Random photo of the day - 2018 - post yours!

[MyBuddy]

Ah, man, we had a great time riding yesterday ! There were just three of us riding together. And we only saw four other horses there. I was really surprised. I thought the park would be packed on such a beautiful day. We were out for about 3 hours and didn't even do all the trails. It was my kind of riding because there were no bugs and everything was not grown over yet so we were able to go off the beaten path and do a little trailblazing of our own! Which is always fun!

When the river gets high and floods the lowlands, it leaves behind so much stuff! We were high on the trail looking down at that area when I said, "let's go down there and take a look!" LOL The others were in agreement and we meander our way down and it was really interesting. Downed trees, uprooted trees laying on their side with the root ball over our head, trees that had caught debris including a chair, a 55 gallon plastic drum and what looked like a child's slide! The ground was sandy just like my property and lots of rocks. We were right on level with the river and took a toe dip in. Beautiful area! My friend kept saying, "When you look at all this you can hardly tell you're in Illinois LOL I said, "yeah I guess so." Lots and lots of trees and up and down trails. And of course the river is beautiful. It was an awesome day.



Debris. Notice the chair.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Ah, man, we had a great time riding yesterday ! There were just three of us riding together. And we only saw four other horses there. I was really surprised. I thought the park would be packed on such a beautiful day. We were out for about 3 hours and didn't even do all the trails. It was my kind of riding because there were no bugs and everything was not grown over yet so we were able to go off the beaten path and do a little trailblazing of our own! Which is always fun!

When the river gets high and floods the lowlands, it leaves behind so much stuff! We were high on the trail looking down at that area when I said, "let's go down there and take a look!" LOL The others were in agreement and we meander our way down and it was really interesting. Downed trees, uprooted trees laying on their side with the root ball over our head, trees that had caught debris including a chair, a 55 gallon plastic drum and what looked like a child's slide! The ground was sandy just like my property and lots of rocks. We were right on level with the river and took a toe dip in. Beautiful area! My friend kept saying, "When you look at all this you can hardly tell you're in Illinois LOL I said, "yeah I guess so." Lots and lots of trees and up and down trails. And of course the river is beautiful. It was an awesome day.

View attachment 83143 View attachment 83144

Debris. Notice the chair.
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Can I please come riding with you I've looked around here but the only lessons are ring lessons and trail riding is what I like. Any trails rides around here are with large groups and on the same trail the horse has done 100 times before so they just seem blase about it.

Someone offered to take a 'family picture' of us with Moose while we were out this weekend (we took Rubie to the brewery the day we got her so wanted to keep up the tradition!). Moose then promptly spilled an entire beer on the nice folks how 'let' us sit at their table (it's not hard to find a place to sit when you have a puppy).

Pleased with himself after his beer spill

Look at this amazing picture our trainer took of Rubie during class!! Man I can't wait to start competing with her. I'm on the right side in this picture (her left) and she's looking at her next obstacle before she's ever finished this one.

Who is the second one? Unless it's an optical illusion, I see a small black dog next to one of your twins.

There's a baby Moose laying next to Rubie but he's kind of invisible on those blankets!

 

[Brioddy]

I both loved and found your post humorous. As someone who's ridden nearly their entire lives, I feel your pain. The paid for trail rides are super lame, you basically are just along for the ride on an old horse that is on autopilot because they've done the same route a million times. I know ring riding isn't (nearly) as fun but learning how to properly ride and developing the correct muscles/muscle memory is key if it's something you really want to do. Once you are hooked it becomes a lifestyle and not much of a choice! I've done everything from jumping to barrel racing and my event of choice is endurance racing, basically a very "spirited trail ride"!

 

[LifeofRubie]

I both loved and found your post humorous. As someone who's ridden nearly their entire lives, I feel your pain. The paid for trail rides are super lame, you basically are just along for the ride on an old horse that is on autopilot because they've done the same route a million times. I know ring riding isn't (nearly) as fun but learning how to properly ride and developing the correct muscles/muscle memory is key if it's something you really want to do. Once you are hooked it becomes a lifestyle and not much of a choice! I've done everything from jumping to barrel racing and my event of choice is endurance racing, basically a very "spirited trail ride"!

I've done a lot of riding in past but it was nothing formal nor for competition; just for the sheer joy of it! My Grandparents had horses that I'd ride around their land bareback or Western; I actually bought an English saddle and bridle at one point because I thought that was fancier looking . There were some horses down the road from my parents that we'd go ride sometimes. My Grandparents had some friends with Peruvian Paso's and what a pleasure they were! Then a lady I rented an apartment from had too many horses to ride at once so she was more than happy to have folks come along on trails and work her horses - we even got a jump downed tree's a few times!

There are actually a LOT of horses in the Chicago burbs but it's a very expensive hobby to get into; not that it's not expensive anywhere else! There are fox hunt clubs around here that I think would be super interesting to ride with but no clue how to get involved with that. I LOVE watching the equestrians during the summer Olympics. I think that's why I'm pulled toward agility with Rubie

 

[Brioddy]

A friend of mine I grew up riding horses with currently lives in Chicago and she sold her horse before moving because of the price to keep one and lack of outdoor space. She is in radio and that's why she moved, it was a huge thing for her to give up horses even if just temporarily while she lives in the big city. They are definitely expensive no matter where you live and your neighbor needing some extra riding time done on hers is the ideal situation LOL no horse for me right now but Brinks is tall enough I suppose I could teach him to jump some things

 

[Brioddy]

it's such a nice day out that I have the windows open and the porch door, so the dogs can come and go as they please. Well I went around the property collecting fresh flowers for my vase, when I came back I knew Brinks did something he wasn't supposed to because Odyssey looked guilty for him as she lay on the couch. I called him and whistled from inside, after a minute I hear whining and crying from him outside and he's not coming in. Naturally I was a little worried, well I walked out to see what the fuss was about and there's Brinks on the wrong side of the fence. He was crying because he was trying to be a good boy and come when called, but couldn't because he was a bad boy and went up the mountain, and OUT of the fence area. I couldn't be too mad.

 

[Viemarangelrock]

Got to love this on your doorstep...

 

[Viemarangelrock]

Loving this sunshine.

 

[Brioddy]

Some sunshine lovin here too! It's a hard life...

 

[Cscallan]

It’s been nice the last few days here too

 

[MyBuddy]

Yep, a gorgeous day here too. Finished with the horses and outdoor chores and also playing ball with the dogs and I can't seem to convince Buddy that the day is done!

Come on, Bud! Can you see him??


Here, I'll zoom in a bit.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

The boy is a total water dog.


I was trying to get lab work done and Bogie was constantly underfoot so I told him to go lay down. Silly boy made himself comfortable in our back exam room.

 

[GennyB]

The dogs like to spend time with me when I'm in my office. They've gotton pretty good at settling down while I get some work done. I got tired of dragging beds around so I bought them a bed for my office.
Apparently Rumor thought it was for her ear.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Seems like lots of beautiful weather all around! We spent a lot of time outside yesterday.

Norris got home and went inside to change while I was out with the pooches. He came out the back door in a different outfit and Rubie didn't recognize him at first so got all gaurdy. So eager to get that stupid silt fence taken gone and sod put down. Carrying the puppy over it 20 times a day is getting old!

We've been meeting some of the neighbors since the weather turned nice. I was out with Rubie the other day and our neighbor to the back came up to the fence and we started chatting. He asked if I was the daughter of the people who bought the house... Guess all those years of SPF and anti-aging stuff works

 

[MyBuddy]

He asked if I was the daughter of the people who bought the house... Guess all those years of SPF

I think there's so many young people still living with parents in this day and age that to see someone so young actually build a house was a surprise!

 

[GOD'S GRACE]

@MyBuddy
"Get a job", comes to mind!

 

[MyBuddy]

Norris got home and went inside to change while I was out with the pooches. He came out the back door in a different outfit and Rubie didn't recognize him at first so got all gaurdy.

Reminds me of Buddy, way back in 2009!
LOL! I don't think this passes the 'weirdly dressed stranger' test!

 

[Rits]

@MyBuddy
"Get a job", comes to mind!

If only it were so simple...

The housing market is not good for first time buyers. Houses are sold before they are listed. Houses are getting 20 offers in the first week. Houses are selling for 20k above asking price and the asking price is already high to begin with for a decent house that won't put you under trying to fix it up to be liveable. Young adults come out in major debt due to having to go to school just to "get a job." I wish having two jobs between my husband and I was all it took to not be graciously taking my parents help in having a roof over our heads. Times have changed since when my parents bought their first house in their 20s on only one income and I'm thankful that my parents don't judge us for it.

 

[blacknrust]

If only it were so simple...

The housing market is not good for first time buyers. Houses are sold before they are listed. Houses are getting 20 offers in the first week. Houses are selling for 20k above asking price and the asking price is already high to begin with for a decent house that won't put you under trying to fix it up to be liveable. Young adults come out in major debt due to having to go to school just to "get a job." I wish having two jobs between my husband and I was all it took to not be graciously taking my parents help in having a roof over our heads. Times have changed since when my parents bought their first house in their 20s on only one income and I'm thankful that my parents don't judge us for it.

Everything you said is so true.
I tell my kids all the time that when they finish college to come live at home and pay off their student loans and save what they can.

 

[MyBuddy]

Yea, housing is making a comeback after the 2008 crash when you couldn't sell a thing! Now it seems it's a seller's market. And student loans are a killer. Thank God we never had that debt. I'm hearing more and more about ways to get that cut down though.