How to stress Nugget out

Well yesterday Leah, Christine and I went for a little ride out the back, towards Jamberoo.
Lovely day, sunny, a bit blowy at times but all up a bonza day.
Riding thru farming paddocks we saw cows from time to time, reasonably close; Nugget has an irrational fear of cows; Why? Who knows- he just does not like them. (BIG SOOK!).
Anyway all is good until close to home, when low and behold, the dairy cows are heading for home down a fenced track about 2 car widths. Great, just great I think, even better, the cows are heading towards us!!!
Well one of the fences is electrified, so not too close, the other side is where the cows are walking. We had to ride up the middle, poor Nugget didn't know where to run or hide. Each time a cow would stop to look at him, he was like, 'oh no, those things are looking at me, need to hide quick, maybe I should run; they're still looking at me!!!!'. Then we had the drama of the cows on one side, a piece of dead tree on the other, which was gunna attack him first. So we finally get clear of the track and into the last paddock, where you guessed it, there are lots more cows, some were even lying down. Now these cows on the ground are an even scarrier horror, they get up! We had to ride thru them to reach the gate to freedom.
I am quite sure poor Nugs had thought he had died and gone to some horsey hell, All those mean cows surrounding him. He did survive in the end, not at all helped by me, who spent some time laughing at his expese.
Might make a campdrafter out of him, cows would be rounding him up instead! Could become a new sport!

Getting ready for Shahzada

Hi Everyone,
Well we are all getting ready for Shahzada. Steph has entered in the 120km trainer over 3 days. Tucker is getting his boots glued on Tuesday 12th & we leave for base camp the next day. She gets to ride for a few days before the camp closes down for the ride starting on Monday 17th. We are hoping to get some time to ourselves but we are part of the volunteers that look after the ride base so that may be wishfull thinking. I'm finishing off my third T.P.R. provisional ride & then I get to be a qualified T.P.R.
Cheers,
Lyn
PS when I get time I will post some photos I took of Steph getting slobbered on by some over friendly Arabs at a friends place.

How Lucky Am I

I just have to say that I feel incredibly lucky to have such beautiful, special warm hearted people, as my family.
You know who you are, you are all just beautiful.
Love you all lots.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RHONDA!!

Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to Youuuuu.
Happy BIRTHDAY dearrrr RhonnDaaa!
Happy Birthday toooooo yoouuuuu!!!!

Hope you have a great day tomorrow (even if you have to work)
Love the WWW.

Hi to everyone.
I have been having a little difficulty in signing in here, keep forgetting the password.....
Rhonda, your adventure looked just fantastic, I am very proud of you gaviscon!!
The photography is exceptional as well.
Keep up the good work.

I will post some coming home photos of "Miss" Chanel soon. She is settling in ok. Les does not admit that he quite likes her. She manages to end up in our bed after the very early morning toilet trip and play. 3.30 am is just tooooooo early for me to try and function clearly.

More soon,
take care all
Southern Wild-Waler-Woman, aka Trishxx

A great ride

One Saturday a few friends decided to ride to Lake Illawarra for lunch, great idea I'll go too. Regina on George the express pony, and myself on Nugget set out from Croom road and headed down Station road, crossing the Princes hwy at some lights. We had to ride across the trainline on the way to Macquarie Shores where we were to meet Christine V., Jan, Sonia and Kim. Once we were all together we rode towards Oak Flats along the road.



The first challenge was Slaters bridge, long, wooden and over wide water. Much to my surprise Nugget followed Jans' mare across without a care, I was impressed. Once clear of the bridge, we rode around thru the back streets of Oak Flats until we reached Lake Illawarra.

We followed the cycleway around the lake, a distance of about 8kms. It was a sunny day, the water was calm, and there were lots of lovely spots for a good trot or canter.

Upon reaching the end of the lake, we had to ride under Windang bridge so that we could get to our lunch spot further along the forshore. It's too dangerous to cross busy Shellharbour road, so we rode along the footpath.You can see the bridge in the background.

From the bridge, it is still a little ride before we arrived at the takeaway shop. Hot chips always smell yummy. We tied our horses up and got stuck into some food. In the photo below, at the top end is where we stopped for lunch, just as the road curves right.

After lunch we dicided to keep going and headed towards Warilla beach. You are able to ride behind the houses and I was wishing we could have a canter on the beach, but sadley horses are not allowed. Some more nice trotting and cantering soon saw us arrive at Little Lake.

The supposed 'bridge' across Little Lake has still not been built. No problem, as Regina was on the second smallest horse, sh went across first. The rest of us watched from the edge, if George started swimming, we were going the long way round!! The water was belly deep, so the rest of us rode our horses across. The photo below shows Little Lake at low tide.

Once clear of Little Lake, we rode up around the headland at Barrack Point. There are some beautiful views along here. Following the road around saw us ride onto the public reserve beside Junction road. We had a wonderful canter and trot until we reached Shellharbour surf club. Here we had to cross Shellharbour road and head towards the Shellharbour Workers Club, in order to ride thru suburbia on the home run.

Lots more cantering and trotting was the order as we made our way along the footpaths and roads to reach the top of the hills.

It was then down towards the Oak Flats Interchange and home. It was here that Regina and I said goodbye to everyone else, they had to return to Macquarie Shores. Regina wanted to ride down to the Oak Flats train station and go home that way. I thought a short cut would be good, how hard can a roundabout be???

So with Nugget and I leading, Regie and I rode along the bicycle lane, around the edge of the interchange. As the photo shows, this is a BIG roundabout, known as the UFO, for good reason (some inept drivers do drive the wrong way on this bugger!!). The only time Nugget got worried was when the northbound cars went under the interchange. Brave little begger.

We left the interchange and headed along the East West route, passing a police car running a speed trap (no galloping now). As home was getting closer we went into a couple of long canters along the grass verge.

We arrived back at the paddock 6 hours and 35kms later. Nugget was very good, especially as he had to lead thru some scary parts. Thanks to my friends for having me along, and a HUGE thankyou to Nugget, what a good boy.

Introducing Miss Chanel

Hello everyone.

I am wanting to introduce an almost new member of the family. Much to the strapper's disgust, I am going against his wishes and getting myself an inside kitty-kat. I feel that life is getting shorter and a kitty-kat will do me a power of good. Not forgetting the other animals at home here, Bronte, Clancy & Ruff, the border collies. Miss Waratah, the horse in a million, and ther is the bloody thoroughbred, Miss lucky to be alive and found her way here, Rose. so now there will be Miss Chanel, a lilac point pure bred bermease, not sure how to spell it, but have included a couple of snaps