Muds Of March

Coming  soon,  as the weather (we want this) warms, to your fields and trails and destinations!!

I'm happy about the Mud, don't get me wrong. It means the temps have risen, the WINDS have died down, now  allowing the frozen grounds of the area to thaw .

There is  the residual "dirty snows" on the sides of the road,  I saw yesterday as we trailered away to a local park to ride with a friend.    MUST RIDE MONDAYS!!    YEA!

I was homeward bound, after the ride yesterday, and the rains began to pelt the windshield,

 as if  perfectly timed for the drive home and NOT the ride we had.

Don't ya love those moments when you feel smiled upon and the timing is ordered perfectly~for pleasure.

?!

I suddenly thought of  the camera......-I HAD LEFT IT AT THE PARK on a picnic table!! HORROR- flashed in me, as I had not only lost my camera, but 2 sd cards worth of photos, a knife my husband has given to me, and the most perfect camera bag in the world..having survived 3 loose horse jaunts and -100's of hours worth of riding as it kept my camera from all harm!

I quickly called my Riding friend. She had just  told me of all the things she needed to accomplish  in the remaining  hours of this day we did "Steal Back"  from winter to ride.

She sighed, as I frantically asked her to drive back to the horse park for my camera.  She would. I prayed, as all the photo friends/memeories flashed before my eyes and also, the photography job another friend had arranged for me soon. My chance at making  some money for the NEW saddle, now looked to be over.

She not only found it, but she soon realised more had been left.  Some  other riders had picked my Camera-in-bag up and were waving it at her as she searched the table area.

They also had her empty camera bag and  nice gloves!

WHEW'  , I was"one blessed girlie" she said!  I'm feeling it!

That was a side story for today,  I have a  "A HA"

moment and story that goes with the photo's in my camera, now safely staying at my friends house.

So now I continue with MUDD......a  March ride that was a time before~

The mare looking dejected,before some lunge line time. Maddy Moo looking on behind her,in the small trunout~

We did a little warm up session both directions
for 3-5 minutes in the sand out door and then went on down the trail..to see WHAT  we would see. There has been MUCH logging lately and the mare and me, we have opted not to try for a ride with the large machines running. It kind of kills the serenity and also safety of the ride,  as the large Dumpy's don't slow for horses they aren't looking out for on a one way road.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE NEW here....This  Pacific Northwest area has thousands, if not millions, of Forested lands that are private and governmental owned. We Equestrians either get permission from the private owners to access the lands via horseback, or the Land managers grant us permission via signage,  posted at entrances.
It is a privilege to ride these areas and the logging does come with the territory .
 "Oregon's Renewable Resource" is what they call it. These parts, have been logged and reforested many times over...and the local signs I read say...that it has been about 30 years. RIPE for the harvest. The harvesting makes new riding opportunities for us too...more graveled roads. I don't have a shod horse so it means a bit less riding for me.
Hoof boots come in handy for the graveled parts, when I don't have to go through any mud.
 Hoof boots in muddy soupy stuff- that's a NO GO! They fill up and stretch and then, come off or twist, making me have to come off-to do a fix!

Looking up, we saw the new landscapes~







Looking down, well.....

 Mushy, messy...Lovely looking "Forced"Springtime Mud! The large Dumpy's with gravel, have done a number on the roads!!

Fortunately for us, we soon got to higher ground, and that which was not being traveled by the working machines!   It was pretty, seeing the snow farther off,  in the  foothills.
Those  glorious foothills were my last years stomping grounds  > I can hear them calling..."soon KK and Washashe mare, you will ride upon my forested  trails and take in the  glorious views from Stoney Mountain again".
And, I can't wait to take my NEW stable mates there too! Wa in her glory leading the way, as she so loves!

The mare and me looked on  together there for a short time, then turned homeward bound
to the end of the day rituals of her "Peeking" from  the stall...waiting for the coveted treats,  she has come to expect before I leave her stable to go on home~myself.

What is cute is...she grabs a hunk-o-hay to munch as she looks and waits for me to return with the anticipated "Specialty"

 goods!

Wishing you some warm weather mud- of your very own!