DAY FIVE - More Hay

Busy busy day today.

Got up and had the boy fed by 8:00 a.m. Got my laundry in and did some stuff on the iPad. Finished laundry, cleaned up paddock poops and did my half-hour yoga routine. Then, I zipped down to a field on Rt. 160, where Skip and his crew were bailing up freshly "first cut" hay. Except, they hadn't started yet, so I turned back around and head for home.

I caught Possum out of the paddock, who was very mellow and agreeable today, and brought him into the stall for a grooming. Tacked him up, put on my boots, chaps and helmet, and we went back out to the paddock to mount up. He stood still and then we walked around the paddock for a few minutes. I could tell he was going to be good today.

He went out through the stall and around to the back of the house, walking the little path loop. Then we cut back onto Dad's land and down to the wide path behind his house. When we got to the dip, I let him go into a little canter to get back up the hill - and once again, he didn't try his little bucking trick!

When we got out to the road again, we turned left and ambled down the end of the road. On the way back, we went into a nice, comfortable trot, and then headed back up the hill. We stopped to rest a couple of times, but his wind his much better than it was back in the spring. When we got to the level ground in front of my house, we went back into a trot again, and then walked by the Dodge home, where her children were playing with some friends. Today was going to be Jonathan's birthday party, so more kids were expected later.

We ambled by their barn, but saw no sign of Big Mack, and Possum was fairly agreeable about going past the barn and field. Then we got down to Lenny's house and saw Donna hand grazing Big Mack on Lenny's front lawn - the grass there is rich and lush and green. We stopped and chatted, and then she had to get back for the party, and Possum and I rode around behind Lenny's house again, enjoying the sunny day.

Back on the road, we did a short canter and trot, and stopped in front of the Dodge home again so some of the kids could pet Possum. Then we head back for home. Total horseback riding time - 1 hour.

I took off his tack and brushed him down, gave him some more flakes of hay, and hit the road again for the field. Got there at about quarter to three, and one of the crew, a nice lady named Kristine, who is married to Skip's son, helped load up Mom's little truck. I managed to haul away another 23 bales, making the total amount of bales in the barn at 196! I've promised to go over tomorrow at noon and pick up another truck load, leaving me with only about 3 truckloads left to get after that to - hopefully, if I did my calculations correct - the total amount of hay I'll need! I'll have to wait a few weeks, though, because space is getting pretty short in the barn!

Got the hay stacked and it's very nice. Now, for a short rest, then a shower and off to Bray's for a 9:30 to close gig with Black Cat Road! Long day!

Behind Lenny's house today. We want to live here!