Teamwork

These two riders are working together to get this cow out of the herd and down to the pen...

Oxen

These little guys almost came home with me yesterday - they were just too cute with their little 'heart' faces....

The funny thing was, Tillie was terrified by them! I was shocked, considering how much cattle work we have done, but little cows, attached together and pulling tires, was very frightening, as far as she was concerned! Now, the draft teams with all their noisy harnesses, pulling big wagons or stone boats, she watched the other penning horses freak out at those, but never batted an eye. Baby carriages, umbrellas, golf carts darting in and around us, and the millions of other crazy things that make up a country fair didn't bother her a bit. But, in Tillie's mind, cows have a certain place - being chased around an arena - anything else is too weird. Horses can be so silly sometimes!

Highs & Lows

After the day I had yesterday, this was the best way to recover - 2nd place in the Novice Division at the team penning at the Windsor Fair!! YEEEEEE HAAAA!!!!!!!

Goodnight, Moon...

This afternoon we said "good-bye" to my horse, Moonie. She was 33 years old. She was a member of my family for 22 years...

First Day of School

Here's an image that will be repeated many times over the next week - children climbing aboard the school bus for the first time since June. (I'm sorry it's a bit blurry - I was collecting hugs & kisses instead of readying the camera!) They were not anxious to be going back to school - but they sure jumped on that bus fast enough!! And when they came home they each reported that they had had a good day, after all.

Last day of summer vacation...

Look at me on my own blog again! My older son wanted to practice using the timer on the camera. Which was just as well since I was holding the horses...and no, they're not really as close to the edge as it looks like they are, although plenty close enough. See how Tillie (big bay horse) is standing all hunched up? She didn't like being there very much! What a good girl to trust me!! What always amazes me, is that every time I ride the horses up there, they spend the first several minutes gazing around - I wonder how much they can take in and what they think of it all...

This is how the boys wanted to spend their last day of summer vacation. We hiked/rode up The Pinnacle, which is near our house. This huge ledge at the top of the mountain provides breathtaking views. We go up there a lot, especially when we have guests because it's a relatively short hike with gorgeous scenery, particularly during fall foliage.

What a bunch of turkeys!

My husband took this shot out of our kitchen window - looking into the horse pasture. He tried to get some clearer photos by going outdoors, but they were much too skittish and flew off into the trees to get away from him....