Sunny Monday at the Farm

Goofy Selfie Day - Duke was responding great

Got to the ranch later than I had expected.  Ran and got that guy from eating hay in the strange hay grid structure.  He came to me when I was came into the area.  Jim was in the shelter eating with a smaller horse.  Apache was with Duke at first.
I put his lead line on and he seemed happy to come along with me today.  After yesterday I think Bobs advice to me about "less grazing" I may cut back on the freedom Duke gets in the ring.  It may cause too much of a distraction.

Duke was excellent today, Its great to just go see him and hang out w/o riding.  Its good for me and him

Well I knew Id be chilling out with Duke.  The ride had returned and they were at the gate.  I was walking quickly with duke over to the tack shed.
He was happy, I didn't give him his apple until later.   We were not riding today but I wish I had tacked him up to get my pick in the woods.

Anja had returned with the ride and she was over with me at the Tack area.  I really don't like people very much.  Id much rather be alone it seems.  as soon as I had him on the rail I wished I was alone.  He was leaning on the rail with his bum too long against the rail leaving a little less room for Finn than I thought was considerate.

Anyway he was sweet.  Anja explained how terrible the dirt bikers on the trails were.  It sounded terrible again.  Cathy went back out with the next ride. Theresa said lucky Cahty was there because she needed her when Hershey ran off with the rider as the bikers headed toward the ride acting up.  Theresa was on Pete and she said he had been very good, until today he was surprised and responded a little differently.  Anyway I wanted to brush out that guy, give him hoof snacks and condition his hoofs.  It went pretty good. I washed his hoofs on the top and then because he was moving so much on the rail with Anja and Finn, I took him over to the long grass and did his nails  ;)
After that I got all the saddles and talked a little bit to Betty Anja's mom about stuff.  The Tack Sale Too.
Duke walked with me so well.  We ran together infant of everyone back to the boarder shelter and then he was patient as I put the weird wire pieces back.  I took some terrible selfies that made me laugh.

The end of the visit he ran with me on the other side of the field fence.  I was so pleased I gave him a snack and then he grazed.

Oh yeah I picked up 3 saddles for the Tack Sale next week.  Amanda had 2 and Cassie had 1.  I think it will be fun for Halloween.

Two Rides and some time riding alone

Duke was pretty happy to see me at 8435 today.  They were all hoping I was their riders and they would be getting some riding in.  Duke was pretty good, he really is funny about his listening to me. I finally found my lead line, Theresa said that her little girl Lizzie had been playing and she took it and put it someplace else.
SHes cute.
I was in before Barb.  I ran got Duke, he walked ok with me.  Then I got his gear and started to get him ready.  I am not happy to rush but I did ok.  Barb came over and the girls got the rid out early.  Its cool because I was getting ready and I was going to jump on Duke and catch up with the ride.  Kanti Pulled up and she grabbed Bogie and we had a very enjoyable walk then trot to meet up with Theresa, Barb and another two ladies.  It was fun.  Duke was happy to get trotting.  We kept up to the other ride and then at the long stretch before the bridge.  We then went the rest of the way back, walking.
The next ride.  I helped get all of the rides on, there were so many that they needed two rides.  It was Framingham State College and they were good kids.  They arrived on a big yellow bus.
Bob had his hands full getting them ready.
I went out with them too.  I stayed with the group at the water barrels and then zoomed back and joined the ride after Duke and I did some independent riding.  Duke only started to call out to the horses where we were alone a couple of times. I was proud.  When we joined up again with the walking ride. Kanti was with the walk ride and we walkd the rest of the ay.  At the beautiful area that we love to canter I tired to have Duke split off, He didn't want to.  We tried and tried. All of the rides past us the walk and the trot.  Still Duke was spinning and shaking his head. He also was stepping backwards.  I don't want to pull on his mouth I did get a little worried. After about 10 min we went around a few times
he stopped and tried to go back the way we came 3 times he paused I was getting a little worried.
Then a cyclist came out of the path from behind us.  I decided that we had spent enough time there and I have him trot the res of th way back.  He was ok with it.
I know he was getting tired.  I had a nice ride but Im worried about him listening.
We spend some time in the ring but I was seeing he may have been tired.
I decied to end the day, put hill back with his buddies so he could eat some hay and relax.
He got his apple and I brought his saddle back, after he dropped it a few times.
I was tired.  Anti gave me some stuff to sell at the Tack Sale.  Then I took off home.

Duke Running - Theresa takes the best pictures of Duke

Short stay, great grooming, apples and nice ride and trotting in the ring

Great fall day.  I loved my short ride at 11am today.  There were dirt bikes as we went out on the trails and I wanted to turn around an go back.  After a while when we got to the lake, I didnt hear them anymore.
They decided to break up the ride.  Theresa was going to take the walk ride alone.  I decided to go and bring up the rear with Duke.  I know he's very expereinced and I can trust him.  Im sure it was helpful.  The trot ride looked fun but I was happy.
Today I was considering going out alone but the wind makes me feel like waiting is ok.  so I decided to go out on the public ride.  Duke was happy about it.  The girls went out earlier with Sandy, Cathy, Laurie.   Yesterday Kanti had a stomache and she wasnt there today either.  I miss her.

This morning, they group came back to the ranch with a story of how they were cantering and Amy on came head first into a loose dog.  She said that Chiquita had given her a sign that there was danger ahead but she wasnt sensitive enough.  So she took a tumble head over the front of her on to the ground. I was so surprised that she hasnt decided to wear a helmut. She may decide to wear one now.

The ride was nice. Theresa went a way I hadnt gone exactly where we go up a hill between some rocks and loop by the old pipes.  When the horses went around to join back on the corner they all started to do a quick trot down the rocks next to the lake.  IT was very nice.

In the ring on Sunday, I got the stand and tried the shake trick form the exibit the week before and it seemed that Duke already knew it.  Im so proud of that guy.

At the end of the day, it has become difficult to have Duke walk back to go with his new herd.  Hes been a little difficult.  I have decided instead of an apple at Hello, I am going to give him an apple at the end of the day after he runs with me to the gate to go back.
On Sunday, walked back while I was returned to the tack barn to put his stuff away, I saw him walking behind me on the otehr side of the fence.  It excited me maybe he would maybe run.
I asked him to come next to me and I started run and gave a kiss noise,
Mr Clip Clop jumped to catch up to me on the other side of the fence and we ran together.
I was so excited, Hes a sweet guy.  Love that smart guy Duke.

Getting Chilly, 40s 50s Nice ride with Terry and some ring work