Quote for the week

The quieter you become the more you can hear

One of the things that all of us horses have been working with the DOR on is learning to be quiet. It isn't that she talks too much, sometimes she needs to be still. She has learned that if she will just center herself and be quiet/still she can hear the most amazing things. Sometimes if everything is right, she swears she can here us...she can.

Now she is using that quiet to figure out what name the new member of our herd would like to have.

Have you ever been so quiet that you can hear the most amazing things?

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

PS

Turns out that this guy and I are distant cousisns...

Freedom speaks Saturday

This is my new friend, Curly Friend, I think he is a great horse. I have picked him out to be the DOR's new horse. Curly can do anything...she is going to love him. That way I can keep him with me always.

Life is so good!

Not Just Any Pete

Not Just Any Pete is staying with us for a couple of weeks. He will then head to Ellensburg. He belongs to Rodeo City Equine Rescue. Pete's trainer placed him with RCER when his owner decided he didn't want him any more.

Pete is working on gaining weight, learning about pasture life, and is even learning a bit about living in a herd. Life is different at the ranch, he is used to a small paddock and race tracks.

He likes getting scritches from Mushboy and is very quiet around him. Pete is a big love of a horse. He is very gentle and just floats when he moves. He nickers when he sees us and trots over when you call him to get loved on. He follows politely when the DOR carries his grain bucket in, he doesn't try to get it or get pushy, he waits until it is hung up and she is out of the way. He leads nicely with a rope around his neck. He is going to be a grand horse for someone.

If you are looking for a nice horse with lots of potential contact RCER


Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Wordless Wednesday

You may smooch me now...

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

A bit of a fit

Yes, here I am having a bit of a fit. It isn't a big one, not like I usually have, it is just a teeny tiny one. I am having this fit because I want my treat tub NOW! I don't care is Sir Royal Pain's paddock is first, I have been here the longest and should get my treats first. The only good thing is that Freedom's Curly Friend gets his last.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Quote for the week

When in doubt, let your horse do the thinking

Some humans may think this isn't a good idea, well I beg to differ. You see sometimes the DOR over-thinks things, struggles with figuring out what to do, and then doubts her decision. Horses on the other hand, have perfected the art of quick decisions and fast acting. We have had to do that in order to survive all of these years.

The other thing that happens is when a rider or handler is busy trying to make a decision we become unconfident. Your doubt causes us to doubt, it also drives us nuts.

So practice acting with confidence you will be surprised what happens. If you are in doubt trust your horse to do the right thing.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Freedom speaks Saturday

This is me and my friend. His name is Freckles, I call him Curly Friend. He is a kind horse and stands by me as often as possible. He has even worked his way into my pasture a few times.
I like him a lot. He smooches me, doesn't steal my food, and is a mellow laid back guy. Sometimes I toss my feed tub over to him when I have eaten all of the sweet feed out of it.
I am so glad that such a kind horse has chosen to be my friend, it keeps this old guy happy. I do have one wish though-Curly Friend needs a human of his own. He is a bit lonely and wants his own human, one that will keep him forever-he doesn't like change.
The farrier is coming today. Time for me to work up all my strength and stand to have my feet done. Maybe Curly Friend will help me.
Life is sooooo good!

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 15

Popcorn clouds and the full moon rising last night.

Please go visit the other great Skywatch participants at Skywatch Friday There are wonderful photos from all around the world!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Laws for the DOR

There will be troop of Police Horses to issue infractions for not obeying the following laws governing the DOR:
1. The DOR will provide a minimum of 10 minutes of scritching daily.
2. The DOR will provide appropriate treats each evening.
3. The DOR will not ask me to do work while I am eating.
4. The DOR will give me a blankie when I want one, even if she thinks I am not cold.
5. The DOR will make sure to play games with me..I especially like to play tag.
6. The DOR will make sure to give me vacation time that amounts to no less than three months a year and winter break does not count (just because she thinks it is too cold to ride)

I am sure there are more laws I can come up with if I work at it.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Law conference

The DOR was at a law conference yesterday. She is at a law conference today. She will be at a law conference tomorrow. I hope that she doen't learn to make silly laws like "No pooping on the lawn" or "No nibbling your rider's boots" and the ever stupid "You can walk, trot, or lope and poop at the same time" law.

She won't be able to visit for a few days so Mushboy and the SCC are doing chores.

While she is gone I am busy laying down some laws of my own.

More on that tomorrow.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR! (or their stand-ins)

She's a butterfly

Here is my Shandi Doll as a butterfly. She is turning into quite a lovely lady.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Quote for the week

I wanna trot, I wanna trot, I am gonna throw a fit unless you let me trot

~Cactus Jack Splash

Yep that is what I said yesterday to the DOR. When she wouldn't let me trot I rooted at the reins, trotted despite her, and stuck out my tongue. I have the advantage that she can't make me do a one-rein stop because I am not allowed to do tight turns yet....ha ha!

The DOR did give me the "sit down hard on her pockets" treatment and that made me stop.

In short I was a bit naughty yesterday. The air was cool, crisp, and the sun was bright. I also did not want to be subjected to wearing the butterfly costume that the other horses had to try on-I was not asked to do so.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug you DOR!

Freedom speaks Saturday-book review

The DOR has been reading a book called "Playing With Lukas" and thinks everyone should read it.

It is the story of a journey that a troubled horse and a wise woman take together. How the horse and the woman learn to talk with each other and the magical things they accomplish in the process.

Both the horse and the woman have a lot to teach each other and so much to teach the rest of us.

Anyone who reads this book will experience a change in the way they look at all animals.

Life is soooo good!

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 14

One of the hawks that appeared on Monday. Nice to have them show us that Hank and Scooby were running happy and free.



Please go visit the other great Skywatch participants at Skywatch Friday There are wonderful photos from all around the world!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

A week of contrasts

For the DOR this week has been a week of contrasts, sorrow mixed with great joy.

Yesterday saw a miracle the whole world could celebrate.

What a rollercoaster week

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Wordless Wednesday

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Memories

Hi, it is me the DOR.

Scooby and Hank crossed the rainbow bridge the same way they have lived the past few years, together. I have no words to express the sorrow that I feel. I have no way to thank them for how much they enriched my life and the rich gifts they bestowed upon me by being my friends. What I do have are rich memories of both of them-memories I would like to share with you this week as a way to celebrate their lives.

They were an interesting pair. Each one of them needed the other. It seems like each one of them made the choice to leave me together. God speed my friends, I hope to see you in heaven whole and running again.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug each other!

PSA-yes two of the photos have me riding without a helmet, I didn't own one when I first got Hank (poor excuse I know). That does not happen anymore. I always wear a helmet when I ride and you should too-a helmet can save your life.

Rainbow bridge

Please click on the photo, it is a link to a lovely post and features two horses that will be running in heaven today. Hank and Scooby have been good friends of mine and the DOR. Now is the time for the DOR to be a loving friend in return...it is the price of the ticket. God speed my friends.
The photo below is taken by Amanda Barber, she is a talented photographer and a great friend.


Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR! DORs don't forget to hug your horses!

Quote for the week

"I hope when I die I was a good enough person to go to the spot in heaven where my horses are."

~The DOR

The DOR treasures all of the horses who have been a part of her life. She often thinks about what happens once her spirit leaves this portion of her journey. She is hopeful that in the next portion of her journey she will be able to be reunited with all of her horses.

I think that would be wonderful...horses having DORs in heaven to keep watching over them.

What do you hope for when this portion of your journey is over?

Enjoy your day and don't forget your DOR!

Freedom speaks Saturday

Take a look folks! I am 47 years old and still a good weight. I am not has beefy as I have been in the past, that is because I have to keep lighter to be able to move better. The vet said I was too fat and had fat deposits places other than the bank where they belong.

There is a horse a few miles from us that the DOR has kept an eye on, he is terribly skinny and lonely. She stops and talks to the owner and even takes feed there. This past week she asked the owner to let the horse come here and live with me. The owner thinks the horse is skinny because it is old. The horse is only 37 years old, heck I was working cows at 37 and trotting trails at 42. The horses owner loves her horse, so please don't say mean things. You see a lot of people don't realize that old horses, even some of the ones with teeth, can't survive on hay-we just can't process it right. The DOR is going to work with a couple of friends and put together a flyer on nutrition for older horses. She is going to put it at feed stores, give it to vets, farriers, and equine dentists to help people who are trying to figure out how to keep us oldsters in good shape.

I think I should be the cover model.

Life is sooooo good!

Skywatch Friday, Season 4, Episode 13

Wind power...I think horse power is prettier, but I am biased.


Please go visit the other great Skywatch participants at Skywatch Friday There are wonderful photos from all around the world!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Update on the Wild Child

Freedom's Lady heading into a tight gully to retrieve another horse. She is fearless out on the trail-I taught her that! All of the herd here is so proud of the part we played in teaching her about being a domesticated horse.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

A tender moment

At the end of our first ride the DOR dismounted and promptly loosened my cinch. She is so good about this with all of her horses, the moment she gets off and we are done she loosens our cinch. This is also the first time I have ever been ridden English. The DOR is thinking that maybe that is how I need to be ridden, at least for a bit, to make things easier for me as I continue to recover. In this photo I am turning my head to smooch her. We have always smooched at the end of a ride after my cinch is loosened. I love the end of the ride smooch.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Changes

On August 21st the DOR started making changes so she would be able to ride me. As you can see she has come far in her journey too. We are meeting in the middle and that is a wonderful thing.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Quote for the week-A miracle happens

A miracle is when reality exceeds your wildest dreams
~Grandfather
Well if Grandfather was right, yesterday a miracle happened at the ranch. For the first time in over a year I took the DOR for a ride. It is also the first time I carried someone without being ponied. I was worried at first, I remember being in so much pain from my injury and I don't want to hurt like that again so I try to protect myself. After the DOR got on I realized that I didn't hurt and things got better. She was nice and leaned forward for me, I still am working out how to make my hind end work just right. As soon as she leaned forward my rear worked much better. We went for a short loop around the arena. The DOR had water leaking from her eyes. There were times that she thought this day would never happen. I have been talking to her in her dreams, showing her that we would be dancing together again. I whispered to her the day to try...she listened.
We still have a way to go before we meet in the middle. I need to get stronger and she wants to loose more weight, but for now we both are happy with the miracle that we had yesterday. From a horse that could barely stand to one carrying a rider again is quite a journey for me to have traveled. The DOR says that I have all the time I need to get to 100%, nice to know that she loves me enough to give me the gift of time.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Freedom speaks Saturday

Well the twerps hit the arena today. The DOR is a fine example that you are never too old to learn something new. This is her fourth time riding English since she quit riding English in high school almost 40 years ago. She is comfortable enough that she is ponying Jack. I told her she needed to ride Sir Darby more, she listened and it is paying off for her.

I have been learning new tricks too. I figured out that if I don't eat all my mush the next day Mushboy will give me extra sweet feed in the mix. I am thinking that soon I will be able to get all the sweet feed I want.

Life is so good!