Kellie and I rode at Tyrrell with Barry and Sue. Sue rode 1/2 way with us on Dulcie. We went through the woods and down the bayou. Biscuit cantered a little going down and he did a good job. We crossed the bridge and went down the embankment. LOL Elan likes to go down fast so Barry showed her how Sarge goes slow. She took Elan up there and yep...he runs down it. I took Biscuit up and came down slow - he is such a good boy. She tried again on a less steep part and he did pretty good. She went to mount up after cleaning his hooves and she tripped over his back feet!!!
I thought she had pitched over the top of Elan and she was on the ground!!! LOL She was laughing like crazy and Barry said "yep...riding with two ballarina's today". We just cracked up laughing.
We went back down the other side of the bayou. What fun!!! Up to the road and had to go through the ditch to get back into the park. We trotted around the woods and Barry pealed off to take Sarge out. Kellie and went around again. Had a blast and went right at 8 miles so I now have 399 miles!!!
Barry left in his truck and Kellie and I washed Biscuit and Elan and visited with Helen and Luraine. It was a terrific ride with the fasted speed around 12 mph. I didn't have "tracks" on so it didn't make a trail on the Garmin.
Tuesday I went out to the ranch and loaded up the trailer with Lee Ann. Saddles, bridles, pads, grooming tools, etc. I was so excited Monday night I could hardly sleep! Tuesday afternoon I went shopping and bought a fanny pack...omg I should NEVER wear a fanny pack but that is another story, and while I was at Academy I bought a new water bottle and carrier to attach to my saddle, some toilet paper from Coleman in little tiny rolls, sunglass holders that gaaaa DO NOT fit my sunglasses...and a first aid kit. Then I trotted over to Tractor Supply to return my Justin Gypsy boots. OMG my right boot's toe are came loose from the sole and I just bought them on January 21 of this year. They should have lasted for YEARS. I only wear them about 2 times a week and it isn't like I have abused them. TS just said get another pair. I bought a pair of Ariat riding/hiking shoes like The Lee Ann's wear. I also got a new pair of socks, some pink Anti-Monkey Butt Powder (yes that is the name of it!) and three little LED flashlights. One for me and one each for The LeAnns and I gave each one of them a roll of my toitie paper!!! LOL we have it "covered" now!
I got up early Wednesday, ran to Market Basket for new batteries for my Garmin to make sure they didn't die on the trail and got out to the barn. Jaimie took me down to catch Biscuit and then I went and got Legato. I fed both of them on the wash rack and unloaded my stuff out of the RAV and put the haybags I filled in front of the tack room on the ground - which Lee Ann later ran over and we thought that was hilarious. She got there and we loaded up the horses and our food, water, drinks and headed for Ebenezer. She went up to 255 off of 69....we got all the way to the dam and it was closed for repairs. OMG we had to turn around and go into Jasper but not to 190 and take a right. We came out by the curve on Hwy 63 and then up the lake. We parked at #13 and unloaded the horses. We ate lunch while the horses munched hay.
We finally tacked up with heart monitors and water bottles galore. Ok...now comes the fanny packs with the two water bottles of frozen water that weigh a ton. I told her I was going to be like "Maggie" on Run Away Bride when she falls over backwards when her fiance puts the backpack on her. Ok...it weighs a ton so I ditch one bottle of water and some Fiber One Bars, the zinc oxide (which smells really bad!!!) so I would be "lighter". Ok...I finally mount up...girth is too loose...I dismount and retighten and remount. Off we go...to the center of the "meet up" area and both horses stop. Biscuit is like "ok...where are the other horses that are ALWAY RIGHT HERE!!!" Lee Ann gets off of Legato and leads her into the woods at the front trail. Biscuit is leading and we went a way down and the fanny pack is a PITA!! It is moving, it is on the cantle which isn't too bad, it is heavy, it is unbalancing me. When we got to the Beaver Pond I finally had to ditch it. It is now a cantle pack. We went behind the Beaver Pond and around it to a road. The trail was very narrow and come in at a sharp angle to the road. We made a sharp left and went down the road and finally crossed it at a tree with a ton of blue and striped ribbons.
We entered an area that had different topography than the other side of Ebenezer! It looked more like Kisatchie. We came to the area that had rocks and bridge pilings that The Lee Anns had crossed before.
We crossed a little creek and let the horses drink...Legato slurps like a pro...there isn't a kid with a Slurpee that makes more noise than she does! We made a few stops - once when my new water bottle flew off!!!
We trotted quite a ways with me checking Biscuit's heart monitor. The highest it got was around 135 and he IMMEDIATELY pulsed down on slowing/stopping. I was so proud of my boy! Legato did the same. We checked out mileage several times and we kept going following tags and at one point, someone had tagged the ride with duct tape...there are a zillion uses for Duct Tape and I think this one was pretty good! Duct Tape hangs in there!! We were watching where we were going and hoping to find a circular trail back to the park but we instead, checked our Garmin's and were standing at a cross roads with trails going in all directions. We tagged back to a way point and went southeast. It was pretty cool finding our way using the compass and waypoints. It was fun. We headed back and got to the waypoint where the trail came in at a sharp angle and I told Lee Ann I was going to see if Biscuit would know where to turn and sure enough - he turned! He has an amazing sense of direction which makes me feel better - if I ever get lost I will let Biscuit has his head!! We went towards the Beaver Pond and when we were behind it Biscuit went straight for it instead of following the trail. He stopped himself about 20 feet in and looked around and turned himself around! LOL how funny is that?
We got off at the Beaver Pond to rest - my hips were starting to hurt some. We got back on and started back. We crossed Letney Road and then to the gravel road and went down about 15 feet and we decided to take the scenic route. Biscuit wasn't happy about it - "The trailer is THAT way!!!" LOL we went into the woods and he was ok as we were going on the same heading. Some deer bounded across the trail way up ahead and Biscuit had his eyes on them.
We went down stepping over logs and a little creek. The trail went to the left and Biscuit went straight. I said " Buddy - the trail goes that way" and he shook his head and said "the trailer is that way" LOL We took Biscuit's word for it and kept going. LOL Both trails would have got us back but the one to the left would have taken longer. The trail we went on was rough but we make it and had a great time. Biscuit was leading the way when we got to the park area and Biscuit cut his own trail to get to the park! LOL he is such a funny little guy.
We got to the park and took their tack off and talked to Loretta the park lady. We fed the horses in the pens after giving them a bath and scraping them off. We met some ladies from the Fort Worth area and then took showers. We sat down and ate some dinner - a Lunchable!!!
I had a blast riding up there - the scenery was gorgeous. The ride was 13 miles and was simply a blast. Biscuit is in pretty darn good shape - way better than when we went to McKinney Roughs!!! We stopped at Lee Ann's pasture in Lumberton to feed Mike and Andy, her Halflingers - OMG they are darling!! Way too cute for words!
We dropped our horses off and decided to clean the trailer on Thursday, which we did. We discussed strategies for running endurance and I can't wait to go again!
I went out to the ranch and pulled up The Biscuit. The Lee Ann's were there as was Allison and Julia. I rasped Biscuit's front hooves today and will do the back tomorrow. I tacked him up - heart monitor and all and we were all in the arena. Allison was on Jabaree. The Lee Anns and I were riding in a small circle like pony's at the fair while Allison was riding a bigger circle on the outside. Julia was lounging Shalom on the other side.
We went out into the big arena while Allison was walking Jabaree and we let him sniff The Biscuit. The Biscuit is pretty darn calm and a happy camper so he makes a pretty good baby sitter. We finally went down the ranch road slowly so that Jabaree was comfortable. We went just beyond the ends of the pastures and Allison thought that was far enough for the first time out with a young, green horse.
We walked back slowly. We are going to give that a try again and again til Jabaree is a happy camper going out. He is such a pretty boy!!!
Biscuit did a good job walking straight. He is catching on!!
Yesterday I had Biscuit at the ranch for exactly one year. This is a picture exactly one year ago today.
and this is Biscuit yesterday out at Tyrrell Park. He was wet but still looked pretty terrific.
He has changed quiet a bit over the year. He has gained quiet a bit of weight and muscle. He has PLENTY of get up and go. He used to be like a wind up toy in the arena - kinda skittish and hard headed and wanting to move quickly. He would be moving before I got in the saddle and now he will stand still while I mount. He doesn't seem wound up in the arena any more. He is calm.
He didn't know how to hold a jog and he now can jog like a pro Western Pleasure horse. He is right now learning to go straight - Allison has done a fantastic job helping with that!!! He used to toss his head up when I would ask for him to slow down...now he rarely does that.
He used to want to keep his nose up the rear of the horse in front of him. I have been working all year on backing him off and he is getting it - he doesn't run up the butts of the horses now!
When I first got him he wouldn't let me pick up his feet. What a fight that was! Now he will let me pick up his feet and will offer them to me. He will let me rasp and nip his feet and he is a good boy about it.
He was extremely skittish when I got him when I would go to put his saddle pad on or if something touched him from behind. He was head shy. He still can be a little skittish but he is so much more trusting and I know that he does trust me. He tries to please and works very hard to do what is asked of him. He will still "shut down" if he feels overwhelmed.
I had said that I would keep him for one year and then decide if I wanted to sell him and get another horse. I think The Biscuit is a keeper. He is pretty darn terrific - he is sweet natured and loving. He is strong and willing to learn. He is not skittish on the trail or spooky - even when hogs are running out from under his hooves or another horses is spooking near him.
He still needs work on his cantering, going straight, side passing and the big one will be going first when asked no matter what. He will sometimes now go first but he will still back up in a flash if he wants to. These are things we are going to work on for our second year. I think our first year was a MAJOR success!!! The Biscuit has a home for a long time at Plum Nearly Ranch!
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Texas
I met Kellie out at Tyrrell Park at 10:30 AM on Sunday. We tacked up, sprayed Deep Woods Off on and took off into the woods. Elan was a little concerned about the caution tape up for Halloween! We went through the woods and out onto the bayou. The cracks in the ground trip the horses - ugh.
We got down to the bridge and Kellie wanted to try the Yellow Brick Road Bridge. We turned the horses to the gate area and Biscuit STOPPED. LOL I tried to get him to go forward and he started backing up til he was RIGHT BESIDE Elan. I think Biscuit thought he was a Chevrolet! We got them to go through the gate and were walking towards the Yellow Brick Road. We were almost there and all of a sudden, Elan spooked hard and spun around. Kellie kept her seat like she was stuck on it (thank God!!) and she got him under control after he turned around several times!
Biscuit didn't spook at all when Elan spun around. Thank GOD!!!!! He is such a good boy! We went over the bridge and down to the land bridge. We went down the new path cut in front of the land bridge as Kellie had never been down it. We went down to where I sunk into the mud! We turned around and went around and down towards the back. Biscuit was going pretty slow and not wanting to keep up and kept looking into the woods. When we rounded the bend onto the straight away he finally picked up the pace.
We went all the way to the back and we did some trotting. Biscuit's pulse went up and he would pulse down immediately. We trotted through the back and out the other side. We ran into a group of people, Big Randy and his friend, a lady named Gina, and 3 other men. The lady Gina used to ride Nugget when Alice owned him...she rode him in endurance races. She said she would be glad to ride with me and show me the ropes of endurance. I told her I was taking it slow as I am a sissy.
Kellie and I walked back til we got to the woods and we trotted almost all the way back. Woot!!! It was so much fun. We visited with Tracie and Kenny for a little while and then headed out. It was such a fun ride!!! I can't wait to go again. We rode for 8.1 miles and with the 3.9 from yesterday I now have a total of 378 miles for the year.
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Texas
I hauled out to the barn this morning. Biscuit saw the trailer and walked to the other side of the pasture...ugh...my knee has been hurting and trying to pop out of socket - not a good time to have to walk out in the pasture. I walked out there and he walked around in a big arc and then let me catch him. I gave him a few treats and hugged up Sarge too.
I hauled up to the front and took him out of the trailer and up on the wash rack. I moved my rig as I was going to go with The Lee-Ann's in Ms. Jean's trailer and Lee-Ann P's truck. I brushed Biscuit and sprayed him with fly spray. We took off to the park and the tack sale was going on. We met Sue out near the woods.
I tacked Biscuit up with the heart monitor and when I hooked it up it came on with a beat of around 34. Woot!!! That is terrific...finished tacking up. Got on...saddle too loose and got off and tightened just a tiny bit more - with the new girth that was as tight as it could go. I pulled his front legs, one at a time, so that the girth wouldn't bunch up and pinch him. He is a tiny bit confused but he is learning.
Biscuit thought this guy was pretty strange looking!
We started into the woods and the horses stopped and LOOKED at the big Halloween "monster" and they were like "did you see that ugly thing?" The woods were decorated up for the Halloween Hay Rides Spirit Stable and The Cowboy Church is jointly.
Gee, Sister, he looks like he has some serious issues to me!!!
Wow, Sister, that guy has a scary face....what is up with that?
As soon as we got into the woods we were swarmed by mosquitoes. OMG I have never seen so many of them. They were swarming around Biscuit's face but not seeming to bite. Lee Ann P said my back was covered with them but I wasn't being bit but occasionally. At one time Biscuit's face was covered with them but they didn't seem to be biting him. When I would sweep them away they were not leaving blood trails like were being left on Legato.
I was monitoring Biscuit the entire time. His heart rate was 50 when we started out - he was a little excited. The mosquitoes seemed to crank the horses up some - Biscuit was at 75 but pulsed down to 65. We got out of the woods and out onto the bayou it was better for me. Lee Ann P was about to be toted away though. We went down to the bridge and turned around. Susan had stayed up at edge of the woods. When we were walking back, Biscuit was at a heart rate of 65. All of a sudden he noticed Susan and Dulce off in the distance and his head went up, ears up, and his heart rate jumped to 95. He was on alert as we got closer and closer and then he realized it was a horse and he relaxed and the rate dropped immediately to 65.
We trotted from the woods to the 2nd rideaway where the Halloween decorations started to get through the mosquitoes that were swarming. Biscuit's heart rate went up to 105 or so but pulsed down immediately when we slowed to a walk. It was dropping fast and Lee Ann P said that showed he was in good shape. Woot!!! We only went 3.9 miles today.
Barry had came out to the tack sale and came over when we rode to the trailer. I took Biscuit's tack off and gave him some treats. We went over and looked at the tack sale. A guy was selling some darling merle blue eyed border collie puppies and I would have loved to have brought one home!!! So cute - I had to hug them up.
We went back to the trailer and I ate my PB&J sandwich (yes, I ate a PB&J sandwich - me, who hates peanut butter!) and gave Biscuit a crust - he was uninterested in it - the peanut butter threw him off! I gave more treats to him, Legato (she didn't want the crusts of the sandwich either!) and to Rogue.
We hauled back to the barn and I brushed Biscuit and turned him out.
I didn't get to go to the barn when Allison rode Biscuit on Friday due to taking Barry to the doctor for his post surgery exam...he is doing great and can see so much better - cataracts are the pits.
Allison called me and said she had a good ride with Biscuit - they cantered several times and she said she understood what I meant by him wanting to speed up! He tried speeding up and she worked with him slowing down. She is so good with him and he really liked Allison. I know that it won't be long and he will be cantering slow and on cue!!!
She is going to try to ride him twice next week but it may just be once as we are supposed to go riding on Wednesday and that is one of the days she can ride!
I called Easy Boot today when I was having trouble with the website...I thought it was me but the website was down. I ordered Sarge a pair of Easy Boot Gloves with Silver straps as they were out of black. They should be here next week. I just need them before we go to McKinney Roughs.
I also ordered an endurance book "Go the Distance". There was some sort of snag up with Ebay but it is now on the way from New Hampshire. Surely I will get it by Thursday. I can't wait to learn from it. I have been working on conditioning The Biscuit with LSD - Long Slow Distance - lots of walking, trotting, jogging - it builds strong bones, tendons and ligaments. I now have the heart monitor and I will be monitoring his pulse down rate which is important.
He will be ridden by Allison at 3:00 PM today...I am going to watch!
Christy went out to the barn with me to check on the horses. I walked Sarge and Biscuit up to the front on the wash rack. I hydro'd Sarge's leg to clean it. It had some sand in it. I took Betadine wash and soaked it onto the cut. I scrubbed his chest and girth area with it too. My poor baby. I kissed him up.
I had bought new batteries for my heart monitor last night so I put them in the monitor. I put gel on the pads and stuck them to Biscuit and woot! My monitor worked!! I was SO glad! I can't wait to ride Saturday and check it out on the trail.
I sprayed Show Sheen on their manes and tails and brushed them out. Sarge has a gorgeous thick tail and it looked so pretty - I plopped it on my head and asked Christy how I'd look with dark hair as opposed to plopping Biscuit's flaxen tail on my head! She said I looked better with Sarge's dark tail! LOL that is too funny! I got their manes and tails cleared out and smooth.
I took them back down to their pastures and turned them out.
I went to the barn this morning to ask Lee Ann what time she wanted to ride today. I found her and Allison down at my paddock leading Sarge. They had cleaned up his leg...I think the flap is dead. Barry had the vet wrap a little tight. I had told him to change it several times and he didn't. Sarge will be just fine but I will always do their wound care from here on out! I hugged him up - he is so sweet and loving. I hugged up Biscuit too.
Lee Ann thought it was blowing too hard to ride - and it was. OMG I think Legato would have been on top of my head. Biscuit would have probably been ok but why take a chance in winds that are gusting at about 32 mph? They were gusting even harder yesterday - I would say about 45 mph at times. We chit chatted and I left to get heart monitor gel and a new girth.
I returned at 2:30 PM at the time when Allison would be riding The Biscuit. She brought him up and Lee Ann and I put his new girth on. Hoping it will work out! We tried out the monitor and couldn't get it to work.
A new person came in with Ms. Jean - I think her name was Smith - she seemed very nice and will move her horse here at the first of the month. She is interested in trail riding and Ms. Jean told her that is what we were doing - Garmins and heart monitors included.
Allison mounted up and rode in Red's first paddock. It was protected best from the wind. She worked with him on going STRAIGHT! He had his snaffle on. Allison kept after him making him collect up and listen to her. She went round and round both ways.
Lee Ann B and Barry arrived. Barry went and got Sarge and checked him out. Then he came to watch The Biscuit. I called Roger at V-Max about the monitor and he suggested a new battery. I then mounted Biscuit and went round and round. He is harder to stop in a snaffle but I kept going. He gets a little strong but I was able to keep him under control and at the speed I wanted. He is looking terrific and his hair is soft and smooth as silk!
I took his tack off and Barry took both horses back to their paddock. I left and forgot the heart monitor so I went back later and got it and went to Target to get batteries. I came home and put the new battery in and woot! Seems to be working. I will check it on The Biscuit tomorrow.
I went out to the barn and pulled up The Biscuit. I rasped his heels but pretty much left the toes alone. He was very good about it. Lee Ann P and Lee Ann B were going to go trail riding and since Edgar and Jaimie were using the ranch truck to get new poles for Sarge and Biscuit's paddock we couldn't take Ms. Jean's trailer. Lee Ann B was pulling her trailer and I was pulling mine. I went home and got the trailer and changed my clothes and got some Cokes.
I hauled back out to the barn and Julia decided to go with us. We loaded up and hauled to the park. Lee Ann P and I attached our heart monitors and got heart beats. We are MAJOR geeks.
We headed into the woods with Biscuit leading. I got just into the right hand side of the trail when Lee Ann P got off because Legato was having a melt down and bucking. Evidently there were bees/hornets/yellow jackets or something all around her and must have stung her and one stung Lee Ann B in the forehead...OOOOuch!!!!! We walked most of the way around the park back to the start and then did a u turn and went back the other way so not to go past the bees again. We went around to the road size of the trail and then down a ride away and back to the front with a stop at the picnic trail. Shalom kept kicking up her butt at Biscuit - LOL but we stayed back!!!!!
Lee Ann P and I kept checking the heart rates and after trotting Biscuit it said 212 which I knew was bunk. Lee Ann B and Julia had to leave after 2 rounds and Lee Ann P and I checked the monitor and I called Roger at VMax. He said one is not making good contact. I think it is the one under the saddle. We started off again and I think it is reading true was long as we are walking - His heart is around 45-50 or so walking and then up to around 65 after trotting. He pulsed down almost exactly the same as Legato!!! That was terrific to know. I think The Biscuit is in pretty darn good shape but he is going to be even better.
Lee Ann and I were in the back side of the woods trail and stopped for a moment and Biscuit did almost a 180. Thank GOD I held my seat and he stopped. He was on high alert when we started off again for about 35 years. He heard something in the woods and he was keeping a look out for it!! He was very forward and was a happy camper on the trail.
We took there tack off and gave them a rinse off. I told Lee Ann that Wednesday when we ride again that we will bring their evening feed and let them eat on the way home so all we have to do is drop them off at their paddocks.
We loaded up and hauled back to the barn. I took Sarge's vet wrap off and I think Barry had it on too tight. I am sure he will be ok but no more helping with the horses for Barry. We took the tack out and were headed home.
Barry left early Friday morning with the horses to haul up to Ebenezer. He was going riding at Boykin Springs with Kenny and Mr. Miguez. He said he had a great time. They sat around Friday night and played guitars, etc. Poor Barry - I thought I had reserved the spot from Friday through Sunday but I hadn't. He pulled in beside Kent and had had to more the horses a few times. LOL I kinda hung him out to dry!!! Saturday morning I got a text from Kellie with this picture
Biscuit and Kenny
Kenny was riding The Biscuit!!! They went for a ride and Kenny told Barry Biscuit wasn't "the same horse"! LOL no he isn't. He is full of get up and go!!! They all left for their ride while I was slaving away on a wedding cake. Then I get a message from Kellie saying Reagan was too tenderfooted to go on the ride and they had had to turn around and Randy walked him back. She asked if I could bring Biscuit's boots. I told her they were in the Brenderup. They got them out and tried them on Reagan and they fit!
Reagan in Biscuit's Boots!!
I got up to Ebenezer around 3:45 and saddled up the Biscuit and we all went for a ride. We rode 6.3 miles going to the Beaver Pond. I got off of Biscuit and landed hard and it made my knee HURT. My knee has been hurting for two weeks since I had tried posting and was doing it wrong!! Ugh. I remounted, dropped my phone and had to get off AGAIN at the Pond. The pond was LOW.
Biscuit hit a canter when we left but it was controlled and easy. He was full of energy and wanting to GO. That night we all ate together a pot luck dinner. It was so nice.
Sunday we rode on two trails I had never gone on. Biscuit was full of energy and wanting to go. The lake is way down but the water was so BLUE. It was gorgeous. We came up from the lake and got up to the top and went left all the way back down to the water. Much steeper going down that side but oh so pretty!
Kellie and I came down the road at a fast trot on the way back to the camp. Biscuit was very forward and really wanting to move out. I think he was a little annoyed to be held back! It was a good day. We had lunch with Kellie, Randy, Kent and Esther.
