LP Painted Pony's News

NEWS - balance of February 2010

2010-02-22T15:06:00.005-05:00

Feb - ***21 - Ashleigh & Sierra do horse stuff once they drag out of bed. ***20 - WH JROTC goes to Overhills for a Drill Meet. *** 17 - afternoon Vicki brings Drayson, Jasmine, Laura & Vagen over to see Cupid. He's taken out of the stall so that Stuffy can graze while he gets "oohed & ahhhed" over. *** 18 - EJ Womac delivers 4 round bales - getting stuck on our hill. *** 16 - Stuffy foals between 8 & 8:15 pm. By 10:30 - "Cupid" up and nursed, navel & hooves iodined, enema done, milkbar found. Calls go out to various people w/ our news.

"STUFFY" Foaling

2010-02-16T04:02:00.042-05:00

***Feb - 16 @ 4:03 am. ... She was bred the first time on 14 Feb 2009 & last day of season was 20 Feb... So by all "general" guesstimates of 340 days - she's LATE. We've had signs that she's getting close - but "no bananna", so to speak.
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email sent to family & friends at 3:30 -

Finally have our "wax" - secretions at end of teats. Unless she's now going to do the wax on/wax off thing (some do), we should have baby in the next 12 hours or so. Of course, she's already late and doing this all "wrong", so I don't know...

Flanks still not "pouched out" like I'm used to seeing before they foal, either...but maybe she won't do that. Took enuf pics to learn that lighting will work, only to have batteries die and can't download pics on camera now. Can't find batteries or re-chargeable ones or the charger either, dog gone it...

Foal HAS changed position - further back and she's looser now - tho not real loose. Her bag is overfull -teats/nipples still turned inwards, hmm - & almost painfully tight (she seemed happy to have a warm water wash just now) and milk vein has shown up at bottom of abdomen - we'll see. I'm cleaning the stall and taking a 2 hr nap.

Course, this could be a false alarm (imagine that - another one!)... I'm not sure I like doing the "baby watch thing" - even if she is in a temporary stall in the carport. Gak. At least the wind's not blowing and it's not as cold as they were predicting. Think I DO like them foaling during the day out in the paddock/pasture - tho still want to be there for it. When I double checked her, "miss piggy" thought I was going to feed her (again). Wouldn't stop wickering at me and kept nudging her feed pan...LOL.

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It's almost 4:3o - I've cleaned her stall and put a bag of fresh shavings in the middle. She did normal move around things - and then stretched out till her belly almost touched the floor and stayed that way for about 2 minutes... Now - she's just standing w/ her hind feet suported in the shavings (I kno - bad but much nicer than nasty NC straw. I have pics of the most beautiful golden straw in CO and remember same from GE but can't seem to get it here). No worries, between towels and lots of hay - don't think we'll have any problems w/ the shavings. Plus these are great big fluffly type - not like straight sawdust.

Dogs have taken up positions on my bed... but I'm not in it. Monkey out enuf that he didn't budge when I turned lite on to hunt up footies and another shirt. Weird being able to turn lite on w/ Larry back at work at nite...

Well, nothing happening. I'm going to take a 2 hr nap - since I haven't been to bed yet... before the girls get up for school. Glad not doing JROTC recruiting after all - I'm not going to be fit company later.

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It's 10:16. I've been up and down every couple of hours (like a good mom, I signed Sierra's JROTC forms that she neglected to give to us last nite, and saw them off to the bus - but just barely!) and she's been down in-between. I fed her & Kechara about 8:50 - late, but that's ok - they've had free choice hay in their stalls. Now seeing some "movement" - getting ready and of course the camera isn't ready.

I believe she's in active stage 1 labor. Could still be up to 4 hours or so... She's kicking her belly, stretching, breathing more rapidly, stretching and circling the stall. When still, she's shifting from rear hoof to rear hoof (like an anxious kid expecting something bad outside the principals' office). Not still long! Waxed beautifully (aww, need the camera) and teats now hanging down and full, and really soft around perennial area and at the sides of her dock. Tail staying lifted up and away from her haunches - would be funny but I'm loving the fact that it's up and out of the way...

Called Vicki - she's going to bring her camera over when this set of laundry done (about 20 - 30 minutes). If she's not in actual labor - well , we'll be closer.

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1:33 - Well, progress, but not there yet. Lots of circling, tail raising, pawing. She's been down - but not when I've seen her. Some stretching and lip curling. Just did a series of "winks". Passing lots of small amounts of manure - firm. After I finish my lunch - pizza - I will go clean her stall and check on her again (live, hands on check, LOL). Vicki can only stay until 2:30 - then will need to head home as grandkids coming over today. Disappointing to spend several hours on "foal watch" and then possibly miss it (may have her bring the kids back here - but not sure...)

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It's almost 2:30 and Vicki will have to go. I'm going to clean stall and re-wrap her tail - she's rubbed and it came loose.

I pick up the girls at the HS and we get back just before 5 pm. Still no foal. While watching Stuffy, I'd done laundry and worked in the kitchen. When we all get home - Larry takes over w/ laundry and girls do some of the chores. I succomb to some sleep. I don't really sleep (needed to) but did nap/wake/nap etc until about 7:00 and then was out to check her... nothing new - still upset/restless, stamping, waxed - no other changes to her shape. Disgusting pony! Larry's cooked dinner and I head in to eat and sit for a bit. I was going to go out and feed Stuffy and Kechara at 8 pm - after we visited and ate. Peeked out at 7:45 - no baby nothing new... Hadn't even gotten started when Skye arrived home about 8:15 - "We have a Valentine!" No, I just checked on her - other than restless - nothing. NOPE, I didn't believe it. Well, she wasn't kidding! DARN PONY!

Went out to help w/ drying off, check it out and check on Stuffy (who is still very uncomfortable)... Took me a bit to check for sex - I was more worried about making sure breathing OK, and getting dryed off in the cold... Stall pretty wet now, too - will need to pull wet bedding out & add another bag of shavings.

By 9:15 - he's up off my lap (where I'd drawn him to - to dry him off) on his own and wobbling around. He's started to look for the milk bar - mostly missing, tho Stuffy is standing pretty well for him. I call Vicki and get thru to her while watching him. He finds what hes' hunting and sucks for a bit - good deal.

So "Cupid" is here and doing OK. I go back in to let them bond for a bit and finish my dinner.

By 10:30, I've given him his enema, checked him over better, iodined his navel and his hooves, cleaned and added bedding to their stall. Stuffy has eaten a good diner - made into a soupy mash. She's still uncomfortable - wants to lay down, which is ok. Talking to him - such a good mom. I haven't seen him really latch on well - so I watch until I do - I speak w/ Karen E & Gail M while watching this time around.

NEWS - Jan & Feb 2010

2010-02-05T09:14:00.018-05:00

***Feb 12/13 - 2.5" of snow - again "shuts down" NC. Since it's Saturday, it's not too bad! ***Feb - 11 - Joined JROTC for Honor Flight award presentation - held during 1st Battalion' 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment's Change of Command Ceremony. Pictures can be seen here *** 10 - Sierra's 1st meeting/lesson w/ her mentor for her Sr Project. *** 9 - Took JROTC quilt project to Imagination Quilt Shoppe but didn't take sewing supplies. Liked project. *** Rain again, but not as heavy! *** 7 - "Stuffy" is still stuffed! *** 6 - At Joanne Fabrics, Madira finds a burgundy/maroon wool for her sewing project in school. *** Madira, Sierra & Mom (ME) get a sample ribs together at Lone Star (wow). *** Dira finds two dresses at Ross, Sierra is disappointed in finding nothing. ***5 - Can someone make this rain stop? Everything is flooded. "Stuffy" is trying to float away. *** I meet PonyDriving List member Bobby McEntyre in Sanford at the newly re-opened Imagination Quilt Shoppe. EXCITING - talk about quilting, driving and her new pony/cart/harness - Maggie. ***1 - No "Stuffy" baby, yet.

***Jan - 26 - 27 - JROTC does presentation at 4th Brigade Conference - Myrtle Beach, SC. Sierra & Paula go. On the way back - visit Ripley's Aquarium & the USS North Carolina. *** 18 - Martin Luther King Parade in Dunn. JROTC participates & Paula a volunteer marcher. ***1 - rings in quietly... Even the girls' go to bed early. *** Larry starts back on NIGHTS. He is much happier.

NEWS - Nov & Dec 09

2010-02-02T09:25:00.023-05:00

*** Dec - 24 - Jan 3 - Christmas Holiday for Paula. 21 - Jan 3 - Christmas Holidays for the girls. *** WH JROTC participates in Christmas Parade in Broadway and Lillington. A Jeep "dies" and Paula stays with Cadet Barnett. Part way thru - jeep stays running and we join the parade, too. Fewer "snafus" in the Lillington nitetime parade.

***Nov - *** 25 - 27 - Thanksgiving Holiday for the girls & I. Larry working - so we have our Thanksgiving family celebration on Saturday. ***16 - Teachers meeting canceled, so Madira ends up presenting her Sr Project to only 2 teachers after school. ***11 - Veteran's Day celebration held inside at Govenment Complex in Lillington, NC due to rain. ***7 - Veteran's Day Parade in Lillington - JROTC participates. Sierra rides as Calvary on Loverboy & Paula in a jeep. ***6 - JROTC colorguard & parking detail support - home game. ***2 - JROTC Brigade Inspection - Sierra gives instruction on S4 & Paula a Booster Volunteer. *** 1 - CFTR show in Wade, NC. Paula & Madira volunteer.

NEWS - Sept & Oct 09

2010-02-02T09:24:00.128-05:00

***Oct - 30 & 31 - Madira at Drama Competition in Little Washington, NC. Competition plays are "And" & "Reservations".

*** 27 - L rides Stuffy. ***Riding in barn due to nasty weather - but finish outside in round pen.

***D & V ride in the roundpen. *** Haystring braided reins finished & D riding Bit w/ them.

*** 25 - Magic, Koalah have trace clips finished. ***Koalah & Bit are grounddriven. ***24 - Madira carves a pumpkin at Miranda's house. *** Bell trace clip finished. ***24 - 26 - Sierra goes w/ JROTC to Honor Flight in Huntsville, Al (The Cadets send off the Veterans in uniforms matching what the vets wore in the wars they participated in. The Vets are flown, thru Honor Flight, to the Memorials in Washington, DC w/ guides/helpers if needed, then flown back to Huntsville, AL). *** Sierra wears Paratrooper uniform in the Colorguard. *** On the way home, JROCT Cadets stop at the Military Museum & the NASA Space Flight Museum.

*** 23 - JROTC support for football game. *** No school. J & L no lessons. D & V learn to clip ponies (helping w/ trace clipping Bit & Koalah). D reallly likes clipping! V is not thrilled. V rides Koalah by himself for the first time in the round pen. Turning and stopping. Using a crop to encourage forward movemnt. ***20 - L practices lounging Stuffy on line outside of roundpen before riding. *** Lessons in paddock next to barn - under the trees. ***J getting good @ lounging Magic. Mounting and riding by herself. Over and thru/around obstacles. *** D lounges Bit over obstacles and rides on the line. Practicing using the reins for stopping & turning. ***17 - Koalah worked in bitting rig in round pen with Eclipse. **16 - L rides Stuffy outside of the roundpen on her own. ***D riding Bit - doing balancing exercises on the line. At end of lesson - he handles reins to start turning & stopping by himself. Boy's Dad, Ace, comes to pick them up and watched them during last part of their lesson.

***10 - Madira takes SAT @ Lee Sr HS in Sanford. ***9 - *** JROTC support for Homecoming game. ***L & J ride in paddock behind the barn.

*** D rides Bit & V rides Koalah - both on the loungeline. When wating for their turns to ride, they practice mounting and dismounting while their mounts are standing tied. ***Bit's braided headstall done except for throatlatch snap. Hers is braided from haystring - solid orange. *** Koalah's headstall done - braided in purple paracord w/0 filler. Bit needs bit guards. ***Madira helps and Mark takes pictures of todays lessons. ***3 - Vicki out to work w/ Eclipse. Both James and I take pics. I take video. *** 1 - Madira's Bday. *** V works with "Bit" - grooming & saddling. *** D works w/ Koalah - grooming and saddling. ***
L rides Stuffy & J rides Magic.

***Sept - ***26- Madira meets w/ Connie Davis Thairapy. ***JROTC Raider Challenge - Sierra and Paula help out. ***24 - Southern Oaks calls to confirm Stuffy is in foal. ***19 - Madira and Anna go to Lillington Public Library to research their Senior projects. ***15 - 21 -Trip to NE thru KY, MO... ***12 - Madira meets with her Mentor - Connie Davis at Thairapy. ***10 - J ride in round pen. Spent lots of time on putting boots on today.*** L doesn't ride - has a headache & sleeps in the truck. ***D & V start riding. The boys spend time learning to put on boots. D rides Stuffy english & V rides Magic.

***J plays w/ AJ - practicing mounting bareback. ***New synthetic child's saddle is fit on Magic - the rear girth IS NOT fastened. Using Vicki's barrel racing pad - she's brought 3 out to try on the ponies. ***7 - Ordered synthetic saddle thru eBay. ***4 - Madira's roughdraft Letter of Intent is typed and gone over by class. Mentor's name/number is called and first appointment set up. *** 1 - J rides Magic on a trail walk - 2.3 miles around the AC Morrison Loop. V walks along w/ us, Paula leading Stuffy. *** L is sick today. *** At end of ride, V sits on Stuffy for a while.

NEWS - Jul & Aug 09

2009-08-16T09:52:00.039-04:00

***Aug - 28 - Sierra - Color Guard - WHHS football game. ***Madira chooses "Massage vs pain relivers" for her Senior Project. ***27 - J rides herself outside of round pen. *** L gets lots of practice on her own in the roundpen and does balancing exercises.

*** Dr. Dean, DVM from Southern Oaks Animal Hospital arrives and all 4 of the children get to watch as he does shots and coggins for Sami & Flower. Sami is gelded, does great and is very "drunk" when allowed to get up. Stuffy has blood drawn to see if she's in foal. Rhythem is examined and it's determined that the problems she's having are due to a broken elbow - to learn more she'll need exrays. ***26 - School starts. *** 25 - J rides on her own outside of round pen. Practicing w/t and turn/stops. ***L practices riding in the round pen by herself. She wants to go out, but doesn't want to practice her stops & turns outside...

*** 20 - After warming up in the roundpen, J does a lot of riding offline on a trail walk. *** L and Stuffy also go out - but they are on the line. Stuffy's leather bridle breaks when doing water work and it's "jerry rigged". The "new" braided one will be completed soon.

***18 - J is riding more on her own. Practice going over cavaletti. *** L is riding on her own in round pen. She's working over cavaletti to get her balance. Still having many steering problems, but it'll come. Stuffy is patient. ***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

2009-08-16T09:52:00.013-04:00

*** 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

2009-08-16T09:51:00.008-04:00

***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

2009-02-02T14:48:00.020-05:00

*** 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

2009-02-02T14:47:00.004-05:00

***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

2008-12-04T15:55:00.006-05:00

*** 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

2008-11-03T12:05:00.055-05:00

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. ***

News - October 08

2008-10-22T15:12:00.043-04:00

*** 31 Fri - Happy Halloween! *** Double LL feedstore run - helmet in and poultice purchased for Chaunter. *** Chaunter coldhosed, poulticed and wrapped for the next 24 hours - took a while since it's been a looonnnggg time! *** Paula freaked out when told the cost for the corn maze and we stay home for movie nite, instead. *** 30 Thr - Chaunter coldhosed and wrapped during am feeding. *** Wraps removed at pm feeding. *** *** 29 Wed - Dr. Krivit, NSE Vet Hospital, arrives to draw coggins and rabies on Chaunter, Pretty Girl, Jazzy & Ellona. *** Looks over Sami, confirms Chaunter has a strained suspendory ligament left fore, & confirms Star to be pregnant to "Iggy" for a May 09 foal. *** 1 bale hay moved from Chaunter's pasture to Iggy & Star's pasture. *** Chaunter coldhosed & wrapped. *** 28 Tue - Paula stays late at work - new stuff on website and blog up to date! *** 27 Mon - Sierra home from school w/ stomach bug. *** Madira rides Campari at St. Andrews. *** Larry also has stomach bug. ****** 26 Sun - Visitors from Holly Springs. ***Stacey brings 3 yr old son, Traff and 6 yr old daughter, Camden to see ponies. *** Traff not impressed while Camden is happy to greet and love on "SamirI", "Pretty Girl", "AJ", "Iggy", "Star" & "Ellon". *** After greeting, she also rides "AJ" while Larry leads and Madira side walks. *** Later, she is the first rider to sit on "Iggy" & does a turn double w/ Madira on "Pretty Girl". ***

*** 25 Sat - Slow start, movie. *** Stocks finished, Star tried in them. *** Star trace clipped by Sierra & Paula. *** Ashley/Star & Sierra/Chaunter ride down to Tyler's home on Spring Hill Ch Rd. *** Madira rides Pretty Girl w/ Sammy. *** Paula weed eats front yard. ***

*** 24 Fri - Sierra to MP at Colonel Anderson's. *** Sierra to Parking Detail w/ JROTC. *** 23 Thr - Paula off & working in yard. *** Ditch weed eated. *** Stocks worked on. *** Paula worked Jazzy on walking, still not standing for mounting. *** Sierra rides Chaunter & then Star. *** Jazzy stands tied while Paula takes Madira to do make up for "The Diary of Anne Frank". *** Jazzy worked some more when return. *** 22 Wed - Command Presentation by WH JROTC - Sierra participating in LRC and Paula off from work as volunteer booster. *** Madira home on bus, then back at school for Make Up for when Sierra picked up from Drill practice. *** Sierra rides Chaunter for 15 to 20 minutes. *** Paula working Jazzy. *** Paula canters Jazzy for the first time. *** Sierra works Star, then Paula & Sierra do short ride around Pond Loop. *** Jazzy does OK (YEA!!) ***21 Tues - Chaunter cold hosed for 30 minutes (sore & swollen at bottom of tendons - both inside front fetlocks) & Pretty Girl cleaned up (tail put up, too) before work. *** Madira rides Pretty Girl w/ "Sammy" keeping up. *** Paula works Jazzy from the ground and then mounts and rides - working on walk, stopping, flexing and walking some more. *** 20 Mon -Madira afer school for Make Up for play "Anne Frank" dress rehearsal then on to St. Andrews. *** Working to keep Compari going, LOL. *** Chaunter sore & swollen inside left front fetlock - cold hosed after dinner. *** No drill practice for Sierra. *** 19 Sun - Gail brings Clint & Loverboy to our place. *** Sierra/Loverboy, Ashley/Star, Gail/Clint and Paula/Chaunter ride out to IGA in Lillington. 7.8 miles in 1 hour & 14 minutes. *** Rest 45 minutes (while waiting for girls' to catch up, then ride back in 1 hour & 20 minutes(with a break for a saddle adjustment for Gail). *** Clean up horses, Gail & Paula drop off Loverboy & Clint at Gail's & continue to Double LL. *** Linda picks up Ashley and visits w/ "Sammy". *** 18 Sat - Sierra & Paula go to Southern Lee High School w/ the Drill Team. *** WH JROTC field 2 Raider teams. *** Ashley returns with us, spending the night and seeing "Sammy". *** 17 Fri - Skye calls Paula at work and says - "We have a baby!"... ***A bay and white Tobiano colt. PG doing good. *** Feed run - Double LL in Coats. *** While at Double LL, owner answers ads posted for "Brin". *** Turns out his name is "Hank". *** Sierra doing parking detail w/ JROTC for Game tonight. *** "Cookie Lady" (Donna Anderson) stops brings Sierra home after detail and gets to see "Sammy". ***

*** 16 Thur - Paula/Chaunter & Madira/Pretty Girl trot, canter and gallop 2x around AC Morrison loop and then walk Pond loop. *** PG is a little "loose" around the top of her tail head, bagged up but not tight/uncomfortable. ***15 Wed - "Brin" is a brindle colored pitt or pitt x. ***He is friendly and good w/ the cats - Larry allows him into house. ***Skye takes him to All Animals Vet Hospital in Sanford - no microchip. ***Paula stops several places to let people know about the dog. ***An email arrives stating that the dog has not been listed as missing thru Harnett Cty. *** Sierra/Chaunter & Paula/Pretty Girl do O'Quinn loop (4 miles), AC Morrison loop (2.4 miles) & Pond loop (approx 1.5 miles). ***

*** 14 Tues - Early AM - the dogs go crazy. ***I take Monkey out w/ me to check on the horses. ***Everyone OK, but when I come back thru barn a BIG dog is hi-lited by the moon in the doorway. ***I grab a bag of trash and shake it - he heads out but goes into carport in front of kennels. ***Shoo him into the kennel, and return to bed... ***Up late - running to feed horses and get ready for work. Larry contacts Harnett Animal Control but doesn't hear anything. ***Returning from work, I start weed eating again. No word on missing dogs.***12 Sun - Clint loads w/ Chaunter, Star loaded in front w/ them. Pretty Girl & Loverboy in back. ***Vicki's again for a 3 hour trail ride. Chaunter/Sierra, Star/ Ashley, James/Divinity, Vicki/Adam, Paula/Pretty Girl, Shem/Loverboy, Gail/Clint rode behind the various developments and then into the trees where we went down some different trails. ***Arrived back at Vicki's and horses loaded easily for return trip - Taco Bell for lunch & Shem dropped at work. ***Then back home to unload horses, switch back to two horse and Clint loads ok. ***Pick up weed eater from Gail, and spend a little over two hours weedeating front of ditch and around the shop. ***

*** 11 Sat - Larry take Sierra to MP. *** Adult riders only - Vicki's Ride. *** Clint wouldn't load, so follow as Clint ponies from back of trailer down road. *** Stopped to load him, didn't work, so he is "ponied" all the way to our place. *** Chaunter loads, gear loaded - so does Clint. *** Ride out from Vicki's - go to Carolina Lakes and return - Paula/Chaunter, Gail/Clint, James/Adam, Vicki/Divinity, Dawn/Kaytee. *** James does burgers on whole wheat buns , coleslaw, potato skins (yum). *** Clint loads after Chaunter (is he tired?).***

*** 10 Fri - Both Gail & Paula off, so take LP mower to shop. *** Lunch @ MiCasita's. Then finish yard work at Gail's home. *** 8 Wed - Darryl trims Jazzy, Rhythm, Ellona & Star for Paula. *** Lady Bug & Loverboy both get shoes pulled and trimmed. Clint takes some time as he's one un-happy horse w/ farrier, but he figures out that trimming is ok. *** 7 Tues - AM - Paula rides Jazzy at home for about 30 minutes. Working on walk, stop and did some trot. *** Madira gets her Driving Permit. *** Madira rides Pretty Girl and Sierra/Chaunter & Paula/Jazzy hit the AC Morrison Loop. *** Not a pretty ride... as Jazzy very upset. *** 6 Mon - 1/2 day school & work - Paula rides Jazzy for the first time at home. *** Sierra/Pretty Girl & Ashley/Star go for a ride out. ***

*** 5 Sun - Gail hauls Chaunter & Ellona to CFTR Horse Show for us. Madira shows Chaunter in 6 classes - winning 2, placing 3rd in 2 and not placing in 2. *** Ellona takes everything in stride. *** Ashley & Sierra volunteer in the Show Office and Announcers booth. *** Paula works w/ "Stuffy" & then takes her and Nia into the Leadline Class. *** 4 Sat - Sierra & Ashley to Motor Pool at CNL Anderson's place. *** 5 Round bales delivered by Larry Lanier of Little River Farm. *** Madira rides and gets Chaunter ready for CFTR show. *** 3 Friday - JROTC home game parking detail (Sierra & Ashley). *** Madira's 16th B-Day party - outside w/ music, Pizza and bonfire. *** Right after Gail and Niccole arrive, so does the Fire Department to check out our "FIRE", LOL. *** 1 & 2 Wed & Thur - Getting ready for Madira's party. ***

News - September 2008

2008-10-21T14:19:00.000-04:00

2008 SEPTEMBER - 1 Mon - Ride at Twin Oaks Trails - Vickie on Katie, Paula on PG, Gail on Loverboy. *** Vickie canters Katie for first time while going up hills, YEA! *** Lady Bug comes to LP Painted Ponys to graze on grass our 4 legged beasties won't eat. *** 2 & 3 Tues & Wed - Paula home from work sick, Gail takes Mocha to vet in Lillington (infection from nursing kitten), Madira attends practice for Miss Western Harnett. *** 4 Thurs - Dira's appointment at UNC Chapel Hill w/ Dr. Mathur. She's cleared for anything w/i reason and if problems schedule appointment to have checked out. *** 5 Fri & 6 Sat - Hurricane Hannah drops total of 7" rain in our area. *** We decide not to go to Yadkin Valley Hounds timed ride. *** W/ military given tickets - Gail, Nicole, Haley, Madira & Paula attend the Brooks & Dunn concert w/ ZZ Top Saturday evening. *** 7 Sun - Despite rain, we get to 4 horse trailer and haul Chaunter, PG, Loverboy for Gail, Paula & Sierra; and pick up Katie and Dafinity with James and Vicki. *** We ride the 4 mile loop at Raven Rock 2x with a break in between. *** 8 Mon - Teeth cleaning for Paula that leads to fixing a filling & most of day off. *** JROTC & CFTR meetings. *** 9 Tues - ride PG one circuit - am & Chaunter 2 circuits - pm. *** 10 Wed - Madira competes for Miss Western Harnett. *** 18 competitors - Madira doesn't make the top 10. *** Photos taken by Dan Roberts Photography. ***

*** 12 Fri - Paula riding Pretty Girl, Sierra riding Chaunter & ponying Ellona ride to Gail's and trailer back. *** 13 Sat - Sierra on Chaunter, Paula on PG & ponying Ellona ride to CNL Anderson's for JROTC MP/Drill "party". *** Paula & PG part company 1 mile out & PG returns home.*** Sierra continues while Paula & Ellona go home. *** Ellona is put in pasture and Paula & PG head back out. *** Saddle swapped at CNL Anderson's & Paula now riding Chaunter ponying PG back home. *** 14 Sun - Gail, Vicki & Paula head to Charlotte to visit w/ Wild Rose Arabians. *** 15 Mon - Paula takes Madira to St. Andrews College for the Therapuetic Riding Center Tour. *** 16 Tues - More rain. *** 17 Wed - Sierra rides Chaunter ponying Ellona, Paula up on PG do O'Quinn & AC Morrison Loop & finish w/ ride around pond before home again on Spring Hill Ch Rd. *** 18 Thur - Weed eating around yard, storm pickup. *** Madira rides Chaunter at home. *** Paula clips PG, Ellona for 1st time, Iggy, Star & then Chaunter. *** Shots & worming done. *** 19 Fri - Paula rides Chaunter alone - heading down Spring Hill Ch Rd, across HWY 421 and continuing for another 15 minutes of riding. *** Get caught by the setting sun & I don't do a lot of loping/cantering back. Chaunter completely upset going past the Spring Hill Methodist Church grave yard 1 1/2 miles from house and the last part of ride results in serious tension - very painful back muscle spasms. *** 20 Sat - Gail & Niccole drive Corvette to while Paula & Asia pull horse trailer and then on to Charlotte to pick up "Clint". *** Trailer loading lesson for "Clint" (he's determined not to get into 2 horse trailer), meet new people (Michelle Nichols & family) & discuss Sport Horse In-Hand classes while looking at her colt - "Blaze". *** Stop on way home to eat @ Western Sizzlin', "Clint" doing great & quiet. *** "Clint" settles in just fine at Gail's barn. *** 21 Sun - 3 trailers haul to Little River Trails after the tire is replaced on Paula's trailer. *** Paula on Chaunter ponying Ellona, Sierra rides Loverboy for Gail, Ashley on Star, Gail on Vicky's Adam, Vicky on Davinity, James riding Katie and newcomer to our group - Dawn is riding her arab mare - Lovey. *** We spend 2 1/2 hours riding - some mud, not bad. Water crossing gets trotted and cantered through. *** Upon arriving home, weed eating done around driveway, house and barn. *** 22 Mon - Paula takes Madira to St. Andrews for her Therapuetic riding lesson w/ Liz Harris.*** Madira rides Rowan. *** Sierra seperates Ellona from Chaunter - putting her in with Iggy & Star. *** 24 Wed - Paula/Katie & Vicki/Davinity do both loops at Raven Rock. *** Vicki/Adam, Gail/Clint, Paula/Loverboy ride around field across from Gail's and then cross HWY 27 to find lots of trails. *** Will do more exploring after hunting season ends. *** Thur - RAIN. *** 27 Sat - Sierra & Paula volunteer all day for the WHJROTC Raider Challenge. *** 28 Sun - Paula/Pretty Girl, Sierra/Chaunter, Ashley/Star, Gail/Clint, James/Davinity & Vicki/Adam ride out from Vicki/james home (Dunn Rovin Lane/Hwy 27) behind several develpments, behind Carolina Lakes gated community to Food Lion shopping strip on 87 between Spring Lake & Sanford. *** Horses all handle going into lake 2 times. Approximately 12 miles one way. Rode 6 1/2 hours. *** 29 Mon - Madira to St. Andrews. She rides Rowan. *** Sierra rides Chaunter to Gail's. *** Gail/Clint & Sierra/Loverboy explore property trails across Hwy 27. *** 30 Tues - Madira joins Gail for shopping. *** Paula rides Pretty Girl - 45 minutes - working on walk & trot transitions. ***

News - August 2008

2008-10-21T14:02:00.004-04:00

*** 2 Sat - Ride Chaunter to Gail's (Ellon stayed at home), Sierra riding Rhythem, Madira on Pretty Girl. *** Madira paints while at Gail's. *** Nicole's cat bites Gail, but she joins us, riding Moose & ponying Lady Bug, to ride back - Paula on PG, Sierra on Chaunter & ponying Rhythem. *** 3 Sun - Gail's cat bite not looking good. *** We go to Womac on Ft. Bragg and 7 hours later she's admitted and put on IV antibiotics. *** 4 Mon - Paula cares for Gail's horses before work. *** Paula back at hospital with Gail from mid-afternoon until after 9 pm. *** 5 Tues - Paula cares for Gail's horses before and after work. *** 6 Wed - Shem cares for horses. *** Getting into Ft. Bragg doesn't work... *** Shem gets truck & goes himself, instead. *** 8 - Friday Eve - Gail is released from hospital. *** 9 Sat - Spend day helping around Gail's house. *** Moose is returned home to Kim T. *** Gail shows Kim where Moose is, then has Kim ride him. *** 20 - Wed - Sierra's B-Day. The family goes to Golden Corral to celebrate. *** 21 Thur - Skye starts college at Central Carolina Community College in the Protonics and Lazers degree program. *** 23 Sat - Gail rides Loverboy & Paula rides PG at Little River Trails. *** 24 Sun - Gail & Paula haul to Advance, NC for Timed Trail Ride with Yadkin Valley Hounds. *** Riding in Moderate Paced speed group, they place 2nd out of 11 teams *** Go to Freedom Flight Photography to view 6 pics of Paula and Gail at the end of the trail. Click on YVH Timed Ride Proofs. *** 25 Mon - School starts for Sierra, now a sophomore & Madira, now a junior. *** 26 & 27 Tues & Wed - Fay moves across NC dropping lots of rain. *** 29 Fri - Gail w/ Loverboy & Paula riding Chaunter (Ellon stays home) go to Raven Rock and the 4 mile loop is ridden. *** Madira goes to Miranda's for B-Day Party for weekend. *** 30 Sat - Sierra goes to WHJROTC Motor Pool & Drill Team at CNL Anderson's home. *** Gail & Paula go to Equestrian Exchange in Raleigh, then on to check out a TWHA (Triangle Wide Horsemans' Association) Horse Show. *** 31 Sun - Haul to Uwharrie to ride. *** Vickie w/ Kaytee, Gail riding Loverboy & ponying Adam, Paula w/ Pretty Girl. *** Prety Girl actually goes swimming! *** Returning home, we stop at Pizza Hut in Carthage. ***

News - July 2008

2008-10-21T13:53:00.008-04:00

2008 July - 2 Wed - Gail, Nicole, Madira & Paula head up to Jordan Lake, NC. Great time - too many hours. *** A call from a prospective buyer has me out in the evening - taking photos and video of "AJ".

*** 3 Thur - Sunburn - both Madira & Paula - doing as little as possible. *** Gail & Paula pick up hay from Little River Trails. *** Sierra has 1st of 3 driving times for Driver's Ed. *** Bar-B-Que at Gail's house. *** 4 Fri - Independence Day !! Madira marches in parade w/ WH JROTC. *** Bar-B-Que @ Bridget & David's. *** Fireworks in Lillington! *** 5 Sat - Gail, Nicole, Madira, Sierra & Paula head to Fayetteville *** 6 Sun - Gail's B-Day. *** The girls all help - Madira painting & Sierra & Skye move part of shrunk. *** 7 Mon - Sierra's 2nd of 3 driving classes. *** Work getting done around barn. *** 8 Tues - Sierra's last driving class. *** 12 Sat - Gail, Nicole, Sierra & I attend the Equine Extravanganza - watching the Trainers' Challenge and visiting with the vendors during the day. *** Then we watched the Performance that evening. *** 14 Mon - I work Star w/ long lines & Madira does pics and video clips. *** 16 Wed - Yard work in the morning. In the afternoon, we go to Jordan Lake - Skye, Renee, Madira & I *** Sierra & Ashley work Star *** 17 Thur - Yard work in the morning, putting up fence in the afternoon. Worm ponies/horses. Ellona's 1st shot of WNEWT. *** Ellona runs into roundpen fence - so coldhosing starts on left front leg. *** 27 July - Karen Richardson brings her niece, Aimee out to ride Star. *** Aimee has a ball - starting on the loungeline & graduating off to ride on the flat. *** Then back on the line, to jump w/o reins. ***

News - 2008 - April thru June

2008-10-20T23:10:00.024-04:00

2008 APRIL *** 3 Thurs- Madira has her 2nd appointment with physical therapist. *** 5 Sat- Sierra goes to Summer Camp training at WHHS JROTC. It is felt that she should be taken to the Dr. to find out if there is a problem w/ asthma - either "real" or "exercise induced". *** 7 - the Dr. (PA at Boone Trail Medical Center) doesn't feel Sierra needs to undergo any testing at this time since her lungs are clear. He does perscribe an inhaler to be used IF needed. *** Madira has her 3rd appointment w/ the Physical Therapist. *** Darryl trims Magic's hooves (down at Karen's) along with Justin & Tally. *** 10 Thurs - Madira has 4th appointment w/ PT. *** 11 Fri - Chaunter has a bay filly!!! Dr. Dean says she's big and healthy. Pictures to follow - Gail and I go down to see her. *** 12 Sat - Sierra & WHJROTC go to Winston-Salem for drill meet. Sierra felt that the teams did extremely well, but we don't have the results since the team returned home rather than waiting for awards. *** 13 Sun - Madira & I get to see Chaunter & baby. ***

*** 17 Thur - "Foxy" passes away at Gail's home & Gail's family bury her. *** 17 & 18 Thur & Fri - I chaperone for the WHJROTC Color Guard going to Charlotte for the Mecklinberg County awards ceremony. *** Thursday nite, after the presentation, Linda & Mike are called home as their home is on fire. *** On the way back Friday morning, we stop at the Aviation Museum. *** 19 Sat - WHJROTC goes to 71st HS for a Drill Meet, but it's cut short & we return to school. *** The girls get ready for Prom and have a great time Saturday evening. ***

*** Gail & I take Masquerade & Loverboy to Dunn, to see if a family would like to do a trade off on Masquerade. Storm in the background - holding off. We end up doing a trail ride that is "EXTREME RIDING" - wow!! Gail & I stop to eat before returning home. *** Not long after Matt delivers the girls' back home, the water heater finishes it's rusting out - and we have a flooded laundry area and kitchen with no way to turn water off. In the storm outside, Sierra and I figure out how to turn the water off at the road while Matt & Skye mop up the resulting mess inside... *** 20 Sun - Gail & I ride at home rather than going on the trail ride with the Cape Fear Trail Riders. Then try to pick up the new water heater at Lowe's in Sanford. Didn't happen. *** 21 Mon - Landlord says the water heater there, paid for and ready, so I return only to have manager say "No, it's not." Laundromat & Gail's house for shower time. *** 22 Tues - Larry stops and straightens out "mess" at Lowe's and returns w/ water heater & torch, then finds out that work is more than he can do. Home owner contracts w/ Roto Rooter to come out and do the work on water heater. *** 23 Wed - Gail & I pick up 17 bales of hay (12 mine/5 hers). *** 26 Sat - Ride with Gail to deliver Masquerade to new home in VA. Very pretty farm & great folks getting NICE horse!***Madira rides PG around AC Morrison loop (2.3 miles). *** 27 Sun - Gail picks up Jazzy in the morning. *** Madira rides PG at home while mom @ Gails actually weighing out feed for feeding program and checking on Jazzy. *** 29 Tue - Gail takes Jazzy & Loverboy to Twin Oaks to work them in arena, then Jazzy refuses to load in trailer. Steve picks up our stock trailer & me to go help. I worked Jazzy outside back of trailer, then she decides it's much better to load then to be behind it. *** 30 Wed - Harli, for some reason, runs into the road & is struck by a motorist. Death is instant & he's now buried in Gail's pature. ***

2008 May - 2 Fri - Gail takes Jazzy & Loverboy to Twin Oaks to work in arena 2nd time - they do great and she asks me to go back with her in evening to watch. Awesome - no problems w/ trailer loading issues now. *** 3 Sat - Sierra & Shem go to JROTC Summer Camp Training. Long day - Gail teaches several of the stations. I volunteer to help and to watch. *** Before lunch, Linda steals me away to do some shopping and give me a tour of the new house they are currently renting. The old house wasn't completely burned & we stop over there to look for a missing "Kitty". *** Skye & Matt go to Sanford's Pottery Festival. *** Madira is working on Suessical Set w/ the Set Crew. *** 4 Sun - after going to get new blades for Gail's lawnmower, we spend the next 5 hours mowing & weedeating at our place. Wow, what a difference. Hadn't realized how much the "grass" (weeds) had grown since we'd had the rain. ***6 Tues - "Monster" gets away from Larry. Searching doesn't bring him home & he doesn't return. On a good note - there are no "bodies" on the roadside anywhere around us. *** 7 Thurs - Skye & Sierra go to the production of the Suessical. *** 9 Fri - Harnett Cty Animal Control hasn't had "Monster" turn up. Larry & Paula go to watch the Suessical. *** 10 Sat - WHJROTC has 4th & final Summer Camp Training day & Sierra finishes 5th for the day & 9th for overall. There are only 8 slots at this time, so we'll have to wait and see if Sierra is going. *** We go to Gail's for an evening cook out in celebration of her 20th year in the Army. *** Madira goes to Cast Party after the Saturday production. *** 11 Sun - It's an enjoyable Mother's Day. *** 12 Mon - I've learned how to set up video on YouTube & insert the results into a webpage. Currently have video on Chaunter's, Satin's & Star's pages. *** 17 Sat - Armed Forces Day Parade for WH JORTC in Sanford in the morning. *** AJ goes to "kiddy" party in Spring Lake & does about an hours worth of work for a group of little girls & 3 boys. The B-Day girl turned 4. ***

*** 18 Sun - 1 round of Coastal & 3 of Oat hay picked up from Little River Trails (Lanier Brothers). *** 19 Mon - Darryl out to do pony's trims - AJ, Rhythem, Pretty Girl, Iggy & Star done at our place while Jazzy gets done at Gail's place. *** 21 Wed - Video done for Stuffy's page. *** 25 Sun - Gail, Sierra & I go to Raven Rock. Gail rides Lover Boy, Sierra on Jazzy and I rode Pretty Girl. We did the "new loop" first, then the older loop. Pretty Girl is practicing her walking - she's not a happy camper. *** 26 Mon - Star bred to Iggy early morning. *** Gail, Niccole & I haul Lover Boy, Jazzy and Pretty Girl to Moss Foundation in Southern Pines. Jazzy decides to escape during bridling (giving Gail a scare!), jumps over the hitch between the truck and the trailer and gallops merrily from one end of the trailer area (next to 3 board fence) 3 x while avoiding capture. I start to mount up one of the times that Jazzy races by & Pretty Girl has a come apart, causing me to hook knee under the cantle & then to hit the ground. PG looks at me as if asking "What are you doing down there?". I ache, but get mounted & when both Gail and I close in on Jazzy, she flirts her tail over her back, whirls away & races down May Street towards Southern Pines. UGH, poor Gail - I think she's now having heart failure. Rather than "chasing" along w/ Gail, I stop Pretty Girl creating issues w/ her as she's highly upset that her "pasture mate" has left her behind... I get that under control, send Niccole back to our trailer and "PG" & I head down May Street at a more relaxed pace, looking for a loose horse & a mounted horse. Finally found them at one of the barns that Jazzy decided to visit at, about 2 miles down the road. Gail has bridled her and puts her to work by riding her back. We join up and ride back to trailer - where Gail takes a much needed cigarrette break. But we aren't done - since we "haven't ridden". We head out & spend approximately 2 hours practicing walking and behaving w/o getting upset (of course, both Jazzy & Pretty Girl are, while Lover Boy & Niccole are wondering what all the "hubub" is about). Arrive back & don't know about our mounts, but Gail & I are "whipped". Lunch at El Chapalla's in Southern Pines brings us back to life & we head home. *** 27 Tues - Star bred to Iggy. *** Star & I go for walk. *** 29 Thurs - Star bred to Iggy. *** 30 Fri - Star bred to Iggy. *** Gail picks me up at work (Larry has car) and we hook up horse trailer and go pick up Pete from Kim T for training w/ Gail. *** 31 Sat - At 8, I'm in the saddle headed towards Gail's house. Pretty Girl is insistant on not walking, along w/ lots of screaming for pasture mates. In minutes, she's worked up and drenched but she's responding. Meet up w/ Gail on Loverboy. We start on a road around the field on McLean & Ernest Brown Rd & get stopped. Billy Ray Brown invites us to ride, anytime, around their property. He said it's about 13 miles of trails. We continue & wind up at the Triangle store on Peach Farm & Hwy 27. Then go to Gail's where she washes and swaps Loverboy for Jazzy & I wash/cool down Pretty Girl before remounting. She rides Jazzy down to the intersection of Ernest Brown and Tim Curry. I continue home - having spent almost 4 hours riding. A bath for PG, a shower for me & I'm ready to head to CNL Anderson's home for the Pig Pickin' & JROTC awards. I get my hat!! *** Still no word on "Monster". ***

2008 June - 1 Sun - Nicole, Madira & I arrive at 9:30 for CFTR Horse Show & get right to work. Both Madira and Nicole work with the concessions & I hit the show office. *** I did see AJ's son - Grasshopper. He's being ridden by Tyler Hornbeck for Willow Chase (Kim Krivit's daughter). He was done up nicely in proper braids & presented in hunt seat. So exciting to see another of AJ's offspring out doing things! At 12:30, I leave the girls & go home to meet w/ Darryl who is bringing the girls' home. *** Darryl arrives & I worm and get a halter on "Ellon" in the trailer. After unloading, Chaunter gets wormed. *** After Darryl leaves, I take pictures of the two, watch to make sure they are settled and then head back to show grounds. *** When the girls and I leave CFTR grounds, we go to check out Kim Young's new baby, Illi. *** Arriving home, I eat first, then it's out to catch Chaunter & Ellon. That becomes a workout as Chaunter doesn't want to be caught. 20 minutes later, she gets a bath w/ Ellon also getting her 1st bath (while loose). Then saddle Chaunter & Ellon is upset because momma looks different. We ride a while - 1st having Ellon follow us then turning and following her. After our ride, Sierra comes to check her out and we get our hands on her. Once we're holding her, she's great to work with - even dealing with the Fly spray. ***

*** During the week, Ellon gets worked with several times while Chaunter is ridden. *** 6 Fri - Skye and Matt both graduate from Western Harnett High School.***

*** 7 Sat - Gail & I actually SHOP - going to Fayetteville - Southern Gin & Grain, Family Farm Store & Bronze Fox. Then to Coats, to "our" Double L. Fly masks purchased for Rhythem, AJ, Ellon, Star, Iggy & Jazzy. *** 8 Sun - Gail, Niccole, Madira & I meet up with Cape Fear Trail Riders - Roy Carter, Herbert & friend at Raven Rock. Sorry, no pics. *** Ellon does OK - takes a spill after settting back and rolls into stream, but gets up and crosses water on her own. Barks up her legs a bit later when refuses to step over a log and Chaunter pulls her across. She leads now. *** After our ride, we flyspray everyone heavily and then stop at MiCasita's for lunch in Lillington. We are back at home by 12:30. *** 9 Mon - Volunteer w/ WH JROTC getting group ready to go to Summer Camp at Oak Ridge Academy. *** Pick up Madira & attend Danny Stone's funeral. *** 11 Wed - Sierra & WH JROTC leave for Summer Camp. *** Horses haven't seen me much as I've pulled something in my arm & w/ heat wave & 3 visits to Chiropractor I'm more dead than alive. Skye has kept up basic chores this week. *** 14 Sat - AJ & I are picked up by Rob to go to Brownie Party. AJ works for about 2 hours being petted and doing "pony rides". *** Gail, Niccole, Madira and I check out pools in Lillington. We'll stick with going to Ft. Bragg. *** Gail & I continue up to Siler City Critters Tack to check out equipment & some good looking QH. We both bring home built up & cut back pads & other equipment. *** A stop is made at Blue Sky Equestrian shop and I find another Cashell mask - for Chaunter & a SuperMask that should fit Star. *** 15 Sun - Sierra returns from JROTC Camp with fun stories to tell. *** 16 Mon - I ride Chaunter w/ Ellon & then 'Dira takes video which is now up on Elon's photo album. *** Gail & Niccole ride over on Lover Boy and Pete. They return home via truck & trailer. ***21 Sat - Gail and I go to Blaine McLaughlin's clinic in Four Oaks from 9 - 1. *** Then go to Fuquay to go to Tractor Supply Co. *** 22 Sun - Gail w/ Lover Boy, Kim Timbs w/ Pete, Paula w/ Prettty Girl & Sierra w/ Star haul to Twin Oaks Trail Rides. We ride for about 1 1/2 hours. Kim is getting a feel for the riding/fitting that's been done by Gail with Pete. *** 25 - Wed - Off from work and working on "the place". Shem weed eats the ditch and around the outside of the 3 "board" paddock along road. He also finsihes putting in the posts for the stocks. *** Sierra, Skye and Paula are alternating mowing and picking up downed "timber". Madira is working inside the house. *** Late afternoon, we head down to Kathy Oxford's with Niccole to visit with Karen and check on Stuffy and get to swim. *** 26 Thur - Off - and finishing up with cleanup. Skye replaces boards on the fence. The weed eating and mowing are finished up, old washer is sold to shop, new washer repaired, trash to the dump, the door on shop is repaired. *** I ride Pretty Girl towards Gail's house. We are still having problems with that WALK. *** 27 Fri - After work, Paula rides Chaunter w/ Ellon. *** 28 Sat - Gail picks Sierra & Paula up w/ Chaunter & Ellon. With Gail on Pete, Sierra on Lover Boy, Paula on Chaunter ponying Ellon - we ride out to B & B to ride past the lake on Ernest Brown RD. Ellon is ponying great - still using a "butt rope" along w/ the "harness". Ellon is turned loose later - to run w/ Chaunter. Get a really nice gallop before coming out on tobacco fields closer to Gail's house. Ellon is caught and led w/ only the lead rope on the way home. *** 29 Sun - Gail picks Paula & Pretty Girl up and we again leave from her property to ride on the B & B. This time - Sierra is on Lover Boy, Gail riding Jazzy & Paula on Pretty Girl. We turn in from around the tobacco fields. Working on Pretty Girl's WALK - getting there, but when seperated from the other two - still a "screaming demon". Ended up backing her into the pond - but we went in belly deep, go girl! *** 30 Mon - I bathe and clean up Ellona for pictures. *** Darryl out to do Chaunter, Pretty Girl, Rhythm and Star's hooves. *** He's quite happy with "Ellona". ***

News 2008 - Jan thru Mar

2008-10-20T22:03:00.002-04:00

2008 March *** 1 Sat- Skye goes to Triton HS to take the SAT exams - she drives herself and arrives home OK (1st time driving so far alone). *** Sierra competes with WHJROTC at the Lee Sr HS Drill Meet. They do VERY WELL, but I don't have the list of events/placings yet. *** I spend time working in/on the barn - spring cleaning. Getting blankets, legwraps & horsey meds in order; cleaning area so that Shem & Steve can put a kitchen cabinet set up that they removed from their tackroom in mine for storage (yea!!). Now have to put all the wood in order and clear more area so that we can build two stalls (looking at doing a total of 4 - 6x12 ones with the grooming area remaining the same between them on the right side of the barn where the water hydrant is. The center wall between the stalls can be removed returning them to 12 x 12 "regular sized" stalls). *** Paula rides PG in the evening. *** 2 - Sun- Mom rides PG in the morning. Then, Sierra goes with Gail to Barrel Racing event at Triple T Farm in Benson, while I go by myself to catch part of the Pony show in Smithfield at Promise Land Farms put on by the Carolina Welshpony Club. *** Skye and Madira stay home for down time. *** Paula is riding Pretty Girl to get both in shape & to be sure that PG doesn't do anything "bad" when Madira finally given ok to ride. Usually going 3-4 times a week now... *** 12 - AJ & Iggy get heads and necks clipped (can't finish body clips yet - too cold). ***

*** 13 - Madira in "7th heaven" when allowed to ride her pony for a little bit at a walk. Her next appointment is on March 27th. *** Rhythem is bred to Iggy - evening. *** Sat 15 - Morning - Rhythem is bred to Iggy - am. *** I work Pretty Girl while also working with Michael riding Star. He graduates from the round pen to basically doing "Simon Says" & "Follow the Leader" in the bigger paddock. Afternoon - Sierra is already ready for the Military Ball when I come in to shower & get ready myself. Eve - Donna & Nancy pick Sierra and I up for the Military Ball at the Officer's Club on Ft. Bragg. As we leave, the storm hits, but we manage to arrive w/o mishap. The ceremony held up as several people & the bus are late due to storm & accidents. Dinner was great (they know how to prepare steak) but much else - couldn't say. Our ride is ready to depart by 11, so Sierra asks to stay & ride bus back and Larry picks her up at school at 1:30 am. *** Sun 16 - CFTR has their trail ride at 10:30 am at Moss Foundation in Southern Pines, but we have headaches & trouble w/ trailers. So we decide to go later, after wet from rain gets dried a bit. Karen w/ Tally picked Sierra & I up w/ Jazzy & Pretty Girl. Gail & Nicole bring Lover Boy and Masquerade and we have a great time riding the perimeter. *** 17 - Rhythem is out of heat. *** 17 & 18 - Work w/ Michael & Star in roundpen & pasture. Pretty Girl coughing & running a bit of temp - 101 on Tuesday evening. *** 19 - Pretty Girl seems to be over whatever had been bothering her. *** 22 - the start of spring break. Sierra works one day in JROTC motor pool & one day working personally for the Andersons. I spend time braiding some more orange hay string & then use it to "build" temporary fence to allow ponies to graze on grass not in pastures. *** We put in several posts & brace posts, but need to finish putting in bracers before can string wire. *** 27 - Madira gets her brace officially off. YEA!! *** 28 - we work with Karen's family - removing the roof off of her barn. ***

2008 February - Started w/ 'Dira bringing home both Strep and Flu. Working it's way thru all of us - I can't shake it (OF Course!!). *** 14 - Is a memorable Valentine's Day w/ Skye down w/ the bug (& 2 hours at Dr office), "Monster" gets booster shot w/o Lepto. *** 16 Sat - Sierra at WHJROTC Drill Meet w/ Overhills High School. Our Team does GREAT! *** New source of hay, 2 round bales from Ausley (Christian Light rd, Lillington). Ponies happy. *** Justin & Skye break up. *** 24 Sun - Gail & Paula go pick up "Star" in Greenville. *** 26 Tues - "Pretty Girl" is confirmed in foal by Dr Krivit, DVM. She will foal in October. *** Diana Dunham-Scott (formerly English - Chaunter's breeder) called from CA! We had a great conversation about "Chaunter", her dam - Khemo Sonata (ASHA pony carded @ 14.2 hh) and possiblities. *** 28 Thur & 29 Fri - Madira is in the production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dam". OK, Mom isn't a big play/drama buff & it seemed slow - but otherwise good. Madira looked awesome in a bodice she designed and sewed herself from a Western Horsemanship vest pattern. She had a blast at the Cast Party after the play & arrived back home flushed and happy at 12:30 pm. ***

2008 January - The New Year started with a bang - Justin helped bring in the start with us. *** We started on the 1st (Tuesday) with trail riding at Twin Oaks with Gail Miller and her son, Shem. Sierra rode "Jazzy", Madira rode "Pretty Girl" & Paula rode "Chaunter" & ponied "Justan" - Karen's arab gelding. Near the end of the ride, Madira switched and rode "Justan" for a bit on the trails - w,t & c (with a little "woo-hoo" buck) and then moved into the arena for about 30 minutes. ***2 - Return to work and school after a great Holiday Break! *** 5 Saturday - We take a turn at Gail's property - helping to clean up loads of pinestraw & cutting down small trees - when Madira is injured. EMS arrives to find her and says that w/ vital signs good she can get up and walk to ambulance herself, but she says "...my back hurts.." and I say no, she needs to be carried out and checked. A ride to Central Carolina Hospital and a check by the ER doctor and again... not bad, we'll wait for x-rays, but vitals good and don't believe there are any problems... That changes when the exrays back - I'm told that there is a burst fracture to the L3 and that Central Carolina isn't prepared for dealing w/ this type of injury and UNC Chapel Hill - orthopedics is expecting us. This time, her clothes are cut off and she's put back on a back board (w/ much more care - isn't that amazing??) & an IV put into her arm (no fluids, tho). She's loaded into ambulance again while Shem and I wait for Skye and Larry to arrive so we can take one vehicle up. Then the hours start as we wait for more "pictures" and also for an MRI to be done. The injury occured around 11 am, we arrived at UNC Chapel Hill around 4 pm. The MRI isn't done until around 8 pm. She's admitted (I didn't understand why, nor did she - the actual severity of the problem)! It's almost 10 pm before we see a doctor who gives us some idea of what's going on - but that we are looking at not being able to get a back brace until Tuesday and surgery to "fix" the problem much later... He lets us know that it's not L3 but L1 that has the problem. Larry stays and I return Shem home & check on Sierra at Gail's house. DOES anyone hear Madira screech when she's told she won't be attending the audition for the lead (Esmeralda) in "The Hunchback of Notre Dam"?? *** 6 Sunday- Before I can get all the chores done and shower, Larry calls and says she is headed for surgery. Plans change - I pick up Skye (in tears), Sierra and Shem and we head back up to Chapel Hill. They are all a little grim. Madira hadn't gone into surgery yet when we arrived, so we were able to visit a bit while waiting for pre-op.There is a healthy bit of horseplay and teasing before she's picked up around 3:20 and we have between 5-6 hours to wait. Karen Eaker arrives as well and spends the time with us (Tally & Justin's owner) waiting. At 6:50 we are told she's out & in recovery(that was FAST), the surgeon tells us it was a great surgery, little/no bleeding (that's GOOD), what he did & she's doing fine. Shortly, a recovery tech tells us that she's awake but not ready for visiors - but soon. Then we get to visit with Madira and all head back to her room... Karen visits for a bit then she & Larry take Skye, Sierra & Shem back home while I stay. The night is quiet as the night nurses do all their checks on 'Dira. *** 7 Mon - Larry gets Sierra and Skye into school before coming up to visit/stay. Madira is measured for a back brace. When I head out, we hadn't heard from a doctor as to next steps... Darryl Taylor (farrier) arrives to take care of Gail's, Karen's & our horses while I'm making arrangements to have several picked up for a time. "Justan" gets the pad pulled off, left shoe reset and the right front shod. A few bobbles when we take him out to watch him, but he goes sound (YIPPEE!!). *** 8 Tues - Darryl is back to pick up Chaunter - keeping her at Dr. Dean's, DVM, farm down in Parkton until she foals. Larry again calls - "She's being released this afternoon". While I frantically straighten the bedroom, take apart bunk beds & do laundry (when was the last time the girls' did theirs??), Gail picks up Larry & Madira. Before they arrive, "Bud" and Erin arrive to pick up Karen's two ("Tally" & "Justan") as well as "Magic". *** 9 Wed - Madira sleeps most of the day while I continue doing laundry and get a nap myself. ***

*** 10 Thu - Larry takes Madira, Sierra & Skye to school & takes care of school/county paperwork. He also goes back every 3 hours w/ pain meds as paperwork from hospital wasn't acceptable for Harnett Cty school system. Keith Pittman & Barbara Davis arrive to pick up "Star" for a while. Keith sees "Monkey" & asks if we'd be interested in re-homing the 2 Finnish Spitz's his dad had (he'd had a stroke and his dogs were kenneled on daughter's property). He says he'll call w/ info about the dogs - will be seeing them when he goes to Jacksonville on Saturday. Larry picks up girls & 'Dira takes a 3 hour nap! (when is mine??) *** 11 Fri - Larry again takes girls to school & is dealing w/ the pain meds running, while I take care of bills, errands and taking Kayli for annual checkup & heartworm check. BAD NEWS - she tests positive (OK when is this ending?) I head home to pick up Harli, Monkey and Kona - to have them checked, though they aren't due. Gail rides up with me. Harli also tests positive while Kona and Monkey don't (how is this possible when I've kept them ALL current on Heart Worm prevention??). We swing in to WHHS to pick up Sierra from JROTC practice on way home from Sanford... GOOD NEWS - Madira is very excited - she's landed a bit part in the play that doesn't require dancing - she's thrilled (YES!!). *** 12 Sat - I'm up early (hmmm...) to make breakfast and take Madira to Saturday study class for Biology. She's concerned about her exams next week. Back at home, I feed & work on pasture until other two up. Then we clean out carport so that we can set up kennels that we're getting from Gail in preperation for the extra dogs I'd said I'd take on. Pick up Madira, load trash trailer w/ trash, hook up horse trailer to pick up hay from JT that we missed picking up last Saturday (imagine that). ATM/lunch run - then I'm off to pick up Gail and Skye & Shem are taking trash to dump while Larry and 'Dira are going to get groceries... Before Gail & I get on the road, a call - accident, no one hurt - Skye now understands that taking turns too fast will tip a trailer. We get probably the last round coastal bales we'll see in months and actually build a hay feeder for Gail's pasture & put an already built one from our pasture over the 2nd bale. We bring the other two bales to our place. *** 13 Sun - a slooow start, then off to meet Gail - need dog food & feed. On the way, we finally hear that Keith didn't bring the dogs back from Jacksonville as planned and he'd had a late night, but if we wanted to go and pick up dogs we could... So we did. The dogs (3 not 2) were kenneled on family property and Gail and I picked up all 3 to bring home and care for. "Porky" is very overweight, his double coat is matted in feces, urine and who knows what all. "Little Gurl" is the opposite - very underweight, shy and matted coat but not with excrement. "Monster" is the healthiest of the three, but still has a very matted coat and is overweight. 3/4 of the way home, "Porky"is very ill and foaming at the mouth. We get back and he is the the first to be bathed. He seemed to appreciate the attention - but it didn't get the mats loose at all. So the horse clippers came out - and as the mats came loose, we found they'd either created sores (especially where most matted around neck) or the sores had created the thick and nasty matts. Except for the tip of his tail, his head and his legs, he's shaved completely. While I'm shaving w/ partners that switch off w/ another set of clippers, the other two dogs get bathed and groomed - pulling out loose hair and matts. Then, the 2 - 3 inch long claws are attended to. Wow. I didn't even know that dogs claws could get that long... We'd bathed and clipped at Gail's house, so "Porky" was put into a sweatshirt, then he & "Monster" get loaded into our blazer to go home with us. *** 14 Mon - "Porky" has the 1st of 6 total siezures while with us. ***

***16 Wed - "Porky" has 3 siezures almost back to back this morning and I call a friend for help. We lay "Porky" to rest. He was comfortable, warm, fed and loved before he passed. *** 21 Mon - ML King Day is a relaxed day for us. I join Gail to work on a puzzle she wants help with. "Little Gurl" weighs in at exactly 15 lbs today. Wish I'd gotten her weight sooner. Gail and I wonder if "Little Gurl" will "make it". We just don't know. She's warm, but has trouble standing sometimes, she's urinating a lot and doesn't always keep her food down... Time will tell? *** 24 Thurs - Madira's appointment in Chapel Hill goes fantastic (Yea!!). Dr. Mathur says looks great, can sleep w/o brace & take a shower. No running, jumping, roughhousing, riding and - careful around the dogs. Stitches removed. Off Hydrocodone - take Tylenol if needed. *** Afternoon - "Monster" to All Animals Vet Clinic for health exam, shots & heartworm test (positive). Age guessed around 5-7 years. *** 29Tues - Sierra is leaving for the trip to Myrtle Beach, SC w/ the WHJROTC. *** "Monster" very ill - we clean him up, bleach kennel - i get put on hold by vet clinic & then cut off. *** Round bale in Jazzy, Pretty Girl & AJ paddock gone. *** 30 Wed - "Monster" much better. ***

News from 2007

2008-10-15T17:03:00.031-04:00

We now have an information page for the Cape Fear Trail Riders Horse Show Series . You may go to this page and print out the show flyers for 2007, the entry forms, and the patterns for all the pattern classes.

We have finished a new page called ** NEW OWNERS** .

2007 December - *** 2 Dec - Pics of Tally w/ both Paula & Madira.

***8 Dec - Sierra goes to both the Broadway and Lillington Christmas Parades with the WHJROTC. *** Skye & Madira go to Myrtle Beach with the Cape Fear Trail Riders for the Christmas Opry and some shopping. *** Madira finishes her first project - her purse, now called the "Mary Poppins" purse. *** Madira finishes her 2nd sewing project - a pair of sleep pants. *** 22 Dec - Dad joins us for Christmas - taking a bus from Temple, TX going to Ohio to visit his mom and then arriving in Durham, NC on Saturday . He then calls Melissa and asks her to join us for Christmas - she leaves Dallas, TX on Sunday and meets us for Christmas Eve (Monday) dinner at Sagebrush Steakhouse in Sanford - WOW!! *** 25 Dec - A very nice Christmas with most family right here in NC. Larry cooked our main dinner, then the girls and I rode over to Gail's home - riding "Jazzy", "Pretty Girl" & "Tally". ***26 Dec - Is spent with Grandpa, Paula, Melissa and Skye car shopping. *** Thursday 27 Dec - The last day spent with family as Grandpa Jones & Melissa are leaving in the evening. Our "new" Kia Sportage gets to come home. Paula riding "Tally", Madira riding "Pretty Girl", Sierra riding "Jazzy", Gail & "Loverboy", Shem & "Masquerade" make a loop around the pond and out to Leaflet Circle Rd to MdDougald Rd and home. *** Friday 28 Dec - Hay is purchased at Double L and picked up for us by Gail when she goes to the feed store. *** Saturday 29 Dec - Gail rides "Loverboy" & Nicole rides "Masquerade" and we do a loop a lot closer to home - around the pond from Spring Hill Church Rd, then AC Morrison Loop to McDougald Rd back to our place. *** When we return from our ride, I take Gail to Twin Oaks to take a look around and to meet JT Woods. It's decided that we have to come back, she hadn't realized that that set up was available. *** Sunday 30 Dec - When Karen isn't feeling well, Gail decides she can run down to Whitehaven Plantation w/ me to pick up Star. She meets with Mark Harris & we find out about an upcoming clinic. The rain stopped for part of the time we were at the farm. Star spent the night in the roundpen upon arriving back home. *** Monday 31 Dec - Star seems to have settled in just fine. After feeding she's loose with Rythem, Magic and Iggy. We load up and get out to Twin Oaks in the afternoon. What a wonderful ride! Sierra/Jazzy, 'Dira/PG, Paula/Tally & Ashley rode Star. You'd never have known that Star has had lots of time (7 months with only a couple of rides) off. Gail rode Loverboy. ***

2007 November *** 30 Nov - Chaunter gets to go out for 30 minutes at a time in the pasture. *** 26 Nov - Chaunter has graduated to going out in the pasture for about 20 minutes with Coastal hay, then back to grass paddock w/ stall by herself. *** With Steve & Gail, Shem, Larry, Skye & Sierra working - several hay feeders are designed and built. *** Thanksgiving is spent at Gail's house w/ soldiers from her unit joining us. Very nice. *** "Pretty Girl" is in season and is bred on Sunday the 18th (had an audience!), and Tuesday the 20th to "AJ". We will see. *** We work to clean pastures, rake & pickup leaves, clean carport with the help of a couple of neighborhood kids and JROTC cadets - Nicole, William, Anthony, & Shem. *** 13 Nov - Chaunter gets her first "real feeding" since the "choke". ***12 Nov - Monday - A small group of the Western Harnett JROTC participate in the Veterans' Day Memorial done in Lillington w/ 3 Jeeps. ***11 Sun - Chaunter "isn't right". A discussion w/ vet via phone leads to taking her down to North Star Equine Vet Clinic. 4 hours of work break the blockage at the junction of the esophagus/stomach. Poor girl - no feed for 48 hours then restart feeding VERY SLOWLY. ***10 Nov - The Western Harnett JROTC participate in the Raleigh Veterans' Day Parade and the Fayetteville Veterans' Day Parade. *** Nov 2 - Darryl Taylor works on Justan's hoof (Karen's arabian gelding) at our place. It's decided that he doesn't need to go to vet hospital - he gets front of hoof opened and a supportive shoe w/ a "special pad" mixed and squirted into the hoof.

2007 October -- The Western Harnett JROTC go to Pope AFB for the last Airshow before it closes. The Cadets start out the dancing during the hanger dance. *** Sierra signs up & Madira given the "OK" to go to dance practice with the JROTC at Pope AFB (2 wednesdays before the Air Show). *** Madira has play (The Devil You Say) practice daily & Sierra has drill team 3 x weekly. *** Madira celebrates her 15th Birthday & I find out that my cake decorating skills need lots of help. *** On Oct 1, Chaunter is ultra-sounded in foal. *** Hay, Hay is HARD to FIND ***

2007 September - *** Western Harnett JROTC hosts a training Raiders challenge. ***

2007 August - *** Cricket's web page is set up. *** Cricket went to the Arabian Horse Association, Region 12 Youth Jamboree w/ Whitehaven Plantation and was handled during clinics and at the open show by Jennifer. They did great and had a good time.

*** Monkey & Madira finish & graduate on Aug 20th from the Beginner Obedience Class at Bon-Clyde Training Center in Sanford, NC. They've done very well & what a difference in "the pup". He's not a perfect dog yet, and as always very aloof, but he's getting there. He's gained 2.5 lbs since his other ER visit. *** Sierra celebrates her 14th birthday on the 20th (goodness - has it really been that long?). *** School starts on 27 Aug - All 3 are now at Western Harnett High School. *** Sierra has class in
JROTC . ***Skye has a Computer Graphics course thru CCCC. *** Madira is now in the apparel design class that she'd wanted. ***

2007 July - We celebrated July 4th w/ Sandy & Robert w/ grandkids - Brogan, Sage & Aspen; Cindy & Lindsey and visited w/ Vicky & Ashley and Colton. Nice cookout, swimming for the kids and then to check out the Lillington Celebration. Back at Cindy's place on Buffaloe Lake garnered a wonderful (& LONG) fireworks display right out on their neighbors' dock. *** Saturday, the 8th, we FINALLY officially moved two pastures & hung the gates (one of which had never been hung in the last 3 years!). Now, we have to pull the t-posts that are still 3 ft in the ground on the old fencelines so that we can continue our fencing endeavors. UGH. *** "Monkey"'s left eye is swollen shut and weepy. A quick check at vet clinic - he has "puppy pinkeye" w/ no idea how he contracted it. He's measured at 25 lbs now (remember, he started at just 6 lbs). *** Spent 3 days driving up to the NC State 4H Horse show w/ Madira. Madira is excited and has set her goals for campaining both Pretty Girl and Karen Eaker's Arabian mare, Tally, towards the State 4H qualifications in 2008. *** Watched Vixen compete in two of her classes on Saturday. WOW! She has become the most consistant of ponies!! What a thrill. Though Liz & Vixen didn't place in their flat classes, they put in an awesome performance. I missed them go in jumping classes on Thursday well into early Friday. I was able to get some video footage outside during warm-up, then new batteries on camera died... Waiting for a disk of photos of her. *** 16 Jul - "Monkey" & 'Dira start beginner dog obedience classes.He is over his "puppy pinkeye" episode. *** "Cricket" is going to Region 12 Youth Jamboree with a student from Whitehaven Plantation riding with Trisha Blackwell. "Cricket" doesn't have a page yet on our website. ***

2007 June - *** Sat the 2nd, Darryl called - "Chaunter is 13 days pregnant"... we'll check again at 30 days then she can come home. Sat afternoon - Tropical Depression "Barry" sweeps in quietly - so wonderful as we need the rain. ***Thinking that the storm will be terrible, most of our regulars don't show up for CFTR's horse show on Sunday. It was a beautiful day for the "whopping" 75 entries we had. *** June 17th, Chaunter came back home. The girls' swear she's rounder (yea, like we can tell already?!!?). *** Pictures of the dogs after a touch of rain...

*** The balance of June is spent putting in wooden corner fence posts and bracers to make our hi-tensile fences easier to tighten and keep right. We'd been using the Wedge-loc system for corner posts using T-posts & while I'd seen it work for others, it wasn't working for us. THIS IS MAJOR WORK! The girls and I take turns digging holes 3 ft deep for the posts (ok, I did most of the digging...) & then they are cemented in. *** The last week of June, while I'm off from work, we get 17 "H" braces pinned and tightened in. *** Pics of LP Painted Vixenation, who is leased by Elizabeth Mayo & family from Barbara of Greenville NC, at the Wake County 4H horse show.

2007 May - *** The Wizard of Oz was executed and was a great play. The girls' are tired and happy that they are returning to a regular schedule. ***EXCITEMENT! "Magic", sold 7 years ago, has rejoined the LP Painted Ponys herd. She was picked up on Sunday May 6th. She's very overweight, but otherwise she's looking great. She is scheduled to be bred to "Iggy" when she comes into heat. *** Blizzard goes to Whitehaven Plantation for one family to try out and goes to a different family - for life. *** We are waiting to hear back on Chaunter's & Magic's pregnancies! *** The call comes in for more ponies "like Blizzard". So on Memorial Day weekend, Cricket & Star are taken down to Whitehaven Plantation. The lessons scheduled for both 'Dira and Sierra are on hold as Trisha is very ill. But while being video taped by local rider, Madira's riding is noted and she receives an offer to ride Masterpiece - an accomplished dressage horse with his owner Ken... Sentimental mom, cried. We stayed in "posh" arrangements as Karen's family joined us and we split up between tents and the RV for one overnight! Karen's family, Sierra and Ashley go out for a trail ride before we pack up to head home. ***

2007 April - The Cape Fear Trail Riders show seems smaller this April - w/ Paula & Skye volunteering. *** Sierra & Madira are at a 4H Teen Retreat for the weekend. *** Paula, Madira & Sierra make the drive to Merkel, TX over Spring Break leaving Sunday April 8th. We checked in at WhiteHaven Plantation & gave PG and Xena carrots then continued, arriving in Merkel on Tuesday afternoon. A great visit with Kim & a trailer/truck repair by her hubby, Ted. Up on Wednesday to feed, go over particulars on "IC" for her and "Iggy" for us and ideas for June get together. Then on the road to Temple, TX to see Grandpa Buck (Paula's dad). A gas leak discovered in his apartment and we take him around to visit a freind w/ "Iggy" & "Monkey" and folks are delited by the "dog & pony show". On Friday, after breakfast, goodbyes are in order and we hit the road up & over to Woodville, TX for lunch and a break as Paula is not feeling well. On to Warren, where we wait to meet up w/ Sherry Foxworth at her Pony Farm. VERY NICE ponies and a fun conversation between Sierra and Sherry that has Sierra learning to etch on model horses. We make it that evening to Lufkin, TX - where I'm floored w/ severe allergies and have managed to miss the pharmacy where I can get what I need. Saturday morning dawns w/ news that Dallas/Ft Worth was hit by a tornado and that the storm isn't far ahead of us - going the same direction. Not good news! We make it to Tuscaloosa, AL for Saturday night - but it's a rough night for both Sierra and Paula. Sunday is a bad haul - no OTC meds releive the allergy symptoms and our supply of original Sudaphed is gone. Coughing & blinding headache are the order of the day - along w/ buffetting wind gusts from every direction. YUCK. We managed to get to White Haven right before dark in Bishopville, SC and pick up Madira's mare - Pretty Girl. As we hit the road, we catch the rest of the bad weather hard rain, more wind and lightning that slows us down to a crawl. BUT we make it home by 11 pm on Sunday April 15th, and get the ponies settled in and the girls' in bed. *** Skye "held the fort" at home, taking care of everyone and catching up w/ a friend who came up to stay w/ her. *** Debra Branson competed at the Southern Pines CDE on the 14th & 15th. She was driving Lacey paired w/ her Hackney mare. Here are some pics:

*** We missed the Cape Fear Trail Riders ride while getting several loads of hay. *** Madira has her 1st "movie" date (she'll be thrilled to read this!) w/ a fellow 4Her met at the Teen Retreat. *** "Rowdy" Yates Maxasta's Kennels of Perry GA, travels to Hickory to pick up weight pull equipment for show. He comes to the Youngs & we meet him there for him to look over "Monkey". He claims "He's a good looking pup"... *** Most of the end of April was spent w/ Paula in/out of dr appointments & getting an infected tooth pulled... BUT "Iggy" has started his driving training by ground driving and Sierra is working w/ "AJ" for driving. Madira has started riding "Pretty Girl" now that she's returned home. Skye has spent oodles of time with homework, SATprep, college prep and really hasn't ridden. She does chores, and actually sees the ponies, but that's been about it. ***

2007 March - Skye attends the Prom with her boyfriend, Justin Heyges.

***The Horsemasters went to the Horse Bowl State Competition in Greensboro, NC. They did a great job and though they did their best - they didn't make the final cut. ***The new 4H club is now called the Harnett County Yeehaws. There is a lot of varied interests - but the main projects appear to be - dog, electricity, horse, rabbits & leadership. ***Paula, Madira & Sierra haul 4 ponies/horses (Chaunter, IC, Justin, Tally) to the Moss Foundation to ride with the Cape Fear Trail Riders. ***Chaunter goes to Dr. Dean's farm in Parkton, NC w/ Darrel Taylor to be bred in a 3 way partnership to

ML Mostly Padron. *** 'Kenzie Hinton & Apache compete at the Old Mill Farm CT Show in Lexington, NC placing 4th in dressage but dq'd in jumping when he took exception to gaudily decorated jumps (sigh)!! Then they schooled w/ their trainer over cross country jumps. WAY TO GO for a GREAT START! WOO - HOO Kenzie & Apache! (New pics in scrapbook ) *** Skye turns 17 this month (and I'm feeling old!!).

2007 February - Sierra is competing with the Harnett County Horse Masters in the Horse Bowl. *** We started a new 4H club w/ 11 members in western Harnett county. Lynn Lambert and Sharon arrived to watch over our first meeting. The clubs first meeting met w/ Skye, Sierra (honorary)& Madira Hoffman; Colton & Ashley Graff; Sage, Aspen & Brogan; David, Ruth, Hannah & Heather. Vicky Graff, Paula Hoffman, Celeste & Sandra Tull were the adults present. *** Sierra has been elected in the Horsemasters group - therefore she can't be an active member of the new club. *** "Monkey" - a male Finnish Spitz puppy comes home w/ Madira from the UKC Dog Show in Perry, GA. This puppy that is expected to mature between 30 & 35 lbs is only 6 lbs right now. ***

*** The above photos are of Madira showing both "JuJu" and "Max" for Richard "Rowdy" Yates at the UKC Dog Show in Perry, Georgia the weekend of February 16 - 18, 2007. These photos were taken by Tim Young and Rachael - Rowdy's daughter. ***

2007 January - The girls have finished their record books for 2006 and are making plans for their current 4H year. Sierra is still going to do horse project, Madira is now showing dogs for other people and would like to do a dog project and Skye is doing several things. *** We are working on starting a new 4H club locally - which Skye will be doing most of the work on. ***

News from 2006

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2006 November - The Cape Fear Trail Riders show is done and has had a slightly smaller turnout than usual. 'Dira, as usual, worked in the Clubhouse handing out orders & working the register w/ the other folks. Paula worked in the show office. Skye and Sierra did what they did best. We were planning on going to Whitehaven Plantation for Thanksgiving, but the girls and I were all down w/ colds and when the weather turned bad - I said "no way"... Pretty Girl and Xena seem to be doing ok, now.

2006 October - The Cape Fear Trail Riders show is done and has had a good turnout. 'Dira, as usual, worked in the Clubhouse handing out orders & working the register w/ the other folks. Paula worked in the show office, Skye and Sierra filled in - handing judges cards in, checking coggins, matching entries to numbers in the ring and being general "gofers". "Xena" has settled in well at Whitehaven, but "Pretty Girl" seems to be having a bit of a problem. We may be bringing her home as she's not fitting in well.

2006 Aug/Sept - Equus Heals is still our regular place to be on Fridays and Saturdays. Fencing has started to get done on a new paddock. Skye and Paula attend a 4H conference to learn about the current program for volunteering. "Xena" & "Pretty Girl" go down to Whitehaven Plantation to become a part of Whitehaven's lesson program for a while.

2006 July - Equus Heals invited us to ride in the parade at Carolina Lakes and I got to join them! Out of 38 total entries (there were only 8 entries last year!), the JROTC from Western Harnett High School (Skye and Madira will be attending this high school this fall) took best overall and Equus Heals placed 1st. Weee - hot and miserable before the parade, but the parade went well. The girls wore swimsuits under our matching shirts and they went swimming for a bit to cool off while I stayed with the picket line (we had 7 horses total). The ponies that Sierra, 'Dira and I rode did great. Skye's horse was un-happy with all the activity, managed to get her tongue over her bit and proceeded to bruise her mouth terribly and make herself very upset. Since, Skye's ridden in a halter out on the trails and "Jazzy" is coming along fine.

We've been out a number of times now - trail riding at Twin Oaks, Little River Trails and once at Raven Rock State Park. We have quite a number of pictures from some of the rides. Some are up on individual pages (Pretty Girl and Xena).

2006 June - The girls are now volunteering at Equus Heals, a local Theraputic Riding Center that is just 11 miles from our home! They go all day on Friday (I drop them off before I go to work & pick them up after work. Sometimes they've done a full day on Saturday, sometimes they choose to do either morning or afternoon sessions. I've even worked a couple of sessions.

2006 April - May - The 4H SE District show will be held on May 20th & 21st. Sierra & Skye are just planning on competing in western riding events. Madira is planning on riding both huntseat and western. Ashley will be taking Star - but is looking to compete just in showmanship this year. When entries came due, it was decided that the girls' weren't quite ready yet, so we just went the the 4H SE District to watch. It was a bit disappointing as it turns out the girls' would all have been quite capable for the presentations that were there. There is always next year and now we know where we are and what has to actually be worked on.

2006 January - March - Finds us getting heavily involved with 4H. Skye, Madira, Sierra and Ashley Ross have all been going to practices and meetings. In February, Madira's (Mustangs), Sierra's and Ashley's (Fillies) teams competed in Horse Bowl (questions asked to test knowledge - set up like Jeopardy w/ a 4 member team) for the SE District. The Mustangs placed 3rd and the Fillies placed 4th - just missing qualification for State Competition. We went to a Horse Judging Clinic in February, then in March attended the State Competition for Horse Bowl where all 4 girls completed the Hippology test portion of Horse Judging. Now, we start going to practice for horse judging to gear up for the competition in April. Sierra also gets installed as a Reporter for the Horse Masters 4H Club of Harnett County.

News from 2005

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2005 - We have gotten some of these ponies out to be seen this year at local shows. In January, we hauled 6 ponies to Twin Oaks Trail riding and participated in several classes at the Johnston/Harnett Cty Show series. SH Kota Blizzard, HNH Star Games, LP Painted IC, LP Painted Suprise & LP Painted Velvet went. Velvet & Surprise didn't go in the ring to compete.

We attended the second Cape Fear Trail Riders Shows held in Wade, NC in June. We hauled SH Kota Blizzard, HNH Star Games, LP Painted IC, LP Painted Symmetry, LP Painted Surprise and WF Action Jackson to get lots of “oohs & aahs” from spectators, fellow competitors and even from the judge. LP Painted Vixenation was hauled and shown by Barnes Paddock and also put up a great showing under a rider getting too large to ride her now!