Top O' The Hill Farm: Last Day For Obstacles !

We woke up early to find the rain had ceased... a little chilly, now and then actually spitting snow. Today is the final day for the mini contest of the RAC. CSB ~ Calmer, Smarter, Braver obstacle course. We have had a blast with all this month with the challenge. Upon initially receiving the "rules" of this contest, we studied the obstacle list. Fun, fun, fun !! Shopping the dollar store for scary stuff, then building and setting up in the indoor... bridge, tires, star cavaletti, pedestal, our big hoop with streamers for walking and riding through. Set up an owl decoy, some wind spinners, wind socks, a kite, some beach balls, an interesting knapsack full of grooming tools, tarps, mailbox and a raincoat hanging for putting on and taking off-- a rope gate, a wheelchair and crutches (which we keep on hand anyway for training our therapy horses). I have an awesome umbrella which opens and closes with quite a WHOOSH with a button on the handle-- perfect !! Add to that-- the farm pot belly pigs and noisy, nosey guinea hens-- we are good to go ~

We opened both doors of the indoor so we could have the advantage of plenty of wind and over the course of April, we introduced as many horses as we had time for. One weekend Curly horse owners Susan Lejonhud and Laurie Lee were here. Susan led OYY Queen Jane Approximately and OYY Buster Brown through the course. Laurie posed as our wheelchair and crutches person. The horses were not bothered by any of it... When Zoe and I bought the pink spinny fish lawn ornament, we were sure the horses would spook somewhat at that-- but at most, they wanted to use it for an itching post. We used the "tickle tubes" in 2 different ways-- rubbed them over the horses and also set them up so they stuck up for riding over and through. Neither way was alarming.

During the month, I rode Keri through the course, got stuck in

the raincoat trying to put it on over my helmet-- Keri LOVES the bridge... being high up I think agrees with her attitude of being queen of the farm. I could not get a rise out of her with any of the obstacles. I ended up trotting around the arena doing a Mary Poppins routine with the umbrella, popping it open and closed. I rode Camille through and she was also unfazed by any of the course. Zoe took Winter Dancer and Teasel Obi through the course

under saddle. Teasel's only issue was-- he wanted to stand on the edge of the big tire as though it was a pedestal, instead of stepping into it.

We led a few young ones through and even Meads' Chocolate Chip, who is only 2 weeks under saddle, did the course without batting a curly eyelash.

In addition to the obstacles set up in the indoor, we tried to think up as many as we could that we could encounter on a ride out. On the trails and dirt roads, we got lucky and had some bicyclists pass us, a motorcycle, people target shooting in their yard. One obstacle not on Denise's list is--- riding on the road and having a jogger come up behind you with their squish swish of those nylon jogging suits.

Perusing the "CSB" list, I noticed one of the obstacles on the list is a "car wash" --

I immediately had the idea-- we must ride downstreet to the car wash and ride through it !! Zoe was at first was skeptical but I lit her fire...

today's the day ! I know there is a car wash behind the Dollar Store in the Springfield Plaza-- so off we go. We are just coming into town-- Ride past the "middle school" , over the bridge - McDonald's on our left

I have discovered on my treks out and about, Keri adores trotting on a sidewalk... she seems the most smooth and forward than ever. Even Teasel is getting the feel for it. We head into the Plaza, keeping our eyes pealed for any obstacles ~

Keri checks her reflection in the window- like any female on the town, she likes to know she's stylin' !! Enough primping-- onward toward our destination. We reach the Dollar Store, trot around the corner--