Happy 2014 - Chinese "Year of the Horse"

Here at Just Horsing Around, every year is the "Year of the Horse".

2013 was a memorable year of horses for us; with highlights ranging from galloping alongside a group of giraffe on a 5 day horseback safari in Botswana, to helping Dollar become a reliable riding companion. Life doesn't get much better. Although our riding season got off to a late start due to all the rainy weather; Gord and I enjoyed some wonderful mountain rides, and rides around the "hood", with our good friends.

A big thanks to Henry and Brenda Fehr - owners of Dare 2 Dream horse rescue for their generous support of my work with their volunteers. It has been a true blessing to help well intentioned beginners with their journey toward great horsepersonship!

I am constantly rewarded with the truly caring students who come through our barn door to participate in our courses. I appreciate their desire to be the best horseperson they can for the pure joy of developing trusting, safe relationships with horses.

As for the "boys" - it has been a tremendous year for them as well. When Dexter got injured slipping up a steep river bank in the mountains, Skeeter became my "go to" horse. His personality makes him the most challenging of all our horses, but you couldn't ask for a better mountain horse. He is also the horse we loan to friends who want to come with us. I fell in love with Skeeter all over again this past year and he reminded me why we bought him in the first place.

My wonderful old appy "Jack" has never looked better. Last year we struggled to keep weight on him and the vet confirmed why when we had his teeth checked last spring. We were all shocked at the mess we saw in just one year and our vet even asked if we had absolute verification of his age (which we do). Our vet suggested we give him a good summer and humanely put him down in the fall as he was no longer processing his food properly; and that could lead to colic. Over the summer Jack thrived on grass pasture and was back to his old self. Thanks to the loving care of Lisa, a friend who leases Jack, she researched feeding options and we decided to give it a try. Starting in early fall, we starting giving Jack, what we call, his pablum twice a day; A combination of Step 6, beet pulp, and senior horse crunch, soaked for at least 12 hours. Jack makes it very easy for us to help him. Once I've put out the feed bags for the other 6 horses, Jack always follows me back to the barn for his "special" meal. It is almost as though he knows hay is no longer good for him.

Dexter - what can I say - I LOVE THIS HORSE! Jen, one of my favourite students, thought so highly of her experience with Dexter, she strongly felt his registration papers needed to be on our wall of fame, with the other boys. She spent a couple of hours researching online to find the registered breeder, and after two long years, I received Dexter's registration papers; indicating me as his registered owner. Folks often say you can't ride the papers and I agree, papers aren't everything; but I must admit there is a certain pride having my name officially attached to such a wonderful horse.

My baby Navar is just the sweetest horse ever - so sweet he makes your teeth hurt. When I bought Navar as a yearling, I met both his dam and sire. The dam was 16.1 and the sire was 15.3 so I was convinced that he would be at least 15 hh. However, we have been marking his growth progress on a window jamb. To date he is 14 1 1/2 - just under official "horse" size. Since it is the year of the horse, I have complete faith that he will make it to 14.2 hh. Initially I was disappointed that he wouldn't be bigger however, as I get older, I'm thinking 14.2 will be just about perfect.

Dollar seems to have found his perfect person with Michelle and as long as she thinks a horse will fit into her busy life, I couldn't be happier.

Magic is his same old perfect self and Gord is happy having only one perfect horse.

As for me - having only one horse would be the same as having only one pair of boots/shoes. I like the choice of sneakers for comfy, lazy days and red high heels for racy, exciting days.

I hope to hear about your successes and wonderful updates or if you are stuck, I look forward to helping you progress with your horse.

Happy Year of the Horse!

Tovie, Gord and the "Boys"