Catch That Fall

Gary Finney, my neighbor and classmate, encouraged me to ride through his back fields yesterday.

That route had not been my first intention, but Bullet wanted to accompany Lily and me down South Center Valley Road.

Bullet is Gary's Fox Terrier, and Bullet likes to wander.

He spends most of his time on a chain attached to his doghouse, mainly because people often pick the little guy up as he's out trotting down the road, and then they take him places---like the Bonner Mall.

Gary has had to go retrieve him a time or two over the years. 

So, when Bullet joined us on the road, I rode up to where Gary was working in hopes that he would catch his dog and tie him up while we moved on our way.

Bullet would have nothing to do with being caught.  So, we worked a ruse on him.

Gary walked with me out to get his mail, as did Bullet. 

When Bullet headed north on the road, Gary said, "Why don't you just ride through my back field."  

"Good idea," I said, knowing it would take a minute or two before Bullet turned around and saw that Lily and I were not following. 

The suggestion turned out to be a great idea, as I'd never been in the fields behind Gary's home. 

Wide open expanse of farm fields with mountains and trees and gorgeous clouds---that was the scene yesterday.  

I snapped a few photos while trying to calm Lily.  She had left the Lovestead a bit unsettled---uncharacteristic of her.  And, as we moved further away, the whinnying started and continued loudly.  

That's very uncharacteristic of Lily.  Something had her mind in other places yesterday, but we still had a good ride through that new territory.  

When we reached the gate at the north end of the property off Forest Siding Road, I felt unsettled. 

It was shut.

Fortunately, the neighbors across the road were out in their yard.  April came over and opened the gate for me.

I could have done it myself, but Lily's a long ways up there, and not having to get off and then climb back on a whinnying mare was nice. 

As we moved on down the road, she settled down and we enjoyed the rest of our ride on a beautiful but slightly cold day.  I was wishing that I had not removed my third-layer sweatshirt just before taking off.

Once home, Lily went out to pasture.  Bill came home soon after from pheasant hunting.  No birds to bake after yesterday's outing. 

"Good, you're here.  You can help me with Lefty," I said.

Knowing that we have several days of rain ahead, I figured it was best to take full advantage of the nice day.

With Bill home to help, I figured maybe I could get Lefty closer to working with the training cart. 

After he was suited up in his harness, I drove him around a bit and then we tried the poles.  Neither of us really knew what we were doing, and it was obvious Lefty did not appreciate what we were doing.

So, we put the poles away, and I asked Bill to call my sisters in hopes they'd have a few minutes to come over and help.

They did.

By the time, Lefty's harness had come off yesterday, he had gone over to visit our neighbor Geneva and had stopped in the road while I visited with some other neighbors on bikes.  

When my sisters arrived, he pulled the poles around the yard (correctly this time; Bill and I were way off on what we thought we should do with the poles).  

Next came the cart.  

With sisters on either side, holding the hames, and me at the reins, we maneuvered around the yard.  Later, they fastened the hames,  and we had success with that phase.

We did not want to sour Lefty, so we called it a day.  

He seems like a natural, and he is SO patient. 

Maybe next time and before fall ends, someone will be sitting in the cart rather than walking beside it.

Anyway, the brisk autumn day netted some good times with horses and another taste of the gorgeous beauty of this neighborhood---both in people and scenery.  

Happy Sunday.