Time for some pics, you will see just how big he is getting and he is only rising 5 months!

It is clear from this shot that the big boy will be just fine and mum needs to go and get some condition on!

Tahoe's new for sale pic that I will put up in Horseland next week.

Me and my beautiful horses!

Cuddles for Tahoe

Its Time To Go....Roxy

Well time has flown by and this week I have made the decision to wean Tahoe which means in two weeks Roxy will be going back to one of the main paddocks. She is only just maintaining her weight and Tahoe is doing just fine so my priority is to look after Roxy. It is the least that she deserves.

I havent written too much about Roxy over the last few months but the pride and love I have for this horse is nothing short of breath taking. Scaling everything back to its core and taking baby steps with her and just creating a bond is the most wonderful and positive thing to come out of all this. I couldnt rush anything and I have had a chance to spend time with her EVERY day just being. I look at her and my heart jumps and I am so excited about getting back on and getting started with her again, except this time we are so much closer.

So how do you know that things have changed?

Well I used to have to con her into coming to me with a bucket of food and when I let her go she would walk away. She still comes to me because she is getting food, but the important thing is that she knows her name. I call Roxy and she looks up and whinnies and more often than not comes at a trot. She is relaxed, happy and familiar with me without being pushy.

We used to walk along and I would have to constantly ask her to keep up with me..now she plods along beside me .

She stops when I stop walks when I walk.

I could not for the life of me get her to relax enough to lower her head below her wither...now I can get her to drop it to the ground...I will be bridling her from a sitting position from now on.

I did some quick lunging with her the other day and after initially being unsure of what we were up to, she soon got it and I had my girl circling me freely with one ear pointed in my direction...I had her attention even with two foals watching from the sidelines.

She was even relaxed enough to roll next to me in the stall and lets me take Tahoe away without freaking out. For a horse to lie down near you, when lying down is as vunerable as they get, shows real trust.

I am sure I have an amazing horse on my hands and I dont expect it to be all smooth sailing but she is worth all the effort I am sure. She is my "55 horse" the one I expect to be on for the next 20 years, thanks Roxy for being such a great teacher! XXX

Lorrie

Update on Monty

So today we had the vet out to Monty. She wasnt getting any better and yesterday we discovered lovely pus!

After waiting for the vet for a bit he finally arrived and had a bit of a look. Definately something in there he says....now it is time to find out what.

Monty gets a sedative and some nerve blocker (could have done with some myself), and as Rhonda holds her up the vet starts digging away at her foot...a few minutes and a rather large hole later out slides a chunk of wood!!! It was pretty big about 3cm by 1cm..and smelly too apparently, but I didnt sniff to confirm.

David the vet cleans it up and wraps it. Monty is officially out of action for a least 4 weeks and will have a nice hole grow down her hoof over the next 12 months.

She is on penicillin twice a day and we need to change the dressing daily. I dont have the bill yet but I can imagine there will be a decent one.

SO hopefully Monty is still ok for the MS Ride, we will give her the best of care and at least in the sick paddock she might lose a bit of weight the tubby chick.

Will update as things progress....poor Monty :-(

Lorrie

xxx

Float Towing, Trail Riding, Train Tunnels and a lame horse!

This year on many an occasion I have missed an ATHRA ride due to not having a float or prior commitments...this month however with the help of my new friend Regina, we decided to splurge and invest in a days worth of float hire and head off Sunday to the latest ATHRA ride which was in Helensburgh. 

It is here I must point out one important piece of information...after riding my whole life I have not once towed a horse float.

It was a mixture of nerves and excitement when we collected the float on Saturday and I found it rather easy to do. I was delighted, this was going to be  a breeze as long as I took it slow and steady.

Sunday morning Regina and I loaded the horses and headed off. The horses, Monty and George, were very well behaved and we arrived with plenty of time to enjoy morning tea before riding out at 9.30am.

It looked like rain so I put on my new long Drizabone coat and felt quite the part as we headed off into some beautiful terrain. It reminded me so much of the rides I did with Pasha, I was loving it!

We continued along for about an hour and a half before coming to the legendary train tunnel. It is an abandoned tunnel that runs alongside the main line. I had no intention of going through the tunnel, as I was told there was a way to go around it instead. On this particular day however it didn't seem  like that option was open to us and everyone was pretty much told to head on through. I decided that if other horses could do it so could I. The first group entered and there was some carry on but generally everything went OK. My group however had two horses in front that refused to go forward. Who would blame them it was pitch black!!! After dropping my horse boot at the entrance to the tunnel I grabbed it and mounted back up and head through...first. Monty was so brave and I coaxed her gently through, once she saw the light her walk picked up speed and we were out safe and sound and I was so proud of her. I got off to reattach my boot to the saddle and I noticed a cut above her back nearside hoof and then when I tried to walk her she couldn't walk. I was shocked...what the hell had happened?

The cut looked minor so I was seriously concerned that Monty has strained something or was foot sore from stepping on a rock. Whatever the case it had happened in the tunnel there was no question.

I walked her forward and she seemed to start to go OK, so with every one's advise I hopped back on. We hit the next hill and there was no doubt Monty was not going well at all. We got to the top, I put her front boots on and still she struggled. We were as far from the base as we could be and my horse was lame. I was gutted.

Soon I had the trail boss telling me that they had decided to get the local bloke Alan, who was leading the ride, to help me take a short cut and get me back to the floats. Please remember at this point I am taking the 'trail leader' with me!

So we head off in the opposite direction. At this point I was still riding Monty but a few meters later it was decided that riding her was no longer an option. 

So now my new friend Alan told me to jump up behind him and we would lead Monty out. After a very clumsy scramble onto the back of his horse we were on our way, but it was getting more and more difficult to keep Monty going. We made it to the fire trail and it was here that Monty said no more. Alan decided that we should leave Monty tied firmly to a tree and double back to the float and bring the float to Monty. So off we went and although a little awkward riding double with a complete stranger I was so grateful for the help. 

So we get back to the float and put Alan's horse on and head back for Monty...here I go ...amateur float tower about to go bush and rescue the stranded brumby!

We get back to Monty and there she is eating the grass with an 'about time' look in her eye. We load her up and now I have to try to turn this thing around...nothing like the deep end AGAIN!

I have to say with some guidance from Alan it only took me two goes to get it around at, least something was working out. 

We floated Monty back to the spot where we were meeting for lunch. I cleaned her up and Alan confirmed that it was indeed the puncture to her coronet band (above the hoof near the hairline) that was causing her pain.

We had also noticed that the rest of the group who should have beaten us to lunch weren't here yet....they arrived shortly after, however they did point out that they had been lost for a while...remember I took the trail leader...gggeeezzz could I cause anymore trouble.

We had lunch and Regina and I decided to beat the impending weather and head off home. We farewelled everyone and after a wrong turn onto the free way followed by a u-turn at Waterfall we were heading home.

Back home I unloaded Monty and she was in SO much pain she could barely put weight on the foot. I yarded her up, gave her some feed and raced off to the vet for some tetanus shots ......($40 later !!!!!)... I have Monty medicated and washed up and I let her go. She didnt even flinch with the two needles to the neck..such a brave horse.

I have been close to tears (and quietly letting a few go) and again I only just hold it together as I see her hobble off. 

I go and spend some quality time with Roxy and Tahoe and then went on to spend a restless night worrying about how Monty was going.

This morning after dropping off Jade to school, I race out there and take the car into the paddock and up the hill to where Monty is lying down resting. I don't panic as this is normal for the horses to take turns sleeping. Thankfully I notice no swelling or heat in her leg and get her up to flush the wound and give her some more meds for the pain. It looks like she will be fine but I will spend the next few days monitoring her to make sure.

Phew I tell ya, life is not boring and it was almost more than I could handle for one day, I am grateful that Monty's mum (hi Rhonda) took it so well and was understanding. 

Until the next installment from my crazy life,  send Monty some get well vibes and catch ya

Love Lorrie

Roll Backs and Join Up

So weeks keep slipping by and horse adventures are aplenty. Went on the lastest ATHRA ride to Dunmore. A charity ride for Autism and it was a wonderful day. Although we passed many of the same paddocks, doing them in different directions sheds a whole new light and perspective. We had a fantastic lunch and the horses did really well. Another huge group and a lot of dancing and prancing but it all went without incident. Monty and I did way more cantering than we normally do and it started to get smoother thank god! I was encouraged by my new friend Rejie to just have a crack and it was great to have Christine out on Tully who we thought might not ever be on the trail again due to illness but she is now pretty much in the clear. Not my story to tell but whenever you think your horse is down and out it is always good to get a second opinion and confirm everthing before giving up. YAY for Tully the wonder horse!

Monty and I went to Tonys Training Day on Saturday and we made some great steps forward in teaching her, and I, to yield her front under saddle. I do believe I have found the secret in getting a roll back out of her as well. A little backup and then a quick front end yield...now if I can just soften it up, speed it up and fine tune it, we will look quite impressive. Thanks Monty for being so patient with me!

So Tahoe...well I have had a few nibbles from prospective purchases and one seems serious however I am not holding my breath at this point. Tahoe had his first farrier visit and passed with flying colours! Good man Tahoe. He is still progressing nicely and I have to say giving him up will not be easy.

Roxy...Roxy continues to be Roxy! Loving, firm and patient.

Now believe it or not I have another mini project in the form of foal no.2 ...NO Roxy isnt up the duff again, there is a TB colt that hangs with Tahoe and Roxy since it was weaned. Not making the brightest of choices, he has chosen Roxy has his surrogate mum and Tahoe as his playmate and little brother. His name is Ted. 

Ted has been handled and taught to tie and lead but since weaning he sort of went off track. Couldnt be caught, got a bit flighty etc. Well I decided that I might as well bring him in to be fed and handled at the same time as Tahoe and Roxy...yesterday when I went to catch Ted in the small yard I got his usual act of turning his butt to face me. Very Rude!! So I reached for my stick and gave him a swift smack on the butt. As soon as I noticed him turn to me I took the pressure off and faced the other way with my back to him (but still watching). You could just see him thinking...then out of the corner of my eye while I pretended I couldnt care less about him, he walked up and sniffed my hand and then let me clip the lead on his halter...this I do believe was join up! I have to say I was elated and hope to give Ted some chance of leaving the property with some ground manners and a chance at a good life. 

So until the next tale to tell...I am off to play with the ponies!

Love Lorrie

P.S Pic below of Tahoe at 3 months....HUGE!

Almost Half Way There

Well as you can see the little fella is half way to weaning and is starting to go very dark. The fuzz on his back seems like it might be here to stay for the winter! For those who dont know the high rump is due to a growth spurt...yes foals look very weird alot of the time as bits here and there rapidly grow.

He is now having three handfulls of his own food, more to teach him feedtime manners than anything else and yep he is a piggy. Apparently the other day he took on the alpha mare for a bit of her tucker and Roxy being the super casual mum that she is just kicked back and let it happen. Tahoe is a very independant little guy but so sweet. He is being tied up, feet handled and doing some nice yielding. This Saturday they are all up for worming but last time was no drama so I am sure that he will handle it again with his usual confidence.

As for bronco Rox! It would seem that the cause of the naughtiness was that Tahoe wasnt staying at her shoulder when we attempted to ride. Tahoe just lags behind checking out the world and this makes Roxy anxious. After a bit of a test run (with Roxy being led) I am pretty certain that most of her behaviour is her sons lack of commitment to being front and centre!

Should all else fail though I do have a trainer lined up if things go haywire...fingers crossed.

MS Ride is inching closer and this month registration should open. I am pretty excited about going and have all my bits crossed that everything goes to plan and my horsey friends can all make it...Rhonda keep working on Mark for the extra 3 days chicka!

Gotta dash my sister is trying to chat with me on Facebook

Happy Trails

Lorrie

xx

Plodding Along and Hitting a few Hurdles!

Time is going fast and I swear everyday Tahoe is 5cm taller and just that little bit fatter. The pictures below are from almost 2 weeks ago and alot of that fuzzy brown hair is making way for black.

If you look closely you can see that his hind leg has an injury...thanks to a run in with some barb wire he now has a scar to match his mums old barbwire scar (she had those before I got her). He has healed nicely though.

He is being a little scamp but still has a delightful and curious nature...we played a bit of tug of war with a towel yesterday and he thought it was funny to take it in his teeth and throw it around.

Roxy is still being the aloof but caring mum that I have come to love. What I dont love is her new behaviours when I ride her. Her latest is bucking!!! She is so naughty. I am not sure of what horse I will end up with after this, but the horse on the ground is still being a good girl it is just the horse in the saddle that I am unsure about. After much reading and analysing I think that she will just need alot of retraining and relearning and once the distraction of the baby is gone hopefully I will have my Roxy back, just with a bit more spunk?

I have also had a fall off Monty about 3 weeks ago after doing some one rein riding in the round yard. Completely my fault as I could tell that she hated having the rein thrown over her head, to change sides, while I was working from the ground so why on earth I did it from up top I dont know? I have a pretty sore shoulder from that one.. but I have since had a couple of great rides on her, I just know to leave the throwing things over her head out of the equation for now!!

Well I have Tahoe advertised in some places but I am not expecting a flood of calls. He will be in Horse Deals next month so I will see how that goes before I try some other options. He will be a lovely, friendly horse who would be great as a trail riding horse. I would hate to see him go to waste in the wrong hands.

Only 4 more months to go ....unless he doesnt sell and then who knows?

Love Lorrie



Hanging out after his feed..


Roxy eating out of the nappy bucket so the ducks dont get it.


Tahoe on 'solids' eating from his very own ice cream container!