We had incredible weather on December 1st - Latigo Laura and I decided work could wait until later.  We packed a lunch, saddled up, took the rig and headed down the trail.  The deer are plenty spooked by now.  The bucks are still running together and they keep moving.  Cowboy the paint horse was wanting to lope off at any given opportunity.  That horse loves to chase deer as much as his rider.  Cash the mule was on guard,  keeping a suspicious eye out for the speedy mountain bikers dressed like fairies pedalling along in their fashionable rainbow tights. A tree split in the middle beckoned me to step off my mule and check it out.  And I did.  Latigo Laura  assured me she would go ride for help if I got myself in one of those situations - like getting my rear end stuck in the middle of this tree.  I told her fine - just bring back a couple of cutie fire fighters with you. 

Enough of this silliness, we have to head back.  I stepped up on my mule and looked back at Laura from the saddle.  Cowboy had a big grin on his face. That horse stood there calmly as though he were mesmerized by Laura's presence.   I could see the twinkle in his big blue eyes...he only does that when a girl decides to kiss him.

(Latigo Laura and Cowboy.)

I sure wish that girl would quit spoiling my horse.  ~Cindy K. Roberts

The exciting part about being an aunt is you always have little riding buddies that are willing to hit the trail of adventure.  My little fiesty 6-year-old niece dreams of the day that she will become a lion tamer.  Ahhh - that's my girl.  I saddled up her new donkey and cued her on the gas, brakes, turn signals - mom was close by.  Maybe it was Karma or a bad hair day for the Mocha the new donkey, things just didn't go right for Mocha or Esther.  I turned my head long enough to bridle my mule, then I see a donkey trotting off into the sunset with Esther clutching her little hands to the horn, reins flopping up and down.  I ran into the path of the run-away-donkey-train to head them off at the pass.  Mocha was fearful because Esther screamed - not sure what exactly he was to be afraid of - never-the-less he trotted along in circles and dodged me - so quick, my goodness he is athletic.  Esther bounced off, I picked her up and dried her tears.  It's not easy to console a child, especially when one has never done it before - gosh - I did OK for a consoling newbie.  "OK, now Esther, stop crying or I may have to operate.  Is your leg broken?" 

 "NO!"

"Can you move your hands, legs, feet?"

(sigh) "Yes."

"Do I need to do surgery?"

"NO." 

"That's good, because your Aunt Cindy did not bring her sharpest knife today." 

(Esther with poison ivy on her face and growing new front teeth - priceless.)

After that circus - Wendy and I decided we would ride the little mule and the donkey because it looked like so much fun - wear the little hellions down a knotch or two and then we will be good to go.

It wasn't an hour later - Esther ran out of the house to get a ride on the mule with her aunt leading her - talking about the next time we go riding and how she's going to be the boss of her donkey.  I think ponying this little cowgirl for a while longer is the best thing for her schooling.  A future mule-skinner in the making~Cindy K. Roberts

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Latigo Laura and I rode through the local park to perform our weekly duties - our assignment is to enforce the leash law. Yes we have to report the bad little doggies that run amuck with little or no supervision.      It's all in a day's work and Cash is ready to due his part.  He doesn't appreciate the canine sort - especially coyotes.  Cash and Cowboy are naturals for this job, I call them pooch magnets.  Mutts are drawn to them like flies on manure.  I never had to leash a fly though - so I thank my lucky stars for the easy assignment.  

In addition to the leash enforcement, we slow down the bicycle traffic - and remind them of pedestrians and horse users on the trail.  Some take it well and others do not.  "Don't give me any lip or my deputy will have to take you in."  Usually they take heed, smile and pedal on. 

At the end of the day, Cash had enough and decided he couldn't take it anymore.  Too many people speeding on their bicycles, too many screaming babies, kids kicking balls around and now for the finaly act.  Cash threw his head down while I grabbed for my cell phone out of my shirt pocket with my right hand, reins in my left and away we go.  YEEE HAWWW!!! Traffic stopped to take a gander of my legs flapping up and down in time with the blonde mule leaping up, around when I quickly jerked and release with my quick stop.  Now, I've got his attention and once again, my mule is willing to please me.  By the way, when my mule is bucking, hold my calls.

~Cindy K. Roberts

White Pony Girl rode her white pony with Cash and I.  We took a newer trail that had jumps set up, not to mention some storm fallin' trees.  Perfect for my mule colt to learn that he can jump from a stand still.  It took some convincing that the mama's boy can indeed jump.  There's nothing like a good size stick and a white pony nudgeing you from behind to get over a jump -- then the cookie.  Cash liked the cookie and the light bulb went on, 'hay, I can do this and get a cookie.'  Sometimes he will clue you in when he is actually thinking, but for the most part, he likes to make you think that he's just chillin'.  It was another perfect day in the saddle.  We did see a handsome cowboy on the hillside.  He stood there quietly watching Cash and I quickly slide down the hill as White Pony Girl and her trusty steed place one foot in front of the other.  Ridin' hard is good for the soul, the cowgirl soul.  ~Cindy K. Roberts

This is the end of rut season for the white tails, a perfect time of year to see a lot of action on the trail.  The bucks are pushing the does - which stirs up things a bit.  Moving along the river bottom, Laura and I saw quite a bit of action.  It was hard to keep my mule colt quiet and still, he wants to see everything and can hardly wait to investigate.  Laura riding Cowboy the Paint Horse gets charged up

 

about the white tails.  We crossed the water a few times and rode underground through some tunnels - hoping the train is not on time today.  That will be the next thing on Cash's list to get over - the mightly Pacific Railroad. 

No time spent in the saddle is wasted ~Cindy K. Roberts

I needed a break and took off for The Rocky Mountains - Estes Park.  Cash, my mule colt was in for the shock of his life - it was time to grow up.  Cash was not happy about the ride in the trailer.  He can be a rebellious child, so Cash showed his disapproval by leaning on the rear wall in the trailer and  scorched his butt, so he had to wear pink salve on his rear for the first couple of days.  The trailer is plenty big, but if Cash had his way, he'd be roaming in the pasture, this boy does not approve of confinement.  After one day of orientation, Cash was going along with the new program.  It doesn't get any better than this - bar none.

I trailered in my mule colt for a farrier visit.  Cash was having a 2 year old day, come to think of it, every day is a 2 year old day for this colt...but today was a special play day for this colt.  After he got his new shoes, I put him in the holding pen with some hay to munch on.  I saddled up Cowboy, my paint horse and rode for about 45 minutes.  Afterwards, I turned out Cowboy.  I don't like releasing horses or mules at the gate, but today I was in a hurry to load up the colt into the trailer - so at the gate - Cowboy takes off at a gallop, shaking his head and whinnying for the herd.   I walked into the holding pen to clean up the hay left and Cash is nuzzling me, following my every move.   I walked to the trailer,  snapped the hay bag in, came back with my manure fork to do a jiffy cleanup.  Cowboy is now galloping back down the horse trail next to the holding pens but I hear 2 sets of thundering hooves.  'Good' I thought, 'Cowboy found a buddy to run with.'  I looked up as I am scooped a manure pile and saw my mule colt trailing behind Cowboy at a full gallop with his head up in the air - ever - so - pleased, I might add.  My mouth dropped. dang that colt jumped that 5 foot fence!  Moments ago we're touching noses and now he's gone, runnin' with the herd.  HE DOESN'T CALL, HE DOESN'T WRITE - WHY DO GUYS DO THAT?!  I heard them take off up into the high ridge to join the herd.  I guess it is in that colt's genes, a 3rd generation Zan Par Bar mule colt has to show off his athletic side sometime.  Run Cash run, because tomorrow you are heading back to Pony Playground.  ~Cindy K. Roberts  

Riding your mule in 96 degree heat with 75% humidity will allow you to lose a quick 5 pounds.   I walked out to check on the entire herd to see how they were adapting to the heat; Just as I expected, Cash the mule colt was cool and dry.  The horses were standing around, sweating while stomping away the flies.    I don't mind the heat, but I don't like getting too close to the fire.  Cash is learning how to jump, (from the ground) funny, I thought it should come naturally.   On the Ground poles - he gets an A+.  Logs and timber, A- and orange color barrels, he gets an F.  Showing his insecurity by Running off to avoid the lesson - priceless.  Where's my photographer, Larry Howard when you need him?   Wearing my sunscreen.  ~Cindy K. Roberts