6/20/08

So, where were we?

Ok, this kind of got pushed into the background for a while, but since I did have a comment on this blog from a fellow reader from the fugly blog, I figured I should add some more! So I can bore you guys to death. lol
So here are some pictures of our horses, still in "winter" coat (as much as you can call it that here in Florida) and keep in mind, they are in NO shape whatsoever. For a fact they have only been pasture potatoes in the last 4 years. I know, I know, shame on me. But they didn't complain. Well, Navayo did, that's why I (or better hubby) built this roundpen, he practically told me he's bored and he wants to go back to work.
Oh, and if you find a lot of spelling errors, keep in mind, english is only my second language, so pardon me. ;)

This is Rosie, our old Lady. She's 23 this year and has severe arthritis. Though she felt good that day.








Here's Bunny, our 12 year old, "large Pony" mare. I call her a pony since she is only 14.3h. Don't bother telling me the halter is too big, because I know. It's not her's, it's Rosie's. I switched them by accident and it can't be tightened anymore than that.



This is Navayo, my 16 year old Andalusian, who is in desperate need of some muscle tone. He's the one that wants to go back to work. The others are rather content with their lazy lifestyles. And yes, he's a stallion, and no, we don't stud him out.
I've had him since he was a 3 year old and he traveled the world with me. Had him shipped from Spain to Germany and when we moved to Florida a year later, he, of course, came with us. So, you could say he's tri-langual...hahaha








This is Snoops, he's Rosie's and Navayo's 8 year old son. He is also a stallion, but not much longer. I am getting slowly but surely tired of his shit. We will make an appointment for "brain surgery" in the near future. I am never going to breed him, so, since he's not quite as laid back as his dad, it's time to say byebye to the family jewels. Then, maybe, he can be turned out with his dad again as I used to do when he was younger. We will see, Navayo would love to have a friend to scratch withers with.



Here's Bunny in her lunging outfit:










We have some challenges with her. She is a smart and sensitive mare, but unfortunately she was not trained properly. I am not saying she was abused, she was just not trained to work correctly in a roundpen. When you try to free lunge her, she gets really nervous and she thinks the quicker she runs the quicker it's over. It's really useless to work her without side reins, she seems to find comfort in them. Not a surprise, she used to be a driving horse and only a driving horse, so that's understandable. When you put side reins on her she calms right down and you can get a somewhat productive training session.
She's built like a greyhound, short front legs and very deep chest. Her girth is as deep as Rosie's, who is a whole hand taller, and her hind legs are long, giving the impression she's a little down hill, which she's not, she is actually 14.3 in the withers and 14.2 in the butt, measured with a stick while standing on level concrete floor.
I bet she would have made a nice little endurance pony, she also has tons of stamina, though we both are too tall for her really. Besides, I don't think endurance is something I or hubby would enjoy much anyways.





Snoops in circingle:





Guess that's it for now, will have to post more on another day.

3/25/08

What else you can use a roundpen for...

The first ones to use the roundpen were not my horses, but my DOGS! They enjoyed using it for a little play of FRIENDLY dogfight...lol
here are some pics:






Even the barn cat chimed in...


3/24/08

Finally finished (Feb 08)

Here are some pictures of the finished project. I am pretty satisfied with it, other then if I'd build a new one on a new property, I'd make a 60' one.





For the door I decided on a section of privacy fence, cut to fit and reinforced. We even added some more reinforcement. I will take more pictures of it someday.



Slap on a few strong, shiny hinges and you got yourself a door!!!



As for the lock? I didn't like it.



It was sticking out too far into the roundpen for my taste. Horses just have a nag for finding these little things to seriously hurt themselves on, right?



We ended up removing it and we are now just using a chain with double snaps.

Here are more pictures of the outside:



Roundpen is FINALLY in the works (Dec/Jan 07/08)

After 4 years of being pasture potatoes, it's time for our horses (and us!) to get back to work. So, I decided it's time to at least get a roundpen.
Here are some pictures of the roundpen in progress:





It's a 50' roundpen with a 50/50 clay/sand mix as footage. Since we live on a hill, we did have the challange to work with the rather steep incline. And it still needs some more footage, since it's still not all the way level. When it rains or when we run the sprinkler a little to long, the water will collect on the low end. We will have to get another load...