Baby it's cold outside

Brrr. Are you sure I can't come in?

First ride

Today was our first outing together. It was not as Idyllic as either of us would have liked.  We started out OK, heading over toward Mike's sister's house. We picked up a dog there, a border collie who is really into chasing horse tails. I was able to keep her in front of us, but either my nerves or his got the better of us both and we ended up getting really short and nervous.  He got impatient waiting on me while I talked to my brother in law and his wife, but then we went on. Somewhere in the next 5 minutes he got really agitated and I had to dismount to fix his curb chain which was way too tight. I was riding him in the wonder bit as I have been advise, but may try to find my snaffle for the next ride.  I had to get back to my brother in law's house to borrow a footstool so I could remount. I'm thinking I need a footstool everywhere I go where I might dismount and need to remount. Then he wouldn't stand by the mounting block so we went round and round, back and forth and generally had him a sweat just to remount. He finally stopped in front of the block on the off side, and I went for it.
In the meantime, Mike had walked down the drive way and he seemed really nervous about all the dogs and Mike in the distance. He was also hearing his herd whinny and I'm sure he wanted to be barn sour, but he is so well trained that he didn't "do" anything bad.  A few times we walked sideways down the road, but as soon as I moved his butt over and we turned around to face away from home and relax he was fine. Then we hit a stretch where he was almost perfect...then he heard the herd again and got a little squirrely.

All 4 feet stayed on the ground at all times.  He just got quick and agitated and my own fears of being run off with came into play. I suspect they are dumb b/c every time I whoaed him or moved his hip he immediately disengaged and stopped...good boy Joe Bob. He hasn't been ridden in quite some time, so I feel pretty good about the way things went. I never felt unsafe and I felt like he was trying really hard all the time to do what I asked. We did some obstacle work which went pretty well too. Then I dismounted and walked back down the road to Mike and then we came home together.  I jogged him in hand which went great until I rolled my right ankle on a rock and went down on my left knee.  Joe Bob stopped and looked at me like I was a fool and that I should get up b/c I was embarrassing him in front of the other horses. He stood perfectly still.  He let me lean on him to get back up. Good Joe Bob.

When I took off his tack I saw that my saddle left smooth hair but there were not even sweat marks so the specialized I have always had for Liberty may not be wide enough. Or I may not have ridden him long enough to make him sweat under that part of the saddle.  I don't know him well enough to know if he acts badly if he's uncomfortable or if he just keeps plugging along.  I have a couple other saddles to try so I can find out later on if another one fits better.  I may also try Sherman's walking horse bit or a couple different snaffles I have.

In reflection it could be that I'm used to my little bitty horses and I just need to get used to how he moves. My walkers always needed a pretty snug rein, Joe Bob may need a looser one. I need to experiment.

My knee turned out to be a bloody mess :-(

absentee parent

I don't know where shr is but I can tell you it's not here feeding me. I know that new mom alice said she would be gone for one night but I did not imagine should would miss my breakfast. She left hay and water so I'm not starving but it's close. She had better hurry back.

Alice here: what he clearly doesn't know is that all he's eating is beet pulp and alfalfa pellets so it isn't that interesting anyway. I had to go to Bluff Dale overnight but I'll be home by bed time. 

random photos from the field

Hi, my name is Joe Bob and I am a goofball

My name is Joe Bob. I have more to my name, but I just like Joe Bob.  I used to live in Lucas, TX, with my mom Evelyn, but now I live in Purmela with my new mom Alice.  I asked where Purmela was but she said she couldn't explain it to me and no one knew where it was anyway.  She promised me I would like it and I do...There is so much space...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

On a chilly, grey morning in December I was loaded in a trailer to go to my new home.  I was sad to say goodbye to my mom, Evelyn, but I love adventure and I hopped into the trailer with no hesitation. I was lucky enough to be joined in the trailer by my new best friend, Vandamere III (he's so funny about his name, rolling his eyes. He prefers to go by Vandy and nothing else)

When I got here I met all the other horses: Liberty, Sherman (he's kind of a bossy meany, but I think he's very handsome), Dixie, Stormy (she's soooo sweet and shares her food)  Then there is Duke who thinks he's big stuff, but he isn't really.  There was a mule too, but she left to live somewhere else. I tell everyone how much I like them and they were mostly nice...except for that Sherman who won't let me talk to Liberty and chases everyone off his food.

Yesterday was hot until it got really cold. Mom started feeding us all sloppy, wet food, and today she added warm water. It was messy and yummy.  The other day Sherman tried to chase me, but I saw mom in the way and I worried about running over her, so I made sure I didn't hurt her.  Now Alice locks up Sherman so he can eat by himself and no one gets hurt.  Today she had me eat with Stormy and she shared her food...oh yeah, I said that already. I love to share food. It lets me know who my friends really are.

We have a different kind of hay...It's called Tifton. It's pretty tasty. The little cows like it and Vandy and I like to stand around the bale and talk about the day with the cows.  They don't say much. We talk and we ask them questions, but they just sort of look at his moving their mouths, but not saying much. I don't think cows are very smart.  I'm smart and I do tricks. I like to walk on the front porch. I tried to come in the house, but Alice said I couldn't.  I want to make friends with Liberty, but Sherman won't let me. Liberty likes Alice really well. He says they have had many adventures.  He was a little worried that I was taking his place, but I told him no way...plus Liberty also said that he was kind of tired and wanted to just stay home for awhile.  So, he was jealous, but excited too.

Today Alice and Mike opened the gates. We had been talking over the fence since Wednesday but now I get to be with a bunch of different horses. Duke, who is just a young pup, thinks he's tough stuff, tried to pick a fight with me.  I kicked him once but then he chased me. I thought that was fun so I started to run and run.  Duke could not keep up with me at all.  He thought he was going to mean, but I could go so much faster.  All 7 of us ran around and around and around it was so much fun.  Then I discovered a pasture with lots and lots of hay and I stopped running and just started eating.

Wonder what we'll do tomorrow?