Confessions of a Horsaholic

Ground Work

2011-10-14T11:22:00.000-06:00

Want to know what your horse is thinking? Spend some time on the ground! Many people underestimate the value of ground work with their horses. It is where we start, the very basic and beginning of horse training when we ask our horse to be caught, to accept touch, to lead, to follow, to pick up feet, but it shouldn't end when we get in the saddle.

Not only is it easier and safer to start any new training from the ground, but it also nurtures the relationship between the horse and the human (not the horse and rider). It allows for memorization of movement, learning of cues, and the building of trust. It's kind of like going out for coffee with your friends, sometimes you just need to get together without something else going on to distract you from the personal interaction.

Another benefit, especially for older or very well learned horses is keeping the mind active. If all you do with your broke horse is get on and ride he is missing a very important factor out of his life. He has a great diet, lots of exercise, gets out of the house (so to speak), but he's not having fun... same old same old boring trail ride... nothing happens, nothing changes.

Horses need to play, just like we do. Go for a walk, teach your horse to walk with you and back up with you, accept a rope spinning overhead even if you'll never use the skill, pull a log behind him or a sled, get creative, make things up, attend a clinic... build your relationship... most of all have fun with your horse! :)

It's all about perspective...

2011-02-25T10:26:00.001-07:00

Every day we see signs, we hear of things, we know people around us are in need. It becomes a part of the scenery after a while. I drive by blood donation signs every single day, I know what they are, I know what they're asking for but it doesn't ever hit home. I've always been a little low in iron and I don't think they really want my blood so I see it and don't take much notice.

November kind of changed that for me, my sister was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and suddenly blood donation became very real, very tangible. Right beside that came stem-cell donation, we've all heard of it in the terms of "bone marrow transplant", but I've come to realize just how little we as a society know about it.

I look up things all the time, Google is my best friend I always say... I see a word I don't know, a company I've never heard of, I'm looking for a tool or a service... I go straight to Google. Why do we see a need and not look it up to find out what it's about and if it will even cost us to help? People are instinctively egocentric, some more than others... we have to continually train ourselves to reach out to others and then to balance how much we give and how much we keep so that we can continue to be happy and healthy.

I've learned a lot in the past year following the untimely passing of my young nephew and now the diagnosis of his mother (my sister). I never knew what it was like to lose except for the elderly who were ready to go. Now that I sit on the other side and know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of an endless amount of people who don't know what to say, I have gained a new perspective. I do not judge though, because I used to be one of those people and I can say I know how it feels.

So here I am, charting a new path, stepping out of my boundaries not only to save my sister's life, but hopefully to save the lives of many others who are in the same boat. Why? Because I'm in a position where I have to rely on a total stranger to save my sister's life, because I now know how it feels, because I've learned what it means to "pay it forward" or "backward" however you want to look at it, and I'm not losing my sister... not without a fight!

www.taniasstemcelldonordrive.ca
www.onematch.ca
www.blood.ca

Check it out...

Millarville Ride for Stars

2010-09-30T09:09:00.000-06:00

Went on the Millarville Ride for STARS this past weekend with my now 10 year old green broke mare! I found out about it a week before the ride but still managed to raise $745 thanks to my wonderful family and friends. I rode in memory of my nephew who we lost in February due to a tragic car accident. STARS airlifted my niece to the hospital and if it wasn't for them, we would have lost her too. I love to support charities that I can actually see at work in my community and have affected the people I love. As it turns out the STARS air ambulance flew over us just before we started out on our ride.

My little mare did so well, especially since I haven't ridden her since March! The summer's just been too busy. But it's amazing how nature works... my mare is SO flighty and wired all the time... but she's counterbalanced with the a great desire to please! She wants to be good SO bad, but she's torn between that and her instincts... especially when it comes to wind blown cowboy hats and horse-eating boulders!

This was the 4th ride with the Cavallo Simple Boots... so far they get a huge thumbs up... went through lots of mud, over rocks, and through thick brush with no problems at all. The only drawback is the pastern wraps only lasted for 2 rides, they're so ripped up that I have to buy a new pair. Wish they were more durable!

Gymkhana

2010-04-21T15:38:00.000-06:00

Back in the saddle again after what feels like a year (since January) and it was very exciting. My mare who did the barrels wonderfully last time decided that because they put covers over the barrels that they now eat horses! She went around them fine but once the barrel was near her back end she kicked with both feet as she darted away giving me a few bruises ... but I stayed in the saddle! That'll teach me for leaving her out in the pasture for 3 months! We took advantage of the break to walk around and through a couple of these barrels... and smell them a bit just to make sure they weren't carnivorous!

Even more exciting is that all 3 of my kids, who took turns on the same poor little horse, were able to ride the events almost on their own. We didn't lead Danny this time, we just ran in front of him and let the kids tell him where to go... it worked awesome. Next Gymkhana they'll be able to try on their own!

New Creations and Adventures

2010-01-11T11:10:00.005-07:00

I created some spur straps a couple weeks ago, I think they look awesome! More pictures of what I do are here http://www.rockingnleathercraft.ca/.

I also found the most amazing piece of leather and plan on making myself the most amazing pair of chaps! For advertising purposes of course, I can wear them on my horse ventures so people can see the best of what I do!

Griffin's Release - Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation

2009-09-24T08:32:00.006-06:00

A little while back my mom found a young Swainsons Hawk on the side of the road. My son helped her nurse is while they pondered whether to send it to a centre or keep it. In our experience some of the centre's have not been entirely kind to the animals and, if they were, they were not entirely kind to the people that tried to help the animals. So, we were extremely hesitant to let him go.

He didn't appear to have any physical injuries but he couldn't stand up, he didn't make any noise, and he was so weak that he didn't care that we handled him. After a day of chicken wings and rest he was regaining strength and starting to call to the birds outside. We think he was just in a position where he didn't get enough food, maybe was almost hit by a car and stunned and was left without enough energy to continue. We seriously thought about keeping him, we could get him back to health and let him go, but there was a few issues like teaching him to hunt and keeping him from getting too close to humans after he was attached to us.

I did some googling to see if I could find a suitable place that we could feel comfortable taking him. My mom remembered a show on TV that had talked about a place in Southern Alberta that seemed to have a great reputation. With this information I found the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation http://www.burrowingowl.com/. We had a few conversations and felt comfortable with them taking Griffin (we decided he needed a name).

After a little more than a month, living with an older Hawk and without human contact, Griffin is ready to go free! We made the journey down to the Writing on Stone Provincial Park where the release was set to take place... party because of it's distance away from civilization and partly because it should be close to their migratory path at this time of year... the birds can catch up with their buddies. What an amazing place, we definately intend to head back there next summer and spend some time in the hoodoos.

I was really impressed with Colin, the man who runs the centre. We introduced ourselves and, even though he had a few dozen students from a school there waiting for him, he took the time to get Griffin first and pose for a picture with my son before letting the bird go. It was awesome and he really tried to make it special, we are very grateful to him.

I would highly recommend this place to anyone who finds and injured bird, it's also a great place to go and learn about wild birds and their recovery. They have some who cannot be set free that children have the opportunity to get close to and learn about. All in all, a fantastic day!

Cavallo Horse Boots

2009-09-12T12:44:00.003-06:00

Finally took the horse boots that I bought out on a real trail today, I did use the Cavallo pastern wraps in all 4 boots too, they're not expensive and the added protection doesn't hurt. We went over a lot of rocks, through water and mud and thick brush! The boots were awesome, she didn't slip on the rocks or grass or mud... although she did spook and buckle over her back boots hitting the first branch, but she got over it (She's never been shod or had anything foreign on her feet). I didn't have to take them off to clean anything out of them all and there were only a few blades of grass and some dirt in them when I took them off after a full day's trail ride and she wasn't sore at all. I totally recommend them to anyone who doesn't want to shoe.

On another note, I sumitted 6 pairs of boots to the fundraiser for Canadian Trails... http://www.keencanada.ca/BootsAcrossCanada/HowItWorks.aspx. Including a picture of my horses' boots :) which I hope they accept!

Dictionary for New Home Buyers

2009-06-28T14:06:00.002-06:00

Landscaping: 1 tree, 4 bushes and a few pieces of grass, must be chosen from our limited selection. Tree must be plalced 3 metres away from any underground service, if there's no room, you're outta luck cuz we won't put it in the backyard, that's against our policy.

Raised Mulch Bed: 1/2" of Mulch tossed over the soil of half the area you select.

Mark where you want your shrubs to go: We'll knock on your door and ask you where you want them to go, act surprised when we realize you've already marked it... or if you're not home we'll put them wherever is easiest and refuse to redo it because you weren't home and we didn't notice the sticks and the signs you'd placed.

Tilework Quality: As long as it's not falling off the wall it's within our standards.

Waterpipes: It only bangs a little bit and only when you flush the toilet, do we really need to fix it?

Hardwood cleaner: We can't recommend a cleaner because then we'll be liable, but don't use cleaners that aren't recommended or it will void your warranty.

Electrical: We don't really check our apprentices work, just let us know if you have a problem.

...

Maybe I can forget I'm getting older

2009-06-25T17:21:00.003-06:00

So, back to the horsey store to get pastern wraps because I forgot them yesterday when I bought the boots.

Went into WalMart today with 3 kids and wandered around because I couldn't remember what I was in there for.

I can't remember what it is I ordered from Epicure at my friends party last night.

I did, however, remember to pick up the children from school... so I have something going for me this week!!

I also have to thank a student of mine as she gave me the most valuable parenting tip I've had in a long time. When kids won't listen or they fight or misbehave... they get to do 'extra' chores... (ie my chores). Takes a huge load off my plate, I don't have to raise my voice or get angry (they don't care about that anyway because I'm not very scary) and my kids have become very creative with solving their own problems and being nice to eachother! Thanks Mandi!!

Now if I could only put those two little punks to work who were walking very slowly down the middle of the road blocking traffic on purpose and flipped me the bird when I drove around them!

First Blog Ever

2009-06-25T08:11:00.000-06:00

So I have an hour to kill and should be cleaning my house before I leave, but I'm here writing a blog because I want to say that I've tried it. Everyone else is doing it and I wanna see what the hype is about. We'll see where it goes...

Yesterday I bought some Cavallo Simple Boots for my horse, going to buy some pastern wraps and try these suckers on my girl to see if they fit and they work and she doesn't lose her freakin mind in the process. Since she was deathly terrified of a clump of snow on the mountain the other day... there's a good chance it could go either way. Maybe I'll get my mom to video in case something spectacular happens!