Grief, rejoicing and LOTS of manual labor

Last week, we decided there was no choice but to put poor Cutter down.  He was our 28 year old gelding that we took in this March.  I literally could climb on him with a halter and lead rope and ride wherever.  He was a gentleman, and easy to work with.  He was suppose to be for our niece Taylor and Tristan to ride and anyone else who came over to ride.  When I brought Cutter home, we kept him in a stall with his own paddock to let him adjust to his new surroundings.  He paced and paced, only time he stopped was when he was eating.  So, we put him out with the mares.  He did ok, but still the pacing.  Moved him in with Palmer and Bella.  That arrangement didn't work.  So, back to the mares he went.  The pacing continued and his weight dropped drastically.  We adjusted his grain ration and added a weight builder supplement, 6 flakes of hay PLUS all the grass he could eat.  Still his weight dropped and still the pacing.  Our vet prescribed a relaxer to stop the pacing hoping that would help him gain the weight back.   Seemed to help at first, but the side effects made him loose even more weight.  So, we stopped that..  He never went back to pacing, but he became so skinny we called Dr. Keller’s office again.  There just wasn’t any more to be done for him.  So, sadly we had to put Cutter down on Thursday.  This is the third horse that I have had to put down and it just does NOT get any easier.  But I am praying his spirit is in heaven and someone is loving on him and riding him and he is happy again. 

Thankfully, Thursday also brought some good news.  Lemon Drop had an ultrasound and was confirmed pregnant!  This was my first ultrasound on a horse.  Interesting experience to say the least…  I put her in a stall,  our vet sedated her, put a hay bale behind her back legs (JUST in case she decided to kick…) and waited for the meds to kick in…  Didn’t take long.  I was thrilled cause they did a screen freeze and I got to see the 20 day along embryo.  That was soooo cool!  Lemon Drop was calm, cool and the best little lady.  She is so much fun to work with!   Thus the rejoicing!  She, Airiah, Nevar and Shadow are all in the big section of the pasture now.  Airiah has always been the “Queen Bee” of Hardenberg.  She set Palmer and Bella straight as soon as she arrived and has never relinquished her position.  To say she isn't one for sharing her grain is putting it nicely.  So, I didn't really think it would be a problem to leave her in with Lemon Drop (LD doesn't get grain) when I gave Airiah her grain this morning.  You could have knocked me over with a feather when I came around the side of the garden shed and saw Airiah allowing Lemon Drop to eat the grain Airiah had spilled out of her bin.  So, I guess my pretty ladies are now best friends!  YEAH!!!  But sadly, that is just one more step now in the morning chores.

So, on to the lots of manual labor...  As you probably know, we (mostly Will that is...) have been repurposing our old dairy barn into a horse barn.  It has NOT been the easiest feat to accomplish.  When we moved here 2.5 years ago, the barn was about 2-3' deep of "stuff" covering the floor.  Will managed to get most of that cleaned up the first 6 months we were here.  I was pregnant and then caring for a newborn at the time, so I wasn't much help.  We went from 2 makeshift "stalls" to now having four really nice stalls!!  Three have lime flooring with rubber mats on top.  Still have some finishing work to do, but they are usable!  The fourth one has an attached paddock that we need to break up the concrete floor and put lime in.  This one is our "maternity stall".  It has really been a process.  I am pretty thrilled that we (again... Will really) have gotten as much done as we have with both of us working full time, 2 small kids, etc, etc.   So, that is one of the reasons you haven't heard from me much lately.  Plus, we have been outside every night until 9pm, soaking up as much summer as we can.

Will and I decided that we are going to bred Isabella's Song (a.k.a. Bella) to Evan (from Horsemeister.com).  Really can't wait to see what this amazing foal is going to look like.  So, YEAH another beautiful baby to look forward to.  

Keep your eyes on the website.  Some changes should be coming soon.  Should be exciting!!  

CBC Trek

Sunday was a whirlwind.  We made it to church, raced home, ate a quick lunch and outside we went. Our awesome AWANA Jr. high group and the Sr. high group were coming for a bonfire and s'mores fest at Hardenbergfriesians Farm.  It was pretty exciting for us.  We raced around finishing up a few small chores.  I made several attempts to get Jayden down for a nap, but she pulled out all her tricks on me.  Tristan of course was not a problem.  He doesn't want a nap, but he is out about as soon as his head hits the pillow.  Will finally got Jayden to lay down in our bed with Cinderella on.  Five minutes later, she was out.
Once the group was there with our friends (and youth group leaders) Katy and Alex, we got to cooking the hot dogs over the fire.  S'mores were made... And then the rain came down on us.  It was pretty funny watching the kids run here and there for cover.  The rain let up and we pulled Palmer and Bella out for a Friesian parade.  They were led all over the place, down the road, etc.  They behaved very well.  Such good babies.  I am pretty upset with myself...  I need to somehow attach my camera to my head so I don't miss another photo op.  what is wrong with me?!
Mom and I went to Jo-Ann's Fabric in Galesburg Monday night.  We bought some material to make costumes for the costume class at the Galesburg shows.  I can't wait.  Guess I am still a little girl at heart.  I LOVE to get dressed up.  My Mom is the greatest!!  I know she isn't really crazy about sewing, but I almost think she is as excited as I am.  Haha!!
We found a couple bales of grass hay, but we are still looking for more.  Ms. LemonDrop can't have the alfalfa rich hay that we use for the Friesians.  If you are local and know anyone with good quality grass hay, please let me know.
Sadly, it is time to get to bed.  Chores are taking 1/2 an hour even with Will and I working together.  Maybe cause I spend to much time loving on them?  But how can I not??

Trail ride and a new addition!

So, lots of news!  Nevar is growing tall, yes, I think his ears are over my head already.  He is such a handsome boy.  We have been using the Clinton Anderson methods on him and he really is coming along nicely.  And so sweet.  He is another wonderful Raven baby, running to greet you at the gate to say hello.  One of the many things I love about the Friesians.  Beauty, brains and a huge heart.

Will and I actually had a "date night".  Tristan and Jayden went to stay at Nana and Papa's while we braved the crazy weather last weekend.  We took Palmer and Bella to the St. Jude's Saddle Up Trail Ride at Jubilee State Park.  This was our first trail ride with them. Friday night, we got there, unloaded, threw tack on.  Brock and Ellie rode them around the camp sight to make sure they wouldn't act their age.  They did just fine.  Curious, a little nervous, but they didn't act out, didn't buck, etc like some young horses might.  Will rode pretty miss Bella and I took my steadfast Palmer.  We rode around the camp several times with no incidents.  Trucks and trailers pulling in, generators running, dogs, other campers and horses everywhere.  So, we went with another of B&B's group for a short trip on the trails.  Again, no incidents.  YEAH!!!  The next day, Brock took us and a couple others on a 20 min trail ride to make sure that our horses weren't going to give us any problems.  They passed Brock's test!  We ended up riding Saturday with one of Palmer and Bella's half siblings, Mercedes.  She is a gorgeous girl!!  It was a great date for us.  And now we know that our young horses are trail ready.  Hopefully we can do that again soon.  A huge thanks as always to B&B Reinebach for inviting us and ensuring that we all had a great time. Can't wait to see the group pictures.

I confess, one of the things that drives me crazy is being so short and having to practically use a ladder to get into the saddle with Palmer or Bella.  So, taking Britney's advise, I starting thinking about getting a pony that I could ride as well as Tristan, Jayden and our horse crazy nieces.  This past winter, I happened across an article about the Fell Ponies.  And beings they look so much like a Friesian, I was smitten.  So, being the researcher that I am, I searched and searched for a Fell mare that was trained to ride.  Well, lets just say that there is not a huge selection.  But in my searches, I came across DreamHayven Farm.  And there was Bella (Fell Pony, not our Bella. hehe).  And it was love at first sight.  I have been stalking DreamHayven's website and doing lots of emailing back and forth.  Will and I decided to take the plunge and get Bella.  We have had her now for for three days and we LOVE LOVE LOVE her.  If you know my kids at all, you know they are anything BUT quiet.  This beautiful mare stands calmly while my two kids are carrying on like they do.  Tristan is absolutely crazy about her.  In fact, Thursday night when he met her, he wouldn't leave her until I told him (at 9:30 pm which is WAY past bed time) that he HAD to go in, take his shower and get to bed.  He was completely comfortable being in the paddock with her.  He and I decided that since we have a Bella already, we were going to use part of the pony's registered name as her call name.  So, LemonDrop it is!!  I can't even tell you how exciting this was/is to me that he is this excited about a horse.  

Friday I decided it was time to take our pony for a ride.  I didn't even have to tie her up for saddling.  She stood calmly while I saddled and bridled her.  Sadly, with the English saddle, I couldn't reach the stirups STILL...  So, out came the 5 gallon bucket and off we went.  She was good as gold.  Since it was getting dark, we just went down the road a bit and came back.  Tristan wanted to ride her too, so I threw him up on my saddle (and darn if his legs almost didn't reach the stirups...).  B&B have trained him well.  He didn't have a problem with her at all.  I of course held onto her just in case...  But they did great together.  

Today was not what I had hoped, as in, no riding today.  It would rain, then clear up, rain, clear up...  UGH!!!  But at least it was not hot.  Not even in the least and with the nice breezes, the flies were MIA.  That was wonderful.  We did manage to get the little garden at the Y in the drive cleaned up.  It was a little crazy/wild/ugly hot mess.  We have plans to put up a sign for the farm there.  That will be nice.  I am hoping at some point to get some different plants in that area.  Those crazy rose bushes that are there are not my cup of tea.   To high maintenance for me.  ;)

We are going to have to do some major updating to our website with the addition of LemonDrop.  She is expecting a foal next year, so keep your eyes out for that!!   

Loving these kids' excitement.  

Horse Show??

Of course...  It's me, so I have a funny story about the horse show.  We went!!  And we did sooo good.  Have everything load and on the road (kids and all!!).  And we got there and realized I had forgotten the coggins papers for Palmer and Bella.  Talk about being disappointed!  But, bless my husband, the ever patient man that he is.  He never got upset, and we ended up laughing about it.  We did discover a few things that we wanted to do before we attempt another show.  Like some bling for our tack.  GESH.  We could not get over all the fancy tack and this was just a local show.  So...  We need some bling.  And I need a cowgirl hat.  Any suggestions?!  Man this stuff is expensive.  :)  Good thing we both love it.
I snuck outside to check on the horses and give Airiah some hay.  So, I took the opportunity to take a couple pics with our new camera (new to us that is...  Ebay is a great thing!).  He is so handsome!!  And growing like a weed.  Enjoy the pics!!  Have a great night and promise more another day!
We have riding lessons on Saturday with the trainer to prep Palmer and Bella for the shows.  And Shadow will go on Monday to the trainers for ground work.  All very exciting.  :)

Handsome Nevar

Airiah and Nevar.

Lobster Red

I have to say, this has been an AMAZING day.  Will worked outside this morning while I did some laundry, dishes and general house work.  The kids were playing great.  We did snack time, worked on numbers.  Then Tristan, Jayden and I went outside, sorry house chores, you will have to wait!  It was beautiful out.  I have waited all winter for this!!  So, flower beds were cleaned out, we moved Airiah and Nevar into the orchard paddock (maybe we need to start naming the paddocks so it isn't so confusing?!?! NAH!), cleaned water troughs.  Sounds boring, but I was loving it.  T & J were so good.  We had a quick lunch, the kids went down for their naps without a fuss.  So, we took advantage and saddled Palmer and Bella up.  Didn't go anywhere but around the house.  BUT, here is the kicker....  Will and I have waited 4 LONG years to be able to ride our horses together.  We had a great time.  We even talked about how when the kids are older, how we will be able to do this together all the time.  Now, some people are probably thinking, these two are crazy/weird/strange/etc.  But this is what we love, being together, working together, taking a break to ride the most beautiful horses in the world and to top it off, we are doubly blessed with two wonderful kids who seem to love the horses just as much as we do.  I have to say, other than the day we got married and the days our kids were born, today was the best day ever.  I am a very blessed woman to have a husband that is as horse crazy (or at least close!!!) as I am.
We also got another side of the "orchard paddock" shelter done today.  Only one more side to go!!
For any of you that are in the area, we are hoping to go to the Galesburg Boots & Saddle Show tomorrow (weather permitting).  Starts at 9:30 a.m.  Have a great night!
Almost forgot...  yes, I am burnt, thus "Lobster Red".  But it is well worth it!

Lots of work

Nevar is two weeks old today!!  He is such a handsome little man.  He has been purchased by a young lady that I am sure is going to love him as much as we do.  It is bittersweet to sell him since he is the last Raven baby we will ever have born at our farm.  But we are confident that his new owner will take very good care of him.  He will go to his new home in August after he is weaned.  I promise to post a video of him once I can get the files to our IT genius.
Shadow turned one yesterday.  Gosh, all the "babies" are growing up.  I have literally spent hours brushing her to get her "Wooly mammoth" winter coat off.  I can see the beautiful black coat coming through.  And the feather...  Oh my goodness this girl has LOTS of it.  She is quite impressive.  I think after I get her a good scrub down and brush her again, she is going to look like the princess she is. ( haha.  Sorry, that is one of Jayden's favorite words to say right now.)  Will has been working hard on a shelter in the paddock by the orchard.  He is almost done!! So we will be able to move Airiah and Nevar up there during the day and bring them back to the barn in the evenings.
Tomorrow is going to be a wild one.  After a long day at work, Will is going to softball and Tristan and I will be going to riding lessons.  Jayden gets to hang out with her Nana and Papa for a while.  Should be interesting as Will seems to assume that I am going to be fine to hook up the trailer to the tahoe( never done it myself before...  I have helped, but that is not the same), pull it out of the shed without demolishing the trailer or the shed, get my tack loaded, get Palmer loaded, get Tristan and I changed and on the road by 6...  Considering I don't get off work until 5, have to pick up Tristan from school, and then a 20 min drive home.
I will let you know how it goes.

Lots of news!!!

So, I have to apologize.  I have been horrible about posting lately.  But you will see why soon.  We went to a wedding in Kentucky for one of our friends.  It was a beautiful day and great to see some wonderful friends again.  We also went to Arkansas to see one of those should have been my sister type of friends.  Misty I love you dearly and miss you terribly.  We then went to Will's Uncle's celebration of life.  That is the second celebration I have ever been to, and they are just awesome.  Maybe because Will's Uncle was such a great guy?!?  He is going to be missed for sure.  In between all that, we have been working on the barn, potty training with Jayden, Jayden turned 2, moving Jayden up to the toddler room at daycare, dogs took off more times than I care to count, Bella finished trainined, went riding at B&B's, Tristan turns 5 years old today ( We love you SOOO much buddy!) oh and we had our full time jobs too.  AND last night, we had a new colt born by Raven out of our mare Airiah.  YEAH!!  And thanks to God (first of course), our vet and to Ms. Judy (and Karin for calling and checking on us), he and Airiah are doing GREAT!!!  He is PURE black and legs....  Oh the legs on him.  His face is so perfectly shaped.  He is one of THE LAST of the Raven sons...
Ms. Judy was out today to help me get the new baby to latch on.  She is just amazing.

Airiah and her colt (born 4/30/13)

Isabella's Song & Jenni

My handsome Palmer

Amarah's Dark Shadow & Jenni

Amarah's Dark Shadow's feather

The beautiful Amarah's Dark Shadow

So, please, please forgive me for not posting.  It has been crazy busy.  And this weekend isn't going to be any better!  haha.  We are having the kids birthday party on Saturday.  So, family and friends...  My house is a DISASTER.  Please go out and admire the horses and enjoy some good food.  haha!!

PS- if you have any suggestions for this colt's name, let me know.  My mom had a GREAT idea!! (Go MOM!!) But waiting to hear back from Will if he likes it or not.  ;)