Nothing to See Here...Just More Photo Spam

Unfortunately, the light was still a little strong today, but I just wanted to take some semi current photos of my SFF who is growing like a bad weed.

All she wanted to do was gallop around.

All she wants to do undersaddle is slowly waddle.

Horse, can we pick something in middle?

Click Click Click

Today was a day off from my personal horses, but instead, I stopped by a friend's place to take some pictures and video of a couple of sales horses.

I thought I'd share some today.

It wasn't the ideal light at all for taking pictures since it was the afternoon and it was very bright out, but it was worth a shot.  Plus, playing ponies is always fun.  :)

Who are the SFM and SFF?

Since there are more people (I think!) checking out the blog, I thought I would introduce the critters in my life.

One is the main mare, the Semi Feral Mare.  Of course, this isn't actually her name, but is just what I refer to her on the blog.  For ease of typing, I often abbreviate it as SFM.

The other primary critter on this blog is the Semi Feral Filly.  The filly is the daughter of the Semi Feral Mare.  She is a 2011 model.  I did breed her and have owned her since birth.  I often abbreviate her to SFF. 

Both are Arabians.  Any specific questions, feel free to ask.

Blog Hop: Let's Make A Baby

Another Blog Hop from L @ Viva Carlos

If you could/were so inclined to breed your horse WHO would you breed your horse to and Why! 

I did breed the SFM once and ended up with the SFF.  I think I did pretty well that time as the Semi Feral Filly is not really as feral as one might think and she has been a Class A Winner multiple times on the breed circuit.

But, let's pretend to breed the SFM some more!

If money were no object, I'd love to have a purebred by *Khadraj NA.  Khadraj is a purebred Arabian stallion with national titles in hand and under saddle in western pleasure.  He has an incredible strike rate and is a steady producer of national producers.

Incredible athlete that has been an even more talented sire.

Wait, there's more.

The SFM has actually been bred to Khadraj once producing a gelding that has had a pretty amazing show career with national titles of his own. 

Last year, her gelding won the biggest class at US Nationals.  Pretty cool. Too bad I can't say I was any part of that breeding or planning.  That's probably why I am here on the blog hop planning out what I could do in my fantasy world instead of executing that plan.  ;)

Now...just to keep the SFM mare busy, I would also love to cross her with a stock horse and see what would happen.  I think the neat thing about Arabians is that they are quite versatile and I would love to see what a nice cross would do with her.

How about Pale Face Dunnit?  AQHA reining horse stallion.  Dun & Palomino with chrome.  I'd also think it would be fun to dabble in having a half Arabian reiner.  The money is growing and good prospects are getting quite hard to find.

Bear with me.  I want to go to the other extreme and go warmblood shopping for a minute.  Maybe I will check out a future date for the Semi Feral Filly.  

How about Rosenthal? The magnificent black Hanoverian of the R line.

Yeah, I think I may have a stallion shopping problem.  I have a long list of stallions that I like. I also have two mares.  So tempting, however, my income keeps me in check.  If I didn't board, this would be a more realistic endeavor.  Someday! 

In Pursuit of Knowledge

I am always interested in learning more about most things.  Not everything, mind you.  Sewing: not really.  Cooking: not high on the list.  Physics of riding: absolutely. 

So my veterinary clinic offered a free seminar tonight on emergency management.  The topper was that they were also catering dinner.  OK, sign me up.  I would have just come for the lecture!

The beginning of the lecture just went over basic vital signs for the horse and knowing what is normal for that particular horse.  We discussed what that practice felt was imperative to have in a veterinary first aid kit and two things I think many people don't have: stethoscope & some kind of clotting agent. 

Now, I do have a stethoscope, but I will admit, it is a really expensive one.  As in, holy buckets expensive and I think I would cry if I left it at the barn, but I suppose there is little reason not to invest in a $20 one to leave with my emergency equipment.  In addition, people should be used to listening to the horse's gut sounds and know what sounds normal for that horse.

The clotting agent I never particularly thought about.  My husband was in the military and I remember him bringing it up one or twice, but I finally realized that yes, horses are stupid and it may indeed be advantageous to have something on hand.

So if you are interested, this vet suggested getting either the sponge or the gauze form of QuikClot.  There are also granule forms, but if he said that if granules are placed in a wound that it is typically hard to remove and cannot be sutured later.

The other major thing that stuck with me tonight is the discussion on how to safely work with a horse that is down, whether injured, cast, stuck on ice, arthritic, or even foaling.  Feet matter.  Probably shouldn't be standing on the side with the feet, wrapping anything around the feet which would involve putting one's very expensive head down near the feet to handle, or basically anything to do with the feet side of the horse.

He also impressed on that standing directly in front of the horse's head while down seems to be a natural thing, however, when that horse gets up, they can often run driven by flight or flight and then that person standing there has just been mowed down in a spectacular fashion.

So there you go.  Just quick commentary tonight on a lecture I heard tonight.  There was obviously more of course, but in between eating chips who knows what else I actually retained.  ;)

In Memory of the War Horses

It is Memorial Day here in the United States.

It is supposed to be a holiday in remembrance of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.

I wanted to draw attention to another major factor in many of our conflicts: the horse.  Millions perished in the world wars.  Very few returned home.

More than a million perished in the civil war.

These horses were quite incredible.  Some like Sgt Reckless, worked against common equine nature.  Sgt Reckless, in the heat of battle, would faithfully carry munitions to her troops in Korea unescorted.  

Look back on our struggle for freedom,
Trace our present day's strength to its source;
And you'll find that man's pathway to glory
Is strewn with the bones of a horse.
Anonymous 

Thank you to our "dumb beasts" that history has often forgotten. 

A Brush with the Law

The other day was a beautiful day weather-wise. 

Sunshine, green grass, and a mare that had some time off since my work hours were a little insane this past week.

 A couple fellow boarders offered to wait for me to join their trail ride, so I quickly saddled the SFM and joined the ride.  SFM did quite well and had no real issues.  She seemed to enjoy the company of both of the other horses.

However, as we were finishing the loop around the property, I saw a Sheriff squad car up on the barn property.  He slowly came back down the drive and stopped by where we were on the bridlepath.  He asked for me specifically and I was pretty anxious.

My husband had just left the barn on his motorcycle a short time before and my first instinct was that there had been some sort of accident.  However, as I spoke with the deputy it soon became clear.

My phone, which was left in the aisle at the barn, had dialed 911.  How it had dialed 911, I am not sure.  There was no one else near the phone, so unless one of the cats was sitting on it and triggered the distress call, I have no clue.  Better yet, the barn has almost zero reception, so I am even more surprised when a call made it out.

The emergency response center called back and of course, hit voicemail, so the sheriff department will send out a squad to investigate.

So my quiet little trail ride, ended up being an opportunity to meet with one of our finest.

Oh dear.

Note to self: leave phone in the car instead.  Actually, I think I should just invest in one of the little cell phone armbands.  Perhaps after I get my phone checked out as I am wondering if this little adventure was another sign of the software/hardware glitching.