Ugly Donkey Face

People comment about my beautiful spotted rear.  Sometimes they comment about my large foundation appy head.  Okay, comment is mild...they often state I have a jar head that resembles a mule.  That is okay, the DOR thinks I am beautiful-even my head.
I will tell you that my little sister Hanna has a dainty, fine boned head.  You think that would make her pretty now wouldn't you.  It would if she wasn't busy making an ugly donkey face at me.  The DOR took us both to the arena at the same time.  It is the first time that we have been together in the same space.  We have been next to each other in pastures.  We have played kissy face and scritched each other's necks, but being together in the same space is new.  After we were done doing our work the DOR took me over and introduced me to Hanna and told her I was her big brother...look at the face she made!  You think she would be happy to find out we were related.  You think she would be thrilled to have a brother whose picture went into space on the space shuttle!  But noooo, I get the ugly donkey face.  She also did some weird spitting, tounge scrapping thing like she was trying to get rid of germs.
I am beginning to think that all mares are a bit crazy.  I think I will just stick to the He Man Gelding Club.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug you DOR!

A little bling for my little sis

 

My little sister Hanna has a bridle of her own.  She has been using mine, but I really don't like other horses using my bit.  I have a very special bit that the DOR got for me and I really like it. 

Her bridle has some bling along with interesting conchos and buckles.  It also sports a horse hair macate.  I did give her my old copper mouth D-ring snaffle bit, so don't say I never share okay Hanna.

The DOR and Hanna took their first ride together with this rig and it worked well.  Hanna did not try any of her rearing tricks to get out of going forward.  She didn't do any of the fancy footwork that I did, but with time she should get there.  I do have to say she can buck and pitch a fit as good as her big brother.  Hanna put on quite a show while she was being lunged.  She loped, she bucked, she snorted (even sent unlady like snot flying through the air), and she flew her tail like an Arabian...makes me feel proud.

I will have to speak to her about having better manners though.  Better manners earn treats and we all love treats.

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

Blind trust

The DOR came out and spent the afternoon yesterday getting a bit of horse therapy.  I made sure she had a wonderful time by being on my best behavior.

We played with the barrels.  I usually do figure eights around two barrels...today I showed of by doing a clover leaf pattern using
three barrels.  The DOR was delighted with my new ground trick.
I made sure that she got lots of horse hugs and snuggles.  I even showed her how much I trust her by letting her cover my eyes and lead me around.  For some reason this made her cry...I guess showing blind trust in a human really overwhelms them.
During our ride I made sure not to give her any appytude about being in the arena.  I trotted and walked laterally...eat your heart out Buck!  I was light and responsive and to top it all off I did not do one single imitation of a Mexican jumping bean.
Turns out with humans tears and smiles can all come at the same time, which is a good thing.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Ride DOR ride

I am very concerned about the DOR.  As her trust steed it is my duty to keep her healthy and safe.  With that in mind I have been looking for ways to find a way to keep her in shape so that she is ready to carry me to Mount Everest.
I know how much she loves to ride horses and was very pleased when I found this photo.  See, she combine her love of horses with a fitness routine.  In fact if she rode a bike like this out to feed me treats at least twice a day life would be good for both of us.
Now I just have to figure out how to get the SCC to make her bike look like this...
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

I am not a sardine!

The DOR has been looking at trailers.  Now I have some concerns about that... What if she gets a trailer that is too small and it makes my butt look big?  What if she tries to take too many horses at once and we look like sardines in a can?  And the biggest concern is that this means she will be hauling me more places and making me WORK!

My solution? I will be happy to go anywhere the DOR wants as long as she hauls me there in the manner depicted in the above picture.  Yep that's right, as long as she is willing to carry me to the site I will carry her once we get there. 

Hey DOR, want to go up Mount Everest?  I am ready anytime you are!

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

Happy Father's Day

The DOR has a bunch of special friends.  They made sure that a special horse, some trails, and lots of riding would help her make it through the first Father's Day without the Herd Boss.

She wore a red hunting hat like the Herd Boss wore.  She traveled in the area where he had taken her in her youth.  There were tears, smiles, laughter, and many fine memories. She said it was the first time in a long time that they traveled the trails together.

It was a wonderful Father's Day!

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

Be aware of your cues

The DOR thought this was a darling picture and so very true. 
She has learned to be careful how she asks her horses to do things.  There have been a few times the responses to her requests, while just what she asked for, were not what she wanted.  These little boys are going to find out the same thing shortly.  In all the years she has ridden she has had horses take off at a faster speed than she wanted, turn too quickly, stop to suddenly, and other unplanned maneuvers.
Buck do as little as possible, but enough to get the horse to do what you want it to do.  Seems it takes lots of practice to get that down.  Seems most humans start out doing too much...
The DOR has a friend that is making sure that she is spending her first Father's Day without her dad in the mountains he loved.  What a great friend!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

There are limits

 

For those of you who have be familiar with me for a bit my next statement will come as no surprise.
I am still not fond, actually I fear, white grocery sacks!
I have become a good solid citizen since the DOR got me.  I rarely hop or buck, I try hard to do what is asked of me, and I take good care of the DOR when we are on the trail.  But even Superman had limits, he could never get past the effects that kryptonite had on him.  Well I may never get past the effects that a white grocery sack has on me.
The DOR has tried everything.  She tied one to my saddle when she was lunging me-took me almost an hour to quit running in circles like a crazy horse.  She would put my treats in a tub put inside a treat bag-I gave up treats, after all I have to watch my figure.  She hung white grain bags over my hay tub-I lost weight grabbing mouthfuls of hay and running off to eat.  She did catch me after I had been on the trail for a day and managed to rub me down with one of the blasted bags.  I was too tired to do much and was pretty itchy so I was able to hold myself together.
Well Superman and I will just keep working on our one big weakness until we beat it.
Look! It's a bird, it's a plane...no it isn't Superman-it is Superappy leaping a grocery sack in one mighty bound.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Rider in the sky

The Herd Boss, the DOR's sire, passed away on Sunday. 

This first picture is of one of his many pack trips.

Here he is on a hunting trip.  He was a scientist, an adventurer, and a wonderful father.  He is the reason that the DOR loves being a faux wrangler.

Here is his famous smile.
Happy trails Herd Boss.  Thank you for being such a wonderful father to the DOR.  I know that you will be traveling the trails with her now.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Snotrocks!!!

The DOR went up to the mountain again.  She went without me again.  To make it even worse she took my bridle and used it on Lucky.  I am so not happy about that!  She also took my saddle pad.  She claims it was so she would feel like I was with her-whatever, talk to the hoof!

I think she should just take me with her if she want to feel like I am there with her.

I think I will take up carrying her hat around with me.  That way I can feel like I pinched her head off for leaving me behind.

By the way Lucky, I look much better in that bridle than you do and I will always be her favorite.

The DOR was also promoted to a full wrangler, although she likes the title faux wrangler better.

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