How many times in your life, can you be both the teacher…and the student?

For Miranda, the Mustang trainer, it happened this past weekend.

She went from graceful elegance and total control…to…

Dog power!

Because Miranda (Mandy) grew up with horses, and is an experienced horse trainer, she was an easy lesson.

And caught on fast.

Although her experience that day was truly “Baptism by Fire”, by no fault of her own (Union picked THAT day, on the trail, in lead ~ to decide she was truly retired…), we have no doubt she will be back for more this weekend.

I would bet money on it…

Anyone who runs barrels, laying a horse on its side, can handle a dog team.

Beauty Power Spirit.

Canine or equine ~ the saying fits.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

To see other exciting news, check out our other Blogs:
Meet the Mushers
and
Our 40 ~ The Simple Life at Russ-Stick Acres.
A daily blog of adventure tidbits.

Year ’round, like clockwork, our farrier, Bruce, comes to trim the three horses.

It’s a set date.

Every six weeks.

Carved in stone.

And Nauish (pronounced Now-eesh) knows it.

And Bruce knows it.

And Rustic Russ knows it.

Nauish and I have the same mind set when it comes to pedicures.

No way, no how, nothin’ doin’.

Bruce has some convincing to do.

Sweet talk helps.

Then again, prayer works wonders.

Amazing. My sweet boy succumbs every time.

Until tomorrow ~ lovin’ my BLM Baby ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Full moon’s a comin’.

I’ll be ready.

No more Weekend Warrior for this gal.

Every day is an opportunity.

Whether it is an earthy task, like planting your garden.

Infusing fresh air into your clothing ~ rustic style.

Or Mustang groundwork with your 4-year old.

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Mark Twain

I’m not sayin’ I’m ready to leave this Earth just yet.

I’m just doing what makes me happy. Happy like a Bluebird.

With two of my favorite buddies in the whole world.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing (knowing He makes this decision…),

Woodswoman

There are different kind of communities.

Mushing communities.

Horse communities.

We are fortunate to belong to both.

The other morning, around 6:30 a.m., I looked up from the computer at the Wee House and saw our local Sheriff, Dan Bean, heading down our long drive with urgency.

Rustic Russ was doing chores, and had already fed the horses.

Upon Sheriff Bean’s arrival, we found out the reason for this early morning visit.

A horse was loose, down the road a bit.

Our dirt road.

Sheriff Bean was concerned it might be in danger of being hit by a passing vehicle during the early morning hours.

Our horses were all accounted for, even though the description of one fit our “Buck”.

Our friends, the Troyer’s, were on standby with their truck and horse trailer to pick up the early morning equine.

Sheriff Bean returned about a half hour later, with good news.

The horse had been trailered and hauled over to Troyers for safe keeping until the owner could be located.

Later that night, Rustic Russ and I went over to Erv and Deb Troyers to take a peek at the runaway, and to see our new horse, Comanchero.

You know you are with horse people when you pull into the Troyers.

There’s no mistaking it.

Yes, my new horse is Comanchero. He won out over that smooth, handsome black beauty, Calvin.

Plus Deb and Erv knew what I needed. A horse that would fit “me”.

Just like the girl at the Prom, pining for the handsome football star across the crowded dance floor, I quickly realized my heart truly belonged to the boy I had originally sought out.

The one with the chunk taken out of his lip from his years as a stallion on the range.

Comanchero.

Chero is a gentleman and will treat me like a lady.

And that will suit me just fine.

While visiting, and combing out Chero’s over-the-winter tangles, we heard the story of the loose horse.

And the outcome.

Erv said later in the morning a young girl stopped by their place, appearing worried, looking for a runaway horse. Keep in mind, Erv and Deb own many horses, Mustangs, as they have a riding stable located on a little used road one road over from us. Hobby Horse Riding Stable.

Erv: “What can I help you with young lady?”

Girl: “Have you seen a horse today?”

Erv: “I’ve seen a lot of horses today…” **smile**

Girl: “I mean, have you seen a horse come by here?”

Erv: “Was it a sorrel?”

Girl: “Yes…”

Erv: “With a white blaze?”

Girl: “Yes!”

Erv: “Was it wearing a red halter?”

Girl: “YES!!!”

Erv: “Sorry, haven’t seen it.”

Of course, by then the girl realized Erv was pulling her leg.

The girl and her horse were reunited and all was well in our Small Town.

A small town where the Sheriff knows your name, and the Animal Control officer stops by for coffee, and your neighbors get up at the crack of dawn and treat a horse as their own.

I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Until tomorrow ~ loving my small town life ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Upon arriving home Friday night, I found company in the corral.

And excitement.

Excitement about being outside, the sunshine, the warmth, the horses.

Young Landon wanted to get cozy with our horse, Buck.

Why is it that children and horses calm each other?

They “know” each other. And it only takes minutes.

I met my new horse tonight.

My rescued from the Range at age 10, dead broke Mustang.

All those years, as a stallion.

And he’s missing a chunk off his beautiful nose to prove it.

Comanchero.

‘Chero for short.

However, something very unexpected happened upon arriving at Hobby Horse Farm.

Chero has been with “Calvin” ever since Calvin was adopted from the Range, at the age of three. (Click HERE.)

Calvin, now age 16, and Chero, age 19, have come together, as a duo, to HH Farm.

Back to the place and people who originally rescued them.

The Troyers.

And now, we have decided to take one into our fold, with Troyer’s blessing.

However, upon meeting Calvin…I connected.

I hadn’t even gotten out of the truck when I saw him.

He was like a mature Nauish, our young, black Mustang beauty.

Could it be the full moon playing tricks with my heart?

I feel like a teenage girl at the Prom, with the wrong date.

Pining for the boy at the next table over.

Upon meeting Chero, I loved him too.

Lucky for me, Rustic Russ understands my dilemma.

Perhaps we take them both and keep them together forever.

As a team.

However, only one will become my horse.

That special equine/human relationship that is unbreakable. Undeniable.

Until tomorrow ~ still deciding ~ God willing,

Woodswoman