4/10/10 - Multi District Judging Contest

5:30 comes a BIT to early when you go to bed at 11 or 11:30, huh? YEAH, it does!

Got the kiddos up so we could be dressed and out the hotel door by 6:30 for breakfast.
6:35 we walked out of the hotel room, truck re 'packed' with all our 'stuff'. Good deal!

Breakfast....hummmmm...yeah..........should have been described as 'small town' instead of continental!!

Headed out to the judging contest about 7.......found it easy enough with good directions and the GPS.

Arrived at 7:25 and got the kiddos checked in, sat down to go over patters, wrote patterns in our judging sheets and wished them well. The weather was bit chilly....kiddos we lucky enough to be wearing blazers! As this was the MULTIDISTRICT contest there were a LOT of kiddos there. Parents/Coaches usually get the last set of bleachers, but only got 1/2 of the bleachers this time as we had to move down to make room for the kids. THE NERVE!

(we interrupt this post for a special news bulletin - co-worker brings her scanner to work....we get to hear local county calls.....guy got pulled over....has 2 warrants....cop taking him in. Guy wants to cop to call 'friend' to come get his car so it's not towed. Guy gives dispatcher a number.......dispatcher calls...no answer....... Guy gives another number......no answer..... guy gives ANOTHER number.......dispatcher gets someone on the like....we'll call her Veronica.....dispatcher advises officer SHE DOESN'T HAVE A LICENSE!!!! OMG, how STUPID is the 'guy' in question?? Gives one final number, and if I were cop/dispatcher I'd be tellin 'guy' he ran outta phone calls, gets someone who says they will try to come. Is that stuff crazy or what??)

We now return to our regularly scheduled blog post

So, we sit through 3.5 hours of judging. MOST of the horses we nice. There were some obvious show horses, and some back yard ponies. The halter classes we performance halter, not 'halter halter' and the kiddos, believe it or not had a tough time with that. Out of 8 classes I got 4 100% correct. The other 4 were a mix of one off.....and a lot off! Jr and Intermediate kiddos were supposed to be dismissed while Sr kiddos had to stay and prepare reasons. OR SO WE THOUGHT! They then announce that DISTRICT 11 INTERMEDIATE kiddos have to give reasons! WHAT? no one told me anything! Only 1 of my 3 intermediate kiddos had even practiced reasons!! OK, whatever. They all stayed up there and toughed it out. Good Job Girls! And, believe it or not....the 2 that had no idea what they were doing placed WELL in reasons! WOW! :)
1:30 rolls around and the younger kiddos are done. I'm still waiting on my Sr. The 2 parents that were there decide to take the younger ones off to get lunch and bring back something for Sr member and me.
So I wait......
and I didn't have to wait long and my Sr came strolling out of the arena. She felt confident she did well....not great....but well. That, was good!
I started checking http://www.judgingcard.com/ for results.....nothing......nothing...nothing....and still nothing!
FINALLY........the FFA results were up (they don't do reasons). If nothing else I could get official placings off there to compare against my kiddos.
Got 'em. Sr did well. 4 classes perfect. Others just a bit off........
So...we wait....and we wait......and lunch gets back.....and we eat....and we wait....and we wait.....
3:30 rolls around. I look at one of the parents (my co-coach on the Victoria Team) and tell her that I hate to do it...but I'm going to have to leave soon. DH left early that morning for class and I have critters who have been penned up for hours.....need to leave by 4 at latest....probably should have left already....
so we wait a bit more......
4pm rolls around......other parent and her kiddo head out.....I decided to do the same. I felt bad that the kiddos wouldn't get ribbons right there......but I'd given a lot of my time for this event and had to head home to take care of critters.
I'd 'lent' my tailgate to some folks looking for a place to sit. I walked up and told them 'sorry but we need to head out'.....they moaned and groaned in good humor and hopped off the tailgate so I could shut it.
I had opened the truck door, and had my right foot up in the cab....I was about to hoist myself inside when our District 11 Truck pulled back in. DRAT! I should have tried leaving sooner! Frantic call to the mom who'd just left got her turned around and headed our way...she was only about 5 mins out. She got back just in time for the awards to start.
Team awards first.....neither of my groups were a full team.....although we'd signed the Victoria kiddos up as a team....so....they placed as a team! They got 3rd!
Neither of the JR or Intermediate kiddos got individual awards. They placed JUST out of the ribbons.....
My ONE AND ONLY Senior on the other hand.......she won the District 11 High Point Individual Senior award. She was SHOCKED, I was proud! And she didn't just win by a point or two...her score was 467 (out of 500)!!!! The 2nd place Sr....score of 418.......my kiddo won by like 49 points!!! It was a great end to a long day! There are 2 other counties that usually beat my kids. They have been doing it much longer than we have. It was nice for her to win for a change. I know it's not all about winning, but it sure feels good when you do! Glad they got to get their awards in person, it's soooo much nicer like that!

Congrats to all my kiddos!
We headed home, and made it back to Victoria around 7, putting me home at 8.
What a day!

Not Much Going On here.........

It's been a busy weekend.....with some blog-worthy stuff going on.

Some stuff going on with my in-laws....but nothing that I can blog about....it's a bit tooooo personal. SO, that stuff took up Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday was a pretty normal day at work.....but I left early to take 2 judging teams to a horse judging contest.

Left P.L. about 4:30 and got to C.S. around 8. I LOVE driving......NOT!

Contest was Saturday, so we all had to get up early and throw some food down our bellies and head to the arena. - I will blog in detail tomorrow.

Sunday I threw all the furniture out of my living room and steam cleaned the carpet there and in the hall.
It looks better!!!!
Cleaned the kitchen too!

What a weekend! Nothing horse related though!!

Houston, we have a........change

a BIG change.

I'm NOT talking about a Political Change, or a change in Religion, or even a change of under garments (which I promise happens every day).

I'm talking about a Change in Equestrian Discipline.

It has been my dream since I was a young child to ride at the AQHA or APHA world show and win the garland of flowers, and the trophy, and the medal and all the hoopla that goes along with it.

However. I've learned some HARD lessons as I've gotten older, and wiser. Horse showing at the 'majors' is A - Political and B - Expensive and C - up to individual opinion!

I have a problem and A and C. I can understand B. All hobbies are expensive! So, since I don't see winning the lottery in sight so that I can go drop 20k PLUS on a fancy horse, 5k on a show saddle, another K plus on outfit, hat, boots, bridle and all that other 'stuff' that is required......I'm going to take a different route.

My Options?

Speed Queen. This is comical! Speed Queen I am not. Maybe if I were 12 again, and fearless. BUT, riding all out and a 1/2 crazed horse around 3 cans or around 6 or 7 poles is NOT my idea of a good time. Count ME OUT

Cattle Barron - ok....so.... There are a couple options here.

Roping - Swing a rope WHILE the horse comes BUSTING out of the box and try to catch heels or horns. NO thanks! I don't think I'll enjoy giving a little bitty ole calf whip lash! And, again, the SPEED factor......no thanks!

Cutting/Working cow - Chase the cow, Chase the cow, Chase the cow......turn the cow, turn the cow, turn the cow.....circle the cow, turn the cow, circle the cow....DONE! Ummm yeah....I don't think I'll take the chance of the horse TRIPPING over the cow! No thanks, AGAIN.

Open Shows - For sure an option. Spend lots of time/money running around to 'local' open stuff for........what? A tiny ribbon? A cheaply made year end saddle if you pay dues, work for the group, and spend all day (8 am to 10pm) showing in every class imaginable so you can 'chase the saddle'. No thanks. I know some nice people who show at open shows....but I also know there are soooo many very NOVICE horse owners who don't know the first thing about showing or proper show turn out at those shows. They THINK they are doing the right thing and won't listen if you try to offer help. The 'back yard' type, if you will. I know that sounds mean, but I'm NOT going to put myself or my horse in an arena with a novice rider who can't control their mount. NOPE. Sorry. Nothing doing!

Jumpers - Did I mention I'm afraid of heights? Yeah, I am! a 16h horse is tall ENOUGH without going over a 5 foot Oxer with a 6 foot spread! NOPE

Eventing - 3 phases - Dressage, Stadium, and Cross Country - I like dressage, and once I get back in the saddle, get in shape, lose some LBS stadium and cross country might be a possibility. I'm going to keep this on the back burner.

I know I'm leaving out things like endurance racing, extreme cowboy race, reining, polo, and some others.....I just can't write about them all!

So......what have I decided to throw my equine energy?

Dressage! Yep, it's true. I feel ANY horse can do your basic Dressage. No reason I can't get through Green as Grass, Into, and Training with one of the horses I have now. Now, when I am ready to move on to 1st level plus.....I may need to move on to a different mount. BUT, until then.....I'm Dressage arena bound. I'd better brush up on my alphabet too!

With Dressage, you are judged on your ride, ALONE. You aren't in the arena with a horse that may move better than you, or a rider who may have a more glam outfit. You are judged on how well you ride your test, period. YES, there are maneuvers you are supposed to perform, and as long as you perform them well, your score will reflect that. There are judges that are tougher than others.....but that just takes showing to then a time or two, or asking around and finding out who those tough judges are......and then not taking a lower score to heart!

And YES, when I get my bootie back in shape, I full intend on getting in a hunt saddle and starting to hop over fences. That may require a new horse....as Casper doesn't JUMP.

My GOAL? Get in 2 or 3 schooling shows this year. It's only April....should be do-able! Get in the arena, get a few shows under my belt......and then....

Next year? Go for a schooling show championship :) at Green as Grass/Intro level.

So.......anyone else contemplating a change in the equine adventures? If so....I'd love to hear about it! What's making you change? What are you changing to?

I hope no one is mad for the use of their photos! Thanks!

Friday Fill Ins

Since I didn't do mine LAST Friday....here are LAST FRIDAY's fill ins!


1. The right word is not always the first one that comes to mind.

2. OPEN and shut the door quietly, please.

3. Up up and away says my pony as we clear the fence!

4. Enjoying my long weekend is where you'll find me.

5. Ooh! What is that on the clock, a 5? Time to go! (I wish)

6. Swapping the Work Week and the WEEEKEND is a good idea.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to My HUBBY not having school, tomorrow my plans include work and Sunday, I want to Chillax!!!

Cooking 101, 202, and 303!

Soooooo....I've found myself feeling very "domestic" this week. I know, how funny is that!
I use to love to cook! I'd cook for all 3 working students at the Barn I managed in MD as long as they'd clean up! Hated clean up!

I've gotten OUT of the cooking habit lately. I'd stop and grab something on the way home...or throw a pizza in oven when I got home....mac and cheese with hamburger meat (dh loves that one)......but NO real COOKING!

Let me see if I can recreate my menu this week for you all to try....

MONDAY - Homemade Chicken 'helper'
4 med ckn breasts
1/2 bag no yolks egg noodles (yum)
1 can cream of mushroom soup w/ 1/2 can water
Seasonings you enjoy
I use - Krazy Jane and Mrs Dash

Cook ckn in pan with olive oil and set aside when cooked fully!
boil noodles
drain noodles
Put noodles in deep frying type pan with a bit of butter and add soup/water and blend well
add chicken when well blended
season to tast....and viola! YUMMY!
I also warmed up some veggies.....corn I think!
It was good!

TUESDAY - Pork Loin, Green Bean Casserole, Brown Rice
Oh My Gosh...i didn't know this was going to be SOOOOO yummy!
Sunday night I took out a Pork Loin I'd gotten on sale from the freezer. Wasn't quite thawed out Monday...so I left it in the fridge and made Ckn stuff above! Tuesday however....Pork time!

Green Bean Casserole
2 cans green beans
1 can cream mushroom
those funky 'onion' things
Mix soup with 1 can water in glass baking dish - then add beans and mix well - add in about 1/2 c onion things - bake at 350 (i think) for about 25-30 mins - then top with about another 1/2 to 1 c of onion things and bake about 15 mins
I hated, HATED this when I was little....now I LOVE IT!

While that's baking take

1 Pork Loin
Seasonings (again, Krazy Jane and Mrs Dash's sun dried tomato and basil this time)
1 skillet on low/med heat (4 on my electric range I think) and some olive oil and the seasonings
I covered the up side of the loin with seasonings
I cooked it on low in the skillet turning every few minutes so it didn't get burnt
about 35-40 mins into cooking i cut 3 slits in the bottom and cooked 'bottom side' up for about 15 more mins
It smelled soooo good that I couldn't wait for DH to get home at 11pm to eat dinner...I had to have some!
It was sooooo moist and juicy...WOW!

Rice
ok......I'm going to tell you.....
I CHEAT when it comes to Rice!
I use the uncles Ben's microwave bag......tastes GREAT ready in about 2 mins in my small takes forever to warm anything up microwave....

What a good meal....super YUMMY!

Wednesday - how in the heck do I top Tuesday?
MEXICAN FOOD!

Meat
1 lb 93% lean ground beef
1/4 c chopped onion
1 garlic clove
krazy jane and mrs dash (can you tell i LOVE them?)
brown in skillet and leave on low to keep warm

Rice
UNCLE BEN'S SPANISH STYLE
MICRO when ready to eat

Re fried Beans
1 can - warm - add seasoning to taste

I also made home made PICO
1 tomato
1/4 c onion
1 clove garlic
and some Basil
salt/pepper to taste
crushed red pepper

DH loves PICO...I do not....he ate it....said VERY good :)

and.....drum roll please.....
Avocado Dip - I loves this stuffs!
2 ripe avocados pealed and pitted and put in food processor
I added some garlic - salt/pepper - and some mrs dash to season
topped with a little bit of diced tomato

Don't forget to warm up those tortilla before you eat....
FOLKS......SUPER YUMMY!

What on the menu for tonight? I have NO IDEA!
Let me know if you try those....or have any awesome recipe's you'd love to share!

This is SOOOO CooL

Don't tell me your age; you'd probably lie anyway-but the Hershey Man will know!

This is pretty neat.DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST! It takes less than a minute ... Work this out as you read ... Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out! This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1760 .. If you haven't, add 1759..

6... Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are.........

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2010) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS. Chocolate Calculator

Please send good vibes!

Jen over at Hunter In Training is a BIT (exscuse the pun) under the weather! I'm sure she's love some good vibes being sent her direction!

Speedy Recovery, Jen.......Ransom's calling!

Sometimes.........

MORE FUGLY!

Her comment back to me

"I posted the link to the whole article – it’s there for people to read. I can’t republish the whole thing or I’d be infringing upon her copyright. I can only bring out quotes for the purpose of reviewing it which is what I did." - Direct from Fugly Blog -


She then added "And sometimes it is the tool. For example, would you say a cattle prod is OK to use on a horse in the right hands?"

My Reply -



OK, I understand about not being able to post the whole article for copyright reasons. BUT, when people DO read what you do post on here, they seem to have 'blinders' on and just go off on a rant without reading the entire article. Maybe if you post a bit of the rest of the article, without posting the WHOLE thing it could give people a better feel of the entire story, not just the blurb that sounds bad. I know, people should take time to read the WHOLE article, like I did. BUT, horse/animal welfare in general is a 'hot button' issue and sometimes people just jump the gun when they hear something bad. AND to ALL of the people that read FUGLY, PLEASE CLICK ON HER LINK TO THE ENTIRE STORY and process it before 'jumping the gun'

You could have come to my house last year and taken a photo of a horse who was in such bad shape that most of your followers here would have called me all sorts of bad names, called animal control and tried to get me arrested or something. HOWEVER, when people would have gotten THE WHOLE story, straight from the horses' mouth so to speak they would have learned that the horse was a horse that I was 'responsible' for bringing into this world, and felt that I had to help because I was the 'reason' he was in the shape he was in. Let me explain. I owned the momma and daddy, and when my ex and I split the foal was left with my ex. My ex then sold him to a friend, who sold him to a friend of his who starved him to NEAR DEATH and sold him to some people my DH and I know. Those people gave him to us because they didnt know what to do with him. It took almost a year to get him back in good looking condition. BUT, had a photo gotten out.....see how that could have been a mess?

You could drive by a dressage rider using a dressage whip correctly and whipped out your cell phone taken a video clip and posted it on youtube and said that the rider was beating her horse. People would jump all over her! It's crazy! Totally nuts.

AND yes, I believe you can use a cattle prod in a way that doesn't cause 'harm'. You don't HAVE to hit the button that causes the spark, do you? You don't HAVE To put a battery in it to make that electric shock possible! Use it as you would a 'carrot stick' or lunge whip....just an extension of your arm. You don't have to use the shock part of the 'tool'.

Wasn't saying YOU, Cathy have ever rope burned a horse using your 'trailer method', but, give that 'tool' to SOME PEOPLE and that horse would be in a world of hurt!!
It's all about HOW you use it, not WHAT you are using.

More FUGLY!

I can't help it.....this woman KILLS me! Check out HER post...... Check out the ENTIRE post she references a snippit of....and here is my post on FUGLY's BLOG.


- I see lots of people saying "that's too harsh" or "that's too mean". There are MANY 'tools' suggested here that can be JUST as mean. To me, it's NOT the tool itself, but how you use it.

You can take a Stud Chain and in the wrong hands it can leave perm. scars on a horses face, or better yet, my poor stallion (who is the sweetest on the planet) bumps on the bones in their faces that DO NOT go away.

A spur can be used the proper way, or it can be dug into the horses side until it's raw and bleeding. That goes for ENGLISH as well as WESTERN spurs.

A whip can be used in a mild manner, or it can be used to whip a horse into a bloody mess.

That BUTT ROPE suggested by FUGYL in a prior comment......ummm ROPE burn anyone? I wouldn't call that HUMANE either!

And let's NOT even get started on some of those bits out there!!! You can take the nicest bit, and make a horses mouth bloody and sore. OR, you can take a more harsh bit, and when ridden with soft hands and a good seat have little ill effect on your horse.

And for that matter, something with OUT a bit!!! A bosal! Ever seen a horses face bloody from it's misuse?

People, it's not so much the TOOL it's how it's USED.

I went to Julie's site and read the WHOLE article, not just the little snippit that was mentioned in this post.

She also says - Many people are initially turned off by this approach—I suppose thinking it is cruel or too harsh. But in my opinion, in certain circumstances, it is the most humane approach. I know of a horse who has now kicked and killed two horses by kicking them and breaking their legs. Then, take the case of a stall kicker—whose behavior can cause him serious injury and is destructive to property (and may result in him being evicted from a boarding barn). The most common training technique for this vice is to hang “kicking chains” on the horse’s hind legs which wrap him in the legs every time he kicks (and bumps his legs every time he moves). It will discourage him from kicking but you have to leave the chains on forever—not a very nice thing for the horse. Whereas one or two sessions with the shock collar would permanently cure him of stall kicking and prevent him from injury.

She's NOT telling the people to go out and buy a shock collar and shock the crap out of their horse. She's suggesting it as an 'end of the line' option if you will. Please, FUGLY, post the WHOLE story for people to read, not JUSt that part when taken by itself looks like she's telling them to go out and shock the crap out of their equine!

Day 3, PM

Arrived back at the RANCH and quickly changed into my 'ranch clothes' and ran outside, letting the dogs out with me.

I hauled butt (on the 4-wheeler) over to the goat pen to check on the goats.
There was a 'white mucus like substance' on the pygmy's backside. HUMMMMM? Are you thinking baby goat?? I am! Penned her up and fed her.....
GREAT! Another "kid" issue.
And, I was a bit bummed because they are H's babies, not mine and I know she wants to be there when they are born. O' Natural, or otherwise!

Went back to the house, talked to H. Told her update. She said 'don't be afraid to take her to the vet if need be'. I assured her I would, but was going to keep an eye on her for a bit first.

Called the vet, just to be on the safe side and give him a heads up.

Went about normal chores.....fed dogs, horses, and the rest of the goat.
Made dinner....
Went out about every hour to check on the goat till about 10:30.
She hadn't changed. Nothing else coming out the 'back end'. No laying down, no contractions.

I settled for a quick shower and hit the hay about 11:30ish.....
Still LOVE the bed...and the shower!

Day 3, AM

What is this? The doggies let me sleep in till my alarm? HOW NICE! Thanks Maxie and Bella!

Very uneventful morning.
ALL the animals are fine.

Got some neat photos of the peacock again. He's gorgeous! His tail is about as long as I am tall....almost 6 feet! He's amazing to watch!

Really, nothing to report this morning. No goat drama, no Dusty drama. All is well at the Ranch!
:)

I really don't know if I can leave this bed and shower! It's amazing!

2nd Day at Ka (razy) Ranch, PM

Pretty stressful day at work, was looking forward to getting back to the Ranch.

Called and checked on Starskey and the Kid mid morning and was told they were doing well :)

Maxie and Bella were HAPPY to see me to say the LEAST! They are not use to being home all day alone. They are use to people at the house! Maxie got her bone before I left, and I turned the TV to a radio station.

Bella and Maxie ran outside. I ran inside and changed out of my work clothes.
I hopped on the 4-Wheeler and took off to the barn. It's so nice at the ranch. I'll have to post some photos. It's big and open and 'fresh' if you know what I mean.
Fed the horses, birds, and goats. I checked the pygmy goat that was pregnant and ready to pop and all looked well, THANK GOODNESS! :)
Raced back to the house to feed the dogs. Bella was more than ready to eat after missing breakfast.
Went back out to the 'barn' and too my camera this time.....eager for some good photo ops. I hope to have some nice photos for H and her hubby when they get back from vacation.

I made something for dinner real quick, soup and sandwich. Munched on that while I watched some TV! They have a BIG Flat screen and satellite TV. Something we don't have at our house!
Yes, people you read that right. We don't have satellite, or cable. No local stuff either. If we watch TV, it's a movie. We are NOT HOME much, and if we are, we are outside or busy inside and turn the radio on.

By this time it was getting dark, and I had to go pen up the goat (Pygmy most prego) and close up the bird pen for the night.
Mission Accomplished! A good night! Better than the first nice! I went to bed EARLY just to sleep in the bed! It is sooooo comfy! I have to find out what type of bed it is because I do NOT need one! Otherwise, I'd be in bed all day!!

2nd day at Ka (razy) Ranch, AM

Maxie and Bella woke me up at 5:45.....they wanted OUT!
Must be potty time. I happily obliged, I know they are big full grown adult dogs and shouldn't potty in the house, but when you've gotta go, you've gatto go!
Out they went.

About 10 mins later, after I'd used the facilities myself and stumbled around the house they were back at the door, ready to come in.
Took them to the back to feed them......Maxie woofed down her food....Bella on the other hand, not so much. She pushed her food around in the bowl, then pushed the bowl around. Not interested.......hummmmm what do I do about that? I figured I'd leave the food down for a while...even though that meant that Maxie might get double breakfast!

I made some coffee, the sky was JUST starting the get lighter on the horizon. Sunrise wasn't for another hour almost......goodness!
Sat in the living room, enjoying the big flat screen TV. The dogs were happy for some AWAKE company!
I'd walked to the kitchen to wash my coffee cup and the dogs started going crazy! They were standing at the front door barking their heads off!
OH lordy, I was thinking, what in the hell could be out there?
I cautiously walked to the door......
and what did I find?
DUSTY, the MINI had walked the cattle guard and was standing on the front porch.
CRUD! She wasn't supposed to be in there!!! The 'house' area is fenced off so the only critters that are supposed to be in there are the cats and dogs.
They is a huge circle drive, and 3 houses.
The main house, where H's mom lives......the 2nd house where H and her hubby live, and a 3rd guest type house. The driveway leading to the 'circle' is about a mile long, if not a bit longer.
That'll give you some idea.
They put metal grating over the cattle guard for the dogs to work over, and, DUSTY the mini figured out how to walk them. GREAT.
I throw my boots on, and out the door I go to try and figure out HOW to get her back in her 'area'.
I don't know the ranch well, yet. It's still pretty dark....about 7am now. I search the immediate fence line for a gate. No luck.
I run to the barn and grab a bucket with some grain. I can COAX her back across, yes?
Picture if you will ME trying to coax a BI*CH of a mini across a place she doesn't want to go. I make piles of food her for to follow.....nothing doing!
I get close enough to entice her and put the bucket in her face and try to coax her, keeping the bucket just in front of her. NO GO.
I squat down and hand feed her a bit, then scooch back a bit....feed her....scooch back. She's about 1/2 way across when she decides to BACK UP and haul butt!
By now, it's about 7:30 and it's light. I go on the hunt for a gate......found one to the right of the barn. Opened it, she followed me right in.
BI*CH! I don't like her, and she doesn't like me. See, Dusty is my husband's mini. She's at the ranch because H wanted a mini donkey baby. So, she turned Dusty out with her Jack, who's a bit on the small side anyway. So...she's big and prego now......yay! But, she's still a BI*CH!

OK....mini problem taken care of! Now, to feed the rest of the critters! I'm in HURRY mode because I SHOULD be leaving for work at 7:45!!!
Feed the MINI and Boo the Arab mare...no problem!
The 'birds' are another story! I'm NOT a fan of BIRDS.......especially Hissing Geese and BIG Tom the Turkey. Tom is sitting on the bucket I need to get to in order to get grain out for the birds! Shoo Tom, Shooo! Tom fluffs his feathers and glares at me. SHoooo tom, SHOOOOO! I nudge him with the end of my mag light! He hops of the barrel and struts outside. Whew!
I feed the birds, and quickly scrape the bird house.....shoveling the poop outside. Leave the big door open, but put the wire back so the horses don't get inside the pen.
Onto the goats!
AMBUSH! They all run to the gate as I go in their pen.
I let the very prego pygmy out, and dump feed in the bowls/buckets. They are happy!

I head to the 4-wheeler, and haul butt back to the house. it's 7:45 when I get back inside. I should be leaving!
I hurry to get cleaned up and dressed and rush out the door at 8am and get into my car that smells like goat!
What a morning!

First Night at the Ka (razy) Ranch

Got back from Port A a bit later than planned. Got there about 5 instead of 4 as I'd hoped.

DH and I went around and checked on Everyone.
Bella and Maxie - Boxer and Mastiff
Boo and Dusty - older Arab mare and mini
Chickens/Peacocks/Ducks/Turkey/ birds etc
Goats - Fainting and Pygmy

Everyone was fine.

Played with dogs for a bit and decided to go feed really quick before DH headed to our place to tend to our critters.
Dogs - what good dogs!

"Horses' - check......they are so well behaved
"BIRDS" - only get fed once a day...CHECK!

Goats -

Pygmy Goat

Fainting Goat

Oh my God. Goats EVERYWHERE! The attack you! Attack you when you try to feed. Them. now, the are SMALL goats ......Fainting and Pygmy.....See photos. So, they aren't knocking me DOWN.......but pointy hooves mid calf will make you step back a step or two.

SO....put down the food bowls....pour some food mixture into each....they start munching. OH, there are 2 spotted Donkey's too. They aren't tame...pretty skittish, really.

One goat (Fainting Goat) will not come out from behind the 'pen' that was built for having the babies. Most of the female goats are in-kid. (LOL - horses are in-foal....goats are in-kid).

Moving right along.....I stare at said goat behind pen......looks kinda.....worried maybe? If a goat can look worried that is!!

Finally, goat turns around and shows me....

Nasty, jelly like almost clear with a slight tint of yellow/green (hard to tell, it was almost 100% clear) 'string' hanging from her backside.

DANG IT!! H (ranch owner) isn't going to be here for this. She REALLY wanted babies on the ground before she left, and now this goat (Starsky, I believe) is going to have this baby the DAY she leaves. BUMMER.

Starsky isn't 100% tame. Are goats EVER really tame? Who knows!

SO....we 'corner her'. DH takes a heavy metal rake (the one with a solid end, not the flimsy end) and kind of 'holds her' (gently) in the corner so I can go in and grab her.

I put her in her 'baby cave'. Give her some hay, and some 'bedding' and fresh water and re-hung the water bucket up off the ground a bit so the KID doesn't decide to go for a swim.

NO pushing, no contractions that I could see, YET. So, Starsky is under the heat lamps to 'chill' LOL and relax. We hang out and watch a bit......slight contraction, with a bit of pushing, about 5 mins apart..... ok, cool.

DH needs to go, so our critters aren't holding their legs crossed to avoid making messes.

Couldn't find the "MULE", 4 wheel variety that is....so I jump on the 4-wheeler under the shed.

DH assists in getting it started, and I'm headed to the house!

Drive back in about an hour (7ish) and check......more pushing, much more strenuous pushing, heavier contractions, more contractions, about less than 4 mins apart.......

The sun is setting......I'm sure we'll have a baby by dark!
Drive back to the house.
Drive back to the barn about 8ish....
Much more pushing.....stressed out goat.....heavier contractions.....YIKES!
The vet's name and number is posted on the side of the feed can......

Now....let me backtrack a bit....my cell phone battery SUCKS! I mean, SUCKS! I can be on it for less than a 2 minute phone call and it will turn off.
LUCKILY, when H put up the heat lamps, she also put in a couple extra plug in ends! YEEHAW! I'd taken my cell charger out there, as I'd noticed the plug ins the first time I was out there :) Observant, huh? :)

SO....plug IN the phone before I call.
I start to DIAL and DH calls. WHAT!
"Whatcha need?"
"Hows the goat" - DH
"Not so good....she's pushing...no feet or nose yet....I'm calling the vet" - Me
"ok, I just talked to H and " - DH
Interrupt "Why did you call H? She's on VACATION! Once I knew something I was going to call her and let her know. No need to WORRY her!" - ME
"I know, but I wanted to let her know all was well and that she should have a baby tonight. She said to call her sister and her sister can have one of the vets call, she's very good friends with one of them." - DH
"I'm calling the vet who's information H left for me....I'll call you back, bye" - Me
Dial vet number......
"Hi, _________ answering service can I help you"
"Hi, this is _______________________ I'm calling on H's fainting goat. She's been in active labor for a while and I don't know much about goats...can you have Dr.W call me please?"
Dr.W called me back.
I relayed the information on the goat to him.

He said "ok, is sounds like she's having trouble and we need to see her. She may need a C-Section. Can you bring her in?"
A GOAT, bring her in? WHAT? NO WAY! I don't have the truck! I have my car! No room for a Goat. Well, ok, it's a hatchback. there is room....and we have carpet down in the back....ok...
"OK, I'm not 100% sure what H wants to do, let me call her QUICKLY and I'll call you right back"
Called H, got the ok to do WHATEVER needed...ok!
Called answering service back...... Tell Dr. W I'm going to bring in the goat. I will call when she's loaded and on my way.

HOW in the HECK to I get the goat from it's PEN to my Car?
It rained, so I can't drive my CAR through the pasture. If I had out 4x4 truck....SURE. But not the Mazda!!
OK, think.....think.....
It's a good...couple 100 yards from the goat pen to the closest place I can get the car in.....
H suggested a dog kennel that's in the barn.....
I checked it....too bit to fit in the back of my car....drat!
ok.....don't wanna pick her up and squish that baby in there.....
SO....right or wrong...the 'best' option I could see was to walk/pull/drag her to the car.

Haul butt on the 4-wheeler to the house.....park.....turn off....get the car!!
Haul butt in the car to the fence. park. throw open the hatch.....run to the goat pen.....
grab the goat..... bleating.....pull the goat (fainting goats faint...their legs lock up and they fall over). So, when she gets 'scared' her legs 'lock up'.

Just picture me.......pulling a small but very pregnant goat with unmoving legs a couple hundred yards, through 2 gates.

Then comes the task of GETTING her in the CAR! Hummm....now what?? Grabbed goat around the middle, behind both front legs and kinda swung the hind end up into the back of my car.
QUICK, slam the door before she runs away!
Hop in the car....drive cautiously but quickly down drive way......
STUPID automatic gate opener! Soooo slow.......dang it.....HURRY! Pull through, finally....stop...wait....press button, nada, press button, nada, press button, success! Gate closing! Wait till almost closed and take of. Called Vet's answering service on way out....letting them know I was on the way/
Now, the 'end' of the driveway is on a steep hill...so take off had to be slow and careful.
Once out on the highway however......look out!! I was NOT about to lose a goat! I was about 20 miles from the vets office....I left the Ranch at 8:30.....pulled INTO the parking lot at 8:45. There are many stops, turns, and twists between the Ranch and the Clinic..... :) Thank goodness the route was trooper/sheriff free!! I'm sure I looked very much like Cruella Deville from 101 Dalmatians while she was driving away!!

I kept looking back and as long as I could see horns....I knew she was still alive! :)

Dr. W met me at the door, and we walked to the back of the car.....he picked up the goat and set her down quickly, she wouldn't comply, so he picked her up and carried her to the exam room. I met vet number 2! So, I got 2 vets! Not a vet and an assistant...both vets were there waiting on Starsky.
Dr. W donned his exam gloves and went "hunting". Found feet, yay! Found nose...yay! All seemed well....but that was a BIG head on that kid, he said.
About 15 mins or so ( I wasn't looking at my watch) of trying to help her have it the natural way, with the other DR and myself keeping her on the table...and he said, I don't think this going happen naturally, H is ok with us doing a C-Section??

A C-SECTION? A C-Section on a goat? GET OUT!
"YES", I informed him, "she said do what ever you needed".
OK, then let me get somethings ready and we'll do that.

I stayed with Starskey while the Dr's got thing ready.

Dr. W came back in, and said everything was ready and I was welcome to come back and watch. AWESOME! One, it just sounded SOOOO neat, and 2...I had to make sure H's goats were ok!
Dr. W laid Starskey on an angled table.....2 pieces of metal table angled at about 90 degrees. it was like 'stuffing her into a taco shell' if you will.
He gave her a sedative.......and went to shaving her belly.
they put a cone on her face, which would provide 'meds' to keep her 'under' during the surgery. HOLLY COW! This was a better set up than some PEOPLE hospitals!
He then injected some lidocaine under the skin in a line from mid belly to just before her udders.
AND THEN......he draped a 'sheet' over her with a square cut out of it. The 'square' went over the area where he was to make the cut. Just like you see them do in the Dr. shows on tv! It was neat!

He made a cut in the first layer of skin....first layer? How many are there? This was the layer the hair was attached to....
Then he cut through the 2nd layer......much thinner layer
AND THEN......the 3rd fatty layer......and he was in!
WOW!
He felt around a bit.....made an incision in her uterus....and pulled out a black ball of ears and hair! What a cutie! SHE had 'salt and pepper' colored ears, and muzzle, a white 'star' on her forehead, and a white marking on her right leg.....i believe, other than that, she's black.

Dr. W than went about the difficult task of putting all the 'placenta and stuff' back inside the uterus while Dr. B went about taking care of the new KID in town!
WHY, i asked?
I was told that you put the placenta and such back inside the uterus so she could pass the 'after birth' naturally. As much as we've messed with her already it's best to let the rest happen as naturally as possible.
WOW, learn something new every day.

Dr. B kept a good eye on the kid, and assisted Dr. W too! Tag team effort!

There were some other 'things' that should be on the INSIDE of her body that were on the OUTSIDE of her body..... I asked...... "and everything else will just go back where it should?" as they moved her from laying on her side, to straight up in the air on her back.
Dr. W said 'YES'. He said amazingly, a goats body will just put itself back to where things should be.
I said "that's amazing. I've had much more experience with horses, and know that if you don't put things back together just right...you are in trouble".
Both vets were in agreement....horses are much more difficult than other animals.

Dr. W Sewed up the uterus......and the skin layers......cleaned up the incision area....and put momma goat down on a towel, while Dr. B grabbed the baby and laid her down next to her. Both of them were VERY groggy from the sedative.
I noticed how 'mellow' the kid was while Dr. W was finishing putting momma back together. Dr. B told me that it was from the sedative. She got some of what went into the mamma's body. WOW, I hadn't even THOUGHT of that! Amazing!!

"Nothing like the first conversation between momma and baby being a drunken one!"

What an evening! Momma and baby were put in the back, in a pen. Dr W. gave them some shots....assured me all was well...and I was out the door.

It's now 11pm.
WOW. What a night!!