Day after storms...and time to ride...

It started to rain yesterday evening and rained through this morning.  After it was done Brian asked if I was going to go for a ride - the radar was clear.  He suggested earlier rather than later because the wind gusts were going to be wild later this afternoon.  So away I went...





The clouds were moving fast and furious, and the blue sky was trying to show us her lovely face.

The clouds are reflecting off the creek...it is so pretty.







TRIPP:  "Thank you kind lady, I think you are pretty too.  Wink wink!"






There is a pasture on the other side of the creek, and the sky was beautiful!

TRIPP:  "Oh man, I wasn't ready.  I would like a re-take."





TRIPP:  "Okay, I am ready now.  Yes, this is much better.  Thank you Girl for trusting my judgment."





It is not easy being green....  There is so much moss out and about.  And the funny thing is, there is probably moss this time of the year, every year.  But I don't ever get out to ride in this unless it is half way decent.  I have a motivator this year...that is why I was out on 25 degree days in January!  I am riding in the 2013 Distance Derby!  I will write about that later...

There is moss on the log...





...and moss on the tree that looks like a big dinosaur leg...






...and moss on the stump to the left of Tripp's ear.

 

How can I leave out the fungus amungus?  This is another thing that probably loves this time of year, and I never knew until now.

What you can't see is all the little bugs that were flying around this stuff...and they were crawling in and out.

TRIPP:  "Look closely....that is the glow of my halo!  Do you hear the angels singing about my handsomeness?"

Clouds are still moving quickly...

TRIPP:  "Oh geez...another one of those things that makes me get my feet wet.  My hooves are going to wrinkle!"

It is a small creek and is moving pretty good.

Me and my shadow....

It was fairly warm today compared to past few days, but the wind was blowing like crazy which put a slight chill in the air.  During one part of the trail the wind came at us from behind and it was a roaring noise.  It sounded like a big truck with a great exhaust bearing down on us.  It freaked Tripp out, and it was enough for me to double check what was going on behind us because this time of year you never know what the weather is going to do.  When that gust of wind hit the woods, we got pelted with small dead branches!  Tripp was none to happy about that!  At one point there was a devil wind (mini tornado) and it was taller than me on Tripp, and it was full of leaves.  It hit us sideways and Tripp was none too happy about that either.  :-)  At this point I was more worried about the dead branches.  There are a lot of them in this area and I sure didn't want one of the big branches or one of the dead trees that is leaning on a live tree to decide to make its ground breaking debut!

Tripp's mane looks like we are moving fast.  Nope, we moseyed most of the ride today...this is Tripp and his wind blown look.

I love the wind, but not when I get hit with branches.  I was glad to be able to ride today, and I was glad that we got back to the truck without getting hurt.  It really was a gorgeous day and I am lucky to be able to look back and reflect...I am lucky...Life is good!

Until later, Karen and Tripp who has put in a special request for some hair conditioner.  :-)

Gotta go ride...

February 9, 2013

I was supposed to meet a couple of people to ride but they could not make it.  So we ran a couple errands before I headed out....

When we go anywhere that is going to be somewhat quick, Hemi gets to go along.  He rides in the back seat and every once in a while he will move himself up to the middle console to make like he can watch what is going by.





Self portrait time!





Brian surprised me when I got back from my ride.  I got an early Valentines Day present (he is smart...he knows not to do it on V-Day...I don't like calendar holidays that cause stress...and this one does for so many people).  He tied his first rope halter, and he knows one of my colors are the bright hunter orange, so he used the orange rope he had.  What a great surprise!

And to the trails I go...

I don't know if it is really happening, but it seems like the moss is getting brighter.

The breeze has been blowing the leaves over the trail...I love it like this!

There are parts of this hill that were washed out from the previous rain.

Where we were....

TRIPP:  "If a tree falls in the woods, and I am not there to witness it, did it really happen?"

GIRL:  "Tripp, I think it is more like this.  "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?""

TRIPP:  "That is what I said...wink wink..."

TRIPP:  "Oh!  I have always wanted to do something like this ever since I watched the Girl try to hold a full moon in her hands!  Look at me, I am sucking in wind and that green rock is coming to my mouth!  SNORT SNORT...I am so funny!"

We were moseying along when I heard a lot of laughter and hooting and hollering...then I saw hair flying as a couple riders went blasting down the trail I was just on.  I could not help but laugh too...they were having so much fun!  They were the two gals I met last weekend and are part of the local mounted shooting group.  When they made it back up the hill to where I was at, I saw they had their husbands with them.  I moved Tripp off the trail and we said our hello's as they went by.  Normally Tripp will watch with interest as horses come and go, and we never have any problem with him wanting to follow or keep up.  Until now.....he realized they were having more fun that he was!  Ha ha!  We followed them for a while at a pretty good clip then I got to wondering....does he even remember I am up here?  Will he listen to me?  To answer both questions:  1. Yes, he showed his annoyance at me when I asked him to slow down a bit.  2. No.  He did not think he had to listen.  So as bad as I wanted to keep following fast, I had to do a little bit of "HELLO!  I am here Tripp!"  There were also shooters at the shooting range and they traded out the .22 for something much bigger with a loud boom.  That got Tripp all in a dander too!  I have to admit, it was kinda fun!  :-)

Here are the riders going on their merry way...












The mounted shooting group were parked at this parking lot.  Tripp and I rode the small loop around and beside it, and he did much better.  He knew they were there and looked their direction, but he didn't try to go visit them again.  I love this big ol' tree that sits at the edge of it.






TRIPP:  "Okay Girl, line me up...yep, that is good.  Look everyone!  I am wearing a tree for a hat!  Nicker snort!"




The weather was great, we did quite a bit of trotting and cantering, and I kept reminding myself how blessed I am to have such a great horse and to live so close to a place like this.  I am also blessed to have a great husband who says "Go ride!" instead of "You going to ride AGAIN????"  :-)

One of the coolest things happened on this ride.  On the home stretch back to our parking lot, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye to the right.  I thought it might be squirrel.  They are very active and they can run fast and jump high and far.  I saw it again but it was no squirrel.  It was the tips of antlers!  We stopped and waited...I was so excited and hoped the buck would run in front of us.  HE DID!!!!  I don't think he knew we were there because he crossed pretty close to us.  Tripp watched him go...then we saw more movement to the right.  Two does were following the buck but they did see us.  They moved farther down the road/trail before they crossed.  My brain finally turned on and I grabbed my camera.  I did get a little bit of video of the does, but none of the buck.  Darn it!

Life is good....

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is still giddy because he got to run after a group of horses on the trail!  He never imagined how fun that might be!  :-)

Silly Batman Games before Hoof Trimming...

February 3, 2013

The sun is shining and I would really rather be riding, but I have a couple of horses that need to be trimmed, and more if my back can take it.  Before I got started we had a little bit of circus activity going on...

BATMAN:  "Look at me!  I can reach up here and grip him with my teeth.  I bet I could clamp down and free hang like the guy on the beam for the super glue commercials.  I am too young to remember them, but I have heard about him."

RED:  "Please make him go away."






BATMAN:  "Look!  Jack is almost as tall as me."
GIRL:  "Batman, it is a HOOF JACK.  It's name isn't Jack.  Okay, I will call it Jack..."






BATMAN:  "Look at me and Tripplette.  I am much cuter!  Just ask me!"

TRIPPLETTE:  "Pbthpbthpbth....in your face!"







BATMAN:  ""Pbthpbthpbth....right back at ya babe."

RED:  "If Batman is bugging Tripplette, that means he is NOT bugging me.  I can take a nice nap in the sun beam."

TRIPPLETTE, WYOMING, BATMAN:  "CHEEEEEEESSSSEEEEE"

Tripplette is no longer a skinny mini.  Yay!

BATMAN:  "I think I will nibble right here...and see how long it takes him to notice."

BATMAN:  "Okay, I think I will help the Girl and hold Wyoming so she can trim his hooves."





BATMAN:  "I better hold tighter!  He is trying to get away...see him trying to take off?  If it was not for me being a strong mustang, Wyoming would be headed to Wyoming!  Nicker Snort!!!"

 BATMAN:  "Whew, that is hard work for even me!  Thanks to my lead rope holding abilities, the Girl got Wyoming's hooves trimmed nice and purdy."

It was a little bit of a fiasco, but we got Wyoming and Red done.  I also did the fronts of Hershey since she was trying to 'help' me while I was working on the others.

Until later...Karen and Tripp who also got his done the day before.