Blog from the Bog

We just returned home today from Van Bert Farms in Stanton Ky. We had a wonderful time. The Van Berts always do things in a classy way. And this was no exception. We stayed at the Cottage overlooking the farm. I love that cottage. Vera has it decorated so cute. Of course there are a lot of horse pictures and the best is the view of the farm. Yesterday when we got up the pastures were completely covered with fog and the sun was barely able to peek over the horizon. The fog lifted as everyone started to gather for part 2 of the ACTHA competitive trail competition. Most of the horses and riders who had been there on Friday returned for the more difficult ride on Saturday.

I competed in the Friday ride but did not get to compete Saturday due to birthday parties for a couple of special girls. My granddaughter Lucy and great granddaughter Melissa.

Friends met Bob, Eleanor and me at the cottage on Thursday afternoon as we were about to unload the three horses we were using for the ride. Bob took Satin, Amigo went for Sheri and I took J R. He is Eleanor's horse. Bob, Tom (Sheri's husband) and Eleanor got on the three horses and went for a good ride on Thursday evening. They had a wonderful ride. I don't know who enjoyed it more, Eleanor on her horse or Tom on Amigo whom he calls the Cadillac. They rode for a long time and finally just before it got too dark to see, they returned to the cottage to show me how Amigo and Satin could come up the steep hill in the back.

Friday morning was cool and windy. I stated that my two goals was to stay warm and to finish the ride. I got it half right. I did finish the ride. I even made a decent score on most of the obstacles even though I came in last in the field. So what happened to staying warm you may ask. I was sure dressed warm enough. I wore a heavy sweat shirt and a wind breaker. I wasn't going for best dressed obviously.

The ride went really well. I had a couple of anxious moments when J R argued with me about whether he should be allowed to graze while we were waiting for Sheri and Amigo and Bob and Satin to finish one of the obstacles. But I did get his feet to moving and he didn't try eating again for awhile. We finished the witches fingers with scores of 8 for each of us. We did the cape with an eight for each of us. We did a good job crossing the river. And again scored 8s for both of us. And we made it up the hill just fine. All went well until the fifth obstacle.

The fifth obstacle was a downhill. J R was once again stomping and doing little crow hops. We were at the top of the hill and Bob had already gone down and so had Sheri. J R sometimes wants to go a little fast down hills and he was getting anxious to not be left behind. I elected to let someone lead him down the hill and I dismounted and walked down. Thus getting a zero on the obstacle. Doug Spier helped me remount at the bottom of the hill. So far so good.

That when it all happened. There was a narrow pass that the horses had to go through to get back to the river. It was wet and had been churned up by all the other horses that had already gone through it before me. It was not just wet, it was a bog. J R stepped in and immediately went up to his belly in the mud. He was churning his feet trying his best to get through it when he lost his balance and got over on his left side like he just laid down. He really couldn't help it.

I lost my seat and I fell off into the mud. J R regain his footing and bless his sweet heart stood there right by his fallen rider. I love that old horse. He is a good hearted gelding. Doug came over and helped me out of the mud. Someone else led J R out of the bog and Doug once again helped me mount. J R and I finished the ride. We were both covered with mud and wet. I was a little cold but pleased on two fronts.

That is the first time I have ever been able to remount when I took an unscheduled dismount. We finished the course. J R and I were working good as a team on the last obstacle that they called "stirring the witches brew". I had to pick up a broom and place it in the barrel and ride my horse around the barrel. I did not ride quiet far enough around so we both got an 8 on that obstacle. But we finished.

I got off in the barn and J R got sprayed off to wash the mud off of him. I felt I had over come a lot in that ride.

So the rest of the story. When the winners were announced for the Pleasure class, Bob won first and Sheri won second. They were riding horses owned by Whispering Oaks Farm so I had reason to celebrate besides both being friends and family. When best dressed was announced, Bob won that one too and he won the jackpot as the rider with the highest score that had contributed to the jackpot.

It was a good day for our group, the farm and for me. I have finally overcome a lot of my fear of being on a horse and riding. Going down the hill will come soon. I am better at down hills than I was last year. I started getting that under control last winter when we were riding around the farm.

First several rides, I avoided the hills as best I could. But I started getting braver and started riding down hills in places I could have just as easily ridden around. Like I mentioned before I still have some hang ups on that account but I will learn how to do it and do it well.

I stayed until the winners were announced and then I went and took a good hot shower.

I looked in the mirror and I sure was a mess. I was covered with mud. My clothes were muddy and even my helmet was muddy. I was very thankful for my helmet. It was new, never been worn and it now has scratches on it. That would have been my head had I not been wearing it.

But I got to thinking as I took that shower and felt the good warm water wash over my hair and dirty skin. We would look that way to God if we were not washed by the blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ. God can not look upon sin for he is a righteous God and our sins separate us from him. But Jesus died for us and our sins have been made invisible by the blood of Jesus.

Today we went to lunch with H T and Wilda. Jamie and Carly and her daughter Angel were there as was Greg and Valarie. Before we left I went up to pay for our lunches. When I got to the cash register the lady told me we had already been paid for. When I get to heaven Jesus will say, "Her sins have already been paid for". I thank Jamie for paying for lunches but I thank Jesus each and every day for paying for my sins. Jamie paid with hard earned money but Jesus paid with his life and his blood which was shed for me and for you. So that when we stand before God and are accused by Satan, Jesus will say "Paid in full."

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Love to you all and thank you for reading my blogs. Welcome to my new follower, Steve. Steve is married to my great niece Crystal.



Regards,

Mary

For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whomsoever should believe on him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3: 16

The first picture is a tree root that has been exposed by water running through the branch. No water now. It is so dry but the water has washed away the dirt over the years and have left this root exposed. It is an interesting configuration. The second picture is Mt Girl and me. She had just had a bath and then her mane and tail were combed out.

The third picture is a view from the top of the hill on the farm. The barn is hidden from view but the silos are standing tall and proud from behind the trees that nearly block the view.

Our trail ride was a great success. We had pictures in our local paper and a nice story about the ride. I made sure it was a good story. I wrote it myself. They published it word for word.

Our day started with a brief rain that blew in. It was an answer to our prayers. It was hot all summer. I am sure no one has forgotten that. Bob and his grandchildren and my grandson had worked in rotation all summer cutting trails. Because of the extreme heat we had decided to get as much of our trails through the woods and in the shade as we could. About seventy five percent of the trails were in the shade. But the rain came through and cooled everything off several degrees and then stopped after about 15 minutes. Someone called and ask if we were going to go on with the ride. Of course we were. Rain was not going to stop these riders.

And rain did not dampen the spirits of the 35 people that turned out for our ride. The riders started off in small groups every fifteen minutes that took a hour to see everyone off. The first obstacle was a mail box. My friend Sheri with whom I worked at the post office was the official judge on that one. Almost no one connected the name on the mail box to the little house that sets across from it. The name on the box was "Wiley E Coyote" Think back to the "Road Runner" cartoon. We have often noticed the horses get a little uneasy when they pass that old house. So we have finally decided they smell coyote there. We have seen them around that house so it is altogether possible that is what is going on. Hence the name on the mail box and the letter addressed to same in the mail box.

The next obstacle was the drag. More people had trouble with that one than any other. I don't really know why but we had several that timed out on that one or could not complete it. It was two barrels set up with a rope on the first one. As the title indicates there was a block of wood that had a rope tied to it and the rider had to drag the wood from barrel A to barrel B.

The third was a gate. Even H T was temporarily stumped by that one because we ask the rider to open the gate from a different direction than usual. H T had to study that one for awhile. But many of the riders got it and scored well on it.

The fourth was maybe my favorite. It was a downhill ride and across a wooden bridge. The bridge was built just for that ride and is of course still there for riders on the trails to enjoy. I have not tried that one yet because the horse I have been riding likes to run down hill and I really have to hold him back. So I am hoping for more strength in my arms. It is really a neat obstacle and most of the horses did it. The judge on that one was amused because one of the horses walked down the hill and to the bridge so nicely and then turned and ran back up the hill thus refusing to cross the bridge. He said the horse made a perfect U turn. The rider dismounted and walked him down the hill and over the alternate route.

The fifth was a water obstacle. We had to haul some water for that one. We did have the rain so there was not so much water to bring to it as there would have been had it not rained. That was a huge success. The horses were suspicious of that one. Of course a horse will almost always think they will drown in a puddle. But many did the obstacle. Some refused it.

The last obstacle was the easiest. Not one refused the uphill. All that was required of all riders that their horse go up a steep incline. So it worked out nice that the last was the easiest. After a long ride, horses and riders were ready for an easy one.

Each first place rider was awarded $100 by Whispering Oaks Farm and the Lipginski Family. Second place received $50. Ribbons were awarded for six places as well as prizes awarded by ACTHA and local sponsors.

We considered the day a great success. God certainly blessed us with the quality of horses and riders that showed up for the event. The weather couldn't have been better. The farm was complimented over and over for how beautiful it is. I think the riders enjoyed the various scenery that they encountered. There was the woods, open fields and views from the top of the hills. The open fields had a fine crop of soy beans putting on their best show.

We plan to have another ride next spring. The trials are already cut and ready to have another ride. We will have it before crops are planted so there will be other trails and of course different obstacle.

I like trail riding the horses. It is training they can't get in an arena. We have already seen that my horse Velvet has a different view of things outside of the barn and the arena. She is fearful of my dog if she runs up behind her. Erica often does that and none of the horses that have been here and been ridden worry about her. Velvet will learn to not react over time. Other than that, Velvet is a very brave mare. She doesn't encounter anything that bothers her. She will climb piles of dirt and do any obstacle asked of her. She is a very nice mare that makes me proud to own her.

Velvet has learned over her three years that she can trust people. She has never been asked to do anything that would hurt her. Over these past three years her faith in humans have grown to the point where she will willingly do what is asked because she has learned that the person on her back is her herd leader.

In the Bible we are referred to as being like sheep. We need a herd leader or as in the case of sheep, a shepherd. Jesus is referred to as the good shepherd. We often see pictures depicting Jesus carrying a lamb in his arms. Sheep know their shepherds voice and respond to it. I have often said in these blogs that horses teach us a lot. They keep teaching. There is so much difference in each horse.

Some learn early to trust the herd leader. The human. Others have bad experiences in their formative years. They learn to distrust because of mistreatment. They learn to strike out and fight becaue they have learned this is what they must do for survival. Others have had no experience with humans.

So we learn from horses that they are many different kinds of reactions to God and his son Jesus Christ. Some learn early in life that God is their friend. He has sent Jesus to die for us. Jesus had a choice but he who was without sin and tempted in all manners as man died for us in obedience to the will of his father. We start by learning from our earthly father. But some are very unfortunate and have no human father who shows a picture of our heavenly father. Some are mean and abusive. They learn to distrust and believe if this man who is suppose to love and protect them is not a good person then how can they trust God whom they have never seen.

Still others have no early experience in church or with anyone who tells them about God the Father and his son Jesus who died for our sins. All of this we can see as we study and relate to our horses. Which one are you? I hope you are the one who had the earthly father that showed you a picture of a loving protective God the Father who loves perfectly.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth.

Psalms 8: 9

Family Reunion and Other Things

I got the same picture on here twice as you can see. How do I remove it? I don't know so there is the picture twice of some of the children.

The third picture is of one of the fire trucks that came to put out the field fire that started from the combine that was harvesting the crop of soy beans that was raised on my farm this year.

It has been hot and dry. Very hot and very dry and the residue from the beans was dry fodder for the sparks that flew from the combine.

The fire department showed up with several trucks and the fire was soon out. The man raising the beans apologized today for causing such an uproar during my family reunion that was by the way held at my house but I am sure the family at the reunion are still talking about the events of the day.

We had a really nice crowd at my home that day.

Our family reunion on Bill's side of the family was started the day of Bill's funeral. His nephew Brian opined that we only got together only when there was a funeral. It was true. The last time we had seen all of them was at Brian's Father's funeral. It is a shame to only see family you love and care about on those occasions.

So Brian and Theresa put together our first official reunion in November of 2007. They had a good event planned. They had a video of family pictures. They had t-shirts made for each of us. They made calendars with family pictures for every month. They did a really good job.

The next year it was here at my farm. I had a carriage ride and a hay ride for everyone. The carriage was pulled by my three year old mountain horse, VBF Blue Ridge Mt Girl. She was amazing and everyone had so much fun. The day had some chill but it was sunny and pleasantly warm. That evening we had a big bon fire.

I had coffee cups made with the family reunion date and Whispering Oaks Farm with a horse on it for everyone who came. I also had ink pens made up with Whispering Oaks Farm as well as the same horse. Each cup was filled with wrapped candy. It was a huge success.

Last year my niece Vivian planned the reunion and she rented an old log cabin that had been made into a guest house. It was really lovely. It had old pictures, quilts and many other antiques in it. It had the old style kitchen with enough modern conveniences that made it very nice. And of course plenty of food.

This year we really didn't have entertainment planned and it had been such a busy time for us that I barely got the day together. This three times a week for Physical Therapy is taking a lot of time. Tomorrow I go back to the doctor and hopefully I will be nearly finished with Physical Therapy and doctors until my annual check up next spring. My family has already told me that I do not get to leave the house next May.

My husband died in May. I got pneumonia in May and broke my arm in May. So I guess I can see the logic behind their thoughts.

Despite the fact I didn't have entertainment planned the day took care of that. After dinner we were all on the deck visiting and having a pretty good day when someone noticed smoke. It was the combine fire. All the men got in trucks and headed to the field to help in whatever way they could. Most of it was stamping out fire to keep it from spreading. Soon the fire trucks came rolling in and the thick smoke started to dissipate.

Later we teased one of the nieces, Theresa whose birthday fell on our reunion day that the fire department had come to put out the fire caused by the candles on her cake.

We had a really good day together. Steve and his family came from Mississippi. Rita and her daughter came from Michigan and there were several who came from Indianapolis. So there were several who made an effort to be here for the day. I am thankful to God that we all like and love each other so much that people will go to that much effort to be here.

I had told my brother Bob one day that I had some unfinished business with VBF Blue Ridge Mt Girl. I have been grooming her and I gave her a bath one warm day. I have worked on her mane and tail to make them pretty and she is getting some grain now to put extra shine into her coat. She is getting very pretty.

I told Bob that the last time I was on Mt Girl in 2008 I fell off of her. See my last blog. I said then I would learn to be a better rider and ride her again. She and I had some unfinished business. It has taken this long. Did you know that in the Bible the phrase "Fear not" is used 331 times? I have been trying so hard to overcome my fear of riding. I kept running into those two words. "Fear not".

I have prayed, read the Bible and tried to overcome the fear that welled up in the pit of my stomach when I mounted a horse. A friend observed my discomfort and told Bob that "Mary is not having a good time riding". I had an unreasonable fear that the horse would do something unexpected and I would land on the ground. I really dreaded getting hurt but my worst fear was that my family would have to take care of me.

I was really uptight when I got on a horse. Of course the horse knew it. I could feel the horse tighten up and I would get even more afraid. Last spring I confessed my fears to my friend Wilda and she and her family prayed me through the horse show in North Carolina. I had a decent ride but I was still fearful.

Bob, Lucy, Melissa and I went to the trail ride in Stanton in May. I was going to ride but I was pretty much uptight again. I had a decent ride the night before the actual trail ride but I was still fearful. I was on Rocky Top Rebel. She is really a nice mare and she was very calm even though I wasn't. I wasn't looking forward to the trail ride the next day.

The next morning Van Bert Farms put on a clinic. I was part of the clinic. I led my colt, Saga of Snowy River into the trailer and back out. He was well trained. He was doing what I asked him to do. Then we walked up on a small rise. It was actually used at one time to back a truck up to it to load live stock. The was an uneven spot on the ground and I stepped into it, lost my balance and fell really hard on my left arm. I heard it snap. I knew it was broken.

I didn't get to ride for four months. During that time, I had a lot of time to think. A couple of weeks ago I got back on a horse. It was J R. My sister Eleanor owns him. He is dead broke. But he can be hard headed sometimes. His favorite gait is walking and then only if he is chasing down some grass. I rode him in the arena the first time. He tried some foolishness with me but this time I was determined he would do as I ask him. So I used the dressage whip a couple of times and he started to get the idea that I would not be putting up with anything out of him on this ride.

The only anxious moment I had was when he ran down a little hill with me. I made him walk down the rest of the hills. He also tried to turn around and go back off of the trail. I again used the dressage whip on him. He jumped up off of his front feet a couple of time but once again I turned his head and used the whip and he got over it. He walked calmly on down the hill without further trouble.

Today I rode him about three miles and he walked down the hills and he went where I asked him. Once he did try to scrub me up against a tree but we settled that too and I am getting more confident in the saddle.

This afternoon Bob took Mt Girl on a long ride through the trails and she is getting better and better. I rode her in the arena and never had one twinge of fear. A couple of times she wanted to try me out. She thought she could stop when she wanted but that didn't happen. Then a couple of times she thought she would turn the way she wanted to go but I let her know that wasn't happening.

Why do I go over all of this. Many of you probably thought I was a fearless rider. I wasn't. I prayed for God to help me learn to ride so I could have a good time riding like everyone else that was riding my horses around here. I could tell God was showing me he would take care of me but I am really hard headed so finally God used my broken arm to show me that I could get hurt not even being on a horse. Everyone assumed that I fell off of a horse and broke my arm. I didn't. I fell leading a weanling because I was not watching where I was putting my feet and I fell. I fell in the barn on the concrete a couple of times. Once my yearling filly knocked me down when she ran into the barn. Even then I didn't get hurt.

Once one of the horses kicked at the dog and barely missed me. I knew God was taking care of me but I just couldn't get over my fear when I mounted. I saw others that overcame terrible riding accidents that were riding again. My friend Wilda for one and a lady named Sarah Patton for another and I couldn't see how they could do it.

So what is the moral of this story. The moral is what ever you want to see in it. There are a couple of ways you can go with it. But what I take out of it is that God does answer our prayers. It may not always be the way we want it anwered but it will always be for our own good. God used my broken arm to teach me that I could get hurt other ways than riding and yes my family may have to come and take care of me but they love me and they will.

I don't need to have a pity party because of it. No one is willing to party with me if I am throwing a pity party. And God is taking care of me.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care. And may you always trust God. May all your lessons be easy ones.

Regards

Mary

"I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

Jer 29: 11