Farmish and Coldish

I don't know how people handle actual winters.  In Houston, we don't really have winter, therefore we don't have winter infrastructure. Every few years we'll get a cold front, but this year is like nothing I've seen before. We didn't get snow here, but we did get ice. Even Morrissey's water keeps freezing over. I would have taken a picture of her 50 gallon, hay infused, water flavored slushie but my hand was too cold after breaking it up for her.

My suburban side is coming out, I feel like a frozen fish out of water. The more farmish people in my life are constantly reassuring me that chubby, shaggy, draft horses can handle this weather. They must be right because Morrissey looks thoroughly unimpressed by the whole ordeal. I promise I'll try to update with a photo, the next time I venture out to check on her. 

My goats are due this month. I can't wait to meet them! I feel for the goat farmers delivering in this weather. Hopefully, it will warm up in time for them! I joined a Farmish Link List! Check it out!

Dog Fights

I'm having dog issues. Dupree, my female pug has hated my female bulldog Coli since they met. 99.9% of the time they tolerate each other, but on occasion, usually when I'm alone with them both, she decides that Coli has committed some serious crime and should be punished.

I pull them off each other and separate them instantly they aren't seriously hurting each other, but it has to stop. I usually see the warning signs and try to prevent the fights, but it almost seems to escalate things. I think the problem is that they have been in a battle for dominance since they met, and it never gets sorted out. 

I have a strong suspicion that I'm the cause of all of this. Dupree is very bonded with me. I think I've been marked as her property. Coli is hesitant to come when I call. I think she's afraid of getting in trouble from Dupree. Both of them usually listen to my commands, but when they are about to fight, it is like I'm not there. They both ignore me. I've tried to "Cesar" them. For small misbehavior it works, but not for the fights. I don't really walk them. They are both older and have the typical smooshed-face dog illnesses. They don't seem to have excess energy. I have tried walking them together in the past to promote bonding, but it never made a difference.

I totally love my dogs but I'm starting to consider finding a new home for one of them. I've had Coli since she was a puppy, for 11 years now. I can't imagine not seeing her every day. Dupree is a pain, nobody who knew her would want to deal with her, and I love her to pieces. Anyone with any experience in multiple dog households please share!

Extra Sauce

Just a few more pics from today, enjoy my orange beauty...

Working It

Last week I got to go to the barn all of zero times between the weather and grades being due. To make up for it, Morrissey and I worked out Saturday and Sunday. Chris came along Sunday to document both of us chubby girls doing something active. 

First, we got in a lot of leading practice. She's doing really well with respecting my space, and following my cues. I am still having a lot of trouble with backing up. I shake the lead and she looks at me. I shake it more and she looks some more. I flap my elbows and chicken walk, she seems to want to rear. I can easily get her to back up, by pushing her chest or just applying backward pressure with the lead, but I'd rather do it with more distance between us. Morrissey is a good horse and I know she wants to do what I ask. That leads me to believe that I am asking incorrectly.  I've decided to just lay off on the shaking to back up thing until I can get Dot out to show me my mistake. Hopefully I can have her out in February.

Now that Morrissey respects me, the lunging is going really well. I suspected that she knew voice commands, and today this was confirmed. She walks when I say walk, she trots when I say trot. Canter didn't work, but lope did. Like many drafty horses, Morrissey is a reluctant loper. If I ask, I'm guaranteed to get some attitude. Being the chicken that I am, I rarely ask. Today I was feeling confident so I asked. She bucked, I continued to ask and she cantered quite a bit. I left feeling exhilarated! I love this pony so much!

Music to My Ears

 a terrible snapshot of my wonderful snapshot

One of the least farmish things about me is my taste in music. I wouldn't really call it suburban either, but it sure isn't your typical farm fare.  I listen to a lot of hip-hop, and the occasional pop song, but my true love is Indie Rock. As I've said before, I try to be open minded and tolerant. One of the harder things in this world for me to tolerate is Country music. I was raised on it, but 99% of it drives me insane.
Indie Rock is open minded in itself. The range of musical types encompassed by this title is vast.
 
One of my favorite bands is The Decemberists. They are wonderful. When the deluxe box edition of their latest album The King is Dead came in the mail recently, I was excited to see how farmish the whole thing was. The music is folksy, the album art features horses and weedy fields. I love it. It is the perfect soundtrack to my life right now. One of the features included in the deluxe box edition, was a Polaroid photo taken during the making of the album. I'm not quite sure what my photo depicts, but I love it none the less. 

What day is it???

Morrissey's mouth seems to be all healed up. I am still not sure what caused it. I'm just glad it is gone. She is such a goof. Worming her yesterday left us both covered in bright yellow worming paste. I'm just going to have to learn that I'll never leave the barn looking clean enough to go somewhere else. She has a warm cozy stall, but naturally she was standing in the rain when I showed up. A nuzzle-happy,  fuzzy Haflinger with a drenched winter coat means your shirt will end up smudged. I managed pretty well though. I was still able to head to my suburban grocery store after the barn trip, with minimal embarrassment.

My first Goat Club meeting was this weekend. Unfortunately,  I forgot what day it was and didn't go to the meeting. I feel like a fool, but when teachers aren't at work, they tend to forget what the date is... it can't be only me who has done this... right?!  I bought a bar of goat-milk soap from my local feed store and have been using it this week. The soap comes from TLC Farms, where one of my doelings is coming from. I honestly couldn't believe the difference in my skin. It feels smoother, softer and just better than it used to feel. I've only had to use lotion once since I started with the goat-milk soap. This is an abnormally cold winter for us and prior to the soap change, I was applying lotion at least two times a day. The lemon grass sent that I chose also stays on my skin for so long.  I have been converted. I can't wait until my does are in milk so I can start making soap for myself!

Mouth Sores?!?

In this shot, you can see one by her nose.

A few days ago I noticed a little sore on Morrissey's lip. Today there were more. I have no idea what this could be. Does anyone have any ideas? It is on both sides of her mouth. They don't seem to be bothering her. Nothing in her diet has changed recently. The weather has gotten much colder, but I don't see how it could be related.

Today we worked on moving away from pressure and general ground manners. She was amazing! I've been meaning to work on how mouthy she is, but it is hard to tell her no. She constantly wants my hands in or near her mouth, but she never bites. She reminds me of a goat. She tried to bite the button off my jacket. When I told her no she let it go. Who knows what she is getting into in her pasture that is causing the sores. I've looked at all the plants in her pasture. They look the pretty normal... dead, but normal. Maybe it is something in her round bale? I'll have to check it out.