Return to Stony Mountain

The return to Stony Mountain was greatly anticipated by me... seeking new trails is always a fun quest for us and the view from this one is ooou La La!

Traveling along the service road we spied many hoof prints of those that have gone before us on their steeds. And they are many...from the looks of the tracks. We also spied a BLUE ribbon that headed into a nice woodland trail. Nice timing to get off the main road. I love the Blue ribbons..they were placed there by a faithful trail lover and someday, I shall meet the Blue-Ribbon placer myself! I am a RED ribbon gal..so now, they shall see my clothes- pin w/ RED ribbon along side of some of theirs. I always mark on the left of the trail I am leaving for another turn(RED RIGHT UPON RETURN)it keeps me knowing the direction to go home.

The trail was covered in bright Shamrocks..it was so pretty. Bet you can guess what I chose as a location name of the trail for the NEW Map .......?........go ahead guess!

This will be MAP C and when I get GPS- I shall have the milage for each leg and directional headings too.
Along with the Shamrocks, I was amazed by the FERNS..they had to have been 4 feet across and just as tall! Of Course, that trail is going to be dubbed "Big Fern Way".

I let the mare eat after an hour or so...there are no creeks up here -that I have found- so she was needing some refreshment...the "spit-bugs"(for lack of knowing what they really are called!) moisture was all I could offer her.

After a rest we hit it again and...

CHECK this out..We popped out of the trails and went around a corner and OH-WOW-EE

It is Mount Hood! I was elated when I could see her!

It was a fantastic day and if the sun was not going down in an hour...would have gone farther to see if I could manage a loop to "Rock Wall Pass" & "Salmon Berry Heights" and onto Gillette Road and home again. Next time!

Sunday Stills Wildflowers

I had to pull off the side of the road for these beauties below....and while people honked horns, I enjoyed finding different stages of bloom for my chosen subject~

Queen Anne's Lace is my favorite Wildflower...can you tell?!!

Of course, I had to have the token Columbine ..it was looking very pretty by the log that I use to get back on my mare to ride, after closing the gate.

Ed has given us such fun challenges! Please do visit his SUNDAY STILLS web page, for More views of Wildflowers!

A hitch in my gidyup

But...maybe not, I think now....

We were to go horse camping at my favorite spot in the Mount Hood National Forest..Silver Creek Falls area. Last year We had a blast on the Fourth of July. My husband Bruce was able to come . He set up three tents, made all the fires and did his fair share of cooking. It was a royal time. And, it so happens to be my Favorite Holiday with the ALL AMAERICAN MARE!

I had the reservations in March, all set..then everything went hooey and the folks that were to go could not come and though there were people that Said that they wanted to go, they never came through. So when the truck went hooey too... I cancelled the trip last Monday. Almost relieved too...strange. But, it is alot of work getting ready for taking horses away for a weekend.

.

So...turns out that this is a heat wave...99 degrees folks..it is Oregon..we don't like that! well, I know..there are some that do...but not my crowd. And I did a HOT Camping trip with colic and all, last year... SO, kinda glad it all went south. AND to top it off...my mare is in a HOT Season..she is fit to be tied and is beside herself in her mare way. I am not going to ride in the parade in Mollala now either..just not a good timing!

So I took it easy mostly today, out there at the stable, ...sweat was just dripping off me, standing still practically. I did take a nap under a tree with my mare grazing nearby..that was nice.

I also got alot of cleaning out of my sissy's trailer done till -it was too blame hot to function. I gave the mare a bath..she loved it..was nice and cool. I waited till about 7:30 and got the mare ready to ride..my PBO was getting her horses ready for the parade and My mare just was having a cow over not being able to see her Romeo, So I took her to my (I love that, "MY") trailer in the shade and on the gravel to groom and ready her. She tends to stand on the gravel not liking it at all.

We went to the newly baled hay field , in view of the barn*( My mistake here) and she JUST COULD NOT BE WITH ME! She was calling to her herd and was being pissy.I was not asking for much.....but it was too much and when The truck and trailer went by, down the driveway she lost it, and turned BRONC on me! Wee ha...I held on for the first big leap, then she catapulted me off to the right side...I landed on my right knee -smakcada- and since John had full view of the whole thing I made sure to jump up throwing my hands up- so he knew I was okay...as I YELLED...LOOOOSE HORSE!!! She was off like a bullet down the driveway she knows so well....neighing the whole way . Gemma met her at the drive..she herd my yell.

SO, I saw My left stirrup hanging very LOW..probably cause I tried to stay on and it was starting to come off as I did. I NEVER lock the leather holder for this reason. But, she must have gotten her foot in it as she bolted. My new endurance stirrups! It bent the crap outa it! And also ripped a very large crack into her left hoof. I filed it and it is very uneven, but she is good.I also was able to use a rubber mallet to pound the stirrup back to working order too. THEN....I got right back on and went back to the field..yea I was scared too...but, I did lots of circles and stops and we walked the entire field. I just had to claim it back after that.

Now I sit with ice on my knee and left elbow...I took my Arnica and Advil and will just see about tomorrow's planned ride back to Stony Mountain . One of the gals that was to camp with me wants to go.

We'll see~

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ALL!!! It is my Favortie time with the Washashe mare as I call her " MY All AMERICAN MARE

Breakthrough in the trees

I was determined to get this cantering cue business taken care of....knowing that my mare had been started correctly in her training although ; she had some pretty disturbing training that was painful to her mouth and back that left memory scares upon her mind.

I have had her for almost 4 years now and I have been completely FAIR..maybe not always correct but not in anyway hurtful or disrespectful.

It is not like we don't canter..oh we do canter, all the time and even in place at times(on purpose) It happens when I ask for slower and she keeps her cantering up instead of trotting.
I now ask for this on purpose , using half-go aides. It feels so wonderful!

We also do flying lead changes as well...this too- is just not all done to my cues. Last ride out we did 3 Tempe changes, to my great glee...but it was because of a shy and then I asked for her to move over to the other track again and she changed back then ,another shy! So, I find out she does what I want on mistake then I hone it down to on purpose!

Anywho...I went out to the nearby tree farm, with soft Doug Fir branched lanes, and warmed up going down the alleys in walk to trot to walk..then trot..and as I came out of the lanes I asked for "shoulder fore"around the endcaps and back into the lanes we went.
I then halted her-facing away from the stable as she can get excited going towards it. I sat my "chosen outside" seat bone down(these are straight lines) squeezed lightly on the inside girth- and= she did it-almost from a standstill, only 2 steps and CANTER we went..on the correct lead!

I was like cooing out loud, "OH!!! Good Girl!" As I pet her whither! !
I trotted some more and sit trot a while then halted. She complied again..no problems or backlash or evil-stinky eyeball at me!!! And here is the real awesome news....a surprise too!
She really REALLY put her back up and her head and neck went into the bit as she stretched out...I felt this rocking horse motion under me, and all of a sudden----I had seat contact and my heals automatically were weighted..and my lower leg..it was free to decide where to go and free to be used!!! I also felt something behind me!!! What a strange thing I thought.... It was the Saddle's Cantle as her back came up..whoa!!

I have been trying a new saddle out as well..it does fit her nicely and the only hitch is =I gave my sissy my favorite dressage girth when we traded saddles last January when she retrieved her horse from me again. She left me the "All Purpose" saddle and I gave her back the Dressage saddle with my "Soft Touch" girth...I loved that girth!

Little did I know In would be needing it because I fell into a really great deal, of late, of this nice Dressage saddle for under $300. Then people selling it did not know how to use it and punched12 new holes(OOOU- BAD!) into the billets under the panel..and yes, it slightly dented the leather.
It is not the best make...in fact, it is unheard of, so far from my friends.
"Regency Gold" English made. It is supposed to be black, but the dye, I fear is not a good job and the previous handling may have something to do with it too...it was so dry and very mouldy; as well as bit bleached out. When I clean it, the black does come off a bit each time.
But, it is the right price at the RIGHT time. I am going to give back the Hans Biglajzer all purpose saddle I have been using for 4 years. It does not fit her anymore and has left white hairs on her wither pocket..she has more muscling now and hence a too tight of fit.


Sooo, the next day we went out for a calm trial ride..she seemed a bit tired and I decided to go a new direction and scope it out.....we went up and up a stony mountain road that was deep in the trees....I held the camera up above my head to take this one...almost able to see the view!

THEN.....it took my breath away, we reached the top finally and OH-WOWOWOW!!

We made plans to come back, and when you hear of the trip...you'll just have to start calling me

"The Gal from Stony Mountain"...yea picture -"The man from Snowy River" and then me, doing the same thing!!! Down some pretty cool trails!( only at the walk though!)

Sunday Stills WINGS

Hello all!

I pray you are well today and that this winged busy honey bee delights you somehow!

Please do click on the title and visit many others beautiful winged creatures+ objects!

Thanks Ed for such fun!!!

Come for a ride with us VIRTUALLLY!!!

You are Cordially invited to spend time on the trails, Ocean shores, plains views and Mountain peaks with us here in Boggerville!

PLEASE mark your calendars for the week of July 5th on to Ride the Woods and Mountains and Ocean sands of : dp and Jean in Canada, allhorsestuff in Oregon, Kate in Illinois, Funder in Ohio, Leah Fry and Mindy in Texas, and Lytha in Germany--all in the same week and weekend!!!

HOW COOL IS THIS GONNA BE Horse lovers!!

Aarene has put this together for all to partake and enjoy.

Please DO CLICK on the envelope to visit her BLOG-and TAKE your first ride with her!

" In Which you'll smile and laugh "and generally be WOWED!

See you all as we take a ride and enjoy the fares of the events!

KacyK w Washashe mare~