I spent one extra day putting together more pens. I was never able to get with the gal that I had bought some panels from and said she would have more for me after Christmas, so I haunted craigslist until more popped up. Luckily for me it was a guy that had quite a few panels and even some gates. Gates are always the hardest to get used and they are morbidly expensive to buy new. I hauled butt to his place to make sure I didn't lose out. Now all of the ponies have nice-sized pens, half of them are 16x16 and the other half are 16x24....
As time goes on, I'll keep buying up used panels, so I can complete a couple of turn-out areas and finish putting gates on all of the pens. Next up on the 'must do' list is get a tractor here to rip out a few bushes and work up the riding area and I'll be all set up.
Nuzzling Muzzles was just talking about the disgusting amount of trash that gets dumped in the desert and I agree, it pisses me off to see people dump their household garbage and used furniture in the desert. However, I have found a ready supply of old tires that I will drive around and gather up to use as markers for my barrel and pole patterns. As well as some stacks of junky, old lumber that I will also load up and bring home to build 'barn wood' projects. I brought most of my tools with me this year just for that purpose. :-D.
Frosty wasn't all that enthusiastic about heading out for a ride (note to self - find my spurs), but there is something in the Arizona air that switches Moon from his normal plodding self into 'I'm a racehorse' mode.
Tomorrow I'll start saddling and ponying the greenies - Little John, Shooter and The Big Bay along with on my rides and start working Belle and Beretta in the round pen. Aaannndddd get busy on feet. Everyone is just a little on the long side.
9 comments:
Do you need barrels? My next door neighbor is moving and has some barrels out front for sale. I'm sure they are cheap. I can check for you.
If we weren't on opposites ends of the world, I'd be there in the morning with my tractor and arena master and get you all fixed up.
Even being that far, I might be able to work it out for a weekend if you don't find one closer relatively soon.
Lets see, you are here, Lousia just arrived today, Nuz is here already, as is CNJ and myself. Am I forgetting anybody? Perhaps we should try to put together a blogger barbeque?
Can you give some tips on ponying? I often contemplate leading the mares while riding on of the boys, but so far I've only done it in a round pen or arena. I don't feel totally confident about controlling two horses in open spaces. I once asked a lady about her secrets, and she looked at me like I was nuts and said, "They tend to stick together, ya know."
Yes, if I get into a wreck, like I did today, the horses will stick together, but will they stick with me?
Thank you Cindy D. I appreciate the offer. I do have someone who will bring a big tractor with a bucket over so we can rip out the bushes that need to go and he also has a ripper to work up the ground. My neighbor needs to use the ripper too, so it works well for both of us.
NM-I'll see if I can write something up. Usually, if they lead well and are comfortable being ponied in an arena, they are pretty good outside too. Sometimes the young ones get a little rambunctious and want to take off, but I just dally off and after they hit the end of the leadrope a couple of times, that is the end of that. Rock sounds like he would make a great pony horse.
Oh, and as far as being at opposite ends of the valley...I'm fairly mobile. If there is any place down there to park my trailer and rent some pens for a weekend, I'm game to haul down and hang out over that-away. :-D.
I know there are gymkhanas and such in both Apache Junction and Queen Creek. I'll look at my schedule and see when the next one is. I'll make it a 'working weekend'. LOL
Oh shoot...And Yes, Cindy, I do need barrels. Grab 3 or 4 for me and then I'll have an excuse to toodle that way for an afternoon. :-)
10-4!
Your horses are beautiful!! is the one on the left a red dun? (I see a stripe) or a buckskin? Hard to tell in the picture ;)
www.rockinmadranch.blogspot.com
The one on the left is a buckskin, but he does have a dorsal stripe. I guess some people call them dunskins. The one on the right is a true dun. He just gets so dark in his winter woolies that he looks bay. LOL
Suuuuunnn! I'm so jealous of the weather it LOOKS like you're having. Sounds like you're getting things together pretty well. :)
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