I Taste Like Carrot

Last weekend we went to the farm.  It was a beautiful day!  I took advantage of the light to take some pictures of the horses.  We cleaned out the fridge and brought some "getting old" produce for the horses and chickens to snack on.  Since it was going to be getting cold, everyone needed blankets.  Well, all the horses.

Scout

 We had Sammy, Salty, and Magic in the one field.  Magic doesn't like men.  He's not a big fan of most other people, either.  Lisa got close, then he bolted.  I spent some time coaxing him with carrots.  I'd toss a piece.  He'd take a few steps and get it.  I'd toss another a little closer to me, he would take a few more steps to get it.  I managed to get him close enough that he was taking it from my hand.  Then Salty came over and nudged him out of the way.

Scout and Pepper up front

I went into the other field and gave treats to the other horses.  After a carrot snack, Scout nibbled my hand a bit.  They do that sometimes.  I didn't think anything of it.  Not until he chomped down on my index finger.  OUCH!  I guess I still smelled like carrot.  Man, did that hurt!  



Lisa and Dave groomed Dusty and Sheldon one day and saddled them up.  Dave led the boys around on Sheldon.  Then Glen was brave enough to try.  He followed Dave's direction.  Left hand in the mane, right hand on the horn, left foot in the stirrup, and saddle comes sliding down the horse's side!  Whoops!  Slight adjustment on the saddle and Glen was up and Dave was leading him around the pasture.

Scout, Pepper, and Salty

Once Dusty was ready, the boys doubled up and Lisa led them to the ring.  They rode for a bit like that, then they went a turn each solo.  Jeremy is getting really good controlling the horse on his own.  I took a bunch of pictures of each of them, but they are on Lisa's phone.  Once I get her to put them on the computer, I'll post them.  I even took a turn for a few minutes.  I, of course, needed a step stool and a spot to get on and off Dusty, but at a walk he's pretty smooth.  I'm still learning how to control him.  I have the basics, but he doesn't always do quite what I want yet.

 This is a picture of Dusty enjoying the grass by the hitching post outside the pasture while Lisa was grooming him.  I took it while I was sitting on a stool next to him :-)  He's such a sweet horse.  He's about 20 years old now.  He was a handful when Lisa got him 2 years ago.  She did a lot of work with him and he's so good now.

Sheldon is pictured below, tied to the other post outside the pasture.  Dave was just getting ready to groom him when I took that picture. 

It was such a beautiful day!