Neighborhood Good Stuff

 

It was a day of reconnecting, a day of learning, a day of late fall sunshine, it was a day to meet lucky little Baller and twas a day of a whole lot of other fun stuff. 

Yesterday was just a good day.

When Terra DROVE her dad's jeep into the driveway, I'm pretty sure their arrival marked the first time I had seen her since July. 

Last time I saw my young friend from the neighborhood, she was was taking driver's training while working with Lily for a horse show. 

Now, a few months later, she, at 14, almost 15, has permission to drive as long as an adult accompanies her in the car. She'll be able to drive alone in early 2021. 

Terra came over yesterday to "play with horses." 

 Once I knew she was coming for sure, I asked my sisters to come along too and show Terra some of the fine points of tacking up and of longe-line training. 

After working with CB this fall, my sister Barbara bought me a surcingle and some side reins to continue CB's ground training. 

With a segment of winter and then a whole lot of yard work, I had not yet had time to try them out. 

So, with a plan in mind, I asked my sisters to come over and make sure that the equipment was adjusted to fit CB's needs and, of course, to give Terra some pointers from experts. 

All went very well, except that CB likes to make it a bit difficult where the bit is concerned.  Barbara finally took him into a box stall where he could not back up, where he finally opened his mouth and accepted the bit. 

Then, we all headed to the round pen where both sisters shared an abundance of helpful pointers about what to do when that horse goes round and round in circles.  

There's a whole lot more going on than circles---discipline, responding to cues and muscle building exercises. 

With CB's previous training and a lovely sunny day, it was a total pleasure and a beautiful site watching him perform.

Eventually, Barbara turned the whip and the longe line over to Terra, so she could get the feel and learn the emphasis needed to keep CB performing smoothly.

Both Terra and I learned a lot in those few minutes with my sisters' well-honed guidance. 

Then, they headed on their way and Terra finished saddling Lefty for a short ride around the place. 

Herd bound-itis with horses snorting from the pasture and Lefty thinking he needed to respond meant it wasn't the best of rides, but still she enjoyed herself.

During this time, Terra's older sister Boston rolled into the driveway and, holding her brand new puppy named Baller, joined us. 

Baller's story may not have appeared on here had Boston not seen movement inside a plastic bag in the ditch this past week. 

When Boston looked to see what was inside, she found the adorable little pup with its siblings---both dead. 

A sad and desperate interlude in the life of such innocence.  

Lucky for Baller that whoever dumped the puppies picked a place where love for animals supersedes just about any aspect of life. 

Boston took the little pup to a vet to see that she was okay, and since that day has given her the best tender loving care ever. 

As Boston says, put the puppies in a box someplace where someone will help out----not a plastic bag in a ditch.

Baller is as cute as cute can be, and she is fortunate to be living in the best place ever for virtually any kind of animal.  BTW:  she is so named because Boston plays basketball at Sandpoint High. 

And, while Boston and Terra and their dad are loving and caring for all the animals at their little farm down the road, their mom is treating Covid patients in El Paso. 

As far as I'm concerned, there's no better definition for the word "noble." 

Bill and I enjoy our relationship with this family so much, especially cuz we've watched those little girls grow up from the time they came by several years ago to stand on the fence and hand over chunks of apples to our horses. 

It's a truly a joy as well as gratifying, to watch the kids in the neighborhood grow up into such interesting and amazing young adults. 

And, to have my sisters, whom I can remember as little girls loving their horses and pets, come over yesterday and generously share some of the knowledge they've acquired over decades of working with horses---it doesn't get any better than that. 

Truly good stuff.  

And, the "animal farms" here in the neighborhood are better off because of such loving, caring efforts.

Happy Monday.