The longest two weeks . . .

Smudgin was calm for about a day and half, then she suddenly felt better. Not good! I purchased an inflatable collar instead of the cone of shame she sported the balloon of bliss. What a wonderful product. She could eat and drink, navigate through the house and had a built in pillow for sleeping. I took her stitches out on Monday which was two days early. Her guts have not fallen out so all is well.

Posting of my resume resulted in emails to become a State Farm Rep and Call Center Supervisor and my favorite US Meat rep - hmmm . . . no, thank you. Received a call from Rob of Robert Half and set up an appointment for Monday at 11:00. the downside was having to go downtown. I have been trying to recall the last time and it was either a ball game or PBR. Luckily their office was kitty corner from the IDS. I love navigational landmarks. Parking is OUTRAGEOUS - $14 bucks. The meeting went well. After a few minutes, R mentioned a Telecom test. I continued to smile while yelling TEST! in my head. I thought I had performed horribly to be pleasantly surprised at being above the average score.

Josie, Josie, Josie . . . another shoe torqued off. This time it was the black foot. This was okay as Ernie's spooning on her right may be doing the trick (knock on wood). I need Ernie to spoon with Josie again. Spooning is hammering the tips of the shoe upward toward the heel. My plan to make it through Ernie's vacation didn't make it through the first week. I did get three rides in. Team Johnson is doing very well. Still adjusting to the excess stimulation of the open doors. I am getting to where I can get her focused back on her work but another horse coming in takes a while to settle her back in.

For having a week off Performance Puppy, Smudgee did very well. It took her a few times to remember elevated two on two off. It was pretty hot in there, hanky required. I am very happy I decided to shave her again, she wouldn't have been able to make it through the hour. She was pretty slow in the tunnel. I am wondering if there were treat smells or urine as she is usually pretty speedy. Must practice tunnel and two on two off.

We added a lowered version of the dog walk without the contact ends. This was for hind end awareness. Once up on the board they needed to walk back and forth turning in either direction. I figured being a small dog the girl should ace this. After one dog demonstrated what to do, she was pulling toward so she could try - gotta love that. Smudgee was doing very well and then one hind leg slipped down which caused her to be more cautious. She liked turning to the left better than the right. Just like with horses you need to work both sides with a goal of strengthening the weak side so they are basically ambidextrous.

Government shutdown boo! They are running Friday's card on Thursday. Poor pony horses, riders and outriders. CR hired two more people for groom hotwalker. I am getting to do more horse related work. I took Carm to the jogger. She did really well until we got there and she was spooked by the guy coming out of the booth. The jogger is a huge hamster wheel on its side. She was alone in there which turned out to be a good thing when there was a direction change as she slipped under to the next slot. I had already been considering calling CR after the spooking at the booth but cowboy'ed up and got her back to the barn by myself - whoot hoot. CR has three horses running on Thursday. I also have permission to take George to the pool when he isn't scheduled for other work.

Oh, look it is time to go saddle up Mare. Hoping to arrive just as Ernie finishes her shoe. Until next time then.