By Patty Wilber
This past week my family (my mom, dad, brother, sister, son, and daughter-in-law with one on the way) was visiting and while I did manage to ride, and I had a break through with Five (he is relaxing and and is finally willing to lope both ways in the arena!) what I really want to highlight is our trip to Union County in the northeast corner of New Mexico.
By Patty Wilber
Lucy (Qwhizenart, bred by Connie Hunter) has been a fabulous horse to own and train, and Heidi has been a really good student, so I made a deal with Heidi. She could borrow Lucy (she is officially co-owner so she can show) and I would buy just ONE more young horse to start and show (Gette–2024 we will hit the show trail!)
By Patty Wilber
Last weekend was the first show for Colleen and Luna, and for Beauty. Beauty and Luna both prefer a predictable routine, so we knew going to the show would not be a simple day for them.
By Patty Wilber
I finished my 20 radiation treatments on Wednesday! My photon-fried skin should start feeling better in a few more days. The electron bombarded site seems less upset. The radiation folks were really nice, but I am not going to miss laying on my back, perfectly still, with my arms above my head in a rather uncomfortable and vulnerable pose wondering if the machine was going to manage to do its thing or not, before my arms are numb. The machine is a bit finicky and had three bad days during my 20 day treatment regime, so not that great a record! One day, I got no treatment and the other two required me to come back to town to get it all done. Sigh.
By Patty Wilber
I have a six year old gelding, named Five, that came in as a retrain about seven weeks ago. He was said to have come off a feedlot and while he was demonstrated at a walk, trot, and lope, he had dumped one person and been given a failing grade as a barrel horse.
By Patty Wilber
We got up in the dark to drive to the Taos Junction Bridge to meet our party (some of the same people we worked trails with over Memorial Day in the Pecos Wilderness) for a day of rafting the Rio Grande through the Taos Box section. We took a day off from equines, because, hey, rafting Taos Box is considered one of the 20 best raft trips in the country, according to Trip Advisor!
By Patty Wilber
The Pecos Chapter of the Back Country Horseman camped at the Panchuela Administrative site and rode out from there to work on Windsor Trail 254, Windsor Ridge (271) and Cave Creek (288). Kevin, on foot, (yes, we are happy to have members that walk instead of ride!) worked on his own on the trail to Mora Flats (241?) and Dockweiler (259).
By Patty Wilber
I like to ride in the back country and I like to pack, so I need horses that will pony. In truth, I guess I don’t actually love packing, but it is useful to have horses that will carry a load for Back Country Horsemen projects and for hunting trips. Also, I am proud of my box hitch ability.
By Patty Wilber
On Mother’s Day, Jim, Richard and me did a a little 13 mile round-trip jaunt in the Sandia Mountains, almost to South Peak, for Back Country Horsemen. We transported some of the water (there are no good water sources up there–the one spring is barely running) to be used by a Volunteers for the Outdoors crew that will be camping and working on the trails.
By Patty Wilber
My last hurrah with Rip (at the NM Buckskin/NM Appaloosa show) was fun! (He has been for sale, and he did get sold. He will be moving east as soon as shipping is arranged.) Rip is a registered Appaloosa, but he is grulla in color with no spots, so he could be registered in the American Buckskin Registry Association, as well. Grulla is a black dun. The dun factor gene diluted his black to a blue-gray color with black points, and in the sunlight, his coat has a beautiful silvery sheen.
