American Beauty Day~

Bryant - 10-mi. loop

The day started out with temps at 30, frost on the ground - but sunshine pouring over the Cascades!  I was up early & to the trailer parking early too.  Lots of trailers pulling in & lots of people taking advantage of a perfect day to ride!

Farah watching the "neighbors" & enjoying the sun

Joyce had offered to re-show me the ten-mile training loop that we used to do.  What fun to ride with her again!  Jesse has a great trot, so the two horses worked well together.  Farah was very full of herself, so we trotted where we could & walked through the numerous muddy areas.

This photo showing the beauty of the day!

The ride was over was quicker than I would have liked!  I thought about going out again, as Joyce had to head to work - but knew that something "wasn't right" with Farah's shoes & Art had agreed to fit us in to his now busy schedule - so we had to head home.  Good thing, as Art pulled in just a few minutes behind us!

Hind feet trimmed

The dogs took off with the "evidence" but Farah's left hind foot had again grown WAY faster than the others!  This was the leg that spent last winter covered with Dean's magic "blue cream" - healing the "scratches" for lack of another description.  When we'd re-shod back then - Art was amazed at the growth in that foot, both of us thinking that it was probably a one time thing...  But NOT!  That foot had over 3/4" of growth!  The other hind only 1/4"!  So no wonder she was forging in the heavy footing on the Centennial Trail Tue.

Farah was Not happy that her pasture time was delayed, but went soundly to sleep while Art finished her shoes :-)  On the Very First Step - the stride was HUGE - so we knew that things were back to the way she likes them!

As a post-script to our ride, on the way back while still out on the logging road, we were trotting side-by-side when I asked Farah to collect up.  At first she said;  "No, I don't think I want to."  But I did as Sandra has instructed - didn't give in & asked again.  This time her response was immediate & incredible - at least to me!  She collected, lifted her back, put her head in the perfect position & next thing I knew - we were flying!  All without breaking her beautiful collected frame.  She asked to go faster & I said "sure" & she did!  Smart this girl is!  She's not only learning - but putting what she's learned to work on the trail!

Squeezing in a Dry Ride!

Bracken Road

I'd planned to ride with Lynn, we were both hoping for decent weather, since she was kind enough to offer to drive up my way for the day.  Early rain dampened my hopes, but within a short time, the clouds parted & sun appeared! 

Arriving early at the parking - there was plenty of space open with only two other rigs there.  Walking out of the PP, always my first stop...  I was just in time to see a truck with camper & trailer, narrowly missing the corner of my trailer - with Farah still inside.  The vehicle stopped & driver appeared.  I knew the driver, but doubt she remembered me.  I spoke to her by name & said;  "M, I guess you don't want me to use my tack room or tie my mare to my trailer?"   She said;  "Aren't you leaving?"  My response;  "No, just arrived."  To which she responded;  "Well then, you can just tie up to my trailer."  Somehow - that just didn't work for me.  I love my little "around-town" Bronco & small horse trailer!  I just got back in, made a small circle & parked a 100 ft. further up the parking lot.  Still amazed me that anyone could be so rude.

Lynn arrived & we were in the saddle shortly after noon.  With me "leading" - don't start laughing!!!  I know those of you who know me well, know full well that I have no sense of direction.  It had been months since I'd ridden these trails, but Lynn is a trusting soul!  :-)

By 3 in the afternoon, the clouds covered the sky~

 Farah was so full of herself that she threatened to buck again, so I took the lead & put her onto a technical trail that would occupy her mind!  Once we were moving out, she settled down.  The trails were in better shape than I would have expected considering the heavy use this area gets now - but there were only a few mud bogs to navigate. 

On the way "back" Lynn wanted to try Sophie's built-in navigation system, which took us on a wonderful loop - but not "back".  :-)  We ended our ride with just over 13-miles, mostly at a good walk with a little trot.  I was very happy with Farah this ride.  She actually collected up, moved into a western jog trot, smoothest ever when I asked her to to back off a fast trot!  Going into the mud, or over an obstacle - I released rein as we'd practiced with Mark Bolender & she negotiated them perfectly without her usual rush at the end.  We had more than one moment of brilliance & I got the feeling that she enjoyed our ride as much as I did!  I Love it when she comes home happy. 

Young Horse Stuff~

Foxglove in Full Bloom~

You know how it is...  you have a great ride on a youngster, then you take them out again & things are not as good?  Well...  I decided to get in a short ride from home & check things out in our backyard.  Overgrown!  That's how things were!  If I don't do some clearing - we won't be getting through in another couple weeks.  What clearing I'd done last season - which was a lot, still hadn't kept up with all the growth! 

We made it out to the power lines, the perfect time to enjoy all the color from the Foxglove.  Years ago, it grew all along the trails through the woods, that since have been bulldozed.  Now - it's coming back in the few places that haven't been disturbed.  Heading back - by a trail that we used to call our running hill.   Going down it - rather than up.  Besides being covered with brush, what was left of the trail had a small river of water running down the middle, that had washed a deep v-shaped grove.  Those are hard to navigate - I'd seen them before at Capitol Forest - made by the bicyclists who ride there.  Farah wasn't doing bad, just some slipping - as she tried to avoid the running water.  We came up on a very deep hole & decided to dismount & guide her past it.  That done, I went to re-mount & that's when she decided to make a sharp left & leap - UP the hillside!  I was left hanging from the stirrup, still with the rein in my hand as she tried to plunge through the brush dragging me along.  I managed to get her pulled up after barely missing a tree trunk.  She was barrel deep in Salmonberry & standing over two large partly rotted cedar stumps.  Did I cuss her out?  Oh YES!  I sure did.  She knew for sure that she had been Very Bad!  :-)  

I forged a way back down to the trail - told her to STAND on fear of death & re-mounted.  Now - we will be Standing for Every mount - standing Firm!  :-)

First Day of Fall!

We follow Joyce & Annie

I somehow can't think of a better way to celebrate the arrival of Fall, than with a ride.  From a cloudy, somewhat overcast morning with a good wind blowing, we ended up in bright sunshine, high humidity & temperature over 80!  The mares worked up a good lather & we did too.  

Gorgeous in the woods~

Lots of trailers at the Bracken parking area, plenty of riders with the same idea we had.  We tried some different trails, I worked on getting Farah IN to mud puddles, after a somewhat quick sideways jump to avoid one!  Finally, she was walking through for me & getting lots of praise :-)  If she doesn't get used to them now...  I can't imagine that she would possibly make a trail horse in Western, WA!
 

She was showing me some attitude today too.  Picking up the speed of the trot  & resisting when I asked her to slow it down :-)  Of course with all the  bravado of youth, on her side - the gold mare prefers to be in front!   What she found out today though - is if you're in front - then decide to stop or avoid a mud puddle, the other horse gets the lead!  We're working on getting the rear-end disengaged too!  What?  Move my rear end???   I'd rather be moving forward!

Rose Hips~

I would have taken the day a few degrees cooler, but that will come soon enough!  Leaves were already flying through the air, in a couple more weeks & with a few more cold nights the colors will start to show!
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As a post-script to those of you with Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS units...  It seems they are NOT waterproof :-(  At Bare Bones, when I first looked down at mine, I thought the water was just on the lens...  not... it was all the way inside.  Once home, I plugged it in & it actually downloaded my data from the ride.  I could see the moisture inside, so put it out in the sunshine each day & really thought it had dried out.  Today, when I went to turn it on, nothing...  This is my favorite gizmo... so I sure hope it recovers!

Farah's First Ride with Friends!

Joyce on Anne, Charlotte on Aliento

 I receive a call from Joyce on Sat. afternoon.  She & Charlotte are planning an evening ride - will I come?  It was one of the first really warm days we'd had & we had a lot of "stuff" at home that needed doing - but, riding is riding :-)  Decided to take Farah.  Saddled her, loaded her up & if Khari hadn't screamed like her heart was breaking - it would have been a quieter leave taking!  As it was - Farah hit the side of the trailer a couple times, but soon settled down.  We let her travel untied & she really seems to like it.  

We were the first ones there, so I went ahead & adjusted my bridle for her.  When Joyce pulled in next to us - Farah watched quietly.  Once Charlotte was there & both horses unloaded, you could just see Farah's face change with curiosity!   She said;  "Hi" to Aliento - amazingly - Anne was in a "good" mood & just ignored her!  

Once on the trails, I couldn't have asked for a better greenie!  Nothing like having an "easy" ride for a beginner - Not!  First they discussed whether we'd take the "Big Hill" route, or the "Downhill" route!  (I told Farah to ignore them!)  Our first obstacle was the Beaver pond, not too deep.  Anne went first - Farah refused, then decided to try walking on the top of the dam!  No - that wouldn't do.  I backed her off - Joyce turned Anne around to face us & Farah just walked right in!  No big deal after that!  

Farah kept up really well, we placed her first, middle & last.  Middle she wants to follow too close & of course doesn't want anyone right on top of her!  :-)  Last seems fine with her, she even took lead several times!  About 7 miles into the ride, her mind needed a little "break".  We stopped, I gave her some pets - she let out a big sigh - & away we went!  The bridge at Bracken Rd., that has been under repair for several months - was open!  How great to have it completed in time for the long weekend!  Farah led the way across!  

We arrived back at the trailers by a different route than we'd left.  Farah was in the lead, came into the clearing & stopped to look.  I decided to dismount - swung my left leg over & felt something under my foot!  Looked down & it was the mounting block log!  Whether by training,  intentional, or unintentional - I liked it!  She Loaded back up with no fuss at all - traveled home much quieter than on the way out!  Once we were home, she gave a big shake, had a big roll & was ready for dinner!

  

Did I mention that I had a Great time riding her?  Stride is longer than I'm used to - very big, long & very smooth!