Scratches/Samwise Update ...

[Maeve]

I sent this picture to a few friends today and realized that I had PROMISED to send it to many more! I just can't remember who I promised! MaryR ... I KNOW that I promised you!!! :) So here he is!

I have been working on round pen work with Samwise/Scratches since the first of the year. When I asked RWH to come watch what he'd learned, RWH was SO impressed that he ran for the camera. Little did I know that he wasn't so impressed with the training, but with the boy's growth! ;) :D KIDDING! But here he is! This picture is 2 years and 2 weeks from the day of the Scratches Saga. I'd say he's growing up! And you should see the boy in the round pen! He's a star pupil! Oh ... never mind the extra weight on ME! I'm working on that! ()%#7)(&^# holidays anyway :( :mad: :o
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Samwise!

[Tripledeuce]

Personally,I think both you and Sam are beatuiful,,,,,,just the way you are.........

Man,,,,,,,has that boy groown!!!!!!

Terry

[Mary R]

OMG! He's beautiful and HUGE :) What a boy! I'm coming to see him soon! This year , promise!

[Bea's Friend]

OMG! Maeve has your boy ever grown!!! He is a giant and he is GORGEOUS!

[Angie]

I'm just a lurker here now, way back in the background, but had to come out of my cave long enough to gush about Scratches ! (yes, to me, he'll forever be named Scratches :p )

That boy is HUGE, and GORGEOUS !!! :eek:
I can't get over how much he's grown, he's lost that lil colt look !
And wow, what a shiny coat. :)

Maeve, you've worked yet another miracle :)

Wow, just WOW :D

Have you sticked him lately, Maeve ?
He looks like 17.3 or so !?!?

[Haunani]

:eek: :eek: :eek: WOWIE ZOWIE!! He is just gorgeous! He does look all "grown up" and manly now. :D

[Arabiantuff]

Is he huge or are you tiny? ;) He's very cute!

[(un)stablemom]

OMG!!!! I cannot take my eyes off of your horse!!! He is magnificant!!!! WOW!!!!!

[RavenToy]

Maeve, good lord, the boy had a growth spurt!! He looks like such a young man now, instead of a little boy!! Awww!!! He's absolutely gorgeous!!

[Robbin1]

Maeve, you look so purdy!!! I just love this picure! Ohmygosh!!! He's still just a baby!!! Stretch Maeve, stretch!!!

[Dixiesmom]

Wow!! What a cool cool pic of the both of you! I would definately frame that and hang it on the wall. He is a big beautiful boy!

[Robbin1]

By the way, just how tall/short are you Maeve? :p

[Lavender444]

Great picture!! Scratches looks so handsome!! :D :D I look at Joey ans still see a baby, but Scratches looks so grown up! hard to believe the Scratches saga was over 2 years ago! :eek: My....how time flys! :D

[Many bucks]

don't know what to say that has already been said. but Holy cow they grow up fast. you have all the reaon to show off and be proud.

[denise]

Wow, he's filled out in all the right places. Have you invested in a ladder yet? I'm just wondering how you brush the upper half? :D

[spotteddrafter]

2 years ago?? Are you sure?? Wow, how time has flown....I was a newbie to the (old) board right when all that happened.


He's gorgeous.....I just LOVE his eye. :)

[Rockies4me]

Geez, he has grown! He is so beautiful, you must be very proud of him.
Sheree

[Penny]

Wow!! He's so handsome and regal looking!!

He looks great Meave...and its really nice to see you around the board!!

[barngirl]

Man Alive, that is one BIG horse!!!!!! I see pics of draft horses all the time, but never with someone in the pic to compare just how big they are!!!!!! He's looking good

[Maeve]

Thanks for all of your kind compliments, guys!!!!! He sure is growing up ... but he does still look like a baby MOST of the time! There are "these moments" when you can catch a glimpse of what he is going to look like as a horse!!!!!

For the record .... I'm 5' tall barefoot .... so yeah ... I do make him look taller! He's just over 17 hh right now. The vet expects him to peak at 17.2-3 .... but Samwise/Scratches still has about 2 years to grow! His mother was 17.1 and his father is 18.1 ..... but I think that NOW is a good time to stop growing :D

I am going to teach him to bow or kneel for mounting but his knees are still open. I won't teach that until they are closed as it is just too stressful on his joints right now. He still has to stand with his hind feet downhill for the farrier to do the fronts. There's just too much bulk and not enough muscle on that front end to support it yet! :D

Lav .... can you believe that our boys are getting this old?!??! I still see Sam as a baby every time I look at him. The reality checks come from pictures like these! Funny .... I don't even "see" him as big until I see these pictures. He's just my baby ... and will ALWAYS be my baby! I LOVE this guy!!!!!! I was looking at the website of the farm from where I got him this morning ... thinking that I would like a brother to him. I was saddened to know that Sam's mother, Jan, passed away this past September. Sigh .... oh well. There were no guarantees that I could get another one like him anyway!! :D

Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Samwise!

[Jessica P]

Maeve, he looks like he's growing into himself. :D

What a perfect picture pose.

[Ash n Brenna]

Maeve,

I have never seen pics of Sam before so I can't really comment on how much he's grown, but he is sure beautiful! Good luck with him.

Ash

[Maeve]

For those of you who DO remember (Crzy!) and so some of you who never knew ..... here's a picture of Scratches just after he arrived! His Crushed Velvet Do!!!! He came from ND in the middle of a FL winter .... and had WOOL! He'd never been touched by a human and we scrambled to give him a hair cut. Then found out that the clippers wouldn't TOUCH the wool! So RWH and I spent 2 days in the pen with scissors ..... and gave Scratches his Crushed Velvet fashion statement! I think that he has FINALLY forgiven us! :D
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Samwise!

[Cassie1]

Maeve!!!! What a gorgeous boy there! That is a FANTASTIC picture of the both of you...you gotta get that one framed!

Ginger

[Barbara]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Good heavens Maeve! That is one huge "little boy"! Holy mackeral! He is absolutely gorgeous, though! :D

:eek: :eek:

[Devo]

Gorgeous! He is so beautiful! You two look like you were totally meant for each other! You just . . . I don't know . . . belong.

D.

[Cindi]

Holy Moly! Hope he put's down his head when you go to halter him. :D

What a gorgeous boy.

So what has he learned in the RP? :D :D

[Maeve]

Thanks again! Yes, Cindi! That was the FIRST thing that I taught him when he was just a baby! I knew there would come a day when I would need that cue! Actually, Scram does just like Isis .... I hold the halter at a comfortable level and he puts his nose in for me. Then it's just a matter of sliding it over his ears!!! What could be easier!

Round pen: He knows move forward, move forward consistantly, turn outside (he just got that when *I* figured out that he has to be far enough away from the fence ... he's not what you'd call agile!), and inside turns. He is also learning "come to me" and "follow me". He walk (trot, if my ankles let me run!) at my shoulder and turn away from me or turn with me. We are also working on backing up (with me). The boy learns faster than any horse I have ever owned. Can you tell that I am TOTALLY in love with my boy!?!?!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scram (thanks, Donna!)!!!!

[Phorselover]

Wow what a beautiful picture! That needs to go in a frame for your Grandson to treasure. He is so reagal and "kingly". Budwieser has nothing on you and Sam.

Happy Horsing,
Laura

[Val]

What a shock! Wow! Gee! ahhhh, ummmm, I cannot get over how big he is...I know you are 5ft tall but Gee wiz...I need to go lay down.
Val

[Maeve]

Someone e-mailed me and reminded me that I have SHORTED (pun intended) Isis in this whole situation! So here's one of BOTH kids that we took yesterday! :D Specks ...... she NOW looks like a pony! For you who don't know, Isis is a 14.2 1/2 hh Arab ..... NOT a pony! :D
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scram!

[snortiesmom]

Maeve Both of you kids are beautiful :D :D But , i have to agree with everyone else SAM is AWESOME :eek: :eek: :eek: He makes Snortie look small :)

Laurie

[Speckles]

Maeve, the boy sure has come a long way! So has RWH for that matter!!!!!!! Is he making progress on the wagon? After all, you promised a tour to visit each of us when the boy learned to drive....

Isis, the pony, sure is cute.....but she always was. ;)

I'd say you've pretty much tied up the WOWWW! factor on the board.

:D

PS, I've been out of touch, how's Stephen doing?

[Hrsecrzy1]

Maeve, you know you have the cutest avatar on the board but I think you need to get one of those flashing ones so we can see his cuteness along with his mightiness! ;) (is that even a word?) :p

[gmajody]

Maeve, WOW
Sam is georgous!
Like a few others, I remember his saga pf coming down south. I would sit at my computer reading everything, just waiting for Scratches to show up safe and sound. Lots of late nights and tears of joy. My, two years have done him well.
I love Donna's comments about brushing the top half - well? Do you use a ladder?
He is just magnificent!
Jody

[Donna]

GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!!!
As usual, you and your horses are all perfect. But GOOD GRIEF!
Instead of crying over your spotless horses, I think I better get out the old curry and do some cleaning around here. My horses look like orphans!
Truly beautiful M!
Donna

[(un)stablemom]

How lucky for you to look outside and see those two beautiful creatures!!!
So... do you have any more pictures that we can oogle over?
I am the same size as you and have a hard time brushing any horse over 15h. How do you brush his back? Ladder, hang from a tree, scaffolding? :D
Seriously, I think we would all love to see more pictures if you have the time! :p

[Maeve]

GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!!!
As usual, you and your horses are all perfect. But GOOD GRIEF!
Instead of crying over your spotless horses, I think I better get out the old curry and do some cleaning around here. My horses look like orphans!
Truly beautiful M!
Donna

LOL! I TOLD you, Sister! It's the SAND here! It polishes the horses! I haven't brushed them in a couple of weeks!!!!! :D Sorry! There ARE some perks for living in Florida!!!!

Yes .... I do use a stepping stool to groom Scram ...... :D I have this cute little portable one that used to be RWH's tool box! I decided that *I* needed it worse!!!!! I'm planning on doing the Draft Roll one of these days just so I can see what he will look like! His tail might be a problem! If you look closely at the pictures, it touches the ground! How I'll ever get it up in a bun ..... that will take some work! It is SO thick that it takes me an hour to brush it out! And it NEVER tangles! That has to be the sand too :D

Crzy .... RWH calls that pose his "Standing Bold" look! Scratches is good at it too! Just rattle a feed bag! LOL! The boy is TOTALLY ruled by his stomach!

Gmajody ..... I saved the Scratches Saga before the old board closed down! I re-read it every now and again .... and wonder how I ever lived through that! I must have been younger then! And it was all of you on this board that kept my sanity through all of that!!!! What a nightmare! I swore that I would NEVER do that again!!!!!!

Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scram!

[Lavender444]

Maeve, the boy sure has come a long way! So has RWH for that matter!!!!!!! Is he making progress on the wagon? After all, you promised a tour to visit each of us when the boy learned to drive....



What does RWH think about all of us still calling him RWH? I remember that story ! Too funny! :D :D

I'm ready for my visit from the run wagon any time! :p

[KellyJean]

This thread is not complete.

Hunny, I miss you! Been planning to email you, but a lot on my plate right now... I'll get there soon though! *HUGS* (creamy shimp) ;)

Kelly

[Maeve]

What does RWH think about all of us still calling him RWH? I remember that story ! Too funny! :D :D

I'm ready for my visit from the run wagon any time! :p

ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!!!! You bring back a LOT of fond memories, Lav! And Specks ... I forgot to answer YOUR question too!!!!! RWH has just RECENTLY started to think about the "Rum Runner Wagon"!!!! I don't think that he truly had the faith that I could really train the boy to drive! Now he is seeing some results and has been looking at wagon plans! He found a MINIATURE BUDWEISER WAGON a few weeks ago!!!! It would have been perfect for one Clyde! But the people wouldn't sell it! DARN!!!! Back to the drawing board!!!!

Lav .... RWH LOVES his notoriety!!!! This Christmas, one of my board friends sent a Christmas card addressed to "RWH and Maeve" !!!! RWH went to the mailbox that day and came in SO happy! He was waving the card in his hand and yelling, "I'M FAMOUS!!!" LOL!!!!!!!!!

Okay ... short story on the name with picture (just for old time's sake!). My husband did NOT like horses at ALL! I had to threaten him ("I'm going to get another horse. You can accept that or leave ... and I don't care which way you chose!") when I decided to get another horse after a 25 year sabbatical. He still didn't even LIKE horses until Scratches came on the scene. Then he started to warm up to them.

My horses RACE to me when I call to them ... and Isis usually won! Smarty Jones was a hot item on the TB circuit that year ..... and my husband dubbed Scratches "Not-So-Smarty-Jones" because of his lack of speed and coordination.

One day, my husband set forth a challenge. "I can run faster than the horses! I can "Out run, Out wit, and Out Last" both of them!" .... errrrrr .... right. Camera in hand, I called out. All THREE of them came thundering through the yard!!!!!!! Hence the name, Runs With Horses!!!!! Here's the picture ..... living proof that I live in an insane asylum! The problem being, I choose to live here! What does that say about me?!??!?!? :D
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scram!

[Maeve]

This thread is not complete.

Hunny, I miss you! Been planning to email you, but a lot on my plate right now... I'll get there soon though! *HUGS* (creamy shimp) ;)

Kelly

LOL! I can't believe that you saved that, girl friend!!!! HUGS!!!! I've been meaning to write to you too! I have a bridle for you!!!!! Yes, he outgrew it before I had a chance to use it!!!!! And the restaurant closed :( :( No more creamy shrimp!!!!!!! :( HUGS!
Love and Light,
Maeve

[KellyJean]

OMG! Tell me you're kidding!!! *SNIFF* I could cry!! No more shrimps! :(

I'm off to send you an email right now... and yes, I saved that one... was too funny not to keep.

This one thrills me too :)

[gmajody]

Apparently I didn't read the Scratches Saga quite as thoroughly as I thought. I never knew what RWH meant.
I just assumed that it was some type of reference to husband .....
That is a great story and the picture is priceless.

And that picture of that 'big baby' is so cute. I have alway loved it as your avitar.
Jody

[Lavender444]

I LOVE that Isis's ears are on you even though RWH has a grain scoop in his hands! :D

[RavenToy]

Maeve, what a wonderful thread of memories. I love the way you refer to him as "Scram" now. ;)

And Isis!! Even though I remember all the stuff about Scratches, I remember the stuff with Isis, too. You've come a long way with both of them. :)

[Maeve]

Maeve, what a wonderful thread of memories. I love the way you refer to him as "Scram" now. ;)

And Isis!! Even though I remember all the stuff about Scratches, I remember the stuff with Isis, too. You've come a long way with both of them. :)

Thanks, RT! We can all thank Donna for "Scram" ...... (Scratches + Sam = Scram) ... and, DARN IT! .... it's sticking! LOL! Ya just never know!!!

Jody, the RWH episode came about 6 months after Scram got here! That was the first time that I saw my husband "warming up" to the idea of horses!

And, yes, Lav !!!! The feed scoop was the "Out Wit" part of my husband's strategy!!!! He KNEW that the horses wouldn't pass him! And you can see that Isis wanted to be obedient for me ... but her stomach won out! Silly girl :D

It's been a great trip down memory lane for me too! Going through all of the old pictures again .... it's been fun!

Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scram!

[vsolubo]

He is gorgeous! You need to frame that & hang it on the wall!

[PonyDriver]

Wow wow wow! ! !

I wasn't here for the old board, but it sounds like a wonderful story. Does anyone have a copy of it they can post to help us newbies out?

Too cool . . .

-PD
Jane

[Diane]

Scram is gorgeous Maeve!!!!! That's one picture that should be hanging for all to see for sure. It even seems like he's grown so much from this summer.

Can't forget about Isis. She's such a beauty! What a hoot seeing the picture with RWH and Isis racing for the finish line.

You've done an excellent job with both of them. Huge pat on the back from me! :)

[Tripledeuce]

Would you,please,,,,,post the saga,so we can all read it,again?????????


Terry

[Appy Trails]

I didn't know what RWH meant either, glad I now know. What a great picture. Makes me think there's still hope for my hubby yet :D Great pictures of Scratches, ah-- Sam---ah Scram. Whatever his name, he's a big, beautiful boy :)

[PonyDriver]

I am loving the story! (And just wanted to bump this thread to keep it up there with the beginning saga.)

-PD

[hrsyldy2]

Maeve, he is soooo beautiful...loved reading about all those things...brought a smile and a chuckle....in all my stuffiness, achiness...taking Nyquil self....hehehehe-loved the pics!!

hrsy (ahhhchooo)

[bronc]

Mauve scratches sure has gotten big an only a 2 year old nice looking horse. you look good to mauve,

[PonyDriver]

Bump!

-PD
:)

[Cathy]

PD, thanks for bumping this thread up. I hadn't seen it until now.

Maeve, WOW, WOW, AND WOW!!! You know it has been another year, I bet your gorgeous boy has grown even more since then.

Could you please post another picture of him, one from this year???

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!

The pic in the beginning of this thread is great. Show's how the boy has grown and boy you sure do look small compared to Scratches.

Just how do you groom the top part of him???? Inquiry minds want to know!!

[nelson]

I remember when Scratches was being transportered, and we were all a nervous wreck. I remember Stephen naming him.

OMG, was it really that long ago?

Annie;)

[Mary R]

Boy, does that bring back good memories (well, maybe not for Maeve, all the pressure!). I can't believe we've all been here so long already! And I was a pretty quiet one back then ;) It's sad to see the names there that aren't here anymore, but there are a lot of new people that might enjoy the Scratches Saga now for the first time :) It truely was a wonderful story to see unfold. Reading this, it seems like just yesterday!

[Mary R]

Yeah, Annie...my grandson that was two back then is going on 7 now!

[MeasureMe]

Could you please post another picture of him, one from this year???

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!




Yes, Please, please, please.

[setterlover]

Yeah, me, too....gad, he's magnificent! ANy chance of being a Budweiser horse? He's got the color, the cut and the bone.....of course, you may not want that, either....he's good enough, though!!!:)

[PonyDriver]

The other thread -- the one that says "Revisited" has the live story that was salvaged from the original board.

It's a wonderful bedtime read.

-PD
:)

[Maeve]

Boy, does that bring back good memories (well, maybe not for Maeve, all the pressure!). I can't believe we've all been here so long already! And I was a pretty quiet one back then ;) It's sad to see the names there that aren't here anymore, but there are a lot of new people that might enjoy the Scratches Saga now for the first time :) It truely was a wonderful story to see unfold. Reading this, it seems like just yesterday!


WOW!!! I just re-read that and hyperventilated throughout the whole thing! LOL! What a trip down memory lane!!! Yes, it is sad with all of those others missing in action. I still stay in touch with Weststar and Shannon on occasion ... and of course, YOU, Mary! :) I am so glad that I re-read that story! RWH and I were talking about it after the read ..... and both of us had a great laugh over it!

I'll try to get some good pictures of the boy this weekend. He really has grown (again!). As to grooming .... I actually have a small step stool that I use to brush his back!!! I can't reach it from the ground!!!!! He's still just a big puppy dog! I can't wait to start riding him. His knees weren't closed last September .... and since I know that they are the FIRST to close .... and that the back and shoulder take a year longer ..... I decided to put off riding till this year. The boy has to lug around 1900 pounds, there's no point in adding more to that! ;) :D Maybe I can even get pictures of him with his bitless bridle!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!! More to come!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

[denise]

I think I caught that story right after she had him hauled from N.D? Gosh it has been a long time!
If I had a dollar for every day I've read a thread on this board!!! no wonder I don't have time for housework. LOL

Maeve I'd love to see Scratches again and some more of that beautiful braiding and headgear too. I never get tired of such talent or beautiful horses.
Terry's is also beautiful.

[Stubby]

Oh, Maeve he's gorgeous. Bet riding is like being in a rocking chair.

Carol

[haylisa]

I can't wait to start riding him. His knees weren't closed last September .... and since I know that they are the FIRST to close .... and that the back and shoulder take a year longer ..... I decided to put off riding till this year.

Maeve, that's great that you're watching that. Benny came from a PMU farm to a trail riding outfit... was ridden (before I got him) when he was only maybe a year old. He went lame as a result, and he was then given away, as they thought he was a lost cause. My friend brought him up here and then I got him. He was fine when I got him at 2, but now he has one front fetlock that is larger than the others due to joint ossification.

Also I talked to a carriage driver in town, and he said they don't start training their percherons until they're 5. From what I understand, drafts take a little longer to "mature".

[Mary R]

Maeve, always love to see pics of the big boy :) Funny how time flies so fast, isn't it? I guess I missed the RWH idea, just knew it was your hubby, but how funny to read the REAL reason! I'm about 3/4 through the new Harry Potter, trying hard to work from home, but that book keeps getting way to much attention :) So I'll probably be up all night again trying to get some work done :( But I'm loving the book :)

[bronc]

mauve nice to hear from you again , how old is scratches now?

[Maeve]

Also I talked to a carriage driver in town, and he said they don't start training their percherons until they're 5. From what I understand, drafts take a little longer to "mature".

Awwww!!! Poor Benny!!!! Drafts DO take a LOT longer to mature (even longer than ARABS!) and since he is going to be my Forever Friend, I have all of the time in the world to wait on him. Since we do have forever, I figured what's the point in rushing a couple of years when I can play it safe and have a sound horse for life?!?! I don't think AB pulls their Clydes out of the field for training till they are 4.

Mary ... I can't believe you missed the story of RWH !!!!!! I know it is still on the board somewhere ... just don't know where! :D For some of you who don't know the story, RWH means Runs With Horses! A LONG time ago, (yep ... here I go!) .... when Scratches was a baby, I would turn them out to graze. When I wanted them in, I would stand by the barn and call. Isis would come FLYING from wherever .... and Scratches was always following up the rear. Being a baby Clyde, he just couldn't keep up with the fancy Arab! That was the same year that Smarty Jones was making the bid for the Triple Crown. My husband dubbed him "Not-So-Smarty-Jones" and claimed that HE could outrun the horses! I laughed, got the camera and said, "Show me!" What he DIDN'T tell me is that he was going to get a scoop of feed! LOL!!!! He went out front where the horses were grazing and I hollered. I heard thundering hooves ... and they all rounded the corner of the house ... with my HUSBAND in the lead!!!!!! I managed to get a picture while trying not to pee my pants from laughing so hard! He would hold the feed scoop out if Isis was trying to go around him .... and she was smart enough to "follow" instead of pass! I believe this was also about the time that "Dances with Wolves" was at the box office so it only seemed fitting that my husband was named Runs With Horses! He even received some mail from someone on this board addressed that way! ROTFLOL!!!! He LOVES it! So that is the history there! I wish I knew where to look for that picture!

Bronc .... Scratches is 4 now. I would have started him by now if I lived somewhere sane. But here in FL, we don't ride in the summer like you northern folk don't ride in the winter! It's 92* out with about 80% humidity. The horses STAND and sweat .... and I wilt! There's just no way to work them in the summer heat. Even our horse shows don't start for another month or so! :D

Thanks, all ... for the kind words about my boy! I will get updated pictures this weekend. I've already warned RWH that there will be a photo shoot! Maybe I can do some bridlework as long as I have him out for pictures. He learns SO fast! I love working with the boy!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

[Maeve]

OH! I forgot, Mary!!!! I stood in line (by myself!) at Books-A-Million the night of the HP release! I came home, read the first chapter and went to bed. When I got up the next morning, I plopped my butt on the couch and didn't move till I finished the book!!! It was bittersweet. I wanted so much to know what happened ... but knew it was the LAST of HP!!!! My life is over!!!! All of these years waiting and reading and now ... NOTHING LEFT! Just bury me!!!! Isn't that book WONDERFUL!?!??! :D
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

[Jessica]

He is gorgeous! That is definately my dream horse :)

And you look BEAUTIFUL!!!!:)

[haylisa]

I can't wait to see the pics! They do learn so FAST, I was so shocked how quickly Benny learned to GTTB, and everything else he's learned. And with a bitless bridle even! How tall is he? He looks about 18 h. Benny is 17.1, he actually grew one inch over the last year. I thought he'd be done by now, but I guess not. He MUST be done now, he'll be 7 in a few months.

[denise]

Haylissa, what breed is Benny?
My husband has a mustang that is 17.1hh too. He doesn't appear to be draft mixed but more TB or maybe some Freesian in him. We didn't realize there is Freesian blood in the herds here till I read it somewhere? terrible memory.
He is 6 and I was told they will grow up till 7 also, although with mustangs it has something to do with being nutritionally stunted.

Tall horses are so much different feeling then shorter ones! It just feels wierd to be so tall up there. Maeve you will have to tell us how different it feels to be so high off the ground after riding Isis! LOL

[Maeve]

LOL!! I can't MEASURE Sam because I can't see the top of the tape! :D My daughter went to Busch Gardens last weekend and saw the AB Clydes. She said that Sam was as tall as they are but not NEARLY as broad ... how come??? Well ..... because Sam is a Pasture Potato! As soon as he starts working, he should broaden out nicely. The UP side to this whole thing is that Isis' saddle should fit him! When I was saddle shopping for her, I did the wither tracing. For laughs, I did one on him too. They were the SAME SIZE! Isis, being an Arab, has those sprung ribs and table top back .. with VERY broad shoulders. I bought a Crest Ridge saddle which has the big flare at the shoulder .... so hopefully I'll only have to change the girth for the boy!

Lisa, what I have found with Sam is that he is SOOOOOOOOO willing to please! Much more so than any other horse that I have worked in the past. And once he learns something, he would rather DIE than to do it wrong! I love this attitude! But it also means that I have to be very careful when I train to make sure there is nothing there that I don't want! RE-training would be a bear with that kind of mentality! :D

I spent a lot of time out with the horses this morning and it felt SO good! Our temps are dropping in the morning right now which means it was only 78* instead of 90* in the morning! This means that I can start working horses again in the morning! I have the opposite problem that you guys have .... I quit working horses in the summer and start in the fall!!!! And it's ALMOST fall now! WOO HOO!!!!!

Oh! I forgot to mention that the AB Clydes HAVE to be 18 hh before they make the hitch. I would guess Sam to be somewhere close to that .... probably not over.
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches/Sam!

[spotteddrafter]

Hi Maeve, long time no talk!! ;)

Just thought I would tell you, I had not ever read the HP series nor seen any of the movies. :eek: I have been thinking that maybe I should, and lucky for me one of my close friends has the whole series. That was 3 weeks ago. I am now halfway through #6!! Love, love LOVE these books, to the point that I've asked my DH to get me the whole set for Christmas!!! I can't seem to stop from reading, and I'm feeling very bittersweet that there is only one left!

Glad to hear from you and can't wait to see the goliath that is Scratches/Samwise now.

Take Care!
Jill

[Carrie]

Everytime I read this story I just get a big grin on my face! I just remember all of us being so excited to hear every little update. I would yell to Bree, Scratches is in wherever. We will always think of him as Scratches. He has turned into such a handsome boy. Our baby is 4 also and is 16.1. My how time flies.

[Mary R]

Maeve, I love it! I'm way too close to being done though! I think I'm going to start all over with #1 again :)

[Mary R]

Maeve, I found the RWH picture, it is on one of the Scratches threads I think!

[haylisa]

Denise, Benny is 3/4 clydesdale. He looks like he could be Scratches' brother! I think Scratches has more feathers on his legs and taller probably! It's so fun to ride him, even just walking around the neighborhood like we do. My other horse is only 14.3, and it does feel a lot different. In some ways it's scarier when he acts up, because of his size. If my mare did the same thing I wouldn't think much, but when he decides to have a little crow-hopping fit...YIKES :eek:. That mostly happens when he's away from his gal pal, and he's getting better about that, it's taking time. Benny has also been very willing to please, as long as he's near his buddy!.... He's getting better though. We can now leave the driveway without stopping 800 times, and go for a lollygagging kinda walk around the neighborhood, stopping for snacks of course (bribery). Hopefully Scratches will be more independent than that!

I just love hearing about mustangs, they're so amazing. I'm way too chicken to ever be able to train one, but I sure admire people who have the nerve.

Maeve, I saw the AB clydes a couple years ago...I couldn't believe how huge they are! I thought Benny was big, but they really are bigger. A little taller, and a lot broader. (A lot cleaner too!) I was a sucker and paid $20 to get my pic taken with one! I think Scratches will get that way too, when he finishes growing....when is that? .... around 9 or 10?:D. Haha! How tall are you, Maeve? You look like a little bitty lady, but maybe that's 'cuz you're next to that beautiful hunky hunk! I'm 5'8, I can measure Benny okay. But my tape is supposed to measure weight and it isn't long enough to go around him! When I got my aussie saddle, they had a formula to figure the approx. weight, and it seems Benny's around 1850 lbs.! Scratches is probably more?

[haylisa]

Here's a couple pics, one with a moose in the trees! You can tell Benny's not too thrilled with the company!

[Maeve]

WOW!!! JILL!!!!!! It's like Old Home Week around here lately!!! Good to see you again! How's Jetta?!??!! What took you so long getting involved with HP!?!?!?? JK Rowling is going to write an encyclopedia of all of the characters next. It won't be HP ... but it should be a good read!

HI CARRIE! Geez!!!! Everyone's coming out! :D

Lisa, I can't believe that Benny has anything else in him but Clyde!!!! He COULD pass for Scratches' brother! :D I believe Scratches weighs in at about 1900 pounds at the moment. He's SOOOOO narrow at the shoulders! He needs to start pulling his weight around here ... literally! LOL! Then he would muscle up a bit!!! And I'm 5'0" tall .. so yes, he does seem bigger when I'm in the picture! LOVED the moose in the background!

Mary ... I want to start over on the HP series. It's been such a LONG road .... read a book, wait two years ... and I believe that I've been doing that for 10 years now! LOL!!!! I miss it! But it doesn't stop me from living it! I just finished making row counters for knitting using HP charms! And I knitted a Gryffindor scarf ... and I where a Hogwarts baseball cap!

Okay ... I should be able to get pics tomorrow if RWH is around for a while! I just can't do that myself! Will post ASAP!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Sam!

[denise]

Benny is very handsome If I guessed I'd say he was QH and Clyde?
Mustangs are easy to train, they have a lot of heart and try to please which makes it nice.
Buddy is 16hh and weighs around 1700 lbs. All the halters and equipment I buy says it fits 1600-1700 lb horses. He takes an xx large fly mask and an 86" blanket but even as big as he is Frisco towers over him and those 5" makes a HUGE difference.
Lucky for me he is so calm and slow about everything. He's only spooked on my once and I fell off, I was just not paying attention and he went off sideways, then looked down like what ya doin down there mom?

The only reason I watch the superbowl halftime is to catch the bud horses! LOVE THEM. I was told they had to have so much white etc..

[Maeve]

The only reason I watch the superbowl halftime is to catch the bud horses! LOVE THEM. I was told they had to have so much white etc..

Yes, Denise .... there are strict requirements for the Bud team. They have to be 18 hh .... have to be bay ... have to have a wide blaze and have to have 4 even white socks to the knees/hocks. My vet (who has now left :( )
used to work at the AB stables in VA (I believe). It was SO interesting to hear the inside scoop on the horses! They name them alphabetically by year. That is, a foal board in XXXX year will be named with an A name. The next year, all foals will be named with a B name. This must be common on Clyde Farms as Sam's registered name is Dakota Amadeus. He was an A year baby! :D

Matt (vet) told me a story about how he LOVED to go to the field and bring the horses in. He said he would walk over to where they were all hanging out under a tree, then he would turn around and run towards the barn. All of the horses would start running with him! Talk about Runs With Horses!!!! Matt said the ground would shake and they would run WITH him ... as a herd! He said he'll never forget that feeling of the power around him! It must have been awesome!!!!!

He also told me another story of a mare they had at the barn. They had a paddock built around the barn ... and the barn was built using 3/4" plywood with stucco over the surface. This one mare would back up to the side of the barn and start pushing with her butt ... and pushing ... and pushing till she BROKE that 3/4" plywood and the stucco would come crumbling down! They would no sooner get that barn fixed and here would come the mare ..... LOL!!!!!! She just enjoyed it for some reason! Matt said that he didn't know how many times they fixed the barn from her little game!

I have to give the dog a bath this morning and then I'll get the pictures of Sam/Scratches. It's a two hour feat to wash the dog. He's a Bearded Collie ..... and it takes FOREVER to dry him! But I WILL get pictures this weekend! Promise!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scram!

[Maeve]

I didn't wash the dog! I decided that I had better get the pictures before it got too hot! I wash the dog in air-conditioning! AND .... I could actually SEE the 25 pounds that I lost in these pictures! THAT made my day! :D

So I'll start. Here's the first and it shows how awfully narrow his chest is! I guess it REALLY shows what a baby he still is even though he's so big! :D

And I'll just keep putting pictures in because I didn't name them very well and I don't have a clue what's going up! LOL!!!!

Okay ... I think that one of them there is a picture of his bitless bridle. I had to borrow a crossunder from Jackie so it's a bit too small! But you get the idea! And notice that my chin-to-nose fits in his nostril! LOL!!!!! These pictures are great for me! I never realize how big this boy is until someone takes pictures!

[Maeve]

A few more .....

Here's a picture of Sam, Luke (my Beardie!) and me! I really like this picture! But you can sure tell that I didn't give the dog his bath yet! LOL!

[Maeve]

We were trying to get a picture of his ears forward. I tied a bag to my buggy whip .... and you can see why THAT didn't work! LOL!!!!! And I HAD to include a picture of the boy's tail and BIG butt! :D It really puts his chest to shame!

[Maeve]

And just ONE more! :D I think this picture is precious!!!!! This is my granddaughter, Zoey ..... it was taken at Easter this year! Gentle Giants is all I can say about it!
Love and Light,
Maeve

[Cathy]

Maeve, I just can't seem to get over how big Scratches/Sam, looks compared to you. I know that you are 5' 0" tall and all but, really that's not really short and he looks gigantic. I am 5' 7 1/2" tall and even I would look small standing next to him.

Have you been riding him yet?

Easy, and him are the same age and I had her started for me last Nov. and Dec., 2006. I rode her in Jan. and Feb., 2007 but haven't been back on her since. Have just been so busy working and when I get the chance to work with her the temperatures sore to high. It must be an omen or something.

Anyways, thanks for sharing your pic's it is great to see you two back on the JL board again.

Yup, it must be old home week here on the JL board.

Welcome back everyone.

[Mary R]

Lisa, Benny is beautiful! I love the moose in the picture, that's cool :)

Maeve, the pictures are great! You look wonderful, and he is such a sweet looking big boy! It's funny how his chest is still so narrow, but he has one big butt :D Thanks for the pictures!

[Just Me]

Maeve....thanks so much for those pictures! They're awsome!

I went to look at a pony for my kids one time, and the lady raised Clydes. She had a baby that was only a few days old. He couldn't stand up straight yet, and I voiced my concern. She told me that they're legs are so long, that it takes them a couple of weeks to stand up straight! I thought that was really interesting! They are magnificent creatures, for sure.

Lisa...I am going to show my husband your picture with the moose in the background. That is just tooooo cool!!! And your fences....they're really intersting. I just love them. I would like to try something like that myself!

[Maeve]

It's funny how his chest is still so narrow, but he has one big butt :D

So does his mom! LOL!!!!!!! ;) :D His chest is a perfect example of how SLOW MATURING the Clydes are! He's probably equivalent to a 2 1/2 year old QH. Cathy, no, I haven't ridden him for that reason. I will probably start backing him in a couple of months.

I haven't been around much for a lot of reasons. Board bullies aside, I have had some health issues that have really had me down. I have arthritis in my ankles. It was SO bad two years ago that my joint doctor told me that he had no idea how I even walked into the office. A wheelchair was suggested. My answer was "Over my dead body!"

This spring was a turning point for me. I decided that I had to (you know) or get off of the pot. I was either going to do something with the horses or sell them. To be quite honest, I had packed on about 45 pounds when I quit smoking and with the inactivity caused by the arthritis (as seen in the first picture of this thread!). I wouldn't even get on Isis because I felt like I shouldn't have to apologize to her every time I did! And I certainly didn't want her stumbling and falling with me on her back! So in May I started a plan to get healthy. I've lost 25 of that 45 pounds. AND ... get this ... I have started using my spinning wheel again! It hurt like crazy in the beginning. But the old adage, Use it or Lose it came from somewhere! :D The treadling to spin has been wearing down the arthritis calcifications!

Now I am running agility with my dog (about 2 hours once a week and three short sessions a day!) and I even worked Sam doing bridlework this morning! I figured that he was already bridled, my ankles felt good, what the heck!

Now .... today was the first time he has had that bitless bridle on for anything more than sizing it. He really knew nothing. I took him to the round pen and started getting him to disengage. This boy is SOOOO good! I worked with him for about a half hour and he was doing a SUPER job! Not terribly light yet but light enough and he truly understood the concept! When I was taking him back to the barn, something spooked him and he started to bolt. I had the rein, he felt the pressure and disengaged immediately! NO LAND SKIING! :D I can't wait to get out there and work with him some more! He just learns so quickly that it is a pleasure to work with him! I'll make sure that I take some pictures of the progress! Thanks, all!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Sam/Scratches!

[spotteddrafter]

Awe, Maeve...what a big boy he is now. And, you look fantastic!!! I can't believe it's been so long since the "saga," it's hard to believe how quickly like goes!!! I love his big ol' head, and that Easter pic is so very precious. :):D

Everything is good here. Jetta is great, we are now in the Intro levels of dressage!! :eek::eek: lol I don't want to hijack your thead, but I'll attach a very recent pic of her...

I don't know why it took me so long to get into HP, but the benefit of waiting so long is that all the books are out and I didn't have to wait to get the next one. I am now 150 pages into #7. Did you cry at the end of 6 like I did? I can't believe Dumbledore is gone....

Take care!!!

[Maeve]

Oh JILL! Jetta looks GREAT! And I'm so glad to hear that you are doing dressage!!!!! Did you know that Clydes make GREAT lower level dressage horses!!!! It's the upper levels that kill them! :D I guess by the pictures of Scratches that the Clydes can be really light in the front end! ;) :D KIDDING!!!!!!

While there is an upside to the way that you read HP, the upside for me was the anticipation of the upcoming book! It was 2 years between each of them and the parties on the release nights! I LOVED IT! And YES, I bawled like a baby at the end of Book 6!!! For HOURS! Pathetic, I know ... but only a true HP can understand! I can't go into the rest of the tears yet until you finish Book 7 !!!! ROTFLOL!!!!!!!

Don't worry about hijacking!!!! We should start our own thread (like Victory Chickens) for Drafties!!! :D The Drafts are such a unique individual. Different in attitude, growth, maturity ... just about every aspect! I have the dichotomy of the horse world here ... and Arab and a Clyde! You can't get much different! LOL!!!!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and the Big One!

[Khayels_Mom]

Maeve, the “big one” looks fantastic. Boy has he grown and look at that nice full tail. WOW. He looks like a “shy boy” in the first picture with the way his forelock is covering one eye. He also looks “proud”.

Zoey is a cutie. How old is she? She been born since I seem you last, I think?

Maybe one day Diana will bless me with grandchildren (who said that). Diana is in her second year of college and will be 20 in December. Enjoy every minute with those grand babies, they grow up so fast.

You look great and I bet you’re feeling good too. Jake sure did grow up, beautiful dog. The last pictures I saw of him were puppy pictures.

Jill, Jetta’s beautiful.

Well, I can’t participate in a draft thread but I’m considering a trip to the lady who started Khayel under saddle, she’s raising gypsy vanners the days.

[haylisa]

Denise, yes, the other 1/4 of Benny is Quarter horse! So I always joke, 1/4 quarter horse, does that make his 1/16 horse? ahaha! I've always been fascinated by mustangs, I didn't know they were so easygoing. I wonder if they tend to be less "spooky", or more, or ?

Maeve, he's so gorgeous! What a tail! Benny's is not that soft, it's more like dreadlocks. Every so often we have to have some cowboy magic to get it untangled...that stuff is amazing. I can't get over how much he looks like Benny, even the bit of white on his chin! Maybe they're long lost cousins! Wish we weren't on opposite ends of the country, it'd be so fun to visit.

Mary R,thanks, those moose are pesky sometimes though! That fence is a result of Benny destroying the electric tape fence I had when we got him. He thought it was quite a fun toy. Apparently with all the snow on the ground it wasn't working very well! It happened in the middle of winter, and we couldn't dig holes for fence posts, so all we could do was put up that jack-leg fence.

Jill, Jetta is a beauty! I've always loved paints. What breed is she? She reminds me of those gypsy vanners.

[Lavender444]

Since the rest of the oldies are coming out I wanted to jump in too!

Maeve- I love the pictures of Scratches! He looks fantastic!!! I LOVE that tail it is so lush and full!! He still does look very much like a baby! If you're gonna start riding him soon I hope you have a ladder handy!! :D

Jill!!!!! HI!!! Jetta looks so fantastic!!! It is good to see you around! I tried emailing you a while back but it came back to me. :( You'll have to PM my a more current email address so we can keep in touch better!!

My boys are doing good! We have been working Joey under saddle a lot more. Still just at a walk and still only whne Dh is around (just incase) but he is doing great!! I'll have to take some pictures and post them! Joey look so grown up with a saddle on!! :D

Bentley coliced on us on Friday. He is doing fine now but boy was that a scary call! Of course it happened at midnight! I was working so I sent Graham to see how he was and if we really needed to call the vet. Bentley looked to be pretty uncomfortable so I left work and called the vet. He was feeling much better by the time she got there at 1am but she medicated him with Bentamine and tubed him just to be safe. I can't wait to see what the bill for that midle of the night callis going to be.

[denise]

Poor Bentley!
I have only one mustang who is bad about spooking outside the arena. Not often just beyond the norm.

I agree, Jetta does look like a gypsy. She's such a beautiful spotted draft.

I saw a shirt in a magazine that describes me..."there are no bad colors when it comes to horses!"

[Maeve]

WHOA!!!!!! LAV!!!!!!!!!!!!! So good to see you!!! Sorry to hear about Bentley. That is SOOO scary! I'm sure you remember the 7 months of HECK that I went through with Scratches so I can truly empathize with you! I can't wait to see pictures of you and Joey riding! Geez .... remember when our boys were gelded at the same time?!?!?!??! Nothing like holding each other's hand that week! LOL! Time just flies!!!!

Pat .... that would be LUKE .. my dog! :) Jake is your horse! LOL!!!! Luke's growing up to be quite the little man! I just love him! He is by far the smartest dog that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing! I'm including a picture of him and I working on the agility jumps! You can't see much of his face ... but he has the prettiest grey eyes!!!!

Zoey will be 3 next month so, no ... she was born back then! And I'm sure that Diana will give you some grandbabies to love! Just not too soon! LOL!!!!

Lisa ... Scratches' tail does the dreadlock thing too!!! It's a MESS to comb out! And I couldn't live without Cowboy Magic! It takes me an hour to get through that mess! It is SOOO thick and long! He's been stepping on it lately and pulling out some big chunks. But you can't even tell from where! I've put aside a huge amount that I have found in the pen. I thought that maybe I'd hitch a bracelet or something some day. Yeah .. I wish we lived closer too! That would be a riot riding the two "brothers" together! But I'm afraid that you would have to move to FL. I'm too old to take the cold anymore! :D
Love and Light,
Maeve

[Maeve]

::GIGGLE:: I forgot the picture! Here's Luke and me ... with the horses watching in the background. I'm sure they are saying, "Whew! I'm glad she's obsessing with the dog today instead of US!"
Love and Light,
Maeve

[haylisa]

That was the cutest pic of Scratches with your granddaughter. Benny LOVES kids, he's fascinated with them. I had him at a clinic a couple years ago. He was being a pill the first day. My friend's little girl, 8 yrs old, 40 lbs sopping wet, wanted to ride him so bad. She's been riding since she was old enough to sit up. She got on him and he was Mr. Perfect Gentleman for her. They were quite a sight, she so little and he so big! He seemed to know he had a precious cargo.

Yah, that cowboy magic is amazing. Benny'd never had his tail brushed when i first got him. I like to never get it brushed. I got some of that stuff, and then no problem! It came right out. His tail gets really long too, I usually trim it so he doesn't step on it. Scratches' tail is so beautiful, though, it doesn't look like it would be scraggly at all.

[spotteddrafter]

Jill, Jetta is a beauty! I've always loved paints. What breed is she? She reminds me of those gypsy vanners.

Ah, I get that a lot. LOL She is a North American Spotted Draft horse, and is pending registry with the Pinto Draft Horse Association. Basically, both her sire and dam are spots, but the next generation back is Paint/Perch cross all the way up and down. I love that she's inherited the draft mentality with the paint looks...plus she's only 15.3hh so she's not super tall. Thanks for your lovely comment, though...I love her to death and I of course am quite biased on her. ;)

Hi AMBER!!! *waves* I have often wondered how you and your boys were doing? I'll PM you my email address and we can "chat." How old is Joey now?? Boy, he's got to be 4ish?? Have you been on him at all? And, I'm sorry Bentley colicked! That had to be scary, especially since you were at work, but I'm glad the vet was able to get there and you guys pulled him out of it. I do believe that pictures of your boys should be required. :)

Maeve, Luke was still a puppy the last time I saw pics of him! He's all grown up now!!! But, boy is he handsome! Do you have to do anything special for his coat to be that gorgeous? Does he shed a lot in the house?

Lisa...Benny is gorgeous too! I like Cowboy Magic, but have found that I like Absorbine's leave in better. I feel like I get more for my $$, and I like the smell better. But, hey...anything that works, right??


Wow, I feel like it's old home week here. lol Maeve, I'm totally with you on the draft thread....there is just something about the big guys and girls that just grab hold of our hearts and never let go. Recently a friend of mine asked me if I would ever have another draft or draft cross after Jetta passes, and I was like "are you crazy?!?" Absolutely I would, in a heartbeat, have another draft cross.

[Haunani]

Jill- Is it right to call a horse a Spotted Draft if they're not registered? My new boy is a paint/perch cross, also 15.3h and also black/white. :D I'll have to check in to the Pinto Draft one, too. :D

Maeve- I LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture of Scratches with your granddaughter. Too cute!

[spotteddrafter]

Carmen, you can call him whatever you want. LOL I don't know what the "registry" requirements are anymore for a horse who's parentage you don't know, but if you know he's a paint/perch cross then he's a Spotted Draft in my books. Here, this site might help you some... www DOT nasdha DOT net. Of course, the DOT = . :rolleyes:;) Also, the Pinto Draft Registry would register him, but I believe for that since you don't know his parentage that you would have to have some kind of inspection to "prove" that he does have a draft percentage of blood. For me, I don't really care about "registry" per say, the only reason I cross-registered Jetta is that it's yet another piece of paper with her pics on it and proving that I'm the owner, in case of theft. Hope that help? :)

[Maeve]

Lisa...Benny is gorgeous too! I like Cowboy Magic, but have found that I like Absorbine's leave in better. I feel like I get more for my $$, and I like the smell better. But, hey...anything that works, right??

I hadn't heard of the Absorbine!!! I'll have to check it out the next time I go to the feed store! Isis gets Fairy Braids in her mane in just ONE spot! But boy are they tight!!!! Every time it rains I have to detangle the braids!!! That might be a better alternative than the Cowboy Magic if it is cheaper!


Wow, I feel like it's old home week here. lol Maeve, I'm totally with you on the draft thread....there is just something about the big guys and girls that just grab hold of our hearts and never let go. Recently a friend of mine asked me if I would ever have another draft or draft cross after Jetta passes, and I was like "are you crazy?!?" Absolutely I would, in a heartbeat, have another draft cross.

Jill, back in the day (nie onto 100 years ago now), I used to show Arabians. I had a show string of 13 ..... and LOVED them!! Loved the babies, loved riding, loved the show attitudes, loved the training. There was NOTHING about them that I didn't love!!!! When I was looking for another horse after all of those years gone by, I wanted another Arab. My husband was dead set against it .... knowing the Arab personality! He said I was too old! He was probably right! LOL!!!!! But I got Isis. Then Scratches came along ..... and I thought, "Hmmmmm .... if I had life to do all over again, I would have been showing CLYDESDALES instead of Arabs!!!!!" I kid you not. I am SO taken by the Drafts that I wish I could sell Isis and get another one! Unfortunately, I do love Isis and I don't have room for another Draft!

As to Luke's coat ..... I give him a bath every week and blow dry him with a Force Pro Blower. He doesn't shed too badly ... but we have just had the most horrendous bout of ticks that ANYONE has ever seen! He scratched out all of the beautiful hair on his shoulders and everywhere those darned back feet could reach! :( I'm sick about it but now that we have the ticks under control, I'm hoping the coat will grow back.

Carmen! Love the new kid! :D Pretty pretty pretty!!! And, yes, I love the picture of Scratches and my granddaughter too!!! She was SO cute that day! She was picking grass and feeding it to him. And he was SOOOO gentle! I didn't worry for a second that he might miss and get her little hand! It's like they KNOW!!!!!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

[Lavender444]

That picture of Luke is so cute!!! He looks like he is having so much fun! :D

Maeve I do remember all you went through with Scratches!! Colic is scary. I remember you used to use gas-x. Do ya mind sharing the dosage you used for it? I have some Benamine the vet gave me to have on hand but I figured it would be good to stock some gas-x at the barn as well.

Jill- Joey is 4 now! It is hard to believe he is all grown up! I still think of him as a baby. I have been on him several times. I am still trying to do everything myself and I had some medical stuff going on with me so things have moved slower with Joey's training but we are moving along! I'll have to get some new pictures of me riding when my DH has time to come take some.

It is so nice talking to you all!! :D

[Speckles]

Hey Lav, how are you?

The Gas-x deal came from my vet. 1 tablet per 100 lbs. The vet includes generic gas-x in the emergency kits he sells, and we keep a supply at the barn. The nice thing about gas-x is that if it isn't a gas colic the stuff won't hurt them at all.

Maeve, I remember so well what the boy put you through when he first got here. So happy to see how well he is doing, and you too!

[haylisa]

Jill, Benny says thanks for the compliment! I haven't tried the absorbine, when I run out of the other I'll try that. I think 15.3 is just about the perfect height. Wish I could raise my mare Kinsey a few and shrink Benny a few, then they'd both be just right! Haha!

[Maeve]

Hey Lav, how are you?

The Gas-x deal came from my vet. 1 tablet per 100 lbs. The vet includes generic gas-x in the emergency kits he sells, and we keep a supply at the barn. The nice thing about gas-x is that if it isn't a gas colic the stuff won't hurt them at all.

Maeve, I remember so well what the boy put you through when he first got here. So happy to see how well he is doing, and you too!

WHOA!!! SPECKS!!! Now it IS old home week!!!!! :D Thanks for helping out there! I was just about to answer and attribute that life saving remedy to you!!!! We had our anniversary tonight ... and went to dinner. I had a RUM RUNNER (drink!) and thought of you!!!!!! :D And there is always that WONDERFUL concoction that you posted in the Scratches Saga .... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .... I think I gained a few pounds drinking those while waiting! :D Great to see you again!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

[denise]

Buddy started getting an awful straggly tail so I asked a gal here that trains and shows at the national level about how she gets her horses to grow such gorgeous tails? She told me Cowboy magic dries and makes the mane and tails brittle. Which makes sense since I was using cowboy magic every time I groomed before I rode. She uses suave conditioner/water in a spray bottle. I really like the difference and if it rains it reconditions.

Maeve is the bearded collies in the same family as the old english sheepdogs? he looks like an OES I used to have. Cute pics especially the one with the granddaughter.

My guys love kids they always have something good in their hands.

My sister and her oldest kid used to stand outside the bookstore till midnight when the new Harry Potter books came out. Now if it were a HORSE series I might understand. LOL

Carmen, I didn't know you got a second horse? I'll have to look for a thread with pics! congrats.

DH is talking about moving this year to MO, KS or IO he loved Corralville. I just don't know if I can do that much rain.

[Maeve]

I hadn't heard that about the Cowboy Magic, Denise! It's a good thing that it is too expensive for me to use for anything other than taking knots out! :D I DO know that baby oil is one of the worst things that you can use on the mane and tail. It magnifies the sun and will cause bleaching and damage to the hair. Remember when we were kids and would slather baby oil on us to get those great tans in the summer?!? Same principal. My vet warned me about using ANY oil based products on the horses here in FL. Our sun is bad enough without using something to enhance the affects!!!! My dog groomer said to use Head and Shoulders shampoo and conditioner on the horses. It helps relieve itching, is mild and puts a great shine on them! I like the idea of the Suave (cheap) hair conditioner. I'll have to give that a try too!!!

Beardies .... well ... there is some controversy about who came first. Lots of folks claim the the Beardies were the predecessor to the OES .... some claim the other way around. Beardies first appeared in Scotland around the 1500's but were not imported to the US until the mid 1970's so they are a relatively new breed here. If you saw the current "The Shaggy Dog" with Tim Allen, THAT is a Beardie! His name is Cole! :D They are SO trainable and SO bright that I'm still finding it hard to believe that dogs can catch onto things so quickly!!! I've had a lot of breeds in my life, but this Beardie tops them all!!!

Interesting fact about Collies! I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what made a Collie! There are the Borders, the Rough-coat, the Smooth-coat, etc .... and none of them looked alike so I couldn't figure it out. Doing research, I found that the word COLLIE comes from a SHEEP breed in Scotland. They were Cawley sheep (sp?). Any dogs that herded the Cawley Sheep were called Cawley Dogs!!! It then became Collie .... !!!! Interesting, eh??? That's why they can all look different and still be COLLIES!!!!! Luke is GREAT at herding the horses too! ;)

Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

[spotteddrafter]

Oh, Maeve...I was in tears this morning. Mainly because I'm on the third to last chapter of #7 and couldn't get it finished before I went to work...but also because of Harry walking in, prepared for the inevitable. I am barely getting anything done today, thinking about it and wondering what will happen next.... :o

[Maeve]

Oh, Maeve...I was in tears this morning. Mainly because I'm on the third to last chapter of #7 and couldn't get it finished before I went to work...but also because of Harry walking in, prepared for the inevitable. I am barely getting anything done today, thinking about it and wondering what will happen next.... :o

OH JILL!!!! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I know ..... I was a mess during that book too!!!!!!!! Our beloved Snape .... Harry ...... oh my goodness .......
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

[Ellie]

I did not read this entire thread, but I did read the first post and I did look at the picture.

I wanted to say that Samwise is handsome and beautiful.

I also wanted to ask - the name Samwise is indeed adopted from Sam Gamgee, is it not? I love it. :D

-- Ellie

[Maeve]

I did not read this entire thread, but I did read the first post and I did look at the picture.

I wanted to say that Samwise is handsome and beautiful.

I also wanted to ask - the name Samwise is indeed adopted from Sam Gamgee, is it not? I love it. :D

-- Ellie

Thank you, Ellie, for your kind compliments! Yes, Samwise is from LOTR. My grandson named the horse Scratches (for whatever reason) and I have never liked the name. After watching LOTR for the millionth time one day, I was crying (at a sad part) and said, "EVERYONE needs a best friend like Samwise!" ... and it struck me .... I had one! :D So that is how Scratches became Samwise ... kind of. After all of these years, we have a split consensus. Some refuse to change, others can't, some of us do! LOL! Therefore, the horse answers to both! :D Thanks again!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Whoever! LOL!

[snortiesmom]

Maeve I FINALLY got to read ALL of this thread for this time period:rolleyes:. Scratches/Sam (I still like Scratches best) looks AWESOME. And yes, there is nothing better to put a smile on one's face than a Draft Butt!!!!! I really admire you for waiting for him to mature, before you get on him. BUT------- When you do decide to get on, you will need to de-spook him to a STEP LADDER!!!!!

So you are using your spinning wheel again. I seriously don't know how you do it all!!!! Glad it's helping your ankles.

Please keep us updated on your progress with S/S.!!!!

Laurie

[haylisa]

I have two collies (rough) and only one has the "herding" inclination. Unfortunately all she wanted to herd were cars and atvs. I must say she's responded well to her shock collar...only had to use it a couple times and she has no desire now to eat things that go 60 mph!

I think it's funny that they both are inclined to sleep flat on their backs with their legs in the air....it's quite funny. Is that a collie thing, I wonder?

[Stubby]

Wow!! He is gorgeous. Bet riding him is going to be like sitting in a rocking chair.

Carol

[Maeve]

Wow!! He is gorgeous. Bet riding him is going to be like sitting in a rocking chair.

Carol

Thanks, Carol .... but I envision it more like riding a SOFA!!!!! LOL!!!! I better to plenty of stretches before I get on that boy!!!!!

HI LAURIE!!!! How are you doing?!?! How's Snort?!?!?! Ya coming back to FL any time soon?!?!?!

Lisa ... I had a Sheltie that used to sleep like that!!!! Luke doesn't ... he's always "on alert" for the flock to start moving! RWH and I can't move a hair without that boy jumping up to see where we are going!!! That's the DOWN side to having a dog with a strong herding instinct! LOL!

[spotteddrafter]

OH JILL!!!! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I know ..... I was a mess during that book too!!!!!!!! Our beloved Snape .... Harry ...... oh my goodness .......
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!

And, it's done. :(:(:( I finished it yesterday afternoon, and by last night I felt lost!!! What to do, with no more Harry to read?? Guess I'll have to start watching the movies, huh? LOL

That last fight scene, in the Great Hall? Holy Cow!!! I think my heart was beating as fast as it ever has!!! I was a little disappointed with the ending, considering all the dramatic events that have happened, but it was nice to "know" that life goes on.

[Maeve]

And, it's done. :(:(:( I finished it yesterday afternoon, and by last night I felt lost!!! What to do, with no more Harry to read?? Guess I'll have to start watching the movies, huh? LOL

That last fight scene, in the Great Hall? Holy Cow!!! I think my heart was beating as fast as it ever has!!! I was a little disappointed with the ending, considering all the dramatic events that have happened, but it was nice to "know" that life goes on.

Oh I KNOW!!!!! I have spent the last 10 years or so waiting on and reading these books! Now there are none left!!!! Yes, I agree with the Hall scene! I laughed at myself when I realized that my eyes were traveling 100 mph over the pages!!!!! I was caught up in that scene as if I were fighting myself! Hyperventilating, the whole nine yards!!!!

As far as the ending ... I can't think of another way that it COULD have ended when you think of the children that this book has impacted. You would hate to traumatize an entire generation! LOL!!!!!! J.K. Rowling is going to write an "Encyclopedia of Characters" next ... AFTER she takes a break. She's been writing under deadline for 17 years! She deserves a break! It will take each character in the book (even more minor characters) and give an in depth background on them. She said that there were SO many interesting characters that couldn't be developed for brevity sake. Then she wants to start writing ADULT (like HP isn't?!?) books ... but no more wizarding world. I have to believe that HP will become a classic with time. I'm just glad that I lived in the years that it was being released so that I could enjoy the journey. But like you, I have this HUGE hole that is just empty! I'm reading a new trilogy called "Dies the Fire" ... good but NOT HP!!!!
Love and Light,
Maeve, Isis and Scratches!