Week Off

Do you see them? We are driving up the hill from the KY river on US 27, and this is what I see. First, a head. On the left, a head that looks what I think of as a cross between a lion and a man. I look for this every day for five years. Then, this year, I see a horse head right next to it. Just before the man/lion. Where did he come from?


Now, do you see them? The horse head looks like a chess piece.


Just a little reminder that the Lord is coming back soon. It is a comfort to me to see this every day.

I can't believe it's been a week since I've posted. There have been some major problems with my internet provider, and I've been gone for two days, too! I had the opportunity to go on a weekend trail ride/camp out in the Daniel Boone National Forest with some good friends, and one spouse. (not mine). We rode for 5 hours on Saturday through some beautiful forest mountain top areas, and Sunday for 4 hours through lower country farm areas, then UP a big hill at a 45 degree angle to the mountain top from where we rode home. Only had a few scalded areas on my saddle area, but otherwise in great shape! My borrowed horse, Paris, is a quarter horse who digs her feet in on the mountain going up and grunts repeatedly going down, ending in a snort. Funny! Saturday night we stayed in a friends old house, cooking on the stove and grill and sleeping in a comfy bed. We had a wonderful time, and now I am back home working with Bear.
Yesterday, I asked Bear for a canter from a walk, to which he responded with a few trot steps, then a nice canter which got faster and faster and faster! OK, let's walk! He's trying at least to be obedient. He also enjoyed very much the Georgia peach I got for him, slurping it down and looking for more.( I got a carton at the fruit stand for $1 for bruised ones). They may last another day...
Carrie missed me badly, but had a chance to bond with Bud. Now, they are on better footing with each other,and she dances around his feet,too.

Rain Yet Again!

Old barn at dusk


River mist

More rain! I still am not complaining since it seems to cool everything off for a while at least. I can't post pictures of Bear since I'm doing the riding now,but he is doing rather well lately. Maybe the illness has taken the edge off of him? Anyway we seem to be coming to an understanding about pace and half halts. Trail riding has been fun, but we are back in the arena for a while. I've had him in a canter twice this week, he really needs to work on his canter, since he takes about five strides and we are at the end of the long side! Yikes.
The old barn at the top is next door to MeadowLake, and seen for the first time the other night in the beautiful twilight.

Rain Again and Again

After the rain


A most welcome sight. Finally baled!


A good scratch


Mutual grooming initiated by the good scratch!

My posts have been intermittent lately, because of internet service problems, sorry.
We have had several days of afternoon rain, starting at around 6:oo and lasting for an hour or so. This all started because Bud and I decided to wait until the evenings to go to the farm.
We go our separate ways, he to the garden below, or fixing a new gate and I go to ride Bear. Bear is still on the mend, I am riding him, but not too long or hard. He's doing side pass at the walk, renvers and travers, turn on the forehand (shaky), and now trots on a light rein. He does a great halt just by my seat position. No photos of this, because I'm on him!
We have gotten soaked every day, but the evenings are so cool that I have gotten much delayed tasks done with minimum sweat. Like cleaning out the big run-in shed. And like putting compost on the garden and the hillside above the barn. Not for 90-degree-weather-tasks. It has actually been a joy to do.

Between the Storms

Bear at the gate

I guess Bear might as well be sick now, rather than later, as much as it's been raining here. I have him boarded at this farm so I can ride, knowing that someone will be around if I fall off on my head. But, I don't ride on wet grass for safety reasons. So, we're not wasting great riding days.
One plus, of him being sick, is that he now comes immediately when he sees me. He loves his little mash of food with antibiotics in it, 'cause I mix it with apple juice. A big horsie YUM. He met me at the gate yesterday, waiting for his apple and meal.

Ol' Buddy Ol' Pal

Two Buddies- Mom and daughter


Ellie and Audrey run, run, run

If you remember these two when I first put them together, Audrey being meanly chased all over the fields by Ellie, You might be surprised that they are great pals now. The photo of them at the top was chosen because of the two profiles to show their similarity of looks, but another (accidently deleted) showed them sharing a 1 inch patch of grass, a sure sign of good buddies. The running fit was started by giving them a bath, something they line up for at the gate every day. Usually, Ellie gets the lions share of water, moving her body to block it from her mamma.

Back to Work

Paint mare learns to trust the rider


Good looking gelding learns to carry himself


Instructor quiets a "hot"horse. ZZZZZZZZ


Black thoroughbred gets balanced through better balance of the rider

Just a few of the horses trained and riders taught this weekend. I wish I had taken more photos of the different horses and riders. Everyone learned things about themselves and their horses, I got to learn about all of them! Now, to translate this head knowledge into muscle movements and balance, and training, and thinking about the horse's next move and trying to anticipate that and correct it before he knows what happened, so he goes good without realizing why. And using his natural movements to get good reactions and claiming the results to him so he thinks I asked for it and got it.

Hospital duty

When it rains, it pours. I've spent the last week tending Bear who has a respiratory infection, known around here as "the snots". I've been thinking for the last month that he hasn't been feeling great. Last week, he coughed when trotting, and a few days ago, he had discharge from his nostrils. So, he's on antibiotics in his feed and in his butt! Hope he feels better soon. Brother has been in the hospital, too, with pneumonia, but is out of hospital today. Take care of yourselves, people!

Dawn on the Roads

Central Kentucky Farms

At Dawn

Gorgeous light!
I, and every other artist here, am blessed to live in an area that has so much natural beauty. It may not be as spectacular as, say, Jackson Hole, Wyoming,or the Teton Mountains, but acre for acre, I'll take the serene beauty of Central Kentucky over any landscape on earth. It's a shame I don't get out at dawn more often. Although it takes a bulldozer to do it, I always am glad I got up. Oh, for those thinking of moving here, please don't! Please come visit, stay a week, a month, take loads of pictures, but don't encourage the developers! We are losing so many farms...We love ya.