We are in a period of nice weather here. Jane and I decided that today we would try jumping again after our long hiatus. The horses have been ridden and feel pretty sound and not as unfit as we expected, so we took advantage of the beautiful day. But first, a picture I took just before bed last night.
Mistletoe and Weedy
When we adopted Mistletoe eleven years ago, she had been found on the road, with a broken leg, in the company of a young pit bull. We said we would adopt both of them, but the white pit bull was already spoken for, so Mistletoe was separated from her first friend. She has found love again in her old age with Weedy. She has a thing for pit bull types.
I only took a few bird pictures this morning.
Goldfinches 
A contemplative blue jay 
Red bellied woodpecker
I set a gymnastic exercise on the ring, basically a variation on Exercise 33 in Linda Allen’s book. We have decided we do not have to go through the exercises in order, because we are somewhat advanced, both in age and ability. Harry came down to the ring to adjust jumps and took some pictures. It was great fun, but the jumps are small, so the pictures are not impressive. We were pretty happy to be jumping again, even over small jumps.
Cavaletti to start – Jane and Derry are perfect 
Anne and Bart through cavaletti 
Bart unfolding out of the gymnastic 
Derry wearing a cute expression as she jumps out of the gymnastic 
Jump crew! 
Jane is having some fun!
Our trip back to the barn was too exciting. Both horses bolted (Bart’s favorite naughty trick), so we had to return to the ring and ride them until they were more tired!
I went to the studio to find Harry for lunch. He was hard at work. On the way to the house, he had to stop for a dog love session on the sunny porch. I finally got a picture of all the dogs in one shot, although Weedy ruined it by closing his eyes and sticking out his tongue!
The artist at work 
Harry and dogs 
Mistletoe wants some love, too! 
Cedar, Weedy, Nettie and Mistletoe
After lunch, we rode Oisin and Stone. Oisin wore a different mask today. Very classic and understated – and it stayed on!
Oisin obeys the mask mandate 
Harry grooms Stone, and gray hair is everywhere 
Harry and Stone 
Happy trails 
The trails were so muddy, we couldn’t do much. We rode on the ring a bit, and then took a walk down the road. It was just good to be on horses together.
After I brought the horses in for the night, Licorice came over to get a drink from the water tank. She has water in the shed, but nothing tastes better than a freshly filled horse water trough. Marmalade wasn’t thirsty, but he came for a visit, anyway.
Marmalade
Well, Roscoe heard that Gigi likes black cats and yellow cats, and he was quite offended. He is a Maltese cat, and all Maltese cats are gray. He wanted some pictures taken to show how magnificent a gray cat is. He would like to meet this Gigi because he is confident he could teach her to like the color gray.
Roscoe takes a walk 
Roscoe takes a roll 
Roscoe, the Maltese King of cats
Stay safe, stay well. Love all colors. Peace.
A delight, as always. Enjoy the rides.
Peace, L
The close up of Marmalade reminds me of a Buddhist Monk, non-attachment, no agenda, pure existence, and loads of lives lived. There is a Lioness in those eyes.
One of GIGI’S favorite colors is gray. (dictated by Gigi to Pap)