This February Business

I actually have very little news to report - if any.  But I know it's been a couple of weeks since a posted and I don't want Renate to start giving me heck for not posting ;-) 

Having a Standard Poodle is just about the most fun I think I could have with a dog.  I've had her to work a few times to have baths, brushings and little hair cuts.  She's very cooperative. 

Ritchie's still hanging out with Roland at the barn.  I haven't been out there near as much as I'd like to be, but this being a grown up and working really gets in the way of having fun!  The RPSI stallion auction is now underway and there has been a good amount of activity on its first day!  Check it out at http://rhpsi.hibid.com/catalog/54741/2015-rpsi-stallion-service-auction?tab=0

I went to introduce Amy to Jose a few days ago.  She was so afraid of the gigantic, black dog that she yelped when he sniffed her, and he was so gentle!!! 

Spring can't come fast enough.  I don't have any firm plans for this year except getting to Brooks in August for the Medieval Fair.  Can't wait to do something completely different. 

Anyways, I have a nearly 6-year-old kiddo to read a Frozen story to.  Have a wonderful night and, as always, happy horseing! 

Making Things a Little More "Standard"

I'm so excited I finally get to blog about my most exciting adventure - well maybe adventure isn't quite the right word for it although I know it will lead to several...

We picked up our Standard Poodle puppy
 yesterday!!!!  I've been a huge fan of Standard Poodles since I became a dog groomer and have been thinking lately that I'd like to add a dog to my pony show with Jose.  So my ideal dog for this is a white/cream poodle.  Now, the whole idea is a lot easier said than done!  I looked into 3 top S-Poodle breeders in Alberta, all breed for Black.  Now I know a black dog would be just as lovely but my big black horse already gets washed out in pictures.  A big black dog would get lost just as much if not more!  So I went on the hunt for a white S-Poodle and found ONE!!! 

The litter was in Red Deer, so not too far away, and I extensively interrogated the breeder.  The bitch is papered but the stud is not - not that it really matters to me.  They've both been vet certified for health and conformation.  I went and met them after a few weeks, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the stud dog.  He is such a sweet suck <3 The bitch is quite lovely too. 

So I decided it would be a great opportunity to create a surprise for Ali and we had a "girl's day" of lunch at Tony Roma's in Red Deer, a stop to shop at Pet Land after and then off to visit my "friend's Poodle puppies". 

At Pet Land, Ali got to meet 3 Ball Pythons, see a bunch of different fish and reptiles, some birds and hold a Guinea Pig.  We found a toy to take for the puppies too. 

We got to the breeder's and Ali immediately fell in love with all of the puppies.  They were all playful and snuggly.  The bitch dog was good with Ali and enjoyed her antler that I'd brought for her.  The stud dog was away as he is just a little too protective of his pack with new people yet and for Ali's safety, we just took that potential out of the equation.  I had the breeder take video on my phone as I sat our puppy on my lap.  I told Ali this was "Amy" and I had a leash and collar for her.  Ali liked the idea but I could see that she wasn't understanding the implication.  So I told her that this was "our" puppy, that we were going to take her home with us today!  That was much bigger!  She was pretty enthused and has been ever since. 

So now the great adventure begins.  I can teach my horses to do all sorts of behaviors, I'm excited to learn how to train a dog to do them too!!! 

Happy Horseing (and Poodling!!!)

Why We Do What We Do!

Got word yesterday that, after a long day's travel, little man Jasper (L'Image SE) made it safely to his new mom in Spokane, Wa.  His new mom says she's so happy with him and just loves him. 

This smile is why we do what we do!

 

 

 

He got on the transport trailer at 3:00 in the morning to get to the boarder south of Cranbrook, BC before 3:30 pm.  I was really glad to hear that he ate, drank and slept really well once he got to his destination. 

The last special boy, another half Arab x warmblood gelding, Encore Performance SE, has made us nothing less than proud as punch with his owner, and my friend, Heather.  She has had him down to Scottsdale, AZ for Arabian Sport Horse Dressage. 

Lord knows they don't get much prettier than this pair! 

Can't wait for the 3 foals we're expecting this year to show up.  Making people's dreams (and really, our own as well) come true is the reason we breed.  <3

Happy horseing!

Merry Happy Hoho and a Happy New Adventure!

Greetings all!  Hope your festive season has been treating you well.  Mine has been lovely, aside from a stomach flu going through the house.  The husband is home with me for a while :) and the kiddo's been learning the fun of skating.  My first Christmas concert experience was awesome!  I seriously have the cutest kid in the world.  No, mine is cuter.  Seriously, don't even try ;-)

So!  What are your plans for 2015?  I was looking at renewing my memberships today (oy vey!) in preparation.  My priority is going to be getting miss Tex out in the show ring to promote her until she sells and Ritchie, of course.  On Thursday, I'll be taking Mr. Man back to the barn to spend some quality time with his favourite person (second to myself of course).  Roland will have Ritchie has his personal riding horse for the next year or so.  We'll see them (and me on my pony too!) out in the show ring among other places, no doubt.  While my family and I prepare for a move south, having Ritchie with Roland takes a lot off my plate.  He'll still be standing for breeding (Ritchie, not Roland) this summer. 

In the mean time, Miss Tex... Amberlea's got shows starting soon but we're looking at March to get in.  There's also Ponoka.  I guess it all depends on when we can get the girlie back to the barn and work. 

So no big decisions today. Tomorrow I get to go out to dinner with one of my favourite people in the world.  Can't wait to see what adventures she's got lined up. 

And to you, as always, happy horseing!

Baby Ritchie and Baby Tex
 

Recovery Monday

What a weekend!  I had the immense pleasure of meeting 29 new equine first-aid certified horse lovers in Wainwright, Ab and Macklin, Sk.  It was a weekend of fairly terrible weather with freezing rain around Edmonton and east on my way out and heavy ice fog from Macklin to Tofield on my way home!  But I'll be honest, the company, enthusiasm, energy and experience was totally worth it! 

One of the lovely ladies I met in Wainwright had this to tell me today: "Yep one of the horses my boss owns went through a fence and tore up his thigh enough to need stitches. That bandage technique held up right to the Sedgwick vet! Your course was worth every penny!" She's already gotten her money's worth.  This is why I teach first aid.  It's real, it saves lives!

One of the horses that was in to be one of our demo horses in Macklin came out of her stall looking quite uncomfortable.  She had apparently just had her feet trimmed.  Now I'm not farrier but she looked to be a little short on the wall and walking on her sole to me, but again, I'm not farrier and I've often been wrong.  Right away I started checking vitals and condition.  She had feat from all 4 feet, more in her fronts, little bowel sounds, normal temperature and a heart rate of 52 (obviously responding to pain.)  I shared the info with her concerned owners and they opted to give her some bute and put her in the soft footing of the arena and keep an eye on her.  An hour or two later, she looked far more comfortable and relaxed.  She was still tender on the walk back to the stall but not as concerning like she was. 

Merry Christmas to the horses belonging to those 29 people!  I don't know if there's a better present for them. 

Speaking of presents, my best friends have been a little spoiled this year.  The one got enlarged and artistically treated photos of her two horses in custom frames.  I have to say, it's a present I would like to get too!  The second has half her present still to arrive from Europe, but half is with her.  I'd ordered her a beautiful black and white show halter from a company I've dealt with several times before.  I'd gone to my favourite tack store and bought a halter plate for it.  After a couple of months, the halter still hadn't arrived and had somehow gotten turned around at customs.  But while looking again at the halter, I realized that it had SILVER fittings, not BRASS like the halter plate I'd ordered!!  Oh no!  So back to the tack store and order another SILVER plate and then pick up a nylon stable halter (with brass fittings) to put the previous halter plate on.  Le sigh.  The show halter still hasn't arrived, but the company assures me it will make its return shortly, but she's received her "interim" halter.  Hopefully everything will be together for her birthday. 

What do I want for X-mas?  You know, I really NEEEEED nothing.  I'd like a bit for Ritchie with brass rings, but the store I order from is currently out of his size. We could do some monogrammed stable blankets or something?  I don't know.  Next year, I'm going to choose a charity and ask that people donate rather than giving gifts to me.  I like the idea for the whole family (well, aside from the kids really...)

Anyways, happy holidays to all of you!  and, as always, happy horseing!

Shipper Whoas!

With our Jasper boy being sold to a lovely lady south of the border, we now have a new challenge.  We're trying to find a GOOD, experienced shipping company to transport little man down across the boarder to his new mom.  So far, the one shipper I've used before and trust, has responded to my inquiry and won't be available until April to take him down.  We've got word on the name of another shipper who runs the rout regularly but I've not had very good reviews on them recently by my very dearest friend.  And, of course, there is a company that's had several very poor reviews by a number of friends that we just won't entertain.  So we keep looking.  In the mean time, little man is getting ready for his first trim on Friday.  Had to back it up due to the farrier coming down with a flu. 

In this season, I tend to get my itch on for next year's show season.  Little buckskin mare is going to need to get out to a couple of shows, I think.  Not sure if I'm really looking forward to riding her in preparation, again, nothing wrong with her, we just don't mesh, but I am looking forward to getting back into the Arab circuit a little!

After getting my X-mas shopping all done this year, I've come to the conclusion that next year, I'm donating to charity instead of buying presents for my family.  I mean the kids, sure, they get presents, but for the rest of my family, I'm going to donate in their names.  None of us really need anything anyways! 

So there's my ramblings for the night.  Renate, you can't say I'm not blogging.  You can certainly comment on the questionable quality of the content, but at least it's current.  :)

G'night y'all and happy horseing!

Adventures Await!

Sunday, right down to the wire, the end of the RPSI on-line foal auction's sealed-bid portion.  That's it, the very end of the event.  No solid bids on Jasper.  I'd become quite sure that I'd be working towards showing him on the Arab shows in 2015, even talked with someone on the Aurora show committee and asked them to make the in-hand classes for junior horse for ALL junior horses, not ages 2+.  All of a sudden I get an e-mail from Ann from RPSI.  There's a bid!  Someone is interested in Jasper!  The bid meets our reserve!  Holy cow!  This is real!  The sale closes and our boy is heading to Spokane Washington! 

Today I've had the pleasure of exchanging e-mails and learning about the lovely lady who will be adding Jasper to her family.  I would like to go down with him and give her a hug!  She literally sounds like EXACTLY the home I was picturing for him.  She has been looking for a half-Arab and is involved in showing on the circuit.  He's going to a one-horse home where he'll be loved and spoiled and treated like the special little man he is. 

This is new for me, I've never sold a horse out of country before but I was really hoping he would go down south to continue to promote Ritchie for us. 
Maybe they have a friend who is interested in a half-Arab x QH buckskin mare!!! 

Anyways, huge congratulations to Sharon, and Jasper, you go make us proud buddy!  We love you.