All the STalls and helped mend the fence Duke broke

SATURDAY -  Tried hard to get over early, 11am isn't that early.  Krystyyn and B
onnie were in the office chilling. Krystyn n said that Duke was naughty and took down a coupe of planks of the fence between He and Muke ], He was just standing there in his friends paddock just like owned it. Krystyn started to try and get the hose out of the huge trench filled diwth deep ice and the hose was buried in the ice.  She used a hammer and I took a large rock and we started smashing the ice. The we went into the paddock and fixed the 2 boards that Duke had nocked out.
Then I wentt to town and cleaned all of the stalls on both sides. It was crazy. I feel pretty tired.
SUNDAY - Drove over to the barn after going to O'Connor Hardware, getting the soil and the container for the bulbs to plant so that I can get them into the ground to bloom for spring.
Next week I hope we can get the Blue Bird feeder in right near the paddocks in front of the house in this picture below, so that I can visit Duke and see the Blue Birds. The paddocks were less frozen on Sunday than they were on Saturday. Duke didn't come right when I called him, I had the gate open pushed Doc back and then finally Duke came, I had stepped toward him with my boots on onto the mud but it was sort of still a bit solid from the cold over the past few days/weeks.  I stepped over and he came over to me and out the agame. No grass to eat but he kniew I had somethig in my pocket. We walked down the path, over the mud road over the gravel and down Greenwood Road on the soft wet dirt on the edges and then as we walked we drifted over to the grassy moist dead straw like growth.  As Duke walked he didn't look as strong as he had looked last week.  He was also stiff and not comfortable walking. Last night I only walked out about 1/3 the way down the road. Today we walked all the way to Bonneis and on the way back we stayed on the same side as we had walked.  Most times we cross the street and walk back on the other side the side of the fields that face the opposite of the barn.  A cyclist biked past us on the way down. I stopped Dke and we had snacks and grased in the field. I talked to him. The funny thing is on eh way back the cyclist turned around and duke looked at him, same time a car also came by on the road.  We saw the car the cyclist and then we took a cookie and ignored them all. We walked back toward the barn and just before we walked our walk behind the hay barn and then behind around and back into the barn.  It was a good grazing plenty of chewing and then back to the barn.  Into his stall and I brushed him out great. Then I did his tail with the itchy stuff.  Brushed him all over as Scottie told me about how she was kicked in the stomach and she showed me the terrible bruise she said that Doc liked her when he was in the arena he back kicked her as he was running around crazy.  I felt terrible. I gave everyone snacks and then Kayla came over with Duke's supper.  He snorts and jumps around when he sees her with the buckets. I was just about to get picture   from Scottie  posing to take it.  he was so sweet to me at the stall window.  Then there food came around the corner  and he became a hungry horror boy.  Stamping at the corner with his feed bucket hangs.  I broke of some of the crunchy oat bars and shared them with all of the horses in the aisle and then back to Duke. I gave all of the snacks out and then talked to Pattie as I left out the door.  She said that Sienna threw her in the arena last week when Scott and Gaelen. also that it was very difficult to ride Sienna when there are lots of people here a the barn. I agree and really avoid it.  Im so sorry she was thrown because Siena loves her. <3

Walked up today and saw Duke quietly playing with Duke in the corner playfully stuffing on their halters <3

This was after he saw I was here, he stood there not coming as I was calling. Dusty aka Doc tried to get snacks and be pushy, I had to push him back.

Terrible week here in January 2019 I have been thinking about Duke  and the barn and how they have been doing.  On Saturday we had a great day, Sunday terrible snow storm going on for hours about 7 inches, Monday cold freeze I only made it to Raychel's, Macy's to buy Mother-Dress and out for a few errands All the time Bonnie was trying to cope with the responsibility of the barn, driving Krystyn out to work with a horse friend inTownsend and back and forth.  Then terrible things happen, Reggie and Krystyn get in an accident with their car and then while Bonnie is resting at the end of a long hard day, her nephew drops by and says that there is a fire coming out of the chimney.  I called her and she was sitting in the driveway with the cat and the dog and her other daughter was in the other car with the kittens. She called 911 and the fire fighters were o the roof.  Tough week for the barn with weather all the day it didn't reach any higher than 0 to 5 degrees. All I could think is that I was able to get his new blanket on to keep his body warm in the stall while the winds whipped the drifts like crazy. So by Thursday the temps change to 40s and when I drove him 57.  There was Duke in a mid weight red blanket while the temps soared.
I got home from work and got food ready and out the door at 730pm.  Drove over as fast as I could, June was pulled up to the door on the right and as I drove down the Greenwood Road all of the grass was showing and the snow was gone. I was excited, the doors were closed and the winds had been whipping  like crazy against the barn across the fields.
Well I got over to the barn, had to walk in on the other side. I had a huge bag of hoof snax that just arrived so I was able to grab the bag, 3 apples and head into see Duke.
I saw he was in the stall, opened it up (its been so difficult to open to stall door the latch doesn't match up with doorway and I have to hold my weight against it and try over an over to bang it in)
We thew off the blanket,
Went out to the arena and saw that the area was flooded over by the right inside edge effecting about 25 percent of the arena off limits to the walking.
June was with her horse the grey ones and he had a feedback cover on him.  As I got Dukeout I saw the the had been sweating like crazy or even he could have had his pee on his back legs I was worried that he had been uncomfortable.
We walked 1.3 miles
I could see that he was still lame on his legs
He behaved so well and appreciated me stretching his legts
We worked together walking around the watery area
He dug like 5 holes in the arena that we would later fix by covering back up and smoothing out
he finally put down to roll he can go over and back which is an accomplishment.
Then in his sigh he resting on the ground. This warms my heart
Hes such a sweet guy I just say and scratching his long nose and he close his eyes and rested.
It much have felt to get that blanket off stretch and finally move about.
We worked together but not too much because I don't want him achey.
Hes out of his meds so I have to go by today Friday and get him his meds so he can releax.
I bushed him out, did his tail applied his  itch meds and bush out his dirty marks then back to bed :)
Oh yeah I lost his lead line too.  Ha Ha
<e Great visit, I was driving home about 930, not a bad visit

Saturday in 20s getting ready for the snowstorm

Heading over in the am after some chores at home and getting Joey and Ashley their little ones new crib with Rob. Such a big weekend, Friday scoring the venue for Raych's and Joe's big day, Saturday a crib for Baby McHugh.  Its so nice that I can come to my barn, with my friends and just be on a farm.  Be with the goats, horses and with nice friends like Bonnie, Krystyn and her brother.
Duke is fine out with Dusty aka Doc.  Duke was over in the corner with his little friend or big friend I think its Muke. I feel good that Duke hangs out with a buddy <3.
I am still working on Doc not being a jerk. I called Duke over for his snacks. I had snacks for both of them but Doc gets nothing without Duke being over ready for his first.
Anyway the family was in the small room smoking, Its so nice to have them as friends.  They are truly a change from being on the outside at some other barns.
Well anyway I did my mucking while they rested in the office. I did Duke's Siennas Babes then Africa George Kenzi and Muke. Im not sure how many because Krystyn was really kicking in to help when she came out after their break.  She takes turns to take each of the loads of manure out to the back and dump.

After it seemed like 2 hours. I went out and got Duke, I put him in the arena as I finished the stalls. He watched me as I finished up the stalls. I felt good to have him run around in the arena. He was quiet and he rolled in the arena so bad. I saw his dent in the soil and also the white hair scattered in the dirt.  Hes such a funny boy.
Anyway he was pretty patient but I was worried he'd break out of the arena. Bonnie ordered me some lunch and we sat in the office and had some salad with really good chicken. They had a pizza too.
I went out after eating and could really feel the cold it was gettin even more cold as I worked.
I went out to the arena and Duke was waiting patiently to prance around for me and with me. Its so
dam cool.

I went out and there he was looking.  I grabbed a couple of cookies and headed out into the arena.  Krystyn said he was lame in the front Hoff. I felt back and thought I would just walk him. As I let him go w/o the lead line on.  I work with him and get him excited by whistling and also by just calling his name and starting to make quick movements that get him really excited.  I love this feeling that he taps energy from me. Anyway when he get excited and runs and kicks his legs up, it warms my heart. Hes such a special horse he's like no other.  He has the sweetest sense of humor. Kristin Perry said so many nice things about his behavior when she is brining him in, then she lovingly said how sweet he is when he wants to trot on the way into the barn. I told her to be careful, she said she would not trust another horse at the barn to do that with out taking off on her. I felt really good about her comment. The comments about his new blanket, red was so positive I thought that Duke should wear an 84 but Krystyn said that an 81 would be fine.  It looks snug today but Im sure it will be ok. Its a warm blanket bright red.

Ear;oer in the arena I took his old purple one off and let him run wild with no blanket we did our excesses around at least 4 times I think we did 6 in our formation of around, X and back and forth through the center.  We got in our mile. Bonnie was competing that the ground frozen as it is isn't good for horses especially this guy.  Its too hard for him.  Im glad she speaks openly to me about things. I really value her and Krytyns opinions.  We worked out together and it was amazing as usual. Im thinking that ai might want to make sure we get the weekly training with Krystyn working manners and also Liberty.

We went outside and grabbed in the frozen grass, it was so hard to find any grass that is good to eat. Poor duke we went behind the barn near the tractors, always a good place.

Cold Cold windy day Back w/Duke

Red Rock Canyon

The Red Rock Canyon trip to Bonnie Springs Ranch, What an amazing experience.  After we got into Vegas it was early and we got a great Mustang.

When we got to Vegas we had all day and we got a beautiful 2019 Mustang for our rental from Avis.  It was a descent argument to go to the place, Bonnie Springs Resteraunt, that was rated best breakfast, for a cruise to Red Rock Canyon into Bonnie Springs.  Raychel when we landed and saw that we would not be checking in until at least after lunchtime, agreed that if I drove out there she would be able to relax.  it was true, beautiful drive out of town and we saw that there was planty of places to get things outside of the strip area. So we drove pit pf the airport  past the strip.  As we enterer dthe canyon area it was spectacular.  We stopped and took pictures at the Red Rock Canyon sign.

 

Visiting Duke before we leave for Vegas

The weat

her has made for a dirty Duke.  He doesn't have a blanket and doesn't need it that week.