Shot reaction & pony rides

Here I was so pleased that all the ponies were good for their shots and nobody tipped over twitching (a fear that lives in the back of my mind whenever I stick them), and when I went out to feed the morning after I noticed Amyra was pan surfing.  She couldn't seem to find one that she liked, which since everybody gets exactly the same amount and mix, was a little odd.

I checked necks for bumps and heat with no surprises, haltered and headed up the hill.  Turned them loose and three heads went down to eat.  And one did not.  She could turn her head/neck a limited amount in both directions, but she couldn't or wouldn't lower it enough to graze.

I've never had a horse have that particular reaction before, but apparently it's fairly common.  No heat or swelling.  She could reach the water, and didn't seem otherwise distressed so I let her be.

After work she was still stiff, but when I put hay in the feeder she could reach it well enough and ate with a good appetite. She was gradually better yesterday, but still reluctant to lower her head all the way to the ground so I gave her a gram of bute last night - anti-inflammatory - and  she was back to normal this morning.  Chalk it up to good luck and being wiser for the experience!

I did a single 5-way with West Nile this year for the first time, thinking it would be less poking for them and less stress for me.  Always before I've done the West Nile separately.  Did some reading, and Amyra's reaction isn't uncommon with multiway/multiple shots given all at once.  I think next year I'll go back to multiple shots spread out over a longer period of time, which is what I've always done before with no problems.

On the family front, my niece R is having a grand time "riding" - she's thrilled to be led around, clutching a bit handful of mane tightly in both hands and grinning fit to split her face.  (With an adult right next to her holding on so she doesn't slide off.)  So far Sunny, Amyra and Rufus have all been very accommodating.  Thunder was not so keen on the idea.  He's not entirely sure people that short won't bite.

Several of the cats had similar concerns, but the indoor cats have all come around.  Rattle is still in OMG, hide! mode whenever she appears.  She isn't trying to chase or be rough, but she moves fast and she's excited.  Like the indoor critters, he'll figure out she's not interested in picking him up or chasing eventually.

And that's the news from here... OH!  And we had nearly an inch of rain over the last three days.  Hooray!!!!

Shots... DONE.

Folks are still here, and mom had her camera out so there are probably pictures.  Not that it was a particularly exciting event.  The only one that even remotely worries about a needle is Thunder and he was a VERY good boy this year.  The other three go, "Eh?  That was it?  Huh.  Okay, back to eating."

With helpers back and forth to pasture, I've been riding up and back - feeling kind of guilty about it, but I can't talk anybody else into getting on board.  I've been sticking to Sunny and Rufus, but last night I thought I'd brave Thunder at least for the trip back across the pasture. 

It was a very abbreviated ride.  We were fine for the flat part, but when we hit the first downhill it dawned on both of us at the same moment that we'd never done a hill bareback.  He was okay with my wriggling on and walked off just fine, but getting squeezed when I started to slide forward - not to mention the sliding - was a bit too much.  Since I've been on him a sum total of twice since November, I chickened out and slid off.  Not that he did anything bad, but I could tell he was getting anxious.  No sense pushing my luck - we'll have a few refreshers on the flat and then tackle some hills. 

So I swapped horses and hopped on Sunny instead with renewed appreciation for the time we've spent learning each others quirks - realizing just how much I wiggle around, bump him, squeeze him just hanging on.... and he still listens and determines what is random noise and what is an actual cue.   Pretty darn smart.

The horses and I are on our own up the hill again this morning - my folks are headed to the airport in KC to pick up my sister and niece.  They'll be here for a week :)  Vacation for them scheduled pre-new job for me, so I won't get to see them quite as much as I'd planned on, but at least it looks like the weather will be decent and they'll all keep one another entertained.

Other than that, not much new on the horse front.  So many excuses not to spend time riding, darn it!

A Short Ride and a Rat

I actually managed a few minutes on top tonight :)  We were bringing the horses down from the pasture, and with only one extra horse rather than the usual three, I couldn't resist.  Especially when my two - Sunny and Rufus - made me walk out to get them.  I hopped on Sunny to ride back to the gate, and my dad had it open when I got there, so we just kept on going.  Rufus has ponied a lot of miles, so he mosied along at my knee without any issues.

We "whoa"ed and I slid off just before the bridge in case there were any scary cows (the landowner on the east side of the road just put his cows out and they tend to run away whenever they see the horses coming) crashing up and away.   Sunny actually walks a lot faster with me on top than he does when I'm next to him.  Something to remember for those days when we're running late.  With just a halter, and I hadn't even bothered to tie the loose end off since I'd only planned to hitch a ride as far as the gate, I didn't stay on the whole way back, but it was still nice to get a rider's eye view instead of a walker's.

(Warning, dead content ahead)

 

Unfortunately (especially for the rats, which I wouldn't mind leaving alone if they'd just stay out of the barn, workshop, buildings in general), the electronic rodent deterrents didn't cut it.  After I walked into the workshop this weekend to hear banging coming from inside the back of the (running) refrigerator, I bought rat traps.

Actually, for a rat, it's not unattractive.  If it wasn't for the size (see the key?) it would look pretty much like a field mouse, and I think they're sort of cute as long as they're not eating holes in things and pooping all over stuff.

The rat trap is screwed to a chunk of 2x4' so the trap doesn't end up dragged away - no such danger with this one.  It was definitely dead.  Here's hoping a few more end up that way and the rest of them learn by example!

Another week - where did it go?

It's been a crazy week.  More weird weather - from snow to 80's within four days - and I'm still adjusting to my new schedule.  Thank goodness for two extra pairs of hands!

And those hands have sure been busy.  We have a new front door, a new kitchen fan/light in place of the old florescent one with no fan, the bathroom trim is finished, and about half of the 100 trees from the KDA are in the ground.  Oh, and my dad's working on the wiring for two new lights & fans for the living room, too.

And with three of us, the ponies don't have to come down the hill four wide.  They're enjoying the extra hands, too - lots of extra scritches.  Pretty soon they'll have a new gate...

Now to squeeze some riding time in there!

Week in review

Wednesday

What a week.  Monday was decent but chilly, Tuesday was cold and windy.  Wednesday snowed and spit, Thursday blew all day, and Friday was mild by evening.  I think the only season we didn't have was Summer.

The ponies stayed home Wednesday and Thursday, ate hay and sheltered in and behind the barn.  Friday walking them up in the pre-work dimmness, I was very happy to have parental assistance - yay! company :)  They were eager to get to the green, but the road was frosty frozen at 24', and everybody was stepping very carefully.  Once we turned them loose, they wasted no time in heading for the far end of the pasture.

It was a tired bunch that walked we walked home yesterday evening, me among them.  The new job is really interesting, extremely complex (lots of little bitty details that could come back to bite me later) and I think I'll really like it once I have the day to day routine nailed down.

On the positive side of things, the sun is out this morning, it's supposed to be a nice weekend, Rufus's coat is coming back in, and Sunny seems to be moving more easily so I think the joint supplement is helping.  Now if it actually gets as warm as they say it might tomorrow, we'll see what they think about baths...

~Happy to be out~