Prayer request

 Please send up healing prayers to Kay from 4R Ranch blog  She got in a bit of a wreck and is in hospital. 

No matter how safe we think our horses are, there is always lurking the possibility that something will set them off and we will end up on the ground. And the older we get, the more the possibility of major injury. I have come off of nearly every horse I have owned and ridden for any length of time- the exception being Beamer. Gussie launched me twice, once in 2011 and again in 2019, but now I know her signals and will step off her if she gets ramped up. Other mares I have bought and sold in the last 5 years were sold exactly because I didn't trust them to not blow up. 

You are forgiven, Gussie!

How do you pack your cell phone when riding? I see a lot of people go for having a pouch on their saddle, but that isn't going to serve you if you are on the ground and your horse takes off on you. I have a little pouch that just fits my cell phone that has a string that goes around my neck (thin so it can break if needed) and I tuck it under my jacket or in summer under my t shirt. Another option is a fanny pack or waist pack with a zipper pouch, but again, make sure it isn't going to get caught on the saddle horn. 

I didn't know that cell phones have an SOS option, I thought that was only for Sat phones. 

Horses don't set out to hurt us but they have such a strong survival instinct that we can't say that they never will. It's not if, it's when. It's up to us to do what we can to get  them to trust us over their instincts, and with some horses in some situations, such as Kay's horse, those instincts take over. Last time I came off Gussie, I was pretty much knocked silly and it took me a while to be able to move to get up. Yes, it scared me, and that is why I am so cautious now when I ride. Over the years, there have been 3 times when I have had my brain rattled by hitting the ground. Even with a helmet on. I have not let it stop me from riding, but it has made me much more cautious about where and when I ride. 

Photo from a summer in Creston 6 years ago

Fear is a crippling thing. It is hard to not let it take over, especially as we grow older and more brittle. But we are the masters of our own minds. (Aren't we? ) Fear can be conquered with trust and common sense. We have to trust ourselves first though. That can come with knowledge and education. Give ourselves the tools to deal with our emotions (Education) and know ourselves well enough to not make bad decisions. That being said, I don't advise staying well within our comfort zone, as that can lead to a stagnant mind that allows fear to become dominant. The human race didn't get anywhere being a bunch of shrinking violets; we are an adventurous and inquiring people. Live life to its fullest. Embrace challenges. Challenge yourself!  But do your best to stay safe and don't be foolhardy. 

Up and ride. 

Prayers needed

Go here and please pray for Janice and her husband in Montana, they just lived through wildfire.

Babies and a prayer request and a couple of giveaways

A couple of things to post about today; first, Sydney over at Bitless Horse is having a giveaway- check it out here. It's for a neat little level that attaches to your saddle to help you in correcting your riding posture. And we all need help with that, right?

Also, The Rocking Seven Mile blog has a book giveaway- Susan is autographing her book, A Story of the West, to give a copy away on Saturday. Enter up!

Next, Velvet, who turned one year old on April 29, received a birthday card from the folks who own her mama, including photos of Gussie- she is the red roan, Bar Dawn Sabre, on my sidebar under Sale Barn. As you can see by these photos, she is doing really well. One of her owners has a health issue, and I ask you all to send up some prayers for his recovery, he has an ulcer in his esophagus which prevents him from eating solid food, and I'm sure he is pretty tired of Ensure and Boost. Pray hard, folks, because if he doesn't get better they may have to move to town, which would mean selling the farm and horses. Not good.

The pups all have their eyes open now,(and I have names for them all now!) the jury is still out on a couple of them that might have one blue eye. They are getting quite active, and will be transferred to the puppy pen this weekend.

Da Boyz- in front is Ace, we are waiting to see if the eye on his right side is blue. In behind him, from left to right, are Chad, John, Luke, and Corb.

Da Gurlz-from left to right, Ruby (I transferred the name to her), Emma, Jazmin, Abby (who used to be Ruby) and Billie. Abby might have one blue eye; they all look blue for the first week or so before they start to turn brown.

I've been trying to get some photos of Kai for his registration papers. He's so much fun to watch I usually miss the perfect shot, but I did get couple today.

Ummm, Kai, can't you pose with your mouth closed?

Yeah, I know, you'd rather run and play. Off with you then!