NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS!

******************WE'VE MOVED!!**********

Come see all the content, oldest to latest, at 

www.redheadedendurance.com

Weekly Round Up

I'm happy to say that I've got some actual trail photos to include in this post! 

But first! I've been handling Apache, grooming, trimming his feet, just hanging out in his pasture since arrival but finally, after his much needed dental and an all clear from the chiropractor, Apache joined the work force! I started with a liberty round pen session and then I climbed all around on the fence and waved my legs and jumped up and down and just generally acted a fool. Apache is green broke but I'd rather start from scratch than trip over revealed holes. Fortunately I also have filly assistants. *amused eyeroll* 

Apache stretching out

willing but fairly convinced of my insanity

 The 11th was my birthday so on the Sunday before my husband and I got up early and took new guy Spark to the fishing hole/trail intersection and went our respective ways. Which meant we got a couple of photos :)

handsome Spark kitted out in the Specialized Trailmaster and Renegades

taller than I'm used to! 

solo Spark!

hiking back down the dam

 Birthday Noms!!   mmm Crepes

 my husband made me a German chocolate cake <3

 Because the winds of fate are not kind even when people deserve it, a good friend doesn't have a reliable horse to ride at the moment, so I hauled Spark and Blaze to the lake for a fun little group ride. It was a good different test for Spark and I's new summer relationship and fun to see Blaze enjoyed by yet another dear person.

Blaze and D :-)

Spark leading the group

Good boy Spark relaxed even though Blaze was at the other trailer

We lead, followed, leap frogged, waited, and rode through the local long scary tunnel, all of which Spark handled nicely. It's very nice to be on trail despite how everything has shaken out. Grateful to friends and glad to pay it forward where I can!

Cache Creek 2015 and More

It's been a rough couple of weeks.  Life was busy, more stuff than I care to mention going on, but worst, extended family suffered a devastating lost end of last week. I was in heavy compartmentalization mode on Friday, picking up sale gelding Shiner and heading for Cache Creek ride camp to check in on boot clients.

like jewels in the sun!

boot service and delivery via Blazer steed

Shiner was a good boy, handled mostly by my husband that day

Cache Creek is one of the most challenging rides around for strap on hoof boots, with the bog, water crossings, and hills, hills, hills. Sure enough all brands were challenged but I wasn't there to see it.
Sunday I returned to CC ride camp with Scrappy. The next step in his journey is a year entirely off work and thanks to an old friend, he'll be spending it on 17 scenic acres with Desire's full brother and another dear Arab. 

graycation quarters

Said friend brought D's bro and her handsome, Westergard bred 10 yr old bay gelding, Spark, and we rode a loop out of ride camp while my husband napped with Scrappy at the trailers.

Then Scrappy loaded up with D's brother and Spark loaded up in my trailer and came home with my for 6 months or so of riding, future TBD. He's a solid 15 hands at least and a really nice ride, I look forward to saddle time and maybe endurance rides this season after all!! Thanks C. 

Spark joins the bay crew

Apache & Spark were briefly roommates..

..but Apache has a Blaze ego, so he went back to his own quarters

Turns out Shiner and Spark are super buds! 

(Spark left, Shiner right)

 Shiner also had a shampoo & hoof spa

 Meanwhile, our big old shephard mix, JJ, took a sudden turn for the worse. The old fellow had bad hips and finally his kidneys started to go. He went to sleep peacefully with us surrounding him, and the pack sat vigil as we buried him under the oak tree out back.

It's always hard to say goodbye to an old friend but it truly is not a dark thing. May we all live full, enjoyable lives and die at a proper age surrounded by those we love.

And because animals heal us and make us laugh as much as they challenge our hearts, I got home from work yesterday to find a casual Rory filly, chilling *outside* the pasture she occupies with 3 other horses and the mini, who were still very much inside.

'Sup

Birthday, Anniversaries, Vets, Oh My

On April 14th Sheza turned 4!

Also, somewhere along the line, Rory got large. She's been here a year this Thursday. 

Rory fresh off the bus, April 23rd, 2014

this week

the You Shall Not Pass (until I say so..and do it politely) game

 the girls! and a noodly dog

 Apache has been here 5 weeks now. He's shed out and gained some weight and muscle and is now out on a bigger hilly pasture. This week he had an afternoon dental and was already trotting the fence line showing off early the next morning. After a chiropractic check/adjustment he'll be entering the work force here! Can't wait.

open wide for doc

showing his mini buddy Napoleon how to strut

 enjoying the bigger digs

getting bootylicious

Blaze also had a dental and he and the rest of the herd had their spring shots too. I lost my long time local vet last fall and after a good experience with Scrappy's diagnosis recently, this was my time using Loomis Basin Equine as a call out. Everything went smoothly and the ponies behaved themselves well. It feels great to have a working relationship with vets that can come to me, again.

Blazey dental

thanks ma, my toofs needed that 

 Meanwhile I've been adventuring about trimming hooves and fitting Renegade boots with my trusty assistants. Can you spot them?

Booting has got me out all over beautiful new countryside and experiencing fun new horses like this adorable Icelandic rocking Vipers:

another cute client--gotta love an Arab face!

I'll also be riding a friend's sale horse at Cache Creek 50 in 2 weeks, so that's an exciting chance to get back into ride camp. If you're interested in a 100 mile experienced 10 yr old bay Arab gelding, email me at auroragrohman@yahoo.com for more. Or come check him out at Cache Creek!!

When not hoof and boot adventuring, here's a few other favorite activities my assistants and I take part in!

Stay tuned for training, the 50, and an all in the family swap yet to come!  Also Happy Anniversary and love you to my husband :-) 

Spring Entire

We had a proper storm. Two inches of rain at least, hail, wind, and horses spurning the fancy sheds. But not immune from shivering tragically and inspiring warm mashes and blanketing. I'm so firmly wrapped around their hooves!

Fie upon your fancy shed, human

spring is blooming, budding, stretching, delighting the eye

 Riding is catharsis, caring for my herd is therapy, and snatching golden evenings with my husband and dogs the mortar in between. 

 great galloping wieners

My original crew dog, Georgia, has made a wonderful turn around after knocking at Forever After's door. She is glossy and gaining weight, her little rat tail ThumpThumpThumps when I walk into a room she's lurking under a blanket in. The cat gets herded and she weaves between hooves as I trim them and scold her. It isn't forever, but it's for now, and it's wonderful.

 Sheza turns 4 next week

 I pulled Apache out for a stroll, some grazing, grooming, and a hoof trim. Today was the first day he immediately relaxed in the cross ties and even, *finally* relaxed his plywood neck! :)

He's super sweet and willing, but he startles at his own startles and in general is pretty tense in the neck and head. He is holding his breath less but this was definitely the first relaxed lowered head time in the cross ties. I still don't have his hooves to where I want them but they're coming along! If I can force myself to make time for it once a week the adjustments really come along nicely. 

I have the same vet clinic that diagnosed Scrappy's back coming out to vaccinate the herd and do a few dentals next week. I suspect Blaze, Desire, and Apache may need their teeth addressed and my 6 1/4 need their spring shots. I gave vaccines myself for years but I don't relish it and aside from needing dentals having Loomis come do it all lets me establish a working relationship with them on my herd, since I've recently lost my usual vet.

fine horseflesh, April 2015..
anyone else noticing Rory is as big as Scrappy..err

Scrappy is going out to pasture for a year with a reassessment and possible controlled progressive rehab to follow. I need the year to wrap my head around it all, honestly. I have heard all the reasons why his injury may not be the end for us in endurance but it all tastes like bitter lemons when faced with the pain he endured for my hobby. I'm sure it will temper with time but I feel through my horse's breath and at the moment the thought of building him up so I can ride on an injured spot in his back just sounds wrong. I know my physical limitations as far as 2 pointing the entire ride, too. So I'm not deciding anything now, just mulling it all over and reminding myself that yes, I acted to the best of my knowledge and ability in the moment for his welfare. But still. I am growing as ever, stretching, embracing bitter truths, I suppose. 

Spring, entire.