Hi, I'm Ev. I'm training to become a horsewoman. These are my adventures and misadventures. I'm green as hell, but so far, so good. I'm now learning from Bo (and sometimes his wife DeDe) at D&D Ranch in Pope Valley. I am extremely lucky to have this opportunity, I feel quite blessed, and I feel that they, and horses, have really turned my life around.
Solomon is my baby- a big old flea bitten grey Appendix gelding who is very kind and way too smart! I love him so very much. He is a rescue and was meant to be co-owned rehabbed, and maybe rehomed to a good home. He turned out to be over 25 years old with injuries that ultimately do not make him riding sound, so he is retired.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Solomon and the huge pasture

Today I went looking for Solomon, and he wasn't up by the lake, or out by the barn. He wasn't hanging out under the gazebo, and he wasn't itching his butt on the rosemary bush.

I caught a glimpse of white horse through the trees, way down in the lower pasture.

Time for Sensei and I to go hiking!

This was the way down into the lower pasture.



Of course there was no sign of him or the other horses when we got down there.



Luckily I had a Sensei with me! He spotted them, way far away.



I was ignored or not noticed until I got about 300 yards away. Then Solly heard me calling!





After saying hello to us both and getting a bit of skritching and cuddling, Solomon moved the herd towards the big open barn. When we fell too far behind, he stopped to come check on us. We were almost part of the herd to him, and he wanted to make sure we kept up.





At one point he stayed behind a bit too long, and when he noticed that Breaker and Maggie were walking together, I got to see him tear off at a full gallop to re-establish The Way Things Were. Gorgeous sight! Wish I'd caught it on camera...

Maggie, of course, needed to get in on the action. Solomon expressed his opinion of this. I don't know what he got into that turned his tongue black!



Off to the barn!



Hoss butts!



This is a happy place.



Look at the arch in his neck! For Solomon, that's quite an arch, haha! He is feeling quite proud of himself these days. He is also muscling up. And the farrier really needs to come out! But I love this picture.



The herd on the move.







Solomon- he's narrow, but he's standing proud and tall!



He is also really getting some nice muscle on him. When I press on his sides, instead of feeling ribs I feel muscle. His body isn't jiggly with fat. He is getting strong! And his topline, while still having a sharp wither, is filling in because of the hills and the running around. His butt is getting muscle, his shoulders and chest are getting muscle, and he is doing well!

He had to say hi to Sensei. He adores the man! Also, Sensei had some candy, and Sol could smell it.



The green grass is coming in, but Solomon isn't getting fat on it so far. His weight is holding steady, but his shape is slowly changing. Less fat, more muscle.



"Oooh, I smell candy!"



"GAH, IT IS SOUR CANDY! WHY HAVE YOU TRIED TO POISON ME!!!"



After he spat it out, Solomon tried desperately to get the taste out of his mouth by vacuuming up grass, hah!

We left the horses down by the barn, and went home, confident that Solomon was quite happy! The ranch owners send me updates since I can't make it up very often, and fun pictures. I'll see about posting some of those sometime, if they're okay with it.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Solomon and the evil barbed pods of doom.

Hi folks!
So much to catch up on... I'm sorry I've taken so long to write! Life is crazy, like always.

First of all... I discovered the most evil plant ever, on the 21st of October.

Actually, Solomon discovered it. I don't know what it's called...

But they get THIS tangled up in the horse's manes and tails!



Those little Pods of Pure Evil have barbs in them. I had a couple of them embedded in my thumbs for a couple of weeks. I think I might even end up with a scar from them.

Solomon's poor beautiful tail...



See how displeased I look? Yeah, that was kind of a miserable day, hah! He had a ton in his forelock too. I was actually tempted to just cut it off, but then he wouldn't have his beautiful bangs any more! That was also the last time I wore those jeans... after these pictures were taken, I lost even more weight. Now they look like M.C. Hammer parachute pants, hah!



Do Not Want!



Bahahhaa



Solomon is really not a Glam Hoss





It took a good 2.5 hours and half a bottle of mane'n'tail to get those horrible things out.

They cut them down on their property, but the horses have access to the lower pasture on the neighbor's land too. It turns out there was a hidden thatch of them down by the creek.

Solly had some in his tail today too, but I didn't try to take them out. Didn't have time... sigh.