Sunday quality time

Came over to the barn late in the day, needed to work with Duke but wasn't really ready to ride again today.  When I drove down the road I could see that it was quiet. I wanted to make sure Duke was out and that he was able to stretch his legs. I got him from the paddock,  Hes been talking to me when  start over to get him.  I went into the barn and we walked together to exercise.

And just quickly went into his stall so I could give him a quick blast of fung-off.  I put his snacks in my bandana and we went out ot walk,  Agina as I made it out to the back of the barn, they are working on the backhoe in the field on the other side of the tree lines.  I walked quickly down the road a little bit and then lost all of my confidence in the backhoe driver.  As we walked down a bit I decided to turn around and head back to the barn. 

Shampooed Duke's tail, rinsed and went for a walk in the sun

I was looking forward to seeing Duke today but I had to do a bunch stuff first. I got up early and started my chores.  Went to get my lashes tinted blue with Raychel at 12 then home and off to see Duke. As I came around the corner of Greenwood looking over the 15 acres of beautiful green grass, I could see there was one car at the barn and the fields looked empty. 
First thing I did was go get Duke from the paddock.  Doc is there and today he was less jerky than usual.  When I walk down the grass toward his paddock, Duke was looking right at me.  He then speaks up to say hello.  I couldn't be happier to have such a great horse.  I love him so much.  I brought him in and brushed him down.  I had his brushes washed and then I also put them in vinegar to make sure there was no fungus still.  I had the Fung-Off spray, Medicated Tail and Mane shampoo and some new medicated stuff that I brought but didn't use yet. I bought it at Valley Vet.  The orginal bottle of Fung Off was from Manny and Muke's, the  handle broke off as I started to use it.   I hosed off Duke's tail with water from the top to the bottom. Then I got the water from the sink, nice and warm and put in a couple of ounces of Medicated Tail and Mane.  The directions say to stir in the water and then soak his tail.  Then I needed to take a sponge or I used a clean rag and make a lather.  Leave on for 10min before rinsing off. As soon I was done his tail looked better.  I brushed it out gently while we were in the sun, Duke's grasing lightly on the grass in the big field.  Then I brought him in and tacked him up.  He looked great! I went into the arena put the mounting block in the courner and dumped Hoof Snax on the ground quickly jumped on his back.  I think that his bridle seems a little too loose when we go out.


  I have seen that the family has been working with the backhoe and the ATVs in the other fields taking down trees, cutting them up and bringing the wood and brush back behind the big dirt pile and next to Bonnies house.  The skinny cousin with the Backhoe was driving around a bit to reckless while I was on Duke and came out of the road from the field near the trailers while I was on the road at the end of the dirt trailer road.  He was aimed right as us, I turned Duke toward him to make sure that Duke would\nt be scared. As the back hoe came closer the cousin accelerated and Duke was not happy with the feeling that he might not make the corner to turn on the driveway, it seemed like he was almost gunning for us as we were on the grass areas. I agreed with him but Duke made the decision to move along quickly in a sort of quick stepping way, sort of rearing and talking he wasn't happy. Hes not spooking but it ruined our peaceful walk.  They had the backhoe in high gear, loudly moving way-to-fast and seemed to be getting all over the engine, beeping and excellerating the engine loudly.  I went back to the arena and walked riding with Duke.  He had some issues keeping focused on the walking and tried to do some interesting stepping sideways toward the ailese.  I kept him out there in the arena.  H did some exercising and then I was pretty happy about his control in the field and also he was happy to work out after.  Kaylas and Kelly came to feed the horses.  As we worked out in the arena Duke could hear the oats landing loudly in the buckets.  He even saw that Kayla had placed his oats and dungre in the buckets but he was still walking the arena. I felt he did good so I let Duke know he did good, snacked him up and we went into his paddock to tacks his tack off. I took a picture because I was very happy with his listening to me and also cooperating keeping me safe.

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• Did some riding in the arena

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Beatuful Friday afternnon - Great Sunday too

I went over to the barn on Friday to make sure I dropped off the check for board and some quality time walking.


Sunday was able to talk to the ladies especially Bonnie and then walked Duke in the filed on the left, Bonnies filed and it was really wet in the grass and raing infor us. I thought it would be good for Duke's fur. I had my full camera on both days and it helps me tell a total story not needing to save space on the device.  I hate being stingy on pictures.  There was rain on Sunday but I guess I loved it.  My feet were soaked but when Duke got ot the end and saw we were going over intot he big field he stops to see if I will pay attention to him. I guess I should but I always turn and look at him.  Theresa used to say not to look at htem and that way they think you did not understand the question and they tend to move along with you.  I like to think I am with my fiend and we are walking today.  last time he did that he told me by his face he wanted to walk the big field  He did this by his stop on foot and when I was riding too. Its almost like hes getting used to us doing stuff and looks forward to it.  I watch his back leg and am always worried hes sore or maybe hurt. So far so good.  <3

Quality Time last Sept weekend

So much going and things I need to do but how can I spend time with Duke w/out rushing him?  Well I know the best thing to do it to make sure I just get there.  I had tons of chores at the house so I got up really early to do all the chores while I have the time.  Floors washed, things put away and cleaned laundry but still left the house to get to Greenwood at like 1:30 - 2pm.  Seemed late to me but I had so many things I did.
Stacey and Hannah were in the ailses sitting with Townes and Sienna. Later she had a ton of pictures and video of Hannah jumping in the arena.  I got Duke from out in the paddock, he was very chatty when I retrieved him from the gate.  Doc wasn't as jerky as he had been in the past. I had a few candies and apples.  I gave Duke and Doc an apple.  Brought Duke into his stall and brushed him out checked his feet (they look excellent and I applied his hoof care). I saw that his tail is getting all crazy bad. I did some work outs with Duke to get him going by chasing him back and forth in the arena.  He was so cute. I worked his tail especially to get it some conditioning. As they other guys were setting up the jumps, I was walking down the road and then over the side to the left field (Bonnies Field of 10 acres).  My big boy was so good, no stealing grass. We walked through the woods which is something I want to do regularly.  duke doesn't like to go behind the houses that are on the edge. lso he hates the new houses over with the pool and the dog.  We walked around the edges and I talked to Duke the whole time. I think he listens to me.  We walked through the woods into the big field. I told him that he can have some grass when we got through the woods. Also I spoke to him loudly so that if there were any deer in the area they would know when we are in the area and make deciiions on if they were going to stay or go deep into the woods.  Well I didn't have my camera and my phone was full but it was so beautiful and we had a fabulours walk in the woods. He was warmed up in the arena and then walked out in the beautiful day.  Back at the barn I let Duke onto the grass because he was so good.  Then back to the paddock what a nice horse and I love to spend time with him.  He appreciates me.
Sunday was even better I got their totally late but all of the nice quality time with Duke yesterday make it so I could jump right in with that guy.  June was at the barn with Scottie. Scottie did some very interesting work wth Doc.  She had him hooked up to work with out in the field near the roaedge using the harness and special set up to teach him how to pull a cart.  Its very interesting. Well I was strictly working with Duke and got his saddle cleaned it up and brushed his fur.  Today I put him on the cross tie and fixed up the stirrups that I had switched off of the black saddle. I tightened them up. We quickly went into the arena before I tacked him and walked around our usual walk while June and Cisco worked out in the arena.  I brought him back got him tacked and while June was outside I got him in the corner, through down the carrot pieces and jumped on his back. The position is working out. On the way over I thought I didn't have enough time to ride but Duke proved me wrong.  He was so cooperative and it took me 2 seconds to get him all ready to go out the stable back door around the grassy areas and out onto the road. Today the car engine had been revving and I didn't want to go out if the race car on the hill was acting crazy revving its engine.   They stopped so I could walk out onto the road with no cars coming.  I had carrots so when we got to the jump I gave him a snack and then on he went with out any problems.  He walked carefully and his shoes. were great and he stopped each time  I asked him to  and gave him his snacks.  We walked to Bonnies edge and we looked at turning around and I asked him if he wanted to go a little further and Duke was very excited to walk on on the big field and I had one of the most relaxing rides ever in the big field.  Usually the flies and bees made me nervous.  duke was sprayed up good and we had no fly mask, it was the perfect ride.  Raychel called me to see about meeting and I explained to her that I had one of the best rides Ive had in a long time.  I took him back to the barn walked around front and I decided to jump down off of him in the front. I went to give him some grass but decided he could eat a little bit at the barn and he got his apples and carrots with his apples too.  Back inot the beautiful day.  The temps.