Summer has Arrived

Even though I un-scientifically say these are the true seasons:
Winter = Dec, Jan, & Feb
Spring= Mar, Apr, May
Summer= June, July, Aug
Fall= Sept, Oct & Nov...ha ha

Summer comes earlier in NorCal-Cuz it hits 80 degrees in April.
Still-I’m fortunate to have access to breezes from the lake where I keep my horses now.
It’s just an awesome ride!

Persee was overly alert yesterday!  🙄. Still-we made it out alive.
Scoot Boots are still working well, but we need a 10 mile day or longer with more trotting to really see.

What? I have to STOP for a picture?

Nevel has been EXTREMELY  bad about mounting and even bucked me (not off) the  other day after I got on,! Snorting, charging around, backing up!!! Bad bad bad! But once I get him going down the trail he has been a pleasure to ride, 7 miles on Browns Ravine with some nice extended trotting.  His feet are soooo much better now that he doesn’t have to stand in mud and wet pasture all day!
Yesterday he got a lot of round pen work at home.  On Saturday I plan on working on mounting him in various places and not actually riding him away from the barn.  However he is almost always perfect in the arena.., sooo regardless we are going back to basics with his bratty self! 

Peek a Boo...uhmmmm I think Nevel is dead 😳

New Trails with Nevel and Persee

On Friday I rode Nevel 6 miles on new trails
Well, I say I rode 6 but really it was 5 because I hand walked him down the lane
And had to open a big gate.
Then he was SOOOOO bad hollering for Persee
That I had to lunge his belligerent self until he complied!!!

I regret I did not take any pics.
It was a spectacular 67 degree, blue sky kind of day.
Emerald grasses
Yellow, pink and purple flowers
A whole hillside dotted with wild iris.
Nevel put in some nice 12 mph trots and also cantered into the wind-it was a nice ride.

On Saturday I was scheduled to ride with the barn owner and Sue at noon
No one was around when I arrived at 11 so Nevel was groomed and had a “grass walk.”
At 1145 -still no one in sight so I texted both of them...no answer.
I groomed saddled Persee up.  I had his scoot boots on for the first time so walked him up and down the lane a few times.
At 1230 I tired of waiting and took Persee down the lane.
He was spooking-well-stepping sideways at every little flitting bug...but then marched through a gauntlet of white styrofoam blocks near the gate.

Through the gate we went.  He stood stock still while I mounted. Then we were off.
He side stepped at a bush and a change of color in the trail then settled in with nice walking and trotting.
He was very suspicious of a pair of hikers and also a pair of riders.  After that we saw plenty of people out hiking and he even posed nicely for those who wanted to take a photo.

The biggest spook he had on the return home was a gauntlet on a very narrow section of trail 

between a large fallen tree and a culvert with trickling water.  He attempted to turn around but the trail crumbled at his right hind so he opted to quiver his way forward, jammed on his brakes at the culvert then hopped over and headed for home-we survived!  First time on the trail since ummmmm August or Sept ?  I need to change that,  his trot is so much more comfortable then Nevels-but I’m not brave enough to canter on him yet.

The scoot boots worked fine but did not get fully tested as we only went through one slightly soggy area.  They are definitely quieter and less clunky then Nevel’s Cavallos.

Not excited about posing in the poppies!  Ha!

I Believe

I Believe
Despite the gloom and doom at work

I Believe
Despite my shift start times being  3 times in 2 weeks

I Believe
Despite cold and gloomy weather

I Believe it will be once again
Warm and Bright

I BELIEVE I loved POPPIES the best...

I BELIEVED....
I loved POPPIES the best...
UNTIL...
the LUPINE bloomed. : )

(Photos from last week on the American River & Rocklin, Ca)

No April Fools

I’m not talking about COVID though...
I’m sick of that subject and dealing with it at work.

In regard to my previous vent post-I heard that the owner lost all of her boarders but 1 and that 1 is looking to go also.

ANYWAY. APRIL 1

I pulled in to the pasture gate on said owners driveway and proceeded to feed my damp hungry horses.
The skiers were very dark and foreboding...spitting rain.
I was anxious through the roof and worried about trouble from owner.
The horses had galloped up when they saw my truck coming and splatted mud all over themselves.
While they ate I loaded my deck box into the truck then drove up to T’S to hitch up my trailer.

 Then I collected Persee who was a bundle of nerves but did settle some to eat some grass while I brushed some of the mud off.  He then loaded nicely and had minimal stomping.

I returned for Nevel and noticed the owner sitting on the porch watching.  I ignored her and took Nevel out.  Nevel was a basket case.  I’ve never seen him act that way.  He tried to gallop to the trailer.  I guess he thought he was being left behind!  😢
He wouldn’t even graze-so he jumped on the trailer and we headed out.

Ok...no he wasn’t standing on his head but I can’t get the pic to load in properly!  Ha ha!
It really was a short drive and as we pulled out of the lane the sun burst forth...the clouds were racing away and blue skies appeared.
The last thing I noticed was a sheriffs car following me down the lane.  Coincidence?I don’t think so...owner down there is a NUT CASE!!

BLUE SKIES
Perseeus was quivering like a leaf when I had put Nevel on but both of The boys traveled well, and stood quietly on the trailer without a peep after we arrived while I signed the paperwork.
They both unloaded well, led nicely in their new paddock and Persee had a good roll in the new field.
They sauntered around quietly until another horse started galloping in the next paddock, so they galloped too...then we’re all relaxed and sleepy eyed, while I groomed them some more and they munched on sweet smelling hay under their new shelter.

Nevel enjoys his shelter.

Nevel checks out Bleu two paddocks over (who came from the old boarding place too) 

Persee nibbles on greens and enjoys the company of a mare on the other side of the fence.

No April Fools for us!  We are looking forward to new trails and new friends (but we will surely miss Major and Beau-ya’all come ride with us sometime!  Trails to the lake area are right outside the gate)

Vent & No April Fool Here!

A number of months back my horses boarding place was sold.
The new owner wanted to board horses
I didn’t have anywhere to go
So I stayed.

FIRST SIGN OF NUTZZZZZ!!!
At first it seemed ok
But the Hotwire had never been fixed
Nevel went right through it-multiple times
The new owners said I had to fix the WHOLE pasture!!!
I refused but...still
I had to shell out big bucks to fix a portion of the fence.

Next -they said I couldn’t park on the lane and had to park at the old owners!! ???
They moved Persee and Nevel to the big pasture without my knowledge.
No shelter there-that was in the contract-to have shelter.
I asked nicely about once a month-when would shelter be provided-hopefully before the rain???
They repeatedly assured me it would happen-but it never did.
I kept searching for suitable new boarding place.

Weekly I would find (and pick up) trash, toys and tons of twine and wire in the pasture

So very maddening-and the fence was sagging.  Neighbors walking on the lane actually were able to get the owners to fix the fencing by complaint multiple times to them.

STARVING??
The final straw came when I noticed that Nevel had dropped a lot of weight in 1 week.  I questioned that amount of hay being given and the fact that Nevel shared his hay with the resident steer.  The owner became argumentive and defensive-I requested more hay to be given and she argued more.  I had physically seen them feed the hay twice and KNEW they were not feeding 2 flakes each to the horses at each feeding.  It was more like 1 flake for 2 horses.
The second week I returned...Nevel even skinnier.  4 holes up on his girth from the previous Sunday.
I flipped out and demanded her to feed more.  She said she would.
I also moved their food storage bin right next to their feed buckets to make that easier too.
Owner said I could park there too.

THE NEXT DAY
I was driving up Salmon Falls Road with my dogs to hike and passed a horse farm with a boarding sign out front.  I meant to inquire after my hike but forgot and ended up going home via 49.
That night I was perusing Craigs List for new boarding and came upon a listing for that very farm.  I promptly inquired, visited and booked boarding to start in April.

CONTRACTS
The contract said I was supposed to give 30 day notice to leave.  I gave 24.
3 days prior I had the vet out for spring shots.
Owner came up through the orchard and stood across the drive-hollered out sternly...
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE??? She said it three times before we could answer.
Not to mention the doc with a stethoscope and a syringe and a truck that said LOOMIS BASIN EQUINE ON IT!!
Then she said we couldn’t park there that her family uses the driveway etc.  we were far off of the driveway by the gate.
The vet said “I will only be 5 min!”
Owner then said “DONT DO IT AGAIN!!!”  YOU HAVE TO PARK AT T’S and you CANT have Vets or farriers and stuff like that here-you have to do it at T’S and park on the lane???”

Huh??  So now I AM supposed to park on the lane and use someone else’s property that I don’t board with?  Huh???

I was pretty much in shock!  I avoid drama as much as I can...besides what was WRONG with her?

That day I picked up twine, trash and toys and threw it over the fence into their yard instead of a trash bag!!!  Grrrrrrrrr!!! 😡