One hot Sunday

It was 105 today. Not a good day to be outside from noon on.

We met some friends this morning at 7:30 AM at Riverside State Park and went for about a 10 mile ride mostly in the canyon. It was not too hot there. We were up on top of the area for a little while and watched about 9 turkey buzzards soring around and sitting in the tall snags. They are pretty ugly birds but it was fun to watch them. We also watched an osprey feeding her youngsters. Then down along the river. I had never ridden Dixie where there were a lot of bicycles so I walked her along the Centennial Trail. Of course no bikes while we walked. Then went down to the river and let the horses drink and play in the water. We only had one bridge to cross and then back up the trail thru the trees. And guess what happened in the middle of the bridge - a bike came soaring down at us. He slowed way down and Dixie just looked, no spook. I would want to know how she does when one came up behind her but did not have to worry about that. Got home about 11:30 and BBQ'd burgers but we ate in our cool house.

I worked Sierra about 15 minutes but it was just too hot. Sooooooo I gave her a good wash off. She didn't seem to mind too much. I will go back out in about an hour and do some more. Maybe even 2 hrs. It is still 95. I promised I would not complain about heat when we had months of snow. And I am not just is too hot to work outside.

Saturday June 28th.

We spent the day today in Couer D'Alene, Idaho at the wedding of a young man we have known since he was 2. He and his bride Lori had a beautiful wedding. Jeff is a fine young man who has spent one tour in Iraq and will go back for a year in about 3 months. One of the pictures in their slide show was of Jeff fishing in a mud puddle at our house when he was 3 or 4. Lots of good memories. Much love and best wishes to Jeff and Lori.

I worked with Sierra this morning. She did great. Cathy Johnson came after her horse and I asked her if we could use her trailer to see if she would go in a different one from ours and she did. Hopped right in. We are beginning to side pass. She does it pretty well for 3/4 steps from the left but only 1/2 from the right. Just started late this week so am rather proud of her.

We are planning to ride in the morning early before it gets hot. Down at Riverside State Park I think. Will let you know tomorrow.

Friday, June 27th

Here it is Friday already. Tonight was our Inland Empire Mustang Horse Club. It started off all on the wrong foot when we arrived and the restaurant was closed. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. They will hear from me tomorrow or Monday.

We planned a trail ride for Sept. 13Th. at Marie Creek. It will be fun. I was thinking July but the rest of the group thought that was too close to get it well organized. They are probably right.

Did not do too much with Sierra today. I did her half hour of trotting. Then we went in and out of the trailer as a reminder. She did fine. She did not escape her stall today. She is quite an escape artist when she want to be.

Thursday

Did not get to Sierra until late afternoon. Just had to get my house cleaned and stuff organized for dinner. We had friends here for a BBQ this evening. It was fun.

Sierra and I had publicity pictures taken today. Will have to figure out where to submit them. He will put them on a disc and mail it to me tomorrow. I am glad to have them. She was pretty good standing for a lengthy amount of town. I put her pretty new lavender halter/lead on her and it has a name plate on the halter. Still am wondering if I will be able to let it go with her.

She was really good when I did work with her before the photographer came. Did not do a lot of things, trotted her for 10 minutes instead of 30 and then brushed and brushed her and put horsey makeup on the nose and around her eyes. She did not like it too much and a little gel on her mail and forelock so they would lay down nicely. She is so pretty. Of course I might be a little prejudiced?

Wednesday

Well today was interesting. Sierra forgot whoa. Never thought she had heard the word before. I put her in the round pen this morning and then she tried running me over and would not do anything. I finally got one thing out of her and then back to her stall because I was getting frustrated. This evening, we tried again and she still didn't remember so we practiced whoa for 45 minutes. Walked circles, over poles and lots of whoa's. She finally looked at me and said OH I Remember now.

Downloaded the entry forms I need to fill out for the Mustang Expo in Reno in August. I think we will have to be there on Wednesday to have the kinks worked out by the time we show on Friday. I am nervous now. Need to start making a list of things we need to take with us like a stall fork and hose etc.

I turned our other horses out on their green pasture this evening and after 2 hrs. or so went to get them in. They are in the big pasture and after 45 minutes told them they could stay until Bob got home and could take the 4 wheeler. They were not coming in hook or crook. I would get them all headed for the gate and Abby would take off thru the middle and scatter them. I was so mad. Bob said leave them out. He will put them in in the AM. He is too tired.

Gave a riding lesson this evening. Samantha is probably the best young rider I have ever taught. Really appreciate her. She is 11. Pepper was not too good. He wanted to go eat. I think next week I will get Ditto in. She is my old paint mare and will be more cooperative.

Anyway that's my day.

Tuesday

Summer is here and its hard to work with the horses in the middle of the day so Sierra got played with this morning and then this evening. She is side passing and that excited me. She will trot when I encourage her along side me but she has got to learn to go slower. Old short legs don't cut it. I have been worrying about how to get her muscled up nicely and had to remind myself that she is not getting enough time to stretch her muscles so its going to be l5 minutes of trotting each way in the round pen. We are doing most of the other work in the arena.

She is eating her grain like mad now. A week ago I was asking how to get her to try it. I gave her extra oats tonight after she trotted for half an hour. Boy when I said whoa and come, she did. Huffing and puffing.

Tomorrow morning Skeeter, my little poodle dynamo goes to get groomed. He is a fuzzy mess right now. I wish they didn't have to have him so early. I am used to sleeping in.

till tomorrow -

Monday

I did not work with Sierra for lengthy amount of times. 2x about half an hour each but did not feel very well today. We worked on the same things we have been working on this entire time , just perfecting it. We did trot together but I am not a world class runner and that is what I needed to be to keep up with her. Need to work a lot more on that. Remember I have 70 year old legs and they are short besides. This wasn't the best day to do that but did anyway. She backed the L today and did not step on the poles. That was a first. I clipped her a bridle path with scissors. Need to get the clippers out but did not feel up to it today. She likes being in her stall. I brushed her all over and sprayed her with Show Sheen. She does not mind the spray bottles at all.

Hope to have more to say tomorrow when my stomach is done with its contortions.