Another beautiful, cool morning ride started the day. Just light work for the horses that we rode in the lesson yesterday. Susan and Oisin worked on what they had learned from Kris. Derry looked amazing, as Jane rode around, and Bart was delightful. We finished with a short trail ride, but no pictures today.
No pictures of Harlan this week, either, a day late to empty the very full dumpster due to the holiday weekend. He was being harassed by wasps, but was otherwise in fine form.
Harry went off to St. Louis county on an errand, and Jane and I met up with Louise and Pam for early lunch after Louise had her weekly Wednesday lesson at Griffin. By this time, I had my camera in hand. Louise arrived with news that she had been jumped off. As children, a fall always meant 7 years of experience. At our age, walking away from a fall and laughing about it is a win. We laughed a lot, and thought of falls we have all taken, due to our passion for a high risk sport.
Today was Louise’s turn to hit the dirt 
Pam 
Jane
After lunch, Jane and I stopped by the show, and speaking of high risk sport, every rider we saw was wearing an airbag vest! These are clipped to the saddle, and if the rider leaves the saddle, a CO2 cartridge explodes, inflating the airbag. I was amazed. Of course, I have seen these before, but never on professionals in the show ring. I asked a few people about them, and the general consensus is that they will probably be required before long. Many people are now using them every time they ride a horse. We wandered over to The Tack Trunk store set up in the lobby, and I tried one on. They are weird, and sort of heavy, and are fairly pricey at $750 (plus, every time the cartridge explodes, a new one is required at $75!!). Of course, saving serious injury would make a vest a worthwhile investment (pardon the pun). I wish I’d had one on last year when I was slammed into the ground. Failure to disconnect before dismounting will also set off the cartridge, which would be a serious drawback for me, with my inattention to detail! Anyway, much to think about.
Next, Mike called to tell me our fence boards were cut and we could pick them up. We had been told ten days ago that he was swamped, and it would be three or four weeks, so this was a nice surprise. Unlike the roofers, who did not show up at all today!
True 1″ X 6″ X 16′ rough cut oak boards 
Mike has been “retired” for 20 years
It was sad, though, to discover that Paul Road, which is nearby, and which we have biked on over the years, has been paved this summer and is now a 40 MPH “real” road. St. Charles County is proud of the fact that there are no more gravel roads in the county. I find it sad, and I am glad to live in Warren County. But even here, progress marches on relentlessly.
Back home on our gravel road, I turned the horses out early into a lovely late afternoon. The barn area was littered with cats, of course. It was blessedly peaceful in the absence of roofers, but there is a sense of impending chaos, looking at all the packages of shingles waiting on the roofs of house, studio and barn.
The Pearl Brothers 
Stone 
Stone after an evening drink 
Bart watches a cat 
Twizzler, always worried 
Skittle watches her worried brother 
Tom Morris is not worried at all 
Marmalade under the truck 
Rosie takes in the evening peace
As I was finishing in the barn, Marilyn rode through on Trigger with her loyal sidekick, Roy.
A perfect evening for a ride 
Roy
Harry at the end of a good day…
Stay safe, stay well. Peace.
It does indeed sound like a good day. I just love your portraits. You and Harry are both so skilled at capturing the essence of your subjects.
I rode with Genesee Valley Hunt last Thursday, and dutifully wore my vest at 95 degrees. The only vest that went off was worn by the gal who forgot to detach it when she got off to open a gate.
You are a brave woman, Mary! Hunting at 95 degrees would be beyond me, much less in a vest. And you confirm my fear. I would have jumped off for a gate and set off the vest, I know!
Oisin sends love. As you can see from the blog, he has Susan smitten. They love each other and I love watching him.