I got a question on our Facebook page about the process and I thought I'd write about it here. It can be confusing to navigate, but it's doable (obviously, since both Jay and I have done it). I only have experience adopting from Canon City, so I have zero information about adopting from other facilities or through internet adoption (IA).
The adoption process begins with the application that you fax into the BLM office. The application asks about the facility, trailer, food, and water. There's nothing on the application about horse experience, which I found a bit disconcerting.
There are three options when you adopt: unhandled ($125), halter trained ($300-400), or saddle trained ($1,025). Jay and I decided to go with unhandled, as we wanted the experience of "doing it ourselves". If we didn't have Mom and Bill to help, I doubt we would have gone that way.
The requirements differ based on what type of horse you choose to adopt. Unhandled horses must be in a 20'x20' pen (minimum) with a six-foot fence, while halter and saddle trained can be in any standard pen/fence. The unhandled horse is required to stay within the six-foot fence until they are gentled (a term I never heard in the domestic horse circles). A gentled mustang is one who can be easily caught and haltered, and leads. It can take days, weeks, or months to take a wild mustang to a gentle one.
The only exposure to adoptions I'd had were through watching the Extreme Mustang Makeovers, so I assumed we'd have to bid at auction for horses. I couldn't have been more wrong. We got to go into the pens, interact with the horses and get chosen. There wasn't any bidding, once a horse claimed its person, it was no longer available.
Jay and I both ended up with "cheater" mustangs - they were easy to
get our hands on right off the bat, for which we are very thankful. We
had our horses out of the gentling pen in under three weeks.
If you pick up your horse the day of the adoption, there are regulations
about the type of trailer you can use (stock trailer with a divider),
but since we chose the delivery option, we didn't have to worry about
the trailer. At
the time, Canon City offered free delivery of horses within 150 miles
of the facility. However, they're undergoing some staff changes and the
future of free delivery is uncertain.
Once you have possession of the horse, you're really just "fostering" it for one year. It remains property of the US Government until it is titled. During the course of the year you're fostering, you're subject to in-person or phone inspections. I was worried about the inspection, because I didn't know what to expect. Turns out it is pretty easy. They come out to check the facility and the horse, ask a bunch of questions about how training is coming, what you're feeding, and if there have been any issues. Skeeter had an in-person inspection in January, while Copper had a phone inspection just a few days later. The inspections are randomly assigned, so it is possible for one adopter to never have an inspection, while another is chosen.
At about eleven months, you receive a title application to fill out and return to the BLM. A vet, farrier, or BLM-approved inspector must fill out part of the title application, certifying that the horse has been properly cared for. I don't believe there is a training requirement for the title
inspection, but it can't hurt that she's halter-broke and just barely
beginning under saddle. If there are any training requirements, I would think it would be the bare minimum, as some people adopt these horses as pasture pets. I think they just have to be gentled enough to get vet care if they are sick or injured.
This is the point Skeeter and I are right now. I've got my title inspection scheduled for Thursday at 9:00 am. After the inspector signs off of the paperwork, I will mail it in to the BLM and they will choose to either assign a title to me (Skeeter will be mine!), suggest remedial care, or repossess the animal.
I'm not as nervous about this inspection since I went through one in January. If I hadn't had an in-person inspection, I'd be fretting a lot more, but I don't think this will be that much different. The only thing I'm concerned (slightly) about is that I haven't had Skeeter's feet done. They're a good length and she doesn't have any lameness issues, but they've not had a pedicure to pretty them up.
Showing posts with label adopt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adopt. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Tag 8120
Yesterday was the big day. Jay, his mom, my mom, and I loaded up and
headed down to Canon City. Jay had a list of horses he wanted to look
at, thanks to Amanda who runs the Canon City Mustangs page.
Jay's list was just a starting point; he wasn't absolutely in love with any of the horses, but thought he could start looking with the list and go from there. We learned from our first trip to the prison that their inventory list had notes on each of the horses, so with a list of numbers, the guide could look up which pens the horses were in. It turned out that the numbers really just guided us to the pens, and while we looked for the listed number, only one of the listed horses made the finals.
Pretty quickly, Jay found a dark bay 3 year old with the cutest "poofy" forelock. He was darling and really, really liked Jay. Definitely a consideration. The drawback was that he was 3 and still had some growing to do.
A few pens later, another dark bay with a wide heart-shaped blaze picked him out. He wasn't overly friendly with Jay, but showed interest and kept his eye on Jay the whole time we were in the pen. Contestant number two happened to be one of the numbers we had listed.
In the 5 year old pen, Jay was immediately picked by a flea-bitten grey gelding who was sweet as pie. So very sweet, but severely cow-hocked and unable to do what we want to do with him. Someone needs to go adopt that boy and make him a grandkids horse. He has the perfect temperament for a kids horse (or a very small adult) and it broke my heart to leave him behind. Truly, if we had space and time for a third ungentled horse, we would have adopted him in a heartbeat for all the nieces and nephews.
There was another couple with us who had their own list, so we took turns going to the pens we each wanted to take a peek in. It was in one of "their" pens that Jay's horse found him.
We walked into the pen and a big sorrel looked up from across the pen, ears up, and started walking toward us. I hoped he had chosen Jay, but Jay was walking right next to the male from the other couple and I couldn't immediately tell which one the horse had chosen. I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until the other guy walked right past the sorrel and I could breathe again.
The big sorrel stopped and let Jay walk right up to him and pet him, but then two dark blue roans introduced themselves to Jay, taking his attention away from the sorrel.
The "test" that any horse that Jay chose had to pass was that other people had to be able to go up and touch/pet it. Jay's mom and I walked up to the roans and loved on them for a bit. The darkest of the blue roans was definitely a front runner, but he was a bit pushy and did not make the best impression on me when he pawed me with his hoof. We already have one paw-er, we do not need a second one, but if it was the horse that chose Jay, we'd just work on it.
We quit loving on the roan and looked back to see Jay and the sorrel. He was letting Jay rub on him, up and down his legs, both sides of his neck and back and was eating it up. I knew it was going to be a toss-up between the roan and the sorrel and it was going to be a tough choice, or so I thought.
Jay stepped away from the sorrel, who just stood like a statue and looked at him, while I approached. The sorrel allowed me to touch him all over and stood like a rock star. After making sure other people would be allowed into the horse's space, Jay came back to join us. Mom, Jay's mom, and I stepped back and let the roans re-join the little love-fest Jay had going on with the horses.
Jay was still loving on the sorrel, with the roan right next to him when he said, "I like this one." Mom asked him, "compared to the 3 year old, who do you choose?". Without hesitation, Jay answered, "this one". Same answer when Mom asked him about the second horse on his list, again without hesitation.
When asked to chose between the roan and the sorrel, the answer was the same, "this one."
We were done.
Jay's heart horse had found him.
Is he handsome, or what?
Copper is a 4 year old gelding from Adobe Town, Wyoming, who was gathered in October, 2010. My best guess is that he's about 15.1h and 1050#. When he comes home next Friday, we'll put the tape on him and see how close my guess is.
Jay's list was just a starting point; he wasn't absolutely in love with any of the horses, but thought he could start looking with the list and go from there. We learned from our first trip to the prison that their inventory list had notes on each of the horses, so with a list of numbers, the guide could look up which pens the horses were in. It turned out that the numbers really just guided us to the pens, and while we looked for the listed number, only one of the listed horses made the finals.
Pretty quickly, Jay found a dark bay 3 year old with the cutest "poofy" forelock. He was darling and really, really liked Jay. Definitely a consideration. The drawback was that he was 3 and still had some growing to do.
A few pens later, another dark bay with a wide heart-shaped blaze picked him out. He wasn't overly friendly with Jay, but showed interest and kept his eye on Jay the whole time we were in the pen. Contestant number two happened to be one of the numbers we had listed.
In the 5 year old pen, Jay was immediately picked by a flea-bitten grey gelding who was sweet as pie. So very sweet, but severely cow-hocked and unable to do what we want to do with him. Someone needs to go adopt that boy and make him a grandkids horse. He has the perfect temperament for a kids horse (or a very small adult) and it broke my heart to leave him behind. Truly, if we had space and time for a third ungentled horse, we would have adopted him in a heartbeat for all the nieces and nephews.
There was another couple with us who had their own list, so we took turns going to the pens we each wanted to take a peek in. It was in one of "their" pens that Jay's horse found him.
We walked into the pen and a big sorrel looked up from across the pen, ears up, and started walking toward us. I hoped he had chosen Jay, but Jay was walking right next to the male from the other couple and I couldn't immediately tell which one the horse had chosen. I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until the other guy walked right past the sorrel and I could breathe again.
The big sorrel stopped and let Jay walk right up to him and pet him, but then two dark blue roans introduced themselves to Jay, taking his attention away from the sorrel.
The "test" that any horse that Jay chose had to pass was that other people had to be able to go up and touch/pet it. Jay's mom and I walked up to the roans and loved on them for a bit. The darkest of the blue roans was definitely a front runner, but he was a bit pushy and did not make the best impression on me when he pawed me with his hoof. We already have one paw-er, we do not need a second one, but if it was the horse that chose Jay, we'd just work on it.
We quit loving on the roan and looked back to see Jay and the sorrel. He was letting Jay rub on him, up and down his legs, both sides of his neck and back and was eating it up. I knew it was going to be a toss-up between the roan and the sorrel and it was going to be a tough choice, or so I thought.
Jay stepped away from the sorrel, who just stood like a statue and looked at him, while I approached. The sorrel allowed me to touch him all over and stood like a rock star. After making sure other people would be allowed into the horse's space, Jay came back to join us. Mom, Jay's mom, and I stepped back and let the roans re-join the little love-fest Jay had going on with the horses.
Jay was still loving on the sorrel, with the roan right next to him when he said, "I like this one." Mom asked him, "compared to the 3 year old, who do you choose?". Without hesitation, Jay answered, "this one". Same answer when Mom asked him about the second horse on his list, again without hesitation.
When asked to chose between the roan and the sorrel, the answer was the same, "this one."
We were done.
Jay's heart horse had found him.
Copper Casanova
"Copper"
 |
| Jay's heart horse |
Is he handsome, or what?
Copper is a 4 year old gelding from Adobe Town, Wyoming, who was gathered in October, 2010. My best guess is that he's about 15.1h and 1050#. When he comes home next Friday, we'll put the tape on him and see how close my guess is.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Three Wake-Ups
That's it. Just three more wake-ups before we had back to Canon City for another prison break.
Shoe's on the other foot this time. Jay is the one hoping to get chosen by the perfect horse, and I'm just going to look at and pet the pretty horses.
I'm sure he'll get chosen by a great horse and in about a week, Skeeter will have a new brother.
Is it weird that I can't sleep with excitement, and it's not even my horse?
Shoe's on the other foot this time. Jay is the one hoping to get chosen by the perfect horse, and I'm just going to look at and pet the pretty horses.
I'm sure he'll get chosen by a great horse and in about a week, Skeeter will have a new brother.
Is it weird that I can't sleep with excitement, and it's not even my horse?
Monday, May 5, 2014
Thursday!
I got confirmation from the BLM this morning that Skeeter will be delivered on Thursday. There are three other horses coming up to our neck of the woods, but they're all going to the same address, so Miss Skeeter will be dropped off first.
Ranger Danger is coming down tomorrow to get settled in before Skeeter comes. Hopefully he won't be too lonely for a day and a half. The grass is growing beautifully in Estes' old pen, so while we're messing around getting Skeeter unloaded, Ranger will be having hisself a picnic.
I did some last-minute re-arranging of the pen yesterday to make sure Ranger had some shelter. Normally, I wouldn't worry about it, but our winds have been crazy and there aren't any trees or other horses for him to huddle with, so I quickly re-arranged a couple of things.
Now if Thursday would just get here...
Ranger Danger is coming down tomorrow to get settled in before Skeeter comes. Hopefully he won't be too lonely for a day and a half. The grass is growing beautifully in Estes' old pen, so while we're messing around getting Skeeter unloaded, Ranger will be having hisself a picnic.
I did some last-minute re-arranging of the pen yesterday to make sure Ranger had some shelter. Normally, I wouldn't worry about it, but our winds have been crazy and there aren't any trees or other horses for him to huddle with, so I quickly re-arranged a couple of things.
Now if Thursday would just get here...
Friday, May 2, 2014
Skeeter
Today was the day; at 4:30 a.m. my alarm went off and I only hit snooze once. Trust me, that's a feat.
I poked my contacts into my eyeballs, slid into some clothes, woke Jay up and Facebooked Bill that it was time to go horse shopping.
I really didn't know what to expect. The instructions are kind of cryptic; even the directions to the facility are vague, "two miles east of Canon City on Hwy 50". That's it. I guess they figure that people will see the enormous prison complex and assume that's it.
We received some instructions on what we could and couldn't wear or take into the prison and we were careful to follow the instructions. Our other instruction was, "be there at 9:00 a.m.". Maybe I'm too Type A, but be where at 9:00 a.m.? Two miles east of Canon City on Hwy 50, of course! The where turned out to be the visitor's center parking lot, where the WHIP/BLM crew came to pick us up.
We filled out our paperwork and climbed aboard a D.O.C. van. For someone who always likes to have an escape, being locked in a prison van wasn't a lot of fun, but I quickly forgot about it as I gawked at everything we passed. I had no idea the prison was involved in so many things: office furniture-making, growing grapes for local wineries, greenhouses to supply flowers to flower shops, dairy farming, and the Wild Horse Inmate Program. It was incredible. We even saw "pet" Big Horn Sheep who moved to the prison after their home was destroyed in the Royal Gorge Fire last summer.
When we got to the corrals, we got to watch as a young horse was coaxed into a trailer. I loved being able to see how patient and kind the handlers were and that made me feel good about how the horses are handled.
Each "party" (group) was assigned a chaperone to show them the animals they were interested in. I wanted to look at 3 - 4 year olds, geldings and mares, so off we went. The first pen had lots of friendly critters, but none that stood out to me. The second pen had a little lop-eared fellow who lost the tip of his left ear to the cold. He was a definite maybe.
We went through a couple more pens, and I listed maybe two or three more possibilities, but while the horses were friendly, none spoke to me. There was a little black mare, #6864, with a star and a white anklet on her left hind who shot to the top of my list. She let me get my hands on her a bit, but wouldn't have anything to do with Jay or Bill. Still ... I like her. She reminded me a bit of Estes, attitude-wise. She wouldn't be easy to bond with, but once she bonded, it would be a forever thing.
We moved on to the next pen and I was saying "hi" to a couple of mares when this black face appeared. I didn't see her coming, but Bill and Jay said she crossed the pen to introduce herself. I laughed at her facial marking, because it reminded me of a squashed "happy sperm". You know, the cartoon sperm from sex ed in elementary school, except it looked like someone had squashed it like a bug.
She followed me a couple of steps and let me move her forelock so I could show Bill and Jay her unique mark, then wondered off to munch on the hay while I looked at a couple of other mares. In particular, there was a nice buckskin our guide wanted us to look at. The buckskin was not at all interested in me and meandered to the water, where the little black horse was, and she promptly drizzled water all over her. The little black mare came back to me and nuzzled me, practically wiping her face on my shirt. #7888, definitely a contender. I was still thinking about #6864, but #7888 was quickly over-taking her.
I ran my hands all over her face, both sides of her neck, down her back to her hip and touched her legs. Bill and Jay both put hands on her. She didn't mind in the least. I stepped back and looked her over. Feet look good, legs look good, and she's so sweet.
I turned to our guide and said, "I'm done. This is the one. #7888."
No sooner had he notified the office that I was done, when another group came in the pen and headed straight for my mare. "Nope. You're too late, she's mine."
The guide faltered for a second and looked at our guide, "seriously?".
"Yep."
And just like that, #7888 - Skeeter - was mine.
It turns out that she was slated to go into the halter-training program, but I managed to snag her first.
Skeeter is named after my favorite kick-ass character of all time from Tara Janzen's STEELE STREET series and is a 4 year old mare gathered on 10/11/10 from Piceance, near Meeker, Colorado. On her paperwork, she's listed as black with a star/snip, but I saw a lot of red in her coat. I think she's probably a very dark bay and we already know what I think her star/snip looks like. She's just lucky I'd already decided on the name Skeeter, because she might have been saddled with "sperm face" as a name.
I don't have any pictures, but Bill was kind enough to draw pictures of our trip today. Click over to It's A Horse Life for his take on the prison visit.
She'll be delivered sometime next week - probably Thursday and I'll give her a day or so to settle in before we start "working" on Saturday (which just so happens to be Jay's birthday, but he was kind enough to tell me I could spend it with Skeeter while he hung out with his family. I'm a lucky girl.).
I poked my contacts into my eyeballs, slid into some clothes, woke Jay up and Facebooked Bill that it was time to go horse shopping.
I really didn't know what to expect. The instructions are kind of cryptic; even the directions to the facility are vague, "two miles east of Canon City on Hwy 50". That's it. I guess they figure that people will see the enormous prison complex and assume that's it.
We received some instructions on what we could and couldn't wear or take into the prison and we were careful to follow the instructions. Our other instruction was, "be there at 9:00 a.m.". Maybe I'm too Type A, but be where at 9:00 a.m.? Two miles east of Canon City on Hwy 50, of course! The where turned out to be the visitor's center parking lot, where the WHIP/BLM crew came to pick us up.
We filled out our paperwork and climbed aboard a D.O.C. van. For someone who always likes to have an escape, being locked in a prison van wasn't a lot of fun, but I quickly forgot about it as I gawked at everything we passed. I had no idea the prison was involved in so many things: office furniture-making, growing grapes for local wineries, greenhouses to supply flowers to flower shops, dairy farming, and the Wild Horse Inmate Program. It was incredible. We even saw "pet" Big Horn Sheep who moved to the prison after their home was destroyed in the Royal Gorge Fire last summer.
When we got to the corrals, we got to watch as a young horse was coaxed into a trailer. I loved being able to see how patient and kind the handlers were and that made me feel good about how the horses are handled.
Each "party" (group) was assigned a chaperone to show them the animals they were interested in. I wanted to look at 3 - 4 year olds, geldings and mares, so off we went. The first pen had lots of friendly critters, but none that stood out to me. The second pen had a little lop-eared fellow who lost the tip of his left ear to the cold. He was a definite maybe.
We went through a couple more pens, and I listed maybe two or three more possibilities, but while the horses were friendly, none spoke to me. There was a little black mare, #6864, with a star and a white anklet on her left hind who shot to the top of my list. She let me get my hands on her a bit, but wouldn't have anything to do with Jay or Bill. Still ... I like her. She reminded me a bit of Estes, attitude-wise. She wouldn't be easy to bond with, but once she bonded, it would be a forever thing.
We moved on to the next pen and I was saying "hi" to a couple of mares when this black face appeared. I didn't see her coming, but Bill and Jay said she crossed the pen to introduce herself. I laughed at her facial marking, because it reminded me of a squashed "happy sperm". You know, the cartoon sperm from sex ed in elementary school, except it looked like someone had squashed it like a bug.
She followed me a couple of steps and let me move her forelock so I could show Bill and Jay her unique mark, then wondered off to munch on the hay while I looked at a couple of other mares. In particular, there was a nice buckskin our guide wanted us to look at. The buckskin was not at all interested in me and meandered to the water, where the little black horse was, and she promptly drizzled water all over her. The little black mare came back to me and nuzzled me, practically wiping her face on my shirt. #7888, definitely a contender. I was still thinking about #6864, but #7888 was quickly over-taking her.
I ran my hands all over her face, both sides of her neck, down her back to her hip and touched her legs. Bill and Jay both put hands on her. She didn't mind in the least. I stepped back and looked her over. Feet look good, legs look good, and she's so sweet.
I turned to our guide and said, "I'm done. This is the one. #7888."
No sooner had he notified the office that I was done, when another group came in the pen and headed straight for my mare. "Nope. You're too late, she's mine."
The guide faltered for a second and looked at our guide, "seriously?".
"Yep."
And just like that, #7888 - Skeeter - was mine.
It turns out that she was slated to go into the halter-training program, but I managed to snag her first.
Skeeter is named after my favorite kick-ass character of all time from Tara Janzen's STEELE STREET series and is a 4 year old mare gathered on 10/11/10 from Piceance, near Meeker, Colorado. On her paperwork, she's listed as black with a star/snip, but I saw a lot of red in her coat. I think she's probably a very dark bay and we already know what I think her star/snip looks like. She's just lucky I'd already decided on the name Skeeter, because she might have been saddled with "sperm face" as a name.
I don't have any pictures, but Bill was kind enough to draw pictures of our trip today. Click over to It's A Horse Life for his take on the prison visit.
She'll be delivered sometime next week - probably Thursday and I'll give her a day or so to settle in before we start "working" on Saturday (which just so happens to be Jay's birthday, but he was kind enough to tell me I could spend it with Skeeter while he hung out with his family. I'm a lucky girl.).
Sunday, April 27, 2014
The Final Coundown
Okay, maybe not the final, final countdown, but the countdown until I go to Canon City to get chosen by a new horse.
I have just a couple of things left to do, but for the most part, I'm ready. I even bought a helmet, which is a first. I received a very nice Troxel "Sierra" helmet when I was a cast member on Horse Master. I only wore it a couple of times after the show, because the weight of it gave me a wicked headache, not that it was heavy, just that with my T.O.S. (thoracic outlet syndrome), I don't tolerate neck stress very well. When one of the wranglers showed up for the season with stitches and doctor's orders to wear a helmet any time she was around a horse, I gladly gave her my beautiful Troxel helmet.
I have no intention of needing a helmet, and agree with a friend of mine who said that if she ever felt she needed a helmet before getting on a horse, she would do more ground work. I feel the same way. However, the ground is hard and there are lots of rocks on the trail. I can do a lot of desensitizing down here on the flat-lands, but up on the trail, there are tons of things that can cause a spook. I'm not worried about getting bucked off in a temper tantrum, but I do worry about becoming unseated from a spook.
Troxel has a line of "Rebel" helmets, which are lighter weight than the trail helmet I had initially. While I'm not at all a pink girl, I kept coming back to this helmet, and with my "three times" rule I had to click "buy" when I returned to it for the third time.
Now it's a hurry up and wait game. Mom is pee-herself-excited about the new horse. I suspect Bill is too, but he's playing it cool. Me? I'm terrified. (And excited, but mostly terrified - just like I was approaching each of my due dates with the kids.)
I have just a couple of things left to do, but for the most part, I'm ready. I even bought a helmet, which is a first. I received a very nice Troxel "Sierra" helmet when I was a cast member on Horse Master. I only wore it a couple of times after the show, because the weight of it gave me a wicked headache, not that it was heavy, just that with my T.O.S. (thoracic outlet syndrome), I don't tolerate neck stress very well. When one of the wranglers showed up for the season with stitches and doctor's orders to wear a helmet any time she was around a horse, I gladly gave her my beautiful Troxel helmet.
I have no intention of needing a helmet, and agree with a friend of mine who said that if she ever felt she needed a helmet before getting on a horse, she would do more ground work. I feel the same way. However, the ground is hard and there are lots of rocks on the trail. I can do a lot of desensitizing down here on the flat-lands, but up on the trail, there are tons of things that can cause a spook. I'm not worried about getting bucked off in a temper tantrum, but I do worry about becoming unseated from a spook.
Troxel has a line of "Rebel" helmets, which are lighter weight than the trail helmet I had initially. While I'm not at all a pink girl, I kept coming back to this helmet, and with my "three times" rule I had to click "buy" when I returned to it for the third time.
Now it's a hurry up and wait game. Mom is pee-herself-excited about the new horse. I suspect Bill is too, but he's playing it cool. Me? I'm terrified. (And excited, but mostly terrified - just like I was approaching each of my due dates with the kids.)
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Uncle Ranger
It's getting closer ...
and closer ...
and I'm getting a little nervous.
One of the things that I was worried about was adopting a horse who had been with a herd its whole life and bringing it "home" to a place with no other animals. Elli's amazing and letting me use her property is really the only reason I'm able to embark on this new adventure.
But I was afraid that the new horse would be lonely and would holler and race around and generally make a nuisance of itself. Or worse, break out of the pen in search of its herd (that's what Mom's horse, Jesse, would do. She would just go find her herd by herself, thankyouverymuch.).
I was seriously considering adopting a burro, too, just as a companion animal. But what would I do with a burro? They're cute little critters and I love their long ears, but I don't pack, so it would just be an eating/pooping pet for the new horse.
Mom and Bill were obviously thinking along the same lines, so Bill offered up Ranger to babysit for the first week or so, until the new one gets settled in and realizes I'm not a horse-eating monster.
Once we know when delivery day is, we'll decide when to bring Ranger down. No more than a couple of days in advance because we want him to settle in, but not "claim" the space as his.
Two weeks from tomorrow is when we go to Canon City to pick out a horse, but no cameras/cell phones are allowed, so Bill vowed to create some of his "famous art" so everyone can get a sneak peek at the my future favorite child.
Hopefully, in three weeks, I'll have my new bundle of joy "home" and we can get to work :)
and closer ...
and I'm getting a little nervous.
One of the things that I was worried about was adopting a horse who had been with a herd its whole life and bringing it "home" to a place with no other animals. Elli's amazing and letting me use her property is really the only reason I'm able to embark on this new adventure.
But I was afraid that the new horse would be lonely and would holler and race around and generally make a nuisance of itself. Or worse, break out of the pen in search of its herd (that's what Mom's horse, Jesse, would do. She would just go find her herd by herself, thankyouverymuch.).
I was seriously considering adopting a burro, too, just as a companion animal. But what would I do with a burro? They're cute little critters and I love their long ears, but I don't pack, so it would just be an eating/pooping pet for the new horse.
Mom and Bill were obviously thinking along the same lines, so Bill offered up Ranger to babysit for the first week or so, until the new one gets settled in and realizes I'm not a horse-eating monster.
Once we know when delivery day is, we'll decide when to bring Ranger down. No more than a couple of days in advance because we want him to settle in, but not "claim" the space as his.
Two weeks from tomorrow is when we go to Canon City to pick out a horse, but no cameras/cell phones are allowed, so Bill vowed to create some of his "famous art" so everyone can get a sneak peek at the my future favorite child.
Hopefully, in three weeks, I'll have my new bundle of joy "home" and we can get to work :)
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Nesting
Yesterday, I talked Bill and my sister's family into helping me built a pen for the newest member of the family.
Bill was kind enough to bring down his truck so we could pick up some panels he found. I've obviously spent too much time doing "city" business. I figured we'd go, pick up the panels, pay and be on our way. But it didn't work out that way and I'm glad. I much prefer doing "country" business, but in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, it's easy to forget.
In the way of doing "country" business, we learned about his menagerie of animals, his daughter and her two sons and his back surgery. Luckily, I had Bill with me who does the "country" business thing much more naturally than I do. Half an hour later, we had my new panels loaded up and were on our way to pick up the rest of the supplies.
For the cost of lunch at Red Robin, I got a ton of labor out of Nebalee's family. I know I got the better end of the deal.
We started by cleaning up the existing shed. One of the requirements for adoption is a shelter with at least two sides. Initially, I had grandiose dreams of building two pens; one within the shelter and one for working, connected by a gate. Once I added up the cost of the eighty-bajillion panels and extras I needed, I decided to go with a simple 20' x 20' square. The majority of the pen is under the shelter, with about 6' x 20' is outside.
We started by bracing the panels to the existing supports with "holey tape".
Nebalee and Asset marked our 2"x4"s at 6' so we would know where the top of the rail had to be.
Little by little, the pen went up. First the panels, then 2"x4" supports with a rail at 6' to meet the BLM's height requirements.
Kyzzer worked his butt off cleaning out the pen. The last tenant left a lot of used hay behind that I wasn't excited about, so Kyzzer hauled it all off for me.
I bought a 4' gate, but had a 6' gap, so we had come up with a solution. The solution? The water trough and additional 2"x4" rails to make up the difference.
While we were figuring out the missing two feet issue, Asset was going around the inside of the pen removing any nails or "pokey" things that a scared horse might get hurt on.
After two hours, we had a pen. It's not pretty, but it's clean, secure, and safe. We've got an idea of how to make a temporary chute for delivery day, but instead of rigging it up in advance, we'll wait until the livestock hauler gets there and let the driver tell us how they want it set up.
Bill was kind enough to bring down his truck so we could pick up some panels he found. I've obviously spent too much time doing "city" business. I figured we'd go, pick up the panels, pay and be on our way. But it didn't work out that way and I'm glad. I much prefer doing "country" business, but in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, it's easy to forget.
In the way of doing "country" business, we learned about his menagerie of animals, his daughter and her two sons and his back surgery. Luckily, I had Bill with me who does the "country" business thing much more naturally than I do. Half an hour later, we had my new panels loaded up and were on our way to pick up the rest of the supplies.
For the cost of lunch at Red Robin, I got a ton of labor out of Nebalee's family. I know I got the better end of the deal.
We started by cleaning up the existing shed. One of the requirements for adoption is a shelter with at least two sides. Initially, I had grandiose dreams of building two pens; one within the shelter and one for working, connected by a gate. Once I added up the cost of the eighty-bajillion panels and extras I needed, I decided to go with a simple 20' x 20' square. The majority of the pen is under the shelter, with about 6' x 20' is outside.
We started by bracing the panels to the existing supports with "holey tape".
Nebalee and Asset marked our 2"x4"s at 6' so we would know where the top of the rail had to be.
Little by little, the pen went up. First the panels, then 2"x4" supports with a rail at 6' to meet the BLM's height requirements.
Kyzzer worked his butt off cleaning out the pen. The last tenant left a lot of used hay behind that I wasn't excited about, so Kyzzer hauled it all off for me.
I bought a 4' gate, but had a 6' gap, so we had come up with a solution. The solution? The water trough and additional 2"x4" rails to make up the difference.
While we were figuring out the missing two feet issue, Asset was going around the inside of the pen removing any nails or "pokey" things that a scared horse might get hurt on.
After two hours, we had a pen. It's not pretty, but it's clean, secure, and safe. We've got an idea of how to make a temporary chute for delivery day, but instead of rigging it up in advance, we'll wait until the livestock hauler gets there and let the driver tell us how they want it set up.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
May 2nd is The Day
I got a call from the BLM today - they approved my application!
As soon as the elation hit, fear was right on elation's heels. Oh my God, what am I going to do with a mustang? I'm pretty good at figuring out the logistics of how to get the horse, but what am I going to do with the horse? I'm trying not to freak out a bit, because I just got myself into a twenty-plus year relationship. You know, it's the same kind of fear when you find out you're pregnant: excited and terrified all at the same time.
It's very much like bringing a human into the world: I want a horse who is a good citizen, with good manners. A little bit adventurous, but well-behaved. Independent enough not to need me for every little thing and able to make good decisions. One I can take anywhere and not be embarrassed by their outbursts.
I know what I expect out of a horse, but what really scares the hell out of me (just like it did when I had my kids) is that it's up to me to instill those values in a horse. And just like when I had my kids, there's no one-size-fits-all manual to tell me how to do it. Sure, there are lots of experts out there and lots of resources, but so many to choose from!
I didn't know how to parent, either, and I managed to get through it with three distinctly different personalities. Any time I get too panicked about adopting a horse, would someone please remind me of that?
As soon as the elation hit, fear was right on elation's heels. Oh my God, what am I going to do with a mustang? I'm pretty good at figuring out the logistics of how to get the horse, but what am I going to do with the horse? I'm trying not to freak out a bit, because I just got myself into a twenty-plus year relationship. You know, it's the same kind of fear when you find out you're pregnant: excited and terrified all at the same time.
It's very much like bringing a human into the world: I want a horse who is a good citizen, with good manners. A little bit adventurous, but well-behaved. Independent enough not to need me for every little thing and able to make good decisions. One I can take anywhere and not be embarrassed by their outbursts.
I know what I expect out of a horse, but what really scares the hell out of me (just like it did when I had my kids) is that it's up to me to instill those values in a horse. And just like when I had my kids, there's no one-size-fits-all manual to tell me how to do it. Sure, there are lots of experts out there and lots of resources, but so many to choose from!
I didn't know how to parent, either, and I managed to get through it with three distinctly different personalities. Any time I get too panicked about adopting a horse, would someone please remind me of that?
Thursday, March 27, 2014
A Fresh Start (I Hope)
Know what this is?
It's my application to the BLM to adopt! I still haven't decided whether or not to adopt a halter-trained horse or an unhandled one, but I've got some time. Who knows how long it will take the BLM to process my application and get back to me? Additionally, since I'll be adopting (you know, if approved) from the prison, I have to make an appointment to go to one of the auctions (that pesky security), so we're still several weeks out.
Ideally, I'd like a range-born horse who has been at the facility for a while, just long enough to get used to people. I've looked at the horses they've got posted online and am trying not to fall in love with any of them. There are only a few posted online, but almost 2,000 at the facility that are up for adoption. My plan is to just spend some time walking the pens to see if one "speaks" to me. It's easy to fall in love with a picture, but a picture doesn't tell much about their movement or attitude.
If all goes well and I'm approved, I'd like to have one home by the end of May.
Wish me luck.
It's my application to the BLM to adopt! I still haven't decided whether or not to adopt a halter-trained horse or an unhandled one, but I've got some time. Who knows how long it will take the BLM to process my application and get back to me? Additionally, since I'll be adopting (you know, if approved) from the prison, I have to make an appointment to go to one of the auctions (that pesky security), so we're still several weeks out.
Ideally, I'd like a range-born horse who has been at the facility for a while, just long enough to get used to people. I've looked at the horses they've got posted online and am trying not to fall in love with any of them. There are only a few posted online, but almost 2,000 at the facility that are up for adoption. My plan is to just spend some time walking the pens to see if one "speaks" to me. It's easy to fall in love with a picture, but a picture doesn't tell much about their movement or attitude.
If all goes well and I'm approved, I'd like to have one home by the end of May.
Wish me luck.
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