first of all–it rained! REAL rain, as demonstrated by the shed: 3 mares deep and no squealing. REAL rain. (and look at the size of 2 yr old Rory in front..)

I am a better and happier person when I ride, and riding I have been! My good ole LD buddy Blaze, approximately 20 this year, has stepped back up to into his riding Renegades (he’s going great in Vipers as well as Originals, by the way). He’s done about 15 steady miles in the last 8 days after months off due to no fault of his own, and he’s been peppier after each ride.

you’re never too old to stare down sticks in the trail

I also got both my greenies out this past weekend, getting in a solid round pen session with Apache and great arena ride with Sheza.

out and about with Apache

¿carrots?

Sheza time..she used to fit in the tack room better

yeeep, that’s my girl!

Expressing herself 😉 

hey look, some brain! 

pretty pretty brain

k I’ll ride that. And block investigation, ho hum

*grin*

recently Rory mysteriously tore up her face, coz she’s RC like that..and likes corn

and our bantam hens grew up and went to work! 

Meanwhile, the donations for our Valley Fire drive have been pouring in. This is less than half of what I’ll end up with, and a truck load has already been delivered to our Lake County friends from our coastal end!

Thank you so much everyone for your efforts, we pulled together tack from Nevada to Sacramento to Eureka and riders from across the country have also mailed boxes of tack and kindly donated gift certificates. This is such a great display of heart by the horse community near and far and I am proud to know you all.

Keep riding, keep grinning, keep dreaming everyone!

Hey all,

Since my last post, northern California has continued to be eaten up by wildfires. There is at this moment an 800+ acre fire about 5 miles as the crow flies from my house, but it’s weirdly become the norm this summer and my focus has turned to those directly in the path and already devastated by the Valley Fire in Lake County.

view from our driveway from just one of the multiple fires close by this year

the start of the latest fire, from my driveway

I have organized a tack and equipment drive to benefit these folks. We’re talking anything from hoof picks to saddles, these folks have lost it all. Yes, there are many many other things that many folks will need, but I cannot personally handle and organize all of it SO, this is a *horse tack and equipment* drive only.

CHICO AREA:  There is a donation box at Chico Power Equipment until Sunday, at which point it will be collected.

REDDING AREA: Lisa Smith of Dragonfly Miniatures will be at the Splash Dogs Event at Happy Tails Barkery in Redding this Saturday. She will be the donation point and will get the items on to me.

VIRGINIA CITY 100 (Nevada) attendees: There will be a box at Check in. Fellow great riders will be getting the items back over to me

CUNEO CREEK attendees: Cyd Ross will be collecting donations for us.

All the items (with the possible exception of the Cuneo batch that may be delivered by family), I will be personally responsible for delivering the donations to the folks in need. A fellow AERC member lost her barn and gear in the Valley fire and is our contact and help point for distribution.

Please spread the word as appropriate and thank you!