Forget the traffic — see L.A. on horseback

Forget the traffic — see L.A. on horseback

High 29 degrees Duke and I Walked to areas in the farm like never before

Duke was sweet, naughty tough and strong all at the same time.  He was sweet with me as I asked him to do his stopping and going by using verbal cues and not to rear up and stomp the dog he was upset with as we passed.  He was naughty by acting up when I was grooming him and being naughty when Kellie was getting in his area.  He was tough when he was responding to the new dog's acting like he was going to attack him and he did an "in your face" back to him and he was strong and sweet when he listened to me asking him not to rear up as he talked back to the dogs barking.  Sweet when he picked up my hat, trotted with me down the road and made sure I could keep up with his pace and waited at the top of the hill to just view the front end of the farm in the snow.  A scene I had never seen before.

I guess the dog has been doing bad things biting etc.  Duke was so tough he did get so angry and made snorting noises. It was difficult to calm him down in the dirt parking lot.  I tried to avoid the area near the dog but we needed to pass it to get to the other areas of the farm.  He really surprised me on how mad he got  We go by the dog pound and Duke is solid and stable as about 8-10 dogs simultaneously bark while running at his feet as we walk along the chain link fence of the dog pound.

Boarder Barn Area

At the top of the peak He let out a cool horse sound to let the other guys know he was walking around.  There were not boarders in sight but we were up at the boarder barn and we walked up the road.  It was beautiful.  He was so cool as we were out of where had walked before he made little sounds like he was excited that I was leading him to an area that he had never been. Also it was unusual for him to be walking like this with me.  He liked it and kept pace with me like a gentleman.  Very considerate, I could tell he wanted to start trotting and then go faster.

I loved walking with Duke today.  He was loving the soft snow we stepped into.  As we walked down the trails to the 2nd open field I remembered the beautiful fall day when we walked down there and he made noise to tell the other guys we were coming down the trail.

We walked together and I talked to him. He slowed down when I asked and 3 times we trotted together.  I was experiencing pure joy.  A snowy trail ride may have been nice but doing different things with Duke is a wonderful.

Four years on in the saddle with Duke I have a lot of on-the-ground time to make up to him.  Its pretty fun too.  I took a few pictures with Duke today. As I asked him to stop and go and slow down I was happy at how he listens.

After the first walk I took a break and went into the barn to brush him out.  Well it didn't take long before I thought he was acting up getting kinda nippy so I took him and we went for another 20min walk around the property.  We visited the areas and the girls working with Bobby on the fences.  It was fun an beautiful.

At the end of the day I couldn't help but go back and see Duke, Hershey, Domino and Bogie so I went back and gave out a couple of treats.

Made it to 20+ degrees Replacement Halter for Duke, Quality on the Ground time

Coming into the Farm

Again after the blizzard I needed to make sure that things were going ok.  I had missed the ride that went out and they all were getting ready to leave.  I don't particularly like to get out in the early cold so I know how to take care of myself in the winter.  I don't like the teens with wind for keeping healthy.  I got there and everyone was leaving.  They said that KAnti had also made it to the farm.  Oh well.  I liked that they were gone.  Sarah and Sandi were at the boarder barn cleaning up some stalls.  I went over land got Duke.  He's getting so good at listening and coming over when I call him. Im feeling proud he's recognizing that I will be getting him.  He has a good amount of weight on hm. 

I brought him into the barn alone and started to brush him out and settle him.  He still is acting up while I am getting him brushed out.  I poke him in the mouth like Theresa said but I am worried that his a little fresh.  After a while  I brought him down the rail to where Bobby shoes so he doesn't kick the shelf so much.

Well I had a lot of fun with him and I stayed for a couple of hours, one-on-one time with Duke.  There has been so much riding for 4 years and there has been so little not eh ground time with him.  Its been perfect to come in the afternoons and a lot of the time I am practically by my self, alone with Duke.  I have enjoyed it very much.  I like the barn empty and he relaxing at the rail on his own.

I had some fun when I was getting his new halter on .  The ring was empty so I thought it may be a little challenging to get his halter on because I don't have him by the lead line and he could walk away.  I went to the front gate of the ring. walked him in and then began to take off the halter that his too small that was his replacement and put on the new large, adjustable, break-away halter.  As I unhooked him from his old halter I walked over to get his new halter and he slowly walked over to the back gate and walked right out. I didn't even know it was pulled away so that is was completely open.  So funny.  Anyway I walked him around a bit in the ring and he liked the soft dirt on his hoofs.  I started to realize that he missed the dirt and the nice soft snow.  Because he moves around so much when I am working with him, I asked Diane at work and she said that he may be bored.  He's not been getting out.  So the next week I would walk him around the entered farm a few time and get him thinking.  Around 4pm I left the farm.  I had been there about 3 hours.  Works for me.  Nice afternoon.

Small halter

New Halter - Red

 Sarah With Berry