Monday, July 2, 2012
Cattle Sorting at the Silver Spade Ranch
This past Friday, Lorenzo and I tacked up Drifty and Irish, loaded them to the horse trailer, and headed to the Silver Spade Ranch just outside Banks, Oregon, for a cattle working clinic.
The goal was to expose our horses to herd work in a safe learning environment. Like most outings, there were other lessons, too.
As Silver Spade proprieter Nick Donohue was reviewing the clinic format, the cattle were brought into the arena. Behind the horses. Irish wheeled and commenced to bucking -- big, rolling motions that met my heavy handed corrections.
Nick hollered directions as riders and horses scrambled to get out of Irish's and my way. It wasn't pretty. At the end of my gelding's fit, I grinned at all the other riders and asked, "Who would like to be on my team?" No one volunteered.
To his credit, Nick recognized my nerves and worked to help ease them and my worries. He also set up several positive cattle encounters for Irish, laying an excellent foundation.
The biggest breakthrough came when Nick suggested that I work with his partner in crime, Jessie Donohue. It didn't take long for Jessie to size both me and Irish up. She pointed out some things I could do better and gave me an exercise created by master horseman Buck Brannaman, an exercise designed to get a horse's mind focused on the work at hand. I turned Irish's neck and head ninety degrees one way and did a quick shift in the other direction again and again and again until Irish was listening. It was simple, elegant, useful and brilliant.
Instead of trying to contain a thousand pound animal, I simply put Irish's energy to work. Best of all, the technique allowed me to ride through my gelding's nonsense without fear or anger or worry. If Irish misbehaved, we went directly to the exercise.
I'd like to say that Irish was angelic after our time with Jess, but it just isn't true. If Drifty and Lorenzo disappeared, my gelding screamed at the top of his lungs and began to egg beat and pranced. If the cattle were being moved, Irish balled up to buck.
"Turn him !" Jess hollered. "Now the other way! Again! Again! Again!"
And I did. Over and over and over and over.
Thank you, Nick and Jessie!
The goal was to expose our horses to herd work in a safe learning environment. Like most outings, there were other lessons, too.
As Silver Spade proprieter Nick Donohue was reviewing the clinic format, the cattle were brought into the arena. Behind the horses. Irish wheeled and commenced to bucking -- big, rolling motions that met my heavy handed corrections.
Nick hollered directions as riders and horses scrambled to get out of Irish's and my way. It wasn't pretty. At the end of my gelding's fit, I grinned at all the other riders and asked, "Who would like to be on my team?" No one volunteered.
To his credit, Nick recognized my nerves and worked to help ease them and my worries. He also set up several positive cattle encounters for Irish, laying an excellent foundation.
The biggest breakthrough came when Nick suggested that I work with his partner in crime, Jessie Donohue. It didn't take long for Jessie to size both me and Irish up. She pointed out some things I could do better and gave me an exercise created by master horseman Buck Brannaman, an exercise designed to get a horse's mind focused on the work at hand. I turned Irish's neck and head ninety degrees one way and did a quick shift in the other direction again and again and again until Irish was listening. It was simple, elegant, useful and brilliant.
Instead of trying to contain a thousand pound animal, I simply put Irish's energy to work. Best of all, the technique allowed me to ride through my gelding's nonsense without fear or anger or worry. If Irish misbehaved, we went directly to the exercise.
I'd like to say that Irish was angelic after our time with Jess, but it just isn't true. If Drifty and Lorenzo disappeared, my gelding screamed at the top of his lungs and began to egg beat and pranced. If the cattle were being moved, Irish balled up to buck.
"Turn him !" Jess hollered. "Now the other way! Again! Again! Again!"
And I did. Over and over and over and over.
Thank you, Nick and Jessie!
All Is Well, Thank Heavens!
It's Sunday night and all is well here at Sweetgrass.
This time last week, I was trotting my two plus year-old filly, Jetblue, up and down the asphalt drive. Earlier, when I'd gone to throw the p.m. hay, I noticed Jetblue kicking and nipping at her stomach, a sure sign of colic. It was a long, restless night; one that eventually turned out just fine, thank heavens!
Dr. Steve Vredenberg of Banks Veterinary Service suggested a couple of management changes that may help Jetblue. She's undergoing a week's worth of dietary psyllium therapy and she's also on a daily low dose wormer. So far -- knock on wood -- there's been no sign of colic.
Early Thursday morning, a coyote darted in front of my daughter, Rosie's, Honda. We're still not sure how the furry critter fared, but Rosie's car sustained some fairly major front end damage. Rosie was shaken, but thankfully not hurt. For now, the Honda is in the care of the capable, savvy hands of Kelly Meagher at All Terrain Auto Body.
Initially, we didn't realize that the Honda's radiator was cracked. It became a big concern later when one of our dogs, a cut little ten-pounder named Sprite, became incredibly ill. Since radiator fluid is a major cause of pet fatalities, we rushed Sprite to Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency. There, Dr. Shawn Thomas eliminated anti-freeze poisoning. He also provided some dietary recommendations to help mend Sprite's gastrointestinal system. As of this hour, my pup is happily snuggling with me.
Life is again quiet and good. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes.
This time last week, I was trotting my two plus year-old filly, Jetblue, up and down the asphalt drive. Earlier, when I'd gone to throw the p.m. hay, I noticed Jetblue kicking and nipping at her stomach, a sure sign of colic. It was a long, restless night; one that eventually turned out just fine, thank heavens!
Dr. Steve Vredenberg of Banks Veterinary Service suggested a couple of management changes that may help Jetblue. She's undergoing a week's worth of dietary psyllium therapy and she's also on a daily low dose wormer. So far -- knock on wood -- there's been no sign of colic.
Early Thursday morning, a coyote darted in front of my daughter, Rosie's, Honda. We're still not sure how the furry critter fared, but Rosie's car sustained some fairly major front end damage. Rosie was shaken, but thankfully not hurt. For now, the Honda is in the care of the capable, savvy hands of Kelly Meagher at All Terrain Auto Body.
Initially, we didn't realize that the Honda's radiator was cracked. It became a big concern later when one of our dogs, a cut little ten-pounder named Sprite, became incredibly ill. Since radiator fluid is a major cause of pet fatalities, we rushed Sprite to Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency. There, Dr. Shawn Thomas eliminated anti-freeze poisoning. He also provided some dietary recommendations to help mend Sprite's gastrointestinal system. As of this hour, my pup is happily snuggling with me.
Life is again quiet and good. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Back to the Business of Bee Removal -- HELP!
Tereza from Gaston wrote to ask if our attempt to remove a swarm of honey bees from our barn wall using a product called Bee Dun had worked. Honestly, it did not. As Paul Harvey would say, here's the rest of the story.
You may recall that we consulted with a couple of local bee keepers before drizzling Bee Dun, an all natural herbal product designed to encourage bees to leave the hive, into the wall where the swarm had taken up residence. At first, the Bee Dun appeared to be working.
Lots of bees came out of the wall, clustering on the barn exterior. Unfortunately, the queen wasn't among them. Day after day, I upped the dose of Bee Dun and after going through two bottles of the stuff, part of the swarm seemed to develop some sort of an immunity. Well, it was worth a try!
So, we are back to pondering how to remove the bees in our barn wall. Tereza, who is facing a similar situation, is considering a trap out.
Okay, all you bee aficionados... Tereza and I could really use your help. What is the best way to safely remove and preserve an unwanted honey bee swarm, one that's taken up residence inside a wall?
You may recall that we consulted with a couple of local bee keepers before drizzling Bee Dun, an all natural herbal product designed to encourage bees to leave the hive, into the wall where the swarm had taken up residence. At first, the Bee Dun appeared to be working.
Lots of bees came out of the wall, clustering on the barn exterior. Unfortunately, the queen wasn't among them. Day after day, I upped the dose of Bee Dun and after going through two bottles of the stuff, part of the swarm seemed to develop some sort of an immunity. Well, it was worth a try!
So, we are back to pondering how to remove the bees in our barn wall. Tereza, who is facing a similar situation, is considering a trap out.
Okay, all you bee aficionados... Tereza and I could really use your help. What is the best way to safely remove and preserve an unwanted honey bee swarm, one that's taken up residence inside a wall?
Coyote Days, Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency
Why is it that coyote sightings always seem to foreshadow trouble here at the ranch? Early yesterday morning, one of the furry predators darted out in front of my daughter, Rosie's, Honda. She barely had time to react.
Thankfully, my daughter is okay. Unfortunately, her car sustained heavy damage -- the front bumper is shattered and the radiator is cracked. We're not sure how the coyote faired, but looking at the damage, it wasn't good.
The whole drama played out not far from home and Rosie was understandably shaken. So, she turned her car around and came back to tell us what had transpired.
At the time, we didn't know her car's radiator was cracked, didn't think twice about letting the dogs free range for their morning constitutional. As usual, the dogs and I headed to the barn to do chores and Rosie headed to work.
Sprite, my ten pound Miniature Pinscher/Rat Terrier pup, started throwing up mid-afternoon -- a terrible series vomit which lasted about an hour or so and left Sprite disoriented and spent. By dinnertime, my tiny pooch seemed a little better, but something was clearly not right.
Rosie's friend, Greg Johnson, came by to survey the damage to the Honda and was quick to point out the broken radiator. Hearing this my husband put two and two together and voiced concern about Sprite possbily ingesting the toxic coolant that had leaked from Rosie's car.
Radiator fluid kills a lot of animals who accidentally lap up the sweet smelling liquid, so I rushed Sprite to Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency clinic. There, Sprite was tested for ethylene glycol poisoning. Thankfully, the result was negative and Dr. Shawn Thomas administered an anti-emetic and some fluids to help hydrate my little dog. He also advised a slow return to bland foods.
Sprite was lucky. Because we were slow to discover the damaged and leaking radiator, Sprite surely would have died had had she ingested the coolant. Time is of the essence with such poisons, a lesson I've learned.
This is my third encounter with Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency and each trip, I've been very impressed with the mega-talented doctors and staff. It's a huge blessing to have an animal urgent care clinic nearby.
Thankfully, my daughter is okay. Unfortunately, her car sustained heavy damage -- the front bumper is shattered and the radiator is cracked. We're not sure how the coyote faired, but looking at the damage, it wasn't good.
The whole drama played out not far from home and Rosie was understandably shaken. So, she turned her car around and came back to tell us what had transpired.
At the time, we didn't know her car's radiator was cracked, didn't think twice about letting the dogs free range for their morning constitutional. As usual, the dogs and I headed to the barn to do chores and Rosie headed to work.
Sprite, my ten pound Miniature Pinscher/Rat Terrier pup, started throwing up mid-afternoon -- a terrible series vomit which lasted about an hour or so and left Sprite disoriented and spent. By dinnertime, my tiny pooch seemed a little better, but something was clearly not right.
Rosie's friend, Greg Johnson, came by to survey the damage to the Honda and was quick to point out the broken radiator. Hearing this my husband put two and two together and voiced concern about Sprite possbily ingesting the toxic coolant that had leaked from Rosie's car.
Radiator fluid kills a lot of animals who accidentally lap up the sweet smelling liquid, so I rushed Sprite to Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency clinic. There, Sprite was tested for ethylene glycol poisoning. Thankfully, the result was negative and Dr. Shawn Thomas administered an anti-emetic and some fluids to help hydrate my little dog. He also advised a slow return to bland foods.
Sprite was lucky. Because we were slow to discover the damaged and leaking radiator, Sprite surely would have died had had she ingested the coolant. Time is of the essence with such poisons, a lesson I've learned.
This is my third encounter with Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency and each trip, I've been very impressed with the mega-talented doctors and staff. It's a huge blessing to have an animal urgent care clinic nearby.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Finding Your Peace Place, Centering
Life poses some big challenges. When I am lost or unsettled, as I've been feeling lately, I inevitably wind up in my small vegetable garden. There, my troubles fade as I mark the rapid, almost boisterous growth of each plant.
My garden never seems to lose ground, never fails -- it's an explosion of activity and life, a reminder that everything, even the tough things, eventually work out.
Do you have a peace place, somewhere you go to get centered?
Do you have a peace place, somewhere you go to get centered?
Monday, June 25, 2012
Prayers for Jetblue
My two plus year-old blue roan filly, Jetblue, had another colic episode late last night. At the 10:30 p.m. hay feeding, I found her kicking at nipping at the right side of her abdomen, the same side that required major colic surgery back in January.
Thankfully, we were able to monitor Jetblue's gut sounds, get some pain medication into her, and trot her up and down the driveway for the better part of a half-hour. She eagerly chugged down two five gallon buckets of warm water and -- at around midnight -- produced one load of road apples.
At best, it was a sleepless night, with many checks on the filly. Please put Miss Jetblue in your prayers and while you're at it, me too! Our vet feels that Jetblue is suffering a motility issue. For now, I'm working hard to understand how Jetblue's diet can be tailored to optimize her health.
Thankfully, we were able to monitor Jetblue's gut sounds, get some pain medication into her, and trot her up and down the driveway for the better part of a half-hour. She eagerly chugged down two five gallon buckets of warm water and -- at around midnight -- produced one load of road apples.
At best, it was a sleepless night, with many checks on the filly. Please put Miss Jetblue in your prayers and while you're at it, me too! Our vet feels that Jetblue is suffering a motility issue. For now, I'm working hard to understand how Jetblue's diet can be tailored to optimize her health.
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