All Hell for a Basement

That Big Sugar song "Heaven in Alberta" keeps playing in my head. 

The city that brought so many hard-working, honest people good jobs and steady income to provide for their families (including my own husband and so many friends) is a literal hell right now.  With over 101,000 hectares of land on fire and over 1600 buildings in the city damaged, so many have lost everything. 

When the fire was at 85,000 hectares, this is the area it would be consuming.  It's 101,000 hectares currently.

I've had the privilege of spending several weekends up north between "Tower Road" and "Clearwater" horse clubs.  I am very proud to call many horse owners there my friends.  On Tuesday, hell took over as a wild fire burned out of control.  Many friends had packed up some horses and moved them to where they thought they would be safe.  Some of them far away from Ft. McMurray, some of them in their own backyards.  The fire grew and came into town so fast, may never got the chance to get back to the horse clubs for the remainder of their horses before the highways were shut down.  Both horse clubs were fortunate to have a few members able to get in and open gates and let out the horses left behind.  In my mind, playing out that scenario, not being able to take all of my equine companions to safety, having to open the gates to my pregnant mares and my young foal and his mom, my yearlings, and wishing them the best of luck, it brings me to tears. 


From that point, the back-yard horses were stuck.  My one friend rode her horse and ponies the second throughout the night to get to safety.  I've seen viral pictures of more horses being ridden and led through the city or down the highway trying to keep safe and find a way out. 
Good Samaritans have stopped and put horses in trailers and brought them to safety.  Perfect strangers just ready to give a helping hand. 
Countless teams have collected donations of water and fuel and headed up the highway to help people stranded by the evacuation - run out of gas on the side of the road, nothing but the clothes on their backs.  Gas stations run out of fuel to sell... Dire situation. 

The fire is still raging on.

Help is coming in.  It is still such a dangerous situation, there's so many unknowns yet.  I understand the military has sent in some members who located a herd of 14 horses in Tower Rd.  It sounds like some are my good friends' boys.  Prayers that they are!  Many more left to be found.  I heard of 70+ horses who need to be evacuated from a property up there and moved into permanent homes.  I don't know if that's factual or not, but the numbers are staggering in a province that's tinder dry - no rain = no hay! 

Several groups are working to collect donations. The Red Cross has seen MILLIONS donated in just a few short days.  It's incredible to see the province, communities and people come together to help each other. 
A facebook group: Farms for Fort McMurray is working quickly to set up collection depots throughout Alberta for donations of feed, supplies and money for horses displaced.  They are working with the AEF and SPCA in their efforts.  The Edmonton Garrison has graciously opened the barn doors at the stables for horses displaced and to be a central collection location to warehouse and inventory donations and ready donations for distribution by AEF and SPCA. 
My roll?  What I do best.  I bring people together.  A notice comes to me that someone is looking to have a fleet of trailers ready to move in to bring a herd out - I have that contact information.  A notice comes in that there are tonnes of hay bales that need to be picked up and hauled to donation sites - I have that connection as well.  When horses come to the garrison barns, I will be there to assist hands on with first aid, identification and care of received horses. 
A portion of the proceeds of my upcoming first-aid clinics will go to purchasing of first-aid supplies for horses displaced by the fire. 

In July I will be taking my disaster preparedness training with Equi-Health Canada to help people prepare for the unknown.  This year it's a wildfire, but 3 years ago it was flooding.  Disasters come in many forms. 

Make a plan, be safe, hug your horses and loved ones.
Happy horseing.

And All the Pretty Ribbons

I've learned a lot from my boy.  I love him to the ends of the world and back; he's been a wonderful partner and teacher. 

This weekend I learned that I don't just have 1 horse in him and really, I shouldn't treat him like I do or expect him to be just the same horse all the time. 

Ponoka once again hosted the Silver Dressage Championships for the PAADA show series we've been attending this season.  I entered Ritchie and I in the first-level classes, a regular silver test and the same championship test each day, plus the freestyle on Saturday evening.  This weekend I had 3 distinct horses to ride.

Horse #1.  Yeehaw!  This horse came out a humpy backed and ready to rip.  This horse is the first horse I rode on Saturday (note, not the horse I rode in warmup on Friday evening...)  He was not interested in partnership, focus, or very much try.  I had a few crow hops, and no bend.  A very stiff horse and not at all a fun horse.  We rode, though, we got through that test and I didn't see horse #1 again that weekend.  (I didn't miss him either!)

Horse #2.  This is the horse I'm so proud to own.  I love this horse.  He lets me be the pilot, he bends, he works and he goes in that arena like he owns it.  This is the horse I had for my championship test on Saturday.  I liked that test much better.

Horse #3.  This is the spoiled little boy with a pout on.  After completing a dressage test, the ritual is always the same: go get checked out by the steward and get off, go to the barn.  After the championship test on Saturday, we were only a short time before being back in for the freestyle, so we stayed on and stayed in.  The steward saw him not just once, but TWICE and I still did not get off!  I had the gall to put him back to work!  Suddenly we had a right kick-out every canter depart to the left.  Made for a "dynamic" freestyle as he was quite certain I'd lost my mind when I put him back in the arena.  It was not a fun ride, he was not giving me anything extra.  But we got through, one more lesson learned. 

Sunday we had a little lunge and worked a nice warm up.  Horse #3 was back although not nearly as naughty.  The kick-out was back but it was less work to have him go.  The test was much more smooth with a pair of 7.5 (one for a coefficient!!) I took him back to the stall and left his saddle on, halter on but plenty of room to eat hay and drink.  An hour and a half later, I came back for him with only about 5 minutes before we went in for our test.  We walked and did one trot transition before going in for our test.  Guess which horse I had?  Horse #3!  He loved the test because he knew it well, he'd ridden it every time we'd been to Ponoka.  He felt confident and willing.

What am I most proud of?  The fact that I took my horse and rode every single test we'd entered. No matter the horse that came out, we went in the arena, rode the test and came back out in the right order.  That's the first time I'd done this solo without my friend and Ritchie's Aunty there to help my confidence.  I'd planned a coach to warm us up on Saturday and I'm so glad I had that foresight.  Beyond that, I did not engage if he tried to fight, I simply kept riding. When he cooperated, I praised him. It worked.  It worked a treat!  And, in the end? 

I did good, yes?

Another pair of first-place ribbons for his tests, Provincial Reserve Champion, Provincial Champion (freestlyle), Show Reserve Champion, and Series High-Point Champion. 

Ride the horse you have, ride forward and look up and happy horseing. 

When You're Right, You're Right!

She did. She waited until I was away.  Waxed up Friday afternoon and, by 9:00 am on Saturday morning, he was up and nursing. 

Welcome California Beach Boy (ES California Dreamin/Gazal Al Shaqab x Bluebell/Beach Boy) AKA "Billy". 
Although he's roughly 14 days early, everything is exactly where it should be. He's awake, moving well on his gigantic spider legs and has already learned people mom is excellent for bum rubs and scratches!  He is black - or the beautiful seal-brown colour of his sire, with about 4 white hairs on the offside of his forehead.  It will be really exciting to watch him strengthen and tighten and get control over all of those noodley appendages!  Mom's doing very well also.  She's protective - rightly so, but nurses him well and is very diligent. 

Happy baby Horseing!

Mane Event!

Hold onto your hats, it's going to be a great weekend!  We're off to the

Come by and see me at the Equi-Health Canada booth!  I'll be in the lecture hall on Friday morning from 11:45 - 12:45 giving a talk on equine first aid "For the Life and Love of the Horse".  The only place that's acceptable to be if you're not coming to see me is in the ring watching David Marcus teach.  I may be fan-girling on Thursday while he's teaching.  Just saying...

I didn't go to Mane Event last year.  First year in many that I hadn't been there.  Previously Jose and I have both attended to participate in breed demonstrations and also ride with clinicians.  I had the pleasure of riding with Olympian, Dr. Cesar Parra several years ago.  It's a fun environment, always something for everyone.

I'm thrilled to be representing Equi-Health Canada this year.  It's high time that Mane Event invited something ground level for the common horse person.  Something everyone needs to know.  Something I believe so deeply in!  I'll be geared up.  Likely you won't miss me as our CEO has asked me to dress to represent the English disciplines and has logo-ed up a number of clothing articles for me. 

Only downside, Belle's quite sure she wants to foal while I'm away.  Gigantic udder on her already.  If she gets any bigger, she'll burst!  Just no wax yet.  Yet...  Last year, the mares held off until I was out of town.  This year looks like the same thing.  Belle's at 323 days today, not DUE properly until May 7, but I don't think she's interested in our opinions... 



Happy Horseing! 

I Love Ugly Baby Pictures!!

Some horses are naturally photogenic - like some people.  Every angle looks beautiful.  And then there's my horses (and me!) 

Working with my ugly mooseling (Chai) recently with clippers and snapped a winner of a picture!  I'm going to keep this for when she grows up into a beautiful girl! 

Now, in all fairness, mooseling has never really been overly photogenic...

 

Now in all fairness, her daddy went through an ugly phase too... 

Fortunately that was short lived <3  Hopefully Chai matures just as nicely. 

Happy Horseing (or mooseing.., whichever.)

Big Life Lessons

Do you know I hate trailering?  Being in a regular trailer makes me feel VERY claustrophobic.  That's the reason I bought my Boeckmann trailer.  I feel all sorts of safe while I'm in there with the horses.  Last night, the fillies got to learn about loading in my trailer.
Both Princess and Chai had been in the trailer with their moms last year, but haven't done it solo yet.  It's quite a different story, let me tell you! 

Both would confidently stand up front feet on the ramp, but they would get stuck there.  That's ok, we keep it positive and don't make a fight.  Certainly I don't want them to see the trailer and think BACKWARDS! 
So we discussed that going forward makes pressure stop.  This is a life skill!!!  Out in the open we asked for forward and released pressure when it was given.  We would stop, send off in opposite directions and remove pressure when they move forward.  It didn't take them long before they felt very comfortable that they knew the answer. 
Once again, we re-approached the ramp.  Both again confidently stepped front feet on the ramp.  Then I added pressure.  The thought for backwards came first, but they knew that wasn't the right answer.  One step at a time, both found bravery and climbed into the trailer all by themselves (well, with me) and found that the trailer has a bunch of cookies and rubs and one very happy mama!  After a quiet minute or two, we gently backed out of the trailer and went for a walk.  Once more time, back up to the trailer and this time each one was more confident and quicker to find the answer in the trailer.  We call that very good and put them away. 

So proud of my little girls.  "Little" girls...  growing up so fast!  I'm very proud of the brains and willingness to try they have.  They're going to be incredible!  - They already are <3

Chai did it! 

Change Up

Ah yes, like the rolling stone, we never stay still.

The newest, we're relocating.  Not a far move, but we are relocating our home base.  The move is causing a change in the business structure with a decrease in breeding.  That being said, the herd at large is for sale at this time.  What are we keeping?  Ritchie, Jose, Chai and old man Bucky. 

The remainder of the broodmare band is available.  That includes:
Lilyana, 2010 CWHBA mare 16.2 hh (Gervantus II x Tango Selune) inspected and approved RPSI.  She is currently in foal to Ritchie and could be sold bred back or open.

Bluebell, I think she's 2006 CWHBA mare, approximately 16.3 hh (Beachboy x Bjazzo) inspected with the CWHBA and currently in foal to purebred Arab stallion, ES Calfornia Dreamin and could be sold bred back to Ritchie, with foal or open.

DTD Fancy That, Again, not 100% sure on age but around 2008 purebred Arab mare.  Probably the prettiest mare on the property by far.  She's a wonderful producer, a sweet gem and is also inspected and approved with the RPSI. She is currently in foal back to Ritchie and can be sold bred back, with foal or open. 

My very special girl that I'm quite sad to let go of, A Promise for You, 2002 (ish) Standardbred mare.  This is Jose's sister.  Approximately 16.1 hh and also inspected and approved with the RPSI.  She spent a good career as a race horse and I have her non-racing Standardbred papers.  I love this mare. She is sweet, kind, so sensible and the picture of exactly what I like in a mare.  She is currently open but I would be so happy to breed her back to Ritchie as well. 

I am open to offers on any of the girls, for purchase or breeding lease.  We also still have Princess available for purchase as well. 

It hurts to let go of my equine family, but it's unfortunately part of what we have to do.  You're welcome to contact me with questions.  I've got papers on everyone (except Bluebell.  Apparently CWBHA has an aversion to mailing the updated papers.  They have my money, she's in my name according to their records, but no papers returned...)

Le sigh.  Another page in the history.  Hug your ponies and happy horseing!