Well today was the day

As I was getting ready to leave mom's this afternoon my ferrier pulls up. Oops I had the wrong day for trimming. So Cricket got her first trimming today. She was OK. After I wrapped the lead rope around the panels so that I had a little more strength to hold her still, she learned faster. She had about two good pull backs then stood like a broke horse, even fell asleep. Even my ferrier made a comment about what cute little feet she has. All we did today was the ponies, and Cricket. At least one pony is about 14 hands, but the other three we did Cricket is the tallest. I really wish I had my camera on me just to get a picture of him trimming Zach's pony. She is so stinkin' tiny, it was funny. She was pretty good for a little pony off the reservation. So all in all Cricket gave the most fight. (As expected) So today Cricket got a mini tying lesson and feet worked with. I got a bicycle inter tube yesterday, from my bike, and I plan on trying that with Cricket for tying, even though today she did fine with out any give. We shall see, but I really want her tying out well soon so that I can take her to some gymkhanas with Zach. Also I have a few friends that ride at a covered arena on Thurdays and can take her to tie out and pony.

Well a short post, but wanted you all to know that today was a big day for Cricket. Sorry no pictures the camera was in the car. Besides Brian would have throughly harrassed me for taking pictures.

Been MIA

Sorry I have not been around much this weekend. I was swamped. Friday night we had to drive to LAX to pick up my aunt who was coming home from Hawaii. Last year her husband decided he wanted a divorce and left. She had no idea what was wrong, besides he was spreading lies about her. Of course those close to my aunt knew they were lies. So now she had this huge house for just her and her dog. This dog was her beloved best friend. My aunt carried this 60lb dog upstairs everynight because Lindsay could no longer make the trek on her own. She was also affected by the dog food recall. So while she was in Hawaii Lindsay had to be put to sleep. She stopped eating, drinking, and no longer go up at all. So her best friend took her in and the vet talked to my aunt telling her there was absolutely nothing he could do for her. So my aunt did not want to go home to an empty house so we stayed the weekend with her. It was weird walking into that big house with no dog. My aunt is a work a holic. She has said that the only reason she came home when she did many times was to take care of Lindsay. So now I am worried about her. I understand not wanting another dog, but I almost think it would be good for her. She does live in So CA. She could use something to be a deterant for a break in or something horrible. So we had a good but busy weekend with family. Saturday my aunt went to work so we went to this huge tack store that was having their annual sale, where you get a free 4 qt bucket just for walking in the door. They have hourly prizes, where we won a nice tan halter with the leather overlay, and a lead rope. Did not buy anything for Cricket, but mainly because I was not sure what size blanket I should get. Then we went to visit one of Frank's sisters and her family and the kids had a wonderful time playing with their cousins. From there we went to another one of my aunts house and had dinner while visiting with my cousin, and his wife, and again my boys playing with another cousin. With only getting about 5 hours sleep the night before, and then playing very hard all day with cousins, they were wiped out. And another long day. On Sunday they slept in a little, which Zach never does. We then went and visited one of Frank's brothers and got to meet our newest nephew, he is the newest for now anyway, there is another on it's way in the next couple of weeks. So we met Josiah who is about 2 months old. Of course he was quite cute. Then we drove home.

Coming home did not make things easier. I normally get off of work at 2:30, on Monday I worked till after 5 to help the new Adult Ed teacher get his classes started and students signed up to take the CA High School Exit Exam, CAHSEE. Pronounced just like my name, so get confusing around school this time of year, and three other times during the year. I had every intention of spending time with Cricket this week, as she is getting her feet trimmed next week. Well not getting off work till after 5, then I had to be somewhere else by 6:30, so Cricket time got cut.

The good thing is we actually do not have any plans this weekend so I really should be able to play with her for a while this weekend. Maybe even a bath if the sun is out. I am sure it will be. Still hot here during the day. Mornings and evenings are cool though. Oh yeah and Friday there is a tack auction near by I am thinking about going to. We will see. It is hard to go to a tack place when I do not have anything to ride, yet.

So that is where I have been and I will try to come out of hiding now. There is no new news on selling our current mobile home, and buying a new one. So nothing exciting there.

Selling horses

I am to a point where I absolutely hate selling horses. There are buyers who think they can buy your horse, use it to no end, then threaten you to buy it back. Here is the story. 2 months ago my sister sold her favorite grey mare. This is a mare that my 7 year old niece rode and both of my novice boys have ridden. While she had her foal at her side sister would hop on her and ride her halterless and bareback around the pasture. Now her background was she has been known to be cold backed, but has not bucked in a year. She was laid off for quite a while while she had her foal, then was back to being ridden when the foal was 2 months old. At this point she did not buck at all, which was expected. So sister sells this mare to a man in Northern/Central CA. She even delivered her. Darcy did tell him her history of being cold backed, but has not had a problem recently. And told him about her step-daughter riding her and nephews. He calls her last weekend and leaves a message that she has to come buy this horse back, she has bucked every single time they have ridden her. He at first thought maybe she has sat too long, so sends her to some Miss CA Rodeo 1995 chick and she continues to buck everyday. So he says. Calls back a little while later and gives her the address where the horse is, like she can drop everything and drive 6 hours to pick up a horse that was sold 2 months ago. Then sometime this week he calls her again and leaves another message, telling her he just re-read the sales contract and he does not care what it says if she does not come get the horse she will be hearing from his lawyer. Now the contract states something about buyer and seller agree horse is sound and there are no refunds for any reason. The hardest part about this is Darcy would drop everything and buy her back if she had the money. The mare is in foal to a buckskin QH for next year, and Darcy absolutely loves this mare but really needs to sell some horses.
I know I sure do not want anything to come back on me as I am brutally honest about horses I sell, and sometimes it has been known to cost me a sale. My sister is the same way. She has a horse out right now with someone who was trying out a horse of hers, and he finally decided he was not gonna buy her but really thinks he can sell her. So he tells Darcy I have been riding this horse everyday and she has not taken a lame step, I would not mention the injury. Darcy tells him if you want to sell her and not mention it that is up to you, but my name is left out of it, I feel I need to let a potential owner know about her injury. I have started a file where I keep every email ever written about the sold horse just in case someone wants to say that I did not tell them about something.

But why do people think they can bully girls around and threaten them like this? Does it really make them feel better? The fact that he can not ride a horse that a 7 year old girl can ride just may make him feel pretty little himself, so he needs to bring someone else down with him.

I am so tired of crappy people.

OK more on the pictures

This is Cricket (duh) in the round pen with me. Her lead rope is thrown over her back. When she spins away it is because I kicket dirt at her when she decided she wanted to eat dirt.

And then pictures of not Cricket. Yes it will happen from time to time.



Toby looking oh so sad because he has to sit on the floor of husband's new car.













The cat Nemo loving Toby. He missed Toby while we were gone. Toby has to stay with grandma when we are not home.













Mom's very fat pony. She may be in foal to sister's grulla tobiano also. But not that far along. She has started the grass only diet and hates us for it.














Windy the yearling mule out of above pony. Also on grass but taking it better than her mom. I love her coloring, but she did not roan out like I thought she was going to.














And the goat. Just because he is so dang cute. And also fat. Guess we need to start a Jenny Craig pen at mom's house.

Picture Day

Took a bunch of pictures after work today. Moved Cricket into the barn. She also loaded right into the trailer, just for a refresher, but she refused to back out this time. She even had to go through a down branch to get into the trailer. Did not bother her one bit. I had to run to the front to stop the bus nad she walked right up to it. It was a little scarry to turn her back to it and walk away, but she did fine. Also got her to run in the round pen for a bit. She is next to the mule, and in front of the goat and sheep.





Ooo loving that scratching
















Not sure what we are looking at, but must look good.

















Will be back later with more pictures and maybe a short video of her following me.

Not much excitement

Well I got to show cricket off this weekend. My sister came over yesterday morning, but brought a friend so I did not have a chance to say anything to her about her actions. She liked Cricket, but did comment on her little hay belly. Darcy was scratching crickets rear, and of course Cricket was loving it. When she stopped Cricket backed her butt into me for me to scratch, which of course I did. I know I can not do this forever and really need to teach her some manners and I will, I am just enjoying the fact that I have a horse that actually likes me. Then I preyyt much slept most of the day. I just did not have any energy yesterday. I kept trying to wake up but I could not.

Then today my former co-worker came over to see her. Last year I used their pasture to foal out one mare and then took the other mare and foal over there to have on nice green pasture. I eventually took over my Doc's Jack Frost daughter just to have room to run, and they kept her. Their grandkids climb all over her, even ride her bareback and a halter. Before they got here today, I brushed Cricket, combed her mane and tail, and fly sprayed her. She was not haltered and she was not fond of the fly spray, but she was ok. I took her out and led her around while we looked at the other horses. Then we trotted back to her stall. When I turned her loose, she took off running and kicking. Of course I did not have a camera. I did think about taking it, but she has never done that before so I thought I probably did not need it. I hope to get some shots of her playing soon. I love the way she moves. Really goes off her hind end.

Going back a step

Since I have not had time to spend with the horses since Wednesday, I thought it would be a good time to take a step back and tell you a little about the horse that drove me to start a blog. I was suppose to go to Montana with my sister and some friends the end of August, but before I left I had decided that I really wanted this little filly that happen to be in Nebraska. I was going over ways to get her here to CA. When I finally started talking to my husband about it he offered to give up his weekend of backpacking with the husbands from a group we belong to, in order to drive me to NE. I was shocked, but I guess I really should not have been. He is good to me. Cricket is a great granddaughter of Hollywood Dunnit and Shinning Spark. Then one more generation back is Zan Parr Bar. This filly should rein. Yes those names are back a ways, but her sire, and grandsire on both sides, have show records. And now the sire has a son showing and doing well. She is loaded with potential. She was weaned at 3 months and began halter breaking. She had to have a trailer loading and traveling lesson also in order to get her health cert and coggins. So of course being a horse, she banged her leg and head in the trailer. No big deal, but you know how horses are. She did get a clean bill of health and had a mini pre-purchase exam. About a week later the breeder noticed that her head was a little larger, so back in the trailer she went and back to visit the vet. She needed to have the wound lanced because a little abscess formed from the trauma. Again vet said this is nothing that should jepordize her being able to travel to CA. The good side of this is she got more handling and she was able to get some antibiotics into her system before the long haul home. So many times horses stress on a long trip like that and get to their destination and get sick. So now she needed to be treated everyday. She did not like her antibiotics, but she was good to treat.

So on Aug 30 Frank and I left our home at 5 a.m. Our first stop was in Salt Lake City, Utah. Then next morning we got up and headed for NE. We could have been there around 4:30 that afternoon, but then I felt I would have been rushed to see all the horses. So we called Desiree, the breeder, and made arrangements to meet the next morning. So now we had time to play and spent the last 15 minutes of store hours at Cabela's. What an amazing store. Also went to some western stores, one clothing and one tack and western furniture. So finally Sunday morning we make it to Desiree's. Both Desiree and her husband were out waiting for us. The men stood around and chatted while Desiree and I went around the place meeting everyone. It was kinda funny finally meeting the horses that I have seen so much in pictures. Many of them I know from the pictures. I even knew who belonged to which mare. Oh and the two mini's, they are so stunkin' cute. Midnights pictures do not show his short little legs. He is so comical. He has these stubs called legs. I was teasing my husband that Midnight was by Cricket's dad, Bucky. Telling him he was the one with the show points, giving Mooneys stats to Midnight. Of course he did not fall for it. But then again I also had showed him pictures of Mooney before anyway. So we load Cricket up, who jumps in the trailer like a pro, say our goodbyes, and head back out to the road. As we were diving down the road just about to leave NE, I spot a storm up ahead. I tried to get a few pictures of the storm. Sure enough we head right into it. It lasted for a little while, but it was all good. That night we made it back to Rock Springs WY. Right next to our hotel was a Drive-In Liquor Store. This just did not seem right to me. Oh yeah and in Utah there was a huge store that on the front in huge letters said "Liquor Fireworks". Another good combination. On Monday we make it to Nevada. So finally we make it home Tuesday afternoon. I unloaded Cricket, who backed out like a big girl, and put her in her new stall. I really expected her to run and stretch a little but she did not. She was so calm and collected. Just as I put her away the bus pulls into the driveway and my boys are home. All I get from them is, "Can I go in the house and do my homework?" Geeze what a welcome. They would rather do homework then say hi to mom and dad. So Cricket is settling down quite nicely and will probably be moved into the barn soon.

I get to show her off again tomorrow to a few people. My sister is finally coming to see her. And then in the afternoon a friend of mine who has my Doc's Jack Frost daughter is coming to see Cricket. So this will be fun showing her off again. I am very proud of my new little girl.

Storm in Wyoming