I didn't take any photos today, though. Unfortunately, not knowing how Shelley's camera downloading system works, I had to wait until she got home tonight before I could share yesterday's adventure with you, but here it is finally.

It takes two people to deliver those humongous hockey-puck-shaped hay bales. Those two people are Ed and Doran.

Doran lives just over the way. He drove his tractor down and got here first. We gabbed for fifteen minutes or so before Ed arrived with the twenty bales on his flatbed.

Here's Ed. A few of the bales were already pushed over onto the front lawn by the time I took this picture.

Now Doran, his tractor is equipped with this gigantic pickle fork that's just right for moving those bales. The tine in the middle is the longest of the five.

He digs in...

... and upsa-daisy!

Doran didn't have a whole lot of room to manoeuvre, but we couldn't find the keys to the van. Anyway, he moved all the bales to where they were wanted, 17 in the side yard and three in the paddock.

And home he went, with a wave and a smile.

Ed had left first, as soon as the bales were off his flatbed. But while I was handing him the cheque, he shared an obvious joke: "You can tell the first cut from the second cut." Except that I had no idea what he was talking about. I was, however, courageous enough to give him a blank look, and he kindly explained. "The green bales are the second cut. The first cut bales are green inside, but brown outside." Later, Shelley told me that the first cut has more alfalfa, and the second cut has more leaves of other grasses, such as timothy.

First cut or second cut, all the bales need shelter from the rain and snow. I was very proud of myself for having tarped them all by myself. It was fun clambering over the bales to pull the big plastic sheet over them.

Nero is a second-cut fancier. Dee-lish!

http://www.inews3.com/topstory.php?id=53746163797c4d616e746c65

I vow to support all animals worldwide, including the donkey and the elephant. I will balance the economy by raising taxes for those who have no pets. Those who do have pets will be able to take a full deduction for each pet. Health insurance will be available for everyone, including our furry family members.

You'll find me committed to the idea that all species can and will live in peace and harmony. The only wars fought will be with countries who don't treat their animals or children well - these countries will have the responsibility of cleaning the world's litter boxes.

Animal abusers and child molesters will be immediately gelded and/or euthanized (probably both).

As a small-town girl who slowly migrated to the big city of Phoenix, I can assure you that I have the determination, experience and committment to carry these vows out.

I look forward to seeing you at the polls!

MJC, Magbabawas ng Araw!

Gaya ng naiulat sa kolum na ito kamakailan, itutuloy na ng Manila Jockey Club (MJC) ang kanilang mungkahi na bawasan ang araw ng karera sa lima mula anim kada linggo sa kanilang San Lazaro Leisure Park (SLLP) sa Carmona, Cavite, pagbalik ng karera sa kanila.

Ang desisyong ito ay marahil ginawa upang makatipid ng expenses lalo dahil bumaba ang benta o betting turnover sa kanila nitong mga nakaraang buwan. Ito ay ramdam lalo ng mga participants sa karera. "Mula sa average na P140,000 na premyo para sa primero noong nakaraan," sabi ng isang trainer, "naging P90,000 nalang nitong huling dalawa o tatlong raceweek. Lalo na ang mga tersero at cuarto - kakapiranggot nalang ang premyo, talo pa sa pamasahe papuntang SLLP!"

Ito ang mga "rationale" ng MJC para sa desisyong magbawas ng araw:

Una raw, kung magbawas ng racing days, may posibilidad na dumami ang average number of runners sa isang karera. Magiging mas exciting ngayon ang karera dahil mas maraming kalahok, at mas marami ang tataya at tataas ang betting turnover.

Pangalawa, kung walang karera pag araw ng Huwebes, may "mid-week break" at magkakaroon ang owners at trainers ng "better option when to run their horses."

Pangatlo, baka tumaas daw uli ang gross horse prizes.

Nakikita natin sa mga rationale na ito na hindi panigurado ang epekto o resultang ninanais. In other words, walang kasiguruhan na kung bawasan ang araw ng karera, ay dadami ang field size, tataas ang taya, at tataba ang premyo.

Eksperimento ito, tulad ng seven-day racing schedule na sinubukan rin ng MJC noong Marso hanggang Mayo nitong taon. Sa katunayan nga, pareho rin ang isang rationale na ibinigay nila para sa seven-day racing - na mas may option daw ang owners and trainers na mag-schedule ng takbo at mas makakapahinga ang mga race participants at bettors. Same argument used both ways.

San Lazaro Leisure Park at dusk. (4 Sept 2008 )

Ang pagbawas ng racing days ay matagal nang suggestion ng marami. Ngunit noong mas malakas ang kita ng karera, walang nais sumubok ng isang schedule na maaring makabawas ng gross sales.

Ngunit sa sitwasyon ng MJC ngayon, no choice talaga sila kundi gawin ang business decision na ito, hoping ito na ang solusyon sa kanilang problema.

At dahil din karapatan ng MJC bilang private corporation na mag-schedule ng racing sa tingin nilang ikabubuti nila at ng industriya, inaprubahan ng Philippine Racing Commission ang request ng MJC na simulan ang five-day racing schedule sa Set. 16.

Martes, Miyerkoles, Biernes, Sabado, at Linggo nalang ang araw ng karera sa SLLP simula sa petsang iyon.

Babawasan rin ng MJC ang number of races sa weekend - mula trese, magiging sampu o onse nalang depende kung ilang karera ang mabuo.

Walang binanggit ang MJC kung gaano katagal nila ipapatupad ang schedule na ganito, ngunit anila, ang tanging exception ay ang raceweek ng Oct. 14 to 19 - Klub Don Juan de Manila Derby week, na six-days racing pa rin.

Mahirap para sa MJC na gawin ang desisyong ito, lalo dahil magsa-suffer ang mga raceday employees na mababawasan ng isang araw ng kita. Ngunit nakakabilib rin ang MJC dahil sila ang laging nage-eksperimento, at sa kanilang experiences, natututo ang industriya kung what works and what doesn't.

Sa lahat ng mga taga-MJC: good luck sa inyong five-day racing experiment! Nasa participants at mananaya na ang huling hatol kung ito ba ay sa kanilang panlasa o hindi.

Karera lang - walang personalan! ***

It will take the form of a new skill, and some summoning familiars can be mounted.

Where the hell is PETA? Cause if that ain't animal cruelty, I don't know what is.

As a Christian woman, I turned to God for peace.  As an American woman, I turned to shopping for diversion.  Didn't even realise I was doing it until a few weeks (and a few hundred dollars) later, I saw my closet expanding, and for what?  I had to find something else.  Something that would occupy my brain during every waking moment because right now every waking moment was swirling and crushing me with thoughts of my dad.

I had started riding horses a year and a half earlier.  Weekly lessons with a young trainer, Maggie, who constantly challenged me beyond my comfort zone with a myriad of horses - mostly Arabians and Thoroughbreds, which, if you know anything about horses, tend to be a little hot.  They gave me a few scares, but mostly confidence and a good seat.

Maggie had been hinting around for a while that maybe it was time to start thinking about getting a horse of my own.  I had ridden a couple dozen, so I had a good feel for attributes I liked and ones I could do without.  A horse of my own?  That's a big decision.  But you know what?  That's a mission.  That's exactly what I needed to fill my time and my mind and my heart.

I started looking.

- Start new artistic movement.

- Walk dogs.

- Invent a ragweed-specific non-toxic entirely organic pesticide that makes the environment healthier.

- Dehydrate some blueberries.

- Deal with hangover.

Let me tell you about a cold reading I got yesterday from an aquaintance:

Dude: You're in a white room.
Me: OK.
Dude: There's a cube in the room.
Me: OK.
D: How big is it?
Me: About 12 inches by 12 inches.
D: What colour is it?
Me: White.
D: Where is the cube?
Me: On a white table.
D: How do you feel about the cube?
Me: Neutral.
Dude: OK, there are flowers in the room.  What kind of flowers?
Me: Umm....Dahlias.
D: What colour are they?
Me: Yellow petals with red edges.
D: Are there any leaves?
Me: Dahlias are a bush.
D: So lots of green leaves?
Me: I guess.
D: OK, there's a horse in the room.
Me: OK.
D: What colour is it?
Me: White.
D: What colour are its eyes?
Me: All horses have brown eyes.
D: Really?
Me: Yes.
D: Can you ride the horse?
Me: No.
D: Why not?
Me: Because I don't know how.
D: How does the horse feel about the cube?
Me: The horse is neutral towards the cube.  It's just a cube.

D: Could the horse hurt the cube?
Me: I suppose so.
D: How?
Me: It could plunge up and put its hooves through the table.
D: OK, there's a ladder in the room.  Where is it?
Me: Next to the window.
D: There's a window?
Me: Yes.
D: How high does the ladder go up?
Me: About eight feet.
D: Can you climb it?
Me: Yes.
D: Easily?
Me: Yes.
D: Why doesn't it go up to the ceiling?
Me: Because you wouldn't have been able to get it into the room if it did.
D: Ok, there's a storm coming.  Tell me about it.
Me: Umm...rain mixed with sunlight?
D: Is there any lightning?
Me: No.

And then I got a full cold reading about my personality.  The cube is me.  Since the cube is so small, apparently I don't think I deserve to take up much space in the world.  The cube should, for artistic people, be floating - the fact that I put it on a table means that I want to be spontaneous but can't quite do it.  The cube being white instead of transparent means that I am reluctant to reveal myself to others, that I don't let people easily into my heart.  The horse represents my ideal man.  (More on that in a moment.)  The white horse represents purity and unattainability, the dark eyes danger.  The horse's lack of interest in the cube means that I want someone who's remote and indifferent to me.  The fact that I couldn't ride the horse means that I don't want to tame or subdue a partner.  The ladder represents my ambition.  I could easily scale it, but it didn't go all the way to the ceiling - thus I didn't aim high enough.  The storm being mixed with sunshine means that I want to insulate myself from trouble, and there being no lightning means that I'm not inspired by difficulties but try to avoid them.

I said, "Hmm.  Interesting.  Do you know the meaning of the word confabulation?"  and explained it.  (Confabulation is when you make shit up based on other made-up shit.)  All the white stuff and the sunlight came from the image of the white room - it put me immediately in the frame of a toothpaste commercial.  You know, people in white rooms wearing white clothes with sunlight streaming in.  So everything I imagined fit that frame.  The dahlias were just the first flower I thought of, because one of my neighbours grows particularly beautiful dahlias and I pass them several times daily.  (Oh, they represented friendship.  I don't remember exactly what they meant.)  The ladder was only eight feet high because HOW WOULD YOU GET A TALLER LADDER INTO A SMALL ROOM?

I then told him that I was afraid of horses - I am - because a horse bit me twice when I was a little girl.  Also, I know a bit about horses (my mother-in-law owns one), and I can confidently state that a horse is about as smart as a bag of hammers.  So why on earth would a horse be interested in a cube?   Unless it was made out of food.  I pointed out that this unknown variable completely skewed his results, since the ideal man stuff was totally wrong.  

Look, I am a particularly gullible person.  I think it's because I'm imaginative but also practical, so I'm happy to enter into the premises of an argument if it's internally logical.  So I'm very wary of stuff like this.  All the hits are very vague ("you don't let people get close to you") and could apply to just about everyone, and plus it made me 45 minutes late for an appointment.  Don't let this pseudo-psychological bullshit tell you who you are or make you think you have problems that you don't.

I may be an advertising-savvy cynic, but throw a load of big fierce creatures at some trembling sylphs in pretty threads, pour on a savannah-load of symbolism involving freedom, danger, dirt, sex and more sex, and my brain fuses into one big consumption-happy erogenous zone. I'd buy a Pac-a-Mac if it was draped on a meerkat.

On the wild things front, those visionary vecks at Vogue outdid themselves last year. Corinne Day's Givenchy giraffe was full of wonder and wit; Arthur Elgort's safari shoot with Keira feeding baby 'phants strapped into logo'ed pants somehow transcended its roots as a patronising piece of colonial crap to become a tense Forsterish triumph.

But inevitably it's the beasts we put between our legs that provide the most potent emotional punch, and this year Steven Klein's Autumn 08 ad campaign for Loewe exploits them to the max. There's a reason that women spend their pre-pubescent years child-labouring in their local stables, shit-sprayed and drowning in oestrogel confusion; ever since Lancelot rocked up with a sword on a big shaggy colt, our equestrian fantasies have endured.

Klein's campaign is a Jilly Cooper rides The Black Stallion naff fest, via every bit-champing, jodphur-straining, heaving-flanked cliche in the fashion book. Bloody hell, though. It works.

discount tack

When someone begins to ride a horse, certain things are needed to be successful. Different horse supply accessories go into the hobby of riding horses. There are two main styles of riding, the Western style and the English style, and most riding accessory supply shops offer equipment for both styles, both English tack and Western tack, but some carry more of one kind than the other.

There are several main components to the English tack that are different than Western horse tack. Of course, the basic elements are there; the saddle, bridles, stirrups, bits, and harnesses, but for English horses, many of these different items have their own unique twist. Horse riding has been a popular sport in Europe for many years, almost since horses became used for riding, so it is not surprising that they have their own styles of horse supply. The English horse equipment is used for most Olympic sports, and is also used for most other equestrian sports.

The English saddle is different from the western saddle because it is smaller and allows the horse a greatest range of motion. The English bridle has a Cavesson noseband, and is mostly used because it has the greatest functionality. Another English bridle, called the double bridle, has two bits for maximum control by the rider. English riders also use a breastplate to protect the horse in dangerous activities, such as jumping and fox hunting. There is also a difference not only in accessories between the English and Western styles of horse supply, but also in riding style. English riding focuses more on style and precision, while Western riding focuses more on abilities that the horse and rider can do together.

When looking for English tack supplies, there are many different places where you can find equipment for your horse. There are many tack supply shops that offer English and Western styles of equipment. If you are not able to purchase supplies full price, then consider looking into discount tack and stable accessories. Many shops offer used materials as well as new for the budget conscious rider. English horse tack is going to be a little harder to find in the United States, but it is by no means impossible. Even if you cannot find a shop near you that sells English horse tack, then there are many shops that sell these horse supply items online. However, for the larger items, the shipping could be rather expensive. If this is your first time experimenting with the English style of riding, then perhaps you should consider getting someone to help you find what you need and how to use it.

For the English style of riding, English tack supplies are necessary for professional quality and safety. Riders in the English style need all of the English horse supply accessories to be competitive in the field. Most riding supply shops sell this kind of tack, so finding the right equipment should be pretty easy. Just remember that if starting this style for the first time, then consulting with a professional will ensure that you get the right supplies.

Dear Friends,

I had to break out the wild rag and jacket this morning before heading out the door!  What beautiful fall like weather we are having as another summer comes to a close….

August went by in a flash with the flurry of friends, family, clinics, horses and 4-H county and state fairs.  Congratulations to the 4-H kids who did so well at the Weld and Larimer County Fair and State Fair in Pueblo!  What a privilege to work with such wonderful kids helping them get ready for the new 4-H Ranch Horse division!  I enjoyed judging the Ranch Horse Trail and Ranch Cattle Sorting at Larimer County Fair and then off to State Fair to Judge the Ranch Trail class again.  What a pleasure to see so many outstanding young people doing such a wonderful job with their horses.

I still can’t believe September is here already…only 112 shopping days until Christmas!  There is a nice variety of clinics offered for September starting with Cow Working clinics on September 13th.  These are half day clinics, Cow Working I (less experienced horse or rider on cattle) in the morning from 9-12 and Cow Working II (for the horse or riders that have had more experience on cattle) in the afternoon from 1:30-4:30.  The cost for half day clinics is $80 plus a $10.00 cattle charge.  If you would like to ride in both sessions it is $150.00 with a $15.00 cattle charge.  Bring a lunch if you can stay for all day!  Call or email me for more details.

The next weekend is a Horsemanship/Trail clinic, September 20th.  We will work on horsemanship as it applies to riding out on the trails and then haul out to the Pawnee Grasslands to put our skills to the test!  We will also talk about and begin work on getting our horses ready to hobble in this clinic.  Don’t panic if you can’t make this trail clinic to the Pawnee because we are going to do it again in October.  Bring your lunch and any other trail gear you might want to take on your ride out. The cost for this clinic is $150.00, call or email for a reservation form.

Last but certainly not least is the Ladies Yoga/Horsemanship clinic in Silverthorne on Sept 27-28th.  This clinic will offer yoga as it applies to horsemanship, classical horsemanship, round pen work and hot tub!  This clinic is almost full so don’t wait too long…the cost is $300.00 and includes the clinic, room and board.  There will also be a massage therapist available if you want to spoil yourself even more!  Trailer pooling with me is an option if you live in this area.  Don’t hesitate to call or email for more detail.

We have several very nice young mares for sale that are really coming along nicely with their training.  Brown Girl is currently under saddle with James Morgan and making a super nice horse, big stops!!  Missy is scheduled to start her training in October.  Mayada and Cowgirl are FINALLY being ridden by their owner, ME!  I love these two mares and would keep them if I could but I have too many to ride and no time. Training/lessons included in the purchase of any horses owned by Bridle Bit! For more information see them on our web site, www.bridle-bit.com. James Morgan also has a nice big quiet QH gelding for sale that I have ridden a couple of times and really, really like.  For more information on “Charlie” visit James’ web site at www.jamesmorganhorsemanship.com.

My brother in law, Del Franz, had a major stroke the first of June and my sister and he had no insurance….so I am doing a “garage sale” Friday and Saturday, Oct 3-4, to raise some money to help offset medical expenses and get rid of some “REALLY GOOD STUFF”!  There will lots of nice used tack, household items, clothes, etc….  new and used!  We will have live entertainment (no kidding, a real band!) and refreshments. More details in the next update……

Thank you so much for your time!  Look forward to seeing you soon!

Kindly,

Amy

Pista ng SLLP, Dapat Ayusin!

Nagreklamo kamakailan ang New Philippine Jockeys' Academy (NPJA) dahil sa umano'y masamang kundisyon ng pista ng Manila Jockey Club sa San Lazaro Leisure Park (SLLP) sa Carmona, Cavite.

Kumuha ang mga hinete ng mga litrato noong nakaraang linggo na nagpapatunay ng kanilang sinasabi. Ang ibabaw o surface ng parehong inner at outer tracks ay maputik, lalo nitong naguu-ulan, at uneven o hindi pantay. Dapat kasi, kahit umulan, ay patag pa rin ang pista na walang baku-bako. Maa-achieve ito kung maganda ang surface at ang drainage system.

Diumano nga raw, noong Philracom Peridot I Stakes noong August 24 sa SLLP, malapit nang madapa si Traditional mga 100 meters mula sa meta dahil raw sa pangit na pista.

Matagal nang balita na hindi ma-resurface ng sea sand ang SLLP tracks dahil sa nahihirapan raw ang MJC na makahanap ng source ng buhangin. Ipinagbawal kasi raw ng Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) ang pagka-quarry o paghuhukay ng sea sand na siyang pinakamagandang surface para sa dirt tracks.

Kaya kahit archipelago tayong binubuo ng 7,100 islands na may mga coastline na puno ng buhangin, eh no sand for racing. Iyan ang tinatawag na "irony". Hay naku.

Ewan ko lang ha, pero ang Philippine Racing Club ay nakahanap ng mabibilhan ng sand sa Pampanga. Ito ang ginagamit ngayon na top layer ng kanilang ginagawang bagong karerahan sa Trece Martirez, Cavite.

Ang una pa nga nilang nakuhang sand, mula sa ibang lugar, ay ni-reject ng American consultant nila dahil masyado raw itong magaspang at malalaki ang butil. Buti naman at pumasa na sa kanya itong Pampanga sand.

Dapat rin kasi ay regular na binubungkal ang layers ng track hanggang sa kailaliman upang rehabilitate ang pista. Nakita kong ginagawa ito noong mga five years ago sa Santa Ana Park sa Makati. Pagkatapos ng isang ikot, simula na naman paikot sa isang regular maintenance cycle. Tapos sinasala pa ang buhangin upang tanggalin ang mga bato.

Hindi ko nakitang ginagawa ito sa SLLP kundi araro lang o pagpapatag. In other words, wala pang full-scale track rehabilitation na pinatupad doon, sa aking pagkakaalam. Correct me if I'm wrong nalang.

Dapat pagtuunan ito ng pansin ng MJC at bigyan ng priority. Matagal nang inirereklamo sa kanila ang kundisyon ng kanilang pista. Huwag nila sanang hintayin pa na may maaksidente o madisgrasya bago sila umaksyon. Kaligtasan ng kabayo at hinete ang ating punto rito at wala nang iba. Ang kanilang life and limb ang at-risk kada karera, at dapat safety concerns ang mangibabaw.

Karera lang - walang personalan! ***

On our ride, we heard a little about the Washburn Expedition. Several mountains are named in honor of this historic expedition across land that would become Yellowstone National Park. A military escort of ten men made the trek in 1870, between August 17 and September 21st (we were there during that time period). I ended up buying a book with text by Nathaniel Langford, who recorded his impressions of what they saw on their journey. I'll include some of Langford's quotes to go with pictures later on.

But more memorable even than the Washburn Expedition was the story of Truman C. Everts, one of the party who got lost for 37 days. Everts was a wildly inept traveler. He ended up getting separated from the party, and then he put all his survival gear on his horse and lost his horse and all his survival gear, too. He was not sensible enough to then die, but rather ended up cooking starch-heavy local plant life in the boiling hot springs to sustain himself. 

A two person search party found him, including a famous mountain man. Everts was so backed up from his diet that the mountain man had to feed him a pint of black bear grease to get things moving. Black bear grease is some of the foulest, smelliest stuff in North America, but T.C. somehow ingested it, and managed not to die, either of starvation or of mortal constipation.

According to Sarah, by the time they found him, he was hanging out barefoot on the rocks well up a mountain now named in his honor. This is befuddling because mountains aren't considered a very warm place to hang out when you're starving and freezing. It is possible that he was paranoid of wildlife or the sulfur smells down below, and keeping a look out for dangers or rescuers. He was so wild and wooly and strange looking up on the mountain, that his rescuers almost mistook him for an emaciated bear and shot him down.

I don't have pictures of me on the horse. My dad does. We couldn't take cameras along on the ride, but the nice-seeming lady at the little pay-shack said she would take the camera and take pictures for us.

When I was lead to the corral, they brought me a giant horse named Rosie. Rosie was a boy. A towering boy. He looked to me about twice as high as Sierra or anyone else's horse was. I can only imagine they gave me the titanic horse because Sierra is ten, and the other members of our riding party were very frail looking elderly women.

Anyway, the girl who was helping us indicated the stirrup that hung at about my chest level and said, "Just put your left foot in there, grab the saddle-horn, jump up and swing your other leg over."

I gave her a look anyone would give a normal looking person who spoke crazy talk.

She gave me a lazy grin and said, "You can do it."

This kind of mindless, confident belief has always seemed to me the most difficult sort of attitude to negate. I did get my foot into the stirrup, and closing my eyes with one of those 'Ah well, I'm doomed...' sort of sighs, I jumped.

My lunatic girl had forgotten to actually buckle the stirrup. Shortly after I jumped, the stirrup gave way. I'm surprised how long it lasted, actually, without a catch. The result was that I ended up lying across the horses back cross-wise with my legs flailing for a catch-hold.

And there was the nice old lady from the payment shack standing outside the fence, catching it all on camera.

Regretfully here I must confess that upon arriving back from the horse-ride, I did indeed try and mug the nice-seeming old lady for my father's camera before he could get his hands on it. She wouldn't give it to me. I explained that a life was at stake and my dad could be the victim of a tragic homicide if she didn't turn over the goods, but the nice-seeming old lady became sternly immovable. 

Deep down, I think she was enjoying her evil old self.

"My pack horse which I rode to-day, a buckskin colored broncho, which is docile under the pack saddle, "Bucked" as I mounted him this morning; but I kept my seat in the saddle without difficulty. Walter Trumbull, however, on my return tonight, presented me with a sketch which he says is a faithful portrayal of both horse and rider in the acrobatic act. I think the sketch is an exaggeration, and that I hugged the saddle in better form than it indicates."  

-September 12, 1870, Nathaniel Langford, The Washburn Expedition

I went for my 4 week blood work to see if this actually works or if it is placebo effect. I am thrilled not to be taking some horse urine hormone that is derived from the urine of dehydrated horses.  That sounds so awful I wonder if it is some marketing hysteria?  Or at least this is what I was told by a colleague yesterday. Placebo is not half bad , if that it what it is, and it seems to be working. So far I have not convinced 4 Physicians to give me the exact content of the pellet ( soy based, plant material based). I don't want to make the stuff I just want to know what is exactly in it. I would like to call the manufacturer and have a discussion with them.  

Palin has really nice skin. She is very attractive.  I am sitting on the edge of my seat to hear her speak tonight.  I just got a phone call (survery) asking me if I thought Pallin was detrimental to McCain or if Biden was detrimental to OBama. Well I pushed 3, on the phone I am undecided. I will have my answer prior to November . I guess that do not call list thing does not work.   

Olah, Sunny

i AM SO HAPPY TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO READ ME, AND ENJOYING WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. THAT WAS PART OF MY GOAL WHEN PUTTING MY WORDS OUT THERE! TO GET THEM OUT OF MY HEAD WAS ONE REASON, BUT TO HAVE PEOPLE ENJOY THE WORDS WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE IS GREAT!

I WILL HAVE TO SPREAD THIS AWARD AROUND - THERE ARE SOOOO MANY WONDERFUL BLOGS OUT THERE IN CYBERSPACE- INCLUDING THE ONE THAT AWARDED ME THIS HTTP://WWW.APRONSTRINGSANDOTHERTIESTHATBIND.WORDPRESS.COM

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THAT TITLE? IT SAYS SOO MUCH!!! THANKS, JUDY!!!

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TOTALLY UNRELATED - BUT A GREAT QUOTE I read on www.susanbranch.com :

Back on its golden hinges the gate of memory swings-

And my heart goes in the garden and walks with olden things.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

He has been through a lot too.  He was a stallion for a few years, which is just weird as he resembles a giraffe, but whatever.  He was sold at an auction for $53,000.  The guy that bought him was afraid of him so he decided to geld him.  Which means to cut off his manly boy parts.  The same day he did this, he put up a fence splitting the pasture in half with a smooth wire/t-post fence.  So, being the brilliant guy he is, the day after surgery he turns KP out in the new smaller pasture.  With mares on the other side of the newly created fence.  Which KP sees, and hauls ass over to get some horsie lovin.  He sees the fence at the last minute and attempts to jump it, fails miserably, and lands ass first on a t-post.  End result, he looses a 15 pound chunk of meat from his butt.  He has a nasty scar to prove it. 

Then, 19 years ago, I walked into his life.  Lucky bastard.  I loved this horse even though he continued to dump me, kick me and inflict miscellanious other injuries.  I take uber care of him, buying him special food and all that jazz.  We pretty much have an uneventful bunch of years until 2004, when I get the dreaded call from the barn that KP is in fact, choking.  Yes, horses do choke, and it's pretty much impossible to do anything to dislodge the mass because most people cannot pick up a horse and preform the heimlick.  So, in tears, I drive out there, hoping that because I am in town, and it seems that horses only die when I am out of town, he will be ok.  The vet comes out, informs me that he is choking, but he can breathe, he just can't eat or drink.  Ummmm, thanks?  What the hell does that mean?  Sorry KP, you get to die of dehydration?  Anyway, the vet says his only idea is to blast a jet of water down his throat to try and dislodge the mass of whatever that he is choking on.  He tubes him and discovers that the mass is at least pretty far down, so it might work.  He loads up some contraption with a bunch of water, and then shoots it down his throat.  It comes back up.  He then uses a little mineral oil to grease the way, and loads up another round of water.  KP is pretty pissed about this, as I am sure it feels like crap to have a jet of water launched down your throat as you are drugged.  Finally, it dislodges, and blows into his stomach.  He is fine.  Most horses would die from choke, but not good ol KP.

The story doesn't end there.  That same year, I am out at the barn and I go over to see the old man, and he is bleeding.  Like, alot.  From his knee.  Which, if you are a horse, is a very important part of your body.  I haul him out, and rinse off his cut to see that he has punctured his knee dead center all the way down to the joint.  Super.  It will probably get infected and he will die.  This kind of injury is almost always life threatening.  Fab, we clean it, wrap it and hope for the best.  Change the bandage every day for 2 weeks.  Didn't even bother with the vet, as I knew what he would say.  Miraculously, it doesn't get infected.  He is fine.  Some residual arthritis from the injury 3 years later, but otherwise, he is fine. 

Nope, still not done.  Then, again that year (2005 was eventful) I decide that maybe that barn is not actually a safe place for my accident prone horse.  Marcy is going crazy, which is an entirely different rant, one I'll need Summer's help with.  So I call up Marcy like a grown up, and tell her that I am going to move KP as she is not feeding any of the horses and I feel this is probably a detriment to his survival.  I know, needy.  She then freaks out and tells me that he isn't mine and I can't have him.  That I am no longer allowed on the property and that I shouldn't contact her again.  Bitch.  Now how do I get my horse?  I have to file a replevin in court and attempt to get her served.  No easy task as she has spent her entire life trying to avoid process servers.  That should have been a sign.  I send Summer in to get info on KP for me, and Marcy tells her that she has put him down so I couldn't have him.  Holy shit!  Can you believe that?  I have to call the local vets and ensure that she is a big fat liar, and to double confirm, I also call the horse body haul away companies.  Nope, no one has been there.  Then I go on a secret stealth mission to find him and the bitch has put my 29 year old toothless horse on pasture.  That is just a mean trick. 

I still need to get her served, and she has dodged the sheriff twice now, so I decide to show up with the sheriff and my mom.  I told her I needed my stuff, and she refused to let me back to the barn so I told her I would just go and get it and she could stop me.  I knew that would get her outside.  She comes flying out in a towel.  Only a towel.  Gross.  Screaming and ranting and raving.  My mom serves her and she continues to spout legal terms like interested party and illegal service, to which the sheriff rolls his eyes and says fine, I am not interested, consider yourself served.  Finally, 6 weeks later.  We have court within 10 days and she shows up just as crazy as ever.  Goes off on how I didn't adopt him, I was just paying for his care when I used him.  Which has a term.  It is called a lease.  Which was not what I was doing.  The judge finds in my favor and I am allowed to go get him.  I show up on Saturday and expect to see some fireworks, but she doesn't even show.  I get my horse and I am shocked to see that he has lost over 300 pounds.  He is skin and bones, like animal cops style.  So now I am freaked out if I am going to have to put him down after all that work. 

I unload him at the new barn, and the owner there is equally freaked by his condition.  We all busted ass feeding him 4 times a day and he puts on enough weight to survive the winter. 

Fast forward to Saturday.  He is galloping around the property and we have a little one year old boy who is in love with him!  He keeps scooting towards KP trying to play with him.  KP is cantering around, stopping to pretend to eat.  After a few minutes, KP wanders over to the little boy and puts his head down, nuzzling the boys hair, and the boy reaches up and pets KP's nose.  It was priceless.  That is why I love this horse.

THURSDAY 4th, 7.30pm Traditional parade through streets of La Estación (sorry, it's Los Ángeles now). Riders are requested to wear the proper attire (i.e. traje andaluz or Andalusian costume) and to 'maintain seriousness with their horses' (quaintly meaning 'don't ride like a maniac'). Leaving from the El Estribo marquee.

FRIDAY 5th, 10pm Members' dinner at marquee.

SATURDAY 6th, 7pm The second edition of the Donkey Race, with a gift for every participant and First (€100), Second (€50) and Third (€30) prizes. At marquee.

SUNDAY 7th, 1pm As this is the last day of the Novena, free paella will be offered at the marquee from 1pm. After that begin the Carreras de Cintas and Garrocha races. Riders and pedestrians alike are requested to clear the area to make way for the annual procession of Our Lady the Queen of Angels (Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles), patron saint of Jimena.