Sunday

I got to ride Navajo today and he wasn't very good:( We rode on the road and he didn't want to obey me at all. I told him he was very bad. We didn't ride long because I knew that we were going to have company and figured they would want to ride too:)

So our company came, we went out to Navajo and the one boy asked if he can ride. I said sure, so we took Navajo and saddled him up. Their were 4 children and they each wanted to ride 4 times around our yard. I would say it was about for an hour. Navajo did very good with the little children on his back. The children ranged from 6 to 13. But I was very proud of Navajo.

Tomorrow to brake up the routine we are going to work on groundwork:) I am hoping he does well. So here is the update from today:)

Another Day with Navajo

How Navajo Should LOOK:) Isn't he handsome!?

Today was an interesting day. This morning I kept Navajo inside because it looked like it could rain and we were going to be away helping my great aunt move her furniture. My great aunt is in the hospital right now, but she lives at a assisted living home and she wanted a smaller room so that is why we were moving her furniture for her.

So after we were done moving furniture, we came home and I went out to Navajo to put him out because we were going to be home the rest of the day so I would be home if it decided to have a thunderstorm. I got out to him and he had a manure stain and it was still fresh so I figured i would wash it out. So I go and wash it off and end up spraying his whole body. So I turn him out for about 6 hours.

Then I went in after turning him out and work on the website. I do my part of mowing the yard and hear/see that it is threating to give a thunderstorm. So I go out to Navajo, and walk around the corner and he is all muddy and when I say all muddy it wasn't like spots of mud he was covered. It was kind of an orangish/reddish mud. And that was just the one side and I was like that isn't so bad. Then I see the other side and it is the same way. The only white on him was the middle of his face and the middle of his back (doesn't roll the whole way over because, I am guessing, of his sway back) so that is where it was white. I was like ok since it looks like it is going to give a thunderstorm I will put you in until after that. So after the thunderstorm I decide to go out to ride and then I get all the dried mud off of him but still has an orangish/reddish tint to him because it is dust. My sister said that it looks like he was at the hair salon to change his hair color:)

After I rode/Before the bath(the pic makes it look better than it was)

So I ride him looking like that because I didn't really have anyway to get the dust off of him without hosing him off. After we got back I tried my best to get rid of the dust. After working at that I was like I am going to spray you off. And even now after using soap and water he still has orange spots. I do have one pic but you can't see the dust very good(the dust looked worse close up:). The reason that he was dusty like that is because he rolled in the mud when he was wet and so the wetness of him collected the dust. This evening when I turned him out I made sure I put him somewhere were he can't reach mud! So maybe I won't have a dirty horse in the morning.

This weekend we might be going away so this time I hope to have pictures if we do anything worth taking pictures of:) So this was another regular day living with a white/gray horse.

Annie, my kitten

I named her Annie:) I will post more pics once she is a little older. I don't have any other updates. Tomorrow we are going to move my great aunts furniture in the morning. Right now she is in the hospital because she is constipated and is sick (obviously). Anyway I hope to ride tomorrow although I don't know if that will work out. I want to thank all my friends just for being awesome friends:) Thanks again. This is the shortest blog I have:)

My New Kitten

My New Kitten (Silky)

George (Rose Mary's Kitten)

This is my new kitten that we got today. I don't have a name for her yet but am thinking of naming her Silky. My sister Rachel has a male and his name is Casey. Rose Mary's kitten is a male also and his name is George:) Have pics of them too but my camera won't let me access them:( I will add them later if I can:)

Casey (Rachel's Kitten)

my kitten

Our New Truck

This is our new truck. We got it yesterday. We are going to use it to tow our enclosed trailer. We just sold our white suburban today and we just put it up for sale. My uncle said we never sold any of our vehicles that fast before. When we have the truck hooked up to the trailer will post some pis then.

Memorial Day with My Family

Rose Mary (green), Rachel (pink) mom and dad. Rachel

Today was Memorial Day. We got up later than usual which was around 8:00 and went to the Diner for a late breakfast. We then came home to take care of a customer that needed something. After the customer left we talked about what we wanted to do. We couldn't really decide on anything and then we got in the vehicle and my mom whispered something to my dad (which she said later was to go to Dairy Queen).

So we drove around for a little bit and then we ended up in Litiz at a ice cream shop. So we ate ice cream for a late snack and then came home. We all spread out and did our own thing until supper time.

Project 70

For supper we went up to Project 70 (started in 1970) and it is part of the game commision and they have trails there and a man made lake. You can go fishing there too:) They have picnic tables there and so you can eat there. We took our gas grill along and cooked sausages there. We then came home and again spread out and are doing each our own things. I love holidays.

Rachel

Rose Mary

Rough And Tumble

We were at Rough and Tumble this week (name of the tractor show). We got to see a lot of people that we haven't seen since last year and also got to meet a lot of new people. Saddly I didn't get to walk around to much so I don't have any pics:( Our next show probably will be Red Power Round Up in Wisconsin (in July) and we are planning on going. I don't know but we might have some shows before then:)

Ok now for the update on Rough and Tumble. Thursday we left here in the evening to drop off the trailer and then we set up on Friday morning. It doesn't take us long at all to set up since we have the tote system. The tote system is that we put all our parts in grey totes and all you have to do is unload them and put them in lines and open the flaps then we are open for business:) This show was more or less a one day show because Saturday is when most of the people show up. Friday is the day that all the people come who can't show up on Saturday. I had a lot of fun.

Update on riding Navajo: I did get to ride Navajo on Thursday and Friday but not on Saturday because we came home later and we had two trailers down at Rough & Tumble because it is so close. So I stayed home with my little sister Rachel because she was tired and if she would have went along she probably would have fallen asleep. Anyway back to the subject of riding Navajo. I did ride him on the road again and he wouldn't go farther than the field lane. And I believe I know the reason why. Last summer I rode along the same road and past the field lane their is a pasture that at that point had donkeys in. For some reason the donkeys scared him (the donkeys were scared of him too) and he took off running down the wrong side of the road. Now in that pasture there are steers but I believe he remembers that and is scared to go past there and experience the same fear. So I hope to slowly build his confidence up and eventually ride past there without him spooking or anything by the end of the summer(or even before). But other than that he did very well on all the rides. Will probably update at the end of the week:)

Trail Ride

Tonight I got to ride Navajo tonight for the first time since Sunday:) I started out heading down the strip. The end of the strip goes onto the road and so I decided to see how he would do on the road. He did really well. He was a little hesitant at first but didn't spook at anything, which was very good! We rode on the road for about 5 minutes then turned around to go back to the strip. We got on the strip and headed back to the house. I rode up around my grandparents house up into the orchard and rode back and forth up there because it is hilly up there so I figured it would give him a good workout trotting up the hill.

After we were up in the orchard for a bit, I rode behind the hayshed, down behind the cattle pen. I stood outside the field a little because he didn't want to go into the field. So after standing there a little, I finally got his feet to move into the field. Then he balked again! So to get his feet moving I moved him in the opposite direction, then turned him the way I wanted him to go. After finally getting him going the direction I wanted, we rode back and forth 3 times. Then I rode over to the strip and walked him back to the barn. Overall, we rode for about and hour and it was a great ride!!

Tomorrow we are going to go down to Rough & Tumble set up for the show which is on Friday and Saturday(which is in Kinzers, Pa and is only about 1/2 hour away from us so we can come home Friday and Saturday Evening). Rough & Tumble had a spring show(this show) and a fall show which is in August. The August one is bigger and I found my saddle pad for my saddle there last year. So I am looking forward to that one to see what I else I can get for Navajo:) Will probably have pics on by either Saturday eveing or sometime Sunday of the show:)

Where are all the blogs?

I am in the process of changing all my non-book related blogs over to http://musingsofacowgirl.blogspot.com . So if you wonder what happened to all the blogs on http://horsebookreviewsandotherinfo.blogspot.com/ it is over here. I figured I would have on for books and one for my general life which will have more blogs on. Just so you know what is going on and why it isn't working on the other blog. Thanks for understanding:)

My Family

Weaver Family

L to R: Rose Mary, Mary, Ray, Ruth Ann and

Front: Rachel

I decided that I wrote about everything else why not write a blog on our family. Well here is my family:

Ray and Mary Weaver: Owner of Ray's IH Parts.

Ruth Ann Weaver age 15: housework, and helps with the business (secretary, designed our website, and with ebay). Enjoys: riding her horse Navajo, baking, and reading.

Rose Mary Weaver age 13: helps Ray out in the barn with customers; helps tear tractors apart.Enjoys: listening to music, reading, loves taking pictures and having fun.

Rachel Joy Weaver age 4:helps with whatever she can! Enjoys: playing with our kittens, playing in her playhouse, looking at books and being outside.

The Little Guys Show in York, PA!

Our Stand @ the Little Guy Show in York, PA

We left here around 8:55am this morning and drove about an hour out to York county, Pa. The little guy show consists of all different kinds of lawn mowers and little tractors. This was the first year that we did this show and I think we might go again next year:) Some of our friends took the two tractors that you see on the one picture and we drove them around a little. We stayed there till about 4 pm and then we packed up and left. But it was a fun little show. It reminded me of plowday 2009. Next weekend I will again update on Rough and Tumble the Spring Steam Up.

More Pics:

barrel train for the children

Our Tractors, the red one is my dad's that he got Justin Weaver to paint and the other one is Rose Mary's 100 and Andy Fleckenstein painted that one. I have one exactly like it all except mine will eventually be a dually.

tractor parade
written: 5/16/09

Riding Update

I gave Navajo a bath today because he had rolled after it had rained non-stop the other week and he didn't smell very good. So I used my new sponge I got the other day and I brushed out his mane and tail. He really seemed to enjoy himself.

I also got to ride Navajo this evening again:) I rode down the strip starting at the house. We walked/trotted down the stip and on the way back we trotted/cantered the whole way. We didn't do much walking and he got a good work out! I haven't ridden since Monday and Tuesday. Tomorrow we are going out to a tractor show for our business. I will have pics hopefully. Will update either Sunday or Monday.

written: 5/15/09

Puppies

Golden Retrievers are first then the labs come after the words:)

napping :)
what are ya looking at?
hey sleepy head:)

what you guys playing?
looking sleepy

Golden Retrievers

Ok, I think I am done taking pictures but hey who can help it they are so adorable:) And so much fun. Tomorrow I am going to play with them. I didn't have much time today:( I also got to ride Navajo and he did quite well. Here are the Labs:

huddle:)

did ya play to hard?

sleepy head again!? they don't stay that way long; after a bit they are usually running around and tackling each other. so much fun to just watch:)

Best Friends Forever

what is this green stuff?

written: 5/8/09

Ride and other Updates

Just figured I would have an update on the different rides I had this week. the first two(Tuesday and Wednesday)were rainy rides which means I rode in the rain. Tuesday we didn't do much but work on leg and neck-reining aides and that paid off. Wednesday we rode for about 1/2hour because it started raining. But that ride was longer than Tuesday's ride which was about 15 min.. So that was the beginning and middle of the weeks rides:)

Tonight I rode and Tuesday nights work paid off tonight,which by the way at the time seemed almost a waste because the only thing he wanted to do was the exact opposite of what I wanted him to do which was go back to the barn. Anyway, tonight I rode down the strip and I used neck-reining and leg cues pretty well the whole entire time. Which means that Tuesday nights work paid off(as i said before but it is so great I had to say it again). So we trotted and cantered a little and then I got off and we did some groundwork. I got him to listene to my voice cues from the ground such as back up and walk. Then I got him to move in a circle by telling him to move his hindquarters and forquarters around. He did well over all. I was very impressed.

Oh and everyone should know that for the first time since Sunday the SUN CAME OUT AFTER ALMOST A WHOLE WEEK OF CLOUDYNESS AND RAIN:) I just figured I would mention that. That also helped my spirits to rise after having a nice warm dry day and a nice day:)

Also since during the summer I ride almost everyday so I will probably update weekly and maybe not always then because my rides are mostly the same:) unless of course something extraordinary happens. But will still keep you posted on other things too.

Another thing, this Friday and Saturday I am taking care of my neighbor's kennel and they have 2 litters of 9 puppies each which makes 18 puppies all together. I just asked my neighbor and she said i may put picks of the puppies on here:) so will have pics maybe tomorrow or even on Sat. well must go and will be back on either tomorrow, Sat, or Sunday.

written: 5/7/09

Our Website

Just thought I would let everyone know that doesn't already that I am doing a web page for our business. Right now I am working on putting a shopping cart on there so that we can sell online. Here is the URL: http://raysihparts.110mb.com/ . Please let me know what you think. Oh and a special thank you to Amber Wolbeck (you can find her blog here:http://allaroundhorses.blogspot.com/ ) for all the advice:) Couldn't have done this website without your help and ideas. Thanks everyone:)

written: 5/5/09

Riding In the Rain

I got to ride today even though it rained pretty well straight so far this week. It hasn't rained since 7 this morning and then I went out to ride around 6:45 and it wasn't raining then either. So I groomed him and got him all tacked up and ready to go. I got up on him and went up around the cattle barn and headed back toward the field lane.

It was too muddy in the field so I went till I got to the gulley and turned around and I kicked him and put him into a gallop and he started to kick and buck and acting weird. So I ran him until we got to the other grass. Then he didn't want to go any farther and by then it was raining. So we rode around in circles a little and I made sure that I was in control and then walked back to the barn a different way than we had left. I think next time I ride it will go better.

Oh and I am excited because my one neighbor has a kennel which has 6 or 7 female Lab and Golden Retriever dogs and one Lab male and they are going away for Friday and Saturday and I get to take care of them. 2 of the mothers have 9 babies each and I can hardly wait to play with them. They are so cute. I also get to put Navajo in their meadow while I am taking care of their dogs. Well must go and everyone have a great day and good rest of the week. That is all for now.

written: 5/5/09

Awesome Ride on Navajo

sHello Everybody! Well today as the title said I rode Navajo and it was awesome:) Well I started out with grooming. He wasn't to dirty so it didn't take long. Then I got up on him using a bucket for my mounting block. After I got up on him he didn't take off like he usually does. He waited for me to give him the signal. Which was a definite plus.


So we rode down the strip and then he acted like he didn't want to go so I was like ok we are going to try something different just to get your feet moving. So instead of turning around, I saw a path in the field made by a tractor(or other large vehicle) and I was like we will go down here to the end of the field to the field lane. So we walked the whole way out to the field lane. Then we went a little ways along the field lane. We stopped and looked around a little to give Navajo a break(am still getting him in shape).


We then turned around to come back. We went back to the path in the field(we had turned off the path to go along the field lane) and cantered halfway back and trotted till we got to the strip. We then went back into a canter and cantered some of the way back to the barn. When we were halfway back I turned him into a walk to cool him off till we got back. After we got back I gave him lots of hugs and kisses for doing so well. And then gave him a good grooming That was one of the best rides I have in a while. So let me know what you think. I can tell Navajo is getting better as I ride him and I am becoming a better rider!

written: 5/1/09

Rode Navajo Last Night

I did get to ride Navajo last night:) It went ok. He didn't want to go so I was like we have to get your feet moving so we worked on moving away from pressure: both by neck-reining and also from moving away from my leg pressure. He did good on both things and it definitely got his feet moving. It wasn't the best he ever did but it definitelty wasn't his worst either:) I want to ride him today again but don't know if I will get it accomplished:)

I am creating a website for my families business. Check it out: http://raysihparts.110mb.com/ . Let me know what you think. This is what I have been busy with since Tuesday evening:) Took me a while to get this far and my family was like why are you so frustrated it can't be that hard:) anyway it is done for now until i get the parts up which my dad has to help with so i don't know when that will get done. Everyone have a great day.

written: 4/30/09

And We Are Back

Plowday at Fort Allen April 24 & 25

We are back from Fort Allen,PA(close to New Stanton,PA). We had an awesome time. I will post pics:) From our place Fort Allen is 31/2 hours away so we left around 10 in the morning Friday and got out there around 3. The reason it took a while is because we just got an enclosed trailer and this was our first trip with it so my dad drove a little slower and also we stopped a couple times on the way out:) On the way out our AC gave out so we opened up our windows. It was pretty warm but not near as warm as it was coming in. Coming in it was 94 degrees:O I wanted to take some pics of the 4 tunnels we went through but were driving to fast to take some pics:( Us on the way out:)

We first went to our hotel to check in and unload all the baggage and then we drove to the show. It was kinda nice to reconnect with all the people that we know and also get to know new people:)

someone Rachel met 2 years ago at this show:)

We left the show around 8:30 pm and were there again the next morning at 8. It was nice and warm there. We have had some years that it is pretty cool and not at all nice to be there:( Here are some pics of the show:

our stand right after we were done
setting up:)

We packed up to leave the show around 4:30. We were quite tired and ready to be in a nice cool hotel room. We stayed at the hotel all day Sunday and drove home on Monday (today:) All in all it was a nice trip and we had nice scenery going both ways. Well everyone have a great day and an awesome week. I think it is supposed to be way for the rest of the week (hopefully for good now). Must go:)

written: 4/27/09

Got To Ride Navajo

I did get to ride Navajo and I didn't think I would be able to before we left:) He did better than last time! We didn't have any truck scares this time. Our field right by the strip is full of wild flowers and such and we went till the end of the strip(it turns into field) and rode through the field for a while. Then we trotted back to the strip:) Right before we got to the strip we went into a canter and cantered the whole way back:) And then after we got back he got a good grooming:)Tomorrow we leave to go to a show for our business and I am so excited. Someone else is taking care of him. So no riding till Tuesday:(. Will update when I ride again.

written: 4/23/09

Riding Navajo

I am going to start a new blog series and it is going to be about everytime I ride navajo and how it goes! Sometimes they will be very short because I don't always ride long(actually right now I don't get the chance very often to ride and when I do it isn't very long and we ride pretty much the same area). A couple of things you will hear often are the strip(a strip of grass along the road) that is about maybe 100 feet wide and it is along our road and it goes down to the crossroad and turns along with the road at the crossroad) Ok here it goes. Hope it is interesting and hope you don't mind if it sounds like a story:)


Today I got to ride(it didn't rain until this evening and I rode this afternoon). He did very well. We were down at the crossroads and I saw a very scary thing(at least it would/should have been for Navajo) a BIG TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK. Ok now Navajo doesn't like tractor trailer trucks and he always shies away from them(at one point he shied from: dump trucks and busses but don't anymore he used to run from huge trucks too:) ok he did shy away from the big huge truck and turned to look at it but HE DIDN'T BOLT!!!!!!!!!! :) :) I was so proud. Because I had seen the truck coming and I thought to myself that I am going to act like I don't know that that is coming right were I am and see if he get worked up at all. AND IT WORKED(me ignoring the truck:)

I am working at getting him to listen to me even when he doesn't want to ride but it seems like things like the big scarey truck and other things don't bother him and he listens in other areas that needed worked on that I am not even working on and the things I am working on aren't working. But horse training takes a lot of patience:)

Well after that big truck scare we turned around to go back but not because of the truck scare. Well on the way back I was planning to turn around and go down to the crossroad and he said enough of this. So we stood there for a little and I am like ok you don't go that way how about a ride throught the field. Through the field we went:) He listened well and we even cantered. So over all it was a normal ride and he did pretty well:) After this wonderful ride he got a good grooming and is no longer dirty:) Hope you enjoy and please leave comments:)

written: 4/22/09

Navajo, my first horse

Navajo

Navajo is my first horse! Since I got him in July 15,2008 I have learned a lot about horses and the way they react to different things. I think having him has made me a better person(don't ask me why I say that). If anyone is wanting a horse my advice would be get an older horse that knows its job so that first of all you can learn how to ride and also enjoy it while you are at it:)


I enjoy being around him and he is for the most part gentle.And then sometimes he acts like a colt who never had a day of training in his life. Life with horses is definitely interesting. Right now I am working at retraining him to neck-rein and he is remembering all his old training which i am very happy about. I am also teaching him how to move his hind quarters around and his forquarters around(or his front end) and away from pressure. I don't really know what all he was taught because the people I got him from just rode him. I did not get to ride him since Thursday and will hopefully get to before we go away for the weekend:) He got a bath on Thursday(here is why)
After his bath




What a difference it made! The first bath of spring. Notice the green grass:) Hope you enjoyed this non informational blog. Let me know what you think!

written: 4/18/09