Horses and old age

A fellow blogger, Nuzzling Muzzles, posted an interesting question today on her blog (http://nuzzlingmuzzles.blogspot.com/). She asked whether horseback riding has an age limit. Hmmmm.... I don't really think so. I think if one is in good physical shape, you should be able to ride as long as you want. I remember the tribute to the lady in her 80's who was still riding. Now, my cousin Valerie rides every day. Cathy, the ranch owner, not only rides, but mucks corrals daily! I think if you are physically active, you just continue that activity. Hmmm...something for me to think about. I've been pretty INactive, due to my back injury last August. I do get out and walk. I do chase third graders around the playground! I do exercise and lunge the horses, but I haven't ridden one yet. I'm hoping to get on Quad and ride him. He is very calm and he seems to like to walk! And, he's already trained! My plan was always to keep our horses for their full lives. Our children (and my cousin) know my wishes should anything happen to me. The horses WILL be taken care of and will have homes. But, Nuzz sure gave me a lot to think about on this Saturday morning! And, speaking of working out, did you know that Santa Anita race track has a workout webcam? Here's the addy: http://www.oaktreeracing.com/content/workout-webcam I'm watching it on and off right now! It is active from 6:00 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. Pacific time. After that, the track is closed and the horses are back in their stalls.

Enjoy your Saturday. Here are just some random pics of our horses during their training! Yes, that's my Beauty on the bottom! Can you believe it? And that's Cali and Scout getting some of their early training.

Sunset outside my home~SkyWatch Friday 110609

As I was sitting at my computer Thursday afternoon, I noticed a beautiful glow in the sky. I grabbed my camera and went outside to view it and what a view! Gorgeous oranges, pinks, and reds covered the clouds and sky. These pics were taken right outside my house at the sky. SkyWatch Friday for November 6, 2009.

What's going on? Quad pics 110509

Quad was very interested in everything that was going on around him last weekend. He actually spent quite a long time exploring the arena and even called out to another horse! I finally got some decent head shots of him! It was a good day. I came down with the flu the next day, stayed home for 3 days and rested and watched "Wife Swap" while on the couch! Very interesting show! Oh, and reruns of Law & Order. It was good to get back to school yesterday. The kids actually missed me!

More Quad pics

I didn't get up to the ranch on Sunday as I came down with the flu. I've been home, in bed, for 3 days now, but I'm well enough today (though still weak) to straggle into work. Fortunately, I took a lot of photos of Quad on Saturday, when Molly came along with me. Here is Quad in his winter coat. See how thick and wooly he is getting? I'm always amazed when the horses' winter coats come in!

Just around the ranch~That's My World 110309

These are just some pics from around the ranch over the last two weeks. This is my weekend world. I work all week, but on the weekends either hubby and I or just I go up to the ranch where we board them. That's My World for Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

More Quad pics from Saturday~Look~He's trotting!

Look~ Quad's out HAVIN' FUN! It's good to see him feeling good and moving! He's SUCH a sweetheart. Not a mean bone in his body! I think he will be the perfect riding horse for me. He walks everywhere, unlike Gigondas, who GALLOPS everywhere! She's got plenty of pick up and GO! But, for my back, I need a nice, calm horse like Quad! Some weekend I'll put my saddle on him and see how it fits.

Quad update~November 1, 2009

My good friend and fellow blogger, Molly, went with me yesterday to go visit my horses up in our local mountains. She greatly misses her own horse, but will soon be bringing her up to our desert, so she has to get some "horsey smells" whenever she can! We love talking and just doing what we can with my herd. So, yesterday, we took Quad down to the arena. Our mountains have already had some nights with frost, so all the horses are getting their winter "woolies". Quad, too. It is interesting to see how his coat is getting longer and thicker! And, he has beautiful dapples now! He's still a little thin, but his feet are all healed now, he has settled in, and he enjoys his outings in the arena. I still haven't seen him run yet, but yesterday he did trot a bit and he kicked up his heels and took a good roll in the dirt. Here are some pics from yesterday.