A Really Long Ride

We left Friday evening for Heyburn State Park near Plummer, Idaho. We took Wrangler, Pepper and Sage. Bob ponies Sage on Saturday. We rode 14 miles. FOURTEEN. Sage did awesome even though Bob had to pull her up the last hill. She said I am tired. She tried to lay down in the creek on our way back. Other than wanting to stop on the last hill, she did absolutely wonderful. Over logs, through brush, along a narrow trail up and down hill. I was so proud of her and wished I was riding her. Although Pepper took good care of me. We stopped to eat lunch at the vista overlooking the lake and miles and miles. We looked up and a big black cloud blew in. I thought, we had better get out of there. The lightening and thunder started when we were just a little way down the mountain. At one point the thunder and lightening were are at the same time and VERY loud. Pepper twitched but did'nt shy. Marilyn's horse jumped a little, Heather and her horse did OK. Wrangler twitched a little and Sage ran up beside him like help me, please. We did out best to get out of there as fast as we could. By the time we got to the open part where I was most worried about, it had blown over. The rest of the group went on a longer trail from the vista and I was worried about them. They were up on the ridge and it was not a safe place to be.
Angela and Ray having breakfast. Angela thought she might start a new trend in apparel.

My friend Cindi. She had a wreck in the storm. He horse bolted sideways and she went the other, rolled over a hill and hit a tree. She thanked her lucky stars she was wearing a helmet. Her arm was numb, scratches on her face and a skinned up knee but otherwise OK and she rode out. I wear a helmet when I ride, even when riding Pepper who is old faithful. Bob wears one too as does Cindi's husband. I have heard a lot of excuses why people don't wear them from it shows I don't trust my horse, or they are hot (they are) but my head is more valuable.

Marilyn and Murphy.

The storm saying bye as it finished blowing over. It didn't even cool it down a whole lot.

As we started for home, he stormy sky. We arrived home about 10:30 last night and I collapsed into bed and slept like a rock

I will have more pictures from my other camera. I don't ride with my good Canon camera. The other one is still in the trailer. Tomorrow I will have more ambition to do more out there. Today after church I lay down and slept through the Mariners game that I was going to watch. I still will sleep tonight.

That was a long ride and this old body of mine takes a little longer to recover. It was about a half an hour more than I would have liked.

Blessings,

More kids in pictures

Tinkerbell yesterday.

Isn't she a pretty little thing.

Trouble our old kitty. He is 12 or 13 years old. Still lives up to his name.

The peanut as I pulled her from the pool to get ready to go home. We got about half a mile from the house and I glanced into the back seat and she was sound asleep. I had to wake her when we got to her house.

Bob's horse Wrangler. He would sell him to the right person. $2,500 and that is firm. He has been trail ridden in the mountains, pulled a pack horse. I believe anyone could ride him. He is 15h2 and heavy. He is a mustang but is not branded. We adopted his mother and she gave birth to him a couple of months later. She was from Paisley Desert in Oregon. (the same place as Sage). He is about 12.

So my day has been spent cleaning house and getting the living quarters in our trailer ready to go tomorrow. The boys are going to stay with their uncle, aunt and cousins. We are going to be at a ride and dutch oven cooked meal. I am going to ride Pepper and pony the Sage.

Blessings,

100 Today,

Our Tinkerbell who came to play on the farm in a tutu. She is our Great Grand Daughter. We don't get to see her near often enough.
She is a real ham bone. She really likes her picture taken and will pose how ever you want her to. I took some more pictures today and she just posed all over the place.

Two grandsons and Tinkerbell

Lane in the tree.

Isaac getting ready to climb too.

I did not ride today because my princess pea horse didn't like the way her headstall was on her and she did a little buck around. I promised I would not ride her unless she was calm and that was not the case today. I fixed her bridle and that was better but not completely over it and it was just too hot by the time I got that far. We were both sweating

When I took Arawyn home this afternoon it was 100 on the north side of Spokane. Mercy me. I am glad I have an AC in my car and in my house. The boys played in the pool most of the day. I had to fish her out to take her home.

Blessings,

Fun In The Sun

My sweet Uncle Lyle who is 96 today. Love him so much. He lives in Portland at the moment but will be moving up to the Puyallup area soon. He needs some assisted living. He is such a character and has such a sweet spirit.
Part of our herd. The second one is the only one that is not a mustang. My old paint mare was not out with them until today and my Rosie pony was lagging behind.

Our grandsons doing a chore grandpa gave them. They petered out in the heat and have not gotten back to it. No one can blame them, it was 98 here today.

I rode first thing this morning before it got unbearable. She is so soft and some QH people I know spend a lot of time getting the level headset that is natural for her.

Backing up is no biggy, no gaping mouth, just step step backwards.

Katie came and babysat me while I was riding today. She took pictures but not the best of positions for me. They are good pictures of us, just me doing things not quite right at that moment. Oh well, I am getting back into the swing of things. Bob will be home tomorrow so he can see how well we are doing.

This afternoon I went and got one of our great grand daughters - Arawyn. She wanted to see Lane and Isaac and spend the night. I always know where she is, shes a screamer. We love her so much and don't get to see her often.

So its time to get the herd off the pasture for the night, Bob just got home from mowing hay all day and he looks exhausted. So much dust in his eyes that he is red eyed. He stood in the shower for a long time. So it will be up to me to get the horses in. Thats OK. Maybe Lane can help me.

Blessings to you all.

Good Day Sun Shine

My ride today was wonderful. I rode first thing this morning before it got too hot. She is so soft it amazes me.

This is what happens after you rinse off a horse after a ride on a hot day.

And this was the look she gave me when she was done rolling.

Had a good day. Chrissy, Wendy and the kids (minus Nikki of course, she is going to school in California). It was good to see them all.

I took Isaac birthday shopping this evening and he found a bunch of things he liked on sale so he got a whole sack of stuff. We had fun.

Hope your weekend was wonderful.

Blessings

Another Happy Dance Day

This picture was taken at the Burns Corrals before the PETA group set the barns on fire. It was taken on one of our earlier trip down there.

This was a wonderful day with Sage. She was not hard to catch and we just worked really well for a couple of hours. We did discover why she went berserk and bucked me off. Marilyn was working her from the ground and she did it again. Marilyn saw that she had pulled the bit through her mouth. The Right D ring was on the left of her mouth. Marilyn calmed her down and removed the bridle. After some looking and trying some things, Katie offered her bridle with a different D ring bit and it had a leather chin strap. We got her bridled back up and put her around the round pen a few times and Marilyn got on her. She was so quiet and relaxed. Then I got on her and it was just the same. The last thing I did was some serpentine and figure 8's and then stopped her in the center. I barely touched her mouth, sat down and said back. She dropped her head and stepped back calmly. At that point I got off and hugged her and stripped the saddle and bridle off, rubbed her down and put her back.

All that and I got a little sunburned. I will have to cover my shoulders up for a day or so. It was 96 here today. I am so thankful for a cool house.

Bob will be here soon with a couple of grandsons. I will be glad to see all three of them.

Blessings

Part 2 of Happy Dance Day

Marilyn, the first one up. She is such a talented trainer. And a great rider. And a very valued and trusted friend.
Just after I got on. Flexing her head both ways. She does that well.

Backing her before we started forward.

Then off we went around in the round pen which we enlarged by 3 panels. If she stopped I flexed her and backed her before I asked for a forward.

It was an exciting day. For me any way. ]

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I don't know why the computer would not load pictures last night. Just one. But it did work this afternoon. Guess it was being lazy.

Today I just did ground work with Sage. She did well in the round pen and walking around she did great until we came upon a sprinkler in the front yard. That took a bit of working to take her mind off of it. She is learning though. I really did miss some things in the beginning so now we are having to catch them up. Some I just missed and some I didn't know that I should do. Marilyn has never made me feel stupid though although sometimes I feel like it.

Bob left to go to Nikki's for a cousin's funeral tomorrow. I am home taking care of the critters. I don't like not having my car though. He will be home tomorrow night sometime and he will have Nikki's two youngest boys with him. We will have fun. Lane at 13 isn't so excited to come as he used to be but Isaac is. He was 8 a week ago.

Hope you are having a wonderful day. Its plenty warm here

Blessings