Cold today, just a visit my friends 26 windy

Gangster horses

These guys were ready to ride when I got there but it was too windy and cold. Bobby was someplace in the barn where it was warm. I brought 5 lbs of carrots and I wanted to hang out with the guys.  As you can see below they had a feeling that I had something yummy.  It was just Bob when I got there. Anja was someplace but I didnt see her. I first asked Bobby if my horse [Fred Astaire] was at the barn over by the boarder barn. He said yes. I asked if I could go down and visit and also if I coul,d give the guys there were waiting ready to ride today (but no one was riding too cold) some carrots. I promised to put the carrots on the ground and make sure they didnt fight.  He said, You can do anything you want. I was happy. I went over right away and gave Akiva, Winston, Duke Blue and Oreo some carrots. I accidently gave Blue his carrot by hand.  He was trying to sweet talk me into giving him more with his sweet horse eyes. Duke got pretty aggressive where my budddy Blue was all gentle and ignored Duke totally.

Sweet boys

Kanti's Boy Bogie

Hansom Fred Astaire

Duke's beautiful white eye, he is like a prince.

Beautiful sweet Blue xoxo he didnt have a harness and he thought he was pretty cool.

Thoughts while, Cantoring with my trusted friends - Shakespeare

Today I heard a Shakespeare quote that remind me of riding when I am going olde tyme trail riding.
The Life Of King Henry the Fifth. Act 3 Scene 7.

"When I bestride him, I
soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth
sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his
hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes."

I will post some of the more regal or royal pics of my horse friends that fit this quote.

When going for a trailride, you communicate to your horse as he/she gives you as a gift  -- a ride along his side.  Its pretty amazing.

Two Rides Again, Duke and Hershey

I loved being in today.  We trotted each time.  3 times on the first on with a wicked long trot at the lake and 2 times on the 2nd one.  The bridge is always a great place to trot. Kanti is going away to FLA this week so she had to get in some ridews. She said she rode on Thursday and it was nice. Our first ride was on fresh snow, there were not other footprints. Duke and I were making fresh steps.WE trotted right away.  Cassie seemed as though she may be giving a lesson to the two people in front of me and Kanti.  She carefully instructed them what to do and then she began to get us trotting right away.  The test trot.  The trot after the bridge around the corner and then  again we trotted someplace we never did before. Oh the best trot was the one where we went around the trail near the wooden bridge where we went into the woods then up to the top of the path.  Then what happened was we came over to the right and she said, would you like to pick up a trot? We trotted on the edge of the lake for a while.  I was great!   We trotted there.  Wow. The second ride I was with Hershey.  He doesnt slip at all.  Tulsa poor sweetie slipped so much. Anyway Hershey was different.  Duke was happy to see me, I think because I smelled of carrots.  I brought enough for Bobby to give away after I left.  Duke is becoming more friendly.  I like it.  I asked to ride Blue who was so beautiful but dirty today.  Cassie said that he had become a little spooky in the snow and she was going to take him out today.  She had Sheila's sadddle.  It looked beautiful on him.Anyway. Duke didnt like the ice with water and deep mud under but he went over into it the best he could.  He trotted beautiful. I keep my heels down and he had total control of the snowy surfuce.  Duke trotted a few times just because he was annoyed with Bogie.  Many times even while we were going up the steep hill Duke got ears back and started 

On the second ride Hershey was so different for the ride.

This guy is so beautiful. I lvoe his face and eyes plus he is a smart and nice guy too. I just had given him a carrot.

Two Rides - Smokey Duchess Wow Kanti is fun

Ill write up the rides later. Here are some snaps. It was amazing. 45 degrees and foggy. The trails were so crazy.  Soft ice. Smokey slipped a few times but Duchess didnt even once.  Love both rides.
Smokey the first ride, we trotted for a few seconds twice.  It was fun.  There was a young couple in front. The man was on Hershey and he had never ridden before.  He seemed like such a nice guy to try trotting just to make his girlfriend happy.  They gave him no hints. I told him to put his heals down and sit back in the saddle. He was totally appreciative of my hints and we trotted again later.  The guides today did a nice thing they went into the woods on the straight away and we were on a trail that was near the river. I loved it.  Sarah first took one that just avoided the big puddle.  The second ride Olivia was the lead and they found another trail next to the straight away and it was a beautiful long trail that the horses really enjoyed.  Smokey was excellent. He responded to Bogie who I am learning is one of the bad boys and has to be kept away from rest of the herd. Sure enough when we got into the barn, Hershey was next to him and Hershey yelled back at his nipping. Sheila took Hershey right out to go to the corral. I saw that Smokey also didnt like Bogie at all. He put his ears back a few times and Bogie had to keep back from SMokey because he has a bad rep I guess. Smokey was kinda slippy on the trail.  He also felt the rocks and it gave him some probs.  Later when on Duchess she pushes they rocks right out of the way. She didnt slip at all.  She was kinda funny because she was stealing pine needles. Why would they taste good?  She also stole an oak leaf.  We know they dont taste good.  Still Duchess.

Duchess second ride, I never thought I would but Kanti said, "Come on Jules we are way behind on our rides because of the holidays"  funny I jumped right on Duchess and we rode off with a family. We both were in front with Olivia and Tobey and the family had Foxxy so they were in the back with Sarah. 
I decided today that Sarah is extra fun and extra challenges for me.  Lucky me to have her on the rides.
After the ride Kanti quickly jumpe back on Bogie and went out again. She has tons of energy and I love it.

Sarah eventually forgave Duchess for the knocking her hat into the muck . . . evenually.