Back to School......

Since having Tia in my life....I really want to improve on my English riding.  Make no mistake @ it....western is my preferred...but it's always fun to learn new things. 

Here she is adorned in her English bridle - as you can tell - some adjustments need to be made aka new holes punched so the top strap lies flat.

Patty giving Kayla some lessons while I was on the Buddha watching & listening intently.

                                   My turn....

      Sometimes we argued who was boss - the tail swishing is a good indicator.




All in all ...things went well...I feel there is ALOT more to remember with the English seat....BUT...Tia being SO sweet & patient...I know we will become a good team soon.  Thank you Patty for your guidance :)

                    Proof of our morning ride - saddle sweat :(

Afterwards, they are both as happy as clams vacuuming the ground for food under their favorite apple tree.  Riders???    What riders???

BUCK....you say???

Yes, the above word is B-u-c-k......not B-u-d.  Bru & I took a lil vacay to Mackinac Island over the holiday week & that's where I met the 16y/o Paint Draft. He was massive in size, sweet as could be BUT very strong!!!  I was told that he knows secret ways to cut 15 minutes off your hour ride....so beware.  The guide had informed us of the correct way to return to the stable...so I was ready for him to try & cheat!

                         This is where it all began.....

    Here we are - mounted & ready :)  Bru is actually on Midge - Buck's 13 y/o daughter - did you think you were seeing double??

We had opted for no guides after we were led out of town...so this is where we rode - thru the forests of the island.  How did Bru & Midge get in the lead ?

                             Buck & I were closing in :)

       Sure enough....Midge wanted a treat & Buck & I took the lead spot :)




What is SO wonderful @ Mackinac Island is that the 2 methods of transportation are either horses or bikes.  We did take a spin around the island on wheels...but the majority of our time was spent w/ the equine option.

It didn't take me long at all to spot my first horse - we had just arrived & were taking a walk-a-bout to check things out.

              Love this photo of man on bike vs tons of horses :)

This was our tour team - Jessie, June & Jake - they took us all thru the forest part of the island.

              This guy was so fascinated by the fleece bike seat cover :))

     This herd of several were loaded on the ferry to return home for some R & R

                  They didn't seem to mind being on water @ all....

            This team was leaving the dock w/ supplies for the stores.

                    Back on Buck for ride #2 of the vacay :)

                             And Bru was back w/ Midge :)

                   

          Lastly, my favorite photo from our wonderful week in Michigan :)

Reasons One Does NOT Ride.......

On this particular Saturday......the skies were looking pretty odd & there was a strange feeling in the air.   While we were mucking out stalls...my friend called me over to check out the cloud formation .....oh my ....was all I could muster to say.

                        This is what I saw...eerie...huh?

            It was strangely beautiful....but....we all knew it meant bad news.

                     Here's another view....just as eerie!!

  Our lovely layers of soft looking clouds soon took a much darker appearance.

                     Here's Kayla challenging the rain gods!!!

Needless to say the skies opened up & a down pour began....then we heard a HUGE  noise & closed the barn door. We went @ our business & tended to the horses - who by the way- didn't miss a beat & continued to enjoy their morning hay.



Warp speed to about an hour.....the rain had pretty much stopped...& I opened the door....to see SMOKE!!!

The loud noise ended up being a crack of lightening & was from a tree in the pasture. It was smoking from the bottom like it was on fire.....& the insides were!! The burn line started way up @ the top of the tree & looked like someone had scraped a large section right down the middle of it!!!

As you can see...the smoke was escaping from 2 different spots from where the tree met the ground.

We tried water & that was no help, then we contacted the owner & she called a fireman friend of hers. He said as long as there was nothing close by that could catch on fire - house, barn etc - it would burn itself out.  Just to make sure, a fire extinguisher was used & emptied ( thank you Oscar ). 

                     We found bark as far away as 40 feet......




The horses were eventually turned out AFTER the threat of bad weather had passed & acted like it was any other day of the week.  They had grass on their minds & little else :)

Western vs English

Today I invited 2 lovely ladies who I volunteer w/ Mondays in a Hippo-therapy program.  It is a Hunter/Jumper barn - ergo - English saddle is mostly used.  The kids range from 3 to ?  & we either side walk or lead the horses around the arena.

Here is a snapshot taken taken last Christmas in the arena.  I was leading the pony & the therapist - who had the camera - was also a side walker.



The property is pretty much land locked, but has both outdoor & indoor riding arenas.  I had shared photos of where Buddha & Tia were & invited the ladies to join me on a Saturday.  They readily accepted :)  I was very excited to share the WESTERN style of riding with them as they both only have ridden English @ the therapy barn.  The stage was set............

                  Here are Bernadette & Tia meeting each other.

            As well as Jin & the Buddha....notice the English tack.






                

                 I lunged & rode both horses before they got on.

   Bernadette was 1st - Bud was a true gentleman & they got along wonderfully :)

                  Jin also rode the Buddha sans any issues :)


                    

          In no time @ all they both were comfortable enough to ride together:)

                   Bernadette decided she liked English better.....

                      And Jin admitted she preferred Western.....


They rode & rode & rode .....it just made my heart hum...as I can still remember my first time on Bud....I did not want to get off!  Afterwards, we finished up barn chores -  they both learned was how to muck out stalls, water, groom & turn out.  Thank you ladies for sharing my world & for the delicious lunch on the way home....it was truly a GREAT day :))

Good-bye Mel.........Hello Miss T

I have discovered that the only thing you can count on in life - is change.  My dear friend Melody recently moved to Arizona to help take care of her aging parents.  She was VERY concerned @ her horse Tia.....as Arizona is NOT known for their grassy plains.......

             Here is Melody & her horse of over 30 years  - Piedmont




My dream has always been to own several horses - BUDDHA will always be # 1 :) - so when the opportunity presented it self.....I bought Miss T.  As you already know she is a beautiful 11y/o Paint Quarter horse & can be ridden both English & Western.

After Pieddy passed - Melody spotted Tia who was being boarded @ the barn & was up for sale.

                  Miss M & Miss T looking all photogenic :))

               Here she is running around during free lunge time.

            Nor sleet, snow or rain kept Melody from seeing her girl.

Mel celebrated 20 years of being @ the barn ....so I included her on Bud's 20th B'day cake :))

                                  A closer shot




So, now I have 2 horses that are very well behaved, a pleasure to ride, & will keep me on my toes physically & mentally. 

I am very happy that Melody was able to sell her house (especially in today's market) & move to a warmer state to help her folks - BUT - I am very sad for me.... who will miss her smiling face on Saturday mornings, along w/ her doggie tales of the week, not to mention all her support & love she gave me over the years.

Bud & Blackjack........

This Saturday it was just Kayla & I w/ our equine & we decided to ride in the other pasture as the tract was under water (again).  Horses that do not have shoes on do.... better in the wet grass.

            It was a hot one ...so we took several breaks under the huge trees.

                   The Buddha loves to hear how handsome he is :))

                And of course he can't resist the temptation of food

                          Yum ....a nice juicy weed!!!!

                     Tia checking us out from her stall....

              And, of course, Kayla & Blackjack having their lil love fest.