Today, I was invited by some great gals to ride some new trails with them.
We rode about 10 miles --- what an amazing ride. Wow. Thank you Karen, Kim and Cortlynn. ;-)

Do you know how it feels when the stress just keeps mounting and mounting and you sense that just one more thing will be like the straw that broke the camels back and you will just crumble? That is how I felt on Thursday.  I was not a very pleasant person to be around most of the day and I told Tom I didn't care how many orders came in while I was gone, I WAS going to hook up the trailer and take my horse for a ride at 3:00 til dark. He had no choice but to say, "okay dear" at times like that. ;-) (We have been working til 8 or 10 at nite on some days)

What a great couple of days!!! Last nite Erin and I had a super nice time riding into the hardwoods and chatting. It seems like forever since it was just her and I on the trail. We need to do that more often. The nite was really quiet too....you can tell winter is coming. Today, Tracy and I hauled up the road a little ways and rode to Blueberry hill and on some old ORV trails. It was really cool to find new trails!! We cantered up the sandy hill too and that was a hoot. Reese was so laid back today - he must have known it was going to be a good long ride so he conserved his energy. ;-) We did ALOT of trotting and cantering...which kept us warm. It was 34 deg. when we headed out - yep, winter is almost upon us. Between both days, we rode about 18-20 miles which felt fantastic!!
I'll be gone tomorrow and with the end of daylight savings time, I won't be able to ride during the week, bummer...but such is life. Deer season is also coming up -- so my riding is going to be really restricted those 2 weeks.  ----- and.... Reese and I slowly get more and more out of shape....and chubbier with every day too. ;-) LoL

ooooo.....I am getting really good at procrastinating.....I could have easily rode Reese in the arena or across the road a few times this week and I just could'nt get motivated.  I really need to though --- it's good for Reese and it's good for me. We'll see..maybe tonite. ;-) I was SO sore after Sunday's ride, yikes! Can't believe in such a short time of not riding, that I have lost so much muscle tone. --- yeah, old age again..what can I say?

I have taken a few nice walks with Tom and the Dogs, which has been very nice. All the leaves are down now --- the Tameracks are all a really cool orangish color which is very neat. The weather goes from very cold to mild --- no sign of snow yet. ;-)

My closest friends know that when I get stressed, I crave a Muffin & a Pepsi or something Chocolate ;-) It somehow makes me feel better. Well, it's been a pretty stressful week and I think the fact that I haven't been able to ride adds to that feeling. Today I woke up and turned on USA TV and watched my usual Sunday morning worship programs, ED YOUNG at 8:00 and JOEL OSTEEN at 8:30. They are amazing men of God and deliver some really powerful messages. I am always inspired to begin my week on the right foot after I listen to them. ;-)

Anyway, I was set to ride this afternoon and all my attempts to find a riding buddy failed...one, after one, after one....hummmm...Tom's back was out, so he was laying low for the day. SO, it was just me and my Reese...and of course my little white fearless canines, Pete and Sam. WHO, I might add, needed sometime outdoors really bad. lol. I hooked up the trailer, tacked up Reese, tossed in some hay and as he always does...he loaded himself. Up he went, turned himself around and positioned himself right next to the hay. He was ready for the trip...to who knows where...but he was happily regardless.

Checked the brakes and lights and hopped into the front seat to see two VERY excited Jacks panting, squeeling and hopping from front to back seat about to have a heart attack.  Tom says they are like popcorn going off in a pan when they are inside the cab of that truck...can you picture that? lol.

We arrived at our destination, & out went the dogs, out went Reese and I clipped on his bit and away we went. It felt SO good --- air was brisk and the dogs were off and running. Reese, who had been rather spunky the past few days in the corral, was steady as usual -- content to be out doing something.

We worked on the canter a bit -- Reese has this monster, powerful canter that reminds me of a jousting horse. lol. He can slow it down but then slowly increases speed as we canter longer...so I was working with him on saying "easy....easy" very slow and gently applying pressure on both reins and if that didn't work I would lift the left rein as if to do a one rein stop to get his attention. He was trying to dart all the little puddles and was sort of all over the place to start, but I kept with him and just rode it out.  It didn't take but a few times and all I had to say was "easy" and his entire body got under neath himself and he would slow down...it was amazing! The cues got lighter and lighter....we cantered for about a mile --- it was exhilerating and wonderful. At one point, Sam was ahead of us and he darted off on a squirrel and then circled around behind us at full speed...I could hear him panting heavy behind us but I kept focused and made Reese keep listening....which he did. I was so proud of him!!

Then a truck came along with some hunters and Pete went following that truck at high speed! I had my cell phone on me and called Tom. I didn't know what to do. He said, "Don't worry....he will come back or find his way home." --- I felt relief. I had never seen Pete do that before. Sam was very good, which surprised me...he is the younger one and loves to follow vehicles, so I was sure he would be the problem, not Pete. But Sam is very loyal to me and to Reese, so that was pretty cool to see.

It wasn't 10 min. later and with tongue dragging, here comes Pete. WHEW! I was so glad to see him. After a little snack at the field, we headed home. I was within 1/4 mile and I see Tom. He had started walking up the trail to find me and make sure Pete came back. ;-) The whole way home, Reese just wanted to put his head on Tom shoulder and walk right next to him..it was so funny. Tom would just affectionately say, "I like you too, Tony" -- which is Tom's name for Reese. (don't ask...;-)))

It was a great 2 1/2 hour ride and great stress reliever! ---- and much better than a muffin and a Pepsi!!!

Okay, this weather is getting pretty freaky...but I shouldn't complain. On Saturday, I took Reese on a short 45 min. ride across the road..it was gloomy and windy but ti was still a great ride. He was perfect.

Yesterday it felt like summer, except for leaves russeling under our feet. ;-) 70 degrees and just lovely! Sue, Cory, Tom and I rode. It was a great ride....we didn't trot much, it was just so hot for the horses in their winter coats. We rode about 2 1/2 hours. We have the horses home now, so that means we have to haul over to the trails now, but it's worth it. It is only 2 miles up the road....we tack them first and then just snap on their bits and go once they are unloaded. Pretty simple. Here are some pics. Note the curls Reese is getting!!!  The second picture, Tom was pointing out Oak trees and Hemlocks to Sue and I thought it made a good action pic. This one is highly exaggerated though....;-))

Reese has had a good long break..too much rain, wind and cold.....and if you are like my husband you are saying..."Well, it's about time that horse had some time off!....You are going to wear his legs off!!" LoL. But, I want cha all to know....my horse misses me terribly! LoL. Yes, he does, yes he does..... I know it. ;-) When he follows me around like a puppy or comes running when he sees me, dang it, I know what he is thinking!.....and... it certainly is NOT, "where is the food!!" -- hummmm.....okay, okay...maybe a part of him sees me as a kid sees the ice cream truck, but only a teenie, weenie part of him.  LoL. All I know for certain is that I miss the crud out of him. This week I have been dashing to the barn and dashing back ---I give him a hug and quick pet and I am gone. ;-(

Man, our horses are getting so curly this year. I hope that means tons of snow! I sure couldn't ride much last year....it was icy more than snowy.

Oh, some really cool news!!! I wrote an article on my site about our experience doing barefoot trimming using Pete Ramey's method and a friend printed it out and gave it to Pete Ramey. (He trims his horses, how cool is that, eh?) Anyway, Pete emailed me and thanked me for the article, he said "it made his day". What a great guy....I was geeked! Tom says..."ah honey, he is not God..he is just a man." ---- ah yeah, whatever.... LoL. If you haven't read the article yet....here it is: http://curlyhorsecountry.com/barefootcurly.htm

Better get to work.....!!!

I don't really know what happened to my Saturday -- I basically accomplished a few things but then sort of just flopped around the rest of the day. Couldn't get motivated to ride...it was dampish and it felt so toasty inside. ;-) Sunday, we visited Tracy and went to her church down there, which is always an amazing experience. SevenGlory played the worship music and it was incredible! It's strange but that 3 hour drive doesn't seem far at all when we can spend the day with Tracy and come back so revived. It was a great day, beautiful weather and a nice drive.

Rain most of this week, so not planning for a ton of riding.....I guess I can pray for the forcast to change! ;-) Have a good one everyone and if you are out riding, share it with me...will ya? ;-)

Well, my dream became a reality last nite except for that it was SUNNY, windy and beautiful! Oh, and we didn't go 10 miles, we went 8. ;-) We didn't go as fast as I did during the Mock Ride, but it felt better for conditioning Reese right now. I would say we trotted 50% of the time and cantered 10%....the rest walking. It took us 1 3/4 hours. So that's 5 mph. Certainly, within the timeframe of finishing a Competitive Trail ride (must complete in 5 hours) but only to finish not to place. ;-) Which would be fine for me.

Really, last nite was quite easy. It was much cooler - only about 50 and Reese did sweat, but only on his chest and under the saddle. I wasn't worried about him at all and it seemed effortless for both of us. Of course, you have to times that by THREE. ;-)) I still think it is very doable for us next spring.

Weekend coming!!! Supposed to be mid 50's and sunny again. ;-)
Hope ya all are enjoying the brisk weather --- I know my horses sure are.;-)

Prepared for the brisk, chilly, rainy evening - I could only feel the cold spray of the falling rain on my face, as Reese carried me at a brisk trot up the road....2, 5, then 10 miles..... It felt good. I closed my eyes and let my horse take me, far, far away from the hussle of the day, worries and stress. It didn't matter that the skies were grey, there was sunshine if I closed my eyes and imagined it. There isn't any other place I would rather be....what a peaceful place. We made it back just at dark. After a good rub down, I tucked Reese in his dry, clean stall with a pile of great smelling hay, and  flopped on the couch, exhausted but exhilerated....what a feeling! ----- ***snaps fingers*** Wake up, Denise...you are only dreaming!!! LoL. Okay, Okay....I made the whole thing up...but it sure made me feel better just thinking about it! HA. What a ride that would have been!!!!! LOL. The only true part is that I DID tuck my horse in his dry, clean stall for his evening meal, AND it IS cold, brisk and raining!!...

I really could have used a ride like that tonite. Every day goes by and I plan to ride, but the weather keeps me inside. Lots of rain this week and it's dark so early. If I don't get out right at 5:00, I can't ride for long. I suppose a short ride is better than nothing though, eh? Maybe tomorrow......until then, I'll just keep on dreamin. ;-)