It's the night before Christmas, we're out in the barn
Blanketing horses to keep them all warm
They're eating their dinners, tucked in cozy stalls
Not aware that it's Christmas or any special day at all
They can dream of spring pastures from their pine-scented beds
No visions of sugarplums dance in their heads
But we people are thinking of merry parties and such
Maybe feeling a little sad at missing so much
This season is special but the horses don't know
We've got work to do before we can go
We finish the chores and head on inside
To get ready for dinner and our own yuletide
It's nearly midnight, the carols are sung
I remember a story I was told when I was young
How at midnight on Christmas Eve
The creatures of the barnyard can speak to us with ease
I am called to the barn, I wade through the rain
I know I must go, I can't really explain
I slide open the door, pause for a while
Then slowly walk down that dimly lit aisle
A nicker from Casey, a wink from JD
Sleepy old Alibi waking to see
Tucker rustling his bedding, a snort soft and light
Each horse gave a greeting as I walked through the night
I thought about parties bright lit and warm
The ones we don't go to 'cause we have the barn
And vacations and holidays that we don't get
When we're working long hours for bills to be met
Walking all the way to the end of the aisle
I stop to stroke Bonnie, it brings me a smile
She snuffles my face, hot breath on my skin
It starts me to thinking about my horses, my kin
I could be at parties with laughter and mirth
But where I am right now is the best place on Earth.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Mare-y Christmas!
Christmas Horse Cookies!
I'm a little sad that I only got to see the washington horses for Christmas! Miss Dee is doing very well, though, so that's a good thing. I went up again on Wednesday, and she was quite lovely. Her walk and trot are looking fabulous, and the canter has glimmers of glory. She's weak, so the canter is still hard, but she IS trying. She would get herself into a really nice frame for a few strides, and then she just couldn't hold it anymore. I was VERY glad to see that they aren't pushing the issue, they're letting her do it herself, because when she's ready, I know she'll go where she needs to with her head, she's very good that way and they respect that in her. They did the same thing with the trot work... they have her trotting around on light contact, and she carries herself very nicely.
On another note, I'm pretty sure she's getting bigger. I mentioned in passing that she looks taller, and Garry said he'd been thinking the same thing, but thought that it was just because he saw her everyday. She looks pretty good, though! AAANNDD, while she was trotting around, Garry said that she is very fancy, which just made my day! I mean, I think she's fancy, but I'm biased, because she's my baby, so it's nice to hear someone else say it.
More updates next week!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Work Ethic!
I went to see Dee on Wednesday, and am VERY pleased with how she's doing. She is now walking, trotting and cantering nicely (most of the time). The breaks-on, snarky behavior is greatly reduced, and I think that it will be gone soon. Garry seems to think shell be just fine, which is exciting. Another good thing? She is much more respectful on the ground! She hasn't kicked or bitten anyone, and apparently now she's pretty much stopped trying!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Pony Blues!
Wow, it's only been 5 days since I've seen Dee, but I can't stop thinking about her, and all I want is to be able to visit her, or call the barn every minute for updates.
I know they told me that no news is good news, but I'm going out of my mind. It seems like AGES since I've seen her! It doesn't help that it's been a LONG time since I've put my horses care solely in the hands of someone else.
I'll update again when I actually have news.
I know they told me that no news is good news, but I'm going out of my mind. It seems like AGES since I've seen her! It doesn't help that it's been a LONG time since I've put my horses care solely in the hands of someone else.
I'll update again when I actually have news.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Dee's new Digs!
Well, I moved miss Dee in the middle of what resembled a cold tropical storm yesterday. The barn is really nice, with a great big indoor. She wasn't pleased with me, but I think she'll settle in. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos. It was a deluge of rain with vicious wind gusts, so even if I had taken photos, it wouldn't have come out very well.
Now, when you drop a young child off boarding school, standard practice is that the parents shouldn't contact the child at first, to let her get acclimated. Much to my dismay, Garry has the same policy, and wants me to wait ten days to visit. I already want to go see her and I dropped her off yesterday! The only good thing is that I've got finals coming up and about a million different projects due, so I should be kept busy enough to not think about missing Dee too much. I know she's in good hands, but I haven't had someone else doing the majority of care in a LONG time, and I've NEVER sent a horse out for training without me. I'm feeling a little lost, and I definitely felt like a terrible parent leaving her there when she was clearly worried. I gave her lots of pats and told her how much I loved her and that she needed to be at least somewhat well behaved, then braved the storm back home.
I found this funny list called "A Horse's View of The World"... I bolded the one's that I think Dee would agree with:
Arena: Place where humans can take the fun out of forward motion.
Bit: Means by which a rider's every motion is transmitted to the sensitive tissues of the mouth.
Bucking: counterirritant
Crossties: Gymnastic apparatus.
Dressage: Process by which some riders can eventually be taught to respect the bit.
Fence: Barrier that protects good grazing.
Grain: Sole virtue of domestication.
Hitching rail: Means by which to test one's strength.
Horse trailer: Mobile cave bear den.
Hotwalker: The lesser of two evils.
Jump: An opportunity for self-expression.
Latch: Type of puzzle.
Longeing: Procedure for keeping a prospective rider at bay.
Owner: Human assigned responsibility for one's feeding.
Rider: Owner overstepping its bounds.
Farrier: Disposable surrogate owner; useful for acting out aggression without compromising food supply.
Trainer: Owner with mob connections.
Veterinarian: Flightless albino vulture <-- I LOVE that one... but Dee loves Dr. S, so it doesn't apply!
And one more, non horse related funny:
Dog vs. Cat…..
Exerpt from a Dog’s Diary:
8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
Excerpts from a Cat’s Daily Diary…
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘ good little hunter ‘ I am. Bastards.
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be mor e than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now…………….
Now, when you drop a young child off boarding school, standard practice is that the parents shouldn't contact the child at first, to let her get acclimated. Much to my dismay, Garry has the same policy, and wants me to wait ten days to visit. I already want to go see her and I dropped her off yesterday! The only good thing is that I've got finals coming up and about a million different projects due, so I should be kept busy enough to not think about missing Dee too much. I know she's in good hands, but I haven't had someone else doing the majority of care in a LONG time, and I've NEVER sent a horse out for training without me. I'm feeling a little lost, and I definitely felt like a terrible parent leaving her there when she was clearly worried. I gave her lots of pats and told her how much I loved her and that she needed to be at least somewhat well behaved, then braved the storm back home.
I found this funny list called "A Horse's View of The World"... I bolded the one's that I think Dee would agree with:
Arena: Place where humans can take the fun out of forward motion.
Bit: Means by which a rider's every motion is transmitted to the sensitive tissues of the mouth.
Bucking: counterirritant
Crossties: Gymnastic apparatus.
Dressage: Process by which some riders can eventually be taught to respect the bit.
Fence: Barrier that protects good grazing.
Grain: Sole virtue of domestication.
Hitching rail: Means by which to test one's strength.
Horse trailer: Mobile cave bear den.
Hotwalker: The lesser of two evils.
Jump: An opportunity for self-expression.
Latch: Type of puzzle.
Longeing: Procedure for keeping a prospective rider at bay.
Owner: Human assigned responsibility for one's feeding.
Rider: Owner overstepping its bounds.
Farrier: Disposable surrogate owner; useful for acting out aggression without compromising food supply.
Trainer: Owner with mob connections.
Veterinarian: Flightless albino vulture <-- I LOVE that one... but Dee loves Dr. S, so it doesn't apply!
And one more, non horse related funny:
Dog vs. Cat…..
Exerpt from a Dog’s Diary:
8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
Excerpts from a Cat’s Daily Diary…
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘ good little hunter ‘ I am. Bastards.
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be mor e than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now…………….
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