Friday, July 31 through Saturday, August 1, 2009

Friday - I was on my way to Cadence this morning, when I received a call from Dale. Because of all the rain last night, Cadence is cancelled today. I drove back and started driving the back roads of Mancos. As we drove on a dirt road, I saw two large birds. They looked like blue herons, acted like blue herons, but they were a golden brown color. They might be American bitterns, but I'm not sure.

Saturday - I went to a free Parelli demonstration today. Pat Parelli is one of the premier horse trainers/people trainers today. He teaches people how to work with their horses. The demonstration was at a ranch here in Mancos, nestled into the green mountains. It was an absolutely beautiful area. The woman who gave the demonstration, Jenna, had just graduated after working twelve hours a day, six days a week, for two years to complete the program. She worked with her horse in the round pen, showing us different techniques, and then showed him lying down. It was interesting . . . she picked up one of his front legs, encouraging him to lie down. Apparently, it is a difficult thing to teach a horse . . . I've never seen another horse do it "on command" like this. I may try to find out if I can be a working student . . . and her father told me they are going to have a rent-a-horse program . . . but, I'm wondering if that is in conjunction with Jenna's instruction. I will email her soon.

She also said something that I really liked. She said, "It's only a mistake if you know it's wrong and you keep doing it." I thought that applied in life as well as to horses!

This evening, I went to square dancing . . . in Cortez! Now that I live in Mancos, Cortez is closer to me than Durango. But, a lot of the same people go to Cortez and Durango, so I knew almost everyone there. And square dance people are so nice and friendly and supportive . . . they made me feel at home! The caller was a woman who I didn't know, and her husband became my partner for the night, so I could dance every night. And, I got home early!

Started moving into my new house today.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Thursday - I found out today from Pat that she sold Chaco! To someone in Mississippi! I will miss that boy. I was hoping to see him again when I went back to visit the ranch in August. Wasn't meant to be! Good-bye, Chaco! I will miss you!

I had lunch with Rosemary, today, in Durango. It was good to see her . . . she's been gone, traveling all over the west coast for over a month. Her house just sold, and she and Jeff are moving up to Purgatory for a few months.

I've been working on training Moki. I don't know why I didn't start sooner . . . I just couldn't focus on it. But, he's been doing really well. I used to work with an animal trainer, many, many years ago, and he said that if you want to a dog to learn to stand, you have to teach him stand before sit. So, we've been working on "stand" and "shake hands," and when he had those reasonably well, I added "down." He isn't consistent with any of them quite yet, but we're up to about 80% or 90%, so that's good. Next week, we'll start on heeling, I think.

On our last trip outside last night, a big streak of lightning cracked just over our heads, followed immediately by a huge, explosion of thunder. It was so close, that both Moki and I ducked! It was the loudest, and probably closest that I've ever experienced. It was scary! When we went back in the house, we found that the power was off. Bummer! Luckily, the water still worked, so I could shower . . . by the light of a couple flashlights! But, the power came back on before midnight.

Tuesday, July 28 through Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Tuesday - On our way to Cadence this morning, we passed some wild turkeys in a field! They were cool! I haven't seen any since many years ago in Maine. They were always in a certain field there, but when they built a bank in the field where they used to hang out . . . well, I never saw them after that.

Lisa brought her camera today, and after therapeutic riding, she took pictures of me on Dolly, the palomino, for my next book that Ron suggested. Her camera is so much better than mine, and the pictures came out great.

Wednesday - This morning, Moki and I went to the vet for another puppy shot. She checked him over again, and he's fine. Later, I had to call the vet about a possible poison issue again! He may be a perfect puppy, but he loves to get into things! I had placed some petroleum jelly on the cement floor. Why? That's a whole 'nother story! Anyway, I was on the phone and heard licking, and oh no! He had eaten one whole side of the circle of petroleum jelly! The vet assistant asked how much he weighs (23 lbs), and how much he ate . . . I estimated about three or four tablespoons. He said it was okay. I looked again at the floor and thought that it was only one or two tablespoons. Even better. Later, I was on the phone for just a minute, and he got into it again! He pretty much completed the four tablespoons this time! I couldn't believe it. And it's not just in the middle of the floor. I have a couple of baby fences put up to keep him from it, but he keeps circumventing them. Luckily, it won't hurt him.

He's been getting a little wild lately, so I decided to increase our walking distance again. After the one square block, we ventures up one block and down the other in downtown Mancos. So, I guess we're walking a block and a half now. Doesn't matter . . . Moki still likes to try to run the final quarter home! So, he's fine with the extra distance, and still runs around in the house.

Saturday, July 25, through Monday, July 27, 2009

Saturday - Went to look at a new apartment today. It's a separate space away from the main house. It's a one bedroom, and is totally twenty-first century! Including: a microwave, dishwasher, and washer/dryer . . . and, did I mention . . . a flush toilet! OMG, it has a flush toilet! I filled out an application, but Brian, who owns the place, said I have to be cleared by his daughter who has three dogs . . . so, I have to bring Moki to meet her and the dogs tomorrow.

Sunday - This morning I went to what is called a ranch rodeo. They do stuff you'd normally do on a ranch, rather than the trick kind of stuff from a real rodeo. They had to load cattle into a trailer, give a calf a shot, and do other realistic roping stuff.

Before it started, they did something called "calcutta," which is what pari-mutual betting was before it was pari-mutual betting. You could "bet" on one team of riders to win the rodeo. They had an auctioneer "selling" the teams. It was incredibly interesting. Each team sold for about $75, and whoever had bought the winning team got the rest of the money that the other people had bet.

I noticed some of the cowboys using stirrups like I've never seen before . . . they were circular, and the boot goes in all the way to the heel. Most stirrups have a flat place on top where it connects to the saddle, and a flat place on the bottom where you have the ball of your foot. These were totally different. There was an older cowboy sitting in back of me, Dan, and I asked him about the stirrups. He said they're called "oxbow stirrups" and are for roping cattle or something . . . easier to get your feet out of.

Called Brian and went over and met Aubrey, his daughter, and two of the dogs, Johnson and Roxie. They were fine with Moki . . . not exactly friendly, but it was okay. Brian had me fill out a rental contract, and it's a done deal! I'm moving!

Monday - After I signed the papers yesterday, I thought it was a done deal . . . but, today, I found out Brian had called my references. For some stupid reason, that scared me. But, not to worry, everything checked out! Silly me.

Monday, July 20, 2009 through Friday, July 24, 2009

Monday - Today, at Medicine Horse, I volunteered to help with a boy's group learning about horses. Ronda was the main teacher, and Tammy, her college roommate was the assistant. Kyle and I were helpers. There were five boys. Ronda and Tammy come from rodeo/ranching families, and both of them got rodeo scholarships for college! That made me jealous, I must confess. Kyle is about fourteen, and lives on a ranch.

For the boys' first day, they learned emergency dismounts. The horse would be walking along, and they were encouraged to put their arms around the horse's neck, and slide gently to the ground, landing on their feet. They all did great!

Tuesday - Moki and I went to Cadence today to help with therapeutic riding.

Wednesday - I went to Medicine Horse again today to help with the boys group. The boys each designed their own brand, and then they took washable paints and painted the brands on Whiskey and another horse (I can't remember who!). Poor Whiskey has a cold or some respiratory problem! I gave him some Reiki, and hopefully he'll be better soon.

Thursday - Today at Medicine Horse, the boys learned how to rope. So did I! I've always wanted to learn to rope! Now I know how! Well . . . I can't exactly do it, yet, but I know how! I was having problems, and asked fourteen year old, Kyle, what I was doing wrong. He said my loop was too small. It worked! I had a blast, and the kids, did, too. Some roped while others rode one of the horses through a maze, and learned to rein. Then they switched, and they all had a blast!

Fri-Cadence - Moki and I went to Cadence today to help riders. Afterward, Ron took pictures of me doing yoga exercises on Dolly. Later, Moki and I went to square dancing.