The Halloween Tree~SkyWatch Friday 103009

I pass this tree every time I go visit the horses. On this afternoon, a couple of weeks ago, it was cloudy and when I stopped to take a couple of pics, the sun was behind it. I thought it made a good Halloween tree. Have a safe and happy Halloween tomorrow! SkyWatch Friday, October 30, 2009.

new neighbor~hello!

After Sunni knocked the hay feeder over for the 1,000th time (...sigh...) we FINALLY moved him out of the big corral into a smaller single one next to Quad. We moved Scout back in with Cali in the upper one. Now, when I drive in, Sunni will nicker to me, like Beauty used to do. He's always done that, but when he was in the upper corral, he couldn't see the car. And, Scout won't knock over the hay feeder! Once we got Sunni into his new corral, Quad had to check him out! They SHOULD get along well...they are both geldings, they are both laid back, and they are both slow eaters! Here are some pics of the two goofy geldings getting to know each other last weekend!

Dad and his girl, Gigo

I love working with Gigondas. She is so smart! She CAN be unpredictable, which is why I always wear my gloves when handling her! Uh, huh. I've had one too many rope burns from her when she decides to pull back. But, she does know her commands, although we are still working on "come". After her workout, she ran and ran in the arena and then came up to hubby for some scratches and lovin'! The two of them have a special relationship. She always comes up to him when she's ready to return to her corral. She helps HIM lower his blood pressure! Can you see him rubbing her neck and head? I'm glad they have their special relationship!

Horses and fall trees~That's My World 102709

The maple trees up at the ranch are beautiful right now~reds, yellows and browns. They are down by the arena, but far enough away that their leaves blow the other direction. This is where we take the horses for some "free time" and exercise. That's My World for Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

Cali~Mellow Yellow Monday 102609

Here's Cali yesterday. We took her down to the arena and let Scout chase her all over! She's such a sweetheart. She leads, she doesn't pull, and she walks right with me (unlike Ms. SCOUT!) All the horses are getting wooly. There have been some freezing nighttime temps and even Quad is getting his winter coat. Mellow Yellow Monday for October 26, 2009.

Gigo, Scout, and I

You know, I hardly ever have a chance to get photos of me with the horses! I'm the one who is always busy working with them and with all of them, except Quad and Cali, I simply cannot balance working them AND taking pics at the same time. That is especially true with Sunni, Gigo, and Scout. Sunni is unpredictable. The camera would go FLYING!!! Gigo is so strong and she sometimes still bolts (...sigh...) (like yesterday). Scout...well...Scout is two handfuls! NO WAY could I have a camera around my neck and work with her! But hubby was kind enough to shoot some pics yesterday, so here they are. Don't laugh. We BOTH need to lose about 40 pounds! Well, that's what his doctor told him and I figure, since we'll both be cooking, I'll tag along. It's funny how the weight just kinda creeps up on one, isn't it? No photoshop here! Darn! Anyway, I got to work with both Scout and Gigo in the arena. Let's just say that Gigo was a LOT better than Scout, who is very opinionated about everything! That's Scout in the bottom two photos! Just LOOK at that attitude! YOU BETTER GET OUTTA MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhh....now it's time for my bath! Roll, roll, roll...

Look how she runs~Gigo~Camera Critters for 102409

Whatever "person" (and I use that term with disdain and disrespect) sent Gigondas to the slaughter feedlot, I gotta tell you, "YOU are an idiot!" This horse has the desire, the heart, "las ganas de correr" (the motivation, the internal desire) to RUN. And, boy, does she LOVE to run! She's never been through a starting gate because she doesn't have a lip tattoo, however. What a waste. She would have been a winner. Oh, and she's completely SOUND, too! I took her down to the arena today and she showed Quad how to run! "Look, dummy, THIS is how you do it!" He DID pay attention (politely, of course)...(after all, he IS a gentleman), then went back to picking up bits of alfalfa blooms....(sigh...) Remember, Gigondas is the red thoroughbred that I picked up from a slaughter feedlot (YES, she was headed for slaughter) in Washington state. I found her on an online rescue, paid her bail, paid for her quarantine, paid for her shots and coggins, and paid for her transport to California in January 2007. She had obviously been hit about the head and ears because she was very headshy and always tried to get away from me when I tried to reach toward her ears. How sad to think that someone BEAT this beautiful mare! It took me 2 YEARS to get her to let me touch her head and ears and then it was only after numerous "join ups" that she allowed me to do so! Now, she is a very patient, loving, and trusting mare. She's also very intelligent. I just shake my head when I think of her and Beauty on that feedlot. There are so many like them on feedlots today. I've never been able to figure out her pedigree and nobody has been forthcoming with any knowledge of where she came from or why. I really don't care. However, I SWEAR she MUST have some Man O'War in her! She has his competitive spirit. I love her anyway, for her heart, her intelligence, and her tenacity to hold onto life no matter what it threw at her. GO GIGO! Camera Critters for 102409

Bye, bye~SkyWatch Friday 102309

Scout and Cali LOVE to run in the arena and use some of their youthful energy! On this November day, last year, they had a blast! SkyWatch Friday for October 23, 2009.

SAFER~Appeal for auction funds and news

Instead of doing a post myself, I thought I would post this appeal from SAFER. SAFER is a rescue in Northern California and they are heading back to the Petaluma auction to rescue some horses. Please, if you can, donate to SAFER. Here is their post and news: Here's the link to their website: http://www.saferhorse.com/

Fundraising for next Mondays auction at Petaluma~I have been on several trips and have not had the opportunity to do intake. Now most of our rescued horses have been placed - see NEWS - and we are ready to help out our community's equines at the auction again. Now is the time that all the kids camps and dude ranches feel the need to dump their riding horses so that they will not have to feed them over the winter. Tourism was down this year due to the economy and many outfits will not be doing their businesses next year unless things improve. In addition - foreclosures and job loss has not slowed down here in Sonoma. Many families are still distressed to know that they cannot even afford humane euthanasia for their family's horses. We have a barn full of hay - thanks to all you who give at the feedstores! And we have a wonderful quarantine facility waiting for them so LETS DO IT !! Let's give them the time they need to find that new home.One cannot help but wonder what wonderful equine personalities are waiting to rejoin a Sonoma family. SAFER is committed to outbidding the meat guys and the Mexican Rodeo to reclaim our local horses. We will save up to 5 depending on the donations. We especially need funds to cover vet bills. Please go to Donate to participate in this effort. Or mail to SAFER at 9501 Mill Station Rd. Sebastopol 95472. All monies are tax deductible.Please do read the News concerning the 3 TB's up in Lake County. I received over 30 emails on that one! Perhaps you or someone you know will be that liaison person we need with the Lake County Police Dispatch to help them out.Mostly I would like to congratulate our citizens for being so very proactive!If you are able to foster or want to adopt - please contact me at 707-824-9543. Let's Take Care of Our Own here in the North Bay!
Here's the link to their website: http://www.saferhorse.com/ I know I'll be sending them a donation in Beauty's memory.

Mustangs on a cloudy day

I took these pics last November, when Scout and Cali were in the arena. I've had a mild case of flu this weekend and haven't been able to get up to the horses. I hope that if I rest today (...sigh...) I'll be able to drive up during this next week. I just don't have the energy today.

Fly on the nose~Camera Critters 101709

Sigh...WHAT can I say? She's so goofy! Camera Critters for 101709

M is for mustangs~ABC Wednesday 101409

We stopped by the Ridgecrest BLM corrals early Sunday morning before we drove home. It was chilly up there and the hay tractor was out delivering hay to the mustangs. There were a couple of corrals where the horses hadn't been fed yet and they were eager for carrots!~ Imagine that? The mares and pregnant mares were very friendly, while the stallions, in the bottom pic, refused to come near us. Apparently the Ridgecrest BLM just ended its roundup recently, so many of the horses don't know what carrots are. BUT, some sure did! That's hubby being mobbed by the mares. Here are some pics from our morning with the mustangs...ABC Wednesday for October 14, 2009.

Sunni and Cali

Sunni colicked over the weekend and I rushed up to the ranch last night to deliver psyllium for him. Apparently he's been knocking over the hay feeder and eating off the ground...(sigh)...Thank goodness Cathy phoned the vet, who came out and tubed and oiled him. His manure was FULL of sand and Doc could hear it in his intestines. Cathy's going to move him to his own corral with a big feeder and move Scout back to the corral with Cali. Musical horses! The problem is that Sunni eats so slowly that he spends HOURS scouring the sand looking for bits and pieces of alfalfa and then eating sand. I'll drive up again this afternoon to check on him. It was very cold and chilly up in the mountains yesterday and I finally had to put on a jacket! The horses are all getting their winter coats quickly and they are fuzzy wuzzy.

Burgers to go!!!

Friday was our LONG day. We stayed in Ridgecrest, drove to Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills, ate breakfast in Lone Pine, then drove up to North and South Lake in Bishop. Then we drove out to Rovana and the packing camp. On our way back through Lone Pine, late in the afternoon, we realized that the crowds were there for the Lone Pine movie festival, a three day event. There were several mounted police patrols. Two of them were at the post office, and these two were in the take out line at McDonalds! Hey, when you're hungry, you gotta do what ya gotta do!

Sierra trip

Sorry I haven't posted for several days! Hubby and I are on a trip to the Sierras. So far we have visited Lone Pine, Bishop, and North and South Lake outside of Bishop. Today we drove through Kennedy Meadows, then down to Kernville and Lake Isabella. Of course, no trip would be complete without moi visiting and making friends with some horses! I found some pack mules and a pack horse in Rovana, which is outside of Bishop. The pack horse place is WAY BACK in the mountains, at the end of the road! A very nice lady, "Dee Dee", who owns the pack animals, and I started talking and she, too, has a PMU horse from United Pegasus. She has a mare, while I have Sunni. Her mare was from Manitoba. Sunni was from "Ranch 6". We were comparing notes on them. They BOTH dislike having their feet trimmed! Anyway, these are pics from Rovana.