This is a completely gratuitous photo of Radar taken this afternoon at Sam Dale. I actually did mail in my Powershot camera for servicing, but since Barry was not there to rag me about taking my good camera on the trail, I did. Which is how I got this swell photo of my buddy Radar. Today was one of his best days ever--I enjoyed virtually every minute of our ride, he is really growing up.
You can see the lake more than usual, since so many of the leaves are down. The crunching under the horse's feet was really loud, and in places, the leaves were so deep that each step would kick them up in a swirl.
It was a gorgeous day, if a little cool. I rode in a t-shirt, but Headleys ended up putting on jackets. I think our comfortable afternoons are going to get short soon--the weather is changing so fast
I love old barns. I don't know what the attraction is, and I sure do not love MY old barns. But other people's old barns make me happy--even if they are falling down. There is something about them that makes me nostalgic--for what I have no idea
Madison rode Gyro today--I was going to ride her, but then I decided at the last minute that Madison could go with me and did not have time to come back and get Twister for her. I gave her Gy and I took Radar--that way we were both happy.
Madison had never ridden Gyro, do you think she liked it?
Days like today remind me how lucky we are. Being able to bring a broodmare out of the field after just weaning a baby, and know she will be solid for Madison is priceless. That reminds me why I insist on only using broodmares that ride and do it right--these are nice perks.
Look at those draft butts---in this world of stock horses, I almost never see a draft horse under saddle. I just do not think of them that way-I am used to seeing them work at the neighbor's, as we are surrounded by Amish who use them. It was cool to see them out on the trail.
and on that note, I am out--I am worn out, which is how I like to end a Sunday--but I have to be at the vet for preg checks at 7 am, so off to bed I go.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Our Sunday escape
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18 comments:
glad you had a good day!
I love the pics of Madison riding!
WHEW not dead, toes all intact, peeeg still hungry. Yay.
(Looks like you had an awesome ride! Yay!)
Oh I love these shots. I am NOT kidding, I want to come over! Field trip time.
Purrrfect day! ! !
Had such a good time, and was not a bit cold nor sore.
enjoy "crazy" carol
Looks like a perfect way to spend a sunday! The scenery is beautiful!
I just love old barns as well!
That looks like a perfect way to spend a fall afternoon! Love the pics!
Thanks for the pics. What a beautiful Fall day.
I love the old barns too. I think maybe the history is what draws me to them.
LIke I've said before, I read the "Fugly Horse of the Day" blog and she's always talking about how broodmares who can't do anything but have babies will have problems getting sold when they're older. So I'm impressed that your broodmares are still multi-functional.
The Amish next to us have mom and baby draft horses that I LOVE. If we had the room, I would buy them in a heartbeat. They're so BIG yet so easy-going.
While I am not a fan of Fugly because her minions are rabid fools with no sense, but think they have ESP when it comes to knowing all from one photograph, I do agree with her on this point.
All of my mares ride- unless they have a good excuse, like Gypsy who should have been a good cutter, but whose pelvis was broken while at the cutting trainers, and she had to lay off a year or two to recover. She has been ridden one time, which is impressive, as no one had ever been on her before she was hurt--she was still in the very early stages, as she had only been at the trainers a few weeks when it happened.
Gyro is a prime example of how choosing a broodmare is not a science. She has two conformational things that are not good--one of her front feet turns in--yet she has never ever passed it on. And despite that flaw, she has been sound her entire life, including the two years of training it took to get her to the NRHA futurity. I bought her in foal with her third baby.
After 9 years of doing little more than having babies and the occasional trail ride or team penning, she spent a week getting a tune up and then performed at the National High School Finals Rodeo, and did us proud.
She not only performed beautifully, she was thrilled to be there and was absolutely in her element---and her rider had never ridden a reiner in her life, so did not understand the differences between what she was used to and what Gyro could and would do, given the chance. That Gy put up with it and still excelled is a testament to her good nature
That makes her qualified in my eyes to be a broodmare, and I am proud to own her.
To clarify on the Gypsy turning into a broodmare after an injury--this only happened because she was otherwise qualified to be one in my mind. Her pedigree is impeccable for producing cutters--her siblings have earned a lot of money and have gone on to produce a lot of money earners. Her type is in demand.
She is a broodmare DESPITE her injury, not because of it. Had she not been correct, and otherwise suitable, she would not be.
You sure do have some nice looking QH's out your way!
I am glad that you got to go out and have fun. I was able to ride all weekend as well, and I wish that I could just do it whenever I wanted to.
Oh well...we won't live in town forever...sigh...
I love old barns too. Just something about 'em. They draw me to them.
Looks like you both had a blast. Madison is turning into quite the little rider. Congrats on helping her with her horse crazy stuff.
I love that picture of Radar. And I'm jealous of Madison. She looks like she had a blast!
You are in my neighborhood, Paige. And I LOVE draft horses, they are so beautiful... I love how muscular and built they are. Very pretty. Well, all horses are. When I was a kid, my neighbor had a TN walker that was gorgeous.
Yep Funder, I am alive--sick but alive. Thanks for worrying about me--you inspired me to post last nite!
Vodka mom, come on--I am sure we will have fun
Melanie, I hope you had a good ride too--good for the soul, huh? But dont kid yourself--with the horses right under foot, you spend way more time doing the work and way less actually riding
Wow! What a perfect day. I am glad you got to take along the "good" camera!
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