Merry Christmas.... Squirt in California....

Well, Squirt and his new family made it back to California last Sunday, the 20th of December, just in time to enjoy a nice warm Califonia Christmas day.  Current temperature here is 10 degrees, the high yesterday 13... Seems like Squirt REALLY got the best Christmas present this year, Carson and her entire family and a new home in sunny California... Never have to stand in the cold again, (Californians might think it's cold but us Coloradans know better).

Carson & Squirt just arriving in California

Must be strange to get in a trailer, have no idea where your going and pop out of the trailer 1100 miles away at a brand new place, with brand new people.  Hmmm....

Carson has already gone to a reined cow horse trainer and tried Squirt on a cow (calf)... and she said they're going back next week for a lesson with Doug Ingersoll... It's been a while since Squirts been riden, but I'm sure Carson will get him legged up and back in shape in no time...

I have a lot to be thanksfull for this year as most... Amanda is still with us and still relatively healthy (relative to being nearly 13), Squirt has a new home and someone to give him the attention he deserves... All of my family and friends are doing A-OK, and the sun came up again this morning...

And the grass is green

One of Squirts other new friends Havanna

Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy and Safe New Year

Cheers

Squirt goes to a new home

Robert called just a few days ago and asked me if I'd like to sell Squirt, I said Maybe... He said he had a friend in Sacramento CA that was looking for a good, reliable quarter horse for his soon to be teenage daughter.  I asked Robert who it was and he told me Scott, Georgeanne and their daughter Carson. 

I had met Scott and Georgeanne on the trip to purchase PorkChop in Napa Valley.  We stopped by their house is near Sacramento, actually Loomis CA. At the time their two children were a toddler and a relative newborn.

Well like all of our horses I really love Squirt, he was the first horse born on the ranch, as I said last post.  He certainly wouldn't win any beauty contest, he has short legs and a powerful build all topped off with a rather large head.

I have riden Squirt more than any of the other horses, shown him in dozens of reinings and cow horse shows. He won the cow horse regional championship a few years back. He is exceptionally reliable, maybe not as flashy as some but he always finished in the money.

In all the time we've had Squirt he has NEVER bucked anyone off and I've never fallen off him, he's very careful and pays close attention to me, probably any rider. Robert's nine(9) year old daughter, Kristy, has riden Squirt bareback for several years.

Despite his short legs he can run like the wind, he'll catch ANY cow as long as you've got the nerve... He NEVER gives up or balks, he's got a HUGE heart and really tries to be just right.

We were at the county fair horse show a few years back. Squirt noticed the draft horses pulling a rather big, loud wagon. He was very concerned about the wagon and was very nervous and visibly upset.  I finally saddled him up and rode him behind the wagon so he'd know it wasn't going to get him. We did this for hours, everyone that we  went past at the fair got to pet him and give him treats. He finally got a little more comfortable but always watched the wagon so he knew exactly where it was.  Well my turn in the arena came up, I rode him over to the arena and OH NO the wagon pulls up right outside the arena and parks.  I thought for sure he'd dump me when we started our reining run. Nope, he kept watching, I could tell he was constantly aware of the wagon but he did his stuff just right. We didn't finish too good because the rider was so distracted by him being distracted that I lost count on the spins...

Today starts a new chapter in Squirts life.  He's going to have Carson all to himself. I have to believe that it's a recuring horse dream to belong to a young horse loving girl. 

Carson and family arrived yesterday, they picked up Squirt to go over to the 80 and give him a try... After going around the "block" a few times he was brought home to us for his final night here.  He was already in a nice warm horse blanket that Carson had brought just waiting for this morning.

Well the suns coming up and I'm headed out to feed him, all teary eyed, for the last time. I'll take a couple of peppermints (which he and most of our horses love).

One thing is for sure, I know he's going to a great place, probably heaven on earth for a horse... 

Merry Christmas Carson, Squirt.... Everyone.... and Happy New Year...

Squirt & Carson

Another horse story that needs telling...

I had mentioned that Robert and I flew to Napa valley to look and Porkchop and found Kat... Well that story continues.  We left Napa Valley for Seattle Washington. We were going to look at another brood mare. This mare lived in Puyallup Washington.

We went to visit a nice family, Nancy, Greg and a ten year old KayCee (KC). They had a mare for sale because they wanted to use the proceeds to campaign (train and show) Compact CD a two year old stud colt out of Hiccup aka "Lil Dun Hickory". Dun is a color variation that manifest itself as a tan colored horse with a dorsal stripe (line down it's back). Hiccup was a "red" dun meaning she had a red stripe and a red mane and tail.

Hiccup was also a trained cutter that both Nancy and ten year old KC rode.

Well Robert took Hiccup for a spin and liked her. He did say I should stay off as she was rather "hot", hot defined as in "wound as tight as a spring", I was truly a beginning rider and chances are good I would have fallen off, or been tossed.

In any case we negotiated a bit and I thought I'd buy her too. Nancy was REALLY excited about the two year old, Compact CD and determined to show him off. He was (and is) very handsome.  Well Nancy saddles him up and climbs on in the "round pen".  CD took one fast run around the round pen, then EXPLODED, bucking and kicking, tossing Nancy to the ground. We found out later that she had broken her shoulder... It sure looked like it hurt... bummer.

Hiccup was shipped home to us. She had several nice babies, the first born at Table Rock was "Squirt", more on him later. Here is a photo of hiccup with squirt shortly after he was born.

Hiccup and Squirt as he sees his very first human (Susan)

Hiccup went on the have Kory, "RedMan", Lacy, Yoda and Dunny before her untimely death. I drove her from our house,  one dark winter night in a full blown blizzard, to CSU where they did everything possible, but no luck... We do miss her...

I always wanted to ride hiccup, she was certainly a "well broke" cutting horse, shortly after she had Squirt she was out in a pasture and injured her hock.  Then she had Kory, we went to the vet one day and the vet noticed she looked a little off, she had foundered so no one ever rode her again (some founder horses can be ridden we probably could have ridden her). 

Kory was born right in our barn, Kory was the first foal we saw come into the world. I looked out the window about 8PM one night, Hiccup is pacing, laying down, standing up over and over.  I thought I'd go take a look to see if she was OK, we weren't really expecting any new lifw that evening. When I got to the barn I found the two front legs sticking out about 6 inches, by time I called Susan (on the cell phone) and Susan arrived, Kory was almost all the way out, about five(5) minutes.

This story is really to set up another horse story regarding Squirt. It will be a really sad story for me, BUT I'm thinking a real happy story for someone else....

PS - While I was looking for some pictures of Squirt I found this photo, taken by Susan of me on the way to the ground. The horse happens tp be Kat, the runniing W is almost visible on her thigh...

Ouch

When it's brutaly cold and you have horses... and fire wood :-)

This is NOT a posting about "horses" per se.  It's about what the human(s) have to go through so the horses stay OK.  Horses by design, are cold weather, VERY cold weather animals... When it's -18F (yup minus 18 and that's NOT the wind chill), they still need to eat and even more joyous, get water...

So around Table Rock Quarter Horses this is a brief idea of what kind of misery one can encounter.

When it's this cold outside, even with insulated coveralls and Sorrel boots, well you're just NOT going to stay warm, or for that matter get warm (outside).  Just a mild wind plunges the "wind-chill" value into the minus 40s or 50s. 

The first and most obvious thing is neither truck, the van, the semi or the tractor will start. The old propane John Deere however does start, it's at the 80 acres 4 miles away.  The diesel pickups have an engine block heater, BUT we never use them and they are parked too far way from the house to get electricity. The barn tractor, despite the "glow plug" and ether (engine starter fluid) just doesn't get up enough RMP to fire off.

Just one little bit of water in a 100' hose, blocks the whole thing. With the hose not only blocked but as hard as a (trying to think of something polite) fence post, it's a LONG cold battle to get one into the house and thawed. FORTUNATELY over the years I've learned this lesson and I did have the hoses completely drained, thank goodness... Just an interesting observation, without water tank heaters over 2 inches of ice forms overnight when it's this cold. Four inch thick ice will support a car.

The electric garage door opener will not lift or lower the garage door. It is kinda old but it's been working OK until now. I think the door binds because of ice in the rollers. Now it is completely dead...

I have a 1300 pound bale of alfalfa in the driveway that I can't move because the tractor won't start. I don't want to open it or it'll never move, it will just turn into a pile of "lawn clippings" and it's no where near the horses.

I do have some 70 pound bales stored in the barn for just this kind of emergency BUT that's not the real issue. The "small" bales still have to be hauled from the barn in the cold, wind and snow, BUT still not the issue...

What  is the issue? would you believe Bambi, his mother, father, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, his friends, their friends.  All in all a herd of about 60 including some pretty good size bucks, complete with antlers... They all stand around in the driveway "arguing" about who's going to eat off the 1300 (soon to be 1000) pound bale of alfalfa.  I still haven't figured it out, three days before one doe and her two fawns were taking tiny nibbles and being VERY peaceful, three days later the whole herd. How did they all know? the doe tell 'em? I guess it really doesn't matter BUT if they get use to feeding here they'll start defending the food source... no thanks...

To make matters worse a small herd of elk have been through, leaving the fence in tatters as they just run right through it, Bambi and company at least try and jump over it. How do I know, Elk prints... I guess I should point out santas reindeer tracks to the kids huh? hmmm.

Now for the firewood. we rarely burn the stove as we've had little kids around for years and it's just too dangerous.  Plus the heat will drive you out of the house if it's not REAL cold outside (it is).  So I trudge down to where I DIDN'T decide to store the wood, and bring some back to the garage. I managed one load as my feet froze. I must say that it sure made it toasty in the house... I am however going  to move the wood back to where I decided to store it... 

Ahh now the best part. Every day, 365 days a year, 7-8:00 in the morning, then again around 4:30 in the evening (it gets dark at 5:00). Feed the equine friends... It's a Looong boring story, feel free to visit for a first hand look... I won't even make you help.

The real good thing is that this was not a SNOW event for us, maybe a couple inches of fine powder, not really a wind event either. A little wind when it wasn't snowing so no big deal.  IF it had been a snow event, I'd STILL be digging out the firewood, stored where I DIDN'T decide to store it.

The Watercolor class comes to an end...

The final watercolor class was Saturday, the 5th of December... The last day everyone puts up the work they did during the semester. I like the art EVERYONE does, BUT it's clear that Susan has a fabulous grasp of the subject. Her paintings are really Nice. Hopefully she'll get the one she did for Christmas cards out this year. It's painted but .... Hmmm maybe I'll just take it to Kinkos and let them make the cards... Hmmm... she MIGHT even put some up on her blog.

In any case I asked Susan if it's OK to be "pleased" with yourself? she said "I don't think so", Ohhh that's too bad because I'm pretty pleased with myself... I got the idea for this paining a couple weeks ago and I'm pleased with the way it came out. Lots of ego here..., good thing considering the "failures"...

I call it "watercolor work place" complete with coffee cups rings (up by the orange brush at the top).

Chics Betty Crocker

Another horse tale...

The first time I saw Chicks Betty Crocker was at the 1998 National Reining Horse Association Futurity. She was a three year old being shown in the Worlds largest reining competition. NRHA

I had never been to a real big show, this particular show paid $100,000.00 for first place in the open division...  Robert Hartford, Linda Hartford, Susan and I all flew down to Oklahoma City just to watch the show. Both Susan and I were REAL novices at riding, and even novices at "watching" the show.

I was sitting next to Robert who was slinking down in the chair because I was yelling "SEND 'EM" a reining thing for go really fast and slam on the brakes...

In anycase we saw hundreds of beautiful horses doing "reining" patterns.

Reining is like dressage at full speed, or maybe like figure skating on horseback. Spins, stops, lead changes, rollbacks, a lot of "cowboy" stuff... All of this is done with no visible queuing to the horse. It's kinda funny they call it reining when the use of the reins is minimal. Most of the control is done by the riders legs and "seat". Robert (the professional) has ridden both Kat and Betty (and others) with his arms crossed, doing all the elemants of a reining pattern without even touching the reins...

So I'm having a great time watching, Robert is still trying to slink away and they announce next out is "Chicks Betty Crocker" ridden by Bryan Pace, owned by Jim Babcock... OK first words out of my mouth were - "what a stupid name for a horse".  Oh but look at that cool brand, looks almost like a "chevy" logo. Babcock Ranch It's the red symbol between Babcock and Ranch at this link.

Anyway Bryant and "Betty" scored well enough to qualify for the finals. over four hundred horses, the top twenty-five(25) are finalists. The then compete for the grandprize, $100,000.00 (that's actually increased by quite a bit since then).

Fast-Forward One Year... (or so).

We (mostly me) decide that it's time to buy a reining horse so Susan can learn to ride on a "broke" reiner...

We head to Dallas so we can drive to Bob Loomis Ranch  to look at the great reining mare "Miss Gee Wiz", by TopSail Wiz, a Horse Bob Loomis had won a previous reining futurity on...The day comes, we call Loomis to remind him we're coming, Whoever it was I talked with said come on up, but Bob had been bucked off a two year old and wasn't getting around too good, he might be laid-up.

We get to the Loomis Ranch on the Texas and Oklahoma border, Bob never did make it out he was stuck in bed, barely moving.  His assistant informed us that someone had just bought Miss Gee Wiz while we were on our way... Dang. He didn't really have anything that would work so we visited a few other ranches in the heart of Quarter Horse Country.  I'll skip the details for now, but we just couldn't find anything. OH wait we have three(3) hours before the plane leaves lets look in the "Quarter Horse News".  We find Babcock Ranch not to far from where we are.  So it's off to see Jim Babcock, he thinks he might have a horse that is what we're looking for.

We get to his ranch, the barn must have 60 stalls, sure was a lot anyway. So Jim invites us in to his office and we talk a little. He has another couple from Colorado there looking at a stud...

I tell him we're looking for a broke reiner Susan can learn to ride and rein... He tells one of the stable hands to "go get Betty"... I knew IMMEDIATELY who he was going to bring out.  Yup, Chicks Betty Crocker and boy was she beutiful...

Robert and Susan both took Betty for a spin, I stayed off. Bryant Pace, Bettys trainer was out of commision from a jetski incident the day before. 

It was a lot of money and Susan looked a little reluctant so we said OK we'll think about it and give you a call.  We RUSHED to the airport, went through security, go on the plane at the last minute. We were still talking about Betty, sitting on the plane just before the door closed I said "I'm calling him back and buying her". Neither one (Robert or Susan) objected.  I made the call and told him We'd take her... I told him I'd send a check when I got home... Done Deal...

Betty came to live with us. She was Susans reining horse.  Boy is she cool, fun to ride and athletic. 

Susan was still learning and Betty is a pretty HOT mare.  We are out riding one day shortly after Betty arrived, Susans just a little leary and Betty can sense her discomfort. Robert and I INSISTED that she have one more go around the arena. BAD CHOICE, worse that Susan really wasn't in to it, and Robert and I "INSISTED". Boy, BAD, BAD CHOICE...

Susy coaxed Betty to start around the arena, Betty did something that alarmed Susy and she tightened up on the reains, which Betty really didn't care for and probably wasn't use to.

Betty unloaded Susan, smack right to the ground... OUCH. (this wasn't anywhere NEAR the worst encounter Susan has had with our equine friends)...  But it kinda soured Susie to Betty, she adopted KAT... Robert and I mostly road Betty.

Susie wasn't the only one Betty dumped.  She had been up to Colorado State University (CSU) for at least a month, for breeding and embryo transfer. While she was gone I had a brand new saddle I thought I should try. So her first day home Robert calls and says "bring a horse and help me round up the cattle". Hmm oh boy. Put Betty in the trailer, put the new saddle in the trailer and off I went. Unloaded Betty, saddled her up all is going good. Step up into the stirrup, everything seems OK. Throw my leg over and have a seat. HMMM pretty nice. Betty EXPLOADED I'm trying to hang on for dear life, but when 1200 pounds of pure muscle decides you're getting off, well your getting off.  I'm laying on the granite slab, Betty puts her head down, has a sniff, takes a close look with one eye, then the other "Gee what are you doing down there". This trip to the ground required knee surgery, OUCH!!

Betty is sired by Smart Chic Olena, who Jim Babcock owns. "Chic" has sired horses that have won over 9 million dollars as reiners and another 1 million dollars as "reined cowhorse" .
Just the "breeding" fee for Smart Chic is $25,000.00.  That's right 25 grand for a little tube of semenal fluid... Hmmm shoulda been a cowboy horse.