horse days

cutie pie with bunnies

I got way too much sun Saturday. I went to Horse Days, a biennial event that Jim, owner of the farm where I hang with horses, puts on at the locally owned feed and seed, Mize. There are two Mize locations, one in downtown Johnson City, close to home, and the other out in Gray, not too far from the Fossil Site, and that is where Horse Days was. Supposed to be overcast most of the day, so I didn't bring a hat.  Jim invited me to previous Horse Days to help out, but I've always declined, looked at those Saturdays off as another day to sleep in late. But this time, I came to help out.

And sleeping late? I have memories of that. Roxy wakes me up around 6:30 every morning. I put her off until, oh, maybe 7:10 and then let her outside. She's getting me into that early-morning mode which surely will be helpful when baby arrives.

Jessie bobs for apples

Horse Days has a clown, horseback rides, face painting, bobbing for apples, and a petting zoo with Wilbur the calf, Chiquita the lamb, and a goat with no name. There were bunnies, too. Almost forgot that Trap, father of my Roxy, displayed his frisbee catching skills as well. My job, for much of the day, was being Trap's keeper. Not such a bad job, though there were dicey moments when we thought he might break pottery or get aggressive with other dogs.

Jessie and Joelle ahorseback

Mostly to socialized with Laura and all the other equestrian types. Also answered a few questions about the summer program that their non-profit org is having beginning in June. Little Dudes Ranch Project meets on Thursdays from 12-5 throughout the summer and is free. Kids of all ages learn horsemanship, gardening, animal husbandry, and farm chores. I just wish I could help out during the summer, but I have work. Wah. So maybe I'll take a few days of annual leave just to be involved with that.

another cutie pie, Jim, & Jewells

Whew, never enough horsey activities for me. Horses, horses, horses. One of the highlights was seeing all the children's faces light up at the sight of the horses.  From toddlers to teenagers, they lined up and waited in the sun for twenty or thirty minutes at a time to have their chance to go around the parking lot on Biscuit or Jewells.

Comments

[JC]

I've been through the desert on a goat with no name. Well, OK, not really.

Cool to see the kiddos faces light up at the horses! People and horses have a special bond.

[Iris]

That horse day sounds fun - I can't remember the last time I was on a horse, and I had such good intentions when we moved to 'the country'... No shortage of horses around here, but somehow I'm always either pregnant or working full-time.

And your comment about having memories of sleeping in made me laugh. Bean gets up at 5.15 every morning at the moment. By lunch-time I'm ready to crawl back to bed... Days are very very long these days! ;-)

[Anne]

Kids just seem to love the big beasties, don't they? A little one (maybe 3-ish) walked right up to big Sam last weekend at the race, turned to her mum and said "I ride DAT horse." No, sweetie, says the mum - that's not your horse to ride. Stamping of the small foot ensued, with another statement "NO! I ride DAT horse!". She had to be content with a bit of a pat and a scratch before her mum dragged her off kicking and screaming. :)

[JC]

OK, I S you not - The very weekend after I left this comment, America was playing at a festival about 15 miles down the road from here, which I had no idea of when I left that comment. Weird!