AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[AL]

Slow, beautiful days here. Lows in the upper 40s/low 50s, during the day it gets around 70-74. Blue skies, light breezes.
Tomorrow I will till up the garden plot after I throw the last of the composted manure on it. I have had light straw covering on my peas and I need to pull that off so they can get some sunshine. My tomato sprouts are gunning right along, but I need to post a pic - I dont know what "leggy" means, but if I had to guess, they are.
I'll be planting my onions and if I get some more fertilizer I'll put in the last of my peas. It is 'too late' according to the almanac (2/15) but I figure they are wasting in the bag they can waste in the ground.

I am really looking forward to candling the eggs, so I may do that tomorrow.

The horses are shedding like gangbusters so I have GOT to either get the ownership papers on Buddy or a waiver to send him to training - I can't groom him from the flanks back. She was also supposed to bring me hay a week or so ago and I haven't heard from her. *sigh* Guess I better go email her now.

 

[Denim Deb]

AL, does he tie? If so, tie that boy up. Then, take a brush, and go as far back on him as you can w/out him moving. Once you've established where that point it, place your hand on him right there. Do not remove it until he stops moving around. If he's a kicker, use a crop or something else short so that you can place that on him instead of your hand. Once he stops moving, remove your hand (or the crop), and praise him. If you keep doing this, you should be able to groom him all over w/out him moving, kicking, or whatever.

 

[AL]

He is learning to tie. I have never had a young horse, told that to the foster coordinator but ended up with Buddy anyway. I put a post in teh ground with a big D-ring and he gets tied for a little while each day - I'll increase his time next week.

Funny - I know NOTHING about training from scratch, but I did something like what you are talking about. On a day I had some time and a lot of patience, I held his halter and used a stick to try to pull some briars out of his tail. He'd walk backwards so I just walked with him.... more effort on him than me. He'd stop and I'd start on his tail again, same thing. Then he decided to move forward so I changed the rules - going forwards equals bending to the right for a couple of turns and then the left. Before it was over with I was able to use the stick to pull his tail up to his flank where I could get the briars out. Not very efficient or fun, but it worked

I'll try your tips this weekend. I tie him while I work in the garden so he will be tied lots tomorrow and Saturday

 

[Farmfresh]

If you are concerned about him pulling back or fighting being tied you can use an inner tube around the post and then tie to that with a quick release knot. It will give some flex if he pulls back hard against the rope. Usually that helps the horse from panicking and stops the pulling.

 

[Denim Deb]

If he doesn't tie, you can still use the same principle, just hold the rope instead of tying him. It's not as easy, but can still be done.

 

[kcsunshine]

AL, make sure your tomato plants get some air movement - like a very slow fan. This makes their stems grow stronger. Too bad I ruined lots of seeds before someone told me that.

 

[AL]

He ties pretty well, Deb - he just hasn't been doing it long so I am hesitant to leave him unsupervised. I haven't found much that scares him lol

OOOH thanks KC.... going now to find something!!

 

[AL]

WOOO HOOO! I planted a row of garden peas (some leftovers I had, don't know if they'll come up), and 4 little rows of onions (texas sweet, georgian sweet... and some kind of red one, white one )

2 of my tomato sprouts are looking really bad. Here's hoping a little water and sunshine will perk them up I did set my oscillating fan on low to stir up a little air around them. My poor 'maters.

Gonna fix some lunch and then head back out - plant my free carrots Baker's Creek sent me (may or may not make) and my yukon golds (again waited pretty late).

It is gorgeous out and guess what? BROKE A SWEAT tilling

 

[glenolam]

Sounds like fun!

Lemme know how that candling goes! I can do mine on Monday

 

[AL]

I looked at 3, and have to find a new bulb. No idea what I saw... heading over to BYC.

ok... they look nothing like that. I gotta find another light. I think they are cooked or something. I have the 'bator at 99 which is what the instructions said? Water holes are full...... but one end is dark and the other the light shines through... don't remember seeing veins.

Agh! LIGHT!!

just a big flashlight and my grungy fat fingers.... what happened?