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.

Crisp and Crunchy

A damp almost musty scent of wet leaves lingered
The air was crispy, the skye a bright blue
The sand now moist...
Wonderful what a few hours of steady rain can do.

Nevel and I had a good ride in the arena
Plenty of serpentines at the trot
And
A buck at the canter.
It is difficult to get him cantering

Then we walked to the "big wood"
And took the furthest trail to the right.
It is a steep trail up and then we had to trail blaze
Around a fallen limb.

Nevel kept a close eye on all of the large rocks and
once we got to the meadow, I mounted and rode him back home.

"Where's my treat mom???"

Crunchy Windfall apples

Colors of fall

Is it going to RAIN or NOT???

Northern California does not usually get rain until November if I remember correctly-at least a rain that amounts to anything, but today the skies are very gray with a cool breeze rustling the dry leaves.

I usually wilt in the heat, so I am thankful for a drop in the temperature.
It seems like a perfect time to go visit my "pony."  The sky was getting pretty cloudy...

"Mom do you HAVE to take my picture AGAIN???

Nevel was a Mr. Buck-a-roo in the round pen when I first put his saddle on.

Then he tore around the pen at full speed and had Peppy rearing and bucking and racing all around in the field next to him.

I suppose the cooler weather gave Mr. Nevel some pep-r-roo!

But then when I asked him to actually "work" he slogged around at the slowest rate possible!  : )

Then looked at his saddle like it was something new.

 "NOW WHAT???"

It is sooooo DUSTY

My lovely shoes are caked with DUST

DUST in my NOSE

DUST probably in my TOES

But ride I MUST

FINALLY ABOARD

Between those Golden Ears!

Nevel was slightly mis-behaving when we started out

Dropping his nostrils in the dust  and basically not listening well,

But I kept after him 

And soon we were trotting serpentines in the arena with his head up

Then he offered a choppy canter...

So I slowed him back to trotting and then attempted the canter again.

BEAUTIFUL

He has a lovely sauntering trot

A barely rideable extended trot

And a lovely canter

Just BEAUTIFUL

A fellow boarder arrived and watched for a little bit.

She said it looked like he was doing well and that I looked good on him.

That was nice to hear since I am 5'10" and not sure how big he is.

Maybe tomorrow I can round up a measuring stick and see how tall he is.

He was close to 14'2 when I bought him, but I am most certain he has grown.

After riding, Nevel and I hung out under the oak trees and he snarfed around for acorns.

But darkening clouds heralded a storm

 Unfortunately the Chili Cook-off and Cool Car show got rained on in Rocklin.

Maybe the rain will bring an end to dusty shoes for awhile!

Mt Langley via Cottonwood Lakes/Army Pass 2013

(One of the things I do when I am not with the "pony")

Our 2nd trip together to Mt Langley.
Last year I had altitude sickness and had to retreat
This year, I felt great and planned on making to the top of the 14,038 foot peak...
Mother Nature had other plans in the form of stinging sleet/hail and lightning...
Maybe next year: "Third Time is the Charm?"