Well my new horse finally has a name!!! He is "All That Jazz", aka: Jazz, Jazzy, Snazzy Jazzy, Jazz Man, Mr. Jazz, Jazzy Boy, etc., etc!!! He has settled in just fine and seems to be enjoying having big pastures to run around in and Ziegy to hang out with. Jazz and I have been working on several things. He now crossties, and lets me fly spray him. He seems to enjoy being groomed and even let me comb out his mane and tail (with the help of lots of Cowboy Magic!). He is getting better at many things, but we are still working on standing still to be saddled and mounted, and going where I want him to go at the speed I choose (he likes having his own way). I changed his bit to a full cheek snaffle with a slow twist, which helped a lot,and have since ordered a new one which should help even more, it's a double twisted wire snaffle. He seems much more responsive and easier to steer with the new one. It looks like a nasty bit, but since I ride with a loose rein it doesn't hurt him but it is there if I need it! He catches on quickly so I expect more improvement every time we work together.
Scooby has been getting around OK since he lost his shoe a couple of weeks ago. Bruce comes tomorrow and will put front shoes on Jazz, Scooby, and maybe Ziegy, and front and hind shoes on Tapper and Dolly. Deja doesn't get shoes, and Cami has her own farrier. Scooby and Jazz both have nice new leather halters, now I need to see about getting a fly mask big enough for Scooby!!!
Yesterday Carla and I went for a short ride around the property and on the road. The flies were awful and it was VERY hot and humid. I rode Tapper and Carla rode Ziegy! She and Zieg got along great and he was a really good boy! She also fell in love with his saddle - all my horses have treeless saddles - it's very comfy for both horse and rider. After the ride she took Ziegy out to hand graze for a while. He really enjoyed that! Tapper and Dolly were in the pasture by the road and Carla took Ziegy over next to them. He ignored them, all he cared about was the grass!
Deja and Cami are buddies now. I put Cami out with Deja, Tapper and Dolly, but Cami is EXTREMELY herd bound and really went nuts when we took Tapper and Dolly out to ride. Since Deja is not ridden, and if she goes out it's only for short walks or to the round pen for exercise, I thought she would be good for Cami to bond with. They are getting along great!
Carla and I weighed and wormed everyone yesterday. We got baseline weights on Jazz (1111 lbs) and Cami (1064). Tapper weighs 1049 lbs, down about 50 from this winter. Ziegy is 1174, down about 15 lbs. Scooby is impossible to weigh, he's off the charts so we just call him 2000 lbs and that's close enough! Deja went from 916 to 861. Dolly is the success story of the year!!! She is 1598, down from 1720 this winter and 1924 when she first arrived last August!!!
We have had a lot of rain and the grass is very high. Those of you who know me know I hate to mow!!!! But the lawn is getting out of control and the dog yard is crazy. The grass is as tall as Rosy out there. Sadie and Echo disappear! I don't know when it will get mowed. I have paddocks to rake and clean, fences to fix, lots to do and I can't do any of it while it's so wet! A few dry days in a row with temperatures below 80 would be nice!!!
Today I put Deja and Cami out on the hill behind the barn, and next to Scooby. Cami and Scooby did a little squealing over the fence but then ignored each other. Cami wasn't too sure about Petrucchio, she had to study him for a little while before she decided he was OK. She seems to like being out with Deja and she didn't even notice when we took Dolly and Tapper out for a ride!!!
Carla and I rode over to Jean's and met up with her and Pepper. Then we rode together around Massey Rd and Dutton District before going separate ways when we reached Brockways Mill Rd. Dolly was feeling pretty pokey today for some reason, but we kept up a pretty good pace for the most part. I think we were out a little over 2 hours. We had a very nice ride ( Jean made it home safely too!). I helped Carla wash Dolly's tail and then she cleaned her up a little before turning her back out with Tapper. It's looking like we are in for more rain this afternoon and tomorrow it's supposed to pour all day (great day for the farrier to come!). 
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