Just rewards

A friend of the DOR sent her this picture. She said we were to be congratulated for being "Tumbleweed Slayers". The DOR told me I saved us both from being horribly hurt and probably kept her from being killed. Well alrighty then, I will accept that and how about a treat to go with it-after all I am a hero!
The DOR provided the treats. I got my treat tub with a bit extra in it and a 1/2 hour massage. The DOR thought I needed a good rub down to make sure that everything was nice and flexible. I really enjoyed myself, I think I might have even fallen asleep.
I need to thank my trainer for all of the things that I was taught, without that knowledge things could have been ugly. There is nothing better for a horse than to have good foundation training, DORs need good training too.
The DOR and I have decided not to do the competitive trail ride. There will be over 100 horses at it and could be a bit too much. We are going to do another trail ride on the weekend, just a low-key ride. I need a few more wet blankets before I want to go compete against a bunch of horses. Besides I don't want to be around that many horses if there is another tumbleweed twister-that could be nastier than cow poop and we all know that is about as nasty as it gets.
The DOR and I are spending time just hanging out together this week. She and I have learned to do our version of a waltz, so we are working on perfecting it...it is pretty fun to dance as long as no one gets their toes stepped on.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Tumbling tumbleweeds?

The DOR and I went on our first trail ride last Saturday. We had been working very hard to make sure we were both ready. The morning of the ride the DOR braided my tail up so it wouldn't get caught in underbrush. Little did she know, underbrush was not going to be a concern...we would have bigger things to worry about.
We arrived at Horn Rapids and I had to check things out, I was a bit nervous. We did some groundwork so that I could focus...it is like meditation for horses. The DOR saddled me up, I had a bit of Harley's mane on the saddle for luck and so a part of him could go on the ride with us...turns out that was a good thing too.

The DOR lead me around to check things out. I found some really good grass and fueled up. The grass was really tender and sweet, I thought is was going to be a waste of time to go on a ride when I could just stand around and munch. The DOR took me back to the mounting block and mounted up (yes I was a bit naughty about it, I wanted to keep eating) and was waiting for her riding partner to mount up as well. She heard the wind start to whip up and look toward the hill behind us. She called to her friend...she sounded worried. I turned and looked too and saw something I had never seen before. Coming over the hill was a tidal wave of tumbleweeds, it looked like a wall. They came rolling and floating down the hill, gathering reinforcements as they came. The wind was like a twister, kicking up sand and tumbleweeds. There was no place for us to go, the DOR wasn't going to be able to dismount fast enough...all we could do was deal with it. I was frightened, the DOR was too because she didn't know how I would react. I sucked it up, I am not a "girlie man", and found my courage. I listened to the DOR telling me to turn in circles, what I wanted to do was tear off running for a safe place. I turned and turned, the DOR kept telling me I was fine and how good I was. Tumbleweeds were hitting me, going between my legs, and flying over the top of the DOR. The dust was blowing so hard it stung both of us. I knew I had to take care of the DOR, that is part of being a good trail horse. I think we spun in circles for about three minutes, when I stopped the DOR was dizzy. We both needed a few minutes to gather our nerves. The DOR laid her head on my neck and gave me lots of rubs, she said I was worth every penny she paid for me and that I was just the best. I hope Harley could see how good I did...I know that I would have made my friend very proud. I am a bit suspicious that he was playing one final prank on me, it would be just like him to try and scare the poopy right out of me so I would learn a lesson. Well if that was as bad as it gets on a trail I think I can do just fine.
These are a few of the weeds that decided to stay at the truck. What you can't see is the far side is just lined with the demons.


While our riding partner was getting mounted I kept looking in the direction of where the weeds had blown to make sure they weren't coming back.

I kept watching for the pesky things, but they seemed to afraid to come back. They had probably never seen an appaloosa twister before.
I stomped on this little one a couple of times just to teach it a lesson.
We headed out to the trail and had a nice ride. I did have to look twice at a couple of things. There were a herd of weird looking animals that the DOR informed me were just wooden guard rails. She let me look at them and then allowed me to take the long way around. The next time I walked by them like they were nothing, in fact I even walked between them. We walked through brush and more tumbleweeds, I was pretty good. The wind started to whip up again and I turned to face the hill, I needed to keep an eye out in case the tumbleweeds decided to attack us again. I kept going down the trail backwards as fast as I could until the DOR distracted me with a request for a circle.

I know that you may think it is silly to be afraid of a little tumbleweed, but they could eat a horse. Take a look at the one in the picture! My riding partner is a big Tennessee Walker mare...that thing makes her look like a mini. That it the size of some of the ones that were hitting us. So I felt that I had to keep watching out for them, they can be sneaking little monsters.
We also saw two motorcycles and some other horses. One of the riders turned out to be a relative of the DOR, so they visited a bit.

The ride was about 1 1/2 hours long. I loaded up like a good boy. As we were leaving the parking lot several of the tumbleweeds that were still surrounding the truck started rolling after us. It was a bit eerie to say the least.

We had an adventure. I survived underbrush, between brush, over brush, and attacking brush...I am a brush expert. The DOR says she could have skipped the whole tumbleweed twister, but it was an opportunity to learn a few things. I know that it helped us have more trust in each other. The DOR says I am going to be a heck of a trail horse with more practice...what does she expect I had a heck of a teacher. I also think that I am already a heck of a trail horse, no horse would have done better in a tumbleweed twister, I am just a bit green.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Quote for the week

Seeing them out is as important as bringing them along.

-Grandfather

While the picture may be a bit humorous, there is nothing funny about many humans treatment of horses that they feel have outlived their usefulness.

It was a lesson the DOR was taught by her grandfather. After all these years it is still a hard one to practice. Part of having horses as companions is making sure to let them cross the rainbow bridge with love and dignity. It is hard to part with a friend, sometimes we want to hold on too long-the DOR has done that and learned the selfishness on her part was not showing her equine companion the love and respect they deserved. She learned that it is better a day too early than a day too late.

Please remember when you horse has reached the time to let it go it is your responsibility to see that it has a proper, loving, dignified end...humans owe us that. Don't send us to "live out the rest of our days" with a stranger or to slaughter, that is poor payment for all we have given to you.

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

PS-The trail ride went fine, I think Harely did play one final prank on me though...I will tell you about it tomorrow.

Harley Darling

Harley was my best friend, we were rarely very far apart. He liked to play pranks on me and I liked to tease him about his looks by messing up his mane. I would say that he was all looks and no brains, but that wasn't true.

Although you can see from the pictures he was indeed very handsome. Harley was also very smart and brave. He loved finding new things to investigate and toys to play with. Harley also thought his paddock was a "no fly zone", if a horsefly landed on him he ran to the paddock thinking the fly would have to leave...we would laugh at him for that.

Harley was always trying to get me to try new things. Like helping the DOR with her mucking. One evening when I was eating hay Harley took the blue tarp that the DOR had hung up to get me used to it and he started sliding it up and down the panel...I ran and he giggled at me. Harley told me I was a bit of a "girlie man".

I found that I had more courage when Harley was by my side. I could even manage to eat treats off of the blue tarp. If Harley could do something I would give it my best try. He was a patient teacher and I appreciated that. On his good days Harley would challenge me to a race, darn if he didn't beat me every time. He liked to play "bite face" and we would stand for hours grooming each other.

Harley also taught me there are times when you just have to express yourself. That a butt turned in the right direction would let the DOR know that we were not amused.

A well timed raspberry is also a good DOR training tool.

I always made sure that Salty would allow Harley to eat all he wanted. Harley and I liked to dine together...I am still keeping Salty out of Harley's spot at the hay bale.

I will miss you Harley. Who is going to tease me, make sure I learn to be brave, and help me teach the DOR manners? I am going on my first trail ride with the DOR this afternoon...keep an eye on us my friend, I plan on making you proud.

I know that you are now running on four good legs, looking mighty fine.

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

Skywatch Friday No. 39

I caught this series of the moon Saturday evening. It was great weather and the sky was relatively clear.

I really liked how the wispy clouds played off of the moon. The blue of the sky really set off the white of the moon and clouds.

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

Edited to add: My friend Harley Darling crossed the rainbow bridge this afternoon. I will tell you about him on Saturday. Right now I am still guarding his spot at the hay pile. Run fast my handsome friend.