End of October Beech Trails

Wednesday, Zoe and I went for a quick trot out down to the 4 corners, up Trebo Road and back along the Scott Trail. It had just rained (yet again!) the sun was beginning to peek from behind the clouds -- and the leaves and the forest floor were glistening and shimmering with vibrant color. I did not tote my camera along that trip-- and bemoaned the fact. However, it was already planned that on Friday - due to a scheduling change in lessons, our volunteer Kelli -- who you might remember from last year's "Jelly rides" -- was going to join us on a ride. Great ! we can take that route and snap some beautiful photo's.

I snapped these photo's for two reasons -- one to show how nicely Yemaya stands for mounting :) AND drat -- to show the light pelting cold rain that started up just as we were mounting ! Well we are headed anyway... it might clear and hopefully it will not progress into a nasty fall rainstorm. Dancer LOVES Kelli - and I know she has been looking forward to getting out.

Our last "Jelly Ride" was 2009 - and Kelli rode out on OYY Ivan, who is enjoying his new home across the river. 

As I said -- Dancer is SO thrilled to be ridden and does truly love Kelli... she is even up in the lead for the first mile or so.

The neighborhood Ghoul is back !!

he's got some new duds and a different weapon this year.

This year there are always turkey flocks wherever you turn. What a banner year for turkeys. I can remember trotting by this family when the chicks were barely visible above the grass tips.

We duck into the Trebo end of the Scott Trail.

OYY Yemaya recently returned to the farm. We love her BUT she is for sale again. What a wonderful sweet mare- with potential for anything. She's 10 -- so right at the prime age ! She loves to get out for ring work or trail... does not need much maintenance - but definitely needs her own owner !

Alas, Thursday's high winds have not left much for leaves on the trail trees. Where is that color and glimmer I saw 2 days ago ?

After a parched and Sahara like summer -- the brooks are back in the woods babbling away. Dancer does not balk at anything..
what a good mare :)  

A bunch of birches down -- looks like a little tornado touched down on that one circle.

We reach the section of forest that is mostly Beech -- one of my most favorite trees.  Remembering back to my good friend's ride along the shores of the ocean in Maine .. this is as close to a Beech ride I guess I'll ever get :)

I suggest to Zoe and Kelli that we take a short detour into the pond spot for some glamor shots of Yemaya and Dancer !  Both mares are for sale so perhaps we'll get something for an ad. Plus -- it's a nice bypass from the trail.

A few years back, Zoe and I rode in here with Keri and Teasel to find a busy beaver swimming.

Pretty Yemaya.

With her deep rich red coloring, she's the ideal Autumn mount !

Winter Dancer -- a beautiful head. You can see she's working hard. She does not get the opportunity to get out much on the trail or road -- it's been months for her -- but she is perfect still.

Keri is antsy and decides she is not going to stand much longer for this foolishness of posing and photographing other horses !  So it's back to the trail.

We find a nice stretch of color.

See how beautiful Beech leaves can be ?

We are approaching the section of trail which has grown up with white pine over the years.

Here's my favorite shot.

fun maze of white pine.



The rain did cease after all so thankfully, we did not cancel the ride. Short but fun and wonderful to see Dancer having a blast getting out.


It's been awhile -  we all enjoyed our "Jelly Ride".


A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of a visit from some folks in Maine who own a rescue curly mare and also are starting up a therapeutic center.  Two moms, two horse loving daughters .... They all took turns with OYY Pal's Job and OYY Yemaya.. in the indoor, with some obstacles, and down in the big ring. We had some mighty winds that day -- the horses were great... all in all they were out entertaining for maybe 4 hours.

Job -- the perfect anything pony gelding !

While Job was in the indoor -- Yemaya is out being led around by Grace.

They tried all the obstacles.

  Then saddled up.

Time to move to the big ring ~

Everyone took turns... like musical chairs.




Here's a short video of Yemaya, Grace and her Mom.

The list of fall chores is a long one -- the usual readying for winter time... heaven forbid I become like the grasshopper.. ill prepared for short cold days. So I am trying to be the ant -- organized and busy.

However -- I'd rather be riding :)

Enjoy ~