Slightly Off Day

Yesterday, we had sort of a 'day off', meaning we could break away from the Lodge and attempt to get some town chores done and maybe have a bit of fun.  Yes, we had guests, but they were all staying through and were fine with us being gone for a bit.

I had my yearly physical a couple days ago and was told that our doctor's office no longer draws blood for testing (insurance won't pay), so I got to go to a "certified phlebotomist" for the draw.  We also needed to get brake pads for the van and pick up more milk.  You know, just getting small stuff done.

Our oldest daughter (GunDiva) had suggested we ride their horses as an option for the day.  That actually sounded fun - even if it meant a long drive - so off we went to her place.  The horses happily greeted us at the fence, bringing with them a tumble weed they apparently like to play with; it had been quite a while since we had been there so they got a lot of loving and a good brushing.

After brushing them out, it seemed like too much work to saddle up, so we opted to ride bareback, and oh well, let's just use their halters.  While I was brushing Copper, Bill had hopped up on Skeeter.

The extra horse is Pearl, who turned into quite a pest because she wanted attention too.  I spent about 15 minutes just leading Copper around with Pearl following us so Bill could work with Skeeter 'unattached'.

We discussed Pearl and decided it was great training to just ride around in the corral with her being a pest so the horses could get used to paying attention to their rider and ignoring a loose horse, so I headed to the fence to get on Copper.

Neither horse thought using the fence as a mounting block was a big deal.  It took me a bit to get Copper to move.  Just sitting up straight on my horses means to move out.  I know neither of these horses like much leg, so I carefully nudged with my calves and he tightened up into a ball.  OK. Let's see.  How about a kiss.  Yep, that worked - we had forward motion.  It's been a really long time since I have been on this green of a horse, so it was a lot of trial and error, but Copper was patient with me.  My last 'green' horse has been extensively ridden for the last 10 years now.

This steering thing in a rope halter was very new to him but he picked it up quickly; much better after I remembered to keep my hands low and wide apart so the signals were clear.  We had a pretty good time trying to avoid the pest and not run into Skeeter and Bill, but it gave him a reason as to why I would want him to turn a certain way.  Our only near mishap was when Pearl kept jabbing him in the flank with her nose;  Bill came to our rescue by riding Skeeter in between us and Pearl.  Copper had given thought to a crow hop when he realized it wasn't me tapping him.

Apparently Copper always has his ears back like this when he is being ridden.  He's not mad or upset; just paying very close attention.  He is such a sensitive horse!  When Jesse has her ears like that it means she is upset with whatever Bill is doing with Ranger.

Bill got much more forward motion with Skeeter, but he has had more 'ride time' on her.   This was my first time on Copper and I was very tentative, which made him more so, too.

 All in all, we had great fun and everything went well, ending on a happy note.

Thanks, GunDiva, for sharing your horses, and Jay, too.
Bionic Cowgirl

Horse #7888

It looks as though my parents are never going to get around to posting about Skeeter's homecoming, so I'm going to throw up a few pictures and they can fill in the blanks later (hint, hint, Mom and Bill).



Ranger enjoying his new home, as an only horse.

Wait.  What is that?

A horse trailer.

With a horse in it.

The horse got out!

   

After the trailer went away...

                            Ever get the feeling you are not alone?
 

Meeting L.E.

Getting acquainted.

Oh, hi!  I know you.

                        Cutting the tag off.

              The required selfie.

 

This is not a good thing.  I do not want to share.

Well, she is kind of cute...

When we left, Ranger headed around the corner to stand next to Skeeter and keep her company.



She's been busy meeting people and we haven't done much training other than table manners.  Let me tell you, I'm awfully glad she learned her table manners quickly because today could have been a feeding catastrophe with all of the snow and slimy mud.

I Went to Prison Today

This is Bill.

This morning I went to prison.  Colorado's state penitentiary down in Canon City.  Our oldest daughter and her husband took me.

They took me to get my opinion on who they should try to have released, and bring home with them.

The Bureau of Land Management has a mustang holding facility at the state pen, and runs a wild horse training program using the inmates to help train and care for the animals.  The BLM rounds up the overages in the wild herds, and tries to get homes for them.  My mustang, Ranger, was held in this program for a bit.  He hadn't been worked with though, as he was already a cranky old turd.

We arrived at the front gate with a list of "dos" and "don'ts".  No knives or other weapons, cell phones, radios, cameras, green or orange or camo or grey shirts. No cleavage.

No knife?  Arrg!  I walk with a limp if I don't have my Leatherman on my belt.

The no camera thing was hard.  I blog, and pics make the post.

Cell phones as contraband?  No problem.  I don't have cell service at home, so I rarely carry the thing.

Shirt colors was something of a problem for me.  It seems if you go by shirt color, I usually dress as an inmate or guard.

No cleavage?  Let me check.  Good to go.

Just a few sacrifices were made and we went to jail. 

After signing a round of documents, a bus picked us up in the parking lot and took us into the prison grounds.  It was...odd...riding in a vehicle with heavy tempered glass windows and steel door panels welded to the inside of the doors.  AND WHERE THE HELL IS THE DOOR LATCH!?!  HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS DAM... The nice lady came around and opened the door for us when we got to the horse pens.

We walked through a series of pens, being mugged by the 3 year olds and being run from by the new arrivals.  By the time we got to the 4 year olds' pens, the feed truck had gone through.  We were looked upon with mild interest, but...food...don't you know.  We went through the geldings' pen first, and at least one contender stood out.  But when we got to the mares, it was pretty obvious we had a winner.

The horse that chose our daughter, looked up from her hay and walked over to us.  By us, I mean our daughter.  "Hi." the mare said.  "Pleasure to meet you.  Sure is a nice day today, isn't it?"  She gently nuzzled the kid a minute, and then walked off to get a drink of water.  Her tag said #7888.

 That's one.

  At the water trough, another horse dribbled a good glob of water on #7888's head.  So the little mare walked back to her chosen person and asked, "Can you give me a hand with this?" and didn't quite wipe her face on the kid.  Then she visited with the rest of us for a moment before heading off to eat again.

That's two.

When the little mare wondered over the third time to see what we were doing, we quit looking at other horses.  Our kid started the paperwork, after shooing away two other potential adoptors that had been brought over by staff to meet this nice mare, #7888.  "Mine" she said.  "You were two minutes too slow."

"Skeeter" will be delivered sometime this week to her new home on the plains of north central Colorado.

Ranger will be baby sitting for the first week or so, until she settles in.  He's been through this before.

Bill

Short One on the Grays

There is still a lot of snow in the high country around us up here.  And all of the northern slopes near us are still under a couple feet of snow.  But the hill side across from us is dry and beckoning us to come ride, so today we did.

The last time we went out for a short ride, I rode Ranger and towed Washoe behind as we trotted down the neighborhood dirt roads.  Ranger went into a long trot (okay, it was long for HIM) and seemed to have a wonderful day.  Today we went out without saddles, just towels to keep our jeans clean.  I don't like ponying a horse when I don't have a saddle, and it was Washoe's turn to go out with a rider, so Ranger stayed behind.  He was not pleased.  We went out for less than 45 minutes, and Ranger sang from the corral  the whole time.

Juanita was on Jesse.

 I was on Washoe.

We ran into a couple neighbors that had gone out for a short hike, and had been turned back by the deep snow on the north face of the hill.  We chatted for a couple minutes, and then continued our ride.

Quite soon, we were also turned back by the deep snow.

Meeker Peak is still VERY snow covered.

 As we rode back down into the Greater Allenspark Metropolitan Area, We could REALLY hear Ranger hollering up to us.  Kind of odd.  He usually is okay with being left alone.  May actually prefer it.

As we rode over to the corral, we were greeted by a rather pitiful horse, looking quite wounded.

We climbed off of the two grays, and turned them loose in the corral.  Ranger came up to me and looked at me balefully.

Oh yeah.  If you don't go out, you don't get a post ride treat.

Sorry buddy.  Next time.

Bill