Perfect Day

Today was one of those rare, perfect days. The weather was just right, no wind and I was on a roll.
For the longest time, it didn't seem to matter how much I know I got done in a day, I couldn't see any difference. About 10 pickup loads of tree branches later, a crappy fence removed, several loads of old hay gone and I can finally see a difference around here.
Thank god-I was starting to get a little discouraged.
So I loaded up yet another load of tree branches and headed to mom's. They have a draw that is washing out and we have been dumping tree branches, old hay and anything else that is organic. Sure saves money not having to pay the dump fee. She was ready for me this morning and the whole herd was in the corral and waiting.

I have kinda decided that pretty much what everyone needs is just some easy, straight line walking with a little long trotting thrown in if they are too high. Most of these guys haven't been ridden since last November and although everyone that I am taking out is pretty broke, they aren't above giving a buck or two. Just so I know that they feel just fine-LOL. They can't get too out of control because they are all FAT and lose their air pretty quick. Lucky for me because there is something in my mom's grass that turns Shetland ponies into Clydesdales.
This one was supposed to be a shetland...

That is a 6' fence behind him and he is wearing a 16" cutting saddle. I was standing on a cement ledge that is about 1 1/2 feet above the dirt. Clydesdale!!!
Actually, this is Sandy. He and another gelding were supposed to go to Nebraska to get some pasture miles on them, but the guy never showed up to get them, so I have added them to the riding remuda.
Funny thing about Sandy, he is what most people hate about foundation bred QH. He is straight shouldered, short pasterned, long backed and kind of has a dumb look in his eye. But he has what all of the old foundation breeders bred for-SPEED. This big lug can flat get it. I started him on barrels last year and am going to continue on with him now. I got to train his maternal 1/2 sister on barrels for my aunt and uncle and I loved that crazy mare. She wasn't too sane but we got along. Even after she ran over me and left hoof prints on my chest and butt. She was a natural barrel horse and I wished I could have gone on with her, but they needed to lighten their load a little and had to sell her. But I believe in the power of the dam and if little sister could run barrels so can big Sandy.
So I ended the day at mom's with 4 horses rode, 5 groomed within an inch of their lives, 2 horse's with pretty new manicures and 2 that got baths(I can't believe my mom let me give horses baths-usually she is against that sort of thing).
I had plenty of daylight left and was hoping my favorite daughter was in the mood for a ride. She was, so we saddled up the geldings in town and headed for the arena. I was delighted to see that they had worked it up and the ground was beautiful. Now what does a barrel racer do with good ground? You know it-I slipped a run in on Moon. It was strictly my intention to just ease him around the barrels, but when he turned first-it was on!! Holy Crap-I gotta learn how to ride a barrel horse again. Because he just about left me sitting at first and I was still gathering up reins when he took 2nd. I blew a stirrup and dropped my reins between 2nd and 3rd and was sucking on the horn just to stay with him when he turned 3rd.
Megan was laughing her ass off at me-the little twerp. I think I can safely say that Moon is back on pattern-and I don't have to worry about his desire to run.
Now-a full bore run was not what I was after-he just really took me by suprise. So we walked til he quit blowing and headed home. I gave his stifles a good rub down with linament and am praying that he isn't sore tomorrow. If I can keep his stifles from getting sore until he is in shape-I have me a barrel horse...Yay!!!!