First off, I am so glad that I have a tactile, all-consuming hobby like horses to come back to when I can hardly get my brain off of work like right now (new phone system, phones and numbers for 455 county employees in 10 buildings next month - eek). I probably would have worked til 9 tonight if I didn't have a fuzzy reason to leave work.
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| Okay, three fuzzy reasons. My first picture with all three of them! |
Second, we schooled Dressage tonight and I could definitely tell that the last month has been jumping in an elevator, but encouragingly, all the Dressage/loose ring snaffle buttons do appear to still be there, which was a little surprising. I for sure need my Thursday lesson to make the Dressage pony fully reappear, though. I see lots of bending and lateral work in our immediate future.
Third...barn wolves.
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| Collectively they are the worst barn dogs ever. The big one can't be off leash because he'd run away, and the little one can't be off leash because she'd run to me. |
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| But they're bored at home, so to the barn they go! |
I'd be curious to hear how you handle the dogs at the barn. Our new(ish) puppy still can't go off-leash so I don't bring her to the barn when I ride, which ends up meaning I never bring her, which is not helping the socialization. I'm not sure she'd chill out if I just tied her leash to something, especially not while I'm riding.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the time, tie her to a bench at a park, bring treats and a clicker, and walk away from her like... five feet. Click & treat. Then ten feet. Only reward her when she's quiet. Then graduate to running away from her. Then foist her off on someone who thinks she's cute at the barn and ride without her. It's realllllyyyy important that they get exposure as puppies, in my experience. If you wait too long, it becomes this weird adolescent horror show to them.
DeleteSounds like a good topic for a blog post! Though Kathryn has given some good advice there too.
DeleteI would bring the puppy anyway...tie it in the arena or put it in a stall while you ride. If it cries - oh well..they will adjust. The more you do, the better it will be!
DeleteBig hugs you can make it, IT jobs suck sometimes!
ReplyDeleteThey do. When you see a busy IT person, either something is currently broken, or we're about to upgrade something, which means something will probably be broken soon.
DeleteLove your barn wolves! (and Connor too, of course)
ReplyDeleteAwww love the three fuzzies together!
ReplyDeleteMe too, can't believe I've never taken that picture before!
DeleteOkay, that first picture? Totally make me "ahwwww" out loud. I showed boyfriend, and he shrugged. "Cool?" he asked. He doesn't get it. I adore how cute all your beasties are.
ReplyDeleteAwww that's awesome! I know, guys just don't get it. Though mine did aww because that's his big dog. Thanks!
DeleteSuper cute barn wolves!
ReplyDeleteLOL - glad it's not just my dog that is a terrible barn dog :)
ReplyDeleteTotally! At least they're only terrible in the sense that they're a headache for me. They're well-behaved and don't bark and are respectful/afraid of the horses, so that's good.
DeleteHaha, the wolves are too cute! Max is a terrible barn dog too... either his Beagle nose gets the best of him and he's just on another planet, or he pines away for me and barks the entire time. Oy. And I totally get the IT job madness! My hubby is in IT (lots of networking for small/medium businesses... sounds similar to what you do!) and when they're doing a migration/equipment upgrade/etc. he's often pulling all-nighters. You can get through it!
ReplyDeletesuch cuties!
ReplyDeleteIn the first two pictures my fingers twitched because I see Tucker's focus on something out the door and I want to grab his leash. #huskyownerproblems
ReplyDeleteTerrible barn dogs get better with more exposure, and worse with the appearance of kittens...
good luck with the work crazies!! ponies are pretty much the best at clearing the mind tho :)
ReplyDeleteWas wondering how you got a pic of The Escapees (and not an action shot of them running off)... but I see they're tied. Connor does not seem impressed with the tying requirement, lol!
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