Storm Damage

We've been plagued with storm this week.

Last night we had a doozy roll through.

By the light of day, this is what I saw.

 Straight line winds appeared to have whipped through pasture.

 Broken branch

 This half dead tree didn't fare too well.

This big ash tree seems to have taken the brunt of the wind.

Thank goodness the horses were safely tucked into their stalls.

And this big tulip poplar came down on the trail.

I think I'm ready for Spring to end!

Just Hanging Out

This & That

Just some random shots from around the farm.

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Oyster mushroom

 Great Blue Heron

Stinkhorn fungus

 Watchful eyes

Hey there's another one!

Wood Duck Family

While walking this morning, I encountered a family of Wood ducks, 

mom & 11 ducklings.

When mom saw me, she swam upstream, flapping her wings and making lots of

noise to distract me from her babies.

 Meanwhile, the ducklings quickly swam downstream away from her.

When I didn't follow mom, she courageously swam directly in front of me,

trying to draw me away from the babies.

Wood ducks are normally very shy and fly away long before I can get close.

What a brave mom!

(Note the turtle on the bank too.)

The Old Apple Tree

The apple tree in the pasture is a favorite loafing spot.

Plenty of shade and in the Fall, apples!

The problem is....

this morning, it looked like this.

time for some farm maintenance.

Of course, when we arrived with our tools,

we had helpers.

Tag supervising.

"Now remember, don't cut any more than you have to.

Those apples are delicious"

"This is almost more than I can bear!"

New Friends

At the Cowboy Challenge,

we saw lots of different animals.

 Friendly goat

Curious donkey

1week old baby Friesian

And a duck doing Pilates!

Cowboy Challenge

Yesterday a friend & I competed in a Cowboy Challenge.

It is a timed race taking your horse through various obstacles.

This was a first for Rocky & me and we competed in the pairs competition.

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First, the two riders hold a crepe paper tape between them and trot around the arena.

 

Trotting

Whew! Made it without breaking!

Another obstacle was sidepassing your horse over a log.

Weaving between barrels

 Walking over tires

Going through a noodle curtain.

Going through water

 Next one rider opened a rope gate and the second rode into the box in the pen

and spun the horse 360°.

Here Rocky & I are just finished and leaving the box.

Controlled riding up a hill

Back down the hill between fluttering (spooky) tapes and few other scary things!

There was also a bridge and backing between cones.

We didn't place, but had a great time.  

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Two happy cowgirls.