April Fools: Sophie & CJ!

Happy Birthday Punks!

Sophie and CJ turned 1 year old on April 1st....hard to believe how quickly time passes! My camera broke some time ago, but I made a special trip to Best Buy just for this occasion....couldn't let this important day go by without lots and lots of pictures to share with our friends and family!

I offer to you, a day in the life of my April Fools....good morning punks! Time for breakfast!

...and just like that, it's time for a nap. These kids are regimented!

..but after their nap they were all sorts of excited to get dressed up for their formal 1 yr photo session. Clean clothes, check! Combed hair, check! Let's go!

...they are just about grown out of their carriers now....over 20 lbs each! Official measurements coming next week after their checkup.

We made an appointment at the Spotsylvania Mall to see 'The Picture People'....

They got us in and out in grat time and captured some really timeless pictures....I'll share those in a separate post....stay tuned!

Then, it was back to the house where cake and gifts were waiting...

Note the dolphins and whale in the background. When Randi turned 1, she got a princess on a horse. These interesting doohicky's balance on a thin base with a counterweight that hangs below them....in honor of the tradition, we got Sophie and CJ something similar....something they can keep for many years to come and possibly even pass down to their punks in 100 yrs or so.....

Katie and Tyler were able to join us for the occasion, which was a real treat! Randi, Sophie, and CJ ADORE their big brother and sister!

CJ made no hesitation when his cake was placed in front of him....he dug right in!

Sophie, on the other hand, was much more proper about it all...."just look at my kid brother over there making such a mess....ugh"

But she did finally give in to temptation and tested the creamy yumminess...

...and they even shared a little....awwwwwwwww

...food fight!

...and then it all came to an abrupt end.....enough was enough.....there is such thing as too much of a good thing after all....

So, we moved onto presents! Nothing big...a farm house with animals from Katie and Tyler...

Seahorses that light up and play songs for bed time from Gma Kathy...

...and they actually enjoyed the cards too.....they'll grow out of that, I'm sure!

Mommy and Dady got them talking balls and soft stackable blocks....

...and then it was PLAY TIME! Yeah!

A day to remember at the end of a year to remember....I love my punks!

Stay tuned for their 'studio' shots in the next day or two....in addition to that, I got some great video of our little party too....will work on getting that uploaded before the end of the week....

Happy Families!

Leah

2-Legged Grand Prix Jumpers!

These guys are amazing! Disregard the preview image...it's a bit misleading...the act is not indecent...LOL



Happy Trails,
Leah

Riders with Disabilities...

Meet Jenny...

...and consider joining her FACEBOOK page...

...she's a living testimony for overcoming adversity.....

..and self-determination....

...she's an inspiration....

...and could teach us all a little bit about independence...

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man (or woman). ~Winston Churchill

Happy Trails!

Leah

Martin vs. The Big Blue Boot....

Today, Martin won. Although it may appear that I actually had both boots on and a dual soaking was imminent.......


...in just a flash of a camera, martin performed a vanishing act....he wanted no part of this activity today.....note his halter still hanging between the cross ties and both boots strewn about....

I had just enough solution left to combine both boots into one and resume soaking...one at a time and in his stall where he could move less....

He was too spooked at this point though...he would not even stand for a single foot soak today, so I had to resort to pour what little liquid I had left into some plastic grocery bags and taping them to his feet....as you can see by the expression on his face, he was overjoyed with me...

Better than nothing!

....pretty boy.

Has anyone else out there had an experience using Cleantrax in a soaking boot? How did it go for you? I am contemplating a light sedative for him next weekend.....bwahahahahahha

Happy Hooves!

Leah

Welcome Home, Martin!

I purchased Martin more than 8 years ago for the purpose of showing and resale. At the time, I was single and paying bills off my modest income. In order to make a little extra money, I bought and sold several horses like Martin. Martin sold to a wonderful family in the Richmond area. They had two daughters that have since spent a great deal of time and love on him. He carried them both through many great rides in the show pen and out. Both girls are now grown and off to college, so I got a call just before the New Year asking if I would be willing to bring him back home and continue giving him the attention that he deserves.....after a very brief discussion with the family, I agreed....it is so nice to have the handsome guy back in the barn again.


Martin stands at 16.2 hands. He is an appendix Quarter Horse. His registered name is "Northern Moonmaster", and he was quite a competitive guy in his youth. He is 19 years young this year...





..with the face of an angel...




...he never turns down a good meal...

...and appears to enjoy his time in front of the camera...

We do have a couple of issues to work through though....Martin has deep thrush of the central sulcus and a significant case of sheared heels all the way around. He is presenting lameness in his front right with less severe tenderness in the heel area of the other three.

I did a lot of research on his condition, and have settled on the following treatment in an attempt to clear the thrush and promote healing in his heels. Martin's treatment began two weeks ago after I pulled his shoes...I started with a long soak in a Cleantrax solution. I had anticipated soaking both front at the same time, but Martin had other plans. He was not a fan of the big blue boot, so I ended up taking it one at time. I had also anticipated taking pictures of the process, but found that I needed to keep my hands and eyes on the boot, otherwise he was going take the very first opportunity he was given to ditch it!

Each foot is soaked for an hour, and then wrapped in plastic for an additional hour to let the vapors to their thing. It made for a long day, but the results speak for themselves...the majority of the thrush has dried up. On a daily basis, I have been using a mastitis treatment called "ToDAY" to treat the deep split between his heels. The applicator is about 2 inches long, and the splits on each of his feet are at least that deep. The ointment appears to be working, as the thrushy 'smell' of that area before treatment began has almost gone away completely...

This weekend will mark his second soaking using the Cleantrax solution. Keep your fingers crossed that I will be able to convince the big guy to let me do 2 at a time this time around! ...and that I might be able to get some pics too!

We've already noted less sensitivity on all four feet...let's hope for the best! Our goal is to have healthy and sound feet by April 1st.....stay tuned!

SF,

Leah

Twice Upon a Time.....9 MONTHS!

As we welcomed in the New year, we simultaneously welcomed Sophie and CJ's 9 month milestone! Lordsy Mercy how time flies when you have two punks nipping at your heels.....

SOPHIE!

She got two bottom teeth at about 8 months and started crawling at about the same time. She can move quickly and effortlessly to all the places she is not allowed to go now...as soon as she sees you coming towards her, she giggles and starts to flee....silly girl. I don't expect her to be walking before CJ, but she is way ahead of Randi at this age. ...She has been sleeping through the night for months now, although she definitely prefers to go to bed later than does CJ...still, she gets a consistent 10-11 hrs of sleep every night.... Sophie doesn't make a lot of noise, but she is finding her voice in her very own way....she has learned that her lips make a funny noise when she sucks them in, for example.....and that a high pitched squeel is always a good way to get our attention....she's not one to carry on, cry, or fuss much...her brother does enough of that for the both of them! Sophie has a great appetite and is enjoying cereal for breakfast and fruits or veggies for dinner....she also enjoys working her hand-eye coordination with our recent introduction of finger foods into her diet...

At their 9 month appointment, Sophie weighed in at 20 lbs and 30"! She a tall, lean, Cheerio eating machine!

And CJ!

He got his two bottom teeth at about 6 months and started crawling at about the same time. Not only can he crawl out of your reach in .0009 seconds flat, he can easily pull up on people and/or furniture around him. He is a very physical little man, and with all this movement inevitably comes falls....that big head does not fall lightly either! He seems to take it all in stride though, and enjoys the freedom of going where he wants to, when he wants to, and seeing the sights near, far, high, and low! I expect this kid to be walking before he turns a year old. Like his sister, he has been sleeping through the night for months now, although he definitely prefers to go to bed earlier than does Sophie...still, he gets a consistent 10-11 hrs of sleep every night.... CJ is a very vocal kid...he babbles in a very excited way in a language all his own....I am particularly fond of his coo'ing though....he sings to us in a way that could make even the most accomplished of military bearing break a smile....with all this vocalism comes a penchant to let you know exactly how he feels at all times....good and bad! CJ has never had the ravenous appetite of Sophie, but he is enjoying his food a lot more now than he used to...I think the addition of fruit has sweetened up the pot a little for him....he always looks forward to his 'big boy' dinner and is really talented at capturing and consuming his finger foods...he has great hand eye coordination!

At their 9 month appointment, CJ weighed in at: 21 lbs and 29 inches! He is stout little man!

We are looking forward to their first birthday....milestones seem to come and go so quickly these days, it'll be here before we know it!

Happy Families!

Leah

Amber....

I had anticipated drafting a "Happy New Year" post with a complete review of the year's most exciting and entertaining events, however, "Amber" has come along and become the focus of my attention instead. "Amber" is a hunting dog that has been separated from her group. Judging by her body condition, she was either separated quite a while ago, or her owner has half starved her to death. Regardless, she's been welcomed with food, water, and a warm place to rest until her owner (as identified by her collar) can come get her. Wishing her lots of love in 2011. Her and all the other dogs out there working for a living this hunting season....

I wish I could say that "Amber's" arrival during this hunting season was not something we have experienced before. It is unfortunate that we normally have several hunting dogs in similar conditioning show up each season that take refuge with us until their owners come to claim them....I wish I could say they are normally in a lot better condition than "Amber", but they aren't....I've bathed more encrusted hides, medicated more infected ears, and filled more empty stomachs than I can hardly stomach myself....

The practice of hound hunting—using packs of dogs, some equipped with radio transmitters—to chase and hunt deer, bears and other wildlife has become an increasingly controversial and hotly-debated issue in many areas, particularly in Virginia.

These pictures have not been doctored in any way....

PLEASE feed your dogs, and hunt responsibly....

Leah