Big Zigs' First Ride 2025

Once a "fancy mule" always a "fancy mule." LOL,  Unfortunately, we never get pics when he's wild!

 I paid to have shoes put on Zigs.   He has not been ridden in a year.  Thought I better get him out.   He comes and I halter him.    Tie him up, go get the pickup to hookup.   Figured I'd go make a turn around the ranch.   Zigs was all alone.   Poor baby.   He lost his brain.    He did 5 miles before I even got him saddled.    He went back and forth, leaping into the air.   Whinny for his buds.    I had the saddle on him for a moment.   Then I grabbed the latigo as it was going over the other side.   I got it to the ground and he of course went right over it.   I got the saddle moved, picked up the saddle pad.    Looked at him like you moron.   This went on for 30 minutes or so.   I just looked at him.  On the plus side, he looked good being stupid.    I thought he was getting worse.  I put a rope halter on top of the other halter, which is not small enough.   

I was tired just watching him.    I thought he'll wear himself out.    Nope.   I had an idea.   I'll go get one of the others and tie up beside him.  That way maybe he can find his brain again.   It's getting late now.   But I am riding him.    Tied Toby next to him, saddled him and loaded him up.   Took TC back to the field.  All the while Zigs is wearing a hole in the trailer.  Wishing I was riding TC.    

I drive up Hennessey to ride the ranch.   I leave the halter on.   I walk him up the road to get on.   I'm on!  Oops, Alisa stirrups.   Get back off.  Fix them.   I walk up the trail to a rock to get back on.    We go back down to the road and across down into the ranch.    

We are going along, everything is fine.   Then I hear something.   Stop.   Listen.  Coyotes!    I keep going.  Kate is listening.   I told her to stay close.   Not sure how much she knows, but she never went further than 10-15 feet from me.  A digger squirrel even crossed in front of her, like right in front of her.   She turned to me, I said no, stay with me.   She was listening to the coyotes.   She sensed it was dangerous.   Her tail was tucked most of the time they were howling.    We had a good ride.   We saw 2 deer in the meadow, that's rare.   I thought maybe because the coyotes are close.   A few coveys of quail, lots of young ones.     We went out the steep west side past the old homeless camp and down our trail.   He was perfect.   I got off and as we got close to the pickup he started looking for buddies, he whinnied for them.   I said you idiot, you came alone.    Boy was he sweating.    

All in all it was a good ride.   No more to the ranch, until it rains.   The star thistle is horrible and has bad grasses.   

Zigs and Lynn