Lorax and Exploring

Today a group of us went riding on the Lorax trails in Pittston. I was going to give Buckshot the day off but my friend Brooke happened to be available to go riding so she rode Buckshot and I rode my mare, Marie. We didn't know if the area on the Lorax trails we usually ride was open yet so we parked on a dead end road where there is a trail that lead into the Lorax trails. We all met at the Exit 46 truck stop in Richmond. There, Amy offered to haul Marie and Buckshot to cut down on the number of trailer we would have to park on the road in Pittston. I had brought boots for both Buckshot and Marie but when we got to Pittston and were tacking up, we found that Buckshot did not have all his boots. RATS. I decided it would be ok to ride him barefoot as the Lorax trails are nice with soft footing overall. 

We had a great ride. All the horses and mr. mulie got along well. We explored some trails we've never been on and eventually came to a boggy spot and had to turn around. But, we rode though some really nice spots on the way. Once back on the main Lorax trails we did a bit of trotting and a short canter. On the trail leading back out to our trailer, I discovered a Renegade hoof boot driven into the mud! Eureka! We retrieved it and it looked new. I hope we can find who it belongs to as they are expensive! If not, it is a size that will fit my horse. 

The Scary Stone Cow!

Today I went over to Dresden to ride with my friend Tracy. It really was Marie's turn to be ridden but I'm quickly becoming addicted to riding Buckshot and in the end I could not resist taking him. He loaded right up like a good boy and off we went. Once at Tracy's house, I tied Buckshot to her shed and he behaved very well. Tracy was riding her mare, Fanny.

At the end of Tracy's road, we passed a pasture that had 3 mini donkeys on it. When Buckshot saw a mini donk at the Christmas parade, he was quite concerned and nervous about it so I wondered what he would do here. He did watch them but he didn't seem overly concerned. Later in the ride we passed some cows that he never so much as glanced at. But, just past the cows, as we were passing the farm's house, there was a stone statue of a calf, Buckshot froze and stared at that with grave concerns about it. I did get him to pass it but he was sure there was something very wrong with that stone cow. It's been fairly normal for Buckshot to have to stop several time on a ride to pee. Today he concerned me a little though as he stopped multiple times on the way out and acted like he really needed to pee, but he didn't. He's always peed right away when he's stopped on previous rides. He eventually did pee but acted like he was having a hard time though all else seemed fine. Hummmmm. We had to ride 1/2 mile of paved road to hook onto a trail to head back and while on the road, Buckshot went though the whole "I have to pee" thing again. ???? He never did pee that time and once we were on the trail heading back, he stopped doing it.  hummmmmm again. Not far from Tracy's house there was a house that had balloons tied to the mail box that were waving vigorously in the wind. I was in the lead and Buckshot did not like them at all. He again froze. Tracy rode by on Fanny. She wasn't impressed with them either but knew home was close so went anyway. After she went, Buckshot sidled by sideways. As soon as he passed them he instantly deflated as if they never existed at all. I had expected him to squirt by and then want to rush down the road but not at all. I have been so pleased with how he handles things he's not sure of. No panicking or blowing up. I'm really liking this boy of mine!

Second Ride in Bowdoin for the Season

Linda and Susie came over to ride with me today. I decided to take Buckshot again. It was a cloudy day and it sprinkled a bit but nothing much at all and we had a very good ride. We rode out to the Adams Rd. and around by the "big hill". The footing was all quite good until we were coming down the big hill. Down the hill and out to the main trail was very muddy and nasty. But, all the equines, being the wonderful trail mounts they are, handled it fine and we made it through with no problems. Again Buckshot had plenty of energy and was a very good boy and a lot of fun to ride. He's very forward and bold and proving to be extremely steady out on the trail. 

First Spring Ride in Bowdoin

Joanie came over to ride with me today. The weather forecast was for rain but it turned out to be a lovely sunny day. This was the first time I have tried riding Buckshot since my surgery. Joanie helped me to get saddled up and we enjoyed a lovely ride. We didn't know how the trails would  be but there was only one way to find out. We rode out to Tarr's Mill and back. At Tarr's Mill, we decided to ride up the stream. Neither Buckshot or Joanie's mare Franny had done this. There was a family out there fishing and Buckshot pointed them out long before we saw them but he was not concerned, just curious. Buckshot crossed the stream with no fuss but was not so eager about walking up it. He was ok until it got deep enough that he could no longer see the bottom and he then froze. Franny wasn't too impressed either. So, we leap frogged up the stream but getting each one to take a few steps ahead of the other one. They were both really quite good and never panicked or scrambled, just hesitated. Buckshot was very energetic the whole ride and was a lot of fun.

Surprise Visit and Mule Fun

Finally Rode

I finally got out for a ride yesterday! Winter has been reluctant to release it's hold and we've continued to have a lot of cold, wind and even snow. I did take both Marie and Buckshot over to Upper Pond Stables. I turned them both loose in the arena and let them run first. As any self respecting mule would do, Shots rolled vigorously rolled first. then they both ran and bucked like crazy things. When they were done, 23 year old Marie was puffing but not all that bad. 12 year old Shots was puffing like a freight train. Boy does he need some conditioning. My friend Brooke rode Shots and I rode Marie later. They were both very good and we had fun.

Last Friday I had surgery on my right hand for carpal tunnel release. So, I've been a bit handicapped all week not being able to use my right hand much. I've been able to take care of the horses as I found I could still clean stalls by tucking the end of the pitchfork in the crook of my right elbow. I can't use the wheelbarrow but thanks to a friend (thank you Kate Rogers) who recently gave a bunch of muck buckets, I've been filling them and I'll get Fred to empty them.  And my friend Amy Beem came to visit and pick up some jewelry pieces I made for her. I threw some hay down from the loft. A manageable one handed task. Amy stacked them in the alcove for me. Not so much a one handed task.

Today I had surgery on my left hand. So this week I'm going to be begging for a lot more help as now my left hand is incapacitated and the right, while doing well isn't completely healed yet. Anyway, we finally had good weather yesterday and yet another of my wonderful friends, Linda, came and picked me and my horse up, trailered us over to Winthrop where there are some dirt roads that are nice for riding. I was sure I could ride my good, steady, dependable Marie with only one hand. Linda saddled Marie for me and we had a lovely ride. I seem to be blessed with many wonderful friends.

last piece I completed before surgery for my friend Tracy

Too Cold Too Ride,

What a miserably cold winter this has been! UGH. Between losing Luke, the cold and the ice, I just can't work up the ambition to even try riding. My trailer is sitting in my icy driveway with a flat tire and they way I feel right now it may still be sitting like that in June, minus the ice, I hope...... But, I have been busy making horsehair jewelry. Thanks to my generous friends who have donated hair to me. I enjoy doing this and I'm now taking a few orders to make jewelry for others.