Camping With Horses

What an amazing weekend!

We arrived at the ranch at 4 pm and set the horses up in their own corral.



A quick zip across the road to set up our own cozy diggs:



We had no time left for riding that evening, so hunkered down for some misty campfire sittin'. Up at a luxurious 9 am, we had a delightful campfire breakfast and zipped down to the ranch, on the trail for 11 am.

We traversed some spectacular trails out there. From the steapest sand dunes to deep water crossings, there isn't a moment you and your horse aren't engaged in your environement.

Bill had two oopsie incidents, one right out of the gate. We instantly forgave him for spooking at a spooking flock of geese around the corner. The second one wasn't so keen... he decided to be wary of some minor white water on a ledge and almost backed right up off the darned thing. 30 mins later, he marched through the wash-out at a bridge site without a hitch. Go figure.

Max was a champ through it all, only batting an eye when he sleepily walked past some run-off froth build up... we had already passed it so that it was under my boot, but suddenly he saw it and pulled some kind of amazing lipizzaner jump & kick-out manoeuvre that I sat like a pro, if I do say so. He also was very cautious whenever he was in the lead. His feet held up well through the rocky half of the terrain.

Very successful time and wonderful cool weather - NO BUGS!

Tacking up...


Goofing around the yard...

More Goofin...

Last one goofin...

Couple of trail shots:

Good Times.

So we've hit the trail twice. Not monumentous, but pretty fantastic!

The first ride was pretty tame, just exploring some freshly cleared fields. Hubby rode with me and it was neat to catalogue everything about what made Max tick. He was very tuned into Bill's status the entire time and constantly gravitated toward him. We practiced some tame trotting which can be a challenge in an open area. He came back to me instantly and remained extremely light the entire time. Some dairy cows in the distance wearing bells caught his attention but it was the vehicles near and far that retained it. We didn't bother trying to share the road this time around.

The second ride was phenomenal. A friend borrowed the hubby's gelding and we hit a local sand quarry via a friendly neighbor's bush trails. The trails themselves were beautifully groomed and we passed two bee colonies calmly, without incident. I had Petra take the lead with Bill and Max marched right into the sand, water and whatever we put in front of him. We crossed depths that got my knees wet, even once I pulled them up as high as I could. The other side was a do or die situation of scaling daunting inclines and he never hesitated. This sucker is a veritable mountain goat! We exited the quarry via a gorgeous little road at another controlled trot. Traversed some deep ditches and battled the vehicle phobia. He was doing very well sharing the road, especially if I kept his feet moving and gently asked him to control his reaction. He got to the point of a simple head-bob when some idiot ruined our progress. How can people NOT understand that a horse does not like a vehicle zipping up their ass at 60kms?! We had a quick scoot forward up into own Bill's tolerant hind end.

Tomorrow afternoon we load up for a two hour trailer ride to the lake! We'll be renting a corral at the ranch out there, a place I worked at for a handful of years. I know the stunning trails out there and can't wait to show hubby, not to mention explore just who Max is!

The Last Integration

I just knew Bill would be his typical crusty self. He was so great for all the mares introduced to his herd.

Max's re-initiation wasn't as brutal as the first time. He's taking it very well, maintaining a polite distance and immediately deferring when Bill feels the need to put a chase on. I know the time will come soon that he steps up and takes his place again. I hope Bill back off soon!

I was releived that for the initial event, the mares wanted nothing to do with the drama. We had pulled Mom and Baby right out of the pasture and distracted them with feed. The others hung out with us at the fence while the boys hashed things out. Even once they'd calmed down and we put Mom and Baby back in, the ladies stayed away from any tussling and Mom kept Baby close.

Still feeding VERY seperately. Actually, due to losing valuable hay in all the muck at the fence, we're driving our feedings out to higher, green ground. The herd on one side, Max on the other.

For all the thunder and flash, there have only been a few minor bite marks and chest-kicks exchaned. They sure are a gorgeous sight to see, running around all puffed up!

NOW He's Back!

Well I'm happy to say that the goofball has already come out of his shell. He must have been quite put out by being sent to boarding skool!

We continue to work on having polite feet while someone is handling them. I'm proud to say that we were able to rest them on the hoofjack and rasp!! Not a bad job done, either.

As I type this, the boy is grazing out on the yard with the other light horse in our herd, the grey appendix mare. Got to get those calories in! We were going to integrate today, but the footing is far too wet. For sure we'll have one solid herd by the weekend.

On the yard last night while the others glumly scrounged for hay scraps on their less-than-green side of the fence:

I'm loving his furry little fetlocks and am thinking I'll leave them grown out. Sort of balances his comical self!

Whoops! Just had a horse mug right up against the living room window! I think he appreciated my wave. Nobody is quite as inquisitive as Max.

HE'S HOME!!!

So I'm one HAPPY camper. It's as though someone taught him English and we can now have a proper conversation! No more misunderstandings, blank looks and lack of response! I'll let my picture mantage tell the story (GREAT shots, camerawoMAN!):

(yay!) walking things out...let's try the trot...and a rockin' canter...bee-utiful stop.the latest trick in his book...
He came back lighter and lighter. In weight more than I'd like, but it won't take any time at all to bulk him back up. The saddle doesn't fit as well as it did with some cusion. He's MUCH lighter in response and on the hands, all around. I just can't believe the difference.

There's still Max in there. I didn't want to lose him entirely. Still tricky to work those feet. I hope I can get a good trim going on him as I can on hubby's horse, Bill. As it stands, I don't trust him enough to crawl underneath. ^shrug^ We'll see how far we can get.

From him personally, I sense a growing up, which is what this entire adventure was about, after all. For the first time he had to work (hard) daily. He did very well and in keeping with his forgiving personality, didn't offer any stinky behaviour.

I'm really looking forward to our riding relationship from now-on, especially our camping trip in two weeks!! Look out Falcon Lake!!!

Mom + One

No, not the guy on the fence... the babe peeking out from behind. Appearances can be deceiving, though. This little guy is no timid mouse.

At four months old, he has not yet been with any other horses than Mom. The plan is to integrate them slowly, first with a mare Mom knows from another place, then with a very maternal sweetheart of a mare.

You will, of course have noticed the cribbing collar. The hope is that with the high environment enrichment our pasture offers, Mom will forget all about her habit born of boredom. We shall see.

Mom is half Shire, half Thoroughbred. Dad is one quarter Percheron, the rest Thoroughbred. Any dressage people shopping out there may want to take a peek...

Max comes home Thursday!! I cannot believe how ready I am to have his mug back in our pasture.

The Herd

The newest girl, another appendix like the pal, though of an entirely different type. This one was a school horse in a large jumping barn in BC, apparently. She's now doing very well teaching her newbie owners.



Purty Line Up.

Love Birds.

Friendly Gurl.

Boy, am I bored, waiting around for the trainer to work his magic, lol!

Hilarious how, all my riding life I would have done almost anything to ride a horse like Bill and now that I am playing with him almost daily, I'm totally bored! Have yet to get some good riding shots of the two of us.