My sweet life with the horses

Well first off to anyone reading this because they are wanting to get their first horse - think very hard about it because it is a lot of responsibility and I have it easy and am greatful for that fact every day. OK why do I have it easier then the normal horse owner? I live on 14 acres so I don't have to pay for boarding while they graze on a 6 acre pasture. 6 other acres are a hayfield that my neighbor bales for me for the price of half the hay which means usually I don't need to buy hay during the winter (a huge savings) this great neighbor also brings the horses the hay so I just sit back and watch them get fat. Next I have a natural spring which has running water 365 days a year so I never have to clean out water buckets, fill water buckets or deice water all very yucky and potentially cold jobs. So what do I have to do for the horses? Well I have to call a farrier out every 2-6 months to get their feet checked and trimmed, I need to get them to a vet once a year for shots and I need to check on them to ensure that they don't get injured which can be tough when you are trying to find 2 horses in a 6 acre wooded pasture after dark!

I also need to make sure they are ridden on a fairly regular basis, this did not happen when I was pregnant so they are a bit undertrained right now and like to take advantage of me which will lead to some exciting posts in the future when I attempt to ride them. I also need to ensure all equipment is in working order, I almost lost my mother in law one day because we went out for a ride and the curb strap was almost broken when we returned so always, always, ALWAYS check your straps before you mount a horse.

I love my ponies (yeah I will refer to them as ponies too because they are mid sized and very sweet). Cheyenne is my first and she really is a pony at around 13 hands and is few spot appaloosa colored but can not be considered a appy due to the fact she is under 14.2 hands, stupid rule. She is a bit of a bitch at times flattening her ears and bearing her teeth while you try to mount her and at other times she is the most adorable lap pony every falling asleep while you brush her. Crackerjack (CJ) is the horse I bought for my husband, he rode him once, and he is a Morgan/Arab cross of some sort and on the Morgan days he is calm and attentive on the Arab days he is high strung and flighty. I don't know which one I like to ride more as they both have their pluses and minuses and both have tossed me already, that will be another post. Cheyenne has a really smooth trot and loves to canter but she will also demand to go where she wants to instead of where you want her to which can be a big problem. CJ is the bounciest horse with this eligant trot (very flashy especially when he puts his tail way up in the sky) and pretty much refuses to get into a canter unless you ask for it nicely.