Adventure Idaho - 2001 (Part - 4 final)

Our final miles coming down out of the Selway -- the sights certainly were beautiful.






Once we arrived back to camp -- we loaded up and we were off to "Rocky Knob Bar" to have hamburgers! We later headed north to Missoula to visit with a friend - remember it was July 4th and people were busy setting off fireworks. Our friend who does packing in for a living gave us a book "BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF AMERICA GUIDEBOOK" -- That's great! Read the instructions after we go!

We then headed on the long trail home which found the skies all lit up with colorful fireworks!

Adventure - Idaho 2001 (Part 3)

In the evenings we would walk up to the trail to sit and look up the slide to see if any elk were moving (we never saw one). Unfortunately we left the bug spray behind -
remember it was suppose to be cool to cold (may need heavy jackets). It was hot every day - actually to hot to cut wood - the guys were to cut wood for the fall hunters - I wonder if one tree counts?









Next, find out where our first stop is.

Adventure - Idaho 2001 (Part 2)

This trip we took Rusty (who had been out west before), Jackson (first trip - we had just picked him up from the trainer a few days before we left), Harriet (first timer) and Ozzie (she was a regular on the hunting team). My husband, I and a neighbor, Dale, headed in the 14 mile trek to the camp site.




Harriet is a short gal but boy is she stout!




Hubby was on the lead horse -




And I brought up the tail end - two newbies - was a bit interesting... I think Jackson, my horse, was so scared that he did everything perfectly.








What a beautiful area and to think that a group of men with a group of horses (some may not know each other) do this in the fall to hunt elk -- Every horse person should do this - you and your horse really get to know one another.

Part 3 to follow -- do we all get out safely? Do we see any elk? Can we walk when we get back to the truck and trailer after riding almost 30 miles?

Adventure - Idaho 2001 (Part 1)

My husband has taken a couple of hunting trips with horses to Idaho. They pack-in and rough it. In 2001, we planned a trip so that I could go and see where they hunt. Our neighbor, Dale, also came - he has also been on hunting trips to the same area. This would be a "just for fun" adventure!

I scrapbooked this adventure years ago - so please click on the picture to enlarge so that you can read the captions. Enjoy!




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Part 2 will follow -

Today The Farrier Came

The farrier (a person who shoes horses) came today. The dictionary isn't completely correct because a farrier does way more than just shoe horses. Being a farrier isn't an easy job -- we at one time tried a few farriers - a good one that works with your horses and your horses cooperate with is hard to find! Therefore, once you find a good one -- hold on to him!

Our farrier is a young guy (maybe not so young any more) - when he first started for us he was single and now he is married and has two special little girls that he always shares pictures of.

I wouldn't say he is a real cowboy but cowboy is defined as "one who tends cattle and/or horses" -- So yes I guess he is a real cowboy! But then when my husband does our horse chores - he could be tending the horses and that makes him a real cowboy? Anyways, the farrier does have a cowboy hat in his truck and he drives a big Dodge diesel - it is dirty from the dirt roads he travels. And he does have horses - in fact one horse is a half-brother to our, Ace. So he could be a real cowboy! But today it was the warmest day of our summer, it reached 90 degrees or more with not much of breeze. The farrier had on shorts with his chaps and his work boots not cowboy boots. You decide - is he a real cowboy? Would have made for interesting pictures...

My pictures are limited for this section because of a lack of a photographer.. I was busy holding horses while the farrier did his work. Ace was a bit anxious and thought farrier was taking too long -- good ole' boy Jack was extremely lazy and almost tipped over twice. I told him there was no excuse for him not to be able to take a "turn" around a barrel at full speed he is obviously still capable. The other two horses, Chili and Rusty, seem to do better but then the breeze died down and the flies got bad.



I went to work this morning and left around break time since the farrier was coming mid-morning. I debated on whether I should just slip on my boots and go (which would be faster) or if I should change into my jeans.



Well good thing I changed into jeans - it was getting pretty warm by the time we were done. Then it was back home to change into those dress clothes and back to work leaving the horse smell and dust behind.

I'll see farrier in another 10-12 weeks when he does the same thing over again. He always shares his "Cowboy Wisdom" - for me to pass on to my hubby. See hubby use to do the horse holding so I think a whole lot of conversation happened also -- Farrier always has "Cowboy Wisdom" for me to relay to my hubby (they are jokes - which I try to remember).

Finally A Beautiful Summer Evening!

Tonight we went for a quick ride - the weather was absolutely perfect. I had the company of the three dogs - if you look very closely you will see all three.





The photographer is on a four-wheeler -- but enjoying the ride as well.

Update

Smoke's date with Big Red must have gone well.... Trainer Gal said we wouldn't hear from her unless something went wrong... So no news is good news!

It sounds like Trainer Gal and sister Steph probably went to University of Minnesota - Crookston about the same time and knew each other. Small world?



This picture was taken in the fall of the year that Smoke was born (he would have been 4 months old) --- Rudy is following close behind.

Checkin' In With Smoke!

When we arrived, Smoke was standing patiently in his stall. This is a big part of his job to be just standing still a good majority of the day. Teaches him patience! Trainer Gal said that they do turn him out into the pasture in the morning. She stated that he does well - he hasn't tried to boss around his pasture partner which surprisingly some new arrivals do.

We were spectators as she showed a little bit of what she does -- some work with tarps (he was scared but she doesn't stop until he stands still) -- he gets the idea!

It was a nice visit with Trainer Gal and we found out that she has ties to our area in more than one way -- what a small world!

Tomorrow Smoke is looking forward to going for a ride with Big Red. He will be ponied behind Big Red and will have no choice but to follow him. It won't be long (maybe tomorrows ride) they will saddle him up and work him that way.

Ol' Smoke recognized our voices as we walked into the barn and he greeted us loudly. I certainly hope he isn't home sick yet - it has only been 4 days.

Taming Smoke!

Or it could also be titled "Smoke's Big Adventure".

Let me introduce Smoke -- he was raised on our place - our first four legged baby! He arrived on May 12, 2006 to a somewhat rainy cold spring day -- it was a day that the local 4-H'ers were gathering for the livestock identification day. So we had lots of visitors (spectators) to see our four-legged bundle of joy!




Smoke's Mom is a buckskin -- in the summer she just shines. She came to us thru a horse auction leaving behind a South Dakota ranch -- she took with her a brand to remind her of her whereabouts although we were never able to track down the owners of the brand. This past spring we sold Cheyenne to a couple who loves buckskins. I think of her often and hope that her new home is being good to her.



Smokes father is quite a stud that resides at my sister, Stephani's, in Southern Minnesota. He is a great all around horse as he rides as well or better than he looks in the pasture!

Smoke celebrated his third birthday this past May so it was time for him to do a little growing up. The first of July we delivered him (not far) but to the neighbors (it was his first experience in a trailer) -- We thought if we separated him from the other horses he would be all ready to concentrate in August when the really BIG adventure began.







First of August it was off for another trailer ride (this one a bit longer) to the trainer! His new digs are nothing fancy but very nice.... Smoke was a bit nervous especially when the car passed the trailer but once we arrived and worked our way into the barn he settled down quite quickly.




There were many horses there -- the trainer gal looks to have her hands busy. We are going to visit on Thursday -- anxious to see how his first week is going. Later in the month we will go and ride Smoke. We will ride a few times to be sure we are comfortable and to be sure that he is ready before we bring him home.

The trainer called the first day he was there since we didn't see her on delivery. She calls Smoke a "champagne" color we maybe should have named him "chardonnay" or "bubbly" or maybe "corkscrew". He is a unique color and very handsome!

Stay tuned to more updates.