Moonlight ride

I went out to feed tonight around 9:30. I had some shoveling I still wanted to do and tonight was a better time as the sun this afternoon was warm enough to make the snow stick to the shovel. It was such a calm and lovely night. It was a bit cloudy but the clouds were just a thin layer blanketing the night sky and the nearly full moon was shining through quite brightly onto the fresh layer of snow. After feeding, and doing some shoveling, I just could not resist the urge to go for a quick ride in the snow. I grabbed my saddle and bridle from the trailer and saddled up Luke. It is so nice to have the center aisle barn to groom and saddle in. I hopped on Luke and at first just rode him in his paddock to see what his mood was. As if it is EVER anything but good. We did some lateral work with side passing and backing and he was completely attentive and did perfect. I then decided to ride out in the pasture. I was easily able to open the gate from Luke's back. He was perfect about lining up to the gate and then turning on the forehand to let me swing the gate open. We went out into the pasture and I was suddenly filled with anxiety. I have not ridden in my pasture since the day I came off and got hurt over 2 1/2 years ago. Strange that after all this time, it would bother me still. I know Luke could sense my anxiety but being the solid, wonderful, dependable mule he is, he took care of me, he calmed me, took my fears away and in it's place he put a big smile on my face as he calmly carried me around the pasture. That's the special kind of mule that Luke is.

Ride in Bowdoinham

I was scheduled to work this Friday but work volumes being lower then forecast, the shift was cancelled. So, when Susie mentioned to me that she and Linda were riding today, I was able to join them. We decided to ride on the trails in Topsham at Murder Rd. I was a few minutes late leaving my house and called Susie to let her know. She asked me to stop by her house as she was having trouble loading her new horse. When I got there, Linda had driven over to help also. Unfortunately, we were not able to load the horse and Linda ran out of time to go to Topsham. So, she decided to go home and just do a quick ride from her house and Susie and I rode from her house. We had a very nice ride. We did some trails by the river near her house. Because the trails are so flat in Topsham, I'd brought my mule saddle for Luke so I could ride wearing my lined jeans. The mule saddle is not a great fit on Luke but he doesn't seem to be bothered as long as we stay on flat ground. But, going downhill, it pinches his shoulders. We didn't do much for hills in Bowdoinham either but we did go through a few short but steep gullies. Luke did shake his head in protest a few times but that was it. I felt bad and I'm grateful that he's such a good boy. I promised him that I would not be so lazy in the future and will dress appropriately to use my English saddle. Before going back to Susie's we took a spin around town. Luke and Dixie were both very good and it was a nice ride.

First Beach Ride of the Season

Most people look forward to summer so they can go to the beach. We equestrians here in Maine look forward to winter........ so we can go to the beach! We are allowed to ride on the beach from October 15th to May 1st. There are two good riding beaches less then an hour drive from where I live. We decided to go to Scarborough. There is a 6 miles stretch of beach there that is split between the towns of Scarborough and Old Orchard.

Vicki Austin on her wonderful pony Baby

Cindy on Luke and Susie on Bayzen.....and Baby's ear

My friend Susie and I had planned to ride but made the last minute decision to go to the beach. The weather was good and the tide was right. In December here in Maine you have to grab every good opportunity you get. I picked up Susie at 9:45 am and after a stop for gas and a quick stop at the Scarborough town office to purchase a season permit to ride at the beach, we got to the beach around 11:00 am. This was the first time I'd taken Luke to the beach but I do know he's been before with his owner, Kyle. So I knew he'd be fine. Another friend of mine was already there and out riding when we arrived. There was one other horse trailer in the parking lot. It was a harness racing horse and driver just coming off the beach. We often see harness racing horses out on the beach as it's such a good place for conditioning them. We quickly tacked up. Being the Christmas season, I left the silly elf hat I had put on my helmet for the Christmas parade I rode in last week. And I put Luke's elf hat on him. I didn't want to be the only one looking silly.

When you first get on the beach, above the high tide line, the sand if very soft. This worried Luke a little bit but he followed Susie's horse, Bayzen with just a little bit of snorting at the sand. Once below the high tide line, the sand is nice and firm. We headed down toward the Old Orchard Beach pier. Luke usually takes the lead when with Bayzen but he decided to let Bayzen go first today. BIG CHICKEN! And he really wanted to keep Bayzen between him and the ocean. About 1/2 way to the pier, we met up with our friend Vicki on her wonderful Appy pony, Baby. Luke was really keeping an eye on all the Sea Gulls. He was quite suspicious of them but only kept a close eye on them. As a mule that lives with guinea hens, I was surprised he even noticed them. We stopped to take a few pictures of Vicki and Baby riding in the surf. Then Vicki and her brave pony led the way under the pier. We did a lovely long trot and canter down to the river and crossed that and kept doing down towards the Camp Ellis jetty. There was a short stretch of soft sand that we walked through then nice going again down to the jetty. The equines showed us how well their brakes worked a few times as we trotted up on some scary, equine eating, water filled dent in the beach sand or ribbon of  running water. And once as we were passing some rocks that Luke was intently staring at, a wave snuck up behind us and attacked us. Luke spun around and showed us how well a mule can run backwards. It was funny!

The pier at Old Orchard Beach as seen through Luke's ears

Just after we'd crossed the river again and were back on the Old Orchard section of beach, we had two German Shepherds approach us and they did not look friendly. The circled around Susie's horse with hackles raised and were growling. At first we didn't see anyone that seemed to be with the dogs. The dogs got behind Susie's horse and were sniffing his legs. Bayzen was not happy about it but he stood still and stayed quiet. We then noticed, quite a way down the beach, someone hurrying in our direction and yelling for the dogs. The dogs were not paying ANY attention. The owner finally got to where we were but she was unable to catch and restrain either dog. Dogs are NOT supposed to be off leash on this beach. The dogs did get away from the horses in their attempt to evade their owner and we rode off. The dogs did follow us for a short distance but when we picked up a trot, they gave up. Dogs don't normally worry me but these two dogs made me nervous as they really looked like then might go after Susie's horse.

We did another nice long trot most of the way back then walked then the last 1/2 mile or so to let Luke and the horses cool down. Luke, Bayzen and Baby were all so good and we had a wonderful ride. And only 3 people asked me if I was riding a donkey.   On the way home we stopped for a quick bite to eat and coffee. We dropped the windows on my trailer so Luke and Bayzen could stick their head out. From where we were sitting in the restaurant, we could see the trailer and it was funny watching the two of them playing around with each other.

First Dressage Lesson with Luke

Today was my first dressage lesson with Luke. I was so excited! I rode Luke at Upper Pond on Tuesday after work. And we had a great ride in the arena. I rode inside for about 30 minutes. Luke and I are working together better and better each time. Though I'm riding "English" I haven't been messing with Luke's head set, which is quite low from his Western Pleasure training. I wanted to wait and switch him over to a regular snaffle bit before asking him to pick his head up for dressage work as I've been riding him with a shanked bit. A short shank but a shank nonetheless. I don't want to confuse Luke or mess up any of Kyle's good training. And I think the difference in the feel of rein cues from a shanked bit to a snaffle will help with that. And Luke has previous dressage training.

Anyway, after riding in the ring on Tuesday, I took him out for a short trail ride. Last week when I did this, he was a bit balky about leaving the barn area. This is not like him but he seems to really enjoy being around so many other horses. So, I grabbed a crop to help with persuading him that trail riding was good, hanging around the barn was bad. At the first sign of hesitation, I only had to give him one light tap on the rump to let him know I had a crop and that was the end of his silliness and he was his good old trail riding self again.

So today, I tested Luke's patience by trying to get my English bridle to fit him. I punched more holes in it and took off the brow band and replaced it with a larger one off a mule bridle but it was still just a little bit too snug on him. About the 5th time I put it on him he was starting to give me some major mulie stink eye but Luke being Luke, he sucked it up and put up with it all.

When Mary, the instructor arrived and met Luke, she was very impressed with him. We had a wonderful lesson. Luke is so willing to do what you ask of him and he truly is a lovely mover. Mary was impressed with this also. She was not convinced his mother was a Percheron, she thinks he looks and moves like a Thoroughbred. I agree with her about his looks and movement. But, he really has a classic wonderful draft horse disposition.

I'm very much looking forward to my 2nd lesson next week.

Bowdoinham Christmas Festival Pony Parade 2012

Today was the day of the Bowdoinham Christmas Festival Pony Parade. I did have to work today but had time before work to make it to this event. Yesterday, I went out shopping for things I could use to decorate Luke, Marie and myself with. I hate to shop but if I'm shopping for an equine, I can tolerate it. I happened to run into Pam and Cierra at Wal-Mart and they were also shopping for decorations for the event. Cierra was riding my horse Marie. When I got home last night, I did go out in the barn and put some of the decorations on Luke to make sure he would tolerate them. he was fine with it all as I suspected he would be.

It was cold today, only in the high 20's. But, not much wind so dressed properly, it was tolerable. I arrived at Susie's house, where we were all meeting, at 10:00 am. Pam and Cierra arrived just after I did. I took my riding boots into Susie's house to keep them warm. Cierra, Pam and I groomed Luke and Marie and had a lot of fun decorating them. Though Luke did clamp his tail down pretty hard when I put the big bow and garland in his tail. David went around with a cattle marker and put numbers on all our equines hindquarters. This would be for the costume judging at the Town Landing. Luke did NOT like David drawing on his butt and danced around a bit before submitting to this further indignity. Joanie had dropped off gifts for some of us for this event. They were Santa hats made for horses!!! They were fabulous. I had customized a hat for Luke already but Marie didn't have one so she was now all set.

Just before heading out, many of us went into the house for a quick warm up and then we were ready to ride. Marie made a point of sniffing and squealing at each of the gelding so they would undersand their place in this world. There were 7 of us to start with Maura and Meri coming as soon as they could.

Cindy dressing up Luke

Pam and Cierra dressing up Marie

Marie saying, "you aren't really taking me in public looking like this are you?"

The crew, Cindy with Luke, Pam, Ann on Corazon, Cierra on Marie, Susie H on Ollie, Diana on Dixie, Kate, Susie R. on Bayzen, Mary Ann on Suri with Callie (dog) and Cody in background.

Susie H. on Ollie

Mary Ann Wilson on Suri

Cindy on Luke and Susie on Bayzen ready to go!

We headed out for our first stop which was the Bowdoinham Library.  From Susie's house we headed down Main St. with David, Kate and Pam following in a car with flashers for our safety. It had started to snow lightly adding to the Christmas feel for the day. As we passed a small open field, Susie led it into it to keep us off the road for a short distance. The open field got a few of the horses excited and we had a brief and minor rodeo. Luke was quite excited to start with and the sight of glittering, jingling, antlered horses leaping and jumping near him cause him some concern. But, he didn't seem to know if he ought to get outta' Dodge or join in the fun. He settled for a bit of dancing in place. We got out of the field and back on the road and all equines settled down.

First stop the Library. Diana on Dixie, Cindy on Luke, Ann on Corazon, Susie H on Ollie and Kate passing out gifts

Diana on Dixie, Cindy on Like, Ann on Corazon, Susie H on Ollie

Susie R. on Bayzen, Cierra on Marie. Joanie and Kate passing out gifts

Our second stop was at the Long Branch School and general store . Luke was a bit fidgety but nothing serious. He just was not sure what this was all about and was still a bit excited. Marie was looking for grass to eat. We sang Christmas carols at all of our stops.

Our 2nd stop, Long Branch General Store and school.

Susie R. on Bayzen, Diana on Dixie, Cindy on Luke, Mary Ann on Suri and Cierra on Marie

Cindy on Luke, Susie R. on Bayzen, Diana on Dixie, Cierra on Marie, Kate, Susie H. on Ollie and Ann on  Corazon

Cindy on Luke, Susie R. on Bayzen and Cierra on Marie

Our 3rd stop was at the Town Landing Restaurant. It was here that the restaurant owner came out to judge our costumes. My brother Dennis and his wife were here just leaving the restaurant. Marie was disappointed there was no grass here. From the Town Landing, we rode to the Bowdoinham Country Store. Just as we were leaving the store, a wagon with a team of horses, giving rides between the store and the school, was coming down the hill towards us. Luke and Marie payed no attention to the wagon. Marie was still wondering where the grass was..... but then I heard a commotion behind me. Susie's new horse Dixie, who was being ridden by her friend Diana, came unglued at the sight of the wagon. Dixie bolted out of my line of vision towards the back of the store with Susie following. Susie yelled for us to all keep going fearing that the other horses might get upset at Dixie's antics. So, we kept going and went around the corner towards the elementary school. Then, we heard Susie calling for us all to come back. Diana had Dixie under control (and a fine bit of riding she did I must say) but Bayzen came unglued over all the other horses leaving him. Susie then got to show off her riding skills as we came back to get her. No one made any involuntary dismounts so all was well and we then headed for the school.

Our 3rd Stop was the Town Landing Restaurant and store.

On the way to the school, we made a quick stop at the house of a friend of Susie's. Unfortunately her friend wasn't home but a neighbor came over and enjoyed our visit. Susie H and her friend Ann left us at this point as they were getting very cold. Marie snuck a few bites of grass on the lawn.  Maura and her daughter Meri caught up with us here.


5th stop at a friends home. Cierra on Marie, Susie R. on Bayzen and Cindy on Luke

Pam Young with gift bag helping to pass out gifts

Our last stop was at the Bowdoinham elementary school. There were some festival activities going on here and quite a few people to enjoy the sight of our pony parade. The wagon came by here also so we retreated to the playground until it left and all was well. Marie just wanted some grass.......... From the school we rode back to Susie's house where we took care of the horses and mule and then went into the house to sit by the fire and warm up with hot chocolate and cookies. Susie called the Town Landing to find out the results of the costume judging. Cierra and Marie won funniest costume. Susie and Bayzen got best Santa. Mary Ann and Suri won most elegant. Luke and I won most embodied the Christmas spirit. Ummmmmm, I can't remember any of the others. Anyway, a very good day was had by all! It was so much fun having Cierra along riding Marie and her mother, Pam, was such a big help on the ground passing out gifts and helping with keeping kids safe around the equines. And I am so blessed to have such a wonderful horse that I can trust to take care of Cierrra on her first Christmas parade. And grateful also to Kyle, Luke's owner, for sharing his wonderful mule with me.

Our final stop was at the Bowdoinham Elementary School

Cierra on Marie and Merri on Cisco