Attitudinal Re-adjustment 101

Isla's, not mine!

Two days into her formal education and she will now stand quietly to have both front feet picked up and her legs moved about. That is, completely free with no halter or rope on her.

What a difference having access to a safe arena makes. What a difference having good supervision makes (for me that is.) If I turn turtle there is someone about to pick me up. Does wonders for the confidence level.

Putting in the hours working on a trial for no personal financial gain has turned out to be much more valuable to me, than a bit of money ever could be. Help and facilities, the value of which can never be quantified, in my humble opinion.

Might even get to take some pics of the little wench to put up here on the blog. Sadly, she is little - must have been behind the door when the height fairy was around, because compared to her two half sibs she is tiny. Will try and get a measuring stick over her at some stage - if only to confirm what I already know :(

One of the ponies (actually she is a hack) bred from good old Twizel recently won a Reserve Champion at the Waihora Pony Club Show. Her name is Kohatu Harvest Gold and she is by Sun'n'Air of Summer Valley (aka Dover). Harvey's half sister, Kohatu Windsong (by Lonsdale Moonwind - aka Rebel) is presently for sale on Trade Me. A great pony, if anyone is looking...

Busy, busy, busy

When most 'normal' people are having the week end free, that is when I get to do things.

Two days (well mornings really) helping with the trial and also putting up the larval cultures - and then taking them down again the next day...

Yesterday I ended up (by default) in the wool lab helping a post-grad put samples through the wool scour. It is a neat, scaled down version of a commercial set-up. Theoretically you could put a whole fleece through, but I wouldn't want to. The 'mangling' part of the process would be a real killer....

Anyway in the wool lab there is lots of 'shiny toys' so I was given a demo of the computerised system for measuring micron and medullation, amongst other parameters. There are also lots of fleeces so I grabbed a few samples, estimated the micron and medullation by 'handle' (the old fashioned way) and then ran the samples through the system. It was a very interesting exercise; the results were very consistent between my rating and the system. Goes to show that I have not lost my skills over time. Would like to put some mohair through.... will have to look in my bags of fleece and see what I can find.

Now I had better go off and check ponies and the water.

Nothing to report

but just thought I would put the link up for the photo album again so people don't have to sift through months of drivel to find it

my photo albums

Nothing particularly exciting

But, I have passed my exam with a 'B' pass.
I did get to play at the Christmas Fest on Sat - the organisers arranged a ride for both me and the harp (not much use without the harp!)
And I did some more trial work yesterday - my IV technique is now as good as it ever was - not bad after a good 8 years of not doing it.

22 Sleeps until Christmas - UGH!

Now in full Christmas avoidance mode; except I have to front up to the local Christmas Fest on Sat and harp on a little.

Maybe, just maybe, they will offer some koha???

Fingers crossed but I am not holding my breath.

Better go and do some more practice.