Tiff's in training

One of the reasons I bought Tiff is that she's broke to ride and drive. She has a lot more experience with driving than with riding, so I am enlisting the experience and knowledge of Ali, a student at the local university. She has lots of experience training hunter\jumpers, leading trail rides, and giving lessons. While I rode saddleseat growing up, I'm limited in my knowledge of working with horses to get them trail ready. (I'm a little embarassed to say I've only been trail riding a couple of times-most of my experience has been riding around rings and up and down barn aisleways). So, Ali not only agreed to train Tiff once a week, she will also be giving me a few riding lessons.

At any rate (after about an hour of horse fiascos-which is another post), Ali put Tiff through her paces. They walked, trotted, cantered, backed, and pivoted. Tiff was so well behaved and gave her rider 100% effort. Ali had a blast riding her and I can't wait to hop on myself!

Tiffany taking Ali for a ride.

At the auction

Sassy and the frog

Earning Her Keep

After months of watching Sassy sleep, eat, and lounge, I was seriously doubting her willingness to earn her food. But, I was happy (although somewhat grossed out) to find a half of a mouse lying next to her food bowl.

Ever since Twerp passed, she's been out on patrol, climbing the stall walls in the barn, and picking up the slack. Guess this kitty's a keeper!

Driving

We've hitched up Tiffany three times in the last week, and she's been really good. No balking or hissy fits-when she's with the cart, it's all business. She's a little hot to trot starting out, but after a few minutes of trotting figure eights and serpentines, she settles down into a nice, relaxed walk.



Our neighbor came over to help the first two drives I took her out, but Sunday marked a huge milestone for us: Will and I hooked up Tiffany all by ourselves (and it was Will's first time assisting)! It took us a long time because I wanted to be sure everything was snapped, buckled, and hooked up correctly, and we ended up having a lovely drive. Will was great-he stayed around to watch our drive (just in case), and then helped me get her back into the cross ties and unhitched. He even led her back to the field-his first time ever leading horse!

Nothing like a good roll in the dirt after getting brushed...

Not the most flattering picture ;-).

Garden Update

It rained a lot last week-- about two inches over three days. We really needed it-- I'm hoping for a second cutting of hay to fill up the barn for the horses for the winter. Our neighbor said the other day he has no extra hay to sell-there is enough for the horses in the area, and not much else.

In regards to the garden, I moved some of the perennials out of their containers and into the ground. One of the rail planters now holds lettuce seeds and the big porch planters have mums.

One squash plant continues to hold on, and I should get a couple more vegetables off of that. A couple of the watermelons are getting large, and I think one may be ready to pick in the next week! It seems we have two melons per plant.

I have about half a dozen ripe tomatoes that aren't cracked-- it was heartbreaking to go into the garden today and pick dozens of fruits that were cracked and inedible. There are a couple of peppers growing, and the onions haven't seen much growth. Next year I'm trying those in a self-watering container.

The daylilies are about to have a second round of blooms.

Twerp

Twerp was hit by a car on Monday evening. So sad-- he wasn't even a year old. We buried him in the yard next to Taylor. Rest in peace, little kitty...