Yummy!!!

Look what is ripe at the ranch.
I love apricots, all the horses do...well Salty and Freedom don't, but that means all the more for the rest of us who can have sugars.
Each evening the DOR and Mushboy gather up the ones that have fallen on the ground and distribute them to all the horses. They are fun to eat, we drip juice everywhere and then spit out the seeds. They have been a great treat on these days that have been a bit over 100 degrees. Shandi, my niece, tries to share my apricots with me but I am having none of it. In fact when she tries to sneak mine I chase her off and eat her's too, that is what she gets for having bad manners. Last night I tried to follow the DOR out of the pasture, I figured I could head to the apricot tree and eat all that I wanted. She wouldn't let me out and told me that it would be bad for me to eat too musch sugars...that is what she thinks, sugars make me happy, how could it be bad to be happy. She muttered something about causing laminitis, making me rammy. I didn't hear most of it because I quit listening as soon as she said I could only have so much sugar I decided to put on a pout. All my pout got me was some scritches, a hug, and an extra kiss on my nose...I guess it was better than nothing.
Freedom gets squished up apples and Salty gets Berry Good treats instead of apricots.
The DOR is taking a dressage lesson, her first one, with an instructor in Ellensburg. I wish I was going to watch, it should be pretty amusing to watch.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Quote for the week

The 4th of July reminded me of a friend who is not with us this summer, he is off on an adventure.
These photos are of Justin Hewitt. He is one of our "family" and we miss him. Justin is in Iraq, we wish he was home. The DOR is grateful to Justin and others like him, without soldiers there would be no freedom...of course the DOR wishes there were no wars. Here are some of Justin's favorite quotes for us to ponder:
*The only two people who will die for you without hesitation are Jesus and a U.S. soldier.
*You don't need a gym if you're pulling your own weight.
He has a few others, but the DOR says they are a bit naughty and I can't share them. We call him Bub and he has a heart as big as Texas. He is a champion roper and was on his high school rodeo team. He has trained rescue horses so they can have good lives. He gives "charm school" lessons to young horses so they know how to behave. He is always there for his friends, quick to help a stranger, and loves his family.
Take care Bub and we will see you when you come home. We are praying for you and your comrades.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Skywatch Friday No. 51

Nothing better than a bright blue sky, a big valley, and a girl and her horse.


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

No fear

The DOR and I went for a ride the other evening. That isn't really a big deal, but something that evening was... It was the first time since I dumped the DOR that she mounted up and didn't feel any fear at all, not even a little butterfly! We had a wonderful ride, I was able to concentrate clearly on what the DOR wanted without trying to figure out what was making her worried. I always felt like she was waiting for me to launch to the moon, that she knew that I was going to panic if she asked me to do something hard. Heck if I didn't panic during the tumbleweed twister nothing was going to panic me, okay the grocery sack is still an issue but the DOR is afraid of planes so we are even.
I did a lot of new things too while she was riding. I side-passed 8 feet both directions twice for the first time ever! I walked across the horse eating blue tarp 4 times, not one snort. I didn't even run for the hills when the tarp was being drug out into the arena by the instructor. I watched it closely, I didn't snort because I was being an invisible appy so the tarp wouldn't know I was there-I also didn't want to discourage the DOR. I walked over poles and did not tap my feet once. I also nailed turning on the hind quarters and turning on the fore quarters. I was a rock star and the DOR was grinning away. She said it was like heaven, everything was so wonderful.
It seems to me that the two of us have gotten past my werehorse incident. It is nice to have our riding relationship back on solid ground. I have found it takes DORs time to get over their fear, just like it takes horses. I had to be patient, understanding, and careful not to push her too hard. Courage is something that builds slowly, something that needs to be tended so that it doesn't wither and fade away-we have been tending our courage together.
Has your DOR ever lost their confidence? What did you do to help them?
My DOR has been working with trainers, riding other horses on trails, reading lots, talking her fears through with other riders, and starting over from the beginning with me. She found that every rider is afraid at one time or another, it was just something she had never had to face before and she took it hard. Now that she is back to normal, well as normal as she gets, we are going to have grand adventures together!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Rumor alert: the rumor running the ranch is that the Support Crew Chief is getting a horse of his own! Fine with me, but the DOR better hadn't play with it, that's all I have to say.

Less words Wednesday-English Appy

The DOR dug out an English saddle to the ranch for me to try out.
I felt a bit silly in it at first, but then I realized she rigged it to use a western cinch (which I really like), so it wasn't too bad.
My niece was very interested in the saddle, but she can't wear one yet!














I am listening to see if the saddle makes weird noise...it doesn't-it doesn't even speak with an accent.


















It sits nicely and does not pitch forward like the DORs Aussie saddle did.













I did a few fancy circles for the DOR. I really like how the saddle felt when I moved. It didn't interfere with my massive muscles! I think I might make a nice English horse, boy am I talented!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR