sun recovery

Miles is done with it

The deluge is abating. Almost 15 straight days of rain, and not just a little, buckets and torrents! And intense wind storms, thunder and lightning (which we almost never get), pretty much all of our winter packed into two weeks, with more to come! Miles is done with it, as he proved by running, bucking and sliding about when I turned him out into a less muddy pasture yesterday.

During the storms Miles seems sensible if irritated, staying under cover for the worst of it. I visited with a wet mash, though chunky boy doesn't need it, the water and salt are best during weird atmospheric rivers. He wholeheartedly approved and I just watched him eat in peace, me sitting in the drizzle on a wet chair, surveying the mud (after already digging lots of ditches, diversions and bringing in sandbags).

muddy mess, but mash!

There was one clear afternoon last week and I took off work early and got Miles out. He was quite spicy, so a little lunging to remind him that he does actually have a job, and he was pretty good. I rode in the arena (wet but drains well) and then just up and down the graveled lane. I did go to the creek crossing and about 30 feet into the woods, just to see how it was. The trail was a slick mess and we turned around before we rode the slide-and-slide any longer.

trail slip-and-slide

But the damage has been done. I haven't seen much of the trails but what I've seen (I went hiking on one of the rainy days, just to get out!) is a mess. A huge tree across one of our main access points, who knows how long before state parks can come to clear it.

huge pine blocking the trail

lots of water (there is a trail under there)

this is a trail access, now a dangerous deep (about 18 inch) eroded gully

And the erosion! Usual puddles fed by trickles are now streams of water cascading down hillsides, and across the trails, turning them into eroded, dangerous holes.

mossy manzanita and old stacked stone

mushrooms and moss

my new favorite, I'll call it Clam rock

But there were some small moments of nature looking her best. And the sun looks to be shining for a few days. It will be a long process to get the trails cleared, and winter isn't even close to over. Sigh. But this too shall pass. 

Wesley is just going to stay in his hammock…

 

new beginnings

Miles has some pretty big shoes to fill. First order: the actual shoes! He was due for a shoeing and I wanted to see how he’d do barefoot. My trimmer did a great job and said his feet were pretty good but needed some help before he could manage barefoot entirely. So he tried on big brothers boots. A bit loose, the next size down is too tight, so for now they will work. Bittersweet, all of it. 

Miles likes the eating hikes best

all dressed up and ready to go

he likes to be a bit close

We’ve been slowly adventuring. Needing to learn about each other and trust, so started off hiking. Worked on not grabbing for grass, but he follows very nicely, and is even learning the "stand on the manhole" trick that Major did. It helps that Miles is VERY food motivated and I have not found a treat he doesn't like!

his expressions crack me up

wondering what's over there

Then part hiking and riding. Been pretty steady so far, though he is not a fan of mud and water! We hike a bit, then I ride. No photos of the ride part yet. Not because he has been naughty, but because I don't quite trust myself or him with one hand on the reins!

a good trail to learn on: single track, bridges and water

Then I broke my new pony. Actually, just a scrape, and he did it to himself when the leaped after my stirrup scraped a rock and he landed next to another rock. Sigh. More desensitizing ahead! And I had the saddle fitter out and the best news: she was able to adjust the saddle flocking so my favorite saddle fits Miles quite well, yeah!

He is well settled in and pretty happy in pasture. I bought him a new hay ball that is a bit annoying to fill but he certainly likes it! I think my favorite part so far is that he whinnys as I walk up the hill and greets me at the gate. We're just spending time together, hopefully we have lots ahead, no need to rush.