September 2, 2010

Ok, now I’ve seen everything. This video is amazing! That is one talented dog – I’m not sure Dan and Ann could dance like that. Maybe if they practiced. A lot.

You know who could never dance like that? Goats.

Click here to watch Carrie, the dog, dance the Merengue.

August 29, 2010

August 27, 2010

And don’t get me started on their bleating. What an annoying noise. Everyone knows that a whinny is the only way to go.

Simon has been warning us about the goats on the farm, but I didn’t believe him. He’s always afraid of something, so when he started muttering about horns, chin whiskers, and cloven hooves as he came back in from the pasture, I just ignored him. If only I had listened.

August 21, 2010

It's been soooo hot this summer that I haven't even been able to turn on my computer. All I could do was concentrate on sweating. And stomp and twitch at flies. This was not my favorite summer by far.

When I finally turned my 'puter on, I found I had an email from Kenzie. She's giving me grief for not blogging. Oh, just you wait, young Kenzie....you will be back out in the pasture with the rest of us mares as soon as your leg is all healed. I will get you back!

Here's Kenzie's email:

"Goodness, Pippi!

You haven’t blogged in over a month!

I heard the drill team performance at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds went well. Of course, I couldn’t go because of my bum leg. But, it’s getting much better and I’m ready to get out to the pasture — if it ever stops raining, that is. Between the heat, rain, and flies, the past few weeks have been pretty blah.
 
I heard there was such a thing as a 'rain dance'. Why don’t you kick up your heels and try a 'hay dance'. Maybe we’ll get more food.
 
Kenzie"

One thing Kenzie is right about is our drill-team performance — we were looking good! Check out the video of it here.

July 14, 2010

July 11, 2010

I had another reining lesson and I think I like it. Don't get me wrong, it's hard work and all, but I get to let loose every now and then. And that is FUN!

Right now, though, I'm better at all the manuvers than my human so she needs to really practice to get up to my level. She's having a hard time with the rollback to a lope, but if she would just get out of my way and let me go, I know I'd pick up the correct lead every time. I can smell a little bit of fear on her as we come around and that makes me a little hesitant. And then she gives me a lope cue, which is, at best, mediocre. I can tell she's thinking, "Lope, but not really." So I'm not sure what to do and I start dancing on my back end.

Oh, didn't know I could dance, did you? You should see me; I start with my hind hooves and do a little shuffle. Or maybe it's more like the flamenco. My instructor, Doug, does a great imitation of me doing it. I had no idea how nimble on my feet I really was!

Doug also had some good advice for my human. He told her to "ride the hind end and the front end will take care of itself." From my perspective — you know, being the one attached to the hind and front ends, I would agree with him. If human would do that, I might not have to do any more dancing. Well, I'd still do some dancing with Bravo when no one was around. Don't want to stop that!

July 5, 2010

I know part of the routine of getting a horse ready for a show is bathing, clipping, and trimming to ensure we look all spit-shiny clean. But, did you know those whiskers you trim off our muzzles serve a purpose? Yep, we actually need them. They're called vibrissae and help us determine the location of objects we can't see, like food directly below our muzzles.

So humans, what if you were starving and had your dinner served, you could smell it, but not see it, and had no way of figuring out where it was exactly so you could eat it? The humans I know don't look like they are missing many meals, so I don't think they would be very happy if that happened.

You might want to think before the next time you get clipper happy. Just sayin.

July 3, 2010

I heard from my favorite cousin, Sundae. I forgot she did reining. And it sounds like she did something called "cut a cow". Hmmmm, not sure if I want any part of that. Does the cow actually get cut? Kenzie just got a bad cut on her back fetlock and there was a lot of blood. I don't think I could do that to a cow. I'm a lover, not a fighter.

Kenzie told me that after the vet came and wrapped up her leg, she heard him tell her human that she should make a full recovery and that she's very lucky that her tendon is intact. I kind of miss her out in the pasture at night; I don't have as many mares to boss around now. Hope Kenzie gets to come out of her stall soon.

Anyway, here's Sundae's e-mail:

"Hello Cuz,  It's been too long since we chatted.  I am excited for you and your new reining classes. You know my human, the young one, and I did reining for a year together. She still comes out and has me practice spins now and again.  Wait till you get to slide, talk about fun! 

Oh, and if you are lucky you may even get to do a clinic and cut a cow from the herd.  It's awesome and we are just naturals at it you know, it's in out blood! 

Can anyone up there do something about this rain?  If so, please do it immediately!  I had to move to a new stall because mine flooded.  It wasn't all bad, though, because now I am closer to Nick.  He's the only thourougbred here who understands me.  He's not whiny but like most of these guys, he likes to go for trots in the rain and roll in the sunshine.  

Tell everyone "hello" for me. I miss the rolling hills of Belezaire!  Rain and flatlands don't mix — no where for the water to go. 

Here's wishing you all apples and carrots.

BFF,
Sundae"

I'm happy you got moved to a stall closer to Nick, Sundae. Right now, most of the horses here are away on a camping trip and unfortunately, Bravo went with them. I miss my shiny gelding.

June 27, 2010

My goodness, but it's been such a busy week. I hardly got a moment's peace. First there was the Father's Day Parade in Geneseo, which we horses affectionately renamed the "Stand Around With A Human On Your Back For Hours" parade. But once we got going, the parade was fun. There were lots of kids to see how cute all of us horses looked. The train tracks in the middle of town caused some horses to have a problem, but not me! Takes more than two silver rails to get my blood pressure up.

Then Thursday, we had our first drill-team performance at the Henry County Fair. We horses renamed that event the "Not Enough Room To Move" or the "How Close Can We Get To The Horse Next To Us Without Getting Kicked" performance. Man, it was narrow. But we're professionals and we all carried on as best we could. We did get applause in a few spots, so the crowd must have liked us.

So if you want to see pictures from the parade, click here. And if you want to see a video of the Henry County Fair performance, click here.

June 19, 2010

Guess what, guess what, guess what!!!! I'm a reining horse, yes I am. I had my first lesson this week and it was awesome. I really like my instructor, Doug, and him having said what a pretty-headed horse I am has nothing to with that. Nope, he's just so talented as a trainer and a teacher. He was very patient with me and my human. I have to say that he really helped my human out – he showed her what she was doing wrong in her cues to me and suddenly, I could understand what she wanted me to do. You should just see me do turnarounds now!

Woo hoo, I'm a reiner!!!

May 30, 2010

Kenzie told me that it's her human's birthday today. So, please join us as all the horses sing the birthday song: We're gonna party, like it's your birfday. Sip apple cider, like it's your birfday. We're gonna party like it's your birfday. And we don't care cuz it's your birfday!

Happy Birthday, Kenzie's human!

May 28, 2010

Got an e-mail from Kenzie:

"Thanks for the birthday wishes and song. You have a lovely voice.
Are you confused? Now we’re in our stalls during the day but outside at night. What’s with that? But I sure love the grass – yum yum.
Thanks again.
Kenzie"

Don't worry about being inside during the day and outside at night, Kenzie. In a few days you'll be used to it and soon you'll be enjoying those long summer nights. Munching on grass in the moonlight with a cricket seranade is one of life's greatest moments!

May 25, 2010

It's my good friend, Kenzie's, birthday. She's 7 years old today!  What a kid she is, but she's worried about getting older and losing that youthful glow. She shouldn't worry, though, she's definitely nice and shiny. Jake thinks so, anyway.

So, Kenzie, it's time for the birthday song – We're gonna party, like it's your birfday. Sip apple cider, like it's your birfday. We're gonna party like it's your birfday. And we don't care cuz it's your birfday!

Happy Birthday, Kenzie!

May 22, 2010

Remember Boomer? He was that big cutie of a Paint horse that was kind of a weenie. He moved to a new barn a few months ago because his human went away to college. Well, guess what he's doing now – playing soccer. Yep, Mr. Timid has become a soccer-playing fiend. Rumor has it that he gets mad when the other horses try to take the ball away. Who knew Boomer had it in him? He gots skillz! Watch the video of Boomer and his human, Becca, playing soccer.

May 17, 2010

Have you been over to the Drill Team Web site yet? There's a lot of new content. Check it out here.

May 16, 2010

Check out the It's A Pleasure Youth Drill Team performing their routine at Schone's Friendship Farm. Watch the video here.

May 14, 2010

Haiku
by Pippi

Sunshine-dappled leaves
rustle in the sweet spring breeze.
Mares' dinner music. 

May 9, 2010

Want to know a secret? When Kenzie gets really mad at her human because she's making her lope, you know what she does? She turns her head and bites her human's foot. It's hysterical! If only I could keep loping with my head turned. 

May 3, 2010

Taz must have been bored last night because he sent me a long e-mail. Just read it and you'll understand why we sometime kid him about being an airhead. Can you say 'hard time staying focused?' Here's his e-mail:

"Hay Pippi!
 
It's Taz here! And I was reading your blog, and I came across a post that hurt! I can too last in the wild! All that running and jumping and grass and dandelions and more dandelions... So yellow and yummy... Wait, where was I? Oh, yeah! Doesn't the wild sound free and crazy?! Don't you always want to run and run and run... The wind blowing through your mane and the awesome adrenalin rush! Oh, shoot! What was I talking about again? Oh, that's right! The wild! We should try jumping the fences to go try the wild out!
 
Have you been getting ridden a lot lately? I believe you look thinner! You're so lucky to be out of your stall these days... I've been stuck in my stall lately, unless Lauren, Gloria, or Eric decides to ride me. Jenelle hurt her knee warming up for hurdles. Do you know what hurdles are? I heard you jump over them and well, you were a jumper so I thought maybe you would know. Anyways, I miss messing around with her! It's not as much fun with Eric because he doesn't know what to really do with crazy me! I over heard Jenelle and Cynthia talking and they said that Jenelle is going to come out when Eric rides me so I learn my lesson. And that's not good! It means I have to... focus... THAT'S JUST CRAZY! There's too many neat things too look at!!
 
Or what if I want to mess with Eric that day and decide to watch him fly? All I have to do give him a nice buck, (mine are so better than that silly, cribbing appoloosa of his) and watch him go WEEEEEE! Just like when I made Jenelle fly! She did a front flip off of me and LANDED IT!! Right on her two feet! Her shoe came off too! AND she punched the wall!! I thought it was so cool until she made me do really tiny circles...
 
Anyways, I think the wild would be awesome! Any horse from Belezaire can handle it! If we can handle Kay's lessons, then of course we can handle the crazy wild! Don't forget to tell me what a hurdle is next time were gossiping over the fence! I can't wait until I get to start Drill Team with you guys when Jenelle is better!
 
With lots of grain,
Taz
 
P.S. I tried one of the oatmeal creamy things, and they were so good! My head was bobbing so crazy that I hit it on the stall grain door!"
 

May 2, 2010

Ok, here's a pet that I really want. Definitely better than that kid. This one could live in my stall with me and I doubt it would eat much, so that would be good. Plus it's just so cuuuuute! The only problem is Kenzie wants it, too. She's the one that found the video, so she thinks it should be hers. But what's the good of being Head Mare if I can't call dibbs? Anyway, watch the video here.