Come Along for the Ride

We've been talking recently on Horsetales about riding alone. Many find solitude in it while others don't feel safe. For me, I just enjoy riding with other people from a social aspect. When we awoke to sunshine today and I had no plans to haul out to ride, I decided to head down the road alone. I grabbed my camera and with this blog in mind, thought I would share my ride with you.



I grabbed my halter and went down to the pasture. Blue knows he doesn't get chosen too often so he saunters up to me for a back scratching. I liked how the sun was warming his face and took this picture from behind him. I made my way over to Windy, haltered her and tied the lead rope to the halter. Sidled her up to some downed timber and slid on bareback and rode her up to the house for saddling.

With my White Shepherd, Ritz, and St. Bernard, Bo, we headed down our roads. I noticed shortly after we turned this corner after trotting for about 3/4 of a mile, we had lost Bo. He doesn't have the stamina that Ritz does.

The church in the distance was our first destination, about a mile & 1/2 from where I stopped to take this picture.

Approaching the church, there is a small cemetery on the hill. The old rectory behind the cemetery is rented out by the parish.

Mass is still held every Sunday at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. John recently redid the front entrance to this church, putting in the new double doors.

After passing the church, we continued west to the next mile road. Ritz still in the lead.

Corn harvest has been delayed due to the wet weather. Sunshine is forecasted for the next week, so I beet the farmers will be out in full force!

The farmers got most of the soy beans harvested before the rains started, but here is a field that didn't get finished. See the old abandoned homestead in the distance?

Let's stretch our legs a bit! Listen to the hoofbeats.



Years ago, the elderly couple who lived here won the Powerball jackpot. It wasn't a huge pot compared to what some have won. Perhaps $6 million or so. I remember seeing them on the local news and when asked what they were going to do with it, their needs were very simple. It was as if they hadn't grasped what millions meant. I don't recall if they moved to town after their win, but both were in poor health and died within a few years of their new found wealth.

We've traveled a little over 5 miles and have turned toward home.

Our farm is in the distance.

Windy has started to call for her herd.

After 7.5 miles, not too many sweat marks, even though we trotted quite a bit of the way.

Anxious to head back out to pasture.