Pictures from yesterday's ride

Diana asked me to take pictures of the beaver damaged areas on our trails. 

I looked at Olive, laughed. "Maybe sometime next year?" I joked.

Diana knows Olive, so she laughed, too.  Then she said, "I bet Laura would let you borrow Fortunataa."

Fortunataa+ is an older Arabian mare with an impressive performance record that includes a Tevis finish. She also had a long and equally successful broodmare career. Now she's Laura's weekend trail buddy.

I felt privileged to be entrusted with this grand old mare.

We saddled up and headed out.

Diana chartered a course that took us right up Rattlesnake Ridge. Thankfully, no rattlesnakes were present.

It's been a long time since I've looked through a pair of grey ears. I've really missed it.

We popped onto the main trail near Erica's Bench.

From there we rode along the edge of the bank, stopping frequently to take pictures of the beaver ravaged river bottom.

I haven't ridden out in nearly half a year so I hadn't realized how bad it's gotten. Diana says it's nearly impassable on horseback.

We rode under the Sixth Avenue bridge...

and turned around near the entrance to Eagle's Nest.

Then it was back through the trees.

It felt so good to be out there enjoying these trails with my friends...

and this sweet horse!

This was really a fun day. Thank you, Diana, for setting that up and thank you, Laura, for sharing Fortunataa with me.

Thank you, Anne Field!

Last year, my friend, Darleen Stoddard, gifted me this amazing Western sidesaddle.

I knew it needed a doll to with it, so I asked another friend, Anne Field, to do the honors. 

The doll arrived on Friday, and she is perfect.

She's also barefoot! I like making boots and Anne doesn't, so I specifically ordered her this way. 

She's not the only thing I've received from Anne lately. I also got my Spring shipment for the Field of Dolls Miniature Club. I am a level two member, so I got a chess board and lemonade set.

I don't get a lot of hobby items in the mail these days, so the things I do get feel extra special.

Thank you, Anne. You have no idea how much I appreciate you.

On this day

On this day in 2017, I drove up to Volte Farms in Brighton, Colorado to spend some time with my friends, Teresa Buzzell and Jennifer Scott. We took photos of Jenn's horse, Ivy, Teresa's ride-at-that-time, Waldo and a fabulous one-eyed barn cat named Squeaks.

It was a really good day.

Towards the end of our visit, we watched resident trainer, Michael, do some groundwork with his new Mustang mare, Olive. I felt no premonition. I didn't take a single photo.

I worked today, so instead of riding, I went to the barn early and did some groundwork with Olive.

I gave her a really thorough grooming and braided her mane.

Then I turned her out and took a million pictures.

Eventually, she laid down and gleefully undid all my hard work.

Oh, Olive!

We ate breakfast together. Then I put her back in her stall and gave her a goodbye hug.

It would have been better with Teresa, Jenn and Squeaks, but this was still another really good day.

Antiquing

There is an antique mall next to Seth's favorite hobby shop. He visited it recently and came back with stories of old Breyers and real horse tack. Even though I am actively trying not to spend money on either of those things, my interest was piqued. Yesterday, Seth, Piper and I went to the antique mall.

It didn't take long to find the Breyers. They were right there in the front window.

So many lovely seventies era models!

Just looking at these brought back a flood of happy memories.

The Smoke Western Prancer was one of my childhood best friend's first Breyers. Her name was Stormy Day, and she was a major part of our 1:9 scale horse world.

Sarah had this one, too. We tried not to duplicate each other's horses, so I never owned either of these, at least not until later and never in these colors.

As we walked around the store, I spied many more horses.

Some were tempting.

Most were not.

Sorry, friends! Your girl is out there somewhere.

The prize for most intriguing model went to the "Toy Horse on Wheels."

Chestnut, big ears, small hooves... If it had a brand, it would almost be a portrait model!

In our wanderings, we also found various types of horse art,

a dead horse...

and the aforementioned tack.

The tack offerings were decidedly not useable and ranged from old rusty bits and crusty girths to a fairly decent military saddle.

There was a velvet Pony Club helmet...

and a mostly destroyed but still very cool sidesaddle tree. 

Also, a barrel of used horse shoes.

I would not have thought there was a market for these, but hope springs eternal I guess.

Finally, this post would not be complete without a picture of perhaps our weirdest find. Behold: Angel Piper in a wedding dress.

"Not funny, Mama."

Even though we went home empty-handed, this was a fun way to spend an afternoon. We'll definitely be back.