More doctoring

 

Great weekend! Saturday we rode 10 miles! At a quick walk or trot the whole time. I told Lynn I never even had a moment to sing and if I had tried, it would've been "vibrato"--Aaaaaaammmmmaaaahhhaahhzzzzzzzzinggg gggrrrrraaahhhhahahahahccccccccccceeeeee. She rode big Zigs, runny cyst and all. He felt good and was showing her, he was as good a ride as Coby. We were saddling up and suddenly I heard Lynn say, "Oh no." I don't remember what she called it, but Coby has blisters under his armpits. Poor guy. That means no saddle since the cinch would rub there. She put some of the thick green stuff on him and turned him loose. I was preparing to unsaddle and head for home when she said, "Go get Zigs." 

Well, that boy was on a walk! Lynn said she was missing our trails, so we went up Hennessey. We rode over to Grey's Falls and back around. We were careful not to go anywhere that would scrape his face and he gave Lynn a good ride. We had the mountain to ourselves. It was sheer bliss. 

Ziva was limping when we got home and I planned to leave her home on Sunday, but she was better. So we went to Underwood for a quick morning ride. Although we did not see any animals, we did see a large bear print. Haley was off and running around all over and we had to call and call her. She always seems to get too far away up there. I guess there are lots of smells. We got worried at one point because we had no idea where she was. Finally after a lot of calling, she came up behind up running at top speed, tongue hanging.

There was good grass and fresh poison oak to eat and it was pretty peaceful otherwise. I got a little singing in, but not much. When we got home, Ziva was limping again, but I massaged her shoulder and leg and she kept going. Seeing a cat or a squirrel took all thoughts of being stiff or painful right away. 

Monday, Lynn texted and said Ziggy's tear duct split. She is trying to get into the vet again today. Poor guy. 

I missed it!

  "Hey! You missed it! A bear just ran across the road!" Jupiter's head flew up and caught Lynn's attention and she got to see a humongous bear run across the road. We were at Little Happy Camp on Sunday. We had just arrived and the horses were tied to the trailer on the road side. It was the beginning of a glorious day and good riding and good digging for the girls. 

Coby is getting so much better at letting Lynn mount up. But, like Jupes, he is a round belly kind of guy and his saddle slips when we go downhill. He doesn't like Lynn on neck and so he does some little bucking movements to get her off. Well, I say little, but that's because Lynn is keeping him from full on bucking. 

Last year when he bucked her off, we figured it was because of the crupper, so she hasn't used it yet this year. Well, yesterday she got off on the first long downhill and put it on him. He did not like it, but it worked and there was so much else going on (all those big black stumps!), that eventually he seemed to forget it.

We tried some boonie bouncing to make a loop, and although Cody doesn't like it, he listens and goes. We did not make a successful loop because what we found is there are A LOT of down branches covering the ground. It was simply too hard and too thick to get through. We didn't ride long, but the boys and the dogs got a work out. We didn't see any wildlife, but we saw a huge bear print in the mud and lots of deer tracks. 

Lynn set up the game camera and we will be going back to see what we can see. :)

Relive our trail

Dude! You're splashing on my legs!

 

Two great days of riding this weekend! Both Lynn and I needed this in the worst way--she'd been super sick and I am just tired and need some wind in the helmet. And speaking of wind--well, it was breezy every day. And cold. I wore my jacket both days and wished for my chinks on Sunday.

Unfortunately, something is wrong with Ziggy. He is not feeling good and has yucky stuff coming out of his eye and nose. His face is swollen by his eyes, too. Lynn is worried he has a head injury, like a concussion. He has knots on his head. She took him to the vet and was given strong antibiotics, but she is going to call and tell them about the knots. Scary stuff.

But on to the good news--make that GREAT news--Coby was a success! I was worried when she said we riding because I knew she wasn't riding Big Zigs. Saturday we headed to Underwood. After some turning in circles for a few minutes, Coby stood and let her get on. Off we went. She got off again later and same thing--shorter time turning in circles and then on. We enjoyed our solitude and quiet with our horses and dogs. Jupes was a little edgy without his big security blanket, but I told him he has to be steady for Coby.

Sunday, we decided to go early to Hennessey with the thought that it was early and Mother's Day that maybe we could have the mountain. We got to the parking spot and while Lynn was using "the restroom" as she calls it, Coby decided he needed to go, too. As he was tied up at the trailer. Yep, it splashed on his legs and he tried to move them a little out of the way, but Jupes' face was priceless! He moved as far away as he could get from him and was looking him at him like, "REALLY?" I was laughing as I gathered up the headstall out of the way and anything else that could have been caught in the gushing stream that flowing under the trailer. Silly boy.

After a few turns, Lynn got on. She got off and on several times later in the ride and there were time he stood still and let get on without the turning in circles. But the best thing--he just walked through the mud and the water like it was nothing. The winter spent on the hill was a great teacher! He did jump over the same little water puddle on to the road, but he didn't put her in the bushes. He did really great all day. 

It was a wonderful ride. No motorcycles! No trucks on the road. We were alone. We rode down to Lynn's favorite trail. There was tons of blow downs, so we stepped over lots of trees and through lots of branches and tree detritus. The dirt bikes have not found this trail--YAY! The horses worked hard on the steep stuff and Lynn told Coby to step it up and move out so Jupes wouldn't be pushing him up the hill. Dang, that horse likes to power up hills. :) 

Because we can no longer ride down our trail from the top, we have started trying to make a new one so we don't have to ride the road. We think maybe we have found a way that will work. It is a little steep in some parts and Lynn plans to try the crupper again (fingers crossed). It drops us right out on the road, one curve back from the good eating grass by the little rose bush. Now to try to keep it secret so they don't find it and ruin it, too.

Both days we returned to The Place and standing on opposite sides of the fence, we painted the new fence boards. We ended up with black paint all over ourselves, but the fence looks awesome. It was fun and painting is such instant gratification! I love to see progress.

So, it's Monday and both of us are dragging our feet off to work. I'd much rather stay home or go for another ride! Oh well--working is what pays for the hay. And the shots. And the carrots. :)

Lynn's favorite trail