Rex in the frost

Here's an old video I wanted to share. This is Rex (or Fairhaven's Sexy Rexy) He was I think 5 or 6 years old in this video that was taken about 4 years ago. He was a 15hh black purebred Morgan stallion. (Since gelded) A total dude to ride but a bit of a nightmare to handle. He was particularly fond of sharking anything he could get his teeth on, including body parts, not maliciously, just cause he liked to. This video was taken from the top story of a house that overlooked his paddock, I think he knew we were watching. It was one of those days when its so cold the frost never melts. Somehow he got so much joy from sliding the bin over the ground, it went on for quite some time. The blue bin that he is carrying is h-e-a-v-y, like, I would have to use both hands to pick it up and struggle.

If it rains it pours.....

Just two weeks ago I made the comment that wasn't it great that Pepper hadn't injured herself or had to go to the vet at all since November. Well I totally jinxed myself, In the past 10 days we've had to go three times. First she lacerated three of the pads on her feet again (this time they weren't too bad and I just got off by just showing the vet and dressing her paw myself).

Then three days later while on the beach she got explosive (like you would not believe!) diarrhea. We were 30 minutes aways from the car and after 20minutes she refused to go any further due to constant bum leakage. I would not recommend to anybody to try and carry a wet, squirming, sandy dog, especially one that is violently leaking out of its rear end. I was really worried so took her straight to the vet (we were in Muriwai so 40minute drive there) Of course, y the time we arrived she had made my car smell unbelievable (in a bad way) but had perked up quite considerable and was happy as a clam. A quick check up showed no temp and no sore tummy. It continued to a much lesser extent over night but fine the next day.



The final insult was yesterday when she was playing in the hedge in the back garden. She came out shaking her head and holding her right ear off to the side. I had a good look, couldn't see anything. It seemed to bother her for a couple of hours but then she seemed fine the rest of the day/night. This morning not so much - lots of head shaking/tilting and funny ear positions. So off to the vet who saw a piece of stick embedded right down the bottom of her ear canal. She needed to have an anaesthetic to have it removed because it was so deep. Since she's come home she's been hugely incontinent so I really hope that she doesn't get another UTI on top of everything.

Tonight shes still as happy as ever and was not impressed about not being able to go to training tonight, destroying one of the boxes I was using for packing to make her displeasure known!

Swimming away all her troubles

Up periscope!

To finish, some very cute photos of a friends 8 week old working kelpie puppy, Kep.

Another ridiculous trick

While trying to train a handstand, I have inadvertently taught Pepper to do a wee jump on the spot. It's pretty funny.

Norwest agility ribbon trial

After a very long 12 hour night shift at work, Pepper and I went out to Kumeu on Sunday morning. I spent the entire time there alternating between feeling like I was having palpitations, feeling confused or like I was about to pass out. No sleep for over 48 hours will do that to you! Thank god for Lynne driving me out and Ben picking me up as there was no way I would have been safe on the roads.

Anyway, it was worthwhile going, we had our first agility win, in Elementary B we were 1st out of 31 entries. She ran really nicely, with me flapping along somewhere behind her. North Shore club had 4 dogs in the top 5!

Then we had a good starters run, got the weaves, although still a bit slow, and had one moment where she nearly took an off course, but still clear, and we ended up 3rd out of 83 dogs! Yay for us.

Misty

Bruno

Luna
Bindi

Hiska

I was so wreaked that I can't even remember getting home but I woke up the next morning at about 10am feeling like I'd been run over by a train.

Misty, loving the sun.

And now we have to wait 4 weeks until the next show, which seems blimming ages away.

Fun with teatowels

I had heaps of pictures but stupid blogger isn't working and while it uploads them it shuts down the page as soon as they appear. It's driving me nuts.

Anyway, today Pepper learnt about holding a teatowel while doing other tricks. I started doing this to try and make the "roll up in the towel" trick easier for her to understand as she doesn't really like rolling over and we hadn't got very far with training it.

The one that she really stuggled with was twist or spin. She'd get to 180degrees and then the teatowel would get flinged out far away. Something to work on!


Since the last time I wrote we've had 2 more agility ribbon trials and a twilight obedience ribbon trial.

The obedience night was good, we were in specials, although she was quite focused her right and about turns were all really wide and she lost it for just a bit when a spaniel in the next ring had a bit of a leaping and barking episode right beside her. I was really happy with her though and the judge came up afterwards and gave us some nice comments about her keenness and head position which was encouraging. In the down stay she was intently watching me and even pulled out a couple of paw crosses, oh the joys of a clicker trained dog! We got 3rd :)

The agility has been a bit of a mixed bag, its heaps of fun and I'm learning heaps every time we compete, especially about how much there is to learn and train! We've had a few clear rounds, a lot more near misses with rounds of 1 rail or 1 refusal/missed jump. We have another ribbon trial on Sunday.

Back from holidays

Well we've arrived back in Auckland after going back "home" to the South Island for our wee holiday, the mood down there was understandably sombre because of the earthquake that happened two days before we flew down. The death toll currently sits at 163 people, with many seriously injured and many more still missing under the rubble in the central business district and they are presumed dead as it's been 10 days now since it happened. The city is trashed, people are homeless and it's all very shitty.

On a brighter note, we've brought our first house! Its a really nice wee three bedroom place, really well fenced and we move in at the end of April (I'm supremely impatient and just want to get moved in right now!) Photos to come once we move in, Yipee!

The trip down home was good, Pepper was anxious when we got to the airport but she came off the plane wagging her tail and bouncing around, and was really good on the trip back up, even fell asleep in her crate while we waited for the baggage handlers to come and collect her. She had a fabulous time at my parents place, we had lots of family staying, because of the earthquake, and there where heaps of kids there. She played no-stop with them. The three ear old, Zac, built a hut (it was a spaceship, a vet clinic and a zoo cage) and was constantly dragging pepper in so she could be his co-pilot/patient/lion. It was very cute and she's unbelievably tolerant, I don't think she's had her name screeched at her so much in her entire life.

Some pictures of the ponies - the red-heads are purebred morgans, this is Abraham Pepper showjumping

Thuggy galloping with his eyes closed

Abe

Went with the kids out to a wee pony club showjumping day

Pam - the biggest poser and most tolerant pony around

Jess, the black lab, having a good roll in something stinky

And Pepper helping by stealing the hoofpick.

A whole new earthquake

For everyone who doesn't know, today at just before 1pm there was another huge earthquake in Christchurch in the South Island (there was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake there in september last year - that one struck at 4am and there was not one single loss of life) This earthquake was a 6.3 but was very shallow and the destruction, devastation and injury toll has been huge. It's unknown yet how many people have died but this appears to be far far worse than the one 5months ago. Speaking to a friend it appears Sumner and surrounding area has been totally destroyed and is unlivable, but the area is unable to be assessed at this stage.

Please keep the people of Christchurch in your thoughts as the aftershocks continue to roll.