Father's Day Weekend

Well, Bobby didn't get any visits from his kids, but he and I had a good weekend. All of his kids live out of town so it's hard to coordinate time together with them.

We worked in the yard putting out seed in the back where the drought and 2 inches of leaf litter had killed the grass. As soon as we got it down and covered it with hay, those dang roosters started rooting around in it. We might be having some chicken stew soon ! We also scouted out a new place to ride off of Old St Augustine Rd... it's called Julington-Durbin Preserve. We had a nice walk to the creek and back....I can't wait to take my pony there to check out the rest of the trails. The entrance is right between two huge condominium complexes but as you go down the trail it's like walking through unspoiled old Florida.

Jenny's continuing to work with Ringer a couple of times a week and he's progressing well.

Ringer's first trail ride

Jenny rode Ringer on his inaugural trail ride (without being ponied) on Saturday evening. He behaved very well and acted like it was nothing to carry a human around. We had 3 two year olds on the ride and they did better than most grown horses. My batteries quit on me so I only got a quick shot of the two of them....unfortunately he was peeing at the time. :)

Mom, Robb, JT, Melinda and I drove to Springfield, TN for Vance's high school graduation over the Memorial Day holiday. As always, it's a long drive, but well worth it. We had a wonderful and fairly uneventful visit - it was good to see Shelly and all her kids together. Tennessee was so GREEN ! I was envious of all the beautiful hay that was being cut up there; especially since we're having such a hay shortage here. The only smoke we encountered along I75 from the various wildfires still burning was right through the Valdosta, GA area.

Happy Birthday !

My family gave me a "surprise" birthday party on Saturday and although it wasn't a surprise it was great fun !! We had friends and family over for low country boil and fresh fried fish - everyone got plenty full and had a good time. Here are some pictures of the day. Special thanks to my husband Bobby and daughter Jenny for putting it together. Jenny fried up some mean gulf trout and Cathy was in charge of the delicious low country boil.

Yee Haw !

Guess who got to ride Ringer last night? After Jenny worked him, I got on him for just a few minutes. I'm still too heavy for him, but it won't be long before I'll have enough off to feel comfortable riding him.

I've been taking Sarah to classes so that she can become a Pet Therapy Dog. She'll be able to go with me to the nursing home to visit the patients. Some people will respond to an animal when nothing else works. She's doing well and working through her shyness. Next class will be a group visit to a local long term care facility - we'll see how it goes.

Jenny and Cathy both rode Ringer last night..... boy is he doing well! Walk, trot and canter in both directions; turning and stopping with very little pressure. We've put him in a gentle, full cheek snaffle and he's responding well to it.

Ringer's First Ride

Thanks to my daughter Jenny.... Ringer has his first and second ride under his belt. Jenny saddle him up with her saddle which has a back girth and after he hippity hopped a couple of times getting used to that, he was fine. Jenny warmed him up in the round pen saddled up for about 15 minutes,then I went in the pen with her, clipped a lead rope to Ringer's halter while she mounted and led him around for about five minutes while he got used to her weight on his back. When I took the lead rope off , he took a few minutes to understand what he was supposed to do, but quickly caught on. Jen worked him at a walk and then a trot in both directions, stopped and backed..... I was very proud of Ringer and Jenny ! Here's a few more pictures of the first ride. PICTURES