Fast Rides, Mountain Storms, Young Horses, and Shifty Cows

Okay.... so I haven't written a blog in over a month.... who is suprised?? I'm not...

The date is now July 3rd..... the date on this entry is the day I tried to write it......

I built up a list of all the things I wanted to mention in all those blogs I never actually wrote though... Each is its own seperate and awesome story, and now I know I'll never really be able to write them all here.... just out of pure lazyness... sorry! So.... here is a list.

-The week before last (during which I wrote my last blog) was the Anna Twinney clinic. She trained with Monty Roberts (THE Horse Whisperer)... and now has her own program called "Reach Out To Horses." It was a pretty cool clinic... a bit crunchy for my taste (I may be crunchy in most aspects of my life, but not as much when it comes to horses). For example... they spoke to "the higher self" of a few of the horses, and performed reiki healing... very cool to learn about and watch done... but not something I could really practice in real life.

-We had just two regular riding guests--very awesome! Both were extremely competent riders, so all the rides were fast and fun.

-One of the more exiting moments of that week was when Kate and I were haying in rain, and we drove the big blue monster of a truck into the duck pond. Its breaks are completely shot..... luckily we got it out before anyone saw. :)

-The last day of that week was also exciting. Mel, Richard, and I spent the entire morning walking yearlings down to the big field where they will spend the next 2 years of their lives just living and being horses. It was a difficult task because they are all just broke to halter. After a good 2 hours to move 4 yearlings (it was a long walk... with many frightening trees, rocks, and sagebrush along the way) we got them all in safely. Later on that day we were watching Anna work a young horse in the round pen as a HUGE thunderstorm rolled in... all of a sudden i hear a crash behind me, and its ALL the yearlings we had spent the morning moving. They had broken out and ran back to where they used to live.... and all looked too pleased about it. Kate and Kristen rushed to make sure all the colts (2 & 3 year olds haddn't gotten out).... unfortunately they all had, and were roaming free across the property. A bolt of lightening quickly spoiled our plans to herd them all back. A massive wyoming thunderstorm was upon us. We ran into the shed near the round pen (Anna, wranglers, guests and all) we thought we'd wait it out. Mel then stuck her head in and said something along the lines of "this thing is going to stick around..." and then took off like a shot across the sage towards the lodge (5 minute run?) We (being the wranglers) shared a look and made an instantaneous decision to follow. We took off across the field.... and ended our week in the way most probably should at the Bitterroot.... chasing Mel across an open field in the rain, hail, thunder and lightening of a full blown thunderstorm. We laughed and laughed, and were all completely soaked by the time we reached the river. We scampered over the bridge and to our cabins. Exhilarating.

-Sunday=day off as usual. Drove into Dubois. Picked up groceries for the ranch, and supplies we needed.

-I LEARNED HOW TO KNIT!! (I'm in the middle of knitting a simple black scarf... so far so good. Expect homemade Christmas gifts!!)

-The next week was the team (Linda Tellington Jones TTouch Method) clinic. We started 5 unbroken 4 year olds-- LuLu, Tsodillo, Witu, Lucy, and one unamed bay colt. It was unbelievably awesome! I learned so so much, and really feel like I could take a horse who has essentially never been worked with, start it... and start it well.

-The weather was absolutely beautiful... which we attribute to a dutch woman who drew a turtle in the sand every day (some old legend). I believe in turtle power.

-Over this period of time we also brought up 70 more horses and a bunch of cattle (the roads were finally dry enough).... which meant a lot more pony faces to recognize, and names to learn..... and also meant the wranglers got to go on a few mini cattle drives to get the cows from where the semi dropped them to the pasture they'd live in until the BIG cattle drive in July (which was this week... more on that later). The little drives were always during dinner... but worth it because we got to ride across the bench at sunset..... absolutely stunning.

-The next week was a centered riding clinic we had essentially no part in-- 19 guests kept us quite busy. It was run by a relatively famous horse woman named Donna Snyder Smith. She apparently trains the worlds top endurance riders. At the beginning of the week I got to help Mandy (former staff member, and TTeam trainer) continue work with all the young horses. We eventually backed all of them.... such a feeling of accomplishment. I love them all. They're all very good tempered, and will make excellent riding horses. The arabs they breed here are so unlike any I have ever experienced.... they are fantastic.

-Oh! I forgot to mention another horse in that clinic was a 3yo named Ganges. He is what we call a Quatro (they have 4 parts-- Arabian, Percheron, Andalusian, and Thoroughbred).... an interesting combo.... most are spectacular LOOKING, but incredibly nutty. Ganges is the opposite. He is.... awkward. Endearingly so. He is almost 17hh already, and STILL growing. His ears make him look like a mule. But he has SUCH a great personality... I love him. I'd come back next year just to see him through his REAL team clinic starting.

-I've ridden a lot of horses I haven't yet mentioned.... A quick overview:

Booker: roan paint, 4yo, new to the ranch, I've been the only one to ride him. He's fantastic. A month ago he was deathly afraid of water, hated being ridden in a line, and was not adjustable at all at the trot or canter....I rode him yesterday on a fast ride and he was an absolute ANGEL. He'll be a dude horse for sure. I'll put 1 or 2 more rides on him... and he'll be good to go.

Acacia: grey arabian (we've got lots), 7yo mare, bred here, learning to neckrein. I've ridden her a few times, including our huge cattle drive. She's fantastic. Very smooth, a bit quick, but lovely. I like her a lot, but I know she'll be duded soon too, so it's better to not get fully attached.

Mariah: 6yo grey Andalusian/Perch/Appy cross, bought last year, a ton of issues. I worked her with Donna (centered riding lady) in the round pen one time after work. I almost died a few times, but she made really nice progress. I'm hoping to lead more rides on her soon. (She had a head tossing problem, and a bit of a stopping problem before.... but with luck, my work has paid off a bit)

Singida: HOW COULD I FORGET! 6yo bay arabian gelding, also bred here. Tall, tall, tall... and handsome as HELL. I've never lead a ride on him, but I've followed 2 fast rides this week. They have me on him because he is actually a sale prospect. Some big endurance riders are coming up here in 2 weeks looking for new horses.... and he needs more rides before they try him. He is UNBELIEVABLE. HUGE floaty trot, and SO FAST at the canter. I just rode him this morning and am still realing from one of our canters through the sage. He needs more work because he is still quite spooky, and could potentially be a runaway (at the back of a ride.. he's just fine). Love him.

Shakka: chesnut arab gelding 4/5yo. still learning, but very good for a baby. I lead an intermediate ride on him this afternoon... apart from a few small spooks, and a refusal to cross the bridge (which we later corrected) he was great.

There are probably more.... but I know I've bored most of you by now.

-The BIG cattle drive was this week. We drove 200 head of cattle way up into the forrest. It was a LONG day... but quite the experience. One I wont soon forget.

-The past week has been quite the exciting one (and not just because of the drive). We've had a lot of "incidents" with guests falling, or wranglers falling, or just general insanity. Cows escaping. Elaina (cabin girl) and I spent a long evening chasing cows along the river with Kate and Kristen on the other side. They were Highland cows (that we don't drive because they are too smart and shifty) and they needed to be trailered up to the forest, but escaped. We felt like we were in army bootcamp... scaling stallion fencing (tall and hard), diving under buck and pole fencing, running through mud, scraping ourselves up on underbrush. We got them eventually, and now they are all in the forest.

-This has lost any sense of structure now...... to sum: I'm alive. I'm tired and sore... but I absolutely love my job and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I still find this place incredibly beautiful, and the people are some of the best I've met.

Which reminds me... we have frequented the local Dubois bar--Wiskey Creek Saloon, for 2 of the cabin girls 21st birthdays. Talk about local character. Fantastic. We also atteneded the Dubois rodeo..... which I have promised myself I am barrel racing in before the summer ends (lots of local cowboys ready to lead me a horse.... it'll be GREAT).

Oh... and I happily ate a Highland cow steak for dinner today.. with potatoes and gravy. After spending a week dealing with the tricky bastards... I happily chowed down.

Now I'm going to go play frisbee on the lawn, and then head off to bed.

GOODNIGHT.

This hopefully means I will update more because I wont be so extremely overwhelmed by the thought of writing all this.

OH.... and I lost my cell phone in the middle of the national forest on last weeks picnic ride..... soooo, if you have tried to call me.... its not that im dead, or that i hate you.... it's because a bear has probably eaten it.

Speaking of BEAR.... i saw LOTS last week!! A GRIZZLY and TWO CUBS. unreal. and perhaps too close.... but still, another thing I will never forget.

Ok... no more tangents.

love you all.


....okay so more tangents: I went hammock camping last weekend with Kristen. Beautiful. A bit too cold. worth it. spend my day off lounging in a hammock knitting and reading On The Road.

Converted

I floated across the sage today on an arabian mare named Lullabye. Literally floated. I'm not sure if her hooves even touch the ground when she canters. It's magical. Officially the best trail horses ever. I have no shame... Arabians are great. (well... not the creepy halter arabians.. but Mel's arabians) I may never own one myself... but if I ever needed to canter up a cliff face.... I would pick an Arabian....

Lullabye is also the dam of my favorite yearling colt. This might mean I need to come back next year and the year after to see that little guy through training. If he turns out anything like his mommy.... it will be a great experience.

So yeah... judge me if you will... but these horses rock.

Also, the sun came out today... and the clouds finally lifted to reveal the full view of the now even snowier Wind River Range and Absarokas... just beautiful.

Quick Update

The rest of last week went very well... despite some more not-so-perfect weather.

I went on the picnic ride on Saturday... absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We climbed 1500ft in elevation to a spot atop one of the Absarokas.... with stunning 360 views of both the Wind Rivers and the Absarokas.


SNOW (....in June) on Sunday meant I couldn't drive into Dubois for my day off... but I made the most of it. I baked cookies with Doc, the cook. Read a lot. Went on a nice snowy walk.


I woke up this morning at 5:45am to wrangle the horses (we've been getting up earlier and earlier... because the herd is getting more and more stubborn). I knew it was colder than usual in my unheated cabin... but I was shocked to open my door and find 2 inches of snow on the ground. Most of the snow melted by the morning ride however, and unlike last week... we got two rides in today WITHOUT getting rained (or snowed) on.


I lead the afternoon ride on a palomino gelding named Charlie. He is a complete ass on the ground, but a rockstar leading rides! I had a great time with our two guests (there is also a 7 person clinic going on, but they dont ride), and 2 other wranglers. I'm not sure this job and this place will ever get old. There is a spot on the ride we took today (called "Behind the Bench") where you canter up this massive hill, and as you reach the top the snowy peaks of the Absarokas appear. It is one of the best views I've seen so far... and the fact that it's the reward at the end of an already exhilarating canter makes it that much better!


Now I'm just hanging out in the staff kitchen, waiting for my laundry. Most people have already gone off to bed (9pm... we're really exciting). The air is getting colder by the second, and I wouldn't be shocked if I woke up to snow again tomorrow.


Anyway... that's all I've got for now. Here are some pictures of Sunday's snow (today's was FAR worse).

Never A Dull Moment

"Never a dull moment!" is the unofficial motto of the Bitterroot Ranch, and oh man is it the truth....


On Sunday the new guests arrived (8 of them), and so did the rain... By Monday morning the showers had lightened up enough to allow us to move forward with our morning ride. I was told I would be leading my first ride! (Poll Creek Trail to Upper Gorge which I had learned the day I rode Lightening) I was on Buster, and would be leading the walk/trot ride. After a little bit of drama at guest evaluations (I don't think it would be appropriate to write here, though amusing...), I set off with a guest named Bob. Bob is a retired Air Force pilot, about 5'4" wakes up at 4:30 every morning, and is at the Bitterroot because his wife loves horses and he loves his wife. The ride was going quite well, Bob made it easy to keep up conversation, and was genuinely interested in all I had to say about the local wildlife and geology. Heading into a grove of aspen, Buster tipped me off to the presence of a mule deer by spooking gloriously at it. (Two days prior, he spooked at a BUTTERFLY..... and continued to spook as said beautiful butterfly as it flew around ahead of us on the trail...... so, needless to say, I was expecting such antics) Bob blissfully ignored Busters mild meltdown, and was ecstatic to see a mule deer up close. Luckily enough for Bob... not so luckily for Buster... further down the trail was a massive yearling MOOSE. I spotted the moose before Buster this time, and pointed it out to Bob... who tried unsuccessfully to snap a few pictures of it. Once I told Buster to walk on, he finally saw the moose..... and decided it was one of those rare dun paint horse eating moose found only in Wind River Country. He spun around on his hind legs and tried to take off in the other direction. I am quite used to rollbacks like that from polo, so he didn't unseat me... I just turned him back around and tried to push him forward again. After a short battle of wills (and many more spins backwards), which Bob found quite hysterical/impressive... I won, and Buster walked forward.... eyes bulging, and snorting all the way. I felt a bit bad, because he was actually physically shaking he was so frightened of the moose.... and it was quite clear he was only walking forward because I absolutely insisted he should. This is one of the many reasons I love Buster.... while he might be one of the more irrational horses I've met, he's not completely irrational... and he is also quite honest and trusting. He gives little warnings before he'll pull a big spook or act up at the canter, and the minute I correct him he goes along with it. He's a good boy, and with more rides spent at the lead I'm hoping to break his fear of whimsical insects, herbivores, and every other animate or inanimate object he eyeballs.



Throughout our ride, stormclouds spotted the far horizon, and on our way back from Upper Gorge the clouds rolled in. Bob and I made it back just as the rain began to fall, but the other ride was not so lucky. They rolled in 20 minutes after us, completely and totally soaked in the middle of a true Wyoming thunderstorm. We untacked all the horses as fast as possible, and set off for a nice hot soup lunch.


The rain cleared again for our afternoon ride. I was told I was taking Kate's spot caboosing Mel's ride, because Kate had been on the ride that had gotten drenched in the morning. I was riding Wajir, a very hot little bay arab mare who had thrown Kate the week before. Mel said she wasn't usually like that, so off we went. Wajir was great to start. She has a fantastic floaty trot and an unbelievably smooth canter. Unfortunately, huge dark storm clouds at the south end of the valley followed us as we climbed higher into the Absarokas. Before we knew it we were in the middle of a thunderstorm--rain and hail coming down in buckets, wind whipping across the sage. Mel turned us right around, and we set off for home as fast as possible (...trotting when the footing was good). Wajir remained good natured throughout the ride home, taking the storm in stride. Then we reached the top of the Bench, and Mel suggested that we should trot the rest of the way back to get there faster.

We set off at a trot across the old dirt airplane runway at the top of the bench... pointed towards home, Apache acted up a bit ahead of me... and Wajir took that as a signal to take off. She galloped off for a few strides, and then I pulled on the right rein to turn her into the sagebrush and slow her down..... but unlike Lightening (with whom that had worked perfectly), she decided she wasn't having it. She took off bucking, and I sat two of the biggest bucks I've ever experienced (for a little mare... she gets some HIEGHT) and then she spun back to the right... and in a split second I was flying through the air and landed in the mud-- my head whiplashing into a rock, and Wajir took off at a mad gallop towards home.

Mel pulled up the rest of the horses. The guests on the ride were beyond freaked out. Thunder rumbled overhead, and I sat up... to see Wajir come to a stop at the fence on the other side of the bench. Mel walked over to me with a concerned look... "Well, nothing is broken..." I said, and I stood up. I was completely soaked, and the left side of me was covered in mud. I had scrapes all across my lower back from where I had slid. Once I had convinced Mel that I wasn't seriously injured, she set off to get Wajir. I then had to console the guests, and tell them I really was OK. My ankle was rolled, my lower back scraped, and my head hurt a bit... but I hopped back on Wajir and we continued home.

I took a nice hot shower... and that was when I realized I had a concussion. My head ached, I was dizzy, a bit nauseous, and there were multiple sparkly dots in both of my eyes. My bosses and fellow staff members told me they'd be more than willing to drive me to the hospital in Riverton (1 1/2 hours away), or to have me helevacted out..... comforting. I spent the evening in a daze, with people constantly talking to me or poking me to keep me from falling asleep in the staff kitchen. But in the end, I just had my cabinmate Emma wake me up twice that night... and I woke up! So that was good. and I'm completely fine now.... head, back, ankle... all is well.

The thunderstorms have continued in full force. I had the day off from riding on Tuesday, but hopped right back on today... riding Peanut out to Butch Cassidy's with Richard in the lead....

Thus is life at Bitterroot Ranch. Truely, never a dull moment.