Giant Goose Ranch

Early this morning Mark and I are sitting at the breakfast table and we see a fox running down our driveway. I stood up to watch then noticed Valiant staring at something out the other window and a big white tailed deer was bounding across Valiant's pasture. Seeing these helps with the morning chores, we just don't know what we are going to see next and can't wait to get outside to start the feeding. After breakfast we hauled 7 horses out to the Giant Goose Ranch in Canton, IL to scout out horse trails and a good spot to set up an equestrian campground for that facility. Emily and Sarah took the big 4 horse Kiefer built while Mike and Diane took the stock trailer. Mom and I drove my car with 3 of the riders, Hannah, Bethany, and Faith. Beth, mom and I took the Mule out to find a good place to park the trucks and trailers and the first thing we had to do was stop for a goose crossing.

We couldn't head right out on the trails, a van showed up with lots of little kids that all wanted pony rides so that was first on the list.

Luckily Chad stepped in and told the little kids that it was time for the big kids to ride.  The ride went well, the horses were mostly well behaved. The horses and riders today were from left to right: Sarah & Sunny, Karin & Sangria, Diane & Missy, Emily and Faith & Jenis, Hannah & Cookie, Mike & Mika and Bethany & Sally.

Notice Bethany talking on the phone, no she isn't talking to Bill, her mother, Joan called from Haiti.

 The horses were glad for lake crossings, it was hot, the thermometer was reading 89 degrees.

Check out the beautiful rolling hills in the picture above. The video below is pony rides first then some of the trail ride.

I had to be back by noon as a mare was coming in for breeding. Pat the owner of the mare arrived after noon. The mare is a gorgeous Friesian cross named Whisper. We took her right over to Evan to tease. She is not showing but hopefully will within the next few days. I'll have to get pictures of her tomorrow. The trailer arrived back with Jenis and Emma both of these mares will need to be sonagrammed to find out where they are in their cycle. The rest of the group headed to Norris for volley ball and a cook out.