This is my great-great-great grandmother on her horse Jesse, back in the late 1800's. Just kidding! But it looks old, doesn't it? The picture, not the person on it, of course! This is my Auntie J, the one with the bigger-than-my-apartment-tack room, on her Quarter Horse gelding (his name really is Jesse.) They are decked out for a trail ride. Aren't they just fabulous? She is my cowgirl inspiration. She knows how to make a great "lemonade" too, guaranteed to give anyone enough liquid courage to hit even the toughest of trails. It was a visit to her place in the desert two years ago and a ride on Her Boy that did me in. It roused that dormant virus I had been carrying around so long. The iwantahorseitis. The symptoms came on fast. I heard there is no cure. Sigh. Her Boy is the epitome of a Quarter Horse. Solid, athletic, smart, regal, and a total ham bone. Why, just look at this famous trick pony!
I couldn't get My Boy to do something like that if his life depended on it. Oh, and my Auntie J's Boy is quite the big flirt, too. Just look at him try to work his magic with his new girlfriend! My Auntie J bought this young Paint-that-ain't mare at an auction. She is in training now, and if she works out, my Auntie J is giving her to my other Auntie J (I know, I know, it's confusing. And, my mom's name starts with a J, too. What was my grandmother thinking?)
But how could he resist this baby-doll's face?
Ahhhh, wait a minute there, Buckaroo. Now I see what it is you are really lookin' at. It's her muscular little hind-end! I know, it'll getcha every time!
LOVE the picture of Auntie J!! I wished I would have been around in the time when cowgirls were expected to get dressed up. I have such cool pictures of my mom rodeoing in VERY sparkly clothes. Love them.
ReplyDeleteI had to catch up on my reading-with Chris here I don't have much time to read everyone's blogs but wanted to give you an idea with the wormer. We have had several horses that were just terrible about worming. Us girls must get inventive to compensate for lack of brute strength...
I back the horse into a corner(in the stall works great), stand at the shoulder and bend the head around to me. One hand goes around his nose and holds onto the bony part. I usually use the fingers of the other hand to rub the bar in the mouth to get them chewing and to make sure they aren't going to have a fit. Once they quit struggling, I quietly slid the tube in as far as I can and Voila-all done. They have a much harder time throwing their head up and you don't have to worry about them backing away and such.
As for the shots-I do the "thumping" on the neck too and only put the needle in at first. This way if they jerk the syringe isn't flying all over. They can tighten that neck muscle enough to pop the needle out, if they are really having a fit, but it is much less likely without the syringe on.
I think I was born with that bug. I wouldn't give it up for the world.
ReplyDeleteB-E-C~ thanks for the deworming advice. I really like the turning the head idea, I will try that next time!! Somehow he sees/smells that tube. You can't slide one by him. I think he even recognizes the vet's car! Hee! Wacky horse.....
ReplyDeleteToo bad us wimmens weren't gazed upon for our muscular bee-hinds like a horse is:)
ReplyDeleteYou might also want to have your DNA tested - could be that you were born with the horse gene.
ReplyDeleteIt is in the DNA, for sure! Seven of my family members (aunts, sibling, cousins, second cousins) all have horses and ride, too, and we're converting other family members on a daily basis!! ;)
ReplyDeleteAren't you lucky to be born into a family of cowgirls! My husband swears I'd buy anything if it has a horse on it.
ReplyDeleteLOL, The sunglasses kind of give it away! I think I was born with that bug too!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. It sure is nice to have a whole family involved with horses. I think we were all born with the horse gene, you know it from when you are a kid. The horses are great, my quarter horse Dusty has a pretty wide rear, that's why I love her so, it is bigger than mine.Love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteCallie~ too funny, I didn't think about the sunglasses! You got me! ;) I wonder when they were invented??
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