Another lovely day in Paradise with so many horses so little time. Cheryl Ann invited me up to visit her herd again right before school started. I felt very honored to be with her on her last day of summer vacation and share in her wonderful horseflesh. Everyone had their time out of the pens and got a little special attention.
Thank you, Cheryl. I hope your school year is wonderful. Those kids are lucky to have you for a teacher. I'm sure you change many little lives.

The Cove

I had the pleasure of a few days over in Santa Monica with my sister this week. When she has free time and I have free time we like to go to the Farmer's Market or a good movie. We got to do both on Wednesday. If there is an opportunity in your world to see The Cove I highly recommend it. Dolphins in Japan. Dolphin slaughter in Japan. From a man who worked on the Flipper TV series. Your heart will ache for his deeply felt guilt over not understanding the dolphin's condition until he lost his best friend, and how he is dedicating the rest of his life to their safety. Please see it and spread the word.

In other news, today my good buddy back in North Carolina sent me a snapshot of a recent Leatherback hatch on the Outer Banks. When we lived back there in the 90's, I was on a Turtle Patrol team. That meant walking the beach very early in the morning to see if there were turtle tracks and possible nests. Once the nests are identified they are cordoned off with police tape and checked daily to be sure no crabs, birds, or humans have disturbed them. After 60-70 days the nest boils (hatches) and out (up) pour dozens and dozens of hatchlings. It is then the Turtle Patrols' responsibility to safely see that the children crawl toward the ocean. That 50 or 100 yard crawl is very important for the babies' lungs. Thereafter they will need those expanded lungs to take deep breaths for their sea lives.

I wonder when the whole world will understand how important our oceans are to our terrestrial lives.

Cactus Blooms

Sunni has a good lesson.

I got to go up to enjoy Cheryl Ann's beautiful horses again and, boy, did we have a busy day. She boards them uphill from the extremely hot desert we live in, so they enjoy a more reasonable summer.

Cheryl Ann's cousin is an amazing woman who has had horses in her life since she was a kid and has learned how to train and work with them. She's that one in a million horse person who really reads a horse well and they respect her as soon as she enters their space.

The one horse that needs a good teacher is Sunni, a big gelding who worries about the gremlins under every blade of grass, and has a huge sensitivity to his behind. The farrier cannot even get to his back feet.

Cheryl Ann's cousin is taking her time and gaining his confidence in baby steps. In the above picture she is asking him to "stay" and then walking to either side of him and eventually behind him. He has to trust her and in the picture you can see how hard he is concentrating. I just love him. They make a wonderful team. By the end of the 30 minute lesson he was allowing her to walk directly behind without moving his rear away.
Here is Scout with Cheryl Ann. This mare is gorgeous, built like a real honest cow pony who could work all day, and has her own opinion about lessons.

I am so fortunate to have met such a wonderful friend with a stable full of horses, and with a cousin who can interpret a horse's thoughts, and who is willing to share the bounty with me.

Mexican Veranda

Lots of visits and lots of visitors. Some phone calls. Some drama, but not all. A grandson getting his driver's license and one starting high school at a college. Sisters returning.

My good buddy, Cheryl Ann, has been so kind and has invited me to visit her lovely herd again tomorrow. I think all will become clearer and my perspective better after smelling some horse flesh.