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Walkies today and yesterday.

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Walkies today and yesterday.
  • Okay, it's likely going to take a day or so do to complete this.  First I'll post the pictures of our walk along the driveway, then I'll upload the pictures from yesterday with Condessa (dial-up you know...).
     
    So, Like I said in the daily thread; the kids and I went wandering along the not-so-wild side of the property today on account of the cougar that's been sighted in the area.  Besides, I needed to police the driveway for sharp rocks.  Paula ruined a tyre on the driveway on Sunday.
     

     
    Manzanita in the spring!  Crisp, fresh, tender and in bloom.  Can it get any better than this?   Well... being a touch easier to reach would be nice...
     

     
    That there's an Ant Lion's nest that Fella's investigating, that is.  Lucky for him the Lion (spider actually) didn't come out and tell him to go away.  The pretty purple harness was free.  I love free!   What can I say?  This much is for sure and certain, it has surely been handy.  The lil' bugger can't squirt away from me so easily!
     


     
    Steep??  Naw, we be mountain goats, you know!  That's Grass Valley Creek in the background of the last three pics.  Fella will follow anywhere Annie (red dog in some of the shots) will go.  Now Annie has no fear of the water in the creek, even though it's currently running high and fast.  However, Fella would be in trouble very quickly, so I had to call Annie to get him away from the water.  Silly lil' Blea-tah! 
     
    Ah, just ran through the shots and found Annie isn't in any of them.  Sorry about that.  She's an adventureous one is Annie!
     

     
    Ah... fresh Buckbrush.  It doesn't get any better than this.
     
    I must admit that some days it's hard to believe that the Girlies went from this:

     
    To this in the last seven months:

     
    Like I promised earlier: I'll load the pictures of Condessa as quickly as I can.  Dial-up does have it's limitations, you know.   Back soon with more pics!
  • Now I lay me down to sleep,
    and yet I'm tired of counting sheep.
    So posting here is what I'll do,
    more pictures up, all just for you!
     
    I know, I know, "oh BOO, HISS!!"    Hey what do you expect from the sleep deprived?
     
    Here's the pictures of Condessa from Saturday:
     

     
    Off we went down the road.  Myself, on foot leading Condessa, who was really happy to get out of her stall.  That's our newer member Jmebear on Breezy (the appy).
     

     
    Condessa's soles are really soft and chalky.  Joyce calls it a 'false sole'.  I call it worrysome.  Anyway, I was complaining so Joyce suggested that we go down a trail she knows.  Thus, over the bank we go in search of the trail.
     
    By the by, that's the dogs I take care of in the background, Annie and Tasha.
     

     
    Off through the fields we tramp with little Fella following... at least at first.  Paula was also following (she had the camera) and decided at this point she couldn't deal with the roughness of the terrain.  So she stayed behind and waited for us.  Over to the right were a herd of really big cows.  They look like some kind of Angus cross... though I think they're way, way too big to be Angus.  Or purebred anyway.
     

     
    All in all they're a gentle, almost sweet-tempered group.  Rather rough and tumble, like most cattle though.  A shush and wave of the arm was enough to chase them off the last time I took Condessa out.  They were rather curious about the horses and especially the Lil' Fella.  Since Paula stayed behind with him, the cattle decided to investigate this little goat and the lady with him.
     

     
    Fella had no fear at all of them and was curious as to what these huge, black horses were.  LOL, he needs a touch more caution methinks.   Paula was fine as she found the shush and wave of the arm worked.  However, Fella was following the Cattle and they were still curious.  This is a pretty nice group, Fella was mostly in danger of being accidently stepped on.
     
    Joyce and I had a really nice amble around the area.  She showed me a lovely little babbling brook that lept over several stair-stepped falls.  I went down to the brook to look at the falls and Condessa was game till I stepped onto some stones in the middle and crossed to get a better look at the falls.  She tossed her head and braced in a very Drama Queen manner with a quick staccato snort.  It was as if to say, "No!  No way I'm going across that!"  Joyce and I laughed at her and Joyce decided to cross the creek with Breezy.  Condessa followed her across like she'd never had a qualm.  A little fumble-footed on the stones, but trying hard to look like she wasn't worried at all.  After we crossed the verge to the road I was all for heading along it back to where we started.  Joyce wanted to circle up the other side of the stream though.  So we did.  Condessa crossed like a trooper this time.  No hesitation at all.  So, back we went, basically the way we came.
     

     
    Paula and Fella were delighted to see us come back and joined the last leg of the trek. 
     

     
    Joyce remarked that Condessa would make a really good trail horse.  I'm kind of worried about backing her at twenty years old.  Still, with some conditioning, she might be able to so some gentle ambles like this.  Gotta get her feet toughened up first though.  Right now they're soft as chalk.
     
     
     
     
  • It was great being able to ride Breezy again. This was only our second ride in 3 years as a result of 1. a hoof injury, 2. the damaged shoulder, 3. my family not wanting me to go out alone. I was a little concerned that her shoulder would give her some trouble but she was rearing to go, literally! The old girl pulled some stunts she hasn't done since she was two, and that was 20 years ago!! The neighbors cows are very friendly. They are owned by a cattle geneticist. These cows are never "rounded up", he just calls to them and they follow him. They are Angus but used to produce breeding stock. Just one of them is worth more that anything I own. Anyway, it was a beautiful day for a ride.
  • LOL, I wish I had the camera for the rear-and-a-hop she did!   That would have been classic!  Especially the look on your face, Precious!!!
     
    By the by, if those are Angus, they're the biggest I've ever seen!   Then again, it has  been a while...  but still... 
  • Nice pics!  LOVE that mare of yours Stude!! 
  • Thanks for sharing all the "walk-about" pictures with the kids ':)'  They look like they have such a zest for life ':)'
     
    Glad jmebear stayed on Breezy!  Silly mare......
  • Great pictures! I've been trying to convince BF that we *need* goats. So far the answer has been a resounding "no".
  • Yeah, Hunter, Condessa is a real sweetheart.  I'm looking forward to starting her training.  Imagine just starting a twenty year old horse.  Riverdance is coming along nicely too.  I just need to be able to spend more time with her.
     
    Connie, your BF is a very wise man.  Listen to him, LOL!   The little Girlies and Lil' Fella are cute.  They even have a much sweeter temprement than the rest of the goats.  However, they will eventually become goats.  Then they will want access to destroy my garden and anything else in the plant kingdom, like fruit trees, roses, etc...  I have to live in a fenced, armed compound, LOL, because the barbarian horde is constantly testing the defences of the inner sanctum for all the delicious delicacies contained therein.
  • They also like to play "King of the Mountain" or "King of the Car Hood" or anything else they can get on (and it's amazing what they can get onto). Those little hooves are quite destructive to vehicles.
  • [quote=Durangogramma]

    They also like to play "King of the Mountain" or "King of the Car Hood" or anything else they can get on (and it's amazing what they can get onto). Those little hooves are quite destructive to vehicles.

     
    This... is... most... certainly... TRUE!!!   There are two Jags and one Crown Vic. here that bear mute testimony to their distructive little games!  All three were perfect till the destructive little buggers did their dirty work!