Just Another Day

One of many holes

 Seems the foxes, raccoons and neighborhood cats have been busy in the indoor. I assume they’re hunting in their never-ending search for the mice that make their homes behind the walls.  There were about twenty of these holes, which needed to be filled in and tamped down before being able to ride.  After that was done I dragged the arena and closed all the doors but left the windows open to see if it would stop some of their late night partying. The next day there were only two holes and lots of raccoon paw prints.  Guess the foxes aren’t good window jumpers.  The raccoons however are industrious little buggers.  I didn’t realize I had left the cavelletti stacked under the front windows. How nice of me to basically leave them a ladder to waddle their fat little butts up and into the arena!

Ready for riding!

Dusty & Blue

Dusty and I had a very nice ride on Saturday, which sort of surprised me because she hasn’t been ridden since the end of May.  She had some lameness issues back then but they are all cleared up now.  The weather recently was also a factor, as I won’t ride anyone when the temps get to 90 degrees or above.  I don’t enjoy it so I’m sure they don’t either. 

Dusty was raring to go and she looked good from the ground I’m told.  And she felt good too.  We only rode for about twenty minutes or so but it’s all we needed to start her getting back into shape.  Although, with all the walking the herd does everyday up and down the hills they do keep themselves fit.  Now that the weather is cooperating again I see lots of rides in our future. It was gratifying to see her being so sweet and cooperative to the point of grooming me back while I brushed her.  Guess she doesn’t hold it against me for forgetting her birthday last month.  So thank you Dusty for giving me a very nice belated birthday present for my July birthday!

Until next time

Quote for Today

A little horseplay... the way best to enjoy a summer day!

' The Great Unveiling'

‘The Great Unveiling’

It’s time to unveil our new 200 x 76 indoor arena.  We have been building this for over two years now.  The finish date was February ’09, as you can see they are a teensy bit over their due date.  It’s been a process where I feel like I am giving birth; now I know how an elephant must feel. I can’t begin to tell you how this whole frustrating building debacle annoyed me this past winter.  Looking out the window and seeing the building completed but not being able to use it during our worst weather had me pacing and exasperated.  A very nice young man who has absolutely no business sense runs the company we contracted to do this job. The workers show up sporadically, they’ll come for a week and then not for another 2 or 3 weeks.  Had they simply stayed on the job I think it would have been done on time. That said, they build a really nice structure.

We’ve been dealing with drainage problems that were supposed to be addressed from the beginning.  I think the intricate set of drains that are now in place are effectively diverting the overflow from the pond to the creek behind the indoor.  Anyway, we have recently been laser leveled and are now waiting for the base of felt/stone dust and then will be able to put our footing down.  After that the only thing left is to have them stain the T-111 on the walls and WaaaLaaaDeeeDah  we should be able to use it by May. Fingers crossed on this one. I don’t want to be skeptical but I’ve been hearing finish dates for a very, very long time!

Here are some pictures of the (almost) completed indoor. We’ve still got lots of landscaping to do which we hope will soften the outside appearance and make it look less like a battleship run aground in the middle of the farm.

Some pictures of the new indoor arena:

These are some of the best shots I've got, as you can see there's

still lots of work to be done. 

Until next time

Quote for Today

... you rise and fall with the leg by the wall ...