Busy Summer Days

Things have been very busy here - as usual! Let's see..... Last Monday the vet (Heather) was here. Tapper, Cami, and Deja all got their teeth done. They did well, Deja had to have a little extra work done because she had 2 periodontal pockets in her gums that had to be taken care of. Tapper also finally got her marble!!! For those of you who don't know, Tapper has very strong heats, and she makes a mess of herself with the heavy discharge. So, Heather took a sterile marble and inserted it in Tapper's uterus. It makes her body think she's pregnant, and so she won't come into heat while it's in there (at least that is the theory!). I'll let you know if it works!

Wednesday was the 4th, and Carla, Gail, Amy T. and I rode. Amy rode Jazzy and had a great time with him! My hay guys brought 250 bales of hay on Tuesday, the first of many loads! The price has gone up of course!!!

I took Petrucchio out to hand graze for a while. He wasn't sure at first when I opened the gate, he was very cautious, but then he ate his fill of raspberry plants and other goodies!

The new farrier was here on Friday. Now don't panic... Bruce is still my farrier, but he is just going to do the drafts (Scooby, Dolly, and Jazzy). His friend Ken has taken over the riding horses. Ken is a really nice guy and an excellent farrier! He is kind and patient and does a wonderful job. The horses had no problem with having a new farrier. This is Ken with Maggie, and below is Tapper showing how happy she is with Ken!

Carla and I rode Saturday and Sunday mornings, just short rides both days. Susie and Kim came to visit Saturday and took me out to lunch, then Kim went on to her grandparents and Susie and I went shopping! We went to our usual haunt, the antique store in Chester and I was good, I didn't buy anything (Susie did)! She stayed here Saturday night and Kim picked her up Sunday morning. It was really nice to have a chance to visit, I don't see her very often. In case you don't know, Susie used to live down the road from me and she ran the stable where I boarded Sundance before I moved here. She taught me a lot!!!

Amy and Michael were here on Monday - yesterday - and the hay guys brought another 250 bales. They are having a hard time because we keep getting these little pop up showers and storms. Not enough to really soak the ground like we need, but just enough to keep the hay from drying!

Gail and I were going to ride today. Jazz's new saddle came last night and I was going to try it out! Unfortunately it is so hot and humid that riding was out of the question. I did try Jazz's saddle on and it fits great!!! Then I decided to give him a bath. I wish I had pics of that - it was hilarious! He loved it, kept trying to grab the hose nozzle in his mouth, and got me soaked!!! I washed his VERY dirty tail, then put lots of Cowboy Magic in it. Then I hand grazed him for a while so he would dry, brought him back to the barn and put in a little more Cowboy Magic, then combed out that beautiful CLEAN (for now) tail! Gail bathed Maggie. Maggie's hives seem to be getting better, gradually fading away. I hope they continue to disappear!