I will blame the dentist for my failure to take pictures when Harry and I went for a ride today. My mind was addled and I failed to take a single picture. It’s never a good day when a person starts in the dentist’s chair, even if it is a routine cleaning. So, in lieu of having a picture of our ride today, here is a picture from the past…
Foxhunting 2001 – Anne on Isaac, Harry on Sam
Today, it was Harry on the gray, and I rode the chestnut, who was a little bit fresh and less than relaxed. After our ride, Bart had a good roll. Tomorrow, he will have a good lunge!
Oisin got another day off because his broad shape is a bit uncomfortable for my knee. I’m being very careful, and waiting until the two prescribed weeks of “taking it easy” are at an end, which will be Wednesday. Also, I should soon have a brace. Don’t ask what that costs, or I will go into a rant about healthcare. Haha!
I set some low jumps for an easy school for Jane and Derry. It was really fun, and they were stars. Jana had sent me a video showing a jump she schools for eventing. In that sport, at her level, narrow, funky jumps are the norm. I loved her single barrel with a six foot rail, and plan to work up to something like that on Bart. But for starters, I set a jump for Jane and Derry to simulate the question in a simple way (it’s an eight foot rail). They made it look like no challenge at all.
Nothing to it!
It was another glorious day, perhaps a bit dusty on the ring.
Jane and Derry riding alone 
Close up – beautiful release and good eye
Harry worked hard in the studio for the rest of the day, to make up for having fun on horseback.
Weedy had an adventure, and arrived home happy, wearing his GPS collar. Meanwhile, Cedar had watched for his return. She don’t need no stinkin’ GPS because she’s a good dog and stays close to home, protecting us from varmints.
Cedar watches
No bird pictures today, not for want of subjects, I just overlooked it somehow (blame the dentist), but here are a few cats…
Roscoe on patrol 
Twizzler, always regal 
Cora 
Licorice and Marmalade 
Rosie
I never tire of the horses’ mutual grooming / scratching pictures. Horses are such wonderful, social creatures, and their society seems much nicer than ours lately.
The Pearl Brothers 
There must be a deer in the woods 
Stone is busy filling the water trough
Nancy sent some Rainy mule baby pictures from Montana. She’s not exactly a baby anymore, but is turning into one cool mule.
Rainy and Gracie – soon Rainy will be her mother’s color! 
The mule equivalent of “smile for the camera” – ears forward! 
The quarter horse rear end with long ears up front 
Steve and Rainy are good pals
Finally, Jane saw a beautiful grass snake today, and she took these pictures. It was very long, and very green, and a highly prized view. Though Nancy reported that she saw a bear in her horse pasture yesterday (in Montana). That beats a grass snake, but she didn’t get a picture!
Stay safe, stay well, be kind to snakes (and watch for bears).
It’s good to see everyone is working hard at BFF. Rainy is turning lovely and Stone looks like a perfectionist. I love the little jump, might use a version of it in my upcoming clinic. Jane looks marvelous. Go Derry Go. Thanks Anne! Be safe and well and happy. Peace
What a great picture of you and Harry, 2001 doesn’t seem like that long ago! Oh my gosh – those adorable ears on Rainy!! I love the version of the skinny jump – Doug Payne says when you are schooling at home to keep the exercises either mentally challenging and physically easy, OR mentally easy and physically challenging, which is exactly what you have done & Derry clearly loves it!
I love that Doug Payne advice!