Short Takes

This picture is for my sister. I figured she'd be impressed that I am finally wearing my new riding boots, well, riding. Look Paint Girl, they even have dirt on them. Woo-hoo! And I didn't have a panic attack or anything.

After working My Boy yesterday, I very bravely rode him bareback to cool him out. I tied my 12 ft. line under the nose band of my rope halter and away we went. We just walked. He was very responsive. It's much easier to use my wimpy legs to communicate cues to him without a saddle and pad between us! We side passed over the logs, backed up, and then rested. Isn't this a lovely view?

This looks like a winter photo of My Boy's ear. But it was taken yesterday. I have not clipped his ear fuzz. It looks pretty bad. He has very perky ears and when they are clipped, they look amazing. Since he is not a stalled horse, I figure the extra fuzz is more protective for him. Also, I heard he's a terror to ear clip. He's fine about his bridle path. So I might attempt the outer edges of the ears and see how he tolerates it. Something else to work on!

My Boy has started his switch from alfalfa hay to orchard grass hay. I have been mixing the hay. But the alfalfa is about gone, so he had been getting the alfalfa in the morning, and half alfalfa, half grass in the evening. Last night when I fed him, I only gave him the grass only. After he finished his supplement, he went to his hay. He took a bite, then went to the other pile (I scatter his flakes into several piles) then left and wandered his spotted hiney all over the pasture. He was looking for his darn tootin' alfalfa! He was on a mission, I tell ya. Finally, he trotted back down to the grass, but as you can see by the expression on his face, he was a bit peeved.

I know, I know My Boy, it has to be like going from lobster to imitation krab.

My sister and I are off on a road trip tomorrow. This weekend is our annual family reunion for my mom's side of the family. We are hitting smalltownville, and will be sleeping in a tent next to a dairy farm as the sun sets and the coyotes begin to yip. We will be playing cards, eating food from the most amazing potluck ever, and putting on comical skits. I promise to report back and show you pictures. But here is one to start you off: family reunion, circa 1987. I was fifteen years old. Can you find me?