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Post by Synthia on Aug 30, 2007 4:53:45 GMT -8
Nikki continues to progress in her training. She has now allowed the farrier to do all four hooves without any sedation! ;D Harley is the speediest lame horse I have ever seen, he can out walk any horse on the ranch. He is a bit more comfortable since the barefoot trimmer worked on him. The trimmer actually said 'Someone did this to his feet on purpose?' when he looked at poor Harley's hooves. Salty is busy making Harley move a bit and looking cool. He likes to flirt with Diva (Shelly's horse), it is the first mare I have seen him take an interest in, and she just ignores him. Lady is working hard on her training and is doing well. She is now a year old! Freedom is busy eating mush and enjoying his quiet summer. He is already starting to get his winter coat. Hank is turning into quite a nice gentleman. It has taken a bunch of work to get him respectful of your space, but it has been worth it-he is my favorite riding horse. The trimmer did his hooves and Hank tried testing out the 'new guy', he found out the new guy was not intimidated by his tricks so he gave up-almost.
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Post by Synthia on Sept 2, 2007 14:22:15 GMT -8
I cut off my hair and donated it to Locks of Love something I wouldn't have thought of doing if I hadn't read about Leisa's daughter ...not sure about the new style yet. Hank loaded in the trailer like it was something he did everyday. Here I am on Hank getting him used to the facility. On our first try we got 8 cows sorted in order in 90 seconds. Hank did really well and seems to have had experience with this sort of thing. The more rounds we did though the harder it was to get him to move...it seems I spent most of my time kicking him (that is why my heels are up in most of the pictures)or swatting his rear (he just decided that a walk was as good as a trot-typical appy LOL), then to top it of the horse that neck reins like a dream decided that he would only plow rein (and do the begrudingly). He did really well considering that he has only been goofing around in the pasture for the past year. Hank was really well behaved...just a jar headed appy...and we had a blast. Shelly to Chez Beau and Ginger, they both did well too
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Post by Eileen M on Sept 2, 2007 15:01:05 GMT -8
Syn, your gonna LUV the short hair... trust me... give it a day or 2, then we'll talk Think of the savings in shampoo and conditioner !!!
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Post by Synthia on Sept 15, 2007 12:41:31 GMT -8
The decision was made yesterday evening to completely retire Salty. He is the best horse and loved to pack youngsters around. His knee has become distorted enough that he will catch his toe at times and stumble a bit. We are concerned if there is a litle one on him it will cause him trouble catching his balance or the child could fall. Salty job is now leading the three muskateers! He keeps Harley moving, which is what needs to be done and Freedom now has two horses to watch over. Salty is the boss and Freedom is the watchdog, Harley is stuck in the middle!
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Post by Synthia on Sept 15, 2007 18:24:36 GMT -8
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Post by Synthia on Sept 22, 2007 11:35:58 GMT -8
Hi All, I have to squeal on Lady because mom is too embarrassed. Lady has been acting like a naughty teenager about her feet lately, heck I have told her and told her just to stand nice and it is over with-will she listen to Uncle Salty, nooooo. Several times she has leaned so far over she has almost fallen on her side. Thursday she finally did lean far enough that she ended up on the ground I laughed my mane off at that one-I figured that would be the end of that, BUT NOOOOOO, the stinky little twerp is slow to learn. Today Doug was doing her feet and she was being a good girl until the very last one, her left front. She decided to lean-and lean she did until she tipped over and found herself laying on the ground. She just stayed there, looking around. She rolled up like she was going to get up, let out a sigh and laid back down...she wasn't going to get up even with encouragement so Doug did her last hoof with her taking a nap. I have never seen anything like it before. Even Hank the Tank isn't that rude and he is a worthless appy. Jeeze I am sure glad Lady doesn't hang out in my pasture, it would have been embarrassing. I have enough work to do keeping Harley and Freedom in line...boy those two are lucky they have me in charge. Freedom seems to wonder off and get lost-don't tell mom but I think the old guy is loosing it a bit. Harley is okay, but he lacks the cool factor. The guy is all looks and no substance, unlike me who has beauty and brains. Mom says Nikki will be coming home soon-she can stay in some other pasture. The more I watch the mares the more I think they are nothing but trouble (although Diva sure has a nice butt, I think I may have a crush on her but she just ignores me). Winter is coming and I am getting my winter coat, nothing looks better than ME all fussed up. Later, Salty the Wonder Horse Oh and: that is all the news from Grumpy Old Horse Ranch were not all the horses are old and Freedom is the only one who is grumpy (he really isn't grumpy I just think the old fart is senile)
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Post by Synthia on Oct 18, 2007 18:55:16 GMT -8
Today the equine dentist was out and worked on Harley's teeth. Poor guy has NEVER had his teeth done and they were awful!!! Little bugger had a hidden wolf tooth that was really hurting him-it is gone now ;D I had him check out Freedom's mouth to see what if anything could be done. We got a surprise-there are a few more molars way in the back that the vet didn't see when she floated his teeth-hard to look in his mouth well while he was dancing like a teenie bopper His molars age him around 40 because they are just horrible-however his incisors age him at 25...the dentist is puzzled at what his age truly is, so we are settling on 30 something. He was impressed with the shape he was in regardless of his age...Freedom gave him heck while he was trying to work on him and then put on quite a show when he was turned loos in the pasture. He called him an opinionated old man We just love our old guy. Harley also got his feet done last Saturday, he is progressing nicely but seemed to be a bit lamanitic, so he is now off the pasture and all grain. He is in a very large paddock eating prairie grass/teff hay mix (very low sugar), has been since Saturday. He is now walking the best he ever has, he is bending his knees and reaching out with his strides instead of walking peg legged. He is also stepping down flat footed instead of toe first, so he is bearing weight on his heels. He is just a love of a horse, who will put his muzzle in my face until he gets his kiss and then off he goes (oay I know it is a bad habit, but he doesn't do it to anyone but me). He is really well trained, so once he is sound he will be a wonderful riding horse-I may end up keeping him.
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Post by Synthia on Oct 27, 2007 15:50:26 GMT -8
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Post by Synthia on Dec 22, 2007 13:45:31 GMT -8
The Holidays are fast approaching, along with the New Year. We still miss Annie and Casino, our dear friend Samba, who spent time with us, they will forever hold a place in our hearts. This year has seen so many wonderful things! Hank going out train riding and being such a fine gentleman . Freedom deciding that he even if he is pushing 40 years old he is going to act like he is 3 . Mo finding his fairy tale ending with a fine young lady-we wish every horse would have such a wonderful ending to a nightmare life ;D. Salty is still as handsome as ever and keeps Dakota happy . HyTyme's Lady Bean has become exactly that...a fine young lady . Harley continues to improve with each trimming from our wonder farrier . Nikki returned to us the horse that I always knew she could be. I am so glad that we never gave up on her, she is now ready for her happily ever-after story . We have a new member added to our herd, he is an 11 year old appy gelding by the name of Spooky Sky, we call him Scooby. Scooby has been a trail horse, kids horse, and a just go out for a ride on the road horse. He has lost some of his sight, so he needs to learn how to do things differently than he used to. He is a dream to ride and has the best temperament (he isn't jar-headed like most appys). I receive calls each week asking me if I have room for one more, I feel bad when I have to say no-even if there is room the finances are stretched as far as they can go and still leave room for emergencies. I encourage you to help a local horse any way that you are able to. Support your local rescue-they need you. 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 Synthia on Jan 5, 2008 17:12:50 GMT -8
Lady may be off to school this month! I am making arrangements for her to spend some time in "charm" school. Freedom and Nikki are spending quality time together. Nikki hurt her right hind hot-dogging around, so she is hanging out in the large paddock. Freedom is keeping her company, he reminds me of Garrison Keillor's saying about catsup-he is a mellowing agent. Freedom was not so mellow on his last ride though. He threw a royal temper tantrum about having to leave his empty mush bowl-he was bucking and stomping around. Old guy gave Dakota quite a ride before Bryce swooped him off his back. Bryce got on him and he did the same thing. Freedom believes that winter is for hanging out eating mush or just waiting by his empty bowl. Hank is trying to figure Scooby out. Scooby is the boss and Hank wants to be! Scooby herds Hank around like a cow, keeps him away from the fence line shared with the mares and makes him eat at the far end of the hay pile. Salty just watches and shakes his head. Harley is now hanging out with Lady, she was learning naughty tricks from Hank. He has come a long way in his recovery. Harley continues to be gimpy on his right front, but the summer should see him sound. 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 Synthia on Jan 20, 2008 11:23:02 GMT -8
Scooby and Salty both got their teeth done by the equine dentist yesterday. It is nice to have all of the horses finished up, well for six months anyway. Scooby did really well, but he needed a lot of work. It turns out that Salty is at least four years older than we thought-that is fine with us though, he and Freedom are pretty good lookin old guys. Lady left for pre-school yesterday, she will be back in 30 days. Nikki is back out with the younger set, she and Freedom were busy trying to show each other up and someone was going to get hurt. Freedom is now back hanging out with the Three Amigos (Hank, Salty, and Scooby) so Dakota has decided they are the Four Musketeers (better known as muskyrears). Harley is hanging out with one hot little Arab mare, who loves Salty and only accepts him as a pale substitute for her true love. 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 Synthia on Jan 22, 2008 16:47:58 GMT -8
We are expecting a special visitor to the herd this weekend...stay tuned!
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Post by Synthia on Jan 26, 2008 14:30:56 GMT -8
Hi It's me Salty the Wonder Horse and I have big news!!! I got to see one of my old owners today, it was nice....I got to show them I was okay. I am 21 years old and was originally named Buddy. I went to another home and my name was changed to Duke. I have been the "horse of a lifetime" to a special lady. I gave lessons, swam in rivers, jumped sage brush, and chased rabbits. I got hurt and my owner spent three years trying to help me, but nothing worked. I ended up in a foster home with shellyr, who knew some secret tricks that helped me be able to put weight on my leg again I got adopted by Dakota and became Salty the Wonder Horse . I am back to teaching kids again-just not to ride, but how to cope with the world. It is a small world....it turns out that my new owner met one of my old owners last year at a horse training clinic last year and didn't know it. They got to talking this month and my old owner mentioned her horse Duke and how he was adopted by an autistic boy in Sunnyside. Mom got to asking questions and guess what it was ME!!! After all how many very talented, super cool Arabs are there in the world? A visit was set up and I got to see my old family, I was surprised I remembered them and it was nice to get scratches and loves...for some reason all the humans were crying-mom said it was because they were happy. Life takes odd turns and sometimes horses like me get very lucky. I was close to being euthed, considered not adoptable, but look at me now! I wish all horses got this happy ending, but unfortunately many do not. I would like to warn people to be careful where you send your horse when you can't keep them. Contact a good rescue-make sure they care for all of their horses and keep them for the rest of their lives if need be. Some rescues shoot horses like me-whew am I glad I dodged a bullet. Life is sooooo good, especially when a horse as cool as me is in it!
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Post by cherie on Jan 26, 2008 16:25:27 GMT -8
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Post by Synthia on Jan 26, 2008 16:53:32 GMT -8
Hi, Salty was going to be picked up from his foster home and taken to a pasture to spend a last summer, since he was considered to be a horse that was not adoptable. Luckily he went home with Dakota the day before he was going to be picked up. That is how Salty dodged a bullet.
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