Tried to ride bsreback Duke was a jerk

We had a nice visit taking care of things
Found out later that he hadn't had any hay, maybe he was starving. Fred was said oh they put the hay in earlier for breakfast, I had Duke in the arena there was no hay.  Poor boy he was so stubborn because sthere was no food. 

Small ride in the field - Sunday

Hawk in the arena Danielle helped me mount Duke got his wormer :) good boy

When I got to the barn it was quiet and  calm. I got Duke from the paddock. I feel bad that I cant take Doc out too. The joisting horse and his owner were riding.  I went into the stall with Duke and went over Duke's coat with some cleaner.   I also tacked him with the cross ties.  It was deliscous, he loved it taste like green apples. :)

Im hoping that Scotti is feeling better soon.  After my funny Saturday I was hoping that Sunday I could take care of Duke and tack him up, and jump on.  There was a hawk in the arena so I know I would be getting on outside. A girl came in with her boyfriend dressed in serious English gear.  I let her know that there was a hawk. 

Close to the end of the day Sunday first Danielle showed up.  It was nice to see her. She brings a little dog that gets all over the place. I asked her to help me mount. I had been out on the front of the barn for like 15 min.  Duke is really doing crappy. I think we are getting worse.  Anyway she helped me out. 

I jumped up and we went out.  Duke did the backing up thing when we first go out.  Then he starts to go sideways.  With all of our mounting issues, I think that next week I will bring the leather larger saddle and see if it makes a difference. 

Well the walk was wonderful. I didn't spend time in the arena. We did a nice walk and then when I got back I was really happy.  He didn't want to cross the street.  I wanted to finish the walk and then go through the woods.  I hope we'll be doing that soon.

I loved returning to the barn while everyone is back in the back of the  barn.

55 degrees short ride in the field

The sun was shining and I drove down the Greenwood road with my window open. I could see the the horses all out.  They were covered with mud and had their coats on. It was funny to see Duke smoochin with the horse next door.  The reflection of him in the huge puddle on the other side of the paddock was very pretty but yucky.  As I walked into the paddock Duke came over pretty quick. He was excited to get out.  I had a peppermint out.   As a whole it was a great visit but Duke was not as cooperative in the field or in the arena mounting as I would have liked.

I have to keep him in check by when walking keeping his lead line taut.  Hes pretty good boy but loves his grass grazing.  I took him into his stall and brushed him out good. He was really munching down the hay.  Its easy to tack up now days. I used to hate it but now I don't go on insane long rides its quicker. Maybe Im just better at it. I love to brush him out. 

Stacie was getting ready to take Townes out. She said he wsas so excited he was practically tacking himself.

She headed out and I put lots of time into getting Duke feeling clean and beautiful. It as nice to get him ready. I tack himin his stall.  I had him ready then I put in the supplements into the feeding areas box marked Duke.  Then I took Duke into the arena. When I got there the old man who owns Spicey was riding hard in the arena. He was riding so quickly and so smooth that I thought it was Gaelen's owner but it was the old timer.  Pretty cool he was asking if he should put the horse back in the paddock, what time the horses get brought in.  He put Spice back out. :)

It was very wet in the fields and they had a fire smoldering behind the heavy equipment.

Duke seemed to take forever to relax and let me get on him. I moved him so many times. I guess that I finally got on him and out the side door we went.  Duke moved along good around the barn. His friends watch him carefully as he moves toward the front and around to the side.

Dirty Johnny blanket boy

We walked around the front and then we went into the field. I was happy to be out again.  Duke ventured out good, we likes to look into the woods and gets himself all worried about looking into the woods. I know he wants to go into the woods.  We ended up just doing the first field and when I went over to the end of the field past the boat.  Duke did good until time to go into the next field. He worked on the backing up and trie dot make me go back by way of the road. I was not happy with him. I made him go back the way we came into the first field. The only problem we went back and I dropped a peppermint I was tyring to give him and we couldn't get it back.

 I was disappointed and boy was Duke. We went back to the barn and Kristen was with Jess and Fred working on the feedings. I had to get Jess to open the back door so I could get back in, she did. 

I rode a little bit with Duke in the arena then I jumped off. I took his bridle, saddle and pad off quickly and we went back to the stall to have some delicious snack. It was great. I cleaned up his poop and gave him hoof snax and carrots. It was a great day. On the way back, Stacie took some excellent pics of Duke and I. I felt pretty lucky.  Patti and her daughter was there tacking up Sienna.  Jess put Safari into the arena and got him running around and playing like crazy, I really liked it.  He loves her. its nice. I packed up and got into the car around 330 and the mud in the parking lot was thick and deep. It was nice day even thought it was so wet deep with mud water slush.

Saturday ATV riders & rode with Hannah/Johnny - Sunday Bareback inside

Saturday -- 

 In the arena and outside riding all tacked up.I made sure that I spent plenty of time with him making sure he was all clean and beautiful. I acked up Duke in his stall, it was very nice. It was so cold mid 20s. But I got all dressed up and got Duketoo. I was alone except that one of the ladies was here with her male horse tacking English for arena ride. As I was ready and had the saddle on ready to do something, Stacie showed up with Hannah and mentioned that "whos horses are those loose up on the hill. I crindged praying it wasn't Doc and somehow I left the gate open.  We grabbed the lead line and went up, Hannah and I first. I gave her the hoof snax in my pocket and the lead line.  Stavec ent on one side and me on the other.  Soon Krystyn showed up in her PJs and grabbed Gaelen to bring him back.  Krystyn said when I asked her how Gaelen got out, she said He Jumps.  He does it all the time. How exciting is that.  Well Hannah was tacking up Johnny and I was ready to ride already. I decided not to ride in the arena if Hannah was going to have fun with Johnny.  As you can see in the video I make above she was really doing great cantering him. 

Well I decided that I wasnte dto go outside. I figured I could ride out in the fields even just on the edge.  Well I went outside to get on the step and I was just ok at getting him to stay still.  Just as I jumped on (confessing that I just popped a peppermint in his mouth and jumped on him.  Well as soon as I was on and we were getting ready to go out into the fields, I turned around and 3 ATV riders came buzzing out of the side field by the stone wall and out of the trailers path into the field by the 2 barns.  It was shocking really. I was made. It was strange I took a picture of them and send it to Bonnie and Krystyn. Krystyn said she was sorry and she would see if it was anyone in their family.  Very soon as I went out to the field to see if they were still in the woods, Bonnie showed up rearing to get them. She took the car out the back of the paddocks and went around the other sidel too.  She wanted to catch them.  I walked out the field with Duke halfway then decided to come back and ride with Hannah in the arenna. It went well I got in the 2 miles and then jumped off and took care of Duke brushing him out.  Hannah rode bareback to cool Johnny down  It was nice riding with her. . I let her know that I enjoyed riding with her.

Sunday --

Bareback in the arenna with Scotti doing pulling skills with Doc too.

This is Christy she is leasing Johnny too