A Week and no post???? Sorry!

Well, with all the rain, cleaning around the barn, getting more hay, making sure I have plenty of pellets before they stop making them, Stocking up on feed, it was on sale? never seen that happen! I have been spending more time at the barn but not enjoying the horses.

I have been trying to go riding with a lady that owns the little healthy store two doors down. No matter what I did the weather, horse throwing a shoe, or work got in my way of being able to keep a riding date.

OUT of the blue we have three customers call and say they were coming by the next day. Well I was not about to cancel again.

As I was putting the last of my equipement in the trailer the man from Australia drives up. I couldn't just walk out with out saying hello. So I shook hands, appologised for the horse/leather smell, went up stairs to get Jerry. We all made our introductions and I excused myself as soon as I could.

I was late for my riding date. Susan lives up the road but it's nothing but curves 1/2 the way there and then gravel one lane drive the rest of the way. For those of you who know my area I was towing my two horses toward Lake Lure through the curvies over to Gerton.
I got to the second turn and got stopped by a huge dump truck. I had just crossed a creek and had to back up out of his way back onto the previous one lane gravel road.... I was just glad we didn't meet a mile closer to her house where there are no turn arounds and I didn't see many driveways deep enough to accomidate my long bed truck and my long trailer. I got there very VERY late.

I have to say Susan was so sweet! not upset ! we went on a short ride but places I had only been once or twice. It was so clear we could see all the way to lake lure area... it was beautiful! The trees are not making their normal show but it was serene all the same.

I enjoyed our ride so much. I am going back Sunday with out the second horse so She and I can ride as fast as we want. Navarre is still very slow... actually he will NEVER be a fast horse, he is built for stamina not speed.

so yes it is raining today, and expected to rain all day tomorrow, but expected to clear Sunday and I am going to trailer SweetPea back over there and have as much fun as time will allow. Thank you Susan for allowing me to ride with you! I had fun and am looking forward to more.

We got our camera back from repair... no changes, the pictures are still not crisp.
We got our computer back from repair and I hope to start using it first thing in the mornings BEFORE I have the animals to tend to.

Mornings are when my mind is more creative instead of being dulled by all the things I need to get done in a certain time period.

Talk to you later.

Should I be alarmed at the smell of smoke?

Today is Saturday, but I must back up to yesterday.

Yesterday... Friday was a cold, wet miserable day, but one I got much work done and got to check out the Craft Fair before it closed for the day. The Highlands Craft Fair is at the Conference center down town. I walked, I looked and as normal it was too craftsy for me ... so after making sure I had seen EACH vender I turned around and went to purchase TWO bells I will use for the horses. I came home and went through my nightly chores. Man it was cold last night, and into this morning.

But today, Dark, Dank, and sometimes rainy... I let the horses out, cleans my three buckets/stalls and went out to REI to return a jacket I purchased for Emma but didn't need to give her. (her jacket and Amanda's Jacket were the only things we had in the car when the horses ran away last weekend... I blogged about it... I think)

I returned the jacket, walked around because they were having a fall festival in the town square, got some magazines, a cup of cider, a red velvet cup cake and walked out. Not two feet out the door I dropped my cider with out having ever gotten a smell of it, much less the first sip. Life happens! I did get the eat the cup cake! delecious!

I walked, I then stopped to get paper for the office on my way home. Got nasty shoes, nasty jacket and went to get the horses in ... same routien... food, water, and hay. I left after checking Sweetpea's blanket and Jerry called to see if he could go down town with me. I was shocked... frankly I was stuned into a silence but somehow got out YES, I'd love for you to go.

I got gas and picked him up on the way back. For those of you whom have NO IDEA... I never mention my husband Jerry. We rarely do anything together except, WORK, Sleep, vacation, and sex. The rest of the time we really lead seperate lives, which for us works, but I do miss having a friend to just walk around with. Today... well we walked around town, ate lunch/dinner, an inbetween thing... got tea for me, and after walking almost all of down town sweets. It was a lovely day, although it was dark, wet, and windy beyond the date, feeling more like late November than mid October, but lovely for me all the same. It's so nice we like the same things, are drawn to the same things and he doesn't or didn't complain about how many stores I wanted to go into today.

I got home started looking through my mags I got earlier and what did I see? Navarre! Yes WITHOUT imagination... Navarre has now been published as an add in the Asheville mag page 43 this month... When our new camera comes back from repair...long story... I'll take a picture and post it here, but in the mean time I'm posting my copy of the picture!

Here we are at home, it's nearly 6:30 and I walk upstairs to type this out.. and it smells like smoke. He finally broke down and turned on our heat. The only thing in this stone house, with NO insulation, real plaster walls is base board heaters... so our electric runs about 400 a month to stay in the 60's ... So not only did I mean should I be alarmed at the smell of smoke for a fire reason but now I should be alarmed at the next electric bill. YUCK....

Rain Rain rain....

A picture of Navarre only HOURS after having a bath! my little piglet, does nothing but eat and get dirty!!!!!

Another Cold Rainy day... horses were put out in the rain... maring up the pasture... back into what to should be a dry lot but, is as of today a bog! Sweetpea is still wearing her tattered blanket and good news has not lost a shoe yet!





life continues in the rain, my overalls are heavy with mud, muck and rain my rain boots are getting to be too cold and about to be packed away. So the new winter boots are about to be broken in quickly, just in time for our trip to Honduras in December.





Navarre is miserable but not much I can do about it. He is not cold with all that hair, but SweetPea will not allow him in the barn, she darts in and out being afraid of the sound of the rain hitting the metal roofing. Crazy girl, miserable boy!





In the house, we are cold and about to turn on the winter heat. High today is in the 50's low in 40's but tommorow... high in low 50's and low in the 30's at that point we will have to turn on the heat, till then.... I have on three tops, two pair of socks, did have on two pair of pants but gross things came through the insulated overalls to my second pair of pants. So they had to go to the washer!

Another WET DAY

A new shot of Sweetpea taken only a week ago.

Tuesday was an ok day I got to take the blanket off SweetPea for the day but had to put it back on last night! of course this morning I found it completly ripped up, but tacked it back together and left it on her for the day. It is COLD wet and nasty here.





But I got to drive to the estate and check on the fall seeds put down for pasture. Pasture seeding is comming along well and the rain will only help! so I'm happy!





COLD COLD COLD... I'm sitting at my desk with jeans, two tops, and socks. I'm about to have to get up and put shoes on just to keep my toes warm.

Catching up!

Amanda and Emma came into town last Thursday and my time was spent with them the entire time they were here.

Thursday Emma was eager to help me go feed the horses but missed the old Fletcher Barn just down the road. It's not the barn she misses it the Rope hanging from the rafters she loves to swing on. It was the perfect place for kids to be mostly safe and have a great time.

Friday we took the horses out for a short ride. Emma rode Navarre from Joe's house down to the Ager/Clark compound Ring. The area was full of people... getting apples, meat and having a good family time picking out the perfect pumpkin etc... We ment to get cider but forgot!

Emma Rode Navarre back to Joe's house up to the barn, and we headed out for our own little adventure on the estate... Not really but Emma wanted to play on "HER ROCK" so we sat there while she played in the clay.
At which time... Joe called and the horses were out! we rushed to the barn as fast as we could found the horses and got them back in. They were down the road around a curve and eating someones yard. As I walked them back with only jackets around each of their heads... you could see where Navarre had run for dear life to keep up with SweetPea. He is a stout horse, She is a fast one. Not wanting to be left behind his hoof prints were deep and prominant on the rocky road back to the barn.

Thank goodness Amanda and Emma allowed me to use their jackets. With no ropes, no string etc... it would have been impossible to get those kids back in. It all worked out ok, we got them in just before the sun was going to set. No heat in their legs, no new cuts, and no limping that I could tell. Disaster dodged...

Saturday, we went shopping to replace the jacket I was sure I had ruined guiding the horses back to the barn. Rain was only a sprinkle so it allowed us most of the day to shop. Time got away from us and before we had eaten lunch it was time for dinner. Back to the house and watching a movie Emma brought to share with us. Good times!

Sunday... I was asked to ride with my normal group from Sugar Hollow and I told them I would be late (for once) Emma and Amanda left early so I could get out and ride. I of course forgot my bridal, it was still hanging from the cleaning. When I drove down to the barn one of the tree didn't seem to happy to wait on me so I told them to go ahead with out me. Which was the perfect thing to do, I went to the Biltmore with BOTH of my horses and had a much better time alone, and we all three got a great workout.

This was my first time out with SweetPea Bareback and ponying Navarre. As bad as he looked he was still a show stopper, with clay stains, yellow mane and tail due to EVERYTHING being in it!

He did well with no shoes. No limping, no rocks in his feet at the end of the day. Life is good.

Today... is Monday...
Normally a horrible day but today USPS is closed down so I could take a minute and get this posted. Back to work!

Day for Shoes!!!!

Today is appt day for the horses again. The Ferrier is expected! I have to say, I have been in this area for seven years now had horses for six. In all this time I had One Ferrier I liked but a bad day for he and I concluded our business relationship is all I can say. I had gone from one to the next sense and life only got worse for my horses. UNTILL I was introduced to Stacy Miller.

There are several facts you have to understand, I have been exposed to some of the best Ferrier's in the South East. So I have a certain level of expected professionalism and skill of a Ferrier. There were some I liked as people, but didn’t like their results. Others I didn’t like their personalities around my horse or how my horse reacted to them. I am such a picky person when it comes to ANY of my animals, work, pet or otherwise, if I am not being included in on their care, I do not like it to put it nicely. If someone can't handle my asking questions about what or why they choose to cut, trim or set a certain way, they don't need to be around my animals or me.

But STACY MILLER!!!! Is wonderful! I have a very timid mare and he takes his time, he takes a good two hours with her or more if she needs it. I like this!!!!!

Navarre is just a baby and doing well for his age but is yet to be perfect, while he does not lean on you as you have his foot, he doesn’t hold it up for you either. So one can get very tired holding a foot/leg that thick!

Stacy and Casey (his trusted assistant/apprentice) are both so kind, so sweet , and patient with my animals I enjoy the fact they can calm my animals instead of making them worried etc… Stacy does a hot shod which I like especially on a year like this one where it was basically wet the entire summer. He doesn’t just heat shoes but is talented with the art of metal. He makes sure it really fit’s the horses foot.

My biggest LOVE of the situation is my horses are so happy after their feet are done! With some Ferrier’s the horse has tender feet for 24 hours up to a week. Stacy puts the kids so perfect they can’t wait to run after having their toes are cut back and their shoes are perfect…

I am impressed with Stacy and Casey and happy to see them take care of my horses!

Monday!!!???

A busy day as usual, but a rainy one as well. Horses were put out in the rain by 9am gotten back up by 12, stalls clean, water, feed, sand treatment, fly treatment and clean water. Someone keeps putting their nasty hoof in the water troft.


One of the things that started my down fall and shutting the world out for a while till I could get my feet planted well again...
Navarre was diagnosed with PPSM. There are two types of this genetic disorder, he has the mild form which is good.

PPSM
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy also known under EPSM and EPSSM.... PPSM is the most widely used acronym at this time but I wanted to list all three just in case someone else out there needs info. the horse with PSSM will accumulate excessive amounts of sugar in their muscles both glycogen and polysaccharides. SIGNS are... horses developing muscle stiffness, soreness and reluctance to work with exercise, however with the Drafts and cross drafts this includes muscle atrophy, weakness and gait abnormalities. Some horses that are managed well may show no clinical signs caused by this inherited defect in the GYS1 gene (called glycogen syntheses) which appears to disrupt energy metabolism.


PPSM. is a glycogen synthesis disorder, but the most common issues are tying up andChrionic Muscle disorders. This PSSM is mostly in draft, draft crossbreeds, but also Quarter Horses, American Paints, Appaloosas, Hafflingers, some warmblood breeds, Morgans, Tennessee Walkers and other breeds.


for more info I suggest owners, caretakers and horse lovers to go to the Neuromusculare Disease Laboratory website.
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/urnec/lab/home.html

Management of PSSM is diet, exercise and turn outs
Diet is a change and control of everything... Forage, Electrolytes, Complete feeds, too complicated to go into today. But complicated enough for me to have several pages of research on it. email me if you need this info.

Exercise is more like that of a wounded horse getting BACK into shape instead of a horse at what ever age you are starting. SLOW and easy is the only way to go with these horses... otherwise you are asking for muscle issues and tying up at cool off. Again several pages of research on hand but to post it all on line would only get others heated about their horses.

But trust me this was all a lot to take in, a slow process in changing feeds, exercise, turn outs and effecting my everyday life, as anyone with a sick child would do...

Just note because this is genetic one if not both of Navarre's parents have this as well. I haven't gotten a return on any of my calls trying to find out, which is of no matter to me. I love Navarre and he is not going anywhere!

Saturday Busy Day.

Up by 5am---- trying to pack everything, double check my list, have prices in my head and on my items, run to feed the horses JUST as the sun is wanting to come up. Rushed back to the house got Jerry up and rushed to the tack swap!





Sold Joe's three HUGE blankets!


And I got rid of several little things I can't use anymore and have no room for! I am hoping to put the rest on e-bay later this month!





Jerry came back for me about 12 he broke down the tent and I came home with only one box out of three.





Rushed to let the horses out, ran to get more Sand Clear, trust me a 3 lb bucket will not last a week for two horses.... and no one keeps in more than one bucket in stock. It has been stated to me by SEVERAL companies in the area ... "we're not in Florida... we don't have sand issues" I love it when people tell me what my problems CAN'T be!!!! Especially in a rocky, mountain area, meaning we live on Lime Stone!!!! what is most sand??? Lime Stone.... Please! Just sell me the crap!





Back to the horses by 5 get them out of the pasture, pack Navarre's Right hind foot. I'm trying a new application for his Thrush, I'll let you know how it goes if it works. mixed a solution for SweetPea who has Fungus, Barn Rash or Rain Rot what ever you want to call it. Applied it to her, fed them and FINALLY came home for the day.





Tomorrow is suppose to be a good day and I hope to pack Navarre's Left foot! I hope this packing thing works.... It is hard on my back!

I took the pictures of the apples, wasp, and yellow jackets... this one is a little morbid but I like it!

What a Day.

yesterday was a full schedule. birds, horses, work, horses and horses again...

Crazy Schedule but the only way I could work it out.

I got the horses out to pasture, got them back to the dry lot and then went BACK a third time to get the horses, bring them to my HOUSE and give them BOTH a bath!

Navarre has ticks... so he needed a medicated bath to get rid of them, SweetPea has barn fungus and it needed to be gotten under control before the cold weather set in.

I've done most of my work for today but I have other apptointments OUT of the office. Hendersonville and Flether are both on the schedule for stops today.

LONG STORY will Follow.

Life is a ride, but what kind of ride is something that continues to go up and down, good and bad, happy and depressed.

I have a list of CRAP life has dealt me as of late…. I’ll get back with each of them as time allows… But in the last 15 days it’s been a roll down hill.

Lost the Hydraulics in my work truck,

Lost the Front End on my work Truck two separate work orders!!!!!

Horse has been sick this entire time, still running a low grade fever even today, The vet has been out once a week! $$$ time and stress!!!!!

One of the birds is having a mental break down picking his feathers till his skin bleeds, (it’s really a sexual frustration…. Breeding season)

It has rained here so much I couldn’t work on the estate, couldn’t get my fall pasture perfect, couldn’t get my apple trees planted.

I can deal with the normal

SweetPea throwing a shoe, Rail Shoe at that… Pad and all!

Got a new computer that will NOT work.. Brand new and the letter K sticks so bad you have to pry it up to continue to type.

Got a new camera that takes pictures so large I need to figure out how to shrink them BEFORE they go on my computer memory.

Neighbors dog came into my basement and ATE my cleaned horse brushes, tennis shoes, winter work boots and dragged all kinds of crap from my basement to the neighbors house.????? What is up with this? Does anyone watch their animals anymore? (yes hostile)

Can you imagine how easy it was to clean stalls, muck dry lot in the pouring rain ,WITH OUT the truck, life has been @*%!# lately!

I need to get back to work but wanted to let everyone know I am still alive! I am kicking, I'm just having a hard time with everything ... "Karma" I suppose!