Friday, June 24, 2011

Nash County Search & Rescue Training

Seven playing Soccer!
On June 5th Lillian had invited me to bring my mules to the Nash County Search & Rescue training class she was holding at her farm. I arrived a little late because I had a long day on Saturday Judging a horses show. I arrived and found a rider for Sadie and we joined right in with the formation work! Then it was on to some protection training. Lillian acted like an attacker and Sadie and I reacted to drive her way from the mule! Some news reporters where there and caught a super photo of this. It ended up as the cover story photo on the local Rocky Mount news paper.After a nice lunch break we stepped things up and started with some obstacle training. We crossed mattresses, between flares, over tarps and all kinds of things. Later in the day we introduce the mules and horses to a giant soccer ball. We got to play with this for a while which was great fun. Everyone got very competitive with it! Sadie was not too sure about the ball and was so funny when she grabbed her rear end and scooted off away from the ball when it ran up behind her! Of course never loosing her rider! At the end of the day I decided I would like to join the group. Lillian paid us the highest compliment by saying "The Mules Stole The Show!"
Seven leads the group through the Flares!
Seven also led the group across the mattresses.

CMA Leatherwood Ride

A great time was had by all for the May 20-22 Leatherwood ride! I got there on Friday and met up with Marilyn and her mule Clyde from Florida. We rode most of the afternoon while others arrived for the ride. Some of the others took short rides as well! That afternoon Tara and Jim showed up, as a surprise, with no mules but their new camper. They had decided at the last minute to come and enjoy Leatherwood and visit with the group! We all had a tour of the new camper! Which was really nice and we began to plot some more trips! We all met for dinner that night at the restaurant and then visited by the creek before turning in for the night!

Saturday we left out with Myself, Marilyn, Larry, Bobby and Jane. Tara and Jim saw us off and took some photos for us! We started out up to the top of Robinson Trail and then to the over look rest area. I got the group on their way and had to head back to the camp because I was not feeling well. They continued on to Cowboy trail and then around to Rawhide. I spend the afternoon napping in my recliner by the creek but still left so badly that I could not make the whole ride.
That evening we had a group dinner and were entertained by the running of the Preakness on the TV's and also a Preakness Party! A few went out that evening for a short trail ride in hopes of catching the sunset. We spent the rest of the evening with a nice camp fire and roasting some of the largest marsh mellows I have ever seen!
Sunday Myself, Marilyn, Jane and her daughter headed out for a short ride. We rode up Ramblin and over to Rawhide. At that point Jane and her daughter headed for home, while Marilyn and I rode the Hogback and Gold digger loop back home a few hours later!
With another great visit and rides at Leatherwood under I belt we all headed home!
Marilyn and Clyde with Shannon and Seven

Group Heading Out!
Shannon and Reuben enjoying the evening fire!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Jennifer and Sadie Join us for a Sunday Ride!

My friend Jennifer joined us one of Jerry's Sunday Ride on May 8th in Pilot! We had a good time and Jennifer enjoyed riding Sadie with the group! I think though that Sadie has had enough by the time we got back!