Charge!

It was COLD this morning, but the sun was out, and my blood was hot for a good brisk ride on one of my own steeds! Blaze fit the bill and after fitting my *newused* Specialized Trailmaster to him we took off out of the driveway with a bouncy 2-weeks-off spring in our step.

Looking sweet but ready & snorty

 I've seen some sights in the last few weeks but the foothills of Northern California are pretty damn beautiful still

 Everything was dressed in a warm green glow and sparkling in the morning sun with the remnants of last night's rain

 Blaze thoughtfully looks both ways before crossing 

 I got a new brain bucket and shades! 

I had a spanking good ride on Blazey boy, who snorted and balked and even thought about bolting away from terrifying things like new fences and old traffic cones. After a few miles he settled right into his sky-high trot and much more enjoyable canter, even collecting up nicely with light contact. My grin was a mile wide to be out on my boy again--see there it is:

 Blazer in the Trailmaster, staring down Cows

 Creek was over the road last night but luckily no icy wading to cross this morning

 We made pretty good time considering the amount of pavement traversed at a walk and were back just in time for Desire, who wishes me to always remember that my #1 job in life is expedient delivery of bountiful edibles--because as you see, she's a veritable greyhound and could really afford to gain a few lbs.....*XPdisguise*

 After settling ponies with warm mashes I cleaned and organized my open air and thus now very damp tack area, and discovered my Eurolight seat was molding! There was nothing to be done but to completely clean and organize my long cluttered Woman Cave/office in the house so that my saddles could take up dry and comfortable residence in it. What, sweaty leather is like perfume to me ;-)

Specialized power!

My Own

oh you! Where's my carrot?

2,816 miles, 6 states, and 2 weeks later, I have a blog post about my own steeds. I had a wonderful time in Utah and New Mexico and am forever grateful and honored to have spent time with those people, on those horses. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and my heart was indeed full spending time with my own herd this morning. Everyone is mucky, stickery, dreadlock-y, and in desperate need of a good workout. Everyone is beautiful, and hey--happy to see me!

Joey & Desire greet each other before spa time &swapping paddocks

 I got the report that Joey was a naughty uncatchable boy the whole time I was gone but he trotted right to me and stuffed his head in the halter this morning! He snuffled me the whole time I groomed him and stood nicely to have all FOUR hooves cleaned right out of the gate. Hard to believe it but my scared little prey-driven shy boy seemed quite happy to see and be handled by me! Earning trust is such a good feeling.

Joey explores his new digs out next door to Sheza and mini Napoleon

 Sheza is kinda bigger than Joey, but still knows to play baby-mouth

 I don't see a foal in this picture anymore!

 Hey, you're back and you brought the camera! Look at MEEE!!

There is lots of rain in the forecast but I have good raincoats and hey--a new saddle to get fitted to my steeds! A nice used Specialized Trailmaster made it's way home with me from Utah and joins my Eurolight in the tack room, lucky me :-)

Last of New Mexico and HOME!

I hope Sheza doesn't get quite THIS big! ;-)

 Ruidoso, New Mexico

 Yesterday I drove 18 hours from New Mexico to home in Northern California. It was windy and stormy across NM, Arizona, and CA, so much beautiful light!

I got home to find my swag from the 2012 Big Bad Blogger's Distance Race. Not many endurance blogger's stuck with it but at years end I had 1,116.2 miles and won the Pioneer (multiple horse) division!

Needless to say I am a little exhausted! But have fences to fix and hooves to trim and ponies to ride :-)