Moving Out

Virginia Tech, here we come.  V moved out today and into a dorm on campus.  Classes start Monday.  Don't know what she'll do exactly until then.  I'm sure it will be something constructive. 

 She had the Rav packed to the hilt.

 She managed to get this pile of stuff that has been sitting in the living room for weeks

 all into here.

 Then she realized she forgot the microwave.  With a little rearranging J was able to fit that in too.  I had to work today so I missed the dorm room.  J said they had to make 6 trips to get everything.  Her roommate comes tomorrow.

Kit tried to pack himself but couldn't fit.  E's already making plans to knock a hole in the wall into V's room to make her room bigger. (not going to happen)
I miss you already V.  Love you.

4-H Arena Day

We had a 4-H meeting at the arena on Sunday. (Yes, horse show Saturday, arena Sunday.  I think J may be getting tired of hauling us around)

 We had 4 kids and only one was mine this time. (V didn't go)

 E and Katelyn are both taking their horses to the State Show next month.  One on the classes is trail which has a required gate.  So, there was lots of practicing with the gate.

 E will also have a Working Western class that is a very simple version of a reining pattern.  She did some practicing with that.

 We brought Hank for Jordyn to ride.

Her feet don't even reach past the saddle pad but Hank did everything she asked.  She didn't canter at first because she said it was easier on  Spot  (the paint we gave her a couple of years ago)  but I told her once she got use to it Hank would be easy too.  Sure enough, she was cantering laps around the ring.  She finally got off after 2 hours and everyone else having already left the ring.  We might get her to ride in a beginner class at a show next month.

Thumper's First Show

We went to a horse show on Saturday with Pep and Thumper.  I had advertised Thumper for sale earlier this year and started riding him lots to get him ready for any potential buyers.  Several older women called or looked but wanted something more broke.  I kept telling them he's broke but just needs to be ridden, so I'm now doing the riding. 

 And just like I've said, he's a good horse.

 He was calm all day, looked sideways at a thing or two but no blow ups.

 I rode him in the ring a lot but only entered one  Adult Go As You Please Class.  He did very well, a little faster than I would like for western pleasure, more of a ranch horse speed but still very comfortable.  And this was only the second time he's had a curb bit.  The first time was the day before.  I always just ride in a snaffle.

There were gaited, hunter and western all together and the other horses passing a various gaits didn't bother him either. We ended up 5th out of 8.  I guess not too bad for his first time.

First Day

E's first day of 10th grade was Thursday.

 This is the first year she has not shared her first day with V.

 What to wear on the first day is always important.

I think she's ready.

Fridays Fences #46 and Shipping Cattle

Two posts for the price of one!

 OK, here's the fence.  I liked how the dew was dripping off of the gate with the barn lot fence in the background.

 J had me up and out at the crack of dawn to get the cattle in the lot.

 As usual, they were easier to tow than drive so J just pulled one of the feed troughs into the lot.  I think they look a little suspicious.

 But the draw of the feed overcame any apprehension and most of them came on in.  With a little help from the backside, I drove the other in too.

 There is always one hold out but in this case it was ok.  It was an AI bred Hereford heifer we where keeping anyway.

Oh, a bonus fence.  We shipped out a load of 70 head with an average weight of  #702, heavier than usual for us which is nice for a change.  They are now on their way to a feedlot in Nebraska.
For more Friday Fences click HERE.

New Horse?

I went with Sister L to look at a horse for her.  

 He is a 2 1/2 year old quarter horse gelding that's 14.3 hands and has had 90 days of professional training.

 He is very cute with a pretty face.

L is still on the fence about whether to buy him or not.  He has a very smooth jog but has been trained being spurred every step.  L doesn't ride with spurs so she would basically have to retrain him to how she rides.  He would make a nice western pleasure horse but because he has been so restricted in his movement it's too hard to tell if he would make a good trail/endurance horse.   Decisions, decisions.

Tuesday's Fences?

I know it's not Friday but fences are what we've been working on.  This latest patching was due to damage done before the wind storms. 

 The state road crew came through trimming trees along the main road and instead of blowing the chipped wood into a truck and hauling it off for mulch they decided to just blow it over the bank into a creek and onto our fence.  Granted, it wasn't much of a fence but they certainly didn't help things.

 It was a difficult spot to get to.

 J surveying the damage.

 E took a very long time to get across the creek.

 But she finally made and was able to help out.

 It's still not much of a fence but it's better than it was.  Hopefully, the cattle won't be hanging around here much.

Job well done.