Full House......... Almost

There have been some changes @ the barn recently & hardly any room left in the "inn".  The Buddha's ole roommate has returned PLUS some new ones.  It's SO fun to have the majority of the stalls filled again w/ these magnificent creatures.

          Wilbur has returned - he along w/ Casino are original members :)

                                 Here's Casino....

                      Meet Max.....he's the resident stud.

                  Can't forget Chucky - he is SO handsome & big!!!

              The Buddha & Tia aren't quite sure @ all these new changes...




Regal & Blackjack are still there too .....w/ most of the stalls filled - it is very heart warming to hear all the nickers & whinnies when you first walk in the barn.  I'd love to think it's b/c they all love me - but I do realize it's really all @ my delicious carrots I bring every Saturday !!


Thanksgiving is this week & I truly feel thankful for the opportunity to be part of these beautiful horses' lives.  Thank you Patty & Doug :)

Melanie Meet My Menargerie

I invited another friend to Wisconsin & she readily agreed.  Melanie has ridden English most of her life & is an instructor @ the barn that I volunteer @ on Mondays.  We met almost 4 years ago & became quick friends while grooming horses. 

                        Mel & Tia meet for the 1st time

                    She & Tia were trotting away in no time :)

It went from a very chilly morning to an absolutely beautiful day & we ended up w/o our coats!!

        The Buddha & I were content to be the photographers this week :)

                     Cantering away on my beautiful mare....

               They made quite an attractive pair, don't you think?



She also rode the Buddha & was amazed how wonderful & easy he was to ride. She & Tia did some "moments" while riding BUT they ended up respecting each other & became buddies.  I look forward to Mel's return visit & I'm sure T does too :)

" O " Really???

Being October already - one must take every advantage of the time left for riding. Today was VERY cool & VERY windy & the horses were as 'up' ( full of energy ) as they were going to get.  My friends were going to make a return visit & ride with Kayla & myself....so....we lunged & rode the horses before they got there.

           You can tell from our dress & head attire - it was CHILLY!!!!
          Bernadette is on Tia, I'm on the Buddha & Kayla is atop Blackjack.

       Here we have Bernadette on Tia, me on Blackjack & Jin on the Buddha.

Always something to learn....Kayla was teaching me how to ride saddle seat on BJ.

             I was teaching Bernadette how to un-tack western.

  And Jin was learning how to calmly walk horses into the barn after being ridden.



Thee biggest surprise was ....when we were in the barn....Trisha & her Mom pulled up w/ the baby  - Lil O - & I got to hold him for the 1st time :)))  My camera was "full" & in the barn while we were in the house ergo no photos....grrr! 

We were all tired, cold & wind blown - but you would not have been able to tell since our smiles & laughter kept us all warm...not to mention all the horse hugs we gave :)

Me, Myself & I

I have NOT been @ the barn by myself in a very   l  o  n  g   time, it was kind of eerie today.  Altho, once I get over the initial "quiet " I must admit....I went into the " the barn is all mine " zone :)

                    The Buddha being lunged before our ride...

                  It was SO warm that he started sweating quickly :(

       It's difficult to take action shots when you are solo...so I decided to go abstract.  This angle was not at all flattering of my guy!

       So, after a time , I dismounted, turned him out & focused on Tia.

         Amazing how different creatures look with the sun as your canvas :)

          The property was just beautiful enriched by all the fall colors.





By days end - after mucking, lunging, riding, watering, sweeping & turning out - I truly felt like the barn was mine for a day.....altho I did enjoy the times Doug I chatted :)

It also made me realize how much work & dedication goes into running a barn & giving horses everything they need....my hat is off to Patty & Doug.

A "K" of a Day.....

Kayla, my riding buddy, has joined the equestrian team @ her high school & had an upcoming show to practice for. Patty was nice enough to help her get ready by giving her  crash courses in saddle seat, showmanship & western pleasure.

Boot camp begins w/ Casino & showmanship....this is judged by how well your horse moves while you are both on the ground - everything is done by the using the halter & a lead rope.

         Tia & I looked on w/ great delight & enjoyed the fact it wasn't us!!!

Now, Kayla & Black Jack are practicing saddle seat w/ 2 sets of reins - yikes!!!
This is judged by how well you move your horse while in the saddle & is ridden w/ English tack.

                              Trot - Trot - Trot

The Buddha - who I rode first -  &  Casino were happily munching away in the other pasture while their barn mates were still working :)

          Kayla needed some photos for the show.....so I snapped away :)

Western pleasure was also practiced - this is judged by how well you & your horse can work a pattern on the ground & how well you do riding thru an obstacle course.


        

Lastly, Tia , all beauteous in her western tack - wondering when she could join Casino & the Buddha on the other side of the fence!



 I'm very happy to share that Kayla placed in EVERY class she entered & had medals & ribbons galore :))    Congrats!!!

Sun Up to Sun Down .....part 2

The weather was exceptional & the ladies & I rode most of the day & were eventually joined by Patty.

            Patty on Casino prepping him for a show the following day.

                      All 3 happily posed for a photo :)

Doug rec'd a phone call for Patty & happily delivered it in person - trust me THIS is a rare occurrence :)

      Bernadette atop Blackjack - who is a gaited horse. He moves laterally @ a very fast trot & it makes you feel like you're riding a cartoon character :)))

       Jin also took a spin, but did not want to trot.....so I "encouraged" Blackjack by trotting Bud away from him......Jin was by my side in no time :)

Here is our photo finish - after a day of riding in both pastures, having lunch, finishing up barn chores, & lastly invading a huge garden filled with veges galore.  It just does not get any better than this for me.  Thank you.


                 

Sun-Up to Sun Down.......part 1

On this particular Saturday, I left my house @ 7am & did not return for 12 - count them - 12 hours.  And it was wonderful!!!

My 2 friends from hippo therapy joined me once again & we had a beautiful equine filled day together :)

First off....Tia & I did some English seat - my buddy Kayla was on the Buddha.

     When my friends arrived - they mounted up & the day just blossomed.

        That's Kayla in the middle between Bernadette on Tia & Jin on Bud :)

                  Maya is being lunged by Kayla after .......

                     we removed ALL these cockle burrs from .....

              her beautiful tail...you can see my brush underneath :)

These nasty lil plants are in both pastures & are the bane of my existence as far as grooming goes. They get SO snarled in the horses' manes, forelocks & tails that it can take some time to remove them.  You have to be gentle in doing so or the hair will break right off  &  you lose length,  that they have grown out over the summer.

 I'm happy to report that since this photo was taken - Doug has mowed ALL those suckers down to the ground :))