Like Jet

Last week was summer camp at the farm and T helped out along with a small group of older kids.  They worked with the younger kids during the day and rode together when the kids left.  They even went off on their own for trail rides.  Kali got to participate one day when she was used for summer camp and the girl that rode her loved her (which gave us all an idea but more on that later in the post).

Kali with the camp kids

But we have all missed Jet during that summer camp week of riding.  Each of my horses is great in their own way but none of them are what he was.  And then we saw an ad from the farm who sold us Zip, Annie, and Rosie (Zip was a summer camp horse and came from a broker, Annie was from a private owner who was downsizing, and Rosie was a rescue who hadn't gotten the proper care so Gail took her in).  There were 4 Mexican Mustangs that came available through a broker and had been used for summer camp out west.  Mexican Mustangs are ranch broke, hard to come by in our area, sell quickly, and are very rarely for sale by private owner - people hang on to them since they are so handy and well trained.  Craig kept going back to the listing so we decided to give Gail a call and take a look.

In the meantime, we had had a conversation with the barn owner where we keep our horses, about her lesson program and the week's summer camp.  She often rides with her lesson kids and needs a quiet, easy going horse that she can ride and still be able to monitor the lesson students.  Kali seemed like she would be a good fit - she's kind and gentle enough for kids, loves to be fiddled with, doesn't really like to go fast, is big enough for adults riders and is broke for driving which is something the barn owner loves to do.  And she was a star the day she "helped" with summer camp.  She would get more attention and exercise by becoming part of farm's herd/lesson program (the lesson kids are mostly younger beginner riders) and she would be used for pleasure driving.  It was a no-brainer.  So Kali moved literally across the track to the next field and became part of the farm herd.

T and Craig hustled to the farm to check out the Mexican Mustangs listed for sale, knowing they wouldn't last long.  T tested rode two of them - a bay roan and a gray.  When the bay roan was brought out, T told Craig that he looked like Jet, just a different color - same body type minus Jet's Big Bird legs, just about the same size.  He was quiet and stood while they fiddled with him, rode really well, tied like a champ, picked up his feet - a really nice boy.  Not only does he have the same body type as Jet, he moved like him too.  The gray was also a solid citizen and T couldn't say enough nice things about him.  He would make a fantastic kids or lesson horse.  But the bay roan just stood out - a gelding, the right size, the right age, super handy to ride, quiet, and pretty which is an added bonus.  And like Jet (even down to the funky brands) which definitely works in his favor.  Which opens another chapter in our lives....

July 4th Trail Ride

Sunday morning we tacked up for a trail ride in the fields, woods, and creek near the barn.  Craig sort of trailed us where he could so he could take pictures.  The grass in the fields was at least 3 feet high and it was really hot in the open but once we got in the trees, it was noticeably cooler and the bugs were less.  We even went into the creek for a bit.  The trails are awesome and my favorite type - narrow, treed and quiet.

Through the trees in a large field

Through the open field

Just after crossing the bridge and heading back to the farm

Up the driveway and back to the barn

I didn't bring a camera with me on the ride since we have never trail ridden Zip or Kali before (I wanted to give Annie more time to settle in) and I didn't want to try to take pics along the way.  We had one episode with Kali in the woods when Kali got bit by some kind of bug and she gave a mini impersonation of a rodeo star but all was well.  Both horses did great and were hot and sweaty when we got back.  A great ride!

Riding Again

When Jet died, I wasn't sure that I wanted to ride again.  He was my lead horse and the one that I trusted completely.  Zip is a much more high strung personality and I felt like we didn't really know Kali well enough to know what she was capable of.  I felt a bit lost, like I had lost my riding guide.  I shook myself off and made a decision to ride this past weekend.  I wanted to see if I still loved riding as much as I used to.  We've all decided as a family to kind of go back to basics so we're taking it easy and reinforcing the basics.  Plus it's very hot here (high 80s and 90s) so no one wants to do anything too strenuous.

Me on Kali with the sheepskin bareback pad

(please ignore my very white legs that don't see the light of day too often)

T on Zip

(don't let the jeans fool you, she had shorts with her and went in the creek after we rode)

A quick switch and I was on Zip

We worked on lots of stopping plus walk/trot transitions, 

a little bit of weaving the cones and ring spear

T tooled around on Kali

She's like sitting on a couch

Backlit

My next goal is to ride Zip with just the bareback pad and the English bridle with the pelham bit.  We have never ridden him bareback so it should be interesting.  All in all, it was a good ride for horses and riders and it reminded me why we do all of this.  I am looking forward to more ride time and hopefully some trail time.

Macro Monday - Pretty Girl Bling

The Brenda Photo Challenge - Bedtime

I can across this photo challenge on Retired and Lovin' It and thought I would give it a try.  I have found that photo challenges give me an opportunity to look at every day things differently. 

The Brenda Photo Challenge is Bedtime.  I wanted to look for things that weren't so obvious.

Kali dozing in the sun at last week's show

Farm dog at the Kutztown Produce Auction

Miniature horse foal, Kutztown PA

View other Challenge participants

Snacking on Corn

I was going to post this late last week but then things took an abrupt shift.  These pics are so bittersweet for us now that Jet is gone.  This was my herd of three snacking on fresh corn a few days before he died.  Jet loved the corn cobs the most but would eat everything.  Zip prefers just the cob and the juicy kernels but will eat the husks after he's finished with everything else.  Kali just preferred the husks and would share with Jet.

Saturday's Show

Saturday was Buxmont's third gymkhana of the season.  It was a tough one because we had hoped to bring Jet along with Kali.  T was the leader in year end points on both Zip and Kali so she didn't want to miss a show.  She works really hard getting ready for the shows and wants to do the best she absolutely can so missing it wasn't really an option.  She did really well including a first in barrels and she added 18 more points to her year end total.  T and Kali are working towards becoming a really good team.

Warming up

Ring Spear

Barrels

I love this picture.  Kali has no feet on the ground.

Speed and Action - Kali didn't do well on this one. 

She was trying to guess the pattern and was confused as to what direction she was supposed to go. 

They are doing great considering this is only the third show together.

Birangle

Life goes on

A heartfelt thank you for everyone's support in the loss of Jet.  It totally sucks but life does indeed go on.  I have a child who is grieving in her own way, a husband, a job, and other critters that need attention and care.  Zip and Kali are adjusting to being a pair and we will adapt to the hole that Jet left in our lives.  We had a horse show on Saturday afternoon which was all the more difficult in that we were planning on bringing Jet along with Kali for that show.  We were a little concerned that Zip would be ok by himself but he did just fine.  We got home about 10 PM.  It was hot and humid with a mist over the pond and thousands upon thousands of fireflies.  It was pretty cool to be able to stand in the mist shrouded pasture with the two horses in the dark.  T gave Zip a big old hug which I'm sure will help to heal her heart. 

Thank you again to everyone.

Miss Photogenic

I'm not sure what it is about Kali but she sure is photogenic.

Our Little Herd

Our little herd of 3 - Zip, Kali and Jet

wandering back towards the shed after running around and chasing each other

Heading for a collective drink from the pond

Kali in the lead, followed by Zip with Jet bringing up the rear

Champion!

Saturday night was Buxmont's second gymkhana of the year.  We took both Kali and Zip.  T completely rocked!  She won Grand Champion on Kali and Reserve Champion on Zip.

Big H on Kali

Big H on Zip

Peppermint Twist on Kali

Peppermint Twist on Zip

Keyhole on Kali

Keyhole on Zip

Flag Race on Kali

Kali wasn't quite sure what they were supposed to be doing

This is the only pattern that she didn't practice

Flag Race on Zip

Kali's times and placings

Big H - 2nd – 23.617

Peppermint Twist - 2nd – 20.347

Keyhole - 2nd – 11.674

Flag Race – no time

Barrels - 2nd – 19.933

One Lap - 1st – 10.672

Poles - 3rd – 26.410

GRAND CHAMPION!

Zip's times and placings

Big H - 1st – 21.999

Peppermint Twist - 3rd – 21.308

Keyhole - no time

Flag Race - 5th – 34.936

Barrels - 4th – 21.037

One Lap - 3rd – 11.012

Poles - 4th – 28.525

RESERVE CHAMPION!

I am very proud of her!!!  She works hard practicing for shows and it's really paying off for her.  There's a lot of really strong competition in her division.

You can see more show photos here.

Sunday Stills - the Letter "B"

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is the Letter "B" - only nouns, no adjectives.

Bandit, 3 year old Border Collie (that should count for 2)

I very rarely get pictures of him as he usually turns away from the camera.

Covered Bridge over part of the pond and small stream at the farm. 

My horses are currently in this pasture and use the bridge for shelter (it's bigger than it looks)

Bling on a Bridle with a Bit (hey, that's 3)

Kali waiting for her classes at the last show

Blue Merle Border Collie (that's 2 again)

Zoey dozing (she's got some Aussie shepherd in her too)

You can view other contributors to Sunday Stills here.

In the Indoor

We took all of the training stuff out of the indoor on Saturday and Craig watered and dragged the ring.  Of course T needed to be the first one to ride on the smooth ring.  We bought a new hackamore and she wanted to try it out on Kali.  I can't get good pictures inside the indoor but close to the doors works.

Strolling

Nice and steady

Practicing Hoop the Barrel at the other end of the arena

Kali did great in the hackamore - a lot more bend than with a bit so we are going to work her in the hackamore for now.  When we first got her, we called the breeder and we were told that she was started in a bosal so we didn't anticipate any issues with the hackamore.