Misty's Monday Muse - Trail Ride

 
I took MyLady for a ride today.

We rode with my handsome gelding friends:

A Foxtrotter and Spotted Saddle Horse.

 
I walked through a forest of pine trees.
 

 

 I walked over lots of logs.

 

 

I took a big drink of water when I got home.

 

Then I enjoyed a roll in the soft dirt

while Mr. Once Upon cleaned my rolling box.
Thank you Mr. Once Upon!

  

It was a good day and

I was a very good girl.

Happy Trails,

Hobby Horse Blog Hop 10 - MIA

This week's blog hop instructions are to write anything we want as long as we begin with: I really hate it when..... 

I really hate it when.....I see law enforcement on the road while I'm driving.

My heart races and I become awash in guilt, even though I'm doing nothing wrong.

I went 30 years without a speeding ticket. Then in about 18 months I received three.  What the heck!? I'm not a malicious speeder; I just wasn't paying attention and wandered into some notorious speed traps.  The local sheriff and small town police know just the right spots to lay in wait to fatten their county and city coffers.  Rural, hilly roads and highways are a favorite.

So now I am super-duper careful about watching my speed.  I don't want to fudge by even 5 miles over the limit because I'm afraid of another ticket and  I hate getting into trouble.  By golly, I'm a good citizen!  I try to keep my speed right smack on the limit now.  It is annoying because I feel like I'm watching my speedometer more than I'm watching the road.  Drivers behind me get impatient, but I figure they will just have to relax and enjoy the drive, or pass me.  I am frequently passed (even on double yellow lines) and it is not unusual for someone to ride up onto my tail at night and turn their high beams on because they are mad that I am going  the speed limit.  Everyone is in such a hurry. Don't these people ever get speeding tickets?  I feel like putting a sign in my rear window that says, "Too many tickets - back off or pass me."

A couple weeks ago as I was driving home on a rural highway, after visiting Misty at her training stable, I had my cruise control set on the speed limit.  I had 5 cars stacked up on my rear bumper, annoyed that I was slowing their progress.  One of those drivers got lucky that day because of me.  We crested a rise in the road and as we all started down, (with me braking to stay at the limit...it is so irritating to have to brake all the time on these hilly roads), we passed an unmarked highway patrolman sitting on the side of the road, trolling for speeders.  I wish I could have said "See, I told ya so" to the guy riding my tail.

Yesterday I was traveling on a road with two lanes in each direction. I was in the far right lane when I noticed 3 motorcycle cops working a sting operation.  I immediately felt dread and terror...and guilt.  I glanced down at the speedometer and was relieved to see I was right on the limit, but still afraid of being pulled over because now I'm just paranoid.   Another motorist had just passed me in the left lane, oblivious of the trap, and one of the cops zipped out from the side street and pulled him over.  I smiled.  Not because the poor sucker in front of me just got nabbed.  I smiled because those 3 motorcycle cops lurking on that side street reminded me of this:

My question for you:

 

When horseback riding, what is your favorite gait?  (Do you have a need for speed?)

 

Cruise on over to the hop.
(But don't speed.)

Hobby Horse Blog Hop 8: Cheeky

 1. Describe how a horse you have known is sometimes a 'cheeky monkey'. What does he/she do that is a bit naughty?  
Misty is my cheeky monkey.  Or  lippy monkey may be more appropriate.  She has very busy lips.  They are always searching for something to play with and it is often the tail of my shirt, or the zipper pull on my jacket, or the buttons on my shirt, or the rubber strips around the outside of the horse trailer windows, or the toe of my boot when I'm in the saddle and ask her to flex her neck.  Those lips are always lookin' for mischief. 

2. What is your favorite thing about spring? (Hmmm... I'm thinking there won't be too many people who say 'shedding horses'!)

It sure isn't the snow that is falling today (or blowing horizontally as the case may be).  I find "springtime in the Rockies" to be frustrating when we get teased by a few 70F degree days, followed by a blizzard.  But I do like the moisture we receive because I like the greening of the fields in springtime.

3. What care do you provide for feet? Horse or human! Do you have a special product that you have discovered and just can't do without?

I like to keep my horses barefoot.  I think that's one of the healthiest things for their hooves.  Myself, I hate to go barefoot.  I like to wear sandals though, and if I have the money and the time (both of which are in short supply with horses to care for),  I like going to the spa for pedicures.  

My question for you: Coke or Pepsi?   (Or neither, cuz nothin' beats a tall glass of water.)

See you at the hop:

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

National Weather Service

We had our first spring thunderstorm pass over our house Tuesday evening.  The thunder boomed and lightning struck repeatedly.   I was startled by a lightning strike that hit extremely close to our house.  It sent me to the windows to look outside for damage.  The barn was ok, but I couldn't tell if  SaraJane was in the barn or out in the dry lot.  Misty is away for training and SaraJane is home alone.  I went to another window  to look for her.  There she was, standing in the rain with her head down in that typical equine-enduring-the-storm stance.   She was standing on a high spot in our dry lot between our house and our next-door neighbor's house.  The picture below is from last year, but this is the spot where she was standing and you can see how close the neighboring house is behind her.

I was worried about Miss SaraJane, standing out in this thunderstorm.  I could lure her into the barn easily with food, but I was afraid to go outside since that last strike was so close.   As I was standing at the window, watching SaraJane and fretting for her safety, I saw lightning strike behind her.  I heard a loud "POP!" and saw the flash.  It was so close that SaraJane reacted as if someone had goosed her in the fanny.    She jumped forward a few feet, trotted a few yards away and began sniffing the ground.  I wondered if she might have felt a tingle from the lightning.

That was a close call, as the lightning struck the house right behind SaraJane.

My neighbor was at her kitchen window when it hit and she saw concrete shingles fly from her roof.  It also took out their well pump, so they've been without water until a new pump is installed today.

It was crazy to actually see a lightning strike that close up.  I'm sure glad it spared SaraJane and that my neighbors are alright. 

Have you ever had a close encounter with lightning? Do you take extra precautions to protect your horses?

June 24-30, 2012 is Lightning Safety Week.  Be informed and be cautious during thunderstorms.  Visit http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/  for information.

Hobby Horse Blog Hop 6: Tricky

1. My horse does this silly thing....
   
   After Misty empties her bladder, she remains standing in her potty position, with legs splayed, for quite a long time.  She's either contemplating the meaning of life...or air drying.  I tried to get a picture the last few days, but my timing was always off.  One opportunity sent me rushing to grab my camera in the barn and my quick movement startled Misty and the poor girl took flight in mid stream.  Sorry Misty.
    
2. What trick(s) have you taught your horse, dog, cat, husband, or kids?
   
   How about a bird?  I've taught a Cockatiel and an African Grey parrot to poop on command.  I'd hold them over a paper towel and say "Go potty."  That way I could time the event and avoid unsightly surprises on my clothing and carpet.  Eventually the African Grey started giving me advance warning when she would say the magic words,  "Go potty."  I'd have a few seconds to position her over a towel before "bombs away".
    
   
3. What was the last movie you watched?
   
   Our satellite service is having a free movie channel preview.  I had Thursday afternoon off of work so I watched The Social Network.  It was alright.  The last movie I saw in a theater was War Horse.  It was excellent! 
   
   

My question for you:
Do you prefer to ride: a) English b) Western c) Bareback d) All of the above?

Meet us at the hop!

Misty's Monday Muse - Diet Riot

It's me, Misty, and I wrote a poem for Jenny Matlock's Saturday Centus #99.
 
This week's word count is exactly 100, including the five word prompt. The prompt is:  I'm living the dream, man.

I hope you like my poem.  It is based on a true story; my story, past and present.

Diet Riot

I was born in North Dakota,

on a strange kind of ranch*.

Auctioned as a weanling,

so I might have a chance.

No longer a little filly,

the buyer didn’t keep me.

Relinquished to a horse rescue,

forever family yet to be.

Adopted by My Lady,

she is my biggest fan.

She feeds me and she loves me.

I’m living the dream, man.

Feeds me, she does;

a little too much.

No longer are my ribs,

lightly felt with a touch.

The vet said I’m fat.

She prescribed me a diet.

Less hay in my belly,

I’m ready to riot!

It's true, I'm fat.  I'm on a diet and I don't like it.  But I'm going to fat horse camp where I will get daily exercise, and that will help.

* I was born on a PMU ranch.  (PMU stands for pregnant mare urine.)   Estrogen from the urine of pregnant mares is used to make hormone replacement drugs for women, such as Premarine and Prempro.  My mom was one of those mares.   Foals are the by-product of the process.  Lucky ones like me find good homes.  Some aren't so lucky.  You can read more about it at The Animali Farm.

Diet is a four letter word,

 (It's no coincidence that the M in my signature looks just like my butt. )

 

Hobby Horse Blog Hop 5: Shopping Spree

1. What are your thoughts about providing hay for your horse when you trailer him/her?
   
   I always hang a "small mesh" hay net for Misty.  The openings are very small, so she can't grab big mouthfuls of hay while in the trailer, but she can nibble.  If I'm going to have the windows open or driving at highway speed, I will put a fly mask on her to protect her eyes from debris that may blow around.
   
   Many years ago someone hauled a 2 year old filly of mine who was inexperienced and nervous about being hauled.  The hauler put alfalfa cubes in the manger of the trailer to keep her occupied.  When my filly came out of the trailer, she had foaming saliva dripping out of her mouth.  I immediately called the vet and he asked me what she had been eating in the trailer.  When I told him hay cubes, he knew right away that she had one stuck in her throat and couldn't swallow.  I could feel the hard cube stuck in there.  He instructed me to give her water through a hose in her mouth and massage her throat until the hay cube dissolved.  It worked.  This was a long time ago and I don't know if that is the recommended method today.  If this ever happens to you, call your vet. Better yet, never feed hay cubes in the trailer.  That experience made me cautious about feeding in the trailer and that's why I use a "small mesh" hay net.  Even with loose hay, I don't want Misty to gulp down big mouthfuls in the trailer.
    
2. You have just won a 2 minute shopping spree at a tack store. What store are you in and what will you grab?
   
   I really need a new saddle for Misty, but I'm kinda broke right now.  So I would go to a tack store with a very large selection of saddles, probably Brighton Saddlery, and grab as many saddles that might fit Misty.  I'd keep the one that fits and sell the rest.  If none fit, I'd sell them all and use the money to buy a custom saddle to fit my full-figured gal.
   
   
3. What plans do you have for the weekend?
   
   I'm getting up very early Saturday morning to bake blueberry breakfast bars to take to our blogger brunch. I'm looking forward to it.  I will have to do a little shopping on my way home (probably just window shopping ... did I mention I'm kinda broke right now?).  If I get home early enough Saturday afternoon, I will ride Misty.   On Sunday I will go to church.
   
   Somewhere in the weekend I will have to make room for some laundry and a little housekeeping  (Well, we'll see about that.  My intentions are always good, but the weekend has a way of slipping away before all the chores are done).

My question for you:  What is your favorite grooming tool?

Hobby Horse Blog Hop Week 4

1. Have you ever been a victim of the weather when you were riding, or participating in some other sport?
   I'm mostly a fair weather rider so my mind took another direction as I recalled getting caught out in good weather with my Thoroughbred gelding, Woodhollow (barn name: Woody) when I was in my early 20s.
   
   I usually rode in an arena and took riding lessons from a German trainer who owned the stable where Woody was boarded.   I was new to riding English and was beginning to show in English pleasure and amateur hunter classes. We didn't do any trail riding at the stable, even though we had access to miles and miles of trails near Folsom Lake in California.
     
   One summer day, after finishing a lesson, I decided to take Woody out for a short walk on the trail to cool him off.  It was a beautiful northern California day. The trail delighted me with new sights around every turn.  I was having a lovely ride and became very intrigued about what I'd see around the next bend, or over the next hill.  I lost track of time and just kept going and going.   My short cool down walk turned into a trail ride of several hours.  I finally forced myself to turn Woody around so we could get home before the sun set.  I met my trainer on the trail.  I was gone so long that he became worried and saddled up a horse and came looking for me.  (Ya know...long before the days of cell phones when I could have called him and told him I was fine.)
   
   Woody was a special horse to me and parting with him was very hard.  I get sad thinking about it, so I don't talk about him much.  I can't find my photo album that has most of our good pictures, but here are a few photos I found loose in an old shoe box.
    
    
   
    
2.  If you could take a lesson with anyone in the world, who would that be? The very trainers and riding instructors that I'm working with now.  I'm very happy with the help I'm getting from a few local professionals that have really clicked for me and Misty.
    
3. Which season is your favorite?
   A few years ago I would have immediately answered "Fall!"  But owning horses in Colorado has changed my idea of seasons.  They come and go quickly here.  Sometimes we experience all four seasons in a single day.  It's crazy!  So now I'm inclined to say that my favorite "season" is any warm, sunny, wind-free "day" that I can be "caught out in good weather" on a beautiful trail ride.  Know what I mean?

My question for you:  Who is your favorite equine actor of television or movie fame?

Click and hop to week 4