Happy Halloween

The Hag
Robert Herrick - 1648


  The Hag is astride,
    This night for to ride;
The Devill and shee together:
    Through thick, and through thin,
    Now out, and then in,
Though ne’r so foule be the weather.

    A Thorn or a Burr
    She takes for a Spurre:
With a lash of a Bramble she rides now,
    Through Brakes and through Bryars,
    O’re Ditches, and Mires,
She followes the Spirit that guides now.

    No Beast, for his food,
    Dares now range the wood;
But husht in his laire he lies lurking:
    While mischiefs, by these,
    On Land and on Seas,
At noone of Night are working,

    The storme will arise,
    And trouble the skies;
This night, and more for the wonder,
    The ghost from the Tomb
    Affrighted shall come,
Cal’d out by the clap of the Thunder.




' Have a Spooky Halloween '

It was fun while it lasted...

It was fun while it lasted…

But I’ve got to opt out of the picture challenge.  It’s raining today and I’ve got a miserable cold, so I won’t be skipping around the farm like Little Red Riding Hood, toting a camera instead of a basket of goodies.  Grandma babysitting duties call and we’ve got Halloween activities with the little ones coming up.  Houseguests will also be arriving for a few days.  I’d like to thank everyone for their wonderful comments and Holly for inviting me to the challenge.  It was fun while it lasted…

Until next time

Challenge - Day 5

Challenge - Day 5

' Come On In '

 

' Grady Looking Tired'

' What now? You already rode me today!

'Mellon & Blue '

' Future Dressage Ring Site'

' Donnie Just Hanging Out '

' Sweetie, On the Move '

' Murphy '

' Good Night'

Until next time

Quote for Today
A home is not a home without a horse!

Challenge - Day 4

Challenge Day 4

'Pond Reflections'

'Nate'

'Swirling Blue Sky'

' Jumps Dusty & I will never take'

' Nate & Blue have jumped out of the ring '

(no,not with me)

' A River Runs Behind It'
(and across the street too) 

'One of the trails on the farm'

'4-step Mounting Block'

(from previous post)

'Molly'

Until next time

Quote for Today
It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.  ~P.D. James

The Challenge - Day 3

 The Challenge - Day 3

It's been raining all day and hard to get pictures.  During the breaks from the downpours I ran out and took a few pictures. And let me tell you there was definitely boot-sucking mud today. Feels like sort of a Blue day, so the featured horse today is Blue. He's such a good boy, I just love this horse. Mr. Nonchalant no matter what's going on.

' Blue Eye In The Rain'

'Blue Boy' 

'Following the Hay Cart' 

'Pretty Boy Blue'

'My Handsome Boy' 

'Red Maple' 

'By the Pond' 

'Last Goose of the Season'

( I hope)

'Run-in Shed'

 Until next time


Quote for Today

The delicate and exquisite horse is itself a work of art.
    - Bertrand Leclair

Challenge - Day 2

The Challenge - Day 2

' Apple Pickin' 

'Butterfly'

' A Pony Ride '

' Leaves Turning'

' The Neighboring Farm'

' Their Cow's'

' Smooth Landing'

'Hay Field Riding Trail'

'Pumpkin Patch'

Until next time

Quote for Today

Bittersweet October.  The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.  

Carol Bishop Hipps

A Challenge

A Challenge

Holly over at dogs and horses  has issued a challenge to some bloggers and has included me in her list.  The challenge was started by shutter sisters, and states that you must take nine pictures for seven days. I’m not much of a photographer but I can point and shoot.  I’ll try to keep up and find something interesting to photograph. At this point, I’d like to invite anyone who would like to participate in this challenge to get your camera ready, get out there, and get some everyday pictures of what goes on in your life. Visit dogs and horses for more information. Have fun.

Here is my first set of nine pictures taken from around the yard.

 'Last Yellow Rose Before the Frost'

' Lonely Last Petunia'

'Favorite Little Red Maple'

'Flower Maiden' 

' Still Blooming Pink Roses'

'Ducky Wucky'

'Late Bloomer'

'Blackbird's Revenge'

'My Indispensable Helpers'

'Murphy & Maggie'

Until next time

'Quote for Today'

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.   Ben Hogan

Product Review - Mounting Block

Mounting Block - Product Review

'Blue'

Being one of the many aging equestrians in the sport and, let’s face it, not being as athletic as I used to be, I’ve recently come to the conclusion there had to be a better way of mounting my horses. Fantasizing about just how nice it would be if my horses could be taught to lie down and let me mount from the ground has been my latest daydream. Unfortunately, they have not gotten on board with my brilliant idea and have told me clearly that if I want to mount that way I should “get a camel.”  The search was on for a better alternative to get us all on the same page.

Purchasing this particular 4-step (32”) mounting block has been a good find for all concerned.  Here is the link if you are interested: Freedom Rider.  If I position Dusty or Blue in front of this block, I can mount without having to put my foot in the stirrup, sort of like swinging your leg over a bicycle.  Not only is this good for me but it’s also good for the horses.  Dusty and Blue have broad backs and no withers to speak of so their saddles never quite stay in place, despite being custom fitted. We’re still searching for a better saddle design, but for now, the saddles they use fit relatively well and there is no pinching or blocking of their shoulder movements. However, the saddles do slip a bit from side to side if we mount the normal way because of the no-wither/broad-back scenario. 

Getting back to the mounting block, it is also excellent for our larger 17-18 hand horses, as you don’t need as much stretch of the not-getting-any-younger tendons and muscles to mount. I might also add that the torque is not as harmful to the horses back muscles during mounting, so it’s easier on them too.  Just a thought in case anyone was looking for a less streeetcchhy way of mounting.

Until next time

Quote for Today

He who needs a mounting block had better not fall off in the middle of the field.