Big Sigh

Sitting here watching a movie waiting for the new year. 

I have to say 2014 was very very good. I know 2015 will be better. 

We will show this coming year and make some more dreams come true. Most of my dreams have already come true though. Wes is such an inspiration. 

Thank you my love. 

We are beginning year 4 together which is the best. Wes is the best. 

Results Are In

Got the news this morning! I had my suspicions all along, actually knew from the looks and build but it has been confirmed. Yes folks we own a NH stud colt. Ok well Wes owns a NH stud colt. I got him for Wes. Now before you go trashing me or mine I don't have issues with him being NH. I know once upon a time I did but then I did research and got educated. Bo has no symptoms and he gets fed what everyone else does. Yes even alfalfa. Nothing bothers him. With that said I will continue to monitor him throughout his life and should the need arise I will make changes for him accordingly. NH doesn't make them a throw away horse. He will make beautiful babies and I don't have any NH mares so this is not a big deal. I have an HYPP NN gelding so its not like I am not familiar with the whole world of HYPP.
I really wish people would educate themselves better regarding things. There isn't really a bloodline out there that doesn't have some affliction of some kind. So I guess you pick your poison. I am well versed in the matters of HYPP. So if you want to bash me for having one then so be it, you aren't the target market I have him for anyway.
I think he will do well in the show ring this summer. I am excited.
Still love our Bo!

Have a safe New Years Eve. We are going to rock it at home in the comfort of our family room with the woodstove blazing and awaiting puppies to arrive.

Sunrise

Sunrise this morning. We have the best views. 

2014 In Review

Wow what a year. So much has changed. Wes and I have built things, moved things, sold things, bought other things. He is such a trooper. 

We sold 4 horses this year, (Savannah, Rubicon, the Palomino we inherited with the house and Belle) one of them (Belle) came back. She won't be sold again. She will be staying throughout her life. All are bred with the exception of the palomino. Can not wait to see what Savannah has. 

Kai who I traded a saddle for at the end of January is no longer the skin and bones horse that I had gotten. He is fat and healthy and doesn't even look the same. He is a happy boy and still with us. 

We got 5 other horses over the course of the year as well. Cumos, Cinder, Pistol, Bo and Cat have all joined our family. We are glad to have them.

We added onto the barn so the horses would have another shelter. I built another stall which has come in real handy. Wes built stairs up to the top of my barn. Wes put in a beautiful patio were we spend a lot of the summer sitting in the evening. We still have a lot to do but its always a work in process.

Most recently he put a big spot light that shines out to the horses and to the barn for me. It is such a big help. It lights up EVERYTHING and I love it.

We have spent the better part of this year getting stuff moved from the old house to our new house.

I have fenced off a section of the pasture, we have fixed the well and Wes even refinished some cabinets and counters from the old house and put them in our kitchen. They look great.

This was our first year in our new house and its been wonderful. We love it.

Amanda moved to Arizona so its been strange not having her around. Anjeleena stayed till school was out and then joined Amanda in Arizona in May of this year. Now its really strange just being Wes and I in the house. But its good.

We took in a couple rescues this summer, some worked out, some did not. One was to far gone with founder to be saved. That was sad.


Maggie joined our family this summer. She is a dog that just came bounding up when I was working in the garden this spring. It was like she knew me her whole life and well the rest is history. She has become a permanent fixture. She is presenting us with some babies before the end of the year as well. (then its off to get spayed)

I rescued 2 litters of pups this summer, found them all very good homes, kept two for myself. They are GSD's and I adore them. 

The two pictured on the bottom are the ones I kept. 

We lost Dakota to cancer. That was very sad and I miss her still.

Wes and I had a great Thanksgiving, we had some family over. Christmas was just Wes and I but I did get to enjoy pictures of the kids at their dads in Arizona. I actually got a great picture of both my kids together. That has not happened in a very long time. My son is now 31 and Amanda will be 33 in January. How time has flown by. Amanda has done very well for herself since moving to Arizona. It was a much needed change in her life and it was a good decision. 

Anjeleena turned 13 years old on Christmas Day. Oh Lordy she is a teenager now. 

 

My son continues to work out of state but is doing well and my grand-daughter Jamie is growing like a weed. I keep up with her via pictures since they also live in Arizona. It was good to see the kids spend Christmas with their dad. Both kids have not done that in years. I think they had a wonderful time. 

My daughter and my son Christmas 2014.

The horses have done so well this year on our wonderful pasture. We have big plans for the upcoming year for both the colts and a couple of the filly's as well. Time to get that trailer all spiffed up because we will be running a lot this summer.

All in all this year was filled with love, happiness, and a lot of work but we wouldn't have it any other way. So from all of us at the Ranch, horses, dogs and humans alike we all wish you a good and prosperous New Year for 2015.

Merry Christmas

It's been a beautiful morning. I got the best present from Wes. 

Yes I got my fat baby boots!!! Woohoo! I told him I didn't want anything because I got my Christmas Cat. Speaking of Miss Cat, I turned her and the boys out this morning in one of the pastures. She decided she wanted in the big pasture with all the other horses soooooo as easy as you please she sailed over the fence. Yup WE HAVE A JUMPER!!! Trick did his usual thing, chased a bit but she is a thoroughbred so he couldn't catch her. He gave up. Lol. I did get her back into the other pasture with his help though. He went to bite her butt and I opened the gate and in she came. She has settled down now. Pistol and Bo are following her like puppy dogs. The are buddies with her. I'm seriously considering putting out a couple round bales and leaving the horses out! Lots are to muddy and Cat needs the time out. 

Wes made the whelping box for Maggie to have her puppies. 

It's perfect. All ready for the arrival of the pups in the next week. Maggie is pretty uncomfortable. 

It's Maggie's first Christmas with us. 

Relaxing today and watching tv and keeping an eye on the horses. Wes fixed Christmas breakfast this morning. Later we are roasting a chicken. Yum!!

Can't wait to wear my boots!! I love them. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Day full of love and happiness. 

Merry Christmas from everyone here at Deadwood! 

            Christmas Cat

Morning Start.............UGH

This morning started like any other. Got up to get Wes off to work, then out to feed. Feeding time is around 6:30 a.m. UNTIL..........................................
I head out and fix feed and carry it out to the gate. I look out over the corral and notice who is up. Then notice someone is napping under the shelter of the barn extension. Hummm, looks like Bo. Look over at Bo and Pistols area, there is Pistol standing next to BELLA????? Bella is in there? Ok this isn't looking good. There are a few horses in there with Pistol.  Walk over to Bo, he gets up, stretches and avoids me, of course. Afterall I am the mean one that medicates him, messes with his shoulder and such. Check fence of colt corral. No fence down. Walk into barn........aaahhhhh ok so I forgot to secure the gate and one or both of the boys got it open which was an open invitation for everyone else to come in and for Bo to go out. Pistol didn't go out............SHOCK!
Run everyone out. Close that gate. Go around open the other gate, forgetting Pistol is in there so now Pistol has strolled out. Ok so plan B.
Go get hay, throw out to herd. One thing the boys will come for is their hay. Screw the feed, they want alfalfa. Ok go get alfalfa and close outside gate and go back into barn with alfalfa and I have both boys following closely..............HAY!!!!! Open gate back up and they go back inside. Give them hay, give them their feed which they could care less about, close gate, SECURE GATE and finish feeding the others.
I honestly could have left them out with everyone. They all get along great but I wanted to boys to get their breakfast. Guess I will let them out this weekend for some romping time.
This is how my morning started out.
Of course I am trying to get the boys situated all the while Cat is in the round pen bucking and pitching a fit cause I haven't given her feed as fast as she would like for me to. She is very food oriented. Of course if you saw her when she first came to Jennifer's you would understand why she is this way. Everyone finally got everything they needed this morning and honestly it only took me about a half hour to get everything accomplished.

I wish it were spring.

It is soooooo muddy out where the horses are but on the up side THE SUN IS OUT!!!!! Lets hope we dry out some today. Wish I could get Cat incorporated in with the herd but that is not happening yet. I find it is taking longer each time I get a newby to get them in with the herd. I figure she will be out with them by summer. LOL. She takes no shit but I don't want Trick running her either, or the others for that matter. Have I mentioned I can't wait for spring??? Which reminds me I have to have the caslicks taken out of Cat.

Wes made Reindeer poop last night. It was really good. I got home and it was already made, he was just bagging it up in a ziplock. So later on during tv time down in the family room we had reindeer poop. LOL. He cracks me up.

Maggie is as big as a house, still hasn't whelped. I keep her in during the day because she is getting to close.

The coyotes have been really close lately and I am seriously thinking about seeking out someone to eradicate them, but it would have to be someone I know. They need to be gone or move on.

Someone killed a big cat only a few miles from our place a week or two ago. This is not a good thing. I don't want them around either. So future foaling will be taking place in the barn, which it usually does anyway but now it will for sure. No foals will be born in the pasture.

Well gotta get to it so more later.

This day has to get better.........................But I doubt it will.............................

Go Away Rain

First of all I am sick of the wet and the mud and the muck. Ok with that said, we had a really busy weekend. Saturday I went and did some Christmas shopping, not much though. That, of course, shot the whole day but then I had to stop and get feed to. I decided to turn Cat out in the round pen. With it being so nasty I had to leave access to the barn for the pasture horses and she has her blanket on so she is good. Its a good thing I let her out. I guess a week in the barn is about over the limit for her. She was straight up when I got her out of the barn and boy did she want to run and buck. Into the round pen she went and then took to the bucking. She was feeling good. Just wish it wasn't so nasty out and the ground was  better. Its awful. I am going to have to let her be out for a while. She does the stall thing really well but only for so long. I can't blame her. I want to work with her and a couple others but it is just way to muddy.

Bo is fantastic now. He is back to feeling his oats and being a bit of a snot. Oh well. His leg is a lot better. No more limping and no more swelling and he is off bute.

Maggie is as big as a balloon. She looks as if she is going to explode. I figured between Dec 8 and Jan 2. Oh joy.

Well that's about it for now. Sure need some sun.

More later.

Updates again

Bo: his shoulder/upper leg is doing much better. He is walking normal, trotting and galloping. His shoulder had enough blunt force trama that it built up fluid and is now draining. His leg is back to normal size. He has been out on antibiotics as a precaution to make sure an infection doesn't set in. I massage his upper leg to help drain it. He is less than thrilled but that's tough. Pistol is full of himself and wants to play. Bo says no. 

Cat keeps gaining and is doing great. It's such a sloppy mess outside she has been in the barn. If she wanted to lay down outside it would be in mud. She to is less than thrilled over this decision. Also tough. 

Brutus played outside with his brother all day today. He is 100% well. 

Maggie's belly is HUGE. She looks like she is about to pop!! I hope there are no complications. 

Everyone else is doing great. Fat, sassy and beautiful. 

Winter Soltice is tomorrow. Days start getting longer!! Yay! 

So Busy and So Cold

Burrr......Baby its cold outside. Its nice and warm in the house though. I guess its not been to bad so far. Tonight they call for snow.

Ms. Cat is in the barn in her stall snug as a bug in a rug. The wind was really bad and so I put her up for now. She still wears her blanket.

Bo's leg is still swollen but he is using it better now and he is a big wuss. My filly didn't act this bad when her chest was laid wide open a few years ago. He is such a big baby and its like DON"T TOUCH IT!!! Still taking bute. Doesn't mind that but don't even look at his leg let alone touch it. And he does know when you are looking at it. LOL.

Cat and Josie are wearing their blankets but everyone else is doing fine without them. They have access to the barn and nothing seems to bother them. I still watch carefully and have blankets on hand just in case. Not that they are that crazy about wearing them.

Its been a busy week so far. Its going to get busier.

This morning I took the two pics below of the sunrise. I am up getting breakfast cooked for Wes and his lunch made and seeing him off to work so took some really nice shots of the sunrise. It was beautiful and the pics don't do it justice. I should have grabbed my digital instead of my phone.

Well posted some fun stuff to. Keep warm and I will post more later.



 

This was the sunrise this morning. It was beautiful.

Little Teaka snuggled in my chair with me last night. She does this every night till bedtime then its in the bed under the covers for the night.

Cat wishing everyone a Merry Christmas

Tessa......So you think she is comfy? She was in my chair with me last night too. She sleeps like her daddy. Rotten dog. She is Mouse and Teaka's daughter.

And Mouse got to warm so decided to curl up on the arm of the chair between Wes and I.

Just because it is funny and apparently I need to dust the black box behind him.

My two beautiful girls headed out to the Christmas light parade in Arizona the other night.

Ick Rain

Cat and Josie stayed out all night last night. They used the barn so they were nice and dry. I opened the gate for Cat this morning and she went in her stall for breakfast. Moved the boys feeder in the big barn because they like to be with Cat. Bo is doing a bit better this morning. More bute today. Josie will get another round of uniprim this afternoon. She has a snotty nose. This weather is playing hell! Sick of the mud. It had just gotten dry for the most part. Suppose to be in the 20's tonight so blankets go back on Cat and Josie tonight. To warm right now. 

I now have some light in the barn which will make things a lot easier. 

The rest of the herd were waiting at the gate to come in from the big pasture this morning. 

Need to fix a post too. 

Bo

Well Bo isn't feeling to good. His shoulder is swollen. Started him on bute this morning. He tries to keep from bending to walk forward. He is weight bearing and I think he must have landed on his shoulder. I'm sure he will be ok but for now he isn't moving around to much. I take water into the barn for him and set it by his feed and hay. 

Play Day

Cat got turned out in the smaller pasture today. She and Josie were out there together. The rest of the horses are in the big pasture. 

She had fun today as you can see.

As you can see below is the reason why she is not in the big pasture yet! 

Kai did come to visit Cat as you can see. He is a butterball. 

What a day

Holy crap I'm sore. Got the entire barn cleaned, by hand, today. Stripped Cat's stall. It's all nice and tidy again. 

Took Cat for a walk around the smaller pasture today. It went well. 

Bo decided to go for a run with the pasture horses out in the pasture. He had fun. We fixed the fence he plowed over. Trick didn't mind him being out with them. Pistol didn't get out and he was pissed. Lol. Got Bo back in. He is a truck. He is big and wide and has lots of power for 8 months old. He lies Wes and listens to him. He is Wes' colt. 

Tomorrow is laundry day and kitchen clean up. Got most of the house done today after ther barn. 

My ankle is screaming tonight along with my hip. 

Maggie is as big as a house. 

Brutus went outside to see his brother for a little while today. 

Well exhaustion has taken over along with a huge need for my bed so till later.............,

LATER!!

Seriously???

Ok followers here is the deal this morning. As you all have seen I posted pics this morning of Cat PLAYING! Well I also posted them on my facebook as well. Someone that I apparently made a huge mistake of accepting a friend request from saw the pics and said I was giving the horse a heart attack and it was not in a controlled environment. She was all for giving a heart attack, her issue was the controlled environment. Well FIRST I don't give my horses heart attacks and we were not training. WE WERE PLAYING! Yes I was playing with her. HUMMM.....SECOND, she was in a secure and controlled environment.............the damn round pen. I was in with her and as a matter of fact so was Josie. We were all safe. Cat does not try to kick anyone, not even Josie. She runs around and bucks and plays. This idiot, instead of asking assumed that she was not in a controlled area. Not like its any of her business anyway.
Cat has been in her stall for weather reasons for the last few days. With rising temps she got to get out and have her blanket off so she was VERY HAPPY about that. She was playing, I was playing with her and she was HAPPY! Not having a heart attack. She is a thoroughbred, she has energy to burn. Especially with what she is getting fed. This person has no clue about my place, me or my setup, they don't even live in Missouri. Never met me, doesn't know my horses. Well I DO know my horses and I have come to know Cat very well.
My point is......................if you do not know and you do not ask then do not assume anything!!!!!
Do not accuse me on based on a picture or two that my horse is not in a controlled environment and hell I guess that means when they run and buck in the pasture that is wrong to because that is not a controlled environment. This person doesn't have a clue and that became very apparent this morning. A lot of people unloaded on her for her comment, me included.

If you don't like what you see, keep on moving.

Great Article

Some of the article overlaps because of how I had to upload it. 

WOW

Kind of blurry but you get the general idea. 

She is a BIG girl!!

Flagging that tail this morning. 

So much power

She was full of herself this morning!! I missed the shot of her rearing. These are not good action pics with my phone. Will get the digital out and take some nice action shots that are clear. 

She is looking better every week. Obviously feeling better to. She was so full of it this morning she slid out and went boom. Not hard and not all the way down but she got up, looked around like hey I meant to do that. Then started all over again with the bucking and running. She needed some time outside. She will remain out for a few days and with temps riding she gets to keep her blanket off. This weekend will be stall stripping time to get ready for next weeks rainy weather.