She's Boring...Very Boring!

Quite frankly, she's been boring us to death. As you can see, I'm half asleep and Maddie's about to fall over.

All she talks about is meeting her deadlines for magazine articles (which aren't even about us), horses, trail rides, and rescue dogs! Good grief!!

When was the last time you heard one word from us?

Well, we've decided it's time to get her attention. She needs to know that we've noticed what she's been doing. Spring has sprung and we're going to spruce up her blog while she babbles about other things in her life.

The first thing we did was to move her GUEST BOOK to the top of the page. She loves to look at all her friends when they leave pictures, but we thought she'd take more notice if it was the first thing she saw when she opened her blog.

Once upon a time it was her goal to fill her GUEST BOOK with cute little animal faces from all around the world. She wants all kinds of animals even though we tried to convince her to stick to dogs. She's hard headed that woman! Just ask our dad if you don't believe us!

So, as a favor to us, (if you haven't already) would you please sign her GUEST BOOK and leave a picture. And if you don't have a picture, just leave one of yourself! She's hard headed, but not picky! She just wants to know who you are.

AND...as much as we hate to say this, if you're a rescue dog or horse, would you please mention that when you sign THE book? I'm sure she'll take us for extra walks when she sees what we've done!!!

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This photo is of me being me! Now what's wrong with that?







She wanted to tell you this story, but only I know what really happened so I think you should hear it from me. Don't you think that's only fair?

Here's how the whole incident went down. I spent the whole week wondering why she hadn't come to give me treats everyday like she usually does. Oh sure, she dropped by now and then but she didn't groom me much and twice she even forgot to bring carrots. I was being neglected that's for sure. Why? Because she was with her sister. Who cares about sisters? Not me! She tried to tell me her sister only gets to visit a couple times a year because she lives in Texas.

Texas Shmexas I say!

The only time her sister even stopped by to visit me was when they put the stupid garland around my neck to take my Christmas picture. I never asked to have my picture taken and I sure wasn't going to cooperate...why should I? I knew she'd go right home and drink hot chocolate (with a little Bailey's) with her sister and cuddle with Maddie and Annabelle. Oh yea, I know all about those little yappers!

Anyway, on Christmas day she shows up with her husband...she calls him Chuck. He's a little scared of me so he never gets too close. I thought they were going to do the usual...clean my stall and then give me extra hay and a candy cane or two. But this Christmas, that didn't happen.

Instead, they put me out in the pasture with Tantra. I've had a long-term relationship with Tantra, so for a while I thought that being out to pasture with her was just dandy. But one thing led to another and Tantra got ancy.

By then, she and he were gone. GONE I TELL YOU! The extra hay they threw us just wasn't going to do the trick. Tantra wanted out and she wanted out bad! I did what any gentleman would do for his girl, I pushed the iron gate flat on the ground, helped Tantra over it, and took her for a stroll.

Never mind that we wandered down a busy highway. Never mind that we went down country roads. Tantra was happy and that was all that counted. We ate hay from round bales. We munched on grass from under new snow. We were having a fine time and then....

SHE SHOWED UP AGAIN! In fact, she showed up with Chuck and her son, Ryan. It was like they thought they were on a round-up. They circled in on us. She had one lead rope and Ryan had the other. And faster than we had left the farm, they clicked the lead ropes on our halters and we trudged back to the farm.

Chuck drove the car in front of us like we were in a parade or something. I heard HER mumble something about a turkey in the oven. I thought she wasn't even going to give me a pat when she put me back in her stall but she couldn't help herself. She even gave me a kiss on the nose as if that would make everything better.

Before she left she made sure to tell me that next Christmas I'm grounded to my stall for the day. Do you think she'll remember to stop by with treats?

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Happy New Year, Friends!

Annabelle would like to wish you a Happy New Year, but as you can see, she's chilling out from all the Christmas activities. In this photo, she's sitting with...or rather on...her Aunt Dee. The girl is plumb tuckered out!

And Maddie's beyond tuckered out she's pretty much unconscious! I know she's dreaming about all the stories we'll have to tell you in 2010 and all the stories that you'll share with us.

Getting to know all of you has been so much fun and we can't wait to get back to our regular blogging routine. We've laughed with you, we've cried with you, and we've become friends with you. Thank you so much.

Tango probably would like to say Happy New Year too but he's in deep doo doo. On Christmas day he took his girlfriend Tantra and went on a jaunt off the farm and down some country roads. I'll let Tango share that as the first story of the New Year. For now, he's in time-out!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from all of us!!!

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The Christmas Story As Read to Bru and Captain Jack

I couldn't believe my luck last night. I was at a camera store (buying a Christmas present) and right in front of me in line was the lady you see in the photo. Her name is Wendy. I came to find out that she was picking up photos taken the day she read...or tried to read...The Christmas Story to her dog, Bru and her Shetland pony, Captain Jack. One thing led to another and of course, we started talking about our dogs and horses. Wendy pulled out her package of photos and began to share.

I asked the obvious question: "Could I scan these and put them on my blog for my friends to see?" I asked.

Wendy hesitated for a minute...but just a minute...and answered, "Of course! I was just having a little fun...Captain Jack isn't always in the house, but I brought him to get pictures to show my friends!"
I understood completely! Like most of the rest of us, Captain Jack and Bru aren't just animals, they are Wendy's heart.


It took awhile for Wendy to get things started what with Bru and Captain Jack being the curious fellows that they are. Clearly Wendy has the patience of Job and her animals are beyond adorable.
I noticed the foot...err I mean hoof...prints on the carpet and asked what they were. "Oh Captain Jack just tracked in a little water," she answered.

Good enough for me!



In the end, Wendy read the special story to her wonderful little (big) guys. And the beauty of Wendy reading The Christmas Story to Bru and Captain Jack is that I got lucky enough to share these special Christmas photos with you!

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Nothing Could Be Better!

Good friends, their grandchildren, and Tango. Now who could ask for more? Monday was a fun day for Tango and me...that's for sure.

Janice and John (two of our very best friends) came to the barn with Zach and Camryn, their grandchildren. I was already riding Tango when they arrived. The boy was about to get a workout. He was really glad to see company!

I rode Tango for about fifteen minutes more after Janice and John got to the barn. Then I hopped off. (I do believe I heard Tango breathe a sigh of relief!) I let Camryn and Zach cool Tango off for me with a very nice long walk. We strolled around the arena.

Then we strolled down the tree lined path. Tango was happy. I was happy. The kids were happy.

Tango got his usual treats from me and then he got some more from the kids. He's a spoiled horse for sure.

People always thank me when they come to the barn. I feel like it's me who should thank them. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than share my passion with friends I love. How about you?

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We Love Visitors!

I love it when I can get a signal on my cell phone at the barn...because often I can't.

When I can, I'm always thrilled to answer a call and have someone say, "Are you at the barn? We want to drop by."

This particular photo was taken when my friends Jeff and Rae were out for a drive with one of their dogs, Erin. Erin had never met horses before and Jeff and Rae felt like she was up for an adventure. The three horses in the picture happen to be very young Friesians. They were really curious about Erin.

Erin sniffed. The three horses lowered their heads and snorted a bit. I'm pretty sure Erin yawned and said, "You guys may be big, but you're amazingly boring. Snorting does not impress me in the least!"

And I'm fairly certain at least one of the Friesians said, "Whatcha doing on that side of the fence? If you wanna play, you gotta come in! Snort. Snort."

Erin has manners and good sense. She politely stayed right where she was. It was fun to watch the interaction between four animals who had never met before. It was even more fun to have company.

If you're ever out and about, drop by! I don't know where Tango was in this photo, but I'm sure he'd come out to see you. He might even do a trick or two!

Jeff and Rae are coming out again tomorrow with more dogs. Tango wrote it on his calendar so he won't forget!

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Tango's Almost Ready - Almost!

Just a quick post to let you know that Tango and I are leaving for another horse show tomorrow afternoon. I'll give him his bath tomorrow morning. Then I'm going to splurge and have someone who is much better than me braid his mane. After that, it's on the trailer and off to the show.

I don't know who's more excited, Tango or me! Wish us luck. I'll let you know how it goes on Sunday night when we get home.

By the way, this is a very special show. I'll tell you more about it on Sunday!

Also, thank you for all the nice comments on this blog. It's so nice to connect with other animal lovers. I look forward to hearing from all of you and I'm anxious to get to your blogs when I get back. You have such good ideas and information and FUN!

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Tango Kiss

Did I tell you that I taught Tango to give kisses?
Well, he does. Tango is always happy to share affection.
His affection is just a little sloppier than the normal kiss and hug!

I was going to post about the puppy reunion, but unfortunately it had to be rescheduled because of torrential rain. Tango kisses are the next best thing for now. My friends visited the barn with their dogs awhile back. I'll share those photos with you tomorrow or the next day. For now, Tango's kisses make me smile...hope they make you smile too!

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Sandra's Famous Quote about Horses and Granddaughters

I'm a sucker when it comes to quotes about animals, kids, and love. I savor them and can usually recite my favorite ones at any given time. Some quotes stay in our hearts and minds forever. I was reading the comments you left after I wrote about my granddaughter and Tango.

Sandra left a quote (that is now famous as far as I'm concerned) that touched my heart. She said: A great horse is a treasure. A granddaughter to share him with is even better.

Alexa stayed all night with us last night. This morning, bright and early, Alexa and I headed for the barn. I saddled up Tango while she saddled up Tantra. First we warmed up in the indoor arena. Then we went to the outdoor arena and trotted around for awhile.

After about twenty minutes Alexa said, "Let's go on a trail ride Nan."

I hesitated.

There was a slight problem. One of us had to get off our horse to open the gate (since everyone else had left and we were alone). I thought for a minute and then said what any responsible grandparent would say:

"Okay Lex, if I get off Tango, gravity is going to keep me on the ground. There's no mounting block out here. You get off and open the gate and then YOU get back on.

Now it was Alexa's turn to hesitate, but not for long. She hopped off Tantra, opened the gate, and allowed me to pass.

"I knew you could do it," I told Lex. "Now get back on!"

Just so you know, Alexa and I ride in English saddles. We don't have saddle horns or an easy way to hoist ourselves up. What I knew was that Alexa was young and had the coordination to do just about anything she wanted to do. She just needed the confidence to try something she had never done before.

I was her cheerleader from atop Tango while Alexa gave it a few good shots. Of course by now we were both laughing. It's a good thing Tango and Tantra are both calm. Luckily, Mary (a wonderful woman who works at the barn and loves the horses) came around the corner.

"I'll give her a leg up," she said. And she did.

With that, Alexa and I were off. A gentle breeze cooled us. The day was about as perfect as it could get.

Alexa and I rode down the lane where the trees form shaded umbrellas. We rode in the fields where butterflies and bothersome flies were everywhere. We rode by the edge of the woods where birds were singing like they were serenading us. We rode around the paddock where Tango and Tantra graze. We rode and rode and rode. Alexa and I.

All the while we were riding, Sandra's quote kept going through my mind. A great horse is a treasure. A granddaughter to share him with is even better.

What a glorious day we had. What a gift to be able to share the fresh air and peacefulness with my granddaughter. No matter what obstacles or challenges I will face in my life, I will always remember today and the comment Sandra left on my blog.

**photo's from the day SIL traveled with me to the barn

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Is Grass a Vegetable?

Okay, here's what happened. I was having lunch with two horse friends today when I mentioned that Tango boy is putting on the pounds. I honestly believe my guy has gained 100 pounds since the grass turned green.

I was thinking out loud when I said, "I just don't get why horses gain weight when they eat grass since grass is a vegetable."

My two friends laughed out loud. They were really quite amused. "Grass is most certainly not a vegetable," they said. "It's something else."

"What else could it be?" I asked them. "Grass is green. It's like a big leafy salad. When I eat salads, I lose weight. Tango's gaining. His svelte figure is changing on a daily basis. Why?"

The conversation continued for awhile and by the end my friends laid out the challenge.

"Get the answer!" they said. "If you can prove grass is a vegetable then let us know."

So, here's the deal. Most of you know lots more than me about animal nutrition and horses in general. I need to know what you think. Your answers will be greatly appreciated and I'll consider every single one of them...even the ones that are totally made up. I might need a few of those just in case the debate with my friends gets serious. I like to be prepared to blow a little smoke. What fun is a debate without some creativity?

So.......IS GRASS A VEGETABLE???

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I Pulled His Mane...Yes I Did!

I was tempted...oh how I was tempted. Tango's mane was really long. The scissors were in my tack box and I could see them out of the corner of my eye. "Who's going to really know if I cut off three inches of his mane then pull the rest?" I thought to myself.

Then I remembered what happened last year. Tango's tail had gotten so long that he was stepping on it so I decided it needed a quick snip...just for safety of course. Well, one snip led to another and then another and another. By the time I got things evened up, even poor Tango was embarrassed. His lopsided tail was an eyesore for several months.

So, I did what all knowledgeable horse owners do...I pulled Tango's mane (gently of course) for
over two hours. Tango was patient until we got down to the last fifteen minutes. Then I popped peppermints into his mouth every other pull or so. By the time I was done, I actually think Tango could have gone for more...PEPPERMINTS!

The moral of this story is this: NEVER LET YOUR HORSE'S MANE GROW LIKE CRAZY ALL WINTER LONG. Spend a little time grooming while the ground is blanketed in snow and you'll save a lot of precious time when the tulips poke through the ground in the spring. Your wrist won't hurt so much either!

I know some of you animal folks out there (who don't have horses) will want to know why and how manes are pulled. Since it's really late, I hope your answer can be found in the comments to this post. If not, I'll get back to you later!

By the way, Tango is looking more spiffy every day. He WILL BE SPIT SHINED by Friday. Layers of dirt have been temporarily displaced by early baths. Why? So Tango can go outside, roll in the mud, and revel in the joy of the soft wet earth every morning. That's what horses do...at least my horse!

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Tango

I decided I should introduce you to my pets before I start posting old columns from equine magazines. Tango seems like the perfect place to start since I already have photos of him on my other blog http://ignitetowrite.blogspot.com/

Some horse owners don't consider their horses as pets, but I sure do. I adore Tango. I have to remind myself that he's not a dog on a routine basis. Let me tell you about Tango's beginning. Five summers ago I rescued Tango. I got a phone call while I was on a family vacation in the mountains of Tennessee. "There's a horse who's going to slaughter tomorrow if you don't commit to buy him now," the caller said. Being the sucker that I am I asked for the rest of the story. It seems that an Amish man purchased Tango's bay mother when she was pregnant. She was expected to deliver a bay foal but instead Tango came out about as black and white as they come. This Amish man could not drive a "flashy" horse, so after keeping him for his kids to play with for a couple years, he was ready to sell him one way or another. I bought Tango by the pound and brought him back to the farm where I was boarding an elderly thoroughbred. The plan was for someone (not me) to train Tango.

Unfortunately that didn't happen, so being overly confident and eternally optimistic I managed to test fate. One beautiful summer evening in August my friend and I went out for a trail ride. "Tango's calm," I said, "He'll be fine." I guess the sweet smell of summer and a new horse took the place of common sense. Tango hadn't been under saddle much yet and before the evening was over I managed to end up on the ground. When I fall it looks like Barney the Dinosaur in a train wreck and this time was no exception. There was no gracefulness in the way that I ruptured my spleen.

That was then and this is now. Tango is amazing. He moves like a dream. I can show him in pleasure driving classes and dressage.Tango is also Houdini. Want to know why? One winter when Tango was slightly off (lame) I couldn't ride him much. So instead, I taught Tango tricks. I taught him to push a ball. I taught him to pick up cones. I taught him to bow and give kisses. AND I TAUGHT HIM TO USE HIS MOUTH TO PULL THE END OF A ROPE.So, Tango pushes. He pulls. He gets out. Dumb me. Smart Tango. He knows where the grass is greener!

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Nothing Better!

I can't think of a single thing (aside from my faith, family, and friends) that makes me happier than my animals.

I have three dogs...Kelly, Maddie, and Annabelle. With the exception of Maddie, all my dogs are rescues. Later on, I'll go into greater detail about my dog rescues!

I also have a horse, Tango. I rescued Tango when he was a little over a year old. Tango was small when I got him but he's not now. Turns out, Tango is part draft horse. He's awesome! I show Tango pleasure driving and right now, Intro level dressage.

Journaling is therapeutic to me. I decided it would be fun to journal about my animals with other animal lovers. I use to write a column for a horse magazine. Maybe tomorrow I'll share one of those columns...maybe I'll write about something else!

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