I'd Rather Be Trail Riding

I have pictures to share and posts to write, but alas, I cannot find the cord to my camera.   Maybe if I did some Spring cleaning at home, I'd find the cord.  But I'd rather be trail riding. 

Just got back from a lovely three hour ride, winding through pine trees, hoping I wouldn't lose a knee cap in the tight spots or poke an eye out on a low branch.  That is the challenge of riding a draft in the woods.  But it was a great ride and we saw some new things on the trail ... like tents.

While we were out riding in the forest, a cub scout camp-out sprung up along both sides of the trail leading back to the parking lot.  So we rode by tents, and camp chairs, and wagons, and of course ... cub scouts running and screaming all over the place.  It was great exposure for Misty and me.

Hope you all are doing well.  I really need to catch up on your blogs.  I'm sorry.  I don't have much time to be online.  My day job keeps me very busy and then there are evening barn chores to be done before I collapse into bed.  Any spare time I can find, well, I know you'll understand ... I'd rather be trail riding. 

The Rodear - It Ain't Just for Cattle

The Spanish word "rodear" means to encircle or surround.

It is also a method of working cattle, where multiple cowboys ride in a circle around cattle, containing them inside a virtual fence made of horses and riders.  It is a lovely thing to watch.

However, a rodear isn't just for holding cattle as this video demonstrates.

Never mind the politics; that isn't what this post is about.  Just watch the horses and riders at work.

Equine cops are cool!



 I hope budget cuts never put these Denver police horses out of work.  Not only do they enforce the law, they reach out to the community like only horses can.

 Click HERE for a story and video from last year.  As far as I know, they are still on the job.

Misty's Monday Muse - Walk the Dog

 
I took Mr. OnceUpon and the dogs for a walk.

My Lady came with us, 

but I had to carry her the whole way.

She is so lazy!

Everywhere we go, she insists that I carry her.
I'm OK with that.

The dogs set a fast pace.

I had to trot to keep up with them.

It was a nice family outing.

 

 

Take a walk in the woods,

Misty's Monday Muse - Big Sisters

Big sisters make good friends...and good bodyguards.

I'm the big sister,

Greetings

Yawn...Stretch...1...2...3.

My goodness, that was a long blogger nap!

Misty and I are still here, but we've had some changes. 

Sweet SaraJane returned to her horse rescue.

She has started her training to become more adoptable.

We miss her and hope she finds a wonderful forever home.

Misty has two new sisters:

 Lyra,
a mini mare,

 and her adorable (and slightly ornery) daughter:
Lola,
 a mini molly mule.

They are permanent members of our family.

We love them!

Our little herd is quite odd looking, but the trio gets along well. 

Misty is a gentle and amiable big sister.

Lyra, Lola, and Misty

Lola: "Blizzard? What blizzard?  It was just a little snow falling sideways."
December 19th

Season's Greetings

from our herd to yours.

Gone Trail Ridin'

Misty and I are heading to the mountains for 3 days of trail riding.   Unfortunately, daily thunderstorms are in the forecast and I'm a fair weather rider.  I have my rain slicker rolled up and tied behind the cantle of my saddle.  It makes me look like a real trail rider, but goodness gracious, I really don't want to have to use it!

 The trail boss said to expect rain and if we get into lightning, we'll dismount and make our way back to camp.  Yikes!  I don't do lightning.  I may chicken out on the riding.  But I'm going up there and camp out in my horse trailer, plugged into an RV pedestal,  with Misty in a pen next to me.   I'll play it by ear and see if I can summon my inner cowgirl and ride out from camp.

But lightening and thunder?  My inner cowgirl may choose to cower in the horse trailer and watch a movie on her DVD player.

We'll see.  But you know what they say, "When thunder roars, go indoors."  Or into your horse trailer.

Here are pictures of a recent fair weather trail ride I participated in.  I had a great time on this one.  There were 19 riders and it was a beautiful day.

 

Can you see Misty in the trees above?

 

Fraidycat

The big green devil ball has been rolling around loose in the horse paddock.

 
Misty is still a big fraidycat.

I actually caught her cowering behind little SaraJane.

Like a Freight Train

Q. What does it feel like when you've been knocked down and run over by a Percheron?

A. Like a freight train just hit you.

I introduced Misty to a new object this afternoon...a Jolly Mega Ball.

I had her haltered and on a long lead line.  I was very careful to go calm and slowly and keep us both in safe positions.  It was a little windy out (first mistake), so I secured the ball so it wouldn't roll around and then I walked Misty up to it.  We retreated and approached a few times from different directions until she was curiously-afraid enough to reach out and touch it.  Soon she was licking it.

Then we both followed the ball as I rolled it slowly around her paddock.  We'd stop and she would touch the ball with her lips, push it slightly and lick it some more.  

Then I bounced the ball gently; then bounced it a little harder until I was bouncing it like a basketball.  Misty was fine. 

We pushed the ball around some more.   Misty was relaxed and licking her lips.  I patted her and told her she was a good girl.  

All was going well and I thought it was time to let the ball move freely and see if Misty would like to push it on her own.  

The ball was loose and out of my reach (second mistake).  I still had Misty on a long lead. But I let my guard down and momentarily put myself in a bad spot.  I was between Misty and the paddock fence (third mistake), while Misty was between me and the ball (fourth mistake).  At that moment a gust of wind came up and blew the devil ball toward Misty.

I heard Misty's fear snort, then she freaked out and went right into flight mode...and there I was, standing directly in her escape route.  She knocked me down, ran over me, and stepped on me.

I am very lucky that she stepped on my left calf and not on my head.  I'm also lucky that I have chubby calves that protected my bones.

My left ankle is stiff and sore.  My left calf is really painful and bruised.  My left hip is sore.  My left shoe  flew off and landed about 20 feet away.  I scraped my left foot, my right ankle, my right elbow, and 1/4 inch below the stitches that are above my right knee cap (from having a "goober" excised from under the skin above my knee cap last week; "goober", that's the medical term my doctor used. Glad I didn't scrape the stitches open.)

If the pain in my left calf and ankle are worse in the morning, I'll probably go to the doctor.  But I think I'm just badly bruised.

After this happened, I stood up, clung to the paddock fence while I caught my breath and shook off the first wave of pain.  I hobbled across the paddock to get my shoe.  Misty was standing quietly so I picked up her lead rope and we did one lap around the paddock while I slowly pushed the ball.  Misty licked the ball and we called it quits.

If I can walk tomorrow, I hope to do some more work with the ball, but here's what I'll do differently.

1.  I'll wear full length denim jeans instead of capris that leave my lower legs unprotected.
2.  I'll wear secure footwear, like boots instead of my slip-on barn clogs I had on.
3.  I'll bring the ball out only if there is no wind, and no chance of gusts.
4.  I'll be more aware of my position and not get trapped again.
5.  I'll wear a helmet.   Again, I'm lucky she didn't plant one of her drafty hooves on my head.

I always wear a helmet when I ride. But I should wear one when introducing a horse to new and scary things on the ground.  I'll do that from now on.

Lesson learned.