field of dreams

Hellooo, long time no type! I've been enjoying everyone's summer posts. Here is the not so skinny in our little speck of the world:

Koda is doing wonderful! He continues to be a willing partner and doing everything I ask - as long as I ask correctly and many times even when I don't. Unfortunately we haven't been back out on the trail, but continue to arena ride 2-4X a week. I am mostly working on my communication these days, and increasing Koda's conditioning. Summer treats him a little too well, me too. This week I added counter cantering for the first time in a long time. Felt weird to lope "wrong" after working so hard to get it right. I forgot how smooth his counter canter is. Koda was funny when I asked for it the first time. I could see his eye look back towards me, and felt him think something like "are you sure that's what you want?!" Ha ha! He's truly been nothing but pure joy. Pinch me! 

Nemo, poor guy is STILL suffering from allergies :( it weighs heavy on our minds. There have been beautiful sunny summer days when we are stuck riding inside, because we would rather be together. The days we find Nemo really bad, he just doesn't get ridden. Sunlight makes his symptoms worse. We've thought about taking him to an equine ophthalmologist, of course we have to find one first. Altho our vet is adamant nothing is wrong with his eyes. I agree with him.

This year during turnout our horses aren't in a pasture with shade. Koda is Nemo's only outside shade. It breaks our hearts. We are working hard to get our land things in order so we can bring him home as soon as we can, but it won't be this year. The barn he lives at is very caring and trying hard to do the best they can for him. From what I've read, Nemo's symptoms align with "photic headshaking". The big guy that loves being outside most, and is a stellar trail horse, is happy to find relief in his stall. During turn out he is double masked. Yesterday I bought him a new long nose version. Maybe that will help a little more. We have tried different schedules/doses of Dex that have worked really well in the past. Not this year. Today finds us with another call to the vet, to discuss a different treatment. 

Cierra is working hard with her guy and getting ready for a mid August show. They typically do two lessons a week, and just keep getting better as a team. They are looking great!

Harmony (yes, we have four horses) continues living at a different barn, where both she and her girl are finally happy again. Not sure if Harmony will be coming to live with us. Hope so, we would really like our little herd to be together again. They were so content together. When the time comes, that will be up to her owner (Brad) and our daughter. 

Our Land is producing a bumper crop of alfalfa, along with the rest of the Midwest. It is hard to find anyone who wants it, or even do the work. Brad ended up cutting the 3rd crop himself, or part of it. The borrowed equipment kept breaking. Isn't that how it always goes?! Now we are waiting on parts. Sigh. 

We decided on house placement, and got the nod from the builder & excavator. We also met with the architect and left with a first draft of our floor plan in hand. Boy have things changed since the last time we did this, 18 years ago. The floor plans were projected on a big wall screen and we made changes on the fly. Our hope is to put the driveway in this Fall, maybe build the barn this Winter, and start the house in the Spring. Until then, we find ourselves living in a field of dreams...

smell the pines

The past few weeks have been so busy, we haven't had time to work on our land. We did take a nice hike in the woods, and then walked the sunny loop.

The wooded paths do not connect, yet. We had to do some bush whacking & branch diving between the trails. It doesn't seem like we have that much left to clear, but in reality it will take much longer then appears. 

It is so interesting to see how the forest (and land) in general changes week to week... 

The spooky tree arms, 'er branches almost got Brad!!

Can't wait to ride the "spooky tree" trail we began creating,
with a little help from our deer friends.

Once we were out of the woods, the wildflowers that were spotty and struggling for light, stood out in bright patches along the edges of the loop...

I really like these bright orange & yellow flowers

Who knew spiderwort was a native wildflower? 

A sea of yellow

Yesterday after a very warm indoor ride at the barn, we hauled our mower for some long overdue mowing. You could hardly tell we had storms and a much needed dump of rain the night before, but you could sure smell it...mmmm...we took deep inhales...and longer exhales...instant smell of pines, from across the field...wow!!!

I've smelled pines many times before, even during rain, but never like that - it was soooo fresh! I don't know what it is about this property, but it's so quiet and serene...and offers instant relaxation.

Eventually we got to work. If that's what you want to call it.

Brad mowing the field island we cleaned up a while ago

Puttering along mowing one of the existing trails,
while my guy clears fallen wood ahead of me

 Brad blazed a trail through the grassy area,
until he got to the hill

 left or right?
left trail: towards the fields
right trail: further into the woods

Speaking of fields, second crop of alfalfa is done and the pasture grass we planted is looking good! So are the weeds, but those should be gone soon. 

pasture

We took one more looong look around...sigh...we already can't wait to call this home! Better get cracking on those house plans!! This land was such a unique find, don't know how we got so lucky?! I believe it was one of those things that was meant to be. If your a believer, you know what I mean...we are so grateful.

Before we left, we drove over to the area where the wild cactus grows more prevalent - they are just starting to bloom!!

turtle sundays

Finding many surprises on our land,
including tiny moss covered rocks
in a dry sandy loam area

Turtle Sundays features an odd looking pig-faced turtle on adventures.

a special day

I've started this post, and renamed it five times already. What do you name a persons hard work, perseverance, realized dreams, and then put it into words?

We just wrapped up Brad's second show, a big five day one. There were trailers from Texas and Arizona, and who knows where else. He competed in the only AQHA Ranch class offered, Pleasure Riding. Ten riders were entered in Amateur. One rider after the other ran the pattern. His number was near the end. I thought his ride was pretty darn good with the exception of the first 360 stop/transition:

As they read off each of three judge placings, we heard the numbers and names called out...4th, awesome! The next judge placings were announced, Brad's name was called right away - he got 1st - and that's when they could no longer be contained. Those wet things that leak out of your eyes when emotions can't be controlled. Happy tears. We couldn't hold them back, not this time. I'll never forget my husbands face, when he realized - I can do this!! His girl officially has AQHA points, and he put the very first points on her!! Through the quiet tears and hugs, we heard the last judge place them 2nd. 

We weren't all loud and dramatic, in fact quite the opposite. We are private people. Doubt anyone noticed our small circle of happiness. It was made up of Cierra, Brad, our daughter, our trainer and myself. I didn't brag it up all over Facebook, it's not even mentioned. Those who care, already know or will find out from us in person. I'm sharing here, because hopefully others will be inspired to follow their own equine dreams, whatever those dreams may be, at any age. Believe me when I say it's not the winning, it's the affirmation.

On the second day the pattern was more difficult in many ways. Riders had to trot over four large trees, 'er poles. Brad did fine with those but made some other riding errors, and placed 7th under both judges. However his 360's and transition on this ride were really nice! You win some, you lose some. 

In my feeble effort to learn the ways of the show world, I've looked at many class placings from the past two shows. It's interesting the differences among the judges. Sometimes they are similar, and sometimes they are on the opposite end of the score sheet. One day you win, the next ride you don't even place. It's kind of a crap shoot. It all depends on how you roll, who shows up, where your horse is in the cycle of training, and who likes what they see, or didn't see. It changes - every - single - ride - up to the very last minute. 

I asked Brad if he was okay with me writing this post. He said yes. This comes from a very stoic man. As always he remains grounded and humble, and ready to work even harder. Words cannot describe how proud I am of him and Cierra, who knows what the future holds for this dynamic duo!!