This morning Herki and I spent some time dancing in the pasture while it was still frozen. We did some beautiful neck bends, some disengaging of the hind quarters, some side passes. I spent some time explaining neck reining to him. He seemed to be picking it up by the end. We also spent some time working on taking the right lead. At a stop I would touch with my leg and wait to see if he offered the right lead into a walk. He does great with the left lead but is sticky on the right. We did some walking and trotting - didn't quite dare to canter because the ground was frozen and slippery in spots. I hope to do some more dancing tomorrow.

Yesterday I spent over 2 1/2 hours trying to help a woman load her mare. The mare had been on a trailer many times before. Every Spring she goes to her summer home and every Fall she goes to her Winter home. They have never had any trouble with her until this fall. So, what was different.....? Well, she gave birth to a colt this Spring who rode in the trailer with her to her Summer home. Did the colt trip her up? Did she fall? Did the driver take corners sharp and stop fast? Who knows.... I tried everything I could pull out of my hat to help that mare get in the trailer but had no luck. She would go right to the back and then stop and refuse to go any further. Today RW was trying to help. Perhaps he got somewhere?

Thanksgiving Day!!! What better way to give thanks then to go for a ride?

Yesterday, I hooked Herki up to the cart and took B for a ride. He so enjoys time around Herki and it is unfortunate that he just can not care for his own anymore. BUT I am more then willing to share Herki with him whenever I can. For a gentleman of his age he does well climbing into the cart and also getting back out. Herki is so patient when Burt is around too. It is almost like he senses how frail he is. Herki gave three rides up the road yesterday. What a trooper!! It was a little chilly but not too bad and Herki didn't even break a sweat.

I'm just waiting for it to warm up a bit and then I am headed down to go for another ride.

What a fabulous ride today!!! Lorna B (owner of the appaloosa mare) and I met up this morning at 9:30am and headed out on a mission to find a nice trail to ride. I was concerned about how Herki would behave considering being in a strange place. We saddled up and I walked up the road a bit to the sandpit where the horses were immediately exposed to loaders, dump trucks, and escavators (even one that was digging and moving rocks). After the initial nervousness and some tender words, the horses moved right past the moving escavator and out into the big open field of green grass. We gently rode through the field and to a paved road that we heard had a trail at the end of it that we could get on. When we reached the end of the road a cable stretched across the entry stopped us, momentarily. We stopped and discussed whether we could get around it. Lorna seemed game. So, we delicately went around the cable on onto the trail. There were several mucky spots where the horses sunk in the mud. I stopped a couple of times to ask Lorna is she was okay and to encourage her to let me know if she was uncomfortable with any part of the trail. Herki, who generally hates to lead, lead the whole way. Eventually, I stopped, got off, and called DH (friend who owns a horse at the other end of the trail that we were on). She had just sat down after spending the morning cleaning the house. I convinced her to saddle up and meet us so that Lorna and she could meet because they are so close to each other that they could hook up all the time to ride. One we met up with DH and her horse, Lucky, Herki felt the need to posture a little. The mare has been in heat and Herki had his "girlfriend" all to himself until today, when this big studly appy gelding came in to the picture. The first moments were a little sketchy but they eventually worked it out. As long as we kept the mare between us, all was well. We rode for a little bit, the three of us, and then Debby headed back towards home and so did we (my butt was beginning to hurt a little and we had been gone about 3 hours). As we were approaching the barn, Herki began prancing again and I decided to direct his energy to see if he would give me a sidepass across the road if I asked. HE DID!!! BEAUTIFULLY! Once we got back we unsaddled and stood at the tailgate of my truck for a bit, resting. Then I got out my hoof tools and did Herki’s hooves while he was tired and more willing to stand still. Lorna and I are a perfect riding pair because she doesn’t like cantering. Neither do I. I will do it but only uphill in an effort to help Herki become more comfortable with it.

Lessons from today: learn to, more often, redirect Herki’s excess energy when he is inappropriately directing it – like prancing when the footing is slippery.

Herki will be spending a week or so in Littleton at a friend's housewhile we prepare the little bulls to be shipped. He is so goodnatured. The first day there were a couple times when I got a tinybit nervous watching the mare and molly mule chase him around - notreally though. They would come running at him full speed and fliptheir rearend at him like they were going to kick. He would lift hishead from the grass, give them a "so what - stop bothering me" look,and go back to munching. It was priceless. Now, after only 5 daysthere he is right at home. All three have been "caught" laying downtogether. All three will trot around the pasture together. He ishaving a blast at his vacation home AND he is only about 7 minutesaway, counting Littleton Main Street traffic. So, I get to save somegas and visit him twice as much. I go to see him at 6:30am and thengo again in the evening after work. The folks who allowed me to puthim in their pasture are very very nice. I don't see them much and Itry not to bother them - they are older folk. While I enjoy havingHerki so close I will be happy to have him back in Bath too becausethat is where all his equipment is - except for his western saddle,which I brought along because I plan to get in a Moore Dam ridebefore I bring him back home. I've been dying to do that ride for along time. Anyhow, that is what we've been up to.

A very successful weekend dancing with my partner, Herki! Yesterday we went for a short but beautiful cart ride with my oldest son. Herki so loves to drive. You can see it in his eyes, in his gait, in his curiousity, in his steadiness. He is the KING! Even my oldest drove for a while and, of course, Herki did as expected. Not a step out of place.

Today - a beautiful peaceful ride. We were completely in tune with each other. I asked for a walk, a trot, a canter (and he gave me the best one yet). I asked for a side pass on the road and at first I guess I wasn't being clear enough. BUT he caught on quickly. We met some hunters on the trail and patiently waited for them to pass. Herki was quite nervous. I could feel it. His muscles were tense. I quietly spoke to him "It's okay boy." His muscles loosened. He relaxed. Because he trusts me? Because we were connected?

Every tree out of place, every squirrel chirp.... All it took was an "It's okay boy" and he peacefully pushed past. Have I said lately how much I love this horse? He is my perfect partner!