Learning my Cues~

We left for Waubonsie around noon & no one was around when we arrived.  It was very warm, mid-80's - or seemed so after the last few days of wonderful, cooler weather.  Since the bugs were already attacking at the trailer when I was saddling up - I decided that Farah could wear her bug bonnet.

On our way~

 After six-years together - Farah has me pretty well trained!  Today - I realized that she has probably taught me as many cues as I've taught her :-)

Sunshine on the leaves~

One of my funniest cues, is when she comes to an abrupt halt - circles her body around my leg, then  turns her head just enough to makes eye contact.  This means;  "There's a bug on my butt!"  Sure enough - every time - there's a horse fly to smack!

Snacking~

 There's the snack cue too - this one comes usually at the top of a big climb, a slow-down, a hesitation & half-halt.  The half-halt is the cue that someone wants to stop for a bite.  If she doesn't find what she likes on the ground...

Foraging~

 There's always the tree leaves!  She really seemed to like the leaves of the Paw Paw tree, but I only let her have a bite or two.  I have no idea if they are good or bad for her.  They say that one of the reasons horses have lasted so long as a species is their ability to forage for food.  They are not classified as grazers, but foragers.

Dry marsh area~

 The area above, usually holds some water, but since we've had no rain for a couple weeks now, it's down to the muddy bottom.

Wildlife prints~

It was pretty interesting to see the different animals footprints in the mud.  All looking for the water I'm sure.

New hole :-(

 I looked down to see that I've worn a hole in the side of my Crazy Leg Tights :-)  Right where my right hand holds my stick.  Maybe I'll ask Diane to make me a pair with a wear patch in this spot?  The cotton don't last as long - but they are the coolest in the hot temps.

Bottom of the middle loop~

 I've finally memorized the layout of the trails - it takes me a while - as Farah well knows!  She made sure today that we took the loop I'd looked for last week.

When we rode into camp, a huge rig was parked right behind us.  Bad me, I'd not checked the campsite sign to see that it had been reserved.  Raylan (one of the park rangers) had just driven in. I apologized to him & moved the Bronco & trailer up & out of the way.

I'd noticed when we'd pulled in - the manure pits were brim full.  We'd cleaned these down to the dirt during our workparty.  I watched as the rigs came in, horses were unloaded into the corrals, but then - people proceeded to clean out their trailers & dump the manure in the already overflowing areas at each end of the corrals!  Is this a lack of education, manners or WHAT?!  It certainly is not in keeping with the Back Country Horseman's Leave No Trace ethics.  We'd had this problem at the tree farms in WA - private property & even there people would clean out their trailers & toss the debris into the woods.

I wanted So badly to say something...  but I really felt it wasn't my place & I'd just end up making people defensive.  I'm going to bring the topic up when I speak to Rayland again - maybe signage would help?  Something to the effect;  "Pack it in, Pack it Out!"  I'm also going to check into obtaining some Leave No Trace pamphlets to hand out.

Update~  Here, using the manure bunkers is a perfectly acceptable practice & the parks allow for it.

Not Quite Cool!

First of September!  Already?!  The weatherman promised a cooler day & clouds, but instead I think it was probably mid-80's with a very high dew point.  I spent some time talking with Terry at the stable.  He's such a nice man & tries so hard to keep all the horses comfortable.  He's been working on the steep drop out of Farah's stall door to her run.  I think we'll end up hauling rock & making sure she can't slip a foot under the edge of the stall wall...

In the Timber~

At Waubonsie - as we pulled in - it was hard to miss the only campers in the horse park.  The outdoor shower is pretty slick! 

Nice set-up!

There were no vehicles around.  By the time we'd returned, still no one around.  There was one other family camping.  They said they'd be riding horses tomorrow - no horses with them today.  I was so surprised there weren't more people here - with the three-day weekend upon us!

Bark!

Thank you to Raym for the identification!  This is the bark of an Ash tree - just amazing.

Tree down~

We've had to duck under this tree forever, then the man who's been working on the trails cut the lower branches off.  Now - it had fallen completely over the trail - but a new path goes around it on the left!

Soft Trails!

All the trails had been gone over again & are just SO nice!  You can plainly see why Farah doesn't need shoes here!  Her hind feet step into the depressions left from her front :-)  We do this loop twice usually.

Deer in the bush~

We saw her before she saw us :-)  Talk about blend in!  Farah is actually getting used to the deer jumping out now.  I think we chase them from one end of the park to the other.

More barbed wire~

Our BCH friends Robert & Amy, took out a good section of wire that had caused a couple accidents the weekend of our work-party - but there's more in this spot.   Rusty barbed wire is one of the reasons I don't go off trail.  Too many years of old fences everywhere.

Cool shrooms or fungi~

Today we trotted, galloped & Farah was smooth as silk all afternoon.  When we returned & talked to the couple camping - they mentioned that they liked the trails here better than where they're from.  The Bedford area is near the Lake of Three Fires!  I couldn't imagine why?  Three Fires is so pretty & has more miles of trail.  They explained it's the best place for technical hills & that is So true.  Farah is staying in wonderful condition & I'm sure the dirt footing will add years to her longevity.

The "rear view"~

I love sitting & watching Farah graze, she's so good about staying close.  She's much more relaxed this year.  Butch thinks it's because she's no longer the lonely, only horse.  In WA we rode with friends when we could - so she could socialize.  Now - she has that at the stable & our rides have become our together time.  She's always happy to see me & ready to jump in the trailer.

It will be a working weekend for us - I'm hopeful that Butch will get the sliding door installed in the family room!

BCH Work Party at Waubonsie~

Several of our Back Country Horsemen's Chapter members spent last night camped at Waubonsie.  This morning Butch & I drove down to meet up with everyone for our scheduled work party.

Our Banner!

Ryland, the new Park Ranger arrived with plenty of pruners, loppers, hand saws & a weed whacker.  That equipment, along with what we'd all brought, gave us plenty to do!

Butch, Robert & Ryland~

After a short meeting to discuss our game plan - we got to work!  The one chore that we were told no volunteers wanted to do - was picking up the two piles of manure at each end of the horse corrals.

Sue, Amy & Vickie

No slackers when it comes to work - we ladies took one pile & Butch worked on the one at the far end.  We used the wheel barrows for a large portion, then Ryland came by with his Gator & that made things easier!

Robert hard at work around the corrals~

We cleaned the inside & outside of the corrals & got all the weeds knocked down.

Clean fire-pits

Next, fire pits!  All the trash was removed & the pits left with just ash in the bottom.  Wouldn't it be great if they were always left so nice?

Butch's work~

With Butch & Robert working with the weed whackers - it was amazing how much they got done.  I took off with my loppers & started working all along the edge of the mowed area.  I cut back all the bushes, vines & shrubs that were encroaching onto the lawn.

Connie & the loppers~

Leave it to me to find a way to cut & chop!  I did leave a lot of piles - Ryland said they'd do the pick up & haul away for us :-)

The sink hole~

The good news - is that the park plans to fix the sink hole later this year!  That would open up the closed spots for camping again! Our friends planned to ride out in the afternoon & cut out some wire that's caused a couple accidents.  What a good feeling to spend some time at such a nice park.  We hope to obtain grant money next year for manure bunkers!

We left at noon - our Grand-kids were flying into Omaha!

Nebraska Horse Trail Riding Expo.

The weather forecast had called for snow, but the morning dawned just gray & cold.  The thermometer working to rise to 20 degrees with a breeze.  No problem, perfect weather to make the drive to the Chance Ridge Equestrian Center in Elkhorn, NE.

A very large & very nice facility~

The Nebraska Horse Trails Committee has hosted this yearly event since 2015 & just from what we saw, do a wonderful job!  Daily entry fee was only $10. a great bargain!  Complete with vendors, lectures, demonstrations & clinics, it was a horseman's nirvana!

Inside the groups trailer~

This re-purposed trailer holds commercial grade equipment for trail-clearing events.  It would be the envy of some Back Country Horsemen Chapters!  I do have to admit though - that the fully equipped trailer that BCH used in WA - was overflowing compared to this very organized interior :-)

No messing around with Nebraska law!

With the proceeds from last years event, the group purchased the Mule below!  Very handy in this country of flatland's & rolling hills.

Nicely set up to do the job!

Butch is thinking that he'd like to have one of these as his town run-about!  :-)  The list of this groups accomplishments is long & impressive!  The state of Nebraska seems to be very friendly to it's Equestrian Trail Riders & there were many informational displays.  Even though the state is home to a variety of game & bird hunters, they make it possible for horsemen to share the wealth of parks & recreation spots.  Check out;  OutdoorNeraska.org/horsetrails - to find horse-friendly campsites & trails.

Very nice logo too~

Walking through the vendor booths - we were both struck with the friendliness of the people here!  Everyone takes the time to talk, the time to make you feel welcome & often swap stories.

Wonderful handwork!

One of my personal favorites, was the booth of Wild Hunt Tack.  Jessica hand makes many of her items.  This browband, all quality leather has a grove with tiny hooks at each end - making it possible for you to buy as many different beaded inserts as you might desire & interchange them!  Jessica is willing to do custom colors too!

 Reading our program, we couldn't help but sit in on Tom Seay's (Best of America on Horseback's) presentation on Trail Etiquette!  The stands were almost full - Tom made directed comments as we late comers arrived - so I had to reply;  "Washington!  Lizard Lake!"  That really caught his attention & he instantly recapped the story of our ride!  :-)

To say that he had the crowd in stitches is an understatement!  :-)  His tips included; park next to the biggest, fanciest rig.  That way if you've forgotten something - they're sure to have it.  Another - camp near the people with the neatly stacked pile of firewood, because they are the ones who love to  Dutch Oven cook & will invite you to share!

Tom & me~

We couldn't remember how long it had been, almost four-years went way too fast & yet here we were again!  Time to head south one of these days & check out Tennessee!  Tom did get serious too - when it comes to safety on the trail - sharing stories of unwanted helicopter rides for riders who ran into difficulty.

Goodies for us both!

When walking through the vendor hall, we'd spotted the EquestriSafe booth & went back to pick up another ID tag.  They have some really well made products & with an embroidery machine right there - we purchased a new ID bracelet for Farah - with our phone number & a Velcro rescue info. tag for me.

As Butch commented, another Ford man!

 Farah's new Farrier gave a presentation on shoeing & we were disappointed that it was not better attended.  It did though - give us a chance to ask questions about shoes & shoeing in such a different environment from what we've been used to.  We also met face-to-face Troy Lynn of Top Trail - who I'd conversed with long-distance.  She was a wealth of information on the Middle Of the Trail Distance Riders Association.

Back Country Horsemen of Iowa were represented with brochures & t-shirts available - we have our work cut out for us!  There are so many "friends" of whatever park groups here - we'll be figuring out a way to entice them to join BCH & be counted nationally!

 I met face-to-face several Facebook friends & that's always so fun!  We returned home with a bag full of goodies & plenty of reading material!