Making Babies Cry II

We arrived at my house and unloaded everyone.  Breeze looked around for Mo, called a few times and then settled in to eating her hay.  She would take a few bites and then call, but all in all she did well that first afternoon.  We texted The BRC to check on Mo.  He was still calling his momma, but seemed alright other than that.  After evening feeding, it was cocktails, bon fire, and off to bed.

The plan was now to get Mindy, Wyatt, and the horses on the road as early as possible.  Figuring that would give her more time to get them settled in the day light once she got home.  Our plan in loading them was just the opposite as the first time.  Put Breeze in first, tie her so that she could look at Speedy and then get Speedy loaded.

Breeze hopped in and then started calling for her baby.  She had been pretty quiet all morning, but once in the trailer she started looking for her boy again.

Speedy and Tari were next up....  Well Speedy anyway. 

Speedy decided that leaving the stall wasn't really working for him.  Not that I blame him, many horses have said uh, the ground isn't quite right here...  You see, I still need one gate panel to make it possible for horses leaving that stall to exit without going into the barn.  So the leaving of the stall and hitting the cement has stopped several horses in there tracks.  I am not a fan of the barn isle being cement, but at the same time haven't gotten enough stall mats to line that walk way with.  We just make do...  And after a little coaxing Speedy made do too! (0:

This colt is pretty level headed and really not a Drama Queen...once he found the ground safe for walking he headed right out.  Hats off to The BRC and her family, they did a great job of getting Speedy halter broke and broke to lead.  He doesn't lead like a halter baby ('cause he isn't!), but he leads well and gives well to pressure.

Speedy lead the way right to the door way of the trailer, then he couldn't figure out how to get in...again.  He would march boldly up to the door and stop, front legs touching the trailer.  He would then drop his nose and look like Mindy had lost her mind as she asked him to step up.

We kept asking, he kept trying.  We changed our approach a few different times, just to see if it made it easier.  He kept trying but just couldn't quite get his leg up.  Through it all, he never quit trying, he never tried to turn away and refuse, and he never fought.  Not once, he just kept trying.

And if I didn't already think he was the greatest thing since sliced bread, I would have after this!

We finally ended up putting Tari in and waiting for Speedy to get all of his appendages in line and in the trailer.  It really didn't take all that long, because Breeze would have told us if we were wasting her time...  She has no patience for time wasting!  (0:

Once Speedy was in Tari stepped out.  Then Mindy removed his halter and she stepped out.  The door was closed on Speedy and his momma went to grazing by the trailer.  He called and she barely lifted her head...  Then Mindy loaded up Wyatt and headed out of the driveway.

Speedy kept calling, Breeze was looking at him like he had spun a screw...she was the one missing someone, not him!  And Tari kept eating.  We moved around so she could get the good grass and her colt drove out of the drive way calling the whole way...without a single answer from his momma.

This isn't the first time I have been part of a weaning, and I do really prefer the cold turkey approach...I think it's easier...  I know others will disagree, but for me, it may be the only way to go!  So that being said, I have never had a mare act so blah about her baby leaving...

Tari was so calm, cool, and collected about the whole ordeal I turned her out with the other horses.  I had originally planned to keep her in the stall for a few hours and then move her out to the pasture.  But thought what the heck, no time like the present....so out she went!

Tari knew everyone in the pasture, except Remi...but I figured that since Remi isn't aggressive so things should go fine.

And fine it was.  There was some trotting and loping.  A few squeals and then eating.  The donkey's decided to keep their distance just in case, but that didn't last long and soon everyone was mingling.

And still there was no calling from Tari.  I began thinking that maybe Speedy was a terrible baby or that Tari was heartless...

I called Mindy who was on the road and had been for over an hour.  I told her about Tari's lack of worry.  She thought it was odd too, but assured me that Speedy was doing enough crying for both of them!  Poor little Speedy!

I sent a text to The BRC and let her know Mindy was on the road and all had went well.  I asked her how Mo was doing, and she said less tears that morning and that he was settling well.  Good news for Mo!  (0:

We were out working on the pasture and I kept waiting on Tari to speak.  I waited and waited.  And just when I decided that she may just very well be truly glad to have Speedy gone, she broke her silence.

She called once.  Then silence.  The other horses crowded around her ears pricked.  No answer.  She called again.  No answer.  And she was done.

I walked over to the pasture and she came up.  I checked her udder...and it was full.  Must have reminded her that she was missing someone!  (0;

I heard her call a few more times that day.  But no drama.  Just a shout out for her kid ever so often.

Mindy called to let me know they had made it home.  Speedy was still certain that his life was over, but other than that, he was in fine shape.  Breeze of course was happy to be home and Chix and Sally were very excited to see that the horse trailer had actually brought someone with it.

That first afternoon was all the calling Tari did.  I was and am glad that she took it so well.  She really is a gem. 

Breeze went back to work on Monday.  Mindy is happy to have her horse back, I am not entirely sure that Breeze is happy to be back to work....but such is the life! (0:

Tari on the other hand will probably get to keep being a slouch.  This stinking Day Light Savings Time thing makes it dark when I get home... Oh, and it's getting cold...  Gross!!  (0:

So all I have is weekend riding.  But such is life in North Idaho! 

Next year though, she will get a rude awakening.  Tari The Great Bay Whale will be enrolled in The BRC's barrel school for mommies and mares that need jobs.  She will be off of easy street and into the working world.

Stay tuned!  LOL!!

Making Babies Cry

Friday was "the big day" for Mindy's good barrel mare Breeze and Breeze's chromed up formerly nameless Firewater Flit/Frenchmans Guy colt.  As is common for us, our plans changed a few times.  Initially Mindy was to leave The BRC's farm with Breeze and Speedy and head home, and I was to load up Tari and head home.  B.U.T. the parents decided to come up and see Wyatt.

So our plan changed to picking up Breeze and making her chromed up formerly nameless baby cry on Friday.  We would make Speedy cry on Saturday when Mindy and her rig rolled out of my place.  That way the parents could see Wyatt and Mindy and Speedy and we wouldn't mess up The BRC's farms schedule.

I had originally planned on getting LOTS of pictures, but The BRC and her dad were ready for us and had stuff to do when we left.  So there was no time to get some conformation pictures or just cute baby pictures.  )0:  Oh, well... we are making babies cry aren't we?

The babies are big, they are healthy.  They have haired up like little yaks and definitely have a good start on them.  So other than the comfort of their moms and nursing, they are really won't be missing anything they need.  The BRC's dad trimmed up the mares and foals last weekend, so everyone is ready to roll.

So roll we did! 

Speedy of course was ready and willing to be caught.  Breeze's chromed up formerly nameless colt walked off...then he trotted, and tossed in a little lope just for good measure before he let Dick catch him.

Rumor has it, it's his moms fault. 

So I have been calling Breeze's colt "the chromed up formerly nameless colt" because he finally has a N.A.M.E. !  Yahoo.  The BRC has a barn name for him any way!  His name is..... Mo!  (0:  Check out the picture below for the inspiration for his barn name!

I can assure you you that this ridge/mohawk is all natural!  (I asked! LOL!)

Unlike Speedy, Mo has a buddy that he is being weaned with.  A cute little strawberry roan colt.  No pictures of him, because we were in a hurry... Oops!  He is a cutie and the two boys should do just fine together!

Once we got everyone caught, we marched to the horse trailer.  Mindy had borrowed a stock trailer so she had two box stalls more or less.  Which was actually pretty darn handy as it turned out!

We decided that the best thing to do was load Tari and Speedy first.  It would be easier than making Breeze wait on Speedy if he didn't load right away.

It turned out to be a good decision as Speedy had a hard time getting into the trailer.  He wanted in, but it was hard to hop in.  He finally got it handled and we turned him and his momma loose in the front stall.

Breeze jumped in and after tieing her up, we drove off.

It was that simple for the most part.  The BRC and her dad led Mo and Roany out to a paddock and turned them loose together.  The BRC said that Mo cried and cried and couldn't care less about Roany.  Breeze called a few times and I could see the trailer rock every time Mindy stopped.  But for the most part she rode quietly the entire hour to my house.

Breeze settled pretty good and really didn't worry herself too much that night.  She did have Tari and Speedy right next to her, so I think that helped her a lot.  Her poor 'ol bag was pretty tight in the morning, but there is not much you can do about that!

Poor Breeze!! 

'Round The Ranch

These pictures are in no particular order...mostly because it took me 2 days to upload thanks to our less than slow wireless card.

It seems as though when we have time to do some things at our place, we don't have the money...and then when we have some money we don't have time...  Then the money gets spent and here comes the time back around.  Seems like a cruel and nasty cycle...well frankly, it is!  (0:

Our little Ranch...or is it a Ranchette or a Farm...or a Farmette...

Well out little place is full of trees...all second, maybe third growth trees.  All most all tiny and very close together...  We call them "Pecker Poles" and I don't really know why...so don't ask!  LOL!!

So we finally had some time a couple of weekends ago and got around to adding the 5th wire to our fence.  Yes, the wire I told Chad we wouldn't need if we spaced our wires good enough to keep the Hee-Haws in.  Well, we didn't space our wires good enough, and the Hee-Haws got out a few times.  Subsequently, they spent most of their first year at home, in a pen separate from the horses. 

Not really the way we wanted them to spend there days, but several things had to fall into place before we could right my wrong and let them out with everyone else.  So now I am happy to announce, The Boys are in with The Big Girls and they couldn't be happier...the girls could care less.

Then the following weekend we had time and money...what a shocker...  So we rented a Mini Excavator and went to work removing debris that was laying around as well as little trees.  That lasted about 3 hours, then the Mini Excavator virtually stopped working.  Chad looked it over, checking for hydraulic leaks, or any other signs of trauma that would cause the boom arm to stop functioning.  Nothing could be located, so that ended that.  The rental co. that we use, isn't open on Saturdays.  So we finished some clean up and tended the fires we'd built.  So much for forward progress!

After speaking to the rental co. we found our problem...  There is a switch under the floor mat that adjusts what each leaver does, and sometimes it will get giggled into the neutral position.  A simple flip of the switch will fix everything.  And sure enough it did, and because we lost time, they said keep it for another weekend.  We said OK, and thank you!  (0:

So last weekend we went back to knocking out little worthless tress and trying to "build" a pasture.  Chad was getting better everyday, but we still have a long way to go...  It's very much been a learn as you go type of experience for us!  (0:  We do have a small check list for our next home...if there is one...and it includes pasture already in!  (0:

We are still one horse down right now... Tari The Great Bay Whale isn't home yet.  But that will change this weekend as it's weaning time at Twin Willows Ranch!  So Breeze Bomb will leave her chromed up little fella without a name behind and Tari will leave Speedy.  But Speedy does get to go home with Breeze, so they will probably be able to comfort each other on the way home!  There will be no comfort for Tari...unless the Hee-Haws short stature makes her feel better!  (0:

The Barrel Racing Chiropractor was able to purchase a weaning buddy for her chromed up nameless colt.  So that will help him out a lot!  Mindy and I have looked high and low for a buddy for Speedy...and let me tell you it ain't easy!  First you have to have a budget...then a lot of people want to spend your budget plus...  Then there is the question of old or young...  What a P.I.T.A.!  We are still on the hunt...but for now, Speedy will just get to look over the fence at Sally.  Which won't be soo bad for him!  We will keep working towards getting what he needs and what Mindy wants!  (0:

So that does in fact mean that this blog will have a few baby pictures on it here shortly!!

Whoot, whoot!!  (0:  In hind site, I should have driven the hour plus that it took to get to the babies and gotten more pictures...but there are only so many hours in a day...as if everyone already didn't know that!

So that about does it for the my updates right now...well except the obvious...the girls are hairy, the Hee-Haws are hairy, and the weather is getting colder.  Oh, yeah...and the days are getting shorter and shorter.  Bah!!

Mindy and Wyatt will arrive tomorrow to get the weaning started.  Besides the making babies cry aspect, we can't wait to see the Wee-Human and his momma!

Wyatt is finally starting to talk...now he has always communicated, but his vocabulary is growing and I can't wait to hear it in "person".  He says big words like purple, yellow, popcorn, and hot momma!  His friends Big Wyatt and Allie Girl taught him the hot momma phrase, and OMG is it cute! (0:

Enjoy the last few pictures without me blah, blah, blahing you all to death!! (0: