THE BOOTS and the BUCK-A-ROO

Ok, I have a ton of photos and some videos-but since I just updated my apple, I seem to have lost my "slideshow" capabilities with Aperture...so in the meantime-here are some stills of the rodeo.
(mind you, Nevel did "hi-step" in the round pen with the boots on, then Mike rode him there and he did fine...when he got to the arena, he decided to try and buck them off...but in the end he did have rubs on both bulbs in the front...time for pastern wraps I guess?   What NEXT???  enjoy the Rodeo:

Nevel tries to Buck

Then Leaps

Mike is pulling hard to the inside as Nevel continues to bolt at full speed

Oops...there goes Mikes hat -going...

going...

gone!

 Nevel is charging towards me and 4 other people along with Cisco (another horse in the arena)

 He looks straight at me...."Did I do good mom?"

 Behaving now....I rode after this-I wanted Mike to video...but his hands were still shaking.

I love my golden child!

Boots

I finally broke down and ordered some Cavello Boots for Mr. Nevel, his pasture is just too soft and doesn't allow him to naturally keep his feet tough.

After little ride I measured his feet for the boots...now they have been ordered.  I wanted purple-they were on sale...but out of stock, Web site told me to pick something else, so I picked red-they were on sale too-same result...so I resorted to the black at "FULL PRICE" which amounted to 88$ more than they would have been at sale price.  Guess next time I will get my butt in gear when I see a sale on the horizon!

I also put Falcon in the round pen with a saddle on.  He hasn't been ridden in several months and certainly not by me since May.  He was pretty quiet and behaved, but still intermittently off on the left front.  

The pic below is of happier days with Falcon when I lived in Virginia and would go riding with my two Maremmas-Cola and Gemma

It is a beautiful fall day!  Happy Trails!

He's a Good Lad

Finally got out to see my Roly Poly Pony today.  He was well behaved-if not lazy, so I had a fairly comfortable ride on him at the trot.  He wasn't interested in cantering, but Mike is back in town to work on that a couple of days a week...Video below of some of our lazy day in the Sun.

More Time AWAY

Do I have ADD?
I don't think so, but my poor horses have even less attention than usual!
*First-Labor Day backpacking trip to Mt Langley

*Second-unexpected invite to go to Bishop last weekend to catch fall colors before they disappeared (according to the "Fall Color" report)  The colors were disappointing, but two days away was still nice. And there were some REALLY cool CLOUDS!

"Sky Lashes"

 A cold windy night in a tent

A tough hike to Lamark Lakes

 Big Wind gusts at the lake

 And more cool clouds-this one is over Mono Lake

 And these were near South Lake Tahoe

*Third the PLANNED trip to the Bishop area for fall colors-I ended up being alone :(
Well, except for Griffin...The boy is ready to go...NOT!!!

We visited the South Lake Tufa (Mono Lake)

When you take 1000 pictures...how do you choose...

Icy mornings at Mammoth Lakes

 Road to North Lake-Colors popping

 Grass Lake-a hike to 10,000 ft

 Shared Turkey and Swiss

We didn't see another soul on this hike.  Quiet and Peaceful.

 Griffin enjoyed the views as much as I did

 North Lake-most colors were past peak due to an early snow/wind storm the week before

 And then there was THIS

All campgrounds and "toilets" were closed, gated and padlocked

It didn't stop me or others from parking where we could and hiking/fishing/photographing.

A park ranger was driving around North Lake but did not ask anyone to leave.

We wouldn't have anyway.  I pay BIG California Taxes and I am going to enjoy the environment if I want to.

Honestly I think we all should revolt against this nonsense...so instead of people using the outhouse facilities...you find TP by every rock and tree?

 Griff is tired after hiking 6+ miles.  Mother Earth provides a comfy leafy bed

 Along the trail at Long Lake in Rock Creek Canyon

 What is this?  A DOG park?  Griff found many new friends at this popular lake

 Silver Lake on the June Lake loop.

A nice trip-but I would rather not do it alone.