Weekend Reflections in the rosette

I have a new bridle...it has A shiny "Rosette " piece between the brow band and headstall...

Went for a ride on a friends horse..and suddenly she appeared in it!

Weekend Reflections is James Idea..please visit him and many others!

Friendship, blue-slip meals and the mare!

The boardwalk to Clackamas Lake viewpoint

We could have spent so much more time at the gorgeous spot near our horse camp. It overlooked the little Clackamas lake, that is fed by streams coming from Mount Hood. 

But....

....we had breakfast to make and Horses to ride!

Today was our scheduled ride around the much larger, man made, Timothy Lake!

Portland General Electric put a dam on the lake, as a power reservoir and water source in the summer,  for local cities.

We saw many horses, hikers, campers along the way...plus this group, we knew.

WOW...never been at Timothy when there was so much activity!

Around many corners were new sights and things going on!...I am so glad that I decided to "load" the mare with "Daily Calm" again...it was working like a charm for her attitude, making her very reasonable and level headed.

Walking across the Roadway, over the Dam was exciting...

Looking left- we see the spillway for the dam~

Looking to the right off the middle of the crossing, the lake. 

We are about half way- at this point of the 15 mile ride...our destination is the furthest point, back across the lake.

While we rode along, we sang and told stories....it is a good ol' girlfriends time!

The trail meets the lake, around every corner . This allows us to water the horses and have some fun too!

Okay...Mustang Cazi is having more of the fun ...by pawing the water!

He never tries to roll...he just paws and paws and paws!

-See this POST-

The mare was slightly put off by the splashing about near her...and the lapping of water behind...can we go now KK girl??

Yes Wa mare, after another photo of Cazi...actually standing in the water looking toward the Mountain!

We rode on another few hours...and took frequent trips to the water for refreshment..

I loved how this turned out...

"Green Horse"

What a nice day inside the coolness of the wooded splendor ~

Finally...back to the Meadow near the Campgrounds..only a few miles to get back to oats for the horse's and wonderful -"blue-slip meal"...for us!

"Blue -Slip Meals" are what we have deemed my girlfriends delightful configurations.

She works at a local Organic grocery store...and when the food stuffs are at the "Pull date"..the foods get put into many freezers and refrigerators for the employees to fill out a "Blue-Slip" and take on home for their dining enjoyment.

On these camping trips and most all of our Trails rides...we enjoy these perfectly wonderful, foodstuff delights!

Of course...we are considering a "Blue-slip" recipe book...we always come up with ways we may better afford our riding habits...

We also are considering making a "TOP 10 TRAILS guide to Clackamas County".

Every one seems to wonder how we find some of the places that we go to...it is total networking!

Next time...discovering the "Twin Lakes" on Mount Hood.

Heavenly times with Horses

Humor "topped the times" for us girls and our equines this trip! 

Wa mare saying, "Whaaat yaaa Doin?" I cracked up when I saw her, from this angle!

What a refreshing time...and now I get to relive it here..with sharing with you all!

We packed up our things and I then picked up the horses in my rig.

Mustang Cazi waiting to be loaded..Wa mare, in the wings too.

She is tied to my girlfriends rig- that stayed home this time- and allowed me to begin to return the gestures of all the times= she took Me along!

AND....I got to sleep in comfort this time...she too her little camping trailer Hidi Ho!

Mount Hood National Forest lands...here we come!

Clackamas Lake Camping was pretty neat, though we did figure out that it was added as an "Overflow" for the "Joe Graham horse camp" just 3 miles down the trail, around Clackamas lake from us.

"Oregon Equestrian Trails" Built the Horse corrals.

Loved the branding of the polls they did!

Mustang Cazi says, "Ain't no shoes on me...keep em on the wood there!"

Speaking of Shoes... "My Easy Walker Shoes" are wonderful! 

I do not even have to worry about hoof boots!

 The mare did fine, with her hinds bare on all these trails too. Really beautiful footing in the mountains.

As we set up camp...the horses lazed and relaxed...

The site we chose...was perfectly dappled, with shade and sun equally.

My mare loves Mustang Cazi man...he used the correct approach upon her last year when they first met; Ignore the mare !

It worked, and now she tries for his affections~

We took a little ride around the lake then to Joe Graham horse camp, a few miles away. It had suddenly gotten colder and began to rain slightly. It smelled WONDERFUL! And it helped the very dusty trails to moisten. 

But- when it started to thunder...we headed on home , quick!

Again...funny things occurred inside my camera lens....

this time, with my girlfriend, who got chilled on our unforeseen wet ride. 

Here she is getting her feet toasty warm IN THE FIRE!

NEXT...we make some discoveries.....come back and see how!

(sneak peek)

Time to ride......

Well friends...It is finally time to ride again...horse camping tomorrow with my my good friend and "MUST RIDE MONDAY" partner.

We head off to Clackamas Lake; which  is a newly dedicated Equine camp at Timothy lake, Mt. Hood. 

I am excited to be some of the first to use it, in it's first summer open.

Before we embark upon the camp...we shall head to another location, on the way we've not ridden, in the name of discovery!  Frog lake.

Wa mare and I enjoy a cool time last year seen here...it was 104 in Portland area...but up at Timothy Lake, it was only about 85!

P.S. offer still open for anyone that would like to join us...we have another site, with 4 horse stalls open. We are there from July 30th though August 2nd...Site 7 and 8. Hay-come for a day ride!

Be safe and be happy...will be praying for you all!

It's a Stick up!

When I got my truck finally last month, I had a friend say,"Okay...I will start looking for bumper stickers for it". 

That got me doing it...wanting it to be a Red/White/Blue theme, I went to "Cafe Press" bumper stickers...man on page 500- I swear they have a million of them, I had only found 1. 

So I looked over the web site closer and found= YEP, I could make my own!

What do you think?? Pretty fun eh!

I actually go another one too...that is of Wa mare and I riding the beach. It reads, in R/W/B also, " Riding the beaches of life, with my mare".

Can you guess where  I put them on the truck? 

Do you like Bumper stickers or have ideas for some you'd like?

Sunday School for Certo

For the past months, my sister has been considering moving back up to Portland area to live with our mother. And of course, that means Pantz, her  Registered Appy mare would be moving in with Washahshe.

We are giving it a go at my boarding barn, as my sissy had a little time off and her self care facility leaves her no option for being away...

Pantz is here!

I just love this mare my sister inherited for a dollar- (Yea $1) 4 years ago.

Sooo, we have been riding and riding together...giving the mares a day off in between ventures out and about. I have lots to share!!

Yesterday was the first time I was able to ride Pantz, my sissy left the day before.

I called our other boarder and said...lets train at the creek!!!

Since Our summer temps have been like most (save the humidity!) at around 100 degrees of late, we went out in the morning and into the shaded woods. Aiming to take Certo, the young 5 year old Sorraia/ Paint, to one or both creeks on the 80 acres next door.

 I can pony off Pantz...she is so good!
I went ahead and fit her for the Bitless Bridle (thanks Jules) I am borrowing still. I think she will enjoy that, I know Wa mare does!

Well, the first creek that has a bit of mud and a decent involved...Certo wanted nothing to do with. His owner dismounted to allow me to try without her firstly.

He tested me HARD- by  trying to get away, by ripping the rope out of my hands...or my arm off..one of the two!

I decided, after getting a few calm steps toward the creek and praising, we'd go for the other creek and leave this one for another day...and going towards home next time!

We walked around and about- on the line- before attempting the creek. It was mostly dried up and rocky..but he could see the pond on one side and hear and see the water on the other.

I established my "ponying boundaries";  stay behind or at my shoulder, do not go in front,  halt when I ask, back also,  move away from us when we move into you, and if you balk...the pressure will build-till you take one step with us.

Young Certo was awesome- mostly...

He complied with all my standards willingly..then when it came to the creek..he started to balk again.

I told his owner to lightly toss pebbles or sticks at his hind..making it uncompfy from behind... just a second of that...he walked on!

As I neared the creek..I employed the "ONE STEP AT A TIME" routine I use on Wa mare, when she gets hesitant. One step, I stop us and praise.. another step- and so on...

Praising the sweet Certo~

We made it across, with no frantic leaping or any other hesitations!

I traversed the rocky creek with him several times, before his girl remounted and rode across herself!

We then went forth for a bit of a longer ride...but before we could leave the woods..there was a rather large, watery, muddy tracker rut  across the road, where the creek runs over it.
Certo again was fearful.
We reestablished the ponying line..and his rider and I attempted the muddy road...he did it..but before he could step out...I quickly turned around and we went into it again..then again and again! 

We stayed in the water and mud till he cared less!

 His cute rider said, " I feel like I have training wheels on!"

We had an excellent little hour and a half ride...going past the Old school...Perfect THEME for the day's events!

Then Certo lead the way for a time...back towards home again!

Stopping only in the meadow, for a sunny photo....

......and time to praise the young horse, and reflect on the efforts he made!