Am I hallucinating?

I know I'm horse obsessed...but literally the horse was EVERYWHERE this weekend when I went home to Evanston, to visit my family

This sculpture is showcased downtown E-town and part of Northwestern's Campus.

I'm pretty sure I randomly saw this artists work, while strolling around London a couple years ago too

 It's just gorgeous and so well done

It...He...She..seems to move as you walk around it

 Oh Laz..I missed you this weekend!

Yes, I patted the sculpture's muzzle as I walked by

I think the artist would feel honored

This is my photo of a store front in London, in Feb of 2009

Seems like it could be the same artist.  What are the odds?!

Pretty cool that this stick horse keeps following me around the world.

 And on Sunday, on our way into the city for my MUCH needed Dim Sum request of brunch craving, I saw the Field Museum lite up in a glory of HORSE!

I literally screamed "WHAAAAT?! is that!????!!!!" What's going on there?!"

My Dad yanked out his iphone quickly so we could snap photos for my blog. 

Thanks Mom for your skill with Dad's phone and promptly emailed the images to me

 Then I kept seeing these banners hung everywhere in the city....so cool

 We took this cruddy picture heading back home after brunch on Lake Shore Drive (as you can tell from rear window) but the glory of "The HORSE" was awesomely displayed in that beautiful museum front.

You can click HERE for more about the exhibit!

I plan on going for sure, when I return to Chicago in about a month!

 The exhibit thankfully is up until August, I was so worried it would be gone by the time I got back.

Can't wait!!!!!

Lastly...when shopping around downtown Etown, we went into this cool rock store when my eyes, of course, were drawn to this rock.

Obviously has a new home in my home.

I can't wait to see my real horse tomorrow!!!

"Gooooooood Booooooooy"

I must have said that to Laz a thousand times during our ride yesterday.

Why? 

Duh...he's a damn good boy.

The funny thing, he literally knows what I'm saying.  He equates it to something good because he's whole body language relaxes and comprehends that he did something correct.

Isn't it sometimes insane how much they learn from us?
Words, phrases, body langauge, etc.  Even the act of kissing their muzzle...how they know and allow it, to be something of a nice act, is so sweet.  

I don't know when I saw a horse last kiss anything horse or say "Hey..Good boy!" ;)

 Laz's double mane...I may channel the look of endurance Arab's and make long braids for this summer

"You gunna do what???!! Braidz are for girlz Mom! I iz razehorz"

 Furry ears are always watching Pine tree of death (on left) for hiding killer rabbits, laser zapping butterflies and horse slicing sparrows

 Mason walked with us our entire ride in the arena.

"When is we gunna go dirtz road walkin so I can rollz in yummie mudz?????"

 Long relaxed boy

 The ride:

45 minutes of walking, trotting intervals of circles, around arena, over ground poles, walking, transitions and surprise canters.  I suspect the canter was the easier choice as it came out during our later trot work and he was getting tired.  I rode it for about 4 beats in each direction.  He transitioned to a calm walk after each time and was angelic. No bucking or head tossing that sometimes comes with the excitement of a canter.  He was angelic.  The canter...dear god...amazingly rocking horse perfection of smooth delight.  

Ugh.....but I never want to push him into it so when he gave it as an option, instead of putting him back down into a trot (which I also did several times), I just let him rock it out for a few strides.

H.e.a.v.e.n.

After the ride, I massaged him and re-groomed him

He was a sleepy, tired boy.
I like to massage him after a longer ride to help his body

I know he's twisted and screwed up.

I aim to get the Chiro back out in May...but down at the end of the post you'll see why not sooner.

 Sorry for the odd angle, but I was taking pics while massaging his rump, thigh and back with his favorite jelly soft curry

 Gummmmby

Creepy eye lid roll, but total relaxation is a PLUS!

 Two sweet babes who love to play at the barn....and they are getting better around each other, as in no rumpus room, but I always watch out for my sweet Mason

And some very exciting news!

We are hosting a Masterson Method clinic at our barn!!!

Tamara, who you may remember came from Wisconsin to Michigan to give Laz bodywork (amazing amazing stuff!) is coming back to teach us a "hand's on 1-day clinic"

It's going to be on April 30th  and if anyone of you is interested in joining (and can come to Michigan or are already near), please leave a comment and your email and I'll send you info.  

We have only a few remaining spots!

I know Laz will benefit HUGELY from the techniques I'll learn from Tamara!

A horse in the hand

Sun, sun, sun!
LOVE it.

The sunshine makes the cooler than normal temps seem warmer and you can FEEL the sun's warmth.

Someone is shedding like a hot whore in a steambath

It's never ending...but I can't wait until his sleek summer coat

We worked on lunging over two ground poles, trotting in both directions for 10 minutes

Ground tied angel.

He did great, much MUCH better about picking his feet.

After the 10 minutes, he was steamy, nostrils flared red, and we stopped before he got too tired from picking up his feet to stumble. 

He did great

Instead of our road trail walk, I walked him around the property area.

We haven't done this alone yet.

He leaped forward when he heard the dogs rustling in the woods. 

I know, he knew it was the dogs but I think his anxiety just got the best of him.  He quickly started licking and lowered his head like "oops, sorry...just kidding."

Looking back at the other horses for reassurance

It's hard to tell in this picture, but it's like a major cliff. The other side of the dirt, is a drop off.

Eeeks.
I'm not a fan of walking by...I HATE heights.

Little white rimmed eye peeking through, not entirely sure

The dogs race down this hill..it's a steep hill regardless of how tiny and inviting it looks in the photo.

If you were to sled down it, you would FLY

Laz got a little amped up when walking..WALKING..down it.

I had to remind him "WAAAALK" otherwise I had visions of me getting yanked down, right into the hot fencing.  But..we didn't

My goal is to have Laz comfortable with our trail walks in hand, and splash in rides in between to gain confidence for us both.

Visiting Stormy, his Polish Arab buddy.  Stormy nickered to Laz the sweetest girliest nicker

Fatty gets his beet pulp and Carly likes to eat the slob's leftovers

And after Laz, it was Wicked's turn.

We did lunging over the poles and major grooming.

This boy sheds

He finally allowed me to pick all four hooves without yanking his little goat legs away. It's amazing what a carrot nibs will teach a pony.

"I nots a hunder jumpers poneee, I dontz wannaz workz in there...NO more!!!"

Sunshine babes

March 25th-My bday

I turned 34 and played hookie for part of the day to go and see my Laz Star 

(and though not legally mine, but mine through pony luv-Little Chief)

Even though Spring is trying to come, it's still in the 30's but in the sun, it feels like 50's.

It's bright and warm.

I got to the barn shortly after their breakfast, and during nap time part I of I'm sure IIII

Spoiled babies, and rightfully so

 Even wicked ponies are cuddly cute when laying down

 Laz was filthy...always. I swear he's only clean the few hours I'm with him.

He was a sleeeepy man and thoroughly enjoyed his grooming session.

He's been a bit off lately with his RR and showing signs of 'ouch' so I rode him only at the walk.

We did some arena work, and then trail rode around the farm property and out on the road for a few house's length and back.  I wanted a nice bday hack and he gave it to me.

 When I dismounted, he was much more alert so I decided to hand walk him some more.

I figured he could handle it, the road was soft and squishy footing and I wasn't on his back.

Mason: "anyone need a tire?"

 Glamor shot.

This was as clean as I could get him.
He's dusty...DUSTY. Needs a bath so badly.

 After our 1 mile walk, he came back and decided he wasn't going to miss out on nap time. The whole barn was quiet and it was peaceful.

He quickly went into a REM state, where his chin dropped on the ground and he started quivering.

Awww

 And then playful Sawyer went up to sniff and I think wanted to lay down next to him (b/c he plopped down one second later) but Laz didn't 100% trust him or his request and whipped himself up.

 And this...have you ever had a Valomilk?
They are from the early 1900's and I heard about it NPR and thus the craving and needing to find one to eat began...

 They are oooozing with marshmellowy liquidness of deliciousness.
SLURP!

Does not disappoint!

Messy and sticky and everything a good candy bar should be.

Eat.in.private.

Don't look at calories or fat...just eat and love it.

 ***

Saturday.  

Deja vu!

Obviously Laz has a fave napping area.

 Awww my humpless camel babe

 He is so comfortable with me walking up to him when laying down, it's awesome. It makes me feel I generate a trusting vibe to him.  He allowed me to rub rub rub his belly and laid flat out and stretched and moaned.

I walked back inside to grab his halter/lead and found the littlest inside rubbing his itchy spots on a water bucket holder

"ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes!!!!!"

 "What? I itz"

 So..I grabbed the mini first (who we now think has Shetland in him) and groomed the bejesus out of him.

And worked his fat little self.

I lunged him flat, and over a raised cavaletti and one on the ground.

He did great and is very careful about his little feet

 Future H/J poneeee

 He also had a mini-melt down and started rearing and decided he was DONE working and then went to galloping around like a mini maniac and trying to rip my arm out of socket.  I let him carry on and made him trot 3 circles in each direction nicely before we quit for the day. I hand walked him around the arena (b/c he needs manners when leading too) and re-groomed him again.  He ended it as a nice pony.

We want to train him to be child safe. 

Right now...he's a child killer, lol!

***

Next up...my sore??? limping all week, Laz?

Just when I'm about to pick up the phone in a panic and call Cliff  "He's SO sore!" Laz goes to a beautiful trot and wanting to play and looking amazing.

wtf?

Whatever, I'll take it.

Maybe he was muscle sore? Who knows but on Saturday he was moving beautifully.

We did ground work only b/c I didn't want to push it, but I had him trotting over ground poles to help with back/belly and stifle muscling.

He did great but he's not so graceful and likes to hit the poles with EVERY foot.

Come on...lazy! ;)

He had fun free lunging and would race around and then coming flying up to me, stop and nuzzle for a carrot. 

HA! 

Ok...he got it.

 The BO and I took the horses (Sawyer and Laz) down the road again (my new favorite b/c I get to exercise both Laz and myself) for a mile walk.

Mason doing is best mud otter impression.

Really?

He stinks...now I have 2 babies that are in need of a serious bath.

 Laz nibbling the spring grass.

Only a teeeeny tiny bit.

It's CHOCK full of sugars now so I can't allow it.....sigh

Only one major freak out when one of the neighbors was raking up by his garage.
Laz swore it was Freddy Krueger and wanted NOTHING to do with him.

We walked the horses up so they could meet the man and Laz horn snorted the entire time and grew to be 19h's tall.  He ended up calming down but not entirely.

My goal is to continue ride/hand walk him down the road so it's as comfortable to him as the arena is.

Overall, they did great though.

Back home-lunch time

 The two besties eat together

 Laz was soooo sleepy, he kept yawning, and eating.

His eyes are so expressive...I can basically tell his mood just from his eyes.

I'm sure he had a great nap after I left.