we made it!

Wow, what a weekend.


Saturday:
Packing, prepping and fretting about the Horse Trials.


The soon to be new paddock was cleared, I went to sleep with the sound of chainsaws, tractors and wood chippers ringing in my ears.



Sunday: The big day. Java loaded after about 20 minutes, I was so nervous. Mr. Java's Mom towed her perfectly and she arrived safely.



Dressage: We did not go off course...


Our dressage test score stunk. We did the correct test, but with Java's head really high, and she thought it was so much fun that in our first canter circle she played. Honestly, I'm very OK with that. I pulled her off that truck, put my jacket and hat on, dodged the bucking psycho horses in warm up and went in. Java looked around at everything, until we went in the ring. She did not spook, she did play in our first canter circle, and I already knew her head and my lack of contact with the bit existed. That's great!



Stadium:

Stadium was fun. She jumped clear. Very clear. In our division (weenie division of Elementary Senior) time did not count in Stadium or Cross Country. The ring was large and hilly and grass. Java enthusiastically put every effort into launching over the jumps and went clear. Like I had to adjust my hat off my eyes at one point after one of the jumps. She really wanted to trot a lot on the course, so I let her. Java is barefoot and I think she felt that she was more secure on the grass at a trot. Sun's mom videoed it, hopefully I'll get to post it.



Intermission:

Then, during the wardrobe change for Cross Country Java mowed Mom (My Mom) over and really hurt Mom's toe. Mom's toe quickly turned icky colors and Mom sat on the tailgate of the truck with Mackie and Bandy looking on, as it started to rain. Poor Mom had to go home. I recommended a radiograph by the vet... She passed on the opportunity and is getting her foot x-rayed right now.



Poor Mom left, the rain stopped and we headed to the start of the Cross Country course.


It was a mile walk through gorgeous woods, leading to a marsh and river front setting. Java anxiously awaited what was next. We went into the start box and she stood there like a PRO. Then after the countdown 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 we went galloping off. The first jump she sucked way back and as we were going over it, I'm thinking... what is she looking at... then I see Mr. Java's Mom right in front of us taking our picture!! Yay!! We flew by and wound our way around the course, trotting, cantering, galloping and it was so much fun. Java was so wonderful.



Cross Country: Clear.



We finished 6th. Not bad considering we got 40 something penalties in Dressage.


Let's Go Home:
Then it took an hour and a half and a village of spectators and opinions to get Java back in the trailer and the door closed.



The camera some how broke and only three pretty bad photos came out. Not even the one of cross country. The professional photos will be up by the end of the week, so I'll be sure to post something. And, Java looked great, dapples, groomed, happy, and really wonderful. Also, it was fun to see friends, meet new people and get out there and do OK. That horse is awesome.



It was a great day. It also felt so great to come back home. Java and Sun had dinner outside and today are making up for their day apart by spending the day in the top field... so far refusing to come in and take a break from the hot sun.


We're taking trailer loading lessons next.


This is Java and I right after Stadium. Were facing down a hill, she's chewing on the bit, I'm spacing out and our saddle had slipped back while rocket launching around the course. Hey, it's better than the photo of Java and I having a snack at the trailer.

Java fits in Rn'R

I did not pull, I did not yell, and did nothing but waited and fed treats and Java put herself on the trailer twice. She fits! I do not have a head bumper, but I'll try to get one today (fat chance, but hey, sometimes you get lucky).

All that treat eating and trailer loading, and all of the sudden she could not stay awake. Poor girl was tuckered out. I led her to her stall and she did this:

Eyes closed lip drooping nap.

Rn'R is here

Rn'R in the flesh:
Java did a lot of snorting at it last night, and then got over it. I got her to eat treats out of it, on it and with me standing in it and her right up to the back of it. She is definitely reacting better to the openness than a regular two horse with ramp.

So, on the wraps will go (yes, she is THAT accident prone) and we'll practice loading today. We just went for a nice ride (practicing our dressage test) to take the "I'm a Big Mare" edge off, and now she's chilling out. If all goes well, I'll get her on and off it a few times, and she can have her dinner in it.

Tomorrow we'll practice closing the door. Probably not today. We'll see how brave we both feel.

R n' R

You guys are the best!! Nothing like a little blog friend rally to get me geared up to go to this thing on Sunday. My Facebook friends NEVER would have been as wonderful, supportive, and instill blind brevity to load my horse into a well used/loved stock trailer and tow her for the first time towing a horse to an event that requires a safety protective vest and medical arm band!! Thank you!

OK, Rn'R (formerly R&R) is coming over tonight. The rooster and kegs are being removed by Rn'R's owner and disinfected (de-cow-ing).

We all will know soon if the beastie will fit into the trailer... She's outside now... living the life of Java bliss with no idea of what's in store for her next! When it gets here I"ll take photos.

The pressure of planning...

The Horse:
Our lesson was GREAT! It was to learn our Dressage test for Sunday. What is exciting (and fascinating in a stupefying way) is that our new instructor was able to explain a couple of things to me, ask me to do 4 things and JAVA PUT HER HEAD DOWN. She's 12. She goes with her head high. I have never been able to get her to go on the bit. 3 other instructors have not been able to get her to go on the bit. I had given up hope and figured we'd make do. It's awesome, and we've been practicing all week (ugh I'm sore and tired) and her trot is amazing when she uses her back. Helloooo revelation. This Dreeessaaaagggggge stuff is fun. Not that I'm going to convert, but this phase is fun.



The Transportation:
The neighbor's stock trailer should be called R&R, for Red n' Rusty. The floor is new, it's a decent little unit, the rust is in areas that seem to be from gravel dinging the paint while being towed. It does not smell like cow. But it does smell like Rooster. They were keeping their rooster in there for a day or two. Oh, and 3 kegs. Nice guys, they will disinfect it, we'll tow it with Mr. Java's Mom's F250 and have a great day, right? Well, now we're nervous. A friend brought over her two horse to see how big of a pain Java is going to be to load. She was not awful, but we both had this feeling that something was going to go wrong (I envisioned her trying to go over the chest bar and out the door in the middle (not that she would fit), which she has not seen that configuration yet). She went on 3/4 of the way a few times, but we for some reason did not push her. These are out options right now for a ride for Java:

The R&R (the guys will let us take it tonight and get her used to loading, and see if she FITS).

A friend will take us, but she wants lots o' money, all said and done probably $300. (ow).

A "for hire" outfit, with a 3 horse stock trailer $200 not a dime more.

A friend called another friend with a fancy big two horse that we think Java might find more inviting, who might let us borrow (rent?) and we have not heard back yet.



The Event:
Well... I found out one good thing about the recession. If you miss the entry deadline, they are happy to add you in because there is plenty of room for more entries. Thank god. I have a couple of valid excuses for this one: My friend that talked me into this gig said that she signed me up. And, it's my first horse trails. In the land of hunter jumper, you send in your entries, or just show up, enter, get your number and off you go. I forgot to factor in that each ride time is scheduled... and that takes planning... advance planning.



Duh:
So I speak with the super nice show secretary who says no problem, adds me in, says pop your stuff into the mail and you're all set (mail here gets house to house overnight, seriously, so that part is good). I put together a nice thank you note, my coggins, rabies vaccination proof, my check, entry form and scoot out to the post office (dogs came with me of course). I get to the post office, and realized that my wallet is AT HOME. I find two stamps of the lower value than currently used, and the lady at the post office says those two are just fine, my overstuffed envelope will get there with my two old stamps.



Good grief.



Conclusion:
We are wondering if this is not meant to be.... like... maybe we shouldn't go. I'd love your input. Java ships fine, is stubborn to load but we still don't know what trailer to take, if we even get that far... and all the other preparation complications...

And I have no photos to show you... so this is the barn site last August... pre barn.

Animals, Manure and...

Java is still perfect:

The beloved Manure Cabana. Bin #1 on the left, full. Bin #2 getting a Compostex cover adjustment by Mr. Java's Mom, half full. Bin #3 is not being used yet. Mackie is counting the minutes until he goes swimming with the koi.

My lesson (yesterday) has been delayed due to ... rain. Today we will lesson, it's sunny and gorgeous today. Mr. Java's Mom and I set up a faux dressage arena (put cut off fence posts with letters) in the top paddock so that I can practice... 5 whole days before the big Horse Trials event.

And, we might have found a ride to the event. The guy cutting down our trees has a good truck and trailer... for his cows. It's a stock trailer, as in for livestock. I personally think this is great, less for Java to get hurt on in a stock trailer. It has a new floor and apparently is in great shape, which is more than most people can say about their trailers. I'll go over later today and check it out. Mr. Java's Mom is worried that if it smells like cows Java may find this unacceptable. I'll let you know how it looks, and smells.

Bin #2 first temperature reading 152*:

We turned the manure in bin #1 again, with steam.
And the fern path. The paddock I've been rambling on about will go on the left. Trees (6 or 7) come down this weekend.

Bandy at the pond. It is actually very difficult to photograph her at the pond because she is moving constantly: running with stick, swimming, barking at Mackie with stick in mouth...

Mackie relaxing after his swim. He is saying "I feel so civilized after a swim with the koi".

I am so glad that you care...

Thanks for the comments on the last post, I did not know that you cared, and am even more glad that people sometimes read this. "Real" might be too harsh for you guys, so I'll keep it to a tid-bit of real every once in a while.



All is well here. It's about to rain (again) and Java and Sun are the happiest together I've seen them. Sun is really settling in well. Java is in relaxed summer mode, which is perfection topped with fabulous. Yes, I love her.

Java and Sun in the back. Sorry for the boring photo, but if I get too close to the fence they will think that I have something for them, and, well, I don't.


Sun's owner comes by almost every day, and she takes great care of him. He is only 3, and does a consistent amount of groundwork with him and takes a lesson once a week. She rides Sun about 2 or 3 times a week and the most they have done is walk and very little trot. His steering is his challenge. His owner is fantastic with him, and he seriously is a very good boy and wonderful to have here. I thought I wanted to snap his head off about 2 weeks ago, but did not and now love him. He got over his annoying-settling in phase and is now his normal self and a real sweetie. His owner and I get along great, a plus.


Speaking of lesson... Java and I are having one on Sunday. One lesson, the first in about 5 years, one whole week before the infamous Horse Trails that we are showing in. Way to wing it. It will be fun, java will have a blast and I'll probably talk about it for years. If we love it, we'll do more and really get going.


OK: a dose of real, more like a recurring thought that I have: Facebook is bunk. I seriously doubt if any of the friends I have on there are really friends. I have something like 110 friends on Facebook, about average, and I find their status updates about weather and cocktails really... stupid. To be more specific, it seems that my facebook friends are shallow, and do not know me at all. AND, I'm OK with that. I like you, my blog friends better. My Facebook friends don't even read my blog and think I care if their commute sucks, job sucks, or if they are stuck in traffic on Martha's Vineyard, which I do care, a little, it reminds me that my little world is darn awesome: do you know what I mean?


Bin #1 Manure is 145*. I knew you were wondering.



And... her hair is still long (for now):

regular update

Manure Cabana update:

Bin #1 is full, the stuff has been turned and the compost is reading at 155*. Looks like all is well there.

Bin #2 is now in action.

Mr. Java's Mom and I have chosen a contractor for our next phase of tree work to clear a new paddock. The last spot that we cleared was going to be the new paddock, but it wants to be a garden instead.

Wants to be a garden:

The new paddock will be on the other side of the fern path. The fern path will still exist, with just enough distance between the path and the paddock for a nice spot for the ferns as we know and love it now. There will also be shade as we will be leaving some trees.

Wants to be a paddock:

Java and Sun THANK GOD have finally bonded and conveniently they are happy to be out in the top paddock together all day until I drag their butts in for a ride with Java then dinner. Breaking news: I have just made an effort to take a lesson this Sunday (took the big step and send the trainer an e-mail). I have not had a lesson in many many years. This is to prepare for the horse trial. Then, I'll figure out how we are going to get there.

And on the odd occasion, Java loose to do her mowing around the barn:

PS: I'm tempted to finally get real on this blog, but am thinking that the smarmy happy chit chat is fine.

Physics and Chemistry

Good god, it's absolutely pouring rain. I'm biting my nails trying to design our garden area (to sell veggies next year because I'm going to become a superfarmer) and rain gardens to soak up run off that likes to pool near some of our new big trees. Java thinks this rain/monsoon episode is just fine as she pokes her head out the window, munching on hay. Sun thinks this is fine too, munching hay, dropping copious amounts outside his window and making a huge pig pen of his stall. And I'm for some reason stressing about it all. Mr. Java's Mom keeps calling from work asking me where the water is running to and from... I'm like "heck, it's pouring, the water is everywhere and coming from um... everywhere" I swear, he just called and is on his way home to observe the water running down hill because I'm not able to give a reason for the runoff aside from that we live on a slope and it's raining. I personally think that is is quite convenient that the rain runs down our hill. We don't use any chemicals, so that's great with me. But Mr. Java's Mom wants to know MORE.

When this rain lets up and the horses go out finally is when I will muck, and with all this extra stall time it will most certainly be a two trip-per to the Manure Cabana.


The Manure Cabana by the way was cookin' good yesterday morning with a temperature reading of 157* at 9:00 am. Yep, hot hot hot. I took the thermometer out and the end was steaming. If only science/physics/chemistry was this interesting in school. I wonder if I could get my D in those courses retroactively corrected if I could prove that I can mix the proper amount of nitrogen (manure and horse pee) and carbon (bedding and hay) to cook to 157* and keep it that way for 10 days to become certified organic... Take THAT!!! I can see the tag line of the marketing campaign now (and if someone for some reason steals this tagline and uses it I will hunt them down and poke them with my 36' compost thermometer): Picture a bag of black gold compost and the copywriting: "Certified Organic Compost= Rocket Fuel for your plantings made by the girl that could not achieve higher than a D in classes that teach about why manure is now the rocket fuel that you are paying for".



Chief Pooper:




Assistant Pooper:

The Manure Cabana is in action...

Happy grazing kids:

Big news:

The Manure Cabana is in action. Bin #1 is occupied, and covered by our cool FarmTek CompostTek fabric stuff that they make for composting! Who would think that there is a special fabric that keeps compost covered to aid in composting and lets the heap breath? Well, we all know now anyway. It's great.

We have about 6 days of manure in there, the bin is about 25% full, and Ahhhhhh... the sweet smell of... nothing. No smell. Yeah baby. (well, if you stick your head way in there it smells, but right now after mucking I smell a lot more like manure than the heap).

And, it's cookin' as you can see with this morning's reading using our fabulous FarmTek compost thermometer. 150* in the stuff.

making do

Java is wonderful. She's a little tired and sore from running around with a 3 year old (Sun, the new resident), but we're managing. I'm beginning to stress about the horse trials we are doing at the beginning of August. I have never done a dressage test, have no idea how to salute, and do not know how we will be getting there. BUT, I'm pretty sure that it is a schooling horse trials, and we are doing the lowest level. Poor Java loves to jump and we'll be dinking over little logs in a field. Also, Java is barefoot and my trimmer said it can be rocky there... OK OK, we'll be fine, I'm just stressing.

Sun is still settling in, and Java and Sun get along beautifully. But, he is antsy at times and likes to walk the fence line. This eventually makes Java nuts and she wants to be separated. This morning she banged her knee on the fence post while running, bossing Sun around and getting my attention. We need more paddocks. We have 3 right now, and will be putting in the 4th soon. I look at Melissa's photos and think... oh wow, 40 acre pastures ....

http://paradigmfarms.blogspot.com/

Now that would do the trick. But, we like our place, especially Java so we will make do with less acres.

The weather has been amazing, CT is making up for the lack of 40 acres pastures with the weather.

Mackie goofing off. Yes, that would be his beloved John Deere toy.

I have no interesting photos. I decided that riding is more fun than trying to take interesting photos.

What's this? This is our larger, more mats wash stall. NICE.

Java bliss

Pics of shiny Java. No I do not put anything on her coat and feed no hoof/coat/etc supplements. I do groom her regularly, and she's just radiant from being so happy here at home. Really, I don't know why she is so shiny, but yes, I like it. I trimmed her tail a little more than usual so that ticks don't use it like a escalator.

Java is just wonderful. I'm sure that those who read this blog and have horses feel the same way about their horses. I'm a very lucky girl.

Sun is doing great, we'll get some weight on him and since he's only 3, he will fill out some eventually and maybe look as round and shiny as Java.

And, Mr. Java's Mom got video of a couple of jumps today (end of day, no sun, it's not that dreary here). It's OK, I see all the wiggling that I'm doing that is not necessary, and I definitely see that Java is barely making an effort over the small jump and swinging her legs to the side. We have a higher jump that we'll work up to, that should make her put a little more effort in. But, hey, we had tons of fun, actually we have tons of fun every time we ride. And since, Mr. Java's Mom got the video right twice, I posted both. Video Fiesta.

Back in love with Farm Tek

Good news, Farm Tek redeemed themselves today with me.

You might recall from a post a couple of months ago that some twit hung up on me as I attempted to give Farm Tek some business. Well, Mr. Java's Mom had a different experience and ordered some stuff from there, including some techie cloth for the Manure Cabana, and had a nice experience. When we call Farm Tek we now only speak with the guy that helped Mr. Java's Mom and his name is Tracy (ext 174 if you want to not get hung up on). I just ordered a compost thermometer and to my delight he is sending Mr. Java's Mom and I t-shirts. Heck, since I don't get to go shopping at Saks anymore now that I covet Carhartt and the real estate market is in a coma, a free Farm Tek t-shirt is like a free Valentino cocktail dress.

The camera is in the barn and Java and Sun are napping in the barn right now and I don't want to disturb them, so I'll post later with new pics after I get the camera.

Animal Moments

Oh Boy! Java and Sun get along. They spent the afternoon out together yesterday. And today they are hanging out happy as can be. Sun is still settling in and seems to be looking for other horses, but will probably figure out soon that it's just Java.

Yesterday was the first day they were out together. I watched them for a couple of hours and they were fine, so I went to the store. I got back and saw Java looking for me over the fence. I know this means "mom, we'd like to come in now, please come get us".

I start unloading the car fast and getting the groceries into the fridge. I go out for the last bag of groceries and Bandy is waiting for me at the back door like "mom, come quick, Mackie is doing something bad". His head is all the way in the bag in the back of the car, he is making a snorting scarfing noise, his head pops out, I look in and see that he has somehow gotten the whole bag of Ghirardelli Cocoa chips into his belly. Oh for crying out loud, chocolate! I call the vet and ask if it is an old wives tail that dogs cannot have chocolate or true. She says it's true (hey an educational emergency, that's great) and calmly and swiftly gives me instructions on how to induce vomiting so that Mackie does not DIE. Mackie preferred his own method and yacked all over his bedding with a lovely blob of oozy cocoa chips. Nice Mackie. Meanwhile... the horses are running a good clip in the top paddock as I'm trying to run the canine ER unit. I get up to the top paddock, the horses have stopped running and are all the way at the end of the paddock hanging out.

I call them, and bam, they come running like wild little animals to me. Dripping and drenched in sweat. They think this is fun.

Bath time, times two. Sun loved the spa treatment.

Animals. I love them, but one episode at a time please.

They must not be any worse for wear because they are fit as a fiddle, limber and ready for more fun today.

This is this morning so far:


Looks like Java ran off a little bit of her chub yesterday.

And, Mr. Java's Mom found it important that I mention that the Manure Cabana is not an O2Compost design. He visited the site and others, and made many modifications to our design, including the special cover made of some special material, the base material, blah blah blah. I still think it's a cool system. But, now that I clarified that it's not really an O2Compost design, but a special Mr. Java's Mom original, all will be right with the world. That's OK Mr. Java's Mom, you still rule for making it.

The weekend

The weekend was wonderful, I hope you all had a great weekend too!

Thank you for your supportive and nice comments. I really appreciate it and thrive on the support. I love our place here, and it is really nice to hear you guys like it too!

Sun is doing great. He is settling in very quickly. I'm seeking a retiree for the third horse. Maybe someone who wants a place for their horse to get ready and unwind for real full-time-retirement at a place like Melissa's at Paradigm. Heck, I love Melissa's place. And I hear horse owners talk about hesitation sending their horse "away" and that they will miss them. So they could prep for their retirement here and eventually go to Melissa's. Who knows, that would be nice though, wouldn't it!?


Here is Java getting ready to take a little snooze with Sun hanging nearby in the top paddock. They might be close to ready to go out together.


Sun barely visible as he was coming up the fence line to say hi.



Bandy after a swim. This dog likes sticks and preferably big sticks.

And... the new 3 bin manure compost station. I have dubbed it the Manure Cabana. You might remember that there was a bocce court here when we bought the place (old post from last August). We promptly ripped out the timbers for it and our good friend Tom said that he wanted them for his place as he would like a bocce court at his house. So we neatly stacked them and waited, then had to move them and stack them another place and waited for him to come and get them. Well, one year later, we got tired or waiting. They are now the supports and ramp for the Manure Cabana. Tom is too cool for this blog so he does not know yet that his bocce court future is over. The 3 bin composting system is easy: New manure goes in, there are PVC vents that circulate air in the heap and the stuff will decompose fast, no flies will hatch and we will have some excellent compost that I will eventually sell. Thank you Mr. Java's Mom. You rule.

Happy 4th of July and the new resident

Happy 4th of July!

This is Sun, the new resident. He arrived just after a big afternoon thunderstorm yesterday. He arrived safe and sound. He is 3 years old, his mom lives locally and so far so good.

Java seemed to stare across the aisle at Sun when he arrived, and looked at me like "really, you got me a buddy, really?! Thanks mom.".

Then she decided to go on with her business, and not care. Wow, I love her.

And Sun was thrilled with the open windows. He did a lot of this:

And now they are outside, in separate paddocks for now and both are being great. Java is like the level headed steady one (first time ever) and Sun alternates between grazing, running and rolling. He's having a great first day.

Here is Java and Sun in the background. I have not gotten a decent picture of him out in the paddock yet, but soon enough I will.

weed whacking

Java in her favorite paddock, checking everything out. Ho hum, this is a little boring mom.

So, I decide to let her loose to do some weed whacking. She did a thorough job around the trees.

In real life I'm a real estate agent. I've had a very busy week for a change. I'm thinking of sharing some odd things that people say sometimes in the real estate business. Actually, it's so clear to me that both the horse world and real estate has a large percentage of odd/unique/interesting (strange) people in it.

For example:

Horse person, this was a potential boarder. I asked her what she was looking for in terms of care, etc. She said: "I'm a MASTER COMMUNICATOR. My horse has told me what he wants. He wants PASTURE." I'm thinking wow lady, if you are a master communicator, you must be reeeaaaalll good. So you say your horse wants pasture. That's incredible (duh). SO I ask, how much pasture. She says "between 15 and 30 acres." I sigh a HUGE relief, I don't have that. I inform her that she might want to look outside of the state of CT for land like that, and I don't have land like that, best of luck, etc.

Real Estate, this was a comment from buyer. Very nice people, from NYC, looking at a gorgeous house out here in the "country". After looking at the house, walking the land, loving it all, she says "we are worried about bugs, its the country and there are bugs" She was not referencing termites, she was talking about the flying nuisance bugs. Well, yep, there are bugs here, outside, that does occur... bugs occur. Yep...

And, Drum Roll.....................The new boarder arrives tonight. She so far does not seem odd/strange. I really like her. I hope we all like her horse too. I'll take pics.