From one fat woman to another...

I came across a blog today by accident. It caught my eye with the heading..."A Fat Girl & A Fat Horse". What an eye opener. This young woman struck me right down to the bone. You can, be happy in your own skin! Struggling with my own weight for the biggest part of my life, it's real easy to look around at those who are seemingly in better shape and wish I was there. It was because of my weight I became introverted in the first place. Never wanting to go any where or do any thing, because I was always worrying about what people would think. It's taken me a lot of years to become comfortable with my self. And to tell you the truth, I just got damn sick and tired of being depressed with myself. So I got up off my FAT ass and bought a horse. It's been two years now since I bought him. I really have my Granddaughter to thank for that. She's 12, going on 13 come February and she loves the horses. Initially, it was her, I bought another horse after a ten year break from the equine world. It was because of my weight, I'd thought I'd never own another horse again. I had had my mind made up, that I couldn't do it. Little did I know, that I can do it and do it quite well, in spite of my limitations. It was a grueling experience the first six months on the back of my Granddaughters horse. Both of us were out of shape, neither of us could breath and my muscles screamed during the night from exhaustion. The prior owners stalled him and never rode him, and when he was ridden, it was by a six year old girl. Poor guy! lol After the several months atop Handsome's back, I decided to look for a horse of my own. I found her in January just five short months after we got Handsome. She, to was out of shape. She hadn't been ridden in three years. Both of us got a crash course in respect. She was mare-ish and bitchy! I thought myself nuts for a short time. Buying a horse that had to be tuned up was a huge challenge for a fat woman! Leizurely riding was all either of us could do at first. I excercised her 30 minutes or more, a day most days, until we were fit enough to do as much as 4 to 6 hour rides, 2 or 3 times a week. Our distances varied between 10 and 15 miles. There were a couple of time we rode 20 miles round trip.  I must have put nearly 1000 miles on her in less than six months. Who was it, that said "a FAT woman can't ride the distance"?

I've been so busy...

I haven't kept up with my ramblings. Oh well!, I've been busy. Over worked, under paid and getting older has its challenges. September 25th was absolutely horrible. It started out good, but early morning we woke up to a dramatic scene. Ronnie came in the house and woke me up at 5:30 am. He said one of our older dogs wasn't acting right. Slowly rising, because most of the time when he hollers at me about something happening, it's not as dramatic as he makes it sound.

Unfortunately for the dog, this time, it was a matter of life and death. When I dawned the doorstep of the kennel, I looked into Chessies crate and he was foaming at the mouth. He was seemingly calm and lifeless, however when I reached in a dragged him out of the crate, he started seizing. It was a small seizure lasting a few seconds. He snapped out of it pretty fast, but never regained mobility. He had had something similar just a month before.

At that time, I had spoken with our Vet and he said "since he hadn't had any prior episodes, just watch him and see". The seizure then, was mild and regained mobility shortly after and never missed a lick. This time however, was a entirely different episode of continuous seizures. Some of which, lasted mearly 6 minutes. I was frantic, not being able to get in touch with a veterinarian on Sunday morning.

I contacted a local emergency animal clinic with several questions and asked if there was any one who could come out to the house. They were rude and unhelpful. It finally dawned on me to call the equine clinic I use for my horses. I got a recording and a pager number. I left our contact number. It was shortly there after, Chessie started seizing again, lasting nearly 5 minutes this time. After this episode, he was unresponsive and seemingly gasping for his last breath.

Not being able to move him because of possible spinal injuries from earlier, we opted to make him comfortable until we received a response from my phone call. He seemed to be resting, lifeless and breathing as normal as possible at the time. Watching him closely and monitoring his breathing, he went into another seizure. This one lasted nearly 4 and a half minutes, it stopped for 2:58 minutes and then repeated another seizure for almost 5 more minutes.

I knew then, there was nothing else we could do for him. Shortly after, I got a phone call from our equine vet, and he reccomended we make him comfortable by administering drugs that would help the muscles relax. Thank God!, we had some on hand. We finally got him relaxed, though lifeless and unresponsive, he was comfortable and no more seizsures. He passed away before we could load him up for a trip to the vet.

Here stands, nosey...

  Handsome is a real nice character. He doesn't let to much shake him up. Standing around, while working in the stalls and the grounds around the pasture, he looks on, as though he's over seeing our project. I can't say enough good about this horse. Having bought him two years ago last month. He's been the perfect first horse for Makayla. I can't say he's bombproof, because I don't think any horse is, but he's as near bombproof as a horse gets. I guess the only real concern I have a times is, he pulls back on the lead rope sometimes when startled by something. I do suspect he might have a vision problem in one eye. And it only happens on the one side rarely. He's nearly 18 years old, so it's about time for the old age to set in.

Procrastination at its best...

   I've been procrastinating again. So, what's new, eh? ha ha! It's been along week at the work front. Long hours and in dire need of a vacation. The weather is getting better as days go by. It was in the 50's last night. Winter coming around the corner, I've noticed the horses coats are changing. They almost look fluffy in the early morning hours. They've become darker and have a shine to them again. The hot summer really took a toll on all the critters around the place.

   Since it's been quite cooler, Ronnie decided to use his energy playing with the new "old" tractor. It sure comes in handy for cleaning out the open stalls. It's something we had normally done by hand. I can't believe it took less than fifteen minutes to accomplish what would have taken us a couple of hours to do by hand. We've been looking in to getting a load of sandy loam for the stalls. Ronnie leveled and graded the excercise pen shortly after we got the tractor so it will drain better after a heavy rain. Luckily it did rain one night last week and no water stood any where. Oh yea!

The new "old tractor"!

   Now we're cookin'. We bought us an old 51 Ford Tractor. It sure isn't much to look at, but it's really cool. In the purchase price, we received a brush-hog, blade and gin pole. It's going to help us old folks move stuff around a lot better this winter. With this sandy ground moving under our feet when it gets wet and cold, there will be no more waiting until it gets dry to move the horse trailor and round bales. : ) Not forgetting to mention, we'll able to mow the larger lot behind the house. Of course, there wasn't much mowing to do because of the drought conditions this summer.

I took a schooling lesson on how this thing works. He started out showing me where to check the fluids and how it operates. First checking the...

1. Oil
2. Transmission fluid
3. Water level.
4. Gas

   Next he showed me where the clutch and pedals were. The stick shift, how to shift, where the key was, then the starter button. It fired up immediately when I pushed it. Yay! Then I got to take it for a test ride. I thought to my self as I was riding up the drive-way, this thing is slow as hell. Then, Ron said there was a faster gear if, I wanted to go faster. Now, we're truckin'. lol

Good lord! I'm certainly not dressed for taking pictures. I could have prepared my self. ha ha ha!

We are an unsightly mess this morning, but we do clean up pretty well. lol I'm positive the animals around the place don't care what we look like, as long as a feed bucket's in our hands.

Cooler Temperatures

  It was beautiful today for the first time in over seventy days of 100+ temperatures. The horses are roaming about with a skip in their steps. The dogs were racing around the backyard and the birds were singing a different song. Kela and I agreed on a time to tack up for a ride the night before. It was around 8:00 am. She had come to feed her horse earlier and I had already saddled, ready and waiting on her to arrive. Jerzey was feeling full of her self. I lunged her for a short time to take the edge off. I don't normally do this if we ride often, but since it had been more than three weeks since our last ride, I thought it was necessary.

   Kela had not made the cross over, so I rode over to her house. It's just across the street. She keeps her horses at her Moms. We rode off down the road and today, even Oreo was feeling the cool temps. She is normally low keyed and doesn't find much to bugger about. Today, however, she was sporting her new found freedom. We headed out by way of Haymarket. We took the underpass and went up I20 until we come to the Kleberg Road area. On the other side of Hwy 175, we followed it until we went back under it and picked up Riley Crest to Garden Grove.

   We rode down Garden Grove where it met Riley Crest again and took the I20 green to Seagoville Road. I'm not sure how many miles it is, but I'm guessing, all in all, about 15 miles round trip back to the house. It was a really nice day. Sunny and not to hot most of the day. The horses were feeling tired by the time we got back to the house. Jerzey had been laboring a bit and showing favor on her left hip. I walked several distances through-out the ride time. I definatley needed the walk. I get stiff in the saddle to long. I'm going to make it a point to bring tennis shoes next time. I have saddle bags I can put them in. Doh! I really need to lose weight for several reasons. Not only to make my horse more comfortable on long rides, but to feel better my self. It's always been a struggle for me to find the time for my self. You'd think, I'd be the most important thing on my daily list, however I find so many other
things to do but me.

Ron and Maykayla got home at 2:00 pm after having gone to Pecan Gap. He bought another toy! hahaha He picked up a hay dolly. dollie? Any who, it's blue and homemade from the looks of it, but it'll get the job done. Makayla helped get it off the flatbed and onto the ground. She's such a big help to us. She can do almost anything Ron can do. She's almost as bossy as he is too.

You'd think this was the reason we bought round rolls of hay. She loves playing on them. What kid doesn't like climbing on stuff.

The weather and riding don't mix...

   I thought I'd go for a ride this afternoon. While saddling up, Jerzey gets spooked by the barn door. The wind is crazy today. There are many objects being tossed about by the wind. She quickly regained her composure and stood quietly. It always makes me nervous to ride during a real windy day and this was no exception. I just couldn't help it. I've been grounded long enough. It's been such a friggin' hot summer, none of us have gotten to much done in the way of horse backing.

   I'm not sure how long it has been since we last rode. I have it blogged somewhere here. Oh well, back to the subject at hand. After tacking up, Jerzey and I headed out towards the back pasture. Mouse, "like a puppy" was on our heels. You have to watch him closely. He walks so quietly, I don't really notice him following on occasion, when all the sudden; I'm trying to keep him from following us through an open gate. What a pest! As usual, I caught him before he made a bee-line through the open gate and shooed him off. haha!

Yesterday, the silly shit was following and darted through the gate as I was going back to the house. I tried to close the gate before he went through and he got caught on the post and skinned his side. Having to keep my appointment with nature before I watered the yard, I just let him alone. I didn't care if he was in the yard, really. After taking care of business, I let Jerzey in and they grazed on the grass in the back yard.

    

   This is such a nice mare. Hardly any trouble at all. The ocassional baulk or jump, but nothing major. "famous last words of a fool' I know, but she is lovely none the less. I like her mane pulled. I got tired of looking at that scraggly thing yesterday and finely broke down and did it. Her mane is so thin, it just didn't look good long.

  

The weather is breaks...

   Finally, after nearly 70 days of triple digit heat, it's starting to cool down. Though it will still be above 95 today, it feels like the cool front the weatherman predicted is moving through. The dust is horrible with the wind blowing. There is still no rain in sight yet. Tomorrow is going to be a high of 85 degrees! Yeeehaw! I can do my own prediction and say " the weather is going to be just right for trail riding".




   We puttered around the barn this morning early. Makayla was off to church by 8:30 am and it felt good to get some things done we'd been putting off till it got cooler. The horses are looking better. I haltered them up, groomed them all and cleaned their hooves. We then decided to make it easier to feed in the evening so we don't have to rotate them, Taking the panel off then back part of the rear stall and putting it on the front. Now, Hoover can come up and rest in a stall during the day.

Jerzey is always nosey as hell. If we're doing something, she's right there with us.

   Yesterday, Ron and Makayla went down to Pecan Gap. Makayla's, Great Grand Father has a bunch of cows and he put up tons of hay for the winter. He has access to a whole lot of fields where they were baling off of this year. The north east area of Texas wasn't quit as dry as our area. They picked up  three bales of bermuda, prairie grass and other mixed forage for the horses to eat on. When I took my first glance at the hay, I said "there not going to eat that mess". It didn't take Jerzey a few minutes to prove me wrong. As she was eating it, I could see that the inside was beautiful. It has a little trash in it, but they won't eat what they don't want. The bales are nearly twice as big as the first round rolls we bought. Surprisingly, yesterday, Jerzey was eating dead leaves that had fallen from the trees. So, I guess a little trash in the hay isn't going to hurt them. lol

 

   I took this video of Mouse doing the screwy thing he does with his head. I'm not sure how he aquired this habit. Most likely, from being stalled somewhere in his previous life. I've noticed any time we've bought horses that were shown in halter or western pleasure venues, or stalled to long of a period, they've always brought with them, some silly shit habit. This is one I haven't seen before. It appears to be brought on from needing his teeth floated long before we bought him. I had checked his teeth the day we looked at him and notice he was in need of dental work. At that time, I thought, no big deal. Still don't.