thawing out

I am sitting her thawing out from this coldness. The temps are low, but it is the wind that is killer. On the way home, the wind was blowing the snow across the corn fields, piling up on the road, and making in near impossible to see. 

It was nice to see Shyloh. She seems completely unfazed by the cold. In fact, when I get past all her hair, her skin is warm. It must be the native mountain pony, bred on the Alps and used to the winters, that is in her blood. 

Wind-blown hair.

Even so, I brought her in the barn with me while I cleaned stalls. It's only five stalls, so it doesn't take long, but I think Shy likes to "help out". She will go from stall to stall and "pick up" and spilled grain or left behind hay. It makes her feel super helpful, I'm sure. . .

Then we just kinda hung out because it is way to cold to do anything else. Shy went digging around in her grooming bag (which has absolutely zero treats in it) and pulling things out. Then she grabbed the clicker in her mouth and began clicking it with her teeth and looking at me. She knows what that sounds means, she wanted her treats! Crazy pony! So of course, she got some, that was pretty cute!

The big guys were all ready to come in early from the wind, so every one got a hay snack to munch on while they were inside. Water buckets got put in the heated trough to melt the solid ice and refilled. Minions came in, too, even if they really didn't want to and I had to chase Gunny as he ran to the round bale. 

I went inside Jaime's to warm up and eat dinner before I left. I went out one more time to help Kyle give the horses more water while they got their dinner hay. I was glad Shy hadn't broke out of her stall yet. Kyle said it's pretty common that she breaks out, but since she doesn't destroy anything while she is out, it is okay. Well, she doesn't destroy anything but her halters. This one lasted two weeks. Ugh. 

From the crown piece, ripped all the grommets out!

One day, it will be warm again. Until then, I will be saddle shopping and thawing out!

And I got my horse box!

A couple stain removers, ShowSheen, anti-bacterial pen, and Herballs!

lost week and a half

I have not seen Shyloh since before the whole polar vortex thing. A whole week and a half! I was sick for a whole weekend, then the world froze, then work/school/internship. I wasn't worried, Shy was in good hands and she is a hardy pony, but I felt bad for not being able to help out Jaime and Kyle during that whole time. 

Shyloh

Jaime said that she thought Shy missed me, she was being mean to the minions. She was also doing silly things like rearing up at wind and snow swirls, then getting mad and chasing the minions. Silly because Shy is not a rearer, it is way too much effort for her. 

having

In efforts to keep the horses out of the Arctic winds, Jaime tried to keep the horses inside a little longer than usual. Shy was not down with that and her and Isaac kept breaking out of their stalls. So out they went. All the horses held up extremely well in this weather. Shy was liking it so much that she refused to come in a couple nights. Jaime and Kyle chased her around because they were determined to get her in the barn and away from the cold. I told them to leave her out since she was being a brat. Every other horse goes right inside, straight to their stall. Not mine. She likes to be chases, tossing her head the hole time. She did get left out the other night, but the cold winds had left so it was no big deal. She survived just fine and is still a chubby pony. She almost got left out tonight because I had to chase her, but when she realized that the round bale was gone, she gave up and went in for her hay. 

fun

On top of refusing to come inside, Shy continues to slip out of her halter each night and roam half the barn. The only halter she did not slip out of was the one she broke. I need to get another. That was a nice halter. Her current halter also gets taken off in the pasture and somehow ends up in the big draft pasture. . .

in

When I pulled up to the barn today, Shy looked at me, then ran away tossing her head. Yeah, I am pretty sure she did not miss me. She let me hug her for a bit. Then we played in the snow for a while. I am convinced Shy loves the snow! She was trotting and cantering around and I was tossing snowballs at her. She thought it was fun! 

snow!

Did I mention that now that the weather is above freezing, it has started raining? Spring, I am so ready for you!!

monday musings by shyloh #116

It's snowy and cold. Allie is sick. I've been told she hasn't left the couch all weekend!

So what better way to pass the time. . .I had Kyle chasing me around because I busted out of the barn and ran to the round bale. Ha!

It's from far away, but you can still see how much fun I was having!

Finally made it back with my minions. Stay warm everybody! I know not every horse has a super warm coat like me.

~Shyloh

deep freeze

We got our first snow storm of the season! I think we ended up getting eight inches by the time I left the barn. And that was the day we planned on lots of travelling. We drove slow and stayed safe. It took us forever to get anywhere and we did not have time for horse sledding. I am not upset though, there will be plenty more chances.

White pony!

Terry had never been to a local-ish tack store that we frequent for treats, grooming stuff, halters, and other things we may need. They specialize in English riding, so they also have a ton of stuff that 1. don't fit the giant drafts and 2. we will never use.

Dexter is covered with snow!

But Reba is trained in dressage and Terry wants to convert, so we thought to show her what she has been missing. The girls that work there are super nice and helpful, all riders themselves. 

Anyway, getting to the barn then getting to the tack shop and back took up a large chunk of our day. And we had somewhere to be at 6:00, which we barely made.

Frozen whiskers!

The horses were cute in the snow. They were having a blast, especially Isaac who though snow was the greatest thing on earth! He was picking on poor Clutch so much that Clutch had to hang out with Shy and the minions. 

Minions have so much hair that they can't feel their snow blankets

At one point, we opened the gate and let the horses mingle. All the drafts run into the minion pasture and Shy ran to the round bale. Then she ran around some more and Isaac and Notch started following her. She took a lap and went back to the round bale. Isaac started eating the snow off her back, it was pretty cute!

Follow that sexy Haflinger!

Butt licker

We brought the horses in to dry them up a bit and Gunny dried off in the way only mini mules do. . .

Gunny just drops right behind the horses for a roll

Getting his head. . .

He could really care less about his body, he concentrates on his head!

Haha! Sawdust face!

Even though we froze our asses off all day, the horses didn't even seem to register the cold and had a rip-roaring time playing in the snow and eating their extra hay!

Meatball! He is such a hoot!

monday musings by shyloh #112

It snowed!!

And I ran and ran! Because I like the snow. And I look super pretty in the snow. 

They canter. . .I trot. 

Weee, he is a speed demon!

His canter is like a little prance!

And the minions ran, too! Meatball is just too cute! Except for when he tries to eat my hay, then he is not cute. 

Cute

They thought this was great fun!

Sounded like an earthquake to me!

And the big guys ran and ran!

They play all the time!

And they played!

And I watched. We like winter around here. No bugs, no heat, and lots of extra hay!

~Shyloh

r.i.p. sled

Poor sled. You will be missed. We had some fun times with you. You are the one that really taught Shyloh how to pull things. We used you over gravel, over straw, over grass, and over snow. Once, you scared Shy so bad that she took off on us, causing rope burns. But you were there to help get Shy comfortable with noises behind her that she couldn't see. Sled, you had Anthony as a test dummy when Shy pulled her first person in the snow. Then you gave rides to some people at the barn. But our time now has come to an end. Just when we were beginning to have a ton of fun with you, you break and leave us sled-less. So sad sled, so sad.

so sad

Anyone care to take a guess how the sled broke?

a. plastic snapped from coldness

b. sledding accident

c. went over a rock

d. Shy stepped on it

I finally made it to the barn to see my pony! The temps have been below freezing with the windchill. But I got out there today with a plan. Sled! Shy was in her pasture, all cute with snowflakes on her back. I grabbed her, groomed icicles off of her and just hugged on her for a bit. I really needed that!

Then I tacked her up and walked our dearly beloved sled to the outdoor arena. I got Shy used to the sled again, dragging it and kicking it and what not. Shy was a good pony. Then I did a little line driving behind her, testing her brakes and making more noises with the sled. Check. 

I gathered up my courage and plopped on the sled. It was my first time riding in the sled alone. 

And it was fun!! We walked, we trotted, we did circles and figure eights. Shy was great. She listened to my voice and my reins. Here, come for a little ride with us. . .

Sorry about the part where I dropped the rein. After this, I decided to take her down the little roads in the barn. 

First, I want to mention that I have a hard enough time driving a car, not sure what makes me want to drive a horse! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I hit curbs when turning. . .So as we make our way out of the arena, I made the turn too tight. The single tree hit the fence and Shy's feet moved. Fast. But she didn't go anywhere. I told her easy and she calmed right down and we went on our merry way. Soon, we came to a rocky road. I guess we went over a big rock and a heard a different noise than I am used to hearing. Shy heard it too. I also felt something. . . Shy wasn't too sure what was going on now (and either was I), and she was getting a litte antsy. So I told her easy, told her whoa, then stepped out of the sled to investigate. Crap, the sled had a crack. Well, I was having so much fun I wanted to keep going. But we only got a few more steps until the back end of the sled hit another rock and busted right off. Again, a scary noise, but Shy was acting like an old pro. Cue happy dance!

So those of you that answered c were correct!

Shy has hay radar, she uncovered some hay hiding in the snow

I was very happy with how well Shy did today! We went outside of the arena, we trotted, and we overcame some scary noises and new obstacles. I was pretty bummed about the sled, I would have kept on going until dark time! Guess I am going to have to get a new sled now.

monday musings by shyloh #70

I guess the two leggers have made a new sport out of me. . .horse sledding. I tried to get out of it by pretending to be afraid of the sled, but I quickly realized that Allie doesn't fall for that anymore. Crap.

Allie had her friend, Anna, come out to give me a test spin. Allie put a lunge line on me, just in case. . . But it wasn't needed at all!

I was real good. Then Allie got on the sled. 

This was her first time! We trotted around a lot and I was super good for Allie. 

Next, Allie had a new lady I never met try sledding. We went round and round.

 I was doing so good, Allie let go of my safety lunge line and let the lady go by herself! 

I do have to admit, I was having fun. In fact, I rather enjoyed myself.  Allie just needs to get a more durable sled. . .And this sled left her with a wet butt! Haha!

So anyone else want to come horse sledding? 

~Shyloh

monday musings by shyloh #69

See what the two leggers cooked up for me? This is what happened when Allie puts an ad for a crash test dummy on the internweb. Anthony replies!!

I should have known something amiss was going on when Allie started sliding the sled under my legs. I would see it go under one side and come out on the other! Mind blowing! But eventually I got used to it. I didn't particularly care for it, but I put up with it.

And the treat guy came to visit! We went for a wonderful winter walk together and I got carrots! Yum!

I was good for the treat guy.

But soon after than Allie started tacking me up. I figured, no big deal, I am a tire pulling champion. Doesn't bother me at all any more. Funny thing though, I didn't see the tire anywhere, just the blue sled. . . hmmm. . .Where is this going?

Allie did rig up a homemade bit warmer using her gloves. It was much appreciated.

nice and toasty

And this is what happens when Allie gets grand ideas. And when I am really good at pulling tires, this is what I have to do in return. . .

At first I was all like, whoa sled, you make a funny noise back there! Are you going to eat me? But then I realized that maybe the blue sled wasn't a horse eating monster. In the end, I did have a little bit of fun pulling Anthony around in the snow. Maybe we can do it again some day soon. Maybe. . . Although I do have a feeling this is preparing me for bigger things to come. . .

~Shyloh

more sass in the snow

I have no idea what has gotten into Shyloh this weekend, but she is full of sass! She has been acting in ways that I have never seen her act! My sweet sweet Haflinger has turned into an ear-pinning beast! My easy going, gets along with every horse mare has begun to step it up a notch in her herd! Okay. . .she is still sweet, but she has been pinning her ears back lately, which she never does.

In this video, Shy is telling Dulce and Resy to get away! She wanted in first! This was new, usually Shy is the very last one to want to come inside. I was actually surprised that when I called for the horses to come on in that she joined them! Normally, she stays at the far end of the pasture until the very last minute. But today she stood right at the gate and let me put her halter on, without a peppermint again! It's the little things that make me happy!

However, this evening's behavior was a far cry from this morning. I had her in another pasture and when her herd went out, I wanted her to join them. Since her English is a little rusty, she was not understanding me when I said that I wasn't bringing her in to work, just move her to anther pasture to join her friends. All she saw was a halter, a lead rope, and me walking towards her, and she was off! This time I had to use a peppermint to catch her and move her over.

Devious diva! -in the shadows with pinned ears.

I am thinking that Shy is trying to move herself up in her little herd. Of course, she picks little old Resy (he is 28!) to be a jerk to. Maybe she is tired of being a pushover, not that she gets picked on or anything. Maybe she has completed her assessment of her herd and is thinking she will be boss mare.  (This is the most likely scenario, given Shy's assessment and cognitive skills.) Wouldn't that be something! Any which way that it is, as long as she is not mean, she can be all the horse that she can be.

Don't mess with the best!

sassy snow day!

Today was by far the coldest day of the winter! Shyloh and Casi went outside, but only for a little bit. It was bitter cold and windy. 

I did play with Shy a little bit outside. Boy, is she a sassy girl! Clearly, at this point she was not ready to go in. I wasn't trying to catch her here, just trying to get her to move her legs a bit. She told me in no uncertain terms what she thought of that. . .

Shy also tried her hardest to get to the teeny tiny bit of grass is that left buried beneath the snow. Look at those lips move!

At least they got outside for a short time. I think they were happy to go out, but grateful to come back inside. When it was time to come in, Shy was ready and let me walk right up to her, halter her, and take her in. . . without a peppermint! 

This is what Shy's whiskers look like after she has her nose buried in snow!

"Do I have something on my face?"

Needless to say, it was too cold to do any actual work. . .but we will get back into a schedule soon. Soon. . .

monday musings by shyloh #22

See my sign? It is great! It lets all the horses and two leggers who pass by my stall (which is everyone since I am right across from the grooming stalls and right next to the dreaded arena) know who I am and how extraordinary I am! And also that I am a Haflinger, the greatest horse breed ever produced! True story.  And I guess that Allie loves me.

Now no one can forget how awesome I am, my sign will remind them all!

I was real scared of the sign at first. I didn't know what it was and Allie was coming at me with it all quick. I tried to run, but I was in my stall and I couldn't go very far, so I just kept backing in circles. Allie played the click and treat game with me and my sign wasn't scary any more. All I had to do was touch it and I got a treat! So easy! I realized it wasn't a mountain lion in disguise (those mountain lions have many, many disguises) and I could touch it with no problem. Hey, I was even bigger than my sign! So not scary. 

Treat please! The sign is not a magical morphing mountain lion. Touch!

I was promised that I would be getting out of the boring arena to do some work in the "real world," but that hasn't been happening. This does not make a mare happy, broken promises and stuck inside and all. But then when I went outside to hang with some new friends, I decided that it is not practical to be outside working. Outside is only for finding what is left of the grass. How can it be muddy and icy at the same time? So I guess as long as it is windy and rainy and snowy and icy and muddy, the arena it is. . .going round and round and round. Blah.

Like I said, I got to go outside with some new horse friends! We went out "at out own risk." This was because of the ice and snow. I am pretty hard-core and was not bothered by any of the winter elements.

Mocha in purple, Dante in blue. It was so blustery out!

This is Mocha and Dante. Mocha quickly realized that I was not going to run around with his off the track self and just ate grass with me. Dante wanted me all to himself, he was infatuated. We ate grass together, too. Sometimes, when the wind got blowing real hard, they went on each side of me to protect me. But I think that they fail to realize that I am a Haflinger and I don't need to be protected! 

Mighty Haffie am I!

And poor Ryleigh. . .I could hear him calling for me all the way from the barn! He was spying on us from his window and he was not happy that I was out with two other geldings. But thank Pegasus that Ryleigh wasn't out there, he would have tried to beat up Mocha and Dante. He never would have caught Mocha, but he probably would have hurt Dante. And I don't want my new friends hurt. And they are Ryleigh's friends too, he just can't stand for me to be around other geldings. 

Snow on my back! I couldn't feel it through my winter woolies. So thick!

Outside, the snow got a little intense for a while and I was covered! I didn't mind at all. In fact, I really did not want to go inside when it was time, but I did. I was a good girl. Fear not, I am just planning my next big thrill. Haha!

I'm a pretty cool gal!

~Shyloh

monday musings by shyloh #21

I got to spend a lot of time outside in the fresh snow over the weekend! It was magical. I was the first horse to make tracks in the snow, too. When I used my nose to clear the snow to get grass, it cleaned it! So the end of my nose is sticky-free from my ball of goodness.  I love being outside! Except when there is snow on the ground and I go back inside, I have so much snow packed under my hooves that they don't even touch the ground! I have to walk so so so carefully until I get to my stall and Allie picks the snow out of my hooves. I slipped once and it was not fun!

It's all mine!

I met a new friend this weekend! Her name is Dulce. She has been at the barn for longer than me, but we never hung out. Until Sunday. Dulce came out into my pasture and we got  along great! It is so nice to have a mare friend. Now we can talk about all the goings on in the barn and gossip about the geldings and the size of of their. . .hooves. . .We went for a run together. I had to be quick to keep up with her, even though she is not a tall Quarter Horse. I was running so fast, I slipped right on my butt! I got up real quick though, kept running, and pretended it never happened. I'm glad Allie didn't see, I would have been embarrassed. 

Bodacious babes of the barn!

New friends!

I also got to hang out with Casi and Ryleigh.  And I met a new boy. His name is Zaylen and he is a 3 year old Paint. He is new to my barn, but I really like him. I just met him while he was in his stall, but he made me go YOWZAH (if you know what I mean, wink wink)!

Hey there good looking!

When I was not ogling the geldings or making new friends or trying to find grass under the snow, me and Allie have been playing this game together. It is fun! All I have to do is touch things and I get grain! Grain! How I love grain! I'd probably do a cartwheeel for some grain if Allie asked me too. . .only if she asked real nice. And if she stopped making me doing circles on the rope again. Boring. Even if it does keep me warmer, being forced to walk and trot and walk and stop and walk and trot, then switch directions and repeat is a real drag.

Not having a good hair day, it happens to the best of us

In other news. . .I overheard someone calling me short! Humph! So to prove them wrong, I have only been drinking out of my bucket that is higher. I used to only drink out of the lower bucket, but now I won't touch it, even when Allie put an apple in the water for me. Short. I'll show them.

I CAN reach!!

And in my efforts to forever befuddle Allie, I laid down to eat my hay. Ha! You should have seen her face when she saw me! I win againnnnn!!