A Whale to a Dolphin.

Right now at the clinic the summer season is winding down, and we are getting our preg checking kits ready.
Unfortunately for me, most of our equine work is done in the summer.
Back in June, I had to do 40 coggins and exports for a huge bucking horse supplier. If you don't know what coggins and exports are, let me explain;
Coggins is a blood test that tests for Equine Infectious Anemia . Some horse shows require the horse to have an up-to-date coggins test, and you need it to cross the border into the states - or into Canada.
Export papers accompany the coggins test when crossing the border, it is a form that must be signed by your vet, and a federal vet (basically saying the horse is healthy and is the horse in your trailer).
Both forms require drawings of the horse including every detail; any white markings, whorls, scars, brands, etc.
As you can imagine, taking blood from a rank bucking horse is not easy. The 40 we managed to collect the blood within 2-3 hours. The drawing/writing markings down part is what takes HOURS to complete.
Well, we had another huge bucking horse supplier needing paperwork for 12 horses. BUT. He gets a guy to come out with a tilt table for them so their feet can be done at the same time.

I've never seen anything like it. So many hydraulics!

Essentially what happens is the horse is loaded then the whole thing tilts on its side, allowing access to the horses feet.

Even the nippers were hydraulic! The guy would trim all 4 feet if needed, and then grind the edges to smooth them out.

Once he was finished with the feet, he would then climb up with a saddle pad (to protect him from getting bit) and position the head for the blood collection. The doctor would then climb up and get the blood. It was SO slick!

You can see why that saddle pad is critical!

For the 12 horses to get their feet done and blood collected, it was 45 minutes. These are the 12 best horses the owner has - equating to a worth of at least half a million dollars (one horse worth $100,000 alone!). So, he chooses only the best/safest options for them.

Other than that, I've put a couple more rides on Mesa and she's doing phenomenal. I've also been getting Bailey out for some rides too. I only have one saddle right now, and switching between the two of them is like going from a whale to a dolphin! So the hunt begins for one that fits Mesa.

Dolphin.

Whale.

Heart Horse.

I figured it was time that my 12 year old got featured here, and share our story.

I've always had a love for horses, I guess I never grew out of the "I love ponies" phase as a little girl. I don't know how, or why, as no where in my family or extended family is there a farming/ranching/horse background.

Up until grade 8, I filled my horse obsession with horse camps and paid trail rides. When my now best friend moved here beginning of grade 8 with her horses, we were instant friends. We joined a local 4-H club. I rode her bomb-proof appaloosa draft mix named Frank for the first year, and a safe step-up horse named Dunny for the following year.

Dunny & Frankie Blue Eyes

For my third year, they didn't really have a step-up from Dunny, but a few steps up in the form of a sorrel gelding named Remmy.

Remmy

Even though he was 18 years old, he was a handful. Too much of a handful for me. I remember during a 4-H lesson he absolutely blew up. A few calming words from my instructor and some tears got us through, but we were politely asked not to come back, or with a different, safe horse. My instructor then came up to me and said, "I think I have the perfect horse for you! She's Dandy's daughter, her name is Bailey." Dandy was a sorrel overo mare in my 4-H club ridden by another girl.

Dandy

When I got to my instructors house, naturally I was looking for a paint. While standing in the pen of 20 horses, a cute little dun came up and rested her head on my chest. It sounds cliché, but we stood like that for 5 minutes and I said "I don't care who Bailey is I like this one".

Well, lucky for me that horse, was Bailey.

At that point Bailey was a 3 year old, yet to be started. So, I rode one of my instructors other horses for the year and started working at her ranch the following summer.

I was 16 years old, and worked at her ranch Infinity Quarter Horses for $25/day. I was a nanny to her 8 year old son, as well as a full time ranch hand.

She taught me how to start horses, breeding and production, and running a business. Of course, I got to spend time and work with Bailey.

First picture with Bailey, 3 years old, and me at 16.

After the summer was over, I left with an immense amount of knowledge in various aspects of horsemanship.

On October 3rd, 2011, my instructor and her husband took me out for dinner and told me they wanted to gift me Bailey. I couldn't believe it, I was getting my first horse.

Almost 8 years later, I'm 24 and she's 12. Countless frustrations, a few handfuls of ribbons, and a lot of hard work, our journey was nothing but easy. I wouldn't trade finding my heart horse for the world.

*Fun fact: in the process of getting Bailey registered, "Two Baileys Please" was one of my name choices, hence the name of my blog!*

Staycation.

This past week I've been on a staycation. Like a vacation, but I stayed home. Although the week quickly filled up with getting appointments taken care of, etc, I made sure to have time to get some training in with Mesa.

She is fully healed and completely sound. Yay! Finally, we can get some work done. If you don't know who Keith Stewart and the Key Ranch is, I strongly recommend checking out their website/facebook page. He was my teacher throughout my 4-H years and I continued lessons with him even after.

The first lesson with Keith was this past Tuesday, at 1:00pm. I have a small, straight load 2 horse trailer that took my mare a bit to get used too.

Sorry Mesa, maybe I'll get your picture on a spare tire cover
one day too!

Mesa hasn't been in a trailer since we brought her home, and she wasn't exactly an angel loading into the giant stock trailer. She's also been difficult to catch lately. So, assuming it would take 15-20 minutes to catch her, and at least an hour to get her loaded, I started the process at 10:30 am.

Well, this is what 11:00 looked like.

Although she was up to her usual "you can't catch me", once I did and walked her up to the trailer, she hopped right in. NO HESITATION. 

She trailered great for the 20 minute drive to Keith's place. She wasn't so sure about backing out (I don't think she's ever had too), but with some encouragement she came out calmly.

The first lesson was 2 hours of groundwork. It was myself with Mesa, and another gentleman with his 3 year old. Mesa was definitely rusty, as I haven't done ANYTHING with her other than bandaging her foot. She likes to go UP to evade, or turn her butt. After a few corrections she seemed to be reminded of the foundation Shirley and Shayla provided her with. 

After finishing on the first day. Tired pony!

She loaded back up into the trailer great to go home, and again the next day when we went back out for our second lesson.

This time we saddled up right away, and did groundwork for an hour then got on for the last hour. Keith moved us out, we were just along for the ride. Mesa handled it all in stride, although by the end she was tired and forward motion was difficult.

Today, we saddled up and climbed right on. I also put a snaffle in her mouth today instead of using a halter. 

She. Was. AMAZING.

Forward motion was a lot easier today, and she really got soft in the bridle. We rode around for the full 2 hour lesson and she didn't put a hoof wrong.

Thank you Shirley, I am so lucky to have her.

I Suck.

Wow, I sure do suck at this blogging thing!

I won't bore you with the regular work details, but I will say it is BUSY.

First an update on Mesa:

Leading off of my last (yet not so recent) post, Mesa had a run in with what I thought was smooth wire. Deep deep deeeeep laceration on her front right foot on the lateral side of her heal bulb extending medially.
*GRAPHIC PHOTOS*
I was a day late to suture, as it was already starting to get infected.

First day.

I got the vet out to make sure there was no joint or tendon/ligament involvement (which thank God, there was none), and we decided on bandaging over casting. Bandaging, because #1, I would be out there everyday changing it, and #2, a cast you can't keep an eye on it.

A week and a half later of bandaging and antibiotics, it was looking really good. Nice new pink tissue starting to grow in.

Another week and a half later, it looked REALLY good. Scab was formed, and she wasn't lame anymore. So I stopped bandaging.

I should mention, as soon as the injury happened she was put in a post and rail pen, by herself since she likes to play with her geldings. 

Well, 10 days after the previous picture, I find this.

Gah!! She did it AGAIN! I checked her paddock over 100 times and could find NOTHING. No trace of blood, struggle, nothing. So my best guess is that it wasn't healed enough to not be bandaged, and she clipped it with her back foot.

So, I started for the second time treating it. It's been almost 2 months since she did it again, and I just recently stopped bandaging. Finally, it is closed. She still has swelling from her fetlock down, but it is being monitored and slowly decreasing.

On a happier note, on July 3rd I turned 24, and treated myself to a new (to me) truck. Yet to be named, a 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. Who knew air conditioned seats were a thing!!!