Finally got out!

[oc_spirit]

Well after months of being too busy i FINALLY got out to the ranch again!!!!! I was soooo happy to see all the horses and especially to see how well the rescues were coming along! I decided not to ride this time as I had to work all day the next day and knew I'd have sore muscles and since it was Father's Day and the restaraunt was going to be busy....well that's just a recipe for disaster! However I AM going to ride on wedenesday so that's all good! So instead of riding I did some...erm...LOTS of ground work mainly with Keo (Chestnut, Appendix Quarter Horse 2year old), Pixie (Chestnut, Heinz 57 Pony age unknown), and Teddy Bear (Bay Heinz 57 pony age unknown - although people keep saying they see arab or margan in his head so he may be a pony/horse...someone else suggested Icelandic/?)

Pixie getting relaxed in the round pen - since she still is scared of ropes of any kind we had to herd her into the round pen so once in there we give her time to just relax and enjoy the grass)


Teddy Bear enjoying some blades too


Keo has to have some too if everyone else is


We free lunged the 3 together then we worked on each one individually.

Keo getting lunged with a lunge line


Then free lunged (no lunge line)


Look at those hindquarters!!!! Keo's going to be HUGE!!! We're guesstimating around 16hands! He's already 2 and surpassing 14hands


Me and Key-boy (Keo)


Me and Teddy-Bear, we were working on him getting used to a saddle and we do this by first putting a bare-back pad on them. It's basically a shaped pillow with a girth (it's so you can go bareback riding less painfully LOL) so if they decide to get down and roll they're not going to kill a saddle or hurt their back. Also it is a LOT lighter than a saddle. Basically they're just getting a feel for something being on their back and wrapped around their belly.


Teddy and Vanessa, a co-boarder, student, and great friend of mine


Of course I couldn't go to the ranch without spending some good quality time with my Chessie-boy (Chester)


And if I visit Chester I have to visit his mum Chayla too!


Scout devising a plan on how he can break into the run-in shed to steal KC's breakfast (Scout's blind in one eye but you would never guess it with how well he gets on - he even takes care of our lil 30year old Pony Spice!)


Little Spencer is always coming around to say Hi, he loves everyone which is a huge change from when he first came with scars all over his body, every bone jutting out and the mangiest fur ever


The last horse I worked with was Princess, one of the Tennesse Walking Horses I hack on. She is a BIG horse! She's even bigger than our Clydesdale KC!!!! I believe she's 16.2hands but I'm forgetting exactly. None the less she is one of the smoothest mounts ever and has a huge heart to match her body size



Sally enjoys watching over everyone from the safety of the hay loft. But during lunch time or at the end of the day when everyone's relaxing she makes sure to come down and make her rounds of greetings.


Lucy and Lady always stick close to make sure everyone's staying safe. If the horses start acting up Lady (the one that looks more like a Shepherd than her sister Lucy) will jump up and get in between you and the horses and will start barking so the horses don't get too close and accidentally hurt someone.

[WingedFoal]

Oooh that looks like a fun place to be at!! That's my heaven! You are so lucky!!

[gaddylovesdogs]

It does look like a lot of fun! I absolutely love horse barns...

[oc_spirit]

Thanks guys!!! It deffinately is a lot of fun out there - it's my stress reliever from life in general

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Great pics, that really does look relaxing and ohhh how I wish I had the time for a horse.

[oc_spirit]

Thanks Sonja!!! Maybe you'll just have to bring some of the bully crew up here for a visit

[FurryAngel33]

Great picts. Chester and Chayla are my fav.

[oc_spirit]

Thanks FurryAngel!!! Ya Chester has a very special place in my heart as well as Chayla - actually they all do but Chester is especially dear to me

[Swiftwind]

The horses are so gorgeous, especially Chayla, Spencer and Chester (and I love the look of that pinto in the background of Chester's photo). I used to go horse riding but I haven't been since the end of January this year. Last year I was riding an 18hh horse and I got bucked off and injured my ankle and back! I miss riding but lessons are rediculously expensive where I live.

[shaerenae]

Oh, how gorgeous!! It looks like you were having a great time! Thanks for sharing the pics!

[oc_spirit]

Thanks guys!!!

Swiftwind, that little Paint is named Willow, we own her mother too who is named Honey.

Ya lessons can be QUITE pricey which is partially why I stopped taking them and now just train and ride where I am now

[Swiftwind]

You're lucky that you live in an area where you are able to ride ond keep your own horse/s. I live in a crowded city... I would love to have my own horse some day.

[oc_spirit]

Do you have anywhere on the outskirts of the city that has horses? Maybe you could get a part-time job there, or volunteer, or even board/co-board a horse. I drive 20mins to get to the ranch, I don't live within biking distance or anything like that or I'd be there every day! LOL

[Swiftwind]

The closest riding school/stables is a 20- 30 minute car drive from my house. A 1hr private lesson at the equestrian centre costs AU$90, which is about US$69.. I wouldn't even want to think about the costs of keeping a horse there!