To The Hill's!

 After the month we've had - Butch was home - the weather was moderate & my husband agreed to drive Farah & I to Waubonsie!  When Farah saw the truck & her trailer coming down the road she was the most excited I've seen her in forever.  She was more than ready to jump in the trailer & when we arrived - instantly recognized where we were.  I couldn't believe it had been almost nine-months since our last visit.  Last year, we'd ridden here fourteen times.

Butch with Farah~

Farah made us promise not to show the above photo to anyone!  :-)  She'd only worn her Cashel Quiet Ride fly mask once in WA.  On that ride, after the first few miles, she was tossing her head letting me know she wanted it off!  I took a good look at the fit today & decided the piece that covered her nostrils was probably what she didn't like.  It makes it hard for her to get air if she has to breathe through the mesh.  I folded it up & put it under her nose band.

Into the shade~

The temperature kept climbing, probably into the mid-80's, but the humidity was less than it has been.  The bugs though - were out in force.  The horse fly's started landing on her ears, even with her ears covered.  I pulled out my little bottle of spray & that helped to keep them off.

Dry!

I was surprised at how dry the ground was!  So dry, almost powdery & a grayer color than I'd remembered.  Though there were several trailers at the park, hardly any of the spots had been reserved.  We'd expected it to be full.  We did find the beautiful orange lily we first saw last year.

Lush, green grass~

We took what had become our usual route from last year.  Farah remembered every break spot & loved the fresh green growth.  We'd go through area's where the bugs were bad, then others where there were almost none.

Sweat~

We both worked up a sweat in no time.  She wanted to blast up the hills, but after seeing the condition of the trails, we had to be ever so careful.  The rains had again rutted the surface, in places leaving holes over a foot deep.  My confidence is back, but it's disheartening to not be able to see enough to enjoy the vista's as much as I used to.

Upper trail~

We did our usual long trotting trail at full speed, but I'm hearing clicks with the new shoes.  More as our speed increased.  The first time this has happened - with this farrier.  I hope he'll find time to make whatever adjustment is needed.  We did a lot of galloping.

Tree down~

It was really sad to see one of the really tall trees on the trail I call;  "Tall Trees" down...  This is such a low protected area - it had to take a lot of wind to uproot it :-(  This trail reminds me of a WA trail more than any other I've been on - even if the trees are deciduous.

Deer~

Our second time around the top loop, Farah was spooked when we heard a crackling noise directly behind, us on a corner.  Two deer jumped up & took off across the gully.  Why we didn't spook them the first time around is beyond me.

Back in camp~

Butch & Nika had taken a hike & Butch was reading in the shade when we returned.  We'd done all the trails & a couple twice to get in just under ten-miles in two-hours.  Plenty of work for us both after such a long time.  1,200 ft. of elevation gain in that distance is a lot!

Clean!

Farah loved getting her bath & having Butch there to pamper her.  A few more trailers had come in, but all the other riders were out on the trails.  We hadn't seen anyone our entire route, which I loved.  We sat out for a while enjoying the afternoon, before loading back up.

Red-Tailed Hawk~

We stopped for dinner in Tabor, before going back to the farm.  Butch brought the truck & trailer down the hill from the top & as he did said, Look, a big bird is on the machine shed."  He stopped; I got out the camera & managed to get the photo above.  What a stunning bird.  He sat there for several minutes posing - before flying off.  Fitting end to a really fun day~

Day of Long Shadows~

A break in the week of high winds!  The forecast was correct & the day was a beauty.  Not that the early part of this week hasn't been...  Except for the wearing winds that ripped the rest of the beautiful leaves from our Walnut.  Weather the rest of the week is supposed to deteriorate with even a slight possibility of snow on Fri.

Our shadow~

I thought about going up & riding on the Wabash Trace Trail out of Council Bluffs, a much shorter drive, but the end that Equestrians are allowed on is fraught with road crossings, the noise of traffic etc.  I do still plan to get there again & re-visit the four-miles we can access heading south toward Minneola.

Paw Paw trees turning yellow~

Waubonsie was the place, I was amazed at how many leaves were down in just the few days since we'd been here.  Raylan, the Park Ranger came by as I was heading out onto the trails.  I had to thank him for the great trail work that's been done. 

Along the dry creek bed~

Once we were on the trails - it was great to see both big windfalls had been removed.  A lot of the trail had been bulldozed again & there were piles of dirt in many places.  It was hard to make time, but we moved much faster today.  Farah has reached a new level of maturity this year.  Whether the move, or just that she's finally reached a reasonable age - she's been amazing!  Always so forward, always willing.

More tree trunks & limbs visible~

As you can tell, the structure of the trees is again showing itself with so many of the leaves now blown off.  No more cold than we've had - it still seems to me - we've had some wonderful color.

One of the steep hills~

It's so hard to capture the short steep hills here - but I think the photo above finally gives you an idea.  It's not that there's just a couple, the entire trail system is basically one hill after another. 

Yellows of young Paw Paw trees~

There is one nice long section that's flat & we fly along that.  Today, we spooked a big doe who ran along side us for a second before jumping into the trees!

A colorful down~

We're taking a different route lately, doing one loop, off onto the second, then our break & reversing the second.  We save Tall Trees for toward the end of the ride & since it's low & protected - there's not much color there yet.

A Happy Face!

Returning to the trail-head, we were attacked by swarms of Asian Beetles!  The air was so full of them  it seemed hard to breathe!  I was so thankful I still had Farah's fly sheet in the trailer!  I hosed her down, hosing off beetles the entire time & got the sheet on her.  We were both about ready to go nuts - by the time I had everything thrown back in the trailer.  Farah literally jumped in.  We couldn't get Out of there fast enough!  I pity the people who planned to camp this weekend!

Into the Wind ~

 At the stable I was asked to keep Farah out all day - so that her run could be scrapped.  No problem at all, since my plan was to see the fall colors at Waubonsie.  Dazzling sunshine - a strong wind - at 20 to 30 mph with 40 mph gusts.   Since rain is forecast for tomorrow, today was the day to get out!

Quiet when we arrived, just as I had bridled Farah, a group of four riders returned to the trailhead.  I had my camera off the saddle & caught the image below.  As the years have gone by & I've watched the gold girl mature, I keep thinking she can't be more beautiful.  I'm biased - yes - but with good cause.

Farah~

 Stately & aristocratic - with so much presence - truly a one-of-a-kind mare.  She's adjusted well to life here in Iowa - the bugs, heat, cold etc.  Certainly, a more extreme climate than the one she was used to.  The wind doesn't even bother her - in the spring & fall we get plenty - she hardly twitches an ear.

To the trails!

 I couldn't believe how colorful things were once we were into the timber!  The golds, rusts, oranges, all on a backdrop of the trees that still held onto green leaves.

Down the Trail~

 I let her go at her own pace - the footing was perfect & having her barefoot is so nice.  The trails were littered with the colorful fallen leaves.  It had been a while since we'd done all the hill work, but Farah attacked them with her usual style & tossed in a buck just to keep me on my toes.

Top Trail~

 We'd just rounded the corner when two hen turkeys came out of the brush & started up the trail in front of us.  I slowed down & a second or so later a big tom took flight right over our heads!

Far Views~

 Now, the views are opening up & you get more of the feeling of being up on the higher ridges of the park.  Not really territorial - but pretty none the less.

Trails edge~

 The day went from sunshine, to partly cloudy later in the afternoon.  The filtered light turning the colors of the leaves almost a neon against the gray backdrop.

Ms. Farah~

 We made as many miles as we could, doing each loop twice in both directions & the pretty section I call Tall Trees to finish up the ride.  It was warm, probably upper 70's.  Farah worked up a decent sweat with her newly thickened coat.

A typical yawn~

She asked to stop once & spent a few minutes yawning - something she's done forever.   Back at the trailhead there was only one other rig parked at the far side.  Since the Asian Beetles have hatched out this week & they'd been thick here last year - I was surprised they weren't bad today.  Farah got a bath & dried dry almost faster than I could get her wet!

Farah & Nika~

I made the drive home & turned her out in the yard.  Nika actually laid down nearby for the first time!  Usually, she moves further away.  Back at the stable, the run had not been scraped - with rain tonight - I can only hope it will get done next week.  Another gorgeous ride, I'm hoping to go to Indian Caves before all the color is gone.

Slip & Slide~

A super charged hot & very humid day with a blowing wind!  I called to see if the trails at Waubonsie were open after the rain we received over the weekend.  They were - I was thinking they hadn't received the rain we did.

On the Trail~

 Wrong assumption.  As we left, the trail was wet & when Farah stepped - she slid.  With the wind & the heat both - I thought for sure that the trails would improve as we went on - but they didn't.

Further along~

 I didn't put Farah's bug bonnet on - it was just So hot & I counted on the wind to keep the bugs at bay.  Wrong there too - they still tried & Farah was shaking her head to keep them off.

Farah's barefoot print in the mud~

 The soils here are so different!  You'd think that such a sandy based loam wouldn't be too slippery - but again - that's wrong.  Since each step was a slide, I looked down to see what was going on.

Front hoof~

The mud had packed into the bottom of her feet, it was like she was walking on ice.  We're overdue for a trim too.  I had her front feet x-rayed at the Vet in Sidney a few weeks ago.  She had started to forge again & I wanted to see the angle of her coffin bones.  Her joints were nice & clean - but the front angles need to be lowered & rear toes shortened.  

Rear hoof with the mud sticking~

 I don't think shoes would have made any difference at all in the mud.  We'd only gone about a mile, one easy step at a time - when we came to the first down hill grade.  Farah hesitated at the top, I had to encourage her to start down & knew right then I shouldn't have.

Our slide~

 When we slid, I realized even if we made it to the bottom, getting back up would be the trick.  I'd heard stories of a rider who'd gone down & found it impossible to get back up.   We turned back right there & Farah took the edge of the trail to try to gain enough purchase to climb back up.  It was a relief to reach the top.

Sign of Fall~

 We stayed on the short flat section of the trail & stopped at the 1-mile rest area.  The bright yellow leaves from the Walnut trees were flying through the air & littered the trail.  The wind was relentless & I watched as the large trees were battered back & forth.

It was beautiful~

 It's always beautiful - & we're both always so happy to be out on the trails - but it was obvious this was not going to be the day.

Farah loving the tall grasses~

 The wet spot-on Farah's neck is fly spray.  I think Iowa probably keeps at least a few repellant companies in business...  Back at the trailer - I gave her a bath.  The wind had her dry almost faster than I could get her rinsed.

Grazing time~

 She had her usual good roll & I covered her with fresh fly spray.  I felt a little cheated our ride had been so short.  I sat out & enjoyed the afternoon for quite a while.  The wind at least made the heat bearable.  Our laundry dried quick - a fly mask & leggings.  I finally loaded us up for the road trip back to the farm.  Two new Gypsy Vanner horses arrived today, I only got a glimpse of one, they'll be stabled on the far side of the barn from Farah's stall & run.

The remainder of this week's forecast is for temperatures above 90!  Sat. we've scheduled that overdue trim.  Next week temperatures are dropping back into the 70's - but with a rain chance too - about every day :-(  At least now I've learned- riding wet trails here is impossible...

Zero G's~

Since our forecast is one of temperatures warming into the 90's by weeks end, mid-80's would have to do.  The air is full of what I think is the dust from all the gravel roads.  This has been about the longest period this summer that we've not had rain.

Carrying a mouthful~

It was nice to pull into Waubonsie & have everything quiet.  Everything except the bugs!  They were out in full force.  Small flies - that were at the stable too, big horse fly's, something that did a lot of buzzing...  Even with spray slathered on us both - we were both bitten more than once.

My Stonewall~

My Stonewall is finally broken in.  It's been almost two-years now & we've had no issues with it - which is a saddle blessing that was a long time coming.  I still wish the seat were a little deeper & the twist a little narrower.  Jackie has reminded me that Farah is not a small bodied mare & requires a medium tree.

Honeysuckle~

Someone was full of energy today - a surprise with the heat.  She attacked the first of the hills with a vengeance.  I'm still not sure just how she accomplished it, but one minute I was in the saddle & the next I was in the air.  Both feet came up in the stirrups, my seat left the saddle & for a long instant I was suspended.  A millisecond later - I reconnected with the saddle - as we crested the top.

Beautiful trails~

It's so nice to have a place to ride that seems so changeable & where almost all the trails are totally in the shade of the deciduous timber.  We weren't out too far when I heard a huge rustle of feather & Farah went sideways.  A turkey had flown up just a foot or two off the trail!  He perched about 40 feet up in a tree as we went by.  The first I've seen here.

Vine on the hitching rail post~

It's been fun too, to play games.  Once the stats are downloaded, it's interesting comparing our time from one ride to the next - doing an identical pattern - or changing it up.

White blooming Nettles?

I'm pretty sure that these plants are Stinging Nettles, or their cousins.  The white blooms on both sides of the trail were beautiful - even if they're not flowers in the true sense of the word.

Ah  Shade~

The photo above is of one of Farah's favorite places to take a break.  Mine too, as it's up on a ridge & there's usually a little breeze that keeps the bugs away.

Young Coyote~

As we turned out on our final loop, I saw something up ahead on the trail.  I got out the camera & got one shot of this young Coyote before he turned into the brush.  He was looking a little skinny - so hope he found a rodent or two for his dinner.

After her bath~

Farah really enjoys her baths on hot days - our new hose & nozzle works great & gets the job done much faster than a sponge.  She gets just enough time to dry - before the bugs find her again & the spray goes back on.

We headed for home & pulled in to wait for Butch.  Farah loves grazing in the yard & walks away when Butch goes to gather her up for the trip back to the stable.  Nika was even OK with it & had the gumption to circle Farah at a run!  :-)  She'd still like to herd her - but is smart enough to know better.

My Red Geranium's & Farah~

My germaniums have done well this summer - they grow much bushier than they did in Washington, but have about the same amount of blooms.  It wont' be long before I have to get them back into pots for the long months of the winter season.  

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.