Baby Bunny Kenji

 

My daughter set Kenji's cage up stairs in her room.  

We put shaving in the cage and a water bottle on the side of the cage.  It seemed OK, yet we knew he would grow.   

We looked around at cages in a couple of stores.  We couldn't find a larger cage in stock in a store, so we order a larger rabbit cage online from chewy.com.  

When the large package arrived we brought it in and opened it up.  It took a bit reading instructions and setting it up.  We called the support line to help us.  They helped and we were finally able to finish putting it together.  Whew.  

Kenji seemed to like the bigger cage, yet still went to the other cage to drink water and poop.  So we kept the other cage.

A little bit about Kenji: 

In the beginning Amanda and Jan watched Kenji. He didn't really do much at first, and didn't step out of the cage. After a few days, he finally stepped out and explored. His personality is friendly, but little timid. 

He loves running around, hiding, and exploring. He would mostly hide under the bed, and sleep. 

He has an energetic side, and a calm relaxed side to him. When he's energetic, he would run around a lot, and be entertaining to watch as he explores the room. When he's calm, we are able to pet him, he usually sleeps when he is calm. 

He eats Timothy and  Alfalfa hay, and pellets which is his main meal. We give him bunny biscuits, bananas, and salad as a treat. He especially loves bananas.  

We looked up breeds of rabbits to learn more.  

There are 49 breeds of Rabbits world wide.  We looked at the different breeders of rabbit to find what Kenji was.  He is part Lion Head.  They have hair that is similar to a lion's mane, hairs fluffs out around his head.  He is very fluffy and soft.  The description of his breed mentioned that they are good family pets though a little timid, as he is.  They mention not so good with young children who's energy is very high.  

Our girls are teens and love learning about their new pet.  

Illustrations of Kenji eating.  

His ears were small, as he was just a baby.  

He does seem to like to put his front paws on the edge of the  bowls.  

A Bunny and A Beardie

Our daughters wanted a pet.  

When they were younger we got a Beta fish (Japanese Fighting fish) for our oldest daughter.  It was a dark reddish fish.  She named it Sophie.  It was nice.  We saw to it she fed it every night.  I cleaned the bowl each week.  Sophie lived for about 2 yrs.  They don't live very long.  

Next we got our youngest a Beta fish.  This one was blue.  She named it Bluey.  The fish lived for about a year.  We enjoyed it for the time.

But now they wanted a different pet.  

Cats were out.  I'm allergic to cats.

Dog.  We weren't sure...lots of "hmmm, we'll think about it."

It would be a new member of the family, care, expenses, food.

Guinea pig. no  

The subject kept coming up here and there.  

My oldest daughter started working PT and earning some money.

Then one day she told us she's getting a bunny.  

I was like "hmm, OK."  

I didn't know about rabbits.  Yet we could do our research. 

A friend's sister had two rabbits, male and female.  They had had a litter.  

So we jumped into researching about Rabbits.  Breeds, Cage size, food, needs, etc.  

One day in January, her and a friend went to pick up her new pet, a 6 to7 week old baby rabbit with a cage.

They came home and brought in the cage with this little fluff ball of a baby bunny. He was so cute. 

We sat with him in the living room for a short, before she brought him up to her room, where the cage would be.

Of course the rabbit was a little nervous being in a new place.  We let him just see and hear us.

Over time we got to know him and he got to know us.

They came up with a name, Kenji.  It was a start to us embracing our new member of our family.

To be continued...:)

Animal Whisperer

 

I'm presently working for  UCP.org at a location in Johnston, RI.   

I had been in Johnston before, a time ago.  I had volunteered with a therapeutic riding program.  The therapeutic riding program was there for a number of months, but then moved to another barn.  Things had started out Okay but then went awry.   

I would continue for a time volunteering with the therapeutic riding program.  

I enjoyed working with the horses.  This was an opportunity for me to delve into working and being around horses.  It was hard work, yet there were payoffs.  

I got to know the horses and they got to know and trust me.  One of the horses, I would get to ride.  I developed a bond with that horse.  I would work with him: grooming, ground exercises and riding.  I loved our time together.  

I have many wonderful memories of connecting with him.  

Riding in the ring relaxed and easy in the late afternoon.

Grooming him.  He loved the attention and relaxation of just being there in the moment.  I didn't  ask much of him during grooming.  I just wanted him to relax and enjoy our time.  

Working in the ring, I would ask him to do some bending and stretching.  I worked on walking and trotting for conditioning the muscles.  Then a cool down at the end.  

For me being there was a chance to:

Decompress

Be in the moment, the present

Enjoy and relax

Be calm and courageous 

Recently, I chose to go to the location in Johnston to just see.  

The twin willow trees and stone entrance wall were still there.  Nature seemed to have started to grow over the parking lot.  

I got out of the car.  I looked and noticed no sign any more.  A neighbor noticed me.  I started to walk up the parking lot toward the barn.  A pine tree, tall and green, was still there near where the riding ring would have been.  The neighbor came over to me and asked me if I could use some help.  I mentioned there had been a horse barn property here.  

He said, "Not any more, and for the best."

I had figured as much.  

Like myself, I now felt like I had entered into a new chapter in my life.  

The last year or so: COVID19, lay off, job searching, becoming employed again.

writing, art, bird watching, walks/hikes

One thing I note is my sensitivity that lends to my ability to relate to animals.  Some might claim it as Animal Whispering.  

For me it's always been about relating to beings and things around me.  

From the birds I feed and watch in the back yard.  They see me as I go to fill the feeder and stay nearby.

The stray cat that if I hadn't had an allergy to I would have taken it in.

The dogs I've met here and there in my life.  

Presently: Our neighbor's puggle "Kota and cattle dog Teedo.  A street over "Pepper" dog.  

The Horses I have worked with.  

A new Chapter has arrived,  spurred by my daughters wanting finally to have pets.  

We are now a proud family with a rabbit and breaded dragon lizard.  

"Missy" Conclusion, Part 4

Conclusion 

It was a great experience. I learned a lot and had fun.

Missy had one more foal, a filly.  I got to meet her.  So precious.   
I created a portrait of Missy and her filly.  

Later Missy developed a stifle problem and needed to retire from the school program.   She was sold to someone who would give her a good retirement home.

"Missy" Riding and Showing, Part 3

Riding and Showing 

Carole had me riding "Missy" on a regular basis.  We were doing well and making progress. 

I would get to ride her in the schooling shows at the barn.  
Riding and participating in shows was a great and fun experience.   I learned a lot.
I worked on not just riding skills, but how to get her ready for a show: grooming, bathing, braiding, and cleaning tack .  
As with any experience, there were great moments and learning moments. 

Shows

I was able to reassure her and help keep her calm in classes.  
There was one trail class where I had to take a rain jacket off a pole.  At first she was nervous.  It took a few times to get her close  enough.  I did get it and held it in my hand.  She moved slowly but surely to the other poll where I placed it.  Good 

There were times I would of course error.
  
One trail class I watched a rider before me go.  I had looked over the trail chart before.  
I went in and did as the one before me did.  I got to the end of the course and felt  like something wasn't right.  I halted to the judge and left the ring.  Carole came up to me and asked "Do you know what you did?" I replied confused, "no". She told me I had done the course backwards.  The girl before did.  "Ugh". 
Carole told the judge.  

When they called the ribbon winners the girl and I were actually called for 4th and 5th place.  

We were both surprised we got a ribbon after doing it wrong/backwards.   
But thankful.  

Another time, I had worked on quarter turns in a couple if my lessons.  Quarter turns are when one turns your horse around on one spot.  

The next show the trail class had a square to circle in.  Two of the poles were placed so there was a smaller space.  
I fudge up that obstacle,  by  just trying to circle around.  Missy ended up stepping out because I asked too much.  
Ugh.  I was a little mad at myself for that.  
I had just did quarter turns the last couple of weeks.   I had it.  Dah.  

I made sure it didn't happen again.   

In fact, the next trail class was one of our best.  

We were ready and in sync.  
Trotted through cones.  Transition to canter. Hop over low jump, and slowed down at cone.  We approached the square.  I was set to do full 360 turn.  I had her stop at the center of the square.  Then we smoothly,  slowly turn around on spot.  
We stepped out of the square and  trotted to the last cone.  
It felt really good.  
I went up to Carole, and asked if she happened to have seen it.  I knew she was busy with  students.  
She said, "No.  How was it?"
I told her, "It felt really good".   
She said, "Good". 

We make good efforts through the season.  We won ribbons.  

As the show season got near to the end, people there felt I was good for Reserve Champion of the show year in the Walk-Trot division over 18.  .  
There was one more show.  
We did so good that I made Champion in the Walk-Trot division over 18 for the year end awards.  

The barn celebrated awards at their yearly end of season banquet.  

Missy Turn on a Dime, Part 2

Turn on a Dime

We would work on connection,  being relaxed and supple.   It took focus and practice.  
We were successful, little by little, at  being relaxed and working together.   
During the walking cool down at the end of lessons, I would spend most of the time with my feet in the stirrups,  only occasionally taking my feet out to stretch. She got used to me doing that.  It was good.  
It was good, that is as long as I was paying attention.  
Quarter horses are bred for ranch work and need  to be able to turn and move quick. They can "turn on a dime". 
Well one day during walking cool  down, I made the mistake of relaxing so much I started to zone out.  
She must of heard something.   Though I didn't know what.   It could have been the wind blowing.   I didn't know.  But she got startled.   
She turned so quick.  I normally would move with her.  But this time I was left behind.  She went one way, while I slipped the other way  and fell off. 
I landed on my side in the dirt. 
I remember thinking, "She can be a nervous horse and she's probably half way down the ring going toward Carol."  
Instead when I looked up, I discovered she was standing right next to me.  Her head down at my level on the ground.  
She look at me like "What happened.   You fell off." 
I'm not supposed to fall off, but go with her.  
I looked at her and said reassuringly,  I'm ok". 
I got up. 
I was a little sore and stiff from the fall. We took care.  

I was now a member of the Dust Club. 
  
I got better  and got back on with riding her.  

"Missy" Meeting, Part 1

Meeting

In the 1990's, I took riding lessons at Haskins farm in Berkley, MA. Carol LeBalnc was my riding instructor.   

"Missy" (aka "Miss545") was a broodmare at Haskins farm. The first time I saw her was when she had a foal.  

I got to the barn early to get ready for my lesson.   One of the girls came over to me and asked me if I saw the new foal.  I told her I hadn't.   "Let's go. ", she said.   We went to the barn where they were.  In front of the stall was a stool so you could look in.  We both peered in. The foal lay asleep.   "Missy" stood over her foal.  It was a big foal. 
The girl said "Isn't he (the foal) beautiful?"
I replied, "Yes.  And his mom is too." I couldn't stop looking at Missy.  She was beautiful.  
Missy was a dark, almost black quarter horse.  She was elegant.  She had a little more refine body type more like a racing horse.  She had a small star on her forehead.  
We left to go to lessons.   
I knew she was a broodmare. One of the owners owned her.  

What I didn't expect would happen. 

Carol at times would have me ride different horses.  
I would get to the barn and find Carol in the indoor ring or office .  She'd let me know who to go get ready for my lesson.   I'd go get the horse I was to ride.  I'd groom and  tack up the horse .  When ready, we'd go into the ring for our lesson.  
One day she was at the fence of the ring.  When I approached she told me to go get "Missy". She knew I knew who Missy was.  
I was suddenly quite excited.  "Missy. I get to ride Missy. Wow. " 
I went and got her.  I got her ready.  I was excited about it.  
She was a little nervous. I was a new person to her.  I felt a little nervous too.  
Yet with each lesson and time together we got to know each other.  
She was a mare with a strong motherly instinct.  She seemed to be a worry wart.

We learned and grew together, under Carol's teaching.  

                                                                                Pastel Portrait of Missy