It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

It's one of my favorite times of the year right now. It's the most wonderful time of the year! The time of year when we celebrate our Saviors birth!
One of the reasons I love this time of year, (besides celebrating Christs birth) is that everyone is happy, cheerful, nice and more polite then normal. People smile at you, say merry Christmas or happy holidays! It's so sad that people save there joyful spirits for this time of year. We should be celebrating Christmas every day and carry the joy of the season throughout the year!
I hope that anyone can see the joy of the Lord in me everyday and not only at Christmas time.

Another thing I love about this time of year, is the gift giving. I LOVE giving gifts. I love the smiles and laughter they bring. I have done lots of Christmas shopping this year and can't wait till all the secrets are out! =)
On Christmas day, I usually give Chester treats. Oats, carrots, extra grain and peppermint treats if I have any. Like I have said before, my horse is a picky eater. =( Other wise I would give him apples and other fun stuff.
I haven't gotten my horse any gifts though. In February there is a big used tack sale and I will hopefully be getting some tack there. So those can be his late Christmas gifts. =)
I have thought about getting him a hat or reindeer antlers but haven't spent the money on that yet....

What do you guys get your horses for Christmas? Do you do anything special with them?


                                        Isn't this the sweetest picture ever?!? I LOVE it!

                                               I thought this one was a fun one. =)

Can you imagine, if you were the one that came down on Christmas day to find this, under your tree?!
      

Don't We All Dream? And Winter Care For Horses.

Don't we all want to be like this with our horses? Or at least dream about it with the little girl that is within your heart?

I have been really busy the last few days and have slacked off of my blogging. I am hoping get back on track though and keep going with the thirty day challenge.
But, I have been keeping busy with Chester and made wonderful memories with him and been faced with challenges with him too. I am hoping to make some other blog posts rather then just the thirty day challenge.

I wanted to encourage you guys a little bit. If you guys are getting busy in life, challenges are coming up, things are changing, people are coming and going, your discouraged, excited or sad.....my encouragement?......(First look to the Lord for His peace and joy. Which He will freely give if you ask.)....But, also, go hug your horse. = ) Pause for a moment and count your blessings. Be thankful for the horsey friend that the Lord is allowing to be in your life right now. And for friends and family that are there for you. Christ is always there for you and is willing to carry your burdens. You just have to hand them over to Him.

Hey guys, I had this idea. Winter is coming and we are all getting ready to care for our horses in colder weather and perhaps wet rainy weather, I was wondering if you all would want to share your winter "tricks"/techniques for taking care of your horse during the winter. You could send them to me, then I would make them all into a post and post it on my blog for everyone to glean info from.
Your advice/tricks/techniques don't have to be that long, (they could be one sentence) or they could be a couple paragraphs. Up to you! I would give you total credit and have a link to your blog along with your advice.
Let me know what you all think! If I get enough people that want to do it, I will do another post letting you all know what we're going to do.

Happy Trails Ya'll!

Day Three

Day Three- A picture of your best riding. 

I don't think this counts as we are standing still. 

I really don't have that many pictures of me riding. These are the best ones right now.

A Cool Chart

I found this chart and thought it was totally cool! I found it on Paola's Horse Blog. 

Which, she got it from here! http://kppusa.com/tips-and-topics/gym-membership-when-horses/. I think I am going to start doing horse stuff by the hour. lol! It's kinda hard to do stuff by the hour, when you only have one horse; only one stall to clean, one horse to groom, one horse to feed. But, I will get my exercise out of the chores I have to do. I only ride once a week but when I do I make it worth all my while! = ) Go head and take a look! It's pretty neat!

It's the time of year when we all start figuring out how we are going to keep in shape during the winter. I think it's fun to figure out how you want to exercise each day, but it's also a time when you need to commit yourself to doing it. Really. You know the saying, "It's easier said then done." Well, it really is easier to say something and then not follow through with it. (At least it is for me.) = ) I hope you will all take up my challenge and follow through with your winter goals, for you and your horse.

As I am deciding, right now, what I want to do for exercise this winter, I will follow up later with a post on what I am doing. = ) I would love to hear your winter plans! Not just the ways you are going to stay in shape, but also in regards to your horse. Are you going to be riding through the winter? Do you have goals to accomplish with your horse this winter?

With Chester, I am still deciding what I really want to do. It's really hard in the winter months/even the spring time, because it is so wet and cold here in Washington. So if it's not raining, the ground is still soggy. My horse sinks in the ground and then panics (overall not fun). Even in the summer I am limited to where I can work and ride him, as our property is very bumpy and has lots of hills. I don't lunge him during the winter unless it froze and the ground has hardened up. And, even with that, it's just a little trotting, as I don't want to hurt his joints. I then switch to basic ground work and some bare back riding (mainly walking around). You gotta love Western Washington; the worst place to own a horse. = ) BUT! This winter should be different, as I now have an arena to use!

Good luck on those winter goals! 

~Your Cowgirl Friend~

Glorious Monday!

Glorious Monday! Ok, so I'm not super happy it's Monday but yet I'm. It's like, "Yes! Monday!" and "Ohhh...Monday." But let's start it off on a good note! 

For about a month Chester was showing signs of boredom. He would bang his feeder; by picking it up with his teeth and then letting it go and it would make a nice bang! Ya, and he would do it at two in the morning. After I figured out why he was doing it, (I emailed my horsey friend who has taught me tons of what I know) I was planing on getting a horse toy or something of the sort. But low and behold, my birthday came along and my friend gave me a horse pacifier. (Horse toy!)

 

Here it is all put up.

 It isn't that big but it's big enough for a horse and definitely tough enough too!
At first he was scared of it- though now he's fine with it and could care less. He just needs to catch onto using it. My silly boy!

Next up, last Friday I got him a salt/mineral rock. Ok guys, this is really cool! And I'd say it's definitely worth your money! It looks just like a rock, smells just like salt and feels like a salt rock. That's a mouth full! ; )

 

Here it is!

                                             Here it is close up. Kinda cool uh?

There's Chester eating a snack! I love giving him snacks. Especial sense (have I told you?) he doesn't like apples, bread, lettuce, candy canes, peppermints or any thing of the sort. Silly horsey! He does, however, like the peppermint treats from the co-op. (Don't know what they're called) = / His all time favorite treat is carrots though. He's a carrot boy! = )

 I took some pictures of it out in the grass to show you how much it looks like a rock. Actually, now that I think about it, it is a rock. Just a, salt rock. = )

And guess what! He likes it! He has licked and slobbered all over it! Yay! Go Chester! 

 I snapped this shot because I wanted to show you how healthy he has gotten. Actually, he was really healthy when I got him, he has just plumped up since then. 
Here is a picture of him right after I got him...

 

                      Look at that yard......hasn't been loved on by a horse yet. = )

Have you gotten your horse any fun toys, treats ect. lately?

Update On: Where I Stand As A Blogger

I have decided to post three times a week, for sure. I will post Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If I have an extra/random post, I will post it for you on one of the off days. In other words, you might get more then three a week. But (hopefully) I will post for sure on those three days. I have been thinking of an idea I have for Sundays; but Sundays and Saturdays are busy for me so I am not sure if that will go through.
Now, some days I may post the posts in the morning, but most likely, I will post them in the late afternoon.
So check back often and keep the comments coming! I love to hear from you all and the comments spur me on! Many thanks so my followers! ~ Country Girl