Transamerica 2008!

We have kicked off the first leg of the tour---we have been in the truck for the first 3 hours or so of a 30 hour drive, so we are 10% done!


We are on our way to A Cut Above Performance Horses near Edmonton , Alberta, Canada, with some precious cargo in tow. Miss Rondee and the very special Ding a Ling (soon to be name Sugar) are racking up the miles for such young ladies.
Ding has never been off the farm in her life--yet learned to load her hiney in the trailer last nite and is happy as a clam to be there. She will not even be two for another month, but she is handling all the disruption beautifully-- I have to admit I am a little surprised at that.

Rondee is not new to hauling, but she has moods where she is agreeable and moods where she is not. She is doing really well today, loaded up in seconds flat, settled in nice and quiet and promptly pooped up the trailer. That is to be expected though, although I wish they would not mess up my pretty shavings, I guess it is necessary.

Think this is going to be cushy enough for them? In some places it is over their fetlocks. It is a long ride, and they are on mats as well---and we brought the muck bucket to clean as we can--which is not the easiest thing in the world. I do not want to push my luck on such young girls with not much hauling experience by wagging the shit fork at them---I am actually kind of amused by this business. Normally, I open the door, tell whoever to get in there and don't hurt yourself, and then I drive off. I have hauled thousands of miles, but never more than 800 straight before. 2000 miles one way this time! And of course on those trips, I do nice--for going to the vet, an hour to trail ride or something--they do not get this kind of preparation--they just get in and we leave. I have to admit though that Barry got the trailer ready and he did a really good job.



One of the best things--these great buckets with sealed lids in which we can haul our own water. Our friend Shawn hooked us up with these several years ago, and they have been lifesavers. I do not however advise stepping on them as a means to get to the top of the hay stack so you can take pictures looking down on the horses (which did not come out right anyway)---when you do that, water shoots out the spout and up your shorts. Take my word for it.
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Funny so far: We just passed a billboard for a casino and it said "Over 900 hot Slots". Barry thought it said "over 900 hot SLUTS" and is looking for the exit.

The little ones are not so little anymore

This morning, I noticed Midget standing in the front pasture in a position that is so much like her Daddy, I had to stop the car and watch her for a while. Unfortunately, I did not notice that my camera was set on something wacky so the photo quality is a mess. Even so, it is easy to see the family resemblance between them. Just the way she is stood up looking at me is all Sly.

The last time I measured her, she was 14 hands at the hip and a hair shorter at the wither. I have to remember that she was a much later baby than the others, but honestly I am shocked she ever got this tall. I was sure she would stay well under 13'2", maybe closer to 13 hands, despite the fact that her dam was a big girl and her yearling brother probably was taller then her when he was weaned.

Speaking of short stuffs, even Ding is growing up. I measured her last week, and she is 13'2" at the hip, and an inch shorter at the wither. She is a full 5 months younger than the other yearlings though, so I guess she is not so small after all. She had her feet trimmed tonite and got sent out to play after she was finished--she was sure glad to be reuinited with her sisters. She has recently turned into the sweetest, most personable thing--wanting to be in your pocket, or have you scratch her itchy spot on her chin. I did not know she had it in her, but she is just full of surprises lately. I bet she grows into a really nice mare.

Speaking of Ding

Since she was in, and I need to sell her too, I decided to measure her with the big stick. That thing scares everyone. She is smaller than the other two yearlings (who are big for my house), but she is also 5 months younger than them, which is easy to forget.

She not only did not care a whit about that scary measuring stick, but let me measure her about 6 different times to make sure I was getting it right.

She is a half inch over 13 hands at the wither, and 13'1"1/2-3/4" at the hip. While that is small for most people's yearlings, it is not really so small for ours, and considering how small she was when she was born, I am really pleased with it. I no longer have any doubt that she will get to 14'2"--probably by this time next year or so.

I am taking pics of her tonight, so I will post them eventually. She sure is a friendly little baby, and scared of nothing.

Ding is changing shapes

from pot-bellied pig form to that of an actual horse! Who would have thunk that one week of measured weights of hay, and two weeks of Strategy (if that) would change one so quickly. This gets me even more excited about what is going to go on here.

I have to constantly remind myself that she is four months younger than these other two yearlings which is a lot when you are talking about babies, so that explains the difference in size---and it is also true that these yearlings are the biggest I have ever had. That makes the difference even more noticeable.

Regardless of her current size, she is super agile, and can get up under herself so far, it is amazing. When she stops, she just folds up into a C shape and rides it out. I have not noticed any of the awkwardness you see in the movement of babies and yearlings....I am sure it has been there, because they all have their doofus moments, but she is so sure footed and athletic, I just don't remember seeing her mess up yet. If waiting a little longer to start her is the only downside to this, I do not have a problem with that!

A peaceful photo

While all the shoeing was going on tonight, I had some free time to wander around and take photos--two of the yearlings (Voodoo and Ding) were playing hide and seek with me behind a round bale, and I got the cutest shot of them

This picture makes me happy for some reason, maybe it is the lighting, maybe it is the game we were playing, but it looks like they are so content. Look at their matching ears! I guess it is not strange, since they are so closely related, but it never fails to amaze me at some of the things they all have in common. I don't think there is one that does not have those curly ears!