Raising A Barn

Oh Boy.

Trent got dressed today and said he was going to help his dad patch up the barn and build a new wall. He also joked (at that time I thought he was serious) that since my horse was going to be living there, I should get my ass out there and help as well. He ran off to do some odd jobs around the house, and I took my time in getting ready to build a barn. He came upstairs right as I was just about done, and asked "Where are you going?"

I told him I was going to help him and his dad with the barn. He laughed and said that I didn't have to, it was just a joke. I told him I'd come down anyways. He had to leave without me because the orphaned beagle that we have needed fed in about a half hour/hour, so I stayed behind to do that.

Got the little brat fed and I was off to the barn. I got there and kinda mingled around as the two boys bickered and hammered nails. I groomed Shiloh, who loved the attention. Dusty, Trents old horse, didn't exactly love the brush. I didn't have them haltered. They were just standing in the pasture while I groomed, and when Dusty moved away I thought "Well screw you too. You shall live like filth!" and finished up with Shiloh.

I guess they were kind of enclosing the lean-to shelter. Thats basically what it is, with a small storage area thats fenced off on the other side. I guess Trents mom was getting finicky about the wind or rain or something, so they decided to close one part of the lean-to in so the horses could have more shelter.

As if the horses weren't big poofs of fur!

There was a time where they figured the piece of plywood that they got just wouldn't fit the bill...and I was helping hold it up for measurements when Trent's dad saw me thinking. I guess its really easy to notice when I think, or so I've been told. I get a certain look on my face that oozes concentration. Trent's dad asked my opinion on what they should do.

Lets recap.

Somebody in THIS STATE asked my OPINION on what THEY should do to BUILD THE BARN.

That never happens. Ever. I'm usually the female in the place that doesn't know a bolt from a screw and therefor is useless in any sort of situation I damn near find myself in.

I kinda looked at Trents dad and carefully, as if I were trying to figure out whether he truly wanted the opinion or was just joking around, told him that we should fill the small space to the left out with another 2x4 instead of covering it with the plywood and then shift the piece of plywood over, that way it'll fit into the spot we wanted it to.

They totally did it. I helped build the barn. I kept smiling, because my opinion is never asked on important things like that, and if I end up giving it, its just ignored. So I was all smiles. Trent asked me why I was happy, I told him it was because they took my advice. He said something like "Yeah, I don't ask for it much 'cuz it'll get to your head"

Oh whatever.

After about 45 minutes of helping them build the barn, I got bored (no, me?) and a bit hungry (you're kidding!) so I ditched it and went into town to buy some food. Hope they get it done by nightfall! I'll take some pictures of it when its done and post them up later. I know you all probably don't care what it looks like, but I helped! I did more than just hold boards up and hand nails! And I'm so very proud of that.

Please Hold

Trent called Moonridge Farms today since my cellphone is out of commission. He spoke with the horse's owner and told him that we'll be taking her, but we're having trailer trouble so he may have to hold her for a bit.

The owner said that was fine, just send a check or money order through the mail for part of her cost and that will hold her. That way they can mark her sold. I guess someone else was coming by to look at her today and he just needs some security that we're serious about buying her in case someone else wants to take her off his hands.

I'm ok with that. I made a copy of the money order (which is set at the low price of $100), a copy of the letter face and address, and I'm sending it out tomorrow. I'm also holding tightly onto that reciept so I have proof that I got his money and sent it out to him.

I'm super stoked about this. In a week or two I'll be grooming the burrs right out of her mane and tail, wiping her down with a washcloth to get all that pasture mudd off her, and standing her for her first photo shoot. I can't wait to see those first couple moments when she sees her new farm, and I'm just excited in general about spending time with her and finally acclimating her to the world she'll have to deal with since she's not a wild mustang (damn those lucky bastards).

The mail will be sent out tomorrow and I'm bouncing with glee. I just can't wait!

Trailor Trash

I'm SO frustrated right now.

Trent and I went to go see a 3 year old appendix filly and I adored her. Everyone online told me not to bother, her eye didn't have that "calm" look. Whateveh. We went to go see her and she's a doll.

Exactly what I'm looking for. Nothing big, decent with the conformation and enough life to challenge me safely. I don't want a deadhead 3 year old horse. They tend to not have enough spirit to get up and compete later on in life. They're good trail horses...just lack the fire it takes to get them elsewhere. I can tell this filly had the right stuff if taken slowly...and lets face it. I'm pregnant, lazy and I hate the cold. It can't get much slower than that.



We're buying her for the dirt cheap price of $250. Trent and I are splitting that cost. We'd be ready to pick her up by next weekend...IF we could find someone who's willing to loan us a frickin' trailor.

I'm a little frustrated, to say the least. I don't know what to do. Apparently, Trents friend Jimmy has a trailor. Its his trailor, but his girlfriend is making payments on it. Apparently she loaned it to one of her own friends last year without Jimmy's permission and they wrecked it. It's not broken, but now she refuses to loan it to anyone else.

Just wonderful.

Trent said that Jimmy would probably trailor her for us if I paid him. But seriously? Why would we ask him to do it for us for a price if we could do it ourselves and just not wreck the thing? It's a little frustrating, and we're getting nowhere fast. On the road I pass little farms with trailors just hanging out in their driveways. There must be at least 10 trailors on our road alone...and everytime I go down the road I stare longingly at them. I never thought I'd be this concerned with getting a trailor.

And I know what you guys must be thinking. If I can't find a trailor, then why should I get a horse? What happens if the horse is injured or so ill she needs to be shipped out?

Simple. A bullet. Either that or I WILL take Jimmy's trailor with or without paying him and get her help.

But this isn't an emergency, so I can't steal Trent's friends trailor without justification.

Trent has another friend around here who has a trailor...we were supposed to buy a QH mare from her but she just didn't spark my interest. She was...well, boring. I don't know whether there are hard feelings between that girl and us now since we didn't buy her horse, but I don't know why he hasn't asked her yet. Maybe I should.

God, I'm irritated. It's getting a bit harder everyday to bring this horse home. I don't want to hire a hauler just for an hour drive down the road. Why can't anyone just give us a trailor for a few hours? I've never crashed one. I've always returned them in the best condition. This is so dis-heartening.

In other news, theres a little rotty mix running around like an idiot outside. She's a real sweet dog. I gave her some food. I keep seeing her bolt back and forth across the lawn though. She has a collar mark around her neck but no collar, so I'm hoping she goes home before night falls.

Wagon Rides

About a year and a half ago I ran away from my home in Pennsylvania, held out in my friend's apparentment in West Virginia and got connected with a carriage driving company named Hardly Able Carriage Co. Thats where I met my current boyfriend and from there we headed down to Georgia for numberless foxhunting adventures.

When I got pregnant, we decided to come back up to West Virginia, only it's more like the Ohio side...which is only slightly better. My boyfriend, Trent, got involved in the carriage company again to pay off some stuff while he searched for a better job, and thats when we learned about the day long wagon ride that the company holds for it's emplyers at the end of the year.

So...we signed up for it.

The weatherman said that it would be in the 60 and sunny on Saturday.

The weatherman lied.

It was in the mid50's, cloudy and windy. I just about froze to death on that wagon. Trent and I huddled together in the first wagon that took off that day. I think there was a grand total of 5 wagons and 1 sulky which was pulled by a miniature horse.

Not a -pony-, a HORSE...so I was corrected.

We stopped and had some lunch. Everyone ran off into the woods to pee, and we headed out on the trail again. The trail we traveled was an old train track that used to weave through the rural Ohio area...and the area sure was pretty. It would have been a lot prettier if my back wasn't spazming from shivering too much. But you can't be too picky, you know?

We then stopped in a small town for people to pee in a small convenient store. This place was probably as old as the railroad track and had paper clippings of the 30s inside. So we all stocked up on donuts and soda before re-entering our wagon train.

By this time we learned that the large plastic trashbag that was at the front of the wagon held numerous blankets inside...which we quickly tore into. The ride wasn't that bad afterwards. Still cold, but I wasn't shivering and huddled next to Trent for body heat for the majority of the time, so it was alright.

We went through at least 3 train tunnels where the distance to the other side was a bit questionable. Luckily each wagon had been equipped with lights that you can turn on behind the horses like headlights to a car, so we didn't all die. Not one horse spooked. It was pretty cool.

We finally got to the campsite and I helped tie the horses to seperate trees before going to warm myself by the campfire. I hardly really spoke to anyone, seeing as I had no clue who anyone was. There was a grand total of 5 Meredith Manor students there...1 of which I knew but paid me no mind. Deciding that they were better off left alone, I didn't bother to talk with them.

Dinner was served around the campfire and thats when one of the Meredith Manor girls turned to me and asked "You're a graduate? Which Riding Masters?" That set forth a series of questions they all had bundled up to which I was gladly answering and telling stories upon stories to. They asked me if any of the horses were still there that I trained, and I answered "Yes, I trained Traveler".

The 3 Manor people who were paying me attention (the other two were too busy flirting with a married man) "Ooed and Awed" at that. They said they loved Traveler, and the one guy student even said that Traveler was a great Dressage School Master.

I laughed inside about this because Traveler doesn't know -that- much dressage and to think that he does is just...well, its sweet. The horse really does try his heart out. But he's far from a School Master.

We also spoke about some of the horses that were still there...like Appy Jake and Ada (shorty). We ranted about Parelli (woohoo!) and joked about Kelly Fisher. I told them stories about the legendary Kim Hall and shared with them the one time where Sam Cap' tried to kill a snake with a dressage whip.

They even said Batman was still lurking in Blue Barn's rafters. How cool!

So by the end of the trip, it was all pretty cool. I actually felt looked up to again and that never happens these days. If anything, I feel like a lowly trainer thats hit her limit far before she was supposed to. But the students there had so many questions and I could feel them leaning on my word because I was a Riding 6 grad and had been through it all.

It felt amazing...

I didn't get any of their numbers or names, but I think I'll be heading down to the Manor again for another visit.

As for the wagon rides, I'll have to get pictures from someone who attended...I BROUGHT my camera, but the camera card was still stuck in the computer. Lot of good that did!

Buy Lessons, Not DVDs

In a strange turn of events, I finally found a GOOD reference and experience where I could soundly put to rest that no, you can not learn how to ride and train from a box set of DVDs.

It's just not possible.

Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I went to go see a horse for sale who goes by the name of "Jasper". The add placed him as a pretty quiet animal, a lesson horse and good trail buddy. They wanted $1000 for him, and it seemed a little high priced (especially for these days) but I figured that if he could keep me safe while I'm pregnant, it'd be well worth it.

Besides, I don't have anything against retraining a little for right now.

So we get there. The seller's story (we'll call her Jane) is that she is pretty new to horses and Jasper was sold to her from a friend. As time went by, it was clearly evident just how new she was.

She brought him out and started lunging him. She had the trademark 12ft long lungline and a long fiberglass pole that could only be recognised as the usual "I'm new at this and I've been suckered into Natural Horsemanship". This fiberglass pole is commonly called a "Carrot stick", but instead of the trademark orange, it was purple. I'm not sure if Parelli sells purple ones, but I could only imagine.

She begins to spin this horse on a tiny little circle, waving the pole around. The lash at the end of it was wrapped around the pole, indicating that she really didn't believe in using a whip-like tool. Ugh.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this horse's knees are ready to break. Take a look at the front left. The tendons in the back part of his leg are in such stress that it's popping the joint forward. He appears to be over at the knee, but he truly isn.t

More of this and he will be in the future though.

So I give it a shot at trying to lunge him, and it just wasn't going to happen. I was handed the carrot stick and I unwrapped the rope from around it. This didn't help at all.

I touch his hindend with the carrot stick and he didn't respond. Jane tells me to really smack him if I need to, so I try and crack him on the ass. The pole obsorbs most of the impact and I can feel it with how it vibrates upon contact. Ugh. The horse didn't even flinch.

I finally got a few circles out of him but I didn't want him to do much because of how short the lungeline was.

We saddle him up.

Things didn't get much better. Jane hops on and instantly starts tearing on his mouth. Pulling his head around until his chin touches her knee, spinning in him tight circles. She says the videos told her to do this. I literally have to look away.

I hopped on shortly after and this horse didn't know a straight line for the life of him. He kept trying to spin in circles. If he didn't want to go a certain direction when I asked, he'd simply turn his head to the side (like he's been taught to do) and continue on his way.

It was a mess.

So when it comes down to it...if you want to own a horse, of you want to ride a horse, if you want to enjoy a horse...

TAKE A FEW FRICKIN' LESSONS!!!

Those box sets won't teach you a damn thing other than how to abuse your animal and they justify it by placing the word "natural" in the title.

It makes me sick.