The Joy of Independance

                              While you may lead a horse to water, you can't make them drink!

Big Skye above, wondering if the little creek would eat him. My mare had just sipped the cool goodness from it.

 I had the pleasure of riding again- FINALLY-with my partner and her Big Skye gelding from the stable . She and her horse are all recovered from the events of Good Friday. Her horsey spend some time away after that, and she visited and then took lessons with him, before bringing him back to his stable home. She is much more assured and he has hours and hours of time under his " cinch"  as well, in being with his human riding partner and remaining with her!

I have been wanting to go to a place nearby that has endless roads and trails devoted to the Equine, the canine and the human pedal biker/ hiker.  HARDY CREEK is a favorite of the mare and me, for it's varied terrains and cool shaded venues. It may have been too hot to ride other wise. We were riding in a refreshing venue~

Big Skye , looking back, making  sure we were on our way!

(note..I'm in back!)

I missed the traditional Camping pleasures, this year, of being high and deep into the wooded splendors of Oregon for the 4th.  There have been too many other things going on, and the camping trip never got scheduled. Chiefly because there is a  trip our  entire stable is going on is looming...only 2 weeks away and so much to do (buy) . It is an expensive venture..going to a place that is not as horse prepared as I am used to. The Inn we travel to, has only a large 1-5 acre plot for us. Since all our horses -do NOT- go out together, we have to divide it ourselves, after driving 5-6 hours. Joy...but hey, the husbands are coming and they love stuff like that (right?!)
I did find a cool "corral in a bag". my first time out to seek the fencing articles I knew I would need. It has a 40 foot square amount of hot tape on a reel, fence charger, stakes, grounding rod and gate handle. I did purchase additional stakes and tape..as the bagged fence was a -one strand -and my mare is good at shrinking herself under those..so I will add a second line.Be it hot or not..it will deter her!

 YUP they husbands are going with us!! I am so excited to spend this awesome adventure with mine! We get to drive together while I pull Wa and her turnout buddy Theo to our destination. Which leads me to the other expense- I am endeavoring to use my sisters very tall and wide 3 horse trailer. BUT- my hitch is not  equipped for the "Load Level /Anti Sway Bars" ..hence the expense of having one made for the safety feature of anti -sway for the trailer and knowing... IT WON'T COME OFF THE BALL! I won't put my mare in a trailer with 2 other horses or my sisters extra large 3 horse, without that safety assurance.

 I hope it all works out, I am overloaded with trying to find hoof boots and get Easy Walker shoes,(not to mention, working!). My sister has a guy in her area that did her hitch for her...she is helping me do this. If it does not work out in time...I will stuff Theo in my trailer..and go it with the smaller trailer behind my truck- with out the anti-sway, Load level bars. Not my first choice, but it will not be the extra long load of my sisters trailer.

Anywho, that is around the corner and for this 4th of July ride...it looked like summer, it felt like summer and by golly~ IT IS SUMMER!
We had a glorious Independence day Ride too....tandem trotting (have to work on that , Tandem cantering definately HAVE TO work on this too) My mare,being space challenged and a speed demon, sees the trotting and always the cantering as racing. So..a place like this is awesome, for the roads that are wide enough to keep at the  tandem training!

We had gone about 7 miles to the destination lookout point, I wished to reach. We hand grazed them for a short time ,  tied em to the 'Hitchin' posts",  then sat  ourselves down for our own small munching delight.

The mare and Big Skye were nicely relaxed in the shade~

Of course, my friend willingly sat overlooking the Molalla River far below, and her faithful steed by her side gave me photo documentation opportunities!

She matches her horse so well, being blond and long legged.

She is also laid back but direct when it counts. I have found that I too, am much like my mare...stout, round, dark and usually having boundless energies for the adventure.( there are far more than that, truly)

WHAT WAYS are YOU like YOUR HORSE? Are you?

Think about that~

We then decided to go further to a water fall ( I did not know would be obscured by foliage). I have been there earlier in the season, before the leaves sprouted fully..it was a cool loop trail though, complete with bridge.

 My friend and her mount went up  around some stone stairs to investigate the view.

It was a fabulous ride...the longest I have had on my NEW ANSUR saddle . I tried something different too...I used a simple cotton pad..I HAD TO..it is My Festive RED/ WHITE AND BLUE pipped pad!

The mare seemed to be well, and though tired by the time we got to Mile 13 coming back, after trotting and having a good gallop too, she was in good spirits.

She rarely perks up for photos!

I felt so Euphoric, literally, that night when I was talking to my husband about his day and ours too.

Think it was the whole day but especially after I had hand walked the mare for the last 2 miles...I threw the rope over her saddle, and walked as fast as I could...the mare trailing behind me, as she was a little foot sore in the hinds from the rocks..It was the perfect amount of riding and walking and friendship!

Monday next, she is to be Shod, all the way around, with EASY WALKERS. We also do Thermography, as the fronts come off  to see if there is any difference from her base temperature read out -6 weeks ago.

Be well my friends and enjoy the summery times(and fallish times abroad)

 RIDE ON!