It started off with a subtle sunrise.
I posted those three photos on Instagram this morning and wrote: "Good morning, new year! I hope the lack of over-the-top drama in this sunrise is a good omen for 2020. #sunrise #newyear #ivehadenoughofdrama" Yeah, right. 😏
After a late family breakfast I headed to the barn to take advantage of the dry conditions for my one firm New Year's Day tradition – getting on the back of a horse. I've been turning Stella loose in the arena while exercising Lance the last couple days, so I did that again today. Stella got frisky, so Lance did, too. After "riding the whirlwind" for a bit, I decided getting off and lunging him might be wise, and started moving him around me at the end of the reins –
too close when he decided to turn his butt towards me! Either I let go or he pulled away, and then to my shock and horror he took off after Stella with teeth barred and ears pinned! I ran, too, trying to cut him off or distract him from killing my filly, and eventually he got winded enough to stop, and then came to me when I recalled him. Stella was winded, too, but otherwise fine; my reins were destroyed but I have a back-up set. Now I need to come up with a back-up
plan, because I don't want a repeat of that heart-stopped drama! So, no photos from my New Year's Day ride, but I did snap one of Stella (before all you-know-what broke loose) surrounded by pale winter sunlight:
Other snaps from today:
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| First green egg in over a month! |
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| Pin-head |
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| Fully feathered |
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| Chuckie got hurt by something after Christmas and was feeling puny; |
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| it's good to see him feeling better! |
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| LOVE! |
A note for all my Blogger blogpals: after a long time without problems, all of a sudden I can't comment anymore. It doesn't matter if I choose "Google Account," "Name/URL," or "Anonymous" from the drop-down menu; when I hit "Publish," my comment disappears into the ether! Please know that I'm reading and
trying to comment; if anyone can tell me how to fix this, let me know in the comments (or if you're having problems, too, email me using the link at right).
Happy 2020 from . . .
11 comments:
Happy New Year Michelle! Thank you for another year of faithful blogging!
is it the embedded comments you're having trouble with? Another blogger I visit just complained about it as well. It's been a problem off and on for so many years that you'd think Blogger would have it figured out by now. Last time it happened to me it was my browser, which had updated and needed another fix. Another time it was because I had added some extra security to my blog that blogger didn't like. Maybe you could check out the Blogger help forum?
Oh, an episode between horses must be heart stopping. They are such big animals. You can't just overpower them like a cat or a dog. Looks like this "getting to know you" period will be exciting in a bad way and extended. In cats, it sometimes is never resolved. Dogs are more forgiving. I don't know any thing about horses.
I don't have any problems with your blog either. But unfortunately, I now judge if I want to follow someone new if they have pop up or embedded comments. If I were starting out blogging as a new person today, I would probably avoid Blogger. But I have too much history in my own blog to make a change now.
Wow! That must have been heart-stopping! I'm glad you could call Lance back. He must be jealous... So glad to see Chuckie feeling better, too. And Jackson - what a perfectly wonderful dog. It seems as if everyone is having trouble with embedded comments. I will have to change mine again. I wish Blogger would fix this! Happy New Year, Michelle! xo
Leigh, it must be the blogs with embedded comments that are giving me difficulty, because nothing has changed on my end. Yes, why can't Blogger resolve this issue once and for all? I did check the Help Forum, which wasn't any help....
Elaine, I will not be turning Stella loose with our geldings any time soon. I knew it might be an issue with Oliver, not because he's aggressive but because when he's around mares, he seems to think he's a stallion to the point of mounting them! 😳 Lance has always been good with other horses, so yesterday's behavior was a real shocker. He may well be jealous of the attention I'm giving her, like Susan said, even though he's still getting as much as ever. And people doubt that animals are sentient beings.... 🙄
Happy New Year to you, too, Susan – and thank you for changing your comments back to Pop-Up!
I have been missing you and wondering what happened. Sometimes these circumstances are just beyond our control. Grrr . . .
The situation with the two horses would have scared me to death. I can just imagine you jumping in between the two of them. Those are big animals, Michelle, please be careful.
What a cool picture of sweet Jackson. And what do you think happened to Chuckie or what did he get into?
Happy New Year wishes to you and I hope 2020 is a great one for you . . . and your boys!
Susan, I went to your New Year's Eve post and tried to comment, but yours are still embedded so I couldn't.
Mama Pea, I might be able to comment on your blog again if you also change your settings from embedded to pop-up. Otherwise, I think I'm blocked! And don't worry; I didn't jump between two running horses. I acted more like a herding dog, influencing their direction by my position in the arena – and threatening Lance with my whip! I have no idea how Chuckie got hurt, but he was extremely sore over most of his body and just curled up for a couple days. Thankfully, he's back to eating and moving normally now!
I just tried to post a comment on Retired Knitter's blog and it did not show up. I hope this works on yours. That must have been awful when Lance went after Stella. Yikes!!
Ooooh, Michelle! I would've croaked if I had seen the goings-on in your arena !!!
I'm so glad that you were not hurt, nor either of the horses! Who does Oliver belong to?
That's a really sweet picture of Jackson! Do you know what happened to Chuckie?
Again, Happy New Year!
I just looked, A, and your comment is there on Retired Knitter's blog (I think she has 'comment approval' activated, so they don't show up right away).
Jeanne, Rick and Brian have shared Oliver since Rick's old horse and Brian's old pony both passed. But he's got bad knees and his trail-riding days are over; neither of my guys are really interested in riding anyway.
Happy New Year!
You got a pony for Christmas! Yay!
I'm glad Lance was able to be redirected. That must've been terrifying. I wonder what mischief Chuckie got up to.
How on earth is Brian old enough for college? Where's the time gone?
Happy New Year to you all. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and had a wonderful time bringing in the New Year. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. Have a great day.
World of Animals
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