Short update on the boys

Got another short update from Dale this week.

She said Hyde is just going by leaps and bounds through his training. She is now comfortable adding more speed to his cattle work. Her thoughts on this is to add just a little bit more speed but make sure the horse doesn't lose his form. Once he is comfortable at the next speed, then she will add more.

She also said that she thinks Gunner has finally turned a corner with his training. She decided the other day to turn on the mechanical cow. Well...that got his attention. She said he softened up on the bit, shows more attention to what she wanted, and just went for it. She said she also noticed a softening of his expression and his attitude. It sounds like this is exactly what he needed to happen. I am SOOO happy.

I can hardly wait for the next update!!

ttfn

Carrie

I RODE ON SUNDAY

Such a huge event at my house that it is going to get it's own post.

I received a phone call on Sunday early evening from a guy wanting to come see Sonny as a possible horse for his wife.

After speaking with him, I went outside and grabbed Doyle. "Haul my saddle to the barn - I need to ride Sonny to see what all he remembers".

Not sounding too good yet hey? LOL

Anyways...went out and caught the fat black thing. Brushed him up, tacked him up and climbed aboard. After spending the next 10 minutes adjusting my stirrups (remember I don't ride much)...it was off the races.

Or rather...off to walk very slowly around Sonny's little pasture (which is around the same size as an arena). We did some reversing, leg aide stuff, and even trotted for a minute or two.

It felt really good to be back in the saddle...but I sure wish I had more balance and confidence in myself again. I just am soo unsure of things...especially on the horses here that don't have the miles on them.

BUT I DID IT. And I will do it again this weekend. I will ride Skeena on Saturday afternoon I think (she is Bailey's well broke mare) and then will try Sonny in the afternoon and do both again on Sunday.

No time like the present to get going.

ttfn

Carrie

Selling horses

Is an ongoing thing here on the Ranch. Not that we have been having much luck lately.

The market, while some are saying is getting stronger, is still pretty weak for me. Lots of hits on the ads I have posted all over the net, a few inquiries, and just a couple of visits. And NOTHING sold so far.

I am really wanting to sell off half of the horses here...sure don't want to feed all of them through the winter. No rain so far since the first hay crop was cut is going to make the 2nd cut very scarce and expensive.

Guess I may have to make some hard decisions come early fall.

TTFN

Carrie

New Semi update

Well, it has been almost 3 months since Semi hurt herself. She has sure been through the wringer this year.

Her face is still all weird at the muzzle...but it doesn't really seem to be affecting her eating ability. It does seem to take her a little longer but she gets the job done.

Her chest is still healing really well. I will take a new pic of it on Sunday...but this is the last one I took. I can't believe I forgot to post it...it was taken at day 72 (so just a little over 10 weeks).




She is also letting me catch her once again. When I turned her out to pasture she decided that freedom was a nice thing. LOL

ttfn

Carrie

The fun continues

Tuesday dawned bright and early - and can't forget HOT.

The heat wave just isn't going away. We sure need some rain or my pastures are going to be toast.

Doyle went after work to pick up our new "guest house". It is a 27 ft Jayco travel trailer. NICE toy!!! I think I will enjoy camping now as long as we can find a place with POWER.

This machine comes almost fully equipped - surround sound stereo/home theatre system and air conditioning even.

Here it is pic by pic:

The outside:



The master bedroom (queen size bed):



The kitchen (fridge, stove, microwave, freezer, oven)



The back bedroom (double bunk on bottom - single on top).



The living room:



It also has a 3 piece bathroom inside (tub/shower) and an outside shower...which I think is really cool.

We will be giving it a full test run when we go down to my parent to pick up the kids.

So now to go shopping to outfit it!!!!!

TTFN

Carrie

Hyde working cows

This boy just loves to work the cows. It is just amazing to watch him considering he has only been at Dale's for just over 6 months. I can't imagine what he will be like after another 6 months or a year.

Dale is just as amazed - dazzled is the word she used. She said he is extremely quick and trainable. And just knows what he has to do and seems to be mesmerized by them.




He was working one steer and it deeked him - it went right and then did a switch to the left - Hyde continued to the right. The next time the steer did that, Hyde caught him...and with no direction from Dale (or so it looked from me).

Dale keeps saying that he is just "cow smart". He rates their speed on his own and almost seems to know what the cow is going to do before even she does sometimes.




She also says that he is really well behaved for a stallion...no pushing into anything...just does his job like she wants him to...and even better...stops working the cow as soon as she says.

Even when he is done working and just resting, as long as there is a cow in the vicinity, he is totally aware of it.



I got goosebumps watching him work...and have watched his video 5 or 6 times now and it doesn't get any less thrilling to watch.

I can hardly wait to see him in the show ring.

TTFN

Carrie

Dale and the boys

Monday, July 16 dawned bright and sunny. Forecast was for possible thundershowers all afternoon. I was sooo upset. Seems like everytime I head down to Olds to watch Dale work the boys the weather is the pits.

On the drive down, we followed clouds and went through cloudy areas but NO rain, so we thought we could have some good luck finally.

I was really looking forward to seeing Hyde work and hoping to see Gunner behave after talking to Dale on the phone the week before. And boy, I sure wasn't disappointed.

Hyde is doing FANTASTIC. So good, in fact, that Dale said he is 4 - 6 months ahead of schedule in his training and she is considering taking him out of the yard to do some "schooling" shows with the neighbors. Apparently they all get together at different feedlots and just play with the cows but do it more in a "show" type setting with the turn back riders etc. there is no stress or expectation but it gives the trainers and idea of what the horse will be like away from home and with other horses around.

Dale also said that she will be evaluating Hyde in late August to see if he is READY TO SHOW!!! She said there is a possibility of him actually competing THIS FALL!!! I AM SHOCKED, STUNNED AND THRILLED.





In watching him, I am amazed to see how well he attaches himself to the cow. He is rating the cows speed and turns on his own already. Lost one cow to a deek but the next time cut it off so quick. He is very quick and gets right in the cows face...and you can tell he just loves it. Dale is just awestruck by him.

Gunner on the other hand, is a HANDFUL AND A HALF. He is just a big royal pain in the "you know what". And that is from the get go...from being saddled to bridled to listening on the way to the arena to arguing over every movement. He doesn't pin his ears, switch his tail. Just is cranky. Moves out really nice but fusses about change of pace, stopping, turning. Dale is definately earning her money with him. LOL But you can see the potential in him. He is very quick on his feet on his turn arounds and they are perfect. He just doesn't like to do more than 2 in a row.




Dale is hoping that he will be going along well enough by the end of next week to put him on the mechanical cow. And I sure hope that catches his attention and he turns this around.

I heard from Dale later in the week and she said Hyde is continuing by leaps and bounds in his progress and Gunner is finally taking some steps in the right direction...so here's hoping to a wonderful show career for both of them.

TTFN

Carrie

Another busy weekend

Bright and early Saturday morning, we loaded up the kids and ourselves and headed south to Calgary to take in the Stampede.

It was a long hot drive - we are having record temperatures here in Alberta this year.

After arriving safe and sound at the hotel, we headed to the c-train (subway) and off we went to take in the sights and sounds of the midway with the hopes of seeing the world famous rodeo and chuckwagon races.

The kids loved the grounds. Shayne and Bailey are now big enough to take in the big rides. And took full advantage. But man was it hot - 35+. YUCK...and very little shade to be found.

I headed off to the ticket booth to get the rodeo tickets only to find out they have been sold out for a week already. They had some general standing room only tickets left - but NO WAY would my back take that. So then it was asking about the chuckwagon races...only, again, to be told they were sold out as well. Well, that about ruined my whole day!!

I found everyone again and we went and found a bite to eat...bought more ride tickets, took in the agricultural exhibits and the trade show. WE stuck around the grounds until midnight so the kids could take in the fireworks show as it is one of the best in western canada only for it to fizzle too.

With all that not happening - you'd almost think it was still Friday the 13th. LOL

Sunday dawned just as hot as Saturday. With no tickets to be found even for the Sunday rodeo etc. we decided to head to the Calgary Zoo. But first it was breakfast. We ended up driving for miles and miles it seemed to find a restaurant that wasn't overly busy.

Then off to the Zoo. The Calgary Zoo, I think, is one of the nicest I have ever seen. It encompasses an entire island in the middle of the bow river along with probably 20 acres of city. The pens are massive - with lots of trees and grass for the animals. The elephants have just gotten a new pen which is beautiful. We were there for over 4 hours and still didn't take it all in...but then Doyle has this annoying habit of having to take in the "North America" section everytime to see the moose, buffalo, etc. - all of which we can see in their natural habitat on the drive home. LOL

After the Zoo we headed off to Bowness Park where the kids played in the river and the sprinkler park before we headed off for supper.

After supper, we dropped the kids off at the Greyhound bus (10 pm) as they were headed off to BC to my parents place until the August long weekend!!! YIPPEE - finally a quiet house - and maybe if I can get my butt in gear - a clean one.

then it was off home. Doyle drove the first couple hour and then I took over so Doyle could sleep. We arrived home around 2 am - doyle headed directly to bed as 5 am comes early (that is when he leaves for work).

I was also up early. The kids called letting us know they had arrived safely and then I was off in the truck pulling the trailer heading to Olds to pick up Semi and to see Dale work Hyde and Gunner. I will save those exciting tidbits for tomorrow.

Night all,

Carrie

Trying to move everyone

I can't believe it has been over a week since I posted. Lots has happened - most of it exciting. I will probably break it down into different posts so this one isn't HUGE.

Friday, July 13, Melissa and I went and moved horses from one pasture to another - grass is starting to get low. After a basically uneventful move, I happened to look over my shoulder as I was closing the last gate to notice that two of the group of eight that we had just moved were actually WAY WAY too far to the north. And we all know what that means - FENCE IS DOWN. So out we ran...in time to keep the other 6 in.

Then it was a matter of trying to figure out how to get the 6 back into the old pasture which has no grass from the one that is almost belly deep. So it was off to the races - literally. No one wanted to be caught so here we are - just the two of us remember - trying to herd the horses through this long grass in a 10 acre pasture. NOT happening. So we sent Bailey back to the barn to get grain. Well that got 5 of them. Lucky, my 31 year old girl, of course, has to take her time. You have to let her think that it is her idea to go through gates.

IN the meantime, I am trying to keep Sonny and Skeena - the two fence crossers - in the alleyway. We finally got them inside the wooden pens, much to Sonny's dismay.

Skeena was the first to give up and get caught. Sonny followed shortly thereafter, but had to be cornered the big brat.

After his attitude he was brought into the barn to stay. NO more mixed company pasturing for him for a while. He needs some behaviour lessons.

So everyone had to stay where they were originally until we can get the fence fixed, which I think will be this Sunday. YIPPEE

Should have known not to do anything major on Friday the 13th.

TTFN

Carrie

Horses - The Frustrating

She also told me a little story about my "good little mare".

Semi has been at Dale's since Father's Day. And Dale just loves her - or maybe that should be "loved" now.

Apparently, Semi is feeling very comfortable down there now. And so she should. She gets fed sometimes 3 - 4 times a day instead of 2...cause everyone thinks she is starving and has missed a meal. Now remember all, this is my grain pig. Each time someone goes past her pen, she nickers at them...and keeps it up until they are either out of her sight or they bring her food. Dale told me that she knows of a few days for sure that she got at least one extra feeding. No wonder the grain went so fast down there. LOL

Anyway...Semi has turned into a bit of a brat...or rather back into her bratty self.

She had her feet trimmed. Dale was working another horse and came in just after Semi was finished. Apparently, Semi tried to KILL Dale's farrier. She was HORRIBLE. It actually doesn't suprise me as it has always been a fight here...but Dale forgot to mention it to the farrier. When he tried to discipline her - which never goes over well - she tried to kick him. So good thing she is coming home and won't be done down there again...as he wasn't impressed...and I don't blame him.

She has also developed a knack for getting hurt. Just as her chest is almost healed she got her head stuck either under or in the gate of her pen. And her face is swollen on the left side - and the right top lip is droopy. As the swelling goes down the lip seems better. It happened during the night so she isn't even sure what happened or how. Dale was trying to maintain her facial injury - doing some preventative stuff with her eye using eye drops as it was swollen and on the 3rd day she smacked Dale in the face with her head. Dale has two swollen lips - split them pretty bad I guess.

ON a good note, she is being really good about being bred. She was 2 days away from her ultrasound date when she came back into heat. I sure hope she catches this time.

I will be bringing her home on Monday so will have new pics of her chest for everyone and will also post one of her face.

TTFN

Carrie

Horses - The Bad

In talking to Dale, she had this to say about Gunner:

HE IS A STUBBORN LITTLE SHIT!!!

But once she "beats what he has to do into his little brain" (she was kidding - lol) he retains it and is good about it. She said he has very little "stop" right now. Pushes through the "whoa" portion of each and every ride and at each and every gait. She said he isn't nasty about not wanting to do what she wants - which is probably the only thing keeping him a stallion - he just refuses - and does what he wants to do.

She is going to start playing with different bits and combinations of tack next week. She said he absolutely does not need a break - he is not stressed in the slightest - is happy as a clam - just hard headed. Said that once he is getting better at the stop, he will be on the mechanical cow...and she is hoping that, like Hyde, he will just clue in once that happens.

I know he is just a 2 year old...but man...I sure wish it wasn't this hard. Good thing I am not working with him.

Carrie

Horses - The Good

Talked to Dale tonight. She is absolutely IN LOVE with Hyde. Said she will be breeding one possibly two mares to him next year!!! And MAY SHOW HIM IN OCTOBER if he continues the way he is going.

She is working live cows 3 days a week now...and is going to up it to 4 next week...then 5 in September or so. And then we will discuss his progress and will make the decision if he is READY TO SHOW in early September so we can enter him in the Calgary Cutting Futurity for the end of OCTOBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She says he is months ahead of schedule. And has the hardest part of the cutting training down pat - the "quit the cow". Where she places her hand on his neck and says "we are done". She said some never get that part and he is soo quiet and mellow that he just stops and looks around like he was never hyped up and working. She also says that could make him good for me to show later on. LOL - like that could happen.

Needless to say I am absolutely stunned!!!

And really wishing I had found her in September - cause I know damn well he would have been doing the 3 year old futurities this year, instead of missing them all.

Oh...something funny. Dale uses the corner of Hyde's pen for breeding...and he STAYS IN THERE..and just eats (I will get a picture of what she is talking about for you). Man...3 years old and still not over anxious. Gunner on the other hand, goes bananas. LOL

She also said that EVERYONE comments on Hyde...even those who are normally "oh...another horse" type of people. So that is pretty cool.

Carrie

Personality Quiz

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's Your Personality Type?

Herd Dynamics 2

Well, it has been almost a month since we put Ace and Sonny out with the mare herd.

They have settled down pretty well into TWO groups. Sonny has the 5 girls and Ace has one - Lucky. LOL

But the boys are concerning me. I was out walking amongst everyone and noticed that Lucky, Skeena and Gidget are all in heat.

While Sonny is ignoring Gidget (maybe too young???), he is mounting Skeena. He is dropping and getting hard, but he didn't penetrate. And then I turned around and noticed Ace doing the same thing.

Sonny, while I was hoping to not see that, I kinda understand that after being a breeding stallion for 6 years, that "habit" is hard to break. But Ace was never a stallion...never ran with mares after the age of 6 months...and didn't run with mares until 6 months after he was gelded early in his 2 year old year.

HELP!!! Any suggestions other than doing separate pastures again?

Thanks

Carrie

Luck

Well, it seems like I just can't seem to find much good luck.

Got an e-mail from Dale on Monday. Seems Semi has hurt herself yet again. Dale thinks she got her head stuck in the metal pipe gate. One side of her head is swollen and it is also "droopy". I am hoping that the droop goes away along with the swelling. It hasn't affected her in any other way. She is still happy and eating.

More Semi "bad luck"...she is not in foal. Dale is breeding her again. So this year is going to be rough. And next year may be non-existant now.

Gunner also is not doing so well with his training. He is being a "tough nut" to crack. Dale has told me that he fights her every command. More bad days than good. I am sure hoping he has his "come to Jesus" moment soon. Maybe he needs some time off??? Who knows at this point. We are in a holding pattern with him right now. I know he deserves the chance to work it out but at what cost...when is enough enough.

His pedigree should be good enough to stand on it's own...being a son of High Brow Hickory and out of a daughter of Young Gun. But with others out there in Alberta now, that have shown...do we have an edge anymore without a show record???

Now for some good. Dale is just head over heels for Hyde. She said he is amazing to work on cows...that it seems they just mesmerize him. She said he is starting to work really well on his own...requiring very little correction. Boy...I sure wish I would have found Dale in September. Sounds like Hyde could have been quite the contender for the futurities.

Dolly's eye is also as healed as I think it is going to get. She has a yellow spot on it still but the rest of the eye is nice and clear. But I did notice tonight that she has some "wax build-up" in her ear. Anyone every heard of that???

Horse sales are very slow this year. I am really hoping to have 5 gone by fall. And this will be Copy's last summer. She is starting to thin out again now that she is just on pasture...everyone else is fat and sassy but she is just not doing well. I have been getting lots of interest so hopefully soon something will come of it.

Kids are doing really well. Enjoying their summer vacation so far. We are heading to Calgary on Saturday to take in the Stampede and then the kids will hop on a Greyhound bus to BC to visit with my parents for a few weeks.

TTFN

Carrie

Another week flies by

I can not believe that it is already the 7th of July!!! How time flies as you get older.

I am still struggling with the fact that by big computer, while it will connect to the internet, will not open a browser page of any sort. That is making it extremely hard to keep up with my websites. However, I purchased a small laptop with a Learning Account we have at work and if i have both connected to the internet, I can do the updates. I read the e-mailed updates on the laptop and work on the big computer and upload from there. What a pain.

On another note, Doyle called me today and informed me that we are the proud new owners of a 2007 Holiday Trailer. It is a BIG one apparently. It has a master bedroom in the front end - queen sized bed - a kitchen/living room area with a couch and table set - fridge, stove, oven, microwave, full surround sound stereo/tv system - a back bedroom with a double sized bed with a single bunk above it. A bathroom sink area - and then a separate toilet/bathtub/shower area. It also has air-conditioning and a bbq hook-up outside. Pretty neat. Now we will be able to camp in style. And I will enjoy going along. LOL

I may also have sold a couple of the young girls...Dusty and Paris. I am just awaiting receipt of the sale contracts and the deposit.

Not too many inquiries on Sonny, Gidget and Dolly, but I am still hopeful that they will all sell before fall.

Hyde is doing extremely well at Dale's. She just can't stop raving about how good he is and how athletic he is. Gunner, on the other hand, being a year younger and less mature is giving her a run for her money - fighting her at every turn. I sure hope he has his "COME TO JESUS" moment soon and gets on with what he is bred to do. LOL

We are headed to Dale's on Friday the 13th to see the boys. So I will be trying to get really good pics of them for the blog and for the website. I hope the weather will be good so that Hyde will be working cows.

Dolly's eye has healed really well. There is still a yellow spot where the injury was but the rest of the eye has gone back to brown. She is still outside in the pasture with Molson.

Semi is headed to the vet this week for her pregnancy ultrasound...my fingers are crossed!!! Dale has also sent me another pic of her chest injury. MAN...it is doing sooo good. I am soo happy. As Paige said "it is proof that hard work and determination can turn what you think is a tragedy into a triumph". Never again will I think that I can't handle bad things.




Anyways...time to sign off for today. Have to get the BBQ going for Doyle's birthday dinner.

TTFN

Carrie