Warm Camera Critters

Sitting near hearth on a cold winters night~

Taking in the abundance of warmth ~

Then a friend joins in the evening ritual warming~

This is the CUTE scene nightly, at my Barn Owners house!

If you'd like to be warmed by others CAMERA CRITTERS photo's, please click the title to go!

A serious hitch in her giddyup

Darn it all, I feel so badly for my mare today...I have not been able to come out since Monday and I fear this was occurring to her, even then. IN fact, Last Friday my sissy and my Must ride Mondays friend and I took the horses to one of the arena's we go to often...it was very cold, but we were dressed right. The mare acted out pretty badly.. and we did notice her being a bit off...but we lunged her and she came good again-it seemed.

Now, I am rethinking it all, over and over..when and what has happened?!

She is very off in her left rear...sometimes not allowing her heal to land..no swelling anywhere and only minimal heat. A bit squishy in the pastern near her fetlock.

I cold hosed her, massaged her. Found that her left hip is very sore too.I gave her 2 grams of Bute. Then I wrapped her in standing wraps for the night, as she is favoring it and not loading it.

I am waiting to hear from my therapist..but may take her to the vet when they open again.I have never had her lame before-in the four years I have been with her...tis a bit scary.

Shoot up a prayer for my mare would ya's?!

Keep ya posted~
PS
I must be having sympathy pain...my elbow is soo sore I could not even lift a glass last night to sip wine!

Now that is more like it!

Sockshot...new ones for Christmas(early prezzie to me-from me!)

These have padded soles and keep my feet snugly in the boots!

RAIN!

 I was sooo happy to see our Oregon rain again...though I did not call ahead to my PBO in time to have her remove my festive Christmastime blanket...ooouuu, she even apologized for it's appearance due to the fact she allowed my mare in the dry lot for a spell...dry lot =means MUDD LOT for wintertime! She never goes there and I have requested she NEVER go there again!

Took me hours to get the encrusted mud form the blanket and the parts of the visible horse OFF!

I love these MUD MITTS....I used both for the double duty clean up!

I am a true Oregonian- Rain -spaim..I will take it over freezing and ice any day!

Nice riding your horse!

Diesel  is a fine animal and such a kind horse. I have watched him for years and have seen him take care of many riders.

I had the privilege of using him in my last lesson. I had ridden him once before with very frustrating results...I was tossed up with his bounding trot gate and would loose my stirrups. So, this day I was looking forward to not only mastering his trot but learning about my own riding ability with another horse. Having an over sensitive mare -and one that dislikes the arena- leaves one longing to know >>can I ride really?

I LOVED my lesson. I learned so much about my self and why I was being tossed up in the trot Diesel has...I was helping him by standing up in the stirrups to post.

My instructor had me stop...take my feet out of the stirrups as she cupped my soles with her hand. She then asked me to roll forward, keeping the rest of my posture the same...she made me aware of how much clearance I had from the cantle and said, " this is how I wish you to post when you begin again...just roll forward, as he propels you from the saddle".

OH MY!...I felt my ankle supple and bend and the weight of my heal go down...I had the feel of my foot in the stirrup. !!!

 She resounded a few Yessses! And we were onto the next issues (his thankfully).

Michelle, My horsey blogger friend, also took another lesson and she EARNED the INTREPID RIDERS FACTION Award   for being a trooper!!! It was the beginning of our Freeze -Out weather...and the Wind was howling...but there she was...having her second Dressage lesson!!!

I really felt amazingly TALL and flexible after getting off Diesel! WOW...riding got to feeling even better with the correct position! THANKS FOR THAT  Lesson Diesel !

Sockshot with the Paint horse Diesel..next time, I shall have someone take a pic of us...which is this weekend, If I decide not to take my mare for the ride.

Be well and of a merry and light heart my friends!

Camera Critters Hummingbirds

Here is the freezing weather solution to our resident Hummingbirds food..

It will freeze, unless we keep a lightbulb on it.

So I bundle up and go out at SUNUP...not a minute past, and one or more

show up to get warm and eat a little carbohydrate mixture!

Hummers are VERY territorial birds and this did NOT happen but twice....

"Ruby" is an Anna's Hummer...and he has a flaming red head...I am unable to tell from this pic which he is since it was still pretty dark. Taking photo's in dark and with the lightbulb brightness facing the lens-makes for weird conditions!

I turned around to see our little Manx  Elsie cat, enjoying the show as well!

Here he is, as the sun rose higher, I could get a bit better photo.

Drink up little hummer!

I have found a neat Web site on Hummers with videos and facts HERE how to enjoy hummingbirds

PLEASE DO CLICK the TITLE and see many others wonderful camera critters!

WHAT were we thinking?

My "Must Ride Mondays" partner and I have been extra busy-along with the rest of the world, doing seasonal stuff....me...I am at the salon all the time right now. And My man is in school again for CNA2 training...he wishes to work in the hospital soon. The 5:30 am rising and midnight to bed routines- are getting to me =BAADDDD.
I have been helping at the barn too, with frozen water and such...pooped I am. The schedule will change, after this week...the class ends and maybe he will get the job he interviewed for!

Sooo, all that to say...when my rider friend said, " I am bringing Cazi over for a ride at your place"...I happily said-"Let's Go to a New place up the road!" I needed RIDING THERAPY!

I found some more "Srirrup Cozy's", when i got mine out...so I let my partner put them on her stirrups-below

BUUUURRRRRR!!! We had our gear on and the horses had coats-real or added, on as well.

This was the place we wanted to be....outside the trees and in the sun! We could see it...but getting to it was not available this day.It was just outside our paths....

We totally DID NOT know that it was the coldest day -on record for the year- till later in the week...

17 degrees with wind!

Though it was extra specially pretty, being able to see all our mountains and all....we only spent about an hour out there.

Heading back to the trailer, towards the WEST SUNSET was great...made us feel warmer, just looking at it!

So, for now....we shall be keeping the sun at our faces and the shadows=at our back!

Ride on ~ We shall be arena riding now, for a time...the ground is too hard for the horses feet.

Be merry all, thinking of you!

( Hi  Deirdre! Hi Eileen)