The Horse Scene // Park Meadow

Last summer after camp ended but before I moved home, a girlfriend and I went riding in the Three Sisters Wilderness area. We found the amazing Park Meadow, and spent some time galloping and bucking through the tall grass and wading through the perfect-picture-like brook.

I had never posted the pictures. So Beth -- here you go. Pirate away. ;)

I could have put this in my Ode to Oregon post:

I really could use a ride like this again. It's been pouring rain for the last two weeks and I've been super-busy and a little stressed with getting the last of the camp horses farmed out. As of tonight, I'm down to two horses (from an original 37) to find homes for. Getting the horses tuned back up and then shown to people has been taking up a lot of my time, plus I've been searching for a third lesson horse to keep up with my lesson demands. I even have been tuning up and showing two additional horses for a friend, and between teaching, riding, and showing, I've been a busy girl!

The perfect horse is hard to come by, but I recently bought a close model:

I now (finally!!) legally own "the Dude", the horse the I've had a love affair with since the first time. He is getting some trail miles under his belt this summer with a friend, but I'm looking forward to getting him back in the fall. With his gentle, quiet nature, he will be our family horse -- for Nick, Lilah, and anyone else who wants to ride. :)

I also now legally own this guy:

His owner's husband died of cancer recently. He had been diagnosed at the same time as Nick, and we grew close. I had told her if there was anything I could do to help ... and now I own her very nice , sweet-natured 15 year-old thoroughbred gelding with soundness issues. And I need to find him a loving home just as fast.

Nick should not trust me -- I left last weekend to go to Sisters, and came home owning two new horses.

Yes, the horse scene has been stressing me out lately but it is a labor of love and the rewards are great. Including this one, born just a week ago at the barn:

Of course we all missed the birth. This is Momma's first baby, and she's a great mom!