Summer vacation is almost here!!!

Today was the seniors' last day of instruction. Who am I kidding? They did not receive any instruction. They were pumped up and crazy. But all of my seniors passed!!!! Since I teach a Sophomore class, it is nice when the seniors can finally pass the class to graduate.
The stress of the day, which would make your straight hair curl, your dark hair grey, and my nerves shot made it necessary to take Belle out for a nice relaxing walk. She has been limping at a trot since Saturday when she had her toes trimmed (yeah, it's hooves trimmed, bite me). Relaxing to Belle is all relative. She did not want to be too far away from Foxy and the baby, but since others were riding, Lady could not run loose (she likes to buck and kick other horses, which is fine when it is Belle, Foxy, or Babe(I'll have to talk about Babe later) because they will put her in her place without too much damage, I don't trust the other horses to not hurt her)
Since I am working Belle in a snaffle to try and work on flexibility, it can be difficult to get her to turn. Fortunately, she is beginning to respond to leg pressure(who am I kidding? It's not pressure, its a very non subtle kick. She was a freaking carriage horse for 16 years. Pressure in the flanks means that Bart is doing something stupid and needs to be chewed on. Neck reining -- that is something that stupid trainees try. Subtlety is lost on her. I have NEVER been known for subtlety anyway. Except when driving Sailor. Driving him was mostly telepathic. I said his name to cue him and he knew what to do. Unless he was mad or scared and then it was -- Holy crap, this horse can move. I digress)
My back went out on Sunday so I can't clean stalls (that's my story and I'm sticking to it-- Hey, the kids' have two horses, I only have one. They owe me for summer camp. I'll take it out in trade)so I have been able to ride lately and the kids' get to clean stalls and then ride or ride and then clean stalls. It's been great.
Belle's illustrious Mustache



Just for you, SLC Slave Driver -- a pic of the yurt

Actually it is the guest house for the in-laws, mine or the hubbie's

How to look really stupid around horses

In reference to Confessions of a Slave Driver, I felt the need to demonstrate just how stupid an individual looks to others when they put a halter on backwards. This is one way to put a halter on wrong. I had to dig up Bart's halter, Belle's is too small to put on wrong. Yes Bart, you have a spot when you retire, especially now with the horse property!:)



I have seen it without the halter behind the ears, too, but then it falls off immediately and I can't get a picture. (Belle was really irritated after this photo shoot)

Here are some more recent pics of my girls.

New House

The hubbie has done well. I finally went to see that house that we are buying. It is cool. We will have to repair some fencing and add more before the girls get to run around, but it has the nine stall barn with power and water. There are foal babies next door and calf babies over the other fence. Babies, babies, babies!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Ok, so I have not posted in a while. It's the end of the school year, I chose not to renew my contract, and I have been looking for a new job, new house, etc. etc. etc. I have been busy. At least I am over being sick.
I will take a minute to post new pics. She is getting so big! She got a new halter today. We will try it on her tomorrow. It looks huge, but it is a weanling size and she has grown so much that her suckling halter doesn't fit right any more.
Compare the new pics with her first day picture.
She can't walk under momma anymore!

No, I do not have swine flu!

I am sick. I now have a cold. The stress of trying to find a new job, a house, finishing this school year, getting ready for summer school (yes, I am a glutton for punishment, but the pay is actually decent for three weeks work) My students are now convinced that I have swine flu. I brought my son's rabbits to school for show and tell (no, I am not too old for show and tell. It's my classroom and I can do what I want to, so there! {big raspberry}) and so now I tell everyone that I have bunny flu. Longhorns have been put out in the pasture by our outdoor arena. Foxy has been chasing them. She whinnies at them when they run to the other side of the pasture.
You know its cold when the kids don't want a saddle.
This little guy was born in the middle of a hideous rain/snow storm. As cute as he is, I would not let the kids get any closer to mom than necessary. Lady was poking her head through the bars. It was good to see that she is a cow pony like her mama -- not like her Aunt.

She's My Mommy!!!

Lady is not happy with us. Foxy is Very Happy! Saturday Foxy came off of maternity leave. Kid #2 Saddled her up and had a great time. He has been riding her bareback or lunging her for over a week to get her prepared, but it was just not enough for Foxy. The weather Saturday was miserable.
It was too muddy to ride outside, so we had to wait until the indoor arena was available. Foxy was really mad, we had promised her that Saturday was the day.

When we first arrived, the 20 billion year old shetland was in the arena, but the owner said that it would be fine to turn the girls out to get their rolling done before we saddled. I stood by the pony so that the girls wouldn't pick on him. Belle pinned her ears back alot, but nothing else happened. I then tied up the girls to saddle them and let Lady run around. Unfortunately, Lady discovered the pony. He sprang to life. He started chasing her. She bucked and kicked, but with the alzheimer's he could not get the hint that she was not interested in whatever he wanted. Lady ran to Foxy for protection. The old Fart still wouldn't get away. Foxy squealed, threatened to kick -- nothing. We had to drag him away so that Foxy and Belle did not kill him. I was concerned that Foxy might be really protective after that, but once Kid #1 was on Belle and Kid #2 was on Foxy, they did Great!! I led Lady around for a little while, but she is a baby and tired of that quickly. She is really funny when Foxy is loping and Lady decides that she is hungry. She will try to lope and nurse. Then she stops in front of Foxy. Foxy moves around her. Then as a last resort, Lady starts bucking and kicking and biting. Foxy bites back. Foxy wanted to work. Foxy is a great mom, but she loves to work. She had January - April off, now it's time to work!!! It's about the same amount of time that she would have had off if we did not have access to an indoor arena. At one point, I said, "Now that is a happy girl." Kid #2 said, " and this is a happy boy."

First Ride of the Year

Today was warm, sunny and too tempting. I was all set to just let the boys ride Belle, work Foxy and Lady on Showmanship and let everybody just enjoy the sun. It was too warm and sunny. I threw Kid #3 up on Belle bareback and handed him the leadrope. He was really nervous. Then I threw Kid #2 up on Foxy
Side Note--------- (Foxy had not been ridden since before Christmas)
bareback
Side Note #2 ----- (Foxy has never been ridden bareback in a large arena)
with just a halter
Side note #3 ----- {Foxy has only been ridden by my kids in a halter once before and she had a huge bucking fit, fortunately for Kid #1 she had a saddle and was able to hang on (see sidenote #2)}

Fortunately for all involved the only bucking fit was the one that Lady had as she tore around the arena in front of, behind, around, between, etc as Belle and Foxy stretched out their legs at a nice controlled extended walk. The only problem that Foxy had was when Lady tried to touch noses with a horse passing by. Foxy got a little uppity and turned quickly, but straightened back out and completed her circuit of the arena, whinnying to Lady. Lady, being Lady, ignored her mother.