Last week spring, this week...not so much!

Last weekend the weather teased us with the promise of spring.  I was able to lunge Suki and Nikki and be hopeful that winter was on its way out and training could resume.  Boy, was I wrong!  By Friday temperatures had dipped back below freezing with a biting wind.  Saturday brought a clipper system through adding big fluffy snow flakes to coat the ground with a couple of inches. Not a major storm, of course, but just enough to remind us that Old Man Winter was going to hang on for as long as possible!  The coming week is expected to be cold with occasional wintery mix, destroying all expectations of resuming training.  I should have tried to find a clinic to audit this weekend.  The girls were in on saturday but had a couple of hours out that morning so they were not so cranky.

This is a typical spring for us but last year I had Nikki at a barn with an indoor so I didn't lose any training time.  Having the girls together still works out better for me but I admit that it was difficult not to ride for all of those months.  Once we get going again I don't mind riding in the rain (not torrrential or stormy) as long as the footing is safe, which it usually is.  Last weekend the footing was beautiful but now it is slick on top of slightly frozen.  maybe this is the last week of that though. 

Currently I am struggling with the decision to have someone else come over and get on Nikki the first few times.  I will get her prepared with ground work, then maybe have R (a local trainer who is excellent and specializes in young horses) ride her 5 or 6 times before I start.  While I am pretty confident that Nikki will be fine, I want to make sure that we start off well.  My plan is to lunge her for a week then put the saddle on and lunge her for a couple of more days.  There's a good chance I will just hop on at that point, but I want to have options. 

I have to order a special saddle pad for Suki. Late last fall a company was going to send me one to try, but never did.  I'm sure that they just forgot, and with winter coming I knew that I wouldn't need it for awhile anyway.  If it worked the company was going to use Suki in testimonials.  It is the one that I want to try, so if it works well I will certainly let them know.  After all, if it works on Suki's back with its lack of hair it should work for any horse!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Cold and damp with footing unsuitable for work..... The horses were out in the paddocks when I arrived on Sunday afternoon.  Suki and Nikk are usually out just behind the barn, accessed by opening the back barn door.  They of course had heard me drive up, so when I opened the back door Nikki's face immediately pressed against mine.  Such a love bug!  I was just about to hook the lead rope to her halter when Her Majesty, Suki started to walk over from the other side.  Nikki immediately turned and walked away.  Suki did not make a face or do anything threatening (that I could see) but Nikki just knows that Big Sister is boss.  In spite of that (or because of it) they do get on quite well turned out together.

Suki, of course had rolled and managed to have her usual amount of mud caked to her neck, face and legs.  I groomed her first which of course made her happy!  When I look at Suki's back I am struck by how far we have come since those early days.  And now that the graft area has healed there are fewer day-to-day worries.  The daily task to keep the bandage intact so as not to interrupt healing or cause more damage were time consuming, but also kept me worrying.  I just kept thinking if I could just get it to heal we would be home free.  The efforts and assistance of others in monitoring and changing the bandage paid off.

Nikki was not as muddy, but she had definately rolled.  She HATES to have herbelly brushed so I always have to use the softest brush and not over do!  All of the blankets arereally disgusting at this point.  I have sent out the sheets for cleaning and repair in preparation for the spring weather that had appeared imminent!

March 18, 2013
Snow.  Again.  It reminds me of one of my favorite children's books: Snow, by Uri Shulevitz a Caldecott Honor Book.  Great story, beautifully illustrated. 

Partial view from my back window. 
When I opened the barn door today Suki's voice was the loudest.  Usually Nikki speaks first.  Then Nikki, also loud nicker.  My heart melts.  My girls.  I love them.  They were out earlier today before the weather turned, so they werehappy, but each wanted to nuzzle with me.  It was one of those days when I realize how fortunate I am to have them.....

Creating a horse lover for life (Part 1)

As my son Isaiah approaches his 7th birthday (well, he was when I started writing this....now he IS 7!) I admit to myself how much I envy him for being introduced to horses so early in life. In May 2006 when he was less than 3 months old, Isaiah attended his first horse show. Yes, it was the hunter/jumper Devon and not its dressage counterpart, but I felt that is was time to get him out. At one point he started to cry, and as I lifted him from his pram I heard a passer by say, "that sounds like a very young cry." I looked up and her companion smiled at me. "Baby's first Devon", she said. I returned her knowing smile.  A few weeks later we drove to Gladstone for baby's first Festival of Champions, to watch the dressage. At age 5 months I sat him on my mare, Jenny's back, so that I could say "Isaiah was riding before he could walk!"

Silly milestones maybe, but I was so excited when he was sitting up and actually went on his first pony ride. I walked next to the pony holding onto Isaiah for dear life while he giggled with delight. My goal has never been to force him to ride, but to offer the opportunity to develop a love and respect for horses (and all animals) from the beginning of his life.

I think it is also extremely important for children to understand from the start that there is more to riding horses than just riding.  Whenever I see children taking for granted the priviledge of riding and spending time with horses I want to scream.  That's probably because I didn't start riding until I was 15, but had begged to ride since birth!  It's not just about understanding the responsibility that accompanies the pleasure of riding, but getting to know your horse from the ground up.  Even if someone does not actually own a horse, they have a responsibility to the horse they are riding....to groom it thoroughly, find its favorite itchy spots and know when that horse is not feeling 100% on any given day.

Once Isaiah was standing I would take him with me to visit the retired Jenny at Laurels Forge Farm in Unionville.  Owned by my good friend Babette, my beautiful mare recived the highest quality of care.  Surrounded by acres of woods with a branch of the Brandywine River running through it, the farm gave Isaiah the opportunity to see many horses and wander around the tranquil setting. 

 Another pet peeve of mine (which also extends to older children and adults) is when people do not pick up after themselves.  Is it really so difficult to pick up a broom and sweep up the bits of dirt, manure, etc that have come from your horses hoof??  My 15 month old mastered that skill....his immediate reaction was to pick up a broom...

Or walk past an empty water tub/bucket, when the horse clearly needs water?  Would you want someone to do that to your horse?

Even now at age 7 Isaiah walks into the barn and picks up a broom to clean the aisle.  He was horrified a few months ago when one of the farriers (not the one that I use) left a mess in the aisle which included bits of nails.  The child lectured ME on how bad this is and we promptly cleaned it up.  Yes, I felt a moment of pride knowing that we are indeed on the right track.  We talk about the importance of grooming horses, picking out their feet and checking them for wounds.  I have explained to Isaiah that just like our pets at home the horses rely on us to feed and water them as well as keep them safe by providing a clean, dry stall and fencing in good repair.  Surely he does not understand all of it but I see evidence of it in his behavior.

Some of my ideas were not quite so smart.  Like the leadline class at the Devon Horse Show when Isaiah was just two years old.  We had been going to Babette's regularly and Isaiah was riding Daisy Mae, an adorable pony who had taught Babette's daughter to ride many years prior.     

I thought how much fun it would be for Isaiah to ride in the Devon leadline class.  There are many things that should have been taken into consideration but I was far too busy romanticizing the Mother-Son Dixon Oval experience to waste my thoughts on practical matters!  So Daisy Mae was pressed into service.  She had been there/done that and was the perfect candidate for our outing.  Off to Malvern Saddlery I went in search of the necessary accessories.  The first pair of jods presented to me were $195 Tailored Sportsman.  I did not think it was necessary for a 2 year old to wear $200 jods, Devon or not.  The helmet was almost that much, but I was fine with that.  Safety is very important.  The paddock boots were also pricey, but I knew they would be used as well.  There weren't any jackets in his size (thank goodness!).  Next came gloves.  "Really? I asked the clerk.  "He's only two."  "This is DEVON!" she shrieked at me.  Fine.  I bought the gloves, with visions of trying to pull leather gloves onto sweaty toddler hands.  Maryland Saddlery was very helpful over the phone, pulling out a variety of jods and jackets and describing them.  I was very pleased with my purchase when it arrived.  We were set: shirt, tie, jacket, jods, jod straps, paddock boots, gloves, helmet, pony.

My outfit was another issue.  For those of you who have not witnessed Devon leadline, the trainers or mothers also dressed to the nines.  I am all for tradition and was actually looking forward to the whole thing....ignorance is bliss, for certain! 

The day of the show I braided the pony who had been bathed and clipped for me the night before.  I was really excited about packing the trailer and getting everything prepared for my son's first show.  Showing is something I have always loved.  The announcer at Devon told us to bring the leadline children dow to the arena 30 minutes prior to the class.  Seriously?? Children ages 4 and under needed to sit and wait with their ponies for that long??  I was a fairly new parent and this sounded like it would not end well......



A bomb could have gone off and Daisy Mae would have just done her job!



TO BE CONTINUED.......



Beautiful Gifts

Since the barn fire in 2009, I have received so much support and experienced many acts of kindness from long time friends and loved ones, but also from strangers.  I consider those strangers "friends" now, because such an outpouring of love and kindness should not be considered anything less.  It has restored my faith in humankind, because we hear about the ugly side of humanity so much more frequently.

Two artists offered to create complimentary portraits of Suki.  I was so touched by their generosity.  It is time consuming to create such a personalized piece of art, and I am honored that these two people were so inspired by Suki's story that they wanted to do this.  Another person (who I have not forgotten, but Suki needs to have her tail washed!) offered to make a bracelet out of hair from Suki's tail.  How do I ever express my gratitude??  Thank you seems so inadequate when someone takes time out of their life to create simply for the joy of giving!  I love that Suki can inspire people.  It has always been the silver lining of an otherwise tragic event. 

As I have said many times before, there is life after a catastrophic event although it may not be the way you had planned or hoped it would be.  In many ways my life has been enriched since the fire.  While the early days of recovery were filled with stress.... conflicting emotions about what Suki's quality of life would be.  Would she have constant pain or discomfort?  Was I being selfish when I decided to treat her?  When I made the decision to go forward....from that first nicker in response to my voice, behind swollen sightless eyes, it felt right.  But of course there were times I questioned the choices that I was making for Suki.  Yet day after day in ICU I witnessed a miracle before my eyes.  The dedicated medical staff saw Suki through it, but also acknowledged that she had such courage and will to live, and that without that, the finest medicine in the world could not have saved her.  Or that physically some survive but their spirit and happiness is but a shadow of what it had been.  Not our Suki.  The strength of the diva that she has always been shines through as does her happiness.  She dares you to say that it was not worth it, or that it was cruel to put her through recovery.  I am not saying that she never experienced any pain, but I never saw her waiver in her march toward full recovery....instead we soldiered on...together. 

These two portraits have captured Suki's courage and soul. 

The first is a water color by Diane Wallace:
I love how Diane captured the tufts of hair sprouting from Suki's shortened ears.  I am embarassed to say that I was incredibly saddened when she lost the tips....they made her look majestic.  It didn't take long before I realized that EVERYTHING about Suki is majestic.  Just look at the confidence exhibited here!  Diane embraced the challenge of creating emotion....and that is what I see my beautiful girl with the heart and soul to conquer the biggest challenge of her life: survival.  Thank you Diane.

Here is the link to her blog and websitehttp://dianewallacestudio.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/
http://jwallace154.fineartstudioonline.com/

The second is a sketch by Agatha Kacprzak.  Agatha captured the soulful, thinking Suki.  I find that in this drawing Agatha brings out the look of quiet self confidence that Suki has.  She looks so peaceful and pensive; as if you can look deep into her soul through her eyes.  Agatha too, was touched by Suki's story of courage and survival and I see the emotion that she drew from within herself to create this piece.  Thank you Agatha.

Here is a link to Agatha's website:
http://horsesseenthroughmyeyes.com/Home_Page.html

I love how these two talented artists captured Suki's beauty and courage in different ways and in different media. 

Gifts come in many forms.  When I post on Suki's Facebook page each day, I am continually thrilled and surprised by the responses.  The comments, the likes, the support and the number of fans.....these too, are gifts.  All of these things are unexpected but part of that silver lining.  I have had the opportunity to meet some of Suki's fans in person, and they have become friends.  It is so wonderful when these opportunities arise.  Meeting Suki in person enables her friends to really experience her larger-than-life personality and diva-ness.  It also, I think, allows people to see that in spite of everything this horse has been through she is happy and healthy, leading a full life. 

Sunday, March 10, 2013
Gifted with a warm day and good footing I decided to lunge the girls.  Nikki needs to get back to work after the winter break, and Suki needs to embark on her new career.  I was quite pleased with how both girls worked.  Nikki was lazy but then worked well (it was a short session).  She did not call to Suki, and Suki ate hay quietly in her stall.  This was a concern of mine because there were not otherhorses in the barn and Suki does not like to be alone.  Suki was a bit more "lookey" but she has always been more up than Nikki.  She called to Nikki in the barn, but then also worked well.  I feel like we are off to a good start.  My girls are also my gifts.  Just being fortunate enough to have them in my life is special and I try to never take it for granted.

Adventures with the veterinarian

As most of you now know, Suki has always been a diva.  Less so that first year , but as you can see there is a look of confidence just an hour after she stepped off the trailer from her trip across Canada then down to Pennsylvania.  Quite a journey for a 3 year old horse that had never been away from her birth place....

Early on Suki was fairly cooperative with the veterinarian.  Not great, but she didn't have a meltdown when she needed to be her vaccinations.  When I boarded her at Blue Hill, vet students from Penn Vet School accompanied the field service team from New Bolton Center in nearby Kennett Square.  New Bolton Field Service was our regular veterinarian.  So she had quite a bit of experience with people doing physical exams on her and seemed to enjoy the attention.  As Suki grew in size, some of the vet students seemed a little intimidated by her.  Especially those for whom large animal was not their chosen indication with New Bolton being part of their large animal rotation.

When we moved to the area where we live now, Suki had a bit of a bad experience with the vet who came out to perform the vaccinations.  She was clearly afraid of Suki, as her first comment was "Well, she is rather large, isn't she?" My first thought was "aren't you a horse doc?  Horses are large!"  With a shaking hand she approached Suki with the needle to draw blood for the Coggins.  As Suki took all in all of this trembling I could see her brow begin to furrow followed by bulging eyes.  I ended up drawing the blood.  The vet then asked that I walk her to distract her while she injected her.  This was not a great plan, so I gave Suki her shots also.  After that experience Suki's wariness with people baring needles escalated.  Those with more skill managed to examine Suki without issue, but her fear remained.  The fire probably made it a bit worse because she was being poked and prodded constantly for 7 weeks.  With the same people treated her each day there was some improvement, but each time a new veterinarian came to work with her she became nervous again.

I am probably seriously over protective of my girls, but that's my job, isn't it?  Yes I board at a full care barn, but Suki and Nikki are MY children, so to speak and it is my job to worry about them and give them the best possible care.  Nikki is easy when it comes to veterinary stuff but she was seriously bad when she first started having her feet done.  I mean, REALLY bad!  Trying to lie down, you name it.  She is fine now.  It was just a stubborn baby adjusting to something new.  Sure she was dramatic about it, but what would you expect from a diva in the making?

Yesterday Dr. R came out to do spring vaccinations.  He is very good with the horses with a calm and quiet demeanor.  This is not the first time that he has worked with Suki.  She was excellent for him during the summer when he examined her for the mystery lameness that turned out to be Lyme's.  The first rule when several horses are to be seen is that Suki must go first.  If she sees what's going on you cannot catch her in her stall.  She just keeps spinning.  Never threatens to kick or anything, just won't let you get near her head.  Then you have to pull blood for the Coggins first because after you have given the shots you are never getting that close to her again to draw blood.  So I was holding Suki for the blood letting and she raised her head to increase her sixe (because her normal 17.3 is not tall enough!) and tenses her entire body.  But she survived.  For vaccinations we give them in the chest because she seems to tolerate it better.  When Dr. R was on one side she lifted that front foot and kind of wiggled it, repeating it for the other side.  I have not been present the past few times for vaccinations so I was not aware that ususally instead of wiggling her foot she actually tries to stomp on Dr. R's foot!  He said that was the best she had ever been.  What a relief!  Then came the interesting part.....In NJ they use photos on the Coggins, but not in PA, so there are diagrams on the form and it is required to draw all markings including scars.  This takes a bit of doing in Suki's case because of the burn scars. 

Nikki was next.  She didn't even flinch.  Must less stressful.  In fact she was lipping my jacket while she was getting them!  I hope that never changes!

Yesterday was the first time Suki and Nikki went out together, and they did well.  What a relief.  Today when I went out they were quietly grazing, although not side by side.  That may change as time goes on.  Suki is clearly the boss but did allow Nikki to take treats without trying to kill her.  I think it will work.

Yucky weather, beautiful Suki and Nikki

Thursday, February 21, 2013
I realized as I stepped out of my car when I arrived at the barn, that I smile instantly.  Before I even see my girls.  The wind had been whipping all day and the cold air infused with earth, hay, and yes, manure (from the manure heap) caused me to pause and appreciate the country air of Berks County.  I grew up in a suberb of Manhattan, yearning for life in the country for as long as I can remember.  Maybe it was that commute into the city for ballet, or the traffic in Bergen County NJ to go...well, anywhere.  Once I finally started to ride horses at age 15, all I could think of was wide open space and pastures full of horses. 

Closing the door behind me to shut out the wind, I turned on the lights.  Big brown eyes blinked at me from all directions, adjusting to the light.  Usually at the end of my time at the barn I give each horse a treat.  Today they looked at me so expectantly that I couldn't resist....so I started the visit with a peppermint for everyone. 

Friday, February 22, 2013
I always worry about blankets for Suki and Nikki.  Warm, but not too warm.  You know the drill.  Often I feel like I am the only one at my barn who worries about such things....in previous boarding situations, blanket dancing was the norm...  But I sawAmanda who owns Ophelia, and she was asking me about the blanket weight because of the constant change in temperatures. She said that she worries about it constantly...I am not alone!

Saturday, February 23, 2013
Rainy and cold.  Yesterday I spoke to the barn owner about putting the girls together and the barn owner was fine with that.  He said that Kilian's owner has complained that Nikki swings her but at Killian when she is trying to get him.  He rears and strikes at me when I try to get Nikki.  He is very aggressive with her and she is a bit frightened by it.  I have never seen her spin and kick, so we need to stop that now!  Suki and Banker's relationship doesn't seem as good as it was before.  But I worry about Banker because he and Killian went out together once and Killian kicked Banker in the face, requiring stitches.  Nikki was being blamed for the aggression between her and Killian in the field, but it sounds to me like he is the instigator. 

I went to Oley Valley feed for wormer, bird seed and I had hoped, a stall toy for Suki.  Successful for the first two items, but not for a stall toy.  I guess I will have to order one.  The drive over was dreary and rainy, but the Oley Valley is always beautiful.  The dairy cows werewaiting to go into the barn, but one ambitious lady was looking in the window of the barn as if to say "hey!  It's raining out here!".  The quilt shop parking lot was packed, so there was either a class or a 'quilt in' in progress.  I bet they were having a great time!

When I arrived at the barn I was surprised to see the horses out, but it had not been raining earlier and was just a bit misty.  Suki and Nikki were not too wet, but I knew that I would not put them out once i had groomed them.  It was 2 PM when I got there, so that was sufficient turnout time for them.  Both were anxious to get in, and Nikki tried to steal the carrots from my pocket while I was fastening the gate.  With rain falling gently on the roof I played classical music on my phone and enjoyed peaceful, quiet time with my girls!  Suki was slightly fidgety in the cross ties, but she could hear the horses outside so that sometimes makes her uneasy.  Nikki and Banker were in their stalls, so eventually she relaxed.  The whole right side of her (including her face) was muddy, so cleary she had a decent roll, even though they were just in the paddocks!

Tomorrow I will be auditing another dressage clinic.  The clinician is a trainer from Paul Belasik's farm in Gettysburg.  Paul does a lot of in hand work to teach higher level movements.  I am a huge fan of long lining, and one of the riders tomorrow will be working in hand as well.  Paul also has intensive seat short courses which apparently are not for the faint of heart.  I am hoping to attend one this summer.   

here is his website...
http://paulbelasik.com/

REALLY looking forward to this one!
I am also making quite a bit of progress on the Suki memoir.  I put the children's book aside because I have finished writing it and will go back to read and edit it again.  It would be wonderful to have a Breyer horse or plush toy to go with the book.  Plans continue to create an in-hand musical freestyle with Suki so that we can perform exhibitions at some of the horse expos....and dare I say it? Dressage at Devon??  Not 2013, but hopefully for 2014. 

I am really hoping to get Nikki out showing strong this season also. So much planning, so much hope.....

Why do some people work with horses when it doesn't even seem as though they even LIKE them??

Sunday, 17 February 2013
First of all, it is good to be home. This conference was not as long as others, but three days of prostate cancer talks makes your brain hurt after awhile! As usual Deb and Toby took excellent care of Suki and Nikki, leaving me with not much to worry about (though I did anyway, of course!)

It was about 70 degrees and sunny when I left Orlando yesterday, returning to cold and windy weather. The girls are bundled up since today is blustery with snow squalls from time to time. I went over earlier than usual just to do abbreviated grooming and to offer many treats and hugs.

The horses were out when I arrived and another boarder who I do not know well was holding her horse for the farrier (not the one that I use). Suki's blankets were a bit wonky, as usual, so I brought her in the barn to do a quick moisturizing and to fix her blankets. As I put her on cross ties the farrier was yelling at the horse and speaking in a very nasty tone. Suki started to get upset so I decided to put her in her stall to work with her. Even that was not enough. She was pacing and nervous and this guy's tone was really nasty. Suki pooped twice in her stall while I fixed her blankets. I understand that horses need to behave and stand still while having their feet done and it can be dangerous for the farrier if the horse becomes too unruly. But honestly, the horse did not appear to be doing much at all except some slight fidgeting. And yes, it is cold today, and horses don't always listen....but if you don't really like animals, then why work with them? It is not an easy job to be a farrier and I'm sure that back issues are a a hazard of the trade. All the more why you should truly enjoy being with the horses. Yes, many complain about our jobs and question career choices. Sometimes when I am at an exhausting conference followed by the return and immediate report writing, yes, I complain. But I have chosen to do this. And my complaining doesn't really affect anyone directly (okay, sometimes my husband gets an ear full!). But when you work directly with animals or people (such as medicine, education, etc) your attitude DOES affect them and can even be harmful. Suki had a bad experience several years ago with a farrier, and when I saw him in action, he was promptly fired. It has taken YEARS for her to regain confidence and she finally doesn't seem QUITE as nervous anymore. But I really felt like today gave her flashbacks, as she was obviously adversely affected by this man's behavior. In fact, I didn't even groom her....just picked her feet, because I didn't want her to be in the barn longer than necessary. Nikki was a total love bug, smothering me with her head. Both girls stucj their heads over the fence so I was able to rub their faces at the same time. I picked Nikki's feet while she was out in her pasture, then gave everyone treats and hugs before I left.

Watching the horses interact today makes me continue my thoughtof putting the girls together in a pasture. As I mentioned in my last post the dynamic seems to have changed between Suki and Banker, and Nikki simply has never liked Killian. They seemed to be okay today and there was no ear pinning when they stood side by side waiting for treats.

Now I am home sitting by the fire watching the snow swirl outside. It won't amount to much but I feel a strong sense of comfort surrounded by my loved ones (2-legged and 4-legged) on a blustery afternoon. The cats are happily watching the birds and squirrels dart in and out of the feeders, and Ripley is curled up on the couch. And in a rare moment for our household we are all together in the family room, Isaiah drawing quietly and Michael reading. It won't last, as it will soon be time to start dinner and the members of the house will set in motion.

I think about the girls out in the snow....Suki likes to put her head down and trot into snowy wind, while Nikki sticks her faces up toward the sky as if to feel the snowflakes land on her nose. I half expect her to open her mouth to try to catch the frosty flakes on her tongue!

Monday, February 18, 2013
I was thrilled to be able to spend a bit more time with Suki and Nikki this evening. The horses were contentedly munching on hay when I opened the door, and seven heads poppped up to greet me when I switched on the aisle lights. All except my girls went back to their hay, but Suki and Nikki continued to look at me and nicker....softly at first then with more urgency. I went to each of their stalls offering carrots, receiving nuzzles in reward. The day at work melted away in seconds. Equine therapy: there's nothing quite like it, is there?

It was nice to do a thorough grooming (Nikki is shedding like mad!) after being away.  I was seriously tempted to get Nikki out on the lunge, but the footing was really not suitable.  Suki's face was really itchy today so I just held the exfoliation mitt and let her do her thing!  Sometimes she rubs her face against the mitt so hard that she almost knocs me over!  When she was finished I used her favorite face brush followed by moisturizer.  I had to pull a layer off each of them because tomorrow will be in the 40's.  The blanket dance continues......

Freezing rain and fog does not make for happy horses

Sunday (Feb 10) temperatures were above freezing and the girls had a glorious time out in the snow. Suki trotted to the gate to greet me but fortunately toned it down a bit so I would have a heart attack worrying about her slipping and sliding into the gate! Nikki responded to my call with a nicker then casually walked to the gate, knowing that she would be coming in for the night.

Because I had some extra time I was able to stay at the barn longer and reallly get to enjoy Suki and Nikki. I leave for a conference on February 13, so the next few days will be more rushed, and I will be away from my family and the girls. Deb and Toby will do their usually great job in my absence, but still, I worry.....

I groomed Suki first, because she was pacing in her stall while I brought Nikki in, and I knew that she would not give me any peace if I took care of Nikki first! Baby Nikki (who is really not so much a baby anymore) happily munched on her hay while I groomed and moisturized Suki. Well, every time I stuck my hand in the gummy bear bag to bribe Suki into allowing me to moisturizeher poll and ears, Nikki looked up, so that she could have some too! Suki's skin looks really good, so I am confident that the skin care regimen is appropriate. She has also picked up a little weight, so that makes me happy too. I am going to have to put Suki back on a 5 week farrier schedule. She is barefoot and with the constant freezing/thawing of the ground her feet are a mess. She has good, strong feet, so I think that we just have to readjust the timing again. Suki is always very aware of where I am at any given moment while I am at the barn. Running out to the car to retrieve my bottle of water I only opened the barn door enough for me to get through. As I approached the barn to come back in I could see Suki straining her neck to look for me. Then she nickers to me softly as I re-enter. How I love that sound. The single sign that gave me hope when I stepped into ICU for the first time since Suki's arrival after the fire.

Nikki was all over me while I tried to groom her. She just kept wanting to snuggle and lean on me, so I stopped what I was doing and let her rest her lovely head into my chest. She closed her eyes and gave a big sigh of contentment. I wrapped my arms around her and we just stood that way for a few minutes enjoying the closeness. I took in that wonderful Nikki aroma and allowed myself to relax. I am itching to ride, and dream about it nightly, but for now horse hugs will do. Then while I was grooming her front legs Nikki reached down, grabbed my hat by its tassle and yanked it off my head! My phone was in the car so I wasn't even able to get a picture. She really did look funny and was quite pleased with herself for the little prank that she pulled on me.


Monday, Feb 11, 2013
Fog, freezing rain, sleet, rain.....the weather really ran the gamut today. Suki was not as cranky as I had expected her to be after spending the day in, but she did start to bang her stall door as soon as she heard my voice! As I approached her stall I caught her doing something that I have not seen her do in her stall.....PIAFFE! She was nickering and piaffing! She didn't seem agitated, she just wanted out. As I led her from her stall she puffed herself up and started to passage. I allowed her to do a few steps then chirped at her to walk. I swear sometimes she does these things to entertain herself! Suki was happy to be out of her stall, and although started off fidgety, relaxed once I started to groom her. Occasionally she felt the need to make a face at one of the horses in the nearby stall. Nikki is usually not upset about being in, although since moving back to Suki's barn she gets out more so I think that she misses it more than she used to. But still it seems that she is just happy to be with me. With all of the wet weather I anticipate that they will only go out for a short period on Tuesday in the paddocks. But it is better than another day in!

Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013
Abbreviated visit today because of my departure tomorrow for the conference. With everything organized I am ready to leave the girls in Deb and Toby's capable hands. Deb will send me daily updates and I will obsess about the weather and what clothing they will need to wear. At home all of Isaiah's homework schedule, piano, etc is organized so I hope for the best.

I feel the promise of spring in the air and look forward to getting Nikki going again. Suki will also start to work slowly first with some lunging to increase fitness and sharpen the aids. Then we will move on to surcingle, followed by long lines. So much to look forward to....one day at a time.....