Less word Wednesday: Traditional Irish Blessing - E-Water

Today the DOR celebrates the anniversary of her heart event...
It may sound strange to be celebrating, but she is ever so grateful for another year, the fact that she is healthy, and the positive changes that the event brought into her life. She has learned to live in joy, I make sure she has a bit of joy everyday.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug you DOR

What the DOR learned...

Turns out that putting an English saddle on properly is nothing like putting on a western saddle, the position is different. The DOR work on properly tacking up. She had to put on three different saddles using four pad variations properly...she ended up saddling a horse for 1/2 an hour until the instructor was satisfied she knew where to put the saddle and could cinch it up with one hand. She then practiced sitting with a balanced seat. She said she felt wobbly-she better get over that before she gets on me or I'll show her wobbly. She also learned a proper English dismount-which is similar to an emergency dismount in western riding. She plans on riding me English this Wednesday. I am practicing my prancy English trot and head tuck in preparation...I think I can look like the horse in the videos. I might turn into a cow herding, trail conquering, dressage appy-a horse of many talents.
Monday night the DOR and I work on our liberty work in the pasture. It is the biggest space we have worked in at liberty. She did a good job following me while I backed up. I also made sure she could track my hind quarters and fore quarters without wondering off to visit one of the other horses. Then came the big test...could she stay in the middle of a circle that I made around her in a three acre pasture? I circled counter clockwise and turned to face her, she was still there. I them circled clockwise and turned to face her, she was still in the proper place. I was very excited that she has learned we can work together without a halter and leadrope in a big space. She has learned that she doesn't have to get excited and start running around the pasture. We are becoming a herd, the DOR and I, and that makes it much easier to work with her.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

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