While working on the ranch in Texas, I had sent Mayo to Maryland to be safe to foal out her Class Secret (by Secretariat) foal and to be bred to a Thoroughbred stallion named Oh Say.
Around lunch time on May 5, 1999, I got the wonderful news that Mayo had delivered a little chestnut colt in the early hours of the morning. He was doing okay, but not great, so they were watching him closely, they said. I was, of course, very worried about my new Thoroughbred colt, the first Thoroughbred I'd ever bred, being so far away from him and hoping and praying he'd be okay.
The next day, I got the news that he was running a fever and that they wanted to give him some plasma, antibiotics, etc, which I gave my permission for them to do, of course.
Another two days later, I got the wonderful news that Baron was now a normal active colt and that the vet thought all was fine with him and he was going to make it. I was thrilled.
They kept telling me how bright red he was, the same red as his grandfather, the legendary Secretariat. He may have received the bright chestnut coloring, however he had not received very much white, which, at first, was a bit disappointing, but I was fine with it, because he was now healthy. He had a small white star and a speck of white on one hind coronet band. His mother, Mayo, has a big blaze and two white coronets, his sire, Class Secret, had even more white than his sire, Secretariat, having 3 even higher white stockings and having an even bigger white star with connecting stripe. (The picture at the top of this blog is of him at 4 years old looking down at me, as I sit in our front field.)
For some reason, I kept thinking of him as "The Little Red Baron", so I told them to call him "Baron", for short. It was just one of those names that just came to me, even without seeing him, I just knew it was the right name for him.
On July first, I left the job in Texas, because it was just not working out, due to not getting paid in the 10 weeks I had been there, becides a falling apart trailer to live in and board for a few of my horses (Bunny, Petey, and Samson). She did pay for some of my meals, if we went out, but mostly, I had to use what savings i had to feed myself, so I lost 12 pounds in the 10 weeks that I was there. It was just not a very good situation, as there were some other problems, but I won't go into that now.
So, I returned to Virginia and immediately tried to get Mayo and Baron home to Virginia, despite my lack of money. Luckily, I got a farrier friend to help me go get them and then later in August, I was finally able to get Bunny and Petey out of Texas, with the help of my Mom. Samson followed shortly, when I offered him to a friend of mine, if she'd just pay for his shipping. I knew her grandkids would love him and I just wanted him safe and out of Texas. I knew the temperatures were getting even worse down there and that the places my horses were being kept had absolutely no shade. I worried constantly about them, having no shelter from the sun, but luckily I got them out in time. TO this day, I don't know how anyone could keep horses in Texas like that, with no shade.
So, in the middle of July, I got to meet my Baron for the very first time. As the trailer pulled into the farm where they were boarded at in Maryland, Mayo saw me get out of the truck and neighed a very happy greeting to me. I went straight to her stall and she nuzzled me. It was strange, because Mayo is not usually a very affectionate horse, but I believe she had missed me, during our 3 1/2 month separation. She nuzzled at Baron and encouraged him to go closer to me and I was briefly able to pet his head, before he stepped back to get a better look at me. I knew there would be more time to get to know him, so we loaded them up on the trailer and headed back to Virginia, to the boarding stable I had found for them.
It was a beautiful place, wooden fences, green paddocks, nice barns, run-in sheds, and nice people to help take care of my horses, when I couldn't get out to see them, due to lack of transportation. I was thrilled with the place.
My Mom would bring me out as often as she could, usually about once a week and I'd work with Baron, gaining his trust in me, which didn't take long, as he was such a friendly fellow.
I worked on teaching him to lead, to pick up his feet for the farrier, to stand for grooming, etc. It was so much fun to work with him, he was a dream, from the start.
When Bunny and Petey arrived a month later, Baron and Petey hit it off immediately, and Bunny and Mayo were happily reunited with each other. The two colts loved playing with each other and running up and down the fenceline with another colt, who was across the driveway from them, with his mother.
When Baron was about 4 1/2 months old, earlier than I had wanted to, I noticed that Mayo was starting to bite at him at feed times and pushing him away, so I had to make the decision to go ahead and wean him from Mayo, for his own safety. I wasn't sure if it was Mayo loosing patience, as she was a first time Mom or what.
Bunny, on the other hand, was super Mom, she even invited Baron to come join them at her own bucket, letting the two colts eat before her or with her, all three taking turns. In Texas, Bunny would be at a feed trough with 3 or 4 other foals, because their mothers had chased them away and Bunny seemed to feel sorry for them and allowed them to come join her and Petey. So, it had continued with Baron. Bunny consoled Baron when he was weaned from Mayo and a few weeks later I weaned Petey when he was 6 months old.
Baron and Petey were then put in with the other colt, Salem, a Standardbred.
At that time I was notified that the main part of the farm was being sold, but that the racetrack area, where the old man had his jogging track for his harness horses, would be fenced in and run-in sheds would be put up, as his son was getting to keep that section, as his house was near that and they split the land into two parcels.
Once the wire fencing was put up and run-in sheds were built, the horses were all moved to new paddocks, and that is when the trouble began.
I had gone to the Center for the Blind in Richmond to receive more training, hoping it would help me find a new job, even if I had to take an office job, I needed to work to support my horses, and I was trying hard to find work and get the extra training that might help me. I could only get home about once every few weeks to see my horses and I started to notice that Baron was looking a bit thin, but I wasn't sure what to do. I told the owners to make sure he got fed properly and got his fair share, which they assured me that he was, but something didn't seem right. I also noticed that Bunny was loosing weight. I could not believe this was happening to me again. I kept thinking to myself about what was wrong with boarding stables and not feeding horses properly. I started buying my own grain and told them to feed it and I'd bring more on a schedule. I started buying it every two weeks, and at first, that was fine.
But, at this point, it was too late, I got a call late one night, while I was at the center, that Baron was laying down and would not get up. I, again, turned to my father to go out and meet the vet, as the vet would need to be paid and to make decisions on my behalf.
The vet believed that Baron had developed Salmonella and tests were done that proved he had. He was immediately put into isolation and had to stay there for months, until he was cleared by the vet. It was touch and go, at first, he was so weak, but being a fighter, he was somehow able to defeat all of this and eventually was able to be put back in with Petey and Salem and a few other horses in that group.
In early 2000, I got a call that Mayo had lost her foal to Oh Say. When I went out to see her, I found several kick marks on her belly and I called the vet. The vet said that the blows could have definitely caused the loss of the baby. She examined Mayo and said Mayo was also thin. I showed her my other horse, Bunny, and she was even more concerned about how thin Bunny was looking.
I told her that I was also getting concerned. Bunny's teeth were fine, it wasn't that, and I told the vet that I was worried that the people weren't feeding my horses the feed I brought for them or were sharing it with other horses of their own, but I didn't know another place that i could afford to move them to, at that time.
She recommended I keep trying to find another place and I kept on looking.
As spring approached, by chance I met a woman in the waiting room of a doctor's office, who was a small animal vet. Right there, she offered me a job as a receptionist, I just needed to bring her my resume and she'd talk to her office manager.
So, in late May of 2000, I went to work at the vet office and now, I would have the money to move my horses, if I could only find a place nearby that was still within my budget.
As the spring turned to summer, my horses did not gain weight and the grain that I brought, religiously, every two weeks, was starting to still be there whenI'd return. Before I knew it, two weeks worth of grain was lasting me 4 weeks. I confronted the lady who was supposed to be feeding my horses, the owner's wife, and she said, something stupid, like she was just trying to help me out by stretching it. I was like, "I have a job, feed my horses!"
When at the feed store, I told them I was having major problems and that I needed to move my horses immediately, and again things fell into place, as the lady said she knew of a lady who just had a few spots open up at her farm. She gave me the lady's number and I went right home and called her.
I told her what was going on and she was so upset she agreed to take on my horses immediately. That weekend she came out and we loaded Bunny, Mayo, and Baron, onto her trailer. I had sold Petey a few months before, so at least he was out of there a lot sooner than everyone else.
I was so relieved to get to the new farm and my horses started gaining weight immediately, under the new care. This time, I did not need to buy my own grain, it was included in the board and she kept her feed room filled, the hay barn was full, the stalls were clean, and everyone got one during bad weather. It was such a nice change from the nightmare that had developed on that originally so picturesque farm.
Things were finally looking up, again, and it was a major relief, to have my Little Red Baron, safe, who now had been given the registered name of "My Messenger", which is the meaning of Malicah.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Waiting Game (Bunny's Story, Part 4)
In the spring of 1998 I decided to breed my two mares, Bunny and Mayo. Because I had been told that Bunny had crossed really well with some Welsh Ponies, in the past, before I got her, I did some digging and discovered that what I had been told, was correct, so I started looking for a nice Welsh Pony stallion to breed Bunny to. I came across Farnley Belshazzar, a very nice little grey stallion, who had won in hand competitions and was siring some of the top hunter ponies in the country. I decided he was the one for Bunny, so I made arrangements to breed her via artificial insemenation, which would mean she would not need to leave the farm.
At the time, I was living with an elderly relative on his cattle farm, in Virginia, and helping him, when he'd allow me to. He was a proud man and refused help, mos tof the time, so I just did what I could.
I knew Mayo had some really nice jumping bloodlines, so for her, I choose a son of Secretariat, who's female line was filled with steeplechasers and known jumping lines. Secretariat sons were getting a really good reputation as the sires of show horses. I looked at several, but Class Secret was who I choose for Mayo. Being Thoroughbreds, Mayo and Class Secret would have to be bred via live cover, so I made arrangements for Mayo to travel to the farm where Class Secret was standing at stud.
Bunny was bred on Easter weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, via artificial insemenation, and I crossed my fingers, hoping she would be in foal.
The vet I used did not have an ultrasound machine, so I waited for her to come back and just palpate, or feel for a pregnancy. When she did, she thought she felt a pregnancy, but being young, she didn't want to say for sure and so recommended another vet, who had an ultrasound machine, to come out and double check for us.
I made the appointment and he came out. The lady he brought with him insisted she be the one to hold Bunny and against my better judgement I agreed, because I wanted to know if Bunny was pregnant or not. They sedated Bunny and then started to try to ultrasound her, but Bunny, not liking most men, took a major disliking to this male vet, and with his assistant holding her, instead of me, they were unsuccessful in the ultrasound. He said from what he could tell, she was not pregnant. Despite an incomplete ultrasound, their insistance that I not hold my own horse, etc, I still had to pay full price for everything. I was not happy with that treatment of me or my horse.
I owned a 36 inch Miniature stallion named Samson, at the time, that I had rescued from an auction. I used him as my teaser and would bring him over to visit Bunny, almost every day. She had shown that she was in heat, when we bred her, but after that, she refused to pay him any attention and he wasn't that interested in her, either, so I just listened to them and believed that despite what vets were telling me, Bunny was actually pregnant.
Mayo took several cycles to get pregnant and once she was safely in foal, I had her come home, rejoining her friend, Bunny, and a few other ponies I'd rescued over the few months she had been gone.
As the months of summer went along, both mares bellies got bigger and bigger and I knew they were both pregnant. Eventually I was able to feel movement from both unborn babies. I was so happy, I felt their bellies almost daily, just loving to feel the movement inside.
During the fall of 1998, I got tired of the elderly relative not really letting me do much, so I moved in with a friend of mine and got a job at another farm, working with Thoroughbreds, as the barn manager, during a Strangles outbreak, as they needed the extra help. After the worst of the outbreak, my job ended and I had to look for more work, which was hard to come by.
I moved Bunny and Mayo to a closer stable, so I could go and watch them. I couldn't afford much, since I was on a very limited income, and at first, this boarding stable seemed really nice.
Bunny and Mayo had stalls next to each other, in a two stall barn, that had been built for foaling mares. The stalls weren't quite as big as foaling stalls should be, but they were bigger than your average stall, so I knew they'd be okay.
As Bunny's due date approached, my friend and I went to check on her, daily, and watched for signs of changes. We'd go every evening, after she got off work and we'd pull the car around, so we could sit in the front seat and watch Bunny, taking note of her behavior.
I bought a book on foaling, since I'd never foaled out a mare before and read it thoroughly, some parts more than once. We got excited at every little change and kept hoping and hoping.
Before we knew it, Bunny's due date had come and gone, and that is when I realized, to my displeasure, that the farm was running low on grain and hay, on a regular basis and that my mares were starting to look a little ribby, despite being pregnant.
I did not know what to do, being it was my first breeding and foaling experience, but I knew that it was not safe to move Bunny, who was now past her due date, but Mayo wasn't due for another 6 weeks or more, so I made arrangements to have her moved to a farm in Maryland, where after she gave birth, she could be bred to another stallion. I only did this, after I had a job secured in another state, so I also knew I'd be moving soon, anyways.
Once Mayo was safely moved, I could truly focus on Bunny and the safety of her and her unborn foal, praying that things would be okay, despite the worsening conditions at the boarding stable.
Finally, three weeks after her due date, at at 361 days pregnant, Bunny ws showing obvious signs that labor was really close, so my friend and I stayed later than usual and watched and waited. It was a drizzly cold night and that was of course, when Bunny decided to present me with a gorgeous black colt.
The delivery went smoothly. He was a bit on the small side, but he was by a pony stallion, after all, and out of a mare who only stood 14.3 hands, so I wasn't that surprised at his size. Bunny retained her placenta, so I had to call the vet to come out.
My friend left me at the barn and I called my Dad to see if he could come out to help me, later that morning and to help get me back to the apartment.
After the placenta was successfully delivered, the vet and I looked at Bunny's condition and were appauled, she was so thin. Obviously the farm owner was not feeding her properly. Luckily, it had not affected the colt, she said, as his vital signs were super strong.
I immediately made arrangements for Bunny and her colt, Pete, to be transported to the farm I would be working at in Texas. The vet said he could travel at about 2 weeks. So, when he was two weeks old, Petey travelled with his mother, Samson, and another Miniature Horse that my friend had rescued from an auction, to the ranch in Texas.
When they arrived there in Texas,t he lady I was to work for called and said that he was an amazing mover and not to worry, we'd get the weight back on Bunny. She also mentioned that at only 2 weeks old, Petey was jumping hay bale sin the paddock she had put them in. She couldn't believe the natural jumping ability and just the wanting to jump at such an early age.
I eventually sold Petey when he was a yearling to a lady in Pennsylvania. She kept him for awhile, showed him in some on the line classes, which he did well at. She would contact me on occasion and told me that no fence on her farm would hold him. She admitted that her fencing wasn't the highest, but it was at least 3 1/2 feet tall and he'd jump it to go be with other horses, especially if she wanted to try and keep him by himself.
She eventually had to sell all of her horses and ponies and Petey was sold to a farm in North Carolina.
They loved him and took their time with him. I was told the husband would put Petey on a long line and run around the ring with him and they'd jump little jumps, etc. Petey was eventually started under saddle when he was 3 years old and eventually changed homes, again, selling to a family in New Jersey.
There he blossommed and won big ribbons at HITS on the Hudson as "Tell A Tale". He won a ton of ribbons all over New Jersey and into New York.
I have since lost track of him, as the people's email address no longer works and the last I heard, they were selling him, because their daughter had outgrown him. I sure hope that I can track him back down and I welcome anyone who might have any information on him to contact me.
At the time, I was living with an elderly relative on his cattle farm, in Virginia, and helping him, when he'd allow me to. He was a proud man and refused help, mos tof the time, so I just did what I could.
I knew Mayo had some really nice jumping bloodlines, so for her, I choose a son of Secretariat, who's female line was filled with steeplechasers and known jumping lines. Secretariat sons were getting a really good reputation as the sires of show horses. I looked at several, but Class Secret was who I choose for Mayo. Being Thoroughbreds, Mayo and Class Secret would have to be bred via live cover, so I made arrangements for Mayo to travel to the farm where Class Secret was standing at stud.
Bunny was bred on Easter weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, via artificial insemenation, and I crossed my fingers, hoping she would be in foal.
The vet I used did not have an ultrasound machine, so I waited for her to come back and just palpate, or feel for a pregnancy. When she did, she thought she felt a pregnancy, but being young, she didn't want to say for sure and so recommended another vet, who had an ultrasound machine, to come out and double check for us.
I made the appointment and he came out. The lady he brought with him insisted she be the one to hold Bunny and against my better judgement I agreed, because I wanted to know if Bunny was pregnant or not. They sedated Bunny and then started to try to ultrasound her, but Bunny, not liking most men, took a major disliking to this male vet, and with his assistant holding her, instead of me, they were unsuccessful in the ultrasound. He said from what he could tell, she was not pregnant. Despite an incomplete ultrasound, their insistance that I not hold my own horse, etc, I still had to pay full price for everything. I was not happy with that treatment of me or my horse.
I owned a 36 inch Miniature stallion named Samson, at the time, that I had rescued from an auction. I used him as my teaser and would bring him over to visit Bunny, almost every day. She had shown that she was in heat, when we bred her, but after that, she refused to pay him any attention and he wasn't that interested in her, either, so I just listened to them and believed that despite what vets were telling me, Bunny was actually pregnant.
Mayo took several cycles to get pregnant and once she was safely in foal, I had her come home, rejoining her friend, Bunny, and a few other ponies I'd rescued over the few months she had been gone.
As the months of summer went along, both mares bellies got bigger and bigger and I knew they were both pregnant. Eventually I was able to feel movement from both unborn babies. I was so happy, I felt their bellies almost daily, just loving to feel the movement inside.
During the fall of 1998, I got tired of the elderly relative not really letting me do much, so I moved in with a friend of mine and got a job at another farm, working with Thoroughbreds, as the barn manager, during a Strangles outbreak, as they needed the extra help. After the worst of the outbreak, my job ended and I had to look for more work, which was hard to come by.
I moved Bunny and Mayo to a closer stable, so I could go and watch them. I couldn't afford much, since I was on a very limited income, and at first, this boarding stable seemed really nice.
Bunny and Mayo had stalls next to each other, in a two stall barn, that had been built for foaling mares. The stalls weren't quite as big as foaling stalls should be, but they were bigger than your average stall, so I knew they'd be okay.
As Bunny's due date approached, my friend and I went to check on her, daily, and watched for signs of changes. We'd go every evening, after she got off work and we'd pull the car around, so we could sit in the front seat and watch Bunny, taking note of her behavior.
I bought a book on foaling, since I'd never foaled out a mare before and read it thoroughly, some parts more than once. We got excited at every little change and kept hoping and hoping.
Before we knew it, Bunny's due date had come and gone, and that is when I realized, to my displeasure, that the farm was running low on grain and hay, on a regular basis and that my mares were starting to look a little ribby, despite being pregnant.
I did not know what to do, being it was my first breeding and foaling experience, but I knew that it was not safe to move Bunny, who was now past her due date, but Mayo wasn't due for another 6 weeks or more, so I made arrangements to have her moved to a farm in Maryland, where after she gave birth, she could be bred to another stallion. I only did this, after I had a job secured in another state, so I also knew I'd be moving soon, anyways.
Once Mayo was safely moved, I could truly focus on Bunny and the safety of her and her unborn foal, praying that things would be okay, despite the worsening conditions at the boarding stable.
Finally, three weeks after her due date, at at 361 days pregnant, Bunny ws showing obvious signs that labor was really close, so my friend and I stayed later than usual and watched and waited. It was a drizzly cold night and that was of course, when Bunny decided to present me with a gorgeous black colt.
The delivery went smoothly. He was a bit on the small side, but he was by a pony stallion, after all, and out of a mare who only stood 14.3 hands, so I wasn't that surprised at his size. Bunny retained her placenta, so I had to call the vet to come out.
My friend left me at the barn and I called my Dad to see if he could come out to help me, later that morning and to help get me back to the apartment.
After the placenta was successfully delivered, the vet and I looked at Bunny's condition and were appauled, she was so thin. Obviously the farm owner was not feeding her properly. Luckily, it had not affected the colt, she said, as his vital signs were super strong.
I immediately made arrangements for Bunny and her colt, Pete, to be transported to the farm I would be working at in Texas. The vet said he could travel at about 2 weeks. So, when he was two weeks old, Petey travelled with his mother, Samson, and another Miniature Horse that my friend had rescued from an auction, to the ranch in Texas.
When they arrived there in Texas,t he lady I was to work for called and said that he was an amazing mover and not to worry, we'd get the weight back on Bunny. She also mentioned that at only 2 weeks old, Petey was jumping hay bale sin the paddock she had put them in. She couldn't believe the natural jumping ability and just the wanting to jump at such an early age.
I eventually sold Petey when he was a yearling to a lady in Pennsylvania. She kept him for awhile, showed him in some on the line classes, which he did well at. She would contact me on occasion and told me that no fence on her farm would hold him. She admitted that her fencing wasn't the highest, but it was at least 3 1/2 feet tall and he'd jump it to go be with other horses, especially if she wanted to try and keep him by himself.
She eventually had to sell all of her horses and ponies and Petey was sold to a farm in North Carolina.
They loved him and took their time with him. I was told the husband would put Petey on a long line and run around the ring with him and they'd jump little jumps, etc. Petey was eventually started under saddle when he was 3 years old and eventually changed homes, again, selling to a family in New Jersey.
There he blossommed and won big ribbons at HITS on the Hudson as "Tell A Tale". He won a ton of ribbons all over New Jersey and into New York.
I have since lost track of him, as the people's email address no longer works and the last I heard, they were selling him, because their daughter had outgrown him. I sure hope that I can track him back down and I welcome anyone who might have any information on him to contact me.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Bunny and Zach: My Two Matchmakers
Today is my 9th wedding anniversary, so I thought I'd write about how my horse, Bunny, and my 2nd Seeing Eye Dog, Zach, helped me know when I'd met the right man. So, I will start with some stories of how they told me that I hadn't, before I write about how they told me about Gordon.
I had only owned Bunny for about 2 months when I was asked out on a date by a guy who had a few horses of his own. So, after going out to eat, he took me by the stable where I boarded Bunny, for him to meet her.
I got her out of the pasture and took her to the roundpen, for us to spend some time with her and so he could see her in action. I free lunged her around us, meaning with no rope attached to her, at all, she only had her halter on. The guy and I stood in the middle of the roundpen talking, as Bunny went around us and after she was done with some light exercise, I told her "whoa!" And told her she could come to us, which she did.
At this point, I had already learned that Bunny really didn't like men very much and she avoided their contact, as much as possible. Well, she stopped, put herself right between us and then flat out refused to let this guy get near me. Every time he tried to move to the same side of her, that I was standing on, she would reposition herself, to block his advances. Again, remember, she had no lead rope, no lunge line, nothing, so neither of us were controlling her movement, at this point, it was all her doing. I don't think the guy realized what she was doing and why, but I figured it out.
Since Bunny was letting him touch her, but refusing to let him get near me, she was trying to tell me "Not him! Stay away from him!" I listened to my horse and never went on another date with him.
A few months later, my roommate, who was also blind, but had a lot less vision than I do, had a guy come over to talk and get to know one another. I got back from a class and found them sitting outside on the near by brick wall, where they invited me to join them for conversation. I was reluctant, but my roommate insisted, so after feeding Zach, I brought him back outside with me and sat down next to my roommate.
As the conversation continued, with me now included, we were learning that I actually had more in common with this guy than my roommate did. This guy and I seemed to be hitting it off, but I knew he was there to see my roommate and I was not about to steal him from her, I am not that kind of person. So, as it was getting cooler, I said that I wanted to go back inside, and my roommate agreed that it was getting cooler, so we should go inside, and she invited the guy to come in with us.
Our dorm room was more of a small apartment, as it had three rooms, a living room, bedroom, and bathroom.
My roommate went and sat in her favorite chair leaving only the sofa and table and chairs open. I sat down on the sofa and hoped he'd sit closer to my roommate, but instead, he sat right up next to me, which started to make me very uncomfortable. Zach sensing this, came over and I started petting him on the head.
Zach was a big black Lab, about 78 pounds. He and I had been partners for about 1 1/2 years at this time, so we had a very solid relationship and were very in tune with one another. Zach was an awesome guide dog and just the best friend, he knew me very well.
So, this guy starts talking to my roommate and as he's doing so, he quickly takes my hand, which of course increased my uneasiness tenfold. Zach looked up at the guy, as if to say, "What are you doing?" I may not be able to see very well, but I have enough sight to see some things and I also just could sense things from my animals and seem to know what they were thinking.
Zach seeing that they guy was not going to let go, as he put his head under our hands, trying to get us to pet him, when that didn't work, he took his nose and tried to pry the guy's fingers off of my hand.
I was keeping silent, because I didn't know what to do, I was in shock, I think, that this guy was taking advantage of the fact that my roommate could not see what he was doing.
Zach's antics weren't working, so this extremely well mannered and very quiet Lab took two steps back and let out the biggest bassiest bark you can imagine, startling us all.
The guy's response was, "Why is your dog barking at me?" So, I knew Zach was staring straight at this guy, that bark was meant for him.
The guy temporarily let go of my hand, but when he took it again, Zach let out another bark.
At this point, I decided that this creep needed to go, so I gathered up my courage and just said it was getting late and that we had studying to do. I stood up and the guy agreed to leave, but as he was about to leave, he reached out and tried to give me a hug. Zach barked again and got right betwen us, refusing to let the creep do what he wanted to do. I just played dumb and got the guy out of the room as quickly as possible.
I immediately told my roommate what had happened and that this guy was a creep to take advantage of the fact that she couldn't see what he was doing, when he was there to see her, in the first place. I mean, we agreed, that it would have been okay, if he had been polite and not done these things and afterwards called her up and said, "Hey, I don't think it is going to work out between you and I, but I did like your roommate, would you mind if I asked her out?" She would have accepted that, because she isn't stupid and she realized we had a lot in common and were hitting it off. But, no, he couldn't do the decent thing, which told me, that I wouldn't go out with him, either, because he'd learn what I couldn't see and try to get away with stuff behind my back, because I'm not stupid either, I wouldn't return any of his phone calls.
A few years later, I started emailing with Gordon, after a few months, we started talking on the phone, and then planned to meet on New Years Eve of 2000. So, yes, Gordon and I met online, before it was the fashionable or "in" thing to do.
I invited him to dinner at my Mom's house and said that he should come early and we could go see my horses, before dinner, at the barn I boarded them at.
When he got there, I introduced him to Zach, who met him happily, licking him, wagging, etc. I left Zach at home and we went to the boarding barn to see the three horses that I owned at that time, Bunny, Mayo, and Mayo's son, Baron.
We first went out to meet Baron, who happily met Gordon. Then we went to the mare field and I went to try and catch Bunny or Mayo. Mayo was one of the alpha's and she and the other alpha seemed to be having a bit of a fuss, so Mayo was not going to let me catc her, at first, so I went to try and catch Bunny, who could be hard to catch, at times. But this time, Bunny allowed me to catch her immediately and I walked her over to Gordon. She nuzzled him as he offered her an apple and she eagerly accepted it. I turned Bunny loose and she stayed near Gordon and then I went to catch Mayo, who finally was willing to be caught, as her arguement with the other alpha mare was settled. Mayo also eagerly met Gordon and accepted the apple he had brought for her.
Two weeks later, Gordon came to visit me again, and we again went out to the barn. This time I put Bunny in the roundpen and Gordon was going to take some pictures of her, for me. Gordon stood outside of the roundpen, so he wouldn't be in the way and could get ht epictures.
I took Bunny's halter off and she was totally free, as I sent her around the roundpen. I put her through her paces, walk, trot, and canter, and then I set up a small jump. After she would jump, she would go over to where Gordon was standing and stop. He kept laughing, because he said he felt like she was asking him how she did. It was really like she was asking that, becasue it was after each and every jump, she'd come to a complete stop right infront of him. She was letting him pet her, too, which was amazing, because through the years, I had truly seen just how much she distrusted men. So, I also took her stopping to see him and le thim pet her, as she was telling me, "I like this one!"
Later that evening, we went to a movie and so we went back to my place to clean up and for me to pick up Zach. Gordon's car was very small and there really wasn't much floor room for him, at my feet, where we usually put our guide dogs, for their safety, so I allowed Zach to sit in the backseat. Zach jumped into the back of Gordon's car and immediately started licking him on the ear. Again, I think Zach was saying, just like Bunny had earlier that day, "I like this one!"
So, my first horse, Bunny, and my 2nd Seeing Eye Dog, Zach, helped me pick out my husband. They have bothed passed away, now, but I will always be grateful to both of them for helping me find such a wonderful man! Thanks Bunny! Thanks Zach! You two were awesome and so trustworthy, that I knew I could trust your judgement completely in this matter.
Bunny and Zach helped me get a good one! Gordon is a wonderful husband, the best father to our two little girls, and most of all, he's my best friend! Happy 9th Anniversary hubby, I love you!
I had only owned Bunny for about 2 months when I was asked out on a date by a guy who had a few horses of his own. So, after going out to eat, he took me by the stable where I boarded Bunny, for him to meet her.
I got her out of the pasture and took her to the roundpen, for us to spend some time with her and so he could see her in action. I free lunged her around us, meaning with no rope attached to her, at all, she only had her halter on. The guy and I stood in the middle of the roundpen talking, as Bunny went around us and after she was done with some light exercise, I told her "whoa!" And told her she could come to us, which she did.
At this point, I had already learned that Bunny really didn't like men very much and she avoided their contact, as much as possible. Well, she stopped, put herself right between us and then flat out refused to let this guy get near me. Every time he tried to move to the same side of her, that I was standing on, she would reposition herself, to block his advances. Again, remember, she had no lead rope, no lunge line, nothing, so neither of us were controlling her movement, at this point, it was all her doing. I don't think the guy realized what she was doing and why, but I figured it out.
Since Bunny was letting him touch her, but refusing to let him get near me, she was trying to tell me "Not him! Stay away from him!" I listened to my horse and never went on another date with him.
A few months later, my roommate, who was also blind, but had a lot less vision than I do, had a guy come over to talk and get to know one another. I got back from a class and found them sitting outside on the near by brick wall, where they invited me to join them for conversation. I was reluctant, but my roommate insisted, so after feeding Zach, I brought him back outside with me and sat down next to my roommate.
As the conversation continued, with me now included, we were learning that I actually had more in common with this guy than my roommate did. This guy and I seemed to be hitting it off, but I knew he was there to see my roommate and I was not about to steal him from her, I am not that kind of person. So, as it was getting cooler, I said that I wanted to go back inside, and my roommate agreed that it was getting cooler, so we should go inside, and she invited the guy to come in with us.
Our dorm room was more of a small apartment, as it had three rooms, a living room, bedroom, and bathroom.
My roommate went and sat in her favorite chair leaving only the sofa and table and chairs open. I sat down on the sofa and hoped he'd sit closer to my roommate, but instead, he sat right up next to me, which started to make me very uncomfortable. Zach sensing this, came over and I started petting him on the head.
Zach was a big black Lab, about 78 pounds. He and I had been partners for about 1 1/2 years at this time, so we had a very solid relationship and were very in tune with one another. Zach was an awesome guide dog and just the best friend, he knew me very well.
So, this guy starts talking to my roommate and as he's doing so, he quickly takes my hand, which of course increased my uneasiness tenfold. Zach looked up at the guy, as if to say, "What are you doing?" I may not be able to see very well, but I have enough sight to see some things and I also just could sense things from my animals and seem to know what they were thinking.
Zach seeing that they guy was not going to let go, as he put his head under our hands, trying to get us to pet him, when that didn't work, he took his nose and tried to pry the guy's fingers off of my hand.
I was keeping silent, because I didn't know what to do, I was in shock, I think, that this guy was taking advantage of the fact that my roommate could not see what he was doing.
Zach's antics weren't working, so this extremely well mannered and very quiet Lab took two steps back and let out the biggest bassiest bark you can imagine, startling us all.
The guy's response was, "Why is your dog barking at me?" So, I knew Zach was staring straight at this guy, that bark was meant for him.
The guy temporarily let go of my hand, but when he took it again, Zach let out another bark.
At this point, I decided that this creep needed to go, so I gathered up my courage and just said it was getting late and that we had studying to do. I stood up and the guy agreed to leave, but as he was about to leave, he reached out and tried to give me a hug. Zach barked again and got right betwen us, refusing to let the creep do what he wanted to do. I just played dumb and got the guy out of the room as quickly as possible.
I immediately told my roommate what had happened and that this guy was a creep to take advantage of the fact that she couldn't see what he was doing, when he was there to see her, in the first place. I mean, we agreed, that it would have been okay, if he had been polite and not done these things and afterwards called her up and said, "Hey, I don't think it is going to work out between you and I, but I did like your roommate, would you mind if I asked her out?" She would have accepted that, because she isn't stupid and she realized we had a lot in common and were hitting it off. But, no, he couldn't do the decent thing, which told me, that I wouldn't go out with him, either, because he'd learn what I couldn't see and try to get away with stuff behind my back, because I'm not stupid either, I wouldn't return any of his phone calls.
A few years later, I started emailing with Gordon, after a few months, we started talking on the phone, and then planned to meet on New Years Eve of 2000. So, yes, Gordon and I met online, before it was the fashionable or "in" thing to do.
I invited him to dinner at my Mom's house and said that he should come early and we could go see my horses, before dinner, at the barn I boarded them at.
When he got there, I introduced him to Zach, who met him happily, licking him, wagging, etc. I left Zach at home and we went to the boarding barn to see the three horses that I owned at that time, Bunny, Mayo, and Mayo's son, Baron.
We first went out to meet Baron, who happily met Gordon. Then we went to the mare field and I went to try and catch Bunny or Mayo. Mayo was one of the alpha's and she and the other alpha seemed to be having a bit of a fuss, so Mayo was not going to let me catc her, at first, so I went to try and catch Bunny, who could be hard to catch, at times. But this time, Bunny allowed me to catch her immediately and I walked her over to Gordon. She nuzzled him as he offered her an apple and she eagerly accepted it. I turned Bunny loose and she stayed near Gordon and then I went to catch Mayo, who finally was willing to be caught, as her arguement with the other alpha mare was settled. Mayo also eagerly met Gordon and accepted the apple he had brought for her.
Two weeks later, Gordon came to visit me again, and we again went out to the barn. This time I put Bunny in the roundpen and Gordon was going to take some pictures of her, for me. Gordon stood outside of the roundpen, so he wouldn't be in the way and could get ht epictures.
I took Bunny's halter off and she was totally free, as I sent her around the roundpen. I put her through her paces, walk, trot, and canter, and then I set up a small jump. After she would jump, she would go over to where Gordon was standing and stop. He kept laughing, because he said he felt like she was asking him how she did. It was really like she was asking that, becasue it was after each and every jump, she'd come to a complete stop right infront of him. She was letting him pet her, too, which was amazing, because through the years, I had truly seen just how much she distrusted men. So, I also took her stopping to see him and le thim pet her, as she was telling me, "I like this one!"
Later that evening, we went to a movie and so we went back to my place to clean up and for me to pick up Zach. Gordon's car was very small and there really wasn't much floor room for him, at my feet, where we usually put our guide dogs, for their safety, so I allowed Zach to sit in the backseat. Zach jumped into the back of Gordon's car and immediately started licking him on the ear. Again, I think Zach was saying, just like Bunny had earlier that day, "I like this one!"
So, my first horse, Bunny, and my 2nd Seeing Eye Dog, Zach, helped me pick out my husband. They have bothed passed away, now, but I will always be grateful to both of them for helping me find such a wonderful man! Thanks Bunny! Thanks Zach! You two were awesome and so trustworthy, that I knew I could trust your judgement completely in this matter.
Bunny and Zach helped me get a good one! Gordon is a wonderful husband, the best father to our two little girls, and most of all, he's my best friend! Happy 9th Anniversary hubby, I love you!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Visiting Marcus
On July 3, 2011 I got to go visit Marcus (Marq Your Bible), the racehorse that I own in partnership with family and friends. Marcus is a 2 year old gelding sired by Marquetry and is out of my mare, Red Devilette (by Oh Say) aka "Scarlette".
I helped bring Marcus into this world, as he was malpositioned during delivery, so I was the first human that he ever smelled, touched, and saw. He has always been very sweet and gentle, to handle. Despite being in race training, he appears to be keeping his wonderful disposition.
Shortly after we arrived at Diana McClure's farm near Berryville, VA, I was taken to see Marcus, who was in his stall. He immediately put his nose to my face, greeting me. He sniffed me all over and was loving the attention. My 5 year old daughter, also gave him kisses, hugs, and pets, just like she did when he was growing up on our farm.
I went into Marcus's stall and ran my hands all over him, feeling how much his muscle tone had improved since he was moved to Diana's farm in the middle of May. He has grown over an inch, in height, his muscle tone has improved greatly, his bone has appeared to gotten stronger looking, and he's gotten wider in his chest. He is just looking better and better.
I offered to groom him for Diana, so I could spend a few more minutes with him and she graciously let me. I truly enjoyed getting to brush him and spend that time with him.
Diana then saddled him up and we walked out to the training track, where we could watch him train and my husband, Gordon, could get some pictures.
He usually goes out with a chestnut filly, but this time he went out with a grey gelding, because the filly was a bit under the weather that morning, luckily, she is doing totally fine, now.
Marcus and the grey gelding were brought out onto the training track, were ridden into the starting gate and he had to stand there quietly for a few minutes, before they walked out and headed down the chute, picking up a trot. After about 1/4 mile or so, they picked up a gallop and they went twice around the 5/8th's mile training track.
He stayed with the grey gelding, who is a very experienced retired racehorse, and when the grey picked up the pace, Marcus took him on.
When Diana came back, she said th ey were very impressed with how he behaved with the grey, keeping up with him, as the pace increased and he showed his conditioning by hardly breathing hard at all, despite the heat and humidity.
Diana rode him back to the barn, untacked him, and then Marcus got a nice bath.
We took more pictures of him and then he was taken back to his stall.
Diana has a fairly famous lead pony named Brownie, who led Big Brown to the gate for the Preakness. Brownie is fairly well known in the Mid-Atlantic. He's a big Quarter Horse, I think about 16 hands or so.
Diana tacked him up and my 5 year old daughter got to get on him, for a nice ride around the barnyard. Diana then had her husband stop Brownie and they showed my daughter how to get into a jockey position. She has great form!
We then put my 22 month old daughter up on Brownie, infront of her sister, and taught my older daughter how to hold onto her baby sister properly. Diana's husband continued to lead Brownie and Diana walked right beside them, as they went for a lap around the barnyard. I then tried to get my youngest daughter off, but she folded her arms, refusing to get off and said, "No!" So, they went for another lap around the barnyard and Brownie was led back to his stall, where we got my daughters off, with a lot less protest.
Both girls thanked Brownie for letting them ride him. My oldest even said how much she was going to miss Brownie, she really loves horses.
It was a great visit to Diana's farm and I can't thank her enough, for taking time from her busing schedule to give two little girls a major thrill.
Marcus got his knees x-rayed on Tuesday and his knees still need a bit more time, so he will just continue to do long gallops, probably increase the distance he gallops, but no speed will be added until the vet says so. We'll x-ray again in early August and we hope his knees will be closed, so he can start speed work. We think he'll have enough conditioning, by then, that it will only take a few weeks or so to get himr eady for a sprint race.
His full sister, Perfect Pet, was a sprinter, with a lot of speed, an some other siblings have had speed, while others can carry their speed over a distance, so we'll try at sprints and see how he does, but be willing to move him to distance races, if he shows he can do that, as well, or would prefer that.
We are so excited about Marcus and his potential! We are still willing to sell a few shares in him, if anyone is interested. Or you can just become a fan of him on Facebook, by searching by his registered name "Marq Your Bible". I have put up lots of pictures from our visit, so please check them out on his fan page.
I helped bring Marcus into this world, as he was malpositioned during delivery, so I was the first human that he ever smelled, touched, and saw. He has always been very sweet and gentle, to handle. Despite being in race training, he appears to be keeping his wonderful disposition.
Shortly after we arrived at Diana McClure's farm near Berryville, VA, I was taken to see Marcus, who was in his stall. He immediately put his nose to my face, greeting me. He sniffed me all over and was loving the attention. My 5 year old daughter, also gave him kisses, hugs, and pets, just like she did when he was growing up on our farm.
I went into Marcus's stall and ran my hands all over him, feeling how much his muscle tone had improved since he was moved to Diana's farm in the middle of May. He has grown over an inch, in height, his muscle tone has improved greatly, his bone has appeared to gotten stronger looking, and he's gotten wider in his chest. He is just looking better and better.
I offered to groom him for Diana, so I could spend a few more minutes with him and she graciously let me. I truly enjoyed getting to brush him and spend that time with him.
Diana then saddled him up and we walked out to the training track, where we could watch him train and my husband, Gordon, could get some pictures.
He usually goes out with a chestnut filly, but this time he went out with a grey gelding, because the filly was a bit under the weather that morning, luckily, she is doing totally fine, now.
Marcus and the grey gelding were brought out onto the training track, were ridden into the starting gate and he had to stand there quietly for a few minutes, before they walked out and headed down the chute, picking up a trot. After about 1/4 mile or so, they picked up a gallop and they went twice around the 5/8th's mile training track.
He stayed with the grey gelding, who is a very experienced retired racehorse, and when the grey picked up the pace, Marcus took him on.
When Diana came back, she said th ey were very impressed with how he behaved with the grey, keeping up with him, as the pace increased and he showed his conditioning by hardly breathing hard at all, despite the heat and humidity.
Diana rode him back to the barn, untacked him, and then Marcus got a nice bath.
We took more pictures of him and then he was taken back to his stall.
Diana has a fairly famous lead pony named Brownie, who led Big Brown to the gate for the Preakness. Brownie is fairly well known in the Mid-Atlantic. He's a big Quarter Horse, I think about 16 hands or so.
Diana tacked him up and my 5 year old daughter got to get on him, for a nice ride around the barnyard. Diana then had her husband stop Brownie and they showed my daughter how to get into a jockey position. She has great form!
We then put my 22 month old daughter up on Brownie, infront of her sister, and taught my older daughter how to hold onto her baby sister properly. Diana's husband continued to lead Brownie and Diana walked right beside them, as they went for a lap around the barnyard. I then tried to get my youngest daughter off, but she folded her arms, refusing to get off and said, "No!" So, they went for another lap around the barnyard and Brownie was led back to his stall, where we got my daughters off, with a lot less protest.
Both girls thanked Brownie for letting them ride him. My oldest even said how much she was going to miss Brownie, she really loves horses.
It was a great visit to Diana's farm and I can't thank her enough, for taking time from her busing schedule to give two little girls a major thrill.
Marcus got his knees x-rayed on Tuesday and his knees still need a bit more time, so he will just continue to do long gallops, probably increase the distance he gallops, but no speed will be added until the vet says so. We'll x-ray again in early August and we hope his knees will be closed, so he can start speed work. We think he'll have enough conditioning, by then, that it will only take a few weeks or so to get himr eady for a sprint race.
His full sister, Perfect Pet, was a sprinter, with a lot of speed, an some other siblings have had speed, while others can carry their speed over a distance, so we'll try at sprints and see how he does, but be willing to move him to distance races, if he shows he can do that, as well, or would prefer that.
We are so excited about Marcus and his potential! We are still willing to sell a few shares in him, if anyone is interested. Or you can just become a fan of him on Facebook, by searching by his registered name "Marq Your Bible". I have put up lots of pictures from our visit, so please check them out on his fan page.
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