Things are ticking along here, back to all the usual day to day stuff - feeding animals, riding horses, working every so often and watching the grass to see how quickly it's growing. Ok so the latter is not a very exciting past time but it makes us money!
Took Oscar and his buddy Bert (along with Sarah) down to the PC arena today, got my key to it during the week so hopefully we will be getting down there lots over the summer. The boys were both great on the road and pretty cruisy once there as well. Oscar was a bit sore as he's still missing a front shoe, but have the farrier coming tomorrow so then there'll be no excuses! Well apart from his teeth - just need to organise the vet and we'll get him all fixed up. He is such a cruisy boy, and so willing to ride. We are going to visit the ribbon day at the PC on Sunday just for a look-see, although I can't imagine he'll be any different to normal. Then next Sunday I am going to attempt a dressage test on him at the Waitemata Riding Club dressage day. The aim for the day is just to get him going nice and relaxed, so am not really too worried about score (ok well maybe just a little... can't help being competitive!). Hopefully will have some pics to post after that.
We have a lesson on Tuesdsay and then our first ridden adult ride on Wednesday night so it's all go for the young man.
Hoping to sell some of the cattle soon too, we have five bigger ones - four steers and a heifer - and they are looking good so will get the stock agent up to have a look and see what he thinks. The bank account has been a bit of a one way street lately so will be good to have some money coming in for a change.
We brought darling Mera home on Wednesday and she is now buried under the tree beside the chicken run - a favourite snoozing spot of hers. Was really good to have a chance to say goodbye to her and I am glad she's back at home now. Sunny meanwhile has been loving the extra attention and the luxury of getting to sleep inside at night. If only he'd learn to catch mice....
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Home sweet home
Arrived home yesterday and it is so good to be back. Missed everyone and everything heaps, especially of course Ben :-) The sad news is that while I was away our darling cat Mera got hit by a car, and as a result had serious spinal injuries. Cats and spinal injuries are not a good combination, unlike dogs they just don't have a good chance of success following surgery, so this only really gave us one option and our wee girl was put to sleep on Tuesday.
She was a great mouser, a good bird catcher, didn't care much for cuddles (although did love a good scratch just in front of her tail) and loved to drink from the troughs - why use a bowl when there is a huuuuge trough just over there?! Some pics of her being the farm cat she loved being:
RIP darling Mera.
So it's a bit odd being back home and expecting to see her, but only seeing Sunny. He is being quite clingy and getting lots of cuddles which he's pretty happy about. He is currently snoozing on the patio with half an eye on a bird in the bamboo.
The ponies are all good and seem to have behaved themselves while I was away, although Choc's cover has disappeared off his back and no doubt is covered in his hoof prints somewhere in the paddock. Had a quick ride on Oscar today and having two weeks off hasn't exactly turned him into a wild pony, even with all the spring grass coming on. He was very cruisy and ploddy and we just had a little tootle around the driveway paddock. He is missing a shoe and quite stumbly so can't do a heap with him just yet, plus his teeth are pretty awful so will get those two things done and then it's work time for the wee man.
The pigs and Harry the calf have grown noticeably too - especially the pigs. They look huge now and have appetites to match. They have a date with the homekill man in early-mid December so it's good to see them really growing now.
Here are some pics from last weekend at the team roping competition they had at the school property on Sunday. Pretty impressive work by them all, but man some of those horses got pretty hot when they were getting ready to run. Must love what they do but you need to have your wits about you!
She was a great mouser, a good bird catcher, didn't care much for cuddles (although did love a good scratch just in front of her tail) and loved to drink from the troughs - why use a bowl when there is a huuuuge trough just over there?! Some pics of her being the farm cat she loved being:
RIP darling Mera.So it's a bit odd being back home and expecting to see her, but only seeing Sunny. He is being quite clingy and getting lots of cuddles which he's pretty happy about. He is currently snoozing on the patio with half an eye on a bird in the bamboo.
The ponies are all good and seem to have behaved themselves while I was away, although Choc's cover has disappeared off his back and no doubt is covered in his hoof prints somewhere in the paddock. Had a quick ride on Oscar today and having two weeks off hasn't exactly turned him into a wild pony, even with all the spring grass coming on. He was very cruisy and ploddy and we just had a little tootle around the driveway paddock. He is missing a shoe and quite stumbly so can't do a heap with him just yet, plus his teeth are pretty awful so will get those two things done and then it's work time for the wee man.
The pigs and Harry the calf have grown noticeably too - especially the pigs. They look huge now and have appetites to match. They have a date with the homekill man in early-mid December so it's good to see them really growing now.
Here are some pics from last weekend at the team roping competition they had at the school property on Sunday. Pretty impressive work by them all, but man some of those horses got pretty hot when they were getting ready to run. Must love what they do but you need to have your wits about you!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Gunnedah - koala capital of the world
Yes I am fortunate enough to be in the koala capital of the world for two weeks. Have not seen a single one since being here, however perhaps they don't want to overwhelm visitors. Halfway through two weeks of dentistry school and its going well so far. Warmer than last time I was here in June when I had to go out and buy gloves and extra clothes to keep warm.
This first week of school we have just been working on skulls, which is different to last time I was here but has meant I've had a great chance to play with my new long burr (power equipment for getting right up to the back molars). I love it.... such a great piece of equipment. Next week, more lectures and working on live horses.
Have the weekend off, and there is bugger all to do here (no surprises) so will probably just take it easy, do some washing etc. There is a roping competition on at the property the school is on, on Sunday so will head out and watch that. Something to do!
Missing all the animals big time, but Ben has been keeping me up to date and have spoken to him most days which is great.
Not a lot else to report, and no photos unfortunately (probably not great to put pics of horse skulls on here anyway!) but will take some at the roping tomorrow and post them when I'm back in the non-koala capital of the world.
This first week of school we have just been working on skulls, which is different to last time I was here but has meant I've had a great chance to play with my new long burr (power equipment for getting right up to the back molars). I love it.... such a great piece of equipment. Next week, more lectures and working on live horses.
Have the weekend off, and there is bugger all to do here (no surprises) so will probably just take it easy, do some washing etc. There is a roping competition on at the property the school is on, on Sunday so will head out and watch that. Something to do!
Missing all the animals big time, but Ben has been keeping me up to date and have spoken to him most days which is great.
Not a lot else to report, and no photos unfortunately (probably not great to put pics of horse skulls on here anyway!) but will take some at the roping tomorrow and post them when I'm back in the non-koala capital of the world.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
No animals for two weeks :-(
Heading off to Australia tomorrow for dentistry school for two weeks, so I am going to miss all the animals heaps! Especially the new boy Oscar, who is settling in really well, him and Bert are currently hanging out gorging all the grass around the house. They are in heaven and Oscar wasn't even interested in the apple I took out to him. You can see the abandoned apple half beside him in the pic below, ungrateful bugger! He is very cute eating apples, takes delicate little bites. Speaking of bites, I had a look at his teeth yesterday and they are awful. Not surprised, especially as he has a bit of a head tilt to the left and his left side is especially sharp - will get stuck into them when I'm back from school. He is so sharp that he will feel like a new horse once his teeth are done.
Some pics of the boys around the house (and yep they are pretty much used to chickens by now!)
The calf is growing and doing really well. Looks like his testicles are about to drop off, poor little dude. Almost wish he had a buddy to play with, he loves hurtling around the paddock being a rodeo calf. Sarah was jumping Bert in his paddock the other day and the calf got all excited and started hooning around - don't think Bert was expecting to see a calf come hooning out though!
We'll hopefully be selling some of the older steers and heifers in a couple of weeks when I get back from Australia. We'll get the stock agent to have a look and see what he thinks. Would have been nice to sell them a bit earlier but they lost a bit too much weight over winter. Looking good now though.
And here's a couple of pics of Sunny who was sitting on the table outside the door waiting for cuddles :-)
Some pics of the boys around the house (and yep they are pretty much used to chickens by now!)
The calf is growing and doing really well. Looks like his testicles are about to drop off, poor little dude. Almost wish he had a buddy to play with, he loves hurtling around the paddock being a rodeo calf. Sarah was jumping Bert in his paddock the other day and the calf got all excited and started hooning around - don't think Bert was expecting to see a calf come hooning out though!We'll hopefully be selling some of the older steers and heifers in a couple of weeks when I get back from Australia. We'll get the stock agent to have a look and see what he thinks. Would have been nice to sell them a bit earlier but they lost a bit too much weight over winter. Looking good now though.
And here's a couple of pics of Sunny who was sitting on the table outside the door waiting for cuddles :-)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Oscar meets the others
Oscar has been in the driveway paddock with Em for the past few days and today he went into the big shed paddock with the rest of the herd. Maddy left on Saturday so it's back down to five horses again - although hopefully I will get around to selling Dee sometime soon. Anyway here are some action shots of the meet and greet...
Mexican stand-off part I and II:
Then the fun begins... Choc of course was the ringleader although Bert (in the blue rug) and Dee (no rug) had a bit of a turn too.
Oscar and Bert do actually get on quite well, so Bertie is obviously just putting on an act in front of the herd. Both of them were meant to go to a dressage day at Woodhill Sands on Sunday - Bert was entered and Oscar was going to go along for a look-see. I borrowed a mate's float on Saturday afternoon and we had a practice load. Oscar loaded fine and Bert did too after one mini tantrum. Problem was on Sunday morning Bert had other ideas and after 40 minutes we still hadn't got him on board. I had also woken up with a temperature, achy and feeling generally crap so it was a bad start to the day... In the end no-one went anywhere and Bert's owner Sarah and I (especially Sarah) just got frustrated. So Bert is in for some float training.
Turns out I have probably got campylobacter (third time!) as well which explains the flu-like clinical signs on Sunday. Not really eaten anything for three days which has made me a bit grumpy but things seem to be getting better and have had a little bit to eat this afternoon that has actually stayed in my tummy, yay!
The garden is coming on too, quite a few peas have sprouted, the lettuces are mostly doing well (there always seems to be one dunce) and we are due to plant some more of everything soon. I bought some mint, basil, capsicum, zuchinni and gherkin seedlings the other day so those are ready to plant, along with dad's tomato seedlings. The mint and basil are already in planters but the blinkin chickens keep walking on them, grrr. The cucumbers have taken a bit of a beating from slugs and bugs, I think only three have survived so far. Bit of a bugger, will have to get some more.
About to lock up the hay paddock too, Mike's cows are having their last rotation through it and then we just sit back and watch it grow. We are locking it up earlier than last year so hopefully this means more hay, which means more $$$.
Mexican stand-off part I and II:
Then the fun begins... Choc of course was the ringleader although Bert (in the blue rug) and Dee (no rug) had a bit of a turn too.
Oscar and Bert do actually get on quite well, so Bertie is obviously just putting on an act in front of the herd. Both of them were meant to go to a dressage day at Woodhill Sands on Sunday - Bert was entered and Oscar was going to go along for a look-see. I borrowed a mate's float on Saturday afternoon and we had a practice load. Oscar loaded fine and Bert did too after one mini tantrum. Problem was on Sunday morning Bert had other ideas and after 40 minutes we still hadn't got him on board. I had also woken up with a temperature, achy and feeling generally crap so it was a bad start to the day... In the end no-one went anywhere and Bert's owner Sarah and I (especially Sarah) just got frustrated. So Bert is in for some float training.
Turns out I have probably got campylobacter (third time!) as well which explains the flu-like clinical signs on Sunday. Not really eaten anything for three days which has made me a bit grumpy but things seem to be getting better and have had a little bit to eat this afternoon that has actually stayed in my tummy, yay!
The garden is coming on too, quite a few peas have sprouted, the lettuces are mostly doing well (there always seems to be one dunce) and we are due to plant some more of everything soon. I bought some mint, basil, capsicum, zuchinni and gherkin seedlings the other day so those are ready to plant, along with dad's tomato seedlings. The mint and basil are already in planters but the blinkin chickens keep walking on them, grrr. The cucumbers have taken a bit of a beating from slugs and bugs, I think only three have survived so far. Bit of a bugger, will have to get some more.
About to lock up the hay paddock too, Mike's cows are having their last rotation through it and then we just sit back and watch it grow. We are locking it up earlier than last year so hopefully this means more hay, which means more $$$.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Introducing Oscar
Well he's here! Went down to Steph's today to ride Oscar and bring him back up here. Had a pretty lazy ride, both of us were feeling a bit pooped I think, although in Oscar's case I definitely woke him up from a nap.
When I went to catch him he was doing a dead horse impersonation and it literally took me five minutes to get him up. I was rubbing his head and neck, had a nosey at his incisors, put his halter on, and he barely moved from his flat out position. Yep he is pretty laid back.
He was good on the road up to home (just led him) and has spent all his time here so far eating. Went out to get some pics of him and was kind of hard as he wouldn't lift his head up for a nice posie photo! But got a couple of cute ones on my phone of him and Bert sharing a hay net. Can't upload them just yet as I've lost the blinkin cable to connect phone to computer. But this is him doing what a horse does best....
Sarah who grazes here is taking her horse to the dressage at Woodhill Sands on Sunday so we are going to go along as well just for an outing. Not entered in anything but will take him there just for a look see. Can't imagine him being an idiot but you never know...
My shoulder is a bit poked at the moment (bursitis) so am meant to be taking it easy which is not much fun. Riding is ok but saddling up and brushing is a bit hard. Have an ultrasound booked for next week and also physio and chiro. Plus I'm working full time doing geeky stuff next week too. Arghh too much to do... I head off back to dentistry school next weekend as well so I hope it's better by then. And I hope I don't bugger it up again over there!
Have bought myself a long burr (for getting right up to the very back molars) so will hopefully have fun playing with that at school. Will be nice to have lots of sedated horses to work on too. Have a few lined up to do when I come back as well, so will be busy.
Next on the list is a show name for Oscar... hmmm He is by Colombia and all I can think of is drug lords, which makes me think of Al Pacino in Scarface. So all I have come up with so far is Pacino. Which kind of suits him as he has dark hair, and is quite compact although his nose is much more refined than Mr Pacino's!
When I went to catch him he was doing a dead horse impersonation and it literally took me five minutes to get him up. I was rubbing his head and neck, had a nosey at his incisors, put his halter on, and he barely moved from his flat out position. Yep he is pretty laid back.
He was good on the road up to home (just led him) and has spent all his time here so far eating. Went out to get some pics of him and was kind of hard as he wouldn't lift his head up for a nice posie photo! But got a couple of cute ones on my phone of him and Bert sharing a hay net. Can't upload them just yet as I've lost the blinkin cable to connect phone to computer. But this is him doing what a horse does best....
Sarah who grazes here is taking her horse to the dressage at Woodhill Sands on Sunday so we are going to go along as well just for an outing. Not entered in anything but will take him there just for a look see. Can't imagine him being an idiot but you never know...My shoulder is a bit poked at the moment (bursitis) so am meant to be taking it easy which is not much fun. Riding is ok but saddling up and brushing is a bit hard. Have an ultrasound booked for next week and also physio and chiro. Plus I'm working full time doing geeky stuff next week too. Arghh too much to do... I head off back to dentistry school next weekend as well so I hope it's better by then. And I hope I don't bugger it up again over there!
Have bought myself a long burr (for getting right up to the very back molars) so will hopefully have fun playing with that at school. Will be nice to have lots of sedated horses to work on too. Have a few lined up to do when I come back as well, so will be busy.
Next on the list is a show name for Oscar... hmmm He is by Colombia and all I can think of is drug lords, which makes me think of Al Pacino in Scarface. So all I have come up with so far is Pacino. Which kind of suits him as he has dark hair, and is quite compact although his nose is much more refined than Mr Pacino's!
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