She's Not a Toddler, She's a Horse!

I was going to take Shelby and Scarlet to the park after we finished at the barn. On our way out, Shelby seemed less interested in leaving than usual. Nobody else was there. I eyeballed the new round pen. I thought, maybe I'll just let them play in there for a while.

Bringing Baby to the Barn

Shelby's been going to the barn with me almost every day for a long time now. Starting when she was teeny tiny last winter, I would wrap her in my Baby K'Tan and cover us both with a big jacket. She would snuggle against my chest and watch everything. Sometimes she'd sleep the whole time.

Yay for SmartPak!

Flash has been on her new supplements from SmartPak since last Thursday. She gets them in the evenings, so she's only had them three times so far. I wasn't expecting to see any results until she'd been on them for a week or two. But holy maloney, what a difference these supplements have made.

Supplements & the New Wrap

Flash ran out of MSM and I didn't buy more because I've been planning on getting her on a new joint supplement, something stronger, something more effective. Now, she's a little more stiff. Her gait is a little choppier. But all in all, it turns out that the MSM want doing all that much.

I ordered new supplements from SmartPak. Flash will be having a much better joint supplement formulated for senior horses and a multivitamin formulated for senior horses that eat grass hay. They should arrive on the 20th. A week after that, if all goes well, Miss Flash will be feeling like the equine equivalent of a spring chicken.

A Post from Beyond the Grave

Today, we all went to the barn, but I forgot to bring a baby carrier. So I held Shelby while James cleaned the stall. Shelby got to touch Flash's nose.

I asked Flash, "So, do you think you'll be able to teach this little person to ride someday?"

In response, Flash nuzzled the side of Shelby's neck.

Shelby giggled.

And I died. The cute killed me. Well, almost. If Shelby had kissed Flash's nose, I'da been a gonner for sure.

Is She...Or Isn't She?

Shelby and I have been longeing Flash at least three times a week for a month now. We've been adding longer trot intervals and a few canter intervals, and we've been using the surcingle and side reins once she's warmed up. But the strangest thing has been happening.

Spring is Finally Here

Though it may not look like it, I've been grooming Flash every chance I get. Last week, the pile of fluff left on the barn aisle could've hidden a pony. This week, we're down to five or six bunches on the curry comb. Know what that means? Spring is here!

Where have all the barn moms gone?

I remain completely amazed at the lack of information to be found online about successfully combining early motherhood with horses, riding, and barn chores. I recently started tweeting (you can follow me @stablebaby!) and have found several interesting blogs via Twitter. I thought, surely other horsey moms have blogged about their barn adventures!

I miss my horse!

I haven't been to the barn in almost two weeks. I'm starting to have withdrawals, and so is the puppy dog. Every time someone puts on shoes or a jacket, she gets so excited, jumping up and running to the door. She was accustomed to getting out of the house at least every other day for almost an hour. I think she has cabin fever. If we don't get her out for at least a decent walk soon, she may just explode.

Flash keeps hurting her legs...

Yesterday, I went to the barn by myself (well, not by myself...I had Scarlet, but Shelby stayed home with her daddy) because I had to get hay and grain and our truck isn't big enough to safely transport a baby in a carseat. Flash's legs were fine. They've actually been fine this entire month, and were very close to completely healed.

Beco Butterfly 2 - Success!

Today, I tried my Beco Butterfly 2 carrier at the barn. Up until now, I'd been using my Baby K'Tan, which worked well when Shelby was smaller. Now, she's long enough that her legs get in my way when I'm pushing the wheelbarrow in and out of the stall. She also doesn't like the way she has to turn her head so far to see things when she's tummy to tummy with me, but she can't be forward-facing for stall cleaning.