more celebrations, or perhaps spring fever

Yesterday was a lovely day at the barn. Keil and I finally got to try out the new saddle pad. Initially he snorted at it (the Big Bay tends to snort at new things in general - he likes his routine) but once allowed to investigate it at close range he decided it was fine. When placed on his back, he realized one of the benefits of the thing - sheepskin!

He bobbed his head one time in approval and I continued tacking up. When it was time to mount, we went through a couple of cycles of practicing standing still, and when I got to the point of weighting the stirrup he realized another benefit of the lush pad. Bobbed his head one time and stood still for mounting.

All the gates were open for our ride and we had fun walking the arena and then taking a random open gate out into the various spaces. We mostly walked, since we both need some conditioning, but as we worked on that, we did some sitting trot in a few places when fine-tuning the light cues. (using Jane Savoie's method that works so well)

What I've read about the Thinline pad is true. That foam piece does indeed make a difference. It was easier to sit the trot. Keil moved forward and did happy snorts. We had a good ride.  I had dreaded taking the pad off, especially this time of year, thinking it would be dirty and harder to keep clean than a regular cotton pad - but alas, the amount of dust was minimal and it brushed right off the sheepskin.

Keil Bay got a half cup of oats and then hung his head over the gate when I turned him out. He often doesn't want to disconnect when we finish our rides, and it's been awhile, so it was especially nice to share that last few moments of connection before he turned and wandered to the field.  I'd spent a lot of time grooming him before riding, and even last night he still looked immaculate, with a glow about him. I think he was proud to be back in the work routine. Keil likes working, especially when it's done in the morning and he knows he's done for the day!

It's a pleasure to have a horse who can go off work and come back to it with such good spirit and behavior. I was reminded again - he IS my dream horse.

After this particularly peaceful, satisfying morning, you may wonder why I'm referencing spring fever in the title.

At 2:30 a.m. I was awakened by my son, who had been awakened by Salina's persistent alarm whinny by the barnyard gate. (because of our stall resurfacing project, she has been temporarily displaced from my bedroom window)

I woke up husband, who went out to check, and found two donkeys who had removed the big stick I use to block the stile, gone through, and were munching happily (in the rain even) on nice green grass. Donkeys returned grudgingly to their barnyard, Salina calmed down, and everyone got a middle of the night hay refill.

This morning the first thing I saw when I opened the blinds on my bedroom window was Cody, stretching head and neck and chest over a 4-strand electric tape that is supposed to be hot. Whether it was or not, he was in full contact with two strands, eating the lushest green grass on the farm that lies on the other side.

It's obvious that fortifications are in order if we are to get through this bout of spring fever on November Hill!

celebrating the green on November Hill

Yesterday was the day we decided to begin the offering of green stuff in very limited amounts to the equines, and R&R were lucky to be in the right place at the right time. My husband opened the gate and in they marched for their 10 minutes in the sun.

They were soon joined by Salina and Keats the feline goddess. As you can imagine, it was not quite as easy to get them out of the back yard as it had been to invite them in!  They are all craving the green stuff, but we try to build them up slowly. They'll get 10 minutes for a few days, then 15, then when the back yard is grazed down for us we'll move to the side and front, and build them all up to 30 minutes a day each.

Between that and what's coming up in the back field they should get just the right amount of green to prepare their systems for the richer season. Right now the back field is mostly buttercups, which will get mowed when they get tall enough. If my plan works out, the mowing will coincide with their move to the front, since moving them to that much grassier field will take some time and thus it won't be grazed down for a while.

Fortunately we have the dry paddock and can use the arena as well as we move them onto the grass.

Yesterday morning I was spreading hay in the back field and heard a commotion in the forest behind our grandfather compost mountain. It was a herd of deer, 20-25 of them, and they began to leap down the hill, through the clearing, and up the hill into the next section of trees. I have never seen anything like it - the deer seemed to be fully airborne, and the flash of white tails was like a wave moving down, across, and then up again.

I searched online for photos that might show a similar movement, but there was nothing remotely like what I saw. We have deer visiting frequently, but not usually in that number, and not usually in such a smooth wave of motion. Deer symbolize new adventure, and magical journeys. As the last deer in yesterday's herd reached the edge of the forest, she stopped and turned back to look at me. As always, the soft gentle glance of a deer is like an invitation to follow.

And just like that, in a fleeting moment, the fourth magical pony book was born.

the lifestyle of totilas

I had a really upbeat, November Hill post to write this afternoon (and I will, tomorrow) but this came to my attention and I'm sorry but I feel I have to post it here.

This is how Totilas, and all the other horses on this farm live. Apparently this is typical.

It literally makes me sick. It looks like a prison.

Where is the pasture? Where is a horse ever allowed to be a horse?

I read that the horses are considered to be livestock, and treated as such.

Should any animal be housed and kept this way?

dressage anywhere??

I just read about THIS and think it's a wonderful idea.

You sign up online for a dressage test, video yourself riding that test in the comfort of your own arena, and submit the video for judging! There is a fee, but you also get an actual ribbon if you win.

This particular program is in the UK. I wish someone in the US would put something like this together, using the existing FEI standards, of course...!

trim notes for march 2010

B. wrote in great big letters across our trim note page this afternoon:

GREAT FROGS ON EVERYBODY!

Entirely due to Eleanor Kellon's equine nutrition classes and my daughter's hoof care. I am so happy to see hoof health improve to this point.

B. also noted that everyone's hooves were in good balance today, which means daughter's bareback riding is (we already knew this!) balanced and correct, and that the horses are moving well and soundly.

I'd been looking at Salina's topline for the past week or so, thinking to myself that she actually HAS one again, which is a great thing for a 27-year old mare with arthritic knees who isn't being ridden. But I thought maybe I was seeing it because I want to see her doing well. However, B. saw her and said "she's getting her topline back!"

She's turning out with the entire herd again and moving a lot every day. Today for her trim she was quite spirited and although well-behaved, I could feel her energy circling.

All the horses and the donkeys were in the back field when B. arrived. My daughter went out to get the pony, and I got Keil Bay, but Cody galloped in, and Salina and the donkeys came in too. Rafer let himself through the fence and came into the barn aisle where he attached himself to B., laying his head softly on B's shoulder, standing as closely as he could without getting in the way, and when it was his turn for a trim, he stood with a lead rope laying over his neck and lifted each hoof w/o being asked.

It's always a pleasure having B. here to do trimming, but today was especially nice: sunshine, a breeze, spring evident all around us, and a wonderful "report card" at the end.