Thanksgiving Weekend 08

*** Nov 28th - 30th - Thanksgiving weekend - Carolina 30/55/100. I hauled Gail's horses (Loverboy & Clint) down to Patrick, SC w/ Sierra on Friday Nov 28th (my horse strained a tendon in October after a 16 mile run and then 2 gallops later in same week). We pulled out at 9:30 and we stopped in Southern Pines for breakfast & to purchase food and some camping gear we'd not had. When we arrived (strait shot down US 1 - thank god), I found where I was supposed to put Clint (corral - 10x10) and moved the trailer 2 times before decided could back into an area near the corral where he was. Wasn't any room for 2nd horse - so Loverboy stayed tied to trailer. I got water and hay for horses while Sierra set up tents - doing a great job for us. Discovered we definitely need some type of overhead cover/carport/awning and rug to set chairs and eating area up. Toilets (psuedo bathrooms w/ showers but hadn't been maintained and were leaking and/or broken) right across the way from front of truck - but only two... So used horse trailer some of the time to potty & then cleaned that up before hauling out Saturday eve. I was the 3rd person to sign in (for Gail - not me) so Clint was designated #3 and while in line for vetting, he got his number greased onto his hips. He did awesome for the vetting and I managed the run down and back w/o passing out or falling on my face. BarBQue dinner was good, though we were cold. Riders meeting was right after and then Sierra and I visited w/ several other riders - asking ??'s. 2 other horses were taken home from "corrals" - so I put Loverboy in the one next to Clint for the night. Found out i can still sleep on the ground in the cold - actually the tent registered 58 degrees and i sweated in sleeping bags and mink blankets (had on a tank top, underwear and leggings). *** 29 Sat - It started raining at 1 am on Saturday (it was almost midnite before Gail & I got to bed - it was 10:30 or so when she arrived at the ride from Staff Duty NCIOC - 18th Airborne corp. Shem picked her up and drove her down after duty) and then turned COLD w/ continuing rain as the sun came up. UGH. It was miserable... especially for Sierra and I - we didn't have enuff or the right type of gear to stay completely dry/warm. The riders at least kept warm while riding - sort of - saw some really interesting rain gear combinations - divers wetsuits seem to work really well w/ riders, too. *** Gail did the first loop (wrongly set up - 22 miles instead of the 15 we'd been led to believe) in 2 1/2 hours before her break and vet point. Clint vetted out good - considering. Then he drank a little (not enuf) and ate some beet pulp and a dose of grain and nibbled hay. After getting good scores in vet check, they had 50 minutes of down time. Gail changed clothes, then sat in front of defroster/heater in the truck and ate cup of noodles and a muffin, drank some hot chocolate. Then I re-saddled Clint for her and she was up and gone for 2nd loop which was to be 11.7 miles. I don't know exactly how long it ended up being - they changed the route part way thru on the riders... No matter - she was having problems w/ Clint. She called back - got thru once but couldn't understand and then lost all signal from her. Thought she'd had a wreck on the trail and we watched riders coming in from the 55 & 100 milers - on their in-between loops, then the rest of the 30 milers started arriving. NO GAIL. I spoke to ride manager - but they had no-way/no-0ne to get down that loop of the trail to see what the problem was (WHAT????!!!!), so while I fretted and wondered - Gail was on her own (Loverboy being an idiot and I wasn't going to attempt to ride him from camp and try to pick up on the trail). No-one said they'd seen any injured horses or riders... Then she showed up (right at two hours time)... Unsaddled CLint, covered him w/ sheets/polar fleece cooler to keep him somewhat warm (& next main purchases are waterproof turnout blankets - hopefully will be here in the next week or so) and went to vet check. Clint finally learned he needed to drink on the trail (the age old adage of "U can lead a horse to water, but u can't make 'em drink" comes to mind - he's had issues w/ this since she got him). While waiting for him to "pulse down" - he drank some while being walked. Had to fight to keep him from over drinking the cold water and cramping up. Then he didn't pass the vet out - but none of the vets (4) could agree on what exactly was wrong - he was sore and pronounced "unfit to continue" - therefore listed as an in-completion on the ride. Such a disappointment - but that's the way the ball bounces I suppose. After vetting - we started knocking down the tents/little camp (I changed into warm and dry clothes first). Got both tents, the two tarps, the left over hay, and the cooler and some other supplies all stuffed into the bed of the truck and all the blankets and clothes bags into the truck (Sierra was a bit squished but she was warm!!). Loverboy actually didn't want to load but Clint leaped into the trailer w/ a "Lets get outta here" attitude. Since no reason to stay - we headed out - i think it was around 2:30 pm (can't remember). We found the little mexican resterant in Patrick and stopped and ate - horses doing fine - Clint seems ok. I'd left the fleece cooler on him (THANKS YVH - that's a really nice cooler!) and he was drying underneath and not cold. We pulled out at 4 pm. Got gas, checked tires and didn't stop again until Southern Pines - where we got drinks and did a pitstop. Arriving at Gails' home around 6:45 pm (I think) - we ended up completely unloading the truck - knowing that we would need to set up the tents later in the week to get them dry again... *** Then I "stole" her truck to head home myself. Sierra took a hot shower and went to bed almost right away. I ate dinner (Larry made Chili and cornbread) watched some TV but was dozing so went to bed myself before 9 pm... *** 30 Sun - Slept until 1 am, then was wide awake for the next 2 1/2 hours or so. Went to bed around 4 am and was back up for breakfast and coffee at 8:13. I spent time on line - looking at camping equipment, riding gear and tents. Also, brought my email stuff up to date... but was moving slow. Gail called - saying Clint was out there shaking so hard he was "swaying" and we discussed using towels to dry him off, then layering the cooler under an actual blue tarp. I got moving (the girls' fed our horses - then Skye went w/ Matt to church, and Mark had come up from Parkton and he and Dira went to church via Larry chauferring) and took shower before going to Gails'. she was cussing - clint didn't like layering idea and the tarp was in the pasture and he was having a ball moving around - tho a bit stiff and maybe short strided. Gail changed into more dry clothes (3rd set) and we went thru more online stuff. Then we went up to Blue Sky Equestrian store in Pittsboro to look around on their holiday hours. I found a pair of Irideon Cadence riding tights that would fit & ordered a size smaller. My first pair of riding britches since I was a youth myself. I also looked over and found a riding jacket brand that would work (if I decide I am going to or can show next year myself) and that I may order at a later date. Actually, may order it anyway - nice jacket that would work very well for business attire at work! *** Then we headed back into Sanford and got a late lunch at Waffle House - bad timing. Not good service or food, drag. *** Then we went to Wal-mart where I spent lots of time in camping section looking up and comparing styles and prices on quite a number of different items. I will be purchasing a camp toilet to set up in the horse trailer from now on!! Also will be converting our kerosene coleman stove to a propane hook up - need more lighting & at least one camp table too. Then onwards to home again. ....

News - November 2008

Fall is here - Leaves are everywhere!!

*** 27 Thu - With Paula and the girls home, it's a quiet day in which some outside work gets done. *** Paula and Sierra pack for the Carolina ride. *** 25 Tues - Paula rides Pretty Girl with Sami following. *** 24 Mon - LP Painted Ponys celebrates Thanksgiving with Larry cooking dinner. *** The girls have a regular school day and Paula is working. *** 23 Sun - Gail and Paula haul Clint and Loverboy to the Yadkin Valley Hounds Timed Trail ride in Advance, NC. *** We stop at Tractor Supply Company in Asheboro on the way - Gail picks up a new set of leather contest reins to try on Clint. *** We ride out at 12:58 and return at 2:24. *** At the first water crossing, we help several teenage girls get thru the crossing, then pass them to continue on our ride. *** It was a good ride - Paula finally comfortable on Loverboy and Gail and Clint doing great together with the new english saddle. *** Amy Flood of Freedoms Flight Photography is taking pics again so I hope that she got some of us riding this time, too. *** We stop for late lunch/dinner at Blue Mist Barbque just past Asheboro on the way home. *** 22 Sat - Larry takes Sierra to school to compete with WH JROTC at the Cape Fear Academy Drill meet. *** After feeding, I work with Jazzy, spending about 2 hours grooming her, working on "head down", sending away/out/between, saddling, and bridling. *** Gail arrived riding Clint and after a short break, she worked with Jazzy on mounting. *** Then it's my turn - but it still doesn't go very well as Jazzy is not at all happy or thrilled. Do get to do some riding and Gail is surprised by my moving from a walk to a trot in short order and around trailer, it works great. *** She joins me on Clint and we ride to the back of property and Jazzy has a series of come aparts... I manage through them, and we come back to trailer area, then back to back and just continue riding back and forth. *** After riding for about an hour, I call it quits as I'm frozen and hungry and we stop when things are going great. *** Shem actually took some pics. *** Gail leaves - riding home - 5.3 miles in 36 minutes while I untack Jazzy and ride with Shem back home in truck. *** Gail treats for lunch at Mi Casitas. *** Returning home, it's almost dark but Sierra has already fed, so I work on braiding while watching some tv. *** 21 Fri - It's cold and really windy when I arrive back home from work. I just can't bring myself to brave the cold and work with Jazzy, by myself. *** 20 Thur - *** Double LL feed run. *** 5 bales hay delivered by Larry Lanier (Little River Trails). *** Gail rode Clint from her house to ours to deal with hay delivery, then saddled and worked Jazzy. *** Jazzy "dropped out" from saddle during mounting, but didn't rear. *** Did great until crossed the road to work around pond - then wanting to rear and shaking. *** Map quested route shows Gail and Clint worked 5.3 miles one way - Spring Hill Ch to Moore's Chapel Rd to Tim Currin to Ernest Brown. *** 19 Wed - *** Paula saddles Jazzy before going to get Madira and Sierra from school. *** Madira heads Jazzy for mounting - good thing as Jazzy isn't happy and rears almost straight up before Paula has foot in off stirrup. *** Once settled, Jazzy ridden for about 40 minutes mostly walking & stopping, riding in the dark - going down road back & forth from ours to neighbors' driveways. *** Paula working on LP Painted Ponys website at lunch time. New button for "Foals" page made. *** New Foals page started. *** 18 Tues - Paula changes color of font for website buttons (from teal green to same purple on darker tabs). *** Gail rides Jazzy. *** Worked on mounting, walking, leaving driveway and then have a come apart in the field going around the pond. Gail leads her home - bad, bad ground manners set in. *** 17 Mon - Paula learning how to use "Button template" made by designer. *** New fonts made for Stallion, Mares buttons. *** Made new "Sales" and "New Owners" buttons. *** Pictures up from YVH Timed Trail Ride at Freedom Flight Photography. *** Sun - *** Paula & Gail invited up to Dawn's to view "Laddin" and meet the new vet in the area - Dr. Cindy Eaton of Eaton Mobile Veterinary Services, who will be gelding "Blaze". *** Gail rode Clint from home to "J's Store" at the end of Spring Hill Church Rd, taking a break while visiting with Paula, then onward to Dawn's. *** Return ride doesn't go as well as traffic picks up on Hwy 27 - so Gail turns on Spring Hill Church to Moore's Chapel Rd to Tim Currin to Ernest Brown to home. *** It's 4.5 miles from Gail's to Dawn's home. *** 15 Sat - Veteran's Day parade in Coats cancelled. *** We spend several hours raking leaves. *** 11 Tues - WH JROTC cadets participate with Motor Pool and flag presentation at Lillington Veterans' Memorial Service. *** Monkey comes home in the afternoon. *** 10 Mon - At 5:30, Larry carries "Monkey" into room saying he "isn't right". Horses fed, breakfast made, dishes done, girls' off to school and vet clinics full! Monkey goes to Sanford Animal Hospital and is admitted. Exrays show a dislocated hip. *** 9 Sun - Madira home early AM from Wilmington. *** Sierra goes to Overhills Baptist Church Servive with WH JROTC. *** Paula/Loverboy & Gail/Clint go to Advance, NC via Hwy 64 this time, with the Yadkin Valley Hounds for timed trail ride. *** Trails aren't marked as well & the team gets lost 3 times, Gail & Clint part company and Loverboy has a bucking fit - but still pull in 5th out of 9 teams. *** Dinner in Asheboro, a stop at both Lowe's and Tractor Supply Company - then on home to unload. *** Kim T calls with a plea for help - her horses had gone sight seeing and gotten into the feed. Paula and Gail haul Pete and Moose down to Southern Pines for Dr. Bello - they are treated Paula and Gail return home at 1 am. *** 8 Sat - 16 cadets from WH JROTC go to Veteran's Day Parade in Fayetteville. *** 7 Fri - Madira goes to Wilmington for High School Play competitions. *** 3 Mon - Madira after school for required play/drama practice. *** 2 Sun - CFTR Horse Show in Wade. *** Gail picks Paula, Madira and Sierra up w/ Clint in 2 horse trailer. *** Clint unloaded and a bit "silly" on showgrounds, but settles. *** Gail leaves the show grounds at 11:15 to head home on horseback. *** Show has 173 total entries (not too bad, though could have been much better). *** Madira worked concessions, Sierra was "Gofer" for show office and judge (Elizabeth O'Briant). ****** 1 Sat - Drill meet at Oak Ridge Military Academy. *** WH drill team members compete in 8 events, bringing home 4 2nd place & 2 3rd placings. *** Chaunter coldhosed & left unwrapped. ***

News - October 08

*** 31 Fri - Happy Halloween! *** Double LL feedstore run - helmet in and poultice purchased for Chaunter. *** Chaunter coldhosed, poulticed and wrapped for the next 24 hours - took a while since it's been a looonnnggg time! *** Paula freaked out when told the cost for the corn maze and we stay home for movie nite, instead. *** 30 Thr - Chaunter coldhosed and wrapped during am feeding. *** Wraps removed at pm feeding. *** *** 29 Wed - Dr. Krivit, NSE Vet Hospital, arrives to draw coggins and rabies on Chaunter, Pretty Girl, Jazzy & Ellona. *** Looks over Sami, confirms Chaunter has a strained suspendory ligament left fore, & confirms Star to be pregnant to "Iggy" for a May 09 foal. *** 1 bale hay moved from Chaunter's pasture to Iggy & Star's pasture. *** Chaunter coldhosed & wrapped. *** 28 Tue - Paula stays late at work - new stuff on website and blog up to date! *** 27 Mon - Sierra home from school w/ stomach bug. *** Madira rides Campari at St. Andrews. *** Larry also has stomach bug. ****** 26 Sun - Visitors from Holly Springs. ***Stacey brings 3 yr old son, Traff and 6 yr old daughter, Camden to see ponies. *** Traff not impressed while Camden is happy to greet and love on "SamirI", "Pretty Girl", "AJ", "Iggy", "Star" & "Ellon". *** After greeting, she also rides "AJ" while Larry leads and Madira side walks. *** Later, she is the first rider to sit on "Iggy" & does a turn double w/ Madira on "Pretty Girl". ***







*** 25 Sat - Slow start, movie. *** Stocks finished, Star tried in them. *** Star trace clipped by Sierra & Paula. *** Ashley/Star & Sierra/Chaunter ride down to Tyler's home on Spring Hill Ch Rd. *** Madira rides Pretty Girl w/ Sammy. *** Paula weed eats front yard. ***





*** 24 Fri - Sierra to MP at Colonel Anderson's. *** Sierra to Parking Detail w/ JROTC. *** 23 Thr - Paula off & working in yard. *** Ditch weed eated. *** Stocks worked on. *** Paula worked Jazzy on walking, still not standing for mounting. *** Sierra rides Chaunter & then Star. *** Jazzy stands tied while Paula takes Madira to do make up for "The Diary of Anne Frank". *** Jazzy worked some more when return. *** 22 Wed - Command Presentation by WH JROTC - Sierra participating in LRC and Paula off from work as volunteer booster. *** Madira home on bus, then back at school for Make Up for when Sierra picked up from Drill practice. *** Sierra rides Chaunter for 15 to 20 minutes. *** Paula working Jazzy. *** Paula canters Jazzy for the first time. *** Sierra works Star, then Paula & Sierra do short ride around Pond Loop. *** Jazzy does OK (YEA!!) ***21 Tues - Chaunter cold hosed for 30 minutes (sore & swollen at bottom of tendons - both inside front fetlocks) & Pretty Girl cleaned up (tail put up, too) before work. *** Madira rides Pretty Girl w/ "Sammy" keeping up. *** Paula works Jazzy from the ground and then mounts and rides - working on walk, stopping, flexing and walking some more. *** 20 Mon -Madira afer school for Make Up for play "Anne Frank" dress rehearsal then on to St. Andrews. *** Working to keep Compari going, LOL. *** Chaunter sore & swollen inside left front fetlock - cold hosed after dinner. *** No drill practice for Sierra. *** 19 Sun - Gail brings Clint & Loverboy to our place. *** Sierra/Loverboy, Ashley/Star, Gail/Clint and Paula/Chaunter ride out to IGA in Lillington. 7.8 miles in 1 hour & 14 minutes. *** Rest 45 minutes (while waiting for girls' to catch up, then ride back in 1 hour & 20 minutes(with a break for a saddle adjustment for Gail). *** Clean up horses, Gail & Paula drop off Loverboy & Clint at Gail's & continue to Double LL. *** Linda picks up Ashley and visits w/ "Sammy". *** 18 Sat - Sierra & Paula go to Southern Lee High School w/ the Drill Team. *** WH JROTC field 2 Raider teams. *** Ashley returns with us, spending the night and seeing "Sammy". *** 17 Fri - Skye calls Paula at work and says - "We have a baby!"... ***A bay and white Tobiano colt. PG doing good. *** Feed run - Double LL in Coats. *** While at Double LL, owner answers ads posted for "Brin". *** Turns out his name is "Hank". *** Sierra doing parking detail w/ JROTC for Game tonight. *** "Cookie Lady" (Donna Anderson) stops brings Sierra home after detail and gets to see "Sammy". ***






*** 16 Thur - Paula/Chaunter & Madira/Pretty Girl trot, canter and gallop 2x around AC Morrison loop and then walk Pond loop. *** PG is a little "loose" around the top of her tail head, bagged up but not tight/uncomfortable. ***15 Wed - "Brin" is a brindle colored pitt or pitt x. ***He is friendly and good w/ the cats - Larry allows him into house. ***Skye takes him to All Animals Vet Hospital in Sanford - no microchip. ***Paula stops several places to let people know about the dog. ***An email arrives stating that the dog has not been listed as missing thru Harnett Cty. *** Sierra/Chaunter & Paula/Pretty Girl do O'Quinn loop (4 miles), AC Morrison loop (2.4 miles) & Pond loop (approx 1.5 miles). ***




*** 14 Tues - Early AM - the dogs go crazy. ***I take Monkey out w/ me to check on the horses. ***Everyone OK, but when I come back thru barn a BIG dog is hi-lited by the moon in the doorway. ***I grab a bag of trash and shake it - he heads out but goes into carport in front of kennels. ***Shoo him into the kennel, and return to bed... ***Up late - running to feed horses and get ready for work. Larry contacts Harnett Animal Control but doesn't hear anything. ***Returning from work, I start weed eating again. No word on missing dogs.***12 Sun - Clint loads w/ Chaunter, Star loaded in front w/ them. Pretty Girl & Loverboy in back. ***Vicki's again for a 3 hour trail ride. Chaunter/Sierra, Star/ Ashley, James/Divinity, Vicki/Adam, Paula/Pretty Girl, Shem/Loverboy, Gail/Clint rode behind the various developments and then into the trees where we went down some different trails. ***Arrived back at Vicki's and horses loaded easily for return trip - Taco Bell for lunch & Shem dropped at work. ***Then back home to unload horses, switch back to two horse and Clint loads ok. ***Pick up weed eater from Gail, and spend a little over two hours weedeating front of ditch and around the shop. ***





*** 11 Sat - Larry take Sierra to MP. *** Adult riders only - Vicki's Ride. *** Clint wouldn't load, so follow as Clint ponies from back of trailer down road. *** Stopped to load him, didn't work, so he is "ponied" all the way to our place. *** Chaunter loads, gear loaded - so does Clint. *** Ride out from Vicki's - go to Carolina Lakes and return - Paula/Chaunter, Gail/Clint, James/Adam, Vicki/Divinity, Dawn/Kaytee. *** James does burgers on whole wheat buns , coleslaw, potato skins (yum). *** Clint loads after Chaunter (is he tired?).***





*** 10 Fri - Both Gail & Paula off, so take LP mower to shop. *** Lunch @ MiCasita's. Then finish yard work at Gail's home. *** 8 Wed - Darryl trims Jazzy, Rhythm, Ellona & Star for Paula. *** Lady Bug & Loverboy both get shoes pulled and trimmed. Clint takes some time as he's one un-happy horse w/ farrier, but he figures out that trimming is ok. *** 7 Tues - AM - Paula rides Jazzy at home for about 30 minutes. Working on walk, stop and did some trot. *** Madira gets her Driving Permit. *** Madira rides Pretty Girl and Sierra/Chaunter & Paula/Jazzy hit the AC Morrison Loop. *** Not a pretty ride... as Jazzy very upset. *** 6 Mon - 1/2 day school & work - Paula rides Jazzy for the first time at home. *** Sierra/Pretty Girl & Ashley/Star go for a ride out. ***



*** 5 Sun - Gail hauls Chaunter & Ellona to CFTR Horse Show for us. Madira shows Chaunter in 6 classes - winning 2, placing 3rd in 2 and not placing in 2. *** Ellona takes everything in stride. *** Ashley & Sierra volunteer in the Show Office and Announcers booth. *** Paula works w/ "Stuffy" & then takes her and Nia into the Leadline Class. *** 4 Sat - Sierra & Ashley to Motor Pool at CNL Anderson's place. *** 5 Round bales delivered by Larry Lanier of Little River Farm. *** Madira rides and gets Chaunter ready for CFTR show. *** 3 Friday - JROTC home game parking detail (Sierra & Ashley). *** Madira's 16th B-Day party - outside w/ music, Pizza and bonfire. *** Right after Gail and Niccole arrive, so does the Fire Department to check out our "FIRE", LOL. *** 1 & 2 Wed & Thur - Getting ready for Madira's party. ***

News - September 2008

2008 SEPTEMBER - 1 Mon - Ride at Twin Oaks Trails - Vickie on Katie, Paula on PG, Gail on Loverboy. *** Vickie canters Katie for first time while going up hills, YEA! *** Lady Bug comes to LP Painted Ponys to graze on grass our 4 legged beasties won't eat. *** 2 & 3 Tues & Wed - Paula home from work sick, Gail takes Mocha to vet in Lillington (infection from nursing kitten), Madira attends practice for Miss Western Harnett. *** 4 Thurs - Dira's appointment at UNC Chapel Hill w/ Dr. Mathur. She's cleared for anything w/i reason and if problems schedule appointment to have checked out. *** 5 Fri & 6 Sat - Hurricane Hannah drops total of 7" rain in our area. *** We decide not to go to Yadkin Valley Hounds timed ride. *** W/ military given tickets - Gail, Nicole, Haley, Madira & Paula attend the Brooks & Dunn concert w/ ZZ Top Saturday evening. *** 7 Sun - Despite rain, we get to 4 horse trailer and haul Chaunter, PG, Loverboy for Gail, Paula & Sierra; and pick up Katie and Dafinity with James and Vicki. *** We ride the 4 mile loop at Raven Rock 2x with a break in between. *** 8 Mon - Teeth cleaning for Paula that leads to fixing a filling & most of day off. *** JROTC & CFTR meetings. *** 9 Tues - ride PG one circuit - am & Chaunter 2 circuits - pm. *** 10 Wed - Madira competes for Miss Western Harnett. *** 18 competitors - Madira doesn't make the top 10. *** Photos taken by Dan Roberts Photography. ***



*** 12 Fri - Paula riding Pretty Girl, Sierra riding Chaunter & ponying Ellona ride to Gail's and trailer back. *** 13 Sat - Sierra on Chaunter, Paula on PG & ponying Ellona ride to CNL Anderson's for JROTC MP/Drill "party". *** Paula & PG part company 1 mile out & PG returns home.*** Sierra continues while Paula & Ellona go home. *** Ellona is put in pasture and Paula & PG head back out. *** Saddle swapped at CNL Anderson's & Paula now riding Chaunter ponying PG back home. *** 14 Sun - Gail, Vicki & Paula head to Charlotte to visit w/ Wild Rose Arabians. *** 15 Mon - Paula takes Madira to St. Andrews College for the Therapuetic Riding Center Tour. *** 16 Tues - More rain. *** 17 Wed - Sierra rides Chaunter ponying Ellona, Paula up on PG do O'Quinn & AC Morrison Loop & finish w/ ride around pond before home again on Spring Hill Ch Rd. *** 18 Thur - Weed eating around yard, storm pickup. *** Madira rides Chaunter at home. *** Paula clips PG, Ellona for 1st time, Iggy, Star & then Chaunter. *** Shots & worming done. *** 19 Fri - Paula rides Chaunter alone - heading down Spring Hill Ch Rd, across HWY 421 and continuing for another 15 minutes of riding. *** Get caught by the setting sun & I don't do a lot of loping/cantering back. Chaunter completely upset going past the Spring Hill Methodist Church grave yard 1 1/2 miles from house and the last part of ride results in serious tension - very painful back muscle spasms. *** 20 Sat - Gail & Niccole drive Corvette to while Paula & Asia pull horse trailer and then on to Charlotte to pick up "Clint". *** Trailer loading lesson for "Clint" (he's determined not to get into 2 horse trailer), meet new people (Michelle Nichols & family) & discuss Sport Horse In-Hand classes while looking at her colt - "Blaze". *** Stop on way home to eat @ Western Sizzlin', "Clint" doing great & quiet. *** "Clint" settles in just fine at Gail's barn. *** 21 Sun - 3 trailers haul to Little River Trails after the tire is replaced on Paula's trailer. *** Paula on Chaunter ponying Ellona, Sierra rides Loverboy for Gail, Ashley on Star, Gail on Vicky's Adam, Vicky on Davinity, James riding Katie and newcomer to our group - Dawn is riding her arab mare - Lovey. *** We spend 2 1/2 hours riding - some mud, not bad. Water crossing gets trotted and cantered through. *** Upon arriving home, weed eating done around driveway, house and barn. *** 22 Mon - Paula takes Madira to St. Andrews for her Therapuetic riding lesson w/ Liz Harris.*** Madira rides Rowan. *** Sierra seperates Ellona from Chaunter - putting her in with Iggy & Star. *** 24 Wed - Paula/Katie & Vicki/Davinity do both loops at Raven Rock. *** Vicki/Adam, Gail/Clint, Paula/Loverboy ride around field across from Gail's and then cross HWY 27 to find lots of trails. *** Will do more exploring after hunting season ends. *** Thur - RAIN. *** 27 Sat - Sierra & Paula volunteer all day for the WHJROTC Raider Challenge. *** 28 Sun - Paula/Pretty Girl, Sierra/Chaunter, Ashley/Star, Gail/Clint, James/Davinity & Vicki/Adam ride out from Vicki/james home (Dunn Rovin Lane/Hwy 27) behind several develpments, behind Carolina Lakes gated community to Food Lion shopping strip on 87 between Spring Lake & Sanford. *** Horses all handle going into lake 2 times. Approximately 12 miles one way. Rode 6 1/2 hours. *** 29 Mon - Madira to St. Andrews. She rides Rowan. *** Sierra rides Chaunter to Gail's. *** Gail/Clint & Sierra/Loverboy explore property trails across Hwy 27. *** 30 Tues - Madira joins Gail for shopping. *** Paula rides Pretty Girl - 45 minutes - working on walk & trot transitions. ***

News - August 2008

*** 2 Sat - Ride Chaunter to Gail's (Ellon stayed at home), Sierra riding Rhythem, Madira on Pretty Girl. *** Madira paints while at Gail's. *** Nicole's cat bites Gail, but she joins us, riding Moose & ponying Lady Bug, to ride back - Paula on PG, Sierra on Chaunter & ponying Rhythem. *** 3 Sun - Gail's cat bite not looking good. *** We go to Womac on Ft. Bragg and 7 hours later she's admitted and put on IV antibiotics. *** 4 Mon - Paula cares for Gail's horses before work. *** Paula back at hospital with Gail from mid-afternoon until after 9 pm. *** 5 Tues - Paula cares for Gail's horses before and after work. *** 6 Wed - Shem cares for horses. *** Getting into Ft. Bragg doesn't work... *** Shem gets truck & goes himself, instead. *** 8 - Friday Eve - Gail is released from hospital. *** 9 Sat - Spend day helping around Gail's house. *** Moose is returned home to Kim T. *** Gail shows Kim where Moose is, then has Kim ride him. *** 20 - Wed - Sierra's B-Day. The family goes to Golden Corral to celebrate. *** 21 Thur - Skye starts college at Central Carolina Community College in the Protonics and Lazers degree program. *** 23 Sat - Gail rides Loverboy & Paula rides PG at Little River Trails. *** 24 Sun - Gail & Paula haul to Advance, NC for Timed Trail Ride with Yadkin Valley Hounds. *** Riding in Moderate Paced speed group, they place 2nd out of 11 teams *** Go to Freedom Flight Photography to view 6 pics of Paula and Gail at the end of the trail. Click on YVH Timed Ride Proofs. *** 25 Mon - School starts for Sierra, now a sophomore & Madira, now a junior. *** 26 & 27 Tues & Wed - Fay moves across NC dropping lots of rain. *** 29 Fri - Gail w/ Loverboy & Paula riding Chaunter (Ellon stays home) go to Raven Rock and the 4 mile loop is ridden. *** Madira goes to Miranda's for B-Day Party for weekend. *** 30 Sat - Sierra goes to WHJROTC Motor Pool & Drill Team at CNL Anderson's home. *** Gail & Paula go to Equestrian Exchange in Raleigh, then on to check out a TWHA (Triangle Wide Horsemans' Association) Horse Show. *** 31 Sun - Haul to Uwharrie to ride. *** Vickie w/ Kaytee, Gail riding Loverboy & ponying Adam, Paula w/ Pretty Girl. *** Prety Girl actually goes swimming! *** Returning home, we stop at Pizza Hut in Carthage. ***

News - July 2008

2008 July - 2 Wed - Gail, Nicole, Madira & Paula head up to Jordan Lake, NC. Great time - too many hours. *** A call from a prospective buyer has me out in the evening - taking photos and video of "AJ".



*** 3 Thur - Sunburn - both Madira & Paula - doing as little as possible. *** Gail & Paula pick up hay from Little River Trails. *** Sierra has 1st of 3 driving times for Driver's Ed. *** Bar-B-Que at Gail's house. *** 4 Fri - Independence Day !! Madira marches in parade w/ WH JROTC. *** Bar-B-Que @ Bridget & David's. *** Fireworks in Lillington! *** 5 Sat - Gail, Nicole, Madira, Sierra & Paula head to Fayetteville *** 6 Sun - Gail's B-Day. *** The girls all help - Madira painting & Sierra & Skye move part of shrunk. *** 7 Mon - Sierra's 2nd of 3 driving classes. *** Work getting done around barn. *** 8 Tues - Sierra's last driving class. *** 12 Sat - Gail, Nicole, Sierra & I attend the Equine Extravanganza - watching the Trainers' Challenge and visiting with the vendors during the day. *** Then we watched the Performance that evening. *** 14 Mon - I work Star w/ long lines & Madira does pics and video clips. *** 16 Wed - Yard work in the morning. In the afternoon, we go to Jordan Lake - Skye, Renee, Madira & I *** Sierra & Ashley work Star *** 17 Thur - Yard work in the morning, putting up fence in the afternoon. Worm ponies/horses. Ellona's 1st shot of WNEWT. *** Ellona runs into roundpen fence - so coldhosing starts on left front leg. *** 27 July - Karen Richardson brings her niece, Aimee out to ride Star. *** Aimee has a ball - starting on the loungeline & graduating off to ride on the flat. *** Then back on the line, to jump w/o reins. ***

News - 2008 - April thru June

2008 APRIL *** 3 Thurs- Madira has her 2nd appointment with physical therapist. *** 5 Sat- Sierra goes to Summer Camp training at WHHS JROTC. It is felt that she should be taken to the Dr. to find out if there is a problem w/ asthma - either "real" or "exercise induced". *** 7 - the Dr. (PA at Boone Trail Medical Center) doesn't feel Sierra needs to undergo any testing at this time since her lungs are clear. He does perscribe an inhaler to be used IF needed. *** Madira has her 3rd appointment w/ the Physical Therapist. *** Darryl trims Magic's hooves (down at Karen's) along with Justin & Tally. *** 10 Thurs - Madira has 4th appointment w/ PT. *** 11 Fri - Chaunter has a bay filly!!! Dr. Dean says she's big and healthy. Pictures to follow - Gail and I go down to see her. *** 12 Sat - Sierra & WHJROTC go to Winston-Salem for drill meet. Sierra felt that the teams did extremely well, but we don't have the results since the team returned home rather than waiting for awards. *** 13 Sun - Madira & I get to see Chaunter & baby. ***




*** 17 Thur - "Foxy" passes away at Gail's home & Gail's family bury her. *** 17 & 18 Thur & Fri - I chaperone for the WHJROTC Color Guard going to Charlotte for the Mecklinberg County awards ceremony. *** Thursday nite, after the presentation, Linda & Mike are called home as their home is on fire. *** On the way back Friday morning, we stop at the Aviation Museum. *** 19 Sat - WHJROTC goes to 71st HS for a Drill Meet, but it's cut short & we return to school. *** The girls get ready for Prom and have a great time Saturday evening. ***







*** Gail & I take Masquerade & Loverboy to Dunn, to see if a family would like to do a trade off on Masquerade. Storm in the background - holding off. We end up doing a trail ride that is "EXTREME RIDING" - wow!! Gail & I stop to eat before returning home. *** Not long after Matt delivers the girls' back home, the water heater finishes it's rusting out - and we have a flooded laundry area and kitchen with no way to turn water off. In the storm outside, Sierra and I figure out how to turn the water off at the road while Matt & Skye mop up the resulting mess inside... *** 20 Sun - Gail & I ride at home rather than going on the trail ride with the Cape Fear Trail Riders. Then try to pick up the new water heater at Lowe's in Sanford. Didn't happen. *** 21 Mon - Landlord says the water heater there, paid for and ready, so I return only to have manager say "No, it's not." Laundromat & Gail's house for shower time. *** 22 Tues - Larry stops and straightens out "mess" at Lowe's and returns w/ water heater & torch, then finds out that work is more than he can do. Home owner contracts w/ Roto Rooter to come out and do the work on water heater. *** 23 Wed - Gail & I pick up 17 bales of hay (12 mine/5 hers). *** 26 Sat - Ride with Gail to deliver Masquerade to new home in VA. Very pretty farm & great folks getting NICE horse!***Madira rides PG around AC Morrison loop (2.3 miles). *** 27 Sun - Gail picks up Jazzy in the morning. *** Madira rides PG at home while mom @ Gails actually weighing out feed for feeding program and checking on Jazzy. *** 29 Tue - Gail takes Jazzy & Loverboy to Twin Oaks to work them in arena, then Jazzy refuses to load in trailer. Steve picks up our stock trailer & me to go help. I worked Jazzy outside back of trailer, then she decides it's much better to load then to be behind it. *** 30 Wed - Harli, for some reason, runs into the road & is struck by a motorist. Death is instant & he's now buried in Gail's pature. ***

2008 May - 2 Fri - Gail takes Jazzy & Loverboy to Twin Oaks to work in arena 2nd time - they do great and she asks me to go back with her in evening to watch. Awesome - no problems w/ trailer loading issues now. *** 3 Sat - Sierra & Shem go to JROTC Summer Camp Training. Long day - Gail teaches several of the stations. I volunteer to help and to watch. *** Before lunch, Linda steals me away to do some shopping and give me a tour of the new house they are currently renting. The old house wasn't completely burned & we stop over there to look for a missing "Kitty". *** Skye & Matt go to Sanford's Pottery Festival. *** Madira is working on Suessical Set w/ the Set Crew. *** 4 Sun - after going to get new blades for Gail's lawnmower, we spend the next 5 hours mowing & weedeating at our place. Wow, what a difference. Hadn't realized how much the "grass" (weeds) had grown since we'd had the rain. ***6 Tues - "Monster" gets away from Larry. Searching doesn't bring him home & he doesn't return. On a good note - there are no "bodies" on the roadside anywhere around us. *** 7 Thurs - Skye & Sierra go to the production of the Suessical. *** 9 Fri - Harnett Cty Animal Control hasn't had "Monster" turn up. Larry & Paula go to watch the Suessical. *** 10 Sat - WHJROTC has 4th & final Summer Camp Training day & Sierra finishes 5th for the day & 9th for overall. There are only 8 slots at this time, so we'll have to wait and see if Sierra is going. *** We go to Gail's for an evening cook out in celebration of her 20th year in the Army. *** Madira goes to Cast Party after the Saturday production. *** 11 Sun - It's an enjoyable Mother's Day. *** 12 Mon - I've learned how to set up video on YouTube & insert the results into a webpage. Currently have video on Chaunter's, Satin's & Star's pages. *** 17 Sat - Armed Forces Day Parade for WH JORTC in Sanford in the morning. *** AJ goes to "kiddy" party in Spring Lake & does about an hours worth of work for a group of little girls & 3 boys. The B-Day girl turned 4. ***






*** 18 Sun - 1 round of Coastal & 3 of Oat hay picked up from Little River Trails (Lanier Brothers). *** 19 Mon - Darryl out to do pony's trims - AJ, Rhythem, Pretty Girl, Iggy & Star done at our place while Jazzy gets done at Gail's place. *** 21 Wed - Video done for Stuffy's page. *** 25 Sun - Gail, Sierra & I go to Raven Rock. Gail rides Lover Boy, Sierra on Jazzy and I rode Pretty Girl. We did the "new loop" first, then the older loop. Pretty Girl is practicing her walking - she's not a happy camper. *** 26 Mon - Star bred to Iggy early morning. *** Gail, Niccole & I haul Lover Boy, Jazzy and Pretty Girl to Moss Foundation in Southern Pines. Jazzy decides to escape during bridling (giving Gail a scare!), jumps over the hitch between the truck and the trailer and gallops merrily from one end of the trailer area (next to 3 board fence) 3 x while avoiding capture. I start to mount up one of the times that Jazzy races by & Pretty Girl has a come apart, causing me to hook knee under the cantle & then to hit the ground. PG looks at me as if asking "What are you doing down there?". I ache, but get mounted & when both Gail and I close in on Jazzy, she flirts her tail over her back, whirls away & races down May Street towards Southern Pines. UGH, poor Gail - I think she's now having heart failure. Rather than "chasing" along w/ Gail, I stop Pretty Girl creating issues w/ her as she's highly upset that her "pasture mate" has left her behind... I get that under control, send Niccole back to our trailer and "PG" & I head down May Street at a more relaxed pace, looking for a loose horse & a mounted horse. Finally found them at one of the barns that Jazzy decided to visit at, about 2 miles down the road. Gail has bridled her and puts her to work by riding her back. We join up and ride back to trailer - where Gail takes a much needed cigarrette break. But we aren't done - since we "haven't ridden". We head out & spend approximately 2 hours practicing walking and behaving w/o getting upset (of course, both Jazzy & Pretty Girl are, while Lover Boy & Niccole are wondering what all the "hubub" is about). Arrive back & don't know about our mounts, but Gail & I are "whipped". Lunch at El Chapalla's in Southern Pines brings us back to life & we head home. *** 27 Tues - Star bred to Iggy. *** Star & I go for walk. *** 29 Thurs - Star bred to Iggy. *** 30 Fri - Star bred to Iggy. *** Gail picks me up at work (Larry has car) and we hook up horse trailer and go pick up Pete from Kim T for training w/ Gail. *** 31 Sat - At 8, I'm in the saddle headed towards Gail's house. Pretty Girl is insistant on not walking, along w/ lots of screaming for pasture mates. In minutes, she's worked up and drenched but she's responding. Meet up w/ Gail on Loverboy. We start on a road around the field on McLean & Ernest Brown Rd & get stopped. Billy Ray Brown invites us to ride, anytime, around their property. He said it's about 13 miles of trails. We continue & wind up at the Triangle store on Peach Farm & Hwy 27. Then go to Gail's where she washes and swaps Loverboy for Jazzy & I wash/cool down Pretty Girl before remounting. She rides Jazzy down to the intersection of Ernest Brown and Tim Curry. I continue home - having spent almost 4 hours riding. A bath for PG, a shower for me & I'm ready to head to CNL Anderson's home for the Pig Pickin' & JROTC awards. I get my hat!! *** Still no word on "Monster". ***

2008 June - 1 Sun - Nicole, Madira & I arrive at 9:30 for CFTR Horse Show & get right to work. Both Madira and Nicole work with the concessions & I hit the show office. *** I did see AJ's son - Grasshopper. He's being ridden by Tyler Hornbeck for Willow Chase (Kim Krivit's daughter). He was done up nicely in proper braids & presented in hunt seat. So exciting to see another of AJ's offspring out doing things! At 12:30, I leave the girls & go home to meet w/ Darryl who is bringing the girls' home. *** Darryl arrives & I worm and get a halter on "Ellon" in the trailer. After unloading, Chaunter gets wormed. *** After Darryl leaves, I take pictures of the two, watch to make sure they are settled and then head back to show grounds. *** When the girls and I leave CFTR grounds, we go to check out Kim Young's new baby, Illi. *** Arriving home, I eat first, then it's out to catch Chaunter & Ellon. That becomes a workout as Chaunter doesn't want to be caught. 20 minutes later, she gets a bath w/ Ellon also getting her 1st bath (while loose). Then saddle Chaunter & Ellon is upset because momma looks different. We ride a while - 1st having Ellon follow us then turning and following her. After our ride, Sierra comes to check her out and we get our hands on her. Once we're holding her, she's great to work with - even dealing with the Fly spray. ***



*** During the week, Ellon gets worked with several times while Chaunter is ridden. *** 6 Fri - Skye and Matt both graduate from Western Harnett High School.***



*** 7 Sat - Gail & I actually SHOP - going to Fayetteville - Southern Gin & Grain, Family Farm Store & Bronze Fox. Then to Coats, to "our" Double L. Fly masks purchased for Rhythem, AJ, Ellon, Star, Iggy & Jazzy. *** 8 Sun - Gail, Niccole, Madira & I meet up with Cape Fear Trail Riders - Roy Carter, Herbert & friend at Raven Rock. Sorry, no pics. *** Ellon does OK - takes a spill after settting back and rolls into stream, but gets up and crosses water on her own. Barks up her legs a bit later when refuses to step over a log and Chaunter pulls her across. She leads now. *** After our ride, we flyspray everyone heavily and then stop at MiCasita's for lunch in Lillington. We are back at home by 12:30. *** 9 Mon - Volunteer w/ WH JROTC getting group ready to go to Summer Camp at Oak Ridge Academy. *** Pick up Madira & attend Danny Stone's funeral. *** 11 Wed - Sierra & WH JROTC leave for Summer Camp. *** Horses haven't seen me much as I've pulled something in my arm & w/ heat wave & 3 visits to Chiropractor I'm more dead than alive. Skye has kept up basic chores this week. *** 14 Sat - AJ & I are picked up by Rob to go to Brownie Party. AJ works for about 2 hours being petted and doing "pony rides". *** Gail, Niccole, Madira and I check out pools in Lillington. We'll stick with going to Ft. Bragg. *** Gail & I continue up to Siler City Critters Tack to check out equipment & some good looking QH. We both bring home built up & cut back pads & other equipment. *** A stop is made at Blue Sky Equestrian shop and I find another Cashell mask - for Chaunter & a SuperMask that should fit Star. *** 15 Sun - Sierra returns from JROTC Camp with fun stories to tell. *** 16 Mon - I ride Chaunter w/ Ellon & then 'Dira takes video which is now up on Elon's photo album. *** Gail & Niccole ride over on Lover Boy and Pete. They return home via truck & trailer. ***21 Sat - Gail and I go to Blaine McLaughlin's clinic in Four Oaks from 9 - 1. *** Then go to Fuquay to go to Tractor Supply Co. *** 22 Sun - Gail w/ Lover Boy, Kim Timbs w/ Pete, Paula w/ Prettty Girl & Sierra w/ Star haul to Twin Oaks Trail Rides. We ride for about 1 1/2 hours. Kim is getting a feel for the riding/fitting that's been done by Gail with Pete. *** 25 - Wed - Off from work and working on "the place". Shem weed eats the ditch and around the outside of the 3 "board" paddock along road. He also finsihes putting in the posts for the stocks. *** Sierra, Skye and Paula are alternating mowing and picking up downed "timber". Madira is working inside the house. *** Late afternoon, we head down to Kathy Oxford's with Niccole to visit with Karen and check on Stuffy and get to swim. *** 26 Thur - Off - and finishing up with cleanup. Skye replaces boards on the fence. The weed eating and mowing are finished up, old washer is sold to shop, new washer repaired, trash to the dump, the door on shop is repaired. *** I ride Pretty Girl towards Gail's house. We are still having problems with that WALK. *** 27 Fri - After work, Paula rides Chaunter w/ Ellon. *** 28 Sat - Gail picks Sierra & Paula up w/ Chaunter & Ellon. With Gail on Pete, Sierra on Lover Boy, Paula on Chaunter ponying Ellon - we ride out to B & B to ride past the lake on Ernest Brown RD. Ellon is ponying great - still using a "butt rope" along w/ the "harness". Ellon is turned loose later - to run w/ Chaunter. Get a really nice gallop before coming out on tobacco fields closer to Gail's house. Ellon is caught and led w/ only the lead rope on the way home. *** 29 Sun - Gail picks Paula & Pretty Girl up and we again leave from her property to ride on the B & B. This time - Sierra is on Lover Boy, Gail riding Jazzy & Paula on Pretty Girl. We turn in from around the tobacco fields. Working on Pretty Girl's WALK - getting there, but when seperated from the other two - still a "screaming demon". Ended up backing her into the pond - but we went in belly deep, go girl! *** 30 Mon - I bathe and clean up Ellona for pictures. *** Darryl out to do Chaunter, Pretty Girl, Rhythm and Star's hooves. *** He's quite happy with "Ellona". ***