Farewell Pictures With The Horses

June 6th
We did one last photo shoot with the horses. Carlos and Laurie took them. We used Rookie (unofficially Ed's horse) and John who we have a special place in our hearts for. Here are just a few....


Sweet Rookie!


Best Photo Bomb EVER!!!!


John had just stepped on Ryan's foot


Just having fun! It is actually quite hard to take pictures with these guys when there is food at their feet!!!
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Saying Goodbye To Ford

Goodness, tough morning saying goodbye to the horses....Ford was the hardest. I love them all but Ford was the one i claimed my first day to the stables to meet these 10 beautiful, crazy, stubborn guys! It might have been his bangs.....i actually do not know what drew me to him....he had come right up to me and i kissed his nose and that was that! It saddens me that he has no idea that i was telling him goodbye....whenever i have been gone and haven't been to the stables in a week he was always a brat when he would see me and just look away like i didn't exist. He always eventually came over and would nudge me to i guess say he was done pouting! We have had MANY tug a wars with my scarves during the winter months and he has destroyed a few shirts of mine, but i know it was all done in love. I'll never forget the first time i saw him all saddled up with his main blowing in the wind! Such a BEAUTIFUL site!!! I've had a great time blogging about him on my horse blog.  So happy that The Dude On A Horse was able to work with him these last two years and actually ride him in his very first event! Ed was able to debut Aires and Ford for their first events with the USMCMCG. Ed teases me that Ford has had more kisses in the last two years than he has had in 21 years!!! I am definitely going to miss Ford....i thought i wouldn't see him again before we left. He had gone on the road with the other horses to Washington DC and Colorado for exposure. Ed is the only one to have ridden him in an event so far. So i was soooo happy to be able to tell him goodbye again!!! I wish he could have understood english for just 30 seconds this morning so i could tell him i wasn't abandoning him and i will miss him terribly!!!!    

Farewell From The Stables

It is really sinking in that we are leaving....The Dude In Cammies had his first farewell today. It was at the stables. There are several events going on from Redding California to Washington DC and Colorado that they wanted to have his farewell from the Mounted Color Guard before they hit the road. The stables is always such a peaceful place....I went straight from work so i was a little early. I spent some time with the horses and Kishaba and Naha, love those two barn cats!



Kisses for Ford


He loves the very top of his head rubbed, right where his bangs grow in.



Moses grilled some yummy food and the Marines arrived.

This is such a small base so everyone knows everyone. It was fun just sitting and listening to the Marines. They are hilarious! I had a delicious bacon cheeseburger.

Ed said a few words to the Marines but other than that it was just a perfect afternoon with some of Americas finest.....

Later Ed and Gunny Flores went for a little ride.....

Chit Chatting With Kishaba

I saw that the stables was out of cat food when Ed and i were there on Sunday. I bought a big bag and swung by there after work today.  I filled up the cat dishes and put the bag where it goes and than sat down and chit chatted with Kishaba. I'm not sure where Naha was, she never came out but i saw her Sunday so I'm sure she was just napping somewhere. I held Kishaba for awhile and than went and said hi to the horses. I love being out here, so very peaceful......going to really miss this place. 

Love The Ford

I love all the horses but Ford has been my favorite from day one. His bangs caught my attention and he has always been so sweet and affectionate. Sometimes too affectionate! He likes to chew on my hair and clothes! But he is my total buddy and i just adore him!











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Rookie Scare

Ed and i were in Victorville when he got a call from MCLBPD saying one of the horses was down and not getting up after they watched him for awhile and hit the horn a few times. We zipped straight home to check on the horses since everyone else with stable access was gone for the day. Was sooo relieved to see Rookie standing up and doing fine!!! Man, these horses stress me out!!! Rookie was born in 1997 and captured Oct 21, 1999. He is getting up there in years and his joints are not doing so well so it is taking him longer to get up these days. Poor guy.....love these guys, but like all animals, hate to see them grow old.

A Mile Of Poo

The stalls were very full of poo so I decided to muck em out while Ed was riding. It's a good work out and I enjoy the horses company. I can't drive the vehicles so I pull this cart to the poo box after I fill it up. One stall fills it up. I did Rookies stall first since Rookie was out.


Than I did John, Renos, Cho, and Normans.


Each trip there and back is 2/10th of a mile. I made 5 trips so I pulled poo for a mile! Haha!


The cart is a lil broken and poo kept falling out the back. First I used some hay than I found some plastic blowing around so snagged that and stuffed it in the giant crack! No more poo falling out of the cart!


My trail I made before I fixed the cart.


Norman's stall was pretty flooded. I think his water trough is broken. My boots took a beating today!


I'm very dusty, dirty, sweaty, and probably quite stinky! But it was a great afternoon!


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He's My Beautiful Drug

I was singing one of my favorite songs to him, Beautiful Drug, when I took this picture. We had just left the stables and were exhausted! Stinky too so I had fun singing to him and he kept slamming on the brakes....funny funny guy!!!





Here is a little clip of our sing song. He makes me laugh every time I sing to him!

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Rookie Ride

It's been awhile since The Dude On A Horse has ridden Rookie. He's been having to work a lot with Ford. Today he decided to take Rookie out. They had a great ride, like they've never missed a day riding. Rookie knows his every move and what to do. Rookie looked really happy!













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Hungry Kitties

Sometimes I wonder if they forget to feed the cats.....pretty much every time I come to the stables their bowls are empty! So I fill them up! They were chowing!!!






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I Don't Mind Getting This Kind Of Dirty

I get pretty dirty at the stables, but it's the kind of dirty I don't mind. Ford was being as sweet as ever, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. Actually just chewing on my hair as usual!





I love how you can see the swishing of his tail!


He's such a beautiful horse!


Just having our little chit chats.....


And of course he always has to give me nuzzles!

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Ford Therapy

It was a tough weekend. Saturday was spent with Vietnam veterans and the mobile Wall That Heals and than Sunday morning Ed found out another one of his (Marine) friends committed suicide. Going to the stables was exactly what he needed. Ford did everything flawlessly and they had a nice ride in the desert. Best therapy there is......


Taking Ford out to saddle up and do groundwork.


All done and heading back in......


He just puts the rope over his shoulder and Ford obediently follows him to his stall without batting an eye.





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Kisses For Reno

I was surprised to see Reno at the stables. Ryan and I groomed him. I was teasing Reno telling him he was having a spa day while I was brushing his tail. He is a really sweet horse.