Jazz and Hunter, who came first. You would not think this whould mean so much but it has always been a bone of contention between my two friends and it has become a real issue.
I'll give you the facts and you make the decision.
I found Hunter first. On a Friday. He was only 18 months old and needed to be trained to go on the trailer so I was told to expect him him two to three weeks.
Now it's the following Monday. I go to an auction, Jazz gives me the old eye to eye contact, that heart breaking thing, sending me a message, 'take me home with you or you will regret it till your dying days'. Now I don't know about you but I found that to be a very powerful message, so I was compelled to bid on him.
He came home...he came to his TemPorary Home that night, at 2:00 in the morning, and of course, in the pouring rain. Hunter came to the same TemPorary home about 3 weeks later, and of course, in the pouring rain..
So who was first?
Uhhmm...I don't know if this is pertinent but I was looking for Hunter. I wanted a Saddlebred, gender wasn't an issue and I was hoping to find one that was black. Jazz was an impulse decision. (A decision that I have been eternally gratefull for. He's lush.)
I told them I would put it to the bigger population and what ever was decided by strangers they would live by.
So, tell me, who came first?
Friday, April 2, 2010
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Helping others
I've just finished reading the posts about the RSPCA rescue - woah. Its all very well for us to say 'how awful' and 'poor horses' and 'why did it take so long for the RSPCA to do something' but just saying it is not going to help. I actually feel useless, for want of a better word. Daft thing is, I know I can make a change. I've done it before (ok so on a teeny weeny level & with help from my friends) and I'm still fighting for a satisfactory outcome on a dispute involving myself and an education institiution. I'm a stubborn old witch & if I believe in something, I'll fight for it to the end. Time to do some research.....
Friday, January 11, 2008
RSPCA & time to do something
If you were on the Your Horse forum today you might have come across me shooting my mouth off about doing something about man's cruelty.
If someone truely wants to become involved with correcting an injustice there are a number of platforms available. There are also many degrees for self-involvement. Putting a few coins into a box for charity is one of the least ways to offer support without becoming personally involved.
Joining a group, signing petitions, sending a letter off to your MP, donating money to the cause all require a little more involvement, a little stronger committment.
Then you find the ones who actually, really and truely want to do something about it, and that is what I'm going to explore here.
I started this blog to chat informally with others who love horses as much as I do. I wanted other Mad About Horses people to have a place to share even more about themselves in a friendly, caring atmosphere and to maybe delve past the superficiality we use as a mask to keep ourselves safe from harms way.
Over the next week or two I'm going to explore further into tackling the problems we have putting action into the place where our mouths are. I hope there are a few who will join me.
If someone truely wants to become involved with correcting an injustice there are a number of platforms available. There are also many degrees for self-involvement. Putting a few coins into a box for charity is one of the least ways to offer support without becoming personally involved.
Joining a group, signing petitions, sending a letter off to your MP, donating money to the cause all require a little more involvement, a little stronger committment.
Then you find the ones who actually, really and truely want to do something about it, and that is what I'm going to explore here.
I started this blog to chat informally with others who love horses as much as I do. I wanted other Mad About Horses people to have a place to share even more about themselves in a friendly, caring atmosphere and to maybe delve past the superficiality we use as a mask to keep ourselves safe from harms way.
Over the next week or two I'm going to explore further into tackling the problems we have putting action into the place where our mouths are. I hope there are a few who will join me.
Jealouse
That is spectacular. I'm coming to England this summer for a holiday and will definitely spend time exploring Wales. The biggest problem is there are so many places we love to see and we'll have so little time to do it all.
Jim is self employed and has trouble getting a lengthy time off. He usually takes a week here or there but you can't do justice to the UK in that short of a time frame.
Hhmmm. I think I'll have to come on my own and he can join me.
I've been out a few times riding and (fingers crossed, knock on wood) haven't damaged myself again by doing something stupid like slipping on ice. We've had the strangest weather though. We usually have a pile of snow, ponds are frozen so you can skate on them, and you have to bundle up in sub zero clothing to stay warm but the temperature is above freezing, was actually as high as 14 Celsius, rain, thunder and lightening.
What is also interesting is our Lab's winter coat and Jazz and Hunters winter coat aren't nearly as thick as they were the last couple of years. Hunter usually ends up looking like a fur ball.
Your pictures are amazing and I feel terrible because I have been so lax in taking pictures. I don't even have a good excuse other then I have a muddled brain and need to really work at getting organized and staying focused. That was one of my New Year resolutions to.
Ah well, as Scarlett said in Gone With The Wind, "I'll think about that tomorrow."
Jim is self employed and has trouble getting a lengthy time off. He usually takes a week here or there but you can't do justice to the UK in that short of a time frame.
Hhmmm. I think I'll have to come on my own and he can join me.
I've been out a few times riding and (fingers crossed, knock on wood) haven't damaged myself again by doing something stupid like slipping on ice. We've had the strangest weather though. We usually have a pile of snow, ponds are frozen so you can skate on them, and you have to bundle up in sub zero clothing to stay warm but the temperature is above freezing, was actually as high as 14 Celsius, rain, thunder and lightening.
What is also interesting is our Lab's winter coat and Jazz and Hunters winter coat aren't nearly as thick as they were the last couple of years. Hunter usually ends up looking like a fur ball.
Your pictures are amazing and I feel terrible because I have been so lax in taking pictures. I don't even have a good excuse other then I have a muddled brain and need to really work at getting organized and staying focused. That was one of my New Year resolutions to.
Ah well, as Scarlett said in Gone With The Wind, "I'll think about that tomorrow."
Friday, January 4, 2008
Pictures!
Here are some pictures of our trip up the mountain. I've got pretty good riding up where I keep him (will take camera up to his place if I remember) but its nice to box up & go somewhere different. The BHS have opened up a beach ride nearby so I'm hoping to take him on that. I'm really lucky in that we have such varied countryside to ride in - quiet lanes, open mountains, forestry, lakesides and beaches. Great fun!!
Handsome Horse
The transmitter mast at Moel y Parc
Handsome Horse
The view across the Vale
Looking out over the Vale towards the sea. If it had been a clearer day you'd be able to see the sea on the right hand side of the picture.
My trusty steed!! Doesn't look very tired after his adventure up the hills. The white stuff on his front legs is cooling leg clay. He'd been a bit of a prat and the ground was slippy so thought it best to put the stuff on to cool and tighten his tendons & ligaments.
Another view with some sheep in it (white dots!)
Now I have my trailer I just want to go exploring different places, but I really must do some schooling in preparation for a dressage competition in a couple of weeks time. Trouble is, I'm not very disciplined with that sort of thing & prefer to 'play'.
Good luck with the jumping! Warrior doesn't jump fences anymore due to his arthritis. I don't miss it much as I wasn't very good but there are times when I spot a small log & am very tempted. I know Warrior would do it too, lumpy knee or not, but its not fair to ask him to jump. Keep us up to date with the jumping progress!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Your ride sounds aw some. When I was researching long distance walks I came across the Offas Dyke, is it as good as it sounds? Are there places you can ride straight from where you board or do you have to trailer?
I'm lucky that there are trails near where I board, though now with winter snow and ice I won't be riding to far from the arena. There are some decent riding spots near home as well but nothing like you have. Ours are pretty tame.
Jazz has a tendency to rush going down hills, and when I rein him in to keep at a walk he starts prancing, swinging his butt around and tossing his head. I have a fear he's going to buck and unseat me. There's one spot in particular that's pretty steep so now we go down on the diagonal. Takes a little bit longer but I feel more comfortable doing it that way.
This year I want to learn how to jump with Hunter and work at being more comfortable going downhill. And I'm going to take more pictures. Your little camera sounds perfect. The one I have right now is pretty big and it's too bulky to carry around while riding, plus it's getting on in years. Hhmm, Mothers Day, better start hinting for it now. My crew are a little slow on the uptake.
How is your new truck and trailer working out? When I first bought Jazz and Hunter I had a Subaru Forester. It was a great car and I loved it but after I had the boys for a year my OH traded it in for a truck. I don't think you have them over in the UK, it's pretty big. It's a General Motors Sierra, 3/4 ton diesel, 4 X 4 and could haul a small house if I wanted to. Which is a good thing because a couple years ago I found a horse trailer I could afford. It's old and made of steel, so it's very heavy. I had to have it overhauled to make it safe so now it's basically like new. Hauls like a charm.
I love the freedom having a truck and trailer gives me. We also use the truck for hauling hay, the square one's and round bales, lumber, rocks, dirt, dogs and all sorts of farming type things. It's a bugger though to park when I take it into town.
Take lots of pictures, I love pictures. You can paste them here. I know this sounds really weird as I am a born and raised Canadian and I love Canada, but I get homesick for England. My OH is the same way. Once we're over there and settled in our little village that we like to go to we don't want to leave. So post some pictures so I can get all misty eyed.
I'm lucky that there are trails near where I board, though now with winter snow and ice I won't be riding to far from the arena. There are some decent riding spots near home as well but nothing like you have. Ours are pretty tame.
Jazz has a tendency to rush going down hills, and when I rein him in to keep at a walk he starts prancing, swinging his butt around and tossing his head. I have a fear he's going to buck and unseat me. There's one spot in particular that's pretty steep so now we go down on the diagonal. Takes a little bit longer but I feel more comfortable doing it that way.
This year I want to learn how to jump with Hunter and work at being more comfortable going downhill. And I'm going to take more pictures. Your little camera sounds perfect. The one I have right now is pretty big and it's too bulky to carry around while riding, plus it's getting on in years. Hhmm, Mothers Day, better start hinting for it now. My crew are a little slow on the uptake.
How is your new truck and trailer working out? When I first bought Jazz and Hunter I had a Subaru Forester. It was a great car and I loved it but after I had the boys for a year my OH traded it in for a truck. I don't think you have them over in the UK, it's pretty big. It's a General Motors Sierra, 3/4 ton diesel, 4 X 4 and could haul a small house if I wanted to. Which is a good thing because a couple years ago I found a horse trailer I could afford. It's old and made of steel, so it's very heavy. I had to have it overhauled to make it safe so now it's basically like new. Hauls like a charm.
I love the freedom having a truck and trailer gives me. We also use the truck for hauling hay, the square one's and round bales, lumber, rocks, dirt, dogs and all sorts of farming type things. It's a bugger though to park when I take it into town.
Take lots of pictures, I love pictures. You can paste them here. I know this sounds really weird as I am a born and raised Canadian and I love Canada, but I get homesick for England. My OH is the same way. Once we're over there and settled in our little village that we like to go to we don't want to leave. So post some pictures so I can get all misty eyed.
Happy New Year
The festivities are over for another year & people are starting to return to their jobs. I go back on Friday (don't work Wed & Thurs), in for another week & then start a new job on Monday 17th.
Managed to get out up the mountains with Warrior on Boxing Day. Boxed him up and took him down the road and parked up in a layby that is well used by horse riders. He was full of beans & jogged the first mile or two, eventually settling down only to start jogging again due to a change of surface and that we were now riding along a track going through a large field. Back on the road again and he settled into his ground eating walk and we soon found ourselves at the next bridlepath, which we took to get up the mountain. We had a little canter up this track, which involved Warrior putting in a couple of bucks for good measure. At the top, we stopped for a breather, while I consulted my map, found where we were supposed to be heading and made our way back towards home. Somewhere along the way, I went a bit off course and we seemed to still be climbing. I knew we were out of our way when we came across the transmitter mast, found where that was on the map and then headed towards home. By now, Warrior had got his second wind and was bouncing down a slippy slope, paying no attention to me what so ever. Next thing he almost went arse over tit (well chest in his case). I've no idea how he stayed upright or how I stayed on board. At the bottom of the hill was a well used old road, the Offa's Dyke path so we were back on course. We were out for about 2 hours, mostly walking, and he was still full of it when he got back to the trailer.
Bumped into his old owner the other day while I was out riding Prince, leading Warrior. He drove past us & then stopped & got out of the car to say hello to us. Out of all the horses they've owned, Warrior was his favourite and he was really pleased to see him looking well and still fit & active. I think he found it slightly amusing when I told him we were doing dressage competitions & he was doing well as a veteran show horse!
Managed to get out up the mountains with Warrior on Boxing Day. Boxed him up and took him down the road and parked up in a layby that is well used by horse riders. He was full of beans & jogged the first mile or two, eventually settling down only to start jogging again due to a change of surface and that we were now riding along a track going through a large field. Back on the road again and he settled into his ground eating walk and we soon found ourselves at the next bridlepath, which we took to get up the mountain. We had a little canter up this track, which involved Warrior putting in a couple of bucks for good measure. At the top, we stopped for a breather, while I consulted my map, found where we were supposed to be heading and made our way back towards home. Somewhere along the way, I went a bit off course and we seemed to still be climbing. I knew we were out of our way when we came across the transmitter mast, found where that was on the map and then headed towards home. By now, Warrior had got his second wind and was bouncing down a slippy slope, paying no attention to me what so ever. Next thing he almost went arse over tit (well chest in his case). I've no idea how he stayed upright or how I stayed on board. At the bottom of the hill was a well used old road, the Offa's Dyke path so we were back on course. We were out for about 2 hours, mostly walking, and he was still full of it when he got back to the trailer.
Bumped into his old owner the other day while I was out riding Prince, leading Warrior. He drove past us & then stopped & got out of the car to say hello to us. Out of all the horses they've owned, Warrior was his favourite and he was really pleased to see him looking well and still fit & active. I think he found it slightly amusing when I told him we were doing dressage competitions & he was doing well as a veteran show horse!
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