Halters that fit!

I finally ordered the Mini's nose buckle halters fro Two Horse Tack. Low & behold halters that fit both!

LOVE Merlin's...

With all the Grands having at least one parent in the Military, I felt their main ride should reflect that. Merlin is soooooo handsome in his red, white & blue. I think he likes it too. 

Mr. Pippn  rocks the turquoise well. I'd have loved going patriotic with both. But, being they have different size heads it would be confusing should someone besides me halter them. 

Regarding Two Horse Tack,  (no, I've never received any freebies. If I had I'd still be honest) the halters are very well made & I was pleasantly surprised by how soft & supple the biothane is. However, I'd ordered during their promo for free rush shipping for the month of April. I'd ordered on the April 28th, received package on May 11th. Yeah, not so rush shipping!  Would I order again, hmmmmm, most probably the halters yes, as I very much like this product. Perhaps their halter /bridle combo, if I ever feel the need arrive perhaps. I would however suggest they live up to their promo's or be prepared for reviews regarding lack of customer care as well as subsequent loss of business.  We did message a bit in regards to "where is my rush shipping order!"  I've been harness shopping for Merlin, Two Horse Tack "had been" someone I had considered ordering from. I'm shopping elsewhere now, as I do consider customer service right up there with good products when parting with $$$

Franklin is still making new friends at Gramma camp...

Ms. Margeaux finds him to be excellent company!

Vet visit...

Spring has sprung. Had Vet out for spring shots today. Had planned to float teeth as well but, neither needed it done. Fingers crossed they wear their teeth like Camyrn. She rarely needed work & when she did it was just a few small points. 

Vet complimented me saying "all your horses are easy to work with."  Nice to hear. Also neither boy no anomalies that will effect bitting. I'd wanted him to check  as Mini's can have mouth issues. 

He checked the dent in topside of Merlins neck. Feels it was caused by former owner not setting his prior cart up correctly. Which created a line of draught (draft) that put to much pressure on him. He's not bothered by it, so long as I set things up correctly he's good to go carting. 

Had them both tied & ready for the visit. One small fiasco occurred. Pippin while doing better at tying doesn't like when Merlin is where he can't see him. I moved Pippin, tying to a post at the front of the paddock. There's hot wire at the top, several inches above his head.

Once Merlin was finished (perfect gentleman), we headed over to Pippin. As I went to untie him, he popped up just enough for his wee ear to get zapped!  Poor boy, I felt so horrible/stupid we got him calmed but, he was still quite worried. Thank heavens he's a Mini, all hell breaking loose is minimized quite a lot. First shot & up he went. We let him calm again, 2nd shot not so bad. I asked Vet if now was a good time to give him a treat. He was "Oh yes", so Pippin had three people handing out treats. All was right in his world. 

Both are a little chunkier than they should be. I'd already put dinner down in the stall, Vet felt it was an appropriate amount. We're keeping the pasture mowed which he thinks is a good idea. He understands their love/hate relationship so locking them in the paddock isn't workable. Theycame into spring on the chunky side, not good. Hopefully I'll get driving again soon. 

Between the boys, FIL house & weatherim just not getting it done sadly. Just not enough of me to go around SIGH

We have a Granbear visiting, he was left behind last time Adam & Ash visited from Alaska. We'll be taking him back when we visit. In the meantime Franklin is enjoying his visit. I've been taking silly pix to text them showing them he's having fun at Camp Gramma. Today was meet the Mini's day!

Another tack sale...

A few friends & I reserved space at another tack sale last one was kind of a bust (I was the only one of us that sold anything) as they'd only advertised on FB & hadn't even put a sign out front. Today's was one we've shopped at numerous times and is always packed. Today, dispite cold, rainy weather was no different. I actually came home with well over $300.00!  And I didn't buy anything other than lunch. Patting myself on the back. 

My goal is a good driving harness for Merlin. He has some pretty significant atrophy along the top of his neck, most likely from a previous ill fitting harness in the past. It doesn't bother him but, I certainly don't wish to add to it. I have a few more big ticket items to list online. Anyone need a Boett Sweet Itch Rug, a Skito pad or a pair of size 2ww Renegade boots?

Yesterday watching Pippin in the pasture, I noticed him behaving oddly. He'd graze then take off running, shaking his head, kicking out, stop to graze only to begin all over again. After about 6 times of doing this, I figured out what he was doing. He was bored & chasing Robins that landed in search of worms!  I'm pretty sure Merlin was relieved to have Pippin tormenting something other than him!  He is such a hoot!

Modeling Mini's...

My order from Knot Just Rope arrived!  All well done & of excellent quality too. With Mini's you never know regarding fit. Nylon Mini halters are to small, foal size to large!  These fit!

I need to raise it up on Pippins muzzle a bit I think. Doesn't he look adorable! Love his pouty wee mouth lol 

Merlin being he'll be Lincoln's main riding horse got one a wee bit fancier

I went with brown as I figured black would disappear into his blackness once shed out. I'm kind of wishing I'd have thought of gray instead. But, I still love it...

And anything looks adorable on his sweet little face!  Lincoln stole the grab strap and is wearing it attached to his Jean belt loops. He's also attached himself to his brother via the reins. The kid cracks me up. 

Waiting for the girth extender I ordered from Two Horse Tack (along with buckle nose halters) to saddle up again. They, along with myself managed to add to the waistline over winter.  The order should've already come, haven't even received shipment notification however. I've just emailed them. 

FIL's house is nearly empty. Ran into a bit of a problem in regards to cleaning. SIL, despite being told not to, took all the cleaning supplies!!!  She was kind enough to leave ONE roll of paper towels!  Hubs had noticed one of her boxes appearing to contain junk. Upon lifting a few things out, he discovered some of our cleaning things hidden there!  He didnt though he should've had her empty the rest of our things before she left. Even the open bar of hand soap next to the sink is gone 🙄  She has some pretty serious health problems going on right now. She's using that as her "feel sorry for me" prop!  I know I'm probably a bitch but, my feel sorry for you meter is broken at the moment. 

Lesson #7...

Moved on & up to a different horse today. Just so happened to be my favorite breed 💖

Meet "Noey", he's a Haflinger, comedian cross...

Seriously if you started out having a bad day, this guy would have you laughing in no time. Not sure how he came about his name, going to venture a guess that it has something to do with being told "NO don't grab that. NO, don't pull that zipper, No, put that down!"

He's constantly smiling, flapping his lips in the air, mushing them all over you!

Otherwise he's catching a few zzzzz's!  Sadly, I'm not horse shopping. Fortunately he's not for sale!

On to the lesson, we added "addressing the whip", sounds so easy all you had to do is carry a long buggy whip in your right hand, keeping it at approximately 11:00!  It's not, not for me anyway. I felt as if I was holding two coffee cups in my right hand while attempting to open a gate with that same hand!!!  All the while, driving the horse, making turns, changing directions & speeds!!!  

Add that Noey being a Haflinger figures out relatively quickly he's gotten himself a rookie in the cart. He quickly realized cutting corners, taking shortcuts, moving uber slow were options as I figured things out. 

So, I was sent home with homework!

It's a rein aide and can be used to practice driving single or double. Or in my case holding the reins along with a driving whip, while wearing driving gloves, all while watching my favorite tv shows no less. 

Closer up, the reins are attached to strings on pulleys which are attached to horse shoes. The premise being that I'll be gaining muscle memory in between lessons & I'll adjust to the whip & gloves faster. Plus I can gauge the softness of my rein aides while doing this. Not sure if it's difficult for everyone or perhaps my ADHD, combined with my age may play a factor in the equation. 

Lincoln is going to love it!