attached at the hip

Well, the move is over. It went smooth, which was nice. Both horses loaded right up into the trailer and away we went. Leaving was sad, but for a variety of reason I am happy to be back at the other barn. Being closer, on the way home from work, being able to continue my lessons on Reba, and having Lily partial lease Shyloh make the move worth it. 

Travel time!

Shy is pretty great about taking everything in stride. She doesn't get worked up by new places or old-new places. She stepped off the trailer, like whatever. Reba however. . .well, Reba had to make a grand entrance. We opened the trailer and Reba began backing out, while she was still tied to it. That didn't stop her, she busted through her halter and fell backwards. We have arrived!!

Checking out the new digs.

Once we got the horses into their new pasture, Shy rolled first thing. Then she began searching for grass. Reba followed her around like a lost puppy. Shy took to the woods up front and began running around. Traveller was being led out of the pasture and it was clear that they remembered each other. Reba was not down with this and got in between them. Traveller kicked out and Reba kicked back. It was instant hate and they continued kicking each other. Yikes! Shy was off running around the woods and Traveller went to follow her. Terry got Reba and Traveller's new owner tried to catch him, but he was off running with my wild pony. Finally, he was caught and led out. Reba was at peace.

Shy decided it was time to run out into the back of the pasture, with Reba close behind. Shy took her through more woods and they met up with the two Arabs and Quarter horse that are their new pasture mates. There was a small amount of squeals, but nothing like up front. The only scuffle was when Kota reared up on Reba and she reared a little bit and chest bumped him and he fell backwards. 

The herd. Shyloh, Reba, Kota, Ranger, Prince (order from front to back)

It was funny to see. Shy was just doing whatever she wanted and Reba was her bodyguard, not letting the other horses get too close to her. But at the same time, Reba would not leave her side. Every step Shy took, Reba took a step, too. It was a far cry from the first time I brought Shy to this barn. Shy was miss independent today and Reba was her tag-a-long. 

Bodyguard

Me and Terry stayed a while, just watching the horses settle in. They ran around, came up front for water, and went back out back to graze. It was funny to watch Shy trot through the pasture and the woods. . . Shy could clear branches that Reba had to seriously duck under. And since Reba would not stop following Shy, duck under those branches she did!

Coming through the woods. Looks like Reba is leading, but her strides are just bigger.

Every turn Shy made, Reba was right there with her.

Reba and Shy are the only mares in with the three geldings. Should be fun to watch the herd develop. 

monday musings by shyloh #135

I got all geared up in my fly mask, muzzle, and halter. I know what that means. . .

alien pony

Grass! Me and the big horses went to the back pasture to enjoy the cool breeze, the sun, and  grass. On the way out, I did get to enjoy some mulberries from the many mulberry trees that line the driveway back to the pasture. 

First things first when getting released. . .try to get the muzzle off so I can inhale grass at Haflinger speed. But Allie has gotten hip and puts the halter over all the fly mask and muzzle to keep it on. Boo. 

Be off, you food restricting demon!

Once I resigned to eating grass at a super slow pace and bobbing my head up and down to get the blades in the little hole, I was fine. At least I wasn't the only horse that was silly looking. . .

Hee hee

I also got to finally hang out with my big horse friends. I like them most and usually stand at the gate between the pastures longing to be with them (or their round bale). So I was a happy happy horse!

~Shyloh

this is sparta!

This happened to me the other day. . . 

Spartaaaa!!!

Except that it wasn't down a well and it was a horse. But the horse's name IS King Leonidas.

Our horses at the barn love to be together in one big group. Even though they are separated into two groups, they often stand together over the gate just to be close. That poor gate. . .

Not at the gate here, but the fence is separating them.

When some horses are separated, there can be some running and calling back and forth. And when some horses are returned to the pasture, there is often nickers and greetings. They are a close bunch. The four drafts, two minis, Haflinger and Paint, odd bunch that they may be, have formed a funny little herd together. 

It usually isn't a problem (unless you are trying to ride your horse away from a trailer with the others tied to it) and it is kind of cute how they all know and recognize each other. For the most part, the horses have manners and don't get pushy. 

This does not happen at the pasture gates

Except for King Leonidas. Maybe because he is the new horse in the group or maybe he is just a jerk face, but he has horsey anxiety. And he really likes Shyloh. 

Grazing muzzles are hot

We had all the horses except Isaac and Notch in the far back pasture to graze. Shy had all her gear on to keep her from stuffing her face and getting founder super sexy. After a couple hours, we wanted to bring the horses back to the front pastures. I had a slush in one hand, Meatball, and Shyloh on leads in the other. Kyle had Reba. Jaime was at the gate. That left Dexter, Clutch, and Leo in the pasture. 

How Shy feels in her grazing muzzle

As we were walking out, I handed Meatball to Jaime and worked on convincing Shy to leave (she grew roots and did not want to leave). As I got her walking and we were almost out of the gate, I was body slammed! What the. . .

I was slammed again and fell to the ground. I dropped Shy's lead rope and my slush (seriously the worst part) as I put my hands over my head to protect it from hooves. My foot was crushed and a hoof got my hip. When I felt safe I got up to see what the hell just happened. 

Leo had blown past Kyle and ran into me, half jumping me. In the process of my fall, Jaime hoovered over me to protect me from the Paint. I assessed my damage: sore foot, but I could walk, sore hip, and sore neck from landing on a rock. I was fine.

Jaime, jumping in to save me!

Now the hard part. . .catching two hard to catch horses. Shy and Leo were on the lose and they were having themselves a good time. They ran through Jaime and Kyle's field (which was just planted that day), they ran through a field behind us. Then they stopped. Both took a poop, then ran off bucking. What fun! They made it to the neighbor's fields. Me and Kyle were trying to catch them through all of this. Then they came back, but they were not ready to be caught yet. 

Shy was the main runner, Leo was just following. Leo stopped for some grass and I caught him and handed him to Kyle. Shy was still not ready to end her fun. Back into the neighbor's field she went. We played ring around the rosey. I was not happy. Eventually I got her and she knew she was in trouble. Her saving grace was that she did not take part in the trampling. Just the aftermath. 

Taking caught horses back, , ,they knew they were in trouble!

Still sore a few days later. My neck is the worst, I must have stiffed up when I fell and pulled the muscles. My foot only hurts when I walk, because it is right where my toes meet the foot, the bendy part. The knee and hip are just bruised but okay. 

How I will be getting horses out of the pasture from now on. . .

I think we will need to employ a different method of getting horses out of the pasture. It usually is easy, tell the horses to stay back and they do. Leo must not have gotten that memo. 

monday musings by shyloh #129

Sometimes, when I do new things, I am able to channel my inner Arabian. . .

Flared nostrils!

Creeks don't bother me though

Like when I am taken on a bareback ride to the back fields. In a pretty headstall that is not mine. With a bit I have never used before. 

It's so purdy

Haley wanted to hop on a horse real quick and I was the perfect mount because I am close to the ground. She is much braver than Allie as she rode me outside the confines of the round pen. I was a little bit like, uh, I am not used to this but I will try extra hard to be good for you, even if I am a bit scared. I did a couple quick steps a few time from being scared, but over all I was good. I really do try so hard. But with someone riding, I have to be extra careful to care care of them and it can be nerve-wracking!

I am much more relaxed here and looking quite cute, if I say so myself

Another day, Allie walked me back to the same area. You know, the back fields where I have been many times before. A new, giant pasture is up there and almost ready for horses! Allie let me roam about it because I don't bother fences and the electric wasn't on yet.

That is a lot of space for us!! I tested out the new pasture to the fullest.

First, I ran about it checking things out. 

Lots of room to stretch my legs, and I even got out a buck!

Then I rolled to make sure it was acceptable rolling ground.

Works for me!

And finally, I tasted the grass it had to offer.

Sparse, but tasty!

Also, my tail is gorgeous!

Then I made Allie chase me around because I didn't want to leave! The new pasture is Shyloh approved! Two hooves up!

~Shyloh

monday musings by shyloh #60

Finally Allie had to walk all the way back to get me. . .

Video in hyper speed. . .

And i didn't make it easy on her, either. That's what I do.

Then when Allie was done with me, I trotted off and took the shortcut through the woods, just in case she changed her mind and wanted to work me!

More hyper speed

~Shyloh

not at the very bottom

I witnessed my first feeding time with Shyloh and the herd. It went much better than I thought it would! The feeding lady put the grain and hay in a bunch of spots around the pasture, opened the gates and the horses each went to a spot. I guess the horses each have kind of a spot. . .

Shy's new home, the gates are red.

Shy and her new buddies, Dancer and Analeesa, go to the far side of the pasture to eat (orange) , the others eat at the near side (yellow). They stay pretty stationary to eat. I thought it was a wild, all horses higher in the herd running off the lower in the herd, squealing, bucking mess. I was wrong. But I did discover Shy is higher than Analeesa in the herd and did walk Analeesa off her hay pile when Dancer walked Shy off of hers. And, for a strange reason, all the horses seemed to eat at a slow pace. . .much slower than when Shy ate by herself in her stall. Only once the horses higher in the herd finished, did some running around start. Shy got bucked once in the belly, but mostly stayed off by herself.

Eating under the shelter

Hay head!

I still have not had to test Shy on being a wild and free pony. I have not had to walk out to the pasture area to get her yet. Today, as I walked through the gate to the pasture, her and Dancer were coming through the woods (blue dashes) and met me at the gate (blue star).

Dancer is not being mean, he is shaking his head

Today was our first day back at normalcy. We lunged. We stretched. I used the outdoor arena to lunge. I felt the footing may have been a bit deep, so I am going to try the indoor next time. Also, it is smack in the middle of the barns and I feel watched. . .

Another thing about this place that is not my favorite. . .they feed on a schedule. Which is fine, except that it does not give me much time to work with Shy by the time I get to the barn from work. Because she is in the pasture, if she is not there for feeding time, she misses out. Unless I bring my own hay to give her. Ugh. Not everything can be perfect, right? I am going to talk to the barn manager and see if I can work something out though,