Celebrating Groundhog Day on a Horse...

TRIPP:  "I am sure of it...if Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, could spend the day doing anything he wanted, he would spend it on a horse away from all the cameras and silly questions like "Did he see his shadow?"  It is winter so who cares if he saw his shadow?  Doesn't the time all calculate the same?  Just sayin'..."

 




Tripp seemed a little touchy today so we took it easy.  He was just as curious about everything as he always is, and enthusiastic, but he seemed a little foot sore.  I kinda left it up to him.  When we hit a cross trail, if he wanted to head back to the truck, I decided I was going to let him.  But he didn't...in fact, at the end of the ride when I did the first loop again, he tried going that way a third time.  But it was time to head back...he already did great and was a trooper!  We did try to ride on the leafy surface as much as possible, but other times he scooted himself right up on the trail.  Going slow gave us both more time to see the scenery around us, and to find new things.  Next time I am going to find things that look like shapes, like animals or people.  :-)  That should be fun!

Anyways, Tripp has done very well with the small water crossings, but this one was frozen completely over where the trail goes across.  I asked him to go across knowing the ice would break but he said "No thank you!"  I asked him several times and he would get right at the edge then stop.  I decided it isn't worth a fight, so I got off and led him back and forth a couple times.  We did not go over the center that was frozen the most...we went to the side that would give to his weight and there was less chance of him sliding.  It was all good.   :-)





I love watching the water flow under the ice, and the bubbling sound is soothing...we stayed down there for a while just looking and listening.  I also got some close up shots of the ice and water...to someone who was not there they are probably bad pictures.  Since I was there, I can hear the beauty...  :-)

What is it with me and the need to take pictures of fungus?  Maybe because I am surprised at how much is growing this time of year and it gives me something else to take a picture of?  I also wonder if it is edible...like in soups.  Hmmmmm....

The moss is greener than green too!  It really is very pretty when it is surrounded by all the brown and orange leaves.  Pretty amazing stuff....

This tree is very big and full of a bunch of knotty areas.  I don't know if they are branches that were trimmed a long time ago, then the bark grew around the ends or what they are.  It is very unique and I bet it has a story of it's own to tell...

TRIPP:  "It has bumps.  Do they itch?  Nicker, snort snort!  Hey Girl, I bet you could use them to climb up there.  I promise to stay right here and not move a hair....wink wink!"






A little bit of left over snow in the end of the roots of the cut down tree, along with some moss across the top.  So many people look at winter and think of everything as dead.  There is so much life in every little thing out here!  

I started out on the trails alone.  It was 34 degrees when I left the house, breezy and cloudy.  Not the prettiest day to pick to ride.  I was getting ready to ride the first loop a second time and I heard some talking behind me....there were two gals riding.  Look closely and you can see them over my shoulder.  Tripp was moseying along so they caught up to us pretty quick.

Tripp knew they were there and tried real hard to listen to me when I let him know we didn't have to turn around and STARE!  Ha ha!  He got to turn a couple times, then we would head down the trail again.  He did real good and we went a pretty good ways when I stopped him and turned him around.  He is awesome!  He did not talk to them, and they didn't talk to him.  Me and the gals said our greetings and they went the way I had gone earlier, and we headed to the short loop.



 

TRIPP:  "Oh how embarrassing!   Okay, I could let her know what her mistake is (Hello!  Holding camera in front of face...oy vey...) or do like Clinton Anderson does and just let the Girl make her mistake.  I hope she does me proud and figures it out."

GIRL:  "Look Tripp!  Let's take a picture of our reflection in the truck window!  How fun is this?"

TRIPP:  "I can't look...people will recognize me.  She is getting better though...slowly but surely.  I stick around because the Girl needs me.  Snort snort!"

GIRL:  "Oh, silly me...that first one did not work so well, but it makes for good blog material!  Hee hee!  Quit hiding, nobody will know that I did what I did the first time."  :-)

Here are some random pictures of the trail....this cross road is where my GPS quit tracking, so it shorted me a minimum of one mile.  When we got to the area where the trail goes back to the parking lot, or continue to go straight to do the first short loop again, he did not hesitate and kept on going.  I rebooted the GPS on the phone and away we went.  We did that loop the opposite way we did it the first time.

 This is the large tree that is across the trail...the one that Tripp thought we could go under, although he denies he ever said that.  :-)

Another frozen creek...

TRIPP:  "Hey Girl, another frozen creek.  Are you going to carry me across?"

GIRL:  "No Tripp, I know you can do it.  This one is not as bad as the other one was.  Trust me..."

TRIPP:  "Hey Girl, why did the mustang cross the creek?  Wink wink!"

GIRL:  "I don't know Tripp, why did the mustang cross the creek?"

TRIPP:  "Snort nicker snort, to get to the other side! SNORT SNORT!!!"





TRIPP:  "See?  This is the other side!"

Whenever we came up to muddy frozen spots, I had Tripp walk through them for practice.  Practice makes better...and better he did!  :-)

Just a neat picture...

There are several burnt stumps through the park, and most of the time they startle Tripp.  I would love to know how he sees them.

Round and round the trail goes...

Okay, I admit it...this photo made the cut because I love Tripp's mane.  :-)
When I brought him home in June 2008, he had an uneven short scrubby mane.  I let it grow out naturally...no trimming...and this is what he ended up with.  I LOVE IT!

I was picturing what it is going to look like in spring when leaves start budding out on the tree branches that are reaching over the trail...

Tripp snuggling with me....






TRIPP:  "I love you Girl!"



We got a few miles in and I had to call it quits.  Tripp was ready to go another loop at the end but I thought he had done enough.  It was a nice ride...but aren't they all?  :-)
A friend and I talked and we think that maybe he was sore because of the uneven frozen ground.  All the mud around our places and hers is frozen and peaked, and it is a little much for some of the horses.  She has one that is tender footed anyways, but this ground is messing with him.

I was at the parking lot brushing on Tripp when the other two gals showed up.  Come to find out, they are members of the local mounted shooting group!  I thought I recognized them but was not sure until I made it back to the parking lot and saw the brand on her trailer.

Another wonderful day in paradise....

Until later...Karen and Tripp who says he could have gone miles and miles!

Monday I played hookie from work...hee hee!

I got to work that morning knowing it was going to be a 70 degree day.  My hubby and I had already talked about it and he said I should take 1/2 day vacation so I can ride....but once I get to work I don't like leaving.  I am weird that way.  Well, I un-weirded myself and decided it was a great idea.

And here I am.....getting ready to ride and not having to wear my big puffy insulated coat!  Woo hoo!  Brian's kids got me this shirt for Christmas...I love it!  This is the first time I have worn it and wow, it sure does glow!

TRIPP:  "OH MY GOSH!  COVER MY EYES!  I FEEL LIKE I AM LOOKING INTO THE SUN!" 








TRIPP:  "After a while you get used to it...sure, I will see big orange balls everywhere I look, but that is okay.  When the Girl is happy I am happy.  And for some reason a shirt the color of the sun with the words 'Bone Collector' on the front make her happy."







TRIPP:  "LOOK AT ME!  THE SUN BURNED MY EARS OFF!  Nicker Snort Snort!"





I have half the day to explore, and today was going to be the day that we take the unknown trail.  I didn't know it was there until a couple weeks ago.  We are on our way...






TRIPP:  "Wow, we are tall!  I can see over the tree tops.  Just look at all of them down there."






TRIPP:  "(singing a tune...) I am swimming, I am swimming...oh wait, that is Dori on Finding Nemo.  I have to make my own song.  I am waw-king, I am waw-king... Hmmm, I don't think I will quit my day job."






TRIPP:  "Silly humans!  They put the sign on the tree upside down.  I wonder how many humans tilt their head sideways to read it.  Snort nicker!"

TRIPP:  "WARNING!  There is a fungus amungus! Whinny snort!"

TRIPP:  "Hmmmm, what funny thing can I come up with this row of trees.  Ain't got nothin'.  The Girl was very excited about them for some reason.  She kept talking about 100 years ago and I don't know what that means.  I live in the moment and the moment says the trees just got here."






TRIPP:  "DOH!  Don't tell me you are thinking what I think you are thinking.  Girl, I am telling you, it just isn't safe.  I mean look at it!  LOOK AT IT!"





 TRIPP:  "Nice try Girl, but no, it doesn't look any better this way.  Not that I am afraid, because I am NOT afraid."
 





TRIPP:  "Look!  A very strange creek crossing.  I have never seen anything like it.  Nope, I am not going until you go first.  If you don't fall into the weird stuff I will follow you."

 



TRIPP:  "Oh, it is bricks that are covered with water.  I wonder whose idea this was."





TRIPP:  "I am an artistic mustang, did you know that?  I knew what good thing I had going here so positioned myself just right for the Girl to see.  She instantly saw it...the large tree at the top of the hill right between  my absofreakinlutely awesome ears."  ;-)





Close up of the big tree in the parking lot.  I wonder how many trees used to live around this one, and why they did not survive.  





This is the parking lot off Hwy T.  Brian and I have stopped here several times because we thought it looked like they were building a trail.  When I was crossing the creek with the brick I met a gal who was riding, and she came from this direction.  She let me know that the trail went to the parking lot.  I was excited that I finally knew there was a trail there...so I had to go check it out.

On our way back down from the parking lot we rode back through fields.

 

HELLOOOOOOO.....

TRIPP:  "Well crap!  I mean Oh darn!  Girl, I am telling you this just isn't a good idea.  Isn't there a better way around this thing?  All it will take to bring this bad boy down is a sneeze at the wrong time."

We are on the home stretch.  I was stretching my legs out so give my knees a break.  What a great ride!



This ride was basically a 'there and back' ride.  There was a section where the trail forked off, and in between the trail was a field full of tall gray grass.  It was very windy too.  I don't know what was in that grass, but something was there that had Tripp on edge.  I finally got off and walked him a while, and he was jumpy the whole time until we made it to the top of the hill.  Maybe some deer were bedded down out of the wind.  I don't know...but if it is that important to Tripp, it is that important to me to help him feel better.  On our way back we rode right by that gray grass and he kept a close watch, but we made it through unscathed.

It was a fabulous day...just beautiful!  Oh, and Tripp was even more muddy at the beginning of this ride than he was the day before.  And yes, he was just as proud.  :-)

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is still bragging about going 3 days in a row and putting on lots of miles.

Sneaking in another ride...

This weather has been crazy!  We had bitter cold with wind and then it warms up making lots of mud.  What an odd January.

This is Sunday, January 27th, 2013.  Monday the 28th was even worse than this!  Parts of the dirt road are red clay and they were slicker than heck!  Woo wee!

I love the grooming time before a ride, but this is a little much.  What a mess he is, and he seemed pretty proud of himself too.  As if to tell me "If I have to work, you do too."  And work I did!

....but a little bit of dried mud isn't going to stop us!  Let's go ride!






TRIPP:  "Hmmmm, what is this?  I know this is new because I can compare shapes and shades of color.  See the ones on the other side?  They are plain and those kind used to be this kind over here.  I am a mustang, therefore I notice things like this.  Nicker snort...."

TRIPP:  "The Girl read the new thing to me.  Trees wear girdles.  Who knew?"

GIRL:  "Tripp, it is called 'girdling.'  A person takes a chainsaw and cuts a ring around the tree thru the bark.  Bark is the rough stuff on the outside, and underneath the bark there is tissue that transports water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the tree.  When this is cut, it kills the tree.  This helps other trees stay more healthy, and it lets the tree die standing up.  When it dies, it can be a new home to all kinds of animals."

TRIPP:  "Why don't they just cut it down?  Wouldn't it be easier?"

GIRL:  "Girdling is quicker, easier and cheaper than cutting it down and hauling it out.  The only stuff needed is a human with a chainsaw that works.  Erosion and soil compaction are not a problem doing it this way."

TRIPP:  "Maybe I can live in a tree someday."

I got a later start than I planned this day, and it took even longer having to brush the mud off Tripp.  It worked out very well...we had a beautiful sunset starting with lots of pretty clouds.  I love skies like this...

It was a quick ride but I still managed to get a few miles in.  Another great day...life is good!
Thank you God!

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is shopping for a tree house...

End of January and in the mid 40's? Yay!

It was a bit chilly Saturday morning but I knew it would warm up, so I waited to go ride until 3:00.  I got out of the parking lot at 3:30 and was gone a couple of hours.  We went the same route we went last time....if you remember, last time the GPS clocked 6.1 miles because there were two spots that quit recording my track.  This time the GPS recorded the entire route and I clocked 7.7 miles.  I really don't know how accurate these things are.  I need to talk Brian out of his phone one day and have both of our phones recording to see what we come up with.

Anyways...most of the fishing lake has a light layer of ice, and there was a split in the clouds that was reflecting blue on the water and ice.  The whole vision was beautiful...

TRIPP:  "Yep, it is purdy, can we go now?"

My favorite part of the trail is this little valley with the creek and outcropping of large rocks.  There is moss growing everywhere, even in the winter, and it just feels different down here.  There is a layer of ice on the creek, and you can watch the air bubbles through it as the water is weaving it's way to a new destination...

 
TRIPP:  "Girl, you are not going to make me walk on that are you?  Nothing good can come from walking on ice."

GIRL:  "No Tripp, no ice for us.  We will just enjoy the beauty from here.  Thank you for looking out for me."

TRIPP:  "I was looking out for me, but ummmm, okay.  You are welcome. (wink wink)."

 TRIPP:  "I am going to make a prediction.  My prediction is that the girl is going to make a big deal about the sun coming through the trees at the end of this trail and the little black box she carries with her will come flying out of her pocket.  And watch how I egg her on.  Nicker snort snort!"







TRIPP:  ("You must insert a little bit of dramatic effect for this to work...I will show you...") 
"DOH!   Girl, look at the sun shining through the trees, and the purdy clouds.  Isn't this the stuff you tell me that God paints?"

GIRL:  "Yes Tripp, you are getting it!  I call it a 'one of a kind piece of art from God.'  Everyone can see a piece of his art if they just look; and every piece will be unique."

TRIPP:  ("whispering... Forgive me God, because I am making fun of the girl, but in a good way.  I might not understand everything she does, but she is good people.")
"Yes girl, I see it!  You should get out the little black....oh, you already have!  What a surprise! Snort nicker nicker snort!"

TRIPP:  "I look pretty good if I say so myself!  And I do have to admit, it really is purdy.  I am glad the girl slows down to notice these things....but I am ready to run now."









TRIPP:  "The sun is setting...it is going to get dark soon....we better hurry!"

And hurry we did!  Lots of trotting and cantering.  Tripp even stepped his canter up a gear and I would call it a free hand gallop!  Woo hoo!  Once he realized he could do it I think he enjoyed himself.  He took off on the 'kiss cue' the first time the next time I asked, then we transitioned down to a walk instead of a trot.  He did good.







After our ride...I set the timer and put the camera on the truck.  It took a few times to get it right because a 10 second timer is a life time for a wonderful, beautiful, gorgeous, handsome, built like a (Tripp!  We get the idea!  Now off the keyboard so I can finish...thank you!"  Anyways, the mustang who thinks his name should be Hunk today thinks 10 seconds is a long time.  :-)






When we got home I let him loose, and he did what most horses do....he rolled!  And he was even more happy being dirty.  :-)








TRIPP:  "Look girl!  I got dirt on my face!  Nicker snort nicker..."






A full moon...what a beautiful way to end the evening. 




Our ride today was great!  There was nobody else on the trail but there were a lot of tracks.  Last time I was out much earlier and I met a lot of people riding, so they probably got their rides in early.

Another observation when I was looking at the tracks.  Horses wearing shoes very rarely showed the imprint of their frog in the muddy areas....you saw the perfect shoe imprint, and nothing on the inside of it.  The barefoot horses showed a print of the entire underneath of the hoof.  So the barefoot hoof was making contact with the ground - which is good.   


Until later....Karen and Tripp who is going to practice his speed and endurance because he is feeling empowered!  :-)