Sunday Stills -- Glare

I kinda postponed this and am late cause couldn't get a good shot of glare this week if I tried, and I did try.  Usually have excess glare I don't want but I all I got this week was the sun shining off a magazine.  So here it is but it ain't what I was going for.

(not great but it is glarey)

(usually the fireplace gets glare but just reflections this week)

But while I had the camera out and was BBQing

(mmm steaks)

I saw the moon was almost full coming up

(Looked so much bigger in real)

 so made Neil come outside so I could play haha and this is what we come up with.

(His arm kept being clear and the moon fuzzy 

but since its so small you can't tell)

Haha what a willing subject he is, woulda worked better if the moon was lower, maybe tomorrow except I don't think Ill be home :(

Thursday

On Tuesday I had a lesson and it was well nothing special just a day on the flag, then it was so nice out I thought I'd go out to the hayfield and meet the other 2 ladies who were riding out there for a cool down.  Well there was a puddle with a chunk of ice in it and Easy figured that was too much  and I didn't wanna fight so we went around it, then a trench where water was draining and he had a real good look, I was ready for him to leap over it and no he just took big steps over it so that was good.  Sure was nice out there I coulda rode out all day.  On my way over, just a few miles north of our house I saw 4 elk.  We have been getting more and more here all the time but we hadnt seen any since our bunch of 37 left in December sometime.  Of course no camera so you get a cell phone pic.

(Elk, they still have antlers)

Wednesday and today were spent helping my neighbors video bulls for their bull sale coming up in March.  Pretty slow work but its always interesting to listen to them talk about the genetic behind each bull.  Some were really nice others just nice, they seem to be getting better every year.  Doesn't really matter if I like them anyways haha since they are black and we have red cows.  But they have good cows and pretty quiet and you could tell.  I was essentially a gate who kept the ones not done from the done ones and then brought a new one when needed.

(Hanging out in the alleyway)

Back to lessons tomorrow as long as the rain we are getting now doesn't make all the roads a skating rink by morning.

3rd Winter Series Show

Today was another show day.  I didn't go to practice yesterday cause the weather was miserable.  Kinda nice that my trainer rode him for me and got him ready, but also weird not to ride the day before a show.

Again never left till 8 am, that sure is nice!  Got there and the first class was still going.  Could leave later since I know the show list and I am way down but it stresses me out not knowing where they are and how long till I go.  So I go and sit there and drink my coffee.  Hardly know anyone so not much visiting which is fine, I'm not really that social.  Kinda wish I was and could talk to anyone like Neil can.  But not so so I sit by myself.   Louisa visited for a while  but she busy riding too.

(Practicing with my camera)

(Love this stop)

(getting down)

When it was 2 herds before I went I got him all saddled and the hired guy loped him, that's so nice!  He woulda loped him till it was time for me to go in the ring but that's weird for me too so I got on him 4 before my turn.  He was acting grouchy and I couldn't figure out why.  He was itchy so I let him itch his face and we put boots on and I never use boots but hes had them on before.  I made sure the cinch wasn't pinching and it seemed fine and then he kinda settled a bit and then was time to go in.

Didn't have anyone to video so nothing this time :(  But the first cow we cut was good to get out of the herd, she just kinda cut herself like they are supposed to....or maybe it was me helping too I dunno.  I thought we were way off course so I picked up my hand and turns out we were fine so I got a penalty for that.  And one for losing our working advantage on the same cow, not sure what that really is, I am gonna ask when I go back Tuesday.

The second cow same thing she was easy to cut out and worked really well.  Was pretty slow but I like slow cows, easier for my brain to understand.  No real mistakes there.  The third cow I cut out the front one, like I'm supposed to do and didn't pick a cow and go with it.  That's hard for me but I'm learning.  Helps to have someone telling me that all the time out there too.  My herd help is great.  I really only notice the 2 at the back talking to me, the front 2 are to push the cow towards me if its not moving or slow it down or turn it off me if I need help.  I don't know what they do cause I don't notice them out there yet.  But I'm thinking not a lot as I don't need fast cows pushed at me right now.

(my score sheet, 4th down, WS Hesastar)

(tired pony at the trailer 

really wanting to steal hay but hes been told NO)

Anyways ended up with a 68, best score I have ever got, but I was still 6th out of 14 in my class and they only pay till 4 :(  But still improving so maybe next time will be a paycheck at the end :)

And then after we cooled out and I went to take hi saddle off I just touched the back cinch and he sucked up his belly.  Well shoot someone sucked it up tight and he doesn't like that.  I shoulda looked but I didn't.  What a good boy to do all the right stuff even if he was uncomfortable.

Deary Thursday

Thursday, my only day off this week and its dreary out.  Was so nice earlier this week that I somehow expected nice forever.  Haha.  I can only wish.  I saw a picture on Facebook saying I'm giving up winter for Lent.  Oh if only that could be true.

Went for a lesson again yesterday, seems that's all I do anymore.  But its fun sure gets me out of the house for winter anyways.  We decided (maybe) I will probly bring Easy home after the winter series and just ride him out here for a month or so and then see how it goes.  Ill probly still go over for some lessons and see maybe go to some shows then but I'm not in a race for the buckle or anything this year just wanna ride and show and not be last all the time.

I stayed after to visit and there was a guy there I never met before and boy he had some good stories, he could have a film crew following him around and make for entertaining TV, not that there is anything much to compete with on TV these days.  We been watching Oak Island and Museum Secrets and I like some of the Alaska series but that's about all.

(the tail knot I do so he doesn't step on it when we work cows, 

I wanna try the mustache knot but I'm not that good at it yet)

I'm entered in the show Saturday and should be fun, we warmed up inside yesterday, lots of people there so I didn't rush but we were warm and he was lazy.  Until we went outside I could feel fresh coming out and so we loped a few laps outside before the cows got in but we coulda done a few hundred more before we started.  Well it was interesting, but good he still did the right stuff just a lot more enthusiastic about it.  Of course we messed him up by picking the slowest cow ever and so he had to wait on her.  I like her.  Haha it gave me time to think before just all over the place all the time.  Then another slowish cow and then I picked a fast one.  She was good though not too pushy and we actually had control of her for a while, that was cool like I could do no wrong,  and then she messed me up and was in control again.  Oh well short lived but fun.