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[kriss10]

The boys have all seen donkeys, mules, minis and all the rest of the farm and don't usually give them much thought. The donkeys we encountered were minis and they were in the middle of the pasture, so they could hear them, but they couldn't see them. Had the horses and donkeys dome running to the fence like usual, they might have recognized them as "friend" instead of loud, scary noise that didn't have a face.

[drafthand]

Clear and cold! Fine weekend for horse chores. Trimmed two on Saturday then trimmed the "old fogies" this morning. Bessie is now 27 and still gets around. Tank heater failed, so have to find another one. Friends came over so we grabbed a bunch and went for a (cold) ride. Must have been some sight to see 4 drafts ambulating down the trail. We took the raffle horse under saddle for her first real trail ride. Crossed a high bridge and other sights. She took it all in stride! She was just poking along, content to bring up the rear. The others were in a lazy mood--made for a peaceful ride.

[Joan Deutsch]

Drafthand, That's very cool that you can ride The Team. Glad to hear the raffle horse is doing well. Unfortunately, I haven't ridden in several weeks. I'm hoping for tomorrow. Anyone else having fun with their horses?

[Joan Deutsch]

Sadly, I still haven't ridden for weeks because of weather and schedule. At least, I did ground work with the horses over the last few weekends. Cody tried to take charge of the exercise program. I hope others are having better luck than I am!

[Joan Deutsch]

I finally got to ride last week but would like to get back into a daily routine. Anyone else been working their horse?

[Alan Shank]

Been walking my horse up the gulch near our house with me on foot about one timer per week, sometimes two. Trying to get us both in shape to ride. Hard to schedule and weather dependent.

[gntlmnrancher]

I started training a new 9 year old draft/quarter cross about a month ago, then he pulled something in his left rear hind and had to be rested. Vet check cleared him for work though, so it's back to it this week! Big guy has trouble collecting himself, kind of pulls with the fronts more than pushes from the rears, so that's our main focus right now. Moves off the leg well, backs, side passes etc.., just won't lower his head and collect. Some of that is his easily distracted personality...has to see everything going on around him so keeps his head high. He's a good boy though- very smart!

[drafthand]

Been fixing fences and skidding some trees to a "cold-deck." Had the crew come out today and had a full day loading lots of firewood. Have been using the raffle horse to skid logs and she has been doing great! Today there was some (unwanted) action as we had a runaway. Strange that the experienced horse was crazy. Took out part of a fence and discovered that the gate post was (really) rotten. Lots of patching up to do but no casulalties. Grabbed another horse to anchor the green critter and went back to work. Proceeded to get a load of logs on the wagon. The team was great--had to spot the logs and then "parbuckle" them on the wagon. Fortuitous that logs are round.
Overall it was a good day, horses got worked, teamster drove her horse, family had a great outing and took home lots of firewood.

[horsepeople2001]

I rode friday and my horse was in pill mode, not 50 feet out of the drive way she balked and pretended to spook, then we backed up, went forward then turned around and then backed down the middle of the road, then turned around again and walked forward. this was the first 100 feet. then we spent the next 300 twitching and crow hopping or speed walking.then came the barking nipping dogs for about 100 feet with a yelling owner. then more jogging and speed walking till we came to a log/tree fallen on the trail and had to turn around and back to speed walking jogging. then the same place we ran into the dogs we got spooking,turning around and backing for about 100 feet. the ride is not over yet. got back up to the other trail it was all covered in brush headed to the next trail at a walk only a grand mother with a walker could do! oh ya baby steps at 1 mpg for 1/4 of a mile now finally got to the trail all was getting better and she started walking some what normal till the puddle then all life came to a halt she decided to play motor boat in the puddle! at this point I was REALLY wanting spurs or a riding crop! had to us the poppers on the reins to get threw the puddle( she doesn't have issues with water she was just stalling.) once on the other side we resumed a normal walk until we go to the downed tree! at that point We had been riding 2 hours ish I was tired of the continuous argument. so we went home. we had worked threw most of her dorky ness by them so was worried. it was a ride but not the best one. when we got back we saddle up the mammoth donkey and messed with her, she was a peach as always. she just steers like a mack truck in deep mud.

[Joan Deutsch]

We're just getting the horses back on the trails after a break due to
the weather, work, etc. Cody has thrown several prancing fits. Here Mike
works him in a circle and tries "to make the wrong thing difficult and
the right thing easy," as Tom Dorrance used to say.