NEWS - Jul & Aug 09

***Aug - 14 - "Magic" is better. *** 13 - Morning - "Magic" found in wrong pasture (nearer AJ) w/0 water. *** late afternoon - Jasmine & Laura ride. Laura cleans "Stuffy's" hooves by herself. 2nd time in roundpen. Both girls bothered by helmets w/ new hairstyle - Jas has a headache. "Magic" off as well - and acting colicy when lesson finished. Given an Epsom Salt drench.




***11 - Jasmine & Laura ride. 1st time in roundpen - work loose - "Magic" unhappy with this. Laura just laughing happy.



*** 10 - Round pen post replaced by Larry & gate re-hung (YEA!!). Skye finishes mowing the back pasture. Sierra & Danielle clean the Star paddock. *** 9 - Paula spends morning mowing the front yard & Rhythem paddock. The afternoon is spent mowing the roundpen pasture and 1/2 the back pasture. *** 8 - Ashley (spending the weekend) & Sierra ride and take pics of ponies. Flower is 3 1/2 months old. ***

*** 4 - Jasmine rides "Magic". No rein exercises - arm stretch, trunk twister, touching dock & poll. Rein handling - guiding over obstacles on the ground. Laura has forgotten shoes & socks - so doesn't get to ride. ***


*** July 28 - Jasmine riding "Magic".



Laura rides "Stuffy" - need to get boots/heeled shoe.



*** July 25 - Jasmine rides "Magic". Laura is introduced to "Stuffy" - scared but willing to pet her. She graduates to sitting on her bareback and getting led around. She watches Jasmine's lesson and realizes that she, too, wants to ride. *** 4 - WH JROTC goes to the Carolina Lakes Independence Day Parade. They are split into 4 groups - Jeeps, Horse, Joint Service and Color Detachment. ***

NEWS - May & Jun 09

*** June 26 - Sammy is 8 months old. Bath pics.


***20 - pics of "Flower" in her fuzzy baby coat.

***13 - WH JROTC performs opening ceremony at WHHS Graduation and provides an Honor Guard w/ swords for Seniors. I didn't take pics and haven't received any from others. *** 9 - WH JROTC provides an Honor Guard at the WHHS Baccalaureatte.


*** May - 25 - WH JROTC Joint Color Guard & Motor Pool participates in Memorial Day Dedication at Lillington, NC Veteran's Park. ***

NEWS - Apr & Mar 09

***Apr - *** 25 - Stretching/flexing has done "Flower" good.



***21 - Flower is born. Star doing great. Flower is standing up on her rear hoof toes. We start a stretching and flexing regiman. ***



*** 7 - Fuzzy ponies - still in full winter winter coats. ***

***Mar - 14 - Paula & Sierra attend the Military Ball. ***

NEWS - Jan & Feb 09

*** February - 20 - "Stuffy" is out of season. *** 14 Valentine's Day - "Stuffy" is in season and is bred to "Iggy". "Stuffy" pulls manure tubs to compost heap now...
*** Many people have asked about my "braiding". I started out braiding haystring as practice before purchasing Paracord to make horse-y items. BUT I've found this is good - the hay string works well for outdoor horse-y items, easy to hose off and our local landfill is VERY HAPPY that I'm not bringing all that string from both small square and large round bales to them anymore. *** I've use the 3 strand braid (actually strands for each "string" - so 6 strands) for rope - temporary fencing, gates, stall guards, tye straps for equipment. One shows in the rear shot above. Use a flat braid to do the collars that all of our ponies and some of the horses are now wearing - making it easy to identify them and catch/tie them for feeding 2x daily. ***



*** Jan - 18 - Ashley (spending the night) and Sierra take lots of pics of the ponies.



*** 10 - WH JROTC motor pool meets to work on jeep. *** WH JROTC goes to Mrytle Beach, SC to perform for the 4th Brigade Conference. *** 7 - "Stuffy" and "Magic" return from Karen Eaker. ***

NEWS - Dec 2008

***Week before Christmas - 20 Sat - 5 round bales Hay delivered from Little River. While putting up feeders/stops to keep bales from rolling off of pallets, Paula banged her head with steel fence post driver. Urgent Care Dr. Olivetti put 8 staples to hold gash together. *** 22 Mon - Check with Dr. Olivetti - healing well - but take it easy. No concussion. *** 24 Christmas - good day - quiet. ***

Thanksgiving Weekend 08

*** Nov 28th - 30th - Thanksgiving weekend - Carolina 30/55/100. I hauled Gail's horses (Loverboy & Clint) down to Patrick, SC w/ Sierra on Friday Nov 28th (my horse strained a tendon in October after a 16 mile run and then 2 gallops later in same week). We pulled out at 9:30 and we stopped in Southern Pines for breakfast & to purchase food and some camping gear we'd not had. When we arrived (strait shot down US 1 - thank god), I found where I was supposed to put Clint (corral - 10x10) and moved the trailer 2 times before decided could back into an area near the corral where he was. Wasn't any room for 2nd horse - so Loverboy stayed tied to trailer. I got water and hay for horses while Sierra set up tents - doing a great job for us. Discovered we definitely need some type of overhead cover/carport/awning and rug to set chairs and eating area up. Toilets (psuedo bathrooms w/ showers but hadn't been maintained and were leaking and/or broken) right across the way from front of truck - but only two... So used horse trailer some of the time to potty & then cleaned that up before hauling out Saturday eve. I was the 3rd person to sign in (for Gail - not me) so Clint was designated #3 and while in line for vetting, he got his number greased onto his hips. He did awesome for the vetting and I managed the run down and back w/o passing out or falling on my face. BarBQue dinner was good, though we were cold. Riders meeting was right after and then Sierra and I visited w/ several other riders - asking ??'s. 2 other horses were taken home from "corrals" - so I put Loverboy in the one next to Clint for the night. Found out i can still sleep on the ground in the cold - actually the tent registered 58 degrees and i sweated in sleeping bags and mink blankets (had on a tank top, underwear and leggings). *** 29 Sat - It started raining at 1 am on Saturday (it was almost midnite before Gail & I got to bed - it was 10:30 or so when she arrived at the ride from Staff Duty NCIOC - 18th Airborne corp. Shem picked her up and drove her down after duty) and then turned COLD w/ continuing rain as the sun came up. UGH. It was miserable... especially for Sierra and I - we didn't have enuff or the right type of gear to stay completely dry/warm. The riders at least kept warm while riding - sort of - saw some really interesting rain gear combinations - divers wetsuits seem to work really well w/ riders, too. *** Gail did the first loop (wrongly set up - 22 miles instead of the 15 we'd been led to believe) in 2 1/2 hours before her break and vet point. Clint vetted out good - considering. Then he drank a little (not enuf) and ate some beet pulp and a dose of grain and nibbled hay. After getting good scores in vet check, they had 50 minutes of down time. Gail changed clothes, then sat in front of defroster/heater in the truck and ate cup of noodles and a muffin, drank some hot chocolate. Then I re-saddled Clint for her and she was up and gone for 2nd loop which was to be 11.7 miles. I don't know exactly how long it ended up being - they changed the route part way thru on the riders... No matter - she was having problems w/ Clint. She called back - got thru once but couldn't understand and then lost all signal from her. Thought she'd had a wreck on the trail and we watched riders coming in from the 55 & 100 milers - on their in-between loops, then the rest of the 30 milers started arriving. NO GAIL. I spoke to ride manager - but they had no-way/no-0ne to get down that loop of the trail to see what the problem was (WHAT????!!!!), so while I fretted and wondered - Gail was on her own (Loverboy being an idiot and I wasn't going to attempt to ride him from camp and try to pick up on the trail). No-one said they'd seen any injured horses or riders... Then she showed up (right at two hours time)... Unsaddled CLint, covered him w/ sheets/polar fleece cooler to keep him somewhat warm (& next main purchases are waterproof turnout blankets - hopefully will be here in the next week or so) and went to vet check. Clint finally learned he needed to drink on the trail (the age old adage of "U can lead a horse to water, but u can't make 'em drink" comes to mind - he's had issues w/ this since she got him). While waiting for him to "pulse down" - he drank some while being walked. Had to fight to keep him from over drinking the cold water and cramping up. Then he didn't pass the vet out - but none of the vets (4) could agree on what exactly was wrong - he was sore and pronounced "unfit to continue" - therefore listed as an in-completion on the ride. Such a disappointment - but that's the way the ball bounces I suppose. After vetting - we started knocking down the tents/little camp (I changed into warm and dry clothes first). Got both tents, the two tarps, the left over hay, and the cooler and some other supplies all stuffed into the bed of the truck and all the blankets and clothes bags into the truck (Sierra was a bit squished but she was warm!!). Loverboy actually didn't want to load but Clint leaped into the trailer w/ a "Lets get outta here" attitude. Since no reason to stay - we headed out - i think it was around 2:30 pm (can't remember). We found the little mexican resterant in Patrick and stopped and ate - horses doing fine - Clint seems ok. I'd left the fleece cooler on him (THANKS YVH - that's a really nice cooler!) and he was drying underneath and not cold. We pulled out at 4 pm. Got gas, checked tires and didn't stop again until Southern Pines - where we got drinks and did a pitstop. Arriving at Gails' home around 6:45 pm (I think) - we ended up completely unloading the truck - knowing that we would need to set up the tents later in the week to get them dry again... *** Then I "stole" her truck to head home myself. Sierra took a hot shower and went to bed almost right away. I ate dinner (Larry made Chili and cornbread) watched some TV but was dozing so went to bed myself before 9 pm... *** 30 Sun - Slept until 1 am, then was wide awake for the next 2 1/2 hours or so. Went to bed around 4 am and was back up for breakfast and coffee at 8:13. I spent time on line - looking at camping equipment, riding gear and tents. Also, brought my email stuff up to date... but was moving slow. Gail called - saying Clint was out there shaking so hard he was "swaying" and we discussed using towels to dry him off, then layering the cooler under an actual blue tarp. I got moving (the girls' fed our horses - then Skye went w/ Matt to church, and Mark had come up from Parkton and he and Dira went to church via Larry chauferring) and took shower before going to Gails'. she was cussing - clint didn't like layering idea and the tarp was in the pasture and he was having a ball moving around - tho a bit stiff and maybe short strided. Gail changed into more dry clothes (3rd set) and we went thru more online stuff. Then we went up to Blue Sky Equestrian store in Pittsboro to look around on their holiday hours. I found a pair of Irideon Cadence riding tights that would fit & ordered a size smaller. My first pair of riding britches since I was a youth myself. I also looked over and found a riding jacket brand that would work (if I decide I am going to or can show next year myself) and that I may order at a later date. Actually, may order it anyway - nice jacket that would work very well for business attire at work! *** Then we headed back into Sanford and got a late lunch at Waffle House - bad timing. Not good service or food, drag. *** Then we went to Wal-mart where I spent lots of time in camping section looking up and comparing styles and prices on quite a number of different items. I will be purchasing a camp toilet to set up in the horse trailer from now on!! Also will be converting our kerosene coleman stove to a propane hook up - need more lighting & at least one camp table too. Then onwards to home again. ....

News - November 2008

Fall is here - Leaves are everywhere!!

*** 27 Thu - With Paula and the girls home, it's a quiet day in which some outside work gets done. *** Paula and Sierra pack for the Carolina ride. *** 25 Tues - Paula rides Pretty Girl with Sami following. *** 24 Mon - LP Painted Ponys celebrates Thanksgiving with Larry cooking dinner. *** The girls have a regular school day and Paula is working. *** 23 Sun - Gail and Paula haul Clint and Loverboy to the Yadkin Valley Hounds Timed Trail ride in Advance, NC. *** We stop at Tractor Supply Company in Asheboro on the way - Gail picks up a new set of leather contest reins to try on Clint. *** We ride out at 12:58 and return at 2:24. *** At the first water crossing, we help several teenage girls get thru the crossing, then pass them to continue on our ride. *** It was a good ride - Paula finally comfortable on Loverboy and Gail and Clint doing great together with the new english saddle. *** Amy Flood of Freedoms Flight Photography is taking pics again so I hope that she got some of us riding this time, too. *** We stop for late lunch/dinner at Blue Mist Barbque just past Asheboro on the way home. *** 22 Sat - Larry takes Sierra to school to compete with WH JROTC at the Cape Fear Academy Drill meet. *** After feeding, I work with Jazzy, spending about 2 hours grooming her, working on "head down", sending away/out/between, saddling, and bridling. *** Gail arrived riding Clint and after a short break, she worked with Jazzy on mounting. *** Then it's my turn - but it still doesn't go very well as Jazzy is not at all happy or thrilled. Do get to do some riding and Gail is surprised by my moving from a walk to a trot in short order and around trailer, it works great. *** She joins me on Clint and we ride to the back of property and Jazzy has a series of come aparts... I manage through them, and we come back to trailer area, then back to back and just continue riding back and forth. *** After riding for about an hour, I call it quits as I'm frozen and hungry and we stop when things are going great. *** Shem actually took some pics. *** Gail leaves - riding home - 5.3 miles in 36 minutes while I untack Jazzy and ride with Shem back home in truck. *** Gail treats for lunch at Mi Casitas. *** Returning home, it's almost dark but Sierra has already fed, so I work on braiding while watching some tv. *** 21 Fri - It's cold and really windy when I arrive back home from work. I just can't bring myself to brave the cold and work with Jazzy, by myself. *** 20 Thur - *** Double LL feed run. *** 5 bales hay delivered by Larry Lanier (Little River Trails). *** Gail rode Clint from her house to ours to deal with hay delivery, then saddled and worked Jazzy. *** Jazzy "dropped out" from saddle during mounting, but didn't rear. *** Did great until crossed the road to work around pond - then wanting to rear and shaking. *** Map quested route shows Gail and Clint worked 5.3 miles one way - Spring Hill Ch to Moore's Chapel Rd to Tim Currin to Ernest Brown. *** 19 Wed - *** Paula saddles Jazzy before going to get Madira and Sierra from school. *** Madira heads Jazzy for mounting - good thing as Jazzy isn't happy and rears almost straight up before Paula has foot in off stirrup. *** Once settled, Jazzy ridden for about 40 minutes mostly walking & stopping, riding in the dark - going down road back & forth from ours to neighbors' driveways. *** Paula working on LP Painted Ponys website at lunch time. New button for "Foals" page made. *** New Foals page started. *** 18 Tues - Paula changes color of font for website buttons (from teal green to same purple on darker tabs). *** Gail rides Jazzy. *** Worked on mounting, walking, leaving driveway and then have a come apart in the field going around the pond. Gail leads her home - bad, bad ground manners set in. *** 17 Mon - Paula learning how to use "Button template" made by designer. *** New fonts made for Stallion, Mares buttons. *** Made new "Sales" and "New Owners" buttons. *** Pictures up from YVH Timed Trail Ride at Freedom Flight Photography. *** Sun - *** Paula & Gail invited up to Dawn's to view "Laddin" and meet the new vet in the area - Dr. Cindy Eaton of Eaton Mobile Veterinary Services, who will be gelding "Blaze". *** Gail rode Clint from home to "J's Store" at the end of Spring Hill Church Rd, taking a break while visiting with Paula, then onward to Dawn's. *** Return ride doesn't go as well as traffic picks up on Hwy 27 - so Gail turns on Spring Hill Church to Moore's Chapel Rd to Tim Currin to Ernest Brown to home. *** It's 4.5 miles from Gail's to Dawn's home. *** 15 Sat - Veteran's Day parade in Coats cancelled. *** We spend several hours raking leaves. *** 11 Tues - WH JROTC cadets participate with Motor Pool and flag presentation at Lillington Veterans' Memorial Service. *** Monkey comes home in the afternoon. *** 10 Mon - At 5:30, Larry carries "Monkey" into room saying he "isn't right". Horses fed, breakfast made, dishes done, girls' off to school and vet clinics full! Monkey goes to Sanford Animal Hospital and is admitted. Exrays show a dislocated hip. *** 9 Sun - Madira home early AM from Wilmington. *** Sierra goes to Overhills Baptist Church Servive with WH JROTC. *** Paula/Loverboy & Gail/Clint go to Advance, NC via Hwy 64 this time, with the Yadkin Valley Hounds for timed trail ride. *** Trails aren't marked as well & the team gets lost 3 times, Gail & Clint part company and Loverboy has a bucking fit - but still pull in 5th out of 9 teams. *** Dinner in Asheboro, a stop at both Lowe's and Tractor Supply Company - then on home to unload. *** Kim T calls with a plea for help - her horses had gone sight seeing and gotten into the feed. Paula and Gail haul Pete and Moose down to Southern Pines for Dr. Bello - they are treated Paula and Gail return home at 1 am. *** 8 Sat - 16 cadets from WH JROTC go to Veteran's Day Parade in Fayetteville. *** 7 Fri - Madira goes to Wilmington for High School Play competitions. *** 3 Mon - Madira after school for required play/drama practice. *** 2 Sun - CFTR Horse Show in Wade. *** Gail picks Paula, Madira and Sierra up w/ Clint in 2 horse trailer. *** Clint unloaded and a bit "silly" on showgrounds, but settles. *** Gail leaves the show grounds at 11:15 to head home on horseback. *** Show has 173 total entries (not too bad, though could have been much better). *** Madira worked concessions, Sierra was "Gofer" for show office and judge (Elizabeth O'Briant). ****** 1 Sat - Drill meet at Oak Ridge Military Academy. *** WH drill team members compete in 8 events, bringing home 4 2nd place & 2 3rd placings. *** Chaunter coldhosed & left unwrapped. ***