Stories from Scottie

The weather has been great and I'm really eager to go out more with Loretta.  She's got all these ponies keeping her busy now and we need some time to hit the trails.  So yesterday we headed out. I was a bit surprised that we only did about 10 minutes of playing before she brushed and tacked me up.  Anyway, we were headed out, same ole path.  Then up ahead I noticed something moving.  That's when everything changed.


We kept walking down the path, we were still close to home.  I soon realized that there was something VERY scary at a neighbor's house.  It was long, moving all around and making funny noises.  And it covered their whole driveway.  My first thought was to run.  But I heard Loretta telling me to relax and that it would be ok.  But as we got closer it got scarier.  The noise got louder and I really feared for our safety.  I made the executive decision to leave.  The easiest way out was to run up the hill I was next to.  That would give us some distance and a good opportunity to watch for an attack.  Loretta asked me really hard to stop.  I know I should listen to her, so I did stop, but really didn't want to.  If she's not going to protect us, then I have to!  I was trembling all over and thought I could hear her telling me to calm down and that it would be ok.  


It went something like this:


L:  calm down boy, it's ok. easy.
S:  wwwwhat?  did you say something?  do you see that THING over there?!
L:  yes Scottie, I see it.  But it's ok.  It's tape to keep cars out.  It can't move, it's not alive.
S:  But look!!! It IS  moving!  And it sounds like its crawling closer and closer to us!
L:  ssshhhhh boy, relax.  It really will be ok.  we're fine, see?  it's just blowing in the wind.
S:  But it's never been there before.  we pass here all the time.  and it's never, i say never been there before.
L:  The home owner just put it there.  Let's just walk on quietly by.
S:  I can't take it anymore.  I want to please you, but I have to make a decision and I'm choosing our lives!  Let's GO!


I couldn't hear anything Loretta said after that and she ended up getting down.  She asked me to walk down the hill which I did not want to do.  She then asked me to walk back and forth in front of that thing for like half an hour!  She must be crazy.  How can she not see that thing is terrifying?  And why isn't she scared of it?


Finally she brought me home.  I was sweating up a storm and real nervous.  I was so happy to be back at the barn with hay to munch on.  Home sweet home.

Wet trails

As the snow melts away please avoid riding on wet trails. Riding on wet trails can damage them. The hoof prints left behind collect water accelerate erosion. While we all can't wait for better weather and the chance to ride the trails again, a little consideration now will be appreciated by your fellow trail riders, hikers and the parks who work to maintain the trails. --Brian

Right now - even though the temps have been climbing into a comfortable range - there is snow pack - below the snow is ice (usually) and below the ice is mud....while the horses are totally capable of walking through this type of terrain, and the weather is tempting - please stay off the trails until the conditions improve - your fellow riders will thank you - as will those precious tendons on the bottom of your horses legs!

Stryker Speaks

The horses had their turnout sheets on because we expected rain. It's been chilly and drizzling, so I decided to keep them all in today. As I was walking past the kitchen, I spied flashes of blue and red with bucking legs....oh no.

I've been sick and forgot to close a gate. I guess it took a few minutes after feeding this morning for them to notice it was not latched. It's a BIG treat for the ponies to go out anyway, they don't get a lot of grass. There they were, Stryker and the ponies. Astro and Stryker dropped to roll, a really good roll in the Virginia Clay. UGH. Piero was too busy stuffing his face with as much grass as he possibly could.

I yelled out to them telling them they were in big trouble. Stryker stood up and looked at me. He looked sort of like a paint horse, execpt the brown was clay colored! I yelled to him to come on in, opened the main gate, and stood and watched. Low and behold he promptly came in. The clay was sticking to his face and clinging to his mane. He will never be white again! At least he comes when he is called.

Astro accepted the halter immediately. We walked in together and off I went to get Piero. The other two were watching intently. Piero thought he'd give me a run, but quickly decided he'd rather hang with his buds than run around the field. What good is a field if you can't eat the grass in it?

Astro speaks

I was riding Astro one afternoon with my daughter and Piero. Shortly into our ride Astro started to throw his head around. Then he began swishing his tail and twitching. The next thing I knew he was doing a whole body shake, as if he was trying to shake me off. I literally grabbed his mane and hung on until he was finished. I promptly jumped down and walked him home. It did not happen on the walk home.

A few days later the same scenario occured, this time I was ready for it. Astro was trying to tell me something. In fact, he was trying everything he knew!

I contacted my trainer, and asked if she'd take a look at him. I rode him for her until the shaking started. At this point we thought it was the saddle. He was very sore behind his shoulder and it seemed to be slipping into that spot. We were proud, however, since his language did not include throwing me off -which many ponies would have considered to be the best option.

I tried a different saddle and rode for about 20 minutes. No problem. Yeah! The next time we went out, we were at the 30 minute mark and bam, there went the shaking. I jumped off and we walked home together.

Time to call the vet. Dr. Newcomb of Broad Run Vet. Svc. came out to take a look at him. (We love Dr. Newcomb! She is also a chiropractor and does adjustments on Scottie.) The Dr. checked him & said he has an injury to his right side. Maybe a broken rib. He needs rest and some stretching.

Thank goodness I am in tune with my horses. This is one of MANY reasons we need to listen to them. We listen with our ears, yes, but also with our intuition, our feel of them & with our heart. It is sad to think that some owners might have just slapped him for what would have seemed to be misbehavior.

And thank you Astro, for being patient and persistent with me.

Critters at the barn

Fall is in the air. It's beautiful: blue sky, sunshine, breezes perfect for spending time at the barn. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the wooly bears. You know, those cute, fuzzy orange and black caterpillars? They are everywhere! We make sure to rescue each one we see at the barn. There's a good chance a caterpillar's life would end badly if it continued to hang out around horses!


L.

Piero's Voice

When Piero first arrived he was pretty silent. I listened and didn't hear a thing.

Now that he is happy and comfortable I finally heard his voice! It sounded like he's a guy's guy. The manly man. You can rub my nose, but please, none of this lovely dovey baby talk.

He is proud to be the teacher. THE teacher. And what a great job he does! He takes the small children around with no questions. He wants to be the one to teach them not only to ride, but how to respond to horses, how to behave. How to listen. With my assistance, I am confident he will accomplish that.

He only needs me to be the human voice!