fuzz

I have no new updates. . .boring, right? More crappy, rainy weather has been happening. And now that it is almost dark by the time I get to the barn, it really sucks. 

Shyloh is preparing herself for winter by continuing to grow in fuzz. Lots of fuzz. Fuzz that still finds its way to burrs. Burrs that bury themselves in fuzz. It seems never ending. 

But Shy makes a really cute fuzzy pony. And more fuzz is yet to come. 

Fuzzy legs

Fuzzy ears

Fuzzy head, sad disappearing forelock

I've been reading about horses already being clipped and blankets being put on. . . and I am just not ready for winter. She does not get clipped or blanketed, she gets to be a hairy beast all winter. We don;t do nearly enough to warrant a clip and I am pretty sure I would be walking 15 acres looking for a torn up blanket if I went that route. Plus, she has plenty of shelter in the woods from the wind and rain and she has always been warm when I touch her in the winters. 

So, how fuzzy are your horses?

blahs

No news really. Shyloh is getting more and more fuzzy every time I see her. We have not done any work all week and we probably won't through the weekend either. Tonight I am headed out to the Topeka Auction in Indiana. I am not buying anything, but I am going with Jaime and Kyle, who hope to purchase a draft horse. Should be interesting. . .I have never been to an auction. Then when I get back, I would like to go to a tack sale near Ann Arbor. And that pretty much sums up my weekend.

Windy troll forelock!

Shy's eye looks better. There is no more swelling and she is keeping it open now. So that is good. 

Looking better!

And, even though she was in the way, way back of the pasture, behind the woods, when I walked out there and called her, she came running to me! That was really the highlight of my day!!  But something weird happened while I was getting Shy out of the pasture. . .some kid was zooming through the HORSE pasture on a 4-wheeler. . .what the hell? Obviously, this was not his first time in there, as none of the horses cared. I yelled at him and told him he needed to leave and make sure he closes whatever gate he came in. Then I got the barn manager. Turns out, it is a relative of hers that lives next to the pasture. She does not like that they keep 4-wheeling there, but it seems that there is nothing she can do. . .what? How can you just let people 4-wheel in a horse pasture? Strange.

To the left, to the left. . .

Slide to the right. . . 

Aside from that, the pine tree that fell has been removed and the barn manager was zipping around on her golf cart checking fences. It is nice to see things getting done and checked on as it is needed. 

This post seems so blah, but that is kind of how I am feeling. . .I do miss the time I used to spend with Shy just doing nothing. It is harder to do that here. Hopefully, I'll find something good this weekend!

the donkey made me do it. . .

I have had a hard couple of days. I have had to make some very hard decisions for both myself and Shyloh.

Upon tons of reflection, internal arguments, and doubt, I am moving Shy from the barn we are currently at to another location. The new place has a multi-acre (not sure how big, but it's big!) pasture for outdoor board, filled with trees, trails, a very slightly sloping uphill land, another Haflinger (!!), and a . . .wait for it. . . a donkey (!!!!).  The pasture is so big that when I went walking around it to check it out, I didn't even see the other horses! 

I have said before, Shy truly loves to be outside. I had doubts about stalling her, but I do believe that was the best thing for her at the time. She has had a stall for a year. I do think she enjoys her stall and I enjoy the time we spent there, but she needs to move those legs. Shy's stall time has had her interacting with people daily, being handled by different people, and she has really come a long way with her shyness. 

Now, I think it is time for her to be back outside. It is a more natural environment and she will be on the move most hours of the day. This will be good for muscle maintenance and her gut as opposed to being stall bound, especially through the winter. I am not worried about her being cold. . .

Look at all that hair already! Winter won't be a problem.

 She will have shelter in the form of a large three sided run in, with just a roof on the opposite side of the run in, as well as natural protection from all the trees. 

My few fears involved in moving are that

• she won't be handled daily (turn in/out)
• she might think she is wild and free pony for real
• I won't be able to find or catch her

But then, I must assure myself that we have reached a point in our relationship that this won't be a problem. I was at the new place around feeding time one day (they feed on a schedule), and the other equines knew that and were waiting (quite calmly and patiently) at the gate to be let in the feeding area. I felt good about that. Shy will come to learn the schedule and rather quickly I am guessing since it had to do with food.

I am hoping this is the right thing to do. I hate to be taking Shy away from her horsey friends, I hate to be leaving my friends, but I know I need to do what is in Shy's very best interest. I feel that this is a good move for us. And, there are trails on the property, as well as a burger/ice cream joint up the road with a hitching post for horses! Fun! And to quote an officer I work with who patrols that area "The burgers are made by Jesus and sent from heaven." 

I am an anxious mess, but I have to remember, Shy takes all horse related things in stride. She probably won't care at all and just assimilate into the little herd like she has been there her whole life. We shall see. . .I am hoping to make the move over the weekend or early next week.

New adventures await us!

Princess Shy

haflinger's aren't born. . .

. . .they are made! Made from the hair of Halfingers already in existence. 

Since it is only February and I have already gotten so much hair off of Shyloh, with much much more to go, I must ask a question. . .

Why would anyone buy a second Haflinger? All you have to do is collect hair from the Haflinger you already own, put it in a bag, add some hay,water, and carrots, and *poof* a brand new Haflinger!

You could get an extra Haflinger every year! I asked for another stall the other day for my brand new Haflinger baby. The rate of growth for this baby is exponential! I cannot believe how big he is getting and so quick! Now we just need a name for this fur ball. . . 

I shall call him Fuzzy and he shall be mine

He is pretty cute, right? I hope Shy and Fuzzy get along, because it seems that they will have to share the stall.

On another note. . .will this precipitation ever end? Rain, snow, sleet. . .it all melts and makes mud!

monday musings by shyloh #13

Well. . .my hunger strike didn't last too long. I am a hungry girl and I have to eat to keep my figure. But I still hate that "thing."  Eating so little should not be so time consuming. I'll never get any sleep cause it will take me all night to eat! Perhaps, I'll be a crabby Haflinger. . .ha!

This is gonna take all night!

I had a spa day yesterday. I got my mane conditioned and re-braided, I got my tail, conditioned, braided, and bagged, and I got a deep cleaning. When Allie took my braids out for the conditioning, my hair was so soft! She thinks conditioner will make my mane even softer. 

Sooner or later, my mane will be even on both sides!

I love these next few photos of me. . .Don't I look so tall and sleek? It's all about the angle!

Regal me! I'm fuzzy!

Thinking deep Haflinger thoughts. . .

Got any food down there?

Allie has started riding me! It has been going good. I am super sensitive and I keep my ears on Allie the whole time. When she loses balance, I stop right away. I have been getting better at my walk and stop transitions, too. My walk is becoming so smooth and comfortable

But yesterday, I gave Allie a little tiny bit of trouble. I was walking real good and it was a nice walk. I probably could have started trotting, if I really wanted. Hey, I was stuck in my stall ALL  day because of the never-ending rain. I don't understand what is the deal with the rain, I don't mind it at all! Anyway, Allie asked me to whoa, but I kept going and going. Then I began pulling on the lunge line trying to get away. It was not working, so I stopped. And we started the whole thing over again. After a few times of doing that, I finally stopped the first time I was asked. And what do you know? Allie told me I was good girl and hopped off, I was done working!

Well, back to eating my hay, one straw at a time. 

BTW. . .I love Cheez-Its!

~ Shyloh

nap time

I went out to the barn to make sure Shyloh did not tear it down in a desperate attempt to go back outside. All was good. Shy was happily munching her morning hay. After a close inspection of her, I noticed a new gash over her eye. How does a horse get hurt in a stall all by herself? 

Nom nom nom. . .and barely visible gash over her eye

Geez. . .It was the feeding bin, or lack of feeding bin. When Notch had the stall, he knocked the feeding bin down, ripping most of it from the wall. All that was left was the part help on by the bolts. It appeared that Shy banged her head on that at some point. So I attempted to take it down. I got most of the bolts out, but Robin and Rob came to the barn with the right tools and saved the day! Ta da! No more left over feeding bin. 

Fuzzy wuzzy

It was raining out, so the horses stayed inside. I had planned on working with Shy then going home to do my house work, but I felt bad that the horses had to stay in. The lady that was cleaning stalls was letting the horses out, a couple at a time, into the arena so they could run around and stretch their legs. I did not want to take that away from them!

I pulled up a stool, put it in Shy's stall and just sat with her. I put my feet up, rested my back on the wall and just sat there, with my eyes half closed. Shy did the same thing! We took a little nap together. Shy used the wall her hold her head up. It was very peaceful.  I hope to one day see her lay down, since I have not gotten to see that yet.

Snooze

Shyloh is so cute in her high traffic zone! As horses were being lead to and from the arena, she nickered at the horses that she knew and liked! They nickered back. She is quite the popular pony at the barn!

After everyone got their turn, I groomed Shy, tacked her up, and led her into the arena. We did the same routine: lunging and long lining. As we were lunging, Shy kept stopping out of the blue. I was not asking her to stop and this was not her usual behavior. Something was not right. I looked at her reins that I tied up, and they were pulling on one side of her bit. I just took them off, they were a pain anyway and we did not need them. After that, the lunging was much better. Long lining was better, too! The way Shy's bridle fit, it could work between either of two holes in the headstall. I loosened it and Shy was much better! She was less over-responsive to my cues and I was able to concentrate on my hands more. It is still difficult, but getting better every time.

I attempted free jumping with Shy, but she did not seem into it today, so I stopped. I have learned that I need to listen to her (as above with the reins). She can tell me things that I don't pick up on as quickly. Since free jumping was a no go today, I turned Ryleigh out into the arena with Shy for a bit. I opened the doors for them and they ate some grass together. 

Love

Let's trot!

Yum yum

View from the inside looking out

Now that I am back home, with some house work complete. I think a nap with the dogs in in order!