Friday, August 14, 2009

Back In Black

I did some horse moving today...three went from mom's to the north pasture. Trouble makers! Mom wanted them out of the corral.

Three went down to the ranch. The three fat, sorrel sisters.

Two geldings came up. Spooks and Smoke. Megan is going to take over Spooks-her next future barrel, reining, maybe poles gelding. Smoke will eventually come to Colorado with me. He's Moon's 1/2 brother. I believe just as fast and made a lot better in the hind leg.

As if that was not enough to get everyone stirred up, I loaded Strawberry and hauled him to the ranch for some TO and gathered up my black mare and brought her to town...
This is Queenie.

She is Frosty's momma...
Other than the color, they could be twins. Frosty is going to Colorado. And Moon of course. That will make up the initial trio going with me.

Queen settled in very quickly...
She got a good brushing tonight and will get a bath and her feet trimmed this weekend. Actually, her feet look pretty darn good. That is one of the things I always liked about this mare. GOOD FEET! She did a good job of passing that trait on as all three of her foals had/have good, thick, healthy feet.

Eight years I have let this mare sit idle in the pasture. That was never my intention. Time just gets away from a person. She is 16y/o now. But sure don't look it. Frosty was the 3rd and last foal I got from her. I was getting overloaded with young horses to ride and I don't raise to sell...babies anyway. I've never really considered selling anything I've raised until they are at least 6y/os. I get a chance to see what I'm raising that way. Her time of leisure is over though. The great part is My Honey gets a horse that has a mature mind, but not a used up body.

Anyway, everyone was very easy to catch and haul right up to Queenie's turn. It's been a year or so...maybe two, since she was actually caught, so I tried the grain and sneak the leadrope over her neck trick in the pasture. Got the leadrope over before she realized it. Just didn't get the tail caught quick enough. She left and decided she had had enough grain. Plan A failed.

I figured the horses would follow the trailer, with Strawberry still in it, up to the corrals, but I guess since it wasn't one of their own herdmates in there, they decided it wasn't that interesting. Plan B failed.

I decided to heck with it. Have saddle horse...will chase! So I popped Strawberry out, bridled him(an absolute must if you are moving horses) and headed out to bring the herd in. Plan C...success.

Everyone is moved around for now. When I come back for Megan's birthday in October, I'll move Chunk and Beretta to town. Megan said she would take care of gentling Beretta for me this winter. Shooter will stay at mom's for another year. Most likely two. I'll make sure to plan on coming home for a few weeks next fall and start him under saddle. Then he'll just sit again until he is a 3y/o.

When I head back to CO after Megan's b-day, I'll be taking Smoke with me for sure and possibly VooDoo-the 16.2H 4y/o that still needs broke. If we haven't found some land to buy, I'll have to be careful how many horses I have to pay board on though. Even the relatively inexpensive place I have lined up-$150/horse...adds up pretty darn quick.

If I could though...there would be quite a list that would be going with me...with all the activities I have found...I could keep an arsenal of horses and have plenty of places to take them for practicing, showing and competing.

Oh my gosh, I am so excited. We have a place to practice roping. There is a hunter/jumper facility just a couple miles from the house. A reining/cutting facility near that. Barrel racings all over...most go until the end of November. Actually there is only three months, Dec., Jan. and Feb. that I noticed the activities slacking off. This is gonna be great!!

9 comments:

Vaquerogirl said...

Oh you sound so excited! Isn't it wonderful that when you finally work out a tough decision in your mind, and you make a commitment, how much better you feel? I know it will turn out to be a good thing for all! Good luck!

Laura said...

Sounds like you got everyone shuffled around to your liking.

CO does sound exciting with all of those horse options nearby. I'm glad that you are excited about your move and have lots of stuff to do!

Chelsi said...

It is great to see you excited! I'd be super anxious just because I'm not good with change. Hope the horses settle in well...it will be a change for them too! Which is Moon again? I can never keep your horses straight! lol Which are you planning on using for reining?

ezra_pandora said...

You have the best looking horses, you are definitely doing things right. I love Frosty's momma. And what an exciting adventure coming up :) We'll all be waiting for the loads of pictures you'll be taking.

Melanie said...

Oh wow...did I miss the big enouncement, or what??? Congratulations to you and your honey, and I can understand your ambivalence about Megan. Maybe she will come around....

Queenie is a lovely mare, and she sounds like she will be perfect for your Honey. You will still blog for us though, right???

PS-That horse that was lying down on the beach was just napping while the rest of the herd was out on a ride. She jumped up when they came back, and my brother-in-law ended up riding her. She was actually quite a handful....

Andrea said...

I love your big horses. They all look so awesome. You would freak out at my TB mare right now. Poor mare is having a tough time right now. And I just read you are moving! Girl, I am so jealous!! I want to go to CO too!! I say I have 15 more years and then I will be gone too!! Is this Megan's Senior year? It's always hard to leave while in your last year of H.S.

Where will My Blue be? If he is staying with Megan then she will have to keep us updated on all that she does with him!!!

Flying Lily said...

Very exciting time of great changes for everyone, horses included! Megan will be fine and sometimes a little distance deepens your relationship - takes out the daily frustration and you meet as adults in a sense. And how nice to be with Mr. Sweetness every day. Hope he puts the seat down etc. :) Have a great trip and best wishes in all the new days ahead!

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

Good for you. I hope we still get to hear from you and how the horses are doing! CO is such a beautiful state!

City girl turned Country Girl said...

Well it sounds like you've been very busy!! I'm sure you have a ton of things left to do...So good luck :)