I was looking through an old video I took of Bay Girl wandering around in the roundpen when she was pregnant and took a few screenshots off of it:
Sigh, back when she looked so healthy and good... and actually had a topline. Poor momma...
Friday, July 20, 2012
Some Old Pics
Hooray! I seem to have rectified the flymask issue with Bay Girl. She is back to being her regular old "good morning toss it on!" self. It goes to show though that you just can't be too careful with a formerly abused horse... they don't ever forget things. Until they trust you - really 100% trust you - you risk regression if you don't take the utmost care to prove to them that you are their ally and friend. A lot of quiet, simple, steady work in bite-sized chunks is a recipe for success with an abuse case... you make everything an easy. feel-good process for them, and keep it simple until they understand that everything is going to be okay. You can't be too careful about making sure to not overload them with information - and you apologize to them the moment you make a mistake.
I was looking through an old video I took of Bay Girl wandering around in the roundpen when she was pregnant and took a few screenshots off of it:
Sigh, back when she looked so healthy and good... and actually had a topline. Poor momma...
I was looking through an old video I took of Bay Girl wandering around in the roundpen when she was pregnant and took a few screenshots off of it:
Sigh, back when she looked so healthy and good... and actually had a topline. Poor momma...
Thursday, July 19, 2012
How Fragile It All Is
It has been quite a long while since I have been able to work with Bay Girl, and I've been a bit worried about her returning to a semi-wild state because of it. The Red Pest makes it literally impossible to do anything with her - he is constantly on top of me whenever I'm around her, and anytime I make an aggressive move towards him to chase him off, it scares her to death. Unfortunately, not working with her is doing about the same level of damage as working with her with a Red Pest floating around had been - she no longer waits for me at the gate at the end of the day, and on Monday even had a moment of regression into uncatchable-ness.
Every day at breakfast, I put on Bay Girl's flymask before she gets her flake of alfalfa (the broodies live out with a roundbale and get supplemental alfalfa, according to the feeding standards at the place where I work). Up until now, this had never been a problem, but on Monday I unfortunately had the mask on inside-out when I went to first put it on. I also, very unfortunately, poked her in the eye with it as I went to put it on. Most horses react with a short of "ahh, ouch" whenever something like this happens, but they quickly get over it and move on with their lives. Bay Girl, suspicious as she is, react with more of an "AHH, DEAR GOD HELP ME!" and threw her head into the air in a panic. I managed to get the mask back off, and back on again... only to realize that, once again, it was still inside out. I took it off for a second time, and Bay Girl decided that she had had enough. She turned tail and left, and didn't want to be caught again. Instead of worrying her further, I simply turned around and left as well, leaving her to wait at the gate for her alfalfa and a second attempt at trying to rectify what was quickly turning into a flymask fiasco. After about 10 minutes, I came back for another try, and managed to catch her and put her flymask on with quite a lot less fuss, but when I tried to offer a handful of her alfalfa to her afterwards as a peace offering, she refused to take it. Historically, when she refuses any sort of food that I know she normally likes and will eat, it means she is sending me a clear message: "I don't trust you right now."
Things got even worse when I went to catch and halter her to bring her in for the farrier in the late afternoon. Once again, she turned and walked away from me like she didn't want to be caught. This only lasted for a few seconds, and she stopped and let me catch no problem afterwards, but it made my heart sink nonetheless. It felt like a very enormous step backwards... it is hard to explain to a formerly abused horse that poking her with a flymask was an accident and that you still love her. Someday, she'll understand that if any accidents happen, they aren't deliberate... but for now, still in her fragile state, she can't separate the two.
I seem to have regained her trust with many cookies, pets, and scratches over the past two days. She is once again following me around like a little puppy dog, but I feel strongly that she really needs to be worked with on a very consistent basis if I want to really keep her from going backwards while the colt is still at foot. I just don't know quite how I am going to do that without needing to scold him and scaring her in the process. Perhaps I can find a way to lock him up inside his creep feeder....
God, she just looks like CRAP. My boss and I were discussing the other day how she still had an enormous potbelly and no topline and ribs showing... she shouldn't still be looking like this four months postpartum. I am definitely a bit worried about it, and not sure of what to do - or what I can do when she isn't mine.
Every day at breakfast, I put on Bay Girl's flymask before she gets her flake of alfalfa (the broodies live out with a roundbale and get supplemental alfalfa, according to the feeding standards at the place where I work). Up until now, this had never been a problem, but on Monday I unfortunately had the mask on inside-out when I went to first put it on. I also, very unfortunately, poked her in the eye with it as I went to put it on. Most horses react with a short of "ahh, ouch" whenever something like this happens, but they quickly get over it and move on with their lives. Bay Girl, suspicious as she is, react with more of an "AHH, DEAR GOD HELP ME!" and threw her head into the air in a panic. I managed to get the mask back off, and back on again... only to realize that, once again, it was still inside out. I took it off for a second time, and Bay Girl decided that she had had enough. She turned tail and left, and didn't want to be caught again. Instead of worrying her further, I simply turned around and left as well, leaving her to wait at the gate for her alfalfa and a second attempt at trying to rectify what was quickly turning into a flymask fiasco. After about 10 minutes, I came back for another try, and managed to catch her and put her flymask on with quite a lot less fuss, but when I tried to offer a handful of her alfalfa to her afterwards as a peace offering, she refused to take it. Historically, when she refuses any sort of food that I know she normally likes and will eat, it means she is sending me a clear message: "I don't trust you right now."
Things got even worse when I went to catch and halter her to bring her in for the farrier in the late afternoon. Once again, she turned and walked away from me like she didn't want to be caught. This only lasted for a few seconds, and she stopped and let me catch no problem afterwards, but it made my heart sink nonetheless. It felt like a very enormous step backwards... it is hard to explain to a formerly abused horse that poking her with a flymask was an accident and that you still love her. Someday, she'll understand that if any accidents happen, they aren't deliberate... but for now, still in her fragile state, she can't separate the two.
I seem to have regained her trust with many cookies, pets, and scratches over the past two days. She is once again following me around like a little puppy dog, but I feel strongly that she really needs to be worked with on a very consistent basis if I want to really keep her from going backwards while the colt is still at foot. I just don't know quite how I am going to do that without needing to scold him and scaring her in the process. Perhaps I can find a way to lock him up inside his creep feeder....
God, she just looks like CRAP. My boss and I were discussing the other day how she still had an enormous potbelly and no topline and ribs showing... she shouldn't still be looking like this four months postpartum. I am definitely a bit worried about it, and not sure of what to do - or what I can do when she isn't mine.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Happy 4-Month Birthday Elvis!
Elvis just turned four months old! The little red pest is quickly turning into a gigantic red pest - he'll probably be on the tall end of 15hh, maybe 15.3 or so (which is pretty big for a rope horse), and assuredly he'll be about as wide as he is tall! Never thought I'd see the day when I thought 15.3 was big though... being around Texas is obviously warping my brain. Everything's bigger in Texas except for the horses... they are all SHRIMPS around here!
The owner of Elvis was out the other day for the first time in four months, most likely to see whether or not he thought the colt could be weaned at this time or not. We don't know what he decided, but my guess is that he might wait until 6 months. That of course is better for Elvis... but not as great for me! I am itching to get my hands on Bay Girl without her little attachment!
As an update on the status of her transfer, I have a call in to the surrogate farm and am awaiting their return call. They are notorious for being bad about returning inquiries, so I might have to call and pester them again this week. Bah! I can't wait to get my hands on her and get back to work! It's impossible to do anything at all with the red pest attached!
And yep, that's her face again... up close and personal, just how she likes it! She is definitely the hardest horse on the planet earth to get a good picture of!
The owner of Elvis was out the other day for the first time in four months, most likely to see whether or not he thought the colt could be weaned at this time or not. We don't know what he decided, but my guess is that he might wait until 6 months. That of course is better for Elvis... but not as great for me! I am itching to get my hands on Bay Girl without her little attachment!
As an update on the status of her transfer, I have a call in to the surrogate farm and am awaiting their return call. They are notorious for being bad about returning inquiries, so I might have to call and pester them again this week. Bah! I can't wait to get my hands on her and get back to work! It's impossible to do anything at all with the red pest attached!
And yep, that's her face again... up close and personal, just how she likes it! She is definitely the hardest horse on the planet earth to get a good picture of!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
WE DID IT!!!
Something amazing and miraculous has happened! I can't hardly believe that I am writing this out for real.... but WE DID IT!!! The Bay Girl fund has literally reached $999!!
And who am I kidding, saying WE did it.... YOU did it!! You, my excellent and beautiful and wonderful and kind and caring readers did it!! We need to have a special club for you guys or something... Bay Girl's Girls? Bay Girl's Guardian Angels? Mimosas all around for everybody!
I shouldn't celebrate too prematurely, because obviously I still need to call and make the offer on her. Nothing is certain until papers have exchanged hands, and no one knows that better than I do... but I can't not be excited!!
And now, it REALLY is time to pick a new name for my sweet love. I had almost decided to stick with "Bay Girl," just because of the history behind it and all that it implied, but I feel as though it doesn't really even work now that she isn't just "bay" anymore (rabicano is special after all!). As you guys are the ones responsible for her upcoming rescue, I want you guys to weigh in on a new name. Here are just some of the ones I've had floating around in my head:
Agatha
Gizelle
Mona
Scarlett
Estelle
Beatrix
Kitty
Renata
Portia
Trellis
Jolene
Somehow, I don't really feel as any of them actually FIT her, you know? The name needs to be simple, elegant, beautiful, and gentle. Some of those names are too sharp, too complex, too racy for her.
I did have one pop into my head that I am absolutely in love with: Love. It really does seem to fit - it is beautiful, simple, and hopelessly overused and misunderstood except by those who really know it well. Nobody else seems to like the name but me, but that is the one I am leaning towards the hardest.
She says, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
And who am I kidding, saying WE did it.... YOU did it!! You, my excellent and beautiful and wonderful and kind and caring readers did it!! We need to have a special club for you guys or something... Bay Girl's Girls? Bay Girl's Guardian Angels? Mimosas all around for everybody!
I shouldn't celebrate too prematurely, because obviously I still need to call and make the offer on her. Nothing is certain until papers have exchanged hands, and no one knows that better than I do... but I can't not be excited!!
And now, it REALLY is time to pick a new name for my sweet love. I had almost decided to stick with "Bay Girl," just because of the history behind it and all that it implied, but I feel as though it doesn't really even work now that she isn't just "bay" anymore (rabicano is special after all!). As you guys are the ones responsible for her upcoming rescue, I want you guys to weigh in on a new name. Here are just some of the ones I've had floating around in my head:
Agatha
Gizelle
Mona
Scarlett
Estelle
Beatrix
Kitty
Renata
Portia
Trellis
Jolene
Somehow, I don't really feel as any of them actually FIT her, you know? The name needs to be simple, elegant, beautiful, and gentle. Some of those names are too sharp, too complex, too racy for her.
I did have one pop into my head that I am absolutely in love with: Love. It really does seem to fit - it is beautiful, simple, and hopelessly overused and misunderstood except by those who really know it well. Nobody else seems to like the name but me, but that is the one I am leaning towards the hardest.
She says, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Creep Feeding!
Hooray, the little monster is finally creep feeding!
Everyone begins their creep feeding process differently and at different times; at 3 months of age, the colt is starting a little bit later than usual but not actually late. Three months postpartum is around the time that milk production decreases, and foals start to rely more on solid foods rather than milk - although Elvis has of course been eating his mother's food and everything else he can get his mouth on for months now. It's just what babies do.
Having the colt around has all but completely ceased my work with Bay Girl. He is such an enormous pest that he gets into everything that I do and spends most of his time trying to chew on or jump on me. The problem with this is not the fact that he does this and gets a spanking when he misbehaves, but the fact that any sort of discipline I do scares Bay Girl to death. Any sort of fast movements, loud noises, or aggressive postures frighten her, and that is the absolute last thing I want. Oye, colts.
With weaning time moving ever closer (anywhere between 4-6 months, and I will guess it will be on the earlier side for Elvis), it is nearly time to make an offer on Bay Girl. If anyone wants to make any last minute donations, fire away!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
It's official, she's a rabicano!
Well, we can officially say that Bay Girl is now, erm.... Rabicano Girl? Ok, not really, but she IS rabicano for sure!
She says please help me, I am having a very bad hair day.
Much better. Also, that is her extremely exasperated face.... check out the red colt eating her lead rope. He is such a pest... it's hard to scold him when he chews on me or does something naughty, because it scares her to death whenever I make any sort of a bossy move at all, even if it is directed at him and not her.
Here's the rabicano proof up close!
Note the specific pattern of the white barring on her tail. That is classic rabicano. And if you look VERY closely - and trust me, I had to look closely too because I had never noticed it before now! - you can see the VERY subtle roaning on her flanks, right at the stifle/flank junction. Rabicano it is!
So far, the name "Bay Girl" has just stuck along with her, kind of as homage to her nameless past... but now that it doesn't even really accurately describe her anymore, I feel like it really is time to give her a new name. But I have no idea WHAT name!
Also, remember how I was describing the very, very, VERY saggy mom-belly? This is what I am talking about:
The anti-topline is obviously explainable, but the vast belly is a bit concerning. It is more vast than I would expect for a regular-sized mare who is currently nursing but is open... hmmm. Thoughts?
She says please help me, I am having a very bad hair day.
Much better. Also, that is her extremely exasperated face.... check out the red colt eating her lead rope. He is such a pest... it's hard to scold him when he chews on me or does something naughty, because it scares her to death whenever I make any sort of a bossy move at all, even if it is directed at him and not her.
Here's the rabicano proof up close!
Note the specific pattern of the white barring on her tail. That is classic rabicano. And if you look VERY closely - and trust me, I had to look closely too because I had never noticed it before now! - you can see the VERY subtle roaning on her flanks, right at the stifle/flank junction. Rabicano it is!
So far, the name "Bay Girl" has just stuck along with her, kind of as homage to her nameless past... but now that it doesn't even really accurately describe her anymore, I feel like it really is time to give her a new name. But I have no idea WHAT name!
Also, remember how I was describing the very, very, VERY saggy mom-belly? This is what I am talking about:
The anti-topline is obviously explainable, but the vast belly is a bit concerning. It is more vast than I would expect for a regular-sized mare who is currently nursing but is open... hmmm. Thoughts?
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