Month: December 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Just when things began to look up for me….Wade ended up sick.  He has been home from school all week with fevers and coughing.  The boy that normally runs and jumps everywhere he goes has begged me to carry him up and down our stairs each day.  He has not gotten out of his pajamas, and has eaten only one meal a day for the whole week.  I keep telling him that I think he is beginning to grow roots into my couch cushion.  Poor guy.

In the meantime, I have been trying to catch up on some of my own barn work and riding.  I have several things to do in order to leave for Florida in a few weeks.  Yesterday Dr. Yates came to give Gus and Murphy their booster shots and draw a coggins on Gus.  He also did Isabelle’s fall shots since she had not had them done before I bought her.  Today Bobby McMichael came to float Gus’s teeth and check on Murphy’s.   Gus was sharp, as apparent by the fact he keeps destroying my rubber snaffle bit.  Murphy had been done this year by his former owner, but had a small baby tooth that needed to be pulled.  The chiropractor is coming out on the 26th of December to work on Gus and check Murphy.  My trailer has an appointment for the 10th of January.  I have decided to rent my own apartment this year in Ocala, so all of the rental paperwork and deposits were completed yesterday with Carlton Arms.  My final paperwork was faxed to the Rocking Horse show organizer yesterday as well.  We are now officially entered in the first Rocking Horse Show of the season.

Yesterday I jumped Gus for the first time since November.  He was extremely flat and bored with the small fences, but got himself together once I raised them up to a height he respected.  I was very happy with him, and I fell back into a rhythm after awhile.   Murphy was a bit squirelly yesterday, and I think that the warm weather and heavy training in Ocala will benefit him greatly.

The goals for Ocala 2013 are many.

1.  compete and COMPLETE my first intermediate

2.  evaluate Murphy’s ability to be an upper level prospect and decide what to do with him

3.  Hopefully qualify to do a two * event at Ocala in April

4.  work on a writing project I have been trying to find time to complete

5.  watch a ton of lessons and take a ton of lessons

6.  get back into running everyday—-get fit!

 

In the meantime, I have been unable to complete my Christmas shopping and wrapping with Wade home 24-7.  I have only a few days left……..

 

It has been a long couple of weeks…..beginning with a sinus infection and ending with what I think was bronchitis.  I have been so sick and exhausted this past week that I haven’t even ridden my horse (s).   Normally it would be a perfect time for a little break from the boys, but I have about 4 weeks before we head to Ocala—and 5 weeks until our first event.  I hope to begin riding again tomorrow.

Several things have happpened since last I wrote……

Isabelle Blue has been ridden by the cowboy a few times.  She was great one day and naughty the next.  He will be coming out again this week to ride her twice.  On the positive side, she has been getting much better about getting her feet picked, standing in the cross ties, and standing quietly at the mounting block.   Kate has been taking lessons on lunging and general groundwork with her, and she seems to be getting along very well with Isabelle.

On Thursday we had our annual Boarder/Employee Christmas Party here at our house.  Almost everyone was able to be here!  Our house was bursting at the seams, and I told Jeff that it must be time to build onto our house……he didn’t buy it.

Jeff spent the day outside working on farm chores.  It was great to see how nice the south barn looked after all of the construction equipment and random trash had been cleared.   We still need to put the rubber mats in the stalls before we move horses in, but hopefully that will come soon!

I have lots and lots of Christmas presents to wrap, some still to buy, and baking to do (not really the baking, I just threw that in to see if you would chuckle).

 

 

Lots of things are happening this week. Today was a non-horse day for me. It was fantastic. I spent the day doing laundry, cleaning my house a bit, re-decorating my Christmas tree (we put different lights on), and doing some craft stuff. Wade and I went on a date to Panera. As usual, he charmed me with his conversation…….and his “bread mustache” .

Continue reading “This week at the farm…….”

Things are starting to take shape in the South Barn! All of the new stalls and doors are finished. Tomorrow they will finish the new back door to the barn and fix some leaks in the roof.  Hopefully we will be able to move some horses in soon!