Gates

4th of July - parade day.  A couple neighbor girls helped me by catching up the grays while I filled a bucket of water to sponge them down.  I thought it was taking longer than needed, so I walked across to the corral and realized they didn't know how to open the panels to get the horses to the gates.  We don't usually have the panels attached, but we had a neighbor horse in one of the pens yesterday and had to secure the panels.  I opened the gates as I went through our pen system, opened the panel for them, then followed them back to the lodge.  We got the horses all cleaned up and parade ready.  After the parade, as we were walking the two grays back, I noticed Ranger (the Horse) standing on the other side of the panels, watching us.  Then I realized, that both gates were standing wide open - and so was the panel I had unhooked!!  After I had walked into the first pen, Ranger came walking through the panel and met me at the second gate.  He had stayed in the pen all by himself, with all the gates wide open, during the whole parade!  He gave me his 'look':  you don't go through a gate without your human.  I hugged him and walked home shaking my head to tell Bill what a wonderful horse he owned.

I want to send out a heartfelt "Thanks" to all those who sent condolences for the loss of Estes.  She was a very special lady and we spent today as a sort of memorial to her.  I did not want to ride in the 4th of July parade today, as it was something special that GunDiva and I did together every year; you know, a mother-daughter-and-their-horses sort of thing.  Then granddaughter Autobot asked to ride my other horse in the parade and things progressed from there.  Autobot created a banner for the back of the truck in Estes' stead; we cleaned up the two grays, letting Washoe wear Estes' red, white, and blue saddle pad.  GunDiva's daughter, Ashee, bugged GunDiva until she relented to come up and then Ashee painted a heart and Estes' brand on the hip of both grays.  It turned out to be a very therapeutic happening for me, although as I rode Jesse behind the truck, looking at that banner, I had to keep reminding myself to not cry in the parade.  Now that it's all over, I sort of feel like I had some closure with a tribute to the Queen, Estes.  Thank you all - and yes, we have many years of happy memories to sustain us until we meet again.

Bionic Cowgirl

The Biggest Little Parade in Colorado

This is it!  Time for the 4th of July Parade!  The prep is almost as much fun as actually riding.  First you get washed up, then you get your hair done.

This is a horse that doesn't like her mane braided - napping while getting a 'weave'.  She DOES love to get prettied up for the 4th each year; it's like she knows how important it is.

It took the two girls about an hour to do the two horses; good thing there were two girls for two horses.

Estes - hair done - five rows and a lot of patience.

Jesse - who has a humongously thick mane - got seven rows.

Next you get your makeup done - what a gem of a starburst for the right hip (a few small flowers for the other side).  Officially be-dazzled!

GunDiva's fashionista at work on Jesse's design.  Don't you just love the tail bows?

Ready and waiting; all hearts and stars....

... and flowers and swirls.  Estes just gets a pad 'cause it doesn't rub the sore spots from that Ranger horse.

Ranger peeking through the jail rails; watching the parade.

We had A classic car ...

... those pesky llamas from down the street... (is that one hosting a rider?)

... brought a big city band in (Estes Park Village Band) ...

... a trailer load of singers ... (Jess and I got a real closeup of these on the way home from the parade.  They decided to pass the contingency of horses, so we all stood still and stared at them on the way by.  They finally waved at us.)

... our horse buddies from across the street at the livery .... oooooh, we have an Indian maiden, a couple cowboys, a young rustler, a packer and a revolutionary flag carrier....

... of course, GunDiva on Estes and me on Jesse, struttin' our stuff (should have had pictures of them on the way home; they were wound up and dancing up a storm!) ....

... you have to have a good support vehicle (the GunDiva's dressed up Soul - see the gun decals under the mirror?) ...

... what's a parade without fire trucks?   new -

... and old ...

... if you didn't have a horse or car, you hitched a ride on one of many local tractors .... (this is one of our local horse trainers driving, complete with chaps and cowboy hat - and a huge grin you can't see)

... we start them young up here ....

... and end up tired and sweaty from dancing the mile and a half home.

Hope you all enjoyed the parade - and had a great 4th of July!!!
Bionic Cowgirl

RoofTop Rodeo Parade

We went and saw the Roof Top Rodeo parade in Estes Park today.

Fire trucks.

Pretty girls

Our youngest boy driving a "deuce and a half"

Pretty girls

Big team.

Pretty girls.

Little team.

Pretty girls.

Stage coach.

Pretty Girls.

Dead float.

Pretty girls.

Fire trucks.

Pretty girls.

Good little parade.

I noticed I posted a couple images of fire trucks. I must subconsciously REALLY LIKE fire trucks.


Bill

4th of July Parade

The annual 4th of July Parade was, again, a blast. This year, our friend Dawn joined us on Washoe. All of the horses did very well with the chaos of the parade. Jesse pitched a bit of a fit at about the half-way mark, but Mom was able to bring her back under control until the end of the parade. However, at the end of the parade, when the Meeker Park crew was loading up their horses, Jesse LOST it. Mom's pretty sure that the MP trailer sounded a whole lot like a wagon, which Jesse HATES and is terrified of. Could be, who knows? We do know that once the horses were loaded up and the truck/trailer passed us, Jesse calmed right down. Maybe Mom's right.

-Tel

SS, DD

Same Sh*t, Different Day

Even the bear scat got to ride in the 4th of July Parade.