An August Fly-By

How is it September already?? I guess being busy is good, especially since it means I'm getting paid and money is a necessary commodity (especially when planning a wedding!). But, honestly, where has the time gone?

My mom's a doofus. Can't even keep track of time!

I've been working 2-3 days a week at the animal hospital. Those days when I'm not there I am working either on illustrations (currently on my 3rd large project for Paint Horse Journal in the past five months) or authoring online learning content for Sapling, which I've been doing for almost a year now. It's actually been working out really well in terms of being able to see Charlie. I'm able to go to the barn first thing in the morning on my days off from the hospital, when it's not so hot. Then I work from home the rest of the day. Teching days are ten hours at a stretch, so they're kind of a waste for getting anything else done, but I love being back at an animal hospital.

Charlie is doing pretty well overall. He had one weird bout of lameness last week that is still resolving, but otherwise not bad. He is getting a little beat up a bit from playing with the babies over the fence, and we've sacrificed two fly masks in the process, but I don't care about small bumps like that. He's just being a horse.

Here is a pictorial rundown of this past month:

First weekend in August: Dan's cousin's wedding up in RI

Cow desensitizing was a main goal this month

Got to see some up close and personal

Even the big ones aren't so scary anymore, they're just funny looking horses

Super awesome gift arrived mid-month in the mail from Maddy :)

I also got a lot of opportunities to play with random jumps and pole combos

It's nice to be at a barn with jump supplies

Of course, I'll make a jump out of anything

One day I decided to work on walking on different textures

Charlie thought the mat was food. Weirdo.

You mean I is not supposed to eats dis? Den whats the point?

Looking particularly regal and handsome :)

The new barn

Charlie has been in 7 different barns since I've known him. In three years. Three in PA, one in MA, one in RI, and now two in NJ. That's not to mention the barn he was at when I bought him, the one he moved to with his first owner in TX, and the one where he was born in KY. This horse is a traveler! Hopefully one day soon he will not have to move any more....

This new barn is nothing like the one he was at before, which (in my eyes) was the perfect situation. That said, I think it will work well. Though kind of a more rustic approach, the stalls are big. The grass may not be as manicured, but the turnouts are large and the girl who manages things seems like she is right up my alley in terms of horsemanship.

The new stall

Charlie's new barn is one of three on a very large post-TB-breeding facility. He has a nice big box stall that is very airy and open, which he shares with several resident chickens (he doesn't mind them one bit).

Chickens as roommates

The woman who owns it is married to a dairy farmer, and so there are cows on the property. Charlie isn't so sure what to think about them yet.

Is that a COW?!

Charlie stays in during the day and is turned out by night, which isn't the ideal come-and-go-as-you-please scenario that I would prefer, but he's done this before and has done well. Although there are no trails nearby, there is a ring (with jumps this time) and an opportunity to go to paces and clinics with the property owner. Plus, there is a trainer on the premises if I want to lesson here or there. I think it was the best decision for us right now, and I'm looking forward to the next few months!