didn't make the 20 mile mark...

We got started late.
It was already getting warm by the time we left the barn.
We rode down Flat Top, Down Old Fort, and decided to make a pit stop at the Amish store and get a sandwich.  made it to the house, went out some more... back, and then the barn... slow ride walked most of the way, but it was great!

It's funny and amazing... you see so much on the back of a horse.   ( they see so much and spook over the silliest things, cracked open /tilted man hole covers, snakes warming on the edge of the road)   The flowers were amazing, yes even all the things we call weeds are beautiful when on horse back.

I can tell you this... the white lines is slick with road shoes! On pavement, off to the curb, back on the road, back to the curb.... its a good practice for a lifted, good cross over!

The only really dangerous things that happen were the idiots in the red truck! ( who ever you were) that regardless that we ... meaning Mike, Me, and the horses were ON the ONE LANE BRIDGE, they decided they were going to cross it as well, going the opposite direction, regardless of the fact we were on it, and we had the right of way as we were on it first... ( horse against car) NC law states Horses, Bikes, have the right of way.... cars have a privilege NOT a RIGHT!   big difference.  So Sweet Pea did her normal rear, spinning on one hind leg and darting off the opposite direction.  Navarre was fine! Looked at the people like idiots! Wish I could have... I was just hanging on!

Second dangerous thing that happened was NOT the fault of the wonderful dump truck driver... but the fact that he slowed down for us and his air brakes scarred the living life out of Sweet Pea.  No big deal except it was next to an 8 foot drop off, a barbed wire fence, AND not to mention the road sign that could have cut my head off during her fit of insanity.  But this is what horses do... and this is why I had her on the road ... she is getting better, but will never be a horse I ride the road alone!  Navarre, her security blanket is a must!

Our / MY funny time was... when the mutt decided to attack Navarre! and Sweet Pea enjoyed chasing the dog, as it would a cat!  She got that dog well off the road, and had it running!   Second dog, was a stand off, Front Left Leg Raised and Dog with teeth showing the entire time.  Each would lunge at the other... We played this game till Navarre was far enough ahead she didn't have to worry about protecting him.   She darted up the road, caught up with Navarre in no time!

The heat is horrible for all this riding... we rode them to the house, sprayed them down, out three more miles, sprayed them down, back to the house, repeat... back to the barn... and repeat ... I could not have kept them riding had my friends not allowed us access to a hose!  THANKS guys...


 

Hoping to do 20 miles today.

Yep... as I sit here I wait for my partner in crime, as for the first time I am a little scared to be on the main road as much as I have planned for the day.  Thank goodness for people who don't mind riding with someone.

I am taking out Sweet Pea ... He is taking out Navarre! This is will be a difficult day, as Navarre is Sweet Pea's security blanket and they will not be attached for the first time.

When I decide to really do my riding they will be attached and the sweet pea will do so much better than I expect today.

So ... Today is all about NOT reacting to anything, NOT holding my breath as I am passed by motorcycles and 18 wheelers.  Today is going to be a day I will NOT have my coffee, I think my nerves will do me well enough.

Plan.
Barn, House, spray horses... two more backroads... spray horses, barn spray... feed and let them go!

I'll check in later! as I am sure if my Mother reads this it will cause a worry! Although I have done this to her so much in my life time I can only HOPE she is getting used to the ? ? ? unexpected, out of the box, "Amber" kind of things I do!

"That's an Amber thing" they say at home!   They just think I'm really strange over there in NC.

doing more research on PPSM , or EPSM

The medical field is ALWAYS changing, and thus specifically equine is as well.  I'm going back to site, checking their most up to date post, and double checking my plan of action.

Having done the work, and over looking my research on line, print, and with the vets.  As with any illness we never take it all in at once. The first thing I have noticed ... I over looked, did not hear, or simply never wanted to accept; this is going to be a good 4 to 6 month ordeal getting Navarre back to being even half way normal.  Having said that I should not be experiencing all the ups and downs it should have been a slow grade down hill, as he should have been progressing.  My issue is there is nothing to tempt him to move about!

While I never lock him in a stall, he stays in the barn all day in the shade.  I goes out to eat his hay early morning and late evening, but the gut doesn't get moved or activated all day.  THIS is a problem.  Horses in the wild are moving ALL DAY, and most of the night.

So his only movement is when I get him out ride or lunge the poor guy.  Just to call attention to my own stupidity... I lunged him into a bee / hornet hive the other day, we are both paying the price!

places I drive by...

I enjoy this place.  It is in a typical curve, so it is hard to appreciate it on a regular basis.  It is always this well kept and the flag is out if rain is not falling.

Pastures

With more research on the EPSM or PPSM... I am finding I may be able to use my entire pasture during the winter months.

This would be wonderful! as the horses need more space to RUN around I may be able to open one pasture at a time and allow them on it little by little as the grass starts to turn brown for the winter or even as early as when the grass looses most of its sugar content this fall.  All of this is exciting to me, as I hate seeing such beautiful, lush pastures go to waste.  Not to mention I hate seeing my horses be board with nothing to do all day.

As usual Sweet Pea is not the issue, only Navarre and I hate allowing her on pasture but not him.  Oh well, on to doing more research and seeing what else I can do.

Pastures.

A while back I handed over the estate list to Michael.  It is now starting to show progress.  The pasture was sprayed with Pasture Pro.  A product I enjoy using as it a short turn around time to kill weeds and put animals back on pasture.   Not that I can use the pasture, but maybe I can get someone else to pay to use it on occasion.

My pastures are beautiful!
My lean-to needs to be repaired before I offer this option to others, but? life is on it's way back to peace.

The garden has been cleaned out!
The road side is ALMOST cut down into submission.  Large part next to the barn needs to be done and small part near garden needs to be completed. Otherwise we are getting there.

Gravely is dead again.  Battery does not get a re-charge? who knows what is wrong with it this time. Also sucking in air in the gas line.  Two issues I've got to work on... but who has the time?

Michael did bush-hog most of the road side at least 10- 15 feet into the woods.  This is wonderful!   He also assisted me in putting my ? collected cut down trees up as a short fence so people don't just walk through or worse take their 4 wheelers  into the property.

Now all we need to do is finish the two areas mentioned above, and spray the HECK out of the underbrush in the woods.  That Rosabunda crap has got me steaming like a tea pot! You can't walk through the place with out tearing your jeans or cutting up your legs.  LIFE... it never ends, but at least I've got help!

riding alone...

I am finding that like everything else in life I am a little different when it comes to riding.  The issue I am finding is people want to be able to ride with someone else.  Yes, well this would be nice but in my world this never works out.

I have ridden alone now for years, my husband deals with the safety issues and has at times threatened to put a tracking system on me or in my clothing.  I could care less.  If I am injured... this could be an issue.  But if I'm dead ... well... I died enjoying life.

My only concern about riding alone is how my horse would survive, or if one were injured, but I stick to our dead end road for now which is a good up mountain exercise for the kids, and a pain for me.


BUT the click , click , click of horses feet while alone even on a road in the mountains is often more relaxing than even on the Biltmore estate.  I enjoy the time alone, looking at everything, and saying hi to the neighbors as they drive past, or pear off their decks from above.  You should try it sometime.    If you don't have the perfect area... I do... and a horse that needs ridden... ha ha ha...

Thursday...

Finding someone to ride may be harder than I expected!   After all I'm a horse person, and without a horse I would have killed to ride a good horse like him.

Having said that I've had a few people say they will tell others, but, no one jumping at the chance!

Today I got to sleep a little late, BUT I have several "wings" I have to make for Pirates' Lair , birds get warm breakfast... Navarre get early ride... then on to B&B picking up things on my way in, and getting 4 rooms ready for tomorrow.    I know it sounds like a lot but like I told someone recently ...it's really no different than all those women out there that shuffle the raising of three children.

I've got 4 days of meds cut up for Navarre, as I waited for my water to boil for the french press this morning.  I can only hope this is really going to help.  Just started it again yesterday, and already in the evening he was more willing to walk faster to his hay.  SO as much as I dread the thought of drugging him every day for the rest of his life, it appears that is where we are headed!

My next step is to take my Rx and talk to one of the "Asheville" type pharmacies around here! Whats the deal with Asheville? Well, around here there are some GREAT pharmacies that are all about education, and personal attention.  They may be able to assist me with something not so man made for Navarre, Besides I'm wanting to price out the Vitamin E thing and see if I can't get it cheaper in bulk through them.  I also need a new pestle and mortar if I'm going to be doing this from now on.

Oh well it's at least 5:30 and I haven't started my working yet!  
On I go! Off line again... till tomorrow!

Much love Amber.

Wednesday....

well I am some what freaking out about Navarre.  My horse bills have been more than high, my stress with watching, feeling, and evaluation EVERY time I go to the barn is like doing a 45 minutes vet check each time.

Having said that my little boy is not doing any better, he has gotten worse in the last few days.  I can not ride him for hours at a time like he needs.  I am searching for some more riders I can half way trust and hoping to get help.    ( I mean who wouldn't want to ride such a great horse for free? )

BUT this morning my main objective was to cut up, powder down 20 pills!   Yep 20 muscle relaxers... I've got to make this kid happy again, even it is using drugs, I can't stand the pain he is in.

more late... more work to do!

Tuesdays...

Funny how we all have that one special time of day that makes us feel good.

For me it's between 4:30 and 5:30am when I can feel a breeze through the window, hear animals outside, just before the am traffic starts.  Traffic on 74A starts about 5:45 and breaks the silence, my concentration, and makes me realize it is another work day.

With my Pirates' Lair work mostly done today...I have but a moment to jot down some words before getting into the shower to go feed and check on Navarre and Sweet Pea.  As the days get shorter I am starting to worry how I will evaluate him properly in such darkness.  I suppose an idea will pop into my head as the dawn fades and the darkness overtakes my early visits.  I can at this point only image a mid day visit to double check on him.

At any rate... Today is busy, shipping this morning, only a few charges, horses, B&B, then after breakfast I need to run to Rhino to pick up parts.  Back to B&B to clean, turn over some rooms, and check others in later.  Not to mention the Birds that arrive at my home today for a weeks sitting.  I so enjoy these birds!

Hopefully home by 6, feed birds, and go ride Navarre back into the dusk as the darkness once again controls my day.  Otherwise I would ride till 9pm... but Mother Nature will not allow such things... Darn I wish I could convince her to stay awake a little longer!  

But changes are the norm, every minute in my day, every day in my week, and yes every week, month of my years... Roll with it or it will roll over you!

Much love to the world.
Amber.