Day After Turnout

Since Mom and Bill turned out the horses at a pasture other than their usual one, they went back the next day to check on them.  Mostly to check to see if Jesse had hopped over the little fence to take the horses back to the lodge.



They'd settled in, but were still happy to eat the treats Mom took them :)

In a few weeks, Ida'll move them down to their permanent winter pasture.

Well, Now What?

With the horses gone for the winter, probably the only thing I'll be climbing up on are extra tall bar stools.  But I'm not much of a drinker, so I won't be bellying up to the bar.

With winter here and no ride time, I'll have time to do some reviews.  CSN Stores has added me to their list of preferred bloggers (woohoo!).  Last time I did a review, I got to try out some cool boots, which I passed on to my mom because I managed to screw up the UK to US size chart.

I don't know that I'll find anything horse-related, as their pet section is mostly for indoor pets, but I do love wasting my day looking through all of the cool things they have.  I've had positive experiences with them in the past and am looking forward to working with them again.

Winter Turnout

Turnout is always a bittersweet day.  It's good for the horses to be turned out for the winter.  There's something about pretending to run free for a few months during the harshest part of winter that is just so good for the Mustangs' souls.  During the time they are out, they will be without humans to take care of them - they go back to their wild roots.  Mom and Bill hike in to see them every week or so, but other than a few treats, they don't take any food to the horses.  Foraging for food and water (don't worry, their pasture has three rivers crossing it) is completely on the horses.

This will be Eli's first winter as a wild horse since Compass caught him several years ago.  We've given him time to herd up with our herd and shortly, we'll be combining them with Ida's herd next month, so they'll be a healthy sized herd.  Safety in numbers and all that.  Last year, there was an issue with a mountain lion, so Ida brought them all down into her town pastures in early spring.  This year, the herd will be big enough (and without a mini - poor Tigger) that they shouldn't have any predator problems.

Last Ride of the Year

First things first...
Mrs Mom and Meg, this one's for you...

T!nK gladly rode Eli in your absence :)

Even though I *hate* this canned Flip video music, I got lots of positive responses on it, so here it is - again - on our last ride of the year.

*Sniff, sniff*



When Washoe the Wonder Idiot "crossed" the stream that he drinks from every. single. day he kinda broke Momma Fargo. I didn't get it on film, so it never really happened, and I can hold onto my record of never losing a guest on a ride.

Thwarted Ride

Last week, Mrs Mom posted a video showing hoof movement in shod horses.  I wanted to see what the hoof movement looked like in barefooters like our horses, so I called up to the lodge and made a plan with Mom and Bill to go out on Sunday, which was supposed to be a beautiful day to ride.

Knowing that I'd have to get up and down from Estes to get the shots I wanted, I decided that it wouldn't kill her to go out in a saddle (it doesn't fit well, which is why I haven't used it more than once this summer).  The whole way up to the lodge I watched the clouds build behind Long's Peak, and hoped that they wouldn't break over the mountains.  I really, really wanted to get the video of the horses' feet up on our mountains.

I knew that we'd be riding on borrowed time, but pulled Estes' saddle out anyway, ready to get whatever shots we could.

How pathetic is this...

Yes, that's dust on my saddle.  I guess that's what happens when you don't pull your saddle out to use for over four months.

In the time it took me to pull my saddle and go pull Estes from the pen, this is what moved in...

I still wasn't ready to give up on our ride yet, until I got Estes tied to the rail and she gave me this look...

That is a cranky mare.  Suddenly, between the snow beginning to blast us and the thought of riding a cranky mare, my need to get the video of her barefeets wasn't so great any more.  I got over it, turned her back to the pen, moaned and groaned about missing my chance, and went home.

I kid you not.  I get out of the canyon, back into cell phone range, and call Mom to let her know I'm down (old habits are hard to break - have to call before we enter the canyon and when we exit the canyon) and she tells me the storm has blown over and there's nothing but clear blue sky.

Stupid Colorado weather.

8:12 of Relaxation

Compass and I went out for a ride on Saturday and I took along my Flip.  There was a request for more videos a couple of posts back, so I took the request to heart.  Our ride time is getting short - we're looking to send the horses to winter pasture in three weeks.  We've gotta get all the ride time in we can!

Please forgive the corny Flip music; I tried to embed Templeton Thompson's GIRLS & HORSES, but it wasn't playing nice.