Good Fences #19

There were some very nice fences on our recent hike up Mt. Rogers. 

And there were some very spectacular views.
I highly recommend the hike if you are ever in Southwest Virginia.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

Little Boo Boo

Looks like Brother stuck his rear leg through something and cut himself.  

 It was pretty fresh when I found it and not over a joint where there would be a lot of motion.  It was also just skin deep.

Two pink sutures later and hopefully it will heal up ok.

Mt. Rogers 2014

It's been 3 years since we hiked up to the highest point in Virginia.  My sister A, to celebrate her 100+ pound weight loss and new found energy and ability, wanted to take the challenge.  

 Everyone was is good spirits at the start of the 8 mile hike.  

V is training for a 1/2 marathon so she got up early and ran 6 miles before the hike. 

 E, who is not in training, did not.

 One mile into the hike and we're still smiling.

 It's hard not to smile with views like this.

 Closer to the top the land is not cleared so no view but a nice cool forest.

 Spectacular views.

 We even got to see some of the "wild" ponies.  I think J could have picked this one up and brought it home.

And there we are, at the top of Virginia.  Now we just have to get back down.

Just Kit Sunday #57

Kit decided to check out the grape vine to see what was happening up there.  

"Humm, not ripe yet and looks like some Japanese beetle damage."

Somebody's got to keep an eye on things.  Good thing we have Kit for that. 

Good Horse

Brother has really been getting a work out this last week, clinic, horse show, and 2 days of cattle work.  

 Monday, J and I went to move the cattle out of the steep boundary they were in.  I'm holding the camera straight, that is the angle we were going. (actually, it's starting to level off there a bit)

 Hank and I got in on the action too.

 We also rode on some territory that I haven't taken Brother before.  No problems there.  Crossed the water and slick rocks and up another steep hill.

"That 'll do Brother, that 'll do."

Good Fences #18

                           I had to go back to June for this one of V waiting to help work the cattle.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

Bad Horse For Sale Pictures #20

"Not going to be for sale much longer! We will be putting new boxes in and I will have her back into roping. She is 1300lbs and 15.2hands anyone can ride. Not scared of any of our equipment we have. Not spooky over fireworks or guns etc. She is a huge mare with a larger heart. She was finished in heading and started in cutting, heeling, and barrels. Wonderful horse she will be bred in the spring and started back in roping if not sold in the next month or so. $2500 but her price will go up. Located in" ....

 The one above is my favorite.  Rider just sitting with reins on the ground and a girl underneath maybe scraping off bot eggs?  This looked really familar to me so I checked back at previous Bad Pictures and sure enough here it was back in December http://4rranch.blogspot.com/2013/12/bad-horse-for-sale-pictures-2.html.  This was just a different angle.  How many Bad Pictures can they take of one horse?

Obviously, they are trying to make up for lack of quality with shear quantity.  

Horse Fest 2014

We got off to a rocky start with the weather Friday.  Record cold for July and rain so the speed show was postponed until after the regular show on Sunday.  

 Then Saturday morning wasn't much better.  Still cold and rainy.  The first clinic was moved to a different location but we stuck it out with the second clinic that J had signed up for.  Instead of using the arena though they rode in the grass outside the arena.  With the rain on and off all day there were really no spectators so I didn't get to do any of the kid things I had planned (using my vaulting dummy, hand painting on Otoelene, brushing and braiding a mini, roping, learning parts of the horse and saddle, id of equipment and feeds, and a stick horse show).  Starting at 3 we had a live radio remote for 2 hours and the rain finally quit and people stated rolling in for the Ranch Rodeo.

 We even had a Mounted Shooting Demo at intermission.

 I spent the evening in here.  The concession stand was really hopping.

 Then Sunday we had our horse show.   We only took Pep and Brother which was enough since we were working the show too.  E was 2nd out of 5 in Juvenile Western Pleasure, 1st out of 6 in Showmanship, 2nd out of 7 in Ranch Pleasure, 3rd out of 18 in Open Western Go As You Please and 1st out of 10 in Trail with Pep.

 She also took Brother for a ride in Juvenile Go As You Please and was 4th out of 7 in that one.

 I rode Brother in Open Go As You Please against E and didn't place but came back and showed in Jr. Horse Go As You Please and was 1st out of 6.  We were 2nd out of 5 in Western Pleasure and then for the biggy, 1st out of 17 in the Riding for Charity Go As You Please.

 E asked if I wanted my picture taken and I said, "YES!"

We had a picture taking place set up too and E let me take her picture there.
Then we got 1/2 way through the speed show and it started raining again so we had to call it off.  The really depressing thing was that here, 10 miles away we only got 0.08 inches of rain the entire 3 days.  Now we just have 2 1/2 weeks to get ready for 3 events at the Fair.