Solo miles

Been riding Solo mainly of late~

So this day was the  second of 3 days in a row...very calm  rides *mostly.

Love the ear of question...what  next KK?

As with so many others around the country right now...the weather is mostly grey and damp and a bit too cold still. We have snow in the mountains and the skiing oportunities are going into a normally dry season.

About once a week,  the sky will spit out a sunny day in the 70's ...and it hits us like a heat wave! This was NOT that day....

The raven watched us as we passed nearby...he did not speak to us, but kept silent upon looking at the horse and rider.

Oops...where did my mare go??!! I was looking at the raven and then lost my mount!

The trees,  flowers and grasses have decided to leave the sun behind and go for it. I must remember to take my pruning saddle packet along for the rides...brambles and branches have been encroaching the paths and trails!

Riding in the "snack friendly" bitless, the mare and I take a break in the quiet, still airs of this day~

The path winds around, invitingly so. The mare looks on, as if we may see something of interest- she hears some interesting sounds of fishermen, in a nearby pond location.

 Just a quick jaunt, these last 3 rides...about 5 miles each ride. My British (phone application) "Cardio Trainer" riding partner has tallied up our millage for April- we rode near 55 miles! "HOORAH!" That is what he would say, cheerily so.

We came on back to share a bite with Maddy mare. She always greets us as we come in from a ride.

HAPPIEST OF MOTHERS DAYS TO ALL!~~!

And to those of us that are not mothers of children-

Happy mothering of those children and Lovely animals in your lives!

Times previous

I Won!!

Firstly, I am thankful for the really fun time it was awaiting the arrival of SHIRLEY'S NEW FOAL, and guessing the Color, Sex, and Day it would come into her beautiful world. I was surprised when she told me that I got the closest- in the game. RIO colt was born on the day I guessed.

This horsey pin -I LOVE- was the prize. I've worn it many times already and this photo is from a hat it was on...below is the unfocused version..artsy cool.

So much has gone on ere now,  I failed to sit down and log here.

Like the visits in April I had to "Abraham Acres" my friend's place, we boarded with for almost 2 years.

My sisters mare Pantz, is currently there boarding.

It is much higher up in the mountains and- burrrrrr- cold it has been there, with snow lasting far into springtime.

These mountains are some of my favorite to ride.

The mares always are happy to see each other. They got paddocks of GRASSES that her horses can not go out on, being founder prone and are overweight- just having hay all winter.

I only allowed them 20 minutes...but made it 35-40, as they did not eat- all that time..they frolicked and kept looking for the rest of the herd. Pantz does her lead mare thing and paces, making sure the parameter is clear.  Wa thinks she is leaving her, so she goes around after her! This space is new to them and removed from sight of the barn and others, so they did not really settle.

First times together I separate them for a time...Pantz gets all-"REMEMBER NOW, I'M IN CHARGE" on Wa. My mare came into instant season once we arrived, and was not in her right mind and does not move away as quickly. Pantz has been known to -kick out- to make her point so, to be safer... I just put them next to each other.

Soon enough, they got to be together.

It is far worse when other horses are around. Pantz bosses and herds Wa and that is really dicey for Wa..her being so social..she has gotten herself  into corners, near the other herd (that was hers firstly) with Pantz kicking her out of them.

When ever Wa is in a paddock or run, I have to make sure either there is a DOUBLE line between she and the others-A buffer zone- or she will get hurt by kicking into the fence herself or, if she is with another bossy horse, she will get trapped and kicked by the other horse, as she tries to socialze and it makes her move. Her Theo Pasture bud is such a horse...he is possesive and I already have some pensive thoughts about the summer turn out + feeding.

 I wish she could be all on her own, only being able to see the herd she lives with.

Mountain fresh well water tastes so good!!

Pantz was hilarious...though the grasses were wet this day...she kept coming back to the trough. The water was still shut off, but my friend called her husband and figured which knobs to turn for the water to flow again..Pantz was right there....only one drop escaped her lips!

Walking back to the barn for a stalled overnight visit

This stay over was to be able to leave together for the vet's office the next day.

My sis and I took the mares for the annual Teeth check up at our vets. All was good, not much necessary for Wa this year, her ramps and dips and hooks of before have all been smoothed out and she needed a slight buffing. Our vet is one of 3 "Qualifiers" for the Dental program in Oregon. He trains others that wish to become proficient.

His horsey office is made for horses, if sedated to be able to lean upon the rails that surround them. They are large and soft. Pantz used them this time...all of a sudden, she almost sat back!! We were horrified to find a broken molar! It pained her so much she was sitting back as far as she could, even with sedation and pain killers! It had to be removed. It was terrible sounding too...poor thing! She had become very thin this fall..not liking her food (we thought). She always has been finicky, a "hard Keeper". Well, what a testimoney for regular check ups!!! She is 21 and had been done last year with no significant growth or changes. You should see her eat now! We rinced her mouth out with salt water for a weeks time, everyday and she is so good to go!

I went again, for a "barn over stay" a week or two later..we got ONE SUNNY DAY to ride.. it so happened that my sister was in town so

we  set out for dry footing..the service roads above the barn.

This was right as we started out~

It was a seemeingly perfect day! I started to notice signs of treads marks though...where no one even travels this stretch of road...when all of a sudden, a pickup truck came speedily down the road and abruptly stopped-surprised to see us- and said, "YOU shouldn't be here!! I asked why the gate was open..he said, "Because we are loging!"

OH! We beat it back down the road...and were blessed to have run into him... as a log truck came shortly after that, with a load!! I saw, "The horse whisperer" - in my mind.

Another area OUT-for riding. it won't be long till they move onto the next, but that could be near Abraham Acres...saddd days!

 But no fear, ther are plenty of State horse parks and other places to ride...we truly have been blessed in the past, but are still being blessed  now as well, even though some places are removed and changed.

I was reminded to keep things in perspective, stay relaxed, count blessings, remember to take it slow and be thankful always to keep looking up!

While you were eating

The mare saw me sneak into the field, where she happily munched new grasses.

She pretended to not care too much why I was laying on the ground ...though she kept her eye on me~

I have just started feeling better from the events a week ago, the mare too, it seemed. She has been somewhat down, so I mostly groomed her this past week..and went out twice for solo rides.

The one ride she was so lame, she could barely walk..it was her soft feet from the tides of Rains in March and April. So much rian, the weather forecaster folk say it has not been like this for 70 years!

Makes me wonder what earthly events happened back then. My theory is: What happens on one part of the earth effects all parts of the earth...quakes and eruptions ,weather above or below ground, are all of the earth...so many people have experienced such tumultuous times -for weather this year.

Well...for the moment...we were having a sunny day... I had to experience it from the ground up-with the mare!

She was so funny, checking in with me here with a grassy mouthed glance~

Then, as I took deep breaths of sun shining goodness..she'd turn, to make sure I was still content from my vantage point-insuring her vantage point lasted longer!

How ya doin' KK girl? You go ahead and nap it off while I watch over you~

Sometimes the simple joys of being out in the field can heal you up and make you whole again~

Wa mare came right close to me, whispered sweet horsey thanks for the delightful grassy times we shared this day, with her soft eyed look.

Love is laying near a grazing horse!

After a time of  Love/looking on my mare, cool dampness set into my clothing, so I got up. I noticed something...while our Spring is so late and the sun has not shown up much at all...Washashe's dapples are EARLY...

Some on her shoulders for now...must be the Bee Pollen I have given her this winter!

Happy sun shinning days to you all...I hope it visits you and decides to stay!

A Beautiful Riding Memory- changed

BIG FIR LANE

Went to the stable to investigate our new views . I was informed,

 they have changed somewhat~

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------home again-----

I dared the ride in the wind, to go see the fate of BIG FIR LANE.
I was told to come right home afterwards by Joni -the miraculous  horseback survivor - she was at the stable yesterday and she bid me a safe jaunt out, but almost unwillingly so.  We are both still shaken up after last Friday's events.
 I walked the mare till I felt good enough to ride..the wind did have me pensive a little. She was a bit spooky, but nothing really fearful..so we ventured. She seemed lame, her head was bobbing..so I was trying to figure out what leg/hoof it was as we walked. I had done some lunging with my "balance system" for 15 minutes and she did not seem lame in the arena.
She is very soft in the hooves from the continued MUDD. I am thinking it is tender hooves, and maybe one more than the rest for the bobbing motion. I am going to have to sacrifice some New saddle $ for the EASYWALKER horse shoes- soon...the Hoof boots just won't stay on-or straight- in these conditions of many creeks, mudd bogs and puddles, they stretch far to much. These particular boots have served us well though...over a years time, we have used them..but not with out some tweaking and taping and OH!

This was our first evidences of the  heavy machinery~

We ventured farther and I saw the big GAP in the wood, where BIG FIR LANE used to be! 
It would have extended directly ahead of us, making a symetrical evergreen row to match the one on the left of the bare trees.

Here is a before shot from last October, when I moved in to this area to board.

And below...my mare's lft ear, is right on the very same tree~

Here is what we found today~

I was unable to go to the far angle view...too windy and it began to hail. This is what we used to ride through, in the sunsets that poured over our right shoulders, from the  West~

Everything Must change, and does!

In fact, it is one of life's constants...I say there are two main constants(aside form the obvious life and death) CHANGE & the unending love of the LORD!

UPDATE!

Joni, dear heart has been recovering nicely from her fall . She  appreciates all your Prayers & concerned, healthful wishes towards her! She asked me to post a photo of her wearing her helmet...she knows that God spared her life, but she also says that wearing her helmet (a Troxel) saved her directly too!

Divine Riding Graces

Good Friday in our neck of the woods was a beautiful day to be alive...and of course, go ride!

With the hit and miss days of sun vs rain..we sure got it good this day!

 I sent a MSG out to my riding partner from the stable, that I was about to go on a ride...was she available? She got back to me, "Give me an hour"...OKAY! I hooked up to her trailer, as her BIG SKYE Paint horse is way to large for my normal 2 hse trailer. Hers is the same brand, a "Thuro bilt", but more a stock trailer- taller wider.

***

I confess that this is the most recent riding adventure, and not any of the "Looking Back" I promised last post. This is very important to me and I MUST interrupt myself, and post it firstly~

***

My girlfriend and I loaded the horses and planned to go to my old riding stable's places at "ABRAHAM ACRES". Big Skye, for some reason was being a pill loading again..he tested and evaded and finally conceded. This behaviour is new for him and has my friend slightly annoyed...but she practiced her breathing and calm and eventually was able to calmly load her horse. We drove through the sunshine to my former private boarding barn. I had looked for the release forms for her to sign and we had a little conversation about how "inherently dangerous" horses are to us humans..with me adding to the end of the statement, " And I love every minute of being with them!" She agreed. I did not find the release, and my former PBO txt's me to were they were, but since we we already gone...it did not matter till we returned.

Lazy, hazy attitudes we got from the horses...they seemed very content. I had all 4 of Wa's hoof boots on and she was hesitant to go down the road... she took second behind Big Skye again. She has done this now quite a few times this spring. First, as I rode with my "Must Ride" partner with Simeon the day I almost lost my camera..and this ride again, with Skye. It's our third in 2 weeks time, and she is at ease with him. I am enjoying it, but actually wonder too, if she is in her right mind..it is a HUGE departure from herself.

We had a nice time chatting it up and walking down the rode.  As we neared the PORT BLAKELY service gate to the forests, I got to tell her about the neat, new gate features to keep OUT the motorcyle croud. We asked and asked last year, for this to happen...It did! The man that lived across the street has done the work for the forest manager. Just last weekend as my former PBO and I were trying to figure out how to get horses in, wtihout allowing the motorized group in...the man came out to meet us and to show us where we could enter. *** I entered his photo and name into my phone, then.***

We entered the forests and took the firtst right, down the trail off the service road.

I dismounted for some of the first lower trail, it is  too slick for the boots, and me to ride. The mare slipped behind me plenty, as I walked ahead of her. I felt good that I was not adding to the slippage with my weight and directives I would have been giving. I remounted shortly, we rode to the next service gate, to go up the mountain, some  2 miles away according to our Brittish Riding partner. He sounded off with our speed and miles per hour - "HOORAH"..totally funny, we both had him logging our ride.

This is the first leg to my 3-4 hour loop around "Stony Mountain". It is a good conditioning start for the horses for hills. We planned to go up to  the top of the first hill and return, calling it good.

 The horses were in control when we trotted and also cantered some.  Once both of them wanted to continue cantering even when I put my right arm up in the stopping signal..I had some trouble stopping as soon as I wanted...she did too..but we both had a straight shot and room to go another couple paces. It was all fine and normal. They had a light sweat going by the top, and our destination.

We walked with them some of the way down. I always walk Wa mare at this point, as it is really a creek bed and rocks are everywhere..not small ones, but larger round ones. My girlfriend walked Big Skye too. I had lots of re-mounting to do this day...one of my hoof boots WOULD NOT stay straight on her hind..so I finally removed it. Then it fell from my Soft saddle, I tied it too loose. ARG!

We were just really Praising God for the day. On this "Good Friday", we revelled in being out and about with our horses in the woods....we share our Faith together and that is such neat blessing!

I mounted up again, rode the 40 minutes to the lower trail from the service road 1/2 mile from home, dismounted for that slick stuff...and finally found a log to remount again. My friend had walked back  aways from us...giving us space. I hurled myself on the mare and stood and looked back at her and Skye. She  saw us and seemed fine, so I started to walk my mare. I looked back again and they had decided to canter up to us...I kept walking slowly...then heard her all of a sudden say, "HOLD UP"...I stopped, turned, and saw through the evergreen tree Big Skye, apparently bucking...but I couldn't see my friend! I heard a loud- "THUD" and here came  Skye...without his rider!!

OH! I told him to "WHOA", throwing my arm up into the air in authority- and so did my mare, swishing her tail and pinning her ears as he cantered to us. He stopped and I was off in a flash to grab his reins.....I heard nothing.... it REALLY- REALLY scared me and I cry again now, to even think of the sight I beheld, as I walked around the little corner.

SKYE snorted loudly, and I gasped...my friend was in a heap on the ground! I prayed so loudly over the sight- " God to have MERCY and Extend GRACE to my friend and for "Jehovah RAFA",(the God that Heals),  help her please and  "Jehovah Saboath", (the LORD of HOSTS) please be protecting her at this very moment from harm."

Using the names of God, in specific times of prayer, is like calling upon a known friend to help.

I still did not know if she was alive.............

AUTOPILET started in me..... I multi tasked, got my phone out...the Brittish voice, telling me that I had not moved an how much time had passed- was NOT helpful! Turned him off. Pressed my speed dial number for Gemma, whose property we parked  on.

I just couldn't get the horses tied fast enough... got mine first, I had my halter bridle on with a rope...that was totally easy and she was totally good about it...then as Skye was shying and snorting still....I kept and EYEBALL on my friend, prayed  as the phone rang- kept tying the horse and then- SAW HER CHEST MOVE up and down in a breath!!!

I called out to her, "Praise JESUS!!," and also - "Joni, Don't move!!"..knowing I had to get over there to keep her still.

The horse was being a pill...moving back and forth and making it extremely difficult for me to tie... Then, my friend Gemma  answered on the phone! I am yelling at Joni, trying to tie the horse....told her that we had a horse accident, where we were and my friend was unconscious and to bring the car.

THAT was 2 MINUTES into it... As I finished the call and finally got her horse tethered and before I could reach her..she slightly raised up from the ground, "Joni don't move", I said again. She also moved her feet to flat on the ground and her knees to bent. I was happy she was not paralyzed...but quickly got to her, to keep her from moving anymore!

3 MINUTES into it as I finally got to my friend and she dazily looked up and my teary face and said, "What happened??" for the first time...I quickly realized...she needed professional help- NOW! 5 MINUTES into it I called back,  asked for the nearest EMT team to come for her,and  please call 911!

All this seemed to take so long....she kept coming and going into a waking state to not. She complained of a headache and a feeling of needing to throw up. I thought about which direction to turn her head if she actually did...she was flat on her back. I got her phone out of her pocket as she closed her eyes again. MAN...I had a hard time figuring out her phone!! I had to call her husband! I also had to turn off the Brittish man telling us things about the"workout paused"!! She opend her eyes and began to ask again, "What happened?"..this went on for 10 minutes..her asking me that..I asked her some questions too..she had no answers for me except-her husbands name and her own. I called him, gave him directions..then called the PORT BLAKELY land manager to open the gate for the EMTs. THEN...since I had the number, I called the man at the end of the road***...told him what happened. He was on it...told me he would bring a MULE down for her to be transported out. It is a QUAD vehicle.( this was a total God -going before us-*** circumstance, I had just met the man the wkend before!)

Everyone arrived shortly..I was trying to move the horses below the action as the team helped my down friend...my mare became too excited to take past Joni on the ground..do I had to take her above them.

The team looked at her helmet, asked me questions and arranged for a "Life Flight" helicopter to come to the nearest town. It all was done with within 35-40 minutes time!

Blurry phone shot...the MULE taking her OUT OF THE WOODS.

I watched them load her into the ambulance vehicle. I stood with my friend John and Gemma, who's property we were parked on. They helped me so MUCH by coming to my(our) rescue!! They too, Share the same faith and it greatly relieved me to know...prayers were sent out from the first minute onward.

I called my husband to pray and also the Stable owner where we boarded..to let them know what had occurred and that I would try to load Skye and Wa and bring them home again.

Yet, another blessing..Skye loaded for me in four halts and five steps! He never tried to turn away or back up...I was so thankful...he knew it too, as he got the remaining carrot chunk from my pocket!

Got them home safe, unloaded, untacked them and put them into stalls...parked the trailer, and just let down and balled and balled all the way home!

                   Trillium flower, from the top of the trail we rested on~

 As the night progressed calls came in to let us know that the cat scan was clear and that Joni really wanted to go home...they allowed her to! She is now resting at home, with an apt to return to the hospital in a week.

I went to the stable yesterday, my mare was so relaxed and worn out from the previous day... the owner was filling the stalls with shavings and had thrown the empty white bag in the aisle behind us...the wind picked it up suddenly. I watched in almost slow motion, as these things seem to be sometimes, as my mare in cross ties reacted ever so slightly as the bag almost blew under her legs. She was just so out of it, she barely reacted to one of her Nemesis's!

I  just took the mare out to eat grasses for a few hours.

 Joni and I spoke before I had left for the stable...her memory was coming back so nicely,  as I asked her what she remembered. She told me she remembered me jumping on and that she had moved Skye aways away, because he was so antsy. After I jumped on...then, she said she thought maybe I had been trotting or cantering- TO  MY HORROR- she thought that...in fact, I was having huge, painful thoughts of my walking  the mare at all, was a fault to the day. She quickly said to me, as I cried, " DON'T you do that to yourself! There was nothing that you did wrong, my horse sometimes does these things.."....

I knew that I was forgiven, be it my fault or be it something we had just discussed about horse back riding being "inherently dangerous".

She also told me that she had missed her only Helicopter ride by being out of it..and that once in the Hospital, when they told her they had to cut her shirt off...she had requested, "Please don't cut My riding boots off!"

All in all this EASTER SUNDAY, We are overjoyed by the Love of GOD towards us.  And- My girlfriend and I have been bonded closer together  now-through the hazardous LOVE OF HORSES!

Looking back

Literally so, the mare is trying to tell me that she'd rather go the other way!!

I could not resist her innocent face as she stared back towards the normal trail homeward last Sunny -Sunday. I had started out with a raincoat on...but it became too hot to wear as hand walked with the mare, so in ditched it in a tree...we had to go back that way , for me to retrieve it!

Yes, we have has at least one more day of the brighter, somewhat warmer stuff. Last weekend was full of some riding and some horse management stuff. We had the fecal testing done and all the stable's horses were at the low shed -200 mark. So the vet recomended our wormer and the owner administred it that morning Sunday. I don't ride much at the worming time, just hand walk or light in hand.

OF course, it turned out to be  "the sunny day" of the week! Things are finally looking colorful, weeds and flowers alike! They don't really show up in the dark grey days we have had.

I came out to the stable  knowing I was going to go on a "mare/walk", a nice Grass eating quest. But, I decided to bareback saddle her and maybe sit on her as we went from destination to destination..it was barely riding. She was elated to find me actually passive about when and where she dipped her head to the grounds, for the delightful greens.

Okay, I just sold my Mecate' reins to a blogger friend Jane but now, I miss "one" aspect of them..the length.   I love to allow the mare to munch occasionally, on a period of break during a ride. But all my favorite reins are too short for me to relax...I have to almost lean forward to keep ahold of them, while she has her head down. So, I am on the hunt for some rope reins, with clips, that are longer.

Here is something cool~I have a NEW RIDING PARTNER- He is British, he rides WITH ME, though he has no horse. He has greatly encouraged me, in my pursuit of loosing weight.....

I ran out of card room on my camera's sd card or I would have gotten more of him talking to me. He had me Hooting it up in the woods last Sunday! I laughed loudly so, as I figured out his accent and that he was cheering me on! "HOORAH!" He'll say, after telling me our speed.

He lives in a free "Application" I downloaded to my phone called,  "CARDIO TRAINER"...he speaks to us as we ride and tracks us on GPS and COUNTY MAPS-mileage-location-calories burned and yes...speed...listen to him...

It is quite a small clip so turn up the sound or you'll miss him!

The mare wondered where the Brit dude was...he talks to us about every  2 minutes saying how far we've gone and how long we've been riding..then of course, the "Speed--- per hour-Hoorah!"

My stable mate uses him as well, to cheer her and her Big Skye horse on, as they ride !

 Funny too, when you stop the process and save your data..it tells you in a food item, how many calories you've burnt. Ha, I earned a STRAWBERRY...that's like when I  tested it out and walked from one end of the barn to the other. Our Sunny Sunday walk/munch time out was a whole AVOCADO ride! Usually, we ride a 5 banana ride.(4.5 mi)
(notice...we are traveling in the back in pic above??!!)
I have begun to see a different mare of late..it is kinda neat-o!

So we munched along in the sunshine day, the mare and me...seeing new sights for our trails..this one had taken the overflow of a nearby pond!

The tranquil grazing location below, we stayed in for some time...and my Brit riding partner says then, "workout paused".

"Workout resumed" , and we strode home..head bobbing up and down for the clumps!

There is so much to tell you all and I have had- no time- to sit and log the accounts of any of it, till today. So as to not make this too long, I will be "Looking back" for the next day or two to catch you up on some exciting times and also some amazing findings in the life and times of two mares, Pantz and Washashe along with a years anniversary creation and Freyda wishes some blog time too!

Happiest of Eastertides to you, my dear friends!