There are a couple of ladies I know in Northern Vermont who rescued 16 horses off the slaughter truck. Yep, folks, it even happens around here. Now they are looking for foster/forever homes for these horses. I know two of them are geldings, the other 14 mares... whew. That takes my chances down by a long shot!
So, if you are looking for a horse and truly want to save one who was a breath away from being killed - literally - this is your chance. I don't know all the details, but if you have a facebook account just do a search for Vermont Slaughter Bound No More and there are quite a few pictures of the horses on there. And Kathleen will be the one to contact about them...
Now for the crew. I have had to put Tommy on a D.I.E.T. Yep. Mr. Chunky thighs. I can't hardly feel his ribs through the fat on them. What a difference a year makes. As soon as things get down to a dull roar around here and the weather warms up just a little bit and the wind stops blowing, I will post pictures of before and after. It's been almost a year since I first saw him. We are getting ready to ride. Gulp. No, no, he is doing fine... I'm just a little yellow chicken... b-gawk..... I've only ridden twice this winter and he is BIG! He's grown- I swear he has- not just around, but tall. So, when someone is home, I'm riding him in the pasture for the first few times. I'm sure he will do fine. Had the saddle on him the other night. Thank god it was a western saddle because the girth for the English wouldn't fit around him. Even when he wasn't sticking out his gut.
Too many bad news stories out there - in the past few days, I have heard of three, with more than 75 horses involved, combined. I know I don't have deluxe accommodations, but they have what they need and plenty of attention. I don't know how people can sleep at night or eat knowing their animals are suffering and dying.
I make sure all mine are fed and in usually before I make my dinner every night. And it's something I've drilled in my girls heads since they were little. The animals don't eat? Then neither do you. If you can't afford to feed them, then don't have them.
Ok. Sorry. I'll get off my soap box now. Do some deep breathing exercises. Calm myself down. Kinda ran away with myself there for a few moments.
Ok. Chickens are enjoying their pen - they are staying home - where they belong - and still getting some exercise. The ponies are liking the warmer weather - so is Tommy. The dogs are doing great, as well as the cats and birds. And my hubby is working harder than ever. Two of my girls are playing softball - one a senior, one a sophomore - so on Tuesday, the games begin... so glad the snow is mostly gone. And even though the wood stoves are keeping us very toasty tonight I will be glad when I can have a break from feeding/cleaning them on a daily basis.
Happy thoughts out to the barn, boys... stay snuggled up warm.
:)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
I Ride. A page from an 87 year-old horsewoman's handwritten journal.
I ride. That seems like such a simple statement.
However, as many women who ride know... it is a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment; being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of a freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold drink after a long ride.
The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'a sickness.'
It's a nice sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my plastic model horses and dreaming of the day when I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand that meaning of 'the sickness.' It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and -- in some ways -- who we are as women and human beings.
I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some nice trail head somewhere, unload, saddle up, whistle up my dog and I ride.
I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees, and savor the moment of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile spreads across my weathered face. I pull my floppy hat down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the sand. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of his walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth.
I consider the simple statement: I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb rocky slopes, wade into a lily-pond lake, race a friend across the hay field, all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days, just the act of mounting and unmounting can be a real accomplishment. Still, I ride, no matter how tired or how much my sitter bones or any of my other acquired horse-related injuries hurt. I ride. And I feel a lot better for doing so.
I think of the people, mostly women, that I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie in the bunch. We haul 40 foot rigs, we back 'em up into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp, tend the horses. We cook and keep our camp neat. We understand and love our companions, our horses. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, bathe, wait and doctor. Your hands are a little rough and you travel without makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford 'the sickness' and, probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a little model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one.
"My treasures do not chink or glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night."
I don't know who wrote this, but when I received it in my email today, I knew I would be posted on my blog tonight. I do remember playing with horses and dreaming of owning real ones when I grew older. Now that I am older (ok, I'm not anywhere near 87, but that doesn't mean some days it doesn't feel like it, lol) I do have real horses. And I have promised myself that I never will be without a furry, neighing, therapy 'sickness' in the barn out behind my house. Even if I have to be wheeled out in my wheelchair or struggle with my cane to visit them and feed them carrots and kiss their soft noses.
However, as many women who ride know... it is a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment; being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of a freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold drink after a long ride.
The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'a sickness.'
It's a nice sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my plastic model horses and dreaming of the day when I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand that meaning of 'the sickness.' It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and -- in some ways -- who we are as women and human beings.
I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some nice trail head somewhere, unload, saddle up, whistle up my dog and I ride.
I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees, and savor the moment of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile spreads across my weathered face. I pull my floppy hat down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the sand. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of his walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth.
I consider the simple statement: I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb rocky slopes, wade into a lily-pond lake, race a friend across the hay field, all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days, just the act of mounting and unmounting can be a real accomplishment. Still, I ride, no matter how tired or how much my sitter bones or any of my other acquired horse-related injuries hurt. I ride. And I feel a lot better for doing so.
I think of the people, mostly women, that I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie in the bunch. We haul 40 foot rigs, we back 'em up into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp, tend the horses. We cook and keep our camp neat. We understand and love our companions, our horses. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, bathe, wait and doctor. Your hands are a little rough and you travel without makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford 'the sickness' and, probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a little model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one.
"My treasures do not chink or glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night."
I don't know who wrote this, but when I received it in my email today, I knew I would be posted on my blog tonight. I do remember playing with horses and dreaming of owning real ones when I grew older. Now that I am older (ok, I'm not anywhere near 87, but that doesn't mean some days it doesn't feel like it, lol) I do have real horses. And I have promised myself that I never will be without a furry, neighing, therapy 'sickness' in the barn out behind my house. Even if I have to be wheeled out in my wheelchair or struggle with my cane to visit them and feed them carrots and kiss their soft noses.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Here Comes The Snow....
It started an hour ago with just a few pretty flakes falling down. Now it's worked up to serious business. The dogs are enjoying it, but really like sleeping next to the wood stove. We still have way less snow than Maryland does. I'm not complaining at all. This might help with the ouchy foot thing that Tommy is still battling. Really been spoiled this winter with the nice weather and doing chores in a t-shirt.
The chicken feathers love the snow. They made a snow angel one day, but by the time I got my camera out there to take a picture, one of them had ruined it.
Ordered my turkeys. Hopefully we will eat more than the fox did this year. I ordered a couple of extra as I had requests for freezer birds. Even if we get a little back, no way we will break even. They eat too well. But that makes for a bird you don't have to worry about eating.
So many horses still looking for homes. Dogs. Cats. Birds. People suck. If you get an animal, it should be for life. And if you can't keep it, give it away to someone who will take care of it - not take it from the frying pan into the fire. Just makes me want to thump my head on the desk. Really HARD. Sigh.
Snuggle your furry friends around the fire and watch the snow falling outside. Best way to spend a cold, snowy day...
The chicken feathers love the snow. They made a snow angel one day, but by the time I got my camera out there to take a picture, one of them had ruined it.
Ordered my turkeys. Hopefully we will eat more than the fox did this year. I ordered a couple of extra as I had requests for freezer birds. Even if we get a little back, no way we will break even. They eat too well. But that makes for a bird you don't have to worry about eating.
So many horses still looking for homes. Dogs. Cats. Birds. People suck. If you get an animal, it should be for life. And if you can't keep it, give it away to someone who will take care of it - not take it from the frying pan into the fire. Just makes me want to thump my head on the desk. Really HARD. Sigh.
Snuggle your furry friends around the fire and watch the snow falling outside. Best way to spend a cold, snowy day...
Friday, February 12, 2010
The On Again, Off Again Lameness
Thought we had this thing in the books. One to write about and it would be done with. Guess not. I'm seeing a pattern, though. The more ice and frozen poop on the ground, the ouchier Tommy is. Joe will be here next week to do the horses feet. Think I'm going to try a pair of shoes on the front for him. When I put boots on him, he does fine, but it is slippery with the hard rubber and don't want to put him out with the ones with studs on.
The chicken girls are having a bit of an attitude. Guess they don't like their nests to lay eggs on - they have been hiding them in the plastic tarp that is covering part of their cage. I moved part of the tarp to find the plug in for the light and found some frozen eggs. Goodie. Moved things around so it was open in there now and could find them on the first try instead of having to dig for them. They must not like me taking their eggs every day.
The pony boys are doing great. They are getting plump and sassy. So, with Tommy being at a good weight and the ponies being easy as air ferns to keep weight on, I have started cutting back a little on their free choice hay during the day. They are not happy with that and are letting me know. I went to let them in last night and they were standing at the back door, thumping it with their feet, as if they were saying - let me in, i'm cold and i want to eat now!
I'm liking this no snow and easy temperatures. I can get the barn chores done and inside in less than an hour at night. That includes cleaning stalls and filling water buckets. The buckets aren't 20 gallon popsicles every night. That sure is nice. Even though Phil saw his shadow if the rest of winter goes like this I'm not going to complain.
E's last night for basketball. Then basketball season is over for us. Still have indoor soccer and maybe softball.
:)
The chicken girls are having a bit of an attitude. Guess they don't like their nests to lay eggs on - they have been hiding them in the plastic tarp that is covering part of their cage. I moved part of the tarp to find the plug in for the light and found some frozen eggs. Goodie. Moved things around so it was open in there now and could find them on the first try instead of having to dig for them. They must not like me taking their eggs every day.
The pony boys are doing great. They are getting plump and sassy. So, with Tommy being at a good weight and the ponies being easy as air ferns to keep weight on, I have started cutting back a little on their free choice hay during the day. They are not happy with that and are letting me know. I went to let them in last night and they were standing at the back door, thumping it with their feet, as if they were saying - let me in, i'm cold and i want to eat now!
I'm liking this no snow and easy temperatures. I can get the barn chores done and inside in less than an hour at night. That includes cleaning stalls and filling water buckets. The buckets aren't 20 gallon popsicles every night. That sure is nice. Even though Phil saw his shadow if the rest of winter goes like this I'm not going to complain.
E's last night for basketball. Then basketball season is over for us. Still have indoor soccer and maybe softball.
:)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Another day, another cold day...
Wow. I guess I need to be more consistent with my updates. I have a had a couple of requests because I haven't updated too much.
The horses are fine. Smokey and Abner are doing well. Tommy didn't need a vet appointment as he trotted out of the barn the last couple of days with no signs of lameness at all. His hoof still looks the same, so don't know what is going on there.
The chickens are slacking off. We were getting between 5 and 6 eggs a day from 6 chickens, now we are only getting 4. We ordered 6 turkeys for this year. Hopefully we will be able to eat more than the fox did. We split the two last year.
Trying to support my horse habit with my new business. Well, the crocheting is not new - been doing that for a very long time. Selling the crocheting to feed my horses and animals is new. Check out my web site. www.TheHappyHookerVt.com I donate 15% of my sales to rescues. I have featured a couple of them on the blog in the past. You can specify or not. A donation is made anyways.
I have sold 4 scarves to date... have a few new afghans I'm posting later today. It is going to take a while to build. Right now I have more invested in yarn than I have sewn, so it's in it's baby steps. Please feel free to forward the information on to anyone you know might be interested.
Hope you all are staying warm. Can't wait for super bowl tonight. Don't care about the football. Just know that I'm going to have my busy husband home for a few hours to visit with while he watches the game and eats the goodies I'll make for him.
Yesterday we went on a date - just the two of us - to watch the women's hockey at Dartmouth. They won 4 to 2. It was their seniors game as their last 3 games are away... It was fun and we realized we had achieved another milestone. Emma is now 16 :( and is going to be driving herself as soon as she gets her 4 hours of driving time with her driver's ed teacher. We will be free - no pick ups from practice or going to the store or friends houses. Ashley is 20 and soon to be on her own. MJ is 18 and a senior and is moving forward in her life. We are almost at the empty nest stage and it's wonderful to know that Mike and I still like to spend time together and have fun doing things together.
Hope you all stay warm and those of you down south can dig out from the snow that I didn't miss for a second!
The horses are fine. Smokey and Abner are doing well. Tommy didn't need a vet appointment as he trotted out of the barn the last couple of days with no signs of lameness at all. His hoof still looks the same, so don't know what is going on there.
The chickens are slacking off. We were getting between 5 and 6 eggs a day from 6 chickens, now we are only getting 4. We ordered 6 turkeys for this year. Hopefully we will be able to eat more than the fox did. We split the two last year.
Trying to support my horse habit with my new business. Well, the crocheting is not new - been doing that for a very long time. Selling the crocheting to feed my horses and animals is new. Check out my web site. www.TheHappyHookerVt.com I donate 15% of my sales to rescues. I have featured a couple of them on the blog in the past. You can specify or not. A donation is made anyways.
I have sold 4 scarves to date... have a few new afghans I'm posting later today. It is going to take a while to build. Right now I have more invested in yarn than I have sewn, so it's in it's baby steps. Please feel free to forward the information on to anyone you know might be interested.
Hope you all are staying warm. Can't wait for super bowl tonight. Don't care about the football. Just know that I'm going to have my busy husband home for a few hours to visit with while he watches the game and eats the goodies I'll make for him.
Yesterday we went on a date - just the two of us - to watch the women's hockey at Dartmouth. They won 4 to 2. It was their seniors game as their last 3 games are away... It was fun and we realized we had achieved another milestone. Emma is now 16 :( and is going to be driving herself as soon as she gets her 4 hours of driving time with her driver's ed teacher. We will be free - no pick ups from practice or going to the store or friends houses. Ashley is 20 and soon to be on her own. MJ is 18 and a senior and is moving forward in her life. We are almost at the empty nest stage and it's wonderful to know that Mike and I still like to spend time together and have fun doing things together.
Hope you all stay warm and those of you down south can dig out from the snow that I didn't miss for a second!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
How Time Flies...
when you're freezing your butt off in Vermont in the winter. Working my fingers to the bones trying to get more afghans and scarves done... too cold, too many things to do and way too cold. Or did I already say that?
15% of the profits from what I sell on my web site go to local rescues. It's may way to help out and feed my animals at the same time.
Visit the site... www.TheHappyHookerVt.com and see if there is anything there that you are interested in. Have a few special orders that I am trying to fill, so not taking any other orders right now.
Hope you all are staying warm. Vet will be out this week as Tommy is still lame and I don't know what is going on. Done everything I know how to do and he still isn't better. This is very frustrating.
Stay warm - don't cuddle too close to the wood stove - it melts the yarn!
15% of the profits from what I sell on my web site go to local rescues. It's may way to help out and feed my animals at the same time.
Visit the site... www.TheHappyHookerVt.com and see if there is anything there that you are interested in. Have a few special orders that I am trying to fill, so not taking any other orders right now.
Hope you all are staying warm. Vet will be out this week as Tommy is still lame and I don't know what is going on. Done everything I know how to do and he still isn't better. This is very frustrating.
Stay warm - don't cuddle too close to the wood stove - it melts the yarn!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Joy of Living in Vermont in Winter Time
I hate winter. Big news flash, huh? I have made that abundantly clear over the last year. Not only am I allergic to dust, hay, horses, chickens, etc. I now find out that I am have asthmatic allergic reaction to ~ insert drum roll here ~ COLD. No way. This is so unfair.
So, here I am last night, trying to bend over and clean Tommy's foot to see what is making him limp, with my scarf hanging down in my eyes, my glasses fogging up, and Tommy sniffing at my butt. I hope you all are laughing right now. I wasn't at the time because I couldn't breathe because it was only 17 degrees in the barn. I was also interfering with his dinner. I would think that if you have 4 legs, you could eat plenty fine on three. There was a small protest until he figured out three were better than two and kept munching on.
Tommy's foot is fine, as far as I could tell, but cleaned it well and put some kopertox on it just in case. Don't know if it smelled funky as I couldn't smell anything if you paid me. Could smell the kopertox after that spilled on my glove. Yuck. Bleck.
I'm headed out in a few minutes to soak his foot in epsom salt and warm water, then will dry it really good and do my famous dressing on it. It consists of putting a cushioned pad in a diaper then duct tape it, wrapping it all up on his hoof. That helps keep whatever is in his foot wicking away while keeping it completely contained and dried. If this doesn't work in a day or so I will have to call out the vet to get a further evaluation.
I do know it is not founder, or a nail or staple or anything like that. It looks good except maybe a little bit of thrush around the frog.
I'll bring my inhaler with me (which I totally don't get, by the way ... why would I use an inhaler to open my breathing passages when I don't want to inhale more COLD air????)
This is why I dream of South Carolina this time of year. I am working on getting everything ready to head south next month, but not sure that I'm going to get it all together for as soon as I want it... but it WILL happen!
Out to the barn... too bad breathing is so mandatory to live... gasp... gotta stop laughing, also, as I run out of breath.....
So, here I am last night, trying to bend over and clean Tommy's foot to see what is making him limp, with my scarf hanging down in my eyes, my glasses fogging up, and Tommy sniffing at my butt. I hope you all are laughing right now. I wasn't at the time because I couldn't breathe because it was only 17 degrees in the barn. I was also interfering with his dinner. I would think that if you have 4 legs, you could eat plenty fine on three. There was a small protest until he figured out three were better than two and kept munching on.
Tommy's foot is fine, as far as I could tell, but cleaned it well and put some kopertox on it just in case. Don't know if it smelled funky as I couldn't smell anything if you paid me. Could smell the kopertox after that spilled on my glove. Yuck. Bleck.
I'm headed out in a few minutes to soak his foot in epsom salt and warm water, then will dry it really good and do my famous dressing on it. It consists of putting a cushioned pad in a diaper then duct tape it, wrapping it all up on his hoof. That helps keep whatever is in his foot wicking away while keeping it completely contained and dried. If this doesn't work in a day or so I will have to call out the vet to get a further evaluation.
I do know it is not founder, or a nail or staple or anything like that. It looks good except maybe a little bit of thrush around the frog.
I'll bring my inhaler with me (which I totally don't get, by the way ... why would I use an inhaler to open my breathing passages when I don't want to inhale more COLD air????)
This is why I dream of South Carolina this time of year. I am working on getting everything ready to head south next month, but not sure that I'm going to get it all together for as soon as I want it... but it WILL happen!
Out to the barn... too bad breathing is so mandatory to live... gasp... gotta stop laughing, also, as I run out of breath.....
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