HollyHolyhocks!

Sooo, I had already tried turning Tad out the arena, and in the longing pen. He'd also been out in the smallest paddock I could find on the place. I'd never had to deal with a first-time turned out horse.

Tad had been quiet and obedient, in these initial turn-out excursions. I felt he was ready. I felt turn-out should be part of any young horse's regime. Always had been, in my previous experiences. And I did assume that what I'd been told was true. Tad had been turned out before.

I was in for such an unpleasant surprise, that day. Tad became wonder stallion of the world. His tail, (of course, in that picture I'd missed it), went straight up, over his back, like an electric eel shooting sparks out his butt. Tad became a hooligan, immediately. Yes, I had worked with him, yes, he'd been out in the arena first. But holy crowly, when Tad's feet realized they were Free? (For the FIRST Time??)? Good night...

I'd brought my camera, but it was quickly forgotten, as I watched at the gate, helpless. Tad wound himself up into quite the frenzy. There's a fence at the top of that hill. Tad roared around that paddock, as my dreams of my new horse flickered, terrified by the what if's coursing through my brain... What if he slipped? What if he fell?? What IF??

I'll bet my face was whiter than the snow. It was a fairly mild day, so the ground was a bit greasy on top. Tad did his best impression of the RoadRunner, revving himself up for each blast up and down the hill. Snow/mud flying. It was the turning at the bottom that finally did him in. Tad's speed and his lack of braking while turning balance, accomplished his sudden slip/slide (still galloping) along his side for about forty feet, as he tried a 90 degree right turn downhill at full gallop. He slid to a stop in front of me at the gate. How he managed to miss the posts of the post and board fence, I have no idea. Tad was SO embarrassed. He was fine, just solid wet clay on his right side, tip of nose, to tip of tail.. Tad followed me meekly back to the barn. In the rest of our time together, he never gave me the feeling he might fall.

Tad improved after that, but man, that first time.. Scared the crap out of me. Could I have done anything different? You have to take the chance. The horse has to learn where his legs are. I prefer they learn without me on them, at first. My idiot stick barn manager would tell me Tad had been turned out. Tad never got turn-out, unless I was there.

Oh, I am always struck by that picture. He was a looker, my Tad. No feet, but wow, if only..

Does anybody hear crickets chirping? Oh, it's so nice and quiet, isn't it? I love the country.

Goose Tales
I enjoyed my Canada Geese family and their flying lessons the other night. A family of 5, the Gander (is that right?) a gigantic fellow. Mr. Goose has poops the size of a small pony/large dog. He's about 46" tall, bigger when he's pissed off at the Great Blue Heron.

My dogs have several "oh, yay!!" words. The list is growing, but the best words are (always asked as a question) "Chipmunk? (or) Squirrel? (or) Rabbit?" (Flip's fave). Blaze's right now is "Geese"?

All that is accomplished, with any of these words is: Flip - alerts, will get up, bark, usually races towards the latest known rodent territory, bustling away on Very important business.. Blaze - Eyes pop out of her head, stamps her front paws up and down, bounces, spins, chews frantically on whatever toy she's got in her mouth (usually Frisbee) and races around like an idiot. She may wave her paws, roll-over, do her little "trill" bark. You just don't Know what she'll DO! Funny to watch, anyway.

So, back to point. The Geese have been on our side of the pond this year, more than usual, as the really tall pasture on the other side is harder to move through. Geese love cut grass. (Duh, I know you know.) Our lawn slopes down to the pond. First lesson for young geese, running down the slope, and jumping into the pond with awkward flapping and flopping. Performed with more alacrity when dogs are in pursuit, which is RARE, because both girls never seem to see them when I point, and say "get the damn Geese off the lawn!"

I know that daddy goose has tried to use the dogs for some motivation for his goslings, but my super herders don't "see" geese, until it's really too late. Geese are already in the pond. Mr. Goose has been disappointed with these new dogs. He's used to Samson, old red dog, and my sister's dog. They could put the run on geese!

So, "getting the geese" = Chaos ensues, but not in the geese direction. My dogs are geese stupid.

Mr. Goose has been doing the best he can. The other night, I watched as the family paddled up to the north end. A south wind blowing. I love to see the Mr. & Mrs. nodding/shaking their heads, and suddenly the five are running/slapping the water, and they are air-borne, just before they reach the trees encircling the south (& west) end of the pond. All bank, the three young ones so obvious with their "whoah, this is TRICKY!!" flails of their flaps. Plop, into the water. Much more head-shaking and nodding, and off they went again.

Later, Mr. Goose seemed to be plotting something. He kept bringing his brood up onto the grass, while we were there watching/playing Frisbee with the dogs, something he never does. They usually just watch from the pond:)

It was finally time to go inside, but I watched Mr. Goose. It was time for Blaze to have her evening ablutions. I had already tried to run off the geese, but dogs wanted dinner. Fine. We all come inside. Geese come up on the south end of our lawn. I let Blaze out for her poops, which she does, while the geese are on the lawn, maybe 100' from her. Blaze always runs and barks after poops. Mr. Goose knows this. TahDAAAH! Blaze finally sees them, drops into the classic slink stalk and puts the run on the family. Mr. (& Mrs.) Goose oh so gracefully, blocked the kids from heading for the pond, and off the three went, up and alone. Mr. and Mrs. Goose landed back in the pond, and talked the three through their first solo flight. What a sweet sound. Oh, we are free. Oh, we can Fly...
When they needed to land, Mr. & Mrs. Goose hurried up to the north end, to show the kids the way home.

It was beautiful to see. I am honoured to have been witness. Thanks, Mr. & Mrs. Goose.



HOLLYHOCK!

The monster on the right is 10 feet tall, if not more. I love hollyhocks. Plant 'em, ignore 'em. Perfect. They do try to take over, but so far, they've stayed within my very reasonable boundaries..


All horsie pictures are from "How the Farm Pays", 1884, reprinted by Lee Valley Tools. dagnabbit, forgot the authors, I will post it when I get home, promise.
Written by William Crozier & Peter Henderson.
There ya go!

Happy Belated Birthday Pat!!