Macro Monday Match box

In keeping with my blog theme....

This matchbox is one of a pack, I brought back from Kenya, Africa while there years ago visiting a sister church in Nairobi.

Please visit others Macro treasures in photo form- by clicking the TITLE~

Sunday Stills hit me with your best shot(s)

You can count on Ed for fun with a photo meme. His Sunday Stills always has me looking around somewhere for something to capture with my lens. This weekend is choosing your favorite 2 photo's of  his meme challenges for 2009...awe only 2!! Okay, here they are...thanks Ed for this photo opportunity and always challenging us...choosing 2 is just as challenging- as taking 2!

One of my first challenges was"Eyes"and while it was extremely difficult to take a shot that was not blurry of my mare...she just never stops moving...I got this one, quite surprisingly!
It is a fav for obvious reasons!

The second one- below- was from another challenge..."Weeds"...I always enjoy viewing all the others shots, even when I do not participate. It is truly inspiring to see how they do it and also; some post the settings of which. I went out that day to find some weeds...and somehow I got this shot, I was in love with the colors and the angle and got just a bit more hooked, on  how creative one can be with a camera!

Please do enjoy the challenge favorite of others today by clicking the TITLE~

Company is coming to the stable

This is my sister and her Appy mare "Pantz". she  was given the horse when she participated in a drill team , Emerald Rein" for a few years time. Pantz's owner did not like her much and decided my sis would be a better fit. The drill team was the only way for her to ride at the coast where she lives. The area has very little to offer for facilities and organised riding groups. Her Thoroughbred St. Timothy had passed  and Washashe was living there still and green.

In 2008 she lost her boarding facility. It was sold to private owners that had not

wanted to keep it a boarding facility. There was Nowhere else to board  for her so she called me, as I was boarding at a nice facility near Canby with Washashe mare.

That seems forever ago!

I also got the use of her Truck and trailer for over a year!!! Freedom!

She used to help me with my riding all the time, and I loved that! We would go late at night to my arena and ride to classical music.She would video me riding then, we'd go back to our mom's as watch/review. Video man...it is the best for seeing the truth!

Last year, we moved to the boarding facility that almost broke us up as sisters(if you can do that) She was soo displeased with my choice and now,  hind sight reveals why. It was the worst decision I have ever made!

So...have ya gathered that- My sissy is coming to visit us for a week, with her horse Pantz!!!

I am really looking forward to taking her to all my riding places and the arenas in the area.

No doubt, we shall go to McIver State park, the location of my very first trail ride on Washashe. ABOVE.

I was so nervous about this outdoor ride, I had my siss pony me from Pantz. It became apparent that the Wa was so enthralled with the outdoors..she thought everything through and was steadfast about staying the course.

Pantz is totally Washashe's lead mare and Wa LOVES HER!!!

So, I am getting ready for the company at my stable....she has a stall next to Wa already. My PBO is making a gate at the end of a 100 foot graveled run for Pantz. Over the weekend, I got LIGHTS inside the stalls as well as more lights in the main barn. It is really getting nice!

So, now all I have to do is WAIT....I cleaned out my area in the tack room, a tad, for my sissy's tack...though, I bet it will go inside my trailer- as we shall go to more State Parks/Horse parks, than ride my area...tis a bit slippery and needs to be groomed from the winter storms.

First thing Monday, both mares have an apt with the tooth Dr. Then the Horse therapist on Weds.

Waiting excitedly!!!

Whoop-whoop!! Get along there doogies!

Something else, very unexpected, was in the woods yesterday.

We came out to a very soggy, misty and grey day for a ride.

That was not a hindrance for the mare and I...we have  all weather GEAR to wear- and we did so !

Our friends had bagged for the weather and the timing of the ride for schedules..no problem. A day solo with the mare is always a good day for us...that is how we got to now each other so well. We set off and deal with come what may!

Well.........

I saw the hoof prints and the poo too...but when I saw them....I was surprised. Not half as surprised as my mare though!

One loose cow was at the top of the driveway to this delicious hideaway home I adore to look upon. As we rounded the corner in this half block, dead end road from trails- to more trails....there were more of them loose. They were kinda looking for their place here...but no...they all decided to come on out the drive- as I was passing!

We just whooped it up  a bit, to get them on their way...

And as we got going more uphill...they slowed to a cows pace...and the mare and I then decided to drive them on...Whoop!! My mare lowered her head and pinned her ears! She would taken a chunk outa the last one if I had given her her head...I think she'd like to do something ( I would have never dreamt of)  in an arena this summer!!!

Wa mare the cow pony, and me, signing off...laughing the whole way!

Have YOU has an unexpected bit of fun land upon your path of late???

Do tell!

Shadow Roll

I am adding a new piece of tack to my arsenal...A shadow roll.

Noseband Accessories

• Shadow roll: This fluffy piece of fleece can be added to any noseband, either on the nose or cheeks. Race trainers use shadow rolls on "climbers" and spooks: horses that need to level out or ones that don’t concentrate well. Shadow rolls tend to limit vision and can affect the horse’s head carriage. Event trainers use shadow rolls on horses that peek into ditches. Shadow rolls on the cheek straps behind the eyes can have the same calming effect as blinkers on horses that spook or look back. • Jaw Channel: This is a piece of high-density foam that goes under the jaw strap of a cavesson that is to be fitted tightly. It provides cushion and keeps the skin from being pinched. Some versions are covered with leather or vinyl and attached to the jaw strap with Velcro so that they don’t slip out or get dropped when the strap is unbuckled. A shadow roll can help chronic spooky horses.

I have  noticed them on several horses  and I remember my sissy telling me to look into one for my mare several times as she would spook over silly things.
I'll let you know how this goes.


What piece of tack( a favorite or useful thing) has helped you out with your training /daily riding experience?

New times

I have not gotten to ride very much, with my mare being lame for a few weeks and also...the weather has been icky poo!

So today was ride 3 in 3 weeks and there are some NEW Goings on to report with us these days. I actually noticed some of these last month..but since the nice changes have continued, I thought it worth mentioning here!

     Firstly, I learned a new leg, seat position at my last clinic ride on another horse and it has greatly helped my mare relax. She reaches down, and stretches into the contact so much more. I thought it to be the bitless bridle at first. She really enjoys the freedom. (But one of our last rides out..she challenged me with what direction we were heading...I did not have good control, I found out suddenly as she was able to ignore the pulling of the bitless..and then we were going a new direction I asked for NOT!)

So,  not having ridden her in so long I have to admit , I  wanted to know we could stop and also stay the desired (by me) course.

   The second thing, is because I did put the bridle on the last 3 times I have gone out. I  used her full cheek, jointed with a roller, snaffle. Which leads me to the second wonderful thing....she is really, really frothing now...not just lipstick in white, but enough to settle down at her lips and sometimes it floats off, away and unto her legs as we ride.

It is way cool to know that her jaw is loose and she is relaxed enough to make the froth!

So today we went down the paved road to graveled service roads, around our trails. It was Windy!

We were going along and suddenly, we startled a deer apparently, which in turn- started my mare to slip into a canter from a shuddering walk. I had booted all four hooves..and the smooth road is not a good surface for this speed...she calmed again quickly.

Other than that little freaking..she was great..not a sign of lameness.  I  did notice something  before booting her.( I trimmed her hinds right before to fit into the boots) She has barely any heal in the hind...and I bet ya since I had her trimmed the week before she went lame, that is a reason for it...kinda a huge difference. I am not sure why I did not notice it right after..I do trust my trimmer but. Maybe she had too little left for such hard frozen ground!

Onward and forward...into the New Years tidings...be well my friends!