Tripping the Fat White Fantastic
Jun. 2nd, 2005 06:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancinghorseYes, I've been AWOL for a long time. Ya gotta problem wi' dat? Sometimes I go antisocial. The latest bout was brought on by being overbooked all around, between deadlines and breeding season, and having no energy left to talk to anyone.
I haven't had a real lesson in weeks. Pook had a growth spurt amid his breeding exertions and his right hind left the building. It's either been too hot for Capria or she's been giving lessons to someone else. Joni has keed. Pandora has been busy breeding. So Camilla and I have been playing the sit on horse and wait for her to get a clue game, which is making progress but it's slow. It is working and she is coming along, so we persevere.
Breeding season is, we hope, winding down. Nobody is pregnant so far, that we know of, but Pandora was rebred AI and will be checked on Monday. Turns out she has old cervical scarring that makes live breeding a no-go. Her prognosis at examination was poor, but by the time she got to the clinic for a thorough workup, the vet was smiling. So we have hopes. No problem carrying or delivering, but conceiving takes vet intervention. That was an adventure: it was the week of 109 degrees, and we had to haul Pandora in the morning, get her scoped out, then stow her with Carrma. In the evening we went back with Pooka, collected, and inseminated. And then she spent a week at the spa. Having a horse off the place gives me a weird sort of phantom-limb sensation, which did not help the antisocial tendencies.
We got her home just in time for me to head out to Seattle to see the new baby. Yes, that's Little Miss Firecracker playing Icon of the Month. More pictures are here. Her (pending) registered name is Galatea, shortened to Tia.
I left for Seattle on Sunday after a hectic week that ended on Saturday with me giving Gold a shot to bring her into heat by the time I got back--she had got pregnant but then slipped the foal (as mares will do). I took off bright and early the next day. Flight from Tucson was on time and arrived early. Then we sat on the runway in Phoenix waiting for a gate. We sat. And sat. And my connection was getting shorter. And shorter. By the time we finally got a gate, it was nearly time for the flight to Seattle. I had to sprint the length of two concourses, discover the gate assignment on the board was wrong, sprint the length of two more concourses, and thank goodness they held the plane for me. I made it after all, after deciding I wasn't getting there that afternoon.
T., the male half of the Charlie Horse Acres crew, was waiting at the airport and delivered me to the farm in Graham. First things first--I headed for the mare-and-foal barn to see Gabriella again (she used to live with me--Ephiny and Gaudia are her daughters) and see the new baby. The photos are pretty clear on the subject of her quality, I think. In person she has a ton of personality and major charisma. Beautiful baby who will be a beautiful mare, and a great cross for da Pook. In fact she looks very much like baby Pooka. Gabriella was delighted to see me; we're dear friends and I'm her human, but she's happy to be at this big farm making babies.
Then I got the farm tour; having last been there in 2001, I had a lot of new horses to meet and old ones to renew acquaintance with--and Lipps being ongoing color-changers, many of the young stock from four years ago had changed completely in color and appearance. I also finally got to meet Tia's daddy Willie (Neapolitano Slatana II). It's my fault he's there--I greatly admire his family and know most of his siblings, used to own one of his sisters. He's a lovely boy, very much like Pooka.
The rest of that day was spent lending a hand on the farm and admiring the new baby, plus having a lively reunion with Cele, the real power behind the place. We always talk nonstop and, of course, reorganize the Lipp world in the process.
Next day, Monday, we called L. over at Imperial Farm (which stands Pooka's daddy Pluto Gloria aka Knight) and asked if she could come out to play. She came over, admired the baby lavishly, and then we headed out to visit her farm (where she boards horses and has a mare in foal and a few Knight kids) and pay a state visit to Knight at his trainer's--big foo-foo dressage barn which, Knight told us, is his. He was very firm about this, and rather spectacular--impressed heck out of the 4-H kids swarming the place for a show. He looks happy and is doing very well; will show fourth level this summer and is schooling the FEI movements.
After dinner at the Outback (something about a long day with horses always makes us want to Eat Meat--yes, it's Freudian), we went back to Charlie Horse for another round of baby-worship. That included baby barn owls who are nesting in the corner of the old dairy barn, above one of the mares' stalls.
Tuesday was finish the paperwork, do registration papers, photograph baby, mess around the farm day. Gabriella insisted that I spend much of the day with her. I get her kids for life, she says, but I only get to see her for a few days every few years--she needs her human fix. Much bemused the farm staff, who find her a whole lotta horse and rather aloof. She's my baby, wraps around me and snuggles. C. and I had more long talks, viewed many videos from various farms, discussed breeding plans and longterm goals. We both breed for a level and type of movement combined with classical conformation that doesn't seem to be common--and Pook is an ultimate expression of that. Willie and the young stallion Andy (Conversano Antiqua--Camilla's intended) have it as well. So do our young mares and fillies. C. likes a quieter temperament, I like the fiery ones, so Little Miss Firecracker is definitely one of mine. 8)
Wednesday was travel day. I hated to say goodbye to the baby, but she needs her mom for now. We'll ship her down here after she's weaned, in November right after the big Lipp extravaganza in Columbus, to which we are all going. Meanwhile she's getting wonderful handling and some turnout in a grass paddock, and is happy and bouncy and full of herself.
And off I went. Flight from Seattle was delayed but not too badly. I made my connection with seconds to spare, again, after sprinting the length of two concourses, again. I'm going to try for connections through LA or Dallas after this. Sky Harbor is one freaking delay after another, and the mile-long sprints are a royal pain.
Still--the flight to Tucson went fast and easy and on time. My bag didn't make it, but there was nothing in it that I desperately needed; it arrived this morning. I made it home in plenty of time for evening feeding. Found, on the counter, a set of book proofs that had been due that day, on zero turnaround--there was due freakout, but nothing to be done until this morning, when the publisher very kindly gave me until the 10th and rectified several other problems with the situation. Good publisher. Have a cookie.
Today was back-to-reality day. Gold is in heat as expected, so this morning I turned her out with Pook, on vet recommendation. I was afraid he'd launch himself at her and get aggressive, but he walked out of his stall, sniffed politely, introduced himself like a gentleman, and asked permission before a very good, solid cover. You'd think he'd been pasture-breeding all his life. They're together now and will stay that way until she stops wanting him--sometime toward the first of the week. Hopefully this will result in a pregnancy that stays put. I also hope he'll do well with this, as it makes breeding the farm mares much easier--just turn them out together and let them handle it. No need to import handlers or mess with vet schedules.
Pandora is not amused, but she can't go out with him--I can't have him breeding her just because she wants some nookie. Besides, we hope she's pregnant. Ephiny is also demanding a turn, but she's too young. She'll get her boy in a couple of years.
And now I have Deadlines. Oh lordy do I have Deadlines. I'll come up for air someday, I hope.
I haven't had a real lesson in weeks. Pook had a growth spurt amid his breeding exertions and his right hind left the building. It's either been too hot for Capria or she's been giving lessons to someone else. Joni has keed. Pandora has been busy breeding. So Camilla and I have been playing the sit on horse and wait for her to get a clue game, which is making progress but it's slow. It is working and she is coming along, so we persevere.
Breeding season is, we hope, winding down. Nobody is pregnant so far, that we know of, but Pandora was rebred AI and will be checked on Monday. Turns out she has old cervical scarring that makes live breeding a no-go. Her prognosis at examination was poor, but by the time she got to the clinic for a thorough workup, the vet was smiling. So we have hopes. No problem carrying or delivering, but conceiving takes vet intervention. That was an adventure: it was the week of 109 degrees, and we had to haul Pandora in the morning, get her scoped out, then stow her with Carrma. In the evening we went back with Pooka, collected, and inseminated. And then she spent a week at the spa. Having a horse off the place gives me a weird sort of phantom-limb sensation, which did not help the antisocial tendencies.
We got her home just in time for me to head out to Seattle to see the new baby. Yes, that's Little Miss Firecracker playing Icon of the Month. More pictures are here. Her (pending) registered name is Galatea, shortened to Tia.
I left for Seattle on Sunday after a hectic week that ended on Saturday with me giving Gold a shot to bring her into heat by the time I got back--she had got pregnant but then slipped the foal (as mares will do). I took off bright and early the next day. Flight from Tucson was on time and arrived early. Then we sat on the runway in Phoenix waiting for a gate. We sat. And sat. And my connection was getting shorter. And shorter. By the time we finally got a gate, it was nearly time for the flight to Seattle. I had to sprint the length of two concourses, discover the gate assignment on the board was wrong, sprint the length of two more concourses, and thank goodness they held the plane for me. I made it after all, after deciding I wasn't getting there that afternoon.
T., the male half of the Charlie Horse Acres crew, was waiting at the airport and delivered me to the farm in Graham. First things first--I headed for the mare-and-foal barn to see Gabriella again (she used to live with me--Ephiny and Gaudia are her daughters) and see the new baby. The photos are pretty clear on the subject of her quality, I think. In person she has a ton of personality and major charisma. Beautiful baby who will be a beautiful mare, and a great cross for da Pook. In fact she looks very much like baby Pooka. Gabriella was delighted to see me; we're dear friends and I'm her human, but she's happy to be at this big farm making babies.
Then I got the farm tour; having last been there in 2001, I had a lot of new horses to meet and old ones to renew acquaintance with--and Lipps being ongoing color-changers, many of the young stock from four years ago had changed completely in color and appearance. I also finally got to meet Tia's daddy Willie (Neapolitano Slatana II). It's my fault he's there--I greatly admire his family and know most of his siblings, used to own one of his sisters. He's a lovely boy, very much like Pooka.
The rest of that day was spent lending a hand on the farm and admiring the new baby, plus having a lively reunion with Cele, the real power behind the place. We always talk nonstop and, of course, reorganize the Lipp world in the process.
Next day, Monday, we called L. over at Imperial Farm (which stands Pooka's daddy Pluto Gloria aka Knight) and asked if she could come out to play. She came over, admired the baby lavishly, and then we headed out to visit her farm (where she boards horses and has a mare in foal and a few Knight kids) and pay a state visit to Knight at his trainer's--big foo-foo dressage barn which, Knight told us, is his. He was very firm about this, and rather spectacular--impressed heck out of the 4-H kids swarming the place for a show. He looks happy and is doing very well; will show fourth level this summer and is schooling the FEI movements.
After dinner at the Outback (something about a long day with horses always makes us want to Eat Meat--yes, it's Freudian), we went back to Charlie Horse for another round of baby-worship. That included baby barn owls who are nesting in the corner of the old dairy barn, above one of the mares' stalls.
Tuesday was finish the paperwork, do registration papers, photograph baby, mess around the farm day. Gabriella insisted that I spend much of the day with her. I get her kids for life, she says, but I only get to see her for a few days every few years--she needs her human fix. Much bemused the farm staff, who find her a whole lotta horse and rather aloof. She's my baby, wraps around me and snuggles. C. and I had more long talks, viewed many videos from various farms, discussed breeding plans and longterm goals. We both breed for a level and type of movement combined with classical conformation that doesn't seem to be common--and Pook is an ultimate expression of that. Willie and the young stallion Andy (Conversano Antiqua--Camilla's intended) have it as well. So do our young mares and fillies. C. likes a quieter temperament, I like the fiery ones, so Little Miss Firecracker is definitely one of mine. 8)
Wednesday was travel day. I hated to say goodbye to the baby, but she needs her mom for now. We'll ship her down here after she's weaned, in November right after the big Lipp extravaganza in Columbus, to which we are all going. Meanwhile she's getting wonderful handling and some turnout in a grass paddock, and is happy and bouncy and full of herself.
And off I went. Flight from Seattle was delayed but not too badly. I made my connection with seconds to spare, again, after sprinting the length of two concourses, again. I'm going to try for connections through LA or Dallas after this. Sky Harbor is one freaking delay after another, and the mile-long sprints are a royal pain.
Still--the flight to Tucson went fast and easy and on time. My bag didn't make it, but there was nothing in it that I desperately needed; it arrived this morning. I made it home in plenty of time for evening feeding. Found, on the counter, a set of book proofs that had been due that day, on zero turnaround--there was due freakout, but nothing to be done until this morning, when the publisher very kindly gave me until the 10th and rectified several other problems with the situation. Good publisher. Have a cookie.
Today was back-to-reality day. Gold is in heat as expected, so this morning I turned her out with Pook, on vet recommendation. I was afraid he'd launch himself at her and get aggressive, but he walked out of his stall, sniffed politely, introduced himself like a gentleman, and asked permission before a very good, solid cover. You'd think he'd been pasture-breeding all his life. They're together now and will stay that way until she stops wanting him--sometime toward the first of the week. Hopefully this will result in a pregnancy that stays put. I also hope he'll do well with this, as it makes breeding the farm mares much easier--just turn them out together and let them handle it. No need to import handlers or mess with vet schedules.
Pandora is not amused, but she can't go out with him--I can't have him breeding her just because she wants some nookie. Besides, we hope she's pregnant. Ephiny is also demanding a turn, but she's too young. She'll get her boy in a couple of years.
And now I have Deadlines. Oh lordy do I have Deadlines. I'll come up for air someday, I hope.
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-02 07:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-02 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-02 09:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-03 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-03 09:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-02 10:30 pm (UTC)Welcome back!
no subject
Date: 2005-06-03 07:30 am (UTC)In case you missed the exciting news: I finished the MA project and they approved it!
And Joey (see icon) the TWH that I have been riding and working with but trying hard not to totally bond with oops, um, ya, a bit late, but anyway because she was supposed to be Dad's and I was training her for him -- well, she was my graduation present!
Good luck with all the deadlines. A wise woman once told me ;):
And Tia is just lovely. And I share a passion for the fiery ones, too, much to my chagrin some days :D.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-03 01:15 pm (UTC)Caryn
no subject
Date: 2005-06-04 01:02 pm (UTC)Deb is ranting about copy edits in her LJ (debg) and I sympathize. I remember a few years ago when a mss came back to you covered in garbage.
Glad you got a few extra days to cope with yours.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-04 10:55 pm (UTC)Poor Pandora...and she so loves her work....
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Date: 2005-06-06 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-30 10:55 am (UTC)Any update on Pandora? Did Gold catch?
How be you??
no subject
Date: 2005-07-01 08:28 am (UTC)Here, it's been travel for family reasons and illness--but a new chapbook is out! (I'll take anything at this moment, just to feel like something is moving in the correct direction.)