All Tied Up!

Time has come for Acey to learn something new about the world and his place in it. He is sure he is the most important thing. Anytime you come to a door or gate, you are met with a wide open mouth. It isn't that he is trying to attack people, he just needs something in his mouth right away. It doesn't matter if it is a bucket, or a rope, maybe your sleeve (with or without flesh) but he has to have it in his mouth. You can't even resort to smacking him because he moves like lightening. He desperately needs to be taken down a peg or two.

So today we had a tying lesson. He has already leaned to give to pressure and is old enough to understand so I went to the wall of the indoor arena and wrapped the rope around a 6x6. He was immediately pleased that the rope was now at eye level so he could chew on it better. But soon his impatience grew. Copy was wandering around the arena happy to be free of the little rugrat. I took up some line as he squirmed from one side to the other. Finally he decided a tantrum was in order and pulled back. This is where those lessons early in life come in handy. He is not used to being able to get away, and has not yet discovered that he may truly be the strongest force in the vicinity even when he is.

I only had the rope wrapped, so it let out enough to cushion the blow as he pulled. When he realized the rope would hold, he launched himself at the wall. Five feet of hardwood was unfazed by the attack. He tried it once more then decided he was tied. He looked back over his shoulder pitifully "where is my M-ah-mmy? I need her." Copy came over to check things out and tell him not to do that, then left again.

"Uh, Mom?"

"MOM!"

"MOMMYYYYY!"

After that he tied quietly with only a little wiggling. Lesson learned. For now...

Your True Colors Are Shining Through

Yes, Ace is truely Bay. Dark bay, but with red highlights.

And where he is shedding out along his back, he has a wide black dorsal mark.

Ace is absolutely covered in whorls. He has them on both cheeks (just like Mama) which the Bedouins say predict debt and ruin. Besides that, he has a perfect wheatear on his neck. That one foretells misfortune. But in the meantime, it is really very pretty. He has the finest hair coat I've ever seen. He gets that from both his sire and dam.

10 weeks

Ace is 10 weeks old now. We managed to get a couple of action shots. While I was chasing (Mom was the photographer) there was a moment when he collected up and "paraded" a bit, and in my mind's eye I could see what he would move like as a 3-4 yr old under saddle.

I take my hat off to anyone who can get an exceptional foal photo. They move so darn quick, and have the attention span of a gnat. Of course, it would help if I were to actually groom him.

This is the only grooming we do. Scratch his neck or withers, and he goes through the wildest facial contortions, and snakes his long neck around. See that dab of white in the corner of his mouth? We had just wormed him again. That was just after he kicked my Mom in the knee cap, and bit me in the shoulder. My response? "Boy do I have a treat for you! My little Monster." He was mad because the wormer paste made all the grass taste icky.

It's Official!

Ace's registered name is "A Sensational Night Out". I haven't got the papers yet, but I noticed that ASHA had charged the registration fee so I logged in, and there he is! #121615

I guess all that hair pulling worked, and I got enough roots!

Not so little anymore... two months

Here is Ace's 2 month old photo.

You Little Brat!

I have a nice purple, hoof shaped bruise on my thigh from a Baby Tantrum. Ace decided to create the rear~strike~kick~buck for when he is really upset. It takes about 2 seconds, and ends with him cowkicking while in mid-air. The first time he tried it he connected. I tanned his fanny for him with the lead rope. The second time he tried it (about 10 minutes later) I was well clear. I put him flat on the ground then gave him a lecture. He was willing to be a little better behaved at that point. Pretty soon he is going to be too big for those kinds of shenanigans!

Pulling my hair out over this...

I think I have figured out why people put off registering their foals. Pulling hair for a DNA test is a pain in the neck! Poor little Acey. He did not like having his soft baby hair pulled. I did it in three separate times over two days. Then I gave him hugs and kisses. Even my fingers hurt. You see, the DNA of a new foal is not yet set inthe blood, and you can get inconclusive results. Therefore, you need to send in hair samples. The test asks for 20-30 hairs from the tail, with roots attached. Ace's tail is so thick and soft. And WELL attached!

Then you have to gather all the hair you managed to pull, make sure the roots are there, and make sure you have enough. Then you have to get the lock taped down neatly and into the envelope. What a hassle. But it's done, and on it's way to UC Davis.