Winter chores

Anyone who knows Lynn and her horses has heard her say, "Ziggy's growing! He's getting bigger all the time! He can stop anytime!" Well, the proof is in the pictures. His backend is higher than Lynn's head. She keeps saying she wants to pack in and camp; well, I don't know how she'll get on with her camping gear on the back of that boy! She'll need more than a passing stranger to hoist her hiney. (:

I'm a firm believer: car camping is good.

Yesterday I took some apples and treated my favorite boys to them. Then Lynn did all the hard work while I had the easy job. She cleaned their feet and took the shoes off Brady and Star. I held them, loved on them, and rubbed their favorites itches. Ziggy didn't want to be left out, so he tried to sneak my gloves out of my pockets. I laughed out loud--he is so cute, tongue hanging and all. He knows Lynn keeps treats in her pockets; he was getting those gloves out of the way so he could get his nose down in there to see if I had anything special for him.

Lynn not only had the back breaking job of holding up feet and prying the mud and whatever else out and then pulling shoes off, she also had to put up with the rest of the horses standing around her breathing on her and fogging up her glasses while they watched her work. Brady even reached down and gave her a massage on her upper back with his lips, while Indy looked on with a "Whatta ya doin'?" expression. He had to know Star would get him later for being in his personal space.

Next on our list of chores was to clean out the trailer and oil up our leather for winter storage. So we emptied everything into the quad trailer and moved them down to the tack room. Once the door was opened and the mess overwhelmed us, we decided first-things-first--we had to organize. After a couple of hours, the tack room was awesome! Although we did not get to cleaning up the leather, it will be easy to do now in the well organized and spacious room.

Although I had the pleasure of standing in the newly built, beautiful barn, I forgot to take a picture. Hopefully the sides will be modified soon and the horses will be comfortable enough to use it safely and be warmer and more protected from the elements. (After all, I am still praying for snow!)

Well, that's it for this town girl's country chores this week. Here's wishing you all a safe and blessed new year!

Wanting to be "back in the saddle"

It's December! I am missing the boys. Lynn left a cryptic message on my machine last night about keeping his head up, digging my toes into his armpits, and hanging on! I thought maybe she had been bucked off. But no, she was sending me a message about Brady who is just full of himself. He is acting like he is seven again.

The last two times I have ridden I have worried a little about going off. I think I am due. He really wants to run and when he gets started, he pulls and puts his head down--not good. He is a high-headed horse and putting his head down makes me nervous. He is too excited and just wants me to sit back and enjoy, but I am nervous about going fast.

Lynn knows this. She even had a dream about me going off. Of course she said in the dream I had five blankets on him! Anyway, she has been feeding Brady something new that is supposed to help his joints and help him feel good. It's working. I am glad he feels good, but he needs to remember it's me up there and not Lynn, the crazy woman!

I have not ridden in weeks. My mom and Gene were putting down a new wood floor for me and building a beautiful hearth. I felt guilty going riding; although, I did go to town with Lynn and Lee and bought new furniture. Now it is raining. I don't know when I'll get to go! Next week is Winter break, so I will go up and take carrots to my favorite boys.