I seem to have a hard time lately keeping up with my blog. Work has kept me busy - but on to Topaz. A few weeks ago?! after feeding her I went to the corral to see if she would come to me when I called. It was almost dark & she was still eating her hay. I was on the opposite side of the corral when I called to her. Topaz twitched her ears so I knew she heard me but the hay was more important. Understandable, she is a growing girl. I then went to her side but a little away and called again. She looked at me as if to say "What?" then came over. She didn't know that I had apple in my pocket. When I gave her a piece she was all excited. I could hear her thinking - "You didn't say treats were involved!!" She had to side pass for the next piece, the rest she got for "free"
The next night I went out the same time, opposite from where she was, and sat on the corral. I whistled once, she looked up from her hay and came right over to a side pass. She was not about to miss on any treats that might be had!
Last Friday I decided to put up some temporary fencing around the house to put a buffer between Topaz and the deck. I used the tractor for an extra pair of hands. That day Topaz was told no about a million times. She couldn't believe the tractor wasn't for her to chew on. She also wanted to "help" me with my project. At one point I was on my knees wiring something shut with her hanging over my shoulder. I had to get her to move her foot since she was standing on the pliers. That kind of help makes the job longer but I like that she wants to hang out. I yell "NO!" a lot but there are a lot of pets too. Although I could do without horse lips on bare shoulders!
We seem to be at a stand still in training but that is mostly (all) my fault. The fence & work seem to take all my time. Once we get the 15 acres done Topaz will have a lot more room to run and exercise. It will all be worth it I just have no way of explaining it to Topaz. As soon as school is out I plan to up the training and we should move forward fairly quick. Then I'll be writing more often. (I hope) I will do my best to estimate her weight this weekend. She seems to be in a growth spurt and is filling out. I will get a new picture posted soon.

A short update on Miss Topaz - She seems to be getting along with Abby now which is great! It makes it much easier when I get home. She has also stayed home the last couple of days. Of course it wouldn't be Topaz if something wasn't going on. She has learned to open the corral gate! The first time it happened I figured it was an accident. I had put her up in the afternoon so when Dean came home he would only have to feed her. I found out the next day that she had gotten out of the corral. Dean thought I had left in a hurry and forgot to put her up. Okay accident right? Not so fast! Saturday morning (5am) I got up to feed her. I also take Abby for a walk at that time. I was watching Abby, making sure she got off the deck, not really paying attention to the fact I hadn't heard Topaz call to me like she usually does. It was dark, but enough moon light to see where I was going and I don't like turning on lights. (I like to look at the stars) I took about 3 steps from the deck and as I looked up I came face to face with Topaz unexpectedly! (I guess she wanted her oats a little sooner than I thought) We now have a clip on the gate so she can't wander at will, much to her disappointment I'm sure, but safer for all.

Topaz out and about!!

What a week! It started on Monday night when I got home. Topaz came to the gate as usual to greet me and all was well until Abby showed up. Abby (all wiggly puppy) wanted to say "Hi" too but Topaz wanted no part of that. She kicked at Abby to try and drive her off. I didn't want Abby turned into a "hoofball" so I was correcting Topaz while trying to protect a clueless Abby! Topaz started running around the house and stable. She finally ran into the corral where I blocked the gate with the lunge whip until I could close it. After changing shoes I figured I would be in the corral for a while making sure Topaz didn't forget who was boss. (Just what I wanted to do after a long day at work) Amazingly she did everything I asked of her! It wasn't me she had been aiming at. She had just wanted to let Abby know her place was at the bottom of the "herd" The next night every thing was fine and everyone behaved well.
Wednesday when we got home Topaz was locked in the corral. My first thought was I had forgotten to open the gate when we left that morning (I'm not a morning person!) I noticed her hay was gone and it wasn't THAT windy. Okay, someone locked her up but who & why? The phone message said it all. Topaz had knocked some fence down and went wandering!! It could have been VERY BAD, but Floyd found her on the private road a bunch of us share. He didn't know who she belonged to, so he used his belt around her neck and got her in his pasture. Thankfully he talked to Murray (our neighbor) so Murray took a bucket of feed to catch her and put her up. He didn't want her to wander as the pasture is 250 acres. She came right to him (food does it every time!) He had no trouble getting a halter on her and leading her until a Great Pyrenees started barking at her. Then Murray and Topaz went for a run! he didn't want to let go not knowing where she would run to. He got her to go into the woods where we have a lot of trails cut. After she got away from the dog she settled down and Murray had no more trouble leading her.
The good news is everything and everyone is okay. I had no idea that Topaz would behave as well as she did with strangers. Murray was very impressed and thought she had grown a lot since he last saw her. Floyd had a bit more trouble but I don't use a rope around her neck, I've always put her halter on. I'm very glad no one got hurt. We fixed the fence that night and she has stayed in.
Friday we had a visit from Dr. Kevin. Topaz was much better than last time, but then again she had a tranquilizer. Not a bad idea since he had to give her a shot and we both knew that it didn't turn out so well last time! He though she looked great! Good weight, feet, and general health. She also behaved for the most part. After he left I tried to work her but she was too "mellow" to accomplish anything.
Hopefully next week will be a little quieter! A loose horse is not the kind of excitement I need in my life!!