Fly-By Danny Boy

And Next Door in Kentucky.....

2012-01-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

Famous, winning race horse, Rachel Alexandra, has her first foal, a colt! Boy, does this ever bring back some wonderful memories from a year and a half ago. Congrats to Rachel Alexandra and her owners.

photo is from Rachel Alexandra's webpage and is being used
without permission but not for profit(I just wanted to share this joyous moment.)

They Might Be Giants

2012-01-23T07:07:00.000-08:00

Not the greatest photo but it does illustrate how much Danny has grown. He's just one month past his year and a half mark and he's already taller than his "big" brother, Django.

I measured his lower leg shortly after he was born and it measured 16 inches and 1/4. Even my vet told me that this is an accurate predictor of how tall the foal will eventually be. So, if that is true, Dan is going to be taller than both his mama, Mouse (not difficult since little Mouse is only 14.1) and his sire who is 15.1 because that measurement would indicate that he'll end up at 16.1. I wonder if Riley is beginning to realize this because he not only doesn't pick on Dan as much now but he's also starting to "buddy" up with him.

How I Spent My Sunday

2012-01-22T17:15:00.000-08:00

It was just last Tuesday, that I spent over an hour picking cockleburs (I've been told that the plant these evil things grow on is called a Burdock.) out of Django's thick mane. When I returned on Wednesday morning, he looked like this (the Before photo.) It's been a busy, hectic week followed by a very rainy and cold Saturday so I didn't have a chance to work on him until today. Several of my friends made suggestions of ways to make this easier from baby oil (which I ended up using) to WD40 (which I was afraid to use because of Django's previous reactions to some oils and sulpher.) I had a full container of Cowboy Magic but Django doesn't like being sprayed so I decided to make this as easy as possible and go the baby oil route. I don't think that either I nor the people who suggested baby oil realized just how many burrs were in Django's mane. What you see above is just the surface. Those things went down several layers of hair and were in a literal ball in two different spots with mane tangled and knotted around them. It was a mess and the baby oil didn't soak in as promised but just sheeted off of the mass of burrs.

But I am getting ahead of myself because it took thirty minutes just to clear his forelock and bridle path so that I could halter him in order to apply the baby oil and to get him to stand in one spot long enough for me to actually finish this overwhelming task of burr removal with as little loss of mane as possible. I started at the base of his neck and worked my way slowly up the crest one section at a time and then I would lay the clean section to the other side of his neck to keep it from becoming entangled again. I would guess that there were easily over a thousand burrs matted in his mane and on his body, especially his belly and legs. It was over three hours before I finally finished and the sweet fellow who started out with a lowered head and very cooperative was tired, bored, and constantly pulling at his lead rope, laying his head on my shoulder to glare at me, tossing his mane and spraying me with baby oil and making a mess of what I'd already done. Then he started raising his head to the heavens so that I had to reach over my head to pull out the last remaining burrs around his ears. I finally let him go with the promise of an apple for being such a good boy and then I went off to cut down the rest of those d$@*! cockleburs while hoping that I don't have to repeat this anytime soon.....Well, at least not until tomorrow when I start to work on his tail....sigh....

Then there are the other four horses. None of them have as many cockleburs as Django but they still have them and a heavy coating of mud as well. I think I know what I'll be doing for the rest of the week. I forgot to tell you what this has to do with Danny since it is on his blog. While I was trying to clean up Django, Danny was offering his own form of commentary. He would sniff the baby oil and make a face, he would bite and shove at Django until I ran him off which only worked for a few minutes at a time because he'd wander back and if he wasn't bothering Django, he was bothering me by pulling at my jacket or stealing my supplies. He broke one brush, tried to eat another, and stole a third that I found later while clipping the cockleburs. He wanted to be the one getting all of that attention. I hope he feels that way tomorrow when I start to work on his tangled mane and tail.

Say Hello, Say Goodbye

2012-01-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

Something happened today which was both so sweet and so sad at the same time. We had to move the horses around so that the boys would have a shelter from the frigid weather that we are supposed to get starting tomorrow morning (expected high of 32!) I thought it would be more difficult than it was since the boys had to pass by the mares on their way to their new pasture. But not only were they concentrating more on the food I'd already put out for them, I'd also decided to put Mouse in the shed and let Brandy go out into the open pasture (don't worry she's thirty-one; she's not going anywhere faster than we can catch her.) while the boys came galloping down the hill side and threatened to run right through the fence. I was surprised that the boys appeared to be so excited by the move since they came from a large and green pasture to a virtual dry lot of only three acres but Danny and Django were especially joyous. They were galloping and leaping about exploring every inch of their new space. I was cleaning out the small building where they'll be staying out of the winter weather while they ran circles around the building and then raced to the far end of the small pasture easily jumping over the gully created by the run off from the last big rain. Occasionally I'd step out and watch them; it always made me smile to see them having so much fun. I was a bit frightened however when I saw Mouse come out of the shed and trot over to the fence as soon as she saw how close she was to Danny. She leaned across the fence until she could touch Danny's nose with her own. All that separated them were two wires of an electric fence that wasn't hot and I was extremely nervous because Danny is still a young stallion.I could just see him busting through the fence to get to his mom or would he think of her only as a mare? Mouse gently nuzzled him just for a moment and then pulled back and walked a few steps away. It was almost as if she was asking him if he wanted to nurse because the trick of lining up with the fence so that he could reach through was what prompted us to separate them by an entire pasture instead of just a fence when we were weaning Dan. Danny watched her intently and then followed as soon as she turned her head to look back at him. He reached across the fence himself and nuzzled her face and then, he just turned and walked away, going back to his play with his brother, Django. Mouse stood there for a long while after he left her. She was so still and she never took her eyes off of her baby who is now as tall as she is...or maybe even a bit taller. It was such a touching moment and I'm so glad that I saw it. But it was also a sad moment because I think even Mouse realized that her relationship with her baby would never be the same. The ties between Mother and child had been tenderly severed.

2011-12-08T07:24:00.001-08:00

A friend, Tony Woody, found this on youtube.com and posted it to my Facebook page. I'm so grateful to him because I'd forgotten this video and I'd forgotten how small Danny once was. This video was shot in August of 2010.

Sad News

2011-11-29T16:12:00.000-08:00

My dear friend, Huston Jenkins, had a stroke the day after Thanksgiving. Huston has meant so much to me over the last seven years since that day I first met him when he sold me a wonderful, gray horse named Mouse. He bred,raised, and trained three of my five horses. In fact, he arranged the breeding of Mouse which produced Danny in 2010.

Huston and Danny meet for the first time. July 2010.

He was planning on starting Danny. We were supposed to take Danny to him in September for him to begin ground work and Danny was going to spend the Winter with him. We'd even talked about Huston showing Danny in the Spring before we brought him home. Things kept happening to delay our trip and Huston has had other health issues this Fall. My hope is now that Huston will soon show improvement from the effects of the stroke and that by next Spring, we will be able to take Danny out to Missouri for a visit. I know that Huston would enjoy that and I'm hoping that it is a dream that we can fulfill soon.

Until then, I'm going to start working with him with the guidance of my good friend and an extraordinary trainer, Brandy McDonnell of Blue Point Stables in Kingston, Tennessee. Brandy is going to teach me how to work on the ground with driving lines just like Huston would have done if he had gotten the opportunity to start Danny for us. I hope that, by Spring, Huston will be ready for visitors and that Danny's and my own progress will make him proud. We will see, this is a huge step for me but I trust Brandy and she says that I can do it. With her help, I have greater faith in my own abilities and I promise to chronicle our progress here. So keep an eye on us and please say a prayer for Huston. I miss my friend and I want him back. The blessings I've gotten from his friendship are immeasurable and I'm not ready to give him up or give up on him.

18 Months Old today!

2011-11-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

My baby boy is growing up!

Good Mornin' Sunshine!

Django

2011-10-31T06:50:00.000-07:00

I have to say something about my Django boy. Not only is he beautiful and sweet, he is evidently a very bright boy, too.....and I've found my new mounting block! I was standing on the wheel well of the trailer while I watched Danny inside when I heard a noise behind me. I turn around and there is Django, perfectly lined up and looking as if he's waiting for a ride. I ask him if that's his intention and he actually turns his head and points at his back several times and then stands there watching me to see if I get on. I didn't have the nerve to try riding without even a halter or I might have just tried him but I'm no Stacy Westfall....not by a long shot. I also haven't been on my horses in over a year because of my own fears. I'm more than a little ashamed to admit that but I've made up every excuse in the book and it still all boils down to fear. And it does seem that Django is tired of this nonsense. He's done everything he can possibly do to let me know that he wants me to ride him short of putting the saddle on himself and since he continually tries to put his head in the halters and bridles, I'm thinking he'd do that too if he could. He was bought as my horse, my riding partner and since he is obviously such a willing partner, it's time I got over myself and got back on my horse. I want them to trust me; I think it's time I trust them especially my Django. It's taken me a while to admit that a lot of my fear of riding has to do with the horse I love so much and the fact that she is an unpredictable mare. Mouse is the best horse you'd want to ride, she's extraordinarily responsive with gaits as smooth as glass. She and I have a shorthand when we're riding....as long as she's not in heat. When Mouse comes in season, she is moody, stubborn and unpredictable. It's not that I can't identify with this because it does remind me a lot of my own behavior at certain times in years past but since I've been on the receiving end of her swinging moods, I've developed anxiety that is difficult to overcome. I thought I had beat it several years ago but the longer I stayed off of my horses, the harder and harder it became to get back on. What I need to realize though is that Django and Riley are not Mouse. Not only are they geldings but neither has ever given me a reason to think that they might misbehave, quite the opposite in fact. So, it might not be today but I promise that within the week, I will be on my horse again and then I don't plan to get back off......well, I will get off but the next day, I will be back in the saddle again.

WhooHoo TWO!

2011-10-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I fed Danny in the round pen and........drum roll PLEASE!......in the trailer!!! He went in pretty as you please. After seeing that he could take his time and no one else was trying to steal his food, he decided to explore a bit and walked over the bowl that I'd placed about five feet in, and looked around the front of the trailer. Then he got a bit nervous because he couldn't figure out how he was going to turn around. Still, he didn't panic and he finally just turned around and walked back to his food. It actually was more difficult to make him leave once he'd finished eating and had, literally, licked the bowl clean than it had been to get him in there. He didn't even flinch when I tapped the side of the trailer to make noise or his two big brothers came up and peered at him from outside. I was very proud of him and I'll start leading him in on halter tomorrow. We might just step in and step back out so that I can teach him to back up because the time may come when he isn't in a trailer that allows him to turn around. As soon as we get him really comfortable with loading, we'll start going on short rides (with Mama Sande riding in the back compartment to keep him company and make certain he's Ok.) I'm beginning to wonder if Danny's reluctance and initial fear of the trailer was actually a reflection of my own. In one way, I'm very happy to have him spending the winter with Huston who I know will give him the best of care and the best of training and experience. On the other hand, it is literally wrenching my heart out to even think about leaving him in Missouri at the end of this month. Huston has already given me strict orders that I can not visit for at least a month. This may kill me.

Progress for Everyone

2011-10-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

It's been several days since I worked with the horses at all because of both the rain and trying to finally get my studio/work space whipped back into shape so I can actually/hopefully make some money before the holiday shopping season is history. I also cleaned all of my tack yesterday in anticipation of riding again soon. I haven't even fed the horses for three days because Steve has been home and eager to find something he can do with his injured ribs so he volunteered to take care of both morning and evening feeding since Thursday night. I expected them to be happier to see me but they barely acknowledged that I'd arrived and seemed more intent on seeing if Steve had brought any food with him. I guess, as long as they were getting what they wanted as in food, they probably didn't even notice I was absent. My hurt feelings didn't last for long. I walked them all into the round pen...they will at least still follow where I lead even at liberty. Then I decided to work with Danny first. Of course, eager Django was trying his best to get in on the act which probably wasn't helping Danny to listen and obey but Dan was definitely not on his best behavior. I started getting frustrated because he was not only not listening to me but was fighting me every step of the way. Steve told me to cool down and remember patience. So, I got him to stand still for a few minutes...which is all he wanted to do any way....and leave the grass alone and then I let him go with plans to come back to him later after I finished with the two big guys.

I expected Riley to be more difficult because of the amount of time since our last session. At first it seemed he was going to be and then suddenly (this always surprises me) he gave in, he stood still and didn't move a muscle as I slipped the halter on his head. Then I walked him over to the the lead rope, fastened it and led him out of the round pen leaving the other two boys there watching....trust me, it's good for both of them. I took him to the tying post, tied him and then started grooming him. His tail is a proper mess and I should have attacked it but I thought that we'd already had a major victory so I wouldn't push my luck today by trying too much. I wanted to keep this grooming session as pleasant an experience as possible. He may be difficult to catch but once he's haltered, Riley is a perfect gentleman. I groomed him and then worked on those bot flies that have been driving me crazy for so long. He's long over due for worming, too but I don't think a few more days wait will hurt. He was so patient and so still while I worked on scraping off fly eggs and scrubbing at the caked mud with the curry. I then used a couple of polishing brushes on him and let him go with a kiss and a lot of praise.

Next, I let Django out. I don't need the round pen to catch him and he was already halfway to the tying post before I closed the gate behind him anyway. I put the halter on him, tied him up and then went through the same grooming regime with him. I didn't tackle his tangled tail either but that day is coming soon.

Finally, I picked up my grooming bag and went back to the round pen and Danny. Considering his earlier behavior, I was really expecting a battle but instead of fighting me, he walked over to me and dropped his head so that I could halter him. Then I backed him up, side stepped to both sides, did a turn on the hind quarters and then led him around the pen like he'd been doing it his entire life. Instead of tying him, Steve volunteered to hold him while I groomed. I don't even know if that was necessary as he relaxed so that he cocked that rear hoof into sleep position and was quietly chewing as I brushed him and cut off bott fly eggs. He was perfect. After I finished grooming, I walked him around one more time but he was starting to lose patience with me by then. I have to keep reminding myself that this big boy is still a baby in a lot of ways and he doesn't have the attention span that the other horses do. I need to keep our sessions short but do them more often from now on....just like Huston told me to do.

Working with Riley

2011-10-26T03:53:00.000-07:00

Major breakthrough with my horse Riley on Tuesday. Riley, Sensational n' Honey(Danny's half brother and uncle....same sire, Traveler's Sensation, and Riley's mother is also Mouse's mother), was hurt (nearly tore off one ear and had awful sores on his face) when an apprentice, at the barn where I was keeping him, left a halter on him and then turned him out. That was in April of 2009; since then, he's been very head shy and almost impossible to catch and halter. I haven't ridden him in over two years despite the fact that he is the gentlest, sweetest and most level headed horse you've ever seen. Farrier and vet visits are always a trial and I have to start several hours before in order to get him haltered and ready. I'd just accepted that he was always going to be this way and I had to work around it. That was until the last farrier visit when Riley missed a much needed trim because I couldn't catch him at all. Part of that was because of Danny and the fact that I have to keep the young stud separated from the two mares. In the past, I'd used the round pen as a way to corral Riley and eventually wear him down and catch him but after moving the geldings and Danny to another pasture, I no longer had that option. So, this past weekend, we moved the round pen from the lower pasture to the upper one where the boys are. I am enjoying that round pen so much. I can work with Danny there without having the others...mainly the very jealous Django...bother us. It's large enough to ride in so that I can ride alone now and don't have to wait for the rare occasions when Steve is actually home to ride with me. The biggest joy from the newly re-acquired work and play area came yesterday though. I've been feeding the boys in the pen just to get them use to coming into it every day and not thinking it is something to be dreaded or feared....where I might actually put them to work,lol. I wanted to try my rope training halter on Danny to see how it fit so I took it with me yesterday morning and tried it first on Danny and then Django insisted that he try it on also....yes, Django loves being worked with so much that he actually sticks his head into any available halter whether you want him to or not ;-). Then I thought, "Let's see what Riley thinks of this lighter halter." Great idea but it took some doin'! For over an hour and a half I patiently worked with Riley. At first, I couldn't even get close to him but I refused to chase him because I know it does no good since I will wear out before he does. So, I gently talked to him and kept edging slowly closer until he finally let me touch him without moving away. I'd pet him for a while and then move nearer to his head. Time after time, he would eventually move away but each time, I kept getting closer until he finally would smell the halter and let me touch it to his face. During most of this time, the other two boys were still in the pen and still getting in the way and Django was still saying, "Let me put the halter on. I'll put it on. I just want to please you. Come on, let me play!" No, I'm not hearing voices again but even though it might be personification intensified, I do think that's how Django thinks. I know that he can't bear for me to give any of the other horses my attention but him. So, I finally decided to put him and Danny out so that I could work with Riley without interruption or intrusion. When I returned to the round pen, I was able to walk right up to Riley and he didn't pull away but rather dropped his head into the halter!! The poor guy was so scared that he was trembling as I pulled the halter around his head but I just stroked his face and quietly reassured him. And then, as soon as he relaxed, I removed the halter. That might sound like a lot of work for that little triumph but trust me, this was a major breakthrough and worth the time and effort involved.

I plan to repeat the exercise every day and I hope we can accomplish our task much faster each time. In fact, yesterday, it only took 15 minutes before he stood still and let me slip the halter over his head. After he was haltered, I worked with him for at least fifteen minutes more, having him back and turn and walk with me. I always try to end any session with my horses, whether we're doing ground work or in the saddle, on a positive note. So, I'm not going to rush Riley but rather remove the halter each day as soon as he relaxes. When he is completely comfortable being haltered again, I'll begin to groom him on lead while tied and then we'll do a bit of ground work before we move on to riding. Riley learned to trust me a bit more this week but he isn't the only one who had a lesson. For me to be that patient, taking my time and learning to be still and quiet is just as tremendous a stride and I'm hoping we both continue to learn and grow together over the next few weeks. I'm sure that with the confidence and trust we both gain over time , we'll be back on the trails before you know it!

Mama's Now the Trouble Maker....or Maybe, Always Was!

2011-10-24T07:21:00.001-07:00

The Death of Me part 2: Or maybe of Mouse because I'm seriously thinking of skinning her and stuffing her like Trigger. I haven't decided if I'll kill her first but then, she could very well end up killing herself! For two mornings in a row, Mouse has been out in the newly sewn, unfenced pasture when we've gone out. Yesterday, I walked the fence and could find NO place where she came through. Like the fence on the "boy's" pasture before, this one has been without electricity for a while. I'd planned to run the weed-eater around the fence yesterday so that we could put a battery on it again but moving the round pen from the lower to the upper pasture ended up being a full afternoon and when we finished, it was time to feed both the horses and ourselves again as the sun was setting. I was so worried about her that I couldn't sleep. Not only is there the danger of being hit by a vehicle if she wanders too close to the rode or being shot by a hunter like my friend, Houston's horse but also there is a very real and more probable danger of her over eating on the new grass and over dosing on the high sugar that's especially prevalent in autumn. That could cause laminitis, colic and death. Five years ago, she spent several weeks at the U.T. Vet School Hospital for that very reason on another escapade from my number one Houdini. I don't want her sick (even though I'm mad enough to kill her at the moment) and I don't have the ten grand plus that it could cost to get her well just lying around the house at the moment....or anywhere near my bank account for that matter. So, I went out in my pj's this morning and drove across the field at 3:30AM to find Mouse sleeping peacefully. Steve left at 5:00 and I put on a movie to watch until daylight (sorry, I had someone break in the house while I was here early one morning and even though that was twenty years ago, I still have a fear of being alone in the mornings...I know, crazy!) The movie was good and held my attention and my eyes open until close to 7:00 when I must have dozed off. The next thing I know, it's nearly 9:00AM and I come leaping out of the bed and practically jump into my boots as I head out the door to check on Mouse who was......grazing in the front, unfenced field again....of course! Knowing that she would get the reward of food, she came galloping up to the road and headed for the gate when she saw me driving up the road. I guess I know what I'll be doing today and if she still manages to escape with the electricity back on, I've got a trick for her, no food on her return tomorrow morning. I'm beginning to think she might be doing all of this just for the treat at the end!!!!

2011-10-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

Danny and his brother Django. As you can see in these photos, his head isn't huge. The last shots I posted were taken with my phone's camera and it makes every thing look odd. You can also tell from these shots how big Dan is getting although I couldn't get him to raise his head up for a full body shot.

We've had a week of mishaps but fortunately, this time, none of them included Danny. We're moving the round pen to the upper pasture this weekend and I plan to start working with Danny on lead several times a day before I introduce him to the trailer again.

Our trip to Missouri has been postponed again because both Huston and we have conflicting schedules during November. But putting it off until the very end of November not only allows me to avoid an appointment with the dentist (:)) but also gives me more time to get Danny use to the trailer, loading and riding, before we make the long trip out to Missouri. I'll keep track of our training here and I also promise more photos before he leaves.

The Death of Me

2011-10-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Here's an irony for you, I'm on the phone with Huston and I'm telling him about Danny's latest escapades and escapes. He said, "Well now, you shouldn't have to worry with the gate chained the electric fence on." I told him that the battery for the fence hadn't been charged for several weeks. He said that Danny has gotten nipped by it so often that he should respect it off or on. I told him that I thought he was right because Dan only pushes up against it when I'm there and I'm sure he was aware that I turned the fence off while I was feeding them so I wouldn't be shocked. The few times that he has gotten into it were right after I'd hooked it back up. I said that I hoped he never figured out how tall and long legged he's getting because I was sure there were spots that he could just step across if he wanted to.

Just then my phone buzzes alerting me that I've got another call. I didn't recognize the number so I ignored it and we kept talking for about fifteen or twenty minutes. I checked the phone and saw a new voice mail. It was a neighbor telling me that when she was passing my house, she saw one of my horses out and walking down the drive toward the house....and the main road!! I nearly had a heart attack....literally! My heart was pounding so hard by the time I pulled on my boots and ran out the door with the feed bucket that it felt like it would burst through my shirt any second. There he was, half way across the pasture. He was occasionally stopping to graze a bit by the side of the road but he mainly seemed intent on reaching the house. I drove over slowly so that I wouldn't spook him but it probably wouldn't have mattered because as soon as he spotted my truck he threw his tail and head up and came prancing down the road toward me. He greets me at my door after I stopped. I had Huston back on the phone telling him what had happened. He asks if I think I can catch him and I said it's not going to be a problem. I say, "Come on, Danny." and the naughty little stinker follows right at my elbow all the way up the drive to the gate.

I made the mistake then of putting him into the middle pasture which is next to Mouse. The two of them galloped up and down the fence and I was afraid that he'd soon figure out that fence had no electricity either and go right through it. I move the boys all to the top field and then, while I wait on Steve (who thankfully had just gotten home) to hook up a new battery, I walked the fence until I found where he'd pushed the fence down and stepped over. Finally, two hours after all of this began, everyone is in their proper places and the fence is fixed and on. Now I need to go dry off and put on some clean, dry clothes. Oh, I did mention that it's been pouring rain the entire time, didn't I?

Demon child!...

2011-10-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe it isn't that extreme but Danny has been trying my patience lately. It isn't just the scary things he does by just being a little boy and usually being far too curious with his adventures. No, now he's taking along his brothers as his culprits in crime.

Twice in the last two weeks, the geldings and Dan have been out of their pasture and exploring the greener grass on the other side of the fence when I've gone over to feed them in the mornings. Thankfully, the big gate blocks the drive to the road when it's pushed open so I don't have to worry about them getting into traffic so much. I'm not saying that they couldn't do it but it would take more effort than they are generally willing to put out without encouragement.

Steve has, for weeks, been promising to replace the rope which held the gate with chain (started to say unbreakable chain but I wouldn't put anything past Dan at this point) but you know how that goes. He is always so busy but he did at least buy the chain which is a good thing because we've moved beyond just breaking or untying the rope, which is what I thought they did the second time. I tied a square knot and thought that I'd cut the rope if I needed to get them out of the pasture (I never use the gate and simply climb under the fence to enter and exit the pasture). Now, it looks as if someone chewed the rope in two. I'll give you three guesses as to whom I suspect but I'm betting you only use one. Steve called me this morning to say that they were out again. He immediately started to work on the chains and fasteners for the gates while I gathered the sweet feed. All I had to do was whistle and unlike Slim in To Have and Have Not, I do know how because the horses have given me lots of practice.

So I put my lips together and blow and who do your think was leading the herd as they came galloping off of the hillside? None other than the same one who most likely chewed the rope in two that led to their escape and also probably led them out of the open gate. Yeah, it was Danny Manny and he was just acting as if this was the usual morning routine, the arrogant little booger. Of course, he looked so pretty running down that hillside with his head and ears held high that I instantly forgave him. He's getting so big, too. He seems to be as tall as the other two now but his legs are longer and his body still much slimmer. I'd better get control of this young one now before he figures out that he's bigger than me!

Come on!

2011-10-06T10:56:00.001-07:00

Danny seems determined to give me a heart attack. He's nearly scared me to death twice in under 24 hours! Last night, in his impatience to be fed, he uses his usual ploy of getting attention by propping his foot on the metal fence or gate. But this time, he puts his foot on the open V between the insulator and the post on the electric fence and his hoof falls down between them! I was feeding Mouse and Brandy and I look up the hill to see the other two boys scattering while Danny appears to be having some type of fit, kicking and rearing and often having all four feet off of the ground! I run up the hill as fast as my fat, out of shape body can carry me and I see what is wrong just as he calms down and manages to lift the foot out of the "trap." I checked him out and his leg was unharmed but the fence was a mess and I'm not so sure about my heart!

This morning I'm once again down the hill feeding the girls when I look up and see only the two geldings standing at the gate waiting for their food. I walk up the hill and then start to run when I see Danny laying virtually under their feet and still as can be. I'm yelling his name and he twitches an ear and his tail so I know he's not knocked out by a kick or rear from one of the bigger boys. I grab their hay and throw it across the fence which immediately gets Riley and Django's full attention but Danny just lies there, virtually motionless. I climb through the fence and I kneel beside him. I lift his head and his eye flutters open and he moans a bit. Then he closes his eyes and again and sounds like he's growling. I'm terrified by then and I start picking up his head and rubbing his legs and I'm getting little response other than an occasional eye flutter and moan. I'm ready to call the vet and Steve when I think to go get the feed bucket. I step through the fence and grab the food bucket and shake it. Danny popped up like a Jack-in-the-box!!

When I last saw him, he was munching on his hay with his partners in crime.

I'm very grateful that he's Ok but at the moment, I could ring his little neck......;-)

17 Months

2011-10-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Time to get my camera out again as Danny hit 17 months yesterday. I also need to start taking lots of photos again so that I'll have something to look at (and cry) while Danny is in Missouri with Huston this Winter. Fifteen hours away, I don't know if I can take it even though I know he'll be in the best of hands.

He's growing up, already as tall as his brother Django who's 14.2 and showing signs (long legs) of being at least a hand taller if not a little more. He's sweet as can be but I'll admit since I'm the one who's done it, a tiny bit spoiled....rotten. Still, he isn't a bad boy and not at all aggressive but I do know that keeping this blog isn't the only thing I've been remiss about.

Huston has asked me not to attempt to do any training with him but there are a few essentials that I feel we do need to work on before he makes his trek West. The first thing is lead training. Although Dan was trained to a halter from the day he was born and we did do a bit of lead training when he was young and following his mom, he still needs lots of work on a lead line. I've really come to realize that over the last two days when I attempted to lead him and was met with either him jerking his head or standing stock still. I've been doing some research and reading today and I've got a plan of action. I also know what I've been doing wrong. For one, I've been choking up on the lead line out of my own nervousness which really doesn't establish me as a leader. Also, I get him to walk forward by pulling on him until he moves and then releasing pressure. I've learned that is the wrong way to do it because it doesn't establish me as boss and puts me in the wrong position. I also allow him to crowd me out of his own nervousness and I need to work to keep a proper distance between us. The forecast is for beautiful weather for the next week. We will be trying to put hay up but I'm sure that I can save 10 or 15 minutes out of my day to work with Dan on leading.

The second thing that I need to work with Dan on before our trip to Missouri is actually essential to the trip......trailer loading and transport. Steve hasn't had the time for several months to help me get the trailer out and set up so that I can start loading and unloading Dan and we can start taking him on short trips in preparation for that one very long one. It isn't completely to blame on Steve's busy schedule however; I know that I've been dragging my feet, too, because I'm so afraid that he'll panic and hurt himself. I should have listened to Huston and left him locked in a stall when he was younger. I'm such a pushover when he's scared or upset. I don't know if I'm really cut out for horse training.

16.5 Months

2011-09-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, I've neglected this blog. It was totally unintentional. Danny has continued to grow and learn and certainly amuse. I'll be sure to update with a more comprehensive story soon but for now, a few photos taken this afternoon that might just illustrate how much he's changed in four months and 21 days:)

Fly-by Danny Boy a Year Ago

2011-05-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

Traveler's Sensational Flyby or as we will always call him, Danny, was born May 1, 2010. A year and a month have passed and today, he's taller than his mother. This video was filmed and the still shots taken on the day he arrived. He's just a few hours old here and I don't think Mousie can believe that he's truly hers. She looks at him with so much adoration and love that it still breaks my heart a little to watch this but it also makes that same heart sore with joy. It attests to how much I love these two horses that I'm willing to allow the world to hear my silly giggles but they were sincere and heartfelt giggles brought on by our fascination with this beautiful gift that Mouse had just given us. I said on that day, "Five years ago, when I first met her, I gave her my heart and today, she's returned the favor."

What a Difference a Year Makes!

2011-05-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Twelve, short months...

We woke to a gray and drizzle day, nothing like that morning exactly 12 months ago when Danny entered this new world to golden morning sunlight and his mother's gentle nuzzle. I trudged across the field with my camera hoping to get some gorgeous birthday shots but neither the weather nor Danny were really in the mood for that. Danny was still sleepy and unsure of what all of the fuss was about. I'm certain that he'll perk up later today when Dad-Steve returns home with some birthday treats for him but until then, this is the best I have to offer on this momentous day, a sweet, sleepy, mud covered boy who needs a good brushing but is still shaping up nicely for a one year old.

Sally's Poppy Seed Dressing Cole Slaw

2011-04-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

Danny continues to grow and it continues to rain so there still are no current photos or video to post. I do promise that by or before his birthday on May 1st, I will scrub and brush off the mud, trim the winter coat that still holds on tight in odd spots and pretty up this already pretty boy....at least he is always pretty to me even with a thick coat of mud and muck.

Since, there isn't any Danny news or photos, I thought I'd use the opportunity and space to post a recipe that's been requested many times over the years. Maybe I shouldn't give my secret away but since I got it from someone else, I figure that sharing again is the least I can do with this delicious, easy recipe that always receives rave reviews from hay crews, family and friends.

This recipe comes from Sally sister and business partner of Nancy Gould who owned the Gallery Americana in Huston (sadly, no longer exists). Their gallery was in an old house that had been a restaurant in a previous incarnation. All of the ladies who worked there, most family, cooked and each day, they had wonderful, delicious lunches. Occasionally, a confused businessman would wander in off of the street asking where the restaurant had gone. They never turned them away but invited them in for a lunch that was probably more memorable than what they'd gotten at the actual restaurant. I've often wondered if the business men weren't like the little boys who use to feed their lunches to my dad's dog (a well known thief of bagged lunches and women's lingerie) so that he would buy their lunch. I'm sure that word got around in the Huston business district that there were some generous ladies who were not only good cooks but very gracious and easy on the eyes southern belles who would take in stray business men and give them a free and delicious lunch, lol.

Put in Blender:

1/3 cup vinegar (although the original recipe does not specify, I only use Nakano Roasted Garlic Seasoned Rice Vinegar)

1 tsp. mustard (Steve loves mustard so we have many varieties on hand. I've used them all and can never really tell much difference.)

1/3 onion

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 cup salad oil

Blend until smooth then add a rounded teaspoon of poppy seeds and pulse until well mixed.

The recipe calls for one package of prepackaged cole slaw but that is way too wet for me and I usually use two packs of slaw.

Also, this recipe seems to turn out well even when I guess at amounts.....I never measure the mustard or salt and the onion sizes are widely varied. But I have found that even though people seemed to love it before, they love it even more since I started using the Nakano Vinegar....know that we love it more anyway:)

Visitors

2011-04-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we had a very busy but very enjoyable weekend. First my little nephew, Randy, finally got to come by and see my horses. We'd been to an Introduction to Horses at Brandy McDonnell's farm, Blue Point and Randy, who is horse crazy, had a fantastic time. His mom had driven so when she was dropping me off at my house, I asked if they wanted to go see the horses. This was Danny's first experience with a "little" human and I wish I'd had my camera with me because the curiosity was so evident.

He was still curious the next day when our friends Rhonda and Alex DelCarmen brought their youngest daughter, Adison, by to see the horses. I'd planned to just have Django haltered and standing there for her to pet and brush and get acquainted with since Django is the friendliest of my big horses. He loves people and adores attention but then so unfortunately, does Danny. I finally had to halter Danny just so I could lead him away. At first, I would just say food and he would run like a puppy to his bowl and lift it up to me so I could fill it. But eventually, when he started jealously biting the attention getting Django on the rump, I decided that maybe I'd better get him under control.

He is a smart little guy but I'm not certain that he understood everything I said to him when he started getting rambunctious and impatient after I'd haltered him. I whispered in his ear, "I don't care if we do have company DO NOT think that I won't put a knot on your little head if you don't start behaving!" True, that is a lot for any baby to understand much less a little horse baby for whom "human" is a second language. No, I doubt that he understood what I was saying but how I said it must have gotten the message across because Danny was a polite young man for the rest of the visit.

Adison and Django getting acquainted

A Busy Day

2011-04-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

On the morning of the eighth, we had visits from both our farrier and vet scheduled. The day started very early for us. If you are expecting a story totally about Danny, you aren't getting it. Danny was actually better behaved than his older counterparts. He did protest a little bit when our farrier, Dale Collis, trimmed his front hooves but he was a perfect gentleman for the back hooves and acted like an old pro with the vet, not even flinching when she gave him his shots. The other horses made up for his complacency....big time.

If you've been following any of my blogs for long, you know that the only difficult thing about our big red boy, Riley is that he can be a bit head shy and hard to catch and halter. Expecting the farrier to arrive not long after 8 AM that morning, I herded all of the horses into the round pen and put their halters on the very first thing. I envisioned a smooth transition from horse to horse with Steve and I taking time about bringing one of them up to the tying post.

When Dale arrived, I already had Django ready. I started with Django since he's usually the most difficult where the farrier is concerned. He was actually, almost a gentlemen with just a wee bit of protest but nothing as drastic or dramatic as the time he threw Dale about ten feet and then dragged me down the hillside. No, this time there was just a little eye rolling and snorting but he soon realized that the large, solid post was a lot more difficult to intimidate than me.

As we'd planned, while I helped with Django, Steve brought Brandy up, who is always easy all around. I brought up Mouse after her and she was having a "lady's day" so the diva exploded a bit but we got her under control quickly and then she just stood there and looked offended.

Steve asked which one I wanted next. I told him to just get Danny because Riley was difficult to catch. He of course took this as a challenge and said that he would get Riley. I reached in my pocket and handed him the "Indian" halter that Huston made for me and that I try to always carry with me. It is basically just a length of soft rope with a loop on one end. It is usually easy to slip it around even the most skittish horses neck and capture them before they realize it. Steve said that he didn't need it but I made him take it anyway. Dale and I were concentrating on the oddly, disagreeable Mouse and paying no attention to Steve. Just as we finished up with Mouse, he comes walking up with not Riley but Danny....no explanation, no excuses, just Danny.

So, it was now my turn to go and get a horse and only one was left. I walked off forgetting to get the rope halter from Steve so I was left to my own wiles to capture him. He was wise to me and avoided me at first and no matter how I tried to corner him, he quickly slipped away. So, I decided to follow some of Huston's advice, I stood still and waited. At first he was concentrating on the feed I'd put in his bucket in an effort to distract him hoping that I could grab his halter but that plan had proven fruitless. As he ate, I stood silently behind him and he kept looking back at me with more than a little concern but then, the oddest thing happened, he turned and walked toward me, stopped right in front of me and dropped his head for me to hook the rope on the halter. Then, we calmly walked up the hill. Steve didn't seem to notice that I'd managed to capture Riley and he certainly never asked how but I did make sure he knew the entire story before the day was done. ;-)

Who's the Teacher?

2011-02-21T13:34:00.000-08:00

The final laugh was on me. Last Saturday, I was bragging to everyone who'd listen about how well nine month old Danny is doing with his lead line training. Between the weather (which is now beautiful but for weeks seemed to be freezing and wet) and the nearly two weeks that the flu had me laid low, I haven't been working with him like I should have. I've been worried that I'd fall too far behind with his training to catch up but Huston kept reassuring me that I had plenty of time. This weekend, I had to play doctor for a sore he'd gotten on his nose from an imbedded hay splinter that had become infected. In between the steps of betadine, water and antibiotic, I would attach the rope to his halter and work on leading. I was so pleased with how well he was doing because as I said, I haven't been working with him that much. I was happy with him and happy with myself for learning how to stay calm and keep my energy low, so we both did well. After the antibiotic, I decided to try something before I removed his halter. I removed the lead line and gave him voice commands: come on (Huston told me to cluck instead so that is what we're doing now), whoa, back, side (which is how I tell him to turn but I have to come up with something new since we only turn one way at the moment, lol). Without a lead rope and with those simple word commands, he performed perfectly and he backed at least six feet straight back before I asked him to whoa which he did immediately. I was so darn proud that I was calling Huston and Steve and like I said before, anyone who'd listen, lol, to tell them how perfect and smart my baby is. I don't know about the others but of course Huston and Steve agreed with me.

Well, fast forward to yesterday; the wind and Danny joined forces to give me a lesson in humility. It was so windy that I could barely see between the hay, dust and hair that were blowing across my face. Just taking care of his nose was almost more than I could handle. Danny was jumpy, dancing and throwing his head around fighting the rope and halter. When I started leading him, he repeatedly balked and he was easily distracted. He didn't appear to be paying the least attention to me and he'd suddenly walk away as if neither I nor the rope were there. I kept correcting him but he'd just try something new and I could already tell that this was a futile task. I was embarrassed that Steve was present to watch all of this especially after all of the lauding I'd been doing the day before. Steve was of course supervising, playing armchair quarterback or maybe cowboy and so I asked, if he wanted to give it a try. I knew of course that Danny would be even worse for him. I'm beginning to think Dan's going to be a one person horse because he won't do anything for Steve. Which is why I let him try getting Danny to pay attention and behave, I didn't want to be alone in my misery and humiliation, hehehe. I did make certain that I ended on a good note by making Danny back then stand still for a few minutes and lower his head for me to remove the halter (true that isn't so important now but if he keeps growing it one day will be.)Today, it's windy again and I'm not even going to try working with him until it is calmer. I was the only one who learned anything on Sunday and my biggest lesson learned was....I now know not to boast too quickly because children will always make a liar out of you if given half a chance. ;-)

the sore in Danny's nose

It's much better now but at first I was certain that it was a Sebaceous Cyst or Atheroma. My vet is right, I do google way too much. Doctor Hamilton told me that it was most likely a thorn or hay splinter. The moisture is from the antibiotic ointment which remains on the spot about two seconds. Most of this application was already on my sweater when I took this photo. It appeared on Friday which was when this shot was taken. It is healing nicely today, Monday. I've been cleaning and applying ointment to the now open wound twice daily. Danny is being very cooperative although I have to use a bit of persuasion to apply the ointment which in my mind would be the least painful step. I'm thinking it must be the way it smells to his horsey nostrils which are far more sensitive than mine.

Personalities Plus

2011-02-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a lot lately about horse personalities. It seems there are four different, distinct types and I appear to have one of each.

Mouse is a dominant. She's confident, strong willed and independent. She's very intelligent and learns quickly. She loves to be challenged and she loves to compete. I know from experience that I have to keep control over Mouse and make certain that all of my decisions are precise and clearcut because I'm certain that if I ever give her a choice, she will know that she knows better than I do....and honestly, she probably does. But, by making certain that Mouse always knows I'm in charge, we've formed a wonderful partnership and my "push button" horse is sheer pleasure to ride. She is always attentive.

Riley is a faithful horse, sweet and gentle, but he is a bit standoffish and avoids attention. He became head shy after someone left his halter on when he was turned out and he became caught on something. This incident not only frightened him but also left him with terrible sores on his face and an ear that was sliced from on side to the other. It took weeks to heal his wounds but even longer to heal the psychological damage. I started gaining his trust again by just feeding him a little sweet feed while scratching his withers until he stood still for me and didn't move away. Then I moved to his neck and head area until I was able to wrap my arms around his neck. Eventually, he began to move his head toward me instead of away and then hugged me with his neck. Haltering can still be a trial but is no longer extremely difficult if not impossible like it was right after the incident. Still, this is the one horse that I didn't need this happening to because he wasn't the horse who would seek out human's attention or companionship in the first place and he is a thinker so I doubt he will ever forget the injury completely. Riley is also the horse that you have to complete every task with; there are no partial victories with him. You must always be gentle and patient with him but you never quit until you win. He is an amazing trail horse and I think he would walk through fire as long as his rider is confident.

Django is my eternal baby. He is the life of the party, loves people, loves attention, seeks out the attention of humans, and makes friends easily. He loves to play, is always friendly and affectionate. He is a beauty and a charmer and everyone falls in love with him. He is the horse who will walk up and drop his head into the halter. He's ready to work and ride or as he calls it play. He makes up games like chase the other horses with the water hose but he is gentle with the other horses and always submissive. He is also energetic and a bit jumpy. He's a great ride with lots of go but you always have to be aware of your surroundings when you are riding him and ready to react to his spooks. The other horses react to a loud noise with cautious curiosity first but Django's first reaction is have no doubt, run away run!

Brandy is my sweet old girl. She came to live with me when she was twenty-five because her owner had too many horses and could no longer care for her. That will be six years ago in October. She has an easy going personality with both horses and humans. She's low energy, never flustered, and in the days when I rode her and allowed others to (she's retired now), she was bomb proof. She is the only horse I own that is not a Missouri Fox Trotter. She's a red roan Appaloosa. She's also very wise and intelligent in her old age and still has plenty of kick left in her when needed. When Riley and Django first arrived on the farm, she sized their personalities up quickly. She was immediately affectionate with Django and never saw him as a threat. Riley is more dominant and she realized that, too. She would chase him all over the pasture in reverse, backing up and threatening to kick him. That worked for quite a while until Mouse returned and took over the role of alpha mare in the herd and Riley realized that he was second in the pecking order. Now, poor Brandy is paying for her early bluffs but usually manages to avoid Riley and his aggressiveness quite well.

Danny is still a mystery. I see a little bit of all of the personalities above in him. He is loving and affectionate and also seems to be developing into a playful clown and trickster like his big brother, Django. He is sweet and low key like his unrelated by blood, Aunt Brandy. Truth be told, he has been in love with Brandy since he was a new born. He would follow her along the fence that divided them in those early days and try to give her gifts, which were objects he'd usually stolen from me...ala Django. I think he will be a leader like Riley and since it appears he will be much larger physically than Riley, I think Riley should rethink his current often aggressive behavior toward baby Dan. He has his mother's confidence and intelligence but also shows signs of having at least a touch of her occasional stubborness. I think he also takes very much after a horse that does not live on our farm, his sire, who is a very personable, easy going and intelligent horse.....and also quite beautiful. Huston tells me that even Danny doesn't know who he is yet and I will influence and shape him as much as the other horses will. Watching him grow, learn and develop into Travelers Sensational Flyby is proving to be both enjoyable and exciting. Can't wait to see who he becomes.

Eight Months Already!

2011-01-31T13:20:00.000-08:00

I'm going over to the pasture to work with Danny Boy a bit this afternoon. We are having such absolutely beautiful, totally untypical for January weather here in East Tennessee. It's been warm and gorgeous for two + days and that is supposed to last at least one more. Spotty showers but who cares; it's warm in January!! This is especially nice since our temps have been in the teens for several weeks. Suddenly, a light jacket and sweater feel like resort wear.

So it seems that my sweet Dan will have a lovely day to herald in his nineth month tomorrow. He will be exactly eight months old tomorrow morning and he looks like such a perfect little horse right now even if he is a bit shaggy and muddy. He just gets sweeter by the day much as he seems to grow each day. I'm planning on putting on his halter and doing a little ground work before I groom him and knock off a few layers of that grime.

He is still staying with the boys and I don't know if that's a good thing or not. They can be a bad influence at times. He was brave like his mama and not scared of anything before we started weaning him. Now, a month into his separation from Mouse, he's beginning to jump at his own shadow just like Django and becoming a bit more aggressive like Riley. Not that any of them are bad or spooky horses and their aggressiveness is just with each other and never with me. Oh well, maybe it won't be much longer before we can turn him back out with Mouse and he can begin to mimic my brave girl instead of my chicken boys. As far as herd aggressiveness goes though, Mouse will always be the alpha and leader of the pack.

2010-12-27T07:02:00.001-08:00

The music is, Late Winter, which was composed by my friend, Daryl Lunsford. Daryl is working on an album that will soon be available for purchase. I'll post as soon as the album is finished and published. Also, included are two songs from Chris Botti's Christmas album, Winter Wonderland and Let it Snow.

Danny's First Snow

2010-12-26T07:21:00.001-08:00

We had our first white Christmas in over a decade...maybe two. Snows are rare here in the Southeast and Christmas snow is even rarer. The past two years have yielded more than the average snow fall though and since this Christmas day surprise was so sparse, I'm dreaming of a few white days in January now.

This was Danny's first experience with snow. We did have a few flurries about week ago but this was the first time that the white stuff actually stuck. As with most things, Danny's demeanor remained very calm and laid back.

This photo was taken on Christmas morning. I'd expected the usual playing and behaving more like excited children than horses that I'd gotten from the two older boys last winter but everyone was concentrating on their food instead of the snow which had just started to fall when we arrived with their hay.

Maybe I should be feeding them more energizing sweet feed but they are quite round and well padded with just the high protein teff hay that we grow. It's very fragrant and sweet like alfalfa and the horse eat as if I'm serving them double fudge chocolate cake....or maybe like I would eat a double fudge chocolate cake if I could.

The day after Christmas, the ground was covered with snow. It wasn't very deep but it was still beautiful. I walked over with my camera and camcorder hoping to catch some action but once again, they were thinking more of the food than the snow. Danny did steal a glove from my pocket while I was film the other horses. Through the camera's viewfinder, I saw him slinging something about but I had no idea what he was playing with until I reached in my pocket and missed my glove. There is evidently some larceny in his breeding since his brother Django is just as much of a mischievous thief. Don't know what I'm going to do with these two.

Today is a landmark day and not just because of the snow. Today, Danny will begin his solitary confinement as we wean him from Mouse. I know, we are late doing this. It's ridiculous to see him nursing poor Mouse when he's only an inch or two short of being as tall as she is. He'll be eight months old on New Years day. I wish we'd already weaned him on Thanksgiving as we'd planned to do. If we'd done that, he'd already be out playing with the boys again and I wouldn't be looking at spending my days confined in a stall with big Dan for the next few weeks...what? you didn't expect me to leave him in there all alone, did you?

Finally, some very sad news. Grey's Stud Mouse, Mouse's sire, passed away three weeks ago. He'd developed lameness in both front hooves. The vet could not diagnose the problem but after trying to treat the condition unsuccessfully, the difficult decision was made to put the wonderful 21 year old stallion down. He will be very much missed especially by Donna and Dale.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

From all of us to all of you, wishing you the merriest of Christmases and the most blessed year in 2011.

Wow! Seven Months have Come and Gone

2010-12-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

And now it is almost seven and a half months since we welcomed Danny into our lives. It's so hard to believe. The time has passed so quickly and that tiny little foal has turned into a beautiful young horse. I know that I'm very biased but he is so gorgeous and so sweet. The weather has been unusually cold for East Tennessee over the past few weeks so I haven't been working with him as much as I should have been. Yesterday, it was a wonderfully warm forty degrees....comparatively.....and I decided to take an hour midday and play with Danny for a while. He ran across the pasture, walked up to me and went into his halter relatively easily but then he threw a little protest. It wasn't until I got him calmed down and tied to the big post that I realized that, in the two weeks since he last wore it, the weanling halter has gotten very small....must have shrunk. It was extremely short and tight. I loosened it as much as possible and Danny was a lot happier. He stood there patiently while I groomed him and then Steve came up to help. Danny didn't fuss at all and no pawing. When I removed the halter he actually stood there for a few moments before calmly turning and WALKING away instead of bolting like he usually does. Jealous Django was waiting in the wings. When Danny walked off, Django quickly stepped into his place so that he could receive the attention that he knows he deserves.

And a Hardcover Edition

2010-12-11T05:33:00.000-08:00

This is not the same book although the subject is the same. Revised and re-written with a few different photos and a deluxe hard cover!

Preview:

New Calendars and Book

2010-11-30T05:28:00.000-08:00

Don't forget the new calendars and books which are available. You can preview both in the post below and purchase them by clicking on the preview...you'll be taken to the site where they are available. Or just click here for the calendar or here for the book. This book is quite small but charming and beautifully done but I do have a longer version started that I hope to publish on Danny's 1st birthday that will chronicle the entire year.

Training in Earnest

2010-11-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

It takes the same amount of imagination to scare yourself to death as it does to inspire yourself to life.

I've decided that it is time for me to get serious about Danny's training. We put a halter on him when he was just a few days old but I've not worked with him as diligently as I should have been with leading and basic ground work. I kept thinking, I have time and I'll just wait until he's a few months older or until he's ready to wean. Well, he'll be seven months old in less than a week...next Wednesday to be exact. This is both the time to wean him and time to become far more diligent with his training.
So far, he's been great about turning and backing. He's pretty good at whoa although I don't think he quite understands the command yet. He's best at the backing and when in doubt, he'll back every time no matter what you've actually asked him to do. Moving forward has been a bit of a problem but then, in Danny's defense, I really haven't worked with him enough for him to understand what I want.
I came up with the idea yesterday of having Steve lead Mouse around while I led Danny. I don't think Steve understood quite what I had in mind because he started leading Mouse down the hillside before Danny and I were ready to follow. I always try to start and end with what Danny already knows so that we are both beginning and ending on a good note. I will turn him to the left and then to the right. Then we will back up for several feet before, "Whoa!" and then, "Let's go. Forward." Despite the fact that his example,Mouse, was too far away by now to help much, Danny started moving forward better than he ever had before. He didn't even crowd me much and when he did get a little close, I would simply push his head away and tell him to, "Back off." We were doing great until Django decided to help. Evidently, he thought that my constantly urging Danny forward meant that the foal wasn't doing what I wanted and he began biting Danny on the rump. I brought Danny to a halt and this time, I told Django to back off. It didn't help much. He did stop biting but then, he started pushing Danny with his chest!
I've made another decision. Today's lesson, Django will be the one leading by example on the end of a lead rope. This will not only keep Django out of our way and prevent Danny from being pushed on top of me but I also think that Danny spends more time with Django now than he does his mama. So, Django may be the mentor who teaches Danny how to lead, load and ride in a trailer and other lessons over the next few months. Well, every lesson but the farrier because Django would not be the best example in that situation.

New Calendar, Too!

2010-11-22T21:04:00.001-08:00

New Book!!

2010-11-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

Danny at 6 and half months looking as if he's serving as a wind block for his little mama.

New book chronicling Danny's first six months in words and photos available on lulu.com:

Epiphany....for me

2010-11-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

This past week's experiences with Danny have not only been eye opening for him but for me as well. I have to admit that it didn't take the vet telling me that I was babying him too much or Huston's scolding me for me to know that this was true but still I was reluctant to correct him as hard as I knew I needed to. Then last week, both Huston and E.TN horse trainer, Erin Stevens, told me the same thing, if Danny isn't stopping his mouthy behavior when you correct him, you aren't hitting him hard enough. In my mind and my experience with the older horses , I did realize that: one, you can't truly harm a horse unless you hit them with a lead pipe...and then that would take some effort and two, you have to exert as much force as necessary to get the results you want and you keep increasing the pressure until that is achieved (that one comes from Brandy McDonnell,"As much pressure as needed to achieve the results you want and assertive not aggressive unless aggressive is absolutely necessary.) Just plain ol' horse sense and something I already knew but something that was still difficult to do with this horse that I still see as that new born baby. Finally however the light went off for both Danny and me....although it took two flickers for both of us, lol. First, I finally got tired of Danny's constant pestering....that was part of the problem with his latest "trick", he wasn't harming us, he wasn't biting us, but he was constantly grabbing at our clothes or anything we were holding.....and I really let him have it. I didn't just slap his nose away like I'd been doing with little success since it wasn't slowing much less stopping the behavior. This time, I pulled back and I slugged him. Oddly, this upset Django worse than Danny. Django screamed, reared and ran away but Danny just glared at me and then slowly turned and sulked away making me think so much of a teenager. The long term effect was however much larger. Steve took care of the horses for me the next day while I finished up some work here so there was quite a bit of time that past before I saw Danny again. I was truly surprised by his behavior. He attempted to grab my jacket hem only once. I pulled back my hand and he turned away. He came running up to me but he simply walked beside me as I searched for groundhog holes in the field (we're having a problem with them and with small sink holes in the pasture.) He was gentle and not aggressive or mouthy at all...with me, the other horses were another matter but that's their problem, lol.

My second lesson came on Tuesday when the Vet was due to come to give Danny his first shots and an exam. The first time I put on his halter and led him to the gate, he was very well behaved but the vet called to say that she was going to be late so I set him free. When she called again to say that she was about 10 minutes away, I went out in the pasture to get Danny and I led him back to the gate. We had a few stubborn stops but all in all, he led quite well for it to be such a long distance from one side of the pasture to the other. Then I stopped him about ten or so feet from the gate to wait for Dr. Hamilton. He quickly grew tired of just standing. He started to paw and I jerked down on the halter rope and told him to, "Cut it out!" That seemed to make him angrier each time I did it. The last time, Danny suddenly went wide eyed....I know he's young but I swear this is the same trick that Mouse has used to get her way. As the vet later said, this little guy is scared of nothing and also, there was nothing frightening or surprising in the direction he was staring........that stopped and for about 10 seconds, he stood there calmly but in hindsight, I should have been more on guard, I should have read the obvious tell. I guess I just didn't think that this six month old would actually be thinking about how he was going to get away from me. Suddenly, he wheeled around toward me and reared up catching me under the nose and knocking me backwards. I saw stars but I still managed to hold on to that rope as he jumped backwards. Then as he tried different turns and rears and attempting to gallop away, I held him and turned him sideways trying to get him under control. If it had been one of the older horses, I probably couldn't have held them but I did know that it was essential that I not let him get away from me. Once I'd tied him to the large post at the gate, he tried pulling back once and realized that he wasn't going to move that post. After that, he was perfectly behaved and calm even when the vet gave him his first shots and drew blood for his coggins. But the eye opening experience for me came yesterday. Once again, there was a day in between when I didn't see Danny because I was out shopping and running errands and I called and asked Steve to please feed for me. So, yesterday I went into the pasture for the first time since Tuesday afternoon with no idea how Danny would behave after our little "altercation" and the shots he'd received from the vet. At first, he didn't seem to want anything to do with me. Not only did he not come running to greet me like he usually does, he actually seemed to be avoiding me. But when I walked up to him he reached his head toward me and to my surprise, he did not grab my jacket, he gently nuzzled me. There was none of the pushy and aggressive behavior that we've had from him over the last month or so. There was no angry glaring just a sweet, gentle expression in his eyes. So, the good news is, the light went off for me then. I'd realized during our little battle on the day of the vet's visit that I had to control him now because if I don't, when he is 16.1 and 1000 or more pounds, I won't have a chance. But I also realized yesterday that, just like the big guys, my taking control did not alienate him, it actually made him respect me more and show more affection than he had before. It still seems odd to me that such a simple act could have such an amazingly radical result but it did, he is a different horse. I know now that I have to start thinking more like a horse when I deal with him since in the horse community, the lines are more visible and simple between the dominant horse and the others. As my husband....and numerous other people...is constantly telling me, I tend to over think everything and that can be dangerous with a horse. Of course, I am aware that this won't be our last battle and I'm also aware that I have to be prepared because I HAVE to win every one of them and no matter what, I have to be ready to act instantly and as aggressive as necessary but never emotionally. But I also have to admit that I'm feeling much surer of my ability to handle what ever situation might occur. I think I'm on my way to finally becoming a horse woman....and just in the nick of time, lol

He still has a crush on Brandy:)

Bringing Up Baby

2010-11-03T03:53:00.000-07:00

Danny had one of those landmark moments in his young life yesterday afternoon, his first visit from the veterinarian and his first shots. You know what they say, all's well that ends well. This did end up being a good experience with our vet, Dr Melissa Hamilton, saying that he was a perfect gentleman but the time leading up to her visit did not go as smoothly and he certainly was not a gentleman during the last five minutes before the vet arrived.

It did start well. Dr Hamilton was due to arrive at 4:00 PM. I went to the pasture at 3:00 to fill water troughs and feed hay. After those chores were completed, I called Huston and gleaned his vast horse knowledge for about 30 minutes while I waited until the last minute to put on Danny's halter and walk him down to the gate to meet the vet. Danny did well with that trip. It was the first time I'd actually led him any distance outside of the round pen where a few feet of pull free travel is considered a great victory and I was pleased with how easily Danny came with me and how he backed up quickly on voice command. The one problem was that he was still crowding me and when Nancy called to tell me that Dr. Hamilton was going to be delayed, I let Danny go back to the herd and used the time to place another call to Huston to ask his advice on this problem. He told me how to handle the problem and make Danny respect my space.

After I said goodbye to Huston, I walked to the top of the hill where I could keep an eye on Danny who was still wearing his halter. I don't like to leave the halter on any of my horses when they are at liberty. My husband always says that horses and dogs are both like little boys, if there is trouble to be gotten into, they will find it. I found Danny playing with the geldings. At least that was his plan until they each grew tired of his pestering and ran him away. He then chased poor, old Brandy in tight circles, nibbling at her neck until she finally squealed and cow kicked him away. He returned to Riley for a while but after a few minutes of irritating him, Danny turned and came galloping up the hillside to me. Thankfully, the slow command, signaled by raising my arm and flattened palm toward him, is one that he has learned well because he slowed to a gentle trot as soon as I raised my hand and then walked slowly up to stop a respectful distance from me. He was very good, no nibbling or nipping, so evidently the pop I gave him on Saturday had some effect. He stood with me for a while but soon grew bored with me as well and ran off to be with the other horses again.
Although his attention span is getting longer all of the time, I was soon to learn that his patience level and tolerance to being restrained are still in need of improvement. Melissa called to say that she'd be at my place in ten minutes. Plenty of time I thought to walk Danny down to the gate and honestly, the walk down was a breeze. It was only after we reached the gate and were standing there for what seemed like only ten seconds that Danny started to paw the ground. I jerked on the halter rope and told him to, "Cut that out!" Correction usually doesn't have the desired results the first time with Danny. Second attempts are usually more successful but the first time with any correction usually results in anger from Danny not compliance. The second correction usually gets better results but this time however the jerk on the halter rope after his second paw only appeared to make him angrier. He glared at me and then he gave me what should have been a warning, he suddenly looked up as if he saw something that startled him and stared off across the pasture in the direction of the woods with wide eyes. I looked and didn't see a thing and I really think there was nothing to see; I've seen this trick before from his mom. Danny is already showing that he's a thinker like Mom. Like her, he never appears to be scared or startled by much but he does seem to use the appearance of being spooked when it suits his needs. The tell is that when the spook doesn't give the desired result, usually his freedom from your restraint, he gets angry instead of scared. So, with this obvious tell, I should have been on guard more. If I had been prepared for what came next, my nose would not be swollen and still occasionally leaking blood this morning. But I was standing there relaxed and not as alert as I should have been when from being dead still and calm, Danny suddenly blew up. He turned toward me suddenly and then went straight up in the air, catching me under the nose and sending me backwards. I literally saw stars but I managed to hold on to him. Thankfully this episode didn't last long because as soon as he saw that this method wasn't going to give him the escape he wanted, I could see his brain working to devise another plan. So one after another, he tried different techniques to free himself from me and the rope but I cow girled up and held on as he and I went in circles with him rearing and twisting while I dug in my heals and gripped that rope for dear life. I managed to get him over the heavy gate post just as Dr. Hamilton came driving up the road. It was a pleasant cool day but I was sweating and disheveled by the time I wrapped the rope around the post and pulled tight. Still, he acted like he'd never seen a truck before when Melissa pulled up. He tried to rear up again and then twisted sideways almost pushing me into the electric fence that I'd stupidly failed to disconnect. Dr. Hamilton apologized for spooking him and I told her that he wasn't scared; I don't think he's scared of anything. Good grief, he practically climbs into my truck when I pull it into the field. In fact, I think the only thing keeping him out is my closing the door because he does reach into any open truck window he finds and sniffs around and explores. So, it was experience as well as the glare in his eyes and the flattened ears that told me that this was anger not fear that he was displaying. Thankfully though that was his last fuss. Evidently he realized that although he might be stronger than me, he was no match for that big post. Melissa brought her twitch with her because she said that she'd just finished with a young filly that had to be twitched during her exam and shots. It turned out though that the twitch was not needed. Danny stood there like this was all something he'd experienced a hundred times. He didn't even flinch with most of the shots or drawing blood for his coggins test. He did give a little jump when the needle in his rump evidently hit a nerve but it was very little reaction. He stood while Melissa examined him and lifted his feet. He did roll his eyes at me when she examined his emerging testicles but she told him he better get use to that if he wants to keep them, lol. She commented on what a muscular, well built boy he is, saying that he is extremely well formed and large for his age. She also commented on how calm and well behaved he is. That please me but I couldn't help thinking, would she still think that if she'd been there to see Danny's angry outburst before her arrival instead of only observing my own anger that it caused. Oh well, like I said in the beginning, all's well that ends well and now that is one "first" experience that is behind us.

6 Months Old!!

2010-10-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? I'm not sure that I can. I've been looking through all of the photos I've taken of him over these many (or few months) and it is amazing to see how much he's grown. He's always been uniquely Danny though even from the very beginning of his young life. I'm pretty certain that he was born with that personality and what a personality he has! Here are a few shots that I took of him yesterday morning, two days short of his 6 month "b'day." It was difficult to get a good shot of him for two reasons, he was always in motion and there wasn't enough light to stop said movement in a photo and most of his time was spent bothering me, pulling on me, my tripod, or my camera strap or sticking his nose in front of the lens just as I pushed the shutter button. Steve was nice enough to come over and try to occupy him while I took photos of Mouse (I'll include a few of those shots,too) but he got a phone call and well...you can see what happened. Big brothers finally solved the problem when they started playing and it got a bit rough for Danny. He decided that the safest spot was by Mama's side.

Hopefully we'll be taking Mouse to Val's sometime this week so that we can wean Danny. Steve has been working on the fencing and enclosing a stall so that we will be ready to contain Danny so that he doesn't try to follow Mom to Sweetwater.

Despite the Danny these photos seem to show, Danny is really a sweet boy. He just "occasionally" gets one of those wild hairs.

Separation Anxiety

2010-10-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Steve and I were in the mountains on September 26th when I got a phone call from my friend since childhood, Candis Snow-Nicely. She had been trying to get by my place to see Danny since he was born on May 1st and she told me that she was sitting in my drive at that moment. When she found out that I was over an hour away from home, she asked if it was Ok for her to drive across and see the baby on her own. I said, of course and she kept talking to me as she drove. Suddenly, in a panicked voice, she said, "Sande, something's wrong! The baby's not here. There are only four horses in the field!" I didn't get upset because I knew that Danny would not wander far from his mama and also because I knew that if there were four horses in the field then he was there since Brandy was in another pasture by herself recovering from an injury. I told her this and then she exclaimed, "Holy cow! That's not a baby; he's a fully grown horse!"

At that time, Danny was five days short of being five months old. The photo above was taken eleven days later on October 6th. You can see how large he is compared to his "big" brother, Django. I think his legs look considerably longer than Django's already. Now, he is eleven days away from his 6 month mark. It is time for weaning and I'm worried that we are going to have some problems from our extra stout baby.

On Monday, I was hauling water to the barn...no, we don't have a well where they are kept yet and I don't want them drinking the city water with all of its chemicals. So, I haul the water from our home's well in a large tank, thirty-five gallons at a time. Yesterday, we finally replaced that hose that the horses had damaged several weeks ago. With the new hose, I can park my truck at the top of the hill and not have to pull into the pasture in order to fill the troughs but on Monday, I was still going through the gates and half way down the hill to reach the shorter hose we were having to use. When I arrived with the first tank of water, the boys were all on top of the hill in the upper pasture and Mouse was in the small run-in that we call the House of Mouse at the bottom of the hill napping. I closed off the gate to the upper pasture and the gate to the round pen which envelopes the small run-in and pulled my truck into the middle pasture. After I'd started the water flowing into the troughs, I took my grooming tools into the round pen and spent some quality girl time with Mousie. I left to get another tank of water and I was delayed because I was looking for the detangler so that I could braid Mouse's mane. I automatically looked to the upper pasture as I was driving back up the hillside and I was the one panicking this time because I only saw two horses! I knew that if Danny wasn't with Mouse, he was always with the big boys and never on his own. I was terrified that something had happened to him in the short time I'd been gone. And then I spotted him. He was standing outside of the round pen and nursing Mouse through the metal panels! I still have no idea how he got through two fences without harming himself but the ease with which he escaped when he wanted his mama, really scared me. What are we going to do when Mouse goes to stay at Val's so that we can wean him? I of course called Huston immediately. I knew he'd know what to do and he told me that the first thing we need to do is put Danny in a stall when Mouse leaves so that he can't see her go or see which direction we turn when we leave. He told me that, if Danny watches her leave, he will most certainly try to follow her and he will get through the fence. He said that even making certain that the electricity on the fence is operating at full force will not deter Danny if he is determined to get out and find his mom and he will simply jump or attempt to jump any number of fences if he has to. He also told me that Danny needs to be confined for at least two days.

We plan to take Mouse to Val's in the next week or so and she will be staying there at least a month. So, I guess you all know how I will be spending all of my time during November....either in Sweetwater with Mouse or in the stall and round pen with Danny until he calms down and accepts that mama and his ready supply of milk are gone.

Win a Print!

2010-10-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

Follow the Fly~By Danny Boy blog and/or Danny's Face Book Page for a chance to win a print of your choice. Those who follow both will have two chances to win the print of your choice of my photographs or collage images which can be any size up to 16x12(if I don't feel that a print is appropriate or large enough to print well to that size, I will give you other options such as two 8x10s instead or another choice.) It will be printed with archival inks on fine, professional photography paper and it is guaranteed not to fade for 200 years (although I've never quite figured out how they can prove that, it is still an excellent, high quality print.) On Wednesday, December 15th, I will put all of the names into a hat and draw out the winner. I'll post the winner's name on both Face Book, the blog and in an email notice for those who are on my email list so that you can contact me and tell me which photo or image you want and shipping information. If someone signs up to follow this blog or the Face Book Page on your recommendation and tells me that(make certain they let me know that you recommended the site), you will get another chance to win. In fact, you will get a chance to win for each person you get to sign on. I'm going to be running a similar contest for my professional sites in the near future where you will have the chance to win not only a print but a photography session and maybe one for the folk art site where you can win a specific carving. I'll announce it soon so be on the look out for that. I just wanted to do this wee promotion of Danny in honor of him finally having an official name, Traveler's Sensational Flyby!

Good luck!

~Sande

Name Decided

2010-10-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

After many months spent worrying over both his name and wondering what his final color would be, both are decided and Danny's registration papers were mailed yesterday. The color was actually the hardest; Danny has been through so many changes and sometimes, I swear, he's been almost spotted...or maybe I should say splotchy since there was never a touch of white on him. Now his face and especially his nose are covered with gray hairs that are starting to spread to the rest of his body. The nice lady that I spoke with at the MFTBA told me that I should register him Black turning Gray. She assured me that this choice was on the breeding certificate but I couldn't find it. What I did find was Black Roan. I had no idea what that was and thought perhaps that was his color but roaning, from any color, never occurs on the face just the body. I never thought he was Black anyway. Huston has always said that Danny is a Liver Chestnut but there is no selection for Chestnut turning Gray either. So, in the end, I just put Gray and in the notes for markings area, I put, "None but born without any markings and now Liver Chestnut turning Gray." Huston told me that he wished he'd registered Mouse as a Silver Dapple instead of a Gray but it is almost impossible to truly determine eventual color at this young age. I did "google" chestnut turning gray and discovered that the lovely rose gray called steel gray is the color he will most likely be by the time he's a yearling. I'm sure that he'll be beautiful whatever his color. I'd planned on showing him at model class but my friend, Fran Forrester, told me that I'd have to keep him out of the sun and free of scars and marks for that. I don't want to restrict his youthful exuberance and also, he's been skinning his knees...shoulders, nose, etc...since he was two weeks old, typical little boy.

Although the color was difficult to determine, choosing a name wasn't much easier. Huston loves the name Flyby which is the name of a horse in a favorite book of his. Flyby was the easiest choice because I searched the MFTBA registry records and there are no Flybys and only three Fly Bys. Danny or Danny Boy was impossible since there was a famous WGC champion in the 70's that was short lived unfortunately but evidently very prolific. His foals were sought after and established a long line of Danny name variations. My next choice was Sandman or Sandeman (indulge me;). Again, there was a stallion named Sandman and many foals named after him. So, I called Huston and I said, "What about just Traveler's Flyby?" He said that he liked that. I said, "Well, why not his sire's second name also, Traveler's Sensational Flyby?" He got very excited and said that is the one! He felt it had impact and he feels people will remember it when Danny is one day WGC. Of course, I'm joking but I'm not so certain that Huston is. He is so happy that we are now planning on leaving Danny a stallion for now. He kept telling me before, when I was determined to geld, that a gelding had never won the world championship. Now, I think, whether he will actually admit it or not, that he truly feels that Danny might have a chance at the championship. He said to me when he met Danny, "This may be the horse that changes the entire breed." I need to get busy and make enough money to pay for all that training, haha. Who actually knows what the future holds for my sweet little guy? I still am not even sure what color he will be and even though a registered name is finally decided, Traveler's Sensational Flyby, he will always be Danny Boy to me.

2010-10-12T02:24:00.000-07:00

I know I'm more than a little bit biased but Danny gets more beautiful each day. He's growing so fast and he's becoming more graceful, losing the baby's clumsiness. Last night, he came to greet me and made a running stop on the other side of the fence from me. His head and ears were held high, his tail raised and flaring out behind him and I my heart leaped into my throat as I caught a glimpse of how magnificent he is going to look as a stallion. And then he took off at amazing speed as he circled around the copse of trees where the old cabin once stood and met his brother, Django, at the gate that opens into the upper pasture. He is mine but I can't deny that he is heartbreakingly lovely.

His fate, as far as gelding goes, is still up in the air. I was all for gelding him because I know that the life of a stallion is usually one of isolation and confinement. But both Steve and Huston still think he will make a great stallion. Steve is convinced that he can build the fences needed to keep him in and Huston tells me to just wait and see if he gets his father's easy going attitude. His sire doesn't act at all like a stallion and can be used for any task without complaint or objection. He does have the sweetest personality as does Danny's dam, my precious Mousie. Mouse however is a diva and strong willed so let's hope that Danny gets more of his dad's personality, lol. If I do say so myself ;-), he is so well bred and developing into such a gorgeous and well formed little horse that I think it would be a shame to geld him as well. I just hope that inexperienced Steve and I are up to the task of keeping a stallion!

If we do keep him as a stallion, we are hoping to keep him with the geldings until breeding season. They are already attempting to keep him in line with little success so I think he's starting to establish himself as alpha male. He is submissive to Riley but big brother, Django, has a more difficult time with him....or maybe is just far more patient than the older horse. Occasionally, as you can see in the photo above, he pushes even Django too far. :D

Farrier Visit

2010-10-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Dale beat me to the barn this morning. I was at the Farmers' Co-Op buying wormer....dovetailing tasks. I'd already gotten all of the horses into the round pen and haltered and I'd prayed all of the way to the Co-Op and back that none of them would hang themselves with their halters while I was gone. Still, I managed to pull in the drive right behind Dale about 8:15 AM. We started with Mouse and she was a doll as usual but we both had to keep pushing Danny and his curious nose away. I want him to get use to Dale and his tools so that he won't be fearful of his visits but I do not want him taking a chunk out of our farrier's back as he's bent over working on Mama's hooves.

Django was second and I'd lost my chain so we tried it with just the halter. He was, surprisingly, a perfect gentleman even though Danny, the antagonist, was now climbing up on his back and biting him on the rump....well out of range for one of Mama Sande's slaps. Django didn't even protest much over the wormer.

Next came Riley, who, since we've overcome his fear of halters, is never any bother. He did object the most to the wormer but we didn't lose much.

By the time we'd finished with Riley, Steve arrived at the paddock gate. He wasn't suppose to be helping us today since he'd already agreed to help a friend cut and clear a tree but unfortunately, our well pump went out late last night and so he was trying to fix the problem without resorting to buying a new pump. I was so glad to see him because trimming Dan's hooves is at least a three person job. I do have to say that the boy is improving every time. Despite the battle that ensued, Dale assures me that he will be better than most older horses by the time he's two. At first he tried all of his tricks and even added a new one by lying down completely. Steve and I had switched "ends" and I had rear end and side duty on that one which meant I was trying to hold up, with all my might, 400 pounds of wiggling baby. My back still hurts. It was with almost gleeful pleasure that I introduced Danny to the wormer after we were done with his hooves. In his defense, by the time Dale reached his last hoof, he was standing there still and calm....and upright!

The boy is 5 months old today. I just got back from visiting them all. The other horses were grazing in the pasture. It is a good day for it, sunny but cool with a nice breeze, perfect weather for the first day of October. I found Danny asleep in the sunshine. I sat down beside him and pet him for a long while. He'd occasionally nuzzle me back. It's those moments that make life so sweet.

And So He Grows

2010-09-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Danny will be five months old! It still amazes me how quickly he is growing. Also tomorrow will be his third visit with Dale Collis, our farrier. It will just be Dale and me this time since Steve is working so I hope I can handle him on my own. He still hasn't quite adjusted to the fact that Dale is not trying to cut his feet off. It terrified him the first time he saw Dale trimming his mom, Mouse, and Mousie loves her "pedicures."

I'm going to tell you a story which may not be as funny in the retelling but it sure was funny when it happened. Miss Brandy has a hoof abscess and while it is healing I'm keeping her separated from the others so that I can give her medication in sweet feed and not worry about some other (always) hungry horse grabbing it. Tuesday evening, it was raining, finally at the first of Autumn since we've been very dry this Summer, and so I didn't have my camera with me which always seems to be when I really need it. I let the four horses out into the upper pasture and hopped back into the truck to drive down to the lower pasture to take care of Brandy. As I was getting out of the truck, I heard an odd, high shriek. I turned around to see Danny running down into the middle pasture and around the copse of trees where the old cabin use to sit. He was screaming as he ran. I looked back to the top of the hill where the two geldings were leaping about joyfully like two mean little boys who'd just gotten away with something. Mouse was on the very top of the hill and she came running when she heard Danny screaming. She didn't go to the foal; instead she stopped at the fence which separates the pasture from the road and she craned her neck as she peered at Danny's wild run. Then she gets this really cold but angry expression on her face as she slowly turns her head and looks back at the geldings. As soon as she looked at them, the two boys stopped leaping about and stood stock still watching Mouse. I'm sure they knew that they were about to pay for whatever they'd done to her baby. Both of them suddenly turned and started running away just as Mouse pinned her ears back and started chasing them. She was at least a hundred feet from them but quickly caught up to them and was biting Riley's behind as they all ran. When he sees the other horses galloping around the field, Danny forgets all about whatever injustice had been done to him and decided to join them. He lived up to his name of Flyby as he quickly caught up with the other three horses and then easily, fleet as a deer, he outran all of them with his head and tail held high. In defense of the geldings, I'm sure that he most likely deserved whatever they'd done to start all of this. He is a bit of a brat but he's my bit of a brat ;-)

2010-09-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

Even after the rain we received on Saturday, it's still pretty dusty around here ;-)...just up from a nap.

2010-09-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

I have to get some new photos taken but I just had to do a bit of bragging on my boy. It's been almost a month if not longer since I've had a halter on Danny much less a lead. It was partially laziness on my part and the fact that he's already outgrown three halters and now seems to be somewhere in between weanling and yearling. The weanling halter could no longer be forced on and the yearling hung much too loosely. Finally, this past Sunday morning, Steve punched some extra holes in the yearling halter and we took it to the pasture with us. Danny saw me and he whinnied and came running down to the fence to greet me. After we had our little love fest, I pulled out the halter and held it up for him. At first he was hesitant but only for a second and then he put his head right in and let us adjust it. I hook the rope to the halter and expected a small battle but he was perfectly behaved. We turned to both sides, walked forward and even backed on cue. He was a doll!

Music Appreciation

2010-09-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the NPR jazz broadcast yesterday evening as I drove over to take care of the horses and turn them out into the large pasture for the night. I left my truck door open so that I could listen to the music as I fed Brandy. I then walked down to let the other horses out of the lower pasture. Everyone got a treat...I know, I know, a very bad habit to start but they do love it and with the exception of sometimes naughty Django, they are all very polite about it... although diva Mouse always grumbles that I'm too slow dispensing them and also insists on always going first. After Mouse and Danny received their treats, Mouse took off at a trot and led Danny up the hill and through the double gates that cross the road that divides the pastures. The boys were wanting a little extra attention so I spent some time with them. Riley especially has turned into a regular love bug over the last year and half since he moved here. In the beginning, he was so stand-offish and the least affectionate of any of my horses. Then we went through over half a year when it was a battle any time I tried to catch and halter him. In his defense, he was staying at a friend's barn and someone there had put a halter on and left it when they turned him out. He'd obviously gotten it caught on something and the next day his face was covered with sores and his right ear was cut from one side to the other. So, it is no wonder that he became extremely head shy. Oddly, all of that fear on his part and frustration on mine changed quite suddenly in a matter of weeks. I started by just trying to get him to let me pet him a bit without him moving away. The scratching started on his back and then I slowly moved to his head. Before I knew it, he was actually leaning his head into me as I petted or brushed him and then he stopped running away when I pulled out the halter. It helped that Huston showed me how to make a halter from a rope with a loop on one end that I could hide in my pocket and slip on around his neck. Once Riley realized that I wasn't going to hurt him with the halter, he was a changed horse. And he also seems to love affection more than any of the other horses now. Django who is jealous of all of the horses and any attention that they're getting that he's not, lol, is always standing beside us and usually sniffing my pockets to see if there are any forgotten treats hiding there. I think the boys might have stood there all night as long as I was petting and scratching them but I had to get back to the house and start dinner. As I started walking up the hill to leave, Riley and Django walked along on either side of me. When I reached the gate, Danny spotted me. He whinnied and came running down the hill to see me. Django quickly moved to block Danny's access to me and then started nipping the little guy on the back to move him back into the other pasture. When Danny reached the other side of the fence, his ears suddenly perked up and he seemed to have forgotten that Django was even there. He walked over and leaned across the fence, virtually putting his head inside the truck cab to listen to the music. He was fascinated. He stood there for several minutes and then he started quietly grazing but staying close to the truck and the music with his ears still up, alert, and listening. I managed to get around Django and I started petting Danny but when Ella Fitzgerald started singing, Danny deserted me and stretched his neck and head across the fence once again to get as close to the music as possible. Once the song was over he relaxed and came back to my side. Evidently commercials held little interest for him....much the same with me. Who knew that I was raising a little horse with such good musical tastes?

Had to Share

2010-09-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

This photo of Steve and Danny was taken on the 22nd of August just one week short of Danny's four month "birthday."

Growing, Growing, Gone

2010-09-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

He's four months and exactly one week old in this photo that I took yesterday afternoon. He's not gone yet but he is growing up so fast. Mouse not only looks worn out, she also looks worried. I think she realizes that I'll be taking him away from her soon. Of course he is pulling away from both of us. I still occasionally get the excited whiny when he sees me and then he comes running up for a "Sande hug" which has moved from his middle to his neck since he's gotten so big. He is out with the big boys now and that is where he stays most of the time. He and his big brother, Django, seem to be best buddies. Riley tolerates him and has the scars to prove it. I turned them out together on the 20th of August and at first their was a bit of protest from the two geldings. Mouse set them straight fast enough and when I saw the bite marks start showing up on Riley's sides over the next few days, I assumed that Mouse was the culprit. She wasn't. Danny is just like a bratty little brother, constantly picking at the big guys and irritating them but even their corrections are gentle. All of their beautiful manes are starting to look scraggly. I saw Danny actually grab hold of Riley's beautiful copper tresses with his mouth and then go completely limp so that he was just hanging from Riley's side....bratty kid. I think maybe he carried it a little too far a few days ago because Danny now has a nice sized bitemark on his shoulder which he most likely earned. Some photos of the excitement:

Riley takes chase as Brandy looks on.

Mama Mouse to the rescue

and it's all over but the shoutin' ;-)

New Calendar on RedBubble.com

2010-08-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

Currently a 2010 calendar but I'm sure they will switch it over soon...??? I'll check on that.

Tenderness

2010-08-18T08:07:00.001-07:00

I played a bit with Mother's Love from the last post.

Sweet Memories

2010-08-18T04:39:00.000-07:00

It's so hard to imagine now that Danny was ever this small. That May Day is now just a sweet and cherished memory. It still touches my heart to watch the video of Danny's first day and to see the tender, loving way that Mousie would look at him, constantly checking him out from front hoof to back in the same way human mothers count every finger and toe. I told someone just yesterday, that she still looks at him that way....when he's asleep. Our farrier, Dale Collis, said during last week's visit that Danny was in his teenage stage now. I guess that means that he is occasionally stubborn and disagreeable as well as more than a little rambunctious but despite the fact that he can be a demon at times, he is also still so very, very sweet. Mouse might not always agree with me about that. Danny seems to think that I belong to him and that my sole purpose in life is serving the Dan Man. Last night, I was trying to give Mama some attention. It's been so long since I've been able to spend some one on one time with Mouse and pamper her. I'd tried brushing her earlier in the day but Danny had pushed between us and indicated that his back needed scratching. I thought that last night, Steve could keep Danny occupied while I groomed Mouse. So Steve started brushing Danny and I brushed Mousie which she thoroughly enjoyed. Neither horse was tied up or haltered. Usually, they don't have to be when the brushes come out. It might have been nice to have them tied last night though because Danny kept edging away from Steve and closer and closer to his mom and me. He eventually was right next to us and constantly trying to get my attention. Finally, he shoved his way between us and started leaping up and biting Mom's neck and withers. This was not an attempt to groom her but rather to drive her away and he accomplished his goal. With one last look back at me and the much loved brush, Mousie walked back out into the pasture. And Danny came back in and took her place in front of me, pointing with his nose to an itchy spot just like his mom does. I don't know if I should allow him to get by with this or not. He's getting far too use to getting his own way. I'm thinking of giving another try to turning them out with the other horses. I'm hoping that maybe the other boys will make Danny walk the line a bit more....but I doubt it.

Three and a Half Month Photos

2010-08-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I missed the 3 month "b'day" although the photos with Huston were just a week short of that date. I'm blaming my photographic lethargy on the weather. The heat and humidity have been unbearable this Summer. No one is riding until this heat wave finally breaks. We put up hay this past week and it was so hot that the top of the hay was burning up while the underneath was being kept damp by the humidity despite several rakings to stir it up. We finally managed to get it baled but it is not as sweet as the Teff we put up in the Spring and the horses don't like it as well. Of course, "The Weather," is the number one subject of conversation of anyone who lives on a farm especially during hay season.

Dale Collis, our farrier, came early yesterday morning for Danny's second trim. The other horses were so well behaved....for once! Riley was an easy catch with the "hidden rope trick" that Huston showed me while he was visiting us a few weeks ago. He was a doll actually and I let Steve hold him and brush him while I captured the other four. None of them gave me a problem and when Django's turn for a trim rolled around, he was exceptionally well behaved...for Django, lol. Mouse was the doll she always is. She actually will lift her feet in anticipation of what Dale wants. Brandy was surprisingly the only trouble maker out of the big horses and she was just throwing her head around like she loves to do......but she can do a lot of damage with that head, lol. Then we came to Danny. He went into his halter easily and when Steve hooked the rope to the halter, Danny allowed him to lead him around the round pen like an old pro. Then we tied him to the fence and the fireworks ensued, haha. Not that bad actually. At first one side of him was up against the fence while Dale worked on the other. I couldn't get in a spot where I could hold him. When Dale moved to the opposite side though, I wrapped my arms around him and held on. The problem is, Danny is clever and quickly figured out that it was far more difficult for me to hold him if he leaned his shoulders toward Dale and then twisted his hips toward me. We did manage though and by the time the last hoof was done, Danny was standing there calmly and actually patiently. Dale and I both were wet with sweat and it wasn't even 9:00 a.m.! Steve of course kept giving me instructions while he casually held the rope. I was silent until finally I told him that I wanted to trade places. I think it was good for him to experience what it's like to attempt to hold 300 pounds of squirming baby. haha

Summer Heat and Sunny Smiles

2010-08-11T03:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I've been so silent for the past few weeks. I haven't even gotten Danny's three month old photos taken yet and he's already half way to four. I need to try and do that so that you all can see how much he is growing and how much he has changed. Most of the baby hair is gone now and he is looking so handsome. Photos and lessons and just about all outdoor activities have been kept at a minimum for the last few weeks though because of this extreme heat wave we are experiencing in the Southeast. Last Thursday the heat index was at 98 degrees before daybreak. This morning, it is ONLY at 87....I guess we should be grateful for that. We just finished putting up our latest cutting of hay yesterday in this heat. I had the easy job of driving the tractor and sitting in an air conditioned cab. Poor Steve didn't fare so well since he was on the wagon behind the tractor and baler, stacking the heavy bales. We've had a terrible problem getting our hay to dry. The humidity is keeping it damp underneath while the hot sun bakes the top. It's always something. As for Danny, he's missing the attention that he was getting. He doesn't want me to leave when I do go over every morning and evening to make certain they have hay and water. Even Mouse seems to feel I haven't been giving them enough attention because she was wanting some time with me and the brush yesterday morning. Unfortunately, I only have two arms because Danny was wanting attention at the same time. Of course, my spoilt rotten baby ALWAYS wants attention, lol. The few times I have worked with him over the last two weeks, he's done really well on the rope both leading and tying. He is still impatient while standing tied to the fence but he doesn't throw a fit. Tapping him on the nose with the crop every time he bites the rope is breaking that habit. I don't hurt him but it does get the point across. Most days, we don't do lessons although I know we should. I usually try to spend some time brushing Danny and one day, I found him sound asleep so I sat down beside him. He woke a bit and reached his legs out to me like a puppy and then laid his head back down and went back to sleep. Mouse looked at me and then looked at him with that say, "he's so sweet," look that she use to give him when he was first born. I usually only see that look now when he is sleeping ;)

Danny's heart "tattoo" :))

Lessons and to Geld or not to Geld, that is the question???

2010-07-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Danny is actually responding well to his leading and tying lessons. The first time that Huston put a rope on his halter last week, Danny was a reluctant to follow and reared up, clipping Huston's ear and cutting it. Houston said that he wasn't trying to be mean or aggressive, he was just trying to get away from the restriction and control of the rope. The next day, when Huston wrapped the rope around the fence post to make him stand still for awhile, Danny threw a righteous fit. He reared, pulled, jerked his head and pawed the air.

Huston left us with orders to "tie" him two or three times a day for the next week and then to try leading him again. Unfortunately, the extreme heat, whatever bug I've managed to pick up which has upset my stomach for the last week, and unexpected errands and appointments, have kept us from working with Danny like we promised to and should have. Still, the times I did tie him up, he only showed a little impatience, occasionally pawing the ground and chewing on the rope. And, on Wednesday, I put the rope on him and led him around in his little barn. It was too hot to go out into the sunshine and work in the confined place forced us to work on turns and backing more than forward movement but he was great, doing exactly what I asked of him.

The boy is coming along and growing into a horse so quickly...almost too quickly. We've been going around and around about the question of to geld or not. My mind keeps up a constant argument with my heart. I hate to waste the conformation and breeding that the little guy could pass on to future generations of Missouri Fox Trotters. I'm certainly no expert but plenty of people who are say that he is an amazingly well put together little horse. That includes Huston who tells me that he is the finest looking foal he's ever seen in his entire 86 years. We will be able to gold paper his registration and he has three of the most famous MFT stallions on his papers numerous times, Missouri Traveler, Merry Boy Sensation and Zane Gray. A sweet disposition was bred into him as well and intelligence which he's already displaying and both of which he gets from both his sire, Travelers Sensational Zane and dam, my sweet Mousie (Mouse's Funny Face J.)

On the opposing side, is the life of a stallion or a show horse....do I really want that for Danny? It would mean isolation, most of his life spent in a stall or small paddock alone. There are also things that are necessary to do during training, especially when dealing with a stallion and alpha male which our Dan appears to be, that I don't want to know or think about. Also is the question of whether Steve and I are capable of handling a stallion. It can be difficult even for seasoned horse people which neither of us are. A friend who stood two very well known and sought after stallions for many years has told me many times that the reason she sold her stallions was not because they were difficult but because many of the mares that people brought to breed were unbroken and unmanageable. There is also the question of cost. Training a horse with a good and reputable trainer is expensive. Building the facilities we need here to keep a stallion would be expensive and with mares both on our farm and on the farms on either side of us, what type of fencing will keep a stallion in during breeding season? Heavens, he's not even three months old and we can't keep him in with the electric fence when he wants through it!

Huston has told me that another option would be selling him to someone who would and could train and use him as a stud....but you know what my heart has to say about that. I've considered getting a small herd of good brood mares and letting him just pasture breed with them and hoping that would keep him "satisfied" and away from the neighbor's mares. I don't think that I would mind selling the babies of these yet unknown mares but I know that I could never sell one of Mouse's babies and certainly not my Danny. As I told someone last night, he's my horse, he's my baby and he was from the moment he dropped from his mama and rolled down that hillside with me running after him to catch him before he hit the creek, lol. I would have felt that way even if his birth hadn't been such a frightening and traumatic experience for me. Brandy McDonnell, who served as my phone a friend that early Saturday morning when Danny was born, asked me if this wasn't the most wonderful, magical experience and I told her, no, it's terribly scary and traumatic. I remember her laughing because I guess she realized that I'd change my tune soon enough. As soon as I saw the way Mouse looked at the baby, with such love and tender devotion, I felt the magic and I knew that I could never part with him.

So, those are the pros and cons of whether to geld or not. I'd love to hear your opinions or alternative ideas. I've got about 15 more months to make a decision and already I can tell that it won't be an easy one.

Bobby Watts and his very pretty and sweet, daughter, Miranda stopped by to meet Danny last night and gave there thumbs up of approval. He kept picking up sticks and offering them to Bobby which made Bobby laugh and Miranda giggle:) Bobby asked me if I was leaving Danny as a stallion which got me thinking anew about all of this and led to this post asking for advice and thoughts.

Three month old photos coming this Sunday!

The Portrait has Arrived!

2010-07-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

I thought I posted this on Danny's blog yesterday as well as over on the Gray Horse blog but either I didn't or it didn't take.
The wonderful portrait of Danny arrived yesterday from artist, Linda Woolford. It is amazing. I can not find the words to describe how lovely it is or the joy it brings me. It makes my heart sing to look at it. Much like the real, flesh and blood Danny that she captured so perfectly. There is a photo below of the finished work but trust me, the photo does not do the original justice. It seems impossible that it could be any more beautiful but it is! I will post photos as soon as it is matted and framed. And I will insert links to Linda's web gallery and blog here soon, too. Would do it not but I'm late getting out the door as usual:)

Love Hurts

2010-07-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

After three days on the rope, Danny is better about being tied but he still is very impatient and chews on the rope. It was so hot today that we thought we'd wrap the rope around the center pole on the barn instead of the fence. The spot by the fence was still shaded and relatively cool on a day when the temps hit 92 by 9:30 a.m. But working with Danny there would mean moving the other horses out of their paddock and run-in and old Brandy sprained her "ankle" yesterday. I don't want to move her more than is necessary at the moment.

So, we thought it would be a good idea to improvise and wrap the rope around the pole. One problem: Danny can walk all the way around the pole. Adding to that dilemma and making any other solution totally implausible was Danny's attitude this morning, stubborn and aggressive. Usually, he is sweet and easy to handle in the morning but maybe today's heat was as irritating to him as it was to me because he started his visit with us off by greeting Steve with a bite that left a large, red, swollen welt on his upper arm. Then he kept charging me when I tried to walk him. So I wrapped the rope around the pole hoping to teach him some patience. Considering that he never gave in and relaxed and I was the only one who worked up a sweat trying to keep him from hanging himself on the rope as he merry-go-rounded that pole.......well, I'm not certain that it was such a great idea or one that we will repeat.

Another "lesson" tonight and we will see how it goes....and if it turns out to be a lesson for Dan or us!? lol

Also working on the name for his papers. Huston tells me that there was a WGC MFT several years ago that was named, Danny Boy. Huston wants us to use Traveler in the name so I'm thinking either Traveler's Flyby Danny or Flyby Travelin' Dan. I had all sorts of gray horse names picked out but Huston thinks he will be a liver chestnut. I'm still not convinced that he won't be a gray but I can't gamble on the chance now with his registered name.

As for the question of whether he'll remain a stallion, that question, too, is still up in the air. I do know that he will have to start behaving better than he did this morning if he doesn't want to be gelded.

Not Quite Three Months Old

2010-07-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Danny will be 3 months old on August 1st. This photo was taken on the 21st of July. Not quite three months old and still growing.

Brother Can You Help Me?

2010-07-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

I just had to add this photo because I didn't get any shots of Huston working with Danny on Thursday morning when he tied him up. Danny threw a fit at first and big brother, Django, tried to come to his rescue by gnawing on the rope and then lipping the latch on the rope. He wasn't successful at either but you have to figure that there is some sort of sibling connection there if Danny's distress drew Django away from his food, lol.

This photo was taken on Wednesday when Huston was first teaching Danny to lead. Both brother Django and uncle Riley came to the fence to watch and offer a bit of moral support.

Hit and Run

2010-07-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't get to keep him for long, Huston arrived on Tuesday afternoon and was gone by Thursday at noon, but we crammed a lot into that short time and still had a great time. It was so good to see him and spend time with him. And it was even better to see him meet Danny and work with him. By the time he left, Huston had worked with Danny twice and already had us started on both leading him and tying him. Danny liked Huston immediately and I'm not at all surprised. Huston is 86 years old and still riding and training horses and he is the most knowledgeable horseman I've ever known. He tells me to work with the horses every day because I will learn far more from experience and observation than I will ever learn from a book. Huston himself is a wealth of information and knowledge; I wish I could have kept him with us for several months and even then, we would probably just barely tap all that he could teach us about horses.

I forgot to add that Huston thinks Danny is the finest MFT foal he's ever seen in all of his years of breeding and raising foals. I have to agree but then we all know how biased I am when it comes to my Danny Boy.

Linda Woolford Creates An Amazing Portrait of Danny!

2010-07-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Still getting ready for Huston's visit in two days! But I had to take the time to show you all something amazing. Linda Woolford is an amazing artist and she just completed a portrait of Danny. I'm just blown away by how wonderful it is and how perfectly she captured Danny and his personality. I couldn't stop crying when I first saw the finished work. It is fantastic and Linda is the sweetest person as well as incredibly talented.

I just can't stop looking at this. It's so beautiful!

Linda's work is all so incredible. You can check out more of her amazing art work at either of these two places: Art Wolf Blog The Briar Rose Gate Art Wolf Etsy Shop

2010-07-15T05:12:00.001-07:00

WhooHoo!

2010-07-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

Huston is coming to visit Danny next week.....and me and Steve but we're secondary, lol. He's staying several days which is rare for him. I'm so excited. We've got a full schedule and every bit of it involves horses. I'll write a full report later. Right now, we're working furiously to make this house "guest worthy." It's Ok to work so hard now though because next week this time, we will be having fun and enjoying our friend's company!

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet

2010-07-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

We might have to start calling him Super Dan after he crashed through the electric fence a few days ago. I was just walking down the hillside through the other horses' day time pasture on my way to feed nightly rations to Danny and his mom. Danny was standing by the watering trough waiting on me and watching my progress with his food. Suddenly, he screamed and jumped straight up in the air. I can only assume that a bee stung him because I found no other injury that could account for that reaction. He took off at a full and very fast gallop. He made three rounds of the pasture at full speed only pausing to look at me and whiney pitifully every time he passed where I was still standing, dumbfounded by what was happening. Then he stopped and charged the fence. He managed to leap through, missing the top and bottom wire and breaking the center one with his chest. He ran up to stop beside me and whine; I suppose he thought I could fix whatever had hurt so badly that it caused all of this. I was more concerned about making certain that his attack of the fence hadn't done any harm but before I could examine him thoroughly he spotted the love of his life, Brandy on top of the hill and just as quickly realized that Steve still hadn't closed the gate to the upper pasture. He was off before I could turn and shout, "Shut the gate!" Steve, who already was in the process of doing just that, started running with the gate in hand and still just managed to get it shut as Danny arrived with a skidding, dusty stop. Steve was able to look him over better than I had as Danny ogled Brandy and she ignored him. He shouted back down to me that he could see no injury as I went to let the now frantic Mouse out into the pasture with her baby. Ahhh, the adventures of motherhood...no one said it was going to be easy. Especially when your little one is growing like Baby Huey and more powerful than a locomotive ;^)

Hay Daze

2010-07-04T05:46:00.000-07:00

We baled our teff hay yesterday. It wasn't the best first cutting. We only got a partial field and 198 bales. Not enough to get us through the Winter but there will hopefully be several more cuttings. The fun part was watching Danny get his first taste of fresh hay. At first he was more interested in the other horses who came over to the fence to get their share. And then he managed to stick his head into the small space between the fence and the round pen! I was feeding Brandy when I saw him and I went running to rescue him. Turns out, he didn't need rescuing since he was reaching for the fish net that I use to clean out the water troughs. Before I could reach him, he'd managed to lift the net off of its hook, pull it back through the fence and then placed his little hoof on it and tore it to pieces with his teeth. Once it was destroyed, he lost interest. I pointed out to him that the bugs and leaves that it was suppose to be picking out of his water were now going straight through but he didn't seem to care. Oh well, another one bites the dust. I think I need to buy stock in aquarium fish nets!

The wagon filled up before we reached the small field and Steve asked if we could use my truck to load the bales from there. This small field is right across from Mouse's and Danny's pasture. Danny wasn't so impressed by what we were doing but Mouse was prancing around and neighing because she's had fresh hay before and the small sample I'd given to them earlier was already long gone. We broke open one bail and I took them a few flakes. Mouse started eating with relish and this time Danny followed suit. When I left them last night, both were eating as if it was the last food they'd ever get.

Fourth of July Fireworks

2010-07-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

Steve has started calling Danny, Patches. The flies have been terrible this year. I have been spraying Danny with fly spray....he's better behaved about it than the big guys...but I haven't put any on his face and the fly spray doesn't help much anyway. So, the result is that he ends up looking spotty especially with the new hair growing in so much darker than his baby coat.

The holiday fireworks came early to our farm. Everyone, including our vet and Huston, have been telling me that I should put Mouse and Danny out with the other horses but we all neglected to tell Mouse that this was a good idea. We opened up the gates to the large upper pasture last night and let Riley and Django go out there. Brandy lagged behind expecting her "secret" evening meal...she's a smart old girl. Then we let Mouse and Danny out into the other horses' day time pasture thinking this would allow us to introduce them to each other gently. Well Mouse is eating and Danny is running around and neither one has noticed that the other gate is open......so glad, in retrospect, that they didn't! Then Danny sees the love of his life, Brandy, and realizes that there is no longer a fence separating them. He runs up and starts aggravating the poor old girl like crazy. Then the other two boys spot Danny and they come running off the hill. That is when I turned to Steve and said, "I don't know if this was a good idea." Steve yells at Mouse who is still grazing and unaware that any of this is happening. When Mouse looks up and sees the boys near her baby, first her eyes got huge, then she turns and gives Steve and me one of those looks, and then she takes off, screaming with her ears already pinned. What I still don't understand is why, after she bit and kicked them out of the way and then started herding Danny down the hill into a corner where she could protect him, did the boys feel compelled to chase after them. They weren't really being aggressive; it was almost like they were playing follow the leader with Mouse. They stopped a respectful distance away from her and the baby but Mouse didn't think it was far enough. She ran over kicking at Riley and climbing Django's back and biting him. Neither boy fought back but the idiots did then follow her and Danny up to the top of the hill. I thought we might be Ok to leave them together then since the boys stood and looked at them for a while, Mouse started grazing and the boys lost interest and left. The excitement wasn't over though. Danny spots Brandy, who had been observing all of this from afar, and he goes running up to her nuzzling her and then trying to nurse her! I'm running and saying Brandy don't hurt him because she's trying to at least cow kick him. But Mouse sees Brandy with her baby and it doesn't matter that Danny instigated the entire situation, she's on top of my thirty year old horse biting and kicking. We finally get them separated and the gates closed. Danny, who's been calm and respectful for over a week now, is agitated and wild and Mouse is content to stay in the other horses' pasture where we don't want her to spend the night. Finally we managed to get them both into the round pen and then back into their own pasture where I plan to keep them for a while.....or at least until Danny is ready to wean and Mouse is no longer so protective.

Two Months Old!

2010-07-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing how much he's grown? Our vet, Melissa Hamilton, called last week and asked if she could stop by and see him. She was out of town when he was born so another vet had taken care of Danny and Mouse. This was her first opportunity to meet with our boy. She thought he was gorgeous and quite large for his age. She said that he looked more like a four month old than not quite two months. I've been telling everyone that you can practically see him growing. His color is changing, too. It is hard to tell by the light in these photos that were taken late this afternoon but he is a lovely golden brown now. I don't think he'll stay that color for long though. The places where he's rubbed the hair off or gotten his little boy scrapes and scratches are all growing back with silky black hair. The nose is gray so I'm thinking that he will be either gray or roan. I still have several months before I have to register him so I'm hoping that he settles on one color by then.

The second photo above is of Danny and his big brother, Django, talking through the fence. I'm waiting until Huston arrives in two weeks to let him decide if Danny is big enough to be turned out with the "herd." He loves to whinny at them and will touch noses and sniff of them whenever he gets the chance. I think they will get along fine and it will probably be good for him to have someone around who will make him behave. I don't know if Django will be a good influence though. He is the most mischievous horse and at eight years old, he shows no sign of change. We have to tie down the hose going into the water trough or Django will chase the other horses with it, spraying them with water. Many of his pranks have to do with the trough since he's constantly stealing the fish tank tools that I use to keep it clean and usually chases poor Riley with those, too. His latest trick really tops them all though. Last night "someone" picked up a bucket and put it in the middle of the trough. Now who do you think did that?

Today's Lesson

2010-06-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

I've been trying my best to introduce Danny to something new every day. Many days, life and its time restrictions get in the way and I end up just repeating what we do every day, back up, side step and walk on pressure and voice command. Danny is getting quite good at all but the walk forward. He's still a bit stubborn about that one which probably has more to do with my using a tug on his halter along with the pressure on his rump. Today, I decided to bring the clippers back out. I had rubbed them all over him when he was just two weeks old and he didn't mind them at all but that was before live buzzing things that bite appeared and began to plague his life. He wasn't so sure about the clippers especially when I touched them to those wild chin whiskers of his. He acted as if I shocked him. I know those whiskers are sensitive but I don't think clipping them actually hurts. We will continue to run the clippers each day until it is old hat for him to hear and feel them and then we'll have a go at those whiskers on his chinny, chin, chin.

One good purpose the clippers served today was running the two big "boys" out of the run-in so that poor, old Brandy could get in out of the sun. They have a tendency to get selfish and protective about everything even space and had totally blocked Brandy out. I started using the clipper to finish off her Winter coat that hadn't shed and I saw their reaction. So, it might be bad of me but I decided to walk into the run-in with the clippers running. I wasn't aggressive but then I didn't need to be. In a few seconds, Brandy was able to claim that coveted back of the run-in spot and the boys had that, "What just happened?" look on their faces.

New Lesson and New Blog

2010-06-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

Rain showers off and on all day today so it was almost dusk before I was able to get updated photos of Danny. I'm sure you will be shocked by how much he's grown. He is still such a sweet boy although also still mischievous. Today's new experience was fly spray. Everyone from Huston to Dale, our farrier, has assured me that Danny is old enough, at seven weeks today:), to handle the spray. I think too that Huston keeps telling me to spray him so that Danny will stop rubbing his hair off trying to get to the itch left by fly and tick bites. He has several bare spots and, if I do get him trained well enough to show this September at the MFT Celebration in Ava, Missouri (like Huston wants me to do...I think he mainly wants us to visit and certainly wants us to bring Mouse and Danny along;), he will need to be in pristine condition. It is so hard to keep a little boy of any species in pristine condition. He seems to constantly be into something new and usually stinky. Although the introduction of fly spray went well this afternoon, he's not so enthusiastically agreeable when it comes to baths. Of course, we haven't even attempted a full fledge bath yet...with soap and everything. No, the tiny baby steps we've taken, that are usually met with such protest and end with him running to Mama, are just the introduction of a dripping garden hose and a wet sponge. As Steve has pointed out numerous times...although he doesn't need to because my nose is working perfectly well...., Danny stinks. It doesn't help that he "marks" everything just like a dog and that means there are very few "pee free" areas for him to lie down. He even peed in his mama's food bowl....I mean, give me a break! So, I think the next lesson to be learned is definitely proper bathing and a halter and rope are going to be required.

Ok, one last note...I am aware that the last thing I need is another blog to keep up with but there are several people who have been telling me since I first got Mouse nearly six years ago now, that I need to write down all of the adventures and misadventures I've had as a first time horse owner at fifty. There have certainly been very few dull moments. So, I'm finally listening to them and I've started a new blog with Danny's name in the title over on Salon.com. It's not all about Danny for sure. In fact, I doubt he will even be mentioned until the last few posts/chapters but I hope that, if you decide to venture over there, that you enjoy reading it. Let me know what you think and have a great Father's Day weekend. My best wishes to all of the Dad's out there whether your babies have two legs or four:)

Not a great photo...if you look closely, you'll see the fence wire running through the middle of the image...but still a good example with the one above of Danny at seven weeks old! What looks like a sore on his shoulder is just a bare spot where he's rubbed the hair off.

First Trim!

2010-06-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

Danny was a bit suspicious when our farrier, Dale Collis, began to trim Mouse's hooves. I was holding Mouse so I had Steve walk Danny around so that he always had a good view but was also under control and not in Dale's way. Danny didn't understand and he thoroughly examined Dale's tools. When Danny's turn came around, Steve was holding him by the halter and they were having a difficult time getting him to stand still and not move away. I let Mouse off of her halter and left her with some food...always a good distraction for her because if she has food she doesn't care if the world is exploding around her. I held Danny with an arm around his chest and a hand on his rear. We had some movement after that but not as much. Dale asked if I'd been picking up his feet since he was born. I apologized and said, no. He told me that he wasn't criticizing me, he just thought I had been because Danny was behaving better than most foals during their first trim. He said that it must be because we have handled Danny since he was first born and that attention showed in a well behaved little colt. Still, when Dale finished with Danny, Danny was finished with him. He left quickly and totally ignored the offer of treat or petting. He did however go straight to Mama to nurse so maybe that was what his speedy exit was all about. I think I always expect too much out of him because he is a baby after all and every experience is a new one for him. So, it is better if I listen to someone with Dale's experience when he tells me that Danny was the easiest first trim he's ever had!....He also said that Danny is beautiful but then that is a given;-)

And thank God for Dale, the best farrier in the ENTIRE WORLD in my opinion. The other two boys in our horse family were not so agreeable. Riley was hurt by a halter last year and he still hasn't gotten over it. In fact, he is getting steadily worse. I should be working with him every single day because I haven't been able to get a halter on him since Dale's last visit six weeks ago. When Dale arrived, I'd been chasing Riley around the round pen for a good twenty minutes and had already used ever trick in my thin book but with no success. Dale however is also an excellent horseman as well as farrier. He got the halter on and calmed sweet Riley down and then did equally well keeping the usually excitable Django calm during his entire trim. Brandy and Mouse were their usual well behaved selves which makes up a bit for the boys' bad manners. I hope that Danny, who was watching with his head stuck through the gate, didn't pick up any bad habits or manners from the other two boys. It was funny because as I was packing up to leave, I wondered why the other two boys weren't bothering me like Brandy was. I looked around and there they both were, standing at the fence and "examining" Danny as if they were trying to see what Dale had done to him, haha.

I'll put up at least one 7 week photo up later....when I finally get the time to dust my camera off;-)

Mirror Image

2010-06-08T03:43:00.000-07:00

On his first day, he was mimicking Mouse's grazing perfectly. It amazes me as I watch both mother and child follow natural instincts to train and learn. How do they know to do this and how does Danny so perfectly mirror his mom's movements? It sometimes seems as if we are watching ZZ Top in concert.

Skipping Along

2010-06-08T03:06:00.000-07:00

After following the advice of both Huston, the wisest horseman I know, and my friend, Fran Forester, who is an extremely experienced horse woman and breeder herself(she bred and raised the famous, Country Frank, the MFT World Grand Champion in 1999), I decided to cut out all of the rich sweet feed that my vet had us giving to both Mouse and Danny twice a day. Mouse was on a diet of five pounds of that overly rich and sticky stuff a day and it was showing on the girl's waistline. I think it was also showing in Danny's behavior because, since we not only cut back but switched to a low fat-low protein substitute, Danny is back to being the sweet, loveable little guy that we started with. I do realize that he is still a little stud and will show typical stallion behavior and aggression as he grows older. We are doing our best to train him now while he is young and hopefully eliminate or at least alleviate future problems but for now, he is just a typical little boy full of energy..... and good portions of spit and vinegar... sorry, my Southern roots are showing again;-)

Wild Thing

2010-06-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

You make my heart sing but you're still a wild thing....who hates that darn thing I keep attaching to his head.

Thought I should add a little more explanation here since I have written more in both emails and on my facebook page when this blog is where I should be using the most words to describe our life with Danny Boy.

First, Danny seems to now officially be in what has to be the equine equivalent of the "terrible twos." It sometimes feels as if we must be raising Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One moment he is sweet, gentle and obedient and the next that tranquil persona is replaced by the radically different, demon child!

Of course, that hated thing that I keep attaching to his head doesn't help his mood. In the photo above, he is trying his best to both see what is hanging from underneath it and to dislodge the entire thing. Lucky for us, he's not had much luck with the latter but that doesn't keep him from trying.

Now, I have friends who tell me that I humanize Danny's mom, Mouse. I also have other friends who think like I do that Mouse is smarter than the average horse and often smarter than me. So, I decided to have a talk with her yesterday about the behavior from Danny that she's been ignoring. While we try to keep him from trouncing us, pawing or nipping during his Mr. Hyde stage, Mouse just ignores him completely while he bites at her sides and climbs her back. Now, I'm not saying that my horse understands human speak but I am saying that, after our conversation, she stopped being so complacent where Danny's behavior is concerned. Not only did we see her correcting him last night but he had several patches of missing hair this morning that surprisingly...or not... resembled Mouse's mouth in shape and one definite nip to the nose that I'm sure he earned. I don't want her to hurt him and I'm sure she won't but come on....she has to help me out with this mothering thing....don't tell her I said that!

First Accident

2010-06-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, he has had the usual little boy scraped shins and tumbles from those still too long, stilt legs. I've long held however that if there is something in a pasture that can hurt them, a horse will find it. We tried our best to "baby proof" his paddock but Danny proved yesterday that we hadn't done a very good job of it. I'm still not sure what the offending weapon was but something sliced a two inch gash in his neck. When I first saw the blood, it blended in so well with the color of his coat that I thought that Mouse had just dribbled on him after getting a drink of water. But I pulled apart his hair and there was the cut. It is thankfully a clean cut and very straight. It won't need stitches and shouldn't leave a scar. I'm flushing it twice a day with saline wash and then applying that "good ol' sticky yellow stuff" which I know has a correct and technical name but don't ask me to remember it. All I know is that it keeps the flies away and will have our boy healed up in no time flat....and ready for his next accident which I'm sure is coming. I just hope that all of his injuries are this easy to fix.

Danny Boy - Eric Clapton (EN VIVO)

2010-05-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

My friend, Doug Presley, shared the video below with me on facebook. I think it is one of the most beautiful renditions of Danny Boy that I've ever heard....and it's Clapton!

Wild Hair Days

2010-05-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have never experienced life with a foal, I will give you the same warning I was given four weeks ago: colts are drastically different from fillies. It isn't just the obvious differences between boys and girls; colts are far more aggressive. I will think that I have this aggressive behavior under control because for several days, Danny will be sweet, calm, attentive and obedient....and then he gets a "wild hair" as we say in the South.

Wild hairs are basically an ingrown hair which, if you've ever had one, you know can be irritating and grating on your nerves until you pluck it out. Just so with someone getting an emotional "wild hair" They have to act on all of that pent up energy or they feel like they might explode. Young colts, like young boys, seem to get more than their fair share of these and then the energy and mischievousness just seems to burst from them.

Today appears to be one of those days because Danny was determined to exert his presence on both Steve and me this morning. Heaven forbid that you ignore him when he's like this because then he demands attention. He nipped me more than once during our visit. And, even though I immediately corrected him each time by inserting my fingers in his mouth and pressing into his soft palette, it did not deter him from doing it again usually immediately after my correction as if to say, "There! That's what I think of you and your rules." He also kept pushing us if you could call it that. It was more like slinging himself against me with as much force as he could muster. Again, I pushed back with Steve behind me, saying, "Don't let him do that to you." Steve says this to mock me for always saying it to him, the "good parent" who lets Danny get by with far too much (because he wants him to like him the best.) When Danny gets that proverbial Southern wild hair though, there is no plucking it out. You just have to ride out the storm until the calm, sweet Danny returns and the demon child hides from view for a few days at least.

Flying Horses

2010-05-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

I need to get some good shots of Danny running. He certainly lives up to the name Huston gave him, Fly-by, because he literally appears to be flying at times. I'm amazed by both how fast he is and also how graceful on those overly long legs. Steve came home last night talking about seeing Danny running solo and making sweeping circles of the pasture like his mom loves to do. At thirteen, you'd expect Mouse to become laid back and slow but she still loves to let off steam occasionally. When she was eight months pregnant with Danny she was making her runs around the big pasture, hills and all, with Django, her first born son, by her side. The two of them would jump over the fallen logs and a large pipe/conduit that Steve is planning on using as a culvert for the road run off. Like Danny now, the two them did this for entertainment and the sheer enjoyment of it. Sometimes, Mouse takes Danny running like that. At first, she'd run slowly and let him run beside her. Now, she doesn't hold back at all and Danny really has to stretch out to try to keep pace with her. That has to be good for him and being the good mom that she is, I'm sure Mouse is aware of that. I will do my best to capture his youthful equine exuberance soon. The only problem is, it is very hard to capture on film because neither Mouse nor Danny move around much in the heat and humidity brought about by the high noon sun on these Southern Summer days. It always seems to be in the low light times, very early morning or very late afternoon, when my camera just refuses to cooperate and put in the effort needed for a good shot that the two of them take wing.

And Time Marches On

2010-05-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

So hard to believe that four weeks ago, we were just welcoming Danny into the world. He's grown so much and learned so much in one month. It makes me look forward to the future even more just to watch him develop into a young horse. I forgot to add earlier that Danny got his own food bowl last night and he thought that was something. He liked even more the handful of food that he didn't have to steal from Mom;-D

We did a pasture shuffle last night because the oats in Mouse's pasture had headed out and were too rich for my easy keeper girl. She's not very happy about being in the poorer middle pasture but she should be glad that she's not on the hot hillside pasture where I had to move other horses so that their usual pasture could be occupied by Mouse and Danny. No one was pleased with me this morning.

I'm surprised that Huston is still answering my calls. I had two long conversations with him yesterday, one to catch him up on Danny's latest antics and the other seeking mucho advise. I told him that I don't know what I'd do without him. He's been involved with horses for his entire 86 years and he is just a wealth of knowledge and "horse sense." I'm so grateful that he's willing to help us out or we would be so lost. It seems whatever problem or question I come up with, he has been there and done that a hundred times. Thank you, Huston!!

Stepping Back

2010-05-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this photo from ten days ago. Mouse is "herding" Danny away from the "big boys." You can see Django and Riley looking on from the round pen. A prime illustration of good horse mothering.

Another image from just a few days ago of Danny and Brandy getting acquainted. Although Mouse is now letting Danny wander further afield, she still quickly spirited him away with a screaming rebuke to Brandy right after this photo was taken.

Comical Little Guy

2010-05-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Photo thanks to Paula Price (excuse my pudgy, pale hand but he wouldn't turn his head to the camera:)

I realize that most "grandparents" are a bit biased when it comes to their little ones. So, it may be that no one else finds this story as amusing as I do but if so, I'll add, you had to be there.

My day with Danny really started mid-afternoon yesterday and it was a hot one, down right scorching air that was so humid it seemed to stick to you like the flies. I was hauling water to the horses which always takes several trips since the big tank is 150 gallons and I can only haul 30 gallons at a time. Usually, this is not an unpleasant task since I just hook up the hose and open the tank spout before retreating to the air conditioned cab of my truck with a good book while the water slowly leaks down the hill and into the big water trough. It was so hot and sticky yesterday that the horses were all inside, shaded from the sun and protected from the biting flies. During my second trip, Django slowly wandered out and looked toward the literally greener pastures across the road. I let them all over to the other pasture. We've been trying to keep them off the richer grass there because the boys are getting way too fat but we also know that they eat less and stay a shorter time during the heat of the day and you couldn't get much hotter and unpleasant than it was at that hour on that day. So, across went the three big horses just as the last of the water trickled out of the hose. I decided to check the big tank to see how much more water I needed to haul. I started walking down the hill and I spotted Mr. Danny and his sweet mama waiting for me at the fence. I decided to pay them a quick visit since I hadn't been able to spend much time with them during breakfast that morning. I'd already packed all of the horse food for the evening meal because a friend, Paula Price, was dropping by around 6:00 p.m. to visit Danny and I'd thought I should go ahead and prepare the horses' food so that task would be done and not distract from her visit. The flies were all over Mouse's face and evidently irritating. I hadn't put a fly mask on her in the morning because on Wednesday she'd removed it herself for the second day in a row. At that moment though, she looked as if she'd appreciate the mask's screening. I went back to my truck and picked up both her food and the mask. She did seem happy to see both and Danny shared her enthusiasm for the small afternoon snack I let them have from her food ration. He even got down on his knees in order to eat out of her ground level bowl.

As I mentioned in my last post, Danny and I had a bad experience with his new leather halter. I thought that this might be the perfect moment to give it another try. After two failed attempts at the leather halter however, I decided to go back to the easier to apply nylon halter. It was a grand battle but I finally managed to slip the halter over his big donkey sized ears and clip the hook closed under his jaw. Then we were off to the rodeo. I've never seen such bucking and kicking or running out of him. I gave Huston a call while all of the commotion was going on. He told me to let him run himself out and to leave the halter on until nightfall or as long as possible so that he could get use to it. I would think that all of the histrionics had finally subsided when he'd start carrying on once again with drastic movement evidently intended to dislodge this hateful contraption on his face. Finally, he did calm down and came into the barn with me. By the time Paula pulled into the drive with Steve, home from work and also from picking up his tractor, right behind her, Danny was calm and standing in the barn while I brushed and groomed him. For some reason, Mouse was alerted by Paula's arrival; maybe she thought she was the vet or someone else who was up to "no good" in her horse mind. She threw her head and ears up, gave a warning whinny and took off with Danny in tow. Since she appears to be the alpha mare of our herd, her whinny was heard by the other horses on top of the hill and they all came galloping down to the lower pasture. I'm sure Paula was standing in the drive glad to be getting some good shots of such active horses but not wanting to walk out into the pasture with them. Finally all calmed down and Mouse checked Paula out and decided it was Ok for her to be around her baby. She stood guard in the barn for a while as Danny lay down and slept. She kept checking him out and making certain that none of us had harmed him and then decided that we could be trusted enough for her to go back out in the pasture and graze.

So, she left us babysitting once again and that is where the funny part of the story begins. Paula and I were talking as I filled Mouse and Danny's water buckets and fed the other horses. Danny was vying for our attention for a while and then wandering off to explore....or else see what he could get into. When I finished feeding, I put my feed containers and the cloth bag which carried fly masks and grooming tools under the shrub by the fence. Paula was petting Django and Riley and getting some really good photos of them as she and I talked. Brandy had finished her dinner and had wandered over to the fence where Danny was playing. Danny is fascinated with all of the "big horses" but mostly with Brandy. He will throw his tail up and start prancing about and showing off whenever she comes near. Because of the wrath of Mouse if she gets too close to him, Brandy has learned to keep her distance. So, she was keeping an eye on him but an eye on Mouse as well. Danny was trying his best to get her full attention. He got into my cloth bag and started pulling things out. First came the bright red scoop that should have been in the boys' feed container. He licked all of the food off of it and then picked it up and appeared to be offering it to Brandy through the fence. I was telling Paula to look and saying it looks just like he's trying to give her a gift. I didn't really think that was what was going on at the time but when Brandy didn't notice the offered food scoop, Danny goes back to the bag and begins to pull out the fly masks. He shoves an entire mouthful of them through the fence but Brandy doesn't acknowledge the offering. Instead, she turns and starts moving away along the fence. Danny starts running after her carrying the masks with him and dropping them one by one along the way. Paula and I were both laughing at his antics by then. When he tries to shove the last fly mask through the fence and didn't get any response from Brandy, he dropped it on the ground and came back to us. Of course, after that, ever effort to pick them all up and put them back in the bag was answered by him grabbing the bottom of the bag and dumping them all on the ground as soon as my back was turned.....Ok, that's the story and I warned you from word one, that you wouldn't find it as amusing as I do:)...sorry for any disappointment or anger over wasted minutes of life, lol

Vistitors' Log

2010-05-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

Patty Watson-Pulignano came by for a visit today. I'd like to think that at least part of the reason for our increase in guests is me but I know better. It's all because of Danny. My sweet boy was on his best behavior. He's getting shyer but it didn't take long before he warmed up to Patty and was trying to get her attention. Mouse let us play with him for a while and then called him back in. I told Patty that she's welcome back anytime. She's a photographer and she's more than welcome to take photos of my handsome herd of horses anytime she wants. As for Danny, I think he needs an appointment book for all of his fans.

I made a mistake with Danny yesterday. It wasn't my first and I know it won't be my last but it still upsets me. His new leather halter came in. He didn't want any part of it and was fighting me the entire time I was trying to putg it on him. He started jerking his head about the second I slipped it over his nose. I had a hard time buckling it and then he bolted out into the field. The idea of him running loose in the pasture in an ill fitting halter scared me and I worried about the little lead thingie hanging down from the center ring frightening him. I tried to take it off right after putting it on which only upset him more. He jerked his head and the halter went flying and I'm thinking disaster. I thought I'd never get it back on him again but I spoke with Huston this afternoon and he told me to just give him a few days and then gently introduce it. He also said that I should leave it on him all day long so that he can get use to it. He then gave me advice on teaching Danny to lead. I don't know what I'd do without Huston and the wealth of information and horse knowledge he has to share.

Danny Featured Again

2010-05-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

Danny is certainly the center of our universe right now and justifiably full of himself. But he also has lots of fans from around the world since photos of him have been featured on the site redbubble.com 13 times in the last 3 weeks since his birth! That is certainly a record for me. In the past, I was lucky to have one photo featured in a month but our Danny is a star....and he seems to know it, lol.

This photo, that I took late yesterday afternoon, has been featured in the Pets Are Us group. I titled it "On Point?" because I'd just posted a photo of Danny looking as if he was fetching a stick and now this one of him looking like he's a on point over a covey of quail. A friend told me that I didn't need to worry until he starts barking and chasing cars, lol.

Flying By

2010-05-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Well Danny is three weeks old today which means he is starting into his fourth week and this time next week he will be a month old! I've started putting his halter on for about ten minutes every morning. He still doesn't like it too much and there is a mild battle every time I start to slip it over his nose but at least the removal is calmer. When it is on, I pull lightly from side to side until he yields his head to pressure. He is usually good about this but will occasionally put up a fuss. I just hold with gentle firmness until he calms down and yields and then I release and praise him. He did try some horse play with me this morning. It was when I was bent over and not paying attention as it always is. He does seem to wisely choose his moments to misbehave. Of course, he doesn't yet realize that this is a bad thing but we must convince him now before he is old enough for it to be dangerous. I'm never mean or cruel to him. I simply stand firm, hold my hand out with the palm toward him and say, "Whoa!" in a commanding voice. It always works even when he is being particularly frisky. He already whoa's on command and backs with light pressure and command so I think he's doing quite well for one so young. One thing I have learned though, if a grown horse's attention span and interests in an exercise only lasts 15 minutes, you can figure that a three week old foal's is about 15 seconds. I try to repeat each exercise at least three times on each side but no more than six. I've also been throwing a hand towel across his back and around his legs, behind and neck. He doesn't seem to have any problem with the throwing but when I left it on him this morning, he reached around and attempted to pull it off. I'm doing my best to get him desensitized to as many things as possible while he is still young and curious.

I will try to get some more shots of him later today. I'm having camera problems at the moment and could not adjust my shutter speed for some reason. That is why this shot is a bit blurred but I still love that flying mane and tail!

Our good friends, Tammy and Chris, stopped by last night to meet Danny. They've been trying to find the time to visit since he was born but they are so busy these days trying to get their new barn and arena finished. Danny was not on his best behavior; he was more than a little rambunctious but he was still sweet and let them both pet him. The other two boys, Django and Riley, made up for his rudeness though since they haven't been getting the attention they are use to since Danny arrived on the scene. I think that Django is just a little bit jealous of his little brother; he is after all use to being the "baby" in the family. Both horses did totally enjoy the visit and all of that petting and affection. Even the usually shy Riley was eating it up.

Week Three-Species Confusion

2010-05-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken last night, the day before he turns 3 weeks old! A friend told me that we were Ok as long as he doesn't start barking and chasing cars. He's teething and soooo mouthy. I said this morning on his facebook page, better the stick than us. I have been correcting him every time he nips. Usually, I put my fingers in his mouth and press into the soft palette until he tries to spit my fingers out. Now, he thinks about biting me but hardly ever does. Steve, on the other hand, needs to learn how to be firmer with him. He tries pinching Danny's nose when he bites but Danny has learned to nip and run or at least jerk his head away from Steve's pinching fingers.

Two Weeks and Growing

2010-05-22T05:23:00.000-07:00

It has been amazing watching Danny grow. By the second week, he was beginning to look like a little horse instead of a baby. He was not only taller but more muscular and he was much more active. Mouse had begun to give him more space by then and was no longer chasing after him when he'd take off on one of his wild runs. She actually seemed to be leaving him with the "grandparents" to watch whenever Steve or I were at the barn so that she could actually get a moment or two to graze in peace. The first week had been rough on her and she'd looked exhausted since she never left the baby's side but by the start of the second week, she was looking more like her old self. She would occasionally take Danny out for runs and he was keeping up with her quite well. I wondered if the runs weren't a way to exhaust him though so he would sleep and let her rest as well.

Although Steve and I quickly learned that we weren't suppose to horseplay with Danny, he found other ways to amuse himself. I'd gotten him a little exercise ball made for miniature horses. The handle was still too big for Danny's little mouth and try as he might, he could not get it to roll forward by kicking it like I did. He would try nudging it with his nose first, then he would try to kick it forward. When that didn't work, he'd paw it and it would roll backwards. That frustrated him so he'd end up just leaping on it. He is so much fun to watch.

My how we've grown....Danny at two weeks!

Lessons Learned

2010-05-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

The first week was full of lessons for both Danny and for us. Mouse was terribly protective of him at first at least with strangers. Neither Steve nor I realized that the afterbirth should have been expelled within the first three hours. Mid-afternoon, on the day Danny was born, I called Huston and asked him. He told me to call a vet immediately. As I said before, my vet was out of town so, once again, Brandy McDonnell came to the rescue. I called her and she said that her vet, Gretchen Laws, had just left her farm following a Coggins clinic. She called her for me and sent her over to our farm. When she and her assistant arrived, Mouse was not letting them near her baby. Mouse had to be sedated but the afterbirth was quickly dispelled and found to be whole and clean. Still she put Mouse on three days of antibiotic and said that she'd return at 6:30 the next morning to check on Mouse and test Danny's blood for antibodies.

While the vets were there, our farrier (who'd predicted Danny's birthday the day before), Dale Collis dropped by with his two sweet kids and a little friend to meet the new baby. Mouse was fine since she was still sedated and Danny had no fear of the little strangers and seemed to truly enjoy the attention. The vet commented on how imprinted he was and I said, "That's what two hours of intensive handling right after birth will do but it wasn't intentional (just done out of our ignorance and fear actually, lol)." We hadn't left his and his mama's side for most of the day. I will always have the memory of sitting in the barn with Steve while Mouse, he and I watched the baby sleep with a gentle rain falling outside. And also, there was the time the baby was awake and kept darting out into the rain with Mouse chasing him and guiding him back in, grumbling the entire time.

It was obvious that this little guy had as much to teach us as we did him. The first week, we watched him seem to grow and fill out right before our eyes. It was magical. He was so full of life and already exerting his independence which Mouse wasn't ready to relinquish for at least another week. We made one mistake right from the start, we let him lean into us because we thought it was offering him security. It actually might have been but we were told by both Huston and Fran and an anonymous internet source never to do that because it makes them think that you are a horse as well. It is an on going process but we are finally learning to be firm with him and establish respect and trust.

I joked the first week that I needed to get Danny an appointment book because so many people wanted to come by and meet him. My friend, Paula Grimes-Price, dropped by the next Saturday when he was a week old. Danny warmed up to her quickly and we had a great visit. I told her that my idea of the perfect guest is one who actually enjoys hanging out at the barn.

One thing is for certain, that sweet little guy who seems to be all legs and ears, has changed our lives forever....and life is so sweet!

B~Day Arrives!

2010-05-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

We brought Mouse home in November of 2009. My worry wasn't so bad at that time but anyone, who's ever had a mare foal, knows how quickly those last few months can fly by and how unprepared for the actual birth you usually are. According to the foaling calculator I'd found on the internet, her foaling day was May 1st. A month before, I started worrying because she hadn't made milk yet. I was certain she'd somehow managed to get hold of some fescue which will keep them from making milk. Two weeks before due date, she finally started to "bag up." A week before, we started practically living in the paddock with her. Despite the heavy rains all Winter long, my husband had managed to at least get the little barn he was building her under roof. So, we knew she and the baby would have shelter. We brought in the straw and got safe water containers and otherwise, did our best to baby proof the entire paddock. I gathered up the towels, gloves, scissors, and betadine that I'd been told I might need. I asked my vet two weeks before, when she'd come to the farm to give the yearly shots to all of the horses, just what I needed to know. She told me that most likely Mouse would have the baby with no trouble and without me and that I'd just come out one morning and find and baby running about. She told me that the only problem might be if one leg or both was folded up inside and if that happened, she could talk me through it on the phone, telling me what to do to deliver the baby.

Our farrier, Dale Collis, visited on April 30th. He took one look at Mouse and told me that we would have a baby in the next 24 hours. That night my husband was working late in the fields trying to get our hay sown before the rain predicted for that weekend arrived. He would stop and go check on Mouse every two hours. When he came in at 2:30 a.m., he told me that there was no change and she was showing no signs of going in to labor. I set my alarm for 4:30 when I'd go and check on her again. When I arrived at the barn, Mouse was still hungry. We'd been told that she'd lose her appetite in the six hours or so before delivery but I always doubted that; nothing keeps Mouse from eating. I even joked that she'd probably continue to eat as she delivered and she did, lol. I'd only been there about five minutes when she had her first contraction. It was huge and seemed to send her entire body into spasms but it passed quickly. I waited but there wasn't a followup. I went into the barn and sat down on a straw bale and waited, watching her closely. Around 5:30, she became very restless. I went out to check on her and before I could reach her, her water broke in one big rush and there was the baby already making his way into life. Thankfully, he wasn't breach but only one leg was sticking out. The other leg was folded up. Unfortunately, my vet was out of town that weekend so I had no one to call that could talk me through this. I forgot the gloves and grabbed the towels. I pulled on that one little hoof every time Mouse pushed but I was surprised by how slippery the leg was and I couldn't seem to get a good grip. Mouse kept lying down and trying to push and then standing up to walk around and to try and straighten out the baby. I was panicked so I called Steve. He had to get dressed and walk, or run, the 1/4 mile to the paddock because he'd left his truck there the night before. I continued trying to help but I wasn't being very successful. I was so scared because I knew that every minute that passed was endangering the foal's life and maybe even Mouse's. When Steve arrived, he took over. It took him and Mouse, at least two more good pushes and pulls but the leg finally popped out and almost immediately the baby followed. The moment he hit the ground Steve checked the time, 6:05 a.m. on the dot. He broke the sac and wiped it away from the baby's mouth.

Neither of us had any experience with birthing foals. We were so worried when the little guy didn't immediately get to his feet like they always seem to do in the movies. At 6:15, I called my friend, trainer, Brandy McDonnell to ask her advise. She was so sweet and nice despite the fact that I'd evidently woken her up. She even called back twice that morning to check on the baby's progress. And she patiently answered all of my stupid questions: How long before he stands up?...can be at least two hours (also suggested getting some colostrum into him via a syringe to jump start him), Is he suppose to be this skinny?...yes, Sande, he is....What about the hairy hooves?....normal, She won't let him nurse; how do we get him to nurse?...she's sore; guide him to her udders and help him. I don't know what I would have done without Brandy! She has my eternal gratitude. And two hours later, he was on his wobbly little legs, nursing and getting to know Mom Mouse. He was also very, very imprinted thanks to that two hours of handling right after his birth. I think he thinks that Steve and I are his parents, too:)

Before

2010-05-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

I wasn't planning on breeding Mouse at all. I'm just too much of a worrier especially where Mouse is concerned. From the moment I first set eyes on her, nearly six years ago, she owned my heart. She was a gift from my husband. We were sitting on a sunny beach in Cozumel celebrating my husband's fiftieth birthday. The trip had been my gift to him and he appreciated it not only for the obvious reasons but because it had saved him from the inevitable birthday party which our families were planning for him (and which he would also have inevitably hated.) So, he was in an extremely happy and agreeable mood when he turned to me with a smile and asked, "Now what are you going to want for your 50th birthday that will be as nice as this." He was a bit taken back however when I didn't even hesitate before I answered very simply, "A horse."

I did go on to explain to him that I'd wanted a horse as long as I had memory and I felt (as so many people approaching that landmark birthday do about so many things) that, if I didn't get a horse then, I never would. So, as soon as we were back home, the search began. I, of course, had no idea what to even look for in a horse. I was told that, at my "ripe old age" of forty-eight, I most certainly needed a gaited horse to carry my rapidly deteriorating old bones in comfort.

I started my search where most everything starts these days, on the internet. I researched different breeds and various sellers and listings. When I'd gone to check out a Paso Fino which was for sale and located nearby, the lady who owned him told me that I didn't want a Paso. She said, "What you need is a Missouri Fox Trotter. Come out and look at mine." He was a big gray and when the lady's husband came riding him across the barn lot at a fast clip and in a gait we didn't recognize and the rider was not moving one iota, both Steve and I were sold. Their Fox Trotter was not for sale but they told us about their trip to Missouri where they had purchased him and another. As we were leaving their farm, Steve asked me, "When are we going to Missouri?"

So, back on the internet I went with at least a specific breed in mind now. I sent out a a lot of emails and received a lot of responses telling me why I should choose their particular horse but only one responded that they wouldn't sell me a horse. That breeder was Fran Forester and she wasn't being rude. She told me that all she had available were young horses and she wouldn't put a green rider like me on a green horse. I've since learned that green on green leads to black and blue. What Fran did offer to do was help me find a horse and advise me on what to look for and who to trust. Over the next six months, we grew to be great friends but as my forty-ninth birthday drew near, I still hadn't found my perfect horse. Fran had told me about a man who knew more about horses than anyone she'd ever met...and that was saying a lot coming from someone as experienced with horses as she was. That man's name was Huston Jenkins . He was at that time eighty years old and still raising, breaking and training horses. He did not however often offer any of his horses for sale and he was very picky about who was allowed to buy one of them.

A few weeks before my birthday, I received an email from Fran. If an email can be described as excited, this one was. Fran told me that she'd just gotten a call from Huston's niece, Cathy, and he had a mare...and she was gray. You see, horse idiot that I was at that time, my only criteria besides the breed was that I really, really wanted a dappled gray horse. I'd even decided on a name for this horse once I'd finally found her, Mouse. Cathy was suppose to send me photos of the gray mare but they were delayed because of a family emergency. She emailed that she'd get them to me asap. So, I waited and I actually didn't sleep I was so excited. Somehow, I think I knew this was the horse of my dreams. Finally, the email containing the photos arrived and I knew without a doubt. I printed them off at 2:00 in the a.m. and I pinned the photos to the wall beside our bathroom sink so that they'd be the first thing Steve saw in the morning. Across them, I'd written, this is the ONE in big red letters. The next day, I called Huston and asked if he'd hold the horse until I could get to Missouri to see her....and I asked her name. He told me that it was, MOUSE'S Funny Face. The rest as they say, is history:)

The rest is also Mouse's story and this is Danny's story. In 1999, we went back to Missouri to visit Huston and to pick up Mouse's first born son, Sensational Boy J (Django). We also took Mouse with us so that Huston could see her and ride her again. He loves her as much as I do and he knows that, even though she lives most of the time with me now, he will always own part of her because, as with me, she owns part of his heart, too. Huston often says that she is the best horse he's ever raised. She's bright and beautiful and just special. Huston was so happy to see her again. Steve and I started discussing how we could leave her with Huston for the Summer so that he could enjoy her for a while. Huston had been trying to convince me to breed Mouse for sometime. He always said that her breeding was just too good not to carry on the bloodline. So, we asked Huston if he would get her bred for us and if he'd keep her until we could return for her in the Fall. He readily agreed and before we left, the breeding was already arranged and we'd already met the breeder and the stallion, a sweetheart of a horse named Traveler's Sensational Zane. And for those of you familiar with MFT breeding, yes, he does have all three of those famous stallions on his papers and so does Mouse. So, we were pretty much assured for the beginning that this would be a spectacular foal.