Farah Gets Floated!

"No!  Please - NO!"  :-)

Farah;  "Why oh why do humans think it funny when we're drunk?  Then - when they get us drunk - they torture us!"   Brandi Holohan DVM, of Philchuck Vet did an outstanding job of continuing the good work that Sarah Owens DVM, started just a year ago - at Farah's first float.  I knew we'd have some issues - since I had not followed through by scheduling a second check-up six-months after her first exam & float.  Could a year have gone by so fast?

"What?  You're washing my left-over food out?!"

Luckily - my lack of follow-through didn't contribute to any further problems.  She did have some areas that needed attention.  Her last two molars have erupted through & are in the process of settling in with the rest of those big lines of teeth.  She did have a sore inside her cheek :-(  I asked to feel inside her mouth both before & after the work was done.  The before - did not feel as good as I'd hoped - but the after was Very Nice & Farah I'm sure will able to get the most from each mouthful of hay!  It had been just a year - but a year was too long.  Now we'll have a follow-up visit in two-months to see how things are with a pocket between teeth that could have caused further problems if not addressed now.

This is Not a Smile!  :-)

I like to have more than one Vet do teeth early on - it's always nice to get another opinion & to find out that all was normal for a seven-year old mare!  Long gone are the days when the local Vet came out to our farms & did a float for $100.  But - with the new anesthetics & equipment - it's safer & the work is superior to how things were done in the past!

We Make Local "News"!

Connie & Farah on 67th in Arlington, March 29, 2013

People traveling Centennial Trail, end to end, for 1st time | HeraldNet.com - Local news

There are Those Days...

Target & Farah

When you need a good ride...   With a good friend...  & today was one of those.  It's Friday, it's sunny, it's hot & it was nice to trot through the shade of the trees with Farah on a loose rein & just cruise!   I think I love cruising more than about anything you can do on a horse :-)  It's those occasions were the footing is good,  the trail is windy, the wind is in your face & you can feel that you & your horse are a Team!

Today's ride in the middle of the Centennial & Whitehorse Trails

When we arrived at the parking area, before noon - it was already almost full of trailers!  Lots of horsemen out to enjoy another beautiful Summer day.  There was even a Rocky Mountain horse there!  :-)  That's what Farah is most often mistaken for.  We covered almost 12-miles & it didn't seem like enough.

Look warm?  It was, but the Olympics were a thin white line on the horizon.

We had a good discussion about horses, buying, selling & finding the right one.  I could never have someone else "find" a horse for me.  I've found plenty that haven't worked - but I have to Be the One to decide what I want to try!  My mentor has said more than once that if you are lucky enough to have one exceptional horse in your lifetime, you're very lucky indeed.  I've been Very lucky - as Farah is my second.  To think that she's attained this status at such a young age says volumes for my regard of her.  The goal remains the same - to keep her sound, happy & healthy for many, many years to come.

Sorting things out, since our last "Limited Distance" Ride - I've come to realize though I am competitive - it's becoming more about the miles of marked trail & fresh beautiful scenery that draws me.   I can understand why some riders just follow Duck around on his route - ride, rest & ride again.  Close to the best the sport we call "Endurance" has to offer.

Not as Planned~

Lord Hill 6-mi.

Lynn & I had planned a ride with our good friend, but she had a farm emergency that kept her from heading out this morning.  We arrived at Kathryn Taylor with three horses - to find that our friend would not be joining us...  Sad news...

With one horse too many - Lynn decided to take Bizy home, I was going to stop by our oldest daughter's house, to get some ideas for Grandson Mason's upcoming birthday bash!  Kisses from all - then drove on over to Lord Hill where Lynn met me.  By now it was close to noon, hot, humid & we felt pretty lazy.

Top of the hill~

The trails are rock hard, dry & compacted.  Both mares were slipping even at a walk.  The shade was so welcome, cool & dark.  We walked, we talked & we spent a couple nice hours enjoying the day.   No wildlife, a few riders that were leaving as we pulled in - they'd beat the heat!

I put in a call to Pilchuck Vet today - asking about the cost of having Farah's teeth done.   I'm pretty sure that she has an issue, since when removing the bit I need to be very careful or she raises her head.  At first the quoted price was over $300.  When I asked why I had to pay a "set-up" fee when I was hauling in - I was put on hold.   (Just the "haul-in" fee is $40.  I guess that's to park your trailer?  :-)  Good news - the fee for equipment set-up would not be charged - knocking almost $100. off the original quote.  I set an appointment for next Monday.   This will be her third float & I'm hoping to see improvement on the few issues that we've worked on.  Now - watch - Monday will be cool & a perfect riding day!  :-)

A Bright Ride!

Dena & Bella

We'd made plans a few weeks ago to ride with our friends Dena & Farah's VBF Bella!  :-)  Why these two mares, usually standoffish to other horses have decided to be friends is unknown to us mere humans...  but they are.  When I loaded Farah & told her we were going riding with them - I know darn well she recognized the names!

First we met up at the Bracken Gate of the tree farm.  It was a beautiful morning - if you like blazing sunshine, heat & humidity - which I don't! :-)  Even so - it was a Ride morning so that mitigated the weather!

Our thrill of the ride came when we saw a Turkey Vulture perched on a snag.  As I was getting out my phone for a photo, it took to the air & Bella was suddenly almost in our laps!  :-)  Dena said she could feel her hear pounding under the saddle!  Next - a huge hawk took to the sky!  They'd been feeding on something & we counted eight birds in the air circling!  After going on one of the few "loops" that I've memorized, we drove down to Haller Park - Dena decided that she wanted the "Bridge Experience"!

First, over the Big Bridge!  It's a scary place - especially with the river below full of kids, parents, teenagers - anyone wanting to cool off in the low waters of the Stillaquamish!  Bella was Very Brave & over we went!   Next we rode on north - to the Arch for the mandatory photo!

Dena & Bells - Where Trails Meet!

When I mentioned the Tin Bridge, Dena was up for the ride down the Whitehorse to see it.  It's a long haul on heavy rock - but most of it was in the shade & we found water for the horses.  This bridge gives a different feel from the Big one.  It's my favorite - so we decided on lunch at the far end.  We tied the mares & they stood with lower lips hanging while we made sandwiches from Dena's farm fresh eggs!  Yum!

On the Tin Bridge

The fencing on this bridge as been an item of discussion since it's installation - no one realized that silver was being installed - until it was on...  Black would have been much kinder to the look of this historic bridge.  Back the way we'd come - it seemed longer this time - I was ready to melt, even in my new shirt from Ex-Officio - which I do think helped!

Right on across we go!  :-)

 It was almost five p.m. by the time we returned to the trailers!  17+ miles for our day's ride!  Just plain nice to get out - ride - & enjoy a Summer day!  I stopped in town to pick up take-out for dinner.  Butch has figured out that can happen when we ride all day!  Pulling in the yard to the welcome shade of the forest, I stripped Farah's saddle & hosed her down - even though she'd hardly broken a sweat!  She galloped out to the pasture & had a good roll!