In Mean Times

While My mare is getting her "down time" for healing herself...I too, in the Mean time, am healing myself=

 with RIDING a "second horse"

Mustang Cazi has had a nice summer of grasses and leisure mostly...but is ready to go for me anytime.
 He is so sweet and my " MUST RIDE (not only Mondays) Partner" recently told me, as I was thanking her for giving me the gift of riding, even without my own horse, " He is your second horse, I just pay all his bills". 

I have the most wonderful places on earth to ride...and the best friends to ride them with...
my heart has been overcome with joy, since I was devastated over a year ago, being dispelled from the nose in the air stable!
I have totally gained, from a despirate situation (isn't that the way it is...though...gain is found in loss.)

So, my Must ride partner brought her horses over to my place, last Saturday....

We rode around the acres and acres of Local Privately owned  "Oregon Fisherman's Club", near my new stable.

Cazi was mesmerised by the water activities to be seen~on the ponds.

The  crisp Autumn day, had us seeking out the sunshine!!!

Awe, friendly riding partners in the shadows!

 We did the 5 mile loop ride, then returned home again.

I took off my saddle and left it upon the gate, and walked Cazi back to his trailer.

Good bye Cazi man...untill MONDAY...will dream of the  new rides!

I walked back to the property borders, to get my saddle.  Jules and Maddy mare were just heading out for a solo spin .

 Decked out inVisible, Hunter Orange.

In other personal notes....

I have been really ailing with my sleep cycle, now that the diminished light has begun.

Functioning normally is difficult. It is like I'm doped. Getting only 4 hoursof sleep usually.

 I avoid much in the line of group participation...as I have a problem with my retrieval systems with speech and fluid conversations. It is rather embarrassing.

I have S.A.D. Seasonal Affective Disorder.

 Mine is the toughest to treat, "bi-modal"..I have to get light to my eyes 4 distinct times during the day. And though I do have the light boxes through "Apollo Heath", it is tough to be stading or sitting near the boxes sometimes, to get the light therapy...at the right times!

I  have been suffering more this fall...I believe it is the hours my husband I have to keep, for his work schedule, basically, for me to see him, I must stay up till midnight.

THAT IS ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE!!!!

Monday, he and I will be getting up at O- DARK-THIRTY(6:30 am) so he may do his(NEW HOURS) 12 hour work day at the Hospital.

These new hours...will allow me to start my day off with the light, either outside in a walk...or inside with the light box and you all here, as I blog!

These NEW HOURS will also ensure he gets home by 7:45 PM...instead of midnight!!!

YYEEEEEHAA!

I can feel some normalcy coming on!

I am really really looking forward to the healthier lifestyle

So, with that good news, I will treat you to another riding discovery we made, last Monday last...

SANDY RIVER DELTA

I showed up in the sunshine to groom Mr Mustang Caziman...he was so fluffy and cute!

The two pasture partners enjoyed the short grooming session,  then we loaded up for the 33 minutes drive to the Columbia River.

Arrival to the Troutdale location, on the Columbia and Sandy rivers.

It is a HUGE dog, pedestrian and equine PARK. There is bird blinds, hundreds of trails, and acres and acres of plowed fields to ride.

 I have heard many bad things, including dog attacks on horses here...so I never have wanted to bring my mare.

 We saw many dogs this day...but owners were responsible, and had them all on leashes. This was my friends second time there...with no incident.

We set out ...looking to the trail signs...

Staying on trails, at first....

Then, coming to some open recently plowed fields...we just had to explore them!

                                                  I would have cantered...but these two were in such high spirits...I made a call to contain it...and therefore stay in the saddle, I believe now with what happened later on!
                                                       Then, as we looked to the edges of the miles and miles of fields, my partner had us go through the thicket....leading us to.......

  The Columbia Rivers edge...and a place I have only seen, from a car going along the highway, or from a viewpoint high up in the Gorge!



It was so COOL!!!

Cazi loved it too!

 We spent some time riding along the waters of this inlet of the Columbia... the horses were a bit high. So we decided to spend the some time with doing training details- for their minds to grasp.

 One horse would stand , while one did circles and serpentine around them, us asking for yielding and rhythm...we often do this at the beach in the deeper sand..that alone, helps the mind settle!

My friend went first...her mount Simeon settled and got a nicer rhythm, then she stopped on a good note.

I then trotted Cazi...around we went , and not long till -OH!!!

He totally lost his mind and reared up, unexpectedly so, ...I had to grab mane, to stay on!

 That sent tons of adrenaline through me.. and the will to make another round, without any of that nonsence!

I did make another round... then again...

he twisted in a bucking bolt, and JUST when I thought I was coming off...he'd right himself for me to stay on.

He did this quick little darting move -three times...unseating me three times!

That was enough...my legs were jello..I want to live today, and remain ON!

 My freind described events he had pulled on her simularly...in the past.

 He was almost someone elses horse, after them too... each time!

I HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR HIM...UM, less trust!

Us in a moment of calm...I am choosing to relate to this outing, this way!

I'm glad I left my stirrups short (they fall longer on my mare) I think it gave me staying power this time!

 

We walked home.

This little light spot in the Photo below, is called "Crown Point"..a view point along the Historic, Columbia River Drive.

Even with the unsettleing- spent feeling -the Adreniline gave to me...I stayed on and it was a gorgeous Autumn day! We were pretty happy to be out.

Nice area to ride, close, and unending trails.

We will definatley come on back....

and I will bring my mare too!

Have a lovely weekend all...Our times of Sun..may be coming to an end here in the Pacific North West. Nice to have had this Indian Summer!

Down times

This really cracked me up...the way my mare MUST get all remnants of dust off herself!

 It also made me laugh because she has not been able to roll for some time; since her fall on the road in Sept. Being out in her stifle and hips/back.

 So, as she did the happy shaking,  I did the happy laughing for her!

It has been so utterly beautiful out..every day sunshine and upper 60-70's...while the overnights are lower 30's-40.

 CRISP!

It sure does make the leaves turn quickly colorful. Most of the leaves are down already or still green. We have had only 1 or 2 frosts...so the leaves remaining have color coming on fast .
This is what greeted me across the street, as I left for the stable the other day.

I have been riding the mare just a little bit. She is still quite off ...and recently, I had the new stable's massage man give her a look.

 He is QUITE different than our regular "Equine Therapist" Miriah. Her links are on my sidebar.

She assesses the horse first, by doing a once over on the main muscle attachments and back, each side...this tells her,(because the horse tell her) where the tightness or other problems are.

This new fellow, just dug in ,after a small look at the mare. She was passive and willing, at first....

She quickly got pensive and agitated with him...moving away from him, the way I NEVER let her do with me. She hates much touch you see...brushing is disliked by her and to start to touch her- and with force..ooouuu...she was pissed!
He did not allow me to hold her...so I truly feared for him, maybe getting kicked. He allowed her to 'Drift" as he called it, away from him and sometimes her hind end was at his shoulder. I NEVER, like I stated, allow this-it is RUDE and it makes her master over me.
I stood back and prayed...my mare, who clearly was out and sore, would not kick or bite him...she really was mad at him!

 She did not kick at him, but she told him off quite a few times...as she showed him "WHERE it hurt".

Poor thing!! She was SOO OUT in her pecks!!!

She literally KICKED the ground HARD-over and over- as he massaged the tender area.

She finally got a pleasant look and relaxed.

I was pleased she finally let down some.

Good mare.
Though not the style the mare and me are  used to... he really helped my mare out!

 I did some of the same tecniques the next few days..and gave her a day or two off, to settle into the work he had done for her.  I allowed her into the big arena to roll only then one day i free lunged her in the round pen.
I noticed a huge difference the next time I went to girth he,  to ride.

After Wa's time of healing, I decided to ride out by myself, for the second time from the stable. I took my GPS with me to track the mileage and such.

We have these wonderful level areas to ride now...we have become "Valley Riders". And for healing...it is absolutely PERFECT!

She does not even balk at the one  true hill we have to go down...right by the stable. That tells me she feels better, right there.

We did a 5 mile loop ride through the privately owned "Oregon Fishing Club" lands.

Though we only walked, she was subtly lame, on the way home. She was not articulating well.

SO- this Wednesday, I have an Apt. with the Specialist Miriah Stuart. She is bringing her THERMOGRAPHY camera.

 As of last week, (her check was cashed) she will  be Licensed by the Veterinary Board, certification for Thermography science!!!

This means she will be working with local vets and top notch specialists, Like Mark Revenaugh,  whom she spent a day with recently ,doing diagnostics and searching for answers for the health of our horses.

YEA, and Good work Miriah!

Pathways of delight

        That is the title of the Calender I could assemble from the views I took in yesterday, as the mare and me rode solo from the stable the first time.

Though a rainy day, we ventured into it, not knowing what we may find.

As we strode, what we did find pleased the both of us, very much~

                                                                               Gorgeous.

      We see these types of views,  on page in a  book, or ere mentioned calender...the kind "we riders" instantly react to and say aloud ,or in our hearts, " Ooh, I'd love to ride my horse down that!"

         These are the paths and roadways you crave....prefect footing, idyllic settings and room  dream, revitalise, and get a sense of self again.

                                      Okay... the horseman would understand-that last statement!

 They are  inviting . . . the possibility of  what vistas may be had around the next turn, and to what end of the mossy footed avenue?! ~

One can dare to move out...in a hand gallop...seeing the road curves not~

Though grey and foreboding, the day held it's own pleasures...  quiet and still,

 in a soaked leaf on the windshield....or down mossy paths with the mare~

I can feel a calm over me.... as the mare has, since she came to our new barn...I am amazed at how calm she is...very unusual, yet-totally welcomed!

Tis a good start~

The way it started

Looking around at the new place~

. . . . . was easy, breezy calm, all the way around.

The mares Pantz and Washashe were grazing as I packed up more stuff...man, some of this stuff I am sure- I don't need!
Being in so many different facilities, over the years, I have accumulated.

Charlie cat took his own inventory.
 I will miss that adorable, lovable cat...but wait, I won't too much, 'cause I will go back for Pantz mare and riding .

He really is an inspiration, as Pantz's PBO said,  he is curious and cares not for going with the flow..he just plain stands out!

And stands atop my truck, checking out what the view will render him!

I was ready finally...and my new Barn Owner was waiting to greet me.

I walked to the gate to fetch the mare...a little pensive, as I was going to be really, really sad if Pantz came up and wanted to go too.

So here is the thing....

I appeared to them, they acknowledged me...and promptly walked to the other end of the field!! Tee hehe, they were laughing at me!

I slapped my right thigh twice, it is Wa's "Pressure Signal" noise that we came up with together, that works ofr us.  She hears or sees me do this- from anywhere and she KNOWS..I'm needing you near me ASAP.. and if you choose to stay where you are...then the pressure builds.. She sometimes meanders and eats her way to me, sometimes turns around, half way, and runs......but today...

TODAY- she looked up and me, with the darn cutest expression... headed straight for me.

 NO bites of grasses, NO turning , just dead on for me, as she kept her eyes to  me. I was laughing with glee !

Always I  wish there would be some hidden camera person, getting it on film!

PRICELESS!

And here is the other great thing, Pantz headed another direction and ignored the fact I was taking Washashe mare, out of the field.

My mare loaded  right up, after I put her customary trailering safety gear on...and we were off down the road for a short 8 mile trip.

We arrived and Wa mare did her other normal things, after I got the trailer door opened...

she stood  nicely, while I opened the divider and walked up to her blocker tie ring to exchange ropes. I then backed up to her haunches , to allow her to turn and have a clear way out of the trailer.

NOW=This is the darn cutest thing the mare does....She turns around,stops and stares...side to side...

From INSIDE the trailer!

I walked her up to the GATE to close it...yea, a GATE!

Okay...why you say, is the word GATE in caps?? Well, I am a huge fan of GATED horse properties.

 I think it is overall a safer facility. And though I must get out of the truck twice, coming and going...I still think it is great!

They have mentioned sometime in future, putting in a auto opener...Lovely, I say!

So the mare and I took a stroll..to close the gate, then I put her out back to look at 2 of the other horses, while I unpacked some.

And yea, I am excited to have a nice sandy round pen, aside from the indoor, to use sometimes too.

I fetched the mare after an hour or so, to bring her into the arena. She stuck right with me, while I was inside with her...I could tell she was a bit overwhelmed. So I decided to look at the Obstacles that were still set up.

She really surprised me too...she was loose...but followed me right through the tarp-ish obstacle!!

I went  through first, asked her to "WAIT," and then signaled her to come on to me...

I can't tell you how proud of her I was!

I then set off again to unpack, as she wandered the arena alone. She quickly  found the gorgeous horse SKYE, recently injured and stall bound. She told him," hang in dude"....over the arena wall.

She also did some of her antics with cones! I have video...but I am still trying to upload it to You Tube. It is blasted hilarious...but for now, some stills of her touching her hind legs and knocking them down...and then setting them up again. The mare's GOT TALENT!

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

It was good to see her kinda check out -for a time...this must be the equivalent of us- watching TV!

All in all, it was an excellent transition...

I parted with my PBO by hearing her say to me..."the door is always open, and so is my heart".....

At the new place now, Wa mare enjoyed a sunny Autumn day, seeing her friend Maddy mare, and generally being relaxed, in a nice relaxed atmosphere.

She really loved the views!

 Meee too!

Finally, after hanging around for the day..with the mare and the Stable owner, I put her to bed out in the forest of her run this night...so she may get to know others, not so close for this first night there. She seemed fine with it...she had hay and grain and water...
what more could you need??!!

When I went to leave,

I saw first hand  the name, "PAINTED FOREST STABLES", come to life before my eyes!

Perfect way to end a full day~

TRUCK GIRLS A restorative fall outing

  My Washashe mare...spending some time in the stall doorway, during a  sweet smelling fall rain .

Autumn times have been quite beautiful around our fair city and some sunshine even  blessed my sissy's visit last weekend. It has been so good to have this Indian Summer type weather...lifts the spirits.

I parked on the street in front of our mom's house, to pick siss  up, to go to the barn.

We are both "Truck Girls"...I call it!

 I am loving my new Phone...it takes pretty nice photos! Since the computer is fritzing out with no memory left and old attitude...my phone is the way to post any photo's, of late!

As my Sissy and I drove to the country, the recent rains had cleared the city airs, enough for us to view Mount Hood from the road out of town!

I had a plan for this days ride... a Smooth, safe and healing ride...little to no hills and no need for hoof boots either, for Pantz mare.
 That is- IF we deemed the mares fit enough and in good enough spirits to travel and ride.

The day before, we had ridden out from the barn( that little 20 minute ride I mentioned last post)...first ride on them since the original fall on the road 3 weeks ago.

The  revelation about that  day and Pantz dumping me over some ducks...
I am sure , that was not it now.
Me seeing the unusual dropping of scat..now I know, were not Bear or Coyote.
The local aggressive logging, may be what is moving the Cougars  around so much.

ANYWHO.... After we got back from that ride... we had been talking amongst ourselves about how terrible Pantz was feeling...kinda wondering what she was going through... We were overheard by our  PBO.
She then told us,"Pantz had a nasty sliding FALL, yesterday".

  AGAIN-I am amazed...maybe it is all "just horsey behaviour and happenings" to some...but I am into the DETAILS, if any of you have not noticed yet.
NO wonder she would not eat and her stride was short. I mean, she's 20 years old and a bit fragile.She has had a hard life before and some during, my sisters ownership of her.
We think her POLL was out and her Hips hurt.
We did some massage and Liniment rubs...released her poll and called it a night!

 PANTZ MARE after massage!

My sissy, since she is staying at the current Private barn, is thinking about putting up and "INCIDENT" board.
 A place where things like that ...that are seen by the handler
 and mentally noted, CAN BE NOTED...because, those things, specially of  injury,  make a differance to us folks who can not be on site withn our horses.
 We need to be consciencious of what happens to these equine partners. Even though a natural occurace to fall sometimes, we must try and apply it to what we ask of them. They are athletes and and off day, usually does not come WITH OUT a reason.
   To the best of our knowlege, we shall gently be,  partner with our horses
Extra "EYES" on the scenes...wow, can tell us stories they may not be able to.

Wa in her paddock,  enjoying the warm sunshine. We've had an Indian Summer this fall. Some rains, but warmer..and lots of sunshine!

So...we gave them extra loves and waited a day to let them settle into-going out to the fields and -let Pantz heal some.
She came good soon enough for our planned outing, last Saturday. It was slated to be a WARM Autumn day!
- BUT-
Friday,  we got a msg from our PBO saying, she was off for an early ride somewhere...
it so happens that she ended up getting lost on that ride, somewhere else too...sometime LATER she called her  husband, to retrieve our horses from the fields.
 (I WOULD HAVE LIKED THAT NOTIFICATION as well)
So, he  did the horses Friday night...they may have stayed out too late per my liking, and I find now... ..Mine got over grained, for the note I wrote, in the tack room where the feed is, again got overlooked.
 A NOTICE BOARD...is sounding better and better..Maybe right on the stall!

So, we got there Sat...my mare was having PROJECTILE- POO.
It so shocked me!!! I mean, to see your horse's poo come out, like urine!
NEVER, has that happened in the 5 years I have had my mare.
OH! My mare can't get a break!
 I am sooo glad she did not colic!

-WE HAD TO GET OUT AND RIDE-

So we did!!!
We made sure we had water and hay for the mares... I made up some beet pulp with electrolytes in it, knowing my mare had shot-out-the-back-end-  most of her moisture.
AND WE TOOK OFF!
 Here the cute horsey buts are...at FROG LAKE Mount Hood, parking lot apon arrival. My mare had shot poo OUT THE TRAILER DOOR...her tail was green, when we got there!
 I am glad I brought 2 pales of water...I soaked her tail and it became black again.

It was PERFECTLY sunny...PERFECTLY.. Sweeeet!

I took snaps on the nordic ski trail..perfectly flat, wide and with out root or rock!
The mares were in good spirits, and seemingly had enough energies, from past tramatic events, to carry us up the moutain to the lakeside.

I wore my bitless bridle, that Wa mare loves so much...and the bareback soft saddle.

A nice compy ride- for the both of us!!

THOUGH...she  was really out still and sore. She groaned -SO MUCH- upon heading down some easy slopes.
She even misbehaved by balking some..so my sissy took her headstall in hand, a few times.
She seems to calm quick, with this strategy.

We got to the LOWER TWIN LAKE...ooulala!

Wa mare was talking loudly...with her LOWER LIP too!!

Pantz mare...looking at  all the activities~
 there were TONS of folks out camping...though you have to pack it in here..the weekends SUNNY/WARM forcast, could NOT be Missed!!!

We went into the water...the horses drank well...both of them...from the huge watering trough nature made!

We decided to lunch on the other side of this small lake...a bit aways...from  the rope swing activites and campers.

Such a nice little trip...ir did ease some of my sissy and mine's concerns of late....at least for the day!

And the colors..oouu!!! They were so fantastic! BLESSED are we, being sisters with horses and able to take little jaunts as, such easily.
I can only sing praises of thanks to GOD, for these prevailing pleasures.

He has been so faithful and I do- NOT -wish to overlook anything. Even though Life is difficult and trials seems to squish the spirit at times..I CHOOSE to replace the memory of the difficult...Replace it, with a time like this. With those that love me, and wish for my best.
I love that my sissy will be nearer to me soon, I pray soon!

The huckleberry leaves, on the mountainside slope...flaming red.

 My sister was excited to share this pic, she caught of ME, on her phone's camera!...doing what I DO ALL THE TIME....
 I now, share it with you,
Chuckle it up...go ahead! At least I was not on my belly or upsidedown!!!I look rather normal...with helmet of course~

Tee hehe!

Good bye sweet Mountain..we shall see you again soon, I hope!

A LITTLE NOTE:

I have been packing and packing...a little remorseful too...such good memories at this barn, and such a good freindship.....I now believe I am saving for the leaving.

In fact, my PBO and I went on a little ride, yesterday. It was about 82 degrees and she brought home a new horse to try out, earlier that day.

I had been packing for a couple hours...cleaning up gear and organizing as I went along...I thought,

"I WANNA RIDE- I GOTTA RIDE!!!"

So I called my friend  /BO up and said..."wanna go take  your new horsey for a ride with me??"

She was surprised, and even moreso, Idid not want to ride WA mare.  But, I still don't..and probably won't here again.

The trails are steeper and muddy now..I want to begin again in the arena,on the ground.Contained.

ANYWHO... WE DID GO! Her new gelding, DUDLY"

 is very level headed. He is 8, about 14.1 hands maybe 14.2.

They say he is a QH...I beg to differ...maybe a Quarab...but..definitely an Arab or most likely, another Morgan.

What do YOU think??? No papers.

We set out,   The mares Washashe and Pantz ran and played in the fields next to us as we rode by..me on one of my friends  Morgan steeds.

We had a nice parting ride together, and I feel so much more at ease. I know I will be back and back..and maybe she'll come over to ride with me, on my new trails too. Anyway..A nice soothing, sunny ride and the gesture of goodwill...and..she said, " take your time with all your gear"...woo..I mean..man, I have so much.. + the Timothy hay!! We settled on me taking what I can manage on Saturday...and being able to leave some, till I get organised.

WHEW!

Things are looking up...at least , I am!