With the Rodeo coming up this weekend, I wanted to make sure that Peanut was all ready to go. He needed some booster shots, teeth floated, tube wormed, and a funny lump removed from his forehead. It takes only 20 minutes for us to get to out vet's office. It's where we take all of our dogs and our horses. Our vet is very good at horse breeding. He is the one who impregnated Pearl. Any way, we got there and Peanut was really nervous. So, we drugged him first. And got him all ready for his teeth to be worked on.
Say Cheese! The vet said that Peanut had some big points, and he is hoping that maybe now Peanut will be able to eat better. I really like my vet. He is really nice. But he is kind of "different". He is really awesome at floating teeth. He makes sure he gets everything. What I wonder about is his choice in clothing. Can you see his shirt????
The shirt was a bright green. Like almost lime. And he wears low rise jeans, which are very trendy, and today he was wearing boots, but during the summer, he was always wearing flip flops. He is a funny guy. Oh, and my vet, also got a new car. He traded in his big super duty truck for a Toyota.
Pretty sporty huh? He likes to kayak and he said both his kayaks fit perfect on the top. Anyway, my vet is just a bit "different". He sure is a lot of fun!! So, while Peanut was getting his teeth worked on, my vet had put some hemostats on his lump, so it could be cut off.
He was trying to cut off the blood supply, so when it was sliced off, it wouldn't bleed. I called it Peanut's smart lump. I hope he still stays smart.
And off that lump went, with out a single drop of blood. See that lime green shirt, and purple bracelet? Good old Doc! After all that was done, the vet went to mix Peanut a nice cocktail of dewormer. While he was gone, Peanut took a little break.
He was pooped. The vet guessed that Peanut is around 20 years old. Which I think is pretty right. Which I think 20 is a perfect age for my three and seven year old Cowpokes. Plus, they love Peanut.
Little Cowpoke is my sweet boy. He loves to give hugs, and when he saw Peanut looking down, he gave him a hug, and a head butt.
It must be a guy thing. Then Cowpokette felt left out and wanted to give Peanut some lovin.
I love big horse heads and little children. It's just too cute. I wish I had brought my new camera to take clearer pictures with, but I just had my old point and shoot. I wasn't too sure I was going to be able to wrangle three Cowpokes, a horse, and a digital SLR. So, I took the easy way out with my point and shoot camera.
I hope all the hugs made Peanut feel better. Because that cocktail was taking a while to get made. I am not too sure that the Vet didn't go and stop for a drink himself. So, with more time, Cowpokette got in some more lovin. She's going in for it.........
And right on the old nose. Sweet kisses.
She is so proud of her kisses.
I am not sure Peanut moved a muscle. He was off in horsey la la land. I also asked the vet for something to calm peanut down, while at rodeos. Peanut gets really nervous. I took him out into our arena the other day, and Peanut was a speed demon. He also was very snorty and nervous. He spooked a few times and even ran away from me while I was holding him. So, I wanted to make sure Peanut was mellow for rodeos. I think by the end of the summer Peanut will be used to being hauled places and won't need to be drugged, but for now, he needs a little something to calm him down. The vet suggested Ace. I have used Ace before but not to "calm" my horse down. I know there are other drugs out there that work better than Ace. Do any of you know what they are? Have you ever used a drug to calm your horse down?
We had a lady that ran barrels in our rodeo group that would give her horse something, just to take his edge off. It worked well too. But I can't remember what it was called. I just don't want Peanut to freak out with my little Cowpokes on his back. So, for the first few rodeos, until the kids get relaxed and Peanut can relax, he is going to be in horsey la la land. We are going to give him a half cc of Ace and test it out on him. I think that will be more than enough. Because we don't want Peanut to be dead, just relaxed.
Open up wide!! 
That is some good cowpoke grub. The Cowpokes always seem extra hungry while we are at rodeos. I pack all sorts of snacks for them to eat. A rodeo isn't a rodeo with out pickles, so I brought those too. 
We had a great lunch break. And it saves a lot of money making your own sandwiches than it does buying the 3 dollar hamburger. We are all about trying to save money and having fun. I had to go and see what event they were on. Mr. Cowboy held down the fort while I was gone. 
Mr. Cowboy is a good Rodeo Dad. He knows how to make all the Cowpokes, horses, and dogs relax. Not long after lunch it was time for Pole Bending. Little Cowpoke's age group does not do pole bending, so it was Big Cowpoke's turn. Since he messed up on the barrel pattern, we made sure he had this one down. We went over and over it. 
He even told Cowpokette how it was supposed to be done. Cowpokette can't wait until she gets to ride. She was begging all day long to sit on Peanut. Then it was time for Big Cowpoke to show us his stuff. Big Cowpoke had not practiced poles at home. 
So, he was a big rusty. He made super wide turns. I tried to get him to ride two handed but he wasn't listening. We now know what we need to work on. 
He also needs to work on those heels, and getting those down. Big Cowpoke's time was a 27. He would have gotten second place, but for some strange reason they gave him a No Time. I went to talk to them about it but it was at the end of the rodeo. They gave me all sorts of excuses and reasons to why he had a No Time. They said he went off pattern. Which he didn't. I was standing in the arena and watched the entire thing. The workers tried to tell me that I would have to argue my point before the class closed. And I found this out at the end of the rodeo. So, I grabbed a rule book and it says that I can argue my point at the end of the event, before the next class, or at the end of the rodeo. I am going to point this out to them next rodeo. That is 5 points that Big Cowpoke lost. But anyway. We met up with some friends while we were there. 
"D" was borrowing this really cute Appy gelding. I loved that gelding. He has a super great lope. It was slow and cadenced. He defiantly would make a great Western Pleasure horse. "D" was having fun riding and getting used to this big gelding. I should have got a shot of its rear end. The Appy was really nice. Speaking of nice horses. A friend who trailered next to us had this awesome Quarter Horse, that I drooled over all day. 
I was in love. Couldn't you see me riding that big boy over some fences? He would be a great Hunter Under Saddle horse. Sigh.......but oh well. We had a great time. Little Cowpoke rode in three events and got a first place and two thirds. Big Cowpoke rode in five events and got a first place and two fifths. I think they did a fantastic job. 
He rides my father in law's horse, Fancy. She loves barrels. The boy does well, but he won't listen to any advice I try to give him. I am by far not a barrel expert, but I do try to help him out. 
It was a perfect sunny day. I didn't edit the sky at all. It was really that crazy blue! Big Cowpoke and his Cousin, then went to warm up the horses. 
Here is Big Cowpoke on Peanut. If I had had a video camera, you could have heard Little Cowpoke screaming and crying because he wanted to ride Peanut first. 
Big Cowpoke is such a champ. He was really excited about Peanut being so good. And he was excited about being able to warm him up. Well, technically Mr. Cowboy already warmed him up, but we let Big Cowpoke do it too. While the boys were warming I took some more pictures. 
Big Cowpoke does this standing thing when he canters. I am not sure what that is all about, but I need to work with him on sitting down. He really wants to be a roper, but I think even ropers sit back a bit. 
So, they "whoaed", and walked into the middle. 
Peanut was calm and stood very polite. Then I noticed something. 
What an absolutely adorable little frame Peanut has here. Big Cowpoke had his reins relaxed and everything. I really do think Peanut was shown at some point in his life. Because really, what horse just "naturally" stands like that when you bring them into the center of a "ring". I am defiantly seeing him being a Half Arabian. But after they stood for a little while, it was to the back trailer until they announced my Cowpoke's name. 
I would have never let my Cowpokes ride around with out me in front of their horse. But Peanut was being really great. 
Around the first barrel. You can see me pointing with my arm. I try hard to get the kids to look where they are supposed to. I put my arm out lik I am riding, so they can copy me. It has worked really well with Little Cowpoke. (Looking at this picture, I think I should run more often.)
Little Cowpoke rounding the third barrel, all by himself, the little stud!! 
We are running home! He had a time of 54 seconds. Little Cowpoke got a third place ribbon. He was so excited. The competition at this rodeo is a lot less, then at our other Club. We really could go to a different Riding or Rodeo club each weekend, if we wanted to. But we are just trying two clubs this year. The Rodeo Club we rode in this past weekend, is a fairly new club and there are a lot of beginner riders. Which is great for my beginner riders. 
Big Cowpoke went next. At home, Big Cowpoke has been doing the barrel patter wrong. He goes into the first barrel backwards. I even set up cones to help him out. He was getting it right yesterday. But he was arguing with Mr. Cowboy about how to do it, and he did it wrong. 
They loped in and headed straight for that first barrel. But they were to the outside of the barrel. We all tried to yell at him, "Go Around the other WAY!" But Big Cowpoke was concentrating to hard and didn't hear us. 
He did awesome around the third barrel. Big Cowpoke is really picking up well on using he legs and trying to make Peanut move off of his legs and less hands. It's really great. 
Coming a bit wide out of the third barrel, and then off they go back home. 
I know this picture is so blurry, but I love it. I need to learn to hold my camera still when taking pictures. I thought I had the shutter button turned on for continuous shooting, but I didn't. So, when I moved my camera, it only took one shot. Next time I will do better. Big Cowpoke's time was a 27 and he would have got third place. But he was a No Time, being that he missed the first barrel. But Big Cowpoke made up for it in the flags. He and Peanut got first place. I didn't get a picture of the HUGE smile that came across his face. He gave Peanut a huge hug and lots of love. I still get all happy when I think about how happy Big Cowpoke was. 
And all this happened before lunch! We were really excited about the Cowpokes' winnings. I really hope we can make enough rodeos to be in a running for their year end awards. The awards we won this year were just for participating. We are hoping that maybe the Cowpokes will be able to get a saddle this year at the new Rodeo Club.
Aren't they cute? Stormy is on the left, is a weanling and Misty is on the right. Misty is a two year old. I didn't name them. My mother in law did. I don't get it? Stormy?? Anyway, they are cute. 
I might not be able to post until Monday, but I have not died, I promise. I just am really busy this weekend.
You can see the bran still on his fuzzy lips. He normally has it all over his face, but that day he must have been a bit neater with his slop. But, Prince, being a baby, is super nosey and curious. So, when he gets finished eating he must put his large head over the stall and see what every other horse is doing. And stalled right next door to Prince, is Missy. Missy is our yearling paint filly. She loves Prince and she loves Prince to hang his muzzle over on her side of the stall. 
Missy loves to lick up all the bran left over on Prince's lips. Prince just loves the attention. Little does he know that Missy is just using him to get to his bran. 
It's very tasty. 
Missy has to check all over his face to make sure she got all the bran off of him. 
One last spot, and I think she has got it all. 
"Did you say something?" I think Prince is so sweet to let Missy lick his lips clean. I think she forgot a spot! Missy and Prince are quiet the unlikely pair. Missy won't mature taller than 14.2 and Prince is already 16 hands. But they love each other. 
And then I added my niece's face to it. 
My niece was so excited. I gave it to her in a frame. My sister said she screamed when she opened hit. I was excited to give it to her. But that is some old news. Now onto some new news.
Which is good. But lately he has been a little stinker. More wet saddle pads I guess. So, the plan this week. Separate Peanut from the herd, feed less grain and more hay, try out the Ace to see what it does to him. And ride Peanut every day this week. The Rodeo is at noon on Saturday so we will have plenty of time to show up and warm up and calm down. This might have been the reason for him going to the sale barn. But I know there is a good horse under all those nerves. Even if I have to haul him places twice a week, I will, anything to get him to calm down. I do have him on probiotics, for ulcers. So, I hope all this works out and Peanut can relax. 
