Thankful weekend

While many folks got together with family and friends, John and I went to the barn to spend the day with our horses. I'd like to have a family gathering, but it involves juggling  travel time to and from the barn and ride time (got to get some exercies), all tied tied in with keeping the turkey basted and non-equine family members entertained! And if those non-equine people want to watch football, I'm afraid they're out of luck--no cable or reception at my house. I'm hoping the day will come when the horses are on the property and I can host a Thanksgiving get together. We're keeping an eye on the available properties, watching for something that will fit our needs. But until then...

 So loaded with a thermos of hot tea and carrots, we headed for the barn to round up our steeds.

Thursday was frigid. Harley and Rolex were coiled springs as we rode out. I made Harley lead up past the scary goats. Without Rolex's company, I'm sure I'd have been walking him on foot up the road! I watched his ears and head--he thought about turning for home, but my insistence and Rolex's presence kept him moving forward.

Thanksgiving Day gaves all those hunters who still haven't gotten their deer a chance to roam the woods mid-week. We decided to avoid the power line--a truck was parked there, a sure indicator a hunter was up in the woods. We decked ourselves and the horses in blaze orange for good measure. I wonder if they make those crocheted ear nets in blaze orange? Even though the bugs aren't present, the color will add to our visibility. Heck, I make so much noise yammering at Harley and John, they would hear me coming, not to mention the shuffling of eight feet through the oak leaves!


I tried out the Easyboot Trails on Harley since he's such a tenderfoot. The Easyboot fit kit arrived, but due to the flare in Harley's hooves, I don't think the Glove will work. There's too much of a gap around the hoof wall and no spread at the V. They recommend the Backcountry Trail for trim issues (although this is really a shape issue), and I think those will work better. I'm still pondering the Renegades, but not sure I want to fuss with cables--been there done that with the original Easyboots! And given the mud we can get around here, I want a secure boot. Please feel free to share your experiences with boots, fellow bloggers.

Here's Harley, looking down Cheney Woods Rd., waiting for monsters to come around the corner.

And here he is peering behind. "Always watch your back trail", say's Harley. I look like I'm crying--don't know what I was doing!

We turned off into the woods, headed for the quarry. There's a large portion of the woods road that's flooded, even in dry times. After all the heavy rains, deep water was guaranteed. I asked John to take some photos for me, but Rolex, always a go, go, go girl didn't want to stand still for long. He snapped off a few before we tackled the deep water.

I'm grinning like a fool because I'm having so much fun. Even Harley was, despite the fact that he tried to act like a chicken when he realized Rolex was not right behind him.
When he gets too far away from her, he panics, stops thinking, and his survival gears kick in--wait for me, Rolex! Then it's smash n' dash. Harley was happy to turn around and stay with his girlfriend. But his bravery weighed in just up ahead when Rolex took one look at the icy flooded roadway and said, "No way, I'm not walking through that!"

 Harley approached, looked, sniffed, and began cracking through the skim ice. By the middle, he was in water just below his knobby knees. Rolex followed Harley and then we warmed up with a mad gallop up the soft sandy trail leading to the quarry. When he passed Rolex, I thought, Oh boy, let's hope he pulls up at the top! If he were braver, and had better knees, I wonder how he'd do on a cross country course--he's a strong bugger!

A tremendous amount of logging has occurred around the quarry. I think they are planning to expand the gravel extraction. But until it's impassable, we can still ride around the barrier gates. One section is blocked by boulders. Rolex would not walk between them, nor would Harley. So I hopped off and led Harley through. I think she was confused by where she should go--it was a narrow gap. And now I had a perfect mounting block--a nice big, flat boulder. Once we moved away from the quarry ridge, back into the woods, the freezing wind abated. I informed John that Harley had to go first at this point so he wouldn't dash after Rolex and get me smashed in the face by an offending oak limb I invariably hit every time we go home this way. I need to bring the saw along and remove this hazardous branch.

I'm thankful to have 3 lovely horses, and a wonderful partner who shares my passion. So many women have spouses who support their "hobby"; I'm so lucky to have one who is an active participant--one who went out on a limb and got me Harley. My horse and I are works in progress. Was he the best first horse for someone returning to riding after a 30+ year absence? Probably not, but I'm giving Harley the opportunity not many others would have. He's no school horse--he can be ornery, but he can also be such a sweetie. What discipline would he excel at? I'm not sure, but I think he knows he's got it good with us and he's happy to have his trail buddy, Rolex Girl.

For Thanksgiving dinner, he horses had a nice warm beet pulp/flax/rice bran mash and we went home to tuck into our turkey dinner!

Wild wooly weekend riding

Three red horses.

I feel so lucky today. I got in my fourth ride in four days--a new record for November riding, I think! Granted, it was a short jaunt today. After work, we dropped off John's car for repair and dashed out to the barn as the sun was beginning to set. I whistled up the horses and began brushing the mud off Harley, sending an immense amount of dust into the air. All the horses had a layer of mud pasted on their coats, even our Miss Neatkins, Ruffy. In fact, she was the worst! John witnessed mud flying off her as she gave a post-roll shake this morning. Donning our blaze orange vests, we rode up the power line, whistling, talking loudly, and singing in hopes of scaring off any hidden deer. By the time we emerged back on the road at the Orris Falls trail head, the sun was gone. I felt like I cheated old Man November today--an afternoon ride after 4 p.m. Hah!

This past Friday was a short work day. I hustled out to the barn so I could get in a ride before dark and get the stalls done. Harley hadn't been ridden for over a week and was full of himself. Oh, it's cold and windy, and I'm feeling spooky! Yup, we'd barely made it up the road before he pulled his wheel and spin moves. I know what to expect when he's like this, so I jumped off and led him up the road until we reached the woods--it's just easier and safer. Without shoes, he's still a little touchy, so I avoided gravel and rocky trails, but I think even the acorns bothered him. I let him just walk, although he got in a springy jog here and there when we turned for home, head in the air like a giraffe, jumping at squirrels dashing through the leaves.

 

Saturday proved to be a better ride. Consistency is what Harley needs. I decided to tackle the same route up the road. This time he only hesitated a bit, but I kept urging him forward with seat and legs as we pranced past the scary goats. I don't think he will ever warm up to those strange bleating four-legged creatures peering at him from inside their dim barn. We did the same loop in reverse--just to keep it interesting and a little challenging for my wimpy boy. He was happy to be home where he could see his girls, and nibble on grass.

Here's Harley give Rolex love bites in the sunset...they have a funny relationship!

John and I took Rolex and Harley on another loop ride Sunday, but this time, I tried using a pair of Easyboot Trail boots on Harley's front feet. He seemed to go much better with a lot less mincing. Because he overreaches, I've ordered a test set of Easyboot Gloves to try. His way of going might damage the rear Velcro closures on the Trails, and the Gloves appear to have a snugger fit. Any fit tips or boot opinions from my fellow bloggers would be welcome.

Harley had a repeat spook, similar to last week's when the runner popped out of the woods. This time, I have no idea what he saw, or heard--a squirrel, a turkey, deer, a big rock? But suddenly, he whirled left, crashed through some saplings, causing Rolex to spin and run too. Gotta love how this always happens as you're on a loose rein with a bitless bridle! Poor John was bent over trying to adjust something when all hell broke loose. Yee-haaaa and hang on tight! Oh my, poor Harley.... Thankfully, the only injuries were a scratch on John's face a weal on my cheek. Lacrosse masks--that's what we really need.

After we got home, John still had time to tack up Ruffy and take her for a little ride too. She was a good girl, glad to not see moose, deer, turkeys, or get tangled in any brush. Her idea of perfect terrain is a nice open field where she can build up good speed on smooth footing--our turf mare!

She's such a sweet girl--I can't resist snapping shots of her lovely head, despite all the "trail tack" she's wearing.

And then we've got Buster--look at the neck on that horse! See what neck muscles a hardened cribber develops? Refined loveliness above, neck like a Belgian below. Oh Harley---get off the fence!

I'd love to know how to stop this and yet it may be something he needs to do when eating (he'd been noshing on some grass at the time). It's certainly not a vice he has from being cooped up and bored since they spend all day, and most nights (spring through fall) outdoors. Some speculate it helps buffer stomach acid, and releases endorphins. Yes, I've got a cribbing strap, but how effective is it and does it do more harm than good? Right now, it sits up in the loft, collecting dust.