wow!

Wordless Wednesday

Animal Control

Sigh... I can't EVER just go on vacation... I drove to visit my in-laws and on my way passed a house that has fenced in its tiny yard and has 9, yes 9, horses on maybe an acre. They are so skinny that I could count their ribs from the road. This is the same place that I saw the foal in December without a blanket. Problem? They have food. They are feeding round bales, but the horses are in horrible condition and are much worse than when I saw them in December. I have the phone number for Animal Control and I am going to call tomorrow morning. Suggestions on what to say?? I have never called before.

Pennsylvania

I have been home (funny how it's called that no matter how long you've lived somewhere else) for a few days now. It's been nice to see friends and family. I know that before I know it I will be back in Seattle, so I am trying to enjoy my mini-vacation. This is the first summer that I have not worked in....ever I guess. I've worked since I was 16. From 18-24 I worked every summer at an amusement park as a manager and worked from 6 am - 11 pm (not even joking, and sometimes longer hours.) I loved that job. I did a million things at one time and was always on my feet running around. It was fun when I was 18-24, but probably not now. I'd take it too seriously. A bunch of my friends and I went there this past weekend to ride the rides for the first time since we left (we use to sneak off and ride them during the day.) We also were big kids and bought our own wrist bands (we can get them for free if we want them.) I figured I'm 30, I can buy my own.

Today I woke up and my neck really hurt. I took me 5 minutes to figure out that I had a sun burn. It's been THAT long since I've had one of those! Funny.

Lots of bad things happening in the world this weekend to people and animals alike. I wonder if it's possible to have TOO much empathy because I end up feeling so bad for everyone and making myself depressed. I'm always like that though. Someone told me it was my "Catholic Guilt."

Hope all is well in your part of the world! I will probably not post a lot since Denali will get mad with lack of mention of her, and it's hard to mention her when she's 3,000 miles away. She tends to demand the spotlight. I showed my mom the video of Denali, her comment, 'Reminds me of a giant dog.'

Don't forget to enter the give-a-way for a Nibblenet!!

Lame!

I am going home tomorrow for two weeks, which meant that today is the last I get to see Princess. That always makes me sad. I can call and talk to my husband, but I can't talk to Denali. She's ha a bit of a crazy week, and I wish I could be there to check on her. Two of the horses have gone to a foster home, one horse has gone to training (Denali's best friend. :( I'm sad for both of them.) A new gelding has joined the herd. Currently there are now two geldings and two mares. Denali tried to be boss. Fail. Poor thing, I hate herd changes, everything goes haywire for a bit.

The center just hired a new caretaker and I really like her. She was really good with the horses I saw her work. I asked her to video Denali so I could watch (and re-watch, and re-watch, and re-watch, etc.) to look at her lameness. Sigh. I didn't need a video. She's so lame. SO, SO lame.

Here is the video but please remember a few things.

1. I am not asking Denali to do anything but move forward. Nothing special, so criticizing my "techniques" will make no sense since I was in deep despair watching my horse limp around the round pen. I didn't care where she went other than forward.

2. Not everyone can be as hot as I am in my shorts and new (read: amazing) boots. Safety first.

3. I'm fat, I know.

4. I love this mare so flipping much.

I made Denali a dinner of her grass pellets, beet pulp, with a topping of Bute. I hope that helps her. She doesn't seem in pain, and seems super happy. That's all that matters right? That's what I keep telling myself. As long as she's happy.

I can't say enough of what this place, this center, has done for Denali. She is a different horse, a calm, sweet, loving horse. After her pathetic attempt at trotting she went back out to the pasture. There is a new horse there for medical treatment, and he is in LOVE with her. As soon as he sees her he drops. Sigh. It's a good thing they are not together. Gelding or not, Denali doesn't care.

It was actually warm today, close to 80 (Yes, I realize that everyone else has a heat wave right now.) While I was topping off the water, Denali stuck her head into the water. I soaked her while she stood there. She'd wander off, roll a few times and then come back and stand by the gate. I'd give her treat, scratches, etc, but nope, not what she wanted. So more water and I had a happy girl.

Thanks to everyone who entered into the blog give-away! Remember, it's easy become a "Fan of Denali" (aka, follower) and tell me (in yesterday's post) why you started following my blog.  I will only collect names from that post. I will do the drawing July 21st (or 22nd at the latest.)

600th Post Give-Away!

July 8th, 2008 I was at a horse auction just "looking" but by the end of the day I learned two things. 1. They really are one of the saddest places you'll ever go, and 2. Even when you leave your check book at home (on purpose) they take DISCOVER! I can't believe that it's going to be 3 years that I've owned Denali. I can honestly say that we are not doing what I expected that we'd be doing, sometimes that gets me down, sometimes I breath a sigh of relief. No matter what I love her, and can't wait to have her in my backyard!

AND since you've been along for the majority of the ride AND this is my 600th post I decided I would do a blog give-away! It's simple.

 1. Be a follower of this blog
 2. Comment on this post as to why you decided to follow my blog (and yes, saying that we are a train wreck waiting to happen is an acceptable answer!)

I will "pull a name" when I get back from my trip to visit my family in Pennsylvania (July 21st.) Thank you for everything you've done for me! I still think about November and how everyone held me together when I didn't know if I could myself. I am forever grateful for that!

What does the winner get? I like to support businesses that give back to the horse community. The wonderful woman who makes Nibblenets donated a bag for me to use at the Center's fund raiser in September. What better way than for me to give her some more business? Plus, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE mine! The winner will get a Nibblenet!  I am only going to be able to ship the bag to the US (unless you lovely Canadian readers want to pay shipping. :) If you're nice I will even allow you to pick your color (although if Denali hears that you pick any color other than red she'll be very unhappy!)

Thanks for being there and thanks for reading!

Happy 4th!

I hope that everyone's animals fared well during all the fireworks! I use to love them when I was little. Now I get a knot in my stomach hoping that princess and her pony friends are okay. Regardless, I hope that you had a wonderful day with your family (both two and four legged.)

Current cool fact: One of the ponies at the GWB is currently ranked #1 in the nation for the USEF 4 year olds. I am honored to be bitten by him. :)