A Lazy Day is not always a Good Thing

Sunday, June 21st, OYY Elektra went to her second show of the spring. She was entered in the intro tests and also her first -- and Zoe's first-- training level, introducing the canter. Elektra seemed half asleep -- we did get an early start to arrive well ahead of our ride time of 8:00, but perhaps she thinks it's just too early for work.

Where ever we go in a trailer, Gabby's our main man of traveling.

We are back at GMHA (Green Mountain Horse Ass'n) -- beautiful grounds, beautiful country- but it's half raining and chilly. I can never resist getting a photo of their cross country course.. this is something I'd love to try. It's on my list of things to do-- build a course at my farm.

We are pretty much the first ones up, but before long- trailers, horses, and people steadily pulled in and began to ready themselves for a long day in the drizzle.

The brook crossing over to the main exercise area is even deeper today.

Whoops.. our number dropped off the bridle.

Jen, one of our volunteers at the therapeutic riding center, came along to help out. We are waiting for our score sheets.

The main commentary on Elektra's performance was-- lazy, lazy, lazy horse. She did manage to get 2 nice ribbons but we need to work on her 'sleeping on the job'.

On our ride home, we decide to go to Keene, NH to Cheshire Horse and buy some spurs.. just enough to, well--- SPUR Elektra on a bit. So after settling our Sleeping Beauty into her pasture- we head off to shop at the tack store.

While we are in Keene, I also want to visit my good friend Amie who has a farm with her partner Sparky. Quite a few years ago, Amie purchased a smooth coated filly from me - Tuff's Suzie Q. Suzie recently delivered a nice filly of her own sired by a Belgian.

Here's the filly- sporting a few curls and

Amie, her son, and Rena with the filly

She's a pretty thing- Her dam, Suzie is out of my old mare (who has has passed on) Tuff 'Nuff - also a smooth coated mare. She was my main mare for riding and I have many super memories of my rides out with her- awesome mount ! :) Amie calls the filly Roxy.. Sparky calls her Raquel.

Mom- Tuff's Suzie "Q"

Amie and Sparky run a very successful pig farm-- so we got to see lots of new born piglets.

We interrupted a big Tom Turkey taking a dust bath. There are large herds of wild turkeys roaming the farm with the cows and pigs-- they are quite tame.

it's always great to see old friends - but Zoe can't wait for Monday morning to try her spurs.

Enjoy your day ~

Trot over Hawk's Mountain

Zoe and I have been wanting to ride over Hawk's Mountain forever. The best "entrance" is the snowmobile trail about 12 miles or more from the farm so we decided to trailer over to save that riding time for exploration once we got there-- since we have not ridden in that area, we weren't sure how much time it was going to take. Our good friend and trailer man- Gabby- taxi'ed us over to Baltimore and dropped us off at the bottom of the Mountain. Here we are getting unloaded-- with a quick photo of my lovely mare and Gabby. She's looking at the trail and thinking-- let me at it !

Baltimore is a little town in Chester with a population of about 300 people- and Hawk's Mountain is the geographical dividing line between Baltimore and Cavendish - where we will eventually end up.

You can see the trail is a pretty easy one to travel - a steady ascent to the top. We crossed about 3 or 4 snowmobile bridges on the way up and down into Cavendish.

Part of the trail followed the powerlines.

I think the summit view must be more beautiful in winter-- less leaves and vegetation to block the view.

I did not take many photo's as we were traveling along at a good quick clip, not really knowing how long of a trip we were committed to.

The trail on the down side was wet and rocky and steep- We crossed the bridge over the river and came out in Cavendish at the General Store on Route 131. Our horses are in such great shape after all our steady riding this year-- the trip took far less time than we planned-- so we poked around the roads in Cavendish for awhile and headed back over the mountain to Baltimore to look for more exploring over there.

At the bottom, where we were dropped off-- we took a left on the Old Baltimore Road and took the trail which leads to Quarry Road, and headed toward the floodplains which we have not ridden in years.

Quarry Road is another one of those Vermont dead ends connected to other areas by old trails and Class 4 roads. As we trot down this road- we can look back on the mountain we just rode over.

We cross Route 106 and head toward the Floodplains which is all part of the Stoughton Pond and North Springfield reservoir-dam area. This area is crisscrossed with old roads and trails and we could easily make a day of it just riding here- but we are on a schedule now to be back at the farm by a certain time so we trot and canter on the easy trails.

entering the floodplains

Passing an old cemetery.

This area is full of old history. There is some great canoeing opportunities here and bird watching.

One day when I was canoeing in this area- I saw eagles and lots of great Blue Herons nesting.

We take the trail that heads toward North Springfield and the Hartness Airport-- but we have decided to definitely head back here to explore the trails that follow along the river more closely with a couple of nice river crossings. next time !

This trail hooks back onto the snowmobile trail past the airport. Last year we rode along the opposite side of the runway and met up with the Governor's helicopters landing., which I posted back in April of 2008.

Today there was one small plane taking off and lots of gliders being taken up. Pretty to watch the gliders silently soar-- but-- me, I'd rather be firmly seated in my saddle. :)

Time to trot home-- we had a great ride. although an easier trot out than we have been used to lately-- We are planning another trip in that area again.

Enjoy your day ~

One Advantage of Riding with a Friend

Other than the bonus of companionship and fresh trail side gossip, the advantages of having a friend come along is -- Zoe and I get photo's of us together for a change !

These photo's were taken by Mary Watkins the day she accompanied us to the top of Mount Ephraim in order to learn the way.

Mary works at Slypner Tack in Claremont, NH. There is an additional dividend in that fact as ewll. When we find we need a bit or some other item, Zoe calls Mary-- she has kept a file at the store of our favorite brands of certain tack accessories and brings them toher house in Chester where Zoe can pay her and pick it up-- no driving for what we need.. so handy.

Mary rode her lovely gelding Sport to the farm in the afternoon, s she had an exta 7 -9 miles added onto her trip that day. She rides in a ReactorPanel saddle , which is a pretty clever set up for fitting your horse and saddle perfectly.

We had the usual great ride up and around-- trotting home on the back side of the mountain to avoid backtracking. It was late by the time we arrived back at the farm and Mary still had to trot home. We made plans to meet her at her place so she can show us some new trails we have not explored yet since it's a little out of our normal riding radius.

During the week, it was time for OYY Dante to get out again- his fourth outing on the trail. Choosing the Apple Tree trail, in order to match distance with the amount of time we had for a ride.. even though the skies seemed threatening-- we saddled up anyway.

After a few miles of trotting down the road, we reach the opening to the trail.

we should remember to stick a note in the owner's mailbox to get these trees trimmed back :)

A nice little brook crossing for a green horse to practice... Dante is perfect- He really shines on the trail. We did end up getting rained on a bit.. but the ride was worth it.

Zoe and OYY Elektra have been working on their patterns for the several shows they have together this summer. Elektra is continuing the Intro Walk/Trot and advancing into the Training level this year.

One of our volunteers at the riding center rides Lilly a few times a week- she may go to a show or two this summer. Lilly is Elektra's grand-mother and also one of our very dependable lesson horses.

My silly Russian Spy cat is settling in and becoming a part of the household. She loves to sit in baskets.

enjoy your day ~

Our Watchtower Ride

A week ago Monday, Zoe and I headed out on our zippy mounts to find a trail we've wondered about for years. We've heard talk of the trail and seen what looked to be the way from the car-- it became a kind of search for the Holy Grail for us... the path from the farm to Wyman's Falls. For those of you are also RAC blog followers, I have posted most of the ride already there.

I call this our WatchTower ride, because as we met twists, turns and the metamorphosing disappearing/re-appearing trail, it reminded me of Bob Dylan's song- All Along the Watchtower... The more we trotted on, the more turned around and confused we became.

"There must be some kind of way out of here, Said the joker to the thief, There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief. " There are some who interpret the two riders in the song as those in Old Testament Biblical verse, in which two riders on horseback deliver news of the fall of the ancient city of Babylon. Zoe and I - as 2 riders on a mission.. we never did get there to deliver any news of any sort.

The ride started innocently enough- But the challenges presented themselves soon and continued along the way.

Saplines that we had to duck under very carefully.

The fluctuating trail that disappeared, and re-appeared.

We finally reached the half way point in our quest-- crossing Trebo Road onto the trail which we believed would lead us to Wyman's Falls. We are excited ! Mission half accomplished ! so we think.







A short ways in-- we discover.. what's this ? squatters ? An odd little "settlement" in the midst of the woods.

As we near a small sunny clearing - we discover a hide-a-way Yurt with the beginnings of a lovely blooming roof ~

Coming upon someone's private sanctuary on the trail always creates a bit of apprehension for me.. But- No one seems to be around... which is a good thing because you don't want to come upon someone's wrong kind of 'secret garden' and get shot at.

We continue along, pecking away at our camouflaged pathways, through brush and openings that look like trail.

Decision time..
we can trot left... Choose the center

Or go to the opening on the right.

We chose the right - it seems to be headed in the right direction and we spy a deer path to follow.

Soon- we come to an area which has been logged of quite recently.. it's here we begin to run into serious directional problems. We spent quite a bit of time following false leads and wannabe trails here. We've come too far to quit now. It's here I begin to think-- there must be somewhere out of here.

Could this finally be the gateway that will lead us to what we are seeking ?

Nope-- it leads out onto the powerline.

And you can see from the photo, we have a ways to go. But- like I said-- we've come too far to turn back.

This powerline has to come out down onto a road somewhere and we can trot home from there.

Way off in the distance, there's a person walking in their field. maybe we can get over there and ask that person where we are ! :)

We eventually got out on the road and cantered and trotted for home ! it was a fun ride-- a long ride, and I am not sure if we'll bother re-visiting that trail again. But we will continue to search for the way to Wyman's Falls.

Enjoy your day ~