Thursday, November 4, 2010

Views From the TOP




Monday, we awoke to frosty weather....  we layered up for this ride.  Keri and Teasel took their time warming up at the start and we could sense neither of them were truly excited about going out on such a chilly Monday morning.  We strolled down the road and swung left into the woods to get on the trail that would take us up to some nice views.







Just exiting the woods -- here's a hint of the view along the ridge.






Still working our way out of the shadows of forest.






Friday, we were riding the "beeches" and now we are riding to the top of the world !








I know -- I went a little crazy with the photo's but it was so beautiful !!






it does seem as though we are at the top of the world when we can gaze out on the mountain tops.. in the far distance I think is New Hampshire.







zooming in a few close up views

















I just keep snapping as we move along the ridgetop.









lots more sun here.. a nice spot to stop and soak in the heat.





Here's the last lookout view, we head back into the woods and down onto the road to trot off to the next trail.






We stop for a brief visit where my Number 1 son works -- Mitchell's Auto Body.  It's so cold I guess, everyone is shut inside all cozy, hammering out dents and painting cars.

Back on the trail... we squeeze past the closed gate which is only open for snowmobiles and canter up some nice forest lanes.






OK -- which way here ?  we choose the right.









Hmmmnnn.... this is new. But when on horseback there is not many places we can't go.





As we get closer to the top again... we see evidence of overgrown fields with lots of new growth trees.

Here's that old well I took a photo of last year when we were up here. I love the way it blends right in with its surroundings.



As we move down into the valley,  we are back at a different shoreline of beeches.

The horses are so lazy... we spend quite a bit of time just strolling. I don't blame them for moving slowly today.. with the sudden bitter cold.


We exit out onto the road and trot home on the back roads.  Another beautiful ride !!





My fall filly, OYY Lovely Rita (named after the Beatles' meter maid),  is growing well and learning her manners.  What a wonderful surprise to find as she is shedding out her foal coat that she is turning
BLACK !!  I know, a horse is never the wrong color.. but I do love a nice black Curly.  When I matched Rita's dam OYY Cosette to our old man Chip -- I had it in the back of my mind that I might get a black - as Chip has thrown black once and Cosette's sire is black.. I was not at all disappointed to get what I thought was a nice rich bay gorgeous filly !! 





I think this is one of the Curliest foal manes I have ever seen.









I told Zoe yesterday, I love this filly -- she's so smart and has just the right amount of  'Spice' :)  And her conformation is lovely... what a great combination of genes.





She is a true beauty !!





Here's Mom -- OYY Cosette.


She's a smooth coated mare








Cosette is a nice sporty pony at 13.3 hh.


She is a nice riding mount -- quiet and sweet.  The so called cards in this deck are all stacked right for Rita to become a real winner !! 


Top O' The Hill Farm is working toward the goal of producing some fine performance Curly ponies and these are two are examples of that work !




Enjoy ~