Desert Hoof Prints

Tucker is Growing Up

2011-12-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

Tucker is almost four months old!

Check out the new arrivals at Forever Home Donkey Rescue - never a dull moment for Tish and John.

War Horse

2011-12-29T11:45:00.000-08:00

My son and I went to see War Horse on Christmas evening. I enjoyed the film but it didn't evoke the powerful feelings that watching the YouTube clips of the stage version did. It felt contrived in places and didn't always tie together. While the horse was the thread I never felt the film was actually about Joey but about war and what it does to us.

One of the most poignant scenes to me was Albert's Mum talking about his father's service in the Boer War - with understanding, pride and love of her man that, necessarily, is usually kept hidden behind a stern, common sense exterior.

Equally strong is the intercourse - sounding almost like youthful soccer field rivalry - between the Brit Colin and German Peter as they free Joey from the barbed wire. A glimpse of how wrong war is.

I was disappointed in not being able to find any information on the horse(s) acting the part of Joey.

Morning Isn't at 4 PM

2011-04-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

It seems forever that I've worked nights and my body is convinced that the day begins at four in the afternoon. In fact I've managed to train my horses to believe that 4 pm is breakfast time. (No, they don't go without during the day - I leave them more hay the night before.) I've missed out on a lot of things I'd like to do - there's no way I've been able to feed, load up a horse and drive somewhere for a 9 am saddle time. My idea of the right time to saddle up is about - you guessed it - 4 pm.

I've decide I'm going to try to change this by getting into a morning routine. Now you early birds probably think I'm nuts - but if you've flip-flopped your days and nights for years on end, there is not such thing as a "routine".

I'm already waking up earlier and earlier (9 am IS early) but it's still difficult to function much before mid afternoon. But it's getting better - today I made it to the barn by 10:30... in the morning! Showered and ready to scoop. My horses were thrilled and the barn kitties were able to get down to some serious hunting.

So tonight I'll set up the coffee pot and who knows, I'll get to see a sunrise yet.

Changes

2011-03-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

You know that wonderful feeling when a heavy burden is lifted from your shoulders? That sense of freedom and opportunity?

Today I'm looking at the future not as twelve hour shifts to be endured but as time to hack weeds, curry horses and stack hay.

I'm sure I'll gravitate back to nursing; I do enjoy helping people overcome obstacles, stay out of the hospital, or not being afraid when their time here is ebbing.

But today I'll enjoy the flowers, the damp smell of earth and manure, the barn kitties chasing tufts of fur as I groom my shedding horses. Tomorrow will come whether or not I worry about it.

Securing Arizona's Border

2010-07-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Those of us living in and near Tucson do not understand how securing our border is being seen by some as "anti-Hispanic" or "anti-Latino" or "racist".

When we are riding our horses in the desert and come across a group of drug smugglers, we really don't care what race or nationality they are - we just want to get out of the area before we become a victim of drug-related violence. When we encounter trails of trash, we really don't care what race or nationality the litterers are when we pick up the trash spoiling the beautiful Arizona desert. When we hear of another group of people left to die in a locked semi trailer, we really don't care about the race or nationality of the human smugglers who abandoned helpless men, women and children.

Tucson is rich in Latino and Mexican heritage and tradition - from architecture to rodeo, art to food, this thread binds all of us together. Our co-workers, our fellow shoppers at the grocery store, the children on the school bus come from all backgrounds and places - not simply Latino or Hispanic but Asian, Middle Eastern, Indian, Native American, European and African from all corners of the globe. There is more diversity in Tucson and Arizona than any other place I've been to in this country.

No, we aren't securing the Mexican-Arizona border against Mexicans or Hispanics or Latinos. We are securing it against smugglers, drug runners, and other purveyors of violence who see the permeability of this border as an opportunity, our citizens near the border as the enemy and the lives of men, women and children oppressed by corruption as without value.

Giving "A Leg Up"

2008-09-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

"When faced with making a choice to amputate my badly damaged and irreparable knee, I studied all of these examples of extraordinary amputees getting on with their lives, running, jumping, riding, swimming, cycling, even singing! Their ability gave me courage and confidence that I would be fine.

"After the surgery, I awoke to a very different world. I was no darling of the media, just an average, 54 year old scientist who needed a prosthesis, ..."

From "Why I'm Here" on KFG's Parity Quest blog.

Writing to the Kansas Health Care Commission, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS who, despite advocating for Kathleen in Kansas has yet to add his name to the list of sponsors of House Resolution 5615), is more than just a win for Kathleen - it's a win for all of us!

Find all the details at Parity Quest.

Barn Bats - Rabies Risk?

2008-05-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Bats have finally taken up residence in the bat house I put up outside my barn almost six years ago. At dusk I may catch a glimpse of one swooping for its dinner (we've had active mosquitoes in Arizona since early March) and I see their droppings on the ground below the house. I'm happy they seem to like their home and will help control the mosquito population - and I'm almost as happy not to get an up close and personal viewing, as rabies is on an early upswing this year, with Pima County leading the number of reported cases.

So why even consider putting up a bat house if they might carry a potential rabies threat?

Chances of contracting a mosquito-borne disease, or even of winning the lottery are greater than the risk of contracting rabies from a bat. A few simple precautions, such as not handling a bat (or any other wild or feral animal) can almost totally eliminate the risk. If a bat is active in the daytime, or seems to be acting ill, containing it with a bucket or box without touching it (and to keep your pets from investigating and possibly being bitten) should be your first step, then contact your local animal control officer to arrange to have the bat picked up for testing. Any wild animal which seems either aggressive or "too friendly" should be reported to your Game and Fish or Animal Control authority. Even if rabies-free, a wild animal that has lost its wariness of humans is dangerous - something that we're seeing more commonly as increasing development broadens the urban-wildlife interface.

If you suspect you might have had exposure to rabies, through either a bite or saliva contact, it is important to seek medical care immediately to receive PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis treatment). Immediate PEP (within 24-48 hours) can prevent the development of rabies; once the rabies virus has an opportunity to incubate, it is almost always fatal. Protect your dogs, cats and horses with vaccination.

Bats consume a huge number of flying insects relative to their weight. The possibility of an explosion in insect populations due to die-off (from white-nose syndrome) occurring in some bat colonies in the Northeast has health department officials concerned.

"Randall Nelson, state [NY] public health veterinarian, said the state's mosquito trapping and testing program will take on added importance this summer because of the bat problem.

Mosquitoes are trapped and tested for West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis, which can be transmitted to humans." [ProMed 31 March, 2008]

I will enjoy my small colony of bats knowing their presence reduces the chance of my horses or I contracting one of the mosquito-borne diseases - and knowing their benefits far outweigh any possible risk. Now if only I could convince the local rattlesnakes to stay on the other side of the fence.

Bat Conservation International

Bat House Information

Nicked and Ticked

2008-04-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

I just got hit last Sunday with a $459 fraudulent debit card charge from I Web Technologies in Montreal, CA. To add insult, there was also a $4.59 foreign transaction fee, plus an overdraft fee.

I closed my card and will be reimbursed, but it's still a royal pita. On Sunday, I was a lot more concerned with wondering if I would be able to buy groceries and put gas in my car than looking for web hosting.

This is, possibly, an error as "scams" are often smaller, less noticeable amounts - like the $12.95's in another blog's thread - many people would simply overlook that amount. I got caught a few years ago where someone was debiting my checking account for small, varying amounts for a few months - I was in the middle of building a house and didn't notice it. Had to close my checking account (major bummer).

If anyone else gets ticked by I Web Technologies, would like to hear.

If you are I Web Technologies and are legit, you might want to find out who's impersonating you. This is what I found when I Googled I Web Technologies.

Every Horse Counts

2007-12-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

The 2007 USDA Agriculture Census will begin this month. While horses are a small part of the overall census, counting every horse is important to the equestrian community. You can respond to the census online, but need to get a packet in the mail first for a "survey control" number.

Article from The Horse -

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10934

State Horse Councils, legislators and equestrian groups use information from this census to judge the impact of the equestrian community on the economy, back up the need for trails and other facilities and more - helping to protect your rights as horse owners. Every horse (or other equid) counts - whether you're a large boarding facility, a breeder, a rescue or just have a couple of horses, mules or donkeys in your backyard.

Filling in the information at this link will get you a packet in the mail with a control number, which you can use to complete the survey online (or you can mail it back if you prefer):

https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/cgi-bin/counts

This link has more information about the Agriculture Census

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/

In 2002, only 46,866 horses and ponies were counted in Arizona, ranking us 34th in the nation - small wonder the non-horse portion of the community and government might not take the needs and rights of horse owners seriously. From 1997 to 2002, we lost 1,213 farms and ranches and 583,000 acres of agriculture land. Let's make every horse and "ranch" count this year. (You can see the info for your state at the http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/ link)

Desert Wonderland

2007-02-22T01:07:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2007 - Choli and Plato

Plato the next morning - "Where'd my hay go?"

Never Know What Life Will Bring Today

2006-11-19T08:58:00.000-08:00

Plato came up swollen and lame on the LH the other day - think he and the colt may have gotten into it. Swelling's almost down and he's moving fine but he's going to stay in with Choli to keep him company.
Everything's kind of on hold for a bit until I know what direction the house sale is going - I'll just consider it an opportunity to continue clearing stuff out. I would think that with all but one of my regular monthly bills totally online the paper burden would get smaller - but I still fill a garbage bag with junk mail every week. Been working the shredder overtime cleaning out file cabinets and have another four or five boxes of "stuff" to donate.
Getting rid of stuff is hard - I've never really been a pack rat but most of what I've collected over the years has a story or memory that goes along with it. Hopefully Ian will get settled and he will use/appreciate a lot of the things I'm not ready to let go of. Like tools. And the Cavalry horse my grandfather drew some 60 plus years ago.
If I'm to stay here for a while, then my current trailer is a keeper - some new tires and a Coleman stove and we're ready to go (with a tune-up for the truck).
Just have to stay open for all options - my daily motto that I repeat as I leave the house each morning has become "You never know what life will bring today".

Joe and Plato

2006-10-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

My friend Bill C has been coming over to help work with the Mustang colt — he is so smart. For a little guy who hasn't been handled much (and still a stud, have to fix that) he picks up on things pretty quick. Lots of potential for me if he would grow a few inches taller, but that would leave me without a horse to ride for a year or so. Not necessarily a problem and could be worth waiting for. He is generally not worried by being alone or new situations. Joe is built tough and sturdy, and he's getting prettier every day.

Plato could be a good horse if I can spend the time to let him develop some trust, he is so certain the world is going to eat him. It always takes some time to get him relaxed and unworried enough to start thinking and learning. I don't know that he could handle the frequent change that travelling would bring and if it is too late to do some slow trim correction on his RH that wants to go "under".

Interesting — they are all well overdue for trimming. The go through a period where toes are too long and everything looks off, then get to a point when their feet seem to start remodeling themselves and they look and move better. I think there's a message in this (not "they don't need trimming" but I wish I could watch them "self trim" on 40 acres for a few months) — just have to understand how to interpret it. I'm going to try to put some breakover toward the inside toe on Plato's hinds and take the whole inside down just a tad to see if he starts to wear better — anything too much or too fast will just sore him.

Feeding the Work

2006-08-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hay and Feed 101 was referring to Insulin Resistant and Cushing's horses. I'm not against grain — many horses need more energy than they can get from forage alone — I just don't like to see it used inappropriately.

I added two links with good information on feeding the working horse:

Susan Evans Garlinghouse, DVM Lots of great articles from the "guru" of endurance nutrition (including the famous "Squirrel Story").

Kentucky Equine Research Search the library for articles on the results of their research and nutrition conferences.

Plato

2006-08-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

CCF Platero

Just some Hay and Feed 101 (moved)

2006-08-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

I've moved this to my nutrition blog Desert Equine Balance as Thoughts on Feeding the IR/Cushing's Horse.

Merlin

2006-08-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Merlin was never "my" horse. My taste tends toward the Spanish breeds or old time Morgans and I think Merlin realized that. He really warmed up to the neighbor - a young boy who helped me around the barn at times.

He has some issues - a confirmed cribber and a tendancy to flat feet and was abused at some time in his former life. When he first came here he had no idea how to socialize with another horse but after a few months became top dog.

Lost along with his former history are any papers he may have had - I was told he is a full Arab and he definitely can do those Arab "airs above the ground".

Two years of good nutrition and lots of turn out covered his "rafter hips" with some muscle and a coat that glows. We only did a couple of rides but he has a lovely floaty trot that you could sit forever.

Merlin was last seen being led down the road by Zachary to be a lesson horse at "From the Ground Up", where I'm sure he'll get the attention and primping he craves.

Beginning...

2006-08-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

This may have begun twenty some years ago when I first heard of Tevis — when my first horse Romero and I would set out alone and spend hours and hours climbing the Catalina Mountains. Or it may have really begun with the carousel horses sixty years ago.

Now it's time to stop letting life get in the way of living.

Thinking of hitting the road with just truck and trailer, horse and dog is exciting—and scary. I've worked so hard to get here — but now I know here isn't where I wanted to go after all. So I'm setting out to find where I really do want to be — it may be nowhere, it may be everywhere.

The planning is the difficult part — which, if any, of my horses can be a successful traveller. Could I bear to be without Stetson being my guard dog — the 60 pound curly mop who thinks he's a lab? The house and the "stuff" is easy — a few thing's I'll put away safely, a few special things to take with me. Just that there's a lot of it — more than one yard sale for sure.

Some house money to go towards a trailer with a real shower and a safe, reliable truck. New homes for the horses that don't go with me. Getting phone-less and paperless, going mobile.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many women my age are doing something similar — giving up the drudgery of "security" to become vagabonds. There's a whole world of full time RVers out there — and a full schedule of places to go and things to do. Some are doing it comfortably on substantial pensions and insurance payments, some on a shoestring — "work kamping" to make ends meet. I'll be somewhere in between, with the responsibility of providing for my animals.

My head is swimming with plans. I may never be an endurance rider but I can go to the rides to volunteer or crew and even ride parts of some of the trails on my own horse. But my horse may surprise me. We'll see. I've been putting rides on my calendar — Owyhee, Old Dominion (and I could also visit my Virginia friends and family), Tevis 2007, check out the California rides and see Ian.

I want to look back in ten or twenty years and not regret that I didn't do this.