excess

A horse trailer is such a simple box. Yet how is it that the mess is exponential to the outside simplicity? Spring cleaning the trailer is a chore I don't really mind doing (the house is a whole other story!). Once a year, this time scraping off winter slime/crud, glued on horse mash glop, making sure all was in working order, but mostly the accumulation of crap. How much crap? Trailer cleaning by the numbers:

one simple trailer: exponential mess

5 leadropes

3 halters

3 unused bit/hackamore options (I've never tried my S-hack, I need more control than that, or my myler combination bit, both bought in a discount fit)

2 sets of reins

color coordinated excess

5 girths (fat and skinny options)

4 hay nets

fat, skinny, dressage, take your pick!

5 fly masks (all in need of repair)

3 pairs of used chaps

9 hoof picks. (Are you kidding me? Where do these things come from? Are they breeding in the darkness?!)

hoof pick orgy

8 buckets (4 large, 4 small)

2 feed pans

6 brushes

3 empty fly spray bottles

1 horse. One.

Plus I have an entire set of everything in the stable. And three total saddles, with five saddle pads. I did retire many hoofpicks to the garage storage, everything else I just organized. So clean, but still probably too much stuff. Anyone else with this problem? Sigh...

mistakes

Want to go on a ride? Where Major and I both made poor choices (though I can only blame myself for both of us.) Sure, it'll be fun (yeah, I said that too before I started).

There was a one day break in the weather, before more record-breaking rain (sigh). The parallel road trail shouldn't be too bad! (mistake #1) The first 200 yards was awful, sucking, slip-sliding mud. But then it got much better, except for the horrible, reaching poison-oak branches. Fun!

The Pioneer trail was lovely, glowing green. Major was in quite a mood (having already cantered up the hill in his pasture to meet me at the gate, blowing and snorting) and was hot to move out. Um, no, still to wet, though well drained. OK, maybe just a little bit. (mistake #2) Slow trot became trying to bolt off, careening around corners till I got him to slow down. OK, no more of that!

The lake trail shouldn't be too bad. And it was NOT a mistake. Lovely flowers, butterflies fluttering at our feet, a slight breeze, it was perfect. Some big, deep puddles for Major to charge into and snorkel, fun!

large trail puddle, perfect for snorkeling

we found some lupine!

Then the trail ended, swallowed by the lake. But there was trail peaking out the other side. Let's keep going! (not QUITE a mistake yet…wait for it.) A little bit more of good trail out of the water, and the water crept higher, and higher.

see, there's trail on the other side!

And here is Mistake #3: not turning around. We pushed though, because I didn't want to deal with my hot, chargey horse if we turned around. And Major is game to push through just about any obstacle. Brave horse + stupid rider = dicey situation. Because the lake got deeper, and higher ground was just a boggy mess. But better than swimming! Maybe.

should have stopped here

Because there was some dry ground, and then swamp, and then rocks IN the bog, and then lake. The short section was seemingly stretching out longer and longer. And not safe. I knew that partway through, but was going back a better option? I didn't think so, as there was more bad trail behind us than in front of us.

leaving the lake, but not the mud, behind

But we finally got to higher ground on the upper trail. And Major promptly tried to bolt off. Not happening, no more mistakes today! We took the rock trail, but slowly, over granite slabs and through more reaching poison oak, both of us dodging the larger branches, and just wanting some good, firm, easy ground!

This is my too-much-mud face

We didn't find much firm ground, or common ground, that ride. I remind myself that I am at fault for my horse's behavior (or misbehavior) at all time. And I was humbly reminded not to push through concerns or use sketchy or unsafe trails.

Me and Major, making poor life choices mistakes since 2009.

and I almost starved!

rabbit food

A very large rabbit was seen at our stable today.

seriously, where is my treat?

He did need to be bribed with new treats, but grudgingly posed for some photos, before scampering back under his shelter.

Because it started raining…again.

The new treats were a big hit with the four horses who tried them:

Major's Embarrassing Muffins
(not those muffins!)
3 cups shredded carrot
2 cups oats
1 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. cinnamon (can omit, but it's yummy)
1/2 cup molasses (can omit, just use more applesauce)
1/2 cup applesauce

mix it all up, shove in the tin

makes 30 tasty treats

Complicated recipe instructions: Mix it all up. Shove appropriate amounts into mini muffin tins. Bake at 350 for 35–45 minutes. Makes 30 mini muffins. These are not just tasty for horses, they're human tasty too, minus some salt!

Note from Major: Just FYI, serving size should be 30 muffins. And I should not wear ears. I have ears. White and pink ones are embarrassing.

the things I tolerate…for treats

I'm going to emulate Major and hide under my shelter from the rain, and find another craft project. I did make a unicorn earlier, he has a home on my kitchen table.

"Makes One Unicorn." that makes me laugh

tiny unicorn keeps watch

Tiny unicorns and large rabbits, maybe all this rain is driving me a little crazy…

watch for large rabbits at your stable too!

reaching spring

Only a week until the official start of Spring. Usually a time of lovely trail rides, clear skies, and flowers. This year…we have flowers. But intense late season storms have brought rain and crazy hail, keeping many of the trails a muddy mess, and overcast, gloomy days are not much fun to ride in. In California's Northern Sierra Nevada (yeah, I'm right in the middle of that) we're on the verge of breaking the record for the wettest year on record, less than 1 more inch needed! A little moderation would have been nice, but we'll take it.

But exploring must be done, because pretty things lurk even under the cloudy skies, next to overflowing waterways, and along rain-damaged trails. And sometimes the sun comes out too!

turkey tail fungus

my favorite orange friend

newt, time to move on

The trails have been hard hit this winter, I took a hike to see if one major trail had been cleared, and the trail crews had been hard at work!

way above the river

yeah for trail crews!

insect supervisor

At the bottom of the canyon it is a bit warmer, and there were more flowers to show for it. But the warm rocks were a good place for a snack and to just take in the view.

river wide

purple brodeia

california poppy

Darkling beetle better get off the trail!

Lucky to have access to so many trails, after exploring the middle American river, it was time to head into the valley. The lower American is guided by levees, so is more controlled, but still rushing and cold this time of year.

lupine abounds

unique flower

ever get the feeling you're being watched?

not all is soft and pretty: spiky but still lovely

After the drought, and epic rainfall, all the plants are so green, colorful and alive. It seems like it has taken so long to reach Spring this year, but finally nature is exploding all over. I think it is time to celebrate.

found, not made! Trail emoticon

waylaid

Between rainstorms and mud, I fit in a couple good training rides that had set us up well for the first endurance event of the season. Then on our last training ride Major felt...not right. He wasn't forward, was that an off step I felt? I came home discouraged.

scary plastic on trail

at the river, too high to play in

bad trail erosion

For me, three weeks before the event is my go/no go event line. If I don't have a good ride then, I'm not going to push it. So I was sending in my cancellation when they actually cancelled the ride itself! I'm still hoping to get my entry fee back (that is a whole issue in itself) and thinking about the upcoming season.

the little bit of the lake trail not covered in debris

that way home!

I love the trail, and seeing Major improve his fitness. Competition scares the crap outta me every time. Am I going to break my horse, is he going to kill me? Is this fun?

I think it is. But I'm still pondering about it. Most years I go through this same debate. I had wanted to do this ride becasue it was different. A couple other different rides are on my list, I don't want to do the same-old each season. But first I actually have to get out there.

So took Major out on the local trails, and he was forward, sound and very silly. Too much time off, too fit of a horse. So my optimism is slowly returning. Along with a huge late season rain storm for the weekend.

I'm trying to get the alfalfa in here!

Sigh. So today instead of riding between rain storms on muddy trails I cleaned his pasture, and locked Major out so he wouldn't try to tip over play with the manure cart. Waylaid again.