More Catching Up

Is GoDaddy.com THE God of the internet? They think they are. My domain name expired in May and I couldn't renew it at the time as my user ID and password was locked in this computer which was in storage. There's no plugs or internet connections in storage units. It expired on May 17th. To let me use my own name again for this "expired domain" they want a fee of $80 in addition to the usual fee. No way am I paying that so people can click on the blog link! My only regret, and it's a big one is that I may have lost Bob's Wordpress blog as well because it was linked with the website, however Deirdre did that. Wordpress has free hosting just like blogspot but somehow - something I just don't understand - the blog and the website became one so it may be lost. I have most of the posts, but the pictures, videos and comments were not backed up at all. Links to other EMM bloggers are lost along with all the wonderful comments we received from people following that blog. I really regret losing all that.

So, on with the updating stuff. Bill, the QH we got in February has turned into a dream gift horse. His hock is "damaged" but he seems to do just fine with what we ask of him. We take him out for trail rides, or up and down the road just like we do with the other horses and this doesn't bother him one little bit. I wonder if being on the hill with the boys and working that hock just that little bit more to move around on said hill has been benificial to him? I assume it has been because he hasn't taken an off step since he recovered from being ridden by his previous owner. We've had him shod all around since he's made it plain that he wants to belong and be one of "the boys". This horse went from uncatchable when we got him - he had to be herded into the barn yard, then into the barn and into a stall to get a halter on him - to being a total pain in the butt for attention. The picture below is a prime example. Ron was trying to break in my rasp and fooling with feet on Jake and Bob when Bill kept butting in looking for his share of the attention. Ron gave him his wish. How many horses will let you rasp on their feet when they have the choice of simply walking away?

Bill is such a sweetheart, anyone can ride him, and he's very well trained. Our problem is convincing him that he doesn't have to work off his hocks anymore (to avoid stress to that injured hock), but he doesn't listen and does everything with all the training he's ever had. Memorial Day I finally asked for a lope and got a VERY enthusiastic response in the form of a little "Yippee" buck before he settled down into a beautiful rocking chair lope. He went on his first real trail ride on June 26th with Bob, and John R's Paint horse, Hoot. It was Bob's first ride back since last Sept (except for the antics when he throws people) and I admit to being awfully nervous. I credit Bill's calm, steady influence with Bob's admirable behaviour.

Holly presented us with a filly at about 10 PM on Friday, April 3rd. We didn't get the Paint we were hoping for and Ron didn't get the horse colt he wanted, but we did get a cheeky, independant little girl who looks like she'd been playing with Mommy's makeup. She has white rings around each eye. Looks like a little racoon sorta thing. She's 1 day old in the picture. Her biggest thrill in life is hanging out with "Uncle Jack". Than Holly comes running to kick the living daylights out of Jack. Poor Jack, he learned fast that this baby is bad news for him! At 3 months she's been named Sam by the kids and still gets her thrills from getting "Uncle Jack" into trouble. Rick, Ron's brother now owns Holly, baby Sam and Jack. His wife, Shawna was upset at the thought of Jack leaving to come home for training/riding time and Holly leaving to be rebred or just come home. Brenda also is still in love with Jack so he's theirs now. Ron gave the filly to Rick and I sold Holly to him.

By two months baby Sam is starting to show her true colors. She's going to end up a grey or maybe a rose grey, but for now she's a strawberry roan. She's a big girl and still bad or should I say good at getting Uncle Jack in trouble?

We have another new one - a yearling Paint filly, as yet unregistered. We went tot he Warrensburg horse auction Saturday night. It was our way of doing something for the 4th of July. We went looking for a saddle for Rick. Well, we missed the tack part of the auction, but since we were there we decided to sit down and watch the horse portion for a bit. The first horse through brought $675, which the seller wasn't willing to accept so the Auctioneer conned the byer into parting with $750. This had me thinking that the horse market has picked up give the horse in question, a mare, wasn't registered or anything special. Just a sorrel mare who rides and neck reins. Nope, that wasn't the case. Those first buyers paid way too much if going by the other prices is any indication. Mike Jullian, the auction barn owner has a habit of bidding pretty much any horse in at $300; I assume in an attempt to get bidding going and bring more money in. I also think that most bidders are aware of this and no one really jumps in to outbid him. That's when the Auctioneer drops the price. Not a decent way of doing business that's for sure and I wonder does Mike Jullian realize what a crook he comes across as? We never did get a number but that didn't stop Ron from bidding. He had a nice small Paint mare bought for $200. The seller said no sale. He bid on another one that went for $110 (his bid to up that price went unseen by the Auctioneer) and that one was a no sale as well. Then this yearling filly comes into the ring with no halter and no papers. Bidding was slow to start and finally started at $35 I think. I have a very hard time understanding auctioneers. I went out the truck to get my smokes when Ron jumped into the bidding. As I was returning to I heard sold for $85 and then the word "Ron". Oh, I guess we just bought a horse.... Then he had the gall to tell me her bought her for me! LOL Good story Ron. After the auction I went back to see her while Ron paid and arranged transportation with the seller, who, it turns out is an old buddy of Ron's. They used to play music together. I get back there and get looking at this little girl and I have to admit, she's one nice filly. The name Bailey came to me so that's what we're calling her. She's never been handled... sound familiar? LOL A mustang without a brand. Being young, she's curious and once I went and got a halter, she allowed Ron to slip it on within 15 minutes. Gettingher to lead was a whole nother story though. She was finally shooed into the trailer and we took her to Rick's and put her in his round pen. Gave her Sunday to settle in and I went to work with her yesterday (Monday). Stoopid me forgot my camera! Rick took the halter off her, it was rubbing her face.... To her credit, in less than one hour I had her haltered and fly sprayed. She got hot but didn't break a sweat. Smart little girl. She's not following right behind me like I'm her new bestest friend yet but she was staying close by so I could easily walk over and rub her face or body. I was also able to remove the numbered sticker from her butt. Once she's leading and easy to catch she'll go to friend Sue B's for us to get lessons in halter showing these QH types.

And that's it for now....