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Post by Nicole on Jun 23, 2009 11:33:00 GMT -5
 Name: Shining
Barn Name: Shining
Breed: Thoroughbred
Dam: N/A
Sire: N/A
Gender: Mare
Birthday: 2006/1
Color: Red Bay
Markings: None
Personality: Shining came to us in a sorry state. Even though she is a half sister to Ashleigh’s Wonder, no one seems to have thought much of her. She was thin and riddled with parasites, and very distrustful of humans. She'd raced in the bottom of the claiming ranks as a two-year-old, but never placed higher than fourth. We put a claim on her in her last race and got her. Over time and lots of TLC, Shining has become a stakes winner and very friendly towards almost everyone.
Owned By: Edgardale |
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Post by april on Jun 25, 2009 12:03:33 GMT -5
I smile as I walk through the new stables at Edgardale. They're big roomy loose boxes that have all the old fashioned charm that I love about stables, but with modern conveniences to make them more comfortable for the horses, as light and airy as being outside. It only takes one look at Shining to see that she’s happy here. She rolls in the knee- deep bedding, and gives a joyous whinny, but rolls to her feet when she realizes I’m there, and starts nuzzling me like crazy. I giggle, pet her, and give her a handful of treats. I come into her stall, hug her, and give her a careful grooming, massaging her as I work. Lord knows she deserves the best. She's overcome so much, and I absolutely love her. When I finish, she practically gives off light, and her coat feels like a mixture of silk and velvet. I give her her breakfast after admiring her awhile, and she dives right in to the sweet feed, hay mix, and supplements, topped off with a sweetened bran mash with linseed oil. I make sure to add electrolites to her water. Then I clean her stall, lay down another knee deep layer of bedding, clean and oil her tack, wrap her legs, and take her out for some fun.
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Post by april on Jun 30, 2009 10:42:09 GMT -5
It’s going to be a golden day and the first beams of the summer morning sunrise peek in through the stable windows as I come in to mare’s stall. The sweet mare gives a whinny of joy when she knows I’m coming and is so excited that she starts gnawing on her stall door. “Easy girl. That’s not good for you. Take it easy. I’m coming.” Once I’m in her stall she nuzzles me and gives me “horsey kissies” until my arms and face feel slimy from horse goober. I laugh and she whinnies before laying her head over my shoulder. I give her a big hug, and chat with her as I groom her. Her muscles twitch as if she’s enjoying the feel of the grooming too much to hold it in. She lips at my braid, picking it up in her mouth, making me laugh all the more. I give her a handful of treats, and once her grooming is over I give her her breakfast. The hay mix is fresher and greener than ever now that it’s summer, and I make her mash extra sweet with plenty of her favorite treats mixed in. I add supplements and vitamins to the grain. I clean the stall, take care of Life, her cat friend and give her a long massage before leading the dancing mare out.
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Post by april on Jul 16, 2009 10:11:40 GMT -5
Shining has a good appetite when I give her her breakfast in the morning, devouring every last oat of her sweet feed and strand of hay from the haynet, licking up the last traces of the vegetable oil, and gulping down her hot, sweetened mash. It's warm now so the mash isn't needed for warmth, but the horses always love the taste. I laugh when she finishes up and starts licking my face. A fair amount of mash is stuck to her mouth, and I end up with horse goober all over. I don't mind in the least. I give her a hug, and then start to groom her like royalty. I go through the shampooing, clipping, chalking, sponging, combing, and brushing. I lay her mane, and when I finish she looks like a real show horse. She soaks up the attention, leaning so hard into the grooming that she almost falls over. I giggle, and give her a deep muscle massage. She relaxes and I can tell she loves it. She loves playing with her jollyball and lickit toys, but just like humans I know it feels good to her to completely relax every now and again. I clean her stall, putting down a knee deep layer of shredded paper and pine shavings on top of the absorbant layer. I add electrolytes to her water, and clean her tack before I poultice and wrap her legs and lead her out.
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Post by april on Jul 20, 2009 10:43:57 GMT -5
I greet Shining with a blow into her nose in the morning, which I know is an old horse whisperer’s trick for saying hello to a horse and letting them know you’re friendly, although she’s already been my friend for a long time. I pet her and she nuzzles me as I do my chores. First I give her a good hearty breakfast, and then I give her the long, long grooming she loves so much. She shifts her position to be sure I get all her favorite spots, and sighs contentedly when I do. I work a massage into it, and then clean her stall, tack, and waterer. Then I lead her out, with her laying her head over my shoulder as I do.
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Post by april on Jul 27, 2009 11:59:56 GMT -5
I try to go all out taking care of my horses, and while Shining eats her breakfast hays, grains, supplements, and mash I give her a vigorous grooming, which includes shampooing her mane and tail and carefully clipping stray hairs to keep her looking tidy. I make sure to clip off any dingy yellow hairs from her markings and clean them with a whitening shampoo. I finish her markings by touching them up with some French chalk. I finish her regular grooming by going over her with a damp sponge, adding to what the curry comb, dandy brush, an soft brush have already done. The dab of equine highlighter on the sponge gives her coat a matte finish, enhanced by a mist of coat spray. As always, she soaks up the attention and nuzzles me as much as possible. I laugh, and give her another handful of treats and a hug. Then I clean her stall til it's spotless and lay down a thick layer of bedding before leading her out.
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Post by april on Aug 4, 2009 10:50:34 GMT -5
I come into Shining's stall in the morning with a smile on my face, always glad to be with my horses. I sing a little as I do my chores. “When I look into your eyes to tell you what’s on my mind, with no words at all you seem to understand. Time slips away so quickly when we spend it together. When we’re apart, it feels like forever.” She gives a nicker, and I think she enjoys music. After I feed her, groom her, and clean her stall. I give her a handful of treats and a massage before I lead her out.
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Post by april on Aug 26, 2009 10:57:30 GMT -5
Shining sniffs my pockets as soon as I come into her stall, knowing I have a treat for her. She knows that they’re in my pocket, half because she smells them and half because she knows that’s where I usually keep them. I giggle as she pulls the bag of baby carrots out. "Those aren't all for you. You have to leave some for the others." I grab the bag away from her before she can chew it, and take out a couple of the sweet carrots. After she's had her treat, I do the morning chores. After her stall's been cleaned and she’s eaten a nutritious breakfast and been groomed until she glows, I lead her out.
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Post by april on Sept 2, 2009 11:53:38 GMT -5
I come to the stables extra early, wanting to get all the horses taken care of and exercised before the heat of the day. Shining keeps nuzzling me, beyond happy to see me. I pet her and hug her neck before giving her a handful of treats before grooming her, doing my best to be as thorough as always. I take time off in between to pet her. I give her her breakfast, and I smile as I notice that I could use her coat as a mirror. She responds so well to grooming, exercise, and good nutrition. I clean the stall, give her another handful of treats, and lead her out.
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Post by april on Oct 27, 2009 11:48:36 GMT -5
After being cooped up during the rain yesterday, Shining is anxious to get outside and be exercised. I make sure to be quick but also extremely thorough in doing my chores, while still taking lots of time out to pet, give treats to, and fuss over her. Once all the work is done, I tack her up, using a light layer of honey on the bit. She likes that little touch, although she always takes the bit eagerly. I pet her as I lead her out.
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