lazy, lazy, lazy bones

Yesterday evening Hubby and I were headed out to look at a place that just came on the market. (more on that later). He told me he had just gotten off the phone with his grandma who is so graciously watching out for Pinecone. He told me he had a funny story about Piney. I asked “what did he do?!?” and he said “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” I then asked then why is that a funny story? He rarely does anything! Apparently hubby’s cousin and his girlfriend went out to ride that day we left. They tacked up piney and he was great but when his girlfriend got on, he wouldn’t move. At all. Piney just stood there. They tried everything to get him going, hubby’s cousin even hopped on and couldn’t get him moving. They tried for about half an hour before they eventually gave up. That’s my boy, the world’s laziest thoroughbred!


I think it’s hilarious actually. A lot of people are scared of riding Thoroughbreds. They have the reputation of being hot, taking off at high rates of speeds and being difficult to ride. Then there is Pine Bend. He is only hot when the weather is hot out and that is temperature wise, not temperament wise. The only time I’ve seen him take off at a high rate of speed was when he was being particularly full of himself one spring and started walking off as I mounted and his foot got trapped in the mounting stool which scared the crap out of him. He took off at a gallop which lasted about 2 strides then he halted, at “X”. It was the first and last time he has ever walked off as I mounted. How he made it as a race horse for 4 years…I will never know. I will, however, be the first to admit he is difficult to ride. The first time I rode him was amazing and easy. The second time I rode him I was in tears because he wouldn’t move. It was then that I was introduced to riding with a dressage whip. I’ve since learned how to push his buttons and get him moving. Maybe he is just a one person horse. He was being used for lessons by beginners but it was when he was being ridden or worked 6 days a week. Little kids ride him but its only when I’m leading him, or he is following me. But Piney not moving is the kind of difficult thoroughbred I’d like to own. I’d rather have one that stands still than one that can’t stand still!!

We are headed up north to see the Coneman on Friday afternoon. Well actually we are headed up north to spend the long weekend with hubby’s family. But seeing Piney is an added bonus! I’m excited to get some riding in. Hopefully I can get on that lazy horse of mine and get him moving. Hubby’s little 4 year old cousin also has a new helmet and is excited for some more "riding lessons" from me.

Since the house buying trama we have started looking at other properties a bit more seriously. One came on the market this last week and we went and checked out the property a little bit. It is 2 miles from my old barn! I’d driven past the place hundreds of times and was always curious about it. it’s got a real long tree lined driveway but the property is pretty wooded. We’d have to do a lot of clearing to get some pastures/paddocks put up. My main concern is the overland flooding that occours in the area every year. If memory serves me correct the entire property is usually underwater in the spring. But then again I could be wrong. The house looks like it is built up a bit. Who knows we will probably look at it a bit closer in the near future. It would be great location for piney because if the girls from the barn were headed to a show we could just hop on in with them and catch a ride! Plus if I had any concerns about any bumps or scrapes my monster go I could call the owner of the barn/my riding instructor and have her stop out and check for me before I freaked out and called the vet.

The other property we have been looking at is still not on the market but expected to be listed next week. We drove out there and they have majorly cleaned it up. All the garbage has been hauled out of there and the house cleaned up a bit. I think the property is adorable. And I think that the house could be really cute with some TLC and some money. But hubby doesn’t think that the house is worth saving. We will just have to wait and see. But it doesn’t look like the horses are coming home any time in the near future. Sad. But absence makes the heart grow fonder, and in time we will have our little homestead set up!

I NEED one of these!!

Thought i posted this yesterday some how it was saved as a draft instead

I stumbled upon an amazing little website today called OTTB Designs. They sell saddle pads with an adorable little OTTB design on it.
Their motto is:

"Promoting Ex-Racers as Sport and Pleasure Horses"

(Love it!)

"Take pride in your horse's past, while training for his future"

(ABSOLUTELY love it)

$5 from the sale of each pad is donated to which ever thoroughbred charity you choose. How great is that??

 I want need one of these pads!!!

I'll take one in each color please!

I am in love with these! They would look so fancy on my boy! PLUS I'd be advertising to the world that he is an OTTB!

I might die if I don't get one of these...lol

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this design!!

Yuck yuck yuck...

I may or may not have thrown up all over my keyboard when reading this article...Who comes up with this?? I'm still sick at the thought...

*Barf*

WTF?!?…Seriously WTF?!?

WTF is wrong with people in this world? I was reading an article that i had found on a link on CNN.com about a bear attacking a horse, which was a really scary thought, when I saw a link on the side of it to this Another horse sexually abused in Suffolk. My first thought was ANOTHER horse? Apparently someone is going around raping horses with blunt objects. It made me sick to my stomach. Here is the link to the origional report Suffolk investigators searching for suspects that sexually abused a horse but seriously WTF is wrong with people that would make them do that?

Parti Pooper

Introducing Parti Pooper

Pooper, as she is affectionately called, is a 4 year old parti colored American cocker spaniel. She is smaller than breed standards but I think she is perfect sized! Her markings are absolutely fabulous and was exactly what I was looking for when I got her. One of my favorite things about her is her “eyebrows”. I also love how she has this dopey little run. When she runs she has her mouth open, head down low and her ears flopping. It is adorable. My brother once compared her to a shark. Sharks have to keep swimming or they will die, Pooper needs to wag her tail or she will die. It is constantly moving. The darling dog does have a “licker” problem. She can’t control it. If you hold her away from you she will lick the air around your face. And if she can she will lick any exposed skin you may have. She is a very happy dog and looking at her you can’t help but laugh.

Pooper was originally named “Piper” but that name just wouldn’t stick. I couldn’t call her that she was in fact a little pooper! I once called a new groomer to get an appointment for her and I said her name the groomer asked “is that with a ‘C’ or a ‘K’?” When I said P she burst out laughing and told me that it made her day to have a dog named Pooper coming in. I’d be lying if I said she was a good puppy. She was as my mom called her “the dog from hell”. She ate shoes, and cords, and furniture, and fingers, and hair, and pillows. Once I caught her with a $20 bill in her mouth. I have no idea where she got it, or how, but when I went to retrieve it she bit me. I’d let her sleep in bed with me (awful I know) but I had to hide my head under the covers until she fell asleep or she would chew my hair and lick my face off.

"Oh Hello there!"

"I'm wagging my tail!"

She’s gotten better as she got older though! I was nervous for a while! When hubby is away I let the dogs sleep in bed with me. Pooper has to sleep touching me. she also likes to sleep up on the pillows. Usually when I wake up I have a “Pooper” hat and she is curled around my head with her chin on my forehead. Pooper is Tuckers best friend. They play all the time. It’s good for him to get some of that terror energy out and it’s good for Pooper to have someone to play with. AND is great for Diesel to be left alone. (He doesn’t like dogs). I think Pooper is a great dog, I think all my dogs are great. I know everyone may not think they are great but I do. Pooper needs her person to reassure her that everything will be ok. She can get a bit nervous, and whiney sometimes but that’s one of the things I love about her.

A 3 week old Pooper (picture from her breeders)

"Exploring the farm is fun!"

"Me and my funny looking brother, are going to the lakes!"

Turbo Diesel Dually

Since I introduced Tucker yesterday I thought I would introduce the next two in my little domestic wolf pack over the next two days.

Introducing Turbo Diesel Dually!

Hi! I'm Diesel! But my mom calls me "Punx" or "D-Bear" or "Baby Bear"

I love all seasons! especially winter!

Diesel is a five year old American Cocker Spaniel. I just think Cockers are the cutest dogs ever! When they look up at you with their big brown eyes you want to give them all the milk bones you have as well as all the steaks and meat in the fridge. They are fun little dogs too. They aren’t too big and they aren’t too small where you feel like you are going to crush them if you play a little rough. Being the smallest of the hunting breed they are dogs that LOVE being out in the great wide open. He really comes alive when he’s allowed to stretch his legs and hunt down some new smells. Once when we lived on the farm he tracked down half of a rabbit carcuss and was very dissapointed that I wouldn't let him in the house with it. I'd also find him daily sitting under a telephone wire barking at a bird perched on it.

Diesel is the only dog I have ever met that cannot swim. It’s not that he doesn’t like to swim or hates water…he just cannot swim. We’ve rescued him numerous times when he’s gotten too deep and risked drowning which is tough to do because you are laughing so hard at his pathetic attempt at swimming. When my mom was watching him one weekend last summer, she had to go up to her neck fully clothed because Diesel decided to go for a 7 am swim. We have to keep an eye on him because he just loves to be in the water. We bought him a life jacket so that he can swim and not risk drowning.

"I can't swim, but I sure love the water!"

Diesel also loves cats. He thinks they are the greatest things ever. One of his earliest playmates was a cat that thought he was in fact a dog. (Or maybe Diesel thinks he is a cat…hmmm) They would play all day. He now thinks that whenever he sees a cat they will play with him like his buddy did. Poor little fellow has had his nose scratched once or twice and he’s been hissed at more times than I can count. Diesel also loves his "fishies". I have an aquarium and he will sit there for hours watching them, licking the glass, panting heavily on the glass, banging his paws on the glass, or just sitting on the couch near them guarding them. He has a love hate with his "sucky" fish that cleans the tank. when it's on the sides of the tank he'll lick the glass. it's very weird to see.

"Listen here YOU!"

"YIKES!!! I'm sorry!"

Diesel is a really good boy. He also knows alot of tricks. His best trick is his sad cocker spaniel face. that gets him hugs and treats galore. I love him to bits and peices and can't wait until he has his own farm to run around again. I can tell he misses his farm dog lifestyle and we are working on getting it for him!

Baby Turbo Diesel Dually

Me and my best boy Diesel

"I'm happiest on a farm, where I can play all day!"

Boston Terror

For those of you who haven’t met Tucker, here he is.

Tucker is an 11 month old Boston terrier puppy, or as I call him a Boston “Terror”. Having grown up with a cocker spaniel, and then going on to own two cocker spaniels in my adult hood, I have very little experience with any breed of terrier. I knew that Bostons were a high energy breeds but little did I know how much energy they have. The only time Tucker is not a handful is when it’s time for bed and time for him to go into his kennel. He becomes dead weight and is a total snuggle bear, making you feel extremely guilty for putting him in his bed. Boston’s aren’t for everyone. They can be smelly, and their farts can clear the room. I only acquired this knowledge as we were driving home from the breeders with our new Boston terrier puppy when he let one rip. But he is a pretty funny little dog with tons of personality. If he does something bad, it is usually immediately followed by something hilarious, which makes you forget what he did. When he was younger I’d often find him standing on the coffee table staring at me like I was the one doing something wrong.




 

"Tucker! Just let me take your picture!"



"Tucker! No sleeping on the couch at Grandma's!"



There is nothing that scares him. He boldly defends his family from the vacuum cleaner , and tries to scare off the weed whacker by darting 6 feet in front of it then running as fast as he can back and forth past it. He also makes sure that all the stuffed, foxes, ducks, rabbits, and teddy bears in the house have their stuffing removed so that they don’t come alive and attack our family. We’ve only met one thing that has ever scared the living daylights out of him, and rightfully so. Last weekend when we were at the farm Tucker being his brave trail blazing self was going to lead us through the smaller of the two paddocks out to the horses. He is quite the trail blazer, he likes to make sure it is safe for his family to continue. Plus he wants to mark his territory to let others know, he owns that farm. The little trailblazer was marching happily on his way as hubby and I were negotiating our way through ankle deep mud and muck when we heard a loud “YELP” followed by some little yelps and a Boston terrier who no longer wanted to head onwards. His little ears were pinned back and he was positive certain death was ahead. It seems little Tucker pants landed on top of a strand of electric fence. His little life most certainly flashing before his eyes as he fried the bejeepers out of himself. Thankfully he seems completely un harmed but a little humbled by his experience.

This is sort of what Tucker looked like after he got zapped, but he had a more worried look in his eye

We put him on his leash and tried to get him to go further but he was done. He wanted nothing to do with horses, or mud or zappy fences. He wanted to go home and go into his nice safe bed….after he found a big mud puddle to play in of course. He learned the hard way that electric fences are nothing to mess with.

He may be a handful, and he may be awful at times but I do love the little fella. He does have a big heart in that little body of his and can be awfuly cute most of the times. Tucker Pants is just trying to be a good boy.