1. He's bigger than any of my other horses and wears the same size clothes as my dearly departed gelding. Now those clothes won't go to waste! (Only problem with that is my other guy's color was blue and River is pink, but even I can't justify getting a whole new wardrobe for that reason. Not at all once, anyway...)
2. Name pattern. Every horse I've owned or cared about has has an "i" as the first vowel in their name: Chip, Striker, Irish, Riley, Wilson, Lily, now River. What are the odds? It was meant to be.
3. He has the same birthday as one of my sisters. Of course, said sister isn't a horse person and no one in my family knows about River, but...
4. It just worked. Lots of things could have gone wrong; if I wasn't meant to have him, I wouldn't have been able to.
I'm not actually a big believer in fate, but sometimes it's easier to trust it than think about what you're doing.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Massage and Video
Number of massages I have gotten in my life: 0
Number of massages River has gotten: 1
River mostly enjoyed his massage. He was a little confused about this strange person touching and poking him but got over it pretty quickly. He is such a gentleman. He didn't like the knots and sore spots being worked, but his way of letting his masseuse know was to turn and look at her like "um, hey, you know that hurts, right?" No pinned ears, no snapping, no threatening, just polite concern. I'm not sure whether he's just naturally nonconfrontational, or if he's been taught not to complain. Either way, he's a very good boy.
Since my friend was already out massaging, I enlisted her help to get video. She jogged him while I recorded:
*droooooool*
Yep, that's the trot that sealed the deal.
We also did a couple of conformation shots... River didn't want to hold still, so they didn't turn out very well.
He's much better looking in person, honest.
Number of massages River has gotten: 1
River mostly enjoyed his massage. He was a little confused about this strange person touching and poking him but got over it pretty quickly. He is such a gentleman. He didn't like the knots and sore spots being worked, but his way of letting his masseuse know was to turn and look at her like "um, hey, you know that hurts, right?" No pinned ears, no snapping, no threatening, just polite concern. I'm not sure whether he's just naturally nonconfrontational, or if he's been taught not to complain. Either way, he's a very good boy.
Since my friend was already out massaging, I enlisted her help to get video. She jogged him while I recorded:
*droooooool*
Yep, that's the trot that sealed the deal.
We also did a couple of conformation shots... River didn't want to hold still, so they didn't turn out very well.
He's much better looking in person, honest.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Stupid Internet
You guys better appreciate this post, my internet is being ridiculous.
Last night River ate his yummy beet pulp and canola oil slop (yeah, my mouth is watering too... *gag*) while I groomed him. He was a very good boy until I started brushing high on the inside of his hind legs. I mean, yeah, we don't know each other that well yet and I suppose it was a little close to his junk, but still... So I brushed, he picked up his leg, I smacked him and yelled at him, he put it back down. Brushed again, he picked up the *opposite* leg. Clever boy! I let it go. He knew he wasn't allowed to pick up the leg next to me and he didn't... good enough (for now, anyway).
Also, fun stuff. It's fun to have a horse named River Mountain Rd. Especially when you call him River or Riv. Because then when he's naughty, you can say "River Mountain Rd!" Like "Martin Albert Fischbein!" Say it out loud like you're scolding someone, it's fun! You know River is in trouble if I use his full name. And then I'm not even annoyed at him for being naughty because saying "River Mountain Rd!" makes me giggle.
He's really starting to relax more now. Last night after he was done eating, he was looking for bits of dropped food on the floor of the stall. Then he picked his head up and clobbered himself on the bucket hanging on the wall. River on Day One or Two would have had an OMG moment. River Today (well, yesterday, but whatever) barely blinked.
Today was a big, big, big day! (Hunger Games, anyone? Awesome books, if you haven't read them yet, DO IT!) It was Mane Pulling Day. I wanted to procrastinate, but River is getting a massage tomorrow and I figured I should do his mane and induce any stiffness/soreness/tension now so it can get massaged out.
You may recognize this picture from a couple days ago. It's River's mane in training braids. Notice how repulsively thick and long it is:
Ew. This is one of those manes that you look at and are like "oh man, this is going to take hours to do." And being an idiot, I forgot to hunt down a pulling comb. I had to give it a go using plastic mane comb (pink, of course!). Last time I pulled a mane using one of those, the mane ate 3/4 of the comb.
Imagine my shock when 20 minutes later, I had this:
Ahhhh! OMG!!!! It pulled easily! You know how sometimes you can only pull about 3 hairs at a time and even then you have to use your whole weight to do it? River's mane is the opposite. A-flippin'-mazing.
This is what we had at the end.
And then I remembered that I'd forgotten to add flax seed to his beet pulp/oil slop, so I went next door to mix it up. I was extra nice and added some peppermints to the mess. River heard the peppermints being unwrapped and got very excited.
You just want to grab him and snuggle, don't you?
Yum!
River is so darn lucky to have me. Because I'm NICE. I went to a Christmas raffle tonight and there were candy canes at every seat.. I got as many as I could for River.
Nahhhhh, he's not spoiled...
Last night River ate his yummy beet pulp and canola oil slop (yeah, my mouth is watering too... *gag*) while I groomed him. He was a very good boy until I started brushing high on the inside of his hind legs. I mean, yeah, we don't know each other that well yet and I suppose it was a little close to his junk, but still... So I brushed, he picked up his leg, I smacked him and yelled at him, he put it back down. Brushed again, he picked up the *opposite* leg. Clever boy! I let it go. He knew he wasn't allowed to pick up the leg next to me and he didn't... good enough (for now, anyway).
Also, fun stuff. It's fun to have a horse named River Mountain Rd. Especially when you call him River or Riv. Because then when he's naughty, you can say "River Mountain Rd!" Like "Martin Albert Fischbein!" Say it out loud like you're scolding someone, it's fun! You know River is in trouble if I use his full name. And then I'm not even annoyed at him for being naughty because saying "River Mountain Rd!" makes me giggle.
He's really starting to relax more now. Last night after he was done eating, he was looking for bits of dropped food on the floor of the stall. Then he picked his head up and clobbered himself on the bucket hanging on the wall. River on Day One or Two would have had an OMG moment. River Today (well, yesterday, but whatever) barely blinked.
Today was a big, big, big day! (Hunger Games, anyone? Awesome books, if you haven't read them yet, DO IT!) It was Mane Pulling Day. I wanted to procrastinate, but River is getting a massage tomorrow and I figured I should do his mane and induce any stiffness/soreness/tension now so it can get massaged out.
You may recognize this picture from a couple days ago. It's River's mane in training braids. Notice how repulsively thick and long it is:
Ew. This is one of those manes that you look at and are like "oh man, this is going to take hours to do." And being an idiot, I forgot to hunt down a pulling comb. I had to give it a go using plastic mane comb (pink, of course!). Last time I pulled a mane using one of those, the mane ate 3/4 of the comb.
Imagine my shock when 20 minutes later, I had this:
Ahhhh! OMG!!!! It pulled easily! You know how sometimes you can only pull about 3 hairs at a time and even then you have to use your whole weight to do it? River's mane is the opposite. A-flippin'-mazing.
This is what we had at the end.
And then I remembered that I'd forgotten to add flax seed to his beet pulp/oil slop, so I went next door to mix it up. I was extra nice and added some peppermints to the mess. River heard the peppermints being unwrapped and got very excited.
You just want to grab him and snuggle, don't you?
Yum!
River is so darn lucky to have me. Because I'm NICE. I went to a Christmas raffle tonight and there were candy canes at every seat.. I got as many as I could for River.
Nahhhhh, he's not spoiled...
Friday, December 2, 2011
He's getting (sort of) brave.
Yesterday I got to see River in the daylight for more than 5 minutes! Woot! He's getting braver with the mares. He doesn't get in their way, but he also doesn't run in fear every time they look at him anymore.
He's friends with a scary mare.
I wasn't kidding about getting him a pink halter....
I love his expression. He's like "are you serious? I don't want anyone to see me in this!"
He's friends with a scary mare.
I wasn't kidding about getting him a pink halter....
I love his expression. He's like "are you serious? I don't want anyone to see me in this!"
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A Brief Soapbox
I have another fun post with pictures planned, but this came up today and I want to make it very clear.
I got River directly off the racetrack. He was free. I did not rescue him. Rescue means the horse was in a bad or dangerous situation. That was not the case with River. Did he need a new career? Yes. But he was not in any danger. He was cared for--not ready to go into the A show ring, but adequately cared for. He was not abused, he was not in danger of going to slaughter, he was not sick or injured. He was simply an older horse who could no longer earn a living racing.
Don't suggest that a horse who comes from the track or didn't cost anything is a rescue. It cheapens the meaning and insults the trainers and grooms. I have nothing but good things to say about River's trainer. I do not believe for a moment that River was ever in danger of a bad ending.
The bottom line: Off the Track =/= Rescue
I got River directly off the racetrack. He was free. I did not rescue him. Rescue means the horse was in a bad or dangerous situation. That was not the case with River. Did he need a new career? Yes. But he was not in any danger. He was cared for--not ready to go into the A show ring, but adequately cared for. He was not abused, he was not in danger of going to slaughter, he was not sick or injured. He was simply an older horse who could no longer earn a living racing.
Don't suggest that a horse who comes from the track or didn't cost anything is a rescue. It cheapens the meaning and insults the trainers and grooms. I have nothing but good things to say about River's trainer. I do not believe for a moment that River was ever in danger of a bad ending.
The bottom line: Off the Track =/= Rescue
Oh, River...
Suppose you have a Thoroughbred gelding in the prime of his life. He's been running hard for a decade. Now suppose you give him a nice home on a farm and some time to settle in. Suppose he was then integrated into a turnout group. Three other horses.
Mares.
If you're like me, you're supposing "wow, what a lucky boy getting his own personal harem! And hey, 2 of those mares had babies this year, so you know they're easy!" Reasonable, right? Boy horse (well, mostly a boy) + mare + mare + mare = Big Stallion in the Paddock. Obviously.
Unless, of course, that gelding happens to be River.
In which case, the gelding is (forgive the language) completely pussy whipped. Go out to the gate to get River, who eagerly comes up for attention. Enter Chestnut Thoroughbred Mare paddock left. CTM walks up, River scampers away from her. Admitting defeat, I get the mare and bring her in. Go back for River who is able to escape before any other mares get too close. When he and mare are done eating, mare goes back out first and I grab River. Open the gate, step in, and a different mare approaches. River scurries backward. Shall we dance? I step forward, River steps forward, mare steps forward, River runs in fear, rinse and repeat.
I end up being River's savior and shooed away the mare long enough for River to attempt reentry. He made it in with nothing but his dignity damaged. Phew.
Oh, River... you are something special. I won't even feel bad when I find you the perfect pink halter. Those mares have already completely emasculated you; maybe you can win their respect with impeccable taste in fashion. I think it's going to be your only hope.
Mares.
If you're like me, you're supposing "wow, what a lucky boy getting his own personal harem! And hey, 2 of those mares had babies this year, so you know they're easy!" Reasonable, right? Boy horse (well, mostly a boy) + mare + mare + mare = Big Stallion in the Paddock. Obviously.
Unless, of course, that gelding happens to be River.
In which case, the gelding is (forgive the language) completely pussy whipped. Go out to the gate to get River, who eagerly comes up for attention. Enter Chestnut Thoroughbred Mare paddock left. CTM walks up, River scampers away from her. Admitting defeat, I get the mare and bring her in. Go back for River who is able to escape before any other mares get too close. When he and mare are done eating, mare goes back out first and I grab River. Open the gate, step in, and a different mare approaches. River scurries backward. Shall we dance? I step forward, River steps forward, mare steps forward, River runs in fear, rinse and repeat.
I end up being River's savior and shooed away the mare long enough for River to attempt reentry. He made it in with nothing but his dignity damaged. Phew.
Oh, River... you are something special. I won't even feel bad when I find you the perfect pink halter. Those mares have already completely emasculated you; maybe you can win their respect with impeccable taste in fashion. I think it's going to be your only hope.
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