Beautiful Sunny WARM Dec 16th, 2017

Early this morning, as soon as it was light enough outside, Rhoda and I took a few pictures and made a short video of Envy for someone that wanted to see updated pictures before coming down to see her in person. We are right in the middle of weaning Envy so she didn't want to stand still for close up pictures.

She kept calling to Indy and Indy would call right back. We just took the video below to show how she leads and moves. Rhoda actually introduced her to the tarp for the very first time asking her to wear it. We were both surprised how Envy took that completely in stride.
As we were putting her back in the stall, Karin arrived to start getting the horses ready for the scheduled trail ride at Jubilee State Forrest.  The horses and riders today were Rhoda riding Indy, Karin riding Rosalie, Nolan riding Jenis and Anni riding Zalena. They were meeting Sandy and Monica at 10:30 am and they ended up pulling up at exactly the same time. Karin sent the 2 pictures below, she was on Rosalie so that's the only horse not pictured.

Later this evening Sandy posted a couple of the trip. Below is one  of the more dramatic shots. Sandy's horse Kitty had just stepped in quick sand and was struggling to get out, the rest of the horses crossed fine. 

 Below Monica is riding her gelding Colty, that is Nolan up ahead on Jenis and in front of him is Anni on Zalena. 

Joan and her children along with a few more were busy splitting wood for the winter. It was a perfect day to work on wood. Even though it IS just 9 days until Christmas the temperature was in the 50's!

Around 10:30 am the truck and trailer arrived to pick up Eli. Eli loaded but the trailer was an older small trailer that was not closed in. There was no good way to secure him. I determined it was just not safe enough to send him in, unloaded him and told the owner I would deliver him on Monday. This was after we had unloaded him, tried to put plywood up to make it safe, loaded him and realized, it still wasn't safe. This took a couple hours, I felt bad not sending him and I'm sure the owner felt worse, driving 182 miles here and another 182 miles back with an empty trailer. I'm thankful Rhoda is willing to go with me on Monday.
As soon as the trail riders got back we unloaded Jenis, Indy, Rosalie and Zalena, untacked them, loaded Sheena and Ripper in the front and Indy in the back and took off for Middle Grove. No pictures, we just drove in, opened the trailer doors and they took off galloping up the hill. We made it back before dark.
I nice email came in from Brandee the owner of Ribbon's orphaned colt Titan. She sent the picture below to show how tall this colt is. He is standing next to Easter Lilly and his rear end is taller. He was born Sept 12th, 2016 so he is only 15 months old. This colt by Valiant is going to be HUGE.

There is just one more item to post tonight. I saw the PERFECT verse for Karin, it is exactly her philosophy. She use to tell us if we see her out jogging we'd better take off running too as something REALLY bad must be chasing her.