Thursday, November 19, 2009

Pony Girl Needs to Back Off My Man!! (Robert Pattinson)


Just who does she think she is? Posting pictures of herself with MY MAN!!! Does Pony Girl not know he is all mine? Well... "all" and "mine" being a relative term for me and the other fourteen million girls who want to marry him at this moment. Not that I'd marry him... *ehem*

Pony Girl, I like you. Really, I do. I actually could say ditto to everything you wrote in your (hilarious) post on our love affair with Twilight.... but still....you need to step away from my man, sista!

Anyways, I just thought I'd say....

Hours. We are hours away from New Moon.

EEEEEEEEEHHHHH!!!!

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!


*squeal*

*giggle*

*bites lip*

*squeal escapes*

*clamps hand over mouth*

*blush*

*totally flips out- squealing, bouncing, giggling and wild jazz hands*

*remembers that she is 27 years old*

*hangs head in shame*

Thank you, that's all I have to say about that.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Progression of a Portrait and Where did the Fall Go?


Is it time to lighten things up a little? To take a deep, slow, relaxing breath and stop to enjoy the....

Christmas Music?


I was in Macy's today with my Mom singing along to "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" when really I was dreaming of when I'd get my next Starbucks eggnog latte. It snowed here for the first time a few days ago. Was it not just summer? Where did the Fall go? I'm not ready for this year to end.


Anyways, to lighten things up a little I thought it might be neat to see the progression of the portrait I did last month. Every time I start a new piece I tell myself that I'm going to take pictures every fifteen minutes so if I lined the pictures you we could watch a time lapse of the portrait being drawn... only I never do.

Anyways, here it is the few I did snap. Sorry for the funky color...the light is hard to get right in the evening.














Monday, November 16, 2009

Neglect and Abuse Cases- What can be done?

I think that, given Fugly's blog is umpteen times bigger than my own, it is safe to assume that anyone concerned with the issue of the "starving reining horses" in Washington have either already seen Fugly's blog or will in the near future.

Fugly's decision to publish the name and ranch of those who are accused of starving some reining horses in Snohomish County Washington was one I previously chose not make in light of the fact that I was unable to ensure that any information I posted was factual and/or that it served the purpose of helping the horses concerned.

Bloggers are not held to the same ethical standard as journalists, but with the evolution of the Internet in our culture, more and more of the public has come to rely upon blogs as a source of news and information and as such, I feel we bloggers must take responsibility for ensuring that anything we write, when presented as fact, is such and that the rights of the individual are being respected. Laws against libel and slander exist, in part, to avoid the mob mentality and potential for vigilantism that can be created when the public's emotion is called to rise by those who offer neither facts, an un-bias opinion or a solution.

While it may seem I am putting the rights of those who may be violating the responsibilities inherent in owning and caring for animals, over the concern for those who are being subject to their abuses, I'd like to point out that attacking the accused does little to help the situation, and in fact may be counterproductive.

My reason behind first blogging about this issue was to hear from people that knew of the situation first hand and to find out what was being said and done to help those horses. I also wanted to express my shock that such neglect could happen to animals so valuable.

After writing that post I e-mailed a number of people in an attempt to find out- First, what was true; Second, what had already been done; and Third, what more I could do to help.

In the past, when faced with a case of neglect, abuse, and/or horses that are in need of the public's help I have found it most helpful to first ask:

Who has power to feed, remove, view and control these horses?

The answer almost always is the owner and the government.

Those who have the greatest position of influence- friends, family and peers- are most likely to be able to persuade the owner to accept help. In this case I am sure Judy Caton was overwhelmed by the e-mails, phone calls and visitors from all of these concerned fellow breeders and trainers in her community. Anyone in a position of influence, that was willing to do so, has no doubt already tried to remedy the situation.

If social pressure from an owner's peer group is unable to persuade him or her, it seems unlikely the public would fair much better.

And so that leaves us with government intervention and Fugly's suggestion that Animal Control be called. Obviously, if anyone is witness to any kind of abuse or neglect it is our responsibility to report it to the local Animal Control office. However, I worry that rallying a group of third parites together to call on mass will do little but overwhelm the office staff, who are probably overrun with the unfortunate byproduct of this economy (unwanted, neglected and abandoned animals.)

My experience has been, in such cases where it seems the local authorities are doing little or nothing to resolve the problem, it is because they are subject to certain legal procedures and protocols in order to seize property (and horses are considered property). Restrictions like whether there is enough feed on the property to for the number in the herd, mitigating circumstances that could have lead to the horses declining health, the owners explanation, the person(s) responsible for their care vs. owner(s) etc.. are all factors that could leave the humane society will little choice to but wait for the situation to decline. No amount of public outcry can change the ability for local animal control to act in a case where there is no legal merit. As these laws are made at the legislative level, I think we are better served to put the presure of such social activism against those who have the power to exact change.

Another source of potential change within the industry could be within the governing bodies of equine sports like the NRHA, NCHA or NSBA not to mention breed associations like the AQHA or APHA. Should these organizations take stand on the breeding and husbandry practises of their members? Should limits be placed on breeders? Should licences or registration privileges be revolved for abuse or neglect cases?

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Starving Reining Horses in Washington???!!!!

This morning I received a startling e-mail, one that alleges a well known Washington breeder of reining horses is responsible for neglecting the horses in their care to the degree that some are "starving to death".

I received this e-mail fourth hand (meaning it had been forwarded four times by the time I received it) and as such I'm not going to give the full details, as of yet.

I do not personally know the ranch in question but did know of it and of the person who is making the allegations. The e-mail was written by a well known local trainer and was intended to draw the attention of a nine well respected breeders and trainers within the reining industry...I do not believe it was his intent for this information to "go viral" on the Internet but I feel it is only a matter of time before it does. Some of THE top names in the NRHA world as well as the most notable ranches in the North West were included in that list and so I can only conclude that the trainer's intent was to apply enough social pressure on this breeder that she would clean up her act.

The pictures attached to this e-mail clearly show horses that are in desperate need of attention and seriously underweight. It is alleged that these horses belong to a very well known breeder heavily involved in the North West reining industry as well as at a national level, standing quality stallions, an impressive group of broodmares and is a well being a recognized sponsor of events in the NW.

I am a bit at a loss over what or how much should be said or done without having any first hand knowledge of the situation. Obviously, I want to help those horses in any way possible including posting information about what is going on here in hopes of providing some small support in remedying the problem. Her horses are valuable show animals that are known within the community and the facilities are higher end...these are not some horses hidden away in a backyard and so I am stunned that this problem as not come to light sooner or been allowed to go that far. As we all know the ASPCA/SPCA is not always able to act in situations where they might like to and so while I am sure they have been informed, I'm not sure that much will come it. I want to find out what is true and what is not before providing names or details...

But what then? What if it is true? What is being done with these horses who so desperately need our help?

It seems unbelievable that neglect like this is possible with a ranch so prominent and well known within the community. I am going to see what I can find out and will post an update asap.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Just Eight More Days Till...


Yah, you know what I'm talking about! Just eight more days!

Are you getting excited yet?

I am!!

(for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about... to bad!) Bwahahaha!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Women Against Psychic Bladders Unite!

I think my bladder is psychic! Or at the very least totally masochistic. If I am twenty minutes from home and I have to go pee, I can hold it with no problem....right up until the driveway. As I approach the house the urge gets stronger....by the front door I'm starting to get worried... and as I walk in the house take my jacket off and start down the hall I'm starting to panic... things turn urgent... and then... then I get to washroom!... but not in the washroom! Oh no! I'm poised just outside the door...standing there... doing the pee pee dance! ....as I stare longingly at the toilet. Finally I make the final dash but wait! There is one last step. The pants! The pants must come down! Another pee pee dance ensues. And then... well then, relief alas. Why? Why couldnt that sneaky little voice trick my bladder into thinking that we were still miles away from a washroom? Why must it always let the secret fly just a few feet short of home? I wanna know, dammit! Why?! Btw, this is nothing new. I remember when I used to walk home from school it was the same story, every day. I'd get to within five houses of home and BAM! It'd hit. I gotta go! Now! What is really embarrassing is that I lived in a cul-de-sac and so it's not like I was able to just stop in front of my neighbors house and do a little pee pee dance for a minute. Oh no! I'd have to come up with some inconspicuous task to use as an excuse to stop... you know, check my back back, tie my shoe (or untie and re-tie I should say) or stop and admire my neighbor's garden. The sweet lady next door must of thought I was obsessed with her pansies! But eventually I'd make it through the front door and then it was game on! My bladder and I'd have a throw-down, show-down. The nearest bathroom? Upstairs... seven small steps... seven agonizing steps to freedom.

Why not just go before leaving school you ask? Because I didnt have to go then. Oh no! And these days my bladder doesn't give up that pertinent little bit of news before I leave the grocery store or restaurant either. No! No! It is sadistic freak of nature that knows just which bathroom is mine! So it lays in wait, holding tight until it senses the moment to strike! Just a few feet short of the blessed, blasted toilet, it springs to life! But I shall play slave to no man... or organ! (that doesnt sound right, does it?)... I am a strong, confident, woman in firm control of her bladder! And so I fight! I fight! And I'll win, dammit!


I'm going to start a club, "Women Against Psychic Bladders Unite!" WAPBU for short.

Are you in!?!
Oh! And I discovered something else! All of these pin up girls we thought were trying to be sexy?! Well they're not! Oh no, they're doing the pee pee dance!!! Check it out!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Zenyatta's Scare Tactics!

If I had money one Zenyatta to win the Breeders Cup Classic and had been watching her walk around the paddock before the race, I do believe I'd be peeing my pants. Why? Because I wouldnt have known that it is customary for her to act like the lamest, gimpiest, most crippled horse to ever step foot on a racetrack while struttin' her stuff before a race. Dont believe me? Check this out.



And that isnt even the worst of it! (actually I was having trouble with youtube and couldnt find a good video of how gimped she can look.) Who in their right mind would bet on a horse that walks like that? Unless reassured that in the last 14 races (that she won) she'd done the same thing?

It's like she's trying to pull one over on the betters (maybe she is the reincarnation of a horse trainer! lol)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

ZENYATTA WINS THE CLASSIC!!!


WOW!!!! I just finished watching the Breeders Cup Classic, the richest race in North America, and all I can say is WOW!!!! She did it!!! ZENYATTA just ran the race of her life to beat the boys and make history as being the first filly ever to win the Breeeders Clup Classic!!!!! I will try to post the race when it comes up but let me tell you she came from behind, won handily and was given no easy trip, crossing the finish line with her ears pricked forward and one eye on the crowd.

When the race was finished the announcer asked Mike Smith, her jockey and one of the winningest riders in history as well as a Hall of Fame jockey, did he think he was sitting on horse of the year to which he replied, "She's horse of the decade; she should go down as one of the greatest horses of all time!"

I'd guess that for the first time in the history of horse racing, the debate between who will win Horse of the Year will lay between two fillies- the great Rachel Alexandra and the fabulous filly, Zenyatta...though I have little doubt that Zenyatta, with her record of 14 wins and 0 losses, will beaten on or off the racetrack.

What a year for the girls!


Here is the video...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

My Latest Portrait

I am DONE!!! Finished! Finito! What, you ask? My latest portrait, that's what! I just had to share because this portrait was one I was really excited about doing it- first because the subjects are so beautiful; second because the commissioner is an artist and so can can appreciate the composition and lastly because I drew the portrait using photos I took myself....and I also just happen to be pretty happy with the finished piece, which is not common for me.

This is a photo of the piece.... the color is not right and some of the depth has been lost and the... *sigh*... you get the idea....

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Family Genes- Sisters


While I am a firm believer in the power of genetics even I admit there is a limit to how much stock we should put in genes over the merits of the individual. I don't have to look farther than my own family to see that two siblings can be vastly different in looks, personality and talents. My sister has three inches on me.... maybe four...and half. She has olive skin and beautiful big greeny hazel eyes whereas I have piglet pink skin and blue eyes. We do both have dark hair, big knees and a propensity to trip while walk up stairs.. and to into walls and both have trouble with sharp objects. What am I talk about?

Yesterday I found a mare for sale that is a full sister to one of my favorite mares of all time, Sage- a gorgeous buckskin quarter horse with a big soft eye, million dollar disposition and a cute, compact little body. She is cowy, low headed, deep hocked and sweet as pie. She is the kind of mare that people comment on...or try to buy. The only thing I dont like about Sage is she's 14.1HH, a little too small for my big heiny. Which is why I was pretty excited, yesterday when I found her full sister, who looks pretty dang cute and just happens to have the added bonus of an extra 3 inches (she measures 15HH).

Which got me thinking about just how much stock I put in the old family genes. Obviously this mare would have to be nice in her own right but I guess a part of me doubts how much one sister can be like the other.

Are you much like your sister (or brother)?

I also wonder... Why is the abbreviation for hands, HH?"

(Note: Barbie, Sage is too 14.1!!! And you know it!! I was there when we sticked her! And no, not even in high heels:)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Pets on Halloween


Do you keep your little critters inside on Halloween? What about the big ones (horses, cows, sheep etc.) Do you keep them locked up? Or just keep a close eye on them?

I always make sure all the animals are in on Halloween and used to lock my horse in as well.

Poor little Hunter dog is not to happy with the fireworks outside right now.... whereas Hawky is curious but totally unconcerned. LuLu is curious as well but Bitty and Halle are hiding away. What about your pets?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sellin' Hosses! - Video Blog

(note: Sorry for the horrible lighting, it was the only way to prevent a bad lag....the fact that it also took about ten pounds off of my cheeks was purely accidental! lol Seriously!)



I think I must be sick. Or deranged. Or at the very least totally out of tune with reality. There is simply no other explanation for why, after seven years of repeating the same cycle over and over again I cant get it through my thick skull not that there is....

No money to be made in horses....


except...

....there I go.

I cant let go of this idea that I want to buy and sell horses for profit. The problem with this idea is that every time I have sit down and equate the costs involved in such a venture I end up with...well... no profit... especially if I take in to account such things as vet, farrier, taxes, gas, hauling, board, advertising, and such. Never to be deterred by logic, I've devised all sorts of strategies to avoid the reality that there is much, much easier and more reliable ways to make money in the world than to buy the ever fragile, undependable and unpredictable horse and sell it to the ever undependable, unpredictable and fickle horseman.

I've come up with all sorts of schemes and strategies, the most feasible of which has been to focus on the baby boomer reriders... these honest, unassuming and funlovin' folks are some of the only in the equine industry that dont seem to mind spending a good dollar to get what they want...which is generally very pretty, midsized, colored, mildly aged and dead broke quarter horse geldings. I know of a few brokers who specialize in such horses and they seem too, as best as I can tell, make some money at it.... however... there, with the work broker, I stumble in to a stereotype that most wish to avoid....

Of course my intention would be to gain a reputation of integrity, honest dealing and of standing behind the horses I sell..which would of course be nothing but good minded, sound, and reliable horses. Did I mention that I am totally out of tune with reality right? Good. Because we all know that no one, and I mean no one can escape the wrath of The Crazy Folk.... Yes, these godforsaken people exist in every industry but it seems that the horse world is particularly good at turning out the craziest of the crazies- especially when it comes to buying and selling horses...And of course, Murphy's Law, the Crazies are a gossiping breed, easily aggravated, highly sensitive to any slight- imagined or not- and bent on sparing the world from ever doing business with anyone who falls in their disfavor. In other words... I think it is improbable, if not impossible to maintain a flawless reputation in the horse industry not matter how determinedly one may try.... but I digress.


I just wish that there were some way to make a living out of horses.




Surely some must do it? You know, actually make money... out of... breeding, training, and reselling horses! ... is it possible when you are not independently wealthy to begin with? Are these people making a living or merely supplementing their income? Paying their habit? or are they too dropping dollars in to the vast and seemingly bottomless abyss which is the cost of keeping horses.




So why, if I have such a pessimistic view of the industry, do I have a half dozen horses in my favorites right now that I'd buy simply because I think they are worth more than their asking price, if marketed correctly? Because, I have not let logic, reason or reality temper my dream that one day, some how, some way, it will be possible to make a living with horses.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Video Blog!!

Click the video below to have this post narrated... it is my new experiment! (And no, there is nothing wrong with your video... I only recorded my voice...I didnt think you'd apprecaite seeing my bathrobe, messy hair, laundry piled up in the corner or chapped lips.)




Well, I'm going to try something different here.... you see, I am a multi tasker, as we women generally are. It is, perhaps, an evolutionary byproduct of raising children, of the generations of women who efficiently and seemingly effortlessly went about the daily tasks of maintaining a household with a baby one hip, a toddler under foot and umpteen children run about the house set on mayhem or killing themselves in some manner or another. I dont know about you but I can stir a pot, close a cupboard door, talk on the phone, and swat a cat off the kitchen counter without conscious thought...where as most men...well... you know.

I tend to be the same way on the computer... right now I have five different "pages" up- my hotmail, this blog and a google page with a search for Jonathan Field clinic info, and my messanger. During the course of writing this post I'll jump from one to the other on countless occasions...which probably accounts for the scattered nature of my posts... While I love to stop by to visit my fellow blogger's and read all about the lives, times, horses and opinions of these fabulous people's lives, I sometimes find that I just dont have the attention to devote to reading a long post, no matter how interesting....sometimes I wish that I could hit a button and have it read to me!

Which is part and parcel of why I've decided to offer a video-blog (is that a term?) of some of my posts. I really had hoped that I when I finally purchased a new horse I could start posting some short video posts of our adventures together but at this point that is not in the cards and so I figured, why not just get started by reading my some of post aloud! That way you other chronic-multi-taskers are free to go browse horse sale ads or make the bed... or whatever while listening to my oh-so-sexy (ha ha) narrate my often rambling and sometimes ranting posts.

And if nothing else, it will entertain me for a while...after all, I can only feed my Hawkydog so many carrots...although I have to say that yesterday's carrot intake resulted in some rather festive Halloween colored... well... you know.

Bye for now!

Oh! And do you think I have a Canadian accent?

Monday, October 26, 2009

Hawky Eating a Carrot

Why on earth I find the video of my Hawkydog eating a carrot so amusing, I just cant say. But I do. And so I had to share. Only please excuse my incessant cooing and embarrassingly ooy gooy love talk- he does.

My Mother seems to think that I'm crazy for posting this...as she does not find it even remotely entertaining...to which I say "Too bad, so sad" (one of Mom's favorite expressions... or maybe her favorite is "You think just 'cause there is a cloud in the sky it's going to rain."... or maybe "God doesnt punish with a stick."... or "what do you expect from a pig but a grunt." (that one was actually my Granny's fav)... but actually, I'm pretty sure my Mom's is..."Chelsi! Dont you be gettin' lippy with me!"... Yup, I'd say that's it.

Anyways, on with the highly entertaining video of Hawky eating a carrot.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Would you date him?

My sister sent me this in an e-mail today... it is supposedly an ad posted on the dating or "relationship" site "Plenty of Fish"...

Would you date him?

****

-"I'm looking for a divorced woman whose ex-husband left all of his power tools behind. I'm partial to power saws and nail guns. Technician tools will also be considered. Also interested in old classic cars still in your garage. Chev owners get an automatic response.

Did you click on 'next' yet?

No?

Ok, so what time are you picking me up?

I kid.

Yes, I have a dog. No, she doesn't own me. She just seems to pop up everywhere.

Why is there so much hate for Barbie? I read so many profiles saying "I aint no Barbie doll, so if that's what you want...move along"
WTF would I want to date a 12" plastic doll with horse hair? I guess I should mention that I'm neither G.I Joe nor Stretch Armstrong.

As a lover, I'm about as impressive as a magician on the radio.

If you read this far, hopefully you realize my profile is as misleading as the dude telling you he likes long walks on the beach at sunset. I'll write a serious one someday when I can come up with the right words to wanting someone normal and honest.

First Date
Go somewhere quiet where other people are enjoying a quiet evening out. Then you can get hammered on draft beer and dig into the spinach dip with your bare hands, wipe it all over your shirt and then knock the bowl on the floor. Once you've yelled at the waitress and almost fallen on your ass because you can't stand up, we can get the whole bar staring at us because you're the loudest person there..Oh, and then don't forget to throw the bill at me so you can go outside and puke on yourself.

~Wait a second, I already did that. Let's do something else. "