Ebenezer was a blast

Barry and I got up on Friday, February 14 and went out to pick up the horses.  We loaded the tack and Barry walked down to the pasture and walked the horses back up.  We loaded Sarge up in front and Biscuit in the back.  He slipped badly getting in poor fellow.

We hauled up to the park and Barry was going faster than I liked and it was making me nervous as we have never hauled this trailer nor hauled with this truck.  We got there ok.  Took the boys out and put them in the pens and unhooked the trailer.

We went to eat at The Stump with Kellie and Randy, Kent, Dusty and Staci.  After dinner we went back to the camp.  Jimmy Zinn came up later as did James and Beverly.  I was making the bed in the trailer when Jimmy came to see it and bless his heart - he brought me a "Queen of the Living Quarter's" Tee shirt!  What a sweetheart.

When we first got there the trickle charger wasn't charging.  We were surrounded by electricians and they were figuring all of that out.

For dinner I reheated some chicken wings in the rice pot and we had a nice little supper.  We sat around the camp fire at Kent's camp Friday night.  It was chilly.

I was tired and we went to bed fairly early.  It is a tight fit but doable.  We didn't turn on the heater til 5:00 AM Saturday morning.  I used pillows to make sure light/ drafts didn't come through the windows.  I took a sponge bath and had nice hot water!  I had purchased 5 purple bath towels to hang through the bars in the back windows and that worked like a charm.

The next morning we had a eggs and turkey sausage for breakfast.  I cooked in the electric skillet using the cutting board to make the area larger.  It was nice to be able to heat/cook something for breakfast INSIDE.

We tacked up and went for a ride.  Biscuit was pretty good the first half of the ride but got a little charged up the last half of the ride.  He always behaves but he was a bit of a handful.  Bev came off her little gelding but she wasn't hurt thank goodness.  When we first started out Bella ran in front of him a few times and he tried to bite her.  I stopped him just before he chomped down on her back.

We all went and ate at the Stump for lunch.  Lots of laughing and cutting up.  After lunch Barry and I went to Jasper to get fuses as I blew out the Microwave.  We went to Wal-Mart and an auto store.

We rode again Saturday afternoon and went on the trail that circles around a low area. Biscuit leaped over a little stream of water and "soft" area.  Dang, he nearly unseated me and my right foot came out of my stirrup.  Jimmy was right behind me and he said he thought I was going over the handlebars!

Great time!  We had a huge fish fry at Stacie and Dusty's and sat around the camp fire.  It was freaking COLD!  Stacie brought me a blanket.

We turned in and I used the shower for the first time.  I washed my hair and didn't run out of hot water.

We turned the heater on and by 10:30 PM turned it off!  Way to hot in there.  I slept better Saturday night than I did Friday night.

Made breakfast Sunday morning and we saddled up for a ride.  So much fun!!!  We rode 12 miles that weekend.  We took a new "trail" that was marked - it was not really a trail but it was fun.  Did a little jogging on Biscuit.

I picked up and cleaned up.  Took the little potty to dump it out.  The very best thing about the weekend was having a place to use the potty without having to go up the hill to use the public ones.  OMG It sure saved my legs but I was having a hard time getting around.

I nearly fell when I stumbled on the mat and slammed into the wheel well.  Ugh.  Scared the snot out of Biscuit.  I cleaned the pens out.  When we were ready to load I told Barry Biscuit should go in the front as he is too long bodied to get in the short back with the curve.  We tried to load him and he was having none of it.  James picked up a branch and he nearly had a melt down.  James put it down and he got Biscuit to follow him in.  Biscuit LEAPED in there.  Ugh...He needs to calm down.

We said our goodbyes to everyone and took off.  A fricktard pulled out in front of us almost to Jasper.  Ugh.  It was not a good experience.  I could feel the horses scrambling for footing and I was screaming at Barry RED LIGHT RED LIGHT RED LIGHT.  I couldn't feel him braking and the red light was right there.  Ugh.  He was pretty pissed off at me but I don't think he saw it.

When we got to the barn to take Biscuit out he scrambled out too fast.  Going to have to work on his skills in this trailer.  I think he slipped both times getting in it so he expects a problem.

Can't wait to go again.

So excited!

We are going to Ebenezer tomorrow to ride for the weekend.  Thank God it is finally sun shining and nice weather.  So sick of the rain!

I went out to the barn today to give my boys a treat.  They are so sweet.  Hugs and kisses to both of them.  Biscuit looks like a pig.  His jaw was matted and filthy looking.  I will have to brush him so he looks decent to ride!  I do not like riding a dirty horse.

I went to Wal-Mart to get stuff for the trailer and groceries.  I bought 5 purple bath towels.  Duh...I have been thinking of ways to cover the windows when we shower.  I thought about little suction cups to hold up placemats.  Poor thing.  I am a little dense.  My windows have bars on them.  I was going to get hand towels and hang over the bars.  The hand towels were just too small and cost just a little less than full sized towels.  I opted for the full size towels!  They can be used to dry off and then hang them on the windows to dry - it is a win/win situation.  Because they are purple - they will not be confused with the house towels when I bring them in to wash them.  I bought a purple net puff thingy to wash with so that I didn't have to have washcloths.  That would just be more stuff to keep up with.  I forgot to get a little suction cup soap holder thingy though.  Oh well.  I will get that another time.  I did buy a extra long shower curtain that I will lay down in the back so that the shower water doesn't go under the mats.

I bought a little folding rack to set on the counter so that things could be a little handier.  A good sized cutting board to cover the sink with so I can use it to cook or whatever I need.  A little bitty drainboard, a thingy to stand up plates/pot lids, etc.  A few food containers and a bread holder went in the basket too.

Stacie G is frying fish for our dinner Saturday.  We are all pitching in - I am taking potato salad and coleslaw.  I made all of it awhile ago and it is in the fridge chillin'.

I stopped at Duvall's to see if Danny had a ladder for RV's but they didn't.  Dang.  I went home and took the groceries in.  By then I was whipped.  Grocery shopping KILLS my legs and wears me out.  When Barry came home he said to run to Setzer's to get a converter for the electrical cord so we could turn the fridge on and get it cold.  I said Duvall's should have that and is closer!  I took the clip off of the awning to see if they had one of those.  It is broken on one side.  So, off I go with the cord and clip.  Danny had the converter and was out of the clips but they did have some velcro thingies that do the same thing.  I got those and will use them til the clip comes in.  If these work though I may skip the clip.

Barry got all of our camping stuff out of the barn.  I went through it and took out stuff I wanted and some we won't need anymore because we have the trailer.  I put the wheel chucks in the trailer behind the saddle stand, I have buckets, rope lights.  We are going to keep all of the stuff we need now in the white tote in the trailer!  No more dragging crap back into the workshop.  Take out the stuff to clean, remove food and that is it.  Electric skillet will stay in the trailer.  I will need to get a new toaster/muffin thing though.  They didn't have one at Wal-Mart unfortunately or I would have bought it. When I get a new one I will just leave the one we use now in the trailer.

I pulled the port-a-potty out and sat down on it to make sure I would be able to get up off of it!  LOL  I can!  Woot!!!  Barry said "I am NOT emptying that thing!"  Whatever.

He did bring home two new chairs - one in orange and one in purple!  Yay!!!  Those will stay in the trailer too.  

He plugged in the trailer and fired up the fridge.  It came right on and the light was working inside.  :-)  I put the bath mat under the fridge where the potty lives.  I think we are almost ready.

We will have to load up feed for the horses and tack in the morning.  I did call recreation.gov this morning and got a refund on the sites because I bought a pass.  Woot!  They refunded $160 today.  The $80 pass was well worth it.  We will also probably camp there a few more times this year so well worth the money.

Barry went and washed his white truck.  OMG he is probably going to have nervous breakdown having a white truck.  This may not work out for him.   :-)

Coggins are in the file so we are good to go.  Sarge will need his Coggins pulled in early March so I will have to go do that after I come back from Austin.

Woo hoo!!!  Ebenezer - here we come!

Calling Dr. Biscuit

I went to my first physical therapy today.  It was really an evaluation.  I told the very nice young PT Chris my entire tale of woe from beginning to end.  He had me push, pull his hands with my legs and feet.  He said my muscles were pretty good in my legs.  He thumped my knees with the mallet and said the left one's reaction was a little much - indicative of nerve damage.  I told him of my accident on trying that first horse and getting my butt busted.  I walked back and forth for him, did the closed eye thing - I will still pitch over when closing my eyes.

He said walking in the water was great and to keep that up.   He looked at my scar and pressed all around it.  ohhhhhhh that was a little bit sore.  He said I had some atrophy of the muscle.  He said it was a pretty traumatic surgery - yep...it dang sure was.

Told him all about riding and how it makes me feel physically better.  He agreed and said riding is actually the very best thing for me!  Yay!  He said some people do not realize what a full body workout riding is.  Couldn't agree more!

He is going to do work with me mostly on getting my balance back.  Looks like dancing steps to me and then another thing we are going  to do sounds like playing Twister.

He said to ride as much as possible - being careful of course.  I told him about mounting out on the bayou this weekend and how hard it was to pull myself up.  I told him my goal was to ride at a trot for as long as I wanted and not have my back get sore.  I told him I trot until my back hurts.  Biscuit generally is pretty smooth but occasionally he trots like a freaking MAC truck.  I told him as soon as I feel twinges I stop immediately.

Hoping to get better - so I think riding is on my agenda!!!  It needs to stop freaking raining.  It was raining like crazy last nigh.  So sick of it raining.

I stopped at the barn going to PT today and kissed up my boys.  2 treats for each of them and lots of kisses for me.

Washing out the trailer

Today was colder than a well diggers behind.  So sick of it raining.  So ready for non rainy weather!

I tried to get the mats out of the trailer.  Could only get the first one out.  I will have to get Barry to help me move those mats.  I washed out the back of the trailer as good as I could with 2 mats still in it.  Washed out the brush holder.  Left the doors open so it could dry...dang...it started raining later.  I can't win for losing.

Oh well, it is washed and clean.  I think the doors or maybe the top vent leaks as it had water standing in the back by the doors.  I will have to check that out at a car wash or something when I am able to.

Weather is supposed to be nice this weekend while we are at Ebenezer.  We are having a fish fry.  Stacie will be cooking for us and I am taking potato salad and coleslaw plus a dessert.  Can't decide what to take for that - it is Valentine's weekend so I guess something with chocolate for all of the chocolate lovers up there.

My friend "Maggie Sophie" on Face Book (she is really named Heather) told me the other day she got a great deal on 4 purple hay bags and did I want two?  I said yes!  She got them in yesterday and we were talking on Face Book about Birthdays and I said mine was in two weeks and she said  Happy Birthday and not to send her a dime.  God bless her!!  My new trailer will have two new purple bags!!!  Can't wait to get them.  Hope they arrive by Thursday.  We are leaving on Friday morning.

Geez...I actually have quiet a bit to do.  I have to go grocery shopping and get beach towels while I am at it for the trailer.  Got to make sure I have what we need.  I need to plug in the fridge tomorrow.

I need a shower curtain.  I need to put foodstuffs in the trailer.  I need window coverings.  I want oversized placemats so tomorrow I am going to go to Anna's Linens and see what they have.  Got to remake the bed.  I washed the linens.  I have two sets of linens here in the house that we used for camping.  I need to make sure I have plenty of blankets in case it is really cold and the heater doesn't work.  LOL got to try all of this stuff out this first time so I want to be prepared no matter what!

Sunday Ride

Barry wanted to go to the barn to check out if the wiring in the truck or the trailer was wrong.  I told him to lock Biscuit in the corral because he would take off when he started working with the trailer.  I got there a little after Barry did and Biscuit was outside of the corral.  Barry said he wouldn't come in with Sarge.  I got my treat bucket and got into the corral area and handed him a treat.  I then went on the other side and he let me come to him and pet him.  He didn't try to walk off.  I shook the treat bucket and he followed me into the corral!!!

Good Biscuit!!!

I was so proud of him.  Lots of hugs and kisses.  He was dirty as all get out but I loaded him up and hauled to Tyrrell.  I was brushing him and he was shedding out like crazy.  Got most of the mud off of him.  

Had to put my girth back on.  I had taken it off the last time I rode and washed it.  Took me a minute to remember how I had it attached with a 3 point rigging kind of tie.  Hahahahaha....I had to go around and look at the other side!!!  

I took my red windbreaker and tied it to the saddle.  I tied Kellie's on for her, too.  Just in case we needed them.  I need a new windbreaker.  Mine doesn't have a hood.  I forgot to wear my dang helmet. That is a rarity.  Kellie told me that Randy was going over to our house to help Barry with the trailer.  How sweet of him.

We went through Cattail Marsh.  There were some people with a dog near the road into Cattail and I heard hear say say something - Kellie said she told the dog "Sic Sic".  What a jackass.  Kellie told her that wasn't a very safe thing to do and the lady said she said she told the dog to Sit.  

Kellie got the code from some City Guy.  We went down the bayou and over the bridge with horses that were moving slower than molasses.  It was misting just a little.  We went over the little land bridge and rode to the left.  Nice ride!

Did some jogging coming up Willow but not a lot.  A nice lady opened the turnstile for us.  We rode back the stable - 7.7 miles today.

I went to sit on the step stool and freaking fell off of it like a clod!!!  I hauled Biscuit back to Plum Nearly and took him out by the barn so I could sweep out the trailer.  I took him back to his pasture and turned him loose.

Barry said the trailer wiring was not right but it is now.  He said it will need a brake job this summer.  I will have to save up for that.  

New Truck

Barry bought a new Tundra.  We were discussing putting the hitch in for the gooseneck and he said he wanted to get a new truck.

He picked it up Friday, January 31st.  I took it to Trailer Hitch Depot Thursday to have the hitch put in it.  Lee Wilson was so kind as to pick me up because Morgan was sick.  Bless him!!!  They didn't have the converter for the electrical part so that went in on Saturday.  OMG Barry discovered Saturday that they dented his tailgate.  OMG he was not a happy camper.

When he brought the truck home Friday he hooked it up to the little trailer.  Last Saturday Kellie had brought her truck over and we moved the trailer to the driveway.  I did clean it out Friday.  Anywhoo, we hauled it to the barn....Biscuit walked off when he saw it was us...same people, different truck, different trailer - not good for the Biscuit.

LOL we put Sarge in the trailer and he hopped right in and promptly broke it in with a big poop.  Way to go Sargent San Peppy!!!  We hauled it down the road just a little bit - it needs to be broke in and right now it doesn't haul that well.  We checked and we need 500 miles before doing a haul so we decided to go to Galveston for dinner - that would give us 170 miles or so.  It only had 190 miles on it.
We got back to the barn and Biscuit was standing in the little corral.  I got out of the truck and climbed through the fence and closed the gate.  I haltered him and took him to the trailer.  He hopped up but his back left hoof slipped off the back.  He didn't panic - just picked his butt up into the trailer.  I shut the door and went around to the window.  LOL He is so cute.  We unloaded them.  I can't get up in there with him to unload - not enough room so I told him "back up".  Bless him - he just backed up and stepped down.  Sarge came out a little fast but he always does.

Good boys!!!

Barry says he thinks the wiring is not right in the trailer.  He said we would take it to the Depot to be checked out.  That bites.

Trimming Hooves

Last week I trimmed Biscuit's hooves - just his front.  I need to do his back feet but doing all 4 at once is a little much for my back.

He can be a bit of a toot doing his hooves but we got the front ones done fairly quickly.  He was sniffing my hair.  Bless his heart...he is such a sweet fellow.

He was pretty dirty when I pulled him out of the pasture.  I brushed his mane, tail and body.  Got most of the mud off of him but his mane and tail need to be whitened.

Solo Ride with The Biscuit

Kellie and I were going riding today but she wasn't feeling well.  I was already dressed and ready to go so off I went.  

Biscuit was laying down in the sun out by the water trough but he got up and ambled over to the corral.  I gave him and Sarge a treat and closed the gate.  I haltered him and tied him to the trailer.  I hooked up the trailer and off we went to Tyrrell Park.  I did talk to Kellie to see how she was doing - sore throat and generally feeling bad.  Dang...hate that for her.

I got to the park and unloaded Biscuit.  My customer showed up to pay me for a cake coming up and they gave Biscuit some treats which he always appreciates.  I brushed him and tacked him up.  No hoof boots as we weren't going out on Cattail Marsh.

I turned his head to the trailer and mounted up the step.  Dang it.  He moved.  I moved him to where his his head was near the wheel and moved the steps.  I mounted up with no problem.  Woot.  I walked over to the woods and couldn't get Biscuit to walk through the water.  Sigh.  I remembered I left my keys in the trailer so I went back and leaned down and took them out of the trailer door.  We went across to the road - OMG he kept stopping - had to move around to the left because of the water - he was looking for Elan...ugh.  Took forever to get around to the trail opening and we went in that way.  Trail was dry in many places and then wet in some.  We went around past the Cattail little trail and then it got pretty dang wet.  Biscuit wasn't too happy and stopped right in the middle of a puddle, well, it was like The River Runs Through It right there.  OMG it took me 18 minutes to get him to move.  Wow.  I was kicking him....popping him with the crop.  Not hard - I would never mistreat Biscuit but dang - that fellow has got a hard head and is stubborn as all get out!!!

We finally moved - turned back - I think Biscuit was sure amoebas were in the water and were going to eat his feet off.  OMG he really dislikes going through mud.  We went down the little trail and it was dry in spots and then wet.  We went out to the road and walked around to the stable.  I dismounted at 1.4 miles.

I washed off his legs and belly.  I sprayed his tail good to get the mud out of it.  I cleaned his hooves.  He was a good boy and very laid back and calm today as he generally is.

We headed back to the barn and I unloaded him at the barn and tied him up.  I unhooked the trailer and jacked it up as high as I could get it.  I rinsed out the poop and went over to hug up the Biscuit.  He is wide as he can be across the back.  I buried my face in his coat and just enjoyed being with him.  Then I  loaded Biscuit back up.  Dang...what an idiot I forgot to hook it back up.  Ok...unload the Biscuit and had to hook it back up.  Had a bit of trouble but finally got it to hook back on the hitch.  I loaded Biscuit back up.  I am sure he thought I had lost my mind with all the loading and unloading!  I took him back to his paddock and turned him out.  He dropped and rolled and shook himself off.

Muddy Biscuit

Oh yeah...I got a watch to ride with!  Purple of course!  Thanks Honey Darling Precious!

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This is where he stood for 18 minutes!

Barefoot trimming

Dang - I forgot Mike the barefoot trimmer was going to be at the barn today.  I didn't get out there til late.  I went and got Biscuit some treats and bought Brutis and Ginger those huge dog bone treats they love so much.  When I got to the barn the trimmer was there.  Dang...what a dummy!!!  I would have loved to have watched him work.

I gave Brutis and Ginger their treats - Brutis getting an extra one - he was slobbering all over the place.  Bless his heart - he is such a sweetheart.  I was telling Lorraine at the feedstore about him when she asked what dogs were out there.  I told her he was a mastiff that Lee Ann P found nearly dead by the barn.  She said she thought that someone had lost their mastiff a few months back but couldn't remember.  I told her that Lee Ann had tried to find out if he was just lost to no avail but she wouldn't give him up now!  LOL I wouldn't want to see him go - I love Brutis!!  I get my doggie fix by hugging him up!

The barefoot trimmer was kind enough to check Biscuit's hooves out for me.  He didn't want to ride in my car as he said he was dirty.  LOL I told him who cares?  I get in the RAV with horse poop on my shoes so it wasn't like it was pristine!

We had told him about Biscuit being flat footed and tender.  He looked at them and said Biscuit's toe needs to come back about an inch or so.  I need to get the angles a little different.  I asked him to trim Biscuit 3 or 4 times while I work in between to get them right.  He told me how to angle it and I will start working on that.  I told him I was pretty cautious because I am NOT a farrier - just a barefoot wannabe.  He will know what to do and I am going to watch and learn.  He will be coming out on March 4 - it is on my calender so I don't forget.  It will be so worth the $$ to get Biscuit's feet where they are supposed to be.  Hopefully that will also get rid of the dang cracks in his hooves.  :-)

January 12th ride

I rode on Sunday the 12th with a rather large group at Tyrrell Park.  Randy, James and Jimmy Zinn rode with us along with Pam and her daughter.  We haven't rode with her in ages.  There were a total of 14 people - a few we knew - most we did not.  Everyone was well behaved and on well behaved horses which was nice.

Biscuit was pretty much a doll.  I got him saddled up and James held him while I got on.  We headed out through Cattail Marsh.  We all crossed the bridge and went across the little land bridge and rode to the left of the bog first.  Very nice ride across the back.  I rode with Jimmy for a while and he was telling me about his new truck and LOL  I told him that all sounded great but I didn't have a clue about trucks!  We discussed hoof boots and shoes.  He shoes Brat in the summer but said the boots would save him money.  I told Jimmy "who says a woman can't save you  money Jimmy?!"  LOL He said that was a first!  ahahahaha Jimmy is a hoot.  I told him he could try Biscuit's hoof boots on Brat when we got  back to the trailers.

When we got back to the road to go back to the trailers, I put Biscuit in a jog and jogged around the road.  We got almost to the stables and he jumped up and shook his head to go faster.  Oh Hell NO  BISCUIT.  He had to walk slow all the way back.  LOL  Biscuit was in trouble!

I took Biscuit's tack off and washed his legs and belly off.  He is such a good boy.  I hosed his hoof boots off and took them over to try on Brat.  They seemed to fit him well and I told Jimmy to take that pair and try them out on Brat til we go to Ebenezer.  I got to look in Jimmy's trailer - he has an 8' short wall Bison.  Sigh...so very nice!

The rest of the week I would go out to see Biscuit and take him and Sarge carrots.  I didn't get to ride this past weekend because of the bridal show.  

Ringing in the New Year

I went out to the barn just about everyday this past week giving the horses treats.  They are being such good boys.   I went out late in the afternoon on New Years Day with carrots for them.  They come right into their little corral - no treats unless they are in the corral.

Saturday Kellie and K.d. and I went for a ride.  I went out to the ranch and picked Biscuit up and got to use the back up camera.  Works like a charm.  I took Biscuit and Sarge a little bit of feed and haltered Biscuit.  I tied him to the trailer while I hooked it up and then loaded him and off we went.

He was a little bit dirty so I brushed him off and then tacked him up.  When I was through tacking him up I walked him over to the KILLER BRICK PILE and let him see it.  We mounted up - K.d. held Biscuit so I could get on.  My legs are weak and it is hard to climb up the mounting block without leaning on the saddle.  It is kinda awkward mounting up.  I so hope my legs improve this year.

We went around the park and some nice folks held the turnstile so we could get in.  We headed towards the big bridge with the horses moving like they were in a coma.  We got almost to the bridge and Biscuit kinda bobbled and felt like he spooked and he came to a dead stop.  At his feet was my little pink phone!  K.d. was kind enough to get off and get it for me.  Wow!  I stuck it in one of my water bottle holders.  We crossed the bridge and at the first right of way was a tractor.  Kellie walked Elan down that way and we all stood there for a few minutes and then continued on and went across the little land bridge.

This is the little snake just over the land bridge.  Ugh.  I thought it was just black garbage.  Ugh.

We went around the hairpin turn and Biscuit stopped and was looking - it was little hogs and they took off into the woods.  We continued on all the way down to the back.  We did very little trotting up until then.  The horses were moving slower than molasses.  We did a little more trotting though across the bayou side.  We cantered up one of the little hills and around a corner and even though I didn't see it, Elan kicked up at Aladin.  Kellie stopped him and was turning him in circles - giving him a blessing out the entire time.

We got to the little side trail and half way across it Elan kicked into a canter - Aladin followed throwing in two bucks at the same time.  Biscuit got into the fray and took two huge galloping strides as I was trying to pull him into a slower pace.  LOL  I think he though it was on like Donkey Kong!

We actually ate lunch at Hildebrandt Bayou.  I should have brought a spoon...gumbo out of the Thermos doesn't work very well without a spoon.  Kellie had brought banana bread for all of us.  It was very good!

We started off again.  We got up to the little land bridge and I could see a bicycle up there.  Two men were down by the culverts and popped up.  One spoke to us about the horses and he was a bit fluffy.  The other was in camo clothes and it was a little strange for 2 men on one bicycle way back there.  Gaaaa.a.a..aaa..aa.  stay out of the park strange people!

We went down the first right of way again and crossed the flooded area.  We were going to ride up to the front.  Lots of mud - had to cross some ditches - Biscuit jumped it like I knew he would.  He was a good sport about it - he is not too fond of mud but at least he wasn't spazzing out.  Way way way too muddy and nasty but we made it all the way to the front and went around the little gate and across the bridge.  We went back into the park and through the watery entrance into the woods.  We turned left.  OMG loads of mud.  After the right of ways it was drier but it is very wet/deep close up to the front of the park.  It will be June before it is dry enough to ride in there without slopping through mud.  Biscuit was a good sport about it but he was filthy.

I washed him off because he was a mess.  Cleaned his hooves and passed out treats.  He was sharing hay with Elan.  Elan gave him the ugly face and I fussed at him.  LOL  Elan is so funny.  He wasn't happy about getting fussed at but he listens.  

We had a wonderful ride for the first time of the year.  I didn't have my Garmin but I believe it was about a 8 mile ride to possibly a little more than that but we will stick to 8 miles.  It was a harder 8 miles though because of going through all of that mud.  

We had a great time - it is always so much fun to go with Kellie and K.d.  Ready to go again.  We were going to try to go Sunday but the weather was not conducive to riding.  Maybe next week.  

I did go out and give the horses treats this evening.  They are such good boys. 

Biscuit is an Angel that has a slight meltdown

I went out to the barn this morning.  I left the RAV4 and Brenderup at the front and took a little bucket of feed and the Gator down to the pasture.  It was about 8:55 and they had already had their breakfast.  I

They were out in their pasture grazing when I drove up.  I shook their feed bucket and jiggled their treat bucket.  Here they came - good as gold.  I dumped a little feed in each bucket for them once they were in the corral and shut the gate.  I haltered Biscuit with no problems.  Good Biscuit.  Whatever was his problem before is gone or seems to be.  I haven't tried to go out and halter him in the pasture but him coming in for a little treat is way easier than walking out in the dang pasture.

I  walked him up to the front and loaded him up.  We hauled out to Tyrrell and unloaded after having to reposition the trailer so the ramp was level.  I tacked Biscuit up before Kellie got there.  He had his little boots on looking so cute.

I gave him treats along with some for Elan.  I gave Kellie her Christmas presents.  She liked the silhouette portrait of a black horse and the picture frame for a pic of her horses.  I got her two Christmas ornaments but I couldn't fine the nurse one.  I think Ava put it on the tree!  I will find it when I take the tree down.  I also got her a 3 pack of Burt's Bee's lip balm with color.

I asked her to hold Biscuit because my legs were so freaking stiff.  I got mounted up and off we went to Cattail Marsh.  Some people were just arriving and held the turnstile open for us.  They were bird watchers with a huge camera.  It was beautiful weather and so nice to be out.  We got down to the bayou and went to the right just a ways - turned and went to the bridge across Willow Bayou.  We crossed and went to the right.  Going down past the bog I saw a good sized fish tail - and then other parts of a fish - the head of a gar with some nasty looking teeth.  A hawk must have snagged it out of the water and made a meal of it.  We continued down to the bayou and across the back.  We got to the little bridge and went right to the water.  Had never rode to that little point.  It is no more than 20 yards - someone had made a fire right there.

We went on down the other side of the bog and I kicked Biscuit into a canter which he didn't hold...he kept dropping it into a long trot which is too jarring at this time for me.  We tried a few times and gave up.  We got to the corner and Elan stopped to pee.  Kellie kicked him into a canter and passed me and I kicked Biscuit into a canter but he hit gallop instead.  He came up to the left flank of Elan and Elan swung to the right with his hip and then kicked/bucked up with his left leg....woo hooo....it missed my knee by about 2 feet I am glad to say.

I was trying to get Biscuit more to the left and slow him down LOL we came to a stop and laughed a bit and told Elan he was a big jerk.  LOL  like he cared!  We went on to the bridge and went down the other side of Willow Bayou because it had been cut.  Such a gorgeous day to ride.  We got up to the gate and we had planned on turning around but we decided to go around the little gate.  It is extremely narrow with a steep drop off but Biscuit made it - the ground wasn't soft like the last time we rode there.  We crossed the bridge and went back into the park.  We stopped at the entrance into the woods but neither horse was interested in the going through the water so we went back to Cattail Marsh and rode down that way.  We went past the gate and looked for a place to cross in the woods.

I took Biscuit up a little rise and into the woods.  Ugh.  I could see a little gully/ditch and then his right foot sunk into a soft spot.  I started backing him up as it was too tight to turn around.  Biscuit had to go down the little rise into a ditch area that was soft.  He turned on his forequarters and crossed the little ditch.  He was a little fritzed out.  Soft smooshy places are not his idea of fun.  We went down to the area behind the canal that runs back through the golf course area looking for a place to cross.  It was very soft and Biscuit was not thinking it was a good idea.  We didn't know how soft it would be and didn't want to risk sinking the horses up to their bellies so we turned around.  Coming back up there was a trio of folks who could hold the turnstile so we kicked into a little canter and yelled for them to hold on!!  They hugged up the Biscuit - he is so funny - he loves the attention now.  They held the gate for us and we went through.

We did try to go into the trails where the new ones have been blazed but it is still freaking muddy as all get out.  We came through the park and were right at the trailers when Biscuit started shying and going sideways, backing up and snorting, turned around and was ready to bolt.  I couldn't see what he was freaking out about - nothing that wasn't there before and that he hadn't see a million times.

He whirled around again after I turned him to face what he was upset at and was a stack of bricks that was covered with a tarp.  He was all bunched up to bolt.  I turned him again and was talking to him.  I called Kellie to come hold him so I could dismount.  I didn't want to fall in case he was trying to take off while I was dismounting.  He was still snorting and blowing  -  Kellie said the whites of his eyes were showing because he was genuinely scared.  I walked him up slowly to it and rattled the tarp and got Kellie to hold his reins while I went and got some treats.  He ate some treats off of the tarp and so did Elan.  He saw that it was nothing - I had tacked him up beside this today and 2 weeks ago.  He walked by it last time we rode and this morning.  Who knows what freaks them out?

I took his tack off and hosed his legs off.  He was a bit muddy.  Kellie and I sat and drank our cokes and I ate a can of pineapples while she had her Lunchable.  When we were through we loaded up our horses and headed home.  I unloaded Biscuit and I left the Brenderup at the ranch.

Kellie took this picture of me and Biscuit and I snapped a picture of the scary stack of bricks....

Back Up Camera is installed

Barry installed my back up camera on Saturday.  He had opened the package and then wanted to kick  himself because my license tag is to the left - not centered over the ball.  He had to do some finagling - he had to go get some heavy duty velcro and he mounted it just below the door.  Woot!  I now have a back up camera.  It is going to take some getting used to.  I tried 3 times to back it up with the camera and came out on the side just a bit.

I had to go deliver my wedding cake (that pays for horses!!!) and when I got home I pulled in front of the Brenderup.  I backed it up with the camera and Barry was watching outside and I had it right over the ball.  I will hook it up tomorrow when I go out to the barn.

I am uptown now!!