Icy Trail Ride

Right after our walk the truck was checked to make sure the doors would open and the truck would start for the trail ride scheduled for today. The truck had been out in the rain and when the rain turned to freezing ice the doors were frozen shut. I went into the house to get a hair dryer and extension cord when  Rhoda arrived. She was able to get one of the doors opened and was thrilled when it started. She brought Rosalie, Eliza and Jenis into the indoor to round pen them before heading out. When Emily arrived, she moved the trailer to the front for easier loading them went to open the back but the hinges were frozen shut and there was no moving that door. She was able to get the side door opened then she and I tried to open the middle divider but that too was frozen shut. At that point I was ready to just send the 2 girls with just 2 horses when Rhoda decided to try the slider door on the back gate. Between the 3 of us we were able to get that door opened. Rosalie was put in the back then Eliza and Jenis loaded in the side door of the front and we were on our way. We are very thankful our horses will load in small doors. As we turned on Manito road there was a convocation of 5 or 6 bald eagles feasting on a dead deer carcass. We did not stop to take pictures but what an amazing sight. We were the only trailer that showed up today and the only riders at Sandridge State Forest. Below we are getting ready to mount.

 Rhoda rode Rosalie while Emily rode Jenis.

 I chose to ride Eliza today. She needs to build up stamina and this was just an easy ride of about 5 miles, plus she is a safe steady mare that does not trip or spook. Old people like me like that you know.

Rhoda's dog Ruby was thrilled to go too. She runs behind us exploring everything on the trail but keeping close to Rhoda.

The landscape was gorgeous, like riding through a fairyland with ice covering the trees and plants along the trail.

This was the first trail ride for Rosalie off the property. She did so well, relaxed with her head low and even leading some of the way.

Below we are in the pine forest. 

Most of the trail was pretty frozen and most of this ride was done at a walk but we came to an area where the sun had warmed up the sand enough for some canter and trot.

About 2 hours into the trip all of a sudden Rosalie stopped, turned to look back and neighed as if to ask, "where is my baby?"   We were wondering when she would notice her filly was not with her. Notice Ruby right at Rosalie's back feet. When Karin heard that she made the comment that's what happens when a teenager has a baby. You see Rosalie was not quite 3 years old when she got pregnant. We don't usually breed a mare until they turn three. It was partly an accident but when she came up pregnant I didn't worry as I was pretty sure she would lose it and was pleasantly surprised when she didn't.

We got back to the trailer just after noon, loaded up and drove to Subway in Manito for lunch. That hot soup was delicious and hit the spot. On the way home there were only 2 bald eagles eating on the deer carcass. A mature adult with the immature offspring. This time we pulled over and Rhoda took the pictures below.

We made it home before 2:00 pm. Rhoda spent the afternoon and some of the evening before she needed to leave for a birthday party. Darcy was so very happy to have her home. Karin joined us for supper tonight. We made plans to run to Middle Grove in the morning to pick up Sangria and Easter Lily but after hearing the weather report that may not happen. The news said we are expecting more ice starting tomorrow morning but when Rhoda left there was already freezing drizzle coming down.

Icy Conditions

At 3:00 am Darcy woke me to go outside, I was surprised to see lightning lighting up the black night. By 3:20 am the storm hit our area and both dogs decided they should sleep in our room. I spent some time on the new couch watching the lightning and listening to the rumbles of thunder until sleet started hitting the window making enough of a racket I climbed over the two dogs to get back into bed. When we looked outside we were shocked to find ice covering everything.

 Above is our patio and below is looking toward the pond pasture

 Above is Rosalie and Abigail, they had ice on their manes and tails too. 

Jessica started driving to work, turned around and made it back to tell us not to drive. The roads were bad. Nice to have an extra day off this week. The skids on the shoes were much needed today. Diane lent one of her's to mom for the walk as mom lost one. Diane was able to finish the walk with just one skid on but I was very glad for my two.
Karin arrived this afternoon to work horses. While she brought in Ayanna, Galena, Zalena and Oksana, I brought in Eliza and Jenis for graining. As soon as they had finished their buckets they were taken back out but even the short trip from the paddock to the barn the horses were slipping on the ice. Karin is very thankful for that indoor arena. Horses just can't be worked on ice. Ayanna was worked first.

 Karin always loses her phone when working with this mare, her gaits are just huge. Galena was next, we were thrilled with how she moved today. Much improved over the last time she was worked with. 

 While Karin was working with Galena, Oksana was getting into trouble. First she decided to carry the pirate flag around.

 When that was taken away she grabbed the garbage can. She is a typical 4 year old, into everything. 

Ayanna was having fun too. She was fascinated with the smoke coming out of her nostril. She opened her mouth to make more or try to eat it, not exactly sure what she was thinking. 

Below are Oksana, Ayanna and Zalena looking at the icy conditions outside.

Below is Karin working with Oksana. She continues to impress us. Oksana is Eliza's daughter by Raven. We will find out on the 18th of this month if she conceived. She was bred to Evan last fall but never sonagrammed. 

The last mare worked was Zalena. Zalena is our oldest mare at 17 years old. She needs work on relaxing and stretching down. Poor Zalena thinks as soon as someone picks up the reins she is suppose to run. Karin is trying to retrain to relax with a rider. 

Thankful for a day off, thankful for beautiful horses and thankful for our warm house today.

Karin's Joy

Our mild weather produced thick fog so thick Mark almost ran a stop sign but he really could not see it until we were right up on it this evening on our way to church. We couldn't even see Rachel's house across the lake. I had an easy morning at the Berean office. To read about our morning there click HERE. I stopped at the post office on the way home to ask if they had seen anything for Horsemeister from the IALHA. The IALHA emailed that the registration papers for Aletia (Sangria's filly) and Brianna (Soul's filly) had been mailed out to us on Dec 14th, 2016. As this is now Jan 11th, 2017, I was concerned it was lost in the mail never to be found. We have been waiting for them for over 4 months. Both fillies are sold and at their new homes. The post master at the Hanna City post office knew exactly where it was. She said, "I sent it to Mike and Diane's office, as it was addressed to Horsemeister." I drove to Diane's office and sure enough there it was sitting. While there though Diane explained I needed to do 2 months worth of reconciling the Horsemeister check book as Russ Rumbold, our tax man, was coming next week. That only took a little more than an hour. We write so few checks but at one point Diane was just sitting laughing at Mike and I as we tried to make sense of this very confusing job. Why at one point Diane asked, "Does the bank statement agree with my checkbook?" The answer to that is, "how would I know." I just fill in the balance AFTER the reconciling is done. I was glad to get home to the real work. The middle paddock needed two new round bales. Eliza and Jenis both needed to be grained and the indoor arena watered. All of that was finished just a few minutes before Karin arrived. Today Galena, Eliza, Anna and Indy were brought in for training. Below left to right is Indy (her halter is too big for her and makes her face look funny) Eliza and Anna.

 Anna decided to have a good roll in the arena while Karin was working with Galena. 

 Galena was quiet and responsive today. 

 Eliza was worked with next. She is a forward mare with big gaits. 

 Anna was brushed twice as was all ready to be tacked up but while Karin was working with Galena she rolled, was brushed, she rolled again and had to be brushed again.

 Last mare to be worked with was Indy. 

While Karin was working with her Galena and Eliza wandered over to graze on the hay. 

This afternoon was pure joy for Karin. The horses are improving each time they are worked with. She loves to see improvement and is thrilled when they try to do what she is asking without a fuss.
They sure are beautiful and we are blessed that they live here. Karin finished up just as Mark got home. We had a chicken dish for supper and had to push it to get ready for church in time. Mom and Ruth drove with us tonight. Willis had the service on 1st Peter.

58 Mile Winds

What a relief to walk outside and the face doesn't sting from the bitter cold. It was 39 degrees on our walk this morning. Mark got the car battery charged up no problem and after the walk a big smile was on my face as I drove to the the Berean office. To read about our morning there click HERE.
After lunch I had to stop at Meister Brothers to get a couple checks ready for mailing then got home to get some of the Horsemeister paper work done. The winds were so great the car was being moved from one lane to the other. It took both hands on the wheel to keep the car going in a straight line. There was rain coming down in sheets. Later I heard that some of the wind gusts hit 58 mph. No wonder driving was hard. The wind this afternoon was trying hard to get into the house. It was chilly working at the desk in the family room as the wind was slamming into the walls, slipping through the cracks and howling at the windows. Titan's registration and transfer paper needed to be filled out and made ready for mailing tomorrow. A man from Lewistown, IL is willing to haul hay and straw down to Springfield March 1st and the deposit check needed to be mailed to him. By the time I finished the paper work and started on pictures it was too cool inside to be comfortable and the furnace was turned up to 72 degrees and the fireplace woodburner started. The picture below was found on my old camera card. It is of Rhoda's 11 year old English Mastiff dog Darcy meeting Rhoda's puppy Ruby.

A great update came in from Jessica the owner of Jewel's 2016 filly by Evan. She sent these pictures and wrote: Hi Judy, I just wanted to send you a couple of pictures of Riata and let you know she is happy and doing well!!! She loves to be handled and learns very quickly. It only took me five minutes to teach her how to trot next to me in hand! She is very bonded with my Arabian gelding so they are pasture buddies. The trainer at the barn loves her and thinks she is going to be something special.Oh and she LOVES people! Can't get her off of us!

We are thankful for updates and pictures. It is wonderful for us to hear how much these foals are loved. 

Dead Car

Today was grocery shopping day except when I jumped into the car to leave it was dead as a door knob. The hatchback had been left open since yesterday leaving the interior lights burning. I heard mom this morning offer her car to Jessica as she had a flat tire so took the golf cart over to check the garage and was glad to see mom's car was still inside.
Just a quick trip to Sam's Club today but I found some great buys. Top sirloin roast was on sale for $2.82 a pound, fresh boneless chicken breast for under $2.00 a pound and a boneless pork loin roast for $1.86. There was also some cheese soup on sale but I didn't look at the ingredients until home. The chicken was cubed and sauteed in a little olive oil, carrots were chopped and boiled until soft thinking both of these ingredients would go well with the soup. Well that didn't go very well, the cheese soup was made with BEER! Who does that? Ruining a good cheese soup with that awful taste. The smell of beer was strong but surely once the chicken and carrots were added it wouldn't taste like beer right. I know when we make beer batter for the fried fish that always turns out well but this wasn't to be. The smell and taste were much too prevalent and I can't serve beer at Berean. Instead the rest of the chicken was sauteed in vandalia onion sauce. Tomorrow that will join a spinach wild rice dish, fresh strawberries and pecan pie for the Berean lunch. Karin came after work to train but stopped in first for some supper and thankfully she liked the soup. She was given most of it to take home. Mark was fed the last of it and finished his bowl. Both enjoyed a slice of pecan pie for dessert but there is still plenty for tomorrow. Today Zalena, Ayanna, Oksana and Galena were brought in and worked. Zalena is wearing the green halter, Oksana has on a black halter, Ayanna and Galena are both wearing blue.

 Galena was the first mare worked. She is improving every day. 

 Ayanna was next, Karin just can't help but smile when riding Ayanna. Her gaits are just huge. 

 Zalena takes a while to figure out that she doesn't have to run each time someone gets on. Karin lets her walk without asking for any more speed until Zalena finally starts to listen to her rider instead of believing she must go go go.

After a nice quiet walk, trot and canter Zalena was untacked and Oksana tacked. Karin only had a few minutes to work her as the time just seemed to fly by.

We were both well pleased, all 4 mares are listening and all 4 mares are responding well. We haven't charged up the car yet this evening. I have to remind Mark in the morning to put the car on the charger as I can't be late for work.

Janelle's Wedding

Another cold morning but who cares about the cold when we have a warm church filled to the brim with warm hearts.
Today was Janelle Grassi's wedding to Nelson Eisenmann and Peoria was blessed to have many visitors with many visiting ministers. I snatched the picture below to share here of Janelle with her mom, brothers and her new husband Nelson. The wedding was touching and beautiful.

The reception was a joyful celebration feast for the hundreds of guests. The first play practice for the Horsemeister pirates was held today at Ruth and Fedi's house. All were there except Caleb and Jake but Sarah and Samantha were glad to fill in.

Rebekah with Anni's help choreographed the play and the players worked on learning it with Rebekah's instruction. The music fits perfectly. Not to brag but these young men and women are going to fun and funny to watch.