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Soon

Preliminary photos with new camera are stunning! I haven't even scratched the surface yet, either. I still have a lot to learn about this new camera! I cannot wait!

Percheron People

I am exhausted today. Yesterday, I went out to ride Sunny, as usual. I had planned on working on some training level tests with her. Before I could mount up, a man and his wife, who I will now refer to as Percheron people arrived. They own a Percheron rescue named Oliver. He is a very pretty horse with conformation problems, but with a sweet attitude. Technically, Percheron wife is the horse's owner. However, Percheron man wants to use Oliver as a "charger" in jousting matches. Neither of these people are experienced riders. EVERY time they attempt to ride beyond a walk, Oliver dumps them. Mr. Percheron NEVER wears a helmet.(moron). At least his wife wears a helmet. Three days ago, Oliver dumped Percheron wife. Her response was not to get back on the horse....which would be the CORRECT thing to do..but she drove the snot out of Oliver in the arena with a longe whip. The following day, Mr. Percheron attempted to mount Oliver in a full set of armor before de-sensitizing the horse to the equipment. Oliver went ballistic. (I don't blame him.) This horse has spent much of his life as a stud. For the last 1 1/2 years this poor animal was confined to a filthy stall...so he's out of shape, and not used to being ridden. He was only gelded last year, so he still thinks he's a stallion. So back to yesterday. I had been riding Sunny in the arena for at least an hour-and-a-half..and Mr. Percheron had still not caught Oliver. His approach was so stupid. You are NEVER going to catch a horse by chasing after him. Oliver was so traumatized by his past experiences with these people he simply did not want to come in for more of the same. (smart horse.) Meanwhile, Sunny was having trouble concentrating due to the havoc in the nearby pasture. Percheron man was so pissed off at the horse, he was driving him around the whole pasture with a whip...causing the other two horses in the pasture to panic...The three horses in the adjacent pasture were also going ballistic. I rode Sunny up to the pasture gate because Oliver REALLY likes my mare. Oliver did come up to the gate, but took off as soon as Percheron man attempted to jump in and grab him. During all of this mayhem, Percheron.wife and their 7 year old daughter were all in the pasture. I offered to help. I asked that everyone leave the pasture except me, since Oliver had no negative associations with me. I slowly walked out in the field and sat down in the middle of the pasture. I edged forward inch-by-inch with a bucket of grain. By then Oliver had calmed down quite a bit. After about an hour or so, he allowed me to approach and pet him. As soon as I did that, Percheron man ducks under the fence and charges up to Oliver with the lead. Again, Oliver panicked. I just shook my head and suggested that they back off and not even attempt to capture him. My suggestion was that Percheron wife come out every day and just sit in the field with the horses and ignore Oliver...until she could regain his trust. Then Percheron man yells at me and says that when he DOES catch Oliver he is going to take him in to the arena and teach the horse some respect. (asshole) Oliver won't even come in to be fed now. I think they should be thrown off the farm. It is so sad to see a horse who has known nothing but abuse suffer in this way. His feet haven't been trimmed in months. They're a mess. He needs to see a farrier SOON...but if he can't be caught...that isn't going to happen...okay. Rant is over.

I am puzzled as to why President Obama is not releasing the torture photos. Perhaps because he feels they are too inflammatory? I am pushing hard to urge Congree to pass a single-payer health care plan. I believe it is the right thing to do.

EBAY!!!

Oh, I'm on a roll tonight! I just outbid 21 bidders on a Sony Professional series DSLR camera! It's used...but in excellent condition. The seller has a 100% satisfaction rating. I thought I was going to end up paying more than $600.00 for a basic Canon Rebel DSLR...not what I wanted. I was ready to go to 350..but ended up paying 306...This is a camera that is worth approximately 1400 bucks..Thank you, President Obama for the stimulus money!

My life

Another Mother's Day..bittersweet for me. I spent the day alone. Deciding not to feel sorry for myself, I spent the late afternoon riding my mare, Sunny. She is such a healer.

But, DAMN it! What is so hard about picking up the phone to call your Mother. Okay. Sorry. A moment of self-pity.

Health Care Reform

So the Senate Finance Committee finds the idea of single-payer health care to be "laughable". There's a crisis in Health Care today, as we all know. Serious reform is paramount. The Health Care crisis has affected me, and all members of my family...as well as millions of other hard-working American Citizens. The Repubs are calling it Socialism...(Which is what Medicare was called when it first started.)By calling serious reform "Socialism"...the neo-cons are using a very old tactic of theirs...attempting to create fear.