Alisal 2016

Last Wednesday morning as Brett and I made the six hour drive to Alisal, we talked about how green it was going to be there; we wondered if the lake would be back to normal levels and how much water would be in the stream that winds its way through the ranch.  Afterall, we've had a pretty wet winter.  The snow pack was at 130% in January and rainfall is at normal levels.  Sure, February was warm and dry but our rainfall stands at just over 30 inches since last October.

Alisal is located in Southern California, inland from Santa Barbara and about two hours north of Los Angeles.  When we arrived, the ranch was quiet -- which is exactly why we chose mid-week in February to go.  It was also very warm, about 84F, and dry.  The stream was dry.  The lake level had dropped even further.  They are afraid it might dry up completely.  Rainfall on the ranch is only 6 inches.  El Nino has been a bust for Southern California.

All photos in this post are from Ana.

We had a wonderful time, of course.  The grass was short but it was green.  The cattle, young steers, were adorable and everywhere we rode.  They dotted the hills and blocked the trails and tried to join our rides.  We ate too much food -- even though we rode every morning and every afternoon, we gained weight.

Kyle, Camille and Ana arrived on Friday and stayed through the weekend.

Camille rode with Brett and I on the advanced rides.  We do a mix of loping, trotting and walking on the advanced rides, cutting across pastures, climbing the hills and going as far as we can.  I rode four different horses, all new to the ranch, while we were there.  When horses arrive, they are assigned to a wrangler who spends three months to a year (depending on the horse) getting them used to cattle, and gates, and riding in line, and all the wildlife.  The first horse I rode was looking for a reason to be naughty and buck.  I doubt he will be there when we return next year.  The other three horses were compact, fun rides.  Brett spent his time on one horse, a 17h grey, who was also new to the ranch.  He was a bit impatient but Brett got along with him fine.  I think he has a 50/50 chance of staying.  The big horses are purchased for big riders; often men who have little to no riding experience.

Ana and Camille

Kyle and Ana went on the intermediate rides.  Ana has ridden before but not in quite a few years and she wasn't ready to go loping through herds of cattle.  Smart girl.  Confidence is everything.  She did ride, every ride, and fit right into our Alisal routine (which is all about food and riding).

Ana and Kyle

We got back home late Sunday night.  The weather was dry in our absence. They keep promising us a wet March.  Fingers crossed.

Thor

Brett and I made the seven hour drive to Alisal this morning, arriving in time for the afternoon ride.  I was assigned Thor and Brett was on Pendleton.  Both are horses we've ridden before and liked.  Fortunately, everybody else signed up for the afternoon ride were beginners so we got a private ride.  Brett and I headed out with a young, relatively new wrangler to the ranch.  She asked me if I had a preferance on where we rode and I requested the spring trail.  Brett and I haven't been up to the spring in three or four years.  The trail is longer than most and climbs up into the Santa Barbara coastal mountains.  In order to get the loop completed in the alotted two hours, it requires a lot of trot and canter; including a long glorious canter through a long grassy valley.

When we started out, Thor tossed his head quite a bit and his ears seemed to be permanently pinned.  It must be hard to be part of a string, with riders of varying skill and balance on your back.  Thor is a sensitive and forward horse so I stayed off of his mouth completely.  I rode him from my seat.  After the first long canter, we figured each other out, found our rythm and began to enjoy ourselves.  His ears went forward and he started to carry himself in a comfortable frame.  Throughout the ride, I continued to work from my seat.  I was able to get transitions and speed from regulating my posting speed or the swing in my hips -- depending on the gait.  He never reached the point of making transitions from thought, but we made huge progress from heavy unhappy string horse to partner.

I think I'll be riding Thor more on our stay here.  He tuned in and tried.  I love a horse who tries.

Git Along Little Doggies

Sunday morning, before checking out of the Alisal, we drove cattle.  We started by moving 100 head from one of the holding pastures up to their winter pasture by the lake.  It was cool, with misty fog hanging over the ranch when we set out.

Saddled up and ready to go.  Brett's leading the way on Wilbur.

Tony Thompson, head wrangler at the Alisal.   Tony is a cowboy in the best sense of the word.  He's all about riding with feel; soft hands; and compassion.

Sue, one of our fellow boot-campers, looking at the cattle we are going to move.

 

Tony lined us up in the holding pasture and gave us instructions on how to collect the cattle.

 

 

Some of the cattle were still taking their morning nap and weren't real interested in moving.

And some others were way off under the trees.

We moved them into a big bunch...

...and started moving them out of the pasture, and up towards the lake.

Calvin (my awesome palomino) and I were right behind Tony, at the front of the herd.  Our job was to keep then from veering towards us. 

We did such a fine job that the cattle foreman, on the left, asked Tony if we would help him move two more herds.  Heck, yes!!

Brett on Wilbur.  When we left the Alisal, Brett said to one of the wranglers "How 'bout I pay you a couple thousand dollars and you put Wilbur in my trailer."  ... Brett loved that horse. 

This is Wes on Tonto.  Wes had never ridden before and Tonto, a little pinto, took great care of him.  Tonto wouldn't do more than walk, or reluctantly trot if Wes kicked with all his might, legs and arms flapping with the effort.  Wes got the "best sport" and bootcamp mascot award for trying so hard and joining in the laughter about poor Tonto.

Last Day at Alisal

This morning we will move cattle from one of the lower pastures to one that is higher up on the ranch.  Truck loads of calves have been arriving daily, dropping off about a hundred calves each day.  The Alisal will have around 1,000 head when all the babies have arrived.  The calves are unloaded into a small green pasture where they hang out for a day or two, calling for their mamas who are far, far away.  The first order of business is to vaccinate and brand them - adding insult to injury, I suppose.  I tell myself its like having your baby boy circumcised in the hospital.  He screams, but then has no memory of it.  The freshly branded babies are moved to another smallish green pasture and once they are settled, and all look bright eyed and healthy, they are moved up to the big pasture.  Today we will help move one of those groups. 

Yesterday, I spent most of the day in the saddle.  We were in the saddle at 7:30 am, riding up to the Old Adobe (an hour ride) for breakfast.  After breakfast, we rode back.  I jumped on Winston and worked him in the arena for about half an hour, before it was time to meet for lunch.  In the afternoon, we practiced roping (from the ground) and then mounted up again.  We spent two hours or so practicing team sorting in the arena.  The head wrangler had chosen a fabulous horse for me.  Kersey (same name as our dog!) is a competitive cutting horse so all I did was stay out of his way.  It was a blast!!  I pointed him at the herd of heifers, and we picked one to cut out.  Kersey locked on and methodically walked this way and that until the calf was isolated.  Then we moved it down the rail to the other end of the arena.  If the calf tried to double back, Kersey jumped in front of it - like lightening.  It was easily my favorite part of the bootcamp.

After two hours of free time (collapse in the room time), we climbed into the hay wagon and went back to the old adobe for a candlelit dinner -- steak, ribs, chicken, roasted veggies... wine... singing around the campfire afterwards. 

This afternoon, we will drive home.  Bummer.  ...kind of.  Its been wonderful here but I do miss our little ranch and all the critters. 

Doing Better

Today I didn't skip any of my pain pills and the day went much better. 

It was warm at the Alisal today, but not hot.  In the morning before bootcamp activities started, I took Winston into the arena so he could run around and get some exercise.  He raced back and forth numerous times, with his tail held so high that it brushed his back.  When he had blown off the excess steam, I lifted the lunge whip like I do when I'm working him and asked him to trot off.  I wasn't sure what he would do, since he wasn't on a lunge line and the rodeo arena is huge.  He not only trotted off; he put himself on a 20m circle around me and stayed there while I asked him to transition from trot to canter and back again.  I was amazed!  When we finished working, he waited for me to slip his halter over his ears and walked calmly back to his paddock. 

Brett put Flash in the arena next.  Flash was feeling good; he rolled, he bucked, he dug in and burned rubber across the arena with a couple squeals and whinnies thrown in for good measure. 

Couples bootcamp activities today were at the lake.  We saddled up, rode to the lake where we had lunch, played with bows and arrows (Brett is very good) and then rode back.  We had a few hours to relax before dinner and line dancing. 

I didn't participate in archery or line dancing -- too much twisting for my back.  But I did participate in the important activities: riding and eating.

Here we are on our way back from the lake today (photo courtesy of one of the Alisal wranglers, Haddie). 

Wincing Along

This morning we woke to high winds which continued most of the day.  The wind was warm, but not hot, and although we almost got blown over the ridge, our morning ride was comfortable. 

In the afternoon, I rested and Brett took Flash out for an easy trail ride.  Flash did great.

Me, not so much.  This blasted lumbar sprain hurts like heck.  I'm trying to limit the amount of pain medication I take because I hate feeling loopy and sleeping all the time.  But, I think I was too aggressive in the weaning department. 

This evening, the Couples Bootcamp started with a wine pairing dinner.  I hadn't taken a pain pill since the morning and I had a hard time sitting through the dinner -- and had zero appetite for the wonderful food. 

I am planning to ride Winston in the arena tomorrow morning before the Couples' ride up to the lake for the day -- but I may revise that plan.  I'm not sure I can manage a ride on Winston and a ride up to the lake. 

Here's a picture Camille took of me on Winston on the ride where I came off.  I think she took this picture after the second time I came off.  Kyle is behind me on one of the ranch horses. 

I'm going "ouch, ouch, ouch" and Winston is going "can we go back now?" 

Taking it Easy

The weather here at Alisal has been beautiful.  The nights are brrrr cold and we walk briskly from our little cabin to the ranch room for dinner.  At night we sleep with the windows open a few inches and snuggle down deep under the blankets.  We sleep well here.  As a general rule, I do not sleep well away from home.  This place is an exception.  In the morning, Brett gets up just before 7:00 and goes to the ranch room to get me a mocha and the newspaper.  While he is feeding the horses, I light a fire and sip my coffee.  I feel very spoiled  and it is one of our Alisal rituals that I most love.  By the time we finish breakfast, the sun is warm and I can ditch my sweatshirt.  Usually, we go on a morning ride but today we headed up to Paso Robles to pick up some wine instead.  I am still very sore from my fall (Winston is dang tall!) but have been able to reduce my pain medication to half a pill so I am making progress. 

Tomorrow morning, we plan to ride the horses in the big rodeo arena.  Brett will walk Flash around and I will work Winston.  We made an appointment for later in the morning at the local horse clinic (excellent) for Flash.  Brett would like to get x-rays of his hocks so we have a definitive diagnosis.  It doesn't change anything but it does bring peace of mind.  I know it helped me when Jackson's x-rays clearly showed lamanitic changes.  Brett and Flash have been through so much together and Brett does not want to leave any stone unturned.  I completely understand and support his decision.  Flash is Brett's first horse, the horse who taught him to ride, his mounted patrol partner, his trail buddy and his passion.  They've done dressage shows together and memorials at the State capitol, they've climbed mountains and camped out, they've patrolled parking lots and Civil War reenactments.  From his back, Brett has carried flags, shot a gun and chased cows.  They've cantered on the beach and ridden into the surf.  There isn't much that these two haven't done together. 

And, they will still do some of these things in the future.  They'll be sticking to flat ground and skipping the mountains, though.  Brett is adjusting to the new relationship and he's trying to explain it to Flash -- who still wants to do and be everything. 

Hitting The Ground

WiFi is hit and miss here (mostly miss) and very slow when it works so posting will be spotty at best this week.  We finished up the first part of our stay at the Alisal today -- Kyle and Camille joined us for the weekend.  We had a great time together -- it's been a few years since they have been able to join us here.  Pesky school schedules have put a crimp in our annual family get-away.  We tried a weekend for the first time (more people, more money) and it worked out well. 

Brett and I are having a good time despite a few setbacks.

We took Winston and Flash out on a trail ride Saturday. We asked the wrangler to just take us on an easy walk ride as we ease Flash back into work after his hock injections.  Flash started out great but then we went up a fairly steep hill and then back down the other side, dropping down to the lake.  Flash was so-so going up the hill but couldn't do the down hill at all.  I felt horrible for him; his head was high and he hopped, trying to keep his weight off the left hind hock.  Back on level ground by the lake, he walked well but his days of doing hills are over. 

Brett sat with Flash in his paddock for the rest of the afternoon, showing up just in time to join us for dinner.  During dinner, he didn't say a word and he climbed into bed the minute we got back to the room.  I felt horrible for him.

Flash will be semi-retired going forward.  He will still do the mounted patrol work they both love so much and Brett will still ride him on the flat roads in our community.  It's not going to be an easy transition for either of them. 

This morning, Brett rode one of the ranch horses on the morning ride and I saddled up Winston.  While we waited for the groups to be mounted and go our, Winston welcomed attention from guests walking by, chewed on the railing and played with my helmet.  Brett, Kyle, Camille and I headed out with one of the wranglers.  Winston was worried and unhappy about going out without Flash, stuck with a bunch of strange horses (he doesn't like strange horses).  He called to Flash and pranced a bit.  After we left the barn, walked past the paddocks full of ranch horses munching their morning hay, and headed towards the lake, our wrangler stopped and walked her horse back to see how everyone was doing.  Winston started freaking out -- first there was no Flash and now the wrangler's horse was leaving him.  He reared up and pranced around.  She (woman wrangler) came back to the front and announced that we were going to pick up a trot.  Winston was beside himself by this time and instead of trotting, he bucked.  And bucked and bucked.  I hit the dirt.  Hard.  Winston trotted off but he didn't go far.  I sat in the dirt thinking about how much my hip hurt and how embarrassing it was to come off with an audience.

Someone nabbed Winston and I climbed back on.  I moved further back in the line in the hopes that Winston would settle if he was behind a quiet horse instead of the wrangler who was moving hither and yon, keeping an eye on our small group (just Brett, Camille and I).  A few minutes later, she picked up the trot again.  Winston jumped into canter but behaved... for two strides.  Then we were on top of Camille and her horse, Little Mo.  With nowhere to go, Winston used his energy to buck again.  This time I landed on my lower back.  Winston looked at me in confusion and when the wrangler tried to catch him, he trotted away.  With his phobia of strangers, I knew I had to be the one to catch him.  Brett called to him and he walked towards Brett but then stepped on a rein and startle away again.  Winston was clearly nervous and unhappy.  I winced my way to my feet and called to him, stepping his direction.  With a huge sigh of relief, Winston walked over to me and allowed me to catch him.  I climbed back on and requested that we not trot or canter anymore.  The wrangler took us up steep hills, off the trail, and back down.  Winston was wound up but he didn't buck anymore.  It was a long, stressful, painful ride but we went another good hour before getting back to the barn.  I led him the last bit because he was getting hyper when we got within calling distance from Flash. 

Brett drove me to the ER and I have some wonderful pain pills for my lumbar strain.  No broken bones, no compressed vertebrae.  Just bruising, dirt down my pants and pebble marks in my skin. 

We won't be taking either horse out on the trail for the remainder of the trip. 

Today through Wednesday will be quiet.  Its just Brett and I and there are no activities scheduled.  We will ride on the ranch horses, do some wine tasting and relax.  Thursday starts the couples weekend.  Hopefully, my muscles will be pretty much recovered by then. 

Big Bellies and Broken Toes

Yep; that's what Brett and I brought back home from our vacation at the Alisal Guest Ranch.  We both have big bellies from eating three huge meals a day, five days in a row, with no restraint.  Oops.  And I brought back a couple broken toes.  Double oops.

We did have a great time.  Winston and Flash did great, settling into their spacious pens under the rodeo booth with no drama whatsoever.  We rode them everyday, sometimes twice, and there were wranglers practicing team roping in the evenings next to them.  The cattle chute into the arena wrapped around their pens.  They did not lack for entertainment or company.

Flash and Winston are just beyond the horses in the pasture to the left of the rodeo tower.

Our room was next to the (dry) stream bed and framed by massive sycamore trees.  There were poppies, iris and foxtails in bloom everywhere.

I was thrilled with Winston on the trail rides.  Brett and I rode at the back of the group so we wouldn't interfere with the established dynamics of the Alisal string of horses.  That worked out great.  The groups varied from three to five riders so it wasn't like we were stuck in the boonies.  Winston did everything I asked for with calm willingness: crossing water, crossing the big bridge over the dam -- even with cattle scurrying out from underneath when they heard the horses clomping above, trotting and cantering.  He even stood quietly tied in a meadow with cattle wandering around while we had breakfast.  Nothing fazed my boy.  Well, almost nothing.

On Monday afternoon, we were out on our second ride of the day and the wrangler started out on another lope.  I slid my foot back to cue Winston and he did the hoppy bucky thing trying to kick my foot from underneath with the opposite hoof.  He got away from me for a stride and when I got him back, his head was even with Flash's saddle.  Flash does not like to be passed -- especially at canter.  He pinned his ears and cow-kicked sideways at Winston.  He missed Winston.  He nailed my foot.   I muttered dammit dammit dammit for the next ten strides.  It hurt a lot.  When we got back to our room and I took the boot off, the front of my foot was black and blue.  My big toe and the next two were swollen purple sausages.  My big toe ended up with bruising but otherwise fine.  The next two are broken.  So, I squeezed my foot into my boot once a day after that for a ride and spent the afternoons with it elevated on a chair.

I had time to think about what happened and am pretty sure I know what is going on with Winston's complaints about how I cue canter.  He has a very short back and I am quite certain that I am sliding my foot too far back.  I have this tendency anyway and with a short backed horse... not good.  So, lesson learned for me.

The only time that Winston spooked was when a heifer popped out of the tall grass and started trotting down the trail after us.  I guess she wanted to join the ride.  Winston didn't like that.  He likes it when the cattle are in front of us, not behind.  He cantered off but I never lost him and we were back in our place in line, calm and happy, before any of the other horses had time to react or catch his energy.

I expected Winston would do well but, as usual, he exceeded my expectations.  Flash was perfect as well -- other than breaking my toes, that is. 

Couples Bootcamp Rocks

Brett and I spent four days last week at bootcamp.  No, it wasn't one of those fitness bootcamps that are so popular nowadays.  This was Couples Bootcamp and it was at a beautiful guest and cattle ranch on the central coast of California. 

The itenerary went something like this:

Thursday:  arrived after lunch. Check in.  Go for a long ride around Alisal lake.  Change for dinner and the evening meet and greet activities.  Dinner was with a winemaker -- a different wine with every course.  The winemaker also breeds QHs -- needless to say the conversation was lively at the table. 

Our room was cozy and clean.  We did have an unexpected visitor in the bathtub when we arrived.

When we returned to our room after dinner, he was gone and we never saw him again.  Maybe the turn down ladies do frog relocation as a side business.

Friday: Morning ride to Alisal Lake where we had lunch, learned how to play with bows and arrows (Brett rocked.  He hit the deer target which was far, far away dead center).  Then we rode back to the barn taking a different route -- the ranch is a ba-zillion acres huge so every ride is different.  We got back just in time to make it to the spa for our couples massage.   Ahhhhh.  I got teased at dinner... a few people from our group (there were five couples) saw us walking back to our room afterwards.  I, apparently, resembled Gumby....drunk.  Dinner, then line dancing, then sleep.  Deep, heavy, solid sleep.

Saturday: Morning ride to the old adobe house for breakfast and cowboy music.  Back to the barn... out to the rodeo arena where we learned how to rope.  Well, they tried to teach us how to swing a rope and nab a plastic heifer.  We both failed.  Brett was grumpy.  Box lunch.  Brett didn't like his sandwich.  He was really grumpy.  Then back to the barn to get our sorting horse.  Brett's horse was named Grouch.  I thought that was hysterically appropriate given his mood.  It turns out Grouch is an awesome sorting horse and a personal favorite of the head wrangler, Tony.  I rode a little pony size QH named Teddy.  He was a good little sorting pony.  Spot on.  We rocked.  It was a BLAST.  My favorite part of bootcamp -- even if it was 92F.  Dinner was back at the adobe.  We piled into the back of a truck and sat on hay bales.  Tony's wife convinced Brett and a two of the other guys to take the taxidermy mountain lion out to the road so Tony would see it when we left.  In all the years he has worked on the ranch, he has never seen a mountain lion.  He's seen evidence and other wranglers have come across them but he's never seen a live one.  I don't think the guys would have done it without the vast quantities of wine in their system... but they did.  It went off great. 

Sunday morning:  We moved cattle from one pasture to another.  It was interesting learning about how to move them, how to ride ahead and block "holes" so they stay on the right track, how to keep them at a leisurely walk and not create any stress...  I have even greater respect and appreciation for the working mind of a QH now -- and I already thought that they are great (especially Paints, like my Jackson, of course).  We got back around noontime and it was time to check out and drive home. We were not ready to leave.  We've already reserved a spot for next year.  We are hooked.  Seriously.

...and I made a little movie to share with you guys...

Line Dancing... sort of

Brett and I went to Couples Bootcamp last weekend.  It was four days of riding, roping, sorting cattle, moving cattle.... exhausting!  We didn't lose weight though.  When we weren't riding, we were eating.  The food was amazing in both quality and quantity.  The second evening, after dinner, they brought in an instructor to teach us line dancing.  hahahahaha.  Brett and I are the world's worst dancers.  We sit and listen to the music, tap our feet, think we want to dance -- and then when we try, it's a disaster.  I attempted line dancing but I think I was over-thinking it.  I wasn't successful at any rate.  Brett claimed he had to use the men's room and disappeared.  We managed to sort of two-step to one song.  Sort of, kind of, but not very gracefully.

We did dress for the occasion, though.  So we looked spiffy sitting on the sidelines.

There were four other couples in our bootcamp.  Peter got the prize for most entertaining dancer.  After we finished with the line dancing part, he requested that they play "Brick House."  He was hysterical.

Back Home

Yesterday, we checked out of our wonderful cottage at the Alisal.

The room with the huge sycamore tree and...

...the stream outside our door.

Across from the retired horses pasture.  Rusty, in the middle, was one of my favorites in past years.

But first, we went on the breakfast ride.  It rained all night and was still alternating between mist and showers in the morning.  We were afraid the ride would be cancelled but it wasn't so we went over to get Flash ready for his last ride on the Alisal ranch.  He was ready and waiting.

Or, maybe he was just eyeing the horses in front of him relaxing in one of the grassy paddocks.

The breakfast ride is very popular.  Guests can opt to ride horseback to the old adobe for breakfast or to arrive by hay wagon.  I don't think they used the wagon due to the rain.  I did see quite a few people arrive via the ranch shuttle vans.  (wimps).  Riders are divided into three groups: beginner (walk), intermediate (walk & trot) or advanced (lope, trot, walk).  We expected to be with a large group (at the Alisal, a large group is 4-5 riders plus a wrangler) but instead it was just Brett and I and a wrangler.  I was on Wilbur again.  It was cool out with a breeze in addition to the rain, so the horses were all feeling fresh.  Wilbur was definitely awake. 

When we arrived at the adobe, Brett tied Flash to a ring in one of the sycamore trees near the other horses and we went off to get breakfast.  A small herd of cattle arrived and started milling around the area where the horses were tied.  Then they started milling around Flash.  He didn't seem to be worried so Brett went to get seconds on pancakes (the food was amazing).  While he was gone, a little white faced heifer started sniffing Flash's tail.  No reaction from Flash other than turning his head to watch her.  Then she started sniffing his haunches.  He cocked a hind foot and lifted it in warning.  She obviously didn't speak horse because she started licking his hind end.  He very calmly kicked her in the chest.  She backed up and looked at him in an  insulted manner and then they ambled over to pester the other horses. 

After eating, we mounted back up and headed back to the barn.  We took a long circuitous route so the ride was about an hour and a half.  Each time we came to cattle, Brett and Flash would be in charge of moving them out of the way.  At one point, our wrangler pointed to one just off the path and said  "I think that one has your name on it.  Try moving her around."  To say they were in their element is an understatement.  Flash put his eye on that heifer and he never let go.  He anticipated her moves and jumped to head her off just like a real cow pony.  When they were done playing, Flash lowered his head and starting licking and chewing.  It was priceless.

And it had to end.  Back to the barn we went.  While Brett loaded Flash in the trailer, I checked us out (and made reservations for next year).  Then we headed down the ranch driveway and began the long drive home.

Horses of Alisal

I wish I had pictures of the horses I rode up here at the Alisal Ranch but I didn't take any.  The ranch doesn't allow you to carry cameras on the rides (one more thing to fly away) and I wouldn't have anyway.  I mean, who wants to pull up in the middle of a glorious lope across an open meadow and take a picture?  Stop?  Not in a million years.

We are leaving tomorrow and may not get to ride before hitting the road.  There is rain in the forecast and that would kill the morning breakfast ride - a Wednesday tradition.  The rides so far have been fabulous.  Since I wasn't able to bring Jackson, I have been riding the ranch horses which is the normal way of doing things here.  It's a way I enjoy.  I love experiencing the different temperaments and gaits of their mostly QH string.  So far, I have ridden the following horses:

Strawberry: This horse is new to the ranch.  I rode him Sunday afternoon for our first ride.  He is an average height strawberry roan QH.  We had a lovely time together and he was perfect for my first ride after arriving.  I was a bit tired from the long drive so being on an uncomplicated horse with smooth gaits suited me fine.  He didn't have much fire under the hood, but he was willing.  Worked for me.

Hank:  Monday morning ride.  Chestnut QH gelding.  15h  Hank had fire under the hood, a responsive light feel, and gaits from hell.  He was fun and he had been an English lesson horse before coming to the ranch so if I took any contact at all, he rounded up nicely.  But he had a jackhammer trot and his lope was powerful (lots of push) but rough.  A mix of Strawberry's gaits and Hanks mind would have been my perfect horse -- hmm, would have been Jackson.  We rode with a wrangler who likes to cover a lot of ground so there was lots of trot and lope to bust my seatbones.

Dodge:  Monday afternoon.  TB cross of some sort.  Maybe appendix QH.  Maybe pure TB.  Tall, narrow, smooth.  Bay.  Nice smooth gaits.  Responsive.  We went off the groomed trails with a different wrangler which is what Brett and I really enjoy.  There are 2,000 head of cattle on the ranch so we were constantly going around or through them.  Flash did fine with cattle and Brett was happy to be going off of the beaten path.

Rooster: Tuesday morning.  Bay roan QH.  Uncomplicated, well mannered, nice gaits but a bit dead to my leg (as in "move over buddy so I don't hit that branch").  I think with some consistent work he could be a really nice horse.  Kate at A Year With Horses could turn him into a great horse.  ...and he's for sale.  Kate?    Need another project?  The morning ride was just Brett, a wrangler and me.  We went through more cattle, over more hills, across more meadows and Flash was happy happy happy.

Wilbur:  Tuesday afternoon.  Red roan.  QH.  Niiiiice.  Smooth gaits, responsive, not super light but not heavy either.  He was a real pleasure to ride.  If we don't get rained out tomorrow morning, I will ride him on the breakfast ride.  Brett pushed some cattle (Flash got into that big time), scared more deer, checked out the baby bald eagle, and had another great ride.  Broken record... we are not ready to go home.  Although I do miss Jackson.

And I need to go on a diet.  The food here is amazing and I've been eating a lot of it.

Flash's Big Day

Last night we arrived at the ranch and got Flash settled in.  He was relaxed and happy, glancing over at the cattle a few pens over once in awhile.  Brett and I got unpacked and went on a trail ride.  We used the ranch's horses since Flash had just finished a 5 hour trailer ride and deserved some "chill" time.  We rode under cloudy skies that cleared during the ride.  Brett rode a big grey named Big Rig who I remembered riding, and liking a lot, a few years back.  In fact, I tried to buy him from the ranch before I found Jackson.  He wasn't for sale which turned out to be a good thing -- I wouldn't have found Jackson otherwise.  I rode a little strawberry roan who was easy - nice smoth gaits and uncomplicated.  He didn't have much oomph but sometimes that is nice.

This morning we woke to sunny skies.  I took pictures but I forgot the USB cable at home so I can't download them.  I'll post them when we get home.  Brett rode Flash on the morning ride.  We were out for about two hours, riding through cattle and the various pastures, up and over hills, and around the lake.  Flash was perfect.  He was happy and alert and didn't mind the cattle at all.  We loped quite a bit and, although Flash got happy and prancy, he never stopped listening or behaving.  Brett had tears in his eyes as we walked back to our room.  That particular dream was fulfilled in spades.  I think we can safely cross it off the bucket list now.  There is rain in the forecast tonight and tomorrow - off and on for the remainder of our stay -- and we don't care.  Mission accomplished!

Besides, my seat bones are talking to me big time.  We rode again this afternoon -- that's a lot of saddle time!  Breakfast, ride, lunch, ride, dinner, crash.  Perfect vacation.