Mountain Man Mondays; You Can’t Have Hay Burners Without a Riding Ring!
- May 04, 2009
- Category: Daily Diary
- (17) Comments
Horses, I’m finally beginning to understand why Mountain Man calls them Hay Burners. Not only do they consume vast quantities of food but they also require accessories. No, not saddles, halters, bridles and all kinds of sprays and shampoos and brushes, but big ticket items like riding rings.
I’ve been lamenting my lack of a riding ring for quite some time. “How am I ever going to improve if I don’t have an enclosed space where I can practice my riding? How am I going to work with Khrysta if I don’t have a round pen?”
“Can’t you just use the driveway?” the ever practical Mountain Man asks.
“No, I need a space of my own. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Can’t you just plop down a round pen somewhere?” This I asked before I knew the cost of a round pen.
Finally, this spring Mountain Man is convinced the horses are here to stay and after watching Khrysta throw a tantrum with me in the driveway, he became convinced of my need for an enclosed space to call my own.
At first, he thought about building a regulation size ring but we quickly discarded that idea when we discovered the cost to truck in the necessary gravel to level part of our field.
“I don’t need anything fancy. Just put up some poles in the field.”
“No, it’s too wet. You can’t ride in that.” Our home and pastures lie at the base of our mountain meaning all the water congregates in our lower field.
The next day, I heard the sound of heavy equipment running and there was my Mountain Man out digging a drainage ditch and building me my very own riding ring.
It is still a work in progress but I’m able to use it and now the hay burners and I have a ring to call our own thanks to the ever resourceful Mountain Man.
The excavator gets ready to work.
Clearing a track for the ring and digging out a drainage ditch.
Building a pathway for me over the drainage ditch.
Widening the path to the ring. Restoring the old barn in the background is Mountain Man’s next project.
Putting in the stone and the pipe to conduct the water away from my ring.
More work on getting the pipe set just right.
Mountain Man puts up the mesh fencing for my ring.
The drainage pipe underneath the entrance to my ring Mountain Man built.
Putting in the posts for my fencing.
Mountain Man heads home after a long day.
How cool, your own riding ring…Mountain man rocks!
Date: May 04, 2009
What a guy! Ya gotta love heavy equipment! They are work horses making a arena in one day. Great!
Date: May 04, 2009
He must really like you. I’m the kind of mountain man who would of given you a shovel and keys to the pick-up truck so you could get some wood.
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I was reading some of your old posts last night before work(night shift lately
Yes this is my favorite blog, about the only one I read often.
…still not seeing any small miracles though, but looking.
Date: May 04, 2009
That guy loves you! yeeehaw!
Date: May 04, 2009
I like horses, but seeing all of that heavy equipment is heaven to me. I could get in one of those things, and it’s like a kid with a new toy.
Date: May 04, 2009
Your sooo lucky that Mtn Man will do those things for you and your horses!! I usually have had to do everything myself, except build the barn LOL He did do that! I want a nice beautiful riding ring!
Date: May 04, 2009
Give am a hug from Oregon please…he is such a LOVE!
This IS soo exciting!
Kac
Date: May 04, 2009
Wow, that is some project! How cool to have a riding ring!!!! Is there anything Mountain Man cannot build?
Date: May 04, 2009
I guess you already know what a lucky woman you are. Have a great week.
Date: May 05, 2009
does this man ever rest?
Date: May 05, 2009
That mountain man is something….he sure loves you!
Can’t wait to see the barn he is planning to restore. It looks awesome.
Tracey
Date: May 06, 2009
Riding ring – is it big enough to hold a rodeo event? How many horses do you have? A lot of work for this project. Thanks for sharing.
Date: May 06, 2009
What an amazing man! These photos are great, and he is very talented!
You make a very good couple!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Date: May 06, 2009
What a wonderul thing for him to do for you! My sister has a round pen for her horses and it was wonderful when the kids wanted to ride. She has Arabians and a cremello stallion with beautiful blue eyes.
Date: May 06, 2009
He is SO sweet to build a ring for you… I think if my husband had the equipment, he would definitely build one for us. He would love to have one even more than I, since he is a horseman!
I love how your hubby has come around on the matter of owning horses… now if I can just get my hubby to come around on the subject of having chickens (his comment, THEY ARE JUST BAIT AND WILL ATTRACT COYOTES EVEN MORE AROUND HERE). I read Grit and Mother Earth News (my current fav mags) and I so want to move toward a more sustainable life since we have the land to do it.
Date: May 07, 2009
Thanks everyone for stopping by. I appreciate your comments.
because we are still going to do some traveling in search of a less expensive place to live. Why don’t you try suggesting fresh egg dishes. That might do it.
Mommanator, no he never, ever rests except in the evenings. That’s our special time. No computer, no phones, no nothing but the two of us and our dogs.
Mike, it’s a small ring and not fancy but beautiful to me and all I need. I have 3 horses. One I ride and the other 2 rescues staying here who will get rehomed.
Oz Girl, Mountain Man built a chicken house in part of the barn but he hasn’t finished it. He says no chickens this year
Becky, your sister’s horses sound absolutely beautiful.
Thanks so much everyone for being part of MMMs.
Date: May 07, 2009
The kids around here would be going crazy with the excavator. While they have grown up with all kinds of tractors their whole life they still have a love for gigantic buckets.
You are fortunate however to have such a willing and kind man to do your arena. I had to pull out all my best “bitch” to get my arena in. Kindness did nothing, I only got it out of pure threats and intimidation…
You know how they say the cobbler’s children go shoeless. Well, the heavy equipment contractors wifes never get arenas! Well maybe I exaggerate a tiny bit.
Now you can do some focused training.
Date: May 09, 2009