Boggle- USA bound!

[palo1]

^^^ all this and the stress of just moving to a new area. Start another thread when you feel up to it and post photos. He's a lovely boy and I'm looking forward to watching him grow.

BTW - its turning into the season of mud and darkness in the UK so we're all looking for nice photos from other parts of the world!

Definitely this!! @CanteringCarrot I am really hoping you can update with Ronaldo's progress over time: he looks like a very smart young horse but I completely understand how deflated you must feel after such stress and sadness at leaving your wonderful, established horse behind. It is very hard to start again with a youngster, especially if you have also had to relocate and the new yard doesn't really do it for you. I have been thinking about what a huge challenge this has all been for you.

 

[Trouper]

Hey Bog, how do you feel about elk….

https://youtube.com/shorts/xH6cwjDaNbw?feature=share

And some more pics from today. So happy to have trails. And great roads. Snow shoes this week for a cycle I think.

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All right - enough of these snapshots please. Never mind the new rugs and American saddles what you (we) need is a proper headcam and a dedicated Boggle YouTube channel so we can go on all these trail rides with you. If it's going to get too snowy soon for long rides you have got the winter to get organised!!!!!!!
Just saying.

 

[Michen]

Fab photos and it is brilliant to see these new adventures. The trail riding looks really lovely; are these direct from the barn? Is the big road a busy one (doesn't look it lol)? I love the elk; amazing and v brave Boggle! Keep it coming!

Yes they are! The roads are really quiet which is great.

 

[Michen]

Wow it looks amazing Michen!

You really are going to inspire me to do something crazy shortly ??

Well I have zero regrets so far.

Weirdly I had this opportunity with this company 6 years ago. At the time I had Basil who was on full loan. I didn’t pursue it because I couldn’t have dreamt of having the money to ship him even if he was mine. And I was a bit scared. I lost him a few months later just before I was due to buy him.

I feel very lucky to have got the opportunity again whilst older and with deeper pockets to take my buddy with me!

 

[Michen]

We have a lot to learn about service in the UK. I’m in a hire car and the engine light came on so went back to the airport to swap it.

Within 5 mins I have a new car and a cell phone number for the local manager for when I need to extend it rather than calling the main line.

Unreal!

 

[palo1]

We have a lot to learn about service in the UK. I’m in a hire car and the engine light came on so went back to the airport to swap it.

Within 5 mins I have a new car and a cell phone number for the local manager for when I need to extend it rather than calling the main line.

Unreal!

Indeed! Not to burst your bubble though hahaha but that service is also really heavily linked to consumption - the USA is excellent in all forms and support of that lol.

 

[Michen]

Indeed! Not to burst your bubble though hahaha but that service is also really heavily linked to consumption - the USA is excellent in all forms and support of that lol.

Meh, no bubble bursting here. it's just nice that things seem to actually get done!

 

[palo1]

Meh, no bubble bursting here. it's just nice that things seem to actually get done!

Getting things done? What is this alien concept lol?!! Yes, it must be lovely to have attention to detail and efficiency.

 

[Michen]

Looking pretty good for a horse that was travelling so much ten days ago. Half clip and hot bath. He’s furious about the bath and cross tie situation. Still ended up as wet as him.

Btw guess how much bath farrier is for a set of shoes… $300. Apparently we pay a premium up here for being in a somewhat affluent area. ??‍

there’s another farrier who charges $200 but he’s trying to retire and not taking on new clients.

 

[palo1]

Looking pretty good for a horse that was travelling so much ten days ago. Half clip and hot bath. He’s furious about the bath and cross tie situation. Still ended up as wet as him.

Btw guess how much bath farrier is for a set of shoes… $300. Apparently we pay a premium up here for being in a somewhat affluent area. ??‍

there’s another farrier who charges $200 but he’s trying to retire and not taking on new clients.


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Looking amazing but if ever there was an incentive to remain unshod..!! That is scary spendy for shoes @Michen. Boggle does look glorious

 

[SpotsandBays]

Looking amazing but if ever there was an incentive to remain unshod..!! That is scary spendy for shoes @Michen. Boggle does look glorious

I agree!! Think I’d invest in some hoof boots!

 

[Pinkvboots]

He looks very lovely ?

Jeez that's alot for shoes I think I would be sticking to barefoot and hope the horse copes.

 

[SEL]

He looks like a mini racehorse there!

Hoof boots sound a good idea

 

[Michen]

Yep he has renegades and scoots already I just need a new strap for the scoots. I think I’ll invest in another pair of renegades to put ice studs in.

My concern is where he is in the mountains he may get footy on ground that’s frozen for so long even just to and from his turnout. He did in the UK walking over big frozen mud ruts by the end of winter. That said I expect no ruts like that here..

 

[tda]

Yikes $300 ! Maybe just fronts for a while ?

 

[Caol Ila]

Does that $300 include the snow pads?

 

[Michen]

Does that $300 include the snow pads?

Nope!!

 

[Michen]

Didn’t even ask the cost of those or his hind lateral extensions ?

 

[Caol Ila]

Yikes!

If it included snow pads on all four feet, it woudn't be so terrible. I'd start putting stocks into Renegade if I was you.

Maybe see how he goes with the boots. If he does get footy on hard winter ground, reassess. Depending on the type of winter you get this year, you might have soft snow lying for a while or enough above freezing sunny days to soften the ground.

 

[Michen]

Yikes!

If it included snow pads on all four feet, it woudn't be so terrible. I'd start putting stocks into Renegade if I was you.

Maybe see how he goes with the boots. If he does get footy on hard winter ground, reassess. Depending on the type of winter you get this year, you might have soft snow lying for a while or enough above freezing sunny days to soften the ground.

Yep that’s going to be my plan! I think you are right about hay diets btw, he’s definitely putting weight on nicely.

I wish I looked like Boggle ? shiny and fit.

Caol does the sun ever get boring? I am loving driving to the barn when it’s dark and seeing the lights of houses set into the mountains. It gives me that ski season feeling.

I also think he’s eating more with the way they do the hay. I’m usually all for ad lib but I think the fact he gets it 5 x a day in sections means he’s more excited about it and tucking into it more.

 

[Caol Ila]

You’re re asking me that at the wrong time of year. Hermosa says she has some cold grey mud she would like to send you.

Ask again in June when it’s light until midnight.

 

[Michen]

You’re re asking me that at the wrong time of year. Hermosa says she has some cold grey mud she would like to send you.

Ask again in June when it’s light until midnight.

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Ew. Yeh. No thanks ?

 

[Michen]

It's weird how life can feel normal so quickly. I'm striding around the grocery store now not feeling like a scared rabbit haha! Although still pretty grossed out by the store contents. Didn't realise "no antibiotics" needed advertising on chicken. And, if you want some salmon, that'll be 14 dollars for two fillets please.

Glad I don't cook meat or fish myself anymore these days but the tofu etc is so expensive as well! Luckily a good chunk of the week I am fed through work.

I am more sure than ever that Bog is not normal, these roads are SO steep and endless, we had plenty of hills around us in england but nothing like this. I took him out properly solo for the first time today and he was absolutely full of beans. Then did 5 minutes in the school and he feels brilliant! Loose and swingy. Need to get a physio out to him soon though for a once over.


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[PurBee]

So lovely to hear youre both settling in really well and loving it. Bog looks fab and its amazing how he’s adjusted so well to so many changes. Those keen forward ears are too cute!

The supermarkets in CA daunted me at first. All the choice! A whole isle just for pancake syrups! But i loved the coffee bean kiosk and the veg department where they had water misters spritz the veg every minute to keep it cool and fresh ?

Which months does the snow there make trail rides impossible? The scenery is so stunning…those large clear blue skies..wow!

 

[Michen]

So lovely to hear youre both settling in really well and loving it. Bog looks fab and its amazing how he’s adjusted so well to so many changes. Those keen forward ears are too cute!

The supermarkets in CA daunted me at first. All the choice! A whole isle just for pancake syrups! But i loved the coffee bean kiosk and the veg department where they had water misters spritz the veg every minute to keep it cool and fresh ?

Which months does the snow there make trail rides impossible? The scenery is so stunning…those large clear blue skies..wow!

Yep they are crazy aren't they. But so much plastic, eeeeek. There were 6 different types of canned black beans!

Apparently pretty much Nov- March. I think there's days it's ok when it's fresh snow etc depending on what is on your horses feet, but when it's frozen it's obviously slippy and it doesn't really melt. The barn is at 8000 feet!

The local ladies said the roads are usually cleared really well though so they are fine to ride on 1/2 days after a snow dump. The road riding in itself is beautiful so I'm not too bothered- I went to that barn expecting a 40 min loop to be available so I am utterly delighted. (@Caol Ila fyi, hopefully they are correct!)

 

[Caol Ila]

The local ladies said the roads are usually cleared really well though so they are fine to ride on 1/2 days after a snow dump (@Caol Ila fyi, hopefully they are correct!)

LOL. I know what I-70 is like through Morrison and Evergreen in the winter. Been stuck there so many times. Joyous.

Buy winter tyres if you haven't already.

 

[Michen]

LOL. I know what I-70 is like through Morrison and Evergreen in the winter. Joyous.

Buy winter tyres if you haven't already.

I'm talking about the local roads around the barn. I assume the 3 locals who live there know what they are talking about!

I'm still in a rental so have to wait on the winter tyres until I get a company car... or buy a truck

 

[Caol Ila]

Hopefully that will be soon. You really don't want to be driving up to 8000ft most days without them once the snow accumulates.

You're required to have some reasonable type of winter-ish tyre on your car on I-70 from September to May. https://www.codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/tractionlaw

I wish they'd do something like this for parts of the A82 and A9.

 

[Michen]

Hopefully that will be soon. You really don't want to be driving up to 8000ft most days without them once the snow accumulates.

I was thinking auto socks or chains may be a good interim! I could buy the truck but I'd lose so much money putting pounds into dollars at the mo.

 

[Caol Ila]

Chains or socks will be better than nothing, but they are only good for times when you are actually stuck or when the road is completely covered. In reality, you'll get bits where the snow has accumulated and bits where there isn't as much snow. You don't want to drive in chains on dry pavement. You also have to drive very slowly. You drive slowly in snow anyway, but with chains, you have to stay below 25mph. Things have to be pretty bad for you to otherwise go that slow. People will easily go at 40 on the interstate with a thin layer of snow on it (and some will go a lot faster... the world is not short of idiots).

Then you have the faff of getting them on and off in blizzard conditions. This is not fun. I have happy memories of trying to do this on a school bus in Boulder Canyon coming back from a school ski trip. Nightmare. Took like half an hour. It's even more fun in the dark. And conditions can change fast in the mountains. You might find yourself on an icy, snowy road, with no place to safely stop and put on the chains.

If you were not going up into the mountains regularly and just pottering around Denver and its suburbs, you could probably get away with it. But given where your horse is, winter or at least good all-season tires are a necessity.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michae...e-best-for-mountain-visitors/?sh=955f02f51125
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/cars-trucks/winter-tires-trucks-suvs-crossovers/