Sept 16- drying out

Went out to the stable after lunch today to give everything a chance to dry, just started to get some sun in late morning.

Very pleased with the footing of both arenas and the round pen- the paths leading to them are still deep and slick, though. Water pressure was low, so I half-filled a bucket of water for washing. Sherlock was hidden behind the big round bale of hay but came happily to the gate to be haltered and slithered gamely through the mud to the round pen.

I got the blanket off, but Sherlock was restless and wandered the round pen while I followed him wielding the bucket and sponge. His hind legs were both very stocked up so I decided he needed to walk a lot more than he needed to stand for me. He wandered then stopped for weeds and I'd go after the mud with the sponge then.  I ran out of water with only his legs clean so went back for more water, gradually getting him DRY, relatively mud-free, his hooves cleaned, and his heels and back sprayed against scratches. Footing not really secure for hoof cleaning but got the basics done.

Found some new bites on the blind side that got scarlet oil and fly-ointment, otherwise he really looks good for living in a federal disaster zone. Weight-taped 861#, not so bad considering last week he was at 874#. Ate all his grain very greedily today. Free-longed just a few minutes at the walk, better to the right today and got some nice stretchy relaxed walk. He took a new Omega Nibbler treat after a test nibble.

Very happy with the day. Left a semi-clean, dry, fed, medicated horse standing the the middle of a hay bale munching away.

Sept 15- more rain

The blanket fits! Sherlock is now clad in Sirah's old wool-felt-lined rain sheet, the BEST most flexible useful blanket I have ever seen. I cannot believe it was a 72 after all. Sirah wore it on the smallest holes and Sherlock has it on the largest, but boy that saves me a lot of worry- and money! This is a great rain sheet or light winter blanket, you can put it on wet like I did today, as the felt soaks up water from the hair coat. Last time I took it in for washing they said this blanket isn't made anymore but people love it. Sorry, it is NOT for sale- at any price, today.

I was planning on going out to groom, try the blanket, and clean hooves, try to get his legs hosed down and sprayed to help protect from scratches. First thing in the morning. During breakfast it started pouring rain. Packed blanket (OMG does that tag say 72?) and a stack of junker towels in the car. Geared up again but somehow put on tennis shoes instead of boots.

When I got there it was raining so hard I cheated and parked in the driveway of the house, where the gravel is more solid. Slogged to the paddock (darn these beach shoes and their mesh sides it was freezing) and ducked in- round bale in the paddock, no horses visible- must all be in the shelter. Called to them and walked around- Sherlock has his whole back end hanging out of the shelter. I moved Charlie, the boss the the paddock, over and Sherlock came in. He didn't want to be toweled but I just went on despite the head shaking and stomping. Once I threw the blanket on Shelock settled down a bit, just stomping over the positioning of the leg straps. Then I gave him lots of scratches on the neck which are always welcome.

I don't know if he can hold his position in the shelter since I left, but at least if he gets kicked out again, now he's protected some. 3333333de Ezio is climbing over the keyboard to my lap, I see it is time to pet cats. Wish us luck with the continuing heavy rain. We are still fine but watchful today as the rain continues.

Sept 13- flooded

Wow! What a couple of days it has been. We have had an absurd amount of rain and are now in a federal disaster area.

 Lucky I got Sherlock moved to the closer stable, it was very hard for Jo to feed her horses today and she was driving home on a closed highway without knowing it. Yikes! I am so thankful Sherlock is close to me, on the same side of the river, where I cans till check on him and feed him his grain every day. The whole town is sliced in half by the St. Vrain River and the center of town is absolutely impassible right now- all the roads and bridges are closed.

Sherlock is not as muddy as one might expect- the corral ground is very soupy today and not good for rolling in, I hope. The horses are not doing much but standing around eating and hiding in the shelter.  We have had some sun today so I hope they get dry today and get a break.

I could not get to my usual feed store due to flooding- but was able to get the right feed from the Murdoch's close to us. I took the fly sheet and mask home for washing as he needs every chance to get dry while there is sun. We are expecting more rain over the weekend but hopefully not as extreme.

Sept. 11- Ride #8, +mud

Another mostly unproductive week. Super hot and humid, and then pouring rain and muddy.

Sherlock is getting a big scoop of Strategy every day, with 2 little scoops of Cool Calories and handful of ground flaxseed- he really cleans it up with the flaxseed in it.

He likes rolling in the mud- I think most sensitive skin types do- it keeps the flies off. G won the "what % of horse is covered with mud today" bet last time with a guess of 65%, which turned out to be a lowball. I've decided he should wear his fly sheet when it rains- fly spray just washes off, and the sheet keeps some of the mud off.

September 4 we did ground work. Sherlock had a whole week off with no workouts, just grooming and feed. I was not sure how energetic he'd be. He was squirmy while grooming so I free-longed at a trot just a minute then came back to clean his hooves with no trouble. We walked the outdoor arena, including me dragging in a couple little brushboxes and him walking over them and trying to eat the fake flowers. Tried to have him trot with me on the lead line, but nothing doing. Got a nice strong walk, though.

Ride #8, September 6. HOT. Groomed, free-longed just a bit and decided to try the indoor just to get into the shade. Trying out hackamore today. Walked the edges then mounted up- itchy today behind the girth on left side, hopefully just a bug bite and not a suggestion that I replace my fake-fleece girth. Uncertain of footing, walked calmly gate to gate at first then gradually circled out to include the whole ring. He was very interested in the window of the side door, tended to get right down into the corners where the footing is deep and stick there. Just walking and taking our time, he's curious about things and I enjoy letting him explore at his own rate. Too hot to get ambitious about anything at all. Still he's very calm and thinking hard about the new sights.

Barn was closed for the weekend for a clinic, just came out and fed him in the mornings.
We went to the Scottish Festival and had a great time except that G got knocked down by some guy  moving too fast for his sobriety level when we were listening to Albannach. G was a bit dizzy for a minute, and we headed home shortly after that. Looks like a mild concussion and his neck is s bit out of place. Chiropractor is working on it and G is improving quite a bit already.

Sept 9, Sherlock was out at the far end of paddock with 3 smallest ponies, hanging out. Good to see him getting some social time. Hurried in when called, even trotting to be sure he beat everyone to me.  Fed by trailers and worked on faster walk on leadline. Manager T told me during the rainy evening the ponies hid in the shelter while Sherlock ate all the hay he could get for about an hour before they realized he was eating and they weren't, and braved the rain. 

65%?

August 31- Ride #7, sick day

Horrible head cold all week but still had to work since my boss was out of town. Hard to hold down the fort with half a brain. Hopefully not too many mistakes.

Training journal again to the rescue.
Sunday- Ride #7. Took Sherlock away from his breakfast. Quick groom and fly spray, knelt when cleaning R front foot. Saddle and rope halter. Balance checked when dismounting. New riser pad makes back od saddle really high.  Just a few minutes walking to check saddle fit. Cantle too high. Impressed that he takes such good care of me even when he isn't feeling 100%.

Monday- Gave grain (CoolCalories added) and groomed. Very good boy. No balance checks but didn't work. Fly sheet back on. New bites L barrel, Blackie back in pasture. T told me they are getting an increase in alfalfa/grass hay this week.

Wednesday- Fed grain- held the bucket waist-high and he stood more square while he ate. Looks good, cheerful. Watching for loose stools with CoolCalories but no problems.

Thursday-Fed on the other side of the shelter. This area seems to vanish out of the consciousness of the other horses. Nice quiet feeding time and he doesn't spill as much if he's not always looking.

Friday- Fed on the other side of the shelter. Sherlock remembered once I called him and came right around. Some new bites and a scrape inner L cannon bone. All healing well, Fly sheet home to be washed.

Saturday- Fed on the other side of the shelter. Sherlock waiting for me at the gate remembered and came around. Trying to be quiet witht he grain so the others don't realize what they're missing. Added flax seed with 1/2 scoop CoolCalories and he really cleaned it up. Measured again for blanket, 72 inches should be a better fit. Weight taped 874#. Too thin but looks better than before move to pony pasture.

August 24- ride #6 &weekly wrap-up

Where did the week go? Thank you, training journal.

Monday we had Bath Day- sponged with apple cider vinegar, which is helping the hives go away. Also started groundtie training for hoof cleaning, just in case of balance loss.  Safer to be away from fences and tie rails.
Tuesday we explored the grounds a bit further. We found the hay barn and behind it the hay fields and the pond. There are dirt roads to ride on back there but we didn't go too far. The pond was showing off with Canadian Geese, lots of dragonflies and even a blue heron.

Wednesday, ride #6. Just walking, but using the whole round pen. Nice medium walk today. Sherlock started swishing his tail and then stomping and I emergency dismounted to shoo away a big fly keen on his sheath. How rude. I rubbed a handful of SWAT on the area and re-mounted for a few more minutes. Good whoa today. Holding up well to ponies,  but the old horse wouldn't let him drink so I moved the old fellow for a minute so Sherlock could have a nice long drink.
I have realized that Sherlock hates fabrics that are not natural. He does very well in the wool felt pad  but the fake felt one he tried to roll with me! So I'm looking for a used leather bridle and found a wool felt English pad. The riser pad should fit between the saddle pad and the saddle, so it won't touch him.

Thursday just groomed and gave him his grain. Gave grain next to grain storage trailer, anxious about trailer but went to bucket when he saw it. Riser and Cool Calories arrived in the evening.

Friday very muddy! A said he might have slipped in the mud, maybe with the right front, which is the one he always puts forward when he lowers he head for anything. Fed in barn aisle (first day Cool Calories, I am not at ALL paranoid about driving to the stable with a big ziploc of white powder so I stored it there) and scraped the majority of the mud off so fly spray could be put on. Free longed Sherlock in indoor arena w/t just to see if he was sore but he looked okay.

Saturday woke up with screaming sinus headache! DayQuil and Cold Season tea and went out a little later than usual. Lots of riders getting tuned up for a show. Gave Sherlock his grain in paddock since everyone else was out working. Ponies are Annie and Tooie (the mini). Groomed the rest of the mud off and got it out of his mane, ACV on hives and put on the fly sheet.
 I went out to the outdoor arena as lessons were switching out. Ground work with squeeze game, he was trying to circle behind me towards the gate so I made a barrier of the swinging rope- he got hit just once, and then was a little anxious but careful, and we used that impulsion to get a decent sideways game both directions. Then we worked on "stand" while we watched the lesson horses get started, and went for a walk around the barn and back to the paddock. I now give him a handful of fresh grass or alfalfa if I was able to pick some, every time I put him away. He is slowly getting more willing to go back in the paddock.

August 19-Photoblog

Luna at Carr Park

This morning I was thinking of my dear friend W- some time ago she sent out a challenge to photograph a sampler of your day. I was heading out for a hike that day, so my photoblog turned out very nice, full of Eldorado Canyon scenery and flowers. Well, I decided to do it again today.

This is a fairly typical Monday with freelance work but no job searching. Here we are in the little park close to home. It is the first day of school and the street was packed, but I'm not photographing that chaos as I don't want to worry about permissions and such.

Sherlock has breakfast

Gray at KT's

Then I headed out to the stable. I worked Sherlock a little, cleaned his hooves, and bathed him with apple cider vinegar. It did help the itchiness, but it's not repelling flies. I didn't take my phone to the bathing area, so no pics of Sherlock biting the hose. He had his breakfast and a drink of water, then back to the corral with the ponies. He is starting to stand up to the smallest ones now, at least for food and to meet me at the gate.


Picked Luna up and went to lunch with Gray at KT's BBQ, we like to eat there Mondays as they have excellent Mac & Cheese on Monday.

Going to hike

Teller Farm

Took Luna over to Teller Farm for a short hike. Very close to KT's and to my old workplace. Hot out (high 80's) but I let her get down in the irrigation ditch for a drink.

I like this hiking trail as it's flat and easy with paths through tall grass. The minus is very little shade.

Then I stopped in at the bank and headed home to work. I am taking notes on an audio program that will come out later in the year with author Danielle LaPorte.

Ezio awakens

My desk!

What passes for breaktime- a quick trip to the backyard with Luna, and the dwarf-slayer to tackle some of the dandelions popping up. Then some laundry - here are the 4 loads that are clean from yesterday. I am good about doing laundry but not so much on the folding and putting away.

Gray's home, it must be dinnertime! No pictures of pork chops and stuffing- but here is a screencap from my fave game on my phone, Dragonvale. All my shiny gemstone dragons!

Dragonvale!

And now that dinner is done, reading aloud to each other from Blood of Tyrants until bedtime. I love these books, they are about the Napoleonic Wars but if there was an aerial corps made up of dragons.

Candi and Temeraire

Good Night!