Scenes from the Shawnee part XVI

I am so disgusted with most of the pics taken on this trip---almost none of the ones on the trail came out, so instead of fretting about it, I am posting what I have and not thinking about it anymore.


This is Cedar Lake Campground.

It is easy to get to as a highway runs by it, but that is the last you see of civilization once you get settled.

I am always taking pictures of horses in water, I have no idea why. This was Saturday's ride.



This pic sucks, but the rest of them taken in this cave where we had a cocktail break were too blurry to be useful. Plus, Targ looks so cute cuddling up with Barry--and he looks pretty content loving on his pony, doesn't he? Take note of Barry's new mecate that makes him think he is a cowboy.
More Headley--he does not get enough blog time. Even if it is the back of him, it still counts
Break time on Sunday
Big honking rock.
These are the kinds of rocks that move, that I was talking about. When they are under water that is probably cloudy by the time you get your turn to cross, and they move--many horses take a little hop, skip and jump. Target did not, remarkably, I was so proud
Random bluff---they are everywhere in the Shawnee
I think I post almost the same damn pic every time, but this arch seems so strange to me. It is big enough Barry can stand in it--I know I posted a pic like that from some other ride some time.

We are so lucky to have this practically at our doorsteps, and to now have a new home away from home at Adrianna's campground makes it even better.

Seasons changing at Sam Dale

Finally, I am back on schedule with our Sunday afternoon rides at Sam Dale Lake. I have been out of town so much, I have not been in five weeks. We picked a great day for it-- about 75 degrees, although it was windy. Radar was his usual wonderful self, I love riding him more every single time. I have to remind myself not to ask too much of him since he is just a baby but he acts so solid that I forget how young he is. He seems to learn things so quickly and easily--like today, his shoes slipped on the asphalt. A month ago, he would have scrambled to get better footing, probably making things worse. Today, he just rode out the slide and moved along. He probably slipped four times, but I don't think there was another issue the rest of the day, and I know I was more concerned than he was. Nothing phases him.

The big event of the day was that Head rode a new horse. She came from a rescue organization that Linda works with pretty closely, and little is known about her, other than she is 7 and does not know much. And she GLOWS in the dark! Head is doing really well with her though, and she was pretty impressive today. She has been called Nellie (as is Whoa Nellie!) which I cannot stand so I am trying to think up good names that I will then pester them with so I don't have to think of that poor girl being called Nellie all the time. Linda rode Thumper, who is 22, and does not make many appearances, so that was kind of neat.

About 2/3 of the way through the ride, I saw what I was sure was a colt running straight at us on the trail. It never occurred to me to wonder why that was, I just accepted that it was happening. I swear it took me a couple of minutes to realize that it was not a colt, but a deer, and it was part of a pack. None of the horses seemed to think it was strange that we were being invaded by deer running straight at us, which was a nice change from some trips!

All in all, another great trip. I wish Barry had gone but he stayed home to finish fence, which I had about as much faith in as the Great Pumpkin showing up for dinner, but the damnedest thing happened----he FINISHED THE FENCE! At least the wire part which is what he has been working on since July (more off than on of course, but whatever) I am so proud of him. This is a huge weight off both of our minds. The top board still needs to be put on, but I think we have until spring to get that done, since they won't be leaning over the top to get grass on the other side until there is some.

And in case you think this day could not get any better--another crazy thing happened .After I got home from trailriding, about 6:15, we attempted to load Target to take him to the trainer. I was all ready to try Head's foolproof idea (and kind of looking forward to it, since I was still irritated at Target acting up earlier in the week)- and Target just got right in the trailer. Well not right in, but he was in within 3 minutes, and no one was pissed off about anything. Well maybe Radar was as he was still in there, and had to go on an extra road trip as a result, but what is another hour and a half in the trailer in the name of brotherhood?

An addendum to the Herbie Memorial Ride

I forgot the best part of Herbie Memorial Ride- we happened on a doe and her triplets right in the middle of the trail. They of course spooked before I could get a good shot but the pic does show how close they were. I know she saw them as we were in the lead. Slygirl had NO reaction at all to them--she barely gave them a second glance. Maybe them tearing through our fences all the time is paying off? They even startle me though when they get to breaking limbs hopping through the forest.

Here she is in her full trail riding regalia. I loaded her up with the bags even though they did not have much in them, because she might as well learn how to pack them now. They made funny noises, and hit her in the side, and the dripping water from melted ice is COLD--and none of it bothered her. I had so much crap hanging off of her, she could have packed that whole deer family out if need be!

She is being so good, I want to take her to Shawnee this weekend--maybe we will go on Sunday. Barry has a 100 mile bike race, which sounds insane to me as I dont even think I could SIT through such a thing to watch as he passed by occasionally, and besides that, I do not think I am invited. I guess that means I should have shoes put on her even though she has not been complaining yet---see how it works around here? You be nice to me, I will be nice to you!

Kid tested and mother approved!

Thanks Lorna for the good title!

After work today, mom came out to ride with Madison and me. I let her pick which one she wanted to ride and she picked Radar (well, I only gave her two choices, but still). It has been almost four years since a freak horse accident broke her back and she has only ridden a few times since then. It still hurts sometimes, and she is so busy playing golf and socializing that she does not have time to ride. The few times she has ridden, it has been on the same horse she was riding then, and although it makes her nervous, she has barrelled through and done it. I am not sure if she is brave or getting senile since she is almost 64, but it is cool that she still rides.

This was a big step though. I knew Radar was up to it, because lets face it, he is too lazy to act up unless I make him use a bit that is in the wrong place is his mouth. I did not do that today.

He was PERFECT for her. I could not have asked for more from him. We did not have trails to work with on most of our adventure, and we rode in some areas even I have never been on. There were lots of stickers and thick brush, and lots of wierd stuff underfoot that would get their feet tangled up---and Radar just kept plugging. He was so cute, picking up his feet all the way to his belly to get loose of the tangles...just a real trouper. He never so much as flinched at it, let alone acted up.

We had a good time, and this discovery of fun woods just behind Madison's house is very exciting--we have a whole new place to investigate. On the way home, we stopped and let her sister and the baby pet Rock. While we were waiting, Mom said "Dont you bet she is just in heaven?" Man I sure would have been! Which is what I said, and then realized that I still am. It is so much fun to get to share the horses with her. It is possible that it is pathetic that my best everyday riding buddy is eleven years old, but what can you do? It gets me out there, and I can feel virtuous about it. I may take her to Rend Lake to ride this weekend since BS has some 100 miles bike race that I dont think I can bear to sit through.

That reminds me--this is so cute. She bought us necklaces from Claire's. They are on suede strings, and they have a horse on them, and one says "Best" on it and one says "Friends". Is that the cutest thing you ever heard? She let me pick which one I wanted, so I took the friends one. I forgot to wear it today and she asked me about it, so I have to do something to make sure I do not forget tomorrow.

The Herbie Memorial Ride

That is what I am calling yesterday afternoon. His spirit must have infected Slygirl, as she sure did not act like a baby three year old on her first real trail ride....instead she acted like a seasoned pro. The only un-Herbie thing she did was refuse a drink of beer. Silly girl.

We had a jillion firsts. The day started with her thinking she was funny running from us to be caught to go on the ride at all. And me without my camera, as even though I was spitting mad, she looked gorgeous playing---she would run and change leads with every other stride---and downshift to an easy lope, then back up to full on gallop--it was gorgeous. And I say that even knowing that Barry was getting so mad, the top of his head was about to blow off, which of course makes me feel terrible and takes a lot of the fun out of the ride in the first place.

She finally gave in, loaded up and off we went. She was perfect from the minute I unloaded her. Just for sport, I put the saddle bags on her--she has never carried them. I did not put much in them, as she surely does not need to carry more weight than me and my saddle, but it was a good learning experience. I put just enough ice in there to melt so it would drip on her as a good test. No issues with ANY of that at all. Even the flyspray was cool with her.

Off we went, trailing behind those big bay beasts that Headleys are riding right now---Tumbleweed has every bit of 8 inches on Slygirl in height and Logan is not much behind him. She plugged along, kept up well and never once complained about rocks on her bare feet. There were not many rocky areas, but we did do some short sections of gravel road.

The next test was when we had a pitstop and tied them all. She was great with that--her first tying to a tree in the woods, where half the green horses dance around the tree, or paw, or try to scrape the headstall or saddle off on the tree. When a huge group of riders came by for a short stop, she got a little antsy--I made fun of her by suggesting that she was excited there was a pony smaller than her in that group. She simmered down quickly though and off we went for more ride.

All in all, we were out about three and a half hours. I do not recall a single incident that bothered me. Her new bit is doing the trick---no yanking her nose up and bracing against it, no trotting to keep up unless I told her to do it, no running up anyone's butt, nothing.

It was awesome.

When we got home, I decided to keep her stalled to ride again tonight without wasting all that time chasing. I was so amped up from that ride, I got Radar out and rode him too. This was the first time since his ass showing ride last Thursday, and I had his regular bit and headstall--a one ear with a junior cowhorse bit on it, and man did that make the difference on him! He was perfect for me, but man I cannot sit his trot.

I had several things working against me on this ride--it was almost dusk, the front yard was littered with round bales, so we rode the alleyway between the senior pasture and the barns which we have never ridden before, Barry was moving hay, and putzing around in the truck etc. He did so well, I helped with moving hay by riding in the individual pastures to distract the horses from the open gate Barry needed to drop off hay.

I NEVER do this on any horse, because it is just asking for trouble---especially on a young horse, who has a lot of baggage about who he is subordinate to in the pasture, etc. A pack of buffalo would probably be safer for a young horse than their own pasture mates. I was all full of myself though, so we did it and it went really well. He was hesitant in the first pasture--he did not want to go far from the gate, and would stop--but I easily got him moving around to the far end of the pasture, with them all trotting behind him like he ws the Pied Piper.

Next was the mama and old boss mare pasture. It is quite a bit bigger though so we worked a long time in the far side of it, going through tall weeds, a dry creek all weeded up so that he could not see the ground, wound around some small fruit trees, etc...he did beautifully. I could not believe he was doing so well.

This must have made me cocky as I decided he was being good enough to help with the back pasture. This is like taking your life in your hands as the two freight trains, Cash and Haida Girl, are there, as well as the broodmares that have already weaned their babies. Anyone that raises many babies know that broodmares together like that can be as snappish as a pack of alligators. Of course as we entered, Cash and HG rushed him and he was SO brave. He was nose to nose with one of them, and I know he was terrified, I could feel him start to shake under me. The last thing I needed was some sort of challenge from her, so I backed him up and went around her---no issues at all! He was still scared but he did beautifully, and I cut that session short as a reward for him.

On the way back to the barn, I loped him a little--as much to avoid that trot of his that just does not fit me at all. I had never loped him before, but it felt so good, I did another three passes like that. He is a BIG stopper, and so responsive---we had a ball.

By this time, it was most of the way dark, so we quit. He stayed in for the nite too, so I can ride him again tonight.

All in all, a pretty good day!

Nine-day ride

Was wonderful as usual, but man oh man was it hot as hell. It always is, so I don't know why I am surprised. While we were riding in the creek, we saw a bald eagle flying and he eventually perched himself on a tree branch and just waited for us, so I got some great photos. Then we happened on a bunch of kids riding in the water, and it was so fun to watch them play and see how good some of these horses are to them, they are absolute saints.

I took Twister with me to have the most maintenance free ride possible and he threw a shoe right off, so he played drama queen all day-- it is kind of funny how he pretends he is dying, but forgets which foot hurts, and then forgets altogether when he realizes he is headed back to camp. People who don't know us probably think I am torturing him, but I know him better than that. He did have a little scare when he got caught in some quicksand and bonked his head on a huge tree stump--in humidity like we had, any extra effort is torturous. I did feel sorry for him then, as he took care of me even when he was scared and exhausted.

The pig got to go camping, and he enjoyed himself quite a lot the first nite, where he got to be loved on by everyone in camp. He eventually fell asleep with Cathy, looking like the most spoiled pig in the world. The next morning, he was not such a happy dude, and raised so much hell, I thought my eardrums would burst. He spent the hot part of the day in the back of Headley's trailer, visiting the rabbit Melvin, enjoying the fan and a frozen water bottle so he did not get too hot. I did learn a lot about pigs though, as at least four of the guys with our group grew up on pig farms and know all about them-- on the flip side, it took a lot of work to keep them from castrating him (which he needs, but the real vet can do it not the hillbilly crew of Woodlawn). That is a little wierd.

All in all, a wonderful day riding with Head and Linda--it always is, and it is amazing how much better I feel after a day out with them. It is probably the only place I do not have to be in charge of anything at all, from what I eat to when I eat it to where we will ride for the day, and that is amazingly relaxing.