Back to Bracken & Saddle Trial~

Linda & Count in Harvey Creek~

I talked Linda into trailing over to Bracken Road for a ride today.  Several trucks & trailers were already there, it was early too.  Everyone had the same idea we did, to take advantage of a cooler day!
On my way up Burn Rd., there were actually about 100 sprinkles of wet stuff that hit my windshield!  I was wishing that they would continue - but no - it was even clearer in Arlington...  I'm having a tough time of it, watching our yard & plants drying up here at home...  To see the large trees starting to show signs of stress - I think we're all wondering when it will end & praying we don't end up like CA.  When you think back, we really had no rain last fall, not much rain during the winter - we were happy to have all that fine riding weather, after all.  We went into Spring already dry & now I think the word parched about sums it up.

The north fork of the Stillaquamish~

There's still flow in the river, but nothing like in a more normal year & last year was drier than usual for us, plenty of sunshine days.

 Last year on the 19th~

Linda enjoyed her first visit to the Whitehorse Trail!  Count started over Tin Bridge just fine, but was busy watching the swirling water below :-)  The yellow jacket sign is up - but we didn't see them today - I hope they've moved on!  We had our lunch at Cloverdale & the horses enjoyed the grazing.

Linda & Count

When we turned toward Arlington, Count hit his turbo walk!  It ended when we turned back, but he sure seemed to enjoy seeing new views :-)  Even though cool - it did warm up when the sun broke through & the humidity went up.  I was stiff & got off to walk part of the way back.

Heraldic, No fenders yet~

Arriving home, I received an email from Chloe at Reactor Panel, my trial saddle has shipped.  I'm hoping that this saddle will be the one, if they work - you keep them.  Taking a saddle on trial - costs too - shipping etc., but still better than the year long wait I had last time, for a saddle that I would have never bought had I seen it first!  Both Linda & Diane have ridden years now in RP saddles - so that helped me decide.  It will be a change - but again - if it works, I'm ready!

A few days & we'll be using Skype for the fit session & Ms. Farah & I will be trying it out! 

What Can You Say?

Lynn, Pat & Sharon

About such a Beautiful day?  When we're riding in 60 degree weather in February - it's almost surreal!  When I talked to Pat the other day - she was ready for a ride & Sharon was too!  Then - Lynn called & she was willing to drive up & accompany us!  The parking lot was close to full when we pulled in late morning.

Crossing Tin Bridge

Since Pat & Sharon hadn't been out for a while, we took it easy -   but the horses were feeling fresh & we ended up trotting more than we thought we would!  Over in the green valley - we stopped for lunch & the horses loved grazing on all that wonderful green grass!

Sharon & Pat

The four horses did really well, Farah as usual unhappy unless she was in the lead & of course those of you who know Sophie, know that she certainly prefers to lead the minute she thinks that we're heading back :-)

Lynn & Sophie

When back - means crossing the bridge, I had my hands full :-)  I decided to put Farah in the back & she finally settled just a bit.  On the power lines, she decided to stop to graze & watched the others leave us.  That was fine, until they went out of sight & she decided that a good buck might convince me that we needed to travel at mock 10.  About the time I was thinking of a dismount, Pat came back for us & all was well :-)

Once back at the trailers, we all stood around soaking up the sunshine, Farah about went to sleep! 
Now, the problem is - if this weather changes & goes back to our normal - rain until the fourth of July - there will be a lot of unhappy horsemen!