Otoelene Again in

I rode Otoelene again yesterday morning. I decided to not try to shuffle everyone around and just rode her with Draper and Golden Boy (not his real name) running around. 

There were no issues.  

Did we go through the gate and ride outside? 

Yes we did!  I’m sure Otoelene wonders why we don’t go anywhere anymore. 

But at least I made it up and down the driveway twice. 
 

Nice Ride

Someone asked me a couple of days ago if I still rode. I gave my usual answer, I ride enough to say I ride. But I realized that it had been much longer than wanted. 

I have been sidetracked with other things, like Golden Boy (not his real name). Plus, the weather hasn’t been too pleasant for riding. But today the humidity finally broke and I decided to ride Otoelene. 

She was pretty chill. 

I stayed in the barn, it was a nice ride 

I even took a little video.

So, "Yes, I still ride."

Hit Or Miss

I have been away all weekend.  When we came home last night it was obvious that there had been a down pour.  

The driveway was washed, 

and the muclch washed out of one of the flowerbeds.  The rain gauge had 1 1/2 inches in it. 

The cattle guard had 4 rows filled with gravel.  Virginia said they only had 0.1 inches at their house 2 miles up the road.  The rain has really been hit or miss.  It can change from a desert to rainforest around here in no time.  

And just for fun, a picture of Golden Boy (not his real name). 

 

Halter Breaking

Golden Boy (not his real name) is a month old now.  It is time to start formal training. 

I have been having to handle him a lot already in order to pull ticks off.  There is no good chemical tick control option for a foal under 3 months old.  In a couple of more weeks, I can give him an ivermectin dewormer that might help some.  But until then, it is a matter of rubbing him with fly spray and pulling off the ticks.  

The tick bites are very itchy.  You can see all the rubbing he has been doing. 

He has been doing great with letting me put the halter on and take it back off.  I have started adding some pressure to turn him side to side.  He seems to be a quick learner.  His reward is getting his tick bites scratched.  
 

Mimi Wednesday

Wednesday, the babysitter's granddaughter had strep throat.  I asked if I needed to keep the girls.  Virginia said that would be nice.  There was a free movie at the local movie theater, David at 9:30 A.M.  Sadie and Allie  had never been to a movie theater.  

I thought I got off easy as we went through the lobby and sat down.  Two minutes later they asked for popcorn.  There was a "deal".  Four dollars for a box of popcorn and a small drink.  The only non pop choice was HiC.  I told them they could not eat the popcorn until the movie started.  Allie thought the commercials were the start.  And she is not good at making a drink last any time.  She was finished with that in 15 minutes.  Therefore, we had to make two trips to the bathroom during the movie.   

Sadie was very excited about the experience.  When the lights dimmed she gasped and asked, "what's happening?"  I told her there would be a bunch of commercials that we couldn't skip.  After each commercial, she would do a little gasp and say, "what's going to happen next?"  After the movie I asked if they liked it. YES!  Sadie said there was no point asking what she liked best because she liked everything.  She said she wanted to go back every day and watch David again.  

After the movie we went to the park where Chautaugua was offering a free craft; scrunchie, headband, hat or tote.  They both chose headband.  

I think they turned out very cute.  

I had to stop at the post office to mail something that I had sold on eBay.  Who knew that people want old computer punch cards.  Anyway, they had never been in the post office either.  The postmaster gave them each a book and a toy.  Then it was back to the house.  I had picked up Little Caesar's Pizza for lunch.  I told them they could see the new foal and I had a new princess costume for dress up ($1 from the deals store.)  After lunch they chose dress up first.  I have failed in their equestrian training.   

We finally made it out to see the colt.  There were lots of "oh, how cute" comments.  

And they were both able to pet him. 

He was very cute. 

I had put their head bands on and wanted to take a picture.  Allie was not having it at first.  

Then she perked up.  (notice she put her dress on inside out after princess dress up.  When I said we needed to change it she said no, it was fine.)

She even did some posing.  

But this was my favorite face.  

Sadie rather likes her picture taken.  I think the headband really suits her hair style. 

She too wanted to do some posing.  

Meanwhile, Allie had taken her headband off and put it back on herself.  She said she liked it that way and didn't want me to fix it.  

And let's not forget about Clyde.  Sadie wanted to braid flowers into his mane.  So I did a long French braid and let them stick wildflowers in it.  

Sadie LOVED it.  She said if we go to a horse show she wants him to look just like this.  

And notice she picked out a flower print dress to ride in with her cowboy boots.  

Allie still doesn't want to trot.  But she does like walking around.  

Sadie on the other hand only wants to trot.  I think Clyde might get along with Allie a little better.  I was suppose to have them fed and ready to leave for Bible school at 5:30.  They got peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for supper.  It was a full day. 

 

From The Beach To The Mountains

 I left the beach yesterday morning.

Most people don’t seem to make it out before 11. So from 6 am until 10 I can be pretty alone. 

There were some birds, 

Goodbye beach for this trip. 

Golden Boy (not his name) is filling out. 

Then for the evening Joe and I went to the bluegrass night at Chautauqua. 

The head line band wasn’t exactly bluegrass. I made the comment that if someone came wanting to hear bluegrass they might be disappointed. 

Joe’s reply was “they have the same instruments but they make a different racket.” But they were still good. 

But I had left 90 degree weather to come back to 60’s. 

Good thing I dressed for it and had a blanket in the car. 

Zoom

Draper's colt has been very popular. 

They are spending more time outside.  After over 2 months in the barn, Draper is glad to be out on grass again. 

I caught some zoomies on video.  He is starting to venture away from mom more. 

Linda visited yesterday, 

and Carol came a little bit later.  "Golden Boy" (joe's nickname for him) is eating up all the attention. 

 

First Visitors

Day 3 and Draper’s colt had his first visitors. 

Mitchell and Ann came to see how cute his is in person.  Draper didn’t mind the extra people. She is just happy to be out on grass again.  

While Draper was eating her grain, her colt (I need a name) went over to see Joe. So far he seems curious and not too jumpy. 

By the way, he passed the initial test on getting enough colostrum. 

I don’t think I am being too biased when I say how handsome he is.