Evilamc Bucking! WTH! Wish I knew more about lymes. I still think you should move. I agree with Roux, that consistent feeding is essential. Plus, I think you will like a quieter setting, and he will too, with folks who know how important forage and grazing is to a horses health.
Atomic Hurray for the new place! I am so happy for you!
Roux looks like you had a great ride. You are much more tolerant of heat than I am. I wimp out anytime its over 75* Thats why I ride in early morning or evening.
Celeste & Oreo I am so jealous you got to ride together! I would love to meet all of you folks on here some time and spend a weekend in the woods with you and your horses. I feel like I know you so well. Is that how it works? When you meet up, finally? Celeste, that bridge is great! Your horse will be trotting over that gorgeous bridge soon!
PhantomI love the photo series this time, especially ending with the setting sun. What a beautiful day, to ride twice!
Spotted What a cool ride you went on! A beautiful place too. I noticed in one picture, you had a bale in twine hanging from the high line. How does that work? I used to have a cute appy like you, named Roudy. He was a sweet gelding but was not a good match for his rider and we needed to horse down, so he is with a new family now. Love that guy!
This is Roudy
AnitaAnne I hope the new saddle works out, for you or for Rick. I am so glad Drambuie is home. Why was he gone? Did I miss that? You need to get riding again soon, I miss hearing about your adventures!
Denise That fungus on Biscuit is strange. I wonder if it is like the fungus that I think is on Ella's neck. Ella used to have a thick mane, but now it is thin and nearly gone in the middle. I tried dusting it with powder for mites, but that made it worse. I have been putting MTG in generous amounts every 3 days, and that seems to help a little. I just haven't been consistent enough to tell for sure and now that I am back to work and gone M-F (its a 2 1/2 hour drive from home to my new job), it won't happen.
Luna is doing fine. Honestly, I think she hardly notices it. She is a little more cuddly, but otherwise is the same.
We went for a ride last night on the river. It was late and the light was gray. I was riding April and Kim was riding Millie, the baby, with Ella on pony. April was great! All this riding has been good for her. Now, instead of her shaking her head and crow hopping at the start of each ride, she just moves out with no argument. So we have been working on riding straight, keeping the gait I set, and stretching out with a relaxed trot. So much fun!!!!
Millie was not having a good day. She refused to go, refused to turn, refused to lead the trail. She spooked and balked all the way, which frustrated Kim to no end. I had just ridden her the day before and she had done so well on her first solo ride. I was surprised, but I began to wonder if it was the late light that was the problem. Millie came to us as a rescue who was recovering from a huge injury to her head and right shoulder. I am wondering if her injury hurt her sight, because she often seems odd when the light is low, and seems to struggle a bit with her depth of vision. Hard to say.
We are dog sitting for a week, and we brought the young dog along. She was very unsure, hung back and tried to go back to the truck every chance she got. It was a pain. The mosquitos were thick and the trail was gone because of tall grass growth. It helped to escape the mosquitos by trotting as much as possible, but this particular trail was unpleasant for this time of year. We are leaving it as a "winter only" trail for future reference.
We went out again this morning, nice and early to beat the heat. We rode on the upper part of the river, and it was a nice, well defined dirt packed trail, without the bugs and overgrown weeds. The only downside was the 10 million ticks! I picked at least 40 off Luna when we got home and I still have one somewhere in my pants!
Here are pictures from our morning ride