3 More Years + One...

Looking Good

This picture of The Dude On A Horse is getting published somewhere but I have no idea where....just glad the photographer sent me the photo!!!  They get really dirty at the rodeos as you can tell by his gloves....

Elizabeth Colorado Rodeo 2014

The Dude on a Horse just wrapped up another rodeo. He is getting pretty good at these things. He will definitely be coming out of the gun club as a well-rounded Marine! I love that he is able to experience this side of the Marine Corps and America! He has been able to meet another sector of the American people on their stomping grounds doing what they do best and in their comfort zones. He has also been able to see quite a bit of America as he travels around with The Mounted Color Guard. This rodeo was in Elizabeth, Colorado. He said it was beautiful but everywhere you went there was just a cloud of stench because of the legalized marijuana law. He had Colorado on our list as a potential place to retire, it is now crossed off the list and I no longer have to argue with him presenting why I don’t want to live there. He was also surprised at how cold it was there! He had just come from a rodeo in northern California where it was in the triple digits and now he had to actually go and buy himself a coat! The drive out was a little rough. They had taken 2 additional horses so they were driving 2 trucks and 2 trailers. They blew 2 tires on day 2.  Thank goodness all was fine, but it is just a hassle unloading horses and securing them while changing tires on the trailer each time on the side of the road.  The weather was not pleasant during the duration of the rodeo. There was rain which meant mud. Lots of lightning and thunder which spooked the horses.  Dean went crazy on the Saturday afternoon rodeo.  The Dude on a Horse managed to NOT drop the flag while Dean insisted on staying on his hind legs for several minutes. There were tornado warnings on Sunday so they had to secure all the animals and put everyone into shelters. This delayed the rodeo until later. The tornados did not hit, thank goodness, and all ended up going well.  They blew 2 more tires on day one driving back…..i will do a follow up post when The Dude on a Horse returns to his barracks room in the desert as he has pictures for me but can’t get them to me until he gets to his computer. I rely on stocking Instagram and other social media sites for photos in the interim while he is on the road!     

 

 

DC National Memorial Day Parade 2014

The DC National Memorial Day Parade went really well! The horses did great! It was crazy but fun crazy!!!

The day started with getting the horses out into the pen and warming them up. The guys put them thru their paces and got all their wiggles out.

Next it was grooming time....I think the horses like this....

Ryan loves horses! He was always found close to the horses. As they were loaded up into the trailer he climbed up and Pete's them and chit chatted with them until we left. The horses love him.

Than it was time to follow them to the staging area for the parade.

Next stage of grooming...getting their hoofs all shiny black, brushing out their tails....good thing The Dude On A Horse had practice doing Vicki's hair!!! Than saddling up and having a little chit chat.

Once the guys were changed into their blues and the horses were all saddled people just appeared out of nowhere! Everyone wanted to take pictures with them and with the horses and ask a ton of questions. Ty and Ryan held the flags while the guys were getting everything ready.

I followed the Gunny to go park my car and the trailer. I ran a TON of red lights but I wasn't loosing him for anything!!!

And than I was in the back of a golf cart bouncing along by the White House and State Capitol, and the National Monument heading to our spot on the parade route.

Before the parade started I looked over and saw this going on...The Dude On A Horse said it is called Honor To Colors. In the midst of the chaos the Marines stopped to do this before starting. So much respect for our countries flag....made my eyes water to see this happening in the middle of the hustle and bustle and see that nobody even knew it was happening. The Marines called out the commands quietly and were quick and efficient as they followed flag protocol.

I got a couple quick pictures before the parade started....

Our waiting spot for the parade was at this museum and so we were able to go and look around in here and use the restrooms! There were some beautiful paintings and art work!

This was also on the parade route. The White House was too but with all the people it was hard to get a good picture with that behind the horses.

It was a beautiful parade route!!! It was HOT too!!!

But it was a gorgeous day for a parade and a perfect place for a Memorial Day parade!

One of The Nights

One of the nights at the rodeo....The Dude In Blues also now known as The Dude On A Horse sent me this from tonight at the rodeo.....