Good Friday at the Barn

Mata Hari was named after a WWI spy because she was always sneaking around her pasture and peaking out from behind trees as a baby.  She still likes to tuck her head in-between things like she can actually hide like that!

It was chilly cold today but Madison and I headed out to the barn to ride.  Our plan had been for me to watch her use her new cross country jumps but it rained ALL day yesterday and it was way too wet out. We ended up just walking for about an hour but it was up and down hills and exploring some new areas of the farm.



We found a path that led across a creek from what we thought was the far south west pasture but actually led to an even more southernly pasture.  It was actually drier than the northern pastures even though it was flatter...must be sandier soil.  From there we went through the gate shown above into a path that led past some ponds.

As I followed along on foot, Madison pointed out all the turnips!



I guess they've been planted for the deer but there sure are a lot still out there!



Earlier, these geese had spooked Mata Hari a little (but not the teenage boys that were on their dirt bikes - silly horse!) but up closer, she found them much more interesting.





We quickly ran out of trail because it was mostly under water so we had to turn back.  We stopped to visit the new horses in the lower barn.  This barn will soon be the indoor arena and these stalls will be moved outside into a shed row along one wall.



While we were in here, Madison demonstrated something new she had taught Mata Hari.




After that demonstration, it was time to head back to the barn.

The day had turned mostly sunny and we were totally enjoying being outside, even if all we did was walk.



Some of the open (not pregnant) mares came down to visit us as we headed back.






Sometimes we take this road back up to the barn.




That road takes us up past Mata Hari's pasture and her pasture pals. Here they are standing out in the sun waiting for her return.  



But today we chose this one.



On the way up we stopped to chat with some boys.  Mata Hari doesn't like this one.  I don't know why, he's quite handsome!



She liked this one better.  



And so ended our Good Friday walk around the farm!  Unfortunately, it wasn't tiring enough to keep Mata Hari from creating a bunch of "hoopla" this afternoon.  She jumped out of her pasture - clearing a 5 foot gate.  And taught her gelding friend how to do it too.  Sadly, he didn't quite make it and tumbled back into the mud.  

Schooling Cross Country - the home made way!

Earlier this week Madison and Mitchell went out to the barn to ride Mata Hari and ended up creating a small cross country course in the north west hay field with some odds and ends they collected in various junk piles.

They started with hay bales and this old plastic window topped with a "snake" hose.



Then they found this old wooden spool and a big cast iron bell.



Some landscape timbers and old tires got lugged up the hill in the gator and became an odd but fun jump.



A bunch of old PVC pipes worked out well for some trot poles.


Then last but not least, the real creativity came out with these leaky water troughs filled with old hay.



Dan and Renee were pretty impressed with the creativity and now Dan is committed to building a "real" cross country course at some point in the future!  They have the perfect property for it so hopefully they can do it up right and even make some money off of it!

Teaching Boyfriend to Ride

Another Baby!

Welcome to the world Stevie (as in Stevie Nicks)!  Born 3/10/16 just before midnight.



About 38 hours after she was born, we were at the barn to help take her outside with her momma for her very first time.  She's a big baby but she figured out those long legs pretty quickly and was dancing around having fun in the sun!

Just another day at the barn

Madison has been riding Mata Hari pretty hard over hill and over dale the past few days so today was a "break" day.  We were just there to check on her and take a little walk with her to show her the sights around this cool new barn.

Of course, OUR first stop was to see baby Piper who was taking a break from romping around with Momma.

It didn't take long for her to get up and start dancing around enough that it was hard to catch a picture!


After getting Mata Hari and giving her a good grooming, we went for a walk around the front of the property which includes a big circle drive around the front paddock.

It was snowing lightly, no wind, and while cloudy, was a really pretty afternoon.



This pretty pair caused quite a stir with the yearling boys!  They were hilarious trying to out maneuver each other for a better look.



As we came around the corner along the back side of their paddock, they all gathered to watch.



And then all the sudden we had snorting and blowing and OH MY GOSH something is NOT right over there!!



Apparently iridescent blue metal horses are VERY scary!!



Me walking over to it and knocking on it a few times got us past but Mata Hari was still not 100% sure it was okay.



Then we got to the geldings...needless to say, they also fell in love.  The black one, Ricky, kept shoving the chestnut out of the way, it was so funny!




They were sad to the girls move on.



Last stop was to see Piper with Mata Hari. She was back up playing and Mata Hari was spellbound watching her.  And then Momma got a little annoyed at her interest and took Piper to the other end of their paddock behind the hot walker to keep her safe.



Just another day at the barn!

Sunset Hack at Reign Creek Farm

Some how I managed to get the pictures on this page in reverse order...too many to try to fix!

This is the sunset at Reign Creek Farm tonight just as Madison finished her ride with Mata Hari.



This was looking over the hill on the way back up to the barn.


The Princess Pony


The duo


This is overlooking the pasture that Mata Hari will move to later this spring or early summer.  It has a nice hill to the right of this picture looking north.


They did a slow hack around this pasture.


This is looking up the hill.








This was heading into the pasture.



One of the several pond around the property.


Overlooking one of the preggo mare's pastures towards the back of the property.


Heading down the drive to the arena from the stall barn.


Riding past Mata Hari's pasture pal.


Going past the pregnant mares.



Heading out of the barn.


In the stall barn grooming


Outside the front of the barn overlooking the gelding paddock


Mata Hari's current pasture and her pal, the saddlebred.


Mata Hari in her pasture with the warm running water.


The owner's adorable old barn dog.