Narrow Twist

Musing
Do Haflingers come in a "Narrow Twist" version?

Probably not!  : P

LAX

I have been quite LAX on the blogging front.
Mainly because I haven't spent much time with dear cute Nevel.
This weekend was hot, dusty, smokey.  Nevel greeted me eagerly and we spent an hour together while he nibbled on snacks and I brushed his mane and tail.
STRESSFUL WORK environment...TRAVEL...PACKING...The summer is slipping in to August!!!!
Last weekend we went to Half Moon Bay...No, Nevel didn't get to go!  : (

 Half Moon Bay Strutter : )

Gloom at Half Moon

 A bright spot in the gray along the bay

 This is WEIRD!

 Sunset at Half Moon

 The next day...bluer skies and an accidental picture.

Daisies at Maverick Beach

The Trail to Maverick Point

Lunch at Sams Chowder House!  You must go!

 Take me to the Sea
Feel the salty Breeze

San Francisco looms large

The Sky greets us after church at Bayside in Granite Bay

Perfect Ending to a perfect weekend

Nevel on the Trail

Trying to video Riding by hand holding a camera and also "steering Nevel" at the same time is not optimal for a steady picture!  ; )

give Nev a loose rein or ignorance of leg direction and he wanders off in to the weeds or chooses to simply turn around and head for home!  lol

We had a great little 6 mile ride out to the lake and back-walk, trot, canter and an 

"escape" attempt gallop on his part.

He was cantering nicely...headed towards home up out of the meadow when we turned a corner

He gave me an evil eye...tossed his pretty head and took off!

He was easily controlled-but still...what a little stinker!  

The video is just some boring trotting and walking

Speedo

I headed out to the pasture bright and early on Sunday

Temps predicted to be in the high 90's by mid-day, but at 8 a.m. it was a nice 72.

Nevel was in the furthest corner of the pasture

and looked at me when I called but did not come running.

So I got my exercise only to find that he was across the creek

and I was not interested in trudging through knee deep

sucking mud...so I walked halfway back the pasture where I could cross and coaxed him over with snacks.

I had already determined that I was not going to use the Duett saddle on him.

He has had huge dry spots over the shoulders and I just can't find the perfect sweet spot when riding him in it...so I slung the tucker plantation on him.

It looked like it fit him better than I had remembered

The Skito pad never would stay in place under the Duett

So I tried it with the Plantation

Nevel was saying "hmmmm, really?"

But after a few moves away from the mounting block

He stood still and let me board up and off we went to the Lake 

At first he walked slowly-not wanting to leave the barn

But as soon as we crossed the road and entered the "Big Wood" he took off and it was all I could do to hold him back...nice trotting and cantering, but we really need to work on a steady pace.

Any amount of freedom and I can feel his hind end go in to SPEEDO gear and off we go!

The Kimberwick bit seems to give me a bit more control at least.

Other than one major stumble on the way back home...where I thought for sure I was going to bite the dust along with him...

we  ended up having a nice little 6 mile jaunt before the temps started rising too much.

We had perfectly even sweat marks at the end of the ride

No apparent rubs and no Skito slippage....

"...Quit talking MOM...where are the CARROTS already????"

Just another Magic...Sunday...Sunday : )

My rides are few and far between
And unfortunately,
I lost my "person" that was riding Nevel
So much drama that seems to go on in the horsie world.
I manage to get a Sunday in here and there....sigh...

Spring flowers are still blossoming brightly, pinks, purples, whites and yellows...

 The grass is starting to brown at the lake but the Lupines seem to be in full force

 Quite a lovely scent emerges from the Lupine and I am ecstatic that they were still blooming today.

 Nevel took a sniff and snorted an exhale and a half whinny.  No other "ponies in sight here!"

 We passed several families with small children eating apples....Nevel tried stopping by one of them, but I urged him on.  I didn't want him nibbling on little fingers...and besides the dad swung his hiking stick around and Nevel gave a little start...the dad apologized and I explained that a move like that encourages the HORSE to move..

We had a nice trot up to Horseshoe Bar then turned to come back.  We passed several riders going the way we had just come and Nevel stood nicely to the side to let them pass...after that though he tried to back up and turn around and go with them.  Thankfully he decided that "home" was the better choice.
I let him take of and he was doing a flying trot up the trail when he came to a jolting stop!  UGH...that HURT.  A tall thin stump ahead seemed to have startled him, but as I tried to encourage him to move on, he snorted and blew and wheeled around.  He tried to keep moving but thankfully he listened and turned to face the "beast"  The same sequence occurred 4 times before I was able to get him to head home.  He was not looking at the stump...but a mound of what looked like mulch or something that looked like it had been freshly dug about in...maybe a bear or other evil forest critter had been there before we rounded the corner....no clue...but at least he didn't dump me and leave me in the dust!  : P

Next was the bridge.  We had already crossed it coming the other way, but for some reason going home across it looked scary.  Thankfully he didn't balk.

 Put his head down and dutifully plodded across it.  So we ended up with a nice little 6 mile jaunt
On a perfectly fantastic 65-70 degree day under bright blue skies!  Sunday Sunday...not looking forward to Monday Monday!

Trip To There and Back

Sunday...Sunday...Maybe I will RIDE today!

 Nevel and I arrived at Sterling Point bright and early.

Like 8:30 is early...but no one was there

and

So we waited and checked on our shadows

 You can lead a horse to water...

 You can offer Goat Gouda and crackers...

Nevel managed to eat the cracker and spit out the cheese...!!!

 Martha and Ronnie arrived around 9

and after much messing around with a trial saddle and girths

the decision was made to use a usual western saddle on Maz

Then off we went happily in search of...

 LUPINES!  LUPINES! LUPINES!

 We were NOT disappointed!

Lupines EVERYWHERE!

The boys were all fairly well behaved, each taking a turn at the lead

middle and back of the pack.

Nevel led them across the creeks when the others balked.

We just did not want to stop

Having to check out the next hill full of Lupines.

 Martha with Reuben, Me with Nevel

Oh HAPPY day!

 Ronnie on Maz

 Nevel inhaling the sweet Lupines

More photo ops...I'm ready...he isn't

 Ok, now we have it!

What a fun, fun 3 hour ride.  The first time I have ridden that long in 6 years!!!

and ohhhh today....my legs...my legs!

Guess I better go ride the kinks out!

Let someone else do the work?

Once again a month and more has passed.  Blossoming trees outside my workplace taunt me
as I languish under fluorescent lights

Where does time fly?  Spring arrives in February here.  Bright red tulips cheerily wave
While my kids in Virginia dig out from a snowy bank.

 Then I split my time with friendship fair and leave behind the easy chair!  The trails are calling!

 Bright yellow poppies adorn the American River Bike Trail

Huge Lupines escaped my pause

 The American River, Low and Quiet drifts lazily under the Rainbow Bridge in Folsom

 My favorite place to stop along the Bike Trail, just North of the Cal State Aquatic Center

And then there is NEVEL!

Time to get the boy back in action 

Sunday outings are just not enough!

"What is that you say?"

" Dressed for riding?  I'm a HANDSOME dude!"

 "Wait...what did you say?"

" Endurance conditioning?  I'm listening, but I sure don't like what you are SAYING!"

 So I hired a help to take the boy down the trail a few days a week!

 Nevel is on the trail AGAIN....FINALLY!

Maybe the next report will be of an escapade with me!  : )