Brandie helps me at the barn

Yesterday, my good friend Brandie came out to the stables with me and helped me with Rusty and some of the barn chores. I was glad to have her come along! We Horse-crazy people should stick together. I'm glad she enjoyed the day and I hope she'll come with me again.

Soccer Ball II

Who can figure horses?

Today, before my lesson, I had Rusty in the arena with the same "scary" soccer ball that had him on alert Tues. No problem today! He went right up to it and pushed it with his nose and tried to bite it! Maybe our part in a soccer game isn't too far off.

Soccer Ball Fun!

Today I rode with some of the girls who were going to have a horseback soccer game. I wasn't sure how Rusty would like the ball. It turns out he was not happy about the big multi-colored ball at all! This ball is about 2 1/2 feet in diameter! Rusty saw it blowing around and was on instant alert. With someone holding the ball so it wouldn't roll, I got off Rusty and led him over to the ball. He went just a few steps at a time, his neck arched and his nostrils blowing! I put a treat on the ball and he finally ate the treat but it took some time for him to do so. I got him to follow the ball but he didn't like it when the ball came toward him!

I called it quits with the soccer ball after I got Rusty to follow it around. The girls had their game but Rusty wasn't ready for that yet. I think a little more time getting Rusty used to the ball is in order.

We had a wonderful ride and it was hot today so I hosed Rusty off afterwards and took him out to graze. He really likes that!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! Today I'm going to get up on my soapbox and wave the Flag for a while. I'm so grateful to live in the country that (with all its faults) is still the Greatest Country on Earth! We enjoy many wonderful freedoms and privileges in the U.S. that we can be guilty of taking them for granted. I'd really hate to see us become a nation of complainers! We complain about high gas prices and high prices in general. We complain about our government (but statistically few people vote).

God had a very strong way of dealing with complainers. He let them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the whole generation of complainers died out! OUCH!

I've found the best cure for complaining is to count my blessings. One can't possibly keep a complaining spirit when he or she starts to list all the good things God has done for him or her! I'm thankful that I can worship God safely without the secret police barging in and carting me off to jail. I'm thankful for freedom of speech. I'm thankful for a wonderful home and family (including my beautiful horse and weird cats). I'm thankful for good health and that I woke up this morning!

I'm thankful for our brave troops no matter where they are serving. My prayer is that God will bless and protect them and bring them all home soon.

So God Bless America! One Nation Under God! While you are enjoying the picnics and the fireworks with family and friends, count your blessings!

I got my waving flag clip art from FoundingFathers.info.

Rusty's Fly Boots

Last Sunday I put brand new fly boots on Rusty to help ease the irritation of flies around his legs. These boots were clean, white and beautiful! They were so clean they looked funny on him! After our ride, I turned him out in his new boots.

Tuesday I went out and Lo and Behold, Rusty had kept his fly boots on! But were they white? NO! Now they look more normal because they're muddy and dirty. But they work!

Today, Thursday, I received some good tips on cleaning his boots from riders who have used them a lot longer than I have. Think I'll give it a try.

I'll try to get a picture of Rusty with his boots on posted soon.

Have a happy, safe and blessed July 4th. Don't scare horses with firecrackers!

Rusty's New Shoes!

Today my farrier, Stu, and I decided that Rusty could benefit from having shoes put on the front feet. Rusty has had issues with "sand cracks" for a long time. I give him supplements to help strengthen his feet. With fly season upon us, Rusty does a lot of stamping and this aggravates the sand cracks especially if the ground is hard and dry. So, Rusty now has shoes on the front and they are nice. His feet look great and we "test rode" his new shoes today with great results. Stu will check his feet in four weeks (about the time I'd need to have his feet trimmed) and see how we're doing. I have ordered some fly boots for him to help keep the flies off his legs which will reduce the stamping. In the summer, when the flies are bad, we do all sorts of things to help give relief to our horses. Maybe a fly sheet is the next step? We'll see how he does with the boots.

First Trail Ride of the Season!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY! God really outdid Himself today. The weather was perfect for our first trail ride this spring. It wasn't too hot or humid and the flies weren't bad. Summer could stay like today and I'd be happy!

Rusty was very well-behaved our first time out. A couple of things caught his attention and there was one little spook, but he was great. It's funny when there's something that he's unsure of because he snorts at it! I call him my "war horse" because he sounds so fierce!

I'm looking forward to many more wonderful days of riding just like today! Wow!