Trail Ride

I am in high hopes that spring is on its way...but incase it gets cold again we decided to absorb as much of this nice weather as possible! So Me and Tory, and Amy and Dewey (dewey the horse, and shes another University owned Standardbred.), went out on a trail ride. We rode up the access road (connecting the farm to the campus), then walked down the edge of campus, through the Orchard Parking Lot, past the back side of a bunch of dorms, the two commons, and such, and went up the bike trail back to the farm. It took us about 45 minutes to an hour, and we walked the whole way. It was so nice. I think the girls were happy to get out.

A couple brightly clad joggers came up behind us and Tory didnt like it. She has issues with people, dogs, whatever running up at her from behind. These two guys were running at a decent pace and they were dressed in VERY bright colors, reds, yellows, etc. I dunno if it was the color or not, but before that a girl jogged past us and Tory was fine, and then after this brightly clad duo left us, a couple of our professors (oddly enough) jogged past and she was fine yet again. Anyways when these two came up behind us she started doing these little rears and quivering as if she wanted to bolt. I kept her in one spot though it was taking quite a bit. Finally they realized that she didnt like THEM, and they slowed to a walk, and asked If i would like them to walk by, and me thinking OF COURSE are you STUPID? But instead just said if you wouldn't mind. And so they went past at a walk, and one of them said your horse (Dewey) is foaming at the mouth. This of course made us laugh, we said its a good thing and they were on their way.

So that was the excitement of our ride. Got a lot of odd looks from people from campus who obviously had never seen any of us riding the edge of campus. All in all it was great.

We have day old lambs at the farm, they are so cute, all black with little dark blue blankets on them. Just so adorable. Its calving time too. So far we have had 3 male calves!!!! The fourth was born last night, but when we arrived for night check he had been crushed by his mom (she laid on him we determined). He was born between the last milking and nightcheck so we dont really know the exact time he was born, the poor thing. Rudy (the mom) was trying to get him to stand, she kept licking him. This whole working with cows thing is not really suiting me...but I have to do it. I was assigned a dairy heifer named Peaches to work with and train, to show in the Orono Royal the last sat of april. It shall be interesting. I hate how dirty cows are...so peaches will be the cleanest cow EVER! I just cant stand dirty cows, it makes them smell bad, and look disgusting. This one is just under a year old, and has never been worked with so this ought to be interesting. Done for now....Dressage lesson in the afternoon tomorrow.