Romeo's Horse Bowl.....Go Colts!! & Camera Critters!

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I'm not a big football fan but I manage to watch one game a year and that's the SUPER BOWL!
Only this year it's so much more exciting because the COLTS are in the playoffs and ROMEO is doing the commentary! I thought if there could be a puppy bowl, why not a horse bowl especially.......... because they ARE called the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS!? Coin toss is ours Saints! Go COLTS!! Enjoy!

















Unfortunately we didn't win but we're proud of them for making it to the Super Bowl anyway!

Back In The Saddle Again!! Horse Ownership

Not much happening today, however, next week I'm back riding again! Hip! Hip! Hurray! Our trainer is offering to come over 3-4 days a week to start Slick off again so that I can ride him here in our own environment (which is only a round pen). Working with the two of us together will be more beneficial now than him just putting time on him alone. It will be cold but I'm willing to put the work in on him. Slick is a coming 4 yr. old in May and last year we took him trail riding and put on 90 days professional training. He's the horse I'll be focusing on primarily this season. They'll all get worked but he's the one I'm going to be riding all the time whether it be trail, Ranch Horse or Cutting or whatever he excels at and/or enjoys. My goal is to have an all around horse so that whatever I choose to do, he can be my partner. Nothing makes me more frustrated than to hear someone sold ANOTHER horse just because they changed disciplines or he wasn't the breed/color they wanted. Number one, do they even get attached to their horse at all? Do they really become true partners? I know not all horses are all around athletes but more could be than given the opportunity. Maybe I'm old school but in my humble opinion there's WAY too much horse swamping going on out there! Number two, it seems to me that people are very discontented these days......and yes it streams into horse ownership as well as every other area of life! Houses, cars, friends, jobs on and on!! I especially see this in the youth. One minute it's western pleasure they're doing and the next, mom and dad are searching high and low for that next "perfect mount" for their little Johnny's or Suzie's current whim. I'm sorry but what about working with the horse you've got for awhile and giving it a chance before hopping onto the next? Never satisfied at the moment and always looking on to the next best thing.......or in this case, the next best horse. Parents end up spending unnecessary amounts of money to see that their kids "win" instead of teaching them character traits that will last a lifetime like perseverance, determination, hard work, dedication, partnership and most of all contentment. Who pays for it the most....THE HORSES...... yo yo back and forth between families. No wonder there are so many horses with quirks and vices to fix. No one ever takes the real time it needs for one second to understand "why" the behavior is there in the first place. How do you all feel about this topic? Am I the only one who has this perspective? I sure hope not.....but it makes me wonder some days! Just letting off a little steam.....I'm dedicating however much time it takes on all of our horses. We may not always own them all forever but at least they will have consistency and a loving owner for a long while. Granted times change, people change and circumstances change but as soon as something isn't fun anymore, people aren't winning, human needs aren't being fed or wind blows the other direction to what's popular (or what the masses of people seem to be doing) doesn't mean our commitment goes out the barn door! Whew, think it about it long and hard before you buy that horse, please! How about taking the horse into consideration instead of "self" gratification and ask some hard questions. #1. What are my "long term" goals with this horse? #2. What "realistically" can be accomplished with this purchase as far as time dedicated to the horse? #3. Will I stick with it if I don't win with this horse once I "see" he's not a winner? #4. Can I financially maintain the care of the horse? The list can be lengthy and should be....this is just a start of the tough questions to owning a horse. If people took as much responsibility in horse ownership as they do say to the purchase of a house or other major investments, there would be a whole lot less "horse for sale" signs/ads out there or horses being neglected because they changed their mind. What if a horse could make decisions on who will own him? Wonder who he would choose? Just food for thought on this SUPERBOWL SUNDAY weekend GO COLTS!

Just A Stroll To The Pasture

Our schedule for the horses is drastically different in the dead of winter....especially Dec., Jan. and Feb. but by March I'm getting the itch to start getting these guys in shape regardless what the weather may bring. I'm thankful to be able to do it inside the round pen....hopefully no more ice! So that's my plan. I try to work them throughout the winter but this year has not panned out....the temps are too cold even if I'm dressed warm. If I'm all bundled up, I can't move much less ride! As you can see, Romeo is a dirty, dirty boy and he LOVES it that way! He also likes a bath which makes it nice. I usually groom them in the evenings when they come in for the night and I don't always brush out mane/tails just pick out. They roll around in their stalls which are clean when we put them in for the night but by morning this is what they look like.
I mixed these up a bit but here's Romeo inspecting the gate after he opened it up with his nose.
I love that upper muzzle of his....I think he could pick up a peanut with it!

All of the horses just walked out yesterday to field/pasture. The last photos I took on the other side of the fence, they decided to all run out.....go figure.....just a little stroll. Romeo always comes out to greet me before he goes through the gate.

Maduro spotted Becca (our mini) on his way out.
Derby has her eyes shut....the bright snow is too much. I've noticed her and Romeo have their eyes shut the most when there is total ground cover. She has a small blue spec in one of her eyes.
Teya.....she almost always runs and she just walked. Her and Derby have been picking their hay lately....very unusual for them so we're keeping a watch.
Slick and Romeo are full brothers and they have very similar personalities. These two guys always open the gate if it's blowing shut a little and they're the two who always come over to greet me....... even if they decide to run....they stop.....love that!
O.K. it's opened.....
but it won't stay mom?

Slick (left), Glory (right. I'll start lesson planning soon. I usually write down goals I want to achieve with each horse and then as a whole what we want to do for fun. Last year it was to go trail riding and 1 horse show.....this year I think it will be fine tuning, lots of miles put on the ones we had in training last year and fitting/sacking out Romeo (won't be riding him, he's just turning 2) with saddle/bridle. I might try line driving with him too and working on his feet walking over poles. What are your goals for the summer with your favorite horse? Have you thought about it yet? I've noticed through the years that if I write it down, it happens. If I just think about it, it doesn't so there's something in my mind that happens to solidify when it's on paper!! Can you tell I'm a list maker? lol!

Winner of Give-A-Way, Pony Girl Rides into the sunset!

If there's no more questions.......I'm picking Pony Girl as the winner of the give-a-way because I've really never been asked the question before! Obviously it got me going and the response was long!! LOL! (Please see my previous post for the long commentary) Question: "If I would ever change my name and if so, what would it be"? Answer: Anne drop the Lu. Congratulations Pony Girl... you've won a piece of custom artwork....you tell me what the subject matter is and size you want because I don't know your wall space situation? I like to do larger works on canvas but since I'll be shipping it perhaps 11X14 would be the largest I could go. I'll do a standard size so you can pick out your own frame. I usually paint from a very detailed photo (more views/angles the better) so if you could send them via email or by mail, that would be great. Also, I need to know what medium you would like as well. I do oils, acrylic and watercolors and some pencil drawings. My favorite medium is oil because of the depth but it depends on what the subject is too. People/portraits best in oil and watercolors probably my least favorite just because I'm a realistic painter but I do enjoy them .....they're more of a challenge for me so it's good to stretch and it's fun buying frames and glass for them! My email: luannelozier@embarqmail.com Thanks again to everyone who participated....and for helping get out of my doldrums! Anne

My Boys From Afar...... 3. questions answered.

This is the scenery from the upstairs window (my art studio) where I'm spending my days looking at Romeo & Slick from a distance. At least I'm getting alot done inside as well as painting. I'm thinking about entering a contest again with one of the paintings like last year.....just haven't decided which one yet....you never know what they're looking for.
They could care less how cold it is.....
Tiny snowballs on our roof......

I have a few questions to answer from Desert Rose, Deb and Pony Girl:

1. How did my husband and I meet? Mutual friends introduced us. We met at his fraternity house, my sorority had a combined party. The funniest thing that ever happened while dating? This was a hard one ..... the only thing I could really think of is that my keys fell down a man hole close to my dorm room and I had to take the top off and climb down to get them. I know I have shared this story on my blog in the past..? Long story short, I got stuck down in the hole and could not climb out because my leg would not reach the ladder (I sort of jumped down that last step) so I was yelling for ANYONE to hear me and the campus "Homecoming KING" happened to walk by and pulled me out. Well, my husband got "jealous". He didn't appreciate it because I kind of rubbed it in a little! I thought it was funny! lol! Thanks for the revisit of that memory Desert Rose!

2. Deb asked what my favorite song is and why? There's so many different song styles that I like, it's hard to make a choice but the one that always chokes me up is Amazing Grace.....yup, does every time and I can hardly finish it when I sing along. If we truly understand how "lost" we are before we are "found" then this is my case in point. Great question, Deb and it was hard!

3. And lastly, Pony Girl asked me if I had the chance to change my name would I and what name would I choose? Oh boy, would I ever! I have never liked LuWANNN (spelled Luanne Platter, the same spelling as mine) that's how the cartoon characters pronounce it on KING OF THE HILL and do you know how many times I've heard my name pronounced that way jokingly? Not to mention the negative connotation/stigma it has associated with her character. Here it is: Luanne is the Hill's college age niece who is known as an "airhead" who is an expert mechanic and good at logic puzzles. Luanne's basic problem is she has been raised by "poor white trash" parents who had no interest in educating her which leaves her with the social skills of a 10 yr. old giving puppet shows. The voice of Luanne was done by Brittany Murphy who is now deceased. Do I have to go further? I have been told many times I do not "look like a Luanne" .....what does that mean? Then you have Lulu......Leanne, Lauren no one can get it right and if they do....spell it wrong......and not to mention being paired with my maiden name which was also an odd name "Fry" Lulu Fry, French Fry, now married last name is Lozier (long O) which most people pronounce Loser....now I'm Luanne the Loser (oo sound).... etc.....you've got the picture. My Dad and brother's name is Fred.....bro did change his to Ross, which is his middle name and my great grandfather's first name. My grandmother was Gertrude, her sister Mildred, their father was Fred McDowell on the other side. We have some dooseys! I would never want to offend my parents in changing it but have considered dropping the Lu and prefer being called Anne. Then you have what's in the meaning of a name? Luanne: warrior maiden (I think I have lived up to this name with the many battles and personal struggles in my life) kids live up to their names you know......last time it was a popular name....you got it.....1959-1960 (right before my birth and then took a definite nose dive and has never come back into vogue). I've only known 2 other Luannes and one told me I didn't spell it the "cool way" LuAnn ........or Anne: grace & favor.....the latter sounds better to me. Come on all you young parents (and older who have waited to start a family).....really think about the names you choose! Apple? Come on! This is taking individuality too far! LOL! Thanks for the reminder of how much I hate my name Pony Girl.....not really, I'm used to by now. Great question!

Any more questions? Don't be shy!