I got awesome news from my trail buddy regarding the Big Orange Booty. She knocked off my lease for July, since he was lame for the duration. Then she had the vet out, who determined that Ox has an abscess. But! No concerns about time-crunch anymore. Her friend gifted him to her, so he'll be staying.
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| I made a vinyl for him. Or... I stole a graphic and made it a vinyl. |
So you two-horse households, is this normal? One you instinctively love unconditionally and one red-headed step child (hah. hahahaha)?
In the riding front, I've hopped on the half-shod wonder a few times over the past week and done primarily ring work. I've found that when I come in the afternoons, the Kid is bone-dry and blowing, but still happily munching grass. He does better after I hose him off and set him under the fans, but I'm concerned about the lack of sweat. He'll sweat after we do a little work and he appears to be sweating in the mornings, but not at the peak of the heat. Before you go, "Sounds like anhydrosis!", Archie was diagnosed as anhydrotic the summer of 2010 and has been on OneAC since. He gets half-dosed during the cooler parts of the year and full-dosed during summer. Then he also gets two beers a day during the summer.
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| Trimming trees undersaddle and Granpa gave no shits. |
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| Then building a brush fence. |
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| Then just loving life. |
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19 comments
I am so glad my horses are at separate barns. While it is annoying, I know they don't know about each other that way and I feel less guilty if time or treats go more to one than another
ReplyDeleteIt was hard for me in the beginning, especially because my two are SO DIFFERENT! Their personalities are literally opposite...as are their colors, metabolisms and gaits! Gracie is such an extrovert and Lily is an introvert. Historically I get along better with extroverts because I am an introvert myself. So I did go through a confusing phase where I felt like a traitor for liking Gracie more. And then Gracie almost killed me, which made me take a step back emotionally and start over from square one. She did make me appreciate, finally, how well Lily turned out after all my hard work. And that is when my relationship with Gracie truly began...a good 6 months after buying her!
ReplyDeleteLily never doubted that she was still mine. Gracie went through a period of jealousy and also confusion about being ridden by two people with very opposite personalities and riding styles! She now understands that she has a home with us, that I am the mom that lays down the law, that Carlos is the dad that lets her have fun :) and Lily is her buddy/sister. Their dynamic together never ceases to amaze me. They are good friends but they also have their own friends within their current herd. Gracie is a notch above Lily in the herd, but on trail Lily is the boss mare and Gracie respects her. When one is mentally tired of leading, she slows down and lets the other pass. They do this of their own accord now and we let them: they actually work together on trail in this manner! It is so very cool. And they are just as happy alone on trail as they are with one another's company. They both trust me, and Gracie also trusts Carlos, enough that we can even split them while out riding and they're happy to go separate ways as we wish.
Lily is my home. Gracie is my escape. When I want security, I ride Lily. When I want to run away from the world, I ride Gracie. It took a good long time, but this is how my relationship with my two has worked itself out. I don't feel guilty anymore and both girls know that I love them in equal measure. ❤️
I've tried having two, and it never really worked out. I never felt like I had enough time for both. I'm happy to be down to one, haha.
ReplyDeleteWell now I feel guilty for not have guilt.
ReplyDeleteI am feeling very conflicted with Houston and Annie. Esp since I got Houston back after I had Annie but Houston was first... Luckily there are not hand me downs for Annie bc size. Houston definitely takes the back burner from a riding stand point but he doesn't seem to mind too much!
ReplyDeleteI have zero guilt that Moe is unequivocally The Favorite. I even tell him so when Gina is within hearing distance. 😛 The two of them have such different personalities that I don't think Gina cares that she is Not The Favorite - I like to think she knows I like her any way.
ReplyDeleteHaha yeah I don't do well with two. When I briefly had two, I was VERY clear that Cuna was the favorite and Courage got hand me downs.
ReplyDeletebut obviously that didn't last long
Sometimes I feel guilty- but Irish is enjoying his semi retirement and seems happy that my training is focussed on another and he gets the 'fun' rides.
ReplyDeleteI just can't have two horses because of that exact reason. I have a tough time not playing favorites
ReplyDeleteLike $900fb I don't haz guilts, I love and dislike both girls with equal measure depending on shenanigans 😆
ReplyDeleteI've almost always had more than one and feel almost no guilt. Occasionally I'll have a few days where one horse is just frankly more fun, but it all comes out in the wash and I love them all.
ReplyDeleteI feel guilty. Especially right now because I've handed the reins over to someone else entirely. It is taking me a long time to warm up to the new guy.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I technically only have 1 and 1/2, I tend to treat them pretty similarly... although Miles does get more goodies because he's the only one I own.
ReplyDeleteI felt bad when Dijon wasn't getting the amount of exercise he needed, but I never felt bad about the emotional connection. Dijon was certainly my favorite and Nilla just got ridden more. Now I only have the one though.
ReplyDeleteI have three personal horses, and I'm very concerned about treating them fairly. Like, Hot Rod got a ew fly mask and I felt TERRIBLE the others didn't. But, holy cow, that's like $90 just in fly masks! I just knew Kona and Rusty were going to talk about me behind my back...
ReplyDeleteI do and I don't feel guilty. Spud doesn't get equal shares of grain or food compared to Finn or Suzie, simply because he is small.
ReplyDeleteGreat news about the Ox! I confess Solo will always be my speshul Solo & gets his favourite candy cane treats just for being adorable. The two are very different in personality & a lot of needs though, Encore requires a lot more crap since he's allergic to nature & accident-prone. Encore doesn't give a damn who does what with him & is devoid of any form of envy, however, so if I only have time to fully groom one, I can skip him without him seeking revenge on his brother later, LOL. Solo does usually get first shower rights (partly because he simply gets hotter faster), and he definitely always gets "wander loose or hand-graze on the special outside-the-pasture grass as a treat" prize when it is available.
ReplyDeleteBut fully owning both, and both being talented enough to take themselves out of any form of competitive training, there's not really many "extras" to share or not share. How's that for a non-answer, heh. I'm so good at worrying, I'm able to pick at details for both to make sure they're as comfy & happy as I can provide. It is much easier in the backyard, I deeply appreciate that ability ESPECIALLY now that I'd be simultaneously mad & screwed if I had to board 2 lame horses!
I always have two horses, and I've never felt guilty. I love them both. Each gets what he needs when he needs it. Izzy needs more under saddle time, but Speedy needs more reassurance that he's still my main squeeze - Izzy doesn't care about that stuff. They get fed differently, groomed differently, and even "treated" differently. Speedy LOVES peppermints so those are his. Both horses are mine, so I love them just like my dogs, or I suppose the way parents love their kids. :0)
ReplyDeleteMy two are very different, but it took me awhile to work that out. Q is introverted and believes mares are for looking and not touching while Griffin wants to be loved and touched. Q is a good worker, obviously because she did 100 miles, but doesn't outwardly show that she enjoys the work. Griffin LOVES having any job you give him and LOVES showing you he is happy about it. I fluctuate back and forth wondering, "do I love this one more?!" but really, I love their differences and that I have the option to enjoy either. I'm sure you'll come to understand the differences in your two and things will work out just swimmingly.
ReplyDeleteAlso, brush jump!? I could totally make one of those easy! Must. Do.
Thanks!