driving and riding

Today was another beautiful day ~ grass is growing and everything is turning green. We hitched OYY Buster today, first time in about 2 months. He remembered all his training and did very well. He went down in the big ring for the first time and then out on the road for a short trot, which he enjoyed tremendously. Buster is out of Sudie Bee and Mead's Chocolate Chip. I was able to get short video of his time out- which you can see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoU62QjwvUs

Two of the foals had some work done with them. OYY Aztec is a cute little filly full of sass ~ By the end of her session she was behaving and listening. Silly girl !

Next was OYY Jockomo. He's a quiet boy, somewhat lazy. He was happy to lead away from his pals and do some work. He still has most of his foal coat, but it looks like when he sheds out-- he'll be very dark. Handsome boy ! He's a cousin of Buster's (his dam OYY Tippateena is maternal sister to Sudie Bee) plus he's a paternal brother of Buster's also (both sired by Chip). Great potential there !

OYY Ivan had some time down in the big ring also. He has been down the road a few times and is forward and curious and eager. Lovely gelding. He's a maternal brother to Aztec. He's been doing some growing lately, we sticked him at just under 15 hands.

I guess it's about time to start up the lawn mower soon.... it always seems as though the grass grows best where you don't really want it !

Enjoy your day ~

Mother's Day Ride

Today was a beautiful day. A little breezy, lots of sun-- cool enough so no bugs (it's black fly season). I worked around the house, weeded gardens, picked up more winter debris... then it was time for our Sunday ride. Zoe and I decided to ride through the McDonald's drive through just for fun. We headed down the highway, took a right onto Park Street for a roundabout route.

Down the hill past Park Street School--

lots of old factories in Springfield,

which used to be quite the hub for machining.

Then past the old Park Street Bowl, and onto the Park Street bridge. Springfield is divided many times by rivers, mainly the Black River-- and the falls through town are pretty, especially at this time of year with all the snow melt. Park Street intersects with Main Street, so we rode through the center of town and looped around back toward our destination.

Past more falls on Main Street.

We have to cross over just past the Mobil Station -

to the old Golden Arches.

Let's see... what shall we order

for Mother's Day ?

Off to the pick up window -

After a quick snack, we trotted back up the highway and veered off onto a little trail we spotted on the right . Meandering through trees and brush , we came out into Roger Carey's hay field and another beautiful pond. it's late in the day and time for chores.. the horses knew it was supper time for them so we made good time home.

Another great ride... :)



This week Mead's Chocolate Chip continued

with his training.

He is coming into balance,

figuring out how to carry himself nicely.

OYY Elektra is doing really well also. She has taken a short trip down the road a few times.

It's definitely springtime here.. lots to do but there's always time for riding !!

Enjoy ~

May Day Ride

This morning Zoe and I went for a quick ride for the first of May. We had already planned our route - over a trail we have not traveled in years. Part of it is a cross country ski trail, with some nice little bridges here and there and beautiful scenery and woods. I am not sure why this trail had become a forgotten memory.. but last week's adventure reminded us how beautiful it is.

Late in the afternoon last week, we got a call that 3 Curlies were on a lawn in Chester. We grabbed some halters, a grain bucket, lead lines and headed out by car. When we arrived to the location-- naturally the horses had ventured further into the woods, so we walked looking for evidence of which way they went. As we traipsed through these woods, we said-- next week we must get over here on horseback. We walked deeper and farther-- decided that those pesky horses had gone through to the other road onto Crow Hill. We went back for the car and found them another mile or so on a new lawn quite happily grazing. The thought of leading them back 4 miles was not so appealing to us at that point, so we tried to lead them with lead lines through window of the car. This was not working so well, the lead lines were rubbing the window gaskets too much as 1 or more horses would pull back or walk too slowly. There was danger of burning out the clutch in Zoe's car as well as we had to go so slowly up the hill. Zoe had the idea to tie them to the roof rack--- I protested that thought-- and it turned out I was right, because the roof rack popped off the car when 1 pulled back. Whoops.... Plan C. A neighbor offered to drive his little truck with us in the back, feet firmly braced on the tailgate. This was the slowest 4 miles I have ever traveled... 2 horses would trot along, 1 would balk-- then 2 pulled back while 1 decided she wanted to trot. Oh well-- I kept remarking... still better than walking ( I think). Turns out a tree fell across the fence in the back of the pasture and these 3 went for a curious trip. At any rate it inspired out May Day outing for which I am glad.

Today's ride was lovely - At the beginning a little pond, then into the woods.

Here's one of the little bridges that crisss cross through the woods.

The water runs under the stone wall here too.. which was hard to catch on camera.

At the old round baler which has been here forever, we take a left and from there get on another trail we ride on quite a bit. Today we took a slight detour to view another gorgeous pond.

And wait--- what do we see but a beaver enjoying a lazy swim, so we pause to watch for awhile. That brown dot in the water is a good sized beaver.. not being very busy today. I don't blame him.

Here's his house in the center of the pond.

A rather short post-- but a perfect ride out !!

Enjoy your day- this first of May ~~