Horsein' Around- or should I say Burroin' around.

George 

The grandkids are visiting again. I kept telling the horses they were coming, but I guess it didn't sink in until they had two ten (Joe and Andy) and one eleven your-old (Ruthie) brushing, kissing, and ducking under their  necks.

No matter how many times I said, "Stop! Where are you headed?" when they are walking too close behind a horse, they do it again in a few minutes. Their excitement to be around the horses and George the burro has them not paying attention.  Luckily the horses are used to them and the dogs.

Jammer

Ruthie is tall enough she can put the small saddle on Annie and help lead the boys around when they have trouble with their horses. While we have four horses, Lily isn't ready for a kid to ride and I'm not climbing back on her after being bucked off twice last summer, until she's had some more under saddle training.

The first day only Ruthie and I rode. The boys were off shooting sage rats with Gramps. Jammer and Bud hadn't been ridden since last summer and were being uncooperative. I lunged Bud to get him to pay attention and follow directions. Then we left them saddled and tied up to think about it while we had lunch. After lunch we went back to the arena.  They did better. Still not stellar but were listening better.

Lily

Today everyone wanted to ride. We caught all four and tied them up. The kids brushed the horses while I doctored a scrape Jammer had on her back. We decided due to where the scrape was at the end of her back close to the rump where the saddle blanket might rub the kids would ride her bareback. Ruthie saddled up Annie. She led her around with Joe on her, while Andy rode Jammer. I saddled up Bud and worked a little with Lily.

I was going to let the three ride in the corral while I worked with Lily, so I had Ruthie get on Bud and I started to lead him around when George grabbed the lead rope and acted like he wanted to lead Bud. I wish I'd had my camera with me. It would have been a great photo. But I'd left it at the house.  

Me and Bud

Ruthie didn't feel comfortable riding Bud by herself, so I tied Lily back up and climbed on Bud. Annie followed Bud around the arena and Andy was doing a good job with Jammer. Those two got along good last summer.

George decided to lay down in the path we were taking around the arena. When we turned the horses around before getting to him he brayed as if to say, I was here to stop you, not turn you.

When one of the kids wasn't riding they were messing with George or letting him in and out of the corral gate. He is one bossy burro! But he has a fuzzy face you can't get mad with.

Hoping to take the kids and horses on a longer ride tomorrow outside of the corral.

Ridin' the Sagebrush

I've finally healed up from my bronc bustin' escapades a few weeks ago. And the mares have finally simmered down from being in heat. I've never seen such a ruckus between them and the one gelding in their midst.

The youngest horse, Lily, who bucked me off not once, but twice; breaking my finger and putting a rib out, was a terror while in heat. She is so calm and easy to manage the rest of the time, she took me by surprise with her antics. Then one of the old ladies, Jammer, decided she wasn't going to be outdone by Lily and was squealing and kicking at anything that came near her.

Rebecca on Annie. Me on Bud.

Last week my granddaughter, Rebecca, from Alaska and I went on a short ride with my gelding Bud and the other old mare, Annie, who didn't seem to have a temperament issue like the other two. While riding along the side of the alfalfa field we stopped and watched a young doe peek over the tall sagebrush at us. We stood watching one another for five minutes before the doe picked her way up the side of the hill. Annie realized in quick order that Rebecca was a greenhorn. Soon Annie was wandering among the alfalfa plants and nipping off the tops. I instructed Rebecca on how to keep her on the road and not allow her to eat while riding.

Heading out with the boys.

This week while Rebecca stayed with her girl cousins, the boys, Austin and Justice, and I went for a ride. Austin chose the tallest horse, Jammer, a Tennessee Walker. Luckily Jammer was no longer being a pill. When Austin stands next to Jammer he can't reach all the way to the top of her back but he was determined to help me saddle and bridle his mare. His "no fear" attitude had Jammer thinking he knew more about riding than he does. The two of them made a great pair. By the end of the ride Austin was calling Jammer his baby. "That's my baby. Good job." LOL  Only seconds into the ride Annie figured out Justice and was doing pretty much what she wanted. He did manage to keep her out of the alfalfa most of the time and not fall off. He didn't have Austin's "no fear" mentality and every time Annie stubbed a hoof or balked he'd give a little squeal.

Austin and Jammer leading the way.

An hour after we finished the ride, Austin wanted to go again. I told him we would ride more next week now that the horses have calmed down and he proved he can handle Jammer.

It's amazing how each child is so different in how they approach challenges and life. I'm looking forward to more horseback rides with the grandkids.