Mule riders of Fair Hill

Last fall our friends let me borrow their wonder mule, Elwood, for a couple of rides in Fair Hill. We had perfect weather and the best rides ever!!!!! 

That's Gerry riding the other wonder mule, our own, Doc.

Mules and more

Friends of our were kind enough to let me ride their awesome mule, Elwood on the trails last fall, and as thanks I did a photo composite of each of them. I just adore them and their mules! 

First Web Site, Part III

In the early days of the internet 

I had a traditional web site. 

I really was happy (and am still pleased) with the graphics 

I created for that site, so I thought I'd share some of them with you this week. 

Gerry took this photo of me on our trip to the Grand Canyon. We started out in Las Vegas-it was supposed to be a trip made-up of several couples but everyone else dropped out. (we tried again several years later and it worked out.) No worries, we went and had an amazing time. A couple of days in Vegas, than we drove our rented red convertible down to the Grand Canyon. We did the two day mule ride down to Phantom Ranch and it was on that ride we fell in love with mules. 

I've yet to see a photo that captures the immense majesty of this place. 

When it is cold outside...

When it is cold outside, there is still horse poop to be picked up. 

But Doc gave me a very sweet thank you kiss for my efforts.

My handsome Boys at the Barn

Dallas is so freaking handsome, but even better than his looks is his wonderful temperament, he's saved my ass more than once, he is truly a one of a kind.

Doc and Gerry. Doc is completely devoted to Gerry and I think the feeling is mutual.

Delmarva Coon Hunters Mule Show

First, Coon Hunting is all about riding your mule to hounds and treeing raccoons. Coon hunters traditionally rode mules because mules can jump a fence from a standstill- a handy attribute to have when crossing fenced farmland late at night. There is a group in lower Delaware and they put on a yearly mule show. So on our way back from Assateague Gerry and I swung by to see it. It was held in a lovely setting- lots of trees for shade, and mules, as well as horses. And we saw some lovely Coon Hounds and even got to see them working.

Yes, mules can buck, spin and bolt, but rarely.

Doc and Gerry head on down the trail

 

Doc and Gerry continue to ride and explore the woods and meadows of Fair Hill.

 

Doc and Dallas in the movies!

I had some fun with iMovie over the weekend, enjoy!

Fair Hill Mule Days

Fair Hill Mule Days was the weekend of May 10 this year- in this photo you can see Ed from new Jersey in the foreground and Gerry in the background. It's an informal affair and is the one day a year Doc rides out with his own kind.

We usually enjoy a pot luck dinner around a camp fire with the other mule riders but the forecasted thunderstorms spooked us and so Gerry took me out to an indoor restaurant this year instead. Plus, I'd already been outside in the heat the whole day watching the PAHA Dressage Show, then bathing Dallas, and I was whooped.

"Doc, Caught Stealing" a poem by Fenway Bartholomule

Finally, I get to share the wonderful poem that the famous Fenway Bartholomule wrote about our own beloved Doc. Enjoy! (And be sure to visit Fenway's own blog,  "Brays of Our Lives" - it's delightful reading!)


Doc, Caught Stealing

by Fenway Bartholomule


Doc, my boy, you’ve been caught stealing!
Don’t you know, dear, that we saw
How you made sweet little Pepper
And dear Dallas break the law?


Breaking fences, Doc, is naughty.
Kidnapping, dear, is a crime.
Don’t you think we didn’t see you
Slipping out with friends behind!


Doc, you make your little outings
And you lead your friends astray,
But we love you, handsome fellow,
We adore you anyway.


On the trail you’re bold—intrepid!
Crossing streams and climbing hills,
Just don’t pee where you can see it—
You know frothy urine kills!


In the ring you’re sweet and gentle,
‘cept when it’s been freshly dragged.
Doc, you’re sure the evil drag marks
Wish to grab you by the leg.


That’s the mark of clever critters—
We know deadly things on sight.
Humans mustn’t call us silly!
We’ll save them from any plight.


Doc, you keep your person happy.
Doc, you keep him glad and safe.
If there’s a moment when you’re nervous,
There are hundreds when you’re brave.


Doc, you take your small adventures.
Doc, you lead your friends outside.
Just stay safe, stay out of trouble—
Gerry needs you well, alive.



Visit http://www.braysofourlives.com/ for more fun and poetry!

Doc dressed to kill- flies

Our trail riding barn buddy E. knitted this beautiful fly bonnet for Doc. Fly bonnets for mules are hard to find, and you can't use a horse bonnet because, well, the ears are too short. 

E. very kindly offered to create this masterpiece for Doc and Gerry. The construction is fantastic and be sure to note the yellow beads E. added as embellishments. Doc not only looks handsome, but he will be more more comfortable as the fly bonnet will keep flies off his ears and eyes.  Thanks E, great job!

Monday Mule Musings

Nor'easter

We have a big nor'easter coming up from the south, with an ETA of 4 post meridian. Gerry went out to check the boys, pick-up ice cream and subs, and buy a big hunk o' beef for my super special homemade beef vegetable soup (which will fill the house with all kinds of lovely savory smells tonight as it cooks away in the crock pot.)

I like about one hour of a big snow storm and then I feel cabin fever creep in--- and I hate, hate, hate wasting a weekend being stuck in the house and unable to get to the barn (let alone ride.)

I'm soooo tired of winter.

Doc in the Snow

Well, it was much better out today, but still a bit nippy for riding. So we went to the barn to see the boys and remove their blankets, give them a nice grooming, and then of course, we put their blankets back on. Oh, and we fed Doc and Dallas some stud muffins (very fancy horse treats) that we were given at Christmas, Yum, they loved them.

The new blankets I bought are working really well and wonder of wonders, aren't ripped yet! Did I tell you all that Doc ground ties! What a smart boy!

Hope it is warmer next weekend so we can ride, keeping my fingers crossed!

Why Mules?

Wanting a mule goes back to the late-90's when Gerry and I went to the Grand Canyon and took the 2 day mule trip to the bottom of the Canyon and stayed at Phantom Ranch. We rode mules on that long, difficult, and scary trail and that trip sold me on their solid minds and bodies. When we got back into horses a couple of years later I toyed with the idea of getting a mule, but frankly, they weren't very popular and there were just a whole lot more horses to choose from.

Our horses, especially Dallas, are pretty good on the trails, but a good mule is awesome- just rock steady and unflappable and they are becoming the ride of choice for older riders like Ger and me who no longer enjoy close encounters with the ground. Mules entered our lives again when we met a couple in our riding club who ride mules and they gave us some mule magazines, then we bought some books on mules, and then started looking at mules for sale online, And now we have one in our barn- and could not be happier with him. I've got lots of photos and stories up on my blog about Doc. The bottom line is, he is wicked smart and like most mules is not going to do anything foolish to hurt himself- and by extension his rider stays safer too.

And love those big ears!

Doc

We have Doc, an eight year old john mule on a 30 day trial and despite the cold winter weather Gerry and Doc have been on two trail rides already. Doc's dam was an Appaloosa and he has the Appy spots around his eyes and "privates" as well as some lovely roaning across his rump. His owner is a delightful and very knowledgeable professional horsewoman and meeting her was a bonus in finding Doc. Our horse Beau is up for sale, here is a link to his ad if anyone is interested.

I really don't like the idea of selling him- I feel like I'm offering up a member of my family.... a beloved member of my family, but I don't think we can swing board on three...but maybe we can...off to run numbers again : )

Holidays, Doc Holidays

We have a new member of the family! His name is Doc and he is an 8 year old mule. We have him on a 30 day trial but we haven't even finished out the first week and I know he'll become an Arden-Lamenzo before too much longer. Gerry has already taken his first solo trail ride on him- I'll have much more to report regarding Doc and the rest of the Arden-Lamenzo beasts in the days to come.

These photos were taken the day of Doc's arrival which was cold and wet, neither he nor Gerry seemed to mind.