STalls and then tail cleaning and spokky walking

Warm morning went to help with stalls and take care of my boy

SATURDAY:  After the last few weeks of line lead walks on the road and the arena, Duke was kicking up his heels. so much latterly that I have began to think that he may be trying to tell me something. He always pulls up during his lead line walks.  I notice it at certain places. It may be behavior but I am going to work with him and continue with Krystyn to help to get him feeling confidant again.
Today was nice.  I went out to the paddock and it was so muddy. I have been having some issues with the gate and Doc.  Hes been coming over and being a jerk and over the past year I have seen him do terrible things to Duke pushing him around. I really hate it. Well when I get Duke if Doc is nice I give him a snack today it was an apple. He needs to stay away from the gate while I am with Duke and if he does it, I give him a snack or an apple/carrot too. Its working.

I went over today gave them both apples and then returned to the barn to help out with the mucking.  I went in to talk to Krystyn and Bonnie then I asked them if they were going to take a break, if they were I can go out and start the stalls. I went to the other side because they had already done the first side. I did Thistle, Doc Cisco Thistle's brother Fred, Muke and Brat. The horses were in yesterday so there was double poop to remove. They were a little sad over some barn drama with some of the other of the boarders. Well I told them about Raych and we talked about barn stuff.  I was really happy to be there.  We finished up and swept and I got a beautiful stocking for Duke's stall it had a leopard print on the cuff.  I felt great.  Bonnie said that she appreciated me and that she took care of the Dentist for me and Duke and that she appreciated my friendship. I was so happy.

Looks like theres a fence down in the paddock

SUNDAY:
Was working on Christmas chores at home and a friend posted a picture of Duke. It was a funny one of him eating at the edge of the paddock where there happen to be a fence rail down.
I really wanted to run over to the barn because it was so nice out.  Warmer 30s-40s with bright blue sky.
I left at about 4pm or so, and when I got there it was getting dark fast.  I saw that June and Kayla were at the barn.  Kayla is now feeding on Sunday night she said that Jess does Sat night.  Duke was munching like crazy in his stall. I figured I could get in there and get the dried mud all cleared away. He was happy as could be just being there. The temperature today was ok. Yesterday it was warmer then the wind and clouds made it cold. Today it was sunny and blue sky so it seemed pretty warm. I brushed him out happily.  June had a lady over who was giving the horses a massage.  They both looked happy over in the other aisle.  Later June introduced me to her but I quickly forgot her name.
When I came back in form a great walk and grazing in the fields we went into the arena directly. I was still thinking about Duke's eyesight and what things I should be watching for with ihm. After one of the best walks I have had with him, I really paid attention to his ability to see and kept in mind that he may not be able to see in front of him and needs to turn to see.  He gets anxious the same spots every time we walk, I don't think hes a bad boy I think he is challenged and hes been trying to tell me. Now our walks are more like I am reassuring ghim that I understand his feelings and we will be patiently working until he is able to feel comfortable. I am proud of his sweet attempts to be a good boy. He tries hard so I will always make sure that we are working together and I am aware of what hi is experiencing.
When I got to the barn  I walked around to get his bucket with all of my brushes and other things and went into the stall as he munched. It was pleasant to hang out with him. I hadn't put on my muck boots but instead I had my paddock boots on. He was still covered with dried mud but it comes off so easy on him.  I went to town on his coat I had washed his tail yesterday but today it was a dry mud brush out.  he was funny, it was actually dusty.  I enjoyed seeing how quickly his coat was clean.  then when I thought it was good we went out to take our walk out to the road. I watched him as he turned around and tilted his head.  I thought about how Krystyn had said that his blue eye might be the one.  I began to feel a bit different on our walks as I talked to him. He paid attention to my words and pressure on his line.  He was completely attentive to keeping his feet on the ground, not bucking or rasing his legs up. He did have a faster step and I was following his pace.  . I miss when we used to run and stop. Maybe he misses it too. I think I might start working on it again if I feel like hes calmed down enough and will listen to me.  We did something we don't usually, he grabbed some grass while we were way from the barn on the walk.  He was sneaky about it but I thought it was Christmas so its a great time to sneak grassEvery day with him is a gift that I get from heaven.  Like a wonderful spirit of that guy.  Hes a complete joy. After our walk we went into the field by the edge and the grass looked short we munched a bit on the edge and then we went over by the tractors where he loves the grass the best and we ate.  Then we went back into the barn to walk and play in the arena.
We went into the arena and all I had was candy, Duke didn't mind.  He acted like he was going to roll but instead he waited for my ques and then he ran like a champ with his leg kicks up. I will be bringin my go-pro to capture how beautiful Duke looks as he runs along in the arena wildly and kicks up his heels to catch up with me.  I feel like hes comfortabl ewith me and I am able to bond with him like nothing else.  As I am working with Duke, June is watching with her friend.  She admired us from the rail as I saw her smiling watching us round about as we worked asking about how old he was.  Last time I was in the barn June mentioned how she thought he was a really good horse that seemed loving.  The time before she mentioned that his feet looked really great, and his hoofs were healthy looking and asked about his farrier.  This week she mentioned how she thought he was responding to me and walking together base do my cues.  She asked how old he was as he danced across the large arena with his feet kicking up so crazy.  I love how he runs around. I know hes feeling so much better. ItI did that walking around and running around back and forth. He did not roll but acted like he might.
We worked out and he was ready to go to bed. I know when he goes to the rail too much he has had enough. I put all of his stuff away in the bucket that I use now.  I really like it.  Holds my stuff perfectly. I brushed out his tail.  I did spray it again with the fung off. I would like him to stop rubbing it but they were in this week some and I think he does it out of bordem.

Mid-December, too little time at the barn

Saturday Afternoon: Saturday cleaned the house like crazy and then left to go over to the later in the afternoon after doing so many chores at Marshalls, Homegoods, Wildbirds Unlimited and the Chelmsford Farmers Market (where I made a killing of fun stuff including fudge, cookies, wine tasking and wine club lobster and a head of romaine lettuce and more. I went over to the barn and it was pretty dark, Bonnie was gone already I did not stay long I think I only did a little. I remember the Perry's were there and they were talking about the office being messy. I will try and remember later. This weekend I had not seem Duke near as much as I should have seen him. Debbie and her husband were there and they had gotten on and ridden in the arena. I must have walked Duke a little bit. Ill try and remember later. When I first got to the barn, Bonnie and Krystyn were in the office and I went into talk before I went out with Duke.  I asked Krystyn about Duke's spooky ways and how hes been avoiding areas and all sorts of different things that he's been doing lately.  She said that she thinks its his vision maybe.  He might be when he walks near certain areas. near the equipment, near the edge of the woods, when the wind blows when things move that he cannot see hes the guy that gets a bit jumpy.  When I was with Liv Duke pulled back to not go to the equipment and the dirt hill.  There are many other places too. I want to list htem later.  Next week Kerrie will be at the barn and Krystyn is going to make sure that Duke gets his eyes checked for any blindness.  She has a scope she can use to look into his eyes and see if there is any cataracks.

Sunday night:  I went by at night to check in make sure that Duke was walked a bit or runned or exercised and to drop off his pills for his leg. As I was there I was running around with Duke to exercise him. June was with her horses with Conor and they were working with her horses Cisco and Africa.  They were in the stalls doing stuff really quick she said. When I told her that the horses hadn't gotten out today she was working with them in the stalls and she was going to go out into the arena.
Duke was os cute, when I came into the stall door, I cracked it a bit and grabbed his halter and he was so patient to put his face into the halter lowering his head down so I could close it over his chin and then he trotted out to the arena through th ailse by the other horses showing it was his turn to go into the arena to have some attention. He was walking proud.
Well I moved the barriors up and then started walking Duke.  June came to the edge as I was taking him in. She said that Dukes feet really looked like a quality job on this hoofs trimming and shoes. I told her that Dave Edmunds was the farrier and hes been doing his feet for a few years. 
She watehed me as I moved with Duke in the arena. I was working with liberty getting him to work with me on his own because he wants to be there because he wants to run where I ask him and to run around. As I was working with him he got really rambutious and kicked up his heels in the air.  He rolled so sweetly and actually got himself back over and back. The last part of swinging hisself back took so many tries that when he make it back over I was so proud. 
Then we played together and walked back and forth running. I got a lot of walking in a short amount of time.  Then back to the stalls we went. It was an excellent visit.

Trailride with Cleo and Liv at Greenwood

At Equine Affaire back in Nov I was lucky enough to be able to meet with Liv and her Gypsy Vanner horses in the big barn and in the Arena for the Demo.  Its so nice to talk to her she is down to earth and I admire her working with those wonderful horses and sheep.  Well when I was talking to her at Equine Affaire, I had mentioned Greenwood when she said that she didn't have a place for her horses to workout.  I had listened to her talk abouthow much her horses like to go on trail rides. I talked a little bit about how Duke was lonely with out his old friends from Bobby's. I let her know how he was sad with out having a  gang or a buddy to hang out.  Well she said that her Gypsies  loved to trail ride. I asked her if she would be interested in coming over to Greenwood for a trail ride.  She said she would love to. She also said that she's interested in renting the arena to work out.
Well sure enough she asked if I was interested in her coming over to Greenwood for a trail ride with Duke. Well I was thinking about it all week. It was going to be really cold Saturday moring, and yes it was very cold 20 or so.  Well I had some challenges, my tire was flat so I had to get gas and get the front tire pumped up again.
Well I texted Liv to make sure that she was on target still.  She said that she needed to get a pin for her trailer then she's be over. I let her know I was a bit late for getting him early.
Well she came and we went out.  Cleo was already in her saddle and Bonnie and Krystyn was happy to see her come by.  Bonnie came over with a release form for Liv to sign off on  and they talked about using the arena for working out with the horses.
After we got back we went into the Arena and walked. It was funny Duke was walking over to the steps in the middle like he wanted me to get off now. Well after a while he was just following Cleo around the room.  Also my stirrup came off so I might have some issues with my saddle.  I need to fix it soon.  Cleo wore a beautiful leather western roper show saddle. Really pretty. I was having some issues with Duke before SHe got there we did our exercises from Phil Whitemore's session and it helped him to be a good boy.  As we went into the field he back out as usual and went away form the large dirt pile.  He became strange and I was concerned but I respected his response and we went the way of the road. Liv is so easy going that she said what ever we wanted she would come too. We had a great walk down the raod and then around Bonnies house to the edge of the field and then back to the barn.  The goats made Duke a bit strange. Later as I was working with the stalls to muck out the 7 that I did, Krystyn and I talked about how he was reacting to some of the areas that I have been riding. She said it is most likely that one of his eyes is senstitive or he may be a bit blind in one of them so he favors going with the fields to one side and the woods to the other.
When we were cooling down in the arena.

Oh by the way Krystyn thinks that Duke might be going blind or having vision issues.
Also he needs a shieth cleaning too.

Short Visit walk snacks shampoo

So much mud raining for weeks and weeks.

When I got to the barn, I went right in and got Duke out of the paddock.  The mucky mud, each spot that the hoof leaves in the mud was filled with water too.  There is a pond in the paddock too. As I got there Krystyn was in the arena riding Kensey. She looked good all dressed up in her pants, helmet and English outfits.  She looks like a professional.

I wetn over the paddock area and started to whistle hoping that Duke would look over at me. He didn't but Cisco June's horse looked.  Hes a beautiful grey horse.  Well I was coming over to Doc and Duke and had 2 apples.

Something wonderful has happened in the paddock with Duke. I was having such a terrible time with Doc he would lean on me and I hated how he treated Duke. He would try and push Duke out of the way and run at him when I was getting him.  He made Duke go away from the gate. I hated this. And I complained to Bonnie so I know she knows how I feel. She at first said that he wasn't as bad as I thought and that there were times that Duke and Doc were friendly. I don't believe it.

The day I was there and Duke rolled in the paddock and that creepy Doc walked over to him to give him a back kick in the face.  Like it could have killed him. I then hated Doc, relly saw no improvement for months maybe a year. Then the strangest thing happened maybe this Fall late.  Somehow Doc has no interest in being a jerk to Duke. So I was beginning to bring him an apple.

Black Friday and Saturday visit oo

 

Black Friday - on Wednesday Bonnie asked me what I was doing on Friday. Well I was going to go into work but just really to check in head to the mall for some sales, pick up stuff at Gamestop and have a nice lunch.  So it was easy enough to get up early and head over to the icey barn at like 10am it was in the teens, pretty cold morning. When I got there I stopped and took a picture at the road of the beautiful acres of snowy land spanning the length of my view.  Amy and Tess were there helping riding the Gator and putting out the hay.  Amy was very happy, she had put out Duke and said he was well behaved. That's good to hear I d hate it if he wasn't a good boy. I saw them it was pretty chatty.  Amy loves talking a lot and taking pics of Tess in the barn working have a nice experience. I asked Bonnie what was going on and let her know I had about 90 min. I jumped into the stall, well I went over to Duke and gave him some carrots, some love and then went into back to the stalls. I started in the backat Safari.  Bonnie and I went to town to get the stalls shoveled. I tried to get as many as possible. The gator was kind of slow getting back to be filled. I just went ahead until I was at Duke's. I noticed that complaining about the work doesn't make me feel good about doint it. I do not complain I just do it.I shoveled by my self for a while then made sure that Bonnie didn't take on too much. I really care about them and watch out for them. As I was talking to Krystyn I asked about going to get a new blanket for Babe and maybe I would be looking for Duke, she mentioned that she wsa thinking about going to Nevins and asked me to go too. There was a butt into the conversation and then I was cut off again adn it all revolved around Amy.  Its disappointing to have this happed to me over and over while I am with her. I know it will make it so Ill avoid her.

I worked as far as I could finished a ton of stalls and also went around and pucked up te piles at the other ones so that Bonnie didn't have to..  I was proud of how hard I worked and was able to get to work area and meet up at Kohls right on time. Not back for a Friday morning. It made my day so much better, especially knowing that Duke was out in the sun.  I gave both Doc and Duke carrots but I waited for Doc to be a good boy before giving him any.
I was thinking about the effort that goes into the Greenwood Stables compared to the old barn.   Friday was I was mucking the stalls, I could hear Kelly chopping the ice in the next aisle.  Kelly was empting the buckets, chopping the ice and bleaching each one of them out before she replaced each one with the water. As this is done each day bring the fresh water to the separate paddocks and giving hay too. After the stalls are cleaned the new clean shavings are placed into the stalls. Its so nice to see.

Saturday was a

Saturday was a dream come true, I texted about 12:15 or so to see if they needed a hand, Bonnie said all finished. I let her know that John would be coming tomorrow morning to hang out with me and Duke. She understood I was avoiding the afternoons to miss Sc.

Well I was alone the horse were all out in the paddocks.  I went over and got Duke before anything else. I knew I don't want ot put off getting him.  The temperature was much better than yesterday, the 30s. He was truly happy to see me.  Walking over to the gate and I had no issues getting him out of the paddock and into his lead line. He was all about getting some grass under the icey snow. I didn't have my cleets but at least Duke had his on I went into the ailes and connecting him. He needed the dirt on his beautiful coat cleaned off and then checked his hoofs with the protectant; also applied the RainMaker on his hoofs and also the Funo\ff on Duke's tail. His tail is getting better, the hair is growing but I wish I had washed it with shampoo today. I might need to tomorrow. Anyway I finished working on his coat, hoofs, and tail.  As I looked at Dukes feet and bottom of his hoofs, I saw that the cuts on the bottom almost looked like they were kinda deep. I could see the white of his hoof and some almost blood looking underneath, maybe veins.  I think that having his feet down by Dave gives me a piece of mind because he is a professional. But his feet looked freshly trimmed. I Brushed out his under carriage and his feathers on his legs. Hes so much stronger looking in so many ways.

I talked to him that we were going to be have today. He was tacked up good and I have my terrible method of walking him over to the edge and giving him a couple of carrot pieces. I walked him around about 2-3 times in the arena he was pretty good. I had closed the ailes off by putting up the boards and opened the back doors so that we can see the other horses that are in the paddocks. I felt he was well behanved. He had bee ndoing this strange back kicks lately that I am concerned with but he did not do it with me riding him. Well I took him to the side put the carrots down on the ground and then jumped up on him we walked 2 times in the arena and then out the back door. its pretty icy wet and also snowy. The ice in someplaces was pretty thick.

Ride around outside down the road back into the arena and then saddles off walk out to the hay barn edges for grass graaing then brushed off and water scrapted then a quick walk down the road again, blanketed off the water brushe dout and then put in the stall as the Perry's were there getting the horses put away 3pm seems pretty early for getting them into the stalls but maybe that's ok. I had wished that they were out for longer like one more hour. But I think that Duke had had enough exercise with me that afternoon.

I felt like the afternoon visit was very quality time with that guy. I spent tons of time with Duke and thought tenderly about Doina and how Daniel was letting his sweet horse go. I held Duke in my arms and brushed his face tenderly today. He saw that I was loving him so carefully as he was in the barn, brushing lovingly.  He is a great friend and I hope he realizes how much he means to me.

 

 

 

Helping at the barn and plans for Target Training and Liberty

Headed over to the barn at about 1215 after I did some chores at the house, washed some floors vaccumed di laundry.  As I came around the corner the snow from yesterday stretched over all of the big fields on either side of the road.  I hoped that there was no one at et barn. I had texted Bonnie to see if they were still doing stalls. Krystyn and Bonnie had almost finished Duke's side. 
I finished up Duke's stall and then we went over to do the rest of the other side.  Krystyn was on one side with Bonnie and I wa son the other.  WE did the stalls together and then after I was almost done with Docs Bonnie popped in and said, come on Jules I bought you lunch. I said we were about to finish and she said that it can wait.  I went into the office and sat on a bag of feed.  We talked about everything. I told them about Joe and Bonnie said if anyone wants to use the farm for a wedding they can. I thought it was a beautiful offer and that I would like it for Raychel.  I think we should do that. Ill talk later.

 Duke was in the paddock.  Duke was outside happy, had an apple and was in the deep mud so deep.When I go to the paddock now Doc isn't as much of a jerk as he used to be over the past couple of years. I actually don't hate him as much. I whistle for him and then I ask him to come to the gate.  He speaks back to me. When I talk to him and walk toward him he looks straight at me and walks toward me speaking. Doc realizes that I will not let him out and also that he needs to steop away while I get Duke and open the paddock door. I brought him out  over to the snow field.  There is usually long delicious grass there but its covered with 7" of thick snow.  He uses his top lip that is very much like an elephants trunk and moves the snow in a circular motion where he scoops back with his teeth and gets a big pull of grass. This goes on for a little while about 5min. 

Then we finish up snacking and into the barn, tied him up on the cross ties.  I got the new cat litter bucket filled with water and grabbed the medicated Tail and Mane, warm water in the bucket.  I put he medicated shampoo on Duke's spot on his tail.  Took the bucket up to the tail top, to wet his tail so that I can put the shampoo directly on.  I put the shampoo on my hand, wet my hands and then lathered it up.  I coverd his tail and then looked at his face, he was so patient. I was really proud. I grabbed the apple out of my pocket and petted his neck hugged him and then gave him the apple.  I waited the 15 minutes brushing him out and taking care of his tail while he wears the blue striped blanket.   Hes beautiful such a good boy.  I rinsed his tail wrung out his tail hairs. The 2nd bucket of water was to rinse out his soapy tail.  I wanted to go for a walk on the road but the kids were racing down the road with their rid eon toys 3 at a time and I really didn't like all of the noise and screaming. We decided to go into the arena. 

Dukes been working out with me in the arena in a really nice way.  Krystyn called it liberty training and also target training that will lead to Liberty training.  I explained how I was using cones to go over some exercise bringing Duke around the cones, showing him me go around the cones and working to see if Duke would then go around the cones w/o me.

As we worked out in the arena, I did what I always did when walking around with the lead line to add up to 1 mile.  But as we walked Duke became jumpy, kicking his legs like hes been doing over the past few weeks during night exercise.  He wanted to break away. I was actually keeping him warm because his tail was still damp and I was worried he was getting cold. I had his blanket on as we walked.  He kept kicking up the back legs and doing this thing with his head toward me, being riled up and his energy was very stirred up.  I realized that he was excited to be in the arena with me. He wanted to do that training that we like so much. Running around on my cue as I whistle and call him.  I walk or sometimes run to the edge and Duke will wait for me to get close to the area and then to call him and then he came running, running with his legs kicking up and his head throwing back and forth in the air.  Hes excitement and his attention to what we are doing is front and center.  Hes everything I ever wanted for a horse.  Better than any horse ever.  Hes the greatest.

Krystyn explains to me that the ground work of Target Training and Liberty will work with him.  Krystyn also agreed that if we did lessons in Western she would do them. I mentioned Monday nights. Krystyn is busy on Wednesday. I'm very happy about the lessons on Mondays.  Krystyn seems very happy with her life and Bonnie is very settle with Reggie and Krystyn in the house with her  It will work out great.  Bonnie also suggested that we have a wedding at Greenwood.
Target Training or Clicker training
http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/targeting_handout_new.html

5 Principles of Liberty Training

Principle 1: Your Horse Must Want to be with You
Every detail of Liberty training must be positive in order to progress with your horse.This means that your horse must prefer being with you over everything else.You must be more interesting to him than what’s going on outside the fence, you must be more pleasurable than goofing off. Being with you must feel better than being away from you. this can be more challenging than you think.
Principle 2: Your Horse Must Come to you Anytime You Ask
It’s easy to “chase” your horse away from you, and in fact, this is what most folks call Liberty. It’s not quite so easy to cause your horse to come to you… anytime you ask him to. Simply, you, your space and your energy must be inviting to your horse. If there’s anything about you or your energy that is off-putting, your horse may not come to you. Focusing on Principle 1 dramatically helps your horse come to you anytime you ask him to.
Principle 3: Positive Reinforcement Causes the Above 2 Principles to Occur
An immediate and obvious truth will emerge as you and your horse are learning Liberty – if it doesn’t feel good to your horse, he won’t keep doing it. Positive reinforcement, which is the reinforcement of desired responses with a reward or something pleasurable, is key to Liberty training.
This very powerful application of positive reinforcement may be one of the most profound aspects of Equine Liberty Sports. In conventional training, horses are taught that your “silence” or removal of pressure, is an indication that they are doing the right thing. In essence when the handler “goes away” in traditional methods, it is presented to the horse as being desirable. In the Equine Liberty Sports teaching program, your presence, and a connection with you, is presented as being preferred, and silence is used to motivate your horse to reconnect with you.
Principle 4: Less is More.
The fastest way to blow Liberty is to overdo it. Horses are intelligent and can learn new ideas in a matter of minutes. It does take thousands of repetitions to create conditioned responses, but these are two separate training activities. The Equine Liberty Sports teaching elements has both elements, but all lessons should be approached in short bursts, 10-20 minute sessions only. When you play with your horse, try to end your sessions just when it seems that your horse is getting hooked. This insures that the next principle will occur.
Principle 5: Your Horse Must Never get Bored!
When your horse gets bored, he starts to make things more interesting. In Liberty training this can mean he may not come to you, he may not do what you are asking, he may decide to goof off, he may do the opposite of what you are asking… just to shake it up! Boredom to the horse is the “devil’s workshop,” and this truth becomes more apparent, more quickly, when you remove the lines. In Liberty training you must keep it stimulating, you must change it up, you must keep your sessions short and fun!

Sunday I went over at 2:30pm  Scottie was there with friends.  They were strange, she mentioned that they all had just cleaned under the floor mats of Doc's stall.  It seemed that they put the cleanings (poop) in the back of the friends car.  They were backing it up near my car along side the barn to dump in the pile.  I wasn't comfortable with them backing up.The big man was driving the car and Scottie was saying, Its ok they are my friends. I went into the barn and put down my stuff.  I went right out to see Duke, it looked like I had lost my lead line because they used Babe's for Duke . I was calling him over and opening the gate, he was near the gate as I opened up the gate and placed the latch on Duke's halter.  I heard Scottie voice saying that she wanted to see about taking out Dusty at the same time as Duke. I said I had problems with them and wanted to take out Duke without Dusty running over and pushing o the gate. I told her I had problems with him.  I grabbed Duke, and asked her to step back as I got Duke out of the gate.  If she wanted me to help her I would have like her to ask. I was wondering if she was waiting for me to get Duke out so I would help her with Dusty she should have asked instead of running out behind me and kind of cornering me as I was trying to get Duke out. I think like Kristin was saying that because her friends are there shes acting a little bit weird.  Just an observation.  Anyway I walked out toward the front of the barn instead of the back door as she went.  As she walked I could hear her yelling at Doc because he wasn't listening. Sometimes I feel bad for him. Anyway I got Duke into the barn, went into his stall and sprayed his tail over and over.

I had the new hand tooled bridle and it still wasn't big enough. I need a longer strap for under his chin.  He was a nice boy standing in the cross ties while I was working on his bridle and cleaning him up. I was planning on riding in the arena.  Having Scottie in the arena area was making me wait until she was leaving.  She had her friends and the horse. She said things like, Dusty don't bite and she was yelling at him scolding him for something.  I was praying that no one was going to think its a good idea to ride him.  Hes a small horse and they are all overweight.  Anyway. I was sort of keeping my self scarce after I got Duke, he was tacked and ready but I didn't want to go into the arena with them. I wanted to have a peaceful walk and just be me and Duke talking.
I waited patiently with Duke. Kristin came to see Kinsey and they were still there. We killed time talking until they left.  I wish I don't have to wait for them to leave.   Well finally they finished up.

Since Duke was tacked, I had a pocket full of carrots, we were ready to go to the mounting block.  I walked around for a few times with him and then tried to get the back kicks out of Duke before we walked the arena. I asked Kelly if they were brining the horses in the back way, Kelly and Kayla said that they didn't have to do it. I closed the back door to the barn and put up the boards to keep the arena close off.  It worked out good.  Those two are really good kids, they are considerate I think.
 I did the same things that I would do for walking but with Duke on horse back.  He was distracted with Kelly and Kayla's pouring the feed buckets into each of the horses buckets but I tried to keep him on target for what we were doing. He did ok.
Things went pretty good.  It was enough, he listened and then I took off his saddle and he went to get his oats.  Perfect visit 2 hours, tacked hung out and rode a little.  Great day.

Quick visit to Greenwood to see Duke, blanket, walk, do his hoofs and hang out

At 7pm I was thinking it was pretty early in the year for the temps to be dipping down to 25 and below. Did Duke need a blanket?  It this the right one?  I missed him too. I started to think that maybe I should start getting up early and going over to see him before work. What about that.getting up and going over toe Greenwood before work. Could I pull that off?  How much sleep do I really need? I used to stay up so much. So many hours.  I could try to get Rookie his shot and then get dressed head over to Chelmsford, do his tail, hand out and then head over to work. Could I do this?  Just a thought, lets try it out later this winter.
Anyway, I got there put on Duke's halter and lead line after he had a juicy cold apple. I gave Lily one too.  We went into the cross ties and I gave him the once over. I had the arena lights on and I snagged a moist yumymy snack.

Equine Affaire Vets Day Weekend

Saturday was at the Equine Affaire, I miss him so much when I'm around other horses.  hes so amazin. He was lookin grighst at me as I walked from my car across the barn to the doorway.  Patti had Sienna and Townes in already.  She missed Equine Affaire because her dog got really sick and had to go to the hospital.  Patti had swept the ailse so clean it looked great. She is so good with her sweet Sienna who in front of Patti showed me some real love. It was a nice thing.

Anyway I washed his tail with the medicated shampoo, tail and mane then I brushed him out rinsed him with clean warm water. I was worried that he was going to get chilly. He didn't and he was in the cross ties.  Patti showed him love as I continued to brush and attend to his poor tail. I want get him all back to healed and normal.

Our walk was really wonderful  His tail was drying and we usually do our walk and then I make him walk some more in the arena.  This was a bit different than usual because we went down for our walk and got to Bonnies House and Bonnie came around the corner in her car, pulled over got out and went to the back of her car and got some gingersnap cookies and fed Duke on the side of the road.  She really gives to everyone a truly wonderful woman. I talked for a moment let her know how I appreciated her. I think that when I told her that I had spoken to Liv about possibly renting out the arena each week, she was very appreciative of me helping to get some extra business in the weekly arena rental.  She was happy and I think that Krystyn was happy too. Its good to have a relationshop with good people that are going to help the grow some funding through the winter. Anyway I would love to have her at Greenwood working out Tarzan and Cleo.  Bonnie said that any weekend morning the arena isn't used so it would be a good time and then she also mentioned that Monday night is the slowest at the barn. Ill let Liv know so that they can see if it works for the Gypsy team. <3

I enjoyed my time today.  The paddock was so muddy when I got Duke.  Doc was a bit better behaved and I was totally covered with mud because all I had to do was open the paddock gate and Duke's first step out he was excited to get out and to also eat some grass. I was happy not to have .  Kayla was telling Scotti as she was walking around doing her chores to feed the horses how she had a broken finger.  She also mentioned how her husband was not feeling well. I was

 

 

Liv working out Tarzan before his entrance into coliseum