A Time of Thanks and Pranks

Thanksgiving dinner was at aunt Debbie's. Debbie cooked a wonderful meal and little Lillie May was either supervising or enjoying aunt Debbie spoiling her with scraps, your choice. Grandpa enjoys a cuddle from Ethan. Don't get in between Justine and her ice cream!!!! Ethan proves to his mother that his pants are loose. It looks to me like we have a future plumber in the family.

Justine gave thanks for the realization of two dreams, one to have Winnie and two for Winnie now being at the Skoog Farm.

Hello I'm Winnie

Thanksgiving morning we went to the Skoog Farm to start introducing Winnie to the herd. This consisted of walking her on a lead line into the paddock where everyone had their hay. However, the hay lost its allure quickly when the new babe in town walked by. PC was right there at her side, and I think this neck pic is spectacular. Little Pony and the big Belgian, Joe quickly showed themselves as docile friends. Thing went well enough for Lori to say "unhook her, let her go wherever she wants, just stay close by if needed". So of course, Winnie had to head for the worst of the pre-winter mud and muck, then out to the outdoor arena with it's sand and mostly 4 inches of standing water. Actually she was pretty smart, she could be faster and out maneuver most of the horses in that footing. She trotted and cantered among all of them. As I lead her out, the all lined up to see what was next. All day long it rained and snowed, Winnie dry and warm in her run-in and PC stands at her gate hour after hour as he has for days getting soaked and cold. The dumb things us guys do to get a pretty girl and then once we win them we get even dumber and forget to appreciate it. Stay tuned the Dr. Darrin show will be on at 4:30 on Fox weekdays. :-)

New Surroundings

After a year of great experience and care at the Oasis Equestrian Center (thanks Kim), on November 23rd, we relocated Winnie to the Skoog Farm. You've seen previous postings of the Skoog Farm where we ride in a large indoor arena, and owner Lori has taught us and helped a lot. The farm has six of its own older horses, and was extremely gracious to allow us to be there as well provided we work and make provisions etc, a coop of sorts. A great opportunity for Justine and us all to learn how to really care for a horse rather than simply ride. "Drill Instructor Lori", instituted Horse Boot Camp with initial rules:
1. No Whinning or Complaining

2. Follow Instructions

3. Winter in the barn, wear boots, hate and gloves at all times

Justine and Dad have been at the farm multiple times a day each day since to learn the routine, introduce Win to the herd, get sawdust from the mill for the stalls. The learning curve is steep but we are enjoying it. I think Lori enjoys when we leave!!!!!

We arrived to take Winnie to a barn that serves as a run-in with access to a pasture at one end and the front paddock on the other, as well as houses the tack/grooming room. Dad got the fun of leading Winnie through the six horses and he was a bit nervous. Masterpiece of '79 or PC as he is called took a real shine to Winnie and will not leave her gate. It may be Thanksgiving, but it's Valentines to PC. He's an older guy with some knee troubles, but you'd never know it as he digs deep to show off for Winnie. PC sneaks a kiss and Winnie explores her new pasture with the new blanket Mrs. Skoog is letting us use.

Early Thanksgiving

The first picture is the beautiful tack/groom room. It is so pristine we are hesitant to enter. However, Winnie was quite happy with the large groom stall and gives Justine an appreciative kiss. The big smile on Justine's face was when I asked "are you glad to be at the Skoog Farm?" I think you can figure out the answer. Winnie is living high on the hog with fine hay, grain, and now beat pulp, and apples twice a day. Mrs. Skoog is very patient and takes time to explain to us the process we will use for the next week to introduce Winnie to the herd, feeding rules etc.

A good teacher keeps their promise

The last few lessons Winnie has been "feeling good" as Jolene would say, and would indicate it by trying to go back to her racing heritage and pick up speed if not told not to. Jolene pinky promised Justine two weeks ago she would ride Winnie and let her rip. Justine definitely remembered and we think Winnie did too. We all thought Winnie would be too tired since just as we arrived, she and another pasture mate were really REALLY ripping it up in the pasture. We brought her in and she was sweaty. Got her cooled and Justine had a great lesson on her. Justine did some pre-learning to jump work as well as flat work. As soon as Jolene sat on her, Win lost the tired act and perked up, she knew she could go. After some nice canter and trot, Jolene let her pickup speed in the canter and then WHAM Winnie was excited because she was being allowed to Gallup. After a bit of that though Jolene slowed her down because........"she was real excited to be going, then I felt her hind hunker down and she was about to really take me for a ride, she REALLY WANTED TO GO!" As much as it's enjoyable to watch her have fun, it is not worth the risk of seeing Jolene or Winnie get hurt. Winnie may be old, but she's not done. We cleaned her up and figured her tired, wrong, she was at it again. The old girl doesn't know she's old.

Might As Well Jump

In the 80's "Might As Well Jump" was a popular VanHalen song (Jolene was probably learning how to say horse). That could have been the theme song for Winnie and Jolene. Part of the promised instructor ride was that Jolene would let Winnie strut her stuff if she wanted to, since she never gets the chance with us. As you can see Winnie wanted to. Sorry for the blurry, an artist friend of ours taught me to call it "impressionism", but the sun had just about set.

Blazing New Trails

Well not quite. Today was 70 degrees again and just too perfect to not enjoy a trail ride. We took Winnie to the Skoog Farm for a trail ride with Lori and Berlin, and then some flat work in the indoor and outdoor arenas. The orange is to warn off hunters. Actually Lori and Justine were hunting hunters, run boys :-) Berlin got a little full of herself at times and Winnie was a gentle lady..... until it was time to get back on the trailer that is. Apparently Win thought she was going to stay awhile. With some patience and gentle persuasion she loaded easily. Sometimes they just like to show us they are bigger and stronger than us.

Lori's other horses were curious onlookers. "THANK YOU" were the main words on the drive home. We both commented that we learned a lot from Lori both in her words, but also by paying attention to what she was modeling. Thank you Mrs. Skoog.

I Voted for....The "DARKHORSE" of Course!!!!

Today was an interesting day. Election day, the weather was 74 degrees in November, the kids had the day off from school, I played hooky, and it was the one year anniversary of Winnie being with us. We took advantage of the day by riding with some fellow boarders and giving Winnie a much needed bath. Winnie enjoys a good bath. As you can see from some of the pics, Justine got a little over zealous with the scissors when trimming her tail.

It's an Oasis

It must have been an Oasis, 74 degrees in November? The election was not the only thing warming up. The good weather brought many of the Boarders from Oasis Equestrian Center to burn up the trails and arenas. Tex (the paint) and Gideon (chestnut) are new boarders in the last few days. Winnie was a perfect lady around the other horses. Then Shree entered also, but that was no big deal. Winnie and Shree are pasture buddies and as luck would have it, they were at the same farm for a few years in Bath, NY prior to us buying Winnie. Shree is usually a bit hyper when ridden, but Win's calmness around her made Shree settle in.

Hey Hay Hey

Today we assisted or at least tried to assist at the Skoog Farm. The five of us unloaded 132 bales of hay. While we waited for the hay to arrive we helped pitch manure from the pastures. I had to laugh because it occured to me "I deal with a lot of political horse xxxx for a living, I may as well pick up the real thing on the weekend". At any rate, we had fun and appreciate the experience. We later went to visit Winnie in the pasture where she is boarded. Usually Sunday I take a lesson, but the schedule didn't allow this week. Winnie could not understand why I was not taking her from the pasture. She followed me around and stood at the gate, so we played chase the ball instead. I kick a ball and she runs after it, jumps it, kicks it etc. Sometimes another horse will join, but the same two are always fearful. The old girl was feeling young today.

Come on, Give me a Kiss

Ethan has a new friend, Phoebe. Phoebe belongs to the Skoog Farm (you've seen blog posts of us riding Winnie at their farm). Ethan is learning that if he sits still, Phoebe will come to him. Both kids think the Skoog Farm is a pretty cool place to be. Now Mr. and Mrs. Skoog on the other hand, welllllllll?????? Maybe not so much. Quiet and orderly life is to be cherrished.

"You Should Be In Pictures"

Lillie May's first hair cut. She is quite the mommies girl. We have both ends of the spectrum when it come to our four legged family members. One weighing almost 1,200 pounds, the other not quite 4 pounds.