Whoo hoo! Another day in the saddle. For several days the sky has been hazy. No blue sky or sun. Not today! "Blue skies, smiling at me. Nothing but blue skies do I see."
We went up Underwood this morning. We parked down on the road and rode up to our old spot. Lots of down trees and branches everywhere impeded our trek up to the road where we used to weedeat and park, but we made it. We had to go through some smallish trees that were close together and rubbed on us and the horses, but Cobie didn't flinch. We went through deep duff and he never missed a beat. He did great again.
Shirley told Lynn that she hasn't been this happy ahorseback in a long, long time. She really likes not having to urge him. He is a stepper! He goes. He follows pretty close, so he won't be able to be behind Keota, but Zigs doesn't seem to care. I heard her tell him before we left, "Pretty is as pretty does and I think you're going to pretty all the way around."She told him had good strong chest. She was sweet talking to him. She told Lynn that she did a good job picking him and bringing home.
His head is definitely Morgan and his big belly and strong chest. Lynn says his feet are all Quarter horse. I have been behind him and I'll tell you, his tail is where that 1/4 Arab shows up. He curls it and holds it up when he's working. :)
I've had three great days in row!
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Love at First Sight
Lynn came back around the trailer and brought Big Zig, the camel, for Shirley. She was getting the stool out. Shirley kept hanging on to her new, pretty boy and muttering that all was going to be fine. Finally Lynn tuned in to her and said, "Do you want to ride him? We don't know how he'll do in the brush. We don't know anything about what he knows and doesn't know. But if you want to, you can."
"No, no, I better not," Shirley said. Lynn went back to whatever she was doing. Shirley said to me, again, "I don't bounce so well." I looked at her. "Well, I guess Lynn doesn't bounce that well either," she concluded.
I said, "Nope. And she's been hurt a lot more than you or I."
"Well, just for a bit," she said. Then Lynn brought over Zigs.
As Shirley and I were riding by ourselves--Cobie is a big stepper and left us--Shirley said, "The elevation is really something up here." Bonk, bonk, bonk. "There's stuff up here I never noticed before."
I laughed. "Yep! You're in the nose bleed section."
Ziggy was having a big pout. He was slower than Buster. Jupes was irritated and on his butt. Zigs would just stop. "Is he peeing? Is he pooping?" Shirley kept asking me.
"No. He is not doing anything." Then her little feet would bump him on the rib cage and he'd drag himself up a little farther.
Shirley couldn't take it any longer. We didn't even make to the road from the first trail. She was ready to trade. Lynn had pulled up and waited for us below the big pile of rocks before the grassy spot we always let the boys eat at. She was smiling. Shirley said, "Have you been to Medford and back?" She was smiling, too.
Lynn said, "Tell you what Mom, I'll give you $3000 right now for this horse. You'll make $500. I'll call that lady with the smooth-gaited Haflinger and we'll go get him for you." LOL
Nope. Shirley was in love with Cobie before she even rode him. Boy, I know that feeling. :)
They did really well. Other than he doesn't like getting those dinner plates muddy, he did everything: bushes, swinging branches, uphill, downhill, through the dead branches, boonie crashing cross country.
Lynn said, "Tell you what Mom, I'll give you $3000 right now for this horse. You'll make $500. I'll call that lady with the smooth-gaited Haflinger and we'll go get him for you." LOL
Nope. Shirley was in love with Cobie before she even rode him. Boy, I know that feeling. :)
They did really well. Other than he doesn't like getting those dinner plates muddy, he did everything: bushes, swinging branches, uphill, downhill, through the dead branches, boonie crashing cross country.
Shirley likes him and thinks he's a keeper. It was love at first sight and after riding him--it's real love. She said it is so much more fun to ride without constantly having to kick and urge the horse under you. :)
Ziggy did really well after Lynn got him. He was stepping out. Jupes is not sure about this pretty competition, but I told him was the most beautiful, handsome guy to me.
When we got back to the field. Star bit him in the back right off. He chased him away from the water. Buster went up to sniff him in butt. Cobie squealed and kicked up, but Buster just sniffed him, so Cobie settled down. Then we put Zigs in. He just went and rolled. Jupes just went and rolled. Then Star said, it's on again and all of them ran Cobie to the other end and around the oak trees behind the trailer a few times. Star and Jupes and Zigs came over to us and let him be. Buster just stayed with him the whole time, "Let's be besties. I'll show where there's more grass." So Cobie has a friend.
Welcome Cobie!
Yesterday, Lynn and I drove to Escalon, CA outside of Stockton to meet Cobie. He's a 10-year-old, beautiful, liver chestnut with flax mane and tail. He is half Morgan (you can see it in his face and fat belly), a quarter Arab (again the beautiful face), and a quarter Quarter horse. He has soft eyes and seems very affectionate. He has huge, dinner plate feet that have been trimmed a couple weeks ago and he is barefoot. He is a total talker and dinger. He untied himself from the trailer. He mouthed everything--the window, the fender, the cleat. But he stood pretty good while tied.
He is used to ground mounting according the Lisa. But she held him while Lynn mounted from a hay bale and he was fine. He actually thought it was a good idea so he could some hay. Unfortunately, as you will see in the videos, there wasn't a great space to ride him and with the virus, there wasn't a space available to take him. Lisa says there are trail videos attached to his Dream Horse account, but we didn't see them.
He has been doing dressage, so his cues are a little different. However, he is very leg and seat oriented, so Shirley should have no problem.
Lisa said he is the bottom of the herd and has good field manners. He can play if someone wants to play or stand off by himself. He is not herd bound. He is respectful to the mares in the field. He comes to his name and didn't care if everyone else was off doing other things. I think he and Buster will be best friends.
We bought Shirley a plain, black headstall and a bright blue halter and the rope is blue, tan, and black. He is going to look stunning in both.
Shirley was super excited and Lynn thinks she will be ready to ride him sooner rather than later. We are off to ride this morning. She said, "We'll break him of all his good habits in no time." :)
We put him in the corral and as soon as the boys saw him they started whinnying like crazy. He whinnied right back and ran and buck and twisted his head around. They just stared at him. He went back to eating. Jupes and Buster stayed looking at him for a long, long time. I told Jupes not to worry, he is still the most beautiful. Shirley said we could be in a parade. She said we could have a contest on who's the prettiest. I said we will have a contest on who's the fattest. :)
I hope he fits in and works out. He will have a good life here.
Kevin Bacon (free pig with every horse sale)
He is used to ground mounting according the Lisa. But she held him while Lynn mounted from a hay bale and he was fine. He actually thought it was a good idea so he could some hay. Unfortunately, as you will see in the videos, there wasn't a great space to ride him and with the virus, there wasn't a space available to take him. Lisa says there are trail videos attached to his Dream Horse account, but we didn't see them.
He has been doing dressage, so his cues are a little different. However, he is very leg and seat oriented, so Shirley should have no problem.
Lisa said he is the bottom of the herd and has good field manners. He can play if someone wants to play or stand off by himself. He is not herd bound. He is respectful to the mares in the field. He comes to his name and didn't care if everyone else was off doing other things. I think he and Buster will be best friends.
We bought Shirley a plain, black headstall and a bright blue halter and the rope is blue, tan, and black. He is going to look stunning in both.
Shirley was super excited and Lynn thinks she will be ready to ride him sooner rather than later. We are off to ride this morning. She said, "We'll break him of all his good habits in no time." :)
We put him in the corral and as soon as the boys saw him they started whinnying like crazy. He whinnied right back and ran and buck and twisted his head around. They just stared at him. He went back to eating. Jupes and Buster stayed looking at him for a long, long time. I told Jupes not to worry, he is still the most beautiful. Shirley said we could be in a parade. She said we could have a contest on who's the prettiest. I said we will have a contest on who's the fattest. :)
I hope he fits in and works out. He will have a good life here.
Kevin Bacon (free pig with every horse sale)
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Amazing Grace
Easter is a special day for Christians of all denominations. How about this for a space to hold services? Lynn brought the words for three songs. We "parked" our horses and raised our voices in song. We tried to be loud--I could hear Lynn pretty well, but underneath my own loud singing, I also heard Shirley's voice. She was singing FAST and was three lines ahead of me and Lynn. So I stopped to hear where she was so I could join in. We sort of fell apart from there. She said, "Who's singing?" I told her I was trying to catch up to her and join her. She said, "Well I can't hear you guys!" That explained a lot.
The cool thing was that all three horses just stood quietly. Not one fidget. Not one attempt to eat something. I think they liked it.
Later as we went along the trail, Lynn and I sang a simple song and I made up the words for more verses. Although I couldn't hear Lynn over my own loud singing, I enjoyed singing and it made me happy. I felt bad that Shirley could not hear us to sing along. I hope that it didn't distress her. Not being able to do something as simple as hear your partners sing, must be a very difficult thing as one ages--a constant reminder of what is lost.
The day was another beautiful reminder of our many blessings and why we live here.
Today is Jupiter's 15th birthday! It's hard to believe that he and I have been partners for 10 years. 💞
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Social Distancing Ahorseback
Yay! We got to ride again today. Lots of green grass to munch and the dogs are tape free--the horses and girls think it just doesn't get any better than that! We had the mountain to ourselves--that is if you don't count the woodpeckers and birds. We heard turkeys, but didn't see them. No turtles; the sun wasn't shining on their log, so it was probably too early and cool for them.
It is still a little slick and wet in places, so we stayed to the south and rode to the turtle pond and then Deadwood Ridge backward. I think there may have been a few more downed trees along the way and more branches on the ground, but nothing that caused us to miss a beat.
When we got home, we stood on the hill behind the hitching post and let the horses eat grass. (Beats weed eating, Lynn said!) Lynn went after Star, so he joined us. Earlier this morning, the silly thing herded Buster all the way up to the water tank so Lynn couldn't catch him. Guess he wanted some company. Either that or he was jealous that he couldn't go and Buster was getting to!
April is turning out to be pretty good weather-wise; although, we are still wearing our chinks! Tomorrow is Easter and as I remember it, last year it was doggone cold and deary at sunrise services.
Easter blessings on us all. May our world recover and heal as we welcome in a new religious year.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
We're riding!
Good grief! I think about writing on the blog all the time, but have not sat down to do it! Mostly because I wanted to post pictures, too. Well, forget it for now. I will just ramble on without them.
First of all, one day Lynn and I drove up to our new spot, Happy Camp. We wanted to check the roads. I have some good footage of Lynn logging with her new battery chainsaw, which was awesome! We kicked rocks. We dragged branches and some trees off the road. There was some good wood lying about, but we didn't have room for that kind of stuff. We were busy. It was fun. There might some snow on the back side, but today was pretty warm. . .probably 70, so it won't last.
We have ridden three times since Social Distancing and the Corona Virus hit our world. First we went up Hennessey. When we started out, we were pretty sure we heard two bobcats? mountain lions? caterwauling at each other not far up the road toward the meadow. Lynn put the bear bells on Haley and we headed quickly up the trail away from the sound. I admit I was nervous and kept looking back over my shoulder.
The highlight, besides being ahorseback, were the turtles at the pond. We were happy because we didn't see any last year and were worried that they had been eaten. Nope. Lynn thinks there were probably 20. Of course I didn't get to see them on the log, but pretty sure I saw a big one on the bottom. There were lots of branches down and some new trees, but Deadwood Ridge is still clear.
Jupiter was kind of a pill. Usually it's the second time out, but he was worrying about his belly. He wanted grass or he wanted to go home and eat the hay that might be gone before he got there. He is a horse that needs to be ridden and ridden often. On the way down the hill, both Jupiter and Ziggy were continually look back and listening. Jupes was a bit nervous, so I was on high alert, too.
Day two we went up Underwood and went boonie-crashing! What a blast. We parked down on the road where we used to park before it got so busy. Then we picked our way up our old trail. We had so much fun. There was a tiny bit of snow here and there, but the boys got to eat grass and we came down and around and ended up on the road that forks to the south (if that makes sense!). We didn't go by the pond and where we have been parking, so we still don't know if we can get up there, but it was a glorious day. I loved it.
Last Thursday, Lynn took a V-day afternoon. Call it a vacation afternoon or a Vicki day (because I'm home)--doesn't matter, it was fun. Shirley and Buster came, too. We rode down on the Hennessey Ranch. We went backwards on our trail and let the horses eat some more grass. On the way, we made a trail to the south side of the road and came out up on the main road. Again, it was fun. Jupes does best when he needs to think about his feet. :) Buster and Shirley did well, too.
So that's it. Three times is better than no times. It has been raining and cold here for months. I am not complaining, but I sure missed riding.
First of all, one day Lynn and I drove up to our new spot, Happy Camp. We wanted to check the roads. I have some good footage of Lynn logging with her new battery chainsaw, which was awesome! We kicked rocks. We dragged branches and some trees off the road. There was some good wood lying about, but we didn't have room for that kind of stuff. We were busy. It was fun. There might some snow on the back side, but today was pretty warm. . .probably 70, so it won't last.
We have ridden three times since Social Distancing and the Corona Virus hit our world. First we went up Hennessey. When we started out, we were pretty sure we heard two bobcats? mountain lions? caterwauling at each other not far up the road toward the meadow. Lynn put the bear bells on Haley and we headed quickly up the trail away from the sound. I admit I was nervous and kept looking back over my shoulder.
The highlight, besides being ahorseback, were the turtles at the pond. We were happy because we didn't see any last year and were worried that they had been eaten. Nope. Lynn thinks there were probably 20. Of course I didn't get to see them on the log, but pretty sure I saw a big one on the bottom. There were lots of branches down and some new trees, but Deadwood Ridge is still clear.
Jupiter was kind of a pill. Usually it's the second time out, but he was worrying about his belly. He wanted grass or he wanted to go home and eat the hay that might be gone before he got there. He is a horse that needs to be ridden and ridden often. On the way down the hill, both Jupiter and Ziggy were continually look back and listening. Jupes was a bit nervous, so I was on high alert, too.
Day two we went up Underwood and went boonie-crashing! What a blast. We parked down on the road where we used to park before it got so busy. Then we picked our way up our old trail. We had so much fun. There was a tiny bit of snow here and there, but the boys got to eat grass and we came down and around and ended up on the road that forks to the south (if that makes sense!). We didn't go by the pond and where we have been parking, so we still don't know if we can get up there, but it was a glorious day. I loved it.
Last Thursday, Lynn took a V-day afternoon. Call it a vacation afternoon or a Vicki day (because I'm home)--doesn't matter, it was fun. Shirley and Buster came, too. We rode down on the Hennessey Ranch. We went backwards on our trail and let the horses eat some more grass. On the way, we made a trail to the south side of the road and came out up on the main road. Again, it was fun. Jupes does best when he needs to think about his feet. :) Buster and Shirley did well, too.
So that's it. Three times is better than no times. It has been raining and cold here for months. I am not complaining, but I sure missed riding.
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