MINNESOTA vs ARIZONA SUMMER HORSE CARE

This is the first summer that I have spent the majority of the hot months down in Arizona instead of hauling Bart to Minnesota. Some adjustments needed to be made. Today I put up a sunshade on Bart's pen and hung a mister over his shelter. In Minnesota he would be in a big grassy pasture with many other horses. In Arizona he stays in a 20x20 pen with a shade shelter, as most of the pastures that aren't irrigated are all dried up, anyway. In Minnesota he has to endure a cold bath or hosing off. In Arizona the water gets hot in the hose, so has to be run for a minute to cool it down to bath water temperature.....and he LOVES being hosed off...even his face! In Minnesota he ate pasture grass all day, plus had a generous portion of grain mix twice a day. Here he was getting alfalfa fed twice a day...rich, leafy green stuff. That seemed to be a bit "hot" for this temp, so changed him to grass hay in the morning and alfalfa at night....and just a cup of senior mix with some wheat bran. In Minnesota I would be taking him camping with friends on weekends and for afternoon rides in the park. Here I go out at 6am for a 2 hour ride before it heats up, and would need to trailer up to Prescott or Flagstaff for some cool camping and riding....maybe next month? In Minnesota I would be spraying him to keep off the flies and mosquitoes, and checking him for woodticks. In Arizona I spray him for flies and watch for snakes when I ride! In Arizona I look forward to the end of August, and then to 10 great months of riding in nice weather. In Minnesota I dread the end of August, as frost...and gray...and snow...and ice...and freezing weather isn't far behind! But I do miss my wonderful riding friends in Minnesota....and the rides around the lakes....and the gorgeous fall leaves....and sitting around the campfires on a cool evening.....hopefully next year I can have the best of both worlds again, and head for Minnesota when the weather heats up, and back to Arizona when it cools down up north. My horse and I intend to be SNOWBIRDS!

MORE TRIP PIX!

Chris tries for a fish on Dad's old flyrod

Carol bums about having cellulitis and missing the horse camping

The Manthei clan gathers at Siren Jen's baby, DanielC

Daniel can stand in his Pack and Play (we worried what Jen would think when she saw this!)

4 generations

WHAT A TRIP!!!!

Uncle Chris introduces Daniel to the joys of boating.

I got to babysit Baby Daniel while Jen and Niels celebrated an early anniversary night. He was so good, and gave us so many laughs!

Wine tasting, waffles the shape of Texas, and could that be GEORGE????

Roy Rogers and the REAL Trigger!

"Sons of the Pioneers "sing as we have our Chuckwagon dinner at Branson's Shepard of the Hills


The Petersons of Kansas City

Cheese samples (we bought blueberry cheddar!)

Touring the "Titanic"

The Manthei Seesters and their Mom

Chris, Niels, Jen, CJ, Kelly, Me, Daniel and Mom at Chris and Kelly's cabin in Siren

Proud Mommy Jen and Daniel Joel. We had so much fun seeing him giggle and chortle....and he loved his ride on the pontoon....and was almost ready to try to crawl. What a sweetie....I miss him already.

Yeah, Mary....you caught a fish. Whoopee.

Jen and Niels introduce Danny Boy to the fun of playing in the lake. Kelly provided the fun boat

They may be living in Ohio, but Niels, Jen and Daniel know the right team to cheer!

My wonderful friend, Carol, who so graciously let me stay with her while visiting Dayton. Wylee loved being with his buddy, Hershey. Hope Carol will let me return the hospitality

Mom meets her newest great-grandchild...Andrew John, Terri's first grandchild

Mom and Ann share a laugh before lunch at the newest Helena cafe....YUM!

CJ and his pet turtle Tiny Tim....who ran away shortly after this picture was taken.

CJ shows great form riding Heather's wonderful gelding, Alex at Grosser's Longview Ranch

Happy Hour with Lori in Hibbing

Caught our limits of walleyes and some bluegills and northern on Blackduck Lake. THANKS, CONRAD!

Ready for a boat trip down the Missouri following the path of Lewis and Clark with Kevin's wife and two boys, and Michael's daughter, ElMarie

3 generations...Ann, Michael and Mom

And who would miss a tour of the Idaho Potato Museum???

Beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park with it's hoodoos

Stopping to admire the horsehair pottery and jewelry near Page, Arizona. Would have bought something, too, if they had let me use their potty!!!

Just returned from a 5000 mile family reunion trip topped by 3 days in Branson. We started out going to Helena, Montana to visit my sister Ann and all her children and grandchildren who were all in one place with Mom for the first time in 20 years. From there it was to northern Minnesota for some walleye fishing and catching up with friends in my hometown. Then to Hibbing, MN where Mom spent time with sister, Lori, and I went to Dayton to visit my riding friends....and got in on a graduation party, bonfire with the Longview boarders, a trail ride to Crow Hassan Park, dinner out with girlfriends Heather, Sue and Ginger, and lots of catching up with great friend Carol. Then off to Wisconsin to meet Mom at sister, Terri's, then to family reunion in Siren, Wisconsin at my son, Chris' cabin where 33 family members, 4 dogs and 2 newest great-grandchildren enjoyed lots of good food, laughter, and tubing at Kelly's parent's cabin. From there we went to sister, Mary's, then on to Kansas City to spend the night with the Peterson's who have been friends of my parents for many, many years. From there it was on to Branson for a night....which stretched on to 3 nights! I went through a time share presentation which allowed us to have 2 free nights at the Surry Inn, 8 show tickets, and 3 meals. We heard so much about the "Shepard of the Hills", so we spent another night and took it in and heard the Sons of the Pioneers, Roy Rogers museum, Elvis impersonator, Dolly Parton Stampede, and several other musical shows. We loved driving through the beautiful hilly Ozarks, but were ready to finally leave on Friday. We drove to Shamrock, Texas the next day, and on to Holbrook, Arizona last night....and arrived safely back in Wickenburg at 1 this afternoon....to record setting heat. We are tempted to wash our clothes, get our haircuts and pedis and head up to Prescott for a month with Bart and Wylee!!!! We figured that we traveled 5000 miles through 12 states, and stayed in 6 motels and visited 6 casinos (frequently successfully!). Mom and I agreed that it was a wonderful trip, Wylee was the perfect traveling dog, and we were very pleased with Mom's 10 year old Honda getting over 30 mpg and making it safely home....although the bottom protector fell down in Holbrook, and we had to have it wired up to get us home!

Now clothes are washing, Wylee is napping, and I am anxious to see my golden boy, Bart. Cindy will haul him back to Simpson's tomorrow morning before it gets too hot...and Mom will get back to her pool and bridge games, and I will hunt down my mail....nothing in my mailbox when I got home. And did I mention is is 112 degrees outside????? Yeah, yeah....a DRY heat!

Was wonderful seeing all the family again, and great friends, and beautiful country. America IS beautiful!