horse auction rimbey

Yesterday was the horse auction in Rimbey. I went there with Rob and Charlene. When we arrived there it was still tack sale which wasnt so interesting. So, we went outside to have a look at the horses in the corrals. There were miniture donkey, - ponys, tall and smaller horses, a Clydesdale or a shire horse, a mare and her 2 week old foal and two mules. A colorful mix. Some looked pretty sad, poor things. Finally, at around 9 pm the horse sale started. We only watched 4 horses. It was intersting and also not that interesting. After a short time when I was there I made up my decision that this would be the last step if I ever want to sell my horse. You have no idea who buys your horse and you as a buyer have no idea what you bring in your barn.... It`s like a game, you have 50 % the chance to win !!! Well, it was a good experience, I don`t regret that i went.

work with Ben

After two relaxing days off I was back to work on Tuesday again. It wasnt too bad... We were done at 4.30 pm. And I worked with Ben today again. It was pretty busy in the arena !! I dont like it when its like in a bee house !!! We managed to get in the arena when only one other horse was in there. The stuff from the dressage day was still standing and so we went for a walk along the rail, passed scary (!) stands with letters and the judges desk. He tried to race backwards first but when I told him to have a look at this stuff he got brave and put his nose right in the fake flowers. After a few rounds in the dressage ring he calmed down and so we could go to work. We repeated what we did the last time and then added a `sort of`lunging. Left side was pretty good, the right side needs still more work. Ben still wants to back up or fly backwards and face up. I am not sure how other people worked with him before, all I can see is a afraid horse which always expect to get a punishment. I keep working with him and soon he will see the difference :)

yeah ! off

After a 5 days on work- week i am finally off for 2 days again. What a week !!! Headaches 'cause of people, good work session with Ben, horses full of themself while you lead them, hurry here and there,... I am glad to have a break now. Now, i can enjoy my days here at the farm in Winfield and just relax. I helped shovel snow in front of the saddle shop /church yesterday in the evening. There were no stars :( it's such a long time ago since I saw the stars, the moon or the sun... Here are only grey clouds, and even more grey clouds. I really hope there won't be more snow. It's suppost to be plus 14 on Thursday which means it will melt like crazy and i am positive that we will get more ice too. YEAH !!! GREAT !! We already have a layer of ice which is around 5cm. But that's i guess what you get when spring takes over bit by bit. All I want is sunshine at the moment. Good thing, I didnt put my winter gear away yet.

good in-hand sesson

Its already work day 4 which means one more to go and then.... 2 days off again !!!! :) I worked with Ben today again. We did in-hand leading and he wore the TTEAM-Bandage to give him a feeling for his body. He was fine wearing the bandage and was not so freaky anymore. I love this bandage !!! I lead him from both sides and started to prepare him for lunging by staying not at his shoulder instead behind his shoulder when I lead him. He was a bit worried first but when i told him that he does fine he was good. We make progress every time we work ;) So, we keep going with what we are doing and soon I can lunge him the way I want. As soon as he is not that worried anymore I will ride him again. I look forward to that. It wont take long and we will have good rides ;D

massage for Ben

This week I work 5 days instead of 4. One of my coworkers asked me if I would change my days off so she can have off on Saturday. I said yes, but I want off on two days in a row... and so I am off on Sunday and Monday again. Oh well.. I will survive this one more day. It`s already Thursday tomorrow. Nothing new from work, all the same. I gave a massage to Ben yesterday which he really liked. Poor guy, he has so many tense muscles all over the body. I didn`t work on this butt yet, started in the front. We have a lot of work to do !! I believe a combination of massage, acupressure, lunging and riding could help him. Maybe he also needs a chiropractor... we`ll see. It was pretty busy in the arena today and so I decided to visit Ben in the pasture and check on him. He wasn`t sure what he should think when I put the halter on him and did acupressure :D He really enjoyed the treatment of Bl 10 behind the ears. Ben closed his eyes ;) I hope to work with him tomorrow again and hopefully there are not so many people in the arena. I don`t like when it`s so crowded, some people have a hard time to look where they ride !!

angus bull sale

Rob and I went to a shorthorn and angus bull auction today. It was like the other farm auctions I was before, I mean how it works on an auction. It was my first bull auction. There were a lot nice and quiet bulls and a few were a bit nervous and hyper. We were there for around 2 1/2 hours, got a good meal incl. dessert :) Of course I had to try the dessert ;) When all the animals were sold we headed for Breton to buy food and stopped in the bakery/cafe where Krista works to say hi. I was never in this bakery. It's a nice little spot where people can meet.

impressive night shift

Saturday evening, I went to Winfield again, my weekend home. And it started full speed. There was something wrong with the one cow. She showed signs of deliver her baby, which is at least 2 weeks too early. We kept an eye on her and around 11.30 or so we went to bed and Rob checked on the cow. I was in bed only for a few minutes when Rob knocked on my door to ask me help him move the cow in a different pen. I got dressed and off we go to move the cow. After Rob put a bale of straw in the pen we went back to the house and go to bed... I was in bed around 30 min when Rob knocked on my door to ask me help move the cow in the shoot this time. The calf was hanging out of the cows rear. Okay, I got dressed again, this time warmer then the last time cause the nights are still frosty and it was windy too. Good thing, I brought my ski pants with me. I took my flash light, toque and gloves and out we go to find the cow and people in the dark. I found them but had no idea how to go to this pen.... Charlene and I went over the fence and a deep snow bank. Finally, we managed to get to the scene. The calf s head and one foot were hanging out of the cow and Rob was searching for the second foot. Poor baby, it looked dead, his tongue was hanging out of this mouth and his eyes were closed. I asked if it is still alive or not. This poor little thing got stuck with his leg somewhere. Rob worked hard to get the leg forward so he could pull it out. It was a small baby, too small. The umbilical cord was broken. It must get hung up with the leg in the cord and cut the connection to mom. Poor baby died. :( It was a cute calf. Mom got released from the shoot, she backed out of it, turned and went for a drink and back in her pen. She not even looked at the dead calf. I guess she not even knew that it was her baby which gave her this belly aches. It was just not the time yet to deliver... I think this is amazing how animals know when it`s time or not ! And then when it`s time and the cow knows there has to be a little creature which needs to take care of and something like that happens they are sad and look for it... This night was so impressive, I wouldn`t want to miss it. It wasn`t important that I went to bed at 1 am.