Classy's first sweat in one month!

This morning as I was feeding the horses, I saw Classy had sweat around the base of his neck!  The last time he sweat was the first week of June.

I left the horses outside today as long as the weather was permitting.  The skies were overcast and we even had a few sprinkles of rain today around noon.  At about 2pm the clouds parted and the sun was beating down.  Classy was breathing heavily so I hosed him off and put the horses in their stalls for the remainder of the day.  Classy still had sweat around the based of his neck and between his back legs; but was still panting and warm to the touch.

I may attribute the sweating to some supplement changes I made that I started this past week.  Classy is now on One AC twice a day, a hoof supplement, a Senior horse supplement and electrolytes in the evening.  Today I started making the switch to a full Senior horse feed from Nutrena Safe Choice.

The only problem with leaving him in his stall all day is that he stocks up.  Mostly the back legs get stiff and swollen but today all four were stiff and swollen and he was walking very slowly.  With his dinner tonight I added 3 scoops of Aspirin powder to help with the swelling.  I will add it to his AM feed routine and see if that helps.  I may need to start wrapping his back legs with standing wraps to help contain the swelling and discomfort.  Will take that day by day.

Other than that, Classy hasn't lost too much muscle tone since I haven't been able to ride him as regular as I did in the spring.  I am waiting another 3 weeks since starting this new supplement routine and then possibly start riding in the evenings again.

Gunner is doing fine.  It has been so hot overall that I have only ridden him once in almost 2 weeks.

We've had our new kitten one week today and I believe we will stick with the name Murphy.  He is a brown tabby and is 7 weeks old.  Brad surprised me with him last Friday.  He is such a brave little kitten and he and Peanut are great friends now.  Remi has learned to not bother him as Murphy will hiss and arch his back at the first sign that the dogs are getting too close.  Bucky really hasn't learned so we will just keep incorporating the two of them until they both learn.

Our new kitten, Murphy at 7 weeks old.

Yay for Rain!!

About 6:20AM this morning I heard a huge crack/boom....what I thought was Peanut knocking over something was actually Thunder.  I didnt recognize it!  Right after the thunder, the rain started and pouring hard.  I never thought I would be so happy to see rain.  It has been raining all day so far here.  Plants and animals are loving this.

The pond is depleting even more.  As of Sunday, there was no water under the bridge.  Our island is now a peninsula.  Brad submitted a photo to Channel 2 news weather facebook page and it was featured on the 5 o'clock news on Friday afternoon.  We were told by a friend; I didnt actually see it myself.

My new riding routine will be Tuesday - Thursday ride Gunner and on weekend mornings ride Classy before it gets too hot.  Thats my plan at least.

Gunner did very well yesterday.  We rode for about 45 minutes all around the property all 3 gaits. I am making an effort to get him into "sticky" situations to make him think before reacting.  Saw some deer, walked over by Classy who spooked at me raising my hand.  Gunner was a good boy.   We were back in and out of culverts and all around trees and trunks.

Will see how dry it is today and ride again.

Classy is doing well....knock on wood

I rode Classy yesterday and we walked around the property for about 30 minutes then I checked his breathing and he seemed fine.  So we trotted around the easement for about 5 minutes and then came to a stop.  I checked him again and he was breathing heavier and a little out of breath.

I called it quits for the day.  I think he did very well considering the heat.  But the heat really isn't his problem.  It's the humidity.  These last few weeks with the temperatures rising, the humidity has actually stayed relatively low compared to most Spring/Summers here in Southeast Texas.  There has been a great breeze in the early evenings that helps keep the humidity down and keep Classy from completely overheating.

I have added electrolytes and a hoof supplement to his One AC supplement regime for this summer.  He isn't eating the electrolytes so I will start mixing a little water in his feed to sort of mash up the supplements with his grain.  A trick I learned from my friend Christine.

He cooled off quickly last night after a brief rinsing with a hose.

Today would've been Gunner's turn for a ride, but we had to run errands instead.  I will ride Gunner tomorrow and hopefully have Friday off to ride both horses (weather permitting).

So very dry...

You can see where the water line USED to be.
6/13/2011

The drought continues here at L5.  Our pond is down at least 2 feet from last year.  Under the bridge the water used to be 3 ft deep; now it's no more than a few inches.  Pretty soon the fish wont be able to circle all the way around the pond.  We also now have a "beach" since the water is so low I can sit down by the water and feed the fish.  Saturday, the turtle and Roy the Koi fish were about 1 foot away from the edge of the water coming to get their bread.

Water under bridge is now about 3 inches deep
6/13/2011

Bucky loafing around looking at the fish in the pond
6/13/2011

After feeding bread to some of the fish I cant believe how low the water is
6/13/2011

I rode Classy on Saturday around 11am.  I saddled him up and we walked for about 45 min around the property.  I stopped under the shade of a tree and he was panting/puffing so I knew he was done for the day.  I untacked him, hosed him off and turned him out.

I rode Gunner on Sunday afternoon around 1pm.  He did just fine.  Classy was panicked the entire time as I put him up in a stall and he couldn't see Gunner for most of the ride.  We rode for over an hour mostly walking the property and then some trotting and cantering at the end.  I became overheated after cantering and knew we were done.  I called Brad out from the cool Living Room to help put the horses up in their stalls for the remainder of the afternoon.

This morning, Brad put the horses up in their stalls with their fans on.  This whole week is supposed to be around 100 each day with no rain in sight for at least 3 weeks.  Classy seemed fine once I got home to turn them out after work.  Tomorrow I will try riding him after work and see how it goes.

Crow...

Well, I found a dead crow in the horses' water trough last night as I was feeding them.  Does that mean bad luck???

Oh well....Luckily I don't buy into that theory. :)

Tonight we had a farewell happy hour for a friend at work who is moving to San Antonio for her husband's work.  I hope we stay in touch.

Had a blast in Austin this past weekend with my hubby.  We visited some friends in Round Rock and in Dripping Springs.  It was Fun!!!

Looking forward to tomorrow getting back to normal and riding either Classy or Gunner...whomever is the least overheated.  Classy had a good day yesterday and today.  Threats of thunderstorms kept the temps down Monday afternoon into the evening.  We came home Tuesday evening and he looked fine.  I have added Farrier's Formula to his diet as well as the One AC in the AM and the DuMor electrolytes AM/PM.  I read somewhere that someone put their barrel horses on Farrier's Formula and it seemed to work for the anhidrotic horses.  Keep your fingers crossed that Classy starts to sweat more soon!!!  At this point I am willing to try anything for my old man!!!

Classy and I -  Christmas 2010

Its getting hotter!

Couldn't ride Classy today....He was puffing too much and only a tiny smidgen of his neck was sweaty.  So I hosed him off and put him in a stall at the barn.  That seemed to help.  Next week I may have to start keeping them in their stalls....will just take it one day at a time.

I did get Gunner out and saddle him up in his western saddle and rode all around the easement.  Just hacking.  Did a lot of circles and slow trotting.  Nothing too stressful.

Brad was kind enough to check out the box fan in Classy's stall because I read of a recall on one model.  Sure enough his box fan is on the list.  There is a 4 week waiting list for the replacement part.  I am sure we will buy another $10 box fan before that.

Quiet evening at home. We are watching the last DVD of the Pacific and then chilaxing!!!

No more eggs in the nest.  Soon enough there will be little baby birdies chirping away.

Bucky enjoying a dunk in the trough

A good ride

Today was Gunner's turn under saddle.  We started out with a couple of minutes of longing then I tacked him up in my English saddle.  I got on and warmed him up for a few minutes up and down the easement.  He wasn't too excitable today (not that he ever really is).  I trotted him over some ground poles.  They were a little wide set for him but he did fine.  After that we moved over to the acre in front of our house.  We did lots of serpentines around all the trees; figure eights; walking and trotting.  That seemed to help him pick up his inside shoulder to keep himself level anticipating the next turn.  Its too hard to duck a turn when you are making another turn, Gunner!!

I am learning just how sensitive of a horse he is.  Every little shift I make he will adjust himself.  Even so much as if I have more weight on one seat bone he shifts his body.  This is making me very aware of how I am cueing him and how little effort is needed to get him to move.  I remember when I first started him, he had no clue what was going on.  And now at age 6, he has grown into himself, mentally and physically.  I am very proud of him.  I am also beginning to be proud of myself for learning the patience to stick with it and finally realizing that this is a long term, one baby step at a time process.

After all the serpentines, we moved to paddock #1.  This paddock always seems to make him move out a lot more than even the easement.  We got some good ground covering trots in and then he cantered.  Each canter "session" would last about 8 strides, but I can tell we are making progress.  I am in no hurry.  And the more I push him into a certain timeframe, the more frustrated he seems to get and then we both go down hill from there.

Oh and the STOPS on this horse are crazy!!  Make sure you are sitting up straight and just the slightest verbal "whoa" and his butt plants down and he stops in 1 maybe 2 strides!  He is definitely reining/cutting bred!  It will be a fun day when we are doing some long canter strides and then feel his butt sink under me for a stop....If only I had some deep sandy arena to practice!  Maybe paddock #3 will have to do.

The last 5 minutes of our ride were spent with me riding without stirrups at a trot.  When setup correctly, he has a very easy trot to sit.  Just keep remembering to get out of his face....All you have to say is a little "easy" and he slows down.  Such a good boy!

On a different note:
We have a birds nest in our wreath in the front door.  Over the last 4 days, there has been appearing one new tiny little speckled egg each day.  Too cute.  I think they are finches, although this time I haven't seen the parents around nearly as much as the last time some birds built a nest and laid eggs in our wreath.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Memorial Day 2011

Happy Memorial Day!


Today has been a quiet day.  Brad is still out of the country until tomorrow morning.  He has been in Abu Dhabi on business since Saturday 5/21.  It does tend to be pretty quiet when he is gone; so I am ready for him to come home.

our Koi - we call him Roy

Went out to our pond today to feed our fish.  We have several catfish, perch, a large turtle (not sure of the type) and one huge Koi fish.  This pond was already here when we bought the property (the previous owner built the pond and added the fish).  Currently the water level is so low (pond is about 50ft X 100ft, usually about 4 feet deep).  I am not sure how long the pond may last at this rate, without any rain.  It seems to be about 2-3 feet below the original water line and I can definitely see the bottom of the pond from our little bridge.  I am thinking maybe 2 more years and if something drastic doesn't happen, we may have no pond and will have to find a new home for the Koi fish. :(

our pond pre-drought

our pond before the droughts started

Coming back from the pond, Bucky was startled by a snake.  First time he has actually noticed a snake near him.  Previous times, I have been able to see the snake before him and keep his attention elsewhere.  Not today; he jumped and immediately started barking and growling at it and then made an attempt to chase it.  I yelled at him and he came over to me while the snake slithered away.  Looked like a rat snake about 3-4 feet long.  Yuck!!!


These last couple of days, the heat has been increasing and it is starting to take a tole on my 19 yr old thoroughbred, Classy.  He is anhidrotic (has a hard time producing sweat to cool his body).  Usually he has a pretty good sweat on him from about Feb - end of May and here we are May 30th, and today he is puffing away and I didn't see a drop of sweat on him at 3pm.  It is in the mid-90s today and expected to get hotter over the next several weeks.  I think I can stave off putting the horses in their stalls for another week and then they will be stalled during the day with their fans and shaded run-ins.  Gunner does fine in the heat but doesn't do well separated from Classy so I have to put them both up during the days and turnout at night.  I hope I can still ride Classy in the evenings after work.  I rode him yesterday and it took about 30 minutes to get him cooled off after our 45 minute ride.  And we didn't even do any jumping yesterday.

Classy's last good sweat on 05/27/11

Classy's last good sweat on 05/27/11

Let the fun continue...

Here is the first of what I hope to be many blogs about our lives at L5 Acres, here in New Caney, TX.  We (my husband Brad and I) live on 5 acres (hence the name) with our 2 horses, 2 dogs and 1 cat.

Our horses are:

Classy (1992 Thoroughbred retired racehorse chestnut gelding) whom I have owned since he was 5 years old.  Registered name is Classy Trust.
Gunner (2005 AQHA registered Dun gelding) whom we purchased from Texas A&M University as a two year old...registered name is TAMU Dun Got My Guns.



Our dogs are:

Remi (2007ish Red Tri Color Australian Shepherd male)  whom we rescued from the Montgomery County Animal Shelter in 2008.
Bucky (2009 Blue Merle Australian Shepherd male) whom Brad purchased for me as a puppy and surprised me with him on July 4th weekend 2009.  He is CKC registered as Buckys Blue Tax because birthday is April 15th and he has one blue eye and I liked the name Bucky.

Our cat is Peanut (2008 creamy orange DSH tabby).  I got him from my cousin when he was 12 weeks old.







I hope to capture on here the random acts of craziness that we call home and share them with everyone.