tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86039465858214201232024-03-13T11:57:56.180-04:00Memoirs of a Horse GirlValhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-37890354654526448982016-08-28T20:33:00.000-04:002016-08-28T20:33:26.022-04:00Shoo FliesUpon publication of this post, I will have improved my posting frequency from last year by 300%. 😉<br />
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Well, we tried a fly sheet. That tone sounds promising, right?<br />
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No after pictures, but the fly sheet lasted less than 24 hours before suffering a critical tear. At least I bought it on sale! </div>
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The very next week, the flies became so bad that my horse would not leave the shed to eat his dinner. A horse not eating is a serious matter, as all horse people know. When I came to his rescue, he was in the shed, stomping in a frenzy, and covered in flies that would not budge. He had a bloody scrape above his left eye, probably from biting at flies and accidentally banging into something. I even had to call the vet's emergency number, because I was not sure if he needed stitches. Thankfully, he did not. Poor guy.</div>
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I have never seen anything like it. All the horses on the farm were in distress and we ended up putting them in the barn. So all our free-range horses very happily traded their paddocks for a break from the biting pests. Harley ate his dinner and I went home to purchase more fly gear. </div>
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Enter the fly mask and shoo flies.</div>
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Wow! The shoo flies are awesome. They really work. Four horses on the farm are using them and their comfort level is so much higher than before. The flies stay off their lower legs, the leggings do not rub, and they are very lightweight and airy. Stomping is so much less! Harley has had to grow out hoof wall cracks from stomping for the past two summers. It took months and I had to trim his feet very often to prevent the cracks from worsening. I am hopeful that the shoo flies will prevent that problem this year. So far, so good!<br />
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I actually got to ride my horse several times since my last post. It was heaven! Despite how infrequently we "work", Harley is still the same horse. Loves to ride and his memory is fantastic. Even though he should be unfit for serious dressage work, he doesn't feel that way. In fact, my trainer came to New Jersey all the way from Oregon and we had a lesson with her. Harley offered to canter during some of the exercises, so we went with it and he did great. It was fantastic to review some of the biomechanics priciples that she teaches and to have a horse that was happy to move out and participate. I am seriously spoiled with this horse. He still amazes me and we are approaching our 10-year gotcha anniversary.<br />
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I cannot resist a few kiddo pictures. I am back to work this week (and back on the pumping to feed my baby train) and they are starting preschool and daycare. We had an amazing seven months together. I can hardly believe everything that we did and all the changes that both of them went through in the past half year. It was so much work and endlessly challenging, but I will miss spending all day with them very much. At least I am in an occupation that allows me a great deal of time with them after work and during the year.Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-34167433937034397192016-07-19T14:07:00.000-04:002016-07-19T15:07:40.909-04:00Pony Rides, Flies, and Hoof Trimming LimboThe good is that Sweet Pea finally got to ride Harley again. The bad is that I haven't been in the irons in about a month. And the ugly is the flies.<br />
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Sweet Pea has been asking to visit and RIDE Harley. Getting her to the barn is easier said than done. As if by magic, one day we found ourselves with a free afternoon, reasonable temperatures (Did you know that New Jersey is a long lost tropical region?), and it wasn't time for anyone to eat or nap (baby, toddler, and Harley included there). Sweet Pea's helmet fit for the first time without extra padding and so did her new leopard-print barn boots. Harley was up for anything and baby was too. What an excellent combination!<br />
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My favorite part was when she said, "Don't hold me". Brave girl. It was also my least favorite part, because I did not want to let go! I feel confident riding, but putting my small child up there is a different experience. I kept my cool and so did Harley, but I was secretly relieved when she said she was done.<br />
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This was also Sweet G's first barn visit and meeting with Harley! She was very interested and cooed pretty much the entire time we were there.<br />
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Unfortunately, I am finding it very difficult to ride right now. I still trim Harley's feet and that is ruling my barn time. I only have the time and energy to trim just his fronts or just his hinds and his feet grow so quickly that I have to trim every two weeks. I only use a rasp, which is part of why I trim so often. So there is my limbo. I get stuck trimming his feet every weekend and miss out on riding. My second baby is still very young and nurses often so leaving her is difficult. I usually reserve that for Daddy only, hence the weekends.<br />
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As for the flies, they are just awful and Harley is delicious so he is miserable. I finally broke down and ordered a fly sheet, but I have the same problem of not being able to get to the barn often enough to check on him. This is why I absolutely cannot put him in fly boots. We will see if the sheet is a possibility management-wise. My poor horse hides in the shed or stomps in his feed dish all day to avoid them. The repellent is always short-lived relief. Why do the bottles say eight hours of protection? Try eight minutes.<br />
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-45728712723982410322016-05-14T16:14:00.001-04:002016-05-14T16:14:03.650-04:00A Lot Can Happen In A YearHarley and I have been a partnership for more than nine years now and he turned eighteen years young in March! Our relationship is much more relaxed than it used to be. There are no training goals, just enjoyment in each others company. I still trim his feet. He does not look like a hardkeeper any more (even though his diet does not include grain). We ride in the arena and on the trails. This pressure-free lifestyle is suiting us both very well. Although, I like to think that Harley wishes he saw more of me. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My current favorite picture of Harley</td></tr>
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My life is dominated and defined by motherhood these days and I am very happy with this life choice. Do I miss riding four times a week, spending hours with my horse, and having the luxury of planning my free time around Harley? Yes. Apparently, it is possible to be happy where you are but still long for a previous happiness. However, I often remind myself that Harley is not a spring chicken any more and a heavy workload is not the best thing for him. He doesn't feel any older when I ride him, and if you saw him jumping around the other day, you would probably guess that he is a much younger horse. I would like to keep it that way, if I get to have any say in the matter. I am a very lucky person and I hope my horse care and training choices are also partly to thank. I am also very fortunate to have a boarding situation with excellent care and 24/7 turnout with a buddy.<br />
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A Mommy is a very busy person (especially a working Mommy), and life changes very quickly. For example, Sweet Pea turned into a toddler and beautiful little girl.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Pea</td></tr>
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She also became a big sister, hence the title of this post!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet G-our second little girl</td></tr>
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We decided not to find out the sex of our second child ahead of time, so we got to make all those classic phone calls and say, "It's a girl!!!!". It was awesome, plus she was born just days before a massive snow storm (thank you Sweet G), with us arriving home just hours before the snow fell, and fell, and fell all weekend long. This was after a winter of almost no snow at all. Good work, Sweet G!<br />
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Yeah, so if things seemed busy before they are VERY busy now. I am on maternity leave and somehow caring for one almost three-year-old and one three-month-old is more work and more exhausting (physically and emotionally) that working full-time as a middle school teacher. Not sure how, but it's true. I am extremely fortunate to have employment that allows me to take significant time off to care for my babies. It is wonderful and I didn't take advantage of it last time (I went back to work when Sweet Pea was three-months old, which overlapped the summer vacation. That time is a blur in my memory. Very, very difficult.) Being a Mommy of two is HARD, and anyone in the same boat understands, but also wonderful BEYOND wonderful. Your own baby smiling at you is the best thing ever. I also love nursing my babies, and it is a lot easier to nurse when you are actually with you baby all day, not pumping at work (although I will be back to that in September). I am so glad that hubby and I decided to become parents. Seriously, being a parent is a life-changing experience, but if you are on the fence deciding, go for it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet G is enamored with her big sister. She loves everything that she does especially patting the squeaky bunny on her bib.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Pea loves dinosaurs. She likes horses and acknowledges Harley as THE all-important horse, but right now she is a dino girl. This is cool. I get to visit the boy's department for clothing, because there are not many dino clothes for girls. </td></tr>
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So that's my life these days. I am unapologetically a Mommy. I am and always will be a horse girl. I LOVE my horse and still wish to see him each and every day, but I have no misconceptions anymore about how much of my life is dedicated to my little humans. I am not trying to get back to my old life; that was that hardest part about our first child. When will I get back to XYZ? Um, never. My life is different now, but it is very good. It still includes Harley and highly coordinated barntime, and you better believe that I love every second of it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always smiling!</td></tr>
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-47142950264343787322015-02-01T10:05:00.000-05:002015-02-01T10:05:29.760-05:00Controlling TicksI live in New Jersey. We have a booming tick population. This is not a glamorous topic. <br />
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Last year, several horses on the property contracted Lyme disease and were treated. Thankfully, Harley and his paddock mate dodged the bullet that time, but obviously this is an on-going problem if you live in the northeastern part of the United States. I tested positive for Lyme's several years ago (before this blog) and was suffering from relentless headaches. It was scary. Ticks can carry infective bacteria which cause diseases like Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis.<br />
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The tick population is difficult (impossible?) to control. Deer, small mammals, and birds all shuttle this little pest around our farm. Preventative spraying in early June is an option as this is supposed to target the nymph stage of the life cycle, which is most notorious for carrying bacteria and infecting people and pets. I have reservations about the health risks and effectiveness of pesticide use, but I also do not want to make life easy for the ticks. The biologist in me says that the vacancies left in the environment will quickly be filled in leaving us with an illusion of safety.<br />
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My tick prevention plan thus far has been to avoid trail riding in the spring and summer (insert sad face), use "green" fly spray, and to feed Harley garlic flakes (vampires also stay away). I wash his legs carefully after riding in nature and check him meticulously for ticks during the spring and summer.<br />
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Are ticks a problem in your area? What methods do you employ to project yourself and your pets?Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-70929043142003577092015-01-01T09:50:00.001-05:002015-01-01T09:50:41.094-05:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wishing you lots of horse-time in 2015!</div>
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-49152579996965894992014-11-23T19:50:00.003-05:002014-11-23T19:50:34.320-05:00B-day Photo Shoot and Giving Thanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I celebrated my 35th birthday recently. My husband of ten years really knows what I like. He bought me a new pair of Field and Stream women's insulated boots, the Blue Ray of <i>Catching Fire</i>, a buckskin dressage horse toy, which deserves its own post, and he reserved some time on Sunday for a photo shoot of me and Harley. I love it when he can take pictures of me riding my horse, but these days it requires a bit more planning. My parents joined us at the barn to watch Sweet Pea while we took some pictures on the nearby trail and in the field where I have been riding. <br />
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I am so glad that we chose to take these pictures outside of the ring. I realize now that I have almost no pictures of Harley and I anywhere <i>except</i> in an arena. Why didn't I think of this sooner? I love the natural backdrop and I forgot that the autumn leaves would also be on display. What a nice surprise.<br />
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<br />Since Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, I would like to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I have so much to be thankful for this year, but I will stick to the horse-related items since this IS a horse blog:<br />
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I am thankful that Harley is feeling well and we have been enjoying some great weekend rides.<br />
I am thankful that my financial situation and supportive husband allows me to continue to be a horse owner.<br />
I am thankful that Harley is as happy on the trails and in the field as he was in the arena.<br />
I am thankful that I am healthy and able to ride my horse.<br />
I am thankful that Harley is gentle and quiet enough to carry Sweet Pea with us for short walks around the yard.<br />
I am thankful for every minute that I get to spend with my horse and for the eight wonderful years we have adventured together thus far!<br />
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-84040992744582670222014-10-11T08:58:00.001-04:002014-10-11T08:58:10.280-04:00Tips for the Horse Who CoughsIf you have been reading for a while you know that my beloved quarter horse, Harley, has an allergic cough. His condition gradually emerged just before he turned 14 years old. I had him blood tested and gave him immunotherapy shots for several years. His symptoms include a cough which ranges from absent and/or mild to persistent and chronic. There has been a couple scary situations where he had a near asthma-attack. The cough can be controlled with bronchodilators (expensive) for immediate relief and steroids (time consuming to give, daily injections for a week) for inflammation of the airways. Both of these treatments only address the symptoms and are time sensitive, meaning the faster he gets the medicine the less dramatic (hopefully) his coughing spell will be. At best, his cough is annoying to him. At worst, the cough can prevent a horse from eating properly, so he cannot maintain condition or deprive him of oxygen to his gut (or stress him enough) and cause colic. The cough does damage to his airways which is probably permanent and this type of condition tends to worsen with time. His affliction is often referred to as "heaves", but I do not usually refer to Harley this way, because when I picture a heavy horse, I picture a horse who is standing in the pasture huffing and puffing and basically looking miserable. That does not describe Harley. He is not huffing or puffing and most people do not realize that there is anything wrong with him at all, unless they happen to be around when his cough acts up. There is no cure for allergies, but careful management can make a big difference. Often management of the horse's environment is just as important as having the right medications on hand in case the symptoms escalate.<br />
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I have decided to put together a list of things that seem to be working for Harley. As always, consult your veterinarian if your horse has a cough for any reason. A cough in an equine is nothing to sneeze at! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we roll these days. No more sandy rings!</td></tr>
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Tips for the Horse Who Coughs:<br />
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<li>Offer 24/7 turnout preferably not in a dusty paddock.</li>
<li>Reduce barn time as much as possible (or better yet never bring your horse into the barn). Find ways to care for your horse in the fresh air.</li>
<li>Do not groom your horse, especially before a ride (if your horse can handle exercise) or if you need to trim his feet . I have found that not grooming Harley before we ride makes it more likely that a coughing fit will not interrupt our fun and his exercise. I also cannot trim his feet if he is coughing, so no matter how much I want to wipe off the layer of dirt, I ignore it and focus on his feet instead.</li>
<li>Only groom your horse with a damp sponge/cloth or give him a bath instead of using dusty brushes.</li>
<li>Groom your horse in fresh air. I have had good luck letting Harley graze while I groom him after a ride. He seems to be less bothered by the dust when his nose is down toward the ground.</li>
<li>Replace your old dusty brushes! Keep your grooming tools clean.</li>
<li>Exercise is good for your horse as long as his symptoms are under control. Figure out what level of activity your horse can handle and adjust accordingly or consider retirement (or semi-retirement). Harley has been doing well with 30 minutes of exercise at a time. He is not tired or winded after 30 minutes and could probably go longer, but I don't want to push him to his limit. I also don't have time for long rides these days (see my last post)! I would probably ride him for longer than that if we went on a trail ride and the extra time was spent walking.</li>
<li>Do not ride in a dusty arena. Indoor arenas are most certainly out of the question unless they are meticulously groomed and/or have special footing. We are having good luck riding on grass.</li>
<li>If you trail ride with others, lead the pack so your horse does not inhale the dust from the other horses. </li>
<li>If you horse is coughing before you pull him from the paddock, he is probably in need of medicine to control his symptoms.</li>
<li>Coughing tends to escalate, so treat symptoms as soon as you notice that they are worse than your horse's normal baseline cough. This will take some figuring out on the caregiver's part. Do not expect your horse to "work out of his cough". This type of cough is NOT the same as the horse who coughs a couple times at the beginning of exercise and then is good to go.</li>
<li>Most importantly, listen to your horse and adjust his care accordingly. Consult your veterinarian and barn manager. Work together to improve your horse's living environment so that he can be medication free as often as possible.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Pea likes sandboxes; Harley does not.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing into the riding ring already!?</td></tr>
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-75933149503303297292014-09-25T10:22:00.000-04:002014-09-25T10:22:25.642-04:00My Horse Life Post-BabyMy life is so different now.<br />
<br />
My life used to revolve around, well, me: my job, my horse, my exercise routine. You get the idea.<br />
<br />
My life now revolves around Sweet Pea. I have had to streamline my life to meet the needs of this adorable little person. This means that I do not have hours of time to dedicate to myself, which also means that my horse life has taken a serious hit. I cannot visit Harley everyday. I cannot spend four hours straight at the barn. Hour-long grooming sessions are out. My schedule is so tight that I do not have the patience for most groundwork. There really isn't time for "training" my horse or preparing for the next level or goal or what have you. I AM riding, but my riding activities are so different.<br />
<br />
Years ago, the idea of having to give up or reduce so much horse time would have been completely abhorrent to me. Even last year, when I first returned to work and Sweet Pea was barely out of the newborn stage, I thought that I could get it back.<br />
<br />
But then I realized that being a Mommy and parenting the way I want to parent is very important to me. I realized that being there for Sweet Pea and watching her grow and change is as wonderful and amazing as my passion for horses.<br />
<br />
I know what some horse girls will be thinking right now. Oh, that could never be me. But what you have to understand is that I was that girl, too.<br />
<br />
I have a friendly piece of advice that you might not want to hear. If you are thinking of starting a family and there is something that you want to do with your horse, do it now. <br />
<br />
If you decide to have children, you will have to make choices and you might not be able to fit it all in. That is okay. You might just surprise yourself.<br />
<br />
For example, you want to know what I love the most about riding right now? The creak of the saddle leather when I first get on and the contented way Harley marches past the riding ring and towards the woods and field.<br />
<br />
We have given up the ring for the time being. I don't have the time to ride consistently enough to train in the arena and Harley does much better away from the dust. I have discovered that the grassy area next to the paddocks is level enough for riding, so we walk, trot, and canter out there. Once the ticks die, we will hit the trails some more, too.<br />
<br />
I ride Harley once or twice a week. I still trim his feet, which can be a challenge to keep up with, and I manage his allergies as best I can. I am very grateful for any ride that we have together, because last year he was not rideable for many months.<br />
<br />
So my horse life is not just different because of Sweet Pea. It is also different because Harley is different; he cannot work as hard as he used to. He wants to move forward, but sucking up his own dust while practicing on a circle is not good for him (he coughs). He still loves to canter and listen for little cues to change bend or step sideways. He is 16 and a half years old, but I cannot detect any stiffness or soreness in his body. Our years of dressage work are paying dividends now as we ride without fences and with the unpredictability of nature (we see deer, squirrels, turtles, hawks, snakes, and other horses). I ask Harley to stay balanced, on my aids, and off his forehand not because it is the proper way to ride, but because there could be uneven ground under our feet or the need to slow down or move over without much notice.<br />
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I am over the moon that I have a horse who can chill in the paddock all week and then go out for a ride on Saturday with no fuss. My lifestyle and my horse's health have changed, but Harley has found himself a new niche.<br />
<br />
And don't get me wrong, I am still a horse girl. I still get the impossible-to-ignore itch to go ride, but nowadays, I will be home before dinner.<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. If you know of a user-friendly blogging app for the andriod tablet, please share. Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-86545251906863031222014-06-01T19:35:00.003-04:002014-06-01T19:35:46.383-04:00Guess what? No grain.Harley is a hardkeeper and always has been. So I am almost in disbelief in writing this. <br />
<br />
He is no longer receiving a grain ration. <br />
<br />
For years, he ate lots and lots of expensive, high-calorie grain (Ultium) and it kept him in weight, but I was never comfortable with the quantity he was consuming. If we tried to reduce his feed, he would lose condition and we would have to bump him up again. We tried different strategies like supplements, beet pulp, and alfalfa pellets, but all of them failed or were rejected by him. He eats very slowly and has to finish so much food that it would take forever for him to eat his meals. I am glad that he doesn't bolt his food, but I always worried about how much concentrate he was packing away.<br />
<br />
So why the change?<br />
<br />
Well, like many things with Harley, he initiated it himself. He has been eating haystretcher pellets with his grain since last fall and he loves them. He also loves hay. So much so that he started leaving his grain before it was finished to eat his hay. At first this was alarming, but his appetite was clearly fine and his weight didn't drop even over the winter. I have been riding him much less so his caloric requirements are less than they ever have been since I have owned him. The barn owner systematically reduced his grain over time and little by little he stopped eating it altogether. I found a sugar-free ration balancer to add to his evening meals and that was that. I have a grain-free horse.<br />
<br />
We are keeping a close eye on his weight, but so far so good. He has been off grain completely for two weeks now. He looks great with dapples and shine. He feels good AND my board bill is considerably cheaper. I was paying extra for all that grain. I would be very happy if he stayed off grain for the rest of his life. I think that it is safest for him, given his respiratory condition, and I have a plan in my back pocket if he starts to drop weight during fly season or with the light riding I hope to do this summer.<br />
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This is a post that I never thought possible for my sweet Harley.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dapples are back!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was how we spent part of Mother's Day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good boy, Harley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pony time is awesome!</td></tr>
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-49806344438012815292014-04-17T17:18:00.001-04:002014-04-17T17:18:26.371-04:00Farewell Helmet, Hello New BlueRecently, I conducted a little helmet research. I visited a couple reputable sites and learned that the life of a rider's helmet is about five years or one fall from a horse. Since I have been riding Harley lightly this spring, I determined that a new helmet was most likely in order. I figured that my helmet is probably about five years old by now and should be replaced. So I checked the date of manufacture on the inside of my helmet and was surprised to see these numbers:<br />
<br />
2007<br />
<br />
Oops.<br />
<br />
It looks like my trusty helmet has surpassed its life expectancy, which is not entirely a good thing. While it does mean that I never bit the dirt in my buckskin-colored helmet (a very good thing!), it also means that the years of heat, sweat, and grime have taken their toll and possibly left my head not as well protected as it should have been while astride my horse. I probably bought that helmet some time during 2007, during my first year with Harley, so although it may not have survived seven years exactly on my head, it has certainly been a part of me for more than five. With this revelation, I embarked on a new helmet search.<br />
<br />
My priorities for a schooling helmet are simple: safety, comfort, and room for my long hair. I selected my last helmet, because it had an adjustable fit and a "pony-tail port". This was a wonderful solution to the problem of having one's hair get tangled in the helmet dial. While I like the option to minutely adjust the fit of my helmet, there are some really nice helmets out there that do not have dials and I am not exactly sharing my helmet with anyone, so I branched out to some brands that I have never worn before.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New brand, style, and color on the left! My old helmet on the right.</td></tr>
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<br />
I decided to give the Tipperary Sportage a whirl. I selected size medium in navy blue and waited axniously for my new helmet to arrive. In less than a week it was in my hands and on my head in the kitchen. <br />
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My first impression: I love it! <br />
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The helmet was comfortable and fit my head right out of the box. No adjustments of the padding were necessary. Although the helmet lacks a pony-tail port, my hair can be secured just below the helmet with no problem. I love how this helmet covers more of the back of my head and fits snugly, but without pressure points. It almost feels like I am wearing a pillow on my head. Seriously.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evidence of the test ride.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harley approves of rider safety.</td></tr>
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With two rides under my helmet, I can honestly say that my first impression is sticking. I think this helmet is more comfortable than my last one ever was, even when new. We will see if I miss the larger visor when the sun is high, but, so far, I am really liking my new "head pillow"!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the new helmet!</td></tr>
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-16714914616918753122014-04-06T20:00:00.001-04:002014-04-06T20:48:53.658-04:0016 Years, 10 Months, and 2 RidesLast week Harley and Sweet Pea shared a birthday. <br />
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Harley turned sixteen years old and Sweet Pea turned ten months old on the same day! We celebrated with a barn visit and carrots. Thankfully, the weather was beautiful. I tossed carrots to Harley while Sweet Pea giggled with delight as he gobbled them from his feed tub. It was almost a game of fetch, except there was crunching instead of retrieving. After the snacks, I walked around the farm, visiting and taking in the fresh air. We have been stuck inside quite a bit this winter, so that was a very nice change. When we returned to Harley's paddock, he reached his head and neck over the fence to commune with us. Sweet Pea reached out a little hand to touch his face after watching me pet his nose. Harley dropped his head and let her feel his long, sun-bleached forelock, which she thought was very amusing. She tested his hair with a little tug. Harley didn't move a muscle. We stayed and petted him for a while before returning to the car. It was very enjoyable.<br />
<br />
Which Sweet Pea was having her fun, a couple times Harley made eye contact with me. I could almost hear him saying that this is not how we normally spend our time. Normally we groom for an hour and then tack up and ride for another hour. More time would be spent untacking, grooming and grazing. Gosh, I used to spend hours at the barn, any day of the week, any time that I wanted (almost). A lot more planning and prep goes into my barn visits now, and obviously if Sweet Pea tags along, Harley and I stay on opposite sides of the fence, but at least he gets attention and carrots and Sweet Pea is getting some early lessons in how to be around horses. I had to wait until I was seven years old and beg for months before my parents agreed to some lessons, so she is very lucky by my standards.<br />
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Speaking of riding, guess who rode for the first time at eight months old!<br />
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I hope to repeat the experience again (and again). Harley, Mommy, Daddy, and baby all have to be available and willing and the weather has to cooperate. This first ride was spontaneous. Harley was feeling good, the day was warm enough and my husband happened to bring Sweet Pea along for a barn visit. Harley was excellent. So patient and slow. He didn't mind when SweetPea started babbling excitedly. She loved it. So did I.<br />
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And I got to ride, too. Yesterday, I rode Harley for twenty minutes at the walk. Even though we were only walking, I tried to relish the chance to move around. I challenged myself to ride from the middle of my horse and my body. I encouraged his posture with my own. I tried to imagine him staying round and balanced as we circled, turned, and took a few steps of shoulder-in. The reins stayed pretty loopy, but my horse moved with a nice soft arch over his back and neck. His muscle memory was intact, even though we were both out of shape, to say the least. <br />
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Then I asked for trot. We had a false start with some coughing, but then he zoomed off and I had pay attention and sit up, because he was so energetic. He felt great! We only trotted for a couple minutes. A few circles in each direction. His tempo was very erratic but he was stretching to the bit eagerly and thoroughly enjoying pushing off in trot. I forced myself to keep the trotting under five minutes by watching my clock. No sense in ruining a good thing or over doing it. I loved every minute.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Sweet Sixteen Harley!</td></tr>
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-74342003847120135112014-03-22T09:53:00.001-04:002014-03-22T09:54:49.186-04:00Rider ConfessionsI have been busy. Do you want to know how busy? I haven't ridden Harley in six months.<br />
<br />
Yep.<br />
<br />
Except for a couple short walks in the yard or through the woods, we have not been riding. At first this was because my schedule is insane. I am a new Mom and I work full-time. My husband and I live a juggling act right now. Many of my barn visits this winter were in the dark. Once or twice I stopped for a couple moments and caught a gorgeous sight: the stars over my horse's head, bathed in moonlight. It was stunning and made me realize just how fast I have been moving and just how much my life has changed over the past year. Some of it has been the most wonderful moments of my life, some utterly stressful, and others have been sad.<br />
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You see, for a while now, my lack of rides on Harley cannot be blamed on my schedule. Reality led to feelings of resignation. My horse has a respiratory condition (coughing due to allergies) and there is not a whole lot that I can do about it. I want him to be comfortable and happy, but I want other things, too.<br />
<br />
I want to ride.<br />
<br />
I love riding and nothing makes me happier than riding my horse. Somewhere in October, I gave up riding him. It was too upsetting to tack up and get on only to get off two minutes later because he was starting to cough. More than once, I pulled his tack without mounting. More than once, I left the barn in tears. Eventually, it was easier not to try. Of course, then the weather got terrible and no one was riding, so I just took care of my horse as best I could and tried to enjoy him as a pet and carrot-eating machine. There were other difficulties that arose due to his respiratory sensitivities, but I am glossing over them for now. Needless to say, it has been a really long winter.<br />
<br />
And then last Saturday happened. <br />
<br />
It was 60+ degrees and I decided to sit on my horse with just a saddle pad and his bridle. I have been hopping on his back in just a halter now and then for short walks, because I just missed it so much, but this time I decided to take down his bridle...<br />
<br />
...We walked around for a bit and I got the idea to ask for some leg yields (this is part of my motivation for riding in a halter. I can't resist doing more). I shortened my reins a little and started to apply my leg and just like that <b>we were trotting!</b> I started to laugh and then remembered that I was not riding in a proper bareback pad. I asked Harley to walk and told him how happy I was that he wanted to trot, but that I had asked for sideways. We went back and he gave me the leg yields eagerly. To the left was super easy. To the right was crooked, but I could not have been happier. Harley was in my hands a bit now and I could feel the impulsion brewing even though we were only walking. He was <i>begging</i> to trot. All he needed was a whisper from me.<br />
<br />
I let him trot and he stopped abruptly in a mild coughing fit. I patted him knowingly, not wanting to go down that path of disappointment, but then he stopped coughing and I felt the energy bubbling up again.<br />
<br />
I am weak. I just can't resist the feeling of riding my horse. Of thinking together, moving together, and sharing happiness.<br />
<br />
I let him trot again, but this time, he didn't cough. In fact, he was full of it! I stopped him because he wanted to rush off. He wanted speed. He wanted to canter. He wanted to ride as much as I did!<br />
<br />
After a couple tiny trotting spurts, I had a tough time convincing him that that was all we were doing, so we left the ring and walked around in the yard. <br />
<br />
<b>Cue snorts of happiness. </b>(from Harley, not me)<br />
<br />
My horse is not fit. He is not 100% healthly (although he is totally sound of limb) and I am not sure what level of activity or fitness he can manage. He has good days and bad. But maybe, he is not quite ready to stop riding. <br />
<br />
Maybe. I am cautiously optimistic.Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-43071806398405092242014-03-01T08:44:00.002-05:002014-03-01T09:52:37.072-05:00Memoirs: A Horse Girl Rides Tackless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ7ju7K8-Yw/UxHhIqs4_lI/AAAAAAAAE1U/rKjwxdetgeA/s1600/IMG_20140222_111208452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ7ju7K8-Yw/UxHhIqs4_lI/AAAAAAAAE1U/rKjwxdetgeA/s1600/IMG_20140222_111208452.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There are few things in this world that I have loved as long or as unconditionally as I have horses and riding. When I was in middle school, there was a period of time where I could not take lessons, so I improvised. My Oma lived near two older, Arabian ponies, the very same ponies that I first touched and sat upon as a three-year-old child. I brought my brushes and a lead line and (with permission) gave those old horses the grooming of their lives. After a couple visits, I grew tired of just brushing them. Obviously, I wanted to ride, too. I poked around the barn looking for a saddle or bridle, but there wasn't much to be found. I vaguely remember a dusty, Western saddle, which I could never have lifted at the time, and a loose bit hanging on a hook, but this was far from workable gear. So I did what any determined, horse-crazy girl would do; I decided to ride without tack.<br />
<br />
First, I tied my lead line to the gelding's halter. I wanted to ride him, because he was the more feisty of the two. I saved the mare, the sweet Littlebit, for my sister to ride, if the experiment went well with King. King enjoyed being brushed and fed carrots, but he wasn't completely on board with the whole riding thing. He probably hadn't been ridden in a good ten years and did not show signs of missing it. It took some coaxing to get him to stand on the low part of a slope, so that I could climb on. I had never mounted without a block or a stirrup, so my first attempts were very awkward and probably hilarious to a bystander. I wonder if the owners could see me from their house?<br />
<br />
Once on King's back, I was cautious. I patted and talked to him, trying to show the old boy that I just wanted a little time on his back. I must have gotten on him a dozen times and just stood there, content to just sit, but eventually I wanted more. One day, I took the lead line-reins and turned King around. Then I gave him a little nudge with my heels. Unsurprisingly, he wouldn't move. I tried several times, each time more insistence. King had obviously mastered the stubborn pony routine long ago and was not the least persuaded by my efforts. After careful thought, I formulated a better plan. I slid off his back and walked him by hand away from the paddock gate and the mare (who was actually his sister). I positioned him on the low part of the hill, so that I could (more) easily hop onto his back. I knew before I got on, that my plan was going to work. Suddenly, there was life in the old horse's eyes and a new anxiousness. He wanted to be back at the gate. I grabbed mane flung my leg over and clucked. My pony cantered up the hill eagerly and stopped at the mare.<br />
<br />
Victory!<br />
<br />
I had done it! I had ridden King without a saddle or a bridle and survived!<br />
<br />
And so began many happy visits where I rode King up the hill to his sister. I dare say, he grew to enjoy our short jaunts, because he became less and less ornery. I was even able to ask him to wait for my signal to run up the hill and later on, I was able to steer him around the paddock in his halter. He did try to buck me off a couple times when I urged him to walk away from his sister, but thankfully my young legs were wrapped tightly around his barrel and my butt never left his back. I always rewarded him with carrots when he was compliant and eventually I had my sister riding the mare, so walking away from her was no longer a problem. I learned a lot from those short, bareback rides and I think of them fondly.<br />
<br />
I was reminded of what it is like to ride in a halter a little while ago. I had not sat on my horse in many, many weeks. I looked at his blanketed back and the thick rope lead line. I looked at Harley and asked, "Are you up for a walk? "<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8mG0DY-ONs/UxHgwi8wm9I/AAAAAAAAE1M/rSh7F54jAMI/s1600/IMG_20140216_130308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8mG0DY-ONs/UxHgwi8wm9I/AAAAAAAAE1M/rSh7F54jAMI/s1600/IMG_20140216_130308.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Thankfully, he was. I felt like a kid riding my pony again, but without any anxiousness about how he might behave, because this was Harley, and I <i>knew</i> he would be a good boy. We walked around the yard and the riding ring, paying visits to the other horses and just enjoying one another's company. Harley snorted with happiness and I felt that twinge of excitement at being on my horses back tackless.Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-13602990477413865752014-02-05T20:04:00.001-05:002014-02-05T20:04:04.982-05:00Backup Blanket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Do you have one (or three)?<br />
<br />
I never used to, in fact, I didn't own a blanket of any kind for the first several years of horse ownership. My horse grew a warm coat and none of the other horses were blanketed, so mine followed suit. When I did finally buy a winter blanket for Harley, he only wore it at night and the temperatures were rarely below twenty degrees Fahrenheit. He wore the blanket to help him maintain weight. I never actually saw him shiver or show signs of being cold. The plan worked very well and that blanket is going on its third season.<br />
<br />
However, this year I got an itch. I felt the need to buy a second blanket. Maybe it was because this blanket is getting on in years. Maybe it was my need to make Harley feel better in a time in his life when he is not "healthy as a horse". Whatever it was, I bought a second blanket somewhat on impulse and kept it, unopened, in my dining room. I wasn't sure if I would use it this year, but that was fine with me.<br />
<br />
Then in mid-December when we had some crazy-low temperatures (5 degrees Fahrenheit) and an impending winter storm, my barn owner approached me about the dropping temperatures and what I wanted done with Harley. I gleefully exclaimed that I HAD a second blanket!<br />
<br />
So the backup blanket was hung on his door in preparation for the bitter, upcoming night. The idea was that he would wear BOTH blankets.<br />
<br />
The coldest of nights arrived and I slept soundly knowing my horse was warm in his two blankets. The next morning I drove out to see him and gawked at how handsome he looked in his new blanket, but when I got a little closer I realized something...<br />
<br />
...he was only wearing <i>one</i> blanket. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl1jz0ugizU/UvLdp5CKUyI/AAAAAAAAE0M/sD7i4ZCKra8/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gl1jz0ugizU/UvLdp5CKUyI/AAAAAAAAE0M/sD7i4ZCKra8/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sporting the new blanket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That was odd. What happened to the other blanket?<br />
<br />
I found it in the barn and could hardly believe my eyes. Ice lined the bottom edge of the blanket where water had run down the blanket and frozen in place before leaving the surface of the blanket. The blanket could almost stand up by itself!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The icy blanket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I am happy to report that the waterproofing held up and Harley was dry under his ice blanket. He also did just fine with one, <i>ice-free</i> blanket. I had never seen anything like that before (I guess I have been lucky). Thank goodness for backup blankets! <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93QGnYT6ZeY/UvLd-yEbu1I/AAAAAAAAE0Q/TuiGmLgXe5E/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93QGnYT6ZeY/UvLd-yEbu1I/AAAAAAAAE0Q/TuiGmLgXe5E/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First good snow pics of the farm since winter 2009/2010!</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Sweet Pea's first snow!</td></tr>
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-26439588180134342122014-01-26T19:18:00.001-05:002014-01-26T19:18:18.697-05:00Living In The Moment In 2014Twenty-thirteen was a very unusual year for me. I was pregnant for half of it, had my beautiful, baby girl, and spent the rest on the high-speed train that is motherhood. I rode my horse until I was about thirty weeks pregnant and then loved on him until July. The saddle never felt so good as those first couple rides. Fitting riding in was very tough and not without incident (mistakes in timing as far as baby was concerned), but my barn time remained a means to recharge my batteries. <br />
<br />
Harley and I had our seven year anniversary in December. This year, I have ridden him the least since we have been a pair, but he has never been far from my thoughts.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, 2013 also seems to be the year that Harley's coughing has gained momentum beginning in mid-September. I spent many visits checking his comfort, measuring medication, administering it, and wishing for a magic cure. My husband and family helped me juggle the baby after work and on the weekends so that I could tend to my horse. I was very grateful, but not without that guilty feeling that I was asking too much or letting someone down. As baby became a little easier to manage (i.e. three hours between nursing sessions, thank goodness), I wished for fun times with my horse instead of emotionally stressful visits when I wondered how he would be feeling. Riding him, even at the walk, stopped being an option.<br />
<br />
On a positive note, I am so very lucky to have the people in my life helping me out: my husband, his family, my Mom and Dad, my barn owners who take such good care of Harley, and friends who look out for him and do things like remove his blanket on a warm day. I had to learn to rely more on others in 2013. When I am able, I hope that I can return the favors.<br />
<br />
What will 2014 have in store for us?<br />
<br />
I know that Sweet Pea will continue to be an amazing adventure. My life is not easy right now, but it is also filled with some of the most charming, fascinating, and delightful moments that I never could have imagined before our baby was born. My baby is sleeping in my lap as I write this post (with one finger swiping on my tablet) and she is just so gorgeous. She sits up now and says "bababa" with the cutest little voice. One tooth is just peaking through and her eyes are blue with blond hair coming in. She smiles gigantic grins and hugs me, even pinching me in excitement when we are reunited or playing a game of hide and seek with Daddy.<br />
<br />
Work is and will probably continue to be a challenge. This has not been an easy school year. My husband coined it well when he said that everyday feels like <i>Groundhog Day</i> (the movie, of course).<br />
<br />
And then there is Harley. I wish for his problem to go into remission, but that, my friends, is a big wish. I want to ride him again and have fun together. As it is right now, I can barely groom him, for fear that he will start coughing and require another round of meds. Sometimes I dream of cantering along or riding through the woods and other times, I try not to think about it. If I visit him and he is okay, then that is a good day. Maybe the spring will be better for us. He was very rideable last summer, so I guess that I just need to be patient and optimistic. He is still friendly and sweet and with a healthy appetite, so all is not lost. Oh yeah, and his weight looks great. Imagine that.<br />
<br />
I hope to snap a few pictures of me and Sweet Pea on Harley together. Those are moments that I can wait for in 2014.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jcBWkNGUCY/UuWhaBstS-I/AAAAAAAAEzk/rfUBbV6bIRA/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jcBWkNGUCY/UuWhaBstS-I/AAAAAAAAEzk/rfUBbV6bIRA/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time on a horse at seven months old. It had to be Harley!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t4M81USINIk/UuWg9dIXWRI/AAAAAAAAEzc/9ulF8_HJaZU/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t4M81USINIk/UuWg9dIXWRI/AAAAAAAAEzc/9ulF8_HJaZU/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's to the year of the horse. Harley needs some good luck!</td></tr>
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-50921978252005179172013-12-10T08:35:00.000-05:002013-12-10T08:35:33.762-05:00Snow-WorthySchool is closed today due to inclement weather. We are supposed to get a bunch of show later today. It is not terribly cold, but will be tonight, so I will be driving out to put on Harley's blanket.<br />
<br />
How cool is that?<br />
<br />
This is the first year that I have a snow-worthy vehicle, the Subaru Crosstrek (in orange). Previously, I drove a gold Honda Civic, which I loved, but would usually opt to stay home in snow. I missed seeing my horse play and frolick in the snow, because I couldn't get to the barn until the excitement had passed. Maybe this year I will get to partake in the new snow beauty. I also like the idea of not being stranded at home. However, my husband's work was <i>not</i> closed so he took the Subaru. I guess I will still have to wait, but that is okay. The snow isn't here yet anyway.<br />
<br />
Harley update:<br />
The fill in his legs went away. I can only guess what the cause might have been:<br />
sudden change in activity,<br />
a warm week,<br />
trying to get more visits from his absentee owner?<br />
<br />
Thankfully, he did not show any discomfort or changes in behavior (i.e. Looking for treats as usual). I actually got on his back and went for a walk through the woods on Saturday. It was absolute bliss. I didn't dare trot, because it was cold and I was afraid he would cough, but it was wonderful none-the-less. Harley clearly enjoyed himself. It had to be a relief to be outside the paddock fence and off the property for once. I don't care about ring work right now. Between work, baby, and his health, there is no time for consistency. If we can trail ride a bit, I will be happy.<br />
<br />
Stay warm if you are in winter! Have fun if you are in the southern hemisphere!Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-77540620984549209222013-12-04T06:35:00.003-05:002013-12-10T08:41:12.518-05:00Good News or Bad Luck?I actually rode my horse on Friday. It was only at the walk, but it was wonderful. There was much snorting of happiness from Harley.
The next day, I went out hoping for a little more time in the saddle. As I was reaching for his left hind to clean his foot, I drew back in mild horror. His leg was seriously swollen below the hock.<br />
<br />
Harley?!<br />
<br />
It was too cold to use the hose, so I decided to walk him and check for lameness. He walked and trotted normally and without hesitation. He has gotten stocked up in the past when stabled overnight. Maybe he stood around a lot the night before? The swelling had no heat and was reduced with walking.<br />
<br />
I returned the next day to find him equally comfortable, but again with a filled hind. This time I got out the hose and put some cold water to it. A friend who was taking care of the horses for the week noticed what I was doing and mentioned that my horse had been running a muck and playing with his paddock buddy.<br />
<br />
Hmmm<br />
<br />
At the next visit, his left was almost normal, but his right hind was filled. I was given a similar report from another friend of a prancing, covorting pony with no signs of injury.<br />
<br />
What's the deal, Harley?
Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-42928616725178770922013-11-29T20:05:00.000-05:002013-11-29T20:05:50.177-05:00The 300th PostI made it!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rm7CeeYDmjk/Upk3oUMDEPI/AAAAAAAAElw/8JK47w5VkYo/s1600/IMG_20131118_163337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rm7CeeYDmjk/Upk3oUMDEPI/AAAAAAAAElw/8JK47w5VkYo/s400/IMG_20131118_163337.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn Baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to visit Harley</td></tr>
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<br />
I made it to Friday.<br />
I made it to six months with my baby.<br />
I made it to the barn before dark.<br />
Or I didn't make it to the barn before dark, but I managed to give my horse his medicine(s), a carrot, and a kiss in thirty minutes flat.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I made it to the time of year when my horse needs his blanket.<br />
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<br />
I made it to work on time.<br />
I made it to work before 7:30 am even though I got locked out of my car <i>and</i> my house after a really long streak of making it to work on time (sigh).<br />
I made it to bed with almost everything that I needed done, completed.<br />
I made it to the couch at the end of the day with my baby on my lap and my blog reading list waiting for me.<br />
I made it to your blog and read your latest post and, if I had it together, I may have even left a comment!<br />
I made it to 300 posts!<br />
<br />
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The horse blogging community is such a great place to be. Without it, I would be a total and complete hermit, instead of just a quasi-hermit. I have truly appreciated visiting your blogs and reading about your lives with horses as mine has undergone so many changes. There have been many times when I have been so relieved to have started this blog a few years ago and to have met so many of you at this venue. It has kept me from feeling totally isolated during some very isolating times, especially this summer. My real barn time is limited these days and that used to also be my social outlet. I do not choose many so that cut me back to almost nothing. I am an introvert by nature, but I still enjoy some adult interaction and if horses are the backdrop, even better. In that way, this blog and your blogs have been my lifesavers.<br />
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Thank you for stopping by, reading, and leaving a comment when <i>your</i> time allows it. I know that we are all very busy and blogging can easily become just one more thing. I want you to know that it is much more than that to me.<br />
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Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-4149850920754222392013-11-25T19:33:00.000-05:002013-11-25T19:33:30.472-05:00NursingI do a lot of it these days. Nursing has become my life.<br />
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I nurse my baby around the clock and I can honestly say that it is wonderful. The first three days of breastfeeding were painful. I am not going to sugar-coat it. And the next several weeks were tough because I had to pump and bottle feed after marathon nursing sessions to make sure that she was gaining weight. Apparently early babies are not quite ready to nurse vigorously, but we stuck with it and now, six months in, it is so EASY. Going back to work and pumping to provide milk for when we are apart is NOT easy, but I am very proud our accomplishment in making it this far. The achievement is shared with my Mom and husband. I could not have managed without them. I wish new Moms starting out could get a glimpse of nursing half a year later, because so many struggle and stop. Breastfeeding rates in this country are astounding low and there are many barriers to success. I know, because I have been rallying against them from day one. For example, why on Earth am I getting emails from formula companies? I sent back a very STRONGLY worded reply when I saw that I was enrolled in some bogus program designed by the company. That is sabotage and not even my own inbox is safe from it. On a separate note, whenever I see breast cancer awareness campaigns these days I feel like shouting, "Encourage breastfeeding!" out the car window. <br />
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Am I becoming a nut?<br />
<br />
Maybe, but the truth is that breastfeeding is normal and should be the norm. I see this now and it frustrates me. I like to think it is passion rather than craziness, and I believe that is also what is keeping me going with Harley.<br />
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I am nursing him a lot these days, too. Daily medication is never easy with an animal. I know this from having cared for my beloved Rascal cat years ago. The commitment is even more taxing when your animal is not on your property and more difficult still when you have a baby in tow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ciLvfJlQZsU/UpPq1UOKaDI/AAAAAAAAElE/QRQCg7IMj4I/s1600/IMG_20131019_162935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ciLvfJlQZsU/UpPq1UOKaDI/AAAAAAAAElE/QRQCg7IMj4I/s400/IMG_20131019_162935.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His weight looks ever better than here. This picture is over a month old.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rascal. My smudge cat.</td></tr>
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Harley is a very good patient. I keep worrying that he is going start recenting me for jabbing him with needles and squirting syrup down his throat, but he is ever kind and willing. I am determined, but utterly exhausted. We just need to get past this coughing spell.<br />
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After years of lamenting about Harley's weight, I almost failed to mention how good he looks this fall. The haystretcher pellets are doing great things for him and his grain was successfully reduced. Score! At least something is going well for him.<br />
<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-25667856474787109212013-11-18T18:57:00.000-05:002013-11-18T19:05:34.612-05:00November Health ReportTwo years ago this month, Harley started coughing. He was checked out and received medication, but the coughing didn't go away.<br />
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We tested him for allergies and his bloodwork came back with a slew of offending allergens. I opted for the immunotherapy route, because I wanted to treat the cause not just the symptoms. There is no cure for allergies, but good management can go a long way. I remember asking about how long a horse has to have immunotherapy shots. The answer was three to five years.<br />
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At the time I thought, "yikes" that is a long time, but, I don't care, I love my horse and I am going to make the commitment.<br />
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Two years later, I am starting to wonder what that three to five year timeline meant...<br />
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Harley is coughing again. I didn't even get him off the first round of meds and we are back at square one starting a new round. The barn owner has had to text me several times this week, because he keeps having flare ups. I have stopped putting on my riding pants when I go to the barn. I don't have time to ride these days anyway, but it doesn't mean that I don't miss it terribly.<br />
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Three to five years.<br />
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If you read horse blogs long enough you know that sometimes things go bad and the owners write about it and we all cry and then thank our lucky stars that it isn't happening to us. I do not want to be on the other side of that. I am really worried though.<br />
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We are going to start him on a different medicine. A bronchial dilator. I think the immunotherapy is going to sit on the shelf for a while. Did it help at all? <br />
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I just want my horse to feel better and now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love you.</td></tr>
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-38739896387927652902013-11-07T09:23:00.001-05:002013-11-07T09:23:15.360-05:00In Awe of Equine VetsOnce upon a time, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Not for large animals, but for small. Long story short, I never even applied to vet school and chose a different path. I had the grades, the gumption, and the love, but I lost my passion for the job. After shadowing a couple vets at a hospital, I decided that I didn't want to put animals to sleep, perform daily neuter and spay operations and to top it off, my allergies were so horrendous that there may not be enough immunotherapy shots on the planet to have kept them at bay.<br />
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More than a decade after graduating college, I am still happy with my decision and more convinced than ever that I would not have been happy as a vet. Although I was not going for large animal medicine, I see what my vet does now and I am consistently amazed. How does she do it? I am so thankful that there are individuals out there who can:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Work ten to twelve hour days regularly.</li>
<li>Explain patiently and with tact the nuances of an animal's medical condition.</li>
<li>Be available on weekends, evenings, holidays, and will leave special events to attend a call.</li>
<li>Eat on the run for every meal and every day (Seriously. When does my vet eat? She is constantly moving from call to call.).</li>
<li>Maintain a business from the field.</li>
<li>Shake off a nasty kick from a "patient" (I watched my vet get pinned and then kicked by a big pony; she barely took five before continuing with her work.).</li>
<li>Stay focused and calm in critical medical situations.</li>
<li>Say what needs to be said with an animal's best interest at heart.</li>
<li>Maintain composure when transitioning from a tragic call to a new patient and client.</li>
<li>Show empathy when a beloved animal is lost (My vet honestly and sincerely cried after putting one of our older horses to sleep.).</li>
<li>Give the injection that ends suffering.</li>
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I have always admired my vet, but I admire her even more now because I have a baby and am working so hard to juggle everything. My vet is also a mother. I just can't fathom how she does it. She must be a super woman. </div>
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Harley has been doing better with his coughing. I was inspired to write this post, because no matter how late it is, whenever I see or speak to my vet, she is never on her last call of the day. Equal praise goes to her faithful assistant. The two of them are my heros.</div>
Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-59084710404537598502013-10-27T08:59:00.001-04:002013-10-27T08:59:18.564-04:00Autumn Health Report: Haystretcher and Owning a Horse with Special NeedsAutumn has not been a good season for Harley this year. More than once, I have arrived at the barn to find him coughing. I also received messages from concerned friends that Harley was having a problem. With the guidance of my vet, I temporarily stopped his immunotherapy shots (for diagnosed allergies) and gave him medicine to help with the coughing symptoms.<br />
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I had to do this in September.<br />
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Then in October, he needed a double round.<br />
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Uggh. <br />
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In September, his trigger was most likely pollen, as the temperature was mild (in the 70's) with glorious sunny, clear days. No riding for me, though. We needed rain, too, which did not help. Dryness is Harley's enemy. He does extremely well in July and August when everyone else is complaining about the humidity.<br />
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By October, the pollen was gone, but Harley's coughing was back with a vengeance. This time it was not dry (we had a rainy spell) and I was getting scared. When the usual dosage didn't give him the relief he needed, I had to call my vet and she changed the plan. Thankfully it worked, but we are only a few days out from it so I am still worried. There is no cure for allergies and while this may seem like a small problem in the grand scheme of horse problems, it is a chronic issue. In other words, I have a horse with special needs. I must remain vigilant, because timing is very important when treating a respiratory problem. Thankfully, there are many people helping me to look out for Harley. He is the kind of horse that steals people's hearts. I swear, he has more friends than I do. I am Harley's owner, rather than he being Val's horse.<br />
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What do I think was the coughing trigger? Temperature fluctuations. We had several warm days followed by cold nights. This type of pattern caused him a problem in January. Isn't it always something beyond one's control?<br />
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Also on the health-related front, we are trying a new food item for Harley: Haystretchers. Have you heard of them?<br />
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A couple horses on the farm are doing really well on them and one recovered from a colic with very timely weight gain. It was the barn owner's idea to try them for my horse since he eats so much grain. We are replacing a portion of his meal with these hay pellets. The vet loves them and has given them the thumbs up. <br />
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I like that he will be eating more foage and less grain. I also like that the cost per bag is less than his expensive Ultium. Harley is gobbling them up, so he seems to approve as well. It won't take long for us to see how his weight does on the hay pellets. Winter is coming (Game of Thrones, anyone?) and we need him nice and plump for the cold season.Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-43957696591840471942013-10-20T08:51:00.000-04:002013-10-20T08:51:05.149-04:00Horse MomDo you use this term?<br />
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I never liked it. When I first became a horse owner people started referring to me as Harley's Mom. For some reason, this made me uncomfortable. I was not his mother. His friend, owner, trainer, companion, partner, but not Mommy. That just seemed weird to me. After more than six years of <i>not</i> referring to myself as Harley's Mom, I walked up to him the other day and said, "Mommy's here!"<br />
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Oops.<br />
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It was definitely a slip from saying this to our daughter when I return from work, but saying it to Harley didn't seem so wrong anymore. Maybe it was because he had a rough week with his allergies. Maybe it was because I am a Mommy to a human baby now. Maybe I have just gone soft.<br />
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I take care of my horse. I make care decisions for him. I pay for his "daycare". I set boundaries for his behavior. I worry when he is not well. My heart sings when I see him. I love him even when he is not perfect.<br />
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Okay. I guess Mommy fits after all. But, eventually, we are going to work again, Harley. <br />
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Are you a Horse Mom?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hmjHwQfjY3Y/UmPRbLMiVJI/AAAAAAAAEjI/kNTDqXjB5Hk/s1600/horsemom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hmjHwQfjY3Y/UmPRbLMiVJI/AAAAAAAAEjI/kNTDqXjB5Hk/s400/horsemom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our most recent photos together.</td></tr>
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-88302780731643888772013-10-13T09:17:00.000-04:002013-10-13T09:33:11.029-04:00Being A Newbie AgainDo you know that feeling when you are completely green at something and nothing is second nature, so you have to think about every step in a process? <br />
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This summer, I realized that I was a newbie again. I have not been a newbie at anything for quite some time. The weight of this realization did not dawn on me right away. My epiphany occurred when I started reading about infant sleep. I wanted to know if I was doing the right thing for my baby. Was I putting her to bed at the right time? Was she getting enough sleep? How was I supposed to survive nighttime nursing when my baby was hungry every two hours and took forty minutes to eat?<br />
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Naturally, I turned to the internet and started reading everything that I could find about infant sleep. It was so completely overwhelming. The conflicting advise. The heated debates. Experience and tradition verses science-based and natural parenting.<br />
<br />
Wait a minute. Full stop.<br />
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There is <i>natural</i> parenting? Where have I heard this before. And then I realized it. I am the new horse owner navigating a conflicting set of care and training philosophies. Do I put my faith in the experts? Which experts do I listen to? How can I tell who is genuine and who is just looking to make a buck? I had a new appreciation for what newbies in the horse world must feel: vulnerability, anxiety, and even fear of doing wrong by one's horse (baby, in this case).<br />
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This was not a parallel between baby care and horse ownership that I had anticipated. What did I do to escape the sea of conflicting advice and infant-raising practices? I asked myself, "what would I do in this situation with Harley?"<br />
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And then I knew the answer.<br />
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I listened to my baby. I borrowed aspects of philosophies that worked for us. I also stuck with information that was backed by science over tradition or societal convention. Even though I love evidence-based information, my gut was still a part of the decision-making process. I only practiced infant-raising practices that felt right to me. <br />
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I discovered that I am mostly what I am calling a "natural" parent. I breastfeed, I hold my baby a lot, she is cared for by her parents and family when we are away, and her crib gathers dust (i.e. We bed-share.). My baby has a routine (rather than a schedule) that is based on her cues to eat and sleep, although some clock-watching is involved so that she is ready to nurse when I come home. And to date, I have only been separated from her for a maximum stretch of four hours (half my work day). My husband and I work full-time, but my husband has changed his schedule to reduce the number of hours that we are both away from baby. My Mom takes care of Sweet Pea while we are at work; we are very, very fortunate. We combine baby-wearing with strollers for long walks. I am dedicated to nursing, even though this is very difficult while working full-time, and bed-sharing makes nighttime nursing about a thousand times more manageable than getting up and sitting in a rocking chair for an hour three times a night. I actually feel rested in the morning and I love the closeness that I have with my little one during the night and right into the morning. I feel that the biological and emotional needs of my baby and myself are being met as we traverse this very new life as Mommy and baby. Somehow, Harley has influenced that.<br />
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My daughter is now four months old, and I am no longer <i>completely</i> green. I am still learning all the time, but I am happy with my infant care choices thus far and am grateful that my life with horses has given me some invaluable perspective.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQWrXuTDSFs/UlqYOd7oPAI/AAAAAAAAEac/jTP-vWjQtrU/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQWrXuTDSFs/UlqYOd7oPAI/AAAAAAAAEac/jTP-vWjQtrU/s400/IMG_0064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My gentle beast, sweet husband (he is taking a photo, too), and baby.</td></tr>
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-31420612880005925662013-09-29T11:04:00.001-04:002013-09-29T13:00:15.672-04:00A Long Week and Finding TimeThis past week was my first full week back to work. I am floored.<br />
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Having a baby and learning to care for that baby is very, very challenging. I feel like I have accomplished many challenging things in my life and I still think that this is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I know that it will also be one of the most rewarding, but right now I am in the field, on the front line, and it is hard. <br />
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As you may know from my blog, I am a teacher. This will afford me certain luxuries as a parent, for example I will have the same vacation days as my child, in theory, and have summers off with them. I also have shorter work hours (at least it looks that way on the clock), which will mean more time with my little one. That is wonderful.<br />
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But right now, it is hard.<br />
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There is no other way to describe it. I am extremely lucky to have a supportive husband and family. My parents are going above and beyond. My Mom is taking care of Sweet Pea during the day and my Dad even comes by to lend his help and go for stroller walks. I do not think I would have survived this past week without my parents and husband. Everyone had made sacrifices to make this work (working full-time as a nursing Mom with a three-month old).<br />
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Fast forward three weeks and I finally have time to finish this post. My first Draft did not even include my horse, which is very telling. Due to my husband's change in work schedule to accommodate care for our now four-month-old, I cannot get to Harley after work. We had just hit a rhythm of visits before work started and now I am worse off than before as far as seeing my horse goes. <br />
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I will figure it out. When it comes to my horse, I always do, but in the mean time, baby has dibs on Mommy. Harley understands. <br />
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<br />Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.com12