Rodney & Milton’s Excellent Overnight Adventure

Horsekeeping

Awareness of the outside world. Madame President, pro tem. WFLA: Kamala Harris first woman to have presidential power as Biden undergoes colonoscopy AP, Nov 19, 2021.
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We took Rodney and Milton for a sleepover.

Simple, right?

People take their horses places all the time, yes?

This was a first for us. First time Rodney has been away from home overnight since he arrived. First time we had taken both horses.

Rodney used to stress about shipping. He thought each new barn was his new home. He figured he was being abandoned at this new place. Took him many, many trips to convince him that we would always bring him home.

Milton was 50/50 for sleepovers. In the plus column, the two practice shows back in 2017. In the minus column, the Tennessee show that led to the practice shows and the vet visit, which went fine from a people perspective, but Milton would definitely put it in the minus column. Links below.

They did great, mostly we think because they were together. Rodney either knew it was temporary or decide he could cope with relocating as long as his buddy was there.

Simple plan. Drive down. Dual lesson. Camp out. Second lesson. Return.

Working in our favor was all of the shipping we have been doing for schooling. We capitalized on this. The first day was treated as we would a one-day trip. Arrive. Unload. Get tied to trailer. Hay snack. Nap. Tack up. Nothing different. Nothing to see here. This is just another normal schooling day in a new place.

Stalls were not mentioned until riding was done.

The stalls were wonderful. Big. Wide open. Next to each other. The half wall at the back looked out over paddocks in the distance. Rodney was fascinated with the view. I had expected to do more hand-walking. but they were fine in the stalls. Whenever we checked on them, they were chill. So we left them to it.

The only downside was that the viewing area was on one side and the hay was on the other. Back. Forth. Back. Forth. The shavings got mix-mastered. Next time, hang hay in viewing area so Rodney can snack while watching.

The next morning, Milton seemed the slightest bit jumpy. I don’t know what was on his mind, but I started having Tennessee flashbacks. We decided to operate out of the trailer again, photo. Worked like a charm. Apparently, they are more comfortable standing being tied to *their* trailer than moving around in a strange stall. I’d say it was weird, but we all have our foibles.

Tomorrow, where we went & why.

Practice Show I [Here for the Experience, Milton at Mid-South 2018]
Practice Show Ii [Notes from North Georgia, Milton]

TN show [I am not back. This is not a post., Milton The Driving Horse]
Vet [Milton’s Medical Update]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Care Leasing, Or How To Ease Back Into Riding, Guest Post

Care Leasing, Or How To Ease Back Into Riding
By E.B. Hickman

Dakota. Photo by E.B. Hickman

First, from a mental perspective, I never thought I ‘wasn’t’ a horse person. But I had slipped into a person that lives in a house near the city, works full-time, doesn’t own a horse (and last owned one in 1986), and last rode regularly in 1990. There’s nothing wrong with that, and for years I would take lessons here and there and ride with my lovely and very generous friends.

When I finally felt like ‘I had enough money to buy ‘a really good horse,’ I used that money for a down payment on a house as a single person when I was 30. I’m careful. Responsible. But never thought I was ‘really out of it.’

Having a supportive best friend with a farm, plus a daughter (my goddaughter) who also rides, was life-changing. They were in the loop in the horse world. They knew people.

My goddaughter, the lovely and talented Cey Johnson – it’s Welsh and pronounced “Ki” for those who are wondering – had a friend with two horses. The friend wasn’t showing one. She was in college a half-state away. Her family was just paying to board the horse.

Who was that horse? A 18-year old, handsome bay Appendix-bred quarter horse named Dakota. He was 15.2 hands high with a star. Impeccable manners, calm jumper, smart. He had played polo as a youngster, worked cattle, and been a child’s show horse for years. He had a sweet face and the solid temper I needed. And my best friend said, ‘why don’t you care lease him?’

A care lease is just that – you pay for care only, and pay nothing to the owner. The owner keeps ownership, control, and suddenly has no bills to pay to maintain their horse. The person care-leasing a horse has a horse “for free,” and has to cover care – farrier, vet, feed, board…the regular things. Terms are agreed to in a written lease.

It’s a wonderful idea, and has worked well.

If you’re interested in exploring a care lease, below are some tips (not to be construed as legal advice – ALWAYS consider asking an attorney to review any contracts you sign – it’s well-worth a 30-minute consult, and ask friends, your trainer, the owner of a barn where you ride, for input):

* Leases should be in writing and list the Lessor and Lessee’s full names, be signed and dated by both parties, have a beginning and end date of the lease term, and the full name and description of the horse and where it lives.

* Include renewal terms and cancellation terms – can either party cancel the agreement in 30 days with written notice? This may be sensible if someone suddenly had to deal with a family illness, financial downturn, or a job change – both parties may want to be able to get out of the contract. Same with renewal terms – can you renew for another year? When? Spell out when that renewal can be signed.

* Include ground rules where the horse lives. The owner may want you to keep the horse where it currently boards.

* Include ground rules for the horse’s activities. Can you take it to a foxhunt as a guest? Can you ship it out-of-state for a competition? Can you show the horse? As an owner do you want to prevent activities, like barrel racing competitions or amateur horse races? It’s good to list what you plan to do: trail ride, lessons, hunting, occasional shows, etc.

*Talk about and include the hard stuff. Who pays for a cremation or a burial if the horse dies when it’s under your care?

*Illness – include requirements to communicate with the owner in the event of illness or injury. Spell out who will pay for vet care – both routine and emergency, one or the other?

*Details. The owner of the horse I leased wanted me to continue using his regular farrier – no problem. It was in the lease. Same with his regular vet in order to continue keeping in-force an insurance policy. Again, no problem – in the lease.

Happy riding!

Update: I’m now a horse owner! After two years, I’m very thankful to report Dakota’s owner recently decided to sell, with the express condition (in the contract) that she has the first right to purchase if I ever have to sell him.

Reader, I bought him. Photo by Megan Johnson.

Commercial Horses, Moving

Images

Awareness of the outside world. U-Haul Offers Help to Quebec Families Affected by Construction Delays during COVID-19, April 2020. Why does this offer specify July 1? “Moving Day (French: jour du déménagement) is a tradition, but not a legal requirement, in the province of Quebec, Canada, dating from the time when the province used to mandate fixed terms for leases of rental properties. It falls on July 1, which is also Canada Day.” Wikipedia: Moving Day (Quebec).
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U-Haul Venture Across America and Canada SuperGraphics
Quebec
Learn more
All images
Program
Press Release, SuperGraphic Unveiling Event Representing Quebec 2011.
Artist, Steve King Illustration & Design. Check out photo essay on the process U-Haul Graphics How They’re Made, and Where is SammyU hiding? Hidden Character in U-Haul graphics.

Pulls self out of Internet rabbit hole.

Parked outside Helena Hardware November 2020. I wanted something horsey today, so this one is from the reserve pile. Hence the blast from the past.

Previous Posts
[Commercial Horses, Banking]
[Commercial Horses, Pharmacology and Trucks]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Generating Stories By The Luck Of The Throw

Words

Since I don’t offer much content today, here is a book recommendation, one that made it out of the tsundoku pile. The Middle Ages: A Graphic History, written by Eleanor Janega, illustrated Neil Max Emmanuel (Icon 2021). Info from the author’s blog, Going Medieval: Sneak Peek: The Middle Ages, a Graphic History (out now!). [Additions] + +
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Rory’s Story Cubes Classic from Homewood Toy & Hobby.

Reservation the first. This post would be improved if I could have accompanied these fiction prompts with fiction that they prompted.

Reservation the second. I can’t help but think that real fiction writers don’t need props.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Not Running The Not Tunnel, Walk Report, Virtual Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K

Fit To Ride

Awareness of the outside world. Race is a fundraiser for Special Olympics New Jersey.
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The Virtual Walk
Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K
Dates, Official – September 1-30, 2021
Date, Me – Sunday, September 19, 2021
Place – Railroad Park & 18th Street Underpass.
Distance – 3.2 miles = 5.15 km
Time – 1 hour, 2 minutes
Results – None posted
Note. Second half of two 5ks in one weekend. [Flying Low]

This is one I would love to do IRL. Watching for the elegantly tiled state line marker was the highlight of many trips to visit grandparents in New Jersey. Photo, You Don’t Know Jersey: Signs of New Jersey – Lincoln Tunnel – New York City, Hanson, 2013.

The IRL Walk

Railroad Park, not new. [Savannah Bridge]

“Tunnel” section, new.

The underpass was the best I could do for a tunnel in the area. Pretty and right next to RR park for mileage.

Links

Underpass vs tunnel? Surfing says … an underpass is the underside of a bridge. A tunnel involves digging underground, or the case of a mountain, digging straight ahead.

Architect: Light Rails, FitzGibbons, 2013. Click over for better photos of the lights.

InHabitat: LightRails: Dark Alabama Underpass Springs to Life With a Rainbow of LED Lights, Zimmer, 2013. Ditto.

“Traffic zips by the unicorns in the 18th Street tunnel, where the light display matches the colors of the unicorns.” [We – The Unicorns … Bring Their Magic To The Magic City]

Bham Wiki: 18th Street underpass

panynj.gov: Lincoln Tunnel

Drive thru of tunnel, Bridge and Tunnel Club: Lincoln Tunnel

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

That Moment When You Remember You Are On A School Horse

Riding

Awareness of the outside world. AL.com: Hunting for Appalachiosaurus, apex predator of ancient Alabama, Pillion, Nov. 15, 2021.
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At my Hunter barn lesson last week, School Horse and I cantered(!) several laps of the outside crossrails. Go us!

I was trying my darnedest not to interfere with my hands. [New Lesson Horse, Same Issues]

As we came around the corner to one line, I thought, ‘Well, this is why I am riding a school horse.’ So I threw my hands at him – metaphorically – and let him get on with going down the line.

Of course he did, because he’s a star.

Overall, some of the jumps were not horrible.

I overrode one fence. It’s a bad habit at any fence. It’s a ridiculous habit at a crossrail. But I’m not unhappy with that reaction. At least I was riding, not sitting frozen like a meerkat with my paws in the air.

I’m starting to believe that School Horse will do his job. I know it. I’m starting to believe it.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine