June 3, 2015
I was out of town for a few days and the husband managed to keep all the beasts alive. He did report that he “had to chase the ponies across some fields and down the road” on his dirt bike and successfully recovered both ponies with the help of a random stranger. That was on my second day away. I have not asked for details.
So what do I do when I get home? I work on fencing in the rain!
Posted by riderofchaos on June 3, 2015
https://blueridgepony.com/2015/06/03/fencing-in-the-rain/
May 27, 2015
I am headed out of town for a week, on non-horse business. This rarely happens. I am leaving my two ponies home with my non-horse husband. Luckily, I have very easy to take care of ponies and a very easy care routine. His main objective is to make sure they both remain in the field they should be in, check their water and put one cup of feed in each of their pans in the evening. Pretty easy right? Yeah, I hope so.
In preparation for leaving I have topped off the water and filled the hay barrels. They should not need hay, but just incase they need a little extra entertainment while I am gone. I have picked up a fresh bag of feed and topped of the feed barrel. I have extra feed pans waiting by, just incase Simon runs off with one of them and looses it in the field. This does happen more frequently than someone might think. I do not expect the husband to go hunting the field for the missing pan. Although Simon and Poe would both thoroughly enjoy it if he did.
They get bored when they do not get an abundance of attention. Poe will try to break out and hang around the porch spying through the downstairs windows. To make sure the fence was at optimal shocking power, I spent some time Monday clearing growth off of the hot wires and checking the tightness and charge of all of the strands. Simon will find objects to mess with, like the feed pans mentioned above. He will also swing the hay barrels around, banging them into the trees and stand in and knock over the water troth.
I have strongly suggested my husband spend a little time with the ponies. Maybe take a brush into the field and run it over them, talk to them and take them treats on occasion. I have also asked him to try and keep their fly masks on (this will likely be a total fail because they just love to take them off) and not to be afraid to throw some more hay if needed.
I am lucky to have easy keepers at their prime easy care age, who are happy and healthy, but Ill still worry. He is also taking care of my doggy side kick, Daisy. AHHH!
Posted by riderofchaos on May 27, 2015
https://blueridgepony.com/2015/05/27/leaving-the-ponies-home-with-the-husband/
May 26, 2015
Memorial Day Monday I decided to go for a short ride at Slate Lick. the next two weeks are going to be extremely busy so I thought I should get in a ride while I still had time. I was feeling very laid back, and so was Simon, so we walked a good portion of the ride. It was perfect weather and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I plan to give his loop a go in the somewhat near future, and strap the tracker to Daisy, so I can compare my mileage to hers. It should be pretty interesting.
For this ride I parked in the usual field that horse trailers parked. There were two already parked there when I arrived. I headed down the fire road, and took the right hand split to Slate Lick Run, past the closed gate, and the lake and into the woods.
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Nothing special but a very pleasant ride.
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Posted by riderofchaos on May 26, 2015
https://blueridgepony.com/2015/05/26/trail-report-slate-lick-short-loop-230-52515/
May 15, 2015
This week’s half-day-Thursday, ran a little late, and I didn’t get to the trail head until 4pm. I decided to hit Slate Lick area, which is an amazing area that is very popular with excellent trails and creek crossings. With Slate Lick most equestrians pull down the long entrance road to a field on the left where there is ample parking, and generally other horse trailers.
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I did this and then headed down the road, and took the right split, 230 Slate Lick.
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This is well maintained fire road, and cars can still drive down and park closer in just before a closed gate.
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I passed the gate, and a family going fishing, and headed along, over a few creek crossings and to the lake.
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On some previous posts I rode from Turner Run down to Slate Lick. the photos below point to the areas that I came/in at.
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After passing the lake I headed into the woods, and followed the well marked twisty trail over creeks and through the trees. At one point there is a left hand turn, that goes up the hill, veering back, that cuts this loop more than in half. I probably should have taken this turn.
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I saw these cool, fresh mushrooms on this tree.
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This trail eventually winds out, maybe 6 miles along, into a sort of grassy clearing.
Turning left puts you onto a fire road, 240 I believe, and eventually becomes an incredible uphill climb. I kept thinking, geeze, this has got to end soon. Nope, it just kept climbing. Of course there were some great views on the climb, but my goodness, keep on going. This was certainly the least exciting part of the loop.
Eventually there is an open gate, and then a bit of a clearing with a marked trail, 422, on the left.
Right after starting out on 422, the trail splits. the left hand branch is just about as dominant as the right hand, and I am calling it the 422 North since it sits north of the main 422. It is heavily ridden and well established. It winds pleasantly through the woods. I was cantering along part of the trail and saw this little man built shelter. Not the best photo, but it gave me a chuckle. “Did someone find it was too late to make it back before dark?”
Somewhat more than half way along this section of trail another trail meets up with it from the left coming up the hill. This is the split that could have been taken many miles ago. But continuing on, this trail eventually pops back out at the Hog Pen side of the fire road, and right back to the parking area.
Its a pretty good length loop, and I don’t know what I was thinking taking it on a Thursday afternoon. It was a great day for a ride, in the upper 50s and sunny. Ill have to spend some more time at Slate Lick in the coming months. There are so many little trails and places to adventure and explore. And its nice to be on well established and used horse trails.
Posted by riderofchaos on May 15, 2015
https://blueridgepony.com/2015/05/15/trail-report-slate-lick-230593422-north-split-loop-51515/
May 14, 2015
After my ride last night I was putting tack away and snapped off a quick photo. I think I need to tidy up a bit more.
Posted by riderofchaos on May 14, 2015
https://blueridgepony.com/2015/05/14/tack-area/
Blue Ridge Pony 