DAY 92, 93, 94, 95 & 96 - Cold Snap, Snow Storm & Thanksgiving

Monday, "day 92," it rained all day, so no riding. Late in the afternoon, though, the rains slowed enough for me to take him out of the paddock and around into the back yard for some hand grazing on the long line. He was a bit spooky, but we stayed out until nearly dark, then I took him back in and groomed him. He got his supper, and was content again.

Tuesday, "day 93," the rain had cleared, and it was much warmer. I knew that this could be one of the last good days to ride, so I was looking forward to getting him out for a good long hack. The rains had melted the last traces of snow, too. After barn chores, I went out around 10 to catch him.. but he was taking his morning nap, and gave me the "back off, woman!" look. So, I respected that and changed my plans. Instead, I made my Thanksgiving shopping list and went downtown to load up on the goods.

After getting back, putting away the groceries, and a quick lunch, I went back out to try again. The winds had picked up a little, and I could feel the temperatures dropping, but nothing was going to stop me for this last good day to ride! He agreed to let me halter him and into the stall we went for grooming. He was a bit testy.. but I kept on him, and, all tacked up, we walked out to the paddock to mount up. He was acting "looky " again.. but he stayed fairly still as I climbed on his back. We walked out of the paddock and onto the driveway, took a left onto the road, and started walking down the hill.

I spotted Dad first. He was clearing trees and brush on the stone wall that runs between the road and Mom's "memorial garden" area. Dad had neglected to wear his hunters orange, but instead, was wearing a big black jacket. From our view point, he could have been a bear. And when Possum caught sight of this, the fear of God went soaring all through his body. His head went up high, his eyes popped out of his head, his ears tipped as far forward as they could possibly go, and he stopped dead.

Uh oh, I thought. I kicked him forward, he walked one step, then stopped again. He tried to spin, I shortened the reins and turned him back. He snorted his dragon snort.. it reverberated loudly. He spun again, he stopped again, he snorted again. I tried one more time to get him to move forward towards the "bear," but he was not going to have any of that! So, I decided to not be a hero, and we turned away to head towards the Dodge home. He pranced sideways, threatening to bolt, but I kept his head turned tightly and talked to him. It wasn't doing much good, though.

We made it to the dog pen, and all three of our neighbor's dogs were out (two giant Newfoundlands and an aged Golden Retriever.) Of course, they started their barking. Possum has been desensitized to them, but the barking really wasn't helping matters at this point! I kept talking to him, I kept his head in my hands with the reins, and I kept circling him.. It was doing me no good. Possum was lost in his wild horse head, and I began to get concerned for my safety. So, I hopped off.

Sometimes, it's easier to handle him from his back, though. I had just as tough as a time leading him with the bridle on. We made it, sideways and hopping, to the Dodge's driveway.. I was beginning to think I might just try to get him back to his paddock, maybe take off his tack again and run him around in the paddock for a while.. But, I couldn't even get him to walk towards home. I began to get really frustrated with him. I hit him on the bum with my bat a couple of times, to get him to move forward. Wasn't working. His head was craned high, he continued to blow loud dragon snorts. Grrrr! I was getting pissed!

All of the horse psychology theories were bouncing around in my head. Be kind, be patient. Be firm, insist. Be calm, be secure. Don't lose your cool. I changed tactics again and decided to lead him down to Big Mack's paddock, thinking, maybe just being around another horse would calm him down again. I led him around to the back of the field and we walked right up to the fence line. Big Mack came over to say hi, and was wondering why Possum was so distressed. I just let him stand there for a while. He kept peering into the forest, convinced there was a horse eating monster laying in wait.

Finally, he relaxed, and I pulled the stirrups back down and mounted him from the fence. I asked him to walk, and we stayed near Mack's paddock. Once we got going, he actually was quite good. For 15 minutes or so, we walked and trotted in circles and figure eights, halting and trotting and walking again. He began to blow the good snorts, the ones that tell you he is beginning to relax. Finally, I gave him his head to stretch, and I was pretty sure we were in the clear.

Leaving the field and heading back to the road, he began to tense up again. But, I was able to get him back towards my house, though he carried his head high. In our driveway, I saw Don, getting more firewood, and I called out to him and asked him to say hello so Possum would know that it was Don and not a horse-eating bear. Don walked up to us, and I told him about our adventure. Though my mood was kind of soured by Possum's behavior and I kind of just wanted to call it quits for the day, I decided the best thing to do was to keep going.

So, off we went, towards the scene of the crime, and Dad was gone by now, and we carefully marched past were he had been working. As we continued down the hill, I could tell Possum was finally back to normal. We walked all the way down to Dr. Doyle's old place and stopped to inspect, then we turned back and picked up a little trot to the corner. We walked a little ways down New Road, then turned back and trotted part way up the hill. Back at the top, I walked him down our secondary driveway and had him walk over the little birch jump. Then we turned, picked up a trot, and we trotted back over the little jump. Back on the road, we turned for home. Good enough! Out for nearly an hour, and finally, back to normal!

Stopping at Dr. Doyle's old place Tuesday afternoon.

Walking back up the hill Tuesday afternoon.

After an hour or so, I went out to the paddock again with the halter and lead line, put it on him, and groomed the dried sweat off of his back, girth and behind his ears. He was good as gold for this - not even one threat of a kick or nip! Such a funny, funny pony.

The Eastern sky from the manure pile, the night before the snow storm.

Wednesday morning, "day 94," Donna and I had our walk scheduled, as Thanksgiving was the next day. Snow was predicted to begin falling by noon, so I decided to bring Possum along, as it would be the last day we would see the ground for many months, I'm sure. I caught him in the paddock around 10 of 10, led him into the stall, and gave him a quick grooming. He was pretty relaxed. I led him out to the road and we walked up to the Dodge home. Donna was running a bit behind, and when she saw I had Possum, she decided to go grab Mack, too. She told me that Mack had been very pushy and bad on her walk with him the day before..

The boys were very good on our walk. Possum hardly gave me any grief at all.. just a couple of nips now and then (like when one horse nips another in the herd - it's not a malicious nip. I let him know I do not appreciate that, though, anyway.) After Donna and Big Mack left for home at our driveway when we got back, I led Possum out to our back yard and let him graze for about half an hour. That's it, buddy, I told him!

After our walk and before the snow began on Wednesday morning.

Back to the paddock, fresh hay and water, and he was good. And within an hour, the flakes began to fall from the sky. And they fell all day, into the night. After I fed him, I hemmed and hawed about whether or not to bring him in, but after watching the 5:30 weather report, I decided to bring him in. The winds and snowfall were to pick up after 6 p.m. and go strong until after midnight. I marched out into the dark and snowy paddock, haltered him, put the chain over his nose (because I knew he was going to fight me on this one - he was pretty spooky at this point - it's just what stormy weather does to him) and dragged him into the stall. I clipped him to the tie, went back outside, pushed the snow away from the door frame with my shoe, and closed both of the doors on him.

He was covered in snow and his hooves were jammed with icy snowballs. After a few minutes, I went into his stall and brushed off the snow. Then I picked his hooves (so NOT fun getting those ice balls out!), and fluffed up his tail. His halter came off, and a giant pile of hay was placed at his feet. He began to relax. The wind was whipping outside, and he'd stop and raise his head to listen, but eventually, the hay and the shelter from the storm won him over, and he appeared happy. Phew!

I checked in on him several times through out the night, then retired by midnight. By the next morning, Thanksgiving day ("day 95"), the snow had stopped, and we had a lot of work to do before our guests arrived later in the day! I fed Possum his pellets in the stall first, then I went outside with the shovel and pushed away the snow blocking the doorway. Then, I opened the stall doors. Here's a little video of  his first few moments in the fresh foot of snow:

I cleaned his messy stall, refreshed his heated water bucket, and dropped many flakes of hay all around the paddock. The sun was out and there was no wind, so that was nice. Then, Don and I got to work clearing snow. Don did most of it, of course. I began to prep for the many dishes for the meal. Our guests arrived a little after 3 in the afternoon, and we had a fabulous time. Possum got his dinner around 5:15, though he was a little annoyed with all of the noisy company in the barn with us, observing the ritual! Then I left him with more hay and topped off his water, and he was good.

Friday, "day 96," it was very cold. Half of our guests had stayed overnight, and we were busy entertaining them until they got on the road a little after 10. Then, it was time for me to get to work! I had a plan formulated to empty the wheelbarrow that was filled to the brim from the day before. I got the big giant snow scoop, and dumped the manure and shavings in that, then dragged that through the paddock to the manure pile. It took me three trips, but it got a decent path going. Then, I picked up as many poop piles as I could in the paddock and dumped that, too.

Butch the farrier was scheduled to come that afternoon, but I had a gut feeling that he wouldn't make it. I was right, of course. Luanne sent me a text around 3 saying he hadn't arrived at her place yet.. By 4:30, the winter darkness set in, and it was clear Butch wasn't going to come. Donna was out of town for Thanksgiving, and I had promised to blanket Big Mack if it got below 20 degrees, so I drove up to her barn around 5 p.m. and brought Mack into her barn and gave him a quick grooming and picked the iceballs out of his hooves. I put on his rug then let him back out in the paddock. Donna happened to send me a text in the middle of all this, asking how it went with Butch.. I told her what happened, and an hour or so later, we got the word that Butch had been sick in bed all day and would call to reschedule when he is well again.

So, Possum still has his front shoes on, but I really can't ride anyway. If I was "rich" enough, I would pay to have pads and "cleated shoes" put on, but that luxury is out of my price range! So, here it is, Saturday morning, and he will have another day of "neigh-cation." It is the holiday season, after all. I am going up to Donna's shortly to take Big Mack's rug off, and later, I hope to take Possum out for a hand walk. We will see what state of mind our little Dragon Pony is in today!