play 'pull the shoe with the non-farrier' game. He starts hopping around and getting obnoxious. At one point, he hops forward and I loose my grip on his back foot. I am standing with my back to him and the little squirt lifts that foot and ever so gently gives me the most gentle tiny slow motion kick you ever saw.
Actually, he gently placed his hoof on me and slowly pulled it away. It was actually funny except no lifting of the foot with attitude is allowed to go without concequence in my books. So, Louie still got the 3 seconds of death. And that was the end of that. He stood like the perfect boy while I removed his last 2 shoes after that. He does have a puncture wound on one back hoof that is a little sore so when he made very gentle requests to put that foot down, I did honor those requests to give him short breaks. Silly mule!
My horse Marie was the perfect lady of course. But, she is a seasoned 19 yr. old that's been with me since she was a baby. She knows how things work.
Louie got to go first. I started with the front and the first shoe came off fine with him standing nice and still. Second shoe, he is starting to get bored and want's to go out with the others and starts wiggling around a bit but, I get the shoe off without too much ado. By the time I get to foot #3, he is done and no longer want's to play 'pull the shoe with the non-farrier' game. He starts hopping around and getting obnoxious. At one point, he hops forward and I loose my grip on his back foot. I am standing with my back to him and the little squirt lifts that foot and ever so gently gives me the most gentle tiny slow motion kick you ever saw.
Actually, he gently placed his hoof on me and slowly pulled it away. It was actually funny except no lifting of the foot with attitude is allowed to go without concequence in my books. So, Louie still got the 3 seconds of death. And that was the end of that. He stood like the perfect boy while I removed his last 2 shoes after that. He does have a puncture wound on one back hoof that is a little sore so when he made very gentle requests to put that foot down, I did honor those requests to give him short breaks. Silly mule!
My horse Marie was the perfect lady of course. But, she is a seasoned 19 yr. old that's been with me since she was a baby. She knows how things work.
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