Harley is winning at school

And doesnt she look great? She keeps having new "firsts" and taking them in stride. This weekend, she got her first blanket. Her first time to show Barry her tricks. Her first whoa/back on her own. She is starting to understand moving off my legs. It is so fun. She is ready for her first bit.

I'm typing ths on an on-screen keyboard cuz mine is not here yet. This has taken forever.
When it gets here, I can tell you about Slate's attempyed suicide, how the peeg stole my prescriptions, and many other stories. Esp how the trash people did not come again.

The apocolypse

is happening in my house right now.

Don't ever put horse blankets in your house dryer. Louder than hell.

Also I am cooking. Pies even.

Jacked up Again

My keyboard is doing its tricks again--the middle of it craps out on me. That makes for an incomprehensible post, so I have not bothered. I ordered a new one, but it is taking its time getting here.

I am however alive. Still a little sick, but had my first personal training session yesterday since I got sick, and it is like starting all over. I feel better for having gone though--now let's see what happens.

I have been working hard on Harley, and de-spoiling Hammer. Its absolutely fascinating and amazing to me that I have been able to do so much with Harley on my own. Well, hardly on my own, as Tracy is teaching me what to do, then making me do it, and Les is invaluable with some of the ground work stuff. But it is all me sitting up there and riding her around, and that floors me just to think of it. Now that I am doing it, I see that is the easy part....and having Harley be so amazing makes it seem like cake. Now see if I keep up that story when I suffer my first unauthorized ejection, which is bound to happen some time soon.

Also, Operation throw it Away is still going strong. Barry won't recognize the farm. I cannot wait to show him, but I am running out of time. The weather is getting ready to put a stop to it too. The rest of the time lately I have been hanging out with Tracy and Bradgelina, who is the cookingest man I know--I have never eaten as well as I have this week, and hearing all the stories of those two on their adventures in the barrel world and beyond over the last 30 years has had me in stitches. It has been a super fun week.

So, please do not forget me when I cannot type--I will be back as soon as I can. Meanwhile, have a great Thanksgiving!

Scenes

Sophisticated Catt--a Three-peat

This is the sire or Wonkers and Bambi, Two of our 2010 foals. Both are for sale. This story was released just tonight on the AQHA website, right after the senior cutting finals at the world show.

SENIOR CUTTING

Boyd Rice and Sophisticated Catt

WINNER STATS

• Horse name: Sophisticated Catt
• Pedigree: 2002 sorrel stallion, High Brow Cat-Shania Cee by Peppys Boy 895
• Breeder: Billy Cogdell, Tulia, Texas
• Owner: Keith Feister and Dale Koller, Gainesville, Texas
• Exhibitor: Boyd Rice, Spearman, Texas
• Trainer: Boyd Rice, Spearman, Texas
• Total class entries: 27
• Purse: 35,880.03
• World Champion Prizes: Custom gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, Cripple Creek logoed Jacket, Justin ostrich boots, Professional's Choice products, Nutrena Feed, neck wreath and medallion

Three in a row for Sophisticated Catt.

by Christine Hamilton
The American Quarter Horse Journal

Boyd Rice and Sophisticated Catt took the senior cutting world championship for the third year in a row November 18 at the 2010 AQHA World Championship Show. Third in the go, they scored a 225 for the win.

The trainer from Spearman, Texas, was fresh off winning a reserve world championship in the junior cutting on November 17 with Carl and Shawnea Smith’s Third Cutting.

“You know, the cattle were a little bit better tonight than they were last night,” Boyd said after the win. “Of course, I drew earlier, first (with Bobby Lewis’ Dual Spark) and third. I cut three perfect cows on Sophisticated Catt and, you know, he’s a phenomenal little horse, and it worked out just right.”

The two were invited back as last year’s world champions.

“We never showed him all year until right before this,” Boyd said. “I showed him one time. We just legged him up and went to working him a little bit, and I showed him one time and marked a 75 and then came here.

“I don’t think he’s been showed (otherwise)… since last year. He was pretty simple this time.”

The 2002 chestnut is a son of High Brow Cat and out of the great mare Shania Cee whose titles include 2000 National Cutting Horse Association Horse of the Year and 1999 NCHA Futurity winner. Shania Cee is a daughter of American Quarter Horse Hall of fame mare Lynx Melody.

Sophisticated Catt has three crops of registered foals now; the oldest are foals of 2008. He has more than $200,000 in combined World Show and National Cutting Horse Association earnings.

“I just want to thank (Keith Feister and Dale Koller) for letting me ride him,” Boyd said, “and I have to thank all my help. There are a lot of (people) that go into this.”

Original story at http://aqha.com/Showing/World-Show/Open-Western/Senior-Cutting.aspx

Diagnosis

Like everyone was waiting on the edges of their seats for this news, but I finally saw the doctor, just so he could tell me I have my annual asthmatic bronchitis, sinus infection, possible strep throat and pneumonia.

Well that was such a mystery. This happens every year, but it is ahead of schedule this year. I also got my annual lecture about not staying on the Zyrtec every day like I am supposed to, so it is my own damn fault. Apparently, my lungs are shot after having undiagnosed allergies all these years, so as soon as one thing gets aggravated like by sleeping with the window open one freaking night, this happens.

All this talk about allergies gave me a brilliant idea--when I started coughing when I was outside feeding and watering, I took a hit off my inhaler. I use it so rarely that this thing is probably a year old. I need a new one But by God, it made a difference! That albuterol makes me want to puke from the taste of it, but it did help calm down the coughing. Who knew? Guess I need another stinking prescription, which is ridiculous in light of the following:

I took NINE prescriptions to Walgreens--some of my regular stuff like two thyroid meds (a total of five pills a day), a keep me from killing people med, my neuropathy med (three pills at a time), special cough medicine that is the shit, steroids to calm it all down, the Levaquin which might make my tendons rupture but clears up the bronchitis and sinus infections, Zyrtec that my insurance will not really fill, etc....and what do you think would happen? The stupid prescription company my insurance put the skids. I probably set off some alarm about how one person who is not 92 should not have to take that much medicine. And if they only knew how anti-medicaion I am, it would be even more ridiculous.

Walgreens told me to come back later, and sent me away with the scrips the insurance company was raising hell about. Fine. I go back to work for a few hours, then went back when I got a coughing fit. The good cough medicine works wonders on me. I hoard that stuff like crazy, it is so good. They ring me up and at the last minute tell me they are OUT of the cough medicine.

Bastards.

I know you were wondering

so I am here to tell you--I DID buy gas today. On Monday. Not a minute before even though I drove 16 more miles in the car yesterday.

Buying gas was practically all I did today. I am so sick I can hardly move, because when I move, I cough. On the other hand, when I lay down, I also cough. The ideal position is sitting up in bed at a peculiar angle and not breathing very deep.

I started antibiotics today, and drank half a bottle of Nyquil, and slept off and on. Eventually, I had to go feed and water, so I bought gas.

That is the whole show. Nothing else happened. Not at all.

Maybe tomorrow. I am starting to forget what the world looks like. On the other hand, I am now addicted to Pregnant at 16 and Teen Mom.

An example of my logic

I am always so sure that I do things the right way and everyone else is screwed up. I am still pretty sure of that, but this thing I did today suggests I might not be right either.

Everyone knows how OCD I am about particular things. Not all, obviously, because I still cannot put up the laundry or weedeat, but some things completely control my life. For example, the gas light came on in my car on Thursday, I think. I looked at the mileage yesterday and only had 281 miles on the tank, which is a 19.1 gallon tank. That is absurd. I decided that I would get gas on Monday. That will show that damn car who is boss, won't it? I should certainly be able to get by until then since I am not going anywhere or any significance.

Every time I leave the property and go to town, I pass two gas stations about three miles from home at the most. So getting gas is not hard. I have had the diesel can for the tractor in my car since Thursday, so I have lots of reasons to go to the gas station. But I have made up my mind. I am getting gas on Monday. It is not Monday. Thus, there will be no gas purchased.

After last evening's great ride, I did nothing but hang out at home, read some books, played with the dogs and went to bed early. That required no gas. I got my hair cut at 11:15 this morning, and thought about gas, because the light was on the whole 8 mile round trip. But I am not getting gas until Monday. I came home, and watched the end of the Illinois football game and went back to bed for a nap with the big chicken, Tazer. I'm still sick, see. Plus, taking a nap does not require gas. Because I am not buying any.

I woke up when it was time to go to Tracy's to feed her ponies and hose the dog poop. She lives about 7 miles south of me. Normal people would go in their car, wouldn't they? But I am not normal. If I went in the car, I might have to get gas. I am not getting gas. Instead, I went in the truck, which still has the gray horse trailer on it. That gets about 8 miles to the gallon, or thereabouts. To justify that stupid move, I decided to also go all the way to the next town, 15 miles south of her house, to buy a big load of shavings for the farm. Which I did, then came back and drove it over to the farm to feed, even though I knew full well I was not feeling good enough to empty the shavings. Maybe tomorrow.

So what I did was drive 30 miles out of my way, when I do not feel good, to avoid buying gas at a gas station I have to pass, because I decided I was not buying gas until Monday. Now, why did I pick Monday? I have no idea. Maybe because I play games in my head about predicting what my bank balance will be when the paychecks hit, but that would not explain why I also drove the trailer to the grocery store and bought steaks and pork chops and ham that costs way more than gas, and that I will just put in the freezer and never eat. Also, there is plenty of money in the bank, so no need to be all anxious about what gets bought when. Not at all.

This is the kind of ridiculousness that goes on around here.

I am afraid I am getting more and more like my mother every day.

So guess what I am doing tomorrow? I am NOT getting gas. Everyone keep their phones on should I run out and need someone to pick me up on the road

I pretty much rock

Today, after work, young Miss Harley had her fifth and most amazing ride thus far. Not only does she happily load her butt in the trailer like grown folk, she learned today that walking in straight lines is cool.

To be fair, no one has really asked her to walk in straight lines until today. Up til now, the goal has been just to make her move her feet, which mostly results in lots of circles. She can wad herself up to the side, and switch her butt and head in such a small area, its impressive. She will be a spinning fool some day. I have been riding her in a rope halter, with one lead---when I want to change directions, I pitch it over her head and go the other way. Thank God she is a saint, because for every time I make a successful throw over her head, I catch it on an ear, over her nose, etc, at least four times. She could care less and quickly figured out that if I am throwing something, she will be changing directions.

So today, I got all crazy, and tied the lead around so that it was like a roping rein and she took to it like a duck to water. She was a trip and a half--so relaxed and happy to go wherever I pointed her. Not an ounce of cranky in her, she is brave and easy-going---she is just an absolute joy. We even put some obstacles in her way and played with them-we went over poles, around barrels and big bouncy balls--whatever could be put somewhere, we did. Nothing phases her and she so wants to do what you are asking--and for once, it is so clear to me that if she did not do it, it was because I was not being clear in my request.

She was so quiet and laid back, my mom even rode her and got along great with her. I could not stand it though, so I got back on after mom rode a while and played a little more.

Hammer got some work done too, which is swell, but I expect him to be good. He will be attending Les' trailer loading schoolsoon whether he likes it or not, because I LOVE pointing Harley at the trailer and telling her to get in, and she does everything necessary short of tying her lead rope in the trailer. Hammer knows full well what to do but is inconsistent about it, and who needs that? not me.

If I do nothing else this weekend, I will be happy with this accomplishment.

More odd animal behavior documented

I still feel like the ass end of rabid bat, so I cannot think up much to talk about. And no, I do not even know what that means. So I bring you an update in the annals of Peeg n Cat love. This is the scene that greeted me when I left the house to go to work this morning. Yes, I went to work in my condition. On a holiday. Go me. I actually got a lot done in between wishing I was dead. In any event, aren't these sweet children, my peeg and my cat?

And if you ever come to my house, you will have no reason to question why my landscaping looks like a bomb went off. Because it kind of did. Pigs root, it is what they do. He has calmed down on destroying the yard, which makes Barry happy, and now seems to focus on the landscaping. That is weed burial material wadded up in front of piggle. He digs it up to get a good laying spot either to get warm or cool. I wonder if it is better if he tears up the landscaping or goes back to pooping in the garage? I am not sure which is worse. Poop is gross, but no one sees it, so that makes for a dilemma.

In other news, we have become the proud new owners of Bugsy and Mugsy. I think I found them on Monday nite. Found is not the right word. Damn-near-ran-over-them-in-the-driveway is closer to accurate. I guess someone dumped them at the farm. The first nite, I saw one of these and one a little bigger with really dark stripes. One was a girl and one was a boy. They are late teenagers at least, the dark one may be older. The next day, Vickie texted me while watering that we had two new boys cats and she had named them Bugsy and Mugsy. This led to a strange texting thread about cat balls because I was sure one of them had no balls, and it concerned me that both of us were so sure about the sex of these kitties. It just is not the sort of thing people need to battle about. Esp via text.

The mystery was solved the next time I was there. There are two matching gray kitties PLUS the other one. The stripey one is not as consistent, but these two sweeties are there all the time. They are not normal feral farm cats at all, as they want to be with you, and let Vickie pick them up. They are very playful and kind of a menace when I am using the lunge whip---I may end up accidentally chucking one across the yard some day, because they leap on the rope end of the whip as I am using it. Now it is Thursday, and they are still there. Not mashed, not run away, nothing. And I may have seen a flash of black when I was there after dark tonight, which moved way faster than a skunk can, so maybe there is more. Either that, or I am having visual hallucinations to go along with the olfactory hallucinations that make me think there is a skunk in my purse. Or my car. Or my bed. All of which could really be happening, but I have seen no evidence of it, so I think I am hallucinating.

On a last note, I did a weird thing today in that I spent time before work, during my lunch hour, and after work giving away horse shit. Someone wanted to take it all, but I guess they did not believe me when I said there had to be at least 50 tons of it. They took about 15 tons. And there is still 50 tons, in the dude's estimate. I am not good at guessing that sort of thing.

Anyone need some shit?

The Plague

I gots it.

I have no idea what is wrong with me. Yesterday my brain hurt and my eyeballs burned and I fell asleep in an inappropriate place. And still I went to bed a couple of hours earlier than usual, which I have been doing lately. Today, I woke up thinking I had been beat with bats in my sleep. I went to work thinking moving around and doing something would help. Plus, I was looking forward to leg workout day with the Bad Boy. I HATE missing that.

It did not happen. I was back in bed by noon. I slept for four hours and woke up sweating.

I went to do what I had to do animal-wise, and it was pointed out to me that I was sweating, just standing around outside when it is only 65 degrees. Which really sucks, because the weather truly is gorgeous, and I cannot enjoy it because I am sweating for no reason. There is nothing charming about that.

Tomorrow is a holiday, but I scheduled myself to work it in exchange for not working a day I will be at the NRHA Futurity. So I HAVE to go, as it is practically an act of God to un-do all the paperwork that was involved in making the switch.

Blech. Im going back to bed

Harley in the carwash

Ignore this first video--its jacked up but I cannot get the thing off of here.

Tracy sent me videos of my big day riding Harley. Since they are of me, most of them are filled with me randomly cussing like I have Tourette's. This one mostly is just me cackling at how very odd this horse is.

The tarp hanging from the ceiling is a desensitization tool-- I call it the carwash. Most horses are terrified of such things, but Harley liked it from the first minute she saw it. Look how content and comfortable she seems to be

We are not really in the steering stage of riding yet---we are just trying to make her move her feet. That means that she chose where we went most of the time today--and for some reason, she chose the carwash. I guess that means that she will not likely have an issue on a trail ride--not that I ever have an issue on a trail ride, but clearly she is not bothered by the noise of the tarp or having her body brushed by the tarp strips. Unless you consider her taking a huge crap at the end of this to be a sign of concern

I cannot tell you how much fun this is for me. I really want to do this a couple of times a week. Every time we do something, she improves by leaps and bounds. I want to consistently work on her, but keep it fun. Since it will now be dark when I get home from work, I bought some lights for my round pen at the farm--that will make it possible to hop on for just a few minutes at least a few times a week. Tracy invited me to come ride at her house when ever I want, so that will be an option as well. This could be the perfect winter project for me

Turning the day around

Whatchoo looking at? That is how my day started--not in a good mood at all.

I was tired, cranky, had a headache, and generally in a bad mood. I was so foul that I was not even interested in playing outside in the gorgeous weather. Still, I loaded up Harley and went to Traci's to play. I know I cannot pass up a chance to hang out with Traci and Les, and we are really having fun with Harley, so off I went.

I was not even out of the truck before my whole mood changed. As soon as you pull up in the driveway, a whole herd of these silly monkeys come pouring out to greet you.

How can you be in a bad mood with all that going on? They run so fast, and they just keep coming. They snuffle and wheeze and make atrocious sounds, and it absolutely cracks me up. They are all so sweet, and happy to see me, they are running all over each other, and rolling around on the ground, and tackling each other, and I love every minute of it.

One of my favorite things about them is how they all have their own special resting position. Some of them sit on one hip, some lay on their bellies with their legs stuck out behind them like frogs, some lay right on top of another one. They can lay down and rest anywhere--this was smack in the middle of the driveway.

See what I mean? Check out all those funny short legs.

This one is posing for a photo. Normally they do not slow down this much, unless they are resting.

This is one of my favorites, Bentley. I can tell him apart from the other ones, because he has crazy markings. The more I am around them though, I can tell the differences between them--like Zach, who is one of my favorites, because he has a big ol head and no neck at all. He looks like a wrestler. I guess I did not get a shot of him today. There are a whole bunch of these dogs there to play with. AND the best part of today is that one of the girlies is going to have puppies in a month or so, so there will be a whole batch of Christmas pups to play with!

In Harley news, we did lots of fun stuff today. I rode around a lot. She takes everything so well. We even rode through the tarp streamers, because she wanted to. We did not trot yet even though we tried, because she is lazy lazy lazy. I like it that way to start with. There is video of our big adventure, and if it has any parts that are not full of me randomly cussing, I might post it. We will see how it turns out. Then Les taught her how to load herself in the trailer, which is pretty cool considering she has only been in the trailer twice in her life so far. She has got this lunging thing down pat already. This week, I am going to work on WHOA. I am having an absolute ball with this. Traci is an amazing teacher and she is giving me so much confidence, I had no idea I could do this. With her help though, I feel like I can do lots of things I never thought I could. I am looking forward to spending more time with them--my face actually hurts from laughing all afternoon.

This day turned out great after all.

Harley takes a ride

Harley let me ride her today. This was the second time anyone has ever sat on her. First time was last week, with Barry. I know I am asking for trouble when I saw this, but I am totally amazed by her. She takes everything in stride. No, she is not pinning her ears at me, she is listening to me. She seems as happy as I am to play games with me. She has not gotten pissy, or excitable, about anything.

Even more impressive than her behavior is me and my nerviness. I am a pretty timid rider, so that I got the nerve to do my part is shocking to me. Tracy has been helping talk us through it, and that has been fun. It gives me a goal to work toward--not only teaching her things, but more importantly, giving me a place to push through my own fears.

I feel like a super star right now.

On that note, I quit you all so I can watch Zenyatta run in the Breeders Cup. I sure hope she protects her record and does not disappoint.

Greatest Music of All Time?

I have no idea why I am thinking of this, but I have been in a weird mood all day, so this is probably one of the most normal trains of thought I have had.

You know how some music puts you in a serious mood? Like your main song from your first boyfriend can make you all melancholy and nostalgic? But its still good to hear it in a surprise way.

Today I am thinking of music that makes me happy....sing it out loud while you are driving and maybe jig around your house kind of happy. I do not think the stereo in my house is even plugged in because we get no stations and we are so out of date, we think getting a radio station is still how you get music, so if I am really getting after it in my house, it is to music in my head. I figure it does not matter since only dogs live here most of the time, and who are they gonna tell? It does scare them a little.

When I was in college, I had a roommate who would play old high school music when she was lit up stupid drunk and cry about her ex boyfriend. That would be sad, but it was usually music by Tiffany or some other great musician--not really the kind of music that should inspire that reaction. All of us who got caught cross ways in one of her concerts of treachery and depression struggled with not laughing our asses off, but to do that would cause a whole other level of crazy to get loose of her. That was a complicated time in my life, but we had a lot of fun too, so do not think I am just complaining. I am, but also, there were good things.

So anyway, off the drunken lush music and back to the good stuff--what are your best songs ever? The kind that make you sing and carry on like you think you are on Solid Gold-- this takes a lot for me, since I do not dance in public unless I have been overserved pretty seriously. When I am by myself though--watch out! I have car dances, office chair dances, slide up and down the hallway dances--you name it, I have it. Barry dances, so when he catches me doing these he always makes me stop it. He says it scares him and I might hurt myself. He probably has something there, but I guess I just found a good side effect of him living elsewhere for work.

In any event--here comes the list

I love almost anything by Prince. I love me some Prince. I know I have mentioned this more than once on here. The raunchier the Prince song the better. I remembering buying a 45 on Little Red Corvette at 3D when I was a little bitty kid--the first one I bought with my own money, I think. That should have been a sign right there--I blame my parents. Don't I always? I love the real filth, like Darling Nikki and Pussy Control and Gett Off. That is a little embarrassing.

Old time Madonna--like the original stuff. Lucky Star, Holiday, etc. I wanted to be Madonna so bad. Didn't all little girls in that era?

Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses. That was some good shit. I should buy that CD, it was one of the best ever.

Best cruising song of all time --Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard

Run-D.M.C. / "Walk This Way"

The Bangles / "Walk Like an Egyptian"

Mötley Crüe / "Dr. Feelgood"

The Beastie Boys. One of the Greatest Albums of all time, that still lives in the cars we have. That was some good stuff.

I also love me some Boy George--I do not have to get up and flail around from Culture Club music, but I do have to turn it up loud.

Paula Abdul / "Straight Up" --this was a good racing to lunch song, that we all sang along too. We thought we were such hot shit. Good Lord. If we only knew

Tone-Loc / "Wild Thing". Is there anyone who does not have great memories about this song? Or Funky Cold Medina--that reminds me of a particular nite.

House of Pain--Jump Around

Not that it calls for dancing, but I love Eminem. He is a genius, like my main man Prince. I love his stuff

Spin Doctors--Two Princes--reminds me of sorority stuff. The parts I can remember, that is.

Good Vibrations--Marky Mark. He turned out all right, but what happened to the Funky Bunch? I probably represent them

Naughty By Nature- OPP

Bell Biv Devoe--Poison. Reminds me of my high school graduation trip to Destin with Sam and Melissa. Was that a week. It is quite possible people would consider us some overprivileged spoiled brats with way too much freedom. They would be right. Good times though, mostly

The Humpty Dance--Digital Underground

NWA-- Straight Outta Compton. Not much dancing inspired by this one, but it sure could fire you up. Still can. I just don't want anyone to hear me listening to it.

Rock You Like a Hurricane--Scorpions

Metal Health-Quiet Riot

Lots of Black Sabbath and Ozzy from the 80s

Talk Dirty to Me- Poison

Still of the Night -Whitesnake

Most Kiss music. I have always been a believer in Gene Simmons even way before everyone else was.

Im embarrassed to admit I loved Skid Row, Cinderella, Poison, Warrant, Winger, and Van Halen--although I do not think Van Halen should be in the embarrassing category.

This was kind of fun. If I could work an IPod, I would buy one and put all these songs on it. That seems like a lot of work.

What is your favorite music to get fired up by?

The Great State of Illinois

I crack myself up. This is one jacked up place.

Election results are coming in. For the first time in my life, I stood in the polling place not at all sure who I was going to vote for in the governor race. I really did not.

I do not agree with anything Brady believes in. But I do not want the responsibility of more bullshit from Quinn either--I do not want that on my head.

The whole thing sickens me. Since I work for the government, we got today off to go vote. I worked anyway, because I am all dedicated and such. The computers were being worked on all day though, so it was somewhat counterproductive. I ended up with a big migraine that sent me to bed by 6 pm. I am now trying to remember why I got up at all, since there is nothing on TV except the commentators talking about how the sky is falling.

Ugh. That gets so old.

In other news, the vet was here over my lunch hour to see Radar's eye, some follow up preg checks and to do teeth--he did Voodoo, Harley, Squeak and Hammer. They were suitably drugged up and wandering around like zombies. I guess I was too as I must not have latched their gate, so it is a good thing I got out of bed and went to the farm around 9 pm. Their zombie-ness had worn off and they were moseying around the farm. Silly children. I am really enjoying those three young ones lately.

Also, it is Barry's birthday. And he is not home. And that completely sucks. I miss him. I hate not having big days together

For Petes sake

So who all is surprised that the TRASH IS STILL HERE?

When I called today to ask them to explain that to me, they had no idea what I was talking about.

None.