Good Fences #121

When I was riding Otoelene earlier this week checking the cattle on our other farm I ran across this truck.  I asked J about it and he said it broke down while they were hauling hay to us.

Not sure how long it will be here but it makes for a nice picture.
For more Good Fences click HERE.

Sweetwater Day 74

Just six weeks left and I'm not sure if I am going to be able to ride her.  Some days she is great then others she is very reactive or pushy or aggressive or all three.  Today she was great.  

This was just her second exposure to the milk jugs and but the end of the session I had draped them over the saddle, 4 on each side and had her trotting without spooking.

 If I do manage to get on I have finally decided what to do about the reins and bit.  My farrier told me he saw someone riding with this combination, rope halter, snaffle bit but the reins hooked to the halter though the bit.

That way when you pull on the reins it is mostly halter pressure but lifts on the bit some.  I thought this was a great idea since Sweetwater really fights the bit still but is very responsive to the halter.   When I hooked it up this was she didn't seem to mind at all. 

Today

J and I got an early start today so we could round up the fall calving cows in order to wean the calves. 

The hope was to get done by lunch.  I guess if you eat at 2:00 then we were successful.

They were packed in the barn lot to start with until they shifted around some and we were able to start letting the cows back out. 

J sorted out a few replacement heifers. 

And there were some culls, 4 open and 3 with bad feet. 

We then had to make 3 trips with a loaded trailer back to the house. 

We turned them out in the bull lot to start with.  After a few days we will let them out on a larger pasture.

I then got to ride Otoelene to move some of the cattle here to a different field.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of the king of the rock as I passed by.  

I just never get tired of the views here.  Hope your day was a good one.

10 Random Things

I wanted to catch up on a few things from our trip and after. 

J had taken a walk and came across hundreds of crabs. 

I just liked the angle of this picture. 

There were lots of turtle nest on the beach this year. 

We decided to do something different and rented kayaks for a couple of hours and paddled around on the sound side of the island.  J and V were together in one. 

And me and E were in the other.  It was a very fun and relaxing change from the beach side.

When we got back I think Sweetwater was trying to revert back to the wild.  A section of her mane had already twisted into a big knot.  

Someone had asked how we could get away.  We don't go often and J's dad usually comes to check on things but this time we hired a neighbor to do the checking. 

I really have no idea how this gladiola decided to volunteer in the middle of the crape myrtle tree.  

I spent a couple of hours today trying to groom the big dogs.  I ended up with a bag packed full of hair and mats. 

While I was trying to brush her, Bea plopped down next to this tree that had a honey bee hive in it.  

I rode Otoelene 3 miles up the gravel road to the other farm to check on the bulls for J.  I like it when he gives me jobs that involve getting to ride my horse. 

And here is the first head of broccoli and 3 of the nearly 20 cucumbers I've gotten so far this year.

Good Fences #120

We got back from the beach in time for me to work with Sweetwater yesterday.  She had had a week off and I was worried she might have had a set back in her training.  But my worry was for naught.  We picked up pretty much where we left off.

 J was having some hay delivered and they brought their 4 year old with them.

 He was very interested in Sweetwater and climbed through the fence to pat her.

I told him it took me 2 weeks to be able to touch her nose and he did it in 2 seconds.  I wouldn't have dreamed 2 months ago that she would have ever stood still for this.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

Happy 4th

In Bloom At The 4Rs Annex

Can you tell where we are by what is blooming here?

These are all flowers blooming around our house.

That's right, we are at the beach having a wonderful time here with my brother, one sister, J, V, And E!  The water is warm and the sun has been shining.  Hope everyone is having a great 4th of July weekend.