More Mountain Riding and Getting Home

I took so many pics while we were riding in the mountains, it was so pretty and so different from what I see here that I couldn't help it.  I sure like my gopro for that, no need to carry a camera all the time.  We never saw any wildlife even tho I really wanted to see a bear....not close up but seems everywhere I go there is no bears :(  On the last day I wore Janice's horn bags cause Jazz was a little unsure of them so I even had the bear spray.  If I was more organized Id have brought my own horn bags but had no reason to need them (I thought)

(I love how there's just trails through the trees)

On Wednesday Janice rode Mattie and we went to the same spot as Tuesday but on the other side of the road.  We thought we got a little lost as she thought we could see the 1st butte from everywhere...not so.  But we found our way back.  Its pretty hard to get lost (even for me) you just make a longer loop sometimes.

(We tried not to ride near the power lines but they are just in the way sometimes)

(lots of open fields in this area)

(and some gorgeous views)

Then Thursday she took Jazz again and we went farther away, towards Cranbrook since I was going that way anyways and we actually came across a few cows.  Kinda unexpected but cool.  Jazz had never seen cows and she was worried but she got so she would follow one that was cool.

(a different kind of forest here)

(and lots of obstacles)

(Perfect ground for a barefoot horse)

Then the trip home.  Razz was tired and so was I.  But somehow coming home is always good as much as I love going.  Sure is pretty drive and roads are good but slower through the mountains.

(pretty mountains)

(more mountains unfortunately got a power line right in my view)

(Love the ones without trees on top)

(and pretty windy roads with lakes beside them)

(Looking more like Alberta :))

(and old building I'm guessing sawmill)

(Lumbreck, thanks Shirley)

(Frank Slide)

(Yay prairies coming up )

(and a pretty sunset on the Prairie)

 I made 2 stops on the way home, one for fuel and one in Brooks for groceries and food for me.  Got home just before dark and put Razz away and got her Dee so shes not alone.

Travelling Home

On the Monday we decided to leave early to make it across the border before it closed at 11 pm.  So all was well we did our class and watched a bit of the H1 then got everything ready and loaded and Shirley got us a milkshake at Dairy Queen cause it was so hot and off we went.  Everything went well until we got to the Columbia River.  Its a big valley we go down one side across a long bridge and then up the other side.  Well as we got to it traffic was slowing and we couldn't see anything  until we got to the bottom and they closed the I90 going East because of a fire.  Ugh, they had a detour some were taking and some were just waiting for it to reopen.  We decided to go cause it was 38* down there and I had Razz, way too hot to stand around in a trailer.  Well up this other road and it was kinda slow but then at the detour most people turned back and we decided to keep going, it was a nice road and not so busy.  I actually enjoyed that road got to see a lot more country side then you do travelling on the interstate.  it was only a bit farther so totally worth it.  We stopped for fuel and then for food and then home.  At the border I gave the guy all my papers and he said I never got one signed by the US guy on the way down.  I did give him them and I didn't know he was supposed to sign.  He said he could send me back 2 hours to the vet cause of that.  Yikes!  I just agreed to everything he told me and he kept all my papers (which I woulda liked the coggins back but I wasn't gonna argue) and let me go.  Whew.  Got back to Shirley's and Razz all settled in for the night.

(The Columbia River)

(the start of the traffic)

(another river view, easy to get pics when stopped in traffic)

(ugh so hot)

(a weird dairy feedlot?  dairy cows as far as you could see)

(crops are already combined there, seems do far ahead of us)

(I love the view going into Spokane)

(and we always went to these waterslides at Cour d' Alene as a kid, 

now theres an amusement park there too)

(not  fond of travelling beside logging trucks but there was a lot of them, 

this was a stoplight I don't entirely trust them logs try not to get that close)

Before we left we called Janice and thought I might go there for a day and ride before I go home.  Its on my way and why not? I'm already out there so ya Ill ride more :)  So the next morning loaded up and off I went.  Got there and she had another gal coming out to ride so we waited for her and then the 3 of us went out and rode at this spot we just stopped at a pull out and the trail left from there.  There was a paved path that is for hikers and bikers, it was the old rail line.  We went past that and into the trees.  So pretty out there,  I forget what its like.  I liked it cause even though it was quite warm out there was shade.

(Janice doesn't like her picture being taken

 so she liked this one of her and Jazz)

(Tucker, what a good guy.  She has a new puppy 

but he wouldnt stop moving for a picture and somehow forgot to

 get pic of her border collies, even though Cali loved me :)  and Sage barked at me

 and wagged her tail at the same time)

(Razz enjoyed a few mouthfuls of grass)

(She has a greenhouse and so always has the prettiest flowers,

puts mine to shame.  And a perfect porch to hang them on)

Janice rode her young horse, Jazz.  Jazz is a Beamer baby of Shirley's.  She is a real pretty girl and sensible.  She hadn't been out on the trails very much and she did awesome.

Buck Brannaman Ellensburg

Oh Boy where do I start?  So much learning.  Quite a trip down there.  I left Wednesday morning and drove to Shirley's place to stay overnight.  I got there in the afternoon and she took me to see a few things in town like the Kokanee brewery where the Sasquatch tried to steal my beer!  and lots of neat things in town, cute town she lives in.  Then back to her place and we had peaches right off the tree, mmm so good.  

(left in the morning and Bob was moving his cows across the road)

(Pincher Creek was my first stop for gas and it sure is pretty there)

(the Sasquatch!)

We left the next morning, me with the trailer and her with a holiday trailer so we had someplace to stay.  Trip had a couple stops on it and we still got there in good time.  Tracey Westbury was there with a horse for Shirley to use and to pick up a dog the Karen Jackson Simmons brought her.  So I got to meet those two!  that was super cool!  Then since the horse was new to Shirley she thought shed better see if they would get along....well not at first she was a little quicker moving than was expected and she come off but Tracey got on and then Shirley again and went much better the second time.

(Tracey playing with George)

(Shirley on Doxee)

Friday we started out with me and Razz ponying Doxee and getting her warmed up.  She was coming along nicely.  Then clinic started.  Buck has a filly he started about 3 weeks ago and was working with her.  He got us to start moving our horses in a circle following the lead then driving them around if they don't follow a soft lead.  Razz doesn't yet go when I ask with my hand I need to drive her shoulder.  If I ask too far back she just pivots her hind end away from me.  After getting them following a circle with a slight bend we were to lift towards the hip and get them to move the hip out.  I had a little trouble getting her hind feet to cross correct but I noticed if I did it right she did it right.  So its all timing on my part that's off.  Then we got them to move the shoulder back and around so they were going the other way.  I need more practice with that.  Razz goes about halfway around and then quits.  But I think I stop moving so again its me.  We have to practice tonight so we are good at it tomorrow and can move on.

We watched the other classes, the horsemanship class was a repeat of what we did but in the saddle then they moved on to more.  The ranch roping was really interesting to me cause I'd like to do that.

We did our homework that night and amazing how much better Razz was then after thinking about it all afternoon.  She got the soft feel quite a few times and the turn was good.  Moving the shoulders was much improved as was her back up but it still needs more work.  

(Big classes)

(roping)

(more roping)

(roping and doctoring)

Then Saturday was more of the same to start, A lot of improvement for me.  Then after we got that down, we moved to the fence and did the same thing, with them moving between us and the fence and no rushing.  Then we climbed on the fence and got them to step over to it so its easier and safer for us to get on.  The idea is to lift up on the lead rope until they move the hip over to the fence.  This was hard for Razz she just kept moving forward and into the fence then tried backwards and she finally got a step towards the fence.  She never did get real good at it but she will if I work on it more.  While we were up there we had to swing our lead ropes and flag (if we had one) and move stirrups and put a leg over all without stepping off the fence so if they got worried and moved we were still safe.  

And then as we were leaving our class Jennie and Michelle were there!  That was so cool to finally meet them.  We all watched the horsemanship class and visited.  

(Bucks filly with about 3 weeks on her, she was not perfect but you could 

really see the improvent in her even during the 4 days we were there.  He had another 

sorrel but I missed getting her pic)

(His stallion Guapo)

(his other bay, he was in the 2 rein, a pretty cool horse he sure had some moves)

(and Razz, I snuck in a pic of her while Buck was riding)

Sunday we started with cowboy Church, nice music from a participant and a good message.  Then in our class we did more of the same and then we got on!  I got on from the ground as the fence was all full, which he said we could do as long as we did it right and careful.  We did the same, the soft feel and driving if they didn't go and then moving the hip over.  He made us bring the head around 90* and then pet their head when they stand still.  Once both sides were good we added a leg and got them to move the hindquarters and do a one rein stop.  then we walked off and did a one rein stop.  It felt out of control for a while.  Buck said looked like a snake killing.  He has some of the funniest sayings.  But then I realized I wasn't doing it in time with the feet.  If I ask for the hip as she is lifting the inside hind foot its all smooth.  I really struggle with knowing where the feet are at all times so I really had to concentrate on that.  

We got to to short serpentines, asking with a soft feel, inside leg back and outside leg forward to get the bend.  It was a lot harder than it looked like.  The H1 class did the same but they did bigger serpentines with more steps in them.  Then the ranch roping class had to doctor the cows cause quite a few had pink eye (probly from the dust)  So that was neat, gave a purpose to the roping.  They had a few good ropers and they headed then if the cow stood still they practiced roping and dallying and if they moved the tracked them.  A couple horses were unused to seeing cows to they rode by them lots an did the motions without using a rope.

I also knew a girl from the horsemanship Challenge I did in January was going, I only found out the day before.  So I was looking around or her, finally saw her horse in the H1 class and so had to talk to her.  She said she had been looking at me thinking I looked familiar.  So glad I got a chance to meet her as well.

Some cool horses there, I really liked this black and white Tennessee Walker, 

I talked to her about him and found out he was abandoned in the Mohave desert 

and was 500 pounds underweight when she got him, he looks good now, he was super pretty. 

 Shes been in a few Buck clinics and the first one he wouldn't let her ride him

 but hes good now)

(this cute Arab with ears that were almost touching at the top)

(A haffie, aww so adorable!)

(I really liked this black horse he was kind)

(And Robin and Holly the sorrel paint)

(This dun gelding was Razz's neighbor in the barn.  She was in both the the foundation

 and horsemanship classes I dunno how she done it.  She said she was glad 

she was beside Razz cause he was freaking out until she came by

 and then he calmed down)

(not a great pic but the light bay was in the two rein, the only one in the clinic who was, everyone else was in a snaffle or hackmore)

Monday we did our class again, start over and then we did a little trotting to the one rein stops which made me think again. One other thing the H1 class did and he let us trot trying it was to yeild the shoulders with the reins and get one front foot to move wider out as a start for a turnaround.  While watching the H1 class I wanted to get out and try it and so finally got a chance.  I watched, tried it and then had to watch again cause I couldn't do it.  I finally think I got it but I sure got to practice more so I don't forget.  

 He answered lots and lots of questions and that was kinda cool.  And showed us a bunch of different things we can do.  Like using the slobber straps to get a horse to back up and go forward.  Nothing I woulda thought of before but just a different way to do something.  He also told/showed us the 4 ways to move the hindqarters.  I had heard some of this before in that horsemanship challenge but I was a little confused but now I understand a little better, I need a lot more work on that too.

He also talked about what he likes a horse to know before he moves them from a snaffle bit to a hackmore and then to a two rein.  I always find this interesting since I never know when to do such things.  

(rodeo grounds were kinda cool, almost in a bowl)

(got super windy up top but just a breeze in the arena)

All in all a good clinic and I would love to go again, probly in the H1 class.  But I will be a little smarter and try not to go in the middle of July when its 38* everyday.  Of course that's not normal for them either it was kinda a heatwave