Weekend Update--Return of the (Short-Lived) Bliss
A high-pressure system hit these parts for the weekend, to prompt one of those horse-filled weekends that leave you falling happily into bed by Sunday night.
I went to "Trainerville," half an hour south of here, to ride Riley and take him some lighter-weight blankets. (It got up to 80 degrees yesterday where he is, probably enough of a shock to his system as it was, without suffering under winter blankets.)
I checked out the prospective grandkid horse, but passed on him. Too many issues that added up to "not quite right." A good thing to remember in such circumstances: If you have to talk yourself into buying a horse, he's not the right one.
I took Tank, That 70s Horse, out on a little field ride that included a few hill climbs. I've been riding him on the days I don't ride Riley, just to keep both of us "legged up." He's amazing--29 years old, and still ready to go when you are.
We also had a big barn cleanup session and then took delivery of the yearling Appaloosa colt that's here for for a spruce-up session (and to be gelded) before becoming the summer live-exhibit horse at the Appaloosa Horse Club. Here's his "before" shot; stay tuned for progress reports.Spring was short-lived, unfortunately, as it's back down to the 30s again, with snow in the forecast for the next several days.
Back to those winter blankets!
--Your turn to entertain us with your own version of Weekend Update.
posted by Juli Thorson @ 10:57 AM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Went for a short ride on the Appy I "stole" from my husband. Wanted to go longer but the grounds not quite good enough yet :(
Had planned to do a bit of "beauty parlour" but that got postponed due to a last minute phone call. But that was okay, the call was that the horse dentist was in town and all three of my eq-kids needed their teeth done.
I watched the weather all week, with a prediction of Saturday in the high 70s. It came to pass, and I put the rest of my life on hold for a day of riding in the national forest with a friend. I sent my husband out for a his first spring ride on his ATV with a friend so I wouldn't feel guilty that he was home doing chores when I was playing.
It was a beautiful day, no wind, no clouds, and the forest smelled wonderful. The ride was level so we didn't wear our winter-soft horses out, either. They still were a bit sweaty, but when they still are wearing half their winter coat, they can't help it. I made sure to lather up with sun screen on the winter-white exposed skin. When I got home from that ride, the vet had called and left a message that he wanted to take his two-year-old out for his first trail ride on Sunday, so I got another great ride in the next day, although the wind was gusting. It was still warm, though, but I spent all evening getting grit out of my eyes. Best of all, it was a very successful first outing for his young horse. No spooks, no bucks, just a few stumbles on rocks and sage brush.
Mother Nature is toying with us, with temperatures dropping 20 to 30degrees lower this week during the day, and possibilities of rain and snow. But it was so wonderful to have a beautiful day fall on the weekend when I could take advantage of it. Work sure gets in the way of recreation!
Our great weekend weather was shortlived...tomorrow's forcast of possible snow and a low temp this evening of below freezing....makes it really hard on the horses!! Was almost ready to pull out my lighter weight blankets for horses and glad I held off for a few more days...
He's a cutie. I don't care much for the looks of appies, but he is a cutie!
Callie,
I'm interested in what it is you don't like about the looks of Appaloosas. Any particulars you can share?
Merely curious, and you won't hurt my feelings.
I'm sure we all have our likes and dislikes when it comes to the external appearance of equines. In my case, for instance, I'm not keen on a horse with one blue eye and one brown eye. It kind of makes the horse seem (to me) like two different animals, personality-wise.
I also know that such horses have their defenders--owners who love them dearly--they just don't happen to float my boat.!
My weekend! I spent about six hours on the road! My truck, my friend's trailer, four kids from 7 months to 13 years... resulting in a box full of hay, and a borrowed gelding.
The horse is spending a year at my friend's place on a free lease. He's 18, an all around show horse, kid horse, trail horse, and from what I hear, broke broke broke! Really looking forward to working with him.
However, the weather was damp and cold, and the sore throat I started the day with turned into a lost voice. By the time we got to my friend's barn, I couldn't speak, it was dark, it was raining, and we had to slop through the mud to get the hay into the barn while the mares snorted at the gelding through the fence.
It's all good though. The horses are all cool with each other now. I've spent the last two days coughing and blowing my nose and expect to have my voice back sometime tomorrow! It was worth it.
Next weekend, I'm going to get some time with my own horses!! They've got a date with a bucket full of brushes!
Love that Appy. Great colour, cute, sweet expression!
Oh also... hee hee hee... one of my friend's mares (my current Favourite Pony In The World) has one blue eye and one brown. A lot of people are kind of freaked out by it but I adore her. She's full of surprises, and we joke about her split personality, but she's pretty solid.
I've had people say that they don't like Appys because of their sparse tails and manes. I just love my two Appys so much, I guess I'm love blind!
I'll admit I was never much of a fan of appies... until we got ours. I really hate the tiny-almost-no-hair tails. It's not just a looks thing, I feel SO sorry for those poor horses during fly season. I did always love the colourful coats but I didn't like the patchy skin around the eyes. But like all horses some have more/less than others. If our appy is typical of the breed as far as calmness, health and "personality" then I will say I am now a fan of the breed! (and yes he has a gorgeous tail! lol)
I do have to add that I think there are good and bad horses in EVERY breed so I don't really dislike any one breed.
Juli - a quick appy question. If memory serves you used to be quite involved with the breed. What is the breed standard with the tails? I've looked around on the net and some sites say that the sparse tail is the breed standard and is desired, others say no.
Our equine dentist (who was just out this way) breeds apps and he & I were talking about this. We both don't understand how evolution/God (whichever you believe) would make a horse with basically no tail, unless it was in a place with few insects.
I'd like to hear your opinion on this.
Thanks, Lisa
CDN--
Have to say I don't care for the no-tail look myself. The really sparse tails aren't as common as they used to be, as breeders have selected away from them.
However, the "personality" trait seems to remain intact!
CDN--
There isn't a "breed standard" on the Appaloosa tail. In other words, it's not stated as a currently desireable trait. Many years ago, breed literature noted it as a common characteristic, and that got picked up and reproduced in various places--but it's not something one necessarily has to have in the "ideal" Appaloosa.
My guess is that sparse mane and tail hair resulted from a genetic mutation--sort of a genetic "accident" that got passed on. It is very common in some Appaloosa lines, not common at all in others. There's also considerable anecdotal evidence that it's somehow tied to the Appaloosa roaning pattern, which is different than other types of roaning.
Juli, I think it depends on their color/markings and some with short tails. I've seen some gorgeous leopard aps with nice long tails, but some with the really freckly pink faces I just don't find appealing. I don't really have a color preference and I like color, so I don't know what it is, but it has to do with appearance not performance.
Callie,
It's interesting how appearance has that effect, isn't it? We all have those little "whatevers" that either please or offend the eye.
Hmm, I think I will have to write a new blog entry about this!
Sounds like you had a productive weekend. Ironically, I only got one day to work with the horses and then unexpected guests arrived, which put a rip in my schedule. I got stuck cleaning house and entertaining instead.
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