Spike is really coming along; taking to halter/lead very well.  I've picked up his feet and he was cool with it, other than trying to bite me in the ass.  Once we get him gelded and home where I can school him more without being scared of spooking him into an accident, that will be fixed.  Here are a few more from yesterday; man, you can sure see the TW in him in some of these, lol!  He's also a little dusty and shedding like blue blazes, but what horse isn't at this time of year?

 
 

Last week when I stopped at Bertram's Feed Store in Winslow, we got to 'talking horse' and they mentioned they knew a guy with two horses he wanted to get rid of.  I told them to have him give me a call and they did; turns out it was a mare and her almost-2-year-old colt.  They had found a home for the mare but were having trouble finding a taker on the colt; turns out the little guy had never had any work or training whatsoever.  I expected to find a horse in a lot worse shape than he was...he's in good weight and his feet don't look bad; the guy mentioned that he trimmed him a time or two while standing loose in the field.  His hoof angles are slightly off and he has a little flare going on but it will be a piece of cake to get in line within a real trim or two.

So, after seeing the state of the horse market nowadays I knew there was absolutely no chance for an unhandled stud to find a good home and you know I can't just stand back and see a good young horse go to slaughter or worse.  I went out Saturday and worked with him for about an hour, just petting and getting the halter close to his face, and within the hour I had the halter on and off him several times.  He's really friendly and seems to be very smart; isn't head-shy in the slightest but does like to try to bite.  Just hasn't had a lesson in manners, I think.  Worked with him a little Sunday morning and then again on Sunday afternoon on putting the halter on (which he is now totally cool with) and leading and I was really surprised to see how fast he's picking it up.  After just three short lessons, he allows the halter, gives to pressure when you ask him to walk, and backs with just a little pressure and a soft poke on the shoulder.  Worked a little again on Monday evening; just trying to keep his lessons short so he doesn't get bored and make bad associations.  Tonight was too windy and his mother left today, so to keep from possibly stressing him out further, I just loved on him awhile.  He's not made a move to kick but I haven't really pushed the issue or tried to lift his rear feet.  He let me slide a hand down his front legs without flinching but at the time he was at liberty, so I didn't push further.  Due to the downed barbed wire and piles of boards with rusty nails in his pasture, I'd really rather wait to do anything that might spook him until we have him here on the farm in a contained and safe area.

He's been on a diet of cracked corn and molasses (I know, not so healthy, but he looks okay) but we will be switching him to Strategy before he gets here.  They supposedly kept up on his worming by putting it in his feed since they couldn't get a halter on him to give it with the oral syringe.  He's chestnut but has a lot of roaning coming through as he sheds; also has the start of a white streak in his tail so I'm guessing he may be gray within a few years.  His dam was a black QH (?) and sire was supposedly a chestnut TW.  Don't know how tall he might get; guessing he'll top out about 14.2hh, although I could be wrong and he might get to 15hh.  He's very smart and seems to enjoy having an authority figure tell him what to do.  He's easy to catch; I hope to have him used to being handled enough to safely get him into the trailer when the time comes.  I just can't say enough how smart this guy seems.  The photos here are ones Nate took on the second evening of Spike's lessons.  I will add new blog posts about Spike as we spend a little more time together.  Please note that he's not quite as short as he look in the first picture; Nathan was standing on a hillside that was rather steep and was taking the shot from a higher spot than we were standing, so he looks very short.  I will get better pics soon.

So the plan is to wait until Ollie has moved (supposed to be in a week or two), then bring Spike here to the farm and have him gelded the very next day.  I've put up an ad or two to see if we get any hits and things are looking promising.  Here's to finding the little sweetie a great home!

 
First Flowers!!! 03/24/2009
 

Next to roses, daffodils are my absolute favorite; maybe it's just the relief that winter's finally over...?  I don't know, but I do know  that they're up in full force.  Gonna have to find some more to plant for next year!  Happy Spring!

 
 

Sunday afternoon as I looked out the window I noticed VERY large ripples in the pond; I grabbed the camera and dashed out to investigate.  John likes to go in about knee-deep to get to the reeds for an afternoon snack (the pond is rather over-full this spring), but this time it wasn't John...it was Shiloh!  He loves playing in the water trough and I've always wondered why he didn't get in the pond to play; now I wonder why he waited until now, when the water's still so cold!  Here are a few shots of a VERY stinky Shiloh after his excursion:

Ollie says..."Dude...you reek...!"!!!

 
 

We met a wonderful new friend a few weeks ago and it just so happened that he was looking for a four-wheeler and we were looking for the tractor, and we both had just what the other needed!  Nate's been needing something to work around the farm with, brush-hogging, cleaning out the barn, and so forth, and this should be just the ticket.  It needs some tires or tubes and some batteries but Nate loves it.  I'll be bringing his supper to the garage for awhile!  :)

Thanks, Steve!  Looking forward to going riding with you, and doing some more trading :)

 
New Duckies! 03/10/2009
 

It's chick time at Rural King again and I've been very proud of myself for passing them on the way to the feed aisle TWICE and not buying any (although I did order three turkey chicks from Bertram's the other day).  Unfortunately, this afternoon on my way by, some of the duckies were calling my name and I couldn't resist.  Nate said no chicks this year but I was down at the pond this past weekend and it's going to be a mossy mess if we don't have some feathered water-weed-eaters, so I brought home five Pekin ducklings.  Fortunately Nate loves animals as much as I do and his protests are weak at best (and never enforced, lol).  The duckies are now firmly ensconced in the brooder with their food, water, and heat lamps, and cheeping away happily.  I hope to get pictures soon.  :)