Greatfulness

Thank you so much to those who have put money in my paypal account. You just don't know how good it feels to have friends you didn't know you had be so supportive. God bless you each one.

We worked hard today but did not accomplish anything new. We worked on come after whoa. On the lunge line she does well but no so much without it. She wanders around and then looks back at me like oh are you there. I did turn her out in the arena and let her run and buck. She did that very well. Tomorrow is another day.

We went to our BCH meeting this evening. It was our annual picnic in the park. Nice but I am tired. Someone brought a keylime pie and I could have just eaten that. Oh was it good.

A good day

I went into Spokane this morning and ordered my banner. Thanks to my friend Kim. I will pick it up Thursday. Then off to the dollar store to get a few things I thought might come in handy in Reno. When I finished there I went to see my daughter Christyn and had her braid my hair. She is sweet to do that for me. Had to go get some beet pulp on my way home. When I got home I laid down and took a nap. Gosh, I seemed ambitious huh?

Sierra and I had a good workout today. Not 3/4 like usual but one really good one. She thought she was really smart stepping up onto the box. but then, she follows me up onto the front porch and the deck so why not up on a box.

I have been worrying about her being ready to be judged in conditioning. So what do you all think. I don't think the pictures turned out the places I wanted them but don't know how to fix it. Oh well they are there.

A windy day

Three work outs with Sierra today. She did not like the wind and blowing dust too much. She will not go free and walk with me, back etc. She just wandered away. We will be working on that. She is gaining some muscle and weight. And getting dapples. Bob picked up her feet this evening and held them about as long as he will when he trims them next week. Her side pass is getting better every day. And she trots with me readily. Those are things I really wanted to get done besides the obstacles. I wish I knew what kind of obstacles they have used in the past. I have barrels, walk overs, trot overs, back thru's , a tarp, she loads and picks up feet. Just perfecting things I guess.

Pictures again tomorrow.

A busy weekend over

Poor Sierra did not get worked much this weekend but got handled a lot and got to graze quite a bit and that is what is really important at this point. We kissed out kids, grand kids, great granddaughter goodbye and collapsed. Love them and love having them. My beloved former pastors wife Norma Lelacheur once said "I have seen the lights of Paris and I have seen the lights of Rome but the best lights of all is my children taking their children home." That has stuck in my mind as our family grows. Love them all soooooo much but it is wearing.

I am sending along some pictures of our week long camping trip. Nikki, our oldest daughter who is a good rider but does not get to ride often is the first picture. She is riding Bob's" Wonder Horse" Pepper. He took good care of her. He is fun to ride however slow.

The 2ND. picture is of Deer Creek falls. It was about a 12 mile ride round trip and a hike down to the falls. It was worth it though. We ate a leisurely lunch and the horses stood tied in the shade till we were ready to go back. Its a lovely time of year to ride in the back country this time of the year because the flowers are beautiful.

The last picture is of Pepper, Raven and Dixie. they were grazing in the corrals there. We hobbled them and let them out to really eat for a couple or three hours every night and an hour in the AM before we left. Dixie is proving to be a wonderful horse for me. Love her so much. Not only is she small enough I can get on from the ground which is wonderful for my aging short legs. but she goes absolutely anywhere I aim her.

So a couple of days late but it was a great time and fun to ride. Saw lots of deer. Lots of ground squirrels, chipmunks and squirrels. Lots of pictures too. But way too many to post.

Saturday

Having company is tiring but its been great today. Nikki and her husband Carmen and their boys are here, one of their older boys, his wife and baby were here, our daughter Christyn and her partner Wendy were here and all three of Chrissy's kids and their cat were here all day. We BBQ'd and had a great day.

I did manage to work in a good workout with Sierra first thing this morning. She was receptive to everything we tried. I just keep trying to think of things to add so we can may an impression on the judges. This evening I got another excellent workout with her. It was rather impressed with her actually. We did the trotting over the poles for 15 minutes and then I said whoa. She said what, I think I will wander around. I got a hold of her halter. She gave me that look only Sierra has and I walked forward with my hand under her chin a ways but no rope. She walked, trotted and backed with no rope, just my hand in front of her. Several laps of the round pen and then we did figure eights and stopped and set up square. I bounced the big green ball all around her and off her back and hip and under her. She just stood there. I walked her some more free and then tried the side pass and to the left she did wonderful. Then to the right not so good, I had to take ahold of her halter. But all in all WONDERFUL. We leave one month from today.

The other mustangs all got the day off to rest and recoup. I promise to put the pictures on tomorrow.

Till then

Its late

Its very late and I am very tired. We got home this afternoon from our week of camping on Craig Mountain at Larabie Corralls. It was sooooooooooooo fun. We rode and rode and rode and lazed around and got sunburned. I will add some pictures tomorrow. It is only about 30 miles out of Lewiston, Idaho and well worth the drive. Our mustangs thought we were nutty some of the time but went anywhere we asked. Our daughter Nikki thought we were taking her on "A Man from Snowy River" ride some of the time but she survived.

Was glad to see Sierra. She was antsy to get outside. I just let her out to eat and then put her in. I just didn't have it in me to work with her tonight. Tomorrow, Sierra, tomorrow. I think I have the music picked for Reno if per chance we make it into the top five. I think it will be Will You Remember Me, I will remember you. I don't know if that is the name or not but that is the just of the song.

Tomorrow -

Getting ready to go camping

It has been a VERY long day. Bob started at 10 this morning to do something with the pressure tank on our well and after discovering some leaks, they just finished and came in. It is midnight. They meaning our grandson Tyler and Bob. We are supposed to leave in the morning for Craig Mountain with our horses for 4 days of camping and riding. I don't think we will get out of here too early.

Today Sierra and I trotted together at a nice trot. That is a first. I had my stick in hand but did not touch her with it. It has been a struggle to get her to trot. I had this aha moment when I was lunging her on the line and shortened up the line and started trotting with her. I trotted closer and closer until we were side by side. We stopped and started many times and then went outside the round pen. Was so proud of her. That is something that I had not gotten her to do at all.

Another big step today was she took a treat out of my hand and ate it. We use packer pellets for treats and she had never taken one. But today she did. I was proud of her.

I think I have found my music for the freestyle if I would happen to get into the top 5. I am not expecting to but have to be prepared. Can't remember who its by but the song is "I will remember you." It will probably make me cry because she and I are so bonded but I promised Bob I would let her go.

I will be gone a few days - see you all later.