New friends Shasha and her son G~ on their very trusty mounts,
Cassy mare and Barney pony.
After being reined in for almost 3 weeks time, due to Voluntary lock down, the mare and me were finally released to leave! The beach was calling to us to come play, the trip was planned months ago. And now, the weather was FINALLY condusive for traveling and riding at our favorite GETAWAY- the Bay Ocean House!
Tillamook is only an hour 1/2 away from Portland but it is 7 hours from Blaine Washington. SASHA, from "Horses and Boys" blog and I have been conversing for some time over a meeting at the Oregon Coast with her family and NANA. So she and I made it happen. I am so happy that she trusted me to come so far!
She had her horses vetted and a "HEALTH CERTIFICATE" was issued, certifiying them healthy and safe for the state crossing...and onto some fun-BEACH RIDING! Horseback riding is plentiful there at the Tillamook spit, with the Bay road or dune trails and of course, the sandy shores next to the waves.
Arrival after such a long drive!
Early on, as I booked the dates for the B.O.H. Gem, the owner of the Bay Side Vacation rental had asked if I wanted to have company. Of course! Since she is one of my favorite riding partners-who am I to say no?!!
I trailered her trusty mount Romeo, and treated her to the traveling pleasures of being a passenger. "Co-Pilot" in this case...her calling out, "Clear", as we navigated the short way through town- to heading- out of town.
Also part of being "Co-Pilot" one is in charge of "Travel Snackers duty". No need to explain that one more!
My mare was delighted to not be alone in the trailer, since her lead mare Pantz, was not going this time. I missed not being able to ride with my sissy too this time. But, it just makes for another horsey beach trip, later on this summer!
"WOW- I feel pretty amazed", I said to Adam, Shasha's husband, after i was told how long it took them to get there.
" I am impressed that you trusted me that much to come visiting!" They has viewed the B.O.H. web site and thought it was a good risk...plus he said, " I knew my wife liked you and trusted you,so I was in". Awe!
Well all I can say from here on, mostly through photo's...I adored the family and count them as mine now..and NANA, you are a treasure!
A horsey welcome party!
Hey boys, come see the creek!
The other PURE GOLD treasure find of this Beach trip was CASSY MARE! She was level headed and truly wonderful for Sasha...as they walked to the beach for the first time ...and disappeared into the sea of yellow Scotch broom.......
Barney pony, her sons G's mount -was not detectable!
I couldn't resist this common behaviour from Romeo, he has eating on the brain at all times...even over fully coming out of the trailer!
We completed readying the horses and were off~
We followed them at a large distance, to detract from a group processional, keeping my mare lower key... though, she still was amped up. Gem and I took our time stopping frequently to de-escalate the adrenaline. But, as we neared the final Mountainous hill of sand dune, that lead to the beach shores...WHOOSH- A-HUGE- HANG GLIDE- KITE flew up..and so did our horses heads and energies!!
There was another smaller "whizzing" kite there too...that was making flapping noises as it flew to and fro. In all the times we've been to this beach with horses...kites have never been seen by us- Helicopters, goats, boats, dogs, bicycles, elk, backpackers and tents...we have navigated them all..but this new addition....!
Cassy mare, she was a super star!
She had never seen the ocean before and the kites were there as well...
CASSY MARE stood at the top of that dune waiting for her side kick Barney and took it all in. Then the two equines went fourth onto the beach!
OUR horses, as they heard the fluttery noises of the rather huge, "hang glider like" kite - were a bit freaked out and Gemma announced, " Okay! Let's take another route!" That was dandy by me. If Romeo goes bonkers (and she felt it coming) my mare goes with him!
We did go back towards the Bay and then took the road along it, to the next beach trail to the sandy dunes. The breeze of the ocean felt so good when we got there!
So cool to see her at our Oregon coast on her lovely White QH mare!!
We rode for a short time together, and then she left us to go back to her son G., on Barney pony up the beach from us with the family. We had no desire for the kite direction this first ride on the beach so we went the othert way...
We discovered that something was definitely Wrong with Romeo.
He would not walk out and barely would move at all, with out trying to bite his one side. He also had been licking one of his feet earlier, I told Gem, as I had seen a small wound, near his coronet band. She had tried to put some ointment on it, before we left and he raised his hoof so fast, he gave her a fat lip!
She also had a new saddle on and the girth did not fit him, as well as the design and placement of it. We decided to hand-walk the horses back the bay side mile, to the trailers. Good call.
The mare seemed happy this day with her new saddle..though she was a bit "Buck-y" on the beach. She was really round and it felt really, really different to us both, at extended trot and canter.
Pretty great pattern here!
We discovered that the issues with Romeo were due to an abscess- that was blowing out....and the girth placement of the new saddle.
Bute, cold hose treatment, Epsom salt soaking, then standing wraps were the immeadiate remedy.
The chain item on his leg, was for him to not paw my trailer bumper off!
As the horses rested from the beach ride we settled into some relaxing too...in various forms...
...by me, in seeking out the plemntiful scenes to photograph...
... and watching these new freinds, enjoy themselves!
The boys G and Little L had FUN, FUN, FUN by the fireside in the yard that eve, with us right along with them in Toasty marshmallow antics!
All our cares melted away, during the stay, near the Tillamook bay~
Sasha and me took the mares .... down to the beach for one last ride, before the family left. Romeo was healing up at home with barney pony to comfort him. The mares were really great...but as we got to the beach, it was hilarious. ...they statrted to snort and snort and snort...we determined that they needed to move and trot.
So we did trot....made some tracks as we enjoyed the wide open freedom the beach offers~ the tide was coming in so the sand was somewhat deep...it helped us to hinder the mares forward ambition- a little...
As we trotted aways, we then began to canter...then as I moved to the harder surf near the tide...we ripped! I was slowing down and there came Cassy...ripping it up. Wa mare was so shocked, she matched her in speed quickly. Sasha was begining to ask her to slow down...I got my mare to release her speed and soon, Cassy did too.
After that "all out"..those mares were just angels...long necked and calm. It really was a relaxing blast to be riding the sandy shores with my new friend, and her beautiful mare!
Following and leading my mare was "my perfect mare" this day, redeeming all other times of anything else!
Heading in from the shore, we again were engulfed in the bright sea of yellow!
Untill we meet again, I will treasure the times...
And Sahsa, thanks for the gallop!
My mare may have met her match...for the Quarter Mile at least!
