Florida 78 degrees on a 2 hour Ride with Fiona at Rock Run Wildlife Sanctuary

TAking a trip to Florida for work in January while Mass stays frozen solid seems like a a great opportunity but to work means that you are spending as much time as possible with the sponsor so that you are adding value.  That means over 8+ hours working for the good of the cause. 
So this means that if I wanted to do any of recreation you would need to do it either before the activity or after.  After seemed un-thinkable for there I would have to spend the time at night that I really needed to do the extra work (because I didnt have network). plus I was working my school assignments.  Anyway.
I reseached the nearest place to trail ride.  With the limited flights if  wanted to go to Cactus Jack's, Rock Run Trail rides in the Sorrento Fla area that is about 30 miles away, I would have to leave Boston on a 7:15.  Well I made the decision I needed to do something of value so I had a good attitude during the event.  It was a good call.
I got to the airport and settled in the car and area, although I did circle around the airport because I was confused about the signage to exit.
Started my adverture deciding to go directly to the stable even though it seemed I had plenty of time.  I said no to the GPS.  Second day with my new phone.  Not sure it was a good idea but I needed to have good communication not neccesarily gps if the case that I needed help.  I didnt realize I had chosen a toll road that was almost impossible to have enough (coins only no attendant).
Continue more later.

Halfway through the 2 hour ride in Rock Run Springs, Sorrento Florida

Jan in Florida is better than Jan in Massachusetts.  Will update later.

He

ading out

First Ride 2014 Duke, Kanti Anja, no customers all leases or guides

For the last few days it has been huge snow storm and Zero degress but Sunday's weather, mid 30s and clear.  Thank goodness, Kanti is healed and coming to ride sometime today.  The schedule had no rides.  Sarah the night before said she'd go out if there was no work with me on a ride and we could get Kanti too.   Well looks like people scheduled rides 2, 3 and 4.  Well Kanti got there and said she wanted to go on a 1pm.  It was going to be Sarah, Kanti and I.  Kanti asked everyone if they wanted to go.   The snow was deep but there was ice underneath.  Duke and Bogie were slipping.  Duke was so beautiful.  I loved how sweet he was to me.  I believe he knows Im leasing him.  He loved th carrots.  I gave out all the carrots myself after the ride. I even gave Mariah and Domino a couple.  Cathy was in the barn ring shoveling poop in a pile and feeding the horses hay.  The ride was a 2pm but We scheduled a guide ride at 1pm.  Kanti, Sandi, Sarah, Anja and myself.  I think that Sarah was on chiquita today.  She loves her. The ride at first was pretty soft snow but when we got to the lake there were think ice below the snow.  Luckily these horses are so good in the weather. I know specifically that Duke is a prize in the snow. So smart.  Kanti was so excited to ride she just got on and went.  Anja went up front and off we went.  Sarah was last and she cantored to catch up.

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The ride was peaceful we did slide comeing down from the bridges a little and we also ran into some snow mobiles but they went off the track and didnt bother us at all.  We stuck to the main run and didnt go down by the river.  Anja was out because of the her classes and she was able to ride more.  She is going to school to be a Vet.  Its so exciting that she is going to help animals.
Well the ride was great, I fed Tulsa some carrots, Pixie was in the barn iwth a blanket.  She was feeling terrible and ended up biting sarah she has a huge bite on her shoulder.  Well on the ride there were so many little animal tracks.  When Duke wasnt walknig up out of the ice area we were able to see tons litlte animal tracks.  The rabbits, tiny little mouses, fox, dog like tracks, and deer prints.  It was so sweet.  A few times Duke slipped because under the snow was think ice.
Tulsa was looking better, she was in the small stall area.  Cathy was cleaning up poop and giving they all hay.  I was giving the carrots to Tonto, Pixie with a blanket, I gave Cathy some carrots for Tabu for later and some for now.  I havent seen Sargeant in a while and I need to go back there and make sure he gets some love.
Ill post some of the beautiful picturs from today later.  I forgot that the lens had gotten cold and then malfunctioned.  But I got pleanty of pics before the lens failed.  Bob was resting in the office.  He says since his heart prob he gets tired when he thinks he shouldnt.

Great Ride with just Sarah, Hersh & Duke

It was listed as a rain day but it didnt start until after noon.  It was about 38-40 degrees today.  Poor Kanti's husband was feeling pretty sick so Kanti stayed how with him.  I figured Id go over and pay my lease and see what was happening. If no one was going out it would be ok for me to spoil Duke a little.  Well when I got there everyone was in the tack room.  Lexie and her mom just have gone out earlier they were grooming Blue and I think another horse I cant remember. 

They are friendly but I think they are alittle aloof.  Well I was looking to pay for the lease with Bob.  Sandi was sitting with Sarah in the back.  Thank god I thought.  They were all talking and Sarah after a few minutes said, We have a 12 ride with 5 people.  I would have waited but . . . Sarah said she was going to go out on the trail with me.  I was so excited.  We went out and had a very nice ride.  She said the trails were icey.  She was able to take some of the off trails and we went around the lake by the wooden walk bridge then doubled back.  The trails were icey in the middle but soft on the edges.  As we went out on the ride, at the back of the farm. Then we went around the corner where the snow was soft.  We went out on the straight away and we had a trot on the soft snow. Hershey and Duke were both very happy to pick it up.  Later, Sarah asked me if I wanted to jump.  Well I do but I didnt say anything.  I hope that we can go back soon for a ride. It was an amazing ride and the 12 noon group did not show up. Thank goodness she took me out.  Im very happy about it.
On another few notes.  Tulsa looks bad, seems as though Smokey kicked her hard and she may have a fractured leg.  Im very upset at how she looks.  I dont think she gets enough care, she's sensitive.
The Bird Count for 2013 new year, people were on the farm counting.  It was great because the wild turkeys were all hanging around and it kept them very happy.
Also Val was there with Tonto, it was nice to see her and Tonto looks so much better.  Also there was a nice lady who is leasing Apache.  She was very nice, she went out riding by her self, I was admiring her and she seemed like a good person.  Looking forward to seeing her again.

Two Rides, Hershey, Duke Kanti and Sarah Wow its great to be with Duke

What a day.  I was wondering if I would ride at all.  Headed over and I had some chocolate chip cookies and a nice Xmas card for Bob with Santa on it.  I waltzed into the office and told Bob that I seen Duke was here and i want to put him under agreement.  He said that he was just talking to the man today and that they were coming today to get Duke. I said that I couldn't see how he could sell him.  That I had him under agreement and the people didn't come.  They should be told that he wasn't available. While I was talking to him he was smiling while I was trying to be serious.  Well, he said that he and the girls had agreed that selling Duke was a bad idea and that they should sell a horse that is difficult not Duke. Duke was a strong horse that held a lot of responsibility for the farm.  He had already decided that he was keeping him.  I gave him the card.  Gave him and hug and jumped on Hershey for this ride.  It was a nice one.  They said that Hershey was not ridden in a while and had to make sure that he was comfortable on the trail.   I had a great ride.  The little girl named evie that is handicapped was connected tethered to Sandi and he whole family was there Mom, Dad, Uncle and even grandfather was on the ride.  It was a short loop.  We got back late too.  When we got back, they asked me if I was going out again.  I gave Hershey his carrots, a huge one.  Then I gave Duke some love, carrots then I walked away.  Sarah said, Your horse wants you.  I saw Duke was waiting at the fence.  It was a special moment of rme.  He wanted me to come back and ride him.  So as it was, I did. I came back and was able to ride Duke.  As we went up the hill, Sarah said that Hershey was making horse sounds back at the farm.  He sure was he was loud and proud across the field.  He was so cute.

As we rode in, we could hear some shots. Again Sarah said there were hunters in the woods again.
She told me a story that last week hunters came shooting across their path.  The buck jumped over first and then the hunters came running out at the ride.  Cassie was so mad.  She told them off.  I wonder what the heck they are thinking having gun shots across the ride. Crazy.  It was an amazing day I was cold and it did end up raining but I was cold at the end of the day.  What a day. Thank god for Sarah and Kanti, well and Bob too.