travel bug blog hop

Question from Viva Carlos: What is your best tip for traveling with horses?

Since I don't have my own trailer or truck, I have to rely on Jaime, Kyle, or Terry to get me and Shyloh were we need to be. Luckily, we go the same places they go, so that makes everything so much easier.

I am a planner, I like everything packed and checked the day before so we can just load horses and get to our destination. For shows, those are about an hour away. 

We must have:

Tack - saddles, saddle pads, bridles, harnesses, carts, show halters, driving whips

Water buckets

Hay

Mane rolling and braiding stuff - decorations, rubber bands, string, ribbons

Grooming bag

Hoof Polish

ShowSheen

Fly Spray

Chairs

Pooper Scooper

Show clothes and boots

Helmets

Extra Halter

Extra Lead Ropes

Air pump (for cart tires)

Tools to put carts together

Am I forgetting anything?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a beta biothane halter bridle from Two Horse Tack! Ends Saturday at midnight, EST (I added an extra day).

fess up to your mistakes blog hop

A thought provoker from L. Williams at Viva Carlos!

"We love our horses, but we are human. Being human means we are prone to mistakes, some of us try to gloss over and hide them. A lot of it has to do with education, horse ownership is kind of like trial by fire. I for one am all about transparency, I own up to my humanity so today I am gonna fess up to one of my biggest horse care mistakes. Will you Fess up to yours?"

I have a few things that I have done with/to Shyloh that have been pretty big mistakes or detrimental to her training. 

We have had lots of bumps in our rode to learning to drive. I truly believe that something happened to Shy before I got her that scared her. But, she does know how to drive, she just does not enjoy it.  I think there are some moments when she may like it, but overall, it is not for her. 

One of our better days

My biggest mistake was going at it pretty much alone. It doesn't help that there are practically no driving trainers in the area. We have had a couple bad moments: here and here and here are just a few. 

Another mistake I often think about is getting Shy to begin with. . .looking back, it was probably not the best decision of my life. But I have her now, she is mine. I wonder where she would be if I hadn't bought her. Could she be doing something great-ish with a much more experienced person than I or could she have been just tossed aside because of all of her issues? 

She is such a goof!

Either way, I have no intentions of selling her. We have come this far. We are having fun. I am not an adult amateur with showing aspirations so I don't need a horse that will take me places. All I ever wanted to do with a horse is trail ride. I have done a ton of other stuff as we meander along our journey and I love it. Shy is proving to be a great pony, I just really need to get over my fears, work on my riding, and get out there. With another horse, I would probably be riding the trails by now, but I am not. Am I mad or disappointed? No. We have had our own fun adventures along the way. And she brings me happiness (frustration, too, but mostly happiness). And that is all that really matters. 

kapow!

So, what has been your horse mistakes?

let's make a baby blog hop

Yay more fun from L at Viva Carlos! 

This week's blog hop is..... If you could/were so inclined to breed your horse 1.. let's not get into the issues of backyard breeding and 2.. let's pretend your horse is a mare if it's not) WHO would you breed your horse to and Why!

I know a few stallions that I would breed Shyloh to, of I ever decided to breed her and if they would let me. I say that because she is not registered (to my knowledge and I don't have her paperwork) and she has some breed faults. 

Stellar would be a great stallion. He is handsome and a great mover. But I think if I were to get a breeding to him, I would have to have higher hopes for the foal than I want. I really have no interest in jumping or dressage or eventing or anything fancy. 

My next thought was Nando, because of his great versatility. And then Waltzing River TOF. But both those horses, gorgeous as they are tend to be taller and more modern type than I want. 

What I would really like is a thicker stallion, not any taller than 14.3hh, with a great temperament. A stallion that passes on a brave and gentle disposition and who is versatile. 

Armani

So handsome

And it is hard to find a thick, draftier stallion these days. Armani KHC is a nice looker, he trail rides, drives and passes on his great personality to his foals, which love attention, are easy to train, and want to please. Armani is a Silver Rated Stallion through the American Haflinger Registry. 

Great a trail!

Pretty mover

Drives!

He has a nice mane and forelock and a the darker chestnut color I prefer. That's my pick without seeing him in person. I think he may be a bit taller, but I could deal with that!

*Photos from http://www.montelhaflingerstables.com/Armani_KCH.html

appreciating what you have blog hop

Another gem from L. Williams at Viva Carlos! It is all about taking a minute to appreciate the horse you have and not about what they can't do yet or what you are working on or what you wish you could change. 

Let's take a moment to appreciate the Pros of our current ponies, whether you own them or just ride them in lessons. 

Shyloh. . . oh sassy Shyloh.

• She is small but strong enough to carry me around
• She can be off work for long amounts of time, then ride/drive (kinda drive) without being crazy
• She is cute, when she is not giving the evil eye
• She does not need to be lunged before being ridden, she is pretty sane that way
• She is phenomenal with the kids
• She is an easy keeper, hardy, and easy to take care of
• She is not a picky eater
• She puts up with me and all my shenanigans 
• She is totally fine being by herself or with a herd of horses
• She loves going new places
• She loads into a trailer like a dream
• She is funny and goofy
• She is willing and eager to please, usually
• She loves her hooves picked! She will hold them up for me as I go around her to get the mud and poop out.
• She is smart, so so smart. Too smart
• She is independent

Shy seems to have a lot of good qualities going for her. Gotta love my happy little pony!

Shy and Whitney Houston

how bad is your barn car blog hop

I love blog hops! They are so much fun, but this one might be rather embarrassing. . .

Pony'Tude is hosting this hop on just how bad horse people's cars can be. "It's a mysterious phenomenon of the universe that horsepeople tend to have really grody, disgusting vehicles. Maybe it's because we constantly find ourselves in places where we are routinely covered in mud, poop, hair, and sand. Maybe it's because our lives revolve around half-ton creatures who love to roll in dirt and slobber on us. Maybe it's because we are all genetically wired to be slobs. Whatever the reason, Barn Cars are nasty. I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

My barn car happens to also be my every day car. Woe is the person who decides that I am driving for the day, especially if it is out to lunch with co-workers. Not only do I have horse junk in my car, but it is also the main transport of my dogs.

The back of my car boasts the Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit sticker. You know, the driving circuit that I am part of without a driving horse. I also have to show some love for Michigan and Detroit!

Yuck, need a car wash

 The hatch part is filled with various items. I have an old saddle that I need to clean up, get photos of, and sell. Then there is a hay bag, some harness pads, a random tote, a box of halters from Horze, wormer, a bag of potting soil, and behind the saddle is another box filled with various things.

Kind of embarrassed. . .

 The back seat of filth. I have a dirty halter that needs to be washed because it was ripped off Shy's head and stomped into the dirt. I always have my Muck boots in case it gets muddy or I need to wade through a puddle. There is a hanging strawberry plant that I need to put up (hence the potting soil in the trunk) and a bag of sour taffy that I got from my dad. A dog brush and some frisbees are in the pouch of the driver's seat. And dirt and hair. Everywhere.

I vow to have strawberries!

 The other view of the back seat. I have a dog leash from Maggie from the disastrous trip to the barn a couple weeks ago. . .Maggie is not a barn dog. A bottle of water with an ADM coozie on it and some Nicker Bait treats (banana flavored for Shy) have made their home on my back seat. A ziplock bag of a Purina Hydration Hay sample I got at the MSU Stallion Expo is still there. I don't know what to do with that block of hay. There is the movie Pitch Perfect, because who doesn't travel around with a copy of that? And two hats, just in case (Michigan weather). My school bag is also on the floor.

I need help . . .

 The front seat is equally as bad. There is an almost empty case of Coke which is my Kryptonite. I have A Horse Box sack pack and a bag of Veggie Straws crammed on the passenger seat along with a zip up hoodie. Looks like my purse is on the floor. The pink piece is my phone charger that is a necessity because my battery drains so quickly. And if you look real close, you can see a clay Shyloh hanging from my vent. Also not seen is my iPod for some kickin' tunes. Underneath my seat is a gallon of Neatsfoot oil.

And finally, I have a photo of Shy, my husband, and my nephew on the ceiling of the car.

Please don't judge me!

An InLinkz Link-up

our commercial moment blog hop

Another fun blog hop from L. at Viva Carlos!

What are you buying next? Not your "Wish I could" list but your actual practical pony shopping list. And if its a high ticket item you are saving for what is it and when do you expect to order/get it?

Since Equine Affaire is the weekend (yay!!!), I have a short list of stuff I want to find there:

• Teal saddle blanket for showing (having hard time finding one that is not huge for my short backed Haffie)
• Saddle pad (just bought one for $5 at a tack sale, but will be on the lookout for another)
• Dark leather reins
• Possibly a new dark leather bridle

Some other things I need and should probably get soon:

• Fly spray
• Vet wrap
• Treats (always)
• Coconut oil
• HIgher Standards Leather Soap and Conditioner (I just can't decide on the scent!)
• Mrs. Conn's Sponges. I want to try these. Seems so simple!

Boring, right? I just made a big purchase of my awesome saddle that I love, so I don't think any more large purchases are in order quite yet. 

Shyloh is not impressed

what's in your bucket blog hop

More blog hop from L at Viva Carlos!

So, What supplements and other feeds does your horse vacuum down everyday? 

Shyloh is a Haflinger and needs minimal calories to maintain her weight. I think I have said before how Jaime is just amazed at the little bit of hay she eats and still stays plump. Of course, if Shy could talk and you were to ask her, she would say she needs ALL the hay! But we know that is not true.  This blog hop was timed perfectly, as we just had Shy's hay tested at the MSU Stallion Expo.

Hay snack

Shy gets two flakes of hay in the morning and one to two flakes at night, depending on if she got an afternoon snack or has been on the round bale. The flakes also depend one weight, if the flake feels light, another one will be given to her.  Her flakes are grass hay. 

The breakdown of her hay is:

8.8% Crude Protein, which is considered average

34.7% Acid Detergent Fiber which is considered low (which is good)

56.5% Neutral Detergent Fiber, with is considered average (low is good)

809 kcal/lb or Equine Digestible Energy, which is on the low end, but perfect for a Haflinger in no work.

My hay!

I am going to break it down a little further, since acid and detergents sound like something you never want your horse to eat. 

Crude Protein is simple, it is the amount of protein concentration in the hay. Grass hays have the least amount of protein, legume hays have the most.

Acid Detergent Fiber is made up of components that are poorly digested. So if your horse has a lot of hay pieces in the poop, this number is probably high. The lower the ADF number is, the more digestible the nutrients in the hay will be.

Neutral Detergent Fiber is made of of insoluble fiber. These give the hay the bulk and make it filling to the horse. You also want a lower number for this.

Equine Digestible Energy is how much energy is takes to digest the hay, self explanatory. 

Free treats!

That is the Shy hay breakdown. Since she needs so little hay to survive, she must make up the rest of her nutrients by a ration balancer. Shy used to get a vitamin crumble, but I have not been overly pleased with it. It did the job, and we just finished the bag, but now we are switching. Shy is getting ADM Stay Strong. It is a metabolic mineral pellet (has the vitamins and minerals, plus pre and probiotics) and if formulated for easy keepers and starch sensitive horses. So no extra calories and no oats, corn, molasses, or alfalfa. I am interested to see how she does on this.

Shy also gets loose salt, just because when she was pasture boarded I bought a 50 lb bag of salt for her to make sure she was getting enough and she will eat all 50 lbs of this bag, dammit! In 20- years, when that bag is gone, Shy can just get a salt lick in her stall. 

In addition to the salt, Shy gets Magnesium. I started her with Magnesium and B vitamins when I first got her. I had done some research and  because she was so jumpy I wanted to try something.  Later, I took her off the B vitamins and continued to keep her on the Magnesium because there is some research that claims it helps prevent laminitis.  It's not a high dose, so it can't hurt her. Plus, it is banana flavored and she likes it. 

Shy also used to get raspberry leaf from a local herb store for her nasty squirting issues. Either it lost its effect or just being around Isaac is more that the raspberry leaf can handle. . .I ended up taking her off that. 

A little before show season, I start to feed Shy Healthy Glo, also from ADM. It is a fat supplement (I do not give her a full serving), but it adds a little shine to her coat.

Shiny pony

So to recap: grass hay, ration balancer (vitamin, mineral, pre and probiotics), loose salt, Magnesium. I buy it all in bulk (it is cheaper that way) and bag it up myself. Fun! Oh yeah. . .and whatever dropped grain that she vacuums up for me when we clean stalls. But I don't count that. And treats, but those don't count either.

What does your horse eat?

what's in a name blog hop

Another fun Blog Hop from L. Williams at Viva Carlos!

What is the story behind your blogname/url?

I started this blog when I made the decision to buy Shyloh in 2011. I didn't own her yet and she didn't have a name, so the URL is Adventures with a Horse at Blogspot. I had plenty of grand adventures planned for us, I mean, with the Haflinger I was leasing we did some fun things. Shy had other plans. . .

There was a issue with a lost Coggins, where I could not bring her to the barn until I had it back, so it took a few weeks to actually get Shy. And she still didn't have a name. 

I tossed around a bunch of names for her, but none seemed right. I tried serious names, silly names, classic names. Nope. I actually called her the horse with no name for a while. . .

Shy's look. . .and that chewed up mane. Yuck!

But I eventually gave her a name that fit her. Not that it matters much, she rarely responds to her name, although she is getting better. Some times she will even look up when I call her. 

Even though we have not had the kind of adventures that I thought we would be having, we have had some adventures, from accepting her head being touched to driving and showing and now on to riding (hopefully trails soon!). 

I think the more generic title can keep the blog going if I get more Haflingers, too. :) Not all that interesting, but that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

ALL the Haflingers!

seven deadly sins blog hop

In honor of Fat Tuesday, the 7 Deadly Sins Blog Hop - Equestrian Edition from L. Williams. This was fun to do, yet harder than I thought. Enjoy! 

Pride

Seven great things/strengths in your riding life

1. Always open to learning something new
2. Lots of great friends willing to help
3. Patience
4. Humor
5. Creativity
6. Having fun with my horse and not stressing (too much)
7. Shyloh, putting up with all my shenanigans 

Envy

Seven things you lack or covet for you or your horse

1. All the monies!
2. Truck and trailer (and the ability to drive said trailer)
3. More Haflingers!
4. Indoor arena 
5. A complete history on my horse
6. Baby pics of Shy!
7. A Western saddle pad (hopefully will get one this weekend)

Wrath

Seven things that make you angry

1. People who are abusive to their horse
2. Full muck buckets (when I boarded)
3. Below zero temps and icy footing
4. Having to work (which pays for pony and everything else, but hey, still makes me angry sometimes!)
5. Horses that won't load on a trailer
6. People that don't slow down on the roads when we are riding/driving
7. Horses that poop right after you cleaned the stall

Sloth

Seven things you neglect to do or cut corners on 

1. Not clean tack as I should, ever
2. Not brush regularly (but always pick hooves)
3. Not clean feed bowl as often as I should
4. Work Shy as needed (although no indoor and icy footing and snow makes it impossible now)
5. Putting a lead rope on to take Shy from the pasture to the barn (had to chase her through a corn field a couple times now. . .
6. Calling the vet, only see him for annuals and Coggins
7. Losing weight, that ongoing battle, ugh

Greed

Seven most expensive things you own for your horse/riding

1. Saddle
2. Harness
3. Cart (that I sold)
4. Boots
5. Thermals for me
6. Horse (purchase and ongoing care for life)
7. Hopefully a really nice Western saddle pad soon

Gluttony

Seven guilty pleasures or favorite items

1. Saddle
2. Boarding at a friend's
3. Sunday lunches with Jaime, Kyle, and Terry
4. Giving all the horses treats
5. Shy's feet and hardy health
6. Shy being super cute
7. My first couple of ribbons

Lust

Seven things you love about horses and riding

1. Friends
2. Stress relief
3. The smell
4. The work
5. Sharing Shy with kids
6. Sense of accomplishment
7. My funny, silly, sassy Haflinger

share your barn blog hop

I decided to join in on the barn blog hop! It has been fun seeing were everyone else keeps their horses. So here is where me and Shyloh spend our time together.

1. A View of the Barn

Home of Hidden Creek Draft Horses (plus Haflinger, two minis, and one mini hinny)

The barn is a simple barn. It houses the tractor, round bales, square bales, and tack. There are five standing stalls for the horses to eat. 

2. Your Horse's Living Space

Shy spends the vast majority of her time in this pasture.

Shy spends almost all day and night outside with her minions. She often refuses to come into eat (if she refuses, she does get her food given to her outside. Shy has the option and prefers to stay out. The two pastures used to be opened together, but Shy cannot handle herself on free choice hay and the biggest Percheron, Isaac, likes to play with the little minions and we are afraid he might accidentally hurt them. So Shy gets to live with the minions. 

When she does come inside. . .

When she does come in, it is for a few hours overnight and she has a standing stall. But, she generally slips her halter and wanders the back half of the barn for the night. Once the weather gets above freezing consistently, the horses will stay out. They just don't have a shelter right now. 

3. The Tack Room

Are the carts are stored to the left.

It's more like a tack space, but this is where I keep the stuff that I don't keep in my car.

4. View of Where You Ride

Round Pen

Hopefully, I will start riding. I will start out in the round pen for safety, but eventually, we will head out back. Right now it is an open field, but in spring, the soy beans will be planted. But there is a path around the soy beans for riding and driving. 

Back fields, yup, all of that plus more!

5. Favorite Feature of Your Facility

Well, I board at a friend's house, so they are my favorite features! We have a lot of fun together and a lot of laughs. 

The link doesn't format to my blog widths, but here it is!