MidWestHorseMidWestHorseA blog written by two women who own and love horses for others who own and love horses reguardless of discipline. Articles
What A Bad Horse Dealer/Seller Might Do......
2008-04-12 00:07:00 1) He/She may work the hell out of a green horse before the scheduled time you have set to view so that it's tired and quiet by the time you show up.Advice: Show up earlier than scheduled. Also, leave to think about it and show up a second unexpected day and ask to see the horse that you are interested in.2) He/She may "bute" or "banamine" a sore or lame horse to mask symptoms when showing you the horse.Advice: Pre-purchase Vet exam. You choose the Vet.3) Tell you the horse is younger than it really is.Advice: Know what you're buying. Again, pre-purchase vet check.4) Tell you this is a perfectly "kid-safe" horse. Their kids ride it all the time!Advice: Find out what level a rider their child is. Use your gut. Pay attention to the horse's cues. You can tell a lot by watching things like "ears" and movements, how it leads, tacks up, etc..5) He/She may tranquilize the horse before you come to see it.Advice: Watch for this. A tranquilized horse may be slow to react. Have a droopy low... More About: Seller , Dealer , Horse
Pre-Purchase Vet Exam
2008-04-10 15:20:00 I've been reading a certain blog these days and I'm sure most of you have been there at least once as it is on the Power Guides blog roll. I feel sorry for these people and the fact that they have gotten really ripped off, but folks I really need to say this. You shouldn't fork out 20 grand on a yearling filly to buy over the Internet and without flying down to see her and especially not spend the extra couple hundred bucks for the pre-purchase exam with a vet you hire! This AQHA filly has Lordosis (swayback). They're documenting this filly's progress and there is a note of sour grapes when you read and I appreciate their efforts in keeping this horse as I believe they are now stuck. It's interesting reading and I hope it's a lesson learned for anyone who reads that blog. Maybe that will be what good comes out of it and it sounds like she has a loving new home anyway. Guns and White Roses , Good Luck to them and their endeavors.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/in... More About: Exam , Purchase
Well, Because They Were Doofuses......
2008-04-10 01:33:00 ........they both walked in this afternoon a little sore. I could tell. Not limping lame or favoring anything in particular, but a little stiff in the rear. So both got a dose of Banamine paste with dinner tonight. No obvious swelling, but I could tell when I watched them walk in. Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources.
Doofuses!
2008-04-09 18:02:00 Well, today is our only dry day once again, as it will be drizzling and pouring rain the next couple of days. Just as things were finally getting dry, it rained and stormed all day yesterday. So here we are in mud land again! Feeling guilty about it, I decided that since it will probably be another week before I can spread seed, I'd let the girls out one more time. Misty barrelled up and down the pasture and Kola bounced as she does. I should have had the camera with me at the time as it's quite comical to watch, but then you'd hear me screaming at them to stop and Fido barking, just encouraging them more. Sliding mud stops just inches from me as I was cleaning troughs. After the first couple of runs, I thought they'd settle in, but they kept on going. Kola bouncing like an animated character of some sort (Kola reminds of Peppy Le Pu, you know when he's bouncing down the street) and Misty pretending to be a wild Mustang. Both snorting and Misty even with a huge cough. I finally...
A Dedication To Holly
2008-04-08 20:05:00 "My Horse, My Love""I can only imagine, What is in your heart, What do you feel, When we are apart? My horse, my love, I have given you my all. Do you dream of me, Do you think of me at all? My horse, my love, I gaze into your eyes. Your presence fills the air, Ever the same, ever a surprise. My horse, my love, Do you care for me? I dream of you at night. When you are all I see, I can only imagine, What is in your heart, What do you feel, When we are apart?" by Ivy Schex It's so very sad when we lose our horse. In Jess's case, the baby as well. This has been a rough year for Jess and her horses. So sorry about Holly and the foal............Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Dedication
Another Friend Lost
2008-04-08 19:22:00 I recently had to put down Lady Olena, this past weekend her friend Holly was laid to rest right next to her. She aborted her foal 2 weeks before she was due, we buried them together. It had come out breech and Holly red bagged. Even if I had been there it was probably already dead. We had wanted to put her down in the fall, she was in foal so we waited. The foal was so beautiful. It was a very sad day.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Lost , Friend
An Award!
2008-04-08 15:49:00 I've just been given this awesome award from Midlife Mom at Home On The Range , Of which I thank her most graciously! And I've been asked to pass this award along to some people I think deserve it. So here we go. A lot of people I'd give this to have already been given this award, so I'm going to find some who haven't gotten it yet and they are: Mrs.Mom at Oh Horse Feathers and Tracey at Mustang Diaries and Arlene at Grey Horse Matters and the Girls over at Brown Eyed Cowgirls and Juli at Juli Thorson's Horse Talk . And I think I shall leave it at that and you all spread the award to some others of us who I missed and you think deserve the award. I can think of so many more!Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Award
Sweet Goodnight Kisses
2008-04-08 03:19:00 I just went out to bring the dogs out for a last of the evening potty and brought the girls a carrot each. While the dogs were doing their night night business, I fed the carrots. Poor girls, I'll spend some time brushing them tomorrow as it has finally warmed up enough to start shedding that winter coat and I need to spend some touch time with them. After they ate their carrots, I asked for kisses and bless their non-judgemental hearts, I received duelling licks over my hands and the sweetest nose kisses you can imagine before I said goodnight to them. In spit of the fact that they are bored and tired of the paddock and desperate for new grass and dieting, they still show their love. I must spend the morning brushing, I know they'll appreciate it. There will be the usual nudges between them when one thinks their not getting the attention they deserve and the other has gotten too much, but it will be fun and relaxing for all of us.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/inde... More About: Sweet , Kisses
Things Are Finally Drying Up!
2008-04-07 18:47:00 It actually was in the 60's over the weekend, of course I had to work and today it's a bit cooler and supposed to be drizzly all week, but I am so glad that it's finally drying up around here as I have to keep the girls locked up because we will spread new seed in the pasture this week. Note the heavy chain on the gate. Kola's bottom is precisely why I have that chain there. She often leans her backside up against the panels. There may another post on the trials and tribulations of putting together the seed spreader we bought this Spring. There just might be another boxing match. Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Finally , Things
In The Yellow Corner Spring And ?
2008-04-05 22:48:00 In The Yellow Corner 4 year old Walmart Tractor which was working when put away in October In the Blue Corner ( Blue Because of The many expletives ) Little Old MeSpring has Sprung here in Wisconsin at last temperature to a whopping 58 degreesOK nice day , good day to sort out few things in the garage1st on the agenda ( Bring the tractor Out and move things around )Ding Ding Round 1Bloody Flat Tire ( Guess what valve on inside ) So need to take wheel off to blow Bl??y Tire UpNow where did I leave the jack ( F??? Knows ) 1 hour later find Jack and take wheel offNow Where did I leave the Pliers to take pin out ( F??? Knows ) 10 minutes later successPump up Tire all okWheel back on TractorNow Where did I leave the Pliers to put pin back ( F??? Knows ) 20 minutes later and air going very blue all round me successEnd Of Round One ( Tractor Wins )Ding Ding Round 2Turn Key to start Tractor ( Nothing flat as a pancake )Now Where Did I leave the Pliers to disconnect battery ( You Guessed It ...
Scenes From Today
2008-04-02 22:44:00 My girls, greeting me as I returned home. Some wild turkeys. A neighbor's horses lounging in the sun. A neighbor's llamas, one looking rather annoyed. And some "wild" roosters in the ditch of a country road. This is why I love the country!Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Today , Scenes
This Morning
2008-04-02 21:10:00 When I left this morning to run some errands, I had decided to give the girls a break and let them out to "less" muddy conditions for a leg stretch. At first they decided to race me to the end of the driveway as the pasture runs along side the driveway and I rolled down the window screaming "Whoa!" at the top of my lungs as it is still slick out there and of course they payed me no mind, so I backed up to make sure that they had settled down a bit and no one had torqued anything and they stopped to see me leave. Silly girls! I love the way they perk their ears when I talk to them and when THEY are done, just walk away. Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Morning
Saddle Pad or Saddle Blanket?
2008-04-01 17:30:00 Depending on your style of riding and the type of saddle you use, what do you put underneath that saddle? I use something pretty close to this. Jess and Gerald turned me on to it. It's a nice shock absorbing wool pro-pad that conforms to the horse and leaves a space for withers. I also notice that it tends to keep the saddle from sliding. You can easily throw a wool blanket over it to "pretty" it up a bit, but it works well enough on it's own. I really need a second one. I also have another thick wool pad that's a bit more decorative and a few blankets. It's clear by the looks of this pad that I use a western saddle. Mine are lightweight saddles, part leather and cordura. Misty loves her saddle, an old Saddle King of Texas, black with a purple southwestern motif and quite comfortable for both of us, although not very attractive. I also use a wool backed cinch for the saddles. Once tried to put a really nice leather saddle of Gerald's on her with a neoprene cinch, just to try i... More About: Blanket
Sad News For The Transylvanian Horseman
2008-03-31 15:57:00 I know some of you follow Julian's blog documenting his life with Danielle as the Transylvanian Horseman . I've been reading his blog lately and it sounds as if he's been forced out due to a multitude of issues he has documented in his latest post, The end...... . He's headed back to England. It sounds as if he's taking his dogs, cats and two of his horses. The rest of the horses have been given away. I personally found the post both sad and frightening. If you haven't read this latest post, I strongly urge you to and maybe, like me, consider myself lucky to be in the position I'm in, happy to follow my dream and able to keep my girls right outside my door and not have the hassle of other elements forcing me to end my dream. I wish Julian and Danielle the best. I hope their travel out of that country is a safe one for them and their animals and I hope that he will continue to document their new life back in England. Godspeed and good luck to Julian and Danielle!Please visit h... More About: News
And Now Begins The Rain
2008-03-31 15:41:00 This picture was of last Wednesday, when Zoe's cousins and Auntie Kathy came up from Chicago for the day to visit. We sliced up a pear to give the horses, spoiled horses. It was a great visit. The kids took turns on the ATV. Needless to say there was a lot of mud and now that it stormed this morning even more mud just as it was beginning to dry. Please, please let it be sunny and dry out. We brought Zoe to the airport yesterday to fly back to school and today, I'm back to blogging as I worked Friday and Saturday night as usual. Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Rain
Pregnant Draft Horse Rescued from Ice-Covered Pond in Johnson Creek
2008-03-27 15:56:00 This was big news around these parts on Tuesday. I know people will say, "How could this horse get out of her pen?". Well, it happens. Some horses are phenomenal escape artists. I had Misty escape once, barreling up and down the road on front of our home, while people stopped and were waving their arms frantically at the scared mare. When Steve finally realized what was going on, only because someone finally knocked on the door, he went outdoors with a scoop of grain and was able to real her in. I was at work. I carry an extra lead rope in my cars because I've seen it happen before. An Andalusian farm down the road has had escapees before that we've stopped for."An 1,800-pound Percheron draft horse is rescued after falling through an ice-covered pond in Johnson Creek. Lloyd Schultz is the public information officer for the Johnson Creek Fire and EMS Department. He says the seven-year-old horse, known as Katie, fell through the ice (yesterday) after apparently wandering out of its ... More About: Pregnant , Draft , Pond , Covered
Support These Girls And Their Mustangs
2008-03-26 02:14:00 I do not often post but thought I would like to encourage all the visitors who come to Callies Blog to take some time and go and support these girls by making comments to cheer them on in their quest to take a Wild Mustang and in just 90 days turn it in to a well trained and gentle animal , not only that they are brave enough to go into a competition with not only fellow horse lovers but against large professional horse training facilities . The photograph at the top is what has inspired me to post this when you think just a short time ago those two horses were wild and free. ( sorry borrowed from you Jessie ) hope you do not mind.As many of you more than likely know Tracey Mustang Diaries who pops into this blog has long been involved with the Mustang Challenge down south and I added Jessie and Remmington a few weeks ago also while surfing around I found another local Girl Involved in the Mustang Challenge at The Midwest Horse Fair In just over three weeks time Jessi and NashI have... More About: Girls , Support , Mustangs
Sunset In The Summer
2008-03-25 01:25:00 Obviously I've been playing with my photoshop again, but I must say with even more snow on it's way this week, I am longing for warm spring days and long summer days, green grass and leaves on trees. The smell of our lilac bushes when they bloom and cleaner and drier horse paddocks. A fresh warm rain or storm followed by a rainbow. One thing I'm definitely waiting for that is coming soon and that is the Midwest Horse Fair held in Madison on the weekend of April 18th, 19th, & 20th. I've talked Stephen into coming with me. I always plan to go and end up not going because I don't want to go by myself. We'll be going on the 19th, which is Saturday. The finals of the Midwest Mustang Challenge will be that day and Stacey Westfall will be there. I can't wait to check out all the vendors and there's dozens of things to see, different trainers and exhibitors showing their disciplines. Can't wait! I plan on taking loads of pictures and posting all about it.Please visit http://m... More About: Summer , Sunset
Happy Easter!
2008-03-23 22:42:00 Happy Easter to all who celebrate. Kind of weird having it this early, but I worked last night and when I woke up this afternoon, Zoe and Steve had cleaned the kitchen and made a leg of lamb roast with all the fixin's. What a nice day, although we are now buried in snow from Friday night's winter storm! I had gotten up early and blanketed the horses early Friday morning as the storm had started. By Saturday morning, Misty had torn her blanket off, including undoing the side buckles and left it laying in the paddock. We had a a good foot of it and only one working four wheel drive vehicle. So I could not make it in to work Friday night as we needed the four wheel drive to get down to Chicago and pick up Zoe from the airport. That was one hairy trip and the snow wasn't nearly as bad in Illinois as it was here, but we had a semi nearly jack knife in front of us. Zoe's plane was delayed, so in the end we got home at about two in the morning. So today is a nice day and of course dau... More About: Happy
Playin' With New PhotoShop!
2008-03-21 00:27:00 This is Badger. He stayed with me for a couple of weeks. Steve just got me Photoshop Elements and I practiced on this photo of Badger. It's really cool. Much more enhanced and I've only just begun. It'll take me awhile to figure it all out as there is so much one can do. This boy was one big sweet boy.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources.
A Busy Morning!
2008-03-20 19:24:00 Well, Steve and I managed to get a lot accomplished today before we get 8 inches of snow tonight. Crap! More snow! Tried to burn the burn pile, but it's still too wet. I managed to get all the poop, hay and pee out of the lean-to. Four wheelbarrows full and spread on our neighbor's field. Did this early, so the morning sun dried out the mats nicely. Of course they had to come back in and periodically inspect the job I was doing. I felt quite clever as well, because I disconnected the bottom rung of wire, so I could easily bring the wheelbarrow in and out without going through the mud. Swept out my feed shed and cleared one half of the garage so that we could park the Jag indoors to dry it out (having a bit of electrical dashboard problems because of dampness). Filled all tires of all vehicles including ATV, excluding lawn tractor, but I muscled that one into the corner of the garage. Got all tools with handles put away IE: brooms, pitch forks, shovels, etc. Took the garbage down t... More About: Morning , Busy
All It Takes Is A Whistle
2008-03-20 00:07:00 See? I said all it takes is a whistle and they'll come cantering in! I took this video this evening and called them in for dinner. Guess who's more anxious to eat and thinks she starving. The exercise does them good. If the weather holds tomorrow, I'll turn them out again. I'm not worried about them taring up the pasture as I said before, I plan on re-seeding. The strange noise in the background is Stephen laughing at them as they come in. It really wasn't me mouth breathing again.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Whistle
Too Muddy, I Gave Up
2008-03-19 14:45:00 It was far too muddy in the paddock area. It had started to dry a bit but then it rained all night Monday and other than the lean-to, everywhere else is deep with mud, so feeling guilty, I opened the pasture to give them a dryer place to be out in. I tossed their morning hay out there and the first thing Misty did was to roll in the one muddy place out there. I've been a bad mommy, she ended up with rub marks on her shoulders from her blanket. New blanket for Misty this year. That one's going in the trash. They stood at the top and ate their hay and then went for a little trot and I didn't see them. I called and they came galloping in,well Misty gallops, Kola tries. Kola's gaited so shes more of a trotter. I yelled for them to take it easy. I'll keep a close eye on them as I don't want any injuries, but it's good for a leg stretch for them. It's dryer out there than it is in. There's really no fresh grass yet as it's still frozen under the mud. I think they appreciate it. ... More About: Muddy
More Of Our Creatures
2008-03-19 02:46:00 When Stephen told me that he wanted a Saltwater Fish Tank for Christmas this past holiday, I thought "crap". Does he have any idea how hard it is to establish a saltwater tank? So I cashed in on my Citibank rewards and went out and bought him a 55 gallon long tank and stand, salt for saltwater and shell sand and filters. I brought it home in November and started it without fish. This thing took weeks of tweaking, more salt, less water, less salt, added rocks and on and on and on. It wasn't until January that we wee finally able to start to add fish. We added three damsels and managed to kill off the black and white one within two days, but the two blues are still going strong. One thing we did manage to grow was a lot of algae. I mean a lot of algae. We slowly added more fish, another to damsels, then two clowns, three turbo snails and six little crabs, trying to beat the algae. Finally a lawnmower blenny, which I endearingly call Jack Blenny. Get it? And finally a bright yellow ta... More About: Creatures
They Were Silly Horses!
2008-03-17 23:41:00 A bit more of the snow has melted since this pic from last week and it has begun to dry a little. Still muddy, but I've seen it worse and the horses have been dieting now for just over a week, so just prior to dinner time, they were getting silly. Over the past several days, both of the girls have been looking out towards the now melted pasture and pining away. This evening I found Kola jumping, bucking and rearing all around the arena area. Good exercise for her as far as I'm concerned as she is the one who needs the weight loss regimen more. Surprised to see her able to kick up her heels, funny enough. And both rolling in the mud. They will be greatly disappointed this year as I plan to re-seed the pasture, so there will be a delay in letting them out for tastes of grass this year. I do start them out slowly as I do not want them to founder, especially with new grass. I admittedly made a mistake last year as towards the end of the year, when the pasture had already seen it's be... More About: Horses , Silly
Hummingbirds
2008-03-17 23:06:00 Here's a little bit of what Stephen is looking forward to. Last year, we would sit out in the dusk and there would be dozens of Hummingbirds buzzing around us, feeding at the flowers and the feeders. They were so comfortable with us that we would catch them taking a break every now and then.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources.
Since Hubby Hijacked!
2008-03-17 02:57:00 Thought I'd add my 10 things looking forward to spring! Although I must agree with Steve on all of his, I thought I would add some of mine as well! 1) New foals in people's pastures........ 2) Green, I mean green grass and mowing it. I love to mow the lawn, mostly because of what I have accomplished in curbside appeal........ 3) Opening all the windows in the house and letting the fresh air move in........... 4) The smell of our driveway when I roll in from work in the morning as the driveway is lined with plum trees and when they blossom, it smells so good............... 5) Being able to go outside in only boxer shorts, t-shirt and cowboy boots to do chores............ 6) Obviously working with the girls more and laying in pasture with them.......... 7) Sitting on swing on deck with Steve and watching sunrises and sunsets.......... 8) The outdoor grilling of lamb chops, kabobs, and fresh asparagus......... 9) The boat and pretending to fish with Steve. I prefer to just lay back a...
Ten Reasons I Am Looking Forward To Spring
2008-03-16 21:37:00 Steve Hijacked Callies Blog ( Men Rule Women Drool ) She is sleeping and I am in charge of all I survey1. Seeing Daffodils2. Getting rid of the great big heavy coats hanging on the door allowing me to hang more than one coat up 3. Sitting out on the deck at 5 in the morning in my PJ's watching the sun rise4. Taking the garbage out to the end of the drive towing behind the quad without getting stuck in the bloody snow5. Taking the dogs for a walk and not worried about stopping cos I'm knackered out and getting frost bite for stopping6. Planting out the flowers on the deck designed to bring my beloved humming birds ( had never seen one in the wild until I came to live here )7. Seeing my precious birds come back from their migration to sunnier climbs8. Watching flocks and flocks of geese fly over head ( hehehe they have started already so I know it's coming )9. Getting out on the water with my rod in my hand catching fish10. Sitting out on the deck watching the sun go down Now I don... More About: Spring , Reasons , Forward
Water Everywhere!
2008-03-14 19:52:00 I think I have it bad with all of the mud. This was some of the scenery on our way home from Janesville yesterday. And it's not even completely melted. There were rivers of water flowing past us on both sides of the road. Those horses in the background were trudging through at least a foot of water, poor things. And the water was moving so fast..........Amazing!Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.ht ml for more horse stories, information and resources. More About: Water
Fat Horse Mud Farm!
More articles from this author:2008-03-13 17:25:00 Welcome to the Fat Horse Mud Farm ......... I can now tell that Spring is in the air, since the blankets have come off and the discovery of overweight horses and a now strict diet which does not please these girls, the snow has begun to melt. And so starts the usual mud palace. Clearly by the pics of these two this morning, they like a roll in the mud! When I went out to feed this morning, the girls were either pissed that they can now feel the diet or just excited that it was finally warmer. Met with barking dogs, the girls were kickin' it up and running with mud sliding stops at the fence and little bucks. Now my best guess to this morning's chaos is a combination of warm air, less food, barking dogs and mud! And of course me screaming at dogs to quit barking and horses to quit running around. No breakfast until behavior settles down! We are not even close to completely melted and already the mud is unbelievable. This is the usual state of messiness until it finally melts and dri... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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