Goats in Girdles

Recently, some of our favorite goat clients that live way out in the country stopped by the veterinary hospital.  They are lovely woman who love their goats and are on top of their game when it comes to providing the best care for them.  Their goat had a healthy baby doeling (a baby female goat kid) and for the past few months the two of them have been living the happiest of lives.  But now...the time had arrived to wean the doeling off her mother's milk.  Most people will separate them by taking the baby out of the sight of the mother.  Without a doubt, this is stressful for both the mother and kid and, for that matter, some concerned and loving goat owners.  Our clients said that they had spent hours online searching for ideas to make the weaning process as easy on everyone as possible.  They found an idea which lead them to the local thrift store in town where they picked out a pair of ladies underwear for their momma goat.  The idea was to dress momma in these thrift store unmentionables in order to hide her teats so the doeling would be unable to drink her milk and they wouldn't have to be separated.  Nice and Easy!   Back at ranch they went and dressed momma in her new undergarments and set the new Victoria Secret's model loose in the barnyard.  The hungry little doeling didn't find this fashion show amusing and snatched a mouthful of lingerie and pulled them off, tossing them into the mud.  Famished from the strip tease the baby doeling went back to mom and had some milk. 
Our clients realized that this idea was silly.  How could underwear possibly work being so easy to take off?  They needed something else, something more secure.  They went back into town and came back to the ranch with a... girdle.  They squeezed momma in the girdle, tightened it up and sent her waddling back into the barnyard.  The hungry little doeling declared war on the girdle.  She  fought bravely as she battled the against the garment until finally, it was conquered and lay in the mud.  She won back her mother's teat and toasted to her own victory with her prized milk. 
After the battle of the girdle, our defeated clients decided to come into the office for our advice.  They didn't know what else to do.  They couldn't bear to separate the little family but they knew the doeling had to be weaned off of momma.  After hearing all of their failed attempts I had to admit I didn't have a good answer for them.  I was thinking "Well, if a girdle didn't work what else possibly could?" I did what I normally do at work when I can't answer a question...I ask the professionals...the veterinarian.  I explained the situation and was sure he would either cross his eyebrows, scratch his head or just have a long pause before he spoke but the answer came without hesitation.  "Just put them in pens next to each other where the doeling can't stick her head in and nurse off her momma."   With that he continued to walk into his office. 
The three of us just sort of looked at each other and then just sort of nodded our heads at each other.  They thanked me for all of my help and were off to the hardware to buy planks instead of panties.

If you would like to be added to The Jackson Hill Horsey Girl email list please email me at Jacksonhillhorseygirl@gmail.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com

Autumn the Philanthropist

This past Saturday, Autumn and I participated in the HERO Ride For Life American Cancer Society Fundraiser Ride...So this means I'll finally stop bugging you guys for donations...well...at least until next year.  Your donations helped Autumn and I raise $1,400.00!  We were the second highest fundraisers for the whole event!  We owe you a HUGE THANKS for your generosity.  Our team, The Hill Fillies, was the second highest earning team at the event raising $3,776.00!!! Not only were be bringing home the bacon but our team also earned first place for being the best dressed at the event. 

Our team...The Hill Fillies...

(From left to right)

Shannon on Goldie, Cindy on Syria (Autumn's BFFH), Me on Autumn, Diane on Poncho, Mary on Willow, Christine on Ginger, Jennifer on Ha'ni.

Not pictured; Marcelle on Gypsy, Emily on Thunder, Nancy the Mule gal, Nancy M. on Mya & Bill Jackson because he's taking the picture.



I had Autumn's adornments picked out weeks ahead of time and had at three dress rehearsals to make sure everything was just right for the event.  On the morning of the ride, it took me over an hour to glam her up.  I braided bunches of powder pink silk roses into her mane with satin pink ribbon.  Her bridle and saddle were decorated in tasseled  ribbons that fluttered in the wind during our ride.  She even had sparkling pink crystal flower bling stickers to decorate her ba dunk-a dunk.   To sum up Autumn's whole appearance our little six year old friend Veda, who is a wonderful  little horse girl, said it best.  She told  Autumn that she looked just like a princess horse.  Autumn loved the compliment and gave Veda a little nuzzle for her nice compliment. 

Autumn proudly wore her saddle pad decorated with all the names of everyone who sponsored our ride.  We had special ribbons to honor the memories of my Grandpa Diemer, Casey's Aunt Debbie and my great friend Skaidra's mother, Christine Scholey that cancer took from us too soon.  We carried ribbons to honor those who kicked or are kicking cancer's butt right now such as my wonderful Aunt Kathleen, my great friend Anne who helped me get Autumn, my spunky Grandma Ahlers and for my good friends Linda & Gordon's cousin Tricia W. F. 

Autumn carried all of us with her on that ride that day and she did a great job to boot.  This was her first major event away from the ranch with lots of unfamiliar horses. I was nervous that this big event coupled with her only being 4 years old might be a bit overwhelming for her but she was amazing.  She walked all day long, never fussing once, never wanting to stop...well except to grab a little grass. 

Not only was Autumn walking for a great cause she was also helping me through one of the toughest days I've had since I moved away from my family in NY.  My little sister, who moved out here last July, left the morning of the ride to go back to NY.  My eyes are burning and welling up right now in Starbucks where I'm writing.  Katy has sat across from me while I have written every one of my blogs up until tonight.  Oh crap, here they go... they're streaming down my face....  I hate not having her here. It's so hard to be without her...  

Okay, deep breath. Sorry about that.  I'm back.

So, sporadically throughout the day Autumn had little tear showers sprinkling on to her mane along with squeaks, sobs and snuffles coming from me on her back.  She carried me along just taking care of me, giving me her big shoulders to cry on.  She took great care of me that day and so did all my girlfriends and my great husband Casey.

I owe some special Thank you's to all my sponsors, to all my friends and to all my family!

Casey...thanks for putting up with all my craft crap everywhere, Katy & Kevin Boops...thanks for doing all the dress rehearsals with Autumn & going to fabric store hell it meant a lot to me, Momma-lou Diemer...thanks for getting all those donations from all your friends for me, Dad Diemer & Rachel & Kieran pants-the cutest-baby brother-ever, Uncle Jeff & Aunt Kathleen Goldstein, Grandma & Grandpa Ahlers, Justin & Sandy Goldstein, Mom Stacy, Meghan & Mike & Patti D'Orizo, Uncle Barry & Aunt Joanne & Decaln & Conor Diemer, Anne & Maggie Caplan, Karen & Anastasia Keller at Scare Crow Farms, Sue & Tommy Giannoni, Grandpa Robert Stacy, Aunt Karlene & Dan Comiskey, James & Skiadra & Digby Bruce, Dawn Friend & Nick & Taz, Lou Anna Phillips & Sweet Pea & Harley,  Joe Losritto, Gerry, Elizabeth "the cookie princess" Thompson & Carmen, Adam Jorgensen Forge & Farrier & Family, Joan & Molly Crandell, Jannine Richey & Family, The Lindstrom Family, Chrisine "Miss Burn's" Richey & Steve the Philosopher, Paul & Susan "the muffin fairy"& Dresden & Dutch & Kayak Silva, Gregory Foray, Hilda Duke, Anna & Joe Grippi, Mary Ann &Robert Costanzo, Steve Foray, Joan & the gals at the Bayport Flower House, Sandy from Allstate, John Forge, Linda & Gordon Taylor, Dr. Branch & Dr. Carlisle from North Coast Veterinary Hospital, Marci & Mike Barnes, Andrea and Dirty Bird Broughton, Peter & Shawn & Eric & Melanie Jackson,  Bill "The Hill Fillies groom sent from heaven" & Garrot & Dane & Jillian Jackson, all the donors who filled my jar at the vet office, Cindy & Chris at Cindy With the Herd Farms...thanks for the ride to the ride!, Syria for being Autumn's main support, Diane & Randy & Poncho & Mckenzie Baxter, Nancy Powers & Shannon St Clair, Jennifer & Ha'ni, Marcelle & Gypsy, Emily & Thunder, Mary & Willow, Christine & Ginger, Nancy & Mya...

A big thanks to everyone that hosted the HERO event!  You all did a great job! The whole event that day earned $20,135.00!!! Not bad! Thank you Diana and Holly LaCount!

...and the biggest thank you of all goes to Autumn!  I love you Autumn!  You are the greatest!

If you would like to be put on the email list to receive the latest blog please email me at Jacksonhillhorseygirl@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!

Copyright (c) 2011 Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com

Love or a Carrot?

You guys are awesome!!!  The donations for the HERO Ride for Life,  American Cancer Society Fundraiser ride that Autumn and I are doing this Saturday (5/7/11) have been overwhelming and generous.  I am going to do a special blog to thank all you super great folks next week!  We are just about at our goal.  If you haven't had a chance to donate it's not to late.  You can still drop off donations at the vet office or the ranch up until Friday.  Everyone who has donated has a special ribbon sewn on Autumn's saddle pad for the ride so we'll all be riding that day together.

Here's a section of Autumn's saddle pad with our supporters proudly displayed.



Autumn Loves Me

Sometimes, I wonder if Autumn loves me or she just wants a treat. When I call out for her, unseen, in the enormous forested pasture and I hear her whinny as she explodes out of the trees galloping right up to me...well, it makes me wonder... is it for the treat I always keep in my pocket or is she just happy to see me?

Waking up late a few mornings ago, I had to do the mad dash to feed both of the barns, leaving me fifteen minutes to find Autumn in the upper pasture.  I prayed she wasn't in the upper arena on the top of the mountain a.k.a the nose bleed section.  I scooted up the bank of the heart shaped pond and spotted her...in the nose bleed section.  With all the huffing and puffing, stopping to catch my breath and cursing out the mountainside it usually takes me fifteen minutes to drag myself up there. I had to make a decision. Either, I could just wave to her and spend the extra time sitting in my car and staring out into space before work or...I could suck it up, charge up that mountain without stopping and whinning and see my horse.  So, that's what I did. Autumn watched me scramble my way up to her and waited patiently until I delivered her carrot while gasping for air.  She took the carrot and...walked away. I was crushed.  That's it?  My lungs were burning, I was soaked in sweat and I didn't even get a nuzzle? 
The rejection dragged me down the mountain and made plunge into the vertical pit of a crappy a day. 
I was pretty busy feeling cheap and used for a carrot when I heard a little shuffle behind me.  I turned around a few feet behind me was Autumn peaking around a tree.  What? Was one carrot not enough?  I waited for her to catch up and nudge her nose toward my pockets.  She didn't budge.  She just stood there trying to hide her enormous head behind a skinny tree trunk.  I told her I loved her and started back down the trail. "Shuffle, shuffle..." I stopped and turned around. There she was about the same distance away from me but, now, without a tree to hide behind, she lowered her head to the ground looking as though she was trying to make herself as small as possible standing as still as a stone. Again, I waited for her to come up to me and give me the carrot frisk but she just stood there. I walked on and the shuffling started behind me.  I sped up and so did the shuffling.  Then I hit the brakes, turned around as fast as I could and caught her as she slid to a stop and froze like a bronze statue of a horse a few feet behind me.  It was so cute. We peek-a-boo'ed all the way down the mountain to the gate. She hid behind scrawny trees and bushes that only came up to her knees. I was pretty convinced that she was pretty convinced that I couldn't see all 1800 pounds of her hiding behind a patch of milk weed that she had her nose tucked into. It was so cute and so fun playing with her that it pulled my crappy day right out of the pit and made it one of my best days in a long time. 
When we arrived at the gate, I was pretty sure she was expecting me to take her back to the barn for some breakfast. I was already feeling guilty about leaving her there,all alone crushing her hopes of having a nice little breakfast of oats and hay in her comfy stall.  I gave her a big hug, told her I loved her a million times and that I had so much fun with her and then...she turned around and walked away.  She stopped about ten feet away turned and looked at me thoughtfully and started back up the mountain again.  Then I knew...she does love me!

Copyright(c) 2011 Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com