April 1st, Anya, Tulsa, Duke and the new horse

Beautiful morning. One of the finest morings of the year.  I was offered the 2 hours today but as Sheila
said when I told her about the last ride, Its better to not get hurt.  Anyway it was just me on the 1-hour.  Duke's stirrup is still crushed.  But I was good. We followed the 2 hour today and I got plenty of trots in with our ride. The two hour had Cathy her husband and woman and 2 boarder horses on the ride. The guys that helped Tulsa last time were on the 2 hour.  Anyway the ride was great. I think that I was sitting funny in the seat. I tried some of the english method for pumping or what ever it is called.

I wanted to add to the story that 2 weeks later, the new sweet horse is going better in the herd.

I met the new horse and here are a couple pictures of him and the goats.

Just running in for an early quick ride with Duke but . . .

Look how beautiful Duke is here. Smokey and Tabeo is also beautiful.  Miss Tulsa is behind me.

We cut through the woods with so many branches down from the winter's windy storms

Tulsa was so cute on the ride. She hadnt taken it before and was unsure of crossing the 2nd stream. 

The strangest thing happened.  As I was signing at Bobby's at about 9:10 in there were 2 other people waiting.  Bobby was in the back drinkin coffee. He came out and I was waiting at the window petting kitties.  As he signed me in he mentioned that there was a 2 hour, did I want to go.  I said I didnt have the time today.  He said but I wont charge you.  Bingo I was on the most advanced ride of my life. But considering Yesterday and the day before I hadnt been feeling very good it was funny tp be there.  I thought if I went on a small ride it would be no big deal.

Well it was different. This was an advaced ride with Tina a woman with a foreign accent and Sandy a guy I see as guiding at the ranch sometimes and our guide Cathy Fallon on her horse Tabeo.
Enja had Duke ready for me to jump right on after I got out of the bathroom for me, perfect it had been a while. Duke's saddle's stirrup on the left was pushed in and my foot was not able to go in very far.  I was hoping Id be ok.

We actually trotted 2 times before we even got to the area where we separate.  We took the trail to the right that goes along the rock wall in the field of Bobby's grazing area.   Around the corner and into a trot.  Then another one before the sand.  I want to just get to the ride.  So much trotting and fast riding like never before in my life.

When we took the left at the top of the hill, Duke knew it was a 2 hour cantor at the top of the hill's turn. (this is the area that is when we go around the lake and take a left instead of a right around the water.  we head out into the wild)

A little later I figured out that I was going to be going on many long trots today and many would be cantors.  Wow!

At the huge field on the 2 hour we trotted fast some times cantoring across the whole field and then the other direction too until we got to the road.  The longest trot ever.  At the road we took a left and walked on the road all the way to the highway.  I must have trotted 9+ times.  So many times.  We went very fast. I held on to Duke with all my might.  He was so peppy so happy.  Duke loves these rides.  When we got back to the ranch he was still trying to trot to get back.  At Big  Desert we trotted so fast.  Duke cantored beautifully.  I was in control and he listened to me.  The woman behind me Tina was on Tulsa.  She said I looked good on the cantoring ride like I had control.  We all talked about cantoring on the rides and I realized I may never go on another 1 hour again.

Tulsa hadnt gone on the 2-hour before and not crossed the river.  Tulsa got to the river crossing and she didnt feel like she could jump over.
Now Duke jumped over beautifully and I held on to him as he ran up the hill after jumping the stream.  it was amazing feeling but Tina was behind me and she couldnt get Tulsa over the stream.  There were a couple of boarder horses behind us and it may have made our horses anxious.  Im not sure if it did but I think thats why Tulsa felt the feeling of anxiousness.   Anyway I think that all the horses and members working together worked out so good.
Anyway my body was totally into the ride.  The cantor at little desert was the absolute best!

Do I put my camera in my pocket. Now it has tons of scratches because the trots were so intense and that I could had to ride good to hold on.  Today reminded me of the Paul Revere ride that I had been on with Duke this summer.  He is a great running horse who loves to go out on the trails.

And the condition of the trails was perfect this week. Hardly much mud and No snow.  Even Duke was happy enough to walk through a little water.

Oh by the way my body is so achey.

Back at Bobby's Sheila, Tango, and Miss Tulsa

Here Tulsa is not getting much out of the empty frozen water barrels.  I know they have water at the corral but I still feel bad for her and the horses.  They get used to getting water.

You can see Tulsa looking over at me while she eats. Sometimes you cant get the horses to stop eating for anything.  Tulsa is different.

Sheila was holding on to her huge coffee pretty tightly.

Its been weeks since I have ridden.  Whew I feel so much better. Colleen is not feeling good this weekend  so I knew I had so schedule a ride ASAP for Sunday.  First thing 9am.  Funny thing is with the daylight savings time it was 8am in Westford for me.  No problem. I used my phone alarm and it worked out just in time.  I was a little late and the horses werent ready anyway.  It was perfect.  The guides get the time to take care of their horses if there isnt a big 9am ride.  So it was just Sheila and I and the trails were perfect.  The ice and snow was almost gone and the trails were frozen dirt so it was easy to ride.  We did 2 small trots but because it was so nice to ride with Sheila I was happy.

Miss Tulsa is about the most perfect horse.  She is sweet and has a wonderful ride.  Sheila told funny and interesting stories about her trip to Aruba and how cool it was for her and her husband to have fun.  She said they went horseback riding.  The ride today was short and perfect.  Finally Im feeling like I ride ok.

Ok back to Tulsa, I think I like her for an interesting reason.  She makes eye contact with me all the time if we take a ride. Shel listens and responds to my talking to her.  In the pictures here you can see she is looking to see what Im doing.  When I ride her she checks on me too.  I think she's special.

I hung out at the ranch and tried to get time of day from the always hungry eating horses that come out of their stalls to get stuff and to pee.  Anyway I got a chance to talk to Bobby before I left.  He said he's looking for business.  I told him Id post a new picture on FaceBook every week.  He gave me a hug.  It was cool.  Just now I posted the great pic of Sheila getting my horse and of Enja riding around the lake from my Hershey.

February Horseback Riding, Love it! - Hershey

Beautiful weather.  There was just one other person on the ride today a man I had not met before. He was on Duke behind me.  Hershey was kinda off his game today but I am fine with that. He stopped 3 times during the trots.  I imagine it is his shoe or something. Hes a sweet guy and a great ride so I was happy to just be there.  We went around the lake, so when we go thru the clearing that approaches the lake we took a left to go around the lake. Whew it has been so difficult on the trails in January that this was the first time since last year that I went that way on a ride. Also the trails have been so icy this is the first time I have trotted in a few weeks.

It felt like spring.  In the mid 40s and I was loving it.

Enja was in the front on Winston and Amanda was on Blue and in the back for the most of the ride.  I think that those two are both great and it was great to have 2 guides on the trail.  I was so surprised to see that there wasnt a ride before or right after I arrived back at the corral.  Cars arrived at 1230 for a ride at 1pm most likely so things are picking up.  Sarah said that yesterday was good rides because of the warm weather also. Its good to know that the hay is getting paid for so that the spring will be a good one for Bobby and the Farm.

We trotted 4 times, as I said the 3rd and 4th time after the hill Hershey slowed down.  I did ask him to pick it up but he was feeling like stopping.  Duke didnt tailgate at all.  The man on Duke had a scare where he cantered for him because the man said that Duke was spooked.  I miss pretty Duke. I may need to see if he's up for a ride next week, if I get my homework finished.

Bobby's kitty was so friendly I petted and hung out with him after the ride for a while. I have included the pics from him in this write-up.  Hes so sweet he was laying on my shoulder and back while I was talking with the horses.

Just before the woods at the lake.

Woods at the lake,  this is where a huge branch losened from the treetops and Domino stepped away from the trail where it would have fell.  He's so smart. My hero.

Here's where we took a left to go around the lake.

Riding along the lake.

I love this shot of Enja.  There was ice on the lake at the edge and the middle where lots of fat canadian geese were hangin out goofin.

Crazy kitty getting pets.

Its hard to balance on the edge of the fence here w/o me helping out.

Couple of the roosters being cute.

Im not sure who this is?  Winston?  I dont know. But he was a sweet one and I petted his nose.

Cute kitty wants as many pets as possible.

Goats hanging in the sun.

Colorado Springs Riding Feb 2012

The stables are just outside of the main city.

Back from Colorado yesterday.  I had the most amazing experience riding at Academy Stable that I had ever had.
Drove from Denver directly to the Stable in Colorado Springs.  We arrived earlier than scheduled and drove quick as possible from the airport. We needed to take a wicked early flight from Boston to get in as soon as possible and then we could use the time after 8 hours to relax.  Steve agreed if I would fly into Denver (which I did not want to do)  he would go on a horseback ride in Colorado if the weather was fair enough.  Both I was lucky enough to have on Monday. The ride was almost un-describable.

Our Guide, Cassie, she was amazing she gave us a beautiful tour of the Garden of the Gods.

On the left is my horse Brian a truly skilled a full of vigor.  Walter is here posing with Brian. I like Walter because he gave me the insight to Brian's lively personality and it was just what I was praying for on this experience. My horse Brian is a strong, feisty horse that gave me a thrilling ride that was both safe and an experience of my life with any horse I have ever known.   Thanks Academy Stables for all your fantastic work it was a total pleasure from the phone conversation to the smart and professional service.  Cassie was a real cowgirl that knew her horses and gave us a great ride and tour and has a great smile.

Brian is my horse I didnt even know when I took this picture.

The undertaker  :)

I got up on Brian without any help for the first time.  It was amazing.

I loved Ridge Riding with my horse Brian, our guide Cassie, her horse Miss Lily, Steve and the Undertaker.

On the way home we went the long whay through the mountains to see the continental divide.  On the way we saw so many horse ranch's.  Here is a shot of some horses getting a drink and grazing on the edge just outside of Denver.  Amazing land.

Rode after a few weeks I was Jonesing - Hershey

Colleen answered my text with lets go. It was a beautiful day and the big ride had just gotten back.  I was lucky enough to get on Hershey.  I love when Sheila and Amanda are working on the ride.  The trails were icy.  I had not ridden in the wicked ice before.  The week before there was a great snow storm and I was so tempted to ride but decided it was too snowy.
Today I took the truck and picked up Colleen. I text her and she texted back in a min, 1pm lets go. I love that about her. My camera died so I was mad. I took a few pics with my phone.  It was so good to see Hershey again.  There was a huge ride out when we got there.  Only 3 people went with us on the ride so together it was Colleen, a mom and her two daughters.  Colleen in the front with Colleen on her horse Midnight. The mom was behind me on Duke. I didnt like how she rode him.  The one daughter was in front of me the other was behind her Mom.  They didnt seem to smart I had to tell them to stay in a line and while walking up the hill the girl took her horse and passed her mom and me.  I told her not to pass and to get back behind me.  This was strange because we had just started the ride and they were out of control with her horse.
The ice was intense for the ride. We didnt stick close to the lake at all.  We took a right at the lake followed the path down and went to the right onto another trail.  The ride was very beautiful and the temp was 45+.  I liked being with Amanda, I told her that I was taking the Colorado Trip.
At the end of the ride just after the boarders barn there is a huge strip of ice going down the road.  When Hershey got on the piece he slipped many times.  I cant say hi lost his balance but hearing him slip his shoes on the ice and feeling a little change in balance was wicked exciting.  I took some pictures of Hershey and Domino hanging out in the corral.  Those two are so cute.
Sheila was riding Tiania, shes new to the herd.
It was a great ride.  I cant wait to go back!

The Bobbys Land Layout

This is a post that is in place of a visit. This week it was so snowy and then the day when I could go ride was sort of cold.  I decided to post some pics of the layout of Bobby's Ranch. Later Ill include a sketch of the location of each of the highlighted areas.
First area the drive into the Ranch.

Here is an aeriel for Ranch thanks to Google.