Local Entertainment

Granddaughter Autobot and I decided to go for a quick, short ride this afternoon.  A few weeks ago I had purchased a "slick and easy" grooming stone for the horses to help get dried grit off them.  Autobot used it on the grays while I finished some stuff in the office, then we hooked their reins to the sides of their halters, threw on the sheepskins that we use to ride bareback and headed out for the 1 1/2 mile loop through what we call town, trying to beat an incoming rain cloud.  Just a few yards down the road, Washoe spotted the big cement pipes that had been delivered this morning to the field across the road.  Head went up, butt scooted under as he shot forward and - I came off.  That stone really did slick up his back and the sheepskin underside is shiny from lots of use.  I felt it start to slide and grabbed for mane, which I had very nicely used detangler on and could not hang on to.  It slid right through my hand like it was greased.  Autobot was behind me on Jesse, both hanging out while grandma picked herself up off the ground.  At least I had a sheepskin to land on.

I walked Washoe over to the pipes, had him touch them to see they were not monsters, took him back to the mounting block and we started over.  Very pleasant ride until we got to the last half mile.  We came down the hill, around the corner and up went the giraffe head again.  Llamas!  Now, these grays are used to llamas, but he quickly noticed there was no fence between us and the seven llamas grazing the big corner pasture.  Feet frozen to the ground, undecided what to do.  Then Jesse walks by, nudging him with her nose (wimp) like it was an every day event, so on we went.

As if that was not enough, a little further along the road we heard this weird rattling and rumbling coming up behind us.  Looked back and saw two trollie cars
loaded with people for a special event at the local 5-star restaurant.  Wow!  Rode into a driveway and watched them go by as the horses grazed on the knee high grass there.  What next?  We rode past the trollies as the people unloaded and headed up the final hill for home.  At least neither horse was bothered by the odd looking contraptions.

Of course, this being Friday, the local 'Friday afternoon club' was in top form as we topped the hill; a lot of people outside the local wood working shop enjoying a cool one or two.  By this time the horses were in parade mode with cars lined up on both sides of the road and people hollering and waving at them; nothing was going to bother them.

We got home, put them away and went into the lodge.  When I asked Bill if our hikers had gotten to the pizzaria for dinner, he said, "Yep, and they got to see someone fall off a horse."  I'm not sure if they recognized that person as one of their hosts, but glad I could offer some entertainment.
Bionic Cowgirl

A Great Day to be Outdoors

It's been a while since I have felt I had the time to blog; lots of blog worthy stuff but just no time to put it in the computer (maybe this winter).  Right now I have some great memories.

Today I grabbed one of our granddaughters to head out for a ride.  Autobot has been 'working' at the Livery next door on weekends this summer as a junior wrangler, so she has gotten to ride, but not with grandma.  Well, this weekend the kids got to stay longer to help out and being a Monday holiday thing, they were here on a Sunday (Livery closed on Sundays this year), so I took advantage of the situation to grab her for a ride.

We didn't waste any time on saddling; just grabbed the grays and headed up the mountain.

This is what it looked like on the mountain on August 9 when I rode with our neighbor.  We had a lot of rain this summer and you could hardly see the trails for all the trees and tall grasses.  Compass and I did get up higher and locate the Rocky Mt. Sheep herd that frequents this area.

I was hoping to get some good shots of the aspens starting to turn gold.  What we found were several that had their leaves blown off while still green.  We did have a freeze on the 19th of Aug., but I didn't think it was hard enough to cause that.

This is what it looks like so far on Sept. 6; just tinges of yellow.

This is Autobot informing Washoe that he CAN walk through grass without eating it!  She is becoming quite the horsewoman.  It was a lovely day in the forest.

Bionic Cowgirl

Sardines and Rain

Managed to snag a bit of time today after lodge cleanup, so we grabbed all the horses and headed for  - PICNIC!  The horses love that word as much as we do.  As a training session, we figured Ranger could use a little more work of being ponied.  The last time he was a total drag (pun intended).

We opted to keep all the moving parts in the same order, since this was only our second session, so Bill rode Jesse and I had Washoe.  Washoe is good at ponying Jesse, but sometimes has issues with other horses; didn't want to complicate things for either of the boys by putting Ranger behind him.  When Ranger puts pressure on the lead rope, Jesse just 'shoulders into it' and pulls him along.  It's pretty easy for her; he's just a little guy.

He actually has a loose lead rope here.  Bill says he only leans on it about one third of the time now; big improvement over 'all the time'!

The trails are soooo lush right now; we have been getting multiple thunderstorms moving through every day; part of the reason it has been two weeks since I have been on one of my horses.  I was going totally stir-crazy, which made today's picnic an absolute MUST.

Hey, where did Ranger go?  Most of the time I couldn't even see him behind Jesse.  She enjoyed 'working' today.

It was a good day for a nice, long drink in the creek.

There's the neighbors.  We intersected a trail that one of the Livery rides was taking.

 

We followed the creek for a ways, to one of our favorite picnic spots.  I think by now, the horses had figured out where we were heading.  Washoe had perked up considerably by this time.

Soon it turned into a real jungle.  When we turned into the area we wanted, we could barely get through, the trees and shrubs had gotten so tight and there was NO trail at all.  Too busy weaving and dodging to get pictures of that!

We secured the horses, plopped down on the ground and pulled out our fave:  sardines and crackers - and of course, granola bars to share with the horses.

W:  I would have some of that, Bill.

R:  Only one bite?  Are you sure you did not give The Kid too much?

J:  Is this my good side?  She looks strange to me with Bill's gear on her - and her gear on Washoe makes him look even more like her.

The grasses were waist deep on Bill; we couldn't even find our stumps to sit on.  We decided we'd best head for home, and sure enough, when we got up out of the trees, we saw the afternoon thunderstorm moving in.

We made it home and just had pulled the saddles when the rain hit.  Talk about timing!  What a great - although short - picnic ride.
Bionic Cowgirl

First Ride of 2013

Well, the wind finally settled down to under 30 mph for a bit - and the temp was over 30* - the sun was out and the horses called to us.  OK, something called to us - but the horses didn't complain. 

Obviously, Beel and Ranger were enjoying themselves.  Ranger kept breaking into his 'floaty' trot.

If fact, Jesse was delighted with being outside 'the walls', as I'm sure she calls the corral.  Poor Washoe got left behind - with an extra flake of hay.  What a great day.
Bionic Cowgirl