Waiting For Spring

At the end of last week, off and on, for three days it looked like the Arctic around here, with snow and 50mph winds. Then it warmed up, rained a little, and then over the weekend we received this beautiful snow that I got some pictures of today. This was the first time that I've worked with a horse for two weeks. The weather had me staying close to the fireplace. The wind was the worst part.





Our birdhouse/mailbox combo.



Looking east into Idaho.


 

Looking west over the Palouse with Steptoe Butte in the distance.

  



This is our house and barn.



Practicing, Getting Ready for Spring

Riding one while leading the other gives all of use a chance to get out. For awhile now I have been experimenting trying to find the best way to handle the horses while in a camp setting. In the past I've picketed both horses with a single hobble on the left front foot, attacked to a 30 foot rope that is in turn fastened to a stake driven into the ground.

I've tried both horses double hobbled, also one picketed with the other one loose. I've also tried varies kinds of rope on the picket.

This is what I think I've learned so far. Keep the dominate horse picked, and the other one will not run off too far, but put a double hobble on the loose horse and he stays close enough that the picketed horse reminds quiet. Stiff rope gets tangled less often around feet.

I think that for awhile the training will follow the pattern of today. Saddle one horse to ride, put the pack saddle on the other one. Load on a folding chair, the picket equipment, take along binoculars, maybe something to read. Ride for an hour or two then find a spot to settle down. The more time they spend out picketed, and hobbled the better we will all get at it. This also helps me get more comfortable with the whole program.




Some day I hope I can feel confident enough to leave them like this through  night. If we ride into Hells Canyon there may not be any tree to put a high line on.

 

Try to Stay Out of the Mud

The weather is warming, which means that the ground is thawing. In the last couple of days I have been riding on some abandon railroad grades. Other than a puddle now and then the solid footing is much preferred by the horses.

The dogs find birds along the way, which they enjoy. I try to walk about half the time. I need the exercise more then the dogs, and horses do.









This is part of the "John Wayne" trail. It starts in the western side of the state then ends 12 miles north of where I live. We covered just the eastern most three miles yesterday. It is part of the state park system. I think that I read some where that it is 145 miles long. I know that it goes over the Cascade Mountains, but of course snow has it closed in winter. During the rest of the year many of  the tunnels are closed. I will find out more later. 





This was taken today on a piece of old railroad bed closer to home from a different horse obviously.



You can see that the weather was beautiful; clear, little wind, with the temp. in the low to mid 40's.