Marika's Pictures

It was hard to get moving today, yesterday's trip was so tiring I just couldn't face traveling to Emily Kieser's wedding in Leo, Indiana. Mark was agreeable to staying home as we are having a break in the frigid temperatures. The warmth gave us an incentive to work out in the storage area behind the barn, fill the porch up with firewood for the coming deep freeze, work horses and move a full trailer load of horses from Middle Grove to Hanna City. First job after breakfast was to bring Marika into the barn, worm her with Safeguard, brush her out a bit and take a few pictures of her for reference later.

She would like a companion but we need to wait for 10 days to make sure she hasn't been exposed to anything our horses haven't had. Rhoda brought out Ayanna to the outdoor arena while Karin worked Ribbon in the indoor. Below are a few pictures of Rhoda working with Ayanna.

Next the boys were made to work in the indoor with a mare in the arena. Each day they improve. Sissy is now out of season, Rhoda worked with her in one area of the indoor while Karin had both boys in the other area. They were very well behaved. Sissy was removed and Star brought in. She is still heavily in season and this was quite a test for the boys but it worked. They are learning to ignore even a mare in season and focus on Karin. Steven Marchal arrived to ride the boys and this was a really good time to try riding them with the mares. This is a first for both boys. Valiant was done first.

We were very surprised at how well Valiant behaved. Evan was brought out next, he wasn't as well behaved but it was still a huge success.

Once the horses were put away we all headed in for a late lunch. Mom provided a delicious big pot of broccoli cauliflower cheese soup which hit the spot. We finished up around 2:30pm, the weather was holding so off we drove to Middle Grove to pick up Lily, Helen, Jewel, Olvia and Ella. This took a while, Diane had asked us to bring Mike back as he needed a ride home, well we couldn't find him. Rhoda jumped on Ella with just a halter and lead rope, rode her all through the first 200 acres, over to the next, down to the cottage, over to the lakes and finally came back to tell us he was no where to be found. While she was looking for Mike, Karin had halted Lily, Helen and Jewel then was working with Hadassah. Loading went about as expected although I thought Helen would be the problem, trying to load her into the trailer but instead Olivia, Jewel's filly gave us the most trouble. She is such an independent filly, deciding she didn't have to get in. At one point Rhoda and Karin were hanging on her getting dragged. We finally got her in, then went to load Lily and Helen and were surprised at how smart Helen the blind filly is. She walked up to the trailer, felt the edge and stepped up. Mike was called and this time he answered, he got a ride home with Spark and Rhonda. Once we made it back the horses were all wormed with safeguard before unloading. Helen surprised us again at how quietly she stood for worming and unloading. She hesitated at the edge, then carefully stepped down. She is going to be a breeze to train. Tonight was the Bible class' pancake & sausage supper at the fellowship hall. Diane picked up mom and Nancy and will take Nancy home after a good pancake dinner. Mom baked some of her famous cinnamon rolls to donate. Tomorrow Ruth and Fede are serving lunch in Peoria, everyone is welcome.