First Ride!

Well, today was the day! And Tally was just fabulous. There are no words to describe how perfect she was! She was really great when I tried all of my tack on earlier this week, so I just knew she would be fine when it came time to ride. I had my friend hold her while I mounted- although, I could have done without the assistance as Tally stood perfectly still while I climbed aboard. We walked around with the lead rope for a lap or so, but we soon realized that we would be fine without the lead.
Unfortunately, she knocked her front left leg in turnout this weekend, and I think she was just a tad stiff on that front leg when we were trotting. That said, we didn't do much today to keep the work light while she adjusts to being ridden again. I had a really difficult time riding well, as I was much too busy grinning. I look pretty horrible, but that's missing the point I guess....I'm just thrilled to have made it this far with her.
She also got her first bubble bath of the season after our ride, and now she is so clean and shiny!
I am just elated, and already looking forward to our next ride together.

*Please excuse the dialogue on the videos...whoopsies! We were too excited!

Well, here we are!

Always need a pretty headshot!

Beautiful

Videos!!!!!!

First Ride

Trot (1)

Trot (2)

Springtime Is Here! (I Think?)

What a beautiful Saturday! The sun was shining and all of the horses were frisky and happy to enjoy the wonderful weather. It's about time!
Tal was playing in the water trough (her most favorite thing in the whole world) and seemed to enjoy grazing on the green grass when I took her out of the pasture to brush her off.
She was very sweet and personable today! I struggled to get some of these photos because she kept walking over to me to see what I was doing. (And then she snatched my camera out of my back pocket hahaha)
She's starting to shed her already slight winter coat and I must say, her coat is just so smooth! I also think her tail grew! Yay springtime!

Soaked alfalfa cubes...delicious! 

With Chance, another friend.

So pretty!

Almost Spring?

What a beautiful day we had today! Tal was  a good girl in the cross-ties and got a lovely grooming!
Is it April yet? I just want to go for a ride!

Let me out!

Clean!

Green gras (kind of!)

Action shot! Hahah

Favorite place

With her "babies"

New Video!

This is actually kind of a pathetic video, and it looks like all of the other videos...but she's extra fresh in it which is always fun! (Plus there's a nice close-up of a favorite character!)
Don't mind the tube sock she has tied into her tail- we're currently working on growing luscious locks!
She is also barefoot now (probably can't tell from the vid) and I think she's finally getting used to it. Her feet look great and the farrier is really happy with her growth and whatnot. She's a little thinner than I'd like, so I'm taking a manure sample to the vet Friday to make sure nothing nasty is growing inside her belly!
She adores the foals and I put her out with them as often as I can. She also goes out with a little three-year old gelding every now and then. Turns out she can pretty much go out with anyone....miss popularity!

When the weather gets better, we'll be able to do more fun stuff. But for now, it's a lot of alfalfa cubes, grooming and turnout!

Video!

And...We're Back!

Once again, I have gone way too long without an update.
The holidays came and went and now I'm back. With spring around the corner,  I'm hoping to finally make some progress with Tally. I'm hoping to ride her by April!
The good news is that I have tons of new photos and videos...but the bad news is that I left my camera cord at home.
Today was beautiful and Tally has been going out in the big paddock with all of last years foals. She is so sweet to them- I think she would make a good mom!

All is well, and she seems very happy!

Long Overdue

I took a few videos and photos before I went home for Thanksgiving break and haven't gotten around to posting them yet. Tally was very muddy (and apparently *still* is just as messy, according from an email I received today from the barn owner). I'm glad to hear she's enjoying being a real horse!

It sure was a windy day when I took the videos. See her new blanket? It looks even better with the mud splotches!

I also took a photo when I was home of a few thoroughbred babies out in the pasture at a local ranch. One of them looked so much like Tally, I just had to capture it on my camera. They were so adorable. 

This one just cracks me up!

See that little star and snip?

More Turnout Videos:

Wandering Around

Chilly Day!

Rolling (Both Sides)

I have also 'unlisted' my videos on YoutTube for privacy. They still exist, but are no longer public. I am in the process of updating the links on each page so that everyone can still see them!

Tally and Lady (With Videos and Pics!)

I went to see Tally this morning and when I drove into the barn, she was happily turned out with her friend,  Lady. I had to take her out for a few minutes to try on her "new wardrobe", two new beautiful hunter green blankets from SmartPak. It was really cute because when I took Tally out, Lady came running up the fence (from the other side of the pasture) and whinnied for her! So precious. Tally on the other hand, seemed fine being away from Lady, but also seemed happy when I put her back out.  I also might add that she looked beeeautiful in her new blankets!
I was able to take a few photos and get some videos of them running around (look out Lynyrd!)
Tally is just too amazing for words- I love this mare! (Links to videos below pics!)

So shiny!

Tally Trotting With Lady

Cantering Fun!

Watch Out, Lynyrd!

Feeling Frisky!

New Turnout Buddy!

I wish I had my camera yesterday because Tally got turned out in the big paddock with a new friend!
She just seemed so happy to be outside in the sunny weather-- especially because the day before was freezing cold. I know I've mentioned before that she was a little nervous and often paced the fence when she was out alone, so I knew I'd have to find her a turnout buddy.
Well, I think we found the perfect companion...a very sweet (but occasionally firm) chestnut quarter horse mare named Lady.
Tally was so cute when we first put her out with Lady because she was prancing around and bucking and kicking up her heels. Once she settled down, they both started grazing peacefully and the rest is history.
I only heard one squeal during the two hours that I stood out there watching them. Not too bad for two mares!
Next time I'll need to bring my camera because they are just too sweet together.
Tally is really enjoying her time off-- lots of rolling in the dirt, grazing and peppermints. As one of the ladies at the barn told me just the other night, "that's going to be one spoiled horse." :)

Field Turnout (And Videos!)

Today was Tally's second time turned out in the "big" pasture with the llama.
She seemed to enjoy herself, but I know she prefers to be turned out in the arena because she can see her other horse friends from there. I'm going to find her a turnout buddy so that she doesn't have to be worried about being alone.
She looked so beautiful with her pretty dapples and rich, brown coat. It was the perfect autumn day.

Such a gorgeous lady!

Hi there!

And now for some videos:
Tally Trotting Around
Trotting Down Fence
More Trotting Around

Photo Shoot!

It's been a week since Tally arrived and I just love her even more every day! 
She has been wonderful to work with and seems to be adapting to her new life very quickly.
On Thursday she got turned out in the main field with Lynyrd and seemed rather content after some initial bucks and yeehaws!
She had her teeth floated last night. The vet said everything looked good, just a few minor sharp points that she said would be no problem to file down. Tally was also a very good girl about walking into the stock before getting happy drugs. 
After the vet left, I waited with her while the happy drugs wore off and I even pulled her mane. 
We had a photo shoot this afternoon while we grazed which included lots of peppermints. 
She has so many dapples! She is such a looker and has the most fabulous personality to boot. 

Looking a little unhappy..."where are my peppermints!"

That's better...but posing is still boring!

More Videos

I couldn't resist and had to take a few more videos of my new girl.
She was fabulous while turned out and was very relaxed and content. We even went on a hand-walk down the barn driveway together and she just seemed so mellow.
She's also getting used to Lynyrd.

Tally rolling
Nibbling on some grass
Checking out the mounting block

Another Perfect Afternoon

What another beautiful afternoon in Tennessee.
I turned Tally out in the arena so she could get out of her stall and enjoy some good old fashion fun and relaxation.
I borrowed some boots from the barn owner so that Tally wouldn't pull a shoe or scrape a leg playing. (Mine are in the mail!)
I took some videos and photos of her as she played.  I didn't leave her alone at all and just stood, glued to the fence for about an hour. It was too nice of a day to not be outside! 
Tally saw Lynyrd the llama and wasn't quite sure what to make of him. He is actually really friendly and came up to the gate when I walked over to him. Tally and Lynyrd had a bit of a stare down. I don't think she's scared of him, but rather, intrigued. She does have the right idea...he's not the most attractive creature.
After about an hour in the arena, I took her for a little walk so she could graze some more.  I put her back in her stall to groom her after a half hour or so of grazing. She was very good about the grooming, but I could tell that she would rather be outside again. Agreeing that being outdoors on such a sunny day was the better plan, I put her boots back on and took her back to the arena. She was so happy! She moseyed around, sniffing and pawing at the dirt...and she finally rolled! She didn't trot or canter again and seemed very content. I walked around the perimeter of the arena and she watched me and even followed me to the other side. She also met a barn cat in the arena! She followed him too as he walked across. What a cutie. 
She let me know when it was time to come back in, as she met me at the gate. I gave her a scratch and brought her back to her stall.
She was so good today and I will definitely put her back out tomorrow. I just loved sitting on that mounting block, watching her.


Last night the barn owner said she was concerned that Tally was cast because she could hear strange noises from her  bedroom. Well, she walked out in the dark (didn't want to turn the lights and startle Tally) and it turns out Tally was playing with the jolly ball I put in her stall!
I'd bought it for a horse a few years ago and he hated it...so it's been living in my car since then. I thought I'd see if Tally liked it because I noticed she kept chewing on her grain tub and the muck bucket when I picked her stall. The best part of all is that it's hot pink. How cute is that? I finally have a horse that likes a jolly ball!

So pretty!

Our new friend, Lynyrd.

Not sure about Lynyrd...

Looking around at our new home.

And now for some videos:

Tally walking

Tally trotting

Tally trotting and cantering

Feeling frisky!

Just in case you forgot that I was a thoroughbred...

Our First Afternoon Together

Today I spent the afternoon with Tally. I took her out of her stall for some much deserved grazing time. There were a lot of scary and new things to see (Like a goat and a llama), and a really obnoxious wind. But, being the fabulous horse she is, she took everything in stride.
After snacking, we had a lovely grooming session. She seemed to like getting curried with the jelly scrubber! Tally has such beautiful coloring and her dapples really came out after I removed all that dust!
I opened her feed stall door so that she could stick her face out. She loves this (as I would have expected) and seemed to enjoy watching all the commotion in the barn aisle. 
I am just loving every minute we spend together. She is really sweet.

I really like to look out.

Taking a look around.

Watching some dogs play in barn aisle.

Tally arrives in Tennessee

Tally arrived ahead of schedule a little after 11pm last night.

I was very pleased to see that Tally had some traveling companions for her long journey. 

When it was time to unload Tally, my heart was racing. Tally stepped off the trailer like the class act she is. 

I walked her to her new stall and she was great. She looked around a little, but was so calm and collected. She was much calmer than I was.

I put her in her stall and gave her some electrolyte paste and she immediately began munching on a taste of grain and hay. She also took some big sips of water too. Being the nervous new mother that I am, I was watching her and pacing. She kept looking up at me, as if to say, "What? I'm fine."

I am just so in love with this mare. I ended up staying with her for a little longer. It was too hard to leave.

My friend took a photo of me and Tally...I'm in my lounge clothes!

Words just don't adequately describe how happy I am to have found Tally.