OUCH!!! New helmet ordered...

Camryn and I were playing having a great time in the pasture.  I'd put several cones down, would ride out to one, she'd touch & get her click/treat.  We'd progressed to her picking the cone up, just not to the point of reaching back for me to take it.  She did enjoy throwing them a lot though!!!  Anyway we were at the back of her pasture a few feet from the woods, when it happened.  Camryn isn't a spooky horse by any means, to her new things mean the possiblity of something perhaps being edible.  As she swung her ample self around, I proceeded to do a one rein stop.  As this was happening I could feel the spook disapating and she'd begun to swing back around to take a looksee (could be food you know), I was also thinking "I can ride this out no prob".  Technicly I did, the saddle didn't.  One of my habits (besides wearing a helmet), is to recheck her girth at the mounting block.  Well, I didn't so as she swung one way, the saddle slid down her side causing me to whack my noggin pretty good.  Sound effects from within the helmet probably sounded worse than it actually was!!!  I sat up, Camryn was standing looking down at me, I was surprised at the look of concern on her face.  Last time, I'm pretty sure she laughed!!!  My head hurt, my legs felt like rubber, I looked around to see what caused her spook.  About 6 feet from us was a huge gray/white hawk enjoying a squirrel dinner.  I'm guessing he flew right over us, grabbing it as it climbed a tree.  Decided the old saying about getting right back on the horse, wasn't wise if you had a concussion!!!  Camryn and I walked back to the barn, untacked, then she joined me in picking up the cones.  She does pick them up and hand them to me from the ground by the way.  The hawk was still eating, Camryn just watched with interest as it flew away when we walked up.
Oddly enough, hubby had just fallen at work hitting his head two days ago.  He's in Canada today, so I texted that we were a concussion couple!!!  Also that I was getting a new helmet!!!  He called right away to make sure I was OK.
Ordered the Tipperary Sportage 8500 Helmet online.  None of the tack stores in the area carry them and I'd heard good things about them.  Shame I'll have to miss the good riding weather till it comes.  But, as I was wearing my helmet, I'm uninjured so am able to ride again which is a HUGE BLESSING!!!

Busy weekend. Camryn spa day

This weekend, been busy trying to have things ready for winter.  Brought in bedding for the winter, the bags vary in weight from 75lb to 95 lb.  We were able to fit 19 bags on our smallish truck and ATV trailer.  Should be set for quite a while on that.   Bless Dear Hubby for loading and unloading these.  For my part I placed the pallets in the barn for them, then pulled the bags forward for him to lift. 

Today, I burned the last of the brush pile I've gathered from various wind storms in the pasture/paddock.  I've been clearing our woods the past few years, got the dead fall I've gathered this year burned as well.  Woods are looking so good, nice and rideable.  Hubby is planning to fence, but have a few groundhogs I need to evict before that happens.  Also have a few large cherry trees back there so I'm rather hesitant to allow Camryn back there period.

On the Camryn front, didn't ride at all this weekend but, she did have a spa day. Conditioned her bush of a mane, as well as her tail.  Camryn doesn't have the traditional Haflinger mane, not sure if it's from her genes or the fact that she gets sweet itch, hence rubs it a lot.  Though it's not long, I love the way it stands up in the breeze.  When she shakes herself it just goes every which way. Just realized I didn't get pix of her lovely tail prior to braiding!   Last winter I didn't braid and regretted it, it was long enough to drag the ground, deep snow caused snowballs/iceballs on the ends, then mud.  Not winter yet, but was in the mood to experiment and pratice braiding it anyway.

The End

What does rain mean?

Around here rain means wet horse.  No clue why, Camryn chooses to stand in the rain when she has a perfectly dry barn to stand in.  But, 9 times out of 10 that's just what she does. I hang her hay nets in the barn, her water is in the barn, Camryn has no problem eating and drinking there, as soon as she's done outside she goes.   Maybe prior to being here, having being kept in a tie down stall she feels since the option is there, why waste it standing inside?  She still snoozes under the magnolia even though as of this week the tree is bald.  Her winter coat when wet gets these pretty waves all thru.

Wonder if she'd self rinse?

K, Mom enough with the pix, just hang my hay net and be done with it!

Cardi content

Seems I haven't included the Cardis enough in the blog for some people (Kristi)!!!  So, today I'll focus on the baby of our Cardigan Welsh Corgi clan.  Ivy, aka Mirage Steadfast & Loyal is her name, playfulness and cuddling is her game.  Ivy was one of two litters born during my eldest son (Chris) 2nd tour of Iraq.  Steadfast & Loyal is the motto of the Army 4th ID, the Ivy Leaf their insignia, so this is were her name comes from.  Both litters name theme of course had the military in mind.  I gave each new puppy person a list of names chosen by my sons platoon from which to choose their pups registered name.  I haven't been doing the dog show thing for a few years, so Ivy's Championship is in limbo though she does have one of her majors along with a few single points towards that.  Occasionally Ivy get to come back to the barn to play, not often as she can be a tad bit horse clueless.  Ivy gets so busy showing off for Onyx that she races herself behind, in front of and under Camryn.  Fortunately Camryn is fine with this and seems amused!!!  As you can see in Ivy's photo's she has an impish personality, she's a friend to one and all and a wonderful ambassador to her breed.

Snow in forecast

We have snow in the forecast later in the week.  I've been taking advantage of the past few days and riding Camryn after work before it gets dark.  We've stuck to her pasture area as since the leaves have fallen, Camryn can easily see the neighbor horses and  has chosen a pathway she feels is the best way to get over to them.  Unfortunately her chosen path, involves some trespassing which I'm not keen to do!!!  While she has never "just taken off" with me to get there and I've never "felt" that was her intention.  Keeping her off Jacks property is difficult.  When her mind is set on something she can be a bit difficult to persuade.  Amazing how easily Camryn flexes, that is until she knows doing so turns her away from her intended path LOL.  Just tells me we still have work to do, and as fighting with an over 1000 lb drafty mare probably isn't such a wise idea.  I instead stay within the fence on days I can feel a fight might ensue. 
One new thing I've managed to do while saddled is open/close the gate from her paddock into the back yard.  Now that we've done that once, we'll be able to work on that and hopefully perfect it.
Till next time...