Think I'll go out to Alberta, Weather's good there in the fall....

....I got some friends that I could go to working for.
Still I wish you'd change your mind
If I ask you one more time
But we've been through this a hundred times or more.

Chorus: Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
If all the good times are all gone
Then I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.

If I get there before the snow flies
And if things are lookin' good
You could meet me if I send you down the fare.
But, by then it would be winter
Not too much for you to do
And those winds sure can blow cold 'way out there.

Chorus: Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
If all the good times are all gone
Then I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
Four Strong Winds, Ian Tyson

It's time for slick little Miss Amyto start growing her Yak Koat (here modeled during her chubby first winter). She is headed for the frozen Northland.
Amy (Amber Arabesque) has been sold to the WF Bar Ranch in Alberta, Canada! She will be the first champagne mare in their broodmare band, after finishing her saddle training this winter or next spring. We wish her warmth and a happy life, and can't wait to see her babies in a few years!

Pesky Projects

Hot weather, the infamous Ellensburg wind (once the temps finally dropped, the wind came up!), and various responsibilities have all conspired to keep me (and Mike) from doing as much riding as we would have liked these past few weeks.

One of the more pressing issues was getting the yard fenced for Sandy's safety. She is recovering well (no more cone-head!), but confused that she no longer has the freedom to roam. She does seem to appreciate having the run of even the small yard, after having to stay on leash for the last month.

This little gate used to be our access to the horse pastures, and the missing bar in the center box was to allow Sandy clearance to get through (the gate is upside down in this photo). She was frustrated that the gate is now covered by wire:
"Watz the deal, ma?"

Another bit of fencing, for the horses, is this last 500 foot run of cross fencing. Six years ago, when we were starting to upgrade from electric to permanent fence, the guy at the farm supply store convinced me that high-tensile (think New Zealand fence) woven wire (think field fence) was the way to go. "Stretch it good and tight, and the horses just bounce off of it!" Well, that may be, if one's horses run into it, but my horses tend to put their feet through it, and the lighter gauge high tensile wire cuts like a knife. When Amy ran into it as a baby, leaving small scars on her nose and one foreleg, I was willing to write it off as a freak accident.
But when Kate chopped up her back legs last summer, I took the rolls meant for this last section back, and started saving for 2 X 4 inch mesh, that feet can't go through. (I already have it installed in all my paddocks and the arena.) It costs as much for one 100' roll of the 2 X 4 as for 330 feet of the other, but I will slowly start replacing the high tensile stuff, a fence line at a time. I was able to sell some of it on Craig's list for a dog-proof orchard enclosure and for some goats. But I don't recommend it for anyone with horses!

This patch of dirt is a lousy example of one section of my arena footing. Or should I say a good example of my lousy arena footing? I have gotten several loads of free fill dirt, but the last one was full of rocks and weeds and stuff. I've found that a muck fork is really good for picking all but the smallest rocks.
I needed fill because the south end of the "almost-an-arena" dropped off fairly drastically. So I built a little retaining wall and am back filling it.
However, the mesh fence that Mike helped me put up last summer is slightly low for the level I want to bring the dirt to, so I was hoping that he and I could adjust it and finish the back fill. Dog-fence, however, took priority.
Also: the trailer floor has needed work for a while now.
Because I was beginning to question it's safety (the first and last boards were looking pretty iffy) it was time. And I'd like to upgrade to a newer, smaller trailer (if I can ever sell some stock!)and I won't sell this one to someone in less than safe condition. (I can't say "less than perfect", as this homely old girl is far from perfect!)
It was a frustrating process, as I couldn't find the right tool to drill out the heads of all the little (big) bolts that held the floor down. I would try one carbide tipped drill, that would fly through two or so bolts, then be totally dull. Back to town for a different approach...over and over again. We were getting one board pulled up per day and getting very frustrated. Finally got a "deburring tool" that held up for the final three boards. I have to pick up a couple of additional replacement boards, trim them to fit, then we'll be good to go again!
[Edited to add: finished the floor yesterday morning, but don't have any "finished" photos, because I sold the trailer in the afternoon! Anyone out there in the Pacific Northwest know of a two-horse slant for sale?]

Another major chore: we fenced off a "shelter belt" for tree/bush riparian habitat several years ago, but have had very little success competing with the reed canary grass that grows rampant on the canal banks and adjoining fields. So I'm off to mow it down, in preparation of herbicide spraying and then landscape cloth, to try to give the plants a fighting chance!
This is the southeast corner of the property, and probably the most naturally moist area. You probably can't see them all, but there are a grand total of four bushes and four trees in this photo--out of I think 50 that we planted!
The biggest of four quaking aspens (out of 10) from two years ago planting.
One of only three little evergreens (out of 25) that have survived now for four years.
One project that is complete (OMG!) is pruning back the driveway trees, so that Pat can bring her trailer in without the "car wash" effect (also the UPS guy). The willows had really gotten thick between the hybrid cottonwoods, to the point that several little Austrian Pines that I had planted a few years ago were being choked out. All of the back branches of this little guy had been pushed forward--the two white sticks are to try to train them back to the rear.
It's hard to believe all of these cottonwoods were only about 4-6 feet high when we moved here seven years ago! I love trees and it hurt me to cut them back, but they do look much more civilized now.

So, as Grey Horse Matters said: Summer time, and the living is...BUSY!
But I've gotten two little jobs done in the barn this morning (that have been waiting forever) so, to reward myself, I'm goin' for a ride!

TTFN

Quick Sale Update

We had a pleasant, if looong, day at the fairgrounds today, at the private treaty sale offered by Rodeo City Equine Rescue. My feet feel like they've been run through a meat-grinder! When I thought I wouldn't be taking Maddie, I had decided to wear my comfortable hiking boots (which I wear around here for working, any time I'm not riding--but they're a little clunking in the stirrups). But with Maddie back home, I would be riding, so I wore my Ariat paddock boots, which give my feet and ankles great support, but just aren't meant for being on my feet all day. And, except for maybe ten minutes in the "show ring" two times, I was on my feet all day. My hubby has promised me a foot massage at bedtime (Thanks, Honey!).

As for the girls, there were only two minor glitches:
Maddie balked at loading, both at home and leaving the fairgrounds. I can't say that I blame her much, what with her two long trips already this week. But I can't have that nonsense. So, although I promised her a couple of days off, looks like we'll be practicing trailer manners this week. The babies, on the other hand, loaded right up for their adventure this morning, and, in spite of a couple of mishaps, primarily due to my exhausted state by the end of the day, came home well, too.

The other glitch was with Beth, who is not really patient with saddling in the best of circumstances. Instead of lugging saddles to the [nice, shady] pen where the girls were spending the day, I took my steeds, one at a time, back to the trailer to saddle. When it was Beth's turn, she was a little upset, though not distraught, about leaving her buddies, and another horse at an adjacent trailer was carrying on a bit. So when I went to throw the saddle up, she was moving about some at the end of the lead (tied to the trailer), and the saddle landed a bit askew. Nothing I couldn't have straightened out, if she had let me. But instead, she swung around, and the saddle slid back off the other side--which gave her even more reason to dance. My trail-riding friend Pat had come along to be my "gopher" for the day (Thanks, Pat!), so I fetched her and then held Beth while she hoisted the saddle again ("I didn't realize how HEAVY your saddle was!") and everyone was ready for the sale ring.

Actual presentations went very well, although there was not very good spectator attendance. I worked Maddie in the dressage saddle at the walk and trot. She was well behaved both times, in spite of the fluttering 1/2 inch electric tape "ring," and the rock band warming up [loudly] in the adjacent fairgrounds area during the afternoon. Amy warmed up nice on the lunge back at the pen, but was a bit full of herself in front of the audience (and with the fluttering fence)--she did do all that I asked of her, though.
Beth was a star! Stood quietly waiting for Amy to finish; worked first on the lungeline, then stood quietly again, while I hooked up the long lines. She worked smoothly and willingly ground driving. And she's the one that generated the one at least halfway serious prospective buyer--we talked at the pen before going in, and then they seemed impressed with her work. They didn't come back to talk afterward, but had taken one of my business cards, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear from them later (though I wouldn't be surprised not to, either).

All in all, it was a good day. But I recognize that it was colored with my frustration with the week's events.

Babies and Grandbabies (revisited)

It was a busy weekend.
First, Friday morning. this baby is growing up a bit: This was two-year-old Amy's first saddling, in my grandson's youth saddle. We lunged for about ten minutes first, then threw this on her. Because my babies are all blanketed late in the winter, to start them shedding out for spring shows and sales, they're all used to having things on their bodies, including surcingles under their bellies and leg straps around their butts. So usually, saddling is not much of an event.

This was as close to a buck as we got.

Then she settled right into a nice trot.

Friday afternoon, haying season got underway in earnest--more in a later blog.

Saturday afternoon (while I was baling hay), my daughter and her two little ones came over to "hang at the farm" (as Terri put on her FaceBook page), in anticipation for taking 6-year-old Brenden to church camp at the other end of the valley on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning, time for chores and some fun. Two-and-a-half-year-old Delaney went to fetch her brother.

Come on, Brenden, let's go for a ride!

NOW!

One of my horse magazines (Practical Horseman, I think) had a nice article a while back about the "A-B-C's" of riding lessons for very young children: Attention span--they need to be able to take in what you're trying to teach them; Balance--they need to be able to stay on, for the most part; and Confidence--they need to not be so fearful of being on a horse that they can't focus on the task at hand.

Brendan pretty much has passed that threshold: he finished kindergarten with rave reviews; he rides his bike without training wheels; and he's so sure of himself that we had to remind him to give his Mom a hug before he went off to join the other kids at camp on Sunday afternoon! He is ready to start learning to ride.
Delaney has quite a ways to go, and will just get led around for a bit longer--though this will help build the confidence and balance needed for later years.
Kate, though still very green, has proven herself accepting enough of this new situation that I trust her with the little ones--though, obviously, I still choose to maintain control, and we are in a small, contained environment (the round pen).

Start with position. This is the first Brenden has been willing and able to ride, at the walk, without holding on--so I show him how to hold the hackamore reins.

Working on position at the walk.
Bad Grandma! We need to get him some boots!

Look up!

Wake up, Kate. Better position.
I had Brenden hold on for his trots, for now. He only gets to ride a couple of times a year, and this is his first time since last summer. Maybe after camp. He starts out okay...
But gets the giggles pretty quick, and hunches over. Eventually, he was able to stay centered in the saddle for most of a circuit around the round pen.

Did ya see me trot, Mom?

Next, we started on the basics of turning. He'll have to shorten up a bit to really communicate. (Mostly, Kate just followed my cues.)
Body English.

When is it Delaney's turn?
Right now!
Be nice, Kate.
Last year, her Mom side-walked with her, and Delaney was still pretty iffy about even being on the horse (she rode with Brenden). This year she was more willing, and stayed pretty much where she should be.
Not sure what that right leg is doing up there...
Tall in the saddle!
Hi horsies!
Thank you, Kate!
That ridin's hard work!
Time to cool off, helping grandma with the irrigation.

Sugar and Spice....

....naughty and nice!

It's been a frustrating week, and Sunday's show capped it off with even more frustration!

The end of the school year is usually time for fun celebrations and looking forward to the summer off (for students and staff). But this last week has brought involvement with Child Protective Services, unexpected paperwork, and more than one student whose anxiety about not having the safe, structured environment of school pushed them to act out severely. Plus we had the great big downer fact that three of our teachers (and one of my counseling colleagues at another school) are being laid off, due to the current economic woes and the ensuing state budget crisis.

Therfore, I had almost no energy left for working with the horses (beyond daily chores). So prep time for Amy and Maddie was pretty much limited to Saturday.

After chores, Maddie got worked first--a decent bit of walk-trot, but again she groused at me at the lope. Being a little bit of a chicken, I got off and worked her hard on the lunge line, then climbed back on--better. Took her in and untacked her and noticed the same pattern of dry spots on either side of her withers that Kate was showing last week. Her coat is white across her back, so I could not see any of the white hairs creeping in that Kate had, but now I fear that my big Western saddle is not wide enough for Maddie, either! I threw her out in the paddock for a good roll, before I giving her a bath, later, when it warmed up a bit more. Went to play with baby Jackson a bit.

For as little as I have worked with Amy on showmanship skills, and her snotty adolescent attitude about lunging the last few times, she had a pretty good work. Picked up the haunch turn after only a few tries; lunged well--lots of energy, but none of the airs above the ground that I've been graced with in the recent past. (After the show, her next step will be introduction to the saddle and bridle.)

Just as I was finishing with Amy in the cross ties, a huge thunder storm rolled in! We got about two inches of rain and pelting hail in about an hour. It was so noisy on the roof of the barn that I could hardly hear. Amy didn't like the noise, but didn't want to go out into it either, so I let her stand in the empty stall 'til it let up a bit. I didn't have enough stall space for rest of the girls, and they were already soaked, so I let them just turn tail in the semi-shelter of the barn "shadow." Misty and Jackson were standing outside their closed stall door, but when I went to let them in, a gust of wind caught the door and banged it into Misty. So I had to get a little grain to coax her back to the dry stall. The playing with Jackson earlier paid off--I was able to catch him pretty easily and towel the shivers away--tho I'm not sure he fully appreciated the favor. Then it was sprint through the rain to the house for a quick granola bar and a coke (it was, after all, time for 10:00 o'clock recess snack).

After lunch, bath time for both girls was pretty uneventful, and both worked on in-hand skills while they dried off. Lightweight sheets to keep some semblance of clean overnight. Rasped a bit off of Maddie's feet, just to even them up and smooth them out. I have been considering doing some of my own trimming again, with the help of a "Hoof Jack" for the sake of my back. I figure if I do an even-up-job once a week or so, as part of my regular grooming routine, I could probably keep up with three or four horses. But RT has one slightly clubbed foot, and Misty has been showing a little hint of navicular-syndrome-like problems, so I would want to have a professional do them. Also for the really young ones, as I wouldn't want to risk trimming them in a way that would adversely affect the growth of their young legs.

The storm put me way behind schedule, preventing loading stuff into the trailer, a situation that continued into our Sunday morning departure, as I also still had to hitch up the truck. I actually considered not even going, as I was not feeling 100% either. But it was the last opportunity for awhile to get the girls into a show ring, so off we went.

Got to the fairgrounds just as they were starting classes, and had to rush a bit to get the girls "dressed" for showmanship. Amy did reasonably well, considering everything. After her two classes, I had to rush back to get Maddie for her one halter class, and got chided by the announcer for not being on time, even though I had asked for a gate hold. Maddie did what I asked of her, but neither I nor the judge were very impressed. It was as much to let her get a look at the space, as anything. I have more trouble in this arena on halter classes--hard for ME to walk in, let alone trot alongside a horse--it's the big Ellensburg Rodeo arena, and the footing is really deep and heavy--especially so after Saturday's storm. I had reserved an outdoor pen, with a nice shady tree and another horse next door for company, for Amy for the rest of the day (she was done by 8:30). Maddie and I went back to the trailer to tack up for the English classes.

The first two classes were walk-trot, English or Western, but since Maddie was going in the English pleasure classes soon after, we went ahead and rode in the dressage saddle. I considered these two classes to be pretty much warm-up, as did most other riders there. Maddie did a nice enough job in the first (riders 18 and [way] over) and I figured the second (horses 15 and under) would be so crowded that she wouldn't place. It was her biggest class, but, by golly, she did really nice work (except for one minor spaze going by the out gate--that the judge didn't see) and was pinned second! It's was her best showing all day.

On to the canter classes. After her grousing on Saturday, I considered just doing the classes for experience, and trotting the whole time. But she was going in a very willing frame, so we gave cantering a try. Did pretty well, except that every time we rounded the end of the arena near the in and out gates, she would balk, and veer off, and break gait. I was pretty much okay with it, for the experience, but not happy about this new behavior. Her last English class, and the last before lunch, was novice horse; there were only two of us, and going in first, Maddie balked at the gate. I probably (in 20/20 hindsight) should have ignored the judge's expectation to enter at the trot, and just eased her into the big, empty arena. But once past the gate, she seemed to be moving off well, UNTIL: she spooked at something in the bucking chutes (that hadn't been there in any of the previous classes). She zigged, and she zagged, hard! I zigged, but forgot to zag, and rolled off over her left shoulder into the arena dirt. (The weakest point of my balance, I know, is riding a little too far ahead of where I should be.) I remember feeling a calf muscle stretch a little too far, but otherwise I was okay--just bruised ego. Maybe should have climbed back on then and there, but just needed to clear my head, and take a breather, and to rehydrate a bit and eat something. We headed back to the trailer to consider whether or not to stay for the three Western classes after lunch. Realizing I needed to get back on her before we left, for both of our sakes, I decided to stay.

Maddie stood well for saddling and warmed up okay, but again balked a little going into the arena. It was warm enough that some of the strut was gone, and we did some nice, collected jog work. Decided to give the lope a chance, and again was surprised with some decent work--though one time she picked up the wrong lead, and rather that discombobulate her by stopping to change, I let her counter canter until she broke naturally, then switched. Western classes were big enough that she didn't place all that well, but it was more about the experience, anyway. Last class was novice horse, again, and again there were only two of us. She had been working well, though still acting up a bit at the gates, and she was a little tired (unfortunately, so was I), so I was hopeful for a good finish for the day. There was another thunder storm moving in, and I'm not sure if that had something to do with what happened next.

Nice collected jog, picked up a rolling lope at the far end of the arena and was only a little distracted coming down the long side towards the out-gate. Broke gait coming around the corner, and veered hard, into the fence between us and the warm-up area, headed towards the dreaded in-gate. I gave her a good boot and straightened her out for a moment, then she started fish-tailing. I gave her another hard push and suddenly...
I was in the dirt! AGAIN!
I hit harder this time: I could feel a muscle strain in my lower back, and I clunked my head a bit, but "bounced back up" (according to one of my school dads, who was standing nearby) and went to get my naughty horse.
I was embarrassed (twice in one day! And infront of several of my kiddos from school and their parents, and two teachers and my principal!). And getting mad (though also close to tears). We retired to the warm-up area and I worked from the ground for five minutes, demanding her respect (and calming down--it's counter productive to work a horse when one is angry). Then sidled up to a fence panel and climbed back on, and worked on bending and circles and paying attention to ME! After the last riding class, I got permission to work in the arena while they set up the barrels (I don't do games, thank you). No lope, but lots of jog work, first down at the far end, then along the gate end, until I felt Maddie was listening.

Then we went back to the trailer for some water for both of us, and a breather. Retreived Amy and headed for home, just as the second heavy rain/thunder storm in two days hit. Sat in the driveway for probably 15 minutes until it let up enough to unload and make a dash for the barn. Unloading equipment can wait 'til Monday.

All in all, it was a humbling experience. I don't think any single horse has ever dumped me more than once, and certainly never in one day. I'm beginning to think about getting professional help (for training the horse--I gave up on my state of mind years ago!). This is the part where my advancing age and retreating physical prowess are getting in the way of progress with a young and very sensitive horse. And my confidence has taken a blow: there were more than a few moments on the way home, when I considered getting rid of everybody equine and taking up quilting.

But today has dawned sunny, with only a pleasant breeze. I'm sore and moving a bit slowly, but otherwise okay. Maddie was sufficiently contrite at breakfast, and I have forgiven her. I hope to get Kate out for a bit, and hopefully she will behave herself--as she usually does. Baby Jackson had a new adventure (to be blogged later on) and I've got work to do. So I'll be off to it.

Busy Saturday, but no ride!

Originally, the only things on the schedule for today was a 10:00 AM (not too early) trip back to the vet to check on Kate's lingering swollen udder [abscess?], and a work session with Maddie. The weather promised to be perfect (and it was).

But....
Got a call Friday night from my farrier, and the only time before next week's show that she could come out and do everybody was this morning! She's not very much of a morning person, but could she make it by 7:30 (argh!)? I'll try to push the vet to 11:00.
She was here by 7:40 (that's pretty good for her), but the vet's booked solid for the morning. Okay, let's see if we can get the young ones done before 9:30 while I can be there to hold, and Mama Misty and old RT would both be fine standing tied.

Beth, who is usually a dancer, was on her best behavior, but little Amy not so much. Maddie stood like a pro, but now it was 9:15 and there's no way we have time for Kate. (I wish now we had done Kate, 'cause Maddie would probably have stood fine tied, as well as the oldsters.) Well, farrier's place is only about a half mile off the route home from the vets, how about we stop on the way back so she can knock her out, too? Sounds like a plan.

So young vet wants to sedate Kate a bit, and take a needle aspiration of the swelling on her udder. He pulls a syringe full of nasty putrid gunk out. He seems surprised it hasn't gone down any more than it has, so now let's shoot her full of local anesthetic and cut it open to drain. But by the third or fourth prick of the local needle, it's obvious that Kate's sedative has worn out...she's wide awake and, uncharacteristically, though understandably, starting to kick out. So she gets another dose of sleepy-time tea, but is still responding to the pressure of the needle (the area should have been plenty numb by now). A clinic assistant takes her head and I loop a length of cotton rope around her opposite fetlock and hold that leg up, forcing her to keep the other foot firmly on the ground. One pinky-finger sized hole and large puddle of blood and gore later, he flushes the abscess out and I take Kate out to the round pen to wake up, while I go inside for anti-biotics (again) and the bill (at which time I faint and have to be revived--it's a good thing I got my tax refund yesterday!). I decide Kate's had enough for today, and call and cancel the stop at the farrier's, and we head home.
I just get Kate comfortable and lunch fixed for Al and I, and I remember that I have to get my entry in the mail today for next weekend's show. I run up the driveway to put it in the box, and notice the neighbor ranch boys shooting the breeze in Hank's shop--AND Hank's oldest working on a mower deck with the arc welder! I had asked Hank back during spring break about bringing my trailer over to have the hinge on the tack room door re-welded where the bottom couple of tack welds had popped loose. In the meantime, at one of Maddie's little shows, the infamous Ellensburg wind had manged to catch the door and pop the welds 2/3 of the way to the top of the door! Well, they were welding, and the trailer was already hitched up....It was an opportunity not to be missed!
So back down the driveway and bring the trailer up. An hour later, not only was the door solid once more (if not purty), but the little crack at the corner of the ramp was not going to go any further either.
Thanks, Bentley!
The other thing that came up Friday was that a prospective buyer for Amy requested some current photos. I had been stalling until the little yak finished shedding (she still has more hair than most of the rest of them had in the dead of winter), but I couldn't put it off any longer. So, since it was nice, after a late (2:30) lunch I gave her a bath, trimmed up her jawline a little, and Al came out for a photo shoot.
I like her head and neck in this one, though she's a little camped out in back--she was reaching forward for a handful of grass I was offering--you can see her left fore just starting to step forward.

I should have worked her first, as she settled down after a few minutes, plus she was fully dry by the time we went back to the arena for this shot (and others). The dark shading on her chest and upper shoulder is remnants of her darker winter coat (champagnes are the opposite of most horses, who get lighter in winter), and, as near as we can figure, the spot on her hip is a Bend 'Or spot, though the gal at the International Champagne Horse Registry had never heard of one on a champagne before.

So now it's almost time for supper. Can I get in a quick ride on Maddie?
No. I've got to doctor Kate.
Hot soaks, flush the opening of the abscess, administer antibiotics and tetanus booster. Wash down her back legs and love on her a bit (she's feeling a little picked on).
Time to ride? Energy?
No. And no.
Give everybody their evening grain and turn them out for the night.
There's always tomorrow.

Mama Misty feeling a bit like a beached whale.

Goodbye Spring

Well, it may seem that, in fact, Maddie and I got ate by the piranhas, but actually we've just been too busy RIDING! Kate, too, though tonight was going to be her turn after work, and the wind has come up again, and it's COLD again, and wah, wah, wah.

But I will give an update:
After Maddie's adventure in the training pasture, I saddled up Kate. (Sorry, photographer went back in the house. I'll fill in with related old pics.) Warming up in the arena, I did get a few steps of lope out of her, but the second attempt ended in a stumble, and she is even more convinced that she can't do that with me aboard. She gets such a nasty face when I ask her to move out, that I may have someone take a second look at my saddle fit, and see if there's something pinching her.

After that, I noticed that the neighbors were out in the cattle pasture doing something; that meant the gate was open (cows were eating) and we could ride right in (and this old lady wouldn't have to find a make-shift mounting block). So we did!
Kate and I circled the herd about 25 feet out, and rode down to where the ranch kids were trying to catch one little late calf that needed his vaccinations. Asked their Mom (in the truck) if there was any problem with me moving in among the cows and calves, and she said "Heck no! Can't get 'em worked up any more than the boys have!" So off we went.

In and out, waking up several dosing calves, who would jump up, startled, and run off. Kate didn't seem to notice or care. One black cow came towards us, looking like she might challenge our presence, but then she mooed, located her calf, and turned tail.

At one point a calf skittered right under Kate's nose, and I expected her to react. As I was watching it leave, Kate suddenly jumped towards it! I never did see what spooked her from the opposite side, but she went right back to moseying along. A little later, the boys chased a bunch of cows and calves up from the pond (where the calf they were trying to catch had retreated), straight at Kate. Again, no reaction. Nothing. NADA! Maybe I've got a cow horse here, though Kate is so inherently lazy that I don't know that she would ever actually work them....

Sunday, I got distracted by some other stuff, and didn't get out to ride 'til 3:00-ish. Since I want to take Maddie to a little 4H schooling show next weekend, she was my first ride. And since the green horse classes are pretty limited, and I can double my time in the arena by showing her English as well as Western, it was time to try her in my new (to me) Crosby Prix de St. George! Not wanting to change everything at once (I've had that backfire on me once, big time) I used the same Western snaffle bridle that she is used to (this is a photo from last spring, when I first got the saddle--can't believe this is the first time I've actually gotten to RIDE it!).

She was a dream! (So was the saddle.) I really need to build my stamina and leg strength, so we would do posting trot until my legs turned to jelly (not very long), then do bending and flexion exercises at the walk for a bit. Then repeat. Several times!

Then time for a bath, not wanting to depend on the weather to cooperate on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. She's about the farthest along on shedding out, and I've been working on the pretties (trimming bridle path, fetlocks, etc.), so she looked pretty darn presentable when we got done with the sudsies!

By then, however, after three rides in two days, I could barely walk! I decided to give Kate the night off, and work baby sister (two year old) Amy on showmanship--thinking I might take her to town next weekend, as well.
MISTAKE!Amy was an absolute snit! Terrible twos, personified. Wouldn't lunge, would stand, wouldn't halt, wouldn't trot in hand, wouldn't stay outta my space! By the time we worked through all that, it was all I could do to feed, throw a pizza in the oven, and collapse!

Next day at school, I was moving so funny, everyone kept asking if I'd had a wreck. Couldn't ride Monday (late school meeting). By Tuesday, walking almost normally, raced home and got on Maddie again, this time in my full cheek snaffle in the English headstall. Trot sets for half an hour, with a very nice response to the change in bridle. Sometimes it actually perks them up and enhances their response to try something new.

Tonight, I'm stalling to see if the wind dies down before the sun goes down (it doesn't look like it's going to--high wind advisory until 9:00). In the meantime, supper's ready.