An award

I have been given the Honest Scrap Award from Kate at A Year With Horses

If you receive this award, you are to credit the person who bestowed it, give it to 10 other blogs (let them know) and tell your readers 10 things about yourself that they don't know. The award is supposed to go to blogs that speak honestly, from the heart.

Now for 10 things about me (Jack):

1. I love my treat tub. Now that may not sound surprising but in the summer besides our vitamins and minerals the DOR gives us a bit of garlic and apple cider vinegar in out treats. The other horses don't really like treats like that, but I gobble mine right up and try to steal the rest of the treats (the DOR won't let me because too much garlic can cause anemia in some horses).

2. In my past I was used as a heeling horse...cows feared me. Now I am learning to sort cows.

3. I don't like baths but I love to stand in the sprinklers. I love to roll in the dirt after I get wet, great way to deter bugs.

4. I have my DOR trained to give me a kiss when she first sees me. She also says this joke about me to people "Jack is a pigeon toed, cow hocked, Roman nosed, mutton withered, flat backed, jar headed appy and I love him because he is absolutely perfect" She smiles the entire time she says it, she loves me to bits and it is an inside joke.

5. I love apricots! I love apples! I love carrots! I love corn husks! I love horse biscuits! I love peppermints! Heck I just love to eat!!

6. I can tell the difference between the crinkle of a grocery sack in the DOR's pocket and the cello wrapper of a peppermint. The direction I run is determined by which thing is making the crinkling sound.

7. I love being an Uncle...it is fun to get to play with the baby. I will even share my treats on occasion.

8. I think there is nothing better than a good massage...well extra treats might come close.

9. No matter how hard I try to just saunter over to the DOR when she comes to see me I always end up running. I get so happy when she is around, I want to follow her every where.

10. My job is to keep the DOR centered, honest with herself, and happy. I work very hard at it. I am getting better at my job with each passing day.

Now you know a bit more about me.

Now for passing the award on, I am picking the awardees this time...the DOR is a bit stumped, she hates just picking a few blogs:

1. Pony Girl Rides Again
2. For the love of a horse
3. grannies ramblings
4. Baba Yaga's Mirror
5. I is Roxie!
6. Meandering with Marilyn
7. There is a Horse In My Bubblebath
8. The Thoughtful Horse
9. jessesdesertrose
10. Leah Fry- Barn Door Tagz

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Here's your sign

As promised here is the evening report on how my signage worked.
Here I am wearing my treats here arrow, a subtle hint for the DOR. How did it work you ask....well take a look.




















In addition to my regular treats I got a bunch of carrots and a few peppermints.














Doesn't that look tasty!
I wonder if I put hand prints on my rear if I can get more butt massages?
Enjoy your evening and don't forget to hug your DOR

Horse signage

This is one of the horses that was pulling wagons at the wedding on Friday. I so want a marking on my head like this. His arrow points straight to his mouth...sort of an insert treats here sign.
I think I will try one out and see what happens.

How do you think it looks? I wonder if the DOR will get the hint. I will let you know how it goes this evening.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Quote for the week

They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
~Mark Rashid
This is the DOR and I when I first joined her family. The DOR has a lot of horse experience, but she never acts like a know-it-all. The other thing that she does is makes sure that all of her horses knows how much she cares. She tells each one of that everyday. She makes sure that she touches each one of us and assures us we are each very special. Now that may sound darn silly, but it makes a world of difference to us. By making it clear to each of us that she cares we find ourselves wanting to be with her, wanting to do what she asks, and wanting to let her know that we care in return.
I don't care how much the DOR knows, and rumor has it that she knows a lot of stuff, I just want to know that she cares for me. The fact that she cares for me means she will protect me, take care of me, and always look out for my best interests. That is important because that makes me feel secure and confident, which in turn results in me trying my heart out for her.
We horses are pretty forgiving critters, good thing for humans that we are. We can forgive mistakes made by humans who are learning, but asking us to forgive the fact that our human does not care is just more than we can keep doing. So spend some time with your horse just letting it know you care, you could always just sit in the pasture and read a book....we are working on the Tao of Equus.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Freedom speaks Saturday-family

Good morning everyone!
The DOR and the Support Crew Chief went to a wedding yesterday. The guests were taken to a meadow in horse drawn wagons. The wedding was wonderful and everyone was so happy. Two people becoming a family, bringing two families together and everyone celebrating.
Hmmm, makes this old guy a bit reminiscent about all of his families. You see herds are our families and they are as important to us as they are to humans, for some reason many humans do not seem to notice that.
When one of my family goes out we call to it, we miss it, and when it returns we celebrate. When we add a member we get to know them and give them a spot in our family. When we loose a member we feel the loss and mourn.
Just like all families there are different dynamics. In my family Shandi likes Jack and I, she avoids Salty because he isn't smitten with her. Salty and I are best buddies and spend most of our day together. Jack's best friend was Harley, when Harley passed away Jack moped around for a week...we all missed Harely, but Jack took it the worst.
Then there are the families that have been together for a long time or really need each other. Hank and Scooby are an example of that. Scooby depends on Hank's eyes and butt to be able to "see" and Hank depends on Scooby for confidence. Those two horses need to spend the rest of their lives together. You know horses like this too, ones that people joke are old married couples...well in a way they are.
The DOR thinks that horses who have reached their 20's and have been together should not be forced to live apart, unless there is nothing else that can be done. I agree...I keep seeing old horses for sale and wonder what happened to their family, will they be too lonely to do well when they move, can't they be together? Yes we do adjust, just like humans can, but we would rightly appreciate it if humans would recognize that we form "families", have loved ones, and relationships are important to us too. Think about those things when you move us around, it would make things easier on our hearts...thank you.
I want to wish the DOR's friends a wonderful future, may they be together in human years as long as I have been alive in horse years. May they always find joy, never be separated from their herd for too long, and may their always be a celebration when they return home. May they find the truth that I have found after all of these years....LIFE IS SO GOOD
Life is so good! Oh and Jack told me to remember to say: Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Skywatch Friday No. 50

We drive by this flag every day on the way to the ranch. Yesterday was windy and the flag was waving. I really enjoy watching the flag on windy days, there is something majestic about a waving flag.





















Please go visit the other great Skywatch participants at Skywacth Friday There are wonderful photos from all around the world!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

TJ needs a home

Hi, I would like to introduce you to a horse that is being fostered by Rodeo City Equine Rescue in Ellensburg, WA.
TJ is a 12 year old Quarab gelding, about 15.1 hands, that is nicely broke, but not ridden in the past two years, currently receiving a tune-up. He has the possibility of becoming a 4-H horse, but is herd bound & has some trailering issues. TJ does load okay, but is nervous while being hauled. He is current on his health care. Adoption application and fees required, adoption fee $350
Isn't he as cute as a button? His mane reminds me of my own, that makes him a keeper in my book. Somewhere out there is TJ's forever home...let's help him find it. Please visit Rodeo City Equine Rescue to see TJ and other horses who need homes. This is a great rescue and they are honest in their representation of the hoses they list which makes it really nice to deal with them.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Less words Wednesday

My nemesis...nuff said.


















Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR...even if they have a bag

Crowhopping

The DOR has no video of me when I am crow hopping, but she found one that shows what I do. Here is a link to another video that is probably closer to what I look like when I do my jumping car imitation.
I am not doing it to be bad, I just get so excited that I don't know what to do with all of that energy and it squeaks out. I am very good and stop as soon as the DOR tells me, but the truth is I really just want to hit the gas and run as fast as I can.
The DOR has been working with me at liberty in the round pen and that is fun. She will let me run as fast as I want, both directions, for a bit. I am pretty fast and it is fun to get to rip it up! I have to learn to collect myself and control my feet without a rider before I can canter well with a rider on. I just get so darn excited I forget to pay attention to what I am doing with my feet-I look like Scooby Doo when he is trying to skedaddle.
I do get a bit upset in the round pen because the baby can't come with me. She stands at the fence and screams for me, that makes me upset a bit. If the baby starts running and bucking I will do the same...then I get in a bit of trouble. The DOR says she doesn't care what the baby is doing, I have to pay attention and behave-wll imagine that.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Mooooove Cows

The DOR and I went to a cow clinic on Friday evening. The DOR was still running a bit of a fever and coughing, but she couldn't stand not riding....so off we went.
This little cow was trying to get Mr. Weidenbach to save him from the spotted appy that was following him around. I was relentless in my pursuit and got him in the corner where he was supposed to be.








My sister went along too. Between the two of us we had those cows shaking in their hooves. I was so excited that every once in a while I did my jumping car imitation because I wanted to really get after those cows. I finally figured out that slow and steady worked out better that fast and furious.










This picture was taken by the DOR while she was riding me, see how nice and still I am standing.














Here I am concentrating on my job. I was watching the cow and listening to the DOR at the same time...I am very talented.












This is a very short video clip, the DOR had to get ready for the cow heading our way.
I had a great time. Every time they traded groups of cows I got happy, I would nicker at the new cows and wade right in. The DOR would pick the cow she wanted me to cut out from the group and I would get it every time. If the cow wouldn't move I would shove it with my nose, I know better than to bite them because that would be mean. I was also very good at making the cow move to the different areas of the arena and turning it when I was supposed to do so. There were 10 horses, ropes flying, some horses bucking and running, pigeons flying around, and the wind rattling the arena, all that and I was a cool as a cucumber. This trust thing is working out very good. I even side-passed over to the arena rail, loaded with buggers, and let the DOR get her camera that was hanging there. I have never done that before, I don't like getting squeezed up by the rail, but I was on my best behavior for the DOR because I want to play with the cows again soon.
There was one cow who started bawling when it got roped, it scared a bunch of the horses, not me I just went over and sniffed it. I really like this cow working stuff...here is hoping the DOR takes me again soon!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Quote for the week

Trust in your horse when he deserves it
-Bill Basham (said to the DOR at a clinic)

When the DOR first heard this her first thought was "Great, how do I know when he deserves it?" She wanted a concrete answer for a question that could only be answered through a feeling. It took her a few days to figure out what Bill was telling her...well actually I think she is still trying to come up with a good working understanding.
The picture is of me headed out on the trail after the tumbleweed twister event. On that day she placed her trust in me without hesitation, it was do or die time and she knew that I was up to the job. What the DOR has come to discover is that I always deserve to be trusted unless my behavior is showing her something else (like the way I was acting before I bucked her off). By thinking about whether she can trust me or not she is sending me a message that she doesn't trust me, her faith in me is lacking. Well how would she feel if I didn't trust her all of the time? Wouldn't feel very good if I was always looking at her sideways waiting for her to mess up. The DOR needs me to trust her, she needs me to believe that she will never ask me to do something that I can't do or that isn't safe. Sometimes I question her, after all she is getting old and going through menopause-both circumstances that can cloud clear thinking-but I do trust her. Trust really is a two way street, it is needed on both sides to have a good relationship.
Trusting your horse is important to our emotional well being. When humans trust us we feel more confident, we feel empowered to do what we are being asked to do.
So trust in your horse when he deserves it and that is all the time, unless our behavior shows you different.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Freedom speaks Saturday- the leader of the pack

At the place we live horses are pastured in various sized herds, this is our"family". Like most families there is a boss. In most herds you can watch for a bit and tell who the boss is...well my little band of merry horses is a bit different. Our pasture has three geldings and one little filly in it. That in itself is unusual, you see we don't do any feuding over that little filly. We all are her favorite depending on what is going on and we are okay with that. But I am pigeon walking a bit, we are talking about who the boss is.
Well first of all we have to decide what a boss is. Is it the horse that bosses every one around with an iron hoof and jaws of steel? Nope, that is just a bully and no horse really likes them. We don't have one of those in our pasture.
Is it the horse that gets every one to playing around with their antics? Nope that is the pasture clown and as you can figure out that is Jack's job.
Is it the horse that all the other horses defer to when it comes over to eat or drink? It could be...in our pasture that horse is Salty.
The DOR has been watching us over the past year, really trying to figure out who the boss is. She has wondered if it has to do with the day or the situation. She thinks she has figured it out finally. I could have saved her a whole bunch of cogitating if she would have just followed me around sooner. I am the boss! Yep this old guy still rules the roost, I just do it differently than what she is used to seeing.
I have learned not to hassle over every little thing. If it isn't going to matter in 25 years it probably isn't that big of a deal now. So if one of the horses wants to share my food and I am not starving I let them. You see once they get busy eating I can just go right back to munching away and after I drool on them a bit they usually leave.
I don't have to shake my head, pin my ears, kick or bit to get horses to move. I am a bit like a sherman tank, I set my eye on where I want to go and just start walking...you can either move or get run over-the choice is yours.
I don't go running across the pasture if something startles me. I trot off a few paces and then turn to check things out. This is how you figure out what is dangerous and what is safe.
I am the horse that all the other horses turn to if they are uneasy about something. It isn't wisdom that comes with age that makes them look to me, it is just my attitude. The DOR says I am what the old man from Mark Rashid's books would be if he was a horse...whatever, I am just doin what I do. I am the "invisible boss", most people wouldn't realize that I am in charge unless they really dedicated some time to figuring out who runs our little pasture. At first glance most people would think it is Salty, he would like to think he is the boss but he is just snarky.
I don't mind being the leader, it gives me something to do. Some days the two young twerps tire me out, so I camp out with Salty under the trees. Well I have to go teach the little filly a few manners, she is getting a bit pushy wth Jack.
Why don't you guys write in to tell us about your herd leader...it will be fun to read about.
Life is so good! Oh and Jack told me to remember to say: Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Skywatch Friday No. 49

Happy Skywatch Friday....well actually at the ranch it is "bagwatch Friday". The DOR had the deadman bag out, dragging it around the pasture. She is sure one of these days it won't send me over the moon, well alrighty then she is the eternal optimist isn't she.
None of us wanted to touch it, who knows what would happen if we did? I finally reached out and tapped it with my nose...I had to show her that Uncle Jack is a big brave appy.



Okay, the truth is that when I first saw the bag I shoved Shandi out front. My plan was to make the bag think that Shandi would be an easy target. I was then ready to attack the bag at a moments notice to defend my niece if needed, but it wasn't needed because the bag could see me and was terrified!


Please go visit the other great Skywatch participants at Skywacth Friday There are wonderful photos from all around the world!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

My niece Shandi

All photos are used with the permission of Sunny Acres Ranch.
This is my niece Shandi. Well she isn't really my niece, she just decided to hang out with us geldings and we love her to bits.













Shandi and I share the same birthdate, so I think that makes her pretty special.















She is absolutely beautiful!
















Look at her fancy face!



















Shandi is a gorgeous, sweet AQHA filly - (papers pending). Her sire is Smokin Lynx Olena, and her dam has Sir Quincy Dan and Sir Quincy Bob on her papers. Shandi has a great mind, loves people, comes to you to be caught and haltered, leads well, and stands for hoof trimming. She is a dark grulla color with a dorsal stripe, darling baby doll head, nice shoulder, and huge hip. This filly will grow up to be a quality mare that you can do anything with. Her dam has been a roping horse, rode trails, and has had children ride her. She passed on her great attitude and people pleasing nature to Shandi. Adoption fee: $500

We would love to have Shandi find a DOR of her very own. If you are interested in Shandi contact Shelly at Sunny Acres Ranch
You can also look at more horses looking for DOR's at Sunny Acres Ranch Message Board
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Less words Wednesday

Here we are DOR watching. We tried to act like nothing was going on and that we really weren't watching her. We were trying to imitate her doing one of her favorite things...watching the herd.



































Then Salty, Freedom, and I couldn't stand it anymore and we went DOR snooping. We were going to mug her for treats, we got some.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Ick

Yesterday afternoon the DOR was told by the Dr. that she has a cute bronchitis. I think he is mistaken, she has a ugly bronchitis because there is nothing cute about it. In fact it is so ugly I am not sure she should be near me...it is going to take away from my blingness.
Her eyes are running, she is sneezing (which makes me jump), coughing, Kleenex every where, and sounds like she has been breathing too much dust. She can hardly talk. That is a bonus because she can't yell at me if I am naughty...but she still has that mean look she can give that makes you fear for your life, so that is enough.
Her Dr. gave her some cough medicine with codeine in it, so she is a bit goofy and can't drive. That also means she can't ride either. Oh darn more vacation time for me...I am soooo sick of just hanging around the pasture eating-NOT!
Rumor has it she should be feeling much better after a couple of days on her meds. The DOR has a list of things we are going to do once she is better. Well I have a list of my own too... Maybe we can compromise and do a few things off of each list, that would be fair. The truth is I miss getting to play in the arena, it is always fun to see what new things the DOR comes up with.
So DOR stay home, take your meds and get better soon.
By the way those of you who think my niece Shandi is delightful, I am going to make a post on Thursday just about her. She is available for adoption at Sunny Acres Ranch, though I would miss her it would be nice for her to have a DOR of her very own.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Kreativ Blogger award

I would like to thank Amanda at Amanda's Veranda for this award. I am so honored, Amanda has become a very special person in my life. We get together once in a while and I think she is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. Amanda is a true southern lady; she is courageous, honest, supportive, and knows the value of friendship. She is a true blessing to everyone who is fortunate enough to have her in their life. I love the photos she takes and always check in at her blog to see what her camera caught while they were venturing out.


Here are the 7 STEPS of this award:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers .
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the seven blogs letting them know they have been nominated

Now for 7 thing that people might find interesting about me.

1. I love to read, it is not unusual for me to read 5 books a week.

2. When I was looking to get a new horse when Scooby went blind Jack was not the type of horse I was looking for. My friend took me by to see him on our way to look at another horse I was thinking of buying...it was love at first touch. Jack stole my heart and I feel so happy every time I see him.

3. I have become comfortable with being 50 and plan to live the rest of my life with joy. I am going to be a bit selfish and not feel bad about it.

4. In high school I was the kid that hid under the desk if they were called on in class, I was terminally shy.

5. I wouldn't change a thing in my past. I have learned that the good and bad are what helped me become the person who I am. I have learned to be comfortable in my own skin and wouldn't change a thing.

6. There is a part of me that wished all of my kids would move into houses on the same block as me. That way we could spend lots of time together. I have great kids and would love to see them everyday. Yep, that is the very thing I have teased my dad about, he wishes we would all move home too. My oldest son is raising his little girl. My daughter is raising a little boy and has a great guy in her life. My youngest is starting high school next year and is becoming a fine young man.

7. My husband is one of the finest people you will ever meet. We were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. Bryce moved and we lost track of each other for a bit, then I hunted him up. He was the guy my parents kept telling me "What ever happened to Bryce, you should have married him." Turns out my parents were right. Bryce helps me be a better person, supports me in my obsessions/hobbies (horses), never has a harsh word, and is rock steady. He is a true blessing in my life.

Now for seven blogs, this is going to be the hard part because there are so many fine ones out there:

1. Desert Horses a wonderful blog about 2 mustangs and 2 rescued horses. Very creative and heart warming.

2. Copper Pony's Cowgirl a woman and her love for a special horse. You can follow her and the rest of the pony cousins.

3. Bush Babe one of Australia's talented photographers shares life "down under", a must read.

4. One Cowgirl she is living the life I can only dream of...I am envious.

5. Tiny House Blog I love this blog. One day I will have a tiny house on twenty acres in the woods, then life will be complete.

6. Grey Horse Matters another voice of love for older horses and us older riders

7. Coming Out Of The Candy Store as a person who lives with diabetes I find this blog informative and insperational.

To all the wonderful creative blogs I have had the pleasure to meet while surfing, my apologies for having to only select 7
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Quote for the week

If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time...
But if you have come because your liberation is bound with mine, then let us work together.
-Anonymous aboriginal woman in the Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov

The partnership between the horse and human needs to be based on justice and equity. The horse may need help, but more often than not is is the relationship between the horse and human that needs help-not just the horse. The mind of the horse and rider need to become one, then true liberation in the relationship can be found.
The DOR has found when she works with me with a mindset that together she and I will find the right spot to learn and develop a deeper understanding what we can accomplish is almost magical. There is a connection that boarders on being mystical, it seems that for a moment together we are one. When she works with me with the intention of helping me, that things with her are perfect and she is going to "show me how to fix things", things get tight and go a bit sideways. I am not saying that humans shouldn't help their horse by setting up things to work for them, but what we really need is to have things set up for us to be liberated to do the right thing-that way we remember the things we learned better too. By striving for liberation for both of us the DOR builds a partnership based on justice and equity with me, not a relationship based on me being her "servant".
Liberation for both of us while we are together is what the DOR strives to achieve whenever we are together. Pretty soon we will work together with one mind....I just hope it is mine because with the DOR getting older her mind isn't as sharp as it used to be.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Freedom speaks Saturday-tying your horse

Here is Jack tied up at the end of a lesson. The DOR often hitches him to the thinking post at the end of a lesson so he can cogitate on what they did, it is never for very long and she is always close by. If you ask me Jack could spend a lot of time cogitating and less time goofing around with the little filly, he is a bad influence on her with his always wanting to play. The DOR also hitches him up after a ride, that way he doesn't think that once the work is over he can rush right back to his buddies in the pasture. Now I think that both of these reasons for hitching a horse up and leaving it that way for a bit is just fine, but I do have an issue with some people who tie up their horses.
I don't think you should tie a horse up with a rope that is so long they can wander around and get tangled up...that is just asking for trouble. Why would a horse need to be tied to a tree or a post all day? When I see this I get riled up...I think the owner should be tied up for a day with no food or water. The other thing that I see is a horse saddled up with the reins snugged up to the saddle fenders left out in the pasture. Now I have heard a few owners claim this is a training technique, but that is a load of cow poop if you ask me and it is dangerous too.
So if you are going to tie up your horse do it safely, for the right reasons, and for a reasonable amount of time...us horses would be ever so grateful for your respect in this matter.
Life is so good! Oh and Jack told me to remember to say: Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Skywatch Friday No. 48

This is the sun going down in our back yard.

















Then we got to enjoy a full moon for the evening. The bottom edge is covered with clouds.





Please go visit the other great Skywatch participants at Skywacth Friday There are wonderful photos from all around the world!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Treat tub merry-go-round

See this pretty little face...a face that could steal a thousand treat tubs, or at least try.
We boys all stick to our tubs and lick them clean. Shandi eats hers as fast as she can and then tries to beg off of Uncles and Gampers.














Grampers (Freedom) and Shandi start out side-by-side eating their treats.












Salty and I hang out, well at least until one of us is done. Then the one that is finished heads of to mooch off of the other one-neither one of us will share. Salty will actually pin his ears at me when I try to share, that is okay I just swing my big spotted butt towards him if he starts heading my way.





Freedom gets his soaked treat all over his face.
The little filly will come over and clean his face for him once he is done with his tub, go figure Shandi really loves her treats and Grampers.








Here is Shandi trying to steal a tub from me, I guess I should give it back it was her tub to start with, but hey she walked away from it to play kissy face with Freedom. The little twerp only left me some slobber in the bottom of the tub, is that any way to treat her favorite uncle?
Well at least the DOR shares her treats with me, as long as they are good for horses. My favorites are the granola bars she likes to eat.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Edited to ad:
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. The Cow Wrangler had dye shot into his heart yesterday evening, there is no blockage. He has a nerve that is misfiring and causing this trouble. He will head to a specialist soon to have that fixed. The Cow Wrangler is not the DORs husband, that is the Support Crew Chief. The Cow Wrangler grew up at the ranch where we live and still lives there. His situation is serious, but treatable.