mule notes, mmxviii-viii-xiii

trail notes, mmxviii-viii-xii

porch notes, mmxviii-viii-xii

a Cooper's hawk stopped by

mule notes, mmxviii-viii-xi

ranch notes, mmxviii-viii-xi

mule notes, mmxviii-viii-ix

I spent about a minute on Cora's back today - first time I've been on her. Look at those ears! :)

I stroked her mane, rubbed her neck, scratched her butt and took this picture, then got off.

I was tempted to try more, but no, no, we're taking this easy. Baby steps.

Bitless and bareback - she's wearing a rope halter and a bareback pad.

(It's likely she's never been ridden without a bunch of tack, but there's no way to know.)

I was going to wait and do this with my instructor present, but I felt like I had to be wholly focused on Cora, you know, not splitting my attention between my instructor and my mule.

It could have ended badly, I guess, but I was wearing my helmet and I had to believe in us.

She is heart-thumpingly wonderful.

mule notes,mmxviii-viii-viii

garden notes, mmxviii-viii-v

mule notes, mmxviii-viii-iv

today's word of the day is trust

mule notes, mmxviii-viii-iii

We startled a bunny. I asked her to step over that big log in the background of the second picture - it's about 18 inches in diameter - no problem. 

mule notes, mmxviii-viii-ii

yup, real

(for the full 'xperience you have to imaginerially add birdsong and blistering heat)

ranch notes, mmxviii-viii-i

Remind me to grab some of those seeds - that's pearl milkweed, a lovely vining plant.

Also, that's Rumor taking a nap before a morning workshop and Cora being all beautiful in one of the round pens. She let me wash her legs with a hose today - not sure she's ever had that done before.

She wasn't super thrilled about it but she behaved.