Sunday, June 24, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Wildlife
This morning I did not want to get out of bed, what else is new? 5 am is tough to take when you don't get to bed before midnight. I had checked the weather forecast and it looked like lovely weather for a ride this morning, followed by thunderstorms all afternoon. Levi heard the alarm and sprang out of bed, feet pattering to our room. I told him it was too early, he should go back to bed. He said "But I really want to play with Legos." So I said okay, as long as you are quiet.
Driving out to the barn the temperature was a perfect 60° and I was even a bit chilly. Sinwaan saw me coming and walked a couple steps the opposite direction. He was not in the mood to work today! I really don't like taking him out before he's had any breakfast, but I do let him munch along the way to make up for it. We pass a couple of alfalfa fields that have some overgrowth at the roadside where it isn't mown.
The conditions were perfect this morning and I was so happy I had decided to put in a ride. Along the way we saw two bunnies hopping across our path, and even a little family of killdeer - three chicks and a protective mother, whom they didn't pay much attention to. Sinwaan was a bit slow heading out but once we turned onto Last Chance (2 mi in) he took more initiative at setting a faster pace. We did a lot of nice trotting and just enjoyed the lovely (calm!) weather and sunrise. I was pleased that we were able to maintain more of a steady pace today, even heading back towards home he was steady. We had a brief canter towards the end, and then a walk to cool out the last 1/4 mi. He still seemed willing to move out and not as tired has he has been at the end of our rides. Fitness is building!
The heat crept up on us during those 8 miles and by the time we got back to the barn it was already in the mid-70s. Sinwaan had started to sweat today, which was expected, but hasn't been usual for him lately with the cooler temperatures - and wind. He was glad to rub his big itchy head all over me once I took off his bridle. And then it was straight to his breakfast.
:)
Driving out to the barn the temperature was a perfect 60° and I was even a bit chilly. Sinwaan saw me coming and walked a couple steps the opposite direction. He was not in the mood to work today! I really don't like taking him out before he's had any breakfast, but I do let him munch along the way to make up for it. We pass a couple of alfalfa fields that have some overgrowth at the roadside where it isn't mown.
The conditions were perfect this morning and I was so happy I had decided to put in a ride. Along the way we saw two bunnies hopping across our path, and even a little family of killdeer - three chicks and a protective mother, whom they didn't pay much attention to. Sinwaan was a bit slow heading out but once we turned onto Last Chance (2 mi in) he took more initiative at setting a faster pace. We did a lot of nice trotting and just enjoyed the lovely (calm!) weather and sunrise. I was pleased that we were able to maintain more of a steady pace today, even heading back towards home he was steady. We had a brief canter towards the end, and then a walk to cool out the last 1/4 mi. He still seemed willing to move out and not as tired has he has been at the end of our rides. Fitness is building!
The heat crept up on us during those 8 miles and by the time we got back to the barn it was already in the mid-70s. Sinwaan had started to sweat today, which was expected, but hasn't been usual for him lately with the cooler temperatures - and wind. He was glad to rub his big itchy head all over me once I took off his bridle. And then it was straight to his breakfast.
:)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Shot, check. Ride, check.
Friday I trailered Sinwaan in to the vet to have his WNV vaccine. If you recall, we did not give it to him when he got his 5-way because last year he had a bad reaction and we were not sure what from. So this year he got them separately and my vet kindly only had me pay the exam fee once even though she saw us twice.
I checked in at the office and went back out, unloaded and started grooming Sinwaan. I felt a couple raindrops and there was a breeze but I wasn't too worried about it. I was just about done when a vet tech came out and asked me if I would like to take Sinwaan back into the sheltered area to wait to get out of the rain. I agreed and not two minutes after she left us the wind really picked up and the rain started hammering down. Talk about great timing! Sinwaan was quite uneasy in the covered area. Partly because it is full of scary things like stocks (for horses and cattle) and has a concrete floor that he slips around on with his shoes. He would much rather be out in a storm then in a shelter. We had some reminders about personal space and manners when standing around, he kept testing me and yanking his head out towards the dirt and rain.
We were early to our appointment so the wait didn't surprise me. Finally the tech came back out and we put Sinwaan in the stocks. After a slight initial hesitation he walked right in and gave us no trouble. When the vet came out I told her since I saw her last I had been riding him 16 miles a week. She said that is great and commented that he was looking better. I said "well he still has a dimple in his butt and looks fat" she said she could tell that he had lost some weight. (My girth says otherwise, but he is much fitter now) She got out the weight tape and measured him. She said he had dropped 100 lbs. I couldn't believe it! That is great news. It is motivational in helping me to continue with our new program.
Sinwaan also has two new lumps that I have just recently noticed. One is near the base of his left ear, and the other is on his right side, just behind where his girth goes. She looked at them and said she could biopsy them, but without doing that she couldn't tell me what they were. They could be cysts, or they could be melanomas. I decided to forego the biopsy today. I will keep a close eye on them and see if they get bigger, or if more appear. I know melanomas can be common on older grey horses. She said often they turn out to be benign and they just remove them.
He got his vaccine and we loaded up and left. As we were leaving the sun started shining and the rain let up. That was nice because I was hoping to work him a bit before leaving him at the barn. Thanks to the grass and weeds that have been growing in the round pen, it wasn't too slick to work him even with all the rain. I had him trot both directions 10 times each and then put him back out to pasture.
Cindy called to report that he wasn't interested in his 5 pm dinner feeding, but before bed she was able to coax him over to eat a handful of alfalfa and from that point he ate his hay.
* * *
Sunday, I woke up at 6 am (horrors) and headed out to the barn. The sun was shining (a rarity this week!) and it looked to be a perfect day. Of course when I got to the barn the wind picked up and I was questioning how wonderful this ride would be. I needn't have worried. Sinwaan was really mellow and perhaps a little stiff still from his shot, although I was happy to see no swelling this time, and his appetite was normal. I let him stop and eat grasses and alfalfa along the way on our ride this morning. We did our usual 8 mile loop and he did not fight me for speed heading home, which was a nice change. We had the pleasure of seeing Jenee' as we rode past heading back as well. The wind was only bad at the beginning and end of our ride, we didn't notice it the majority of the time. Not our full 16 mi this week but the 14.5 we managed is pretty close, and I am happy with that, given the weather.
I checked in at the office and went back out, unloaded and started grooming Sinwaan. I felt a couple raindrops and there was a breeze but I wasn't too worried about it. I was just about done when a vet tech came out and asked me if I would like to take Sinwaan back into the sheltered area to wait to get out of the rain. I agreed and not two minutes after she left us the wind really picked up and the rain started hammering down. Talk about great timing! Sinwaan was quite uneasy in the covered area. Partly because it is full of scary things like stocks (for horses and cattle) and has a concrete floor that he slips around on with his shoes. He would much rather be out in a storm then in a shelter. We had some reminders about personal space and manners when standing around, he kept testing me and yanking his head out towards the dirt and rain.
We were early to our appointment so the wait didn't surprise me. Finally the tech came back out and we put Sinwaan in the stocks. After a slight initial hesitation he walked right in and gave us no trouble. When the vet came out I told her since I saw her last I had been riding him 16 miles a week. She said that is great and commented that he was looking better. I said "well he still has a dimple in his butt and looks fat" she said she could tell that he had lost some weight. (My girth says otherwise, but he is much fitter now) She got out the weight tape and measured him. She said he had dropped 100 lbs. I couldn't believe it! That is great news. It is motivational in helping me to continue with our new program.
Sinwaan also has two new lumps that I have just recently noticed. One is near the base of his left ear, and the other is on his right side, just behind where his girth goes. She looked at them and said she could biopsy them, but without doing that she couldn't tell me what they were. They could be cysts, or they could be melanomas. I decided to forego the biopsy today. I will keep a close eye on them and see if they get bigger, or if more appear. I know melanomas can be common on older grey horses. She said often they turn out to be benign and they just remove them.
He got his vaccine and we loaded up and left. As we were leaving the sun started shining and the rain let up. That was nice because I was hoping to work him a bit before leaving him at the barn. Thanks to the grass and weeds that have been growing in the round pen, it wasn't too slick to work him even with all the rain. I had him trot both directions 10 times each and then put him back out to pasture.
Cindy called to report that he wasn't interested in his 5 pm dinner feeding, but before bed she was able to coax him over to eat a handful of alfalfa and from that point he ate his hay.
* * *
Sunday, I woke up at 6 am (horrors) and headed out to the barn. The sun was shining (a rarity this week!) and it looked to be a perfect day. Of course when I got to the barn the wind picked up and I was questioning how wonderful this ride would be. I needn't have worried. Sinwaan was really mellow and perhaps a little stiff still from his shot, although I was happy to see no swelling this time, and his appetite was normal. I let him stop and eat grasses and alfalfa along the way on our ride this morning. We did our usual 8 mile loop and he did not fight me for speed heading home, which was a nice change. We had the pleasure of seeing Jenee' as we rode past heading back as well. The wind was only bad at the beginning and end of our ride, we didn't notice it the majority of the time. Not our full 16 mi this week but the 14.5 we managed is pretty close, and I am happy with that, given the weather.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Slow 8 mi
Today I had arranged to meet with Kittee for my usual 8 mi road ride. The timing worked out fantastically, I was turning onto Stovall just as she was coming up on the intersection, so she was able to follow me to the barn from that point. Just after I made the turn I saw a movement and looked over out the passenger window to see a deer right up against the Suburban. It was fortunate that I wasn't a couple seconds later or the deer may have been in front of me. It nearly missed colliding with the broadside of my suburban and I saw it recover and bound back into the woods.
Kittee brought Derby along for the ride today and I think Sinwaan was happy to see an old friend. They used to be pasture mates when Sinwaan first moved here.
We headed out and it was pleasant to have a riding companion. We walked the first mile and a half and then took up trotting. Not too long after Derby saw something in the wheat and spooked into the road, it was not a bad spook and Kittee anticipated it, having seen what he was reacting to just before he did. I saw the color and thought the deer had been hit but Kittee said "no, it's a dog." Sure enough, hiding in the wheat along the roadside was a dead dog. So sad. I think this is the dog that I remember seeing trotting along the road's edge, headed down to get his little dog friend. I would often see them together. The horses had a good look at it as we went by, but I am sure no one in a car would have noticed as they drove past. We also saw some roadkill in the form of opossums in various places, and one flattened snake.
We went the same direction today as I had gone last time. We did some more trotting and then Derby's boot twisted so Kittee dismounted to fix it. At some point within that time frame Sinwaan pulled off for a nice long pee break. We did some more trotting. Then more walking.
Rounding the turn off of Mission Sinwaan picked up his stride and took the lead. Alternating walking and trotting we headed back up Froghollow. By the time we reached Last Chance, Derby was very tired. He was looking a bit droopy so we ambled home at a leisurely pace the last 2.5 miles.
Kittee seemed to enjoy the change in scenery and it is always nice to have a riding companion along. This week's goal of 16 miles was met.
I am not sure how this next week will work out. It looks like we have a lot of rain in the forecast, and Sinwaan is due to go back in for his WNV vaccine. I am hoping he does not react to that one, or we will be taking it easy next weekend.
Kittee brought Derby along for the ride today and I think Sinwaan was happy to see an old friend. They used to be pasture mates when Sinwaan first moved here.
We headed out and it was pleasant to have a riding companion. We walked the first mile and a half and then took up trotting. Not too long after Derby saw something in the wheat and spooked into the road, it was not a bad spook and Kittee anticipated it, having seen what he was reacting to just before he did. I saw the color and thought the deer had been hit but Kittee said "no, it's a dog." Sure enough, hiding in the wheat along the roadside was a dead dog. So sad. I think this is the dog that I remember seeing trotting along the road's edge, headed down to get his little dog friend. I would often see them together. The horses had a good look at it as we went by, but I am sure no one in a car would have noticed as they drove past. We also saw some roadkill in the form of opossums in various places, and one flattened snake.
We went the same direction today as I had gone last time. We did some more trotting and then Derby's boot twisted so Kittee dismounted to fix it. At some point within that time frame Sinwaan pulled off for a nice long pee break. We did some more trotting. Then more walking.
Rounding the turn off of Mission Sinwaan picked up his stride and took the lead. Alternating walking and trotting we headed back up Froghollow. By the time we reached Last Chance, Derby was very tired. He was looking a bit droopy so we ambled home at a leisurely pace the last 2.5 miles.
Kittee seemed to enjoy the change in scenery and it is always nice to have a riding companion along. This week's goal of 16 miles was met.
I am not sure how this next week will work out. It looks like we have a lot of rain in the forecast, and Sinwaan is due to go back in for his WNV vaccine. I am hoping he does not react to that one, or we will be taking it easy next weekend.
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