rain rain go away...

...come again another day....I used to jump rope in grade school regularly to this nursery rhyme. The end of the rhyme was promptly followed up with counting how many times you could jump rope consecutively. Sadly my jump roping days ended a few years back, when foot problems showed up.

Too bad, because it is a fantastic quick low-cost fun aerobic workout. If you don't believe me, try it. Your horses won't mind if you borrow their lunge lines ;)

Reminiscing set aside, I would appreciate a break from the rain. Just long enough for some sunshine and seed sprouting to happen. If you need any rain, I am happy to send it your way! 

Our open fields got worked up and planted with Alfalfa last weekend. It's done nothing but rain ever since. Hard at times. 

It is always nice to see your efforts come to fruition, and just look at the delicate flowers below. They would appreciate some sunshine and warmth too!!

L-R Koda, Harmony and Nemo
(notice who isn't sharing his side of the shelter)

  

no show, no shoes, no problem

No Show. I was looking forward to watching Brad show today, and seeing Cierra. I miss her sweetness! I haven't seen my barn friends for months, and it would have been refreshing to take horse photos with humans. Our general area got hit with thunderstorms last night, and the show grounds got monsoon rains. Not us, we enjoyed steady sprinkles at home. These fairgrounds are in a small town over an hour away. They only have a tiny indoor arena, not enough room to ride Ranch. The outdoor arena's are water logged and unsafe to ride in. Once again our barn came home from this AQHA show, without showing. 

No Shoes. I am putting my old Bog Boots to good use. Haven't used them for years, not since our horses lived on the "family farm" by us. Wearing shoes is out of the question in this kind of weather, unless you like wet stinky shoes.

No Problem. Not worth showing, and risking injury to horse or rider. I don't mind sloshing around in the water & mud, but when speed is required it's better safe then sorry. Brad has no problem not showing.

I can always take photos at the next horse show, it's coming up soon. I will see my friends then, along with sweet Cierra.

my favorite photo from last years show

too much of a good thing

Rain is a good thing. Except when you get too much, too fast. This summer the Midwest is all about storms, and hard rain. The kind that gutters, rivers and sewers can't handle when it comes down all at once. We don't have flooding nearly as bad as some other area's in WI, but it's still prevalent. The storms seem endless. 

We get water in one area of our current unfinished basement, when the hard rain hits just right. Basements of those living closer to rivers are completely flooded with multiple feet of water. There are many cancelled events. I always feel for the animals that can't help themselves out of situations. 

In our future house without a roof, we have our own lake developing...

basement view

starting the endless squeegee job
at the drier end

what doesn't come in through the open windows,
drips down to the basement, through the floor

Our second group trail ride date is rapidly approaching. The reserve we were hoping to ride at is under water, and trails are closed. More storms forecasted for this weekend, and heat warnings continue. Below is a screenshot they posted from one of the roads along the reserve. It looks like we will either have to cancel plans, or try to find open prairie type trails away from rivers. Sigh. 

There is a lot more happening in our world then rain. Hope to share a barn update sooner then later, before it gets too far along. Not that being far along would be a bad thing!

a memorable rainy day

You find a day that aligns, and make plans weeks in advance. Those that need to, put in for a vacation day from work. It's officially on the calendar, we are going on a group trail ride! The first & only one this season. Plans are to take three experienced horses, two of which are Nemo & Koda, a rider with fear issues & her mount, a trail horse that needs some re-training, and two young newbie horses, one of which is Cierra. The weather has been great, and everyone is reeeally looking forward to doing something different!

We pick a place to ride with easy terrain, and make plans to grill for lunch so we can double the riding fun and head out for a second ride. We carefully watch the weather as the day slowly approaches. Darn! Looks like rain is predicted. Not one day before, or after, just on the chosen day. Go figure. Weather patterns can and do change, so we hold tight to our plans. The forecast did change, for the worse. Not just rain, but now "violent storms" are possible. I don't mind riding in the rain, but violent storms... We try to reschedule the group trail ride, but things just don't match up. So what do you do? You come up with Plan B. If the storm front doesn't blow over, we'll ride in the indoor arena, grill out, and try to make it fun/different. 

The "trail" day came, and so did the rain. We hauled our trailer up, just incase. Complete with roping dummy (no, not me - the plastic steer head mounted kind) and our equine soccer ball. As to be expected, several riders cancel. Oh well, we can't change the weather. The girls working at the barn were excited to ride regardless of the rain, and that makes anything fun!! 

Several horses got introduced to the equine ball, and a little soccer happened with those that liked it. Koda learned to share, altho he never took his eye off his, 'er the, soccer ball. Of course nothing ever goes as planned at a busy barn, phones ring, people drop in, and needs are met, but we take it all in stride. Riding happened, fun happened, and lunch happened...mmmm the smell of charcoal grilled brats!!

In the afternoon between rain showers, six of us headed out for a make-shift trail ride on the property. Including a new girl who helps clean stalls, and has done limited riding. I am thrilled she got to join us. I remember how special those rare rides are. She rode old Skip the lesson horse, who doesn't leave the ranch. 

The two young horses learned to cross water with a large hoof covering driveway puddle, the rest of us practiced. Cierra didn't want to get her pretty little feet wet, but with our trainers redirections it didn't take long for her to walk right in. 

Since the ranch doesn't have trails, we rode in the pastures. After we rode the perimeter of an empty one, horses were cleared out of another. I regret not having my camera for that second pasture ride! There was some fun terrain. A large deep muddy water hole, a swampy grass area, and even a fallen tree in the swamp to ride low (or high) over. We took turns trying to help young horse # 2 learn that the water hole wasn't going to swallow her. Nemo was a trooper, and did the not so fun job of being the wall on the edge of the water hole. Apprentice Sammy did an amazing job riding one stubborn young horse, while being coached by our trainer. She eventually rode in and through the water calmly.

We rode separate, together, over, and through anything we could find - no single file riding. We laughed, and then laughed some more! I am pretty sure the horses had fun too, even the young ones. What a great group to spend the day with! In many ways, this turned out to be much more fun then the planned trail ride. It went so fast, before I knew it we ran out of time and never did rope. Something to look forward to, rain or shine.

Young people have such a bright spirit, they light up with the smallest of things. Things we too often take for granted. It was such a refreshing, memorable rainy day!

Buddies
Nemo & Koda, on a recent sunny day

unless your a duck

With spring thaw, we all expect mud. It's more like mud soup around here these days. Who pissed off Mother Nature? She's been dumping rain, torrential rain, and then more rain on us - for endless days. It's a mudfest. I hate to complain about moisture, when last year we had a drought. Guess this year makes up for it. I actually like rain, but not long stretches. Sprinkle in some cold wind, we get coated with ice and everything is more like a fudgsicle.

The pasture lake is back, poor trees are taking another beating. Doesn't look like they will ever recover from the power line destruction. My hubby is down there daily, trying to keep it draining. Endless job, until it drys up, and it will. I frequently get asked how our horses handle the mud sucking pasture lake. My answer is always the same "horses are smart, they just don't go down there until the footing gets better".

Animals don't enjoy this weather any more then we do, unless you're a duck. They do much the same. Take cover. Stay out of the wind. Get a little agitated. Snuggle. Look forward to warming meals, and turn the not so pretty color of mud...

there is a Nemo hiding under all that mud

...when the weather breaks, the sun will feel all the better & so will another reeeally good scratch...

Koda, in scratch heaven

rainy bliss

We had a great week and rode 3X in five days, with alternating days of arena, trail, arena work. A perfect schedule in my humble opinion. I really enjoy both trail & arena riding, most of the time. However that first arena ride was frustrating, at least that’s what my face told everyone. I wear my emotions on my face – without even knowing. I didn’t tell my face to say anything, what the heck! Perfect strangers have come up to me in the past, upon occasion and made (nice) comments about whatever my face was saying at the time. Like it’s got a mind of it’s own or something lol. Guess it wasn’t listening to me that day either. Truth be told, I was frustrated with Koda – or myself, or both. Not sure. I get tired of non-stop correcting him. That little booger makes me work hard! Some days you just want to get on and ride. I know, I know that’s not realistic with a young horse. They need us to help them do the right thing, all the time. We made it through with help from Patty’s coaching, and by the end of the ride he did what I asked. My face must of been screaming frustration, cuz I never said a word. But she knew. Patty reminded me a ball spur was an option, and would make things easier for me. I’m sure the day will come when it makes sense to put on the spurs, but not now. I don’t expect things to be easy, this isn’t just about me – it’s about us…I am determined we’ll get it right sooner, next time.

We’ve had 90 degree muggy weather all week. On our second arena ride, we opted for the outdoor in the rain - it felt plain ol’ refreshing. I’m pretty sure Nemo was the only one who didn’t think so, he prefers not getting wet. But sometimes you gotta ride in the rain, and in this case we all wanted to. We’ll almost all of us. Nemo got over it, he didn’t have a choice. Patty kept offering to move into the indoor arena, but no one wanted to give up the refreshing feeling that only water on a hot day can give you. Besides, I was having the best ride ever on Koda. There is something to be said for repetition. We had our moments, but it was a big huge improvement. Patty was really pleased. I think we all were. Koda’s broken strides were less frequent and he was listening to my cues. He was loping off right away. At one point I was laughing so hard we ran right over the top of a cone. Oops, bad driver - sorry Patty. She laughed too, and said they had been running them over all day. We tried it again, and this time I focused and decided sooner which direction we were going. Good idea, ya think?! Other riders came and went during the rain that ranged from sprinkles, to nothing, to a steady soaking rain, and back to nothing again. By the end we were wet, tired, and happy. I found out after the fact hubby told Patty it was almost like Koda & I were a different rider and a different horse – and she agreed. Whatever, we were just enjoying the rainy bliss!!

nothin' but wet

We have had a solid heavy mist non-stop for days now, you get completely coated and it soaks you. You can imagine what the pasture looks like with melting snow, mud, and poop - it's not a pretty site. At least the temps have stayed above freezing (so far). Needless to say, we didn't get hay.....I'd continue the rhythm, but I'm outta time. Note to self; have coffee before posting!

making progress

Are you tired of trailer loading? That makes three of us - you, me and Koda. Thursday was warm-ish and dry, we took the trailer down and loaded them up at night - that was a first. Brad recently mounted flood/loading lights on the trailer, which added for a new dimension. They both handled it well, altho the light brings them both to an abrupt "blinding" hault - the lights aren't that big or bright, but still gets that reaction.

Of course Koda took longer to load than Nemo - testing both humor and patience. He is such a two year old. If he wasn't side stepping so his shoulder blocked the divider, he was putting his head on the wrong side, or stretching his neck while turning his head upside down and making goofy faces (if only I had my camera) - really horse? Do you think I am going to buy that? Pretending he was sleeping didn't work either. In the end, Koda willingly loaded, stood, and waited until being asked to back out. We have yet to secure him, latch the strap, and close the door - once all that happens smoothly we will be back to where we left off.
WI continues to get a ton of rain, the local farmers are worried about crops. The wooded patch in the boys pasture has standing water, the round pen and open pasture are muddy. Good thing they have some higher ground to graze around, as well as a dry shelter. Today wasn't as warm, but at least it didn't rain. We fed them a trailer breakfast - Koda did really well and actually finished first, mainly because Brad and Nemo were socializing. Tonight, you guessed it - we took the trailer down and loaded them up again. Same story different night, shorter two year old antics. We successfully loaded, and when asked to back out he did it s-l-o-w-l-y...I am happy to say we are making progress.