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Post by Synthia on May 21, 2007 19:14:03 GMT -8
Well we have the odd couple living at the ranch. Salty and Mo have become fast friends. They hang out side-by-side and nuzzle. It is just such a picture in contrasts-Salty is white and Mo is dark brown, Salty is short and Mo is tall, Salty is gimpy and Mo is speedy and sound. They are both mellow and love attention. It is a joy to see these two together. I think Mo looks at Salty as his 'pony horse/companion'. It is a really good relationship for both of them.
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Post by Synthia on May 28, 2007 13:16:48 GMT -8
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Post by Synthia on May 29, 2007 20:59:00 GMT -8
I also got to visit a Grumpy Old Horse Ranch alumni this weekend....He will be the star of a Quinsenrera this coming weekend.
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Post by Synthia on Jul 11, 2007 9:21:18 GMT -8
Well it is hot and sticky at Grumpy Old Horse Ranch. The horses are hanging out under the misters that were installed to help keep them cool. Lady loves the water and would stand there all day if she could. Mo has been busy working on the long line, getting ready to possibly be in a horse show if everything comes together. Hank got his feet done yesterday and was a saint...a long way from the guy who would actually sit on his haunches rather than have his feet done. Hank is a royal pain for the farrier. Dakota has nicked named him Hankamus Tankamus because hank acts like he is a Roman Emperor The first farrier who did him he leaned on, sat like a camel, sat like a mule on his haunches, and when all else failed he tried leaning away from the farrier. The farrier took it all in stride-but I thought he needed a good talking to about his behavior-it took an hour and a half to get his feet done. The new farrier came out for the first time and we warned her, she said she would deal with him. Well he leaned and got corrected, he sat and got corrected, he stomped his feet and got corrected-but it took an hour to do his feet. I missed the show because I was working, but he was baaaaaad The next time she worked on him I had him tranquilized hoping it would better. It took 45 minutes and he was still a bit of a poop, at least as poopy as he could be when stoned. Basically he needed to shape up, stand, and cooperate. So for the past month I have gone out every day and worked with him. I have taken out my farrier tools and a mekac. I pick up each foot and bang on it, move it at different angles, and pick up and put down all the tools. If he stands nice he gets petted and talked to, any misbehavior and I would tap on his belly with the mekac until he stood still-he hates having his belly tapped on so it is a good deterrent for bad behavior. It has been going really well and I was hopeful that today would go well for the farrier. Well it went better than okay ;D Hank stood like a good boy, didn't try and take away one foot, didn't lean/sit/lay down or any of his other tricks. The worst thing he did was give me the 'fish eye' and dig his chin into my forearm when she got to his last foot. I am so proud of the big guy I am also so glad that the work we did paid off. The farrier said he was excellent and she could tell I had put some time in getting him ready for her. I am proud of both of us so I had to brag a bit!Re: Hank the Tank and the farrier Freedom is haning out next to his cows...he misses Nikki who is at Full Circle Ranch learning to be a Lady. Salty is just hanging out looking cool and trying to stay cool too! Nikki and Freedom participated in a Bill Basham clinic. Nikki was a good girl for the two days and Freedom showed he wasn't taking any guff off of anyone-he managed to entertain everyone with a leap over a log and a buck in the round pen. That is the news from Grumpy Old Horse Ranch where not all the horses are old and Freedom is the only one who is grumpy.
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Post by gratefulknits on Jul 19, 2007 20:03:27 GMT -8
How are Dakota and Baby Bean doing? (I'm sorry, I can't remember what he renamed her!)
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Post by Synthia on Jul 22, 2007 13:07:29 GMT -8
Dakota and Lady Bean are doing great together, in fact they are becoming fast friends. Lady sees him and runs right over for pets and treats. Dakota is reading Buck Brannaman's groundwork book. He 'cinched' Lady up using a pool noodle and she did fine with that. Lady was evaluated by Bill Basham and we got a thumbs up for the job done with her so far. Nikki is off at Full Circle Ranch for training, we miss her but look forward to her progress. Mo went to the Rodoe Equine event yesterday...the people resonsible for saving him from a kill pen finally got to meet him. Mo was a dream ...well after he got over his initial 'you can't make me get in the trailer'-we can and we DID!! Nothing at the event upset him. A trainer by the name of Pete Rogers rode him for me...Mo had his first experience with a back cinch Mo handled great for him and really looked good. I had several people take flyers and two very serious inquiries. I was very proud of Mo-things blowing, horses rearing and snorting around, and tons of activity and he look calm and collected the whole time. When it came time to load to come home he was really good about it.
Ginger (AKA Shaggie) was great also, she really can move smoothly and looks cute under saddle. She would make such a good beginners horse. It was a fun day. The rescue placed several of their horses and made a bunch of money with their fundraisers. I bought a Parelli type bridle that was hardly used for $50, Shelly told me it was a steal and that it was worth a bunch more (I knew that, that is why I ran like a theif to lock it up)
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Post by Synthia on Jul 24, 2007 15:16:27 GMT -8
Well the word from the trainer is that Nikki has spent the past 8 days bucking her heart out every time they saddle her . I am a bit surprised by that considering I was told she was greenbroke and that the rescue's lot rider had ridden her. I guess that goes to show you need to see it to believe it -LOL She is doing better than she had been as far as her ground work, still worries about being away from other horses, and hates the farrier. I am in this for the long haul with her, she will just need more time than we expected. Hank and Freedom are now hanging out together so neither one of them will be lonely. Lady Bean is busy ripping around the pasture teasing the other horse she is with. She nudges one and then runs to beat the band Salty and Mo have a new mare hanging out with them. Her name is Samba and she is here rehabbing to sore front feet. Samba and Mo seem to have fallen for each other and Salty could care less. Salty knows he looks good and is the coolest horse at the ranch, he also knows that girls have cooties That is the news from Grumpy Old Horse Ranch were not all the horses are old and Freedom is the only one who is grumpy
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Post by Synthia on Jul 25, 2007 10:44:29 GMT -8
Hank and Freedom have been hanging out together since yesterday. Hank has been with the cows since he and Nikki were given separation orders and Freedom has been alone since Nikki headed to training. They stick pretty close to each other and believe it or not Freedom is the boss. Hank is a good eight inches taller and much heavier than Freedom-but when Freedom says move it punk Hank hustles. I saw Freedom moving Hank backwards at the speed of a fast trot this morning...it is a bit amusing to see Hank get some of what he deserves (he is always bossing others around). That is the news from Grumpy Old Horse Ranch were not all the horses are old and Freedom is the only one who is grumpy-except when he is bossing Hank then he is having a blast.
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Post by Synthia on Jul 28, 2007 15:50:27 GMT -8
Shelly found a barefoot trimmer in our area and he was out to do some of the horses today. Lady was up on the rotation so she got her feet done. She was good the last time, but today was a different story. She now is developing opinions about things, just because mom says I should doesn't mean I have to! For the first time in a long time she decided to kick, she hasn't done that since the first week we had her. I was a bit surprised, she is usually very quiet. The farrier was really good about it and she got her feet done. Looks like I have some attitude to work with now...another challenge, woo hoo
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Post by gratefulknits on Jul 28, 2007 21:49:22 GMT -8
Thanks for the wonderful updates! Do you take requests? If so, I'd love to see some pix of Mr. D with his Lady Bean!
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Post by Synthia on Aug 12, 2007 12:03:21 GMT -8
Freedom is now a lesson horse! Our neice Miranda is staying with us and has never been around horses before so we put Freedom in charge of her. He is doing a good job making her learn how to give him directions, the old guy believes you have to work at telling him what to do.
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Post by Synthia on Aug 12, 2007 17:38:50 GMT -8
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Post by Eileen M on Aug 12, 2007 18:08:43 GMT -8
Go Dakota !!!! Keep up the good work !!!!
You are doing a good job with Ms HLB !!
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Post by Synthia on Aug 15, 2007 13:54:57 GMT -8
Welcome home Harley!! Harley is a lovely palomino that has joined the herd at Grumpy Old Horse Ranch. He was intercepted before going to a Kill Buyer and will be spending lazy days with us ;D. On the way down to pick up Harley, Shelley and I mulled over names, nothing seemed to fit. When we arrive his owner didn't seemed too concerned about him leaving. She looked at him and said '***** it has been a good year' and didn't even want to get my address or e-mail. Harley loaded like a charm, he jumped right in like he was happy to leave. On the way home I told Shelly I was going to name him Moon Pie because his rear reminded me of one, she informed me that she would call him Twinkie if I did that. As we were going up the hill and discussing how heavy he was and how he was chowing down on the hay like a pig three motorcycles went by us, we both said the word Harley at the same time-it is how he got his name and it suits him. When we let him out with Salty his whole demeanor changed, he looked happy. He even cut loose with a few loping steps and a head toss with a buck later in the evening. He has been so cooped up that much of his issue is just being stiff from not moving. Here are some pictures: Here he is playing dead LOL His Moon Pie butt Tucking into dinner Are you talkin to me? He is just lovely and will be so great once he is sound again! I am so glad that he didn't end up going to one of the KBs and we get the chance to help him.
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Post by Synthia on Aug 16, 2007 16:03:43 GMT -8
I drove over to see Nikki today-I go over every Thursday. Well here is what happened: Nikki came in to the barn and I got to love on her. I gave her a kiss on her nose and she blew in my ear. Nikki was lead into the round pen, brushed, and saddled up. She did her ground work without a single buck, hop, or issue. Then....drum roll please-Nikki's first time with a rider on her back. Now watch this-it is the very first part of when they RODE her today! I stood there and cried...silly I know. Nikki was ridden for a half an hour at a walk and trot. She followed every request and seemed to be happy. She is actually more relaxed with someone working with her from the saddle than she is if you are on the ground. I watched something amazing today and feel blessed to have seen it. Nikki has gone from a quivering frightened mare called Panic to a willing participant in creating a partnership with a human-I knew she could do it, I just wasn't sure she could ever get past the damage done before I got her: she shows signs of old physical injuries, having been hit/handled roughly, hotshotted, and just general 'broken' rather than broke or trained. I am still teary when I think about how far she has come: no snorting, head and nose not up in the air, no adrenaline diarrhea, no popped 'panic' veins showing, licking and chewing while working. Bill, Angie, and Nikki have worked together and opened a brighter future for Nikki 'my little fancy face'.
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