Winter Is Coming

Monday January 23 2012

It's about time!

We only got an inch, and it started to disappear by midday, but it's the first snowfall this season down here below the Owyhee mountains.

Now we can really say Winter is Coming. (Game of Thrones, anyone?)

Down and Dirty

Saturday January 21 2012

The best thing about the 12 straight hours of rain we had, besides the great quenching of this dry, thirsty winter desert?

The canyon became a giant dirt bathtub for the horses. Our soil has a lot of clay in it, so it sticks GOOD to horses. The gray ones especially went to town.
[slide show here]


I had a little trouble seeing where the horse ended and the desert began.
[slide show here]


I really had trouble telling them apart.


It makes for very happy horses.

SNORT!

Sunday January 15 2012

Rhett's one of the best rides, but he's a flighty horse. A bit suspicious. Always on guard. You don't just slap a saddle on his back, and you don't make sudden movements around him. You don't hug him and you certainly don't give him a kiss, and when he gets to snorting, watch out.

A loud and long SNOOORRRTTT! means you've done something that's put him on guard. Or he's spied something unsavory. Or there's just something in the air.

If he SNORT!s loud and short with every breath, you know it's probably just not a good day to ride anybody.

Like today, when the cold wind blew down from the mountains, and mysterious clouds of white dust whirled across the draw, something spooky was maybe up the canyon, and Rhett infected the whole Owyhee herd with his presentiments.

[slide show here]

Takin' You Down

Saturday January 14 2012

I'm Takin' You Down! says Mac.


I'll Get You! says Jose.


I'm Takin' You Down! says Mac.






I'll Get You! says Jose.



I'm Takin' You Down! says Mac.



I'll Get You! says Jose.



I'm Takin' You Down! says Mac.






That's Right, I Said Down! says Mac.






I win! crows Mac.


I'll Get You! says Jose.

Owyhee Sensei

Equine Martial Arts Master Jose (the very same Owyhee Social Director Jose) teaches his apt and eager apprentices well.

He begins with the basic play of head wrestling and baring teeth. Jose works with his students, showing them the techniques, then has them practice on each other.

Jose working with Krusty [slide show]


and Mac.


Krusty and Batman practicing [slide show]


Batman and Tex perfect their innovative head wrestling with a stick.

Owyhee Signage

Friday January 6 2011

You gotta love some of the Owyhee signs. One can really express oneself with signs.

The top sign was likely put up by someone who's not particularly fond of government workers.

But wait! More was added to it later.


The road is even more closed to a certain family and companions, and they are specifically not allowed to poach or steal. Hmmm.

Then there's the Warning sign,


which, if you can't read it for all the bullet holes, says,

"THIS ROAD CROSSES
US AIR FORCE BOMBING RANGE
FOR THE NEXT 12 MILES
OBJECTS MAY FALL FROM AIRCRAFT"

Guess it's best to wear your riding helmet as you drive these twelve miles, if you have one.

Gotta love Owyhee!

Gallop!

January 4 2011

Because you can!

[slide show here]