Rain sucks. I know we need it, but it sucks. I wouldn't mind so much if it would stop every once in awhile, but it doesn't...or hasn't. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit, but it IS very wet here.

I think it has been raining every day - except one, Xmas Eve - for the past almost three weeks. I haven't ridden in that long, and doubt I will for another few weeks at least. I had Paddy's shoes pulled so that he could have the winter off and grow some nice foot and get rid of some contraction in his right front. He seems to be doing pretty well. I have trimmed him myself a bit to help his medial-lateral balance, and will continue to do so maybe once a week. I'm also putting hoof-hardener on his feet. Hopefully that will help keep them strong in all this soggy weather. He has some cracks in his hinds that I want to see grow out and I'm hoping if his m-l balance is better, they won't get bigger.

I had Miles's hind shoes pulled also. I figure hopefully that will help him slide around less in the mud. But without front shoes, he's very ouchy and pretty much doesn't want to move around, which isn't good. He's ouchier than Paddy - maybe he's just a baby, I don't know. His hind feet look pretty good. I try to walk them both on the gravel driveway to help them toughen up.

The weather last night was awful - heavy rain, STRONG wind. The horses didn't get out all day yesterday and I felt so bad for them. So this morning, there was a break in the rain - although the wind was still gusting - and I took the horses for a handwalk/graze. Then I figured "what the heck" and put them in the big pasture. And they ran around like banshees, bucking and rearing and squealing and having a grand old time. Then they settled down and are now grazing. I worry about them slipping in the mud, which is the main reason I had their shoes pulled off. They seemed to do fine.

I'm waiting for the results of a muscle biopsy I had on Miles. I'm having him tested for PSSM (Polysacharide Storage Myopathy), of which he has quite a few symptoms. "Pony" stride, bucking into the canter, kicking at flies which aren't there, a "tucked-up" look, super sensitive, poor performance...all are symptoms and and I actually hope for a positive result. PSSM is managed through diet and exercise - there's no medicine for it.

Today when I was out handwalking the horses, I saw a LOBSTER in our drainage ditch! Ok, maybe it wasn't a lobster but a crayfish. I took its picture while Colin was holding it and maybe he'll put the picture up here if I'm nice to him.

Today is New Year's Eve, and we're going to have a dinner full of yummy appetizers, a bottle of Champagne, then we'll probably pass out way before midnight.

We had a really nice, quiet Xmas at home. We went to our neighbor's house for a wonderful dinner on Xmas Eve, stayed home most of Xmas day, and went to my friend's house for Xmas day dessert. Colin surprised me with a lovely painting that we had seen on our last trip to Hawaii. I wasn't actually totally surprised, I kind of guessed that he would get it for me. I love it and it is hanging on the wall over our bed. We were of course spoiled by my parents and I got some wonderful LL Bean clothes, and some fun riding accessories for my saddle. At this point, though, I can't imagine that the weather will ever improve enough to ride!!!

I got a part-time job, which I started a couple weeks ago. I'm doing order entry for a home-based catalog company. I download the online orders and enter them into the system, then process them for the shipping department (all two of them - there are four employees total!). I'm also going to be doing updates to their website. It sounds quite simple, but is very complicated and detailed. It is nice to have a mental challenge again.

So I guess that's it for now.

Did I say I cut my hair agian? I think I did...
- posted by Susan @ 11:09 AM