Jumpin' Juniper & Sagebrush

Sunday Stills Emotion

2011-02-06T17:32:00.000-08:00

This weeks challenge it to post pics that will cause an emotion in the person who checks out your blog, not your (the photographer) emotion.

All archive for me .

Macro Monday

2010-12-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

To see more find Macro Monday at the link.

Sunday Stills Holiday Decorations Christmas

2010-12-19T16:32:00.000-08:00

I had lots of fun with the bokeh and sparkles on the following pics.... we didn't have a tree this year but did have the lighted wreath and other decorations around.

This one was an accident but turned out fun

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

Macro Monday~ Lichen

2010-10-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

I don't usually look for Macro Monday but these were so pretty, this lichen grows on dead Juniper branches all over our area, I have these on an old dead juniper tree that is in our landscaping.

Sunday Stills fall Foliage

2010-10-24T17:11:00.000-07:00

See more Sunday Stills.....

The weather here has been bad with rain and high winds, not to mention that Central Oregon is mostly Juniper, Sage and Rabbit Brush, they don't change colors.

I scored some Blueberry bushes at the grocery closeout so they offered some red color and I liked the composition of the pots lined up, when the weather breaks we will get them planted.

The other images were some spent flowers in my pots and native weeds along the driveway.

Sunday Stills

2010-10-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

I tried to get artsy with the cars, not much artistic about an expedition and a PT Cruiser.

Sunday Stills Red and Green

2010-10-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Red and Green

A little explanation of this challenge, the picture or pictures must have both the colors red and green in the same pic. This will take a bit of imagination and a staged picture and once again no Archives so Christmas pics from last year don’t count..;-)

Rhubarb and strawberries about to be covered in cobbler batter for dessert.

The little bitty candy canes we like, I stock up each Christmas, these stay on the kitchen counter all year.

The Christmas Cactus plant on my windowsill

Apples and pomegranate from my fruit basket

Sunday Stills "S"

2010-09-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday Stills - Glass

2010-09-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

I have been busy and although I took pictures for last weeks challenge I didn't get a posting up..... sigh. This week I was prepared, I have a collection of glass objects on my south facing kitchen window, I brings me pleasure to see the sun shining through the glass, blue is my favorite. I also have a clear glass prism that is bout 2 1/2 inches in diameter, I love how it sends rainbows all across the room. The pale purple glass bottle is one i found in the sand on the desert, I was able to experiment some with the sun/light/glass combination's. I had fun, I hope you enjoy it too.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-04T11:13:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday Stills Black and White

2010-06-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

I like this one came out nearly black and white on its own, the others I used a B&W editor.

mmmmm, oatmeal cookies.....

Macro Monday

2010-05-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

This tractor lives in the shop most all the time......

Except when people like me get it down off the shelf to play with it......

Here is the real deal.

Sunday Stills Landscapes

2010-05-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

Today was ranch church in Post, OR. I took these out the car window as husband drove, we didn't have time to stop on the way out, some of my favorite country side.

These images are out in the desert above the juniper burn, looking over the Crooked River Canyon, to the Cascades to the west and Pine Mountain to the south, and lastly me taking those images by my riding partner.

Location Map

2010-05-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

I added a worldwide map logger to my blog. So far in just the last couple of weeks I have seen hits from all over the world. Were some accidents? Were they referrals, intentional, or found by accident from surfing the blogosphere? If you care to leave a comment I'd love to say hi;

Australia (AU)	3
United Kingdom (GB)	1
Pakistan (PK)	1
Vietnam (VN)	1
New Zealand (NZ)	1

If you choose not to share that's OK..... I have been enjoying it very much none the less.

Macro Monday

2010-05-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday Stills Wildflowers

2010-05-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

My riding partner and I went out on to desert to find flowers, we found several varieties. This time of year is best here, another month and most will be gone and dried up.

My partner Cindy took the following images..... including me getting my macro of the blue cranesbill.....sigh.......

The End!

Macro Monday

2010-05-10T13:05:00.001-07:00

Ladies and mothers in our church all received a rose for Mothers Day. I thought it was suited for macro shots.....

This is a macro of a silver concho I had lying around.....

Sunday Stills "B"

2010-05-09T17:45:00.001-07:00

Boots....

Buckets....

Barrel.....

Bags.....

And for mothers day my dear sweet husband got me a Blutooth.....

Brownies......

And everybody needs a Easy Button....

Sunday Stills Controls

2010-05-02T16:04:00.001-07:00

The TV remote, I forced the camera into pretty good shallow DOF, by focusing on the very edge of the closest part and then moving the camera up to get the whole remote.

My Husbands guitar has several controls, knobs and even the bar is a control, I liked the poster/draw edit on this.

The washer with a neon edit, otherwise the washer is white.

Drill press in the garage has lots of important controls.

In our area this control for the water is a must.

Sunday Stills Barns

2010-04-26T10:50:00.001-07:00

This barn isn't ours but it sits on adjacent property, I loved the drama and light, this image is straight out of the camera.

This barn us one we owned when we lived in a different County, I really, REALLY miss this barn, it was built around 1910-1920, and at one point was used as granary and mill, written on the walls is various farmers names and grains brought in, fun.
I liked this edit on this image when I did it but something was lost when it uploaded it to Blogger.

My dog happened to be there when I took this one, reminds me of a fall scene.

This isn't exactly a barn, but it is to the chickens, its their houses.
I used the Picnik tool called Circle Splash in the Sandbox effects under the create/effects tab. Then I brightened it with Orton Effect. The circle splash lets one choose any point in the image to radiate from.... interesting.

Macro Monday

2010-04-19T14:07:00.001-07:00

I used the chickens for my macro attempts, since the light was poor and the birds not very cooperative, I had to trash most of the images, the blond feathers turned out the best but the brown and black ones are prettier and more interesting.

I'll try again on a sunny day

Sunday Stills

2010-04-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well good for me, the challenge this week is "Potluck" and this saturday evening was the monthly cowboy church gathering east of our town, in the historic Lookout Mtn. Grange Hall.

This is the huge wood fired cook stove in the kitchen and yes.... we keep it burning, there is no hot water in the grange so the pans on the stove are filled with soapy water for washing and rinsing dishes, clean dishes are placed on the warming tray above the stove.

This is what I had.....

Sunday at ranch church, Post OR. Usually a shop but on this day its the Lord's house. This is what i had......

Sunday Stills Hands

2010-04-11T15:03:00.001-07:00

I had fun on this challenge, my riding partner Cindy obliged me by being a hand model as well as the cooperation of my Bible Study classmates, thanks guys, it made it easy on me.

The last image is my hand.

I played with the editing possibilities on the free image editor Picnik, good program and easy to use.

This last image is from DH and I wedding day..... 4 years this summer.

Macro Monday Easter

2010-04-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

My Dear Sweet Husband brought me these flowers for Easter, they are in a word SPECTACULAR! The pink lilies are over 8 inches across.

And the fragrance OH MY! Our home is filled with the lovely scent.

I am blown away by the beauty and stellar quality of these, and you should know by now that my Hubby is a very smart man and possesses excellent taste.

So I got to play with my macro settings and experiment with natural sunlight. I do need to get a tripod and try to force longer exposures, this camera does have limitations and too many features, its hard to commit it all to memory and I'm not going to print nearly 100 pages off my computer.

I'm trying to decide the most important and useful for me.

Several turned out very good, some I had to lighten with the editor..... I had fun.

I'd love to hear about your favorite and why.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-31T13:00:00.001-07:00

Macro Monday

2010-03-29T23:57:00.000-07:00

I like the wire up close with the blurring of the barn and stuff, with this camera its tough to set the camera as there is no f stop control, but I'm learning to use the macro and use the zoom to force a stonger effect with the camera.

Sunday Stills

2010-03-28T15:53:00.000-07:00

A Day in the Life

 Sunday Stills    Pick a day in the upcoming week and take your camera with you, no archives. Take and post no more than 4 pics during the day that show how you spend the day. For some this will be a breeze and for others you may have to go out and do something. Just remember no more than 4 pics and no archives..:-))

All my days start with coffee, I like a little milk in mine. About 9 is morning for me as I work late.

Then I feed the horses their hay and get eggs from our six hens I call the Road Crew. Today was worming day for the horses, and a carrot to wash it down.

Then a little time on the computer, playing on the blogs, putting on some pics, with Hubby gone so much we talk lots on the phone. Don't laugh at my monitor, its 9 years old and works beautifully.

My wage job is the evening from about 6 to midnight or 1:00.
I get to be a janitor, this is my cart and mop bucket.

Day to day that's pretty much my routine.

Dolly Started School

2010-03-24T23:15:00.001-07:00

This was Dolly a couple weeks after I got her a year an a half ago, Notice the lovely scar on her face, read about that here .

Today was a beautiful spring day, I decided to work with Dolly. I have done lots of round penning, ground work and have ridden her twice, other than humping around the pen a few times she has never bucked or been silly with me.
Our last ride was a couple weeks ago and lately the weather has been uncooperative, today was perfect see that beautiful sky?

She looks good in hubbys saddle, I used it today because it is heavy, good for her to accept the feel.

She is so kind and easy to start, and smoooooth to ride, very sensitive, she is very responsive, stops when I sink my weight and turns when I lean and pick up the slack, she is going to be nice in the bridle.

I cant get pics of myself riding..... maybe next time.

Dolly getting to stand tied for a while to let it all sink in.

Macro Monday

2010-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

First, snow pellets on the driveway,

The base of a very small floral sculpture,

I liked this version, the color us very warm almost sepia, the only editing I did was to crop,

This is more natural color.

This little sculpture is formed out of enameled metal, hand crafted, soldered and colored, the whole thing is about 6 inches tall, if I recall this is a Gentian flower. It was given to me by an internet friend Joey Bonhage of New Orleans, he specialized in botanical reproductions, ran a gallery and studio in the Bourbon District. Joey survived Hurricane Katrina, but has since passed from emphysema, he was a special fellow, I treasure this little thing.

Sunday Stills

2010-03-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

To start with, what else?..... oranges,

I found lots of opportunities just in the barnyard, the weather has been uncooperative today and today was the only day I had available to think and act on the challenge.

First the cone (that has seen better days) and basketball the horses play with, and I found them just like this..... no kidding

The small feed drum,

haystring is mostly orange, we have some blue too, we put it in an orange bucket,

2 orange cords to the tank heaters,

More orange cords,

This one I supersaturated the orange, kind of fun,

wordless wednesday

2010-03-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T10:29:00.001-08:00

Macro Monday

2010-03-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at macro, this camera is a Canon 1100IS point and shoot, I read online tips from other users and got more there than the manual.... go figure.

Sunday Stills Numbers

2010-03-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

The numbers from the camera box.

20# dumbell

I have a new camera, I'm practicing and still learning it.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

The Road Crew

Hay Certification Exam

2010-01-27T12:05:00.001-08:00

Hay Sampling Certification Exam

This is a fun and interactive way to learn about hay, forages and quality.

Click HERE to take the test and learn how to become certified.

I learned about this from Sandra Mayernik check out Central Oregon Trail Course the best resource for horses, information, clinics, classifieds and more.

Sunday Stills

2010-01-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

Because I STILL don't have a camera (blasted budget anyway) I can meet this challenge from my archive.

This picture I snapped on a whim of my boy, I love the content and the look on his face, it was completely un-staged and one of my favorites.

These 2 pics have to go as a pair, again it was happenstance, this cat is very special to me and he is a complete clown, I think he was a small dog in a previous life, he is not a cat at all but a dog trapped in a cats body. That day he was loafing under the feed pan on a balmy spring day, he stayed there about 2 hours, perfectly content to watch me work horses.

A practical and timely article.

2010-01-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

A timely and important article. I love horses and I'm also a realist when it comes to management, expenses, usability, productivity and balancing the natural resources of our country.

Audubon Magazine

Are "holding facilities" aka feedlots really the best solution for tens of thousands of horses????

Image from the Burns Oregon Corrals,

Image from the Fallon NV, holding facility, one of 6 feeding alleys.

For one solution visit the Nevada Prison sale of saddle broke horses gathered off the Nevada rangeland.

Northern Nevada Correctional Center Saturday, February 13, 2010

Saddle Horse Adoption

Hope Reins Guest Ranch

2010-01-04T15:29:00.001-08:00

Hope Reins Ranch is the vision of Jenny Chesley, a therapeutic riding instructor who’s dedicated her life to teaching and helping children and adults with special needs.

At Hope Reins Ranch, families of children with autism and other special needs will experience the beauty and peace of nature along with the adventure of the Wild West. From horseback lessons and trail rides with North American Riding for the Handicapped Association-certified instructors to hiking, fishing and swimming, Hope Reins Ranch will offer a little of everything outdoors for everyone in the family.

Hope Reins is on Facebook

Become a fan of Hope Reins on Facebook. Keep up-to-date on the progress and spread the word by asking friends to become fans of Hope Reins as well!

Sunday Stills

2009-12-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

Archive as well....I'm still sans camera (broke)... and even if I had a camera its single digits and too cold to be out taking pics......

Uncle Mittens and his nephew Alvin

Mittens in his favorite guitar case

Alvin,

We have a dog too.... Jill,

thats all I have. We have a few various outside cats that come and go, 2 goldfish in a tub and an aquarium with 6 tropical fish....

I don't consider the horses, chickens, cows or pigs to be pets....so there you go.

Phished

2009-11-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

I love comments, I love the interaction and the sharing of ideas and opinions. I love the encouragement and support from like minded individuals..... I think blogs are neat and inspiring.
I do not like folks leaving comments with the express purpose of directing others to their blog, sales page, website, game, contest or giveaway etc.

It has only happened a few times but seems that twice in the last week its escalating.

I understand everyones desire to "make it" on the web and perhaps achieve success like the Pioneer Woman and others like her.....but, do it on your own terms, not by hitting the 'net daily throwing your name on the list of blogs for the day.

Over Extended

2009-11-03T22:11:00.000-08:00

Last Friday my riding partner Cindy called and asked If I wanted to ride for a couple hours, I replied sure and we met up about 1 or so.
I decided to ride Domino because I have put so much effort into Cricket he was feeling neglected......

not really, I just figured he was the horse du jour.

The day was beautiful, warm and just slight breeze, the best of Central Oregons fall weather. We discussed how long to ride and I thought it would be OK to go longer than shorter, so the rimrock overlooking Bowman Dam and the head of the Crooked River was our destination.

Cindy was game and we were off, the desert sand is damp now and there was no dust and the footing was good. Domino has fantastic mustang feet and he never needs boots, Cindys mare had a new trim but her barefeet are good and tough she went well without boots as well.

We saw 2 cow elk far ahead they bounded across our trail and disapeared into the remnants of the burned up juniper from the control burn a few years ago.

This image is looking east and Bowman Dam, that is the Crooked River Highway across the top, goes south all the way to Roberts and Brothers.

This image is looking west down into the canyon of the Crooked River, it may not look like much... it didn't to us either. I thought we should get down to the river and water the horses....... it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Here is Cindy tossing her whip trying to get her horses ears up......

and me with Domino, see how we are wearing sweaters and are fresh and game....

Well, we made it down , we decided to hike it because it was very steep and rocky and less stress on the horses, they already packed us about 5 miles.... besides we needed the aerobic activity.

This is looking west but the height of the top is pretty consistent, this view is all basalt lava, we came down a gravelly and dirt area. The footing is very, very rocky and rugged, I'm glad both our horses handle it well and with the dry climate and regular use keeps their feet in top form.

Here I am about 1/2 way, we stopped for a breather.... hiking UP was significantly MORE strenuous than hiking down!

See how the power poles drop out of sight behind me? See how I lost my sweater?

And Cindy too, we are still going up! With my dog Jill taking a breather.

....and still going up!

and Cindy's dog Zoe....going up, slowly.

....breather over.... still going up!

whew!.... I have to rest again

We made it up to the top and mounted up again, continued our loop to the cinder pit and made it home at sunset.

4 solid hours, I calculated our route on Google Earth around 12 miles and 1100 feet in elevation change, from the river bed to the rimrock.

Like I said .... it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Thanks to Cindy and her camera, and being patient and adventurous to my harebrained idea to water the horses in the river. But at least this time the weather was favorable and we brought drinking water.

Being Imperfect

2009-10-17T21:11:00.001-07:00

I miss my children and I only hope they miss me too. I hope one day they will lose the anger and instead find the love again and realize we all are imperfect. Being imperfect is a part of the human experience and love, tolerance and acceptance of one anothers imperfections is instead an example of our love for one another.
Imperfection is not a measure of our lack of love.

Being Imperfect

Shared via AddThis

Sunday Stills

2009-10-11T18:56:00.001-07:00

I put before and after images for each one I played with with the various gimmicks,

This old chute I used the painter effect, first in water color and twice with oil.... still doesn't look much like a painting....

I think this old car came out looking like an old image

I really like the cartoonize effect and think both of these have turned out great.

I used the emboss effect on the cat... his name is Alvin

and on the sunset I used the mirror effect and the image looks like a water effect to me.

The hottest day.....

2009-10-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

2 weeks ago my friend and neighbor Cindy and I went trail riding, I had told her I wanted to go out the way she goes to the reservoir.

She called and asked if I wanted to ride that day, I jumped at the chance and we met up about 11am, I didn't think we'd be gone long so I neglected to go back for my hat and it didn't seem that warm.... and we weren't going to be gone long (see a theme here?).... I also neglected to bring a water bottle.

As it turned out we had a such a good time and the horses were willing and the day was open we ended up being gone about 4 hours, AND it turned out to be a record heat day of 98 degrees.

Cindy was prepared for anything, we shared her water bottle and she had a nifty doggy canteen with bowl that she generously shared between my dog and hers. I'm going to get one of those doggy canteens with the bowl, it was very clever.

Slight sunburn and dehydration aside it was a spectacular ride and we hope to do it again soon. I figured we covered about 10 to 12 miles all together. Most of the ground is rocky to VERY rocky with some gravelly and sandy areas, both our horses are barefoot and booted on the front, I use Easyboot Epics with gaiters she uses Renegades, on the way home we both pulled the boots to let their feet work naturally and develop some callus.

I rode Cricket because she needs the miles and she did very good, we came down several extremely steep trails and she used her back and hind quarters to rate herself well. I'm happy with the progress she has made she is really starting to listen and accept direction and her softness and responsiveness has improved light years from June.

Cindy rode her Missouri Foxtrotting mare, she is young but very responsive and stable and steady, she was a great confidence builder for Cricket.

The views are spectacular on the rim overlooking the reservoir. This is preview of where we are headed.

My dog kept looking over the rim and was frustrated she couldn't get to the water from there, the cliff is several hundred feet straight down.Overlooking Bowman Dam on the west end of Prineville Reservoir, start of the Crooked River.

Overlooking County Boat Ramp on the NW end of Prineville Reservoir

A flock of ducks Cindy encountered at the boat ramp one day recently

Ahhhh cool, clear, water.....

My Trail Boss for the day.....

Cricket enjoying the cool, clear, water.....

And special thanks to Cindy for bringing her camera and graciously sharing our adventure.....

When I'm 89, I want to.......

2009-10-01T22:00:00.001-07:00

Red Deer Advocate - Cattle penning: a hobby for the ages

The above link takes you to an article in the September Red Deer Advocate, a local paper in Alberta. The featured person in the article is my Dear Honeys mother. She is a kick ass rider and very, very competitive, she regularly wins the contests she enters and has some great partners.

She lives alone on a small place in AB, manages her horses and rides often.....at 89.

We should all be so lucky.......

Not so Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

One week ago today we had a record high of 98 degrees......
Last night it was 25.

Today I wore a coat hat and gloves to do chores..... I don't think I'm ready for winter.

Updated: 4:00 am PDT on September 30, 2009

Active Notice: Local Storm Report (US Severe Weather)

Today

Partly cloudy. Highs 52 to 57. West wind 10 to 20 mph. Gusts around 30 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Lows 22 to 31. West wind 5 to 15 mph and gusty in the evening becoming light.

Thursday

Partly cloudy. Highs 61 to 66. Light wind.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows 25 to 34. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs 54 to 62. Light wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night and Saturday

Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Lows 26 to 36. Highs 46 to 54.

Saturday Night and Sunday

Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and snow showers. Lows 19 to 29. Highs 47 to 54.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy. A chance of rain showers and a slight chance of snow showers. Lows 19 to 29.

Monday

Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and snow showers. Highs 53 to 58.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. Lows 21 to 31.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. Highs 57 to 66.

Wednesdays Word of the Week

2009-09-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

Biophilia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The biophilia hypothesis suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems.

The term "biophilia" literally means "love of life or living systems." It was first used by Erich Fromm to describe a psychological orientation of being attracted to all that is alive and vital.Wilson uses the term in the same sense when he suggests that biophilia describes "the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life.” He proposed the possibility that the deep affiliations humans have with nature are rooted in our biology. Unlike phobias, which are the aversions and fears that people have of things in the natural world, philias are the attractions and positive feelings that people have toward certain habitats, activities, and objects in their natural surroundings.

To many people, "nature" means plants as in a park or forest, but the weather and animals are also closely involved. In the carefully structured book "Children and nature: psychological, sociocultural, and evolutionary investigations" edited by Peter Kahn and Stephen Kellert , the importance of animals, especially those with which a child can develop a nurturing relationship, is emphasized particularly for early and middle childhood. Chapter 7 of the same book reports on the help that animals can provide to children with autistic-spectrum disorders.Product of biological evolution

Human preferences toward things in nature, while refined through experience and culture, are hypothetically the product of biological evolution. For example, adult mammals (esp. humans) are generally attracted to baby mammal faces and find them appealing across species. The large eyes and small features of any young mammal face are far more appealing than those of the mature adults. The biophilia hypothesis suggests that the positive emotional response that adult mammals have toward baby mammals across species helps increase the survival rates of all mammals.

Similarly, the hypothesis helps explain why ordinary people care for and sometimes risk their lives to save domestic and wild animals, and keep plants and flowers in and around their homes. In other words, our natural love for life helps sustain life.

I encountered this word today while looking at aquarium information. I have an aquarium, I've had it for many years and I have a catfish that I have had for over 16 years. The other 6 fish in the tank are Giant Danios.

They are comical fish, I have had them for about 2 years they are rather long lived and easy to care for, they are hardy and tough.

I guess having pets and certainly horses fit into the definition of biophilia.

I learned something new today.

Biophilia, The Human Bond With Other Species,
Edward O. Wilson

Public Service Announcement

2009-09-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Surgeon General’s Warning on Horse Hair

In a press release today, the National Institute of Health has announced the discovery of a potentially dangerous substance in the hair of horses. This substance, called "amobacter equuii" has been linked with the following symptoms in female humans:
1 reluctance to cook,
2 reluctance to perform house work,
3 reluctance to wear anything but boots,
4 reluctance to work except in support of a horse,
5 physical craving for contact with horses (may be an addiction, Beware!)
If you come in contact with a female human infected by this substance, be prepared to talk about horses for hours on end.

Surgeon General's Warning: Horses are expensive, addictive, and may impair the ability to use common sense.------ --

I have been suffering with amobactor equuii for decades!!
I have also been known to wear the most disgusting clothes (beet pulp splatter, green slobber, eye boogers, etc.) around the barn and house and then forget I have them on and go to town!
I have been known to eat corn from their feed and drink water from their buckets.
I have been known to haul excessive quantities of hay and chop ice in bitter cold for their comfort while drinking cold coffee and eating stale candy bars for sustenance.
I have been known to drive for untold hours through the night to feed them so they didn't have to wait til morning.
I have been known to budget for dental care and footwear for the horses while I skip the dentist and wear second hand boots.

I'm sure that I'm badly infected.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

New Changes

2009-08-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Doc Holliday: What do you want Wyatt?
Wyatt Earp: Just to live a normal life.
Doc Holliday: There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life, ya live it.

I'm still adjusting to changes , I have taken a job with a janitorial company, I'm still struggling with issues relating to my children and my exhusband, its a long sad tale, I'll not bore you with the details.

I just want a normal life..... so tell me, what has become normal for you? Have things you resisted become the new normal? Have you accepted it?

Wordless Wedneday

2009-08-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Sunday Stills Clouds

2009-08-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm especially partial to the blue skies and white clouds, and we have a lot of that here in our area......

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Buck Brannaman

2009-08-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

For many years I have desired to ride in a Buck Brannaman clinic, it always been out of my budget as well as often not in my area. Well this year I was surfing the net and happened to learn that Buck was coming to Oregon, I discussed it with Dear Honey and we said if I sold a few things we could afford me attending.......

Welcome Craigslist and I made the funds...... that was back in february.

Now this weekend friday, saturday, sunday and monday mornings I'll be riding the clinic.

I've debated for the last month which horse to ride, should I ride Domino ? or Cricket?

Domino is the easiest horse I've ever trained, he is responsive and willing, even as a 3 year old he is very supple and always willing to accept my direction. He is quick and handy and lots of fun to ride. I have no training issues other than he is green.

Cricket is 4 this year and I started her last year, she came up lame with a left hind tendon injury and has had the last year off, I started riding her about a month ago and she is very difficult to ride, she is board stiff and rigid to the right, she is reactionary and over reacts to slaps and quick movements. She has not bucked much this year but bucked me off twice last year, one incident jammed my thumb badly and she spooked and ran me over once while I was leading her, knocked me down and hit my face, it hurt. I think she is over all that now and is responsive on ground work.

My good friend and trainer insists I should ride Cricket, she thinks I may make good progress with her, and we can help her become softer and flexible. I'd like to ride Domino as he makes me look good, he is farther along. I think I'll be able to spend more time watching the others and less time struggling with my horse on new skills.
I like to look competent as a trainer, I'm challenged by Cricket, I have no doubt as to my ability to make her safe and work through all her issues. I expect this time next year she will be well broke and doing anything we ask of her. Its just right now she lacks confidence and suppleness.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to which horse I should ride?

The Big Day.....

2009-08-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned.....

I'm just getting ready to head over to the Buck Brannaman clinic.

I have been more excited than I expected, I hardly slept at all last night, kept listening for the horses. I decided to take Cricket and was sure she would get stuck under a pen panel or something..... She even got a bath....with soap!

And today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year, may reach 100.....blech.

Decompressing....day 1

2009-08-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

First off I have no pictures to share. So I'll relay what I recall by writing about it.

I decided to take Cricket and I'm still not sure if I made the right choice on that. We arrived on schedule at the facility. I signed in and unloaded and saddled Cricket. She was standing tied to the side of the trailer. I moved to the other side to organize some equipment and get my bridle, I heard her blow up and put on a full fledged bucking fit while tied, rearing and bucking. When she bucks she means business and it's rough stock rodeo worthy.
I thought great, just what I need on this of all days. She has not bucked with me this year and while she has gotten upset and tight I was able to redirect and she seemed to settle.
Not today!
I untied her and bridled her with no problem, did a little ground work getting her to flex to me, walking some circles and what I thought was enough untracking her hind end.
I led her to the arena which was filled with the other 19 participants, another horse was high and tight and promptly dumped her rider although the rider was rather green and sort of fell of, she was unhurt and her horse ran off. Cricket was a little tight from all the commotion and nervous.
This is the first time I had ridden her off the place and her first experience being hauled and working in a group riding situation. I did a few more ground work lead throughs and untracking, while she seemed a little tight still, I figured her to settle as I walked her to relax and move with the others. I checked my cinch and swung on, I sat on her for a minute asked her to flex and yield left and right a few times, she still seemed a little tight but I figured I was on and we needed to get moving.
I held both reins in my left hand and grabbed my nightlatch with my right, I jiggled and bumped my legs asking her to move forward..... forward she did, with a grunt and a fart up she went in true bronc form, hit the ground hard with her front feet, bogged her head and did it 3 more times, by this time I started to come loose and decided this jump was as good as any to get off, her next pitch bounced me good onto the saddle horn for good measure and the next pitch threw me clear.
I was thankful for well worked soft arena dirt and landed on my hands and knees. I kept a grip on my reins, I do have a knack for keeping hold of the horse. She proceeded to drag me about 2 feet before she stopped and turned to face me. I wasn't hurt and other than the overflow of adrenaline a bruise on my bicep and bruise and scrape on my solar plexus I was OK.... although once I stood up I realized my belt buckle worked as a nifty funnel to scoop about a cup of dirt straight into the waist band of my jeans..... suffice it to say I was a bit gritty down there all day.
I spent a few minutes, catching my breath, calming down and soothing Cricket. I chatted with a woman that saw it all and she kept asking me if I was OK and did I need drink (I thought to myself maybe tequila). She commended my lady bronc skills and was helpful to reassure me .... I had to chuckle.
I did a bit more ground work and mounted again, one hand on the reins and right hand on the nightlatch........Jiggled and bumped my legs and let her move off. She did this time rough, crude and started trotting and weaving around, I circled her this way and that, after a turn or 2 I decided to two-hand the reins and managed to steer her around. By this time other horses were taking advantage of their green riders and another girl fell off. Her horse was acting up and she turned him too tight his reaction was to slightly rear to escape the pressure and instead of releasing and holding the saddle she pulled harder on the reins as she lost her balance and fell off backward. The woman was unhurt and her horse earned the privilege of being ridden hard and learning respect and yielding by one of Bucks experienced hands. The woman also earned the home work he assigned and was expected to accomplish that evening.
After several minutes Buck called us into a circle to start the morning discussion for the day...... So much for the smooth start to the clinic.
Buck was adamant on our horses responding to the light feel, both from the leg and the bit, as we discussed his expectation and questions about it were brought up different aspects of those 2 terms were analyzed, he told us "your legs are dead, they have no life" , "your have dulled your horse", "stop nagging with the leg" "ask for the light feel" and "do what it takes"
Apparently my name was drawn out of the hat for the target of the day, I never saw anybody pin the bullseye to my back, but it was there and Buck took aim every chance he could. "Your legs have no life" he barked, "stop grinding your heel into your horse" on my attempts to generate energy with my legs I was hollered at "quit trying to punch a hole in your horse's sides" my attempts to use the soft feel were completely ignored by Cricket, I was still concerned about getting dumped, she was still tight and a little high under me, our steering was shot to hell, she refused to get close to the rail, I had zero flexion and arc to the right (her bad side), she was over flexing to the left and it was 100 degrees with no breeze in an outdoor arena.
My frustration with the horse and my irritation with Buck were interpreted by him as anger, "Geeze people" he barked, "you look so miserable, if you can't have fun , JUST GO HOME", I was hollered at to reward the slightest try, " you have a tendency to demand too much, Rae", he barked " You could pet your horse once in a while, otherwise she will just say 'to hell with it, I can't please you anyway'"

I was thinking I was at the wrong place, on the wrong day and I brought the wrong horse, I certainly didn't pay $500 to become somebodys target. Hell, for $25 I could have sat under a tent in the shade and watched somebody else get ripped.

After about an hour of circles, one rein stops, extremely short serpentines, 1/2 circles, hind end stepping and reaching across, using the light feel with the reins and stopping with position 3 with our seats (pelvis tipped under and sitting on our pockets, slightly braced) we formed another circle for discussion.
I was very tired, VERY hot and feeling targeted.
Buck uses the ending discussion circle to one on one address each rider and how they were doing, when he asked me how I was doing I told him "I brought the wrong horse" he said something about me not needing to impress him and me looking good was not his concern.
I asked about using my legs, asking for the soft feel and not getting it, he barked "your horse doesn't respect you, move your horse to the side" he said, I pressed her with my heel and I knew she wouldn't step to the side, I used a bit more heel, "STOP grinding your heel into your horse, IT NEVER WORKED BEFORE, IT ISN'T GOING TO WORK NOW"
He then went on to discuss if it(anything we are doing) isn't working before it won't work now, "do something different to get something different" he said.
He elaborated on stopping with the seat and holding the soft feel with the reins, always teetering back with the soft feel after coming to a stop.
He asked me to back Cricket, I picked up the reins, held slight feel and jiggled my legs and squeezed.... she didn't back. I have always used that sequence, I had that drilled into me from the beginning of my riding career.... Don't back with the bit .......create some energy with your seat and legs, stop forward motion with the reins and direct it backward...... Buck barked "NO, that isn't working, that is NOT how you back, backing like that will RUIN the back up on a bridle horse",I started to explain that was all I knew, that was how I learned to back up a horse, he ignored me and went on to explain how important it is to back off the soft feel ONLY, I asked about legs, again he barked "NO you DO NOT use your legs backing".

He again asked me to hold a soft feel, I set a soft feel on Cricket and we waited, and waited and waited, after about 20 seconds I kind of shrugged and looked at him, "She'll sit here all day" I said.....

Buck said " Your horse isn't halter broke, get off your horse" as I dismounted he admonished me to dismount more cleanly next time as I drug my toe slightly over her hip, "With you riding a sensitive horse, you should be mindful of causing her more distress". I intentionally have been doing that on mounting and dismounting to desensitize her.....sigh.

He asked his daughter Reata to bring her horse to the middle and he dismounted his horse, he demonstrated how to back the horse holding the bit, he used held the rein close to the bit and applied a very light touch releasing minutely in time with the front feet leaving the ground (that is the release), when the horse didn't back as lightly as the feel he offered, he demonstrated how to press the bit hard into the jaw bone, backing that horse hard 4 or 5 steps, then release and ask for the soft feel again, hard enough to cause that horse to me more mindful to the soft feel initially offered, it should be hard enough to have him think you don't want to do it again. He said "now you try it".
I did and my initial attempts were not hard enough he said, and I was holding the rein not close enough to the snaffle ring.
My next attempts were better. He said "your horse isn't halter broke, when she is halter broke that will improve."
Buck demonstrated how his horse is respectful and soft on the ground, yielded to him and will move on the softest of suggestions. After other discussion and various questions he told us tomorrow we would be doing 'sets'.

A 'set' is backing on the soft feel 10 steps, exactly ten steps, then stepping forward 10 steps , no more, no less. Back 9 steps and forward 9 steps, backward 8 steps forward 8 steps all the way down to one. Keeping a soft feel, if the horse sticks, hard pressure on the jaw, find the soft feel again and start again.

We were dismissed.

I left the arena completely confused, I wondered where the memo was for the information I apparently missed. I really listened hard and I seemed to miss some critical information from somewhere. "do what it takes" "where is the soft feel?" "do something" "don't do that".......

I was untacking Cricket and was preparing to lead her to the water when another participant came to me and commended me on my bronc riding skills, she was impressed that I stayed on as long as I did and she wanted to tell me she thought I did a great job.....too funny.
I was eating my lunch at the trailer and watching Cricket eat hers when a girlfriend I have not seen in 17 years approached me...... She and I used to show horses together and hauled to shows and rode with the same trainer for a time, I was never so surprised.
She has ridden a couple clinics and audited several more, she and her husband have become close acquaintances with Buck.
She encouraged me, she reassured me that Buck does not take personal offense nor does he hold a grudge, he is focused on the horse and focused on the rider. He is totally absorbed with getting the best out of and for both.

I insisted to her I brought the wrong horse and that I should have ridden Domino. She encouraged me to ride Cricket, the greener horse would benefit and I could get the help I needed. We visited for some time and caught up...... as we were chatting the afternoon Ranch Roping clinic had started in the indoor arena and I heard Buck call my name, he kept asking if I was still here and as he was using his legs to get his horse to back.... he wanted me to see the difference. I heard Reata tell him I was outside, he replied "OK". Later we went in to watch the last part of the roping clinic and he addressed me to tell the importance of sometimes using the legs to back a horse, but ONLY the legs and only as an advanced movement, useful when the hands are occupied with roping and holding a roped animal.

At the end of the day, and after Buck had finished answering all the questions from the ranch roping participants I approached him. I told him I still thought I brought the wrong horse and my concern was getting the tools I need to ride all my horses, not to necessarily fix this one. He said "I think she's doing fine and she really needs the work", I said "I think I'm not getting what I need because I'm spending so much time dealing with her issues" I asked if he thought it better to ride the less green horse, he said "I don't care which horse you bring either way is OK with me".

The guy has a knack of never telling you anything and always letting you find your own answer...... damn.

After I came home and late in the evening I went out and worked Cricket on the lead backing on the soft feel with the rope halter, then backing sets from the ground with the snaffle. I did some small serpentines and practiced sets from the saddle.....

Tomorrow I'm going to be prepared.

Clinic day 2

2009-08-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Another HOT day except today the humidity came up and the lack of a breeze was stifling even at 9am the air was heavy and the temp was rising fast.

I ground worked Cricket at home a little, untracking her hind end and asking for soft feel backups from the ground, we loaded and unloaded from the trailer a couple times for good measure.

We arrived early enough to tack up and do lots of lead throughs and backing. During warm up I focused on getting her to move forward freely. She has a habit of shutting down and uses any opportunity to stop and freeze up. Cricket was a little tight but much more relaxed and showed little inclination to be high under me, she was still bracing on her right side and not flexing and I had no ability to push her ribs with my right leg. Our steering had improved and I didnt fear getting bucked off.

During the morning circle Buck talked about the homework he assigned to the gal that got bucked off and her horse, she said she did it and her horse seemed much more settled. He talked about the fact her herd-bound horse and his buddy were standing side by side, he explained that was the worst thing she could do and how it contributed to her problem the day before. He admonished her to get creative to disrupt that habit.

I thought to myself, you did good for doing your own homework and I also noticed an improvement in cricket.

Buck asked for questions and one fellow was fascinated about getting the horse to yield and getting the horse to 'turn the eye'. How the horse needs to be comfortable to lose you in his blind spot (behind the rump) going from right eye to left eye and vice-versa. Once the horse is comfortable there and knows you won't surprise him he will really yield and accept things more readily.

I had no questions for the morning.... I was still a bit shell shocked from the day before. I was also a bit frustrated at the chatting, I really wanted to get to riding.

He sent us out doing short serpentines again and half circles powering out of the half circle with some energy. After a while he asked for larger serpentines cue with the inside leg at the cinch, ask for the turn with the leg first, rein only if necessary.... always the lighter feel "Ask for more by asking with less".

Buck called out what he wanted sort of like dance steps...... "step across hind legs 1-2-3-4, sweep through the front legs 1-2-3-4"

“Turn a half circle to the right. Make sure all four feet are reaching evenly, when you are done walk them out.”

“Walk with life, as if your life depended on where you were going.”

"Step across hind legs 1-2-3-4, sweep through the front legs 1-2-3-4" 

Then he asked us to do sets, we did many sets of sets at the conclusion of each set we were to walk out with some energy, asking for a soft feel, he reinforced that even though you may be on a certain number in your set if you found a very soft feel and the horse was very light to call it good, pet the horse and walk out, OR maybe the horse needed to go back up a number and if the soft feel is gone it may take more steps again to get it right. "A horse should back like he trots, with diagonal pairs, anything else is wrong".

Walk ahead and ask for the soft feel, always teetering back before the release.

There again confusion sets in as the desire to practice the exercise exactly as explained is trumped by getting the soft feel and working through the brace.

Cricket was much more calm although I still felt she was bracing and stopping at first opportunity, she was not moving out freely and we had a hard time walking out. It seemed like I had to nearly constantly kick her to keep her moving.

The air was so hot and the sweat was pouring off me, it was hard to have fun and I was still wishing I rode Domino, he is so easy to ride and very willing and forward.

At the last circle Buck was congratulatory to several riders, noted improvement from several riders, and how their horses were doing better. He talked about being a quitter, "never quit" he boomed!
He shared how he held no regard for quitters and wouldn't tolerate those that do. He talked about safety and good fitting equipment, "Buy the best you can afford and make sure it's quality, don't buy junk, take pride in what you have". He talked about how sorry saddles are bad, how poorly shaped fenders and tight stirrups are bad, "Either get your sorry saddle fixed or get rid of it, get your saddle FIXED" ....

So much for my beloved hand forged rawhide wrapped oxbow stirrups on my favorite saddle..... glad I didn't use them on this clinic. My saddle is not sorry but I suspect he would not have been pleased with my choice of stirrups. My favored trail saddle won't fit Cricket so I rode Dear Honeys saddle even though its much too big for me.... it has turned fenders and roper stirrups. Its NOT a sorry saddle.

I was curious at my desire to please Buck..... they guy certainly has a way to make you think, and I mean really think. Is he talking about horses or people? Do the questions help horses? do they help people? is there a difference? Does being a great horseman mean you will be a great human?

He noted that Cricket was improved but still admonished me to lighten up and not be so serious. He told me I had no business trying to ride her yesterday. He asked me how I was doing, I said "OK, but I had other errands to do and needed to leave right now." He said "OK! see you tomorrow". He said it so nicely and with genuine interest. HMMMMMMM, that was nice.

I still pondered taking Domino for the last 2 days, but then would Buck think me a quitter?
OH great..... now I have to ride Cricket, I'm not going to not bring her and have him think me a quitter......

What to do?

More of Bucks quotes,
"Some people can't ride a swinging gate in a windstorm, what makes them think they can ride a horse."
"Ride your horse like you want him to be."
"Don't ride a sorry saddle, lots of production saddles are sorry"
"If I could I'd issue Monel stirrups to every clinic rider, its too dangerous to have tight fitting stirrups."

Clinic day 3

2009-08-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

Cricket as a baby........

Today I made too many errors on the way from the house..... I forgot my purse, GADS!, to go back and get it added 10 minutes to my drive.
Its over an hour from home to the location of the clinic, even 10 minutes starts to pinch the time cushion....... then I had to drop off the kids and the sitter wasn't there, she arrived after a minute..... I saw my main tank was about 1/4 tank, not enough to get there without concern. I switched tanks and the rear tank is empty..... have to get Diesel, OH WHY didn't I fill up last night?

The stress of dealing with this clinic has fried my brain.

Tanks full I head to the clinic. I arrived with little time to spare, Immediately tacked up and by the time I got to the arena the morning circle had started and warm up was over, I listened to questions and answers while I ground worked Cricket.

I practiced having her step across with the hind and walk in a 'united' way, all four feet reaching evenly around the circle, shorten the inside rein, wait for her hip to step away, move to her shoulder and wait for her to step back and off on to the new outside front leg. Backed some sets with my hand on the rein near the bit, she has seemed to have figured it out.

I worked her right and left sides and couple times each.
She was calmer and I think sore and tired, I ground worked her for maybe 8 or 10 minutes. Finally I got on, praying under my breath that she wouldn't buck.... she gave no inclination of resistance and I think was happy to stop and stand.

As the discussion went from topic to topic I was forming a question to Bucks desire to back off the bit, using only the soft feel and no use of legs. Buck has a habit of speaking at length about a topic until he has either answered the question or asked more questions to get the specific information. He always asks if that helped and when he figures he covered it from all angles he will ask if there is another question.
He happened to be looking my way and I raised my hand and said, "I have been pondering what you said on Friday about backing off the soft feel, why is that so important and how does the horse know the difference from the soft feel to back and the soft feel to yield?"

He said, " The horse is that sensitive, he knows the difference because he is so sensitive to the slightest shift. We confuse the horse by not being clear in our request, sometimes we ask nicely and others we jerk his face off, he learns to ignore the minor to react to the major, our inconsistency is the hurdle not the sensitivity of the horse."

He demonstrated the soft feel back up, he really does use seat aid and weight shift more than one realizes. Pick up a soft feel, change seat position from position 3 (relaxed on the pockets pelvis under) to position 2 ( sitting up evenly on both seat bones and inner thigh), tip the shoulders back very slightly behind the vertical, release the soft feel minutely in time with the front foot leaving the ground.

I asked for clarification about speed and how to rate it, he explained after the horse is backing reliably and cadenced and soft, fall out of time with the horse, fall out with the seat and the reins timing, the horse won't like so he will speed up as he does drop the seat and rein and pet him. Horse thinks 'Boy human you can't do that very good' after a few tries the horse figures to get the relief from the out of timing you are doing he needs to speed up then he gets to stop, Soon the faster he goes the faster he gets to make you stop.

Busk is so full of answers and often just his lecture will answer any question that may be stewing.

I was satisfied with what he said, and grateful he didn't acknowledge my being tardy.

Buck admonished those that missed the afternoon session, he told about how his bay horse had an issue and he felt his working through the issue was the high point of the clinic, he said it was sad so many missed it and he couldn't recreate it.......

I was sad I missed it too.

He sent us out doing serpentines, short serpentines, large serpentines asking for the turn with the leg, walking out with life and energy.... boy could some of the advanced horses there WALK. Their mecates swinging to and fro the hind legs were taking huge strides and their turns were fluid and sweeping. I had a bit of a chance to observe a few as we came along together, I really enjoyed that part. It gives me a picture to strive for.

Another fellow and I happened to be moving along down the rail, taking a short rein to the inside, let the hips step over and as the inside front leg reaches release and ride out with energy, he and I worked our horses off each other, as we turned together each horse shortened up to avoid the other, that was fun. I could feel the flow and Cricket was finally doing what I struggled with alone. His horse was very advanced and he made it look like flowing butter, it felt good to get a feel and relax with the movement.

A few minutes later we were struggling again, I heard Buck holler "Rae, stop jerking your horses mouth, ask softly!" I was kicking her again too, she was stiff, lazy and bracing..... I was tired.

I turned her again and woosh, there was the flow, and there was Buck with his flag. He has flagged her in time with her front leg and she flowed off it like butter. We turned again and he flagged, woosh flow.... turn again, woosh flow, I commented "that was nice..... just do 500 more", he said "only 500?", I said maybe "501" he chuckled.

I told him "This horse was gee hawed around for 3 days and (I gestured handing him my rein) and told 'there ya go'", he said "I don't give a damn what happened, that person that calls himself a trainer is a liar" I came back, "that may be, but I'm having to deal with it too."

I told him I ride by myself and don't have someone to flag her for me....he said "you can do this, just flag her yourself, remember the timing and feel of the front foot."

I thought to myself RRRRIIIIIGHT! He was very pleasant, I valued that discussion and I really wished I could ride with him for the next week.

Buck asked us to move up to the trot, long trot " Cricket can trot well but she carries herself on an arc to the left, moving a right circle is hard, she continually drifts to the center, pushing her over is nearly impossible and using the left rein only arcs her more to the left, it was so hard, as she continually drifted to the center to pull her to the outside try to get her straight, all the while asking for a soft feel, lather, rinse, repeat.......
He was hollering at many riders, "stop pounding your horses back, rise to the trot". He was tired of floppy, sloppy riders.
About 1/3 of the group were pretty green riders, had no equitation and had bare control of their horses, they didn't know a lead from a diagonal and I'm sure were struggling with even going around the arena at a trot.

Cricket has a smooth trot but after about the 4th lap I started posting, which made it harder to her bent left, drifting to the inside of arena, pull to the outside, straighten, find the soft feel, keep her moving forward, long trot..... soon Buck called out "Rae, you're are on the wrong diagonal"..... DRAT!..... Note to self, Don't let it happen again.

Buck pulled a few riders to the center for discussion, and on we pounded at the long trot. He called out "I didn't forget you..... take a soft feel, at the walk make a half circle, and pick up the long trot again".

I think we make 10 laps or do at least, Buck called out "Keep asking for the soft feel, hold it for a few strides, keep asking" He lectured about how the long trot is the most useful gait for training, how posting is important and how covering many miles at the trot is beneficial for the horse"

Buck lectured, we trotted, "take a soft feel, at the walk make a half circle, and pick up the long trot again."

I called to him and said "She's lovin' this (going to the left) she is cheating and flexing her poll but not tipping her nose to the right, not arcing her neck to the right, her bad side" Buck said (and he was smiling) "Horses don't cheat, lie or fake" I corrected my statement to say " she is not arcing to her bad side", He told me to keep asking for a soft feel, keep asking to flex to the right, keep asking to move her ribs left, get her straight and ask her to soften to the left arced right. He said I'd have to double up her bad side and do less on her good side.

Then he sent me back out at a long trot.

Riding in traffic was good for Cricket, she had not done that and because everyone was moving at the same gait and the same speed it was helpful. I was able to move her along and she moved freely and passed the horses, then a black and white pinto kicked a hind foot up at her, we were more than 10 feet away and at no risk for getting kicked. Cricket was horrified that could have happened. I dont think it ever occurred to her that another horse would do such a thing.

Now she was worried that every other horse might do the same.... so much for freely moving through traffic. Every other stride she threw on the brakes so to not get within range should someone decide to kick her. Of course no one did but it made for a hurky, jerky long trot.

Buck called us into to the discussion circle. WHEW! I bet we trotted for 40 minutes.

Buck told a story about a clinic he did and this fellow and he clashed, and how Buck really wanted to rip into the guy, as the day went on it became more difficult by the hour. Then he told abouthow he decided to help the guy and offer to help him as much as he could.. He soon came to like the guy and it became pleasant working together. Ultimately he realized he was wrong about his opinion toward the guy. He assumed wrongly about the guys ability and his skills and his desire to do the right thing.
Buck was humbled and sorry he was quick to judge the guy and he was in fact wrong about lots of things related to the guy.

As he told that story I felt he was apologizing to me, not in a direct way but certainly with the story.
Buck has a very unusual way to make the stories and the telling say more than just the words. I was appreciative of the how the day went and how he helped with the flag, and how he relayed the story.

There were lots of questions and answers, I just listened and soaked up his lecture.

Clinic BBQ

2009-08-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening was the participants BBQ hosted by friends of Buck and the arena owners....
What a fantastic assortment of food, drink and fellowship.

The opportunity to visit and relax was welcome. During the clinic there was virtually no ability to meet anyone and learn their names or where they were from. Participants were from Canada, Montana, California, Oregon and New Zealand. I was impressed with the amount of money involved and spent in pursuing this clinic and clinician.

Personally it was a bit of a sacrifice to attend this, I couldn't imagine following Bucks clinic circuit and riding in many clinics over the summer. I'll definately be placing that high on my post lottery winning "To Do" list.
It was a treat to sit and visit casually with Buck, he was genuinely interested in my children and surprised I have 5 children the oldest of which is nearly 18. He took the time to look through my photo album and was interested and asked lots of questions about my children, husband and other topics.... nobody discussed their horses or the clinic. Buck was equally interested in others lives and interests. He is personable and gracious.

I met Fawn Anderson

She and a friend are taking Bucks clinics over the summer and rode some fabulous horses.

I met 2 women from Florida that were thrilled to get their picture taken with a "REAL" cowboy... they were hilarious.
One woman had a European accent and was curious what 'Barn' I rode with and was surprised to learn I kept my own horses and didn't even have a barn....literally.
Her experience and knowledge was high level show jumpers and the like. The ranching high desert and DIY aspect was lost on her I think.

Everyone was so nice and personable, I enjoyed the evening very much.

Sunday Stills Fences

2009-08-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

My header image is part of the fence category......

I couldn't decide If I liked BW or color more.......

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday Stills

2009-07-12T18:46:00.001-07:00

This image is some sort of vine kind of like ivy growing on a concrete wall, this was in the late fall. I'm also drawn to the texture and shape of horse manes. Our pony Maurice had the neatest mane, the color was bleached straw and the texture was coarse and straight, I always thought it looked cool.

I'm particularly partial to hand tooled leather, this image is of my show saddle. Oak leaf and acorns.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-08T09:22:00.001-07:00

Sold

2009-07-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

Today I sold our pony Maurice, we had him for 12 years and he was FANTASTIC, everything anyone could want in a pony. I'm sure the next family that has him will enjoy him, they have a little boy about 3 and he was thrilled. They are horse people and dad ropes. Should be a good match.

I'm a little sad, but was working toward the decision for some time.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Body Score Condition

2009-06-29T13:09:00.001-07:00

I have a saddle for sale and it has caused me some frustration as several folks have passed on it because they claim the tree is too narrow for their horse.

The saddle is a western pleasure/show saddle made by Textan, it has a nearly 7 inch gullet and full QH bars..... yet the complaint it is too narrow is misunderstood, the saddle is generous and made to fit a modern horse.... their horses are too FAT!

OK I said it.... perhaps the PC police wont be too harsh on me. ;~)

I keep my horses on the athletic and lean side, enough fat to properly cushion their muscles but still able to see a hint of rib while in motion. A fat horse is not fit and likely to chafe under the girth, saddles are difficult to fit and fat withers are dangerously at risk for galling and allowing the saddle to roll. Putting a normal and generous size tree on a fat horse and trying to pad it correctly is like wearing 2 pairs of thick socks to cushion shoes that pinch.

I found this link on the internet with a body scoring and conditioning quiz to test yourself.

Body Score Quiz

After you take the quiz come back and guess the body score of my horses, I'll post the answers ( Or what I evaluate them at later) later.

Domino 3 years 14.3H
Missy 25 years 14.2 H
Dolly 20 months, 14H (she is a pest and impossible to stand for a pic)
Cricket 4 years 15.2H
Maurice 17 Years 11H

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Feed

2009-06-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

MMMMMM little piggies all of them, with a range of ages from long yearling to over 25, it can be a challenge to make sure everybody gets their needs met nutritionally.

For the last 12 years all the horses were on irrigated pasture and we grew our own hay, now we live on a drylot situation and all the horses feed is bought and hand fed.... boy do I miss the pasture.

Last year we were hit with extraordinary hay prices, this year looks better.
Makes it problematic to feed free choice orchard grass, so we feed free choice filler hay and limit feed the orchard grass to about 60%

I've never been a fan of feeding grain unless absolutely necessary, and in our case the little bit of grain is essentially a carrier for the more nutritionally dense feeds. I think we are doing OK to make up for the calorie dense full-time pasture.

Domino is 3 and was severely malnourished when we got him a year ago. He is still on what I consider a high calorie ration , sunflower seeds, alfalfa pellets, 14% sweet feed, TM salt and free choice hay.

Dolly gets essentially the same as Domino with the addition of 18% rabbit pellets for protein.

Cricket is 4 now and HYPP N/P she is asymptomatic and she only gets dry COB with canola oil and free choice hay. Signifigant molasses, sunflower seeds, alfalfa and potassium sources are to be avoided (she does get a handful of sweetfeed to stimulate her on the dry COB, but no more).
TM salt is important to her needs, to keep the sodium/potassium and hydration in balance.

Missy is our toughest case as she tends to be laminitic and hard to keep weight, she is also allergic to sunflower seeds, she gets itchy runny eyes and hive like reaction, she is on free choice hay and 18% rabbit pellets, canola oil and enough sweetfeed to make it palatable, along with TM salt.

Maurice the pony only gets a handful of sweetfeed to carry the TM salt and a handful of sunflower seeds to meet his fat needs, he is slightly cushings prone and is on restricted green hay, but unlimited filler hay.

Green Orchard Grass Hay

Filler hay, this is mostly coarse fescue, its not as green as I like, but they don't seem to mind too much. I prefer ryegrass or bluegrass straw but this is all I can get this time of year, we get this is the big 4 X 8 bales, they all get this free choice

Canola Oil full of omega 3

Trace Mineral Salt
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Alfalfa Pellets
14% Livestock Blend Sweetfeed
Dry C.O.B.
18% Rabbit Pellets
I also feed Horse Guard supplement especially to meet the selenium requirements as our area tends to be selenuim deficient, In addition to loose TM salt we keep a TM block available for them.

BBQ Cowboy Church

2009-06-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

The BBQ was wonderful, the message was inspiring, thank you to Preacher Johnny Morris from Angel Camp Cowboy Church, Midvale ID. I guess there was 75 people there or maybe more.

My Honey, Dave and Ramona brought us music, I didn't get the names of the other musicians and back-up singer.
A special guest was Charlie Walker, he shared some new music from his album and lots of old hymns.

I borrowed a few pics, I didn't get a camera, so missed a lot of images I wanted to share. Like the people, the food, the singers, the preachers .....sigh.

Please excuse the image quality, its the best I could do.
I promise it all looked great in person.

Sunday Stills

2009-06-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

Dolly's Face

2009-06-18T07:24:00.001-07:00

This is Dolly........

My Dear Honey gave her to me for my birthday last year, she is a very late baby and wont be 2 until the end of august.

Isn't she pretty?

Well 2 weeks after I got her last fall, I put her out to play in the newly fenced drylot paddock, smooth woven wire, stretched tight and clipped to posts.... she ran into it at a dead run..........

sliced her face to the skull, from mid way on her face, nearly eye to eye, the flap hung open and took over 20 stitches..... I'll spare the gore, I was too shocked to even think to take pics..... Poor baby!

This image is 2 months after the fact....... back in November.

She eats a lot and is growing.......

And her face healed up just like the vet said it would.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-17T08:24:00.001-07:00

The Bad and the Ugly.....

2009-06-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a cell phone I can post this .......

....and this,

just think how good it would look in full focus and full color, LOL........

Just call me Rainbow Foot.

Weekend Events

2009-06-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

Still no camera......

I've been shopping on Amazon and Walmart.com.......... think I've decided, but we'll have to wait until wednesday to place an order.

If I had a camera I'd take pictures of my foot and you could all guess as to what it looks like...... here is a clue, whats purple, blue, swollen and streaked with blood ?

A big toe and first ball joint after its stomped on by a large paint horse..... named Cricket.

It was an accident she didn't mean to stomp on my foot, but, I was holding and looking at her right forefoot and she was standing quietly. Suddenly she flinched and jerked it away to stamp at a fly, stamped it hard down right on the top of my boot....hard, oh so very hard she did.

So I did what any cowgirl does..... I crumpled in a heap, held my foot in both hands, said "gee whiz" and tried to remember to breathe.

A few minutes of that was enough to draw the interest of snoopy mustang colt named Domino that wandered over to sniff me and rub his nose over my hair,

I wasn't in the mood and my attempts to swat him off only made him more determined to examine my crumpled heap. I decided to get out of the dry lot and maybe make it to the house. Gracefully you know, walking in the half bent style of trying to not step on anything but the part of ones foot that dosen't hurt, slooowwwly, then quick off the hurt foot and step, sloooowwwly, quick off the hurt foot, careful to only use the heel to support my weight.

OH boy this hurts, one boot and one slipper footwear at church yesterday, sharp!
so today will be ginger and maybe by tomorrow I can wear a boot again.

Thursday and still raining.....

2009-06-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share an upcoming event in the area..... BBQ Tri Tip at the Lookout Grange in Prineville.

I still don't have a camera, but I'm hoping I can borrow or beg one from somewhere......I'll be sharing as I can I was hoping to do a full deal. We'll see what comes up.

Check out musician Charlie Walker as he brings music and entertainment for everyone there.

Tuesday Musing

2009-06-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today is raining, hailing and lightening something fierce.... not a good day for riding.
On top of that my little digital camera died, and since our budget is so tight I'll be replacing it with a very cheap point and shoot. Until then and because I can't take new pics for awhile I decided to put something together from things in the computer.
My dear youngest daughter was riding recently and I had the foresight of catching it on video, combined with the movie maker feature on the computer that I've recently started playing with, this is what I came up with.

This old mare a fabulous horse for the kids, she is kind, patient and very gentle. Registered Arabian and granddaughter of Serafix. Not only is she good for the kids but she is my preferred pony horse and is rock solid and stable, keeps on moving forward no-matter what a colt may be doing on the lead.

sunday stills powerline challenge

2009-05-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

I was challenged to take interesting shots with powerlines included. I only have a point and shoot camera but here they are. I also had one set of powerlines in my area to look at.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T07:43:00.001-07:00

Memorial Weekend Jam

2009-05-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

My dear sweet Honey and many good friends played music last saturday at a local camp/resort, many musicians, much good music and lots to eat.
I'm always amazed at the talent and skill that people in our area have, at this jam there were fiddles, banjo's, mandolins, upright bass, washtub bass, washboard, bells, guitars, harmonica, jewsharp, box drum, electronic drums, bongo, tambourine, not to mention the great vocalists. Traditional cowboy music, bluegrass, western, country and original stuff too.

It was a fun day.

My honey is in the yellow shirt.

Sunday Stills on Monday

2009-05-25T08:30:00.001-07:00

yellow dandelions going to be eaten.......

yellow lichen on the shady juniper.....

New Blog

2009-05-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings, this is a new blog for me, my horses, my husband, my children and sunnier side of my life.
we live in Central Oregon, we love horses and the High Desert, my Dear Husband whom I call Honey most of the time is a truck driver, but hopes to retire from it soon as the economy allow. He is crazy about his Gretsch guitar and was able to satisfy a 30 year dream last year. We have a 2 year old paint filly, a 3 year old mustang gelding, a 4 year paint mare and I'm training them all. I intend to post pictures of his playing, me riding and the children playing, as I can.