leilani

Sunday Paula told me she was going to ride Leilani. It's no big deal because Leilani is a very well mannered horse, I just didn't think Paula would ever get on her. I got on leilani last week for the first time in a long time, I've been riding Siete, and I think Paula liked what she saw. So she got on her last night. I helped her get on and we took off. It was no big deal. What Leilani does she does very well. She didn't think anything about Paula riding her. So they went around for awhile. Tonight they went a little farther. I don't see any problems, Leilani has good manners.

buzz

Took Siete and Cass out last night. As usual Siete was way in front. We were getting to the lease road and she held her head high looking at something. Paula said Cassy was doing the same thing. I couldn't see anything but I could hear the stubble making noise. Siete didn't want to cross the road but we did. A few steps over Siete made a sort of horse noise and quail started getting up everywhere. I was a little nervous but they didn't bother Siete. She must have heard them way back. Last night Paula said Juan had brought something in the house but she didn't know what. This morning she left early and then I couldn't find Buzzie. He finally came out carrying the remains of Juan's rabbit. Lucy wanted it but every time she got close Buzz growled at her. So Lucy went over to the front door. She looked out and started barking. Buzz is an action type dog. He dropped the rabbit so he could get in on the barking fun. Lucy had the rabbit down before Buzz figured out what had happened. Probably for the best. We don't want Buzz to explode. Rode Siete tonight and it was awful. It was hard to saddle her and hard to get on. The wind was so strong it blew the reins and her mane and the stuff on the saddle so I had to sort through it all to grab the right thing. Siete has a gorgeous mane but on days like today it gets in the way. The ride itself went well. Buzz just sat the whole time. He misses grandma, who is in Wichita.

riding

It was really windy today. I know because they issued advisories. I guess that makes it official. After Paula got home we went and got the truck back from Beaver. We noticed on the way home the horses were way out and didn't look like they were even thinking about coming home. Since we started feeding them they've been good at showing up. I was thinking about riding so we gave them awhile and went out. They were nowhere in sight. I went to get them but they still weren't in sight. I muttered to myself quite awhile but had to quit because it worried Lucy. Finally found the horses almost by the road. Then they didn't want to come. I had to drag Hero most of the way. Then when I got close they all started jumping and running and having a great time. The sun was down by the time I got back but I was more determined than ever to ride Siete. Paula helped me and we got her saddled quickly. I took off not knowing what to expect. As it turned out we had one of out best rides ever. Siete did everything perfect so I rode for awhile and quit. You're supposed to quit on a good note. Sometimes it's hard to find a good note but everything tonight was good.

feeding dish

Leilani, Cassy and Hero are all eating inside and that leaves Siete and Stripe outside. They don't need it badly but at least we know they're getting mineral. I was watching them eat. Siete would take about 2 bites put her foot in the dish and then go eat out of the other dish. She never dumped the 2nd dish. Then I realized the other 3 horses always used to dump their dishes until we moved them inside. Now they don't. Well when Leilani is about out she picks her dish up and shakes it but that's different. So I said let's feed Siete and Stripe on the cement. We did. No more dumping. Horses are not smart enough to do calculus but who is? What they are smart about they can be very smart. This looks like they are reasoning. As soon as they see no advantage to dumping they quit. Looks smart to me.

Siete

Sunday was the last barrel race at Great Bend so we took Siete and Hero. They started at noon with a barbecue and then started running at 2. I didn't eat hardly anything. I didn't know how Siete would do and I don't like working hard on a full stomach. She's been there once before and hadn't had a problem. As soon as I got on I knew I was going to have to work. She didn't want to go. I had to work hard to get her moving. Then everything bothered her. She looked at stuff she's seen before and her eyes were big as saucers. To make it worse there were little kids racing all over and mostly out of control. One came full speed from behind and almost hit us.Siete jumped and actually started bucking a little. I calmed her down and we got going again. I just kept working at it and finally she was going decently. We were both soaked. I took her out Monday night and it was uneventful.

thursday and siete

Thursday Claire and I went to Lucas to see the cows. We had a bunch of rain but it was dry up there. While we were there Isaw a big cloud coming and thought we'd better go. I drove out and saw a big black cloud. I crawled under the pickup to pull weeds out and felt the wind switch and it started blowing so hard it rocked the pickup. I slid out and saw the big black cloud directly overhead and it was spinning. Claire was waiting in the pickup and we left fast. The cloud went back up but I heard they had wind damage up there. We got Siete and Cassy out Saturday night. They took right off but after about 100 feet Siete stopped. totally stopped. Wouldn't even think of moving. Paula and Cass were about at the double poles but we weren't moving. I started doing circles and eventually lost her left. The only way she would go was right turns. Paula thought I should get off and work her from the ground but I told her to stay there we'd get there.


. It took me about a half an hour but it
worked. I was totally soaked and so was Siete. We went back and forth but now everything worked. Sunday I wondered what would happen. It was awfully windy so Siete went by herself.She hesitated at first I gave her a big kick and everything went well. Monday I decided to work on her

mountimg. She had been moving a step when I got on and I don't like that. So I bent her head a touch and got on. She stood like a rock. I had planned on working on moving but that was quick. So

we rode around. We went up and down the ditch by the finisher and going down she tripped and fell on her knees. It was interesting hanging over her head. Tonight Paula and Cass went again. Siete went but she didn't want to. Obviously she doesn't want to go with that old bag Cass. We had a good ride as long as we kept far enough away from Cass. Siete told me that Cass had really pointy hooves and wasn't afraid to use them.

Leilani's day

Early this morning I see dad coming across the pasture. Some horses might groan because they think they have to work but not me. It's always a good day when dad shows up. He got Cass and me and said we were going to Wichita. He wanted my leg checked out. I told him it felt fine but we went anyway. We got there and they had me trot a little. I thought I did good because they were all smiling. Then we went inside and took some x-rays. Dad stood around trying to pretend he knew what he was looking at but the bottom line was I'm all better. He can ride me again. Well I tried to tell him. There was a girl working there who told me several times how pretty I was. Even though I know that I still like hearing it. Then they got Cassy. Mom had been having a little trouble getting around but I thought she had been really zipping lately. They trotted her and she moved as good as ever. This was a good day for dad. They think it's the supplement. What I know is that every evening I go into the magic feed place and eat some really great tasting stuff. Works for me.