Lucky Zsa Zsa!

What a lucky Zsa Zsa... to get to ride with some blossoms from her Rosegarden! Toby is in the saddle with me on Little Lady! The Bossman's grandson Tristan is on the matching Slick PONY! This was just this week!

Then at Christmas time The Rosabella is with me on Jesse and The Rose Kid is on Gray Boy who the Bossman is poning!

Both trails rides were about an hour long and they all did just great! This was the 1st time I have had a child with me on the trail on Little Lady and...other than a couple of almost "little" naughty time moments...she did great!

Your Desert Rose!

The Rosette Gets a Pony Ride!

The Desert Rose can't wait to get her hands on those cheeks...this weekend!!!

Your Desert Rose!

What Would the Desert Rose Do?

My quicky New Years Eve post stated that there was going to be a Blue Moon... Once in a Blue Moon! I asked you all what you thought The Desert Rose would do! For those of you that mentioned sex...maybe I will consider that on the next Blue Moon!

The next NY's Eve blue moon will be in 2029 (I think) However the "Grand Rose" may not be here with me then so this would be my only and last chance to get her out on a full (Blue) Moon night ride!!!

My Loving Husband said that we could NOT go for our full moon ride with out the Bossman in case he needed to SHOOT something for us ( And I don't mean with a camera!). Poor Bossman has a bad cold and has lost his voice but "Cowboyedthefuckup" (25 cents in the cuss jar) anyway! Well...when he complained that it would be cold, I told him to put his BIG GIRL PANTIES on and just do it! This was also Little Lady's 1st night ride as far as we can remember...Slick and Jesse are old pro's at night rides! Because The Grand Rose and I wanted to toast the New Year with her Papa and younger brother at home...our ride did not begin until 1am!

Hay...I told the Bossman just plain OJ for her but he said his ears wear all plugged up and missed that part!
Heading out on the trail...Little Lady wants to be on Jesse's big Quarter Horse butt! If you look closely you can see The Bossman and Slick ahead of Jesse and The Grand Rose.
Up at the top of the trail overlook! Of course we climbed a trail...I get SEAHORSE sickness down in the wash at night! But I can ride trails no problem!!!
Safely back at the tack room The Grand Rose poses with what will someday be her "Motto"!

The trail ride was awesome, not too cold and very clear out. I did not get a moon shot because I have not yet figured out how to keep my camera from getting spots all over the shots at night.
Little Lady jumped once when my flash went off at the same time as fireworks went off down the street. Then once when the Bossman shined his flashlight in her face. So I had him do it a few times till she realized it was nothing. Jesse was an absolute angel for The Grand Rose! However...Slick and a BUSHMONSTER had a little run in. It was touch and go for a bit over who would win...but Slick soon realized that the bush really did not want him after all and then he just walked by it.
So...how many of you have taken a full moon night ride??? Did you have fun? Would you do it again?
Your Desert Rose!
PS The Bossman did not have to shoot anything!!!

Once In A Blue Moon!

If you were The Desert Rose...what would you do, once in a blue moon???

Your Desert Rose!

Cowbaby Chinks!

The Desert Rose has 10 grandchildren...or as I lovingly call them, my "Rose Garden"! The oldest is 18 now and out of the country for 9 months overseas. The next 2 oldest are teens now, my how they grow up so fast! However, I do have 7 of my Rose Garden that are 7 years and under. If you know me...I would not want them to go for a ride not dressed the part! 3 years ago...I got the 1st pair of Baby Chinks! 2 years later I had so many little Rose Garden sprouts that I had to go shopping AGAIN!

And Again!

And Again!!!

All these Baby Chinks...just waiting for a cute little cowbaby butt!!!

Your Desert Rose!

Cavalia!

One month ago my Loving Husband and I realized... that the most spectacular horse show we have ever seen ( we've seen it 2x and look often for where it is playing) realized that Cavalia was playing in the home town of our east coast granddaughters. We called their parents and said we want to buy tickets for you and the girls to go see this...and they did!Here is a picture of the Rose Kid & Rosabella attending Cavalia!!!

Get info at http://www.cavalia.com/ You will actually cry at times when you see it!

Your Desert Rose!

Toby Horsey!

A few weeks ago when I was in the PNW for the Rosette's birth I had my grandson's Toby and Jed with me for 5 days while the Rosebud new mommy was in the hospital. During the day they went to their day school. However one day Toby was sick with a tummy virus and he and I stayed home in our jammy's all day. His only symptom was....diareah ( sorry) so he was happy to play and be with Zsa Zsa.

I have many costumes at my house that the kids love to put on and pretend. They usually want to be batman or spiderman or a ninja! However today Toby asked to be a "horsey"!!!

Doesn't he make a cute little "stud colt"???

Side pose to show his cute little black tail!

What a striking pose!

I am so sorry you will have to look sideways to see this...but it is toooo cute to miss!!!

Your Desert Rose!

The "Grand Rose Rides!"

During her spring vacation the Grand Rose (and her older and younger brothers) came to stay with Papa and Zsa Zsa for 4 days. That sounds like a long time...but it isn't. We never have the time to do all the thingss we want to do! We were able to get in a good ride, the Grand Rose loves to canter and she got to see some great desert views.

On the desert floor before the climb up the hill. Jesse and Little Lady were thrilled to be allowed to graze on the very rare desert grass for the Grand Rose photo opp!

On the trail sightseeing! One of them had better watch the trail...don't cha think???

Jesse must have been longing for the grass meadow in the distance!

More photo opp/grazing time!

Now we are at the best photo spot in the canyon! Jesse knows that he is required to stand at the presise place and look his best! It does not matter how good you look in the photo if your horse has his ears back, his eyes closed, his head turned or down, and the worst his mouth open with his tonue hanging out!!!

Jesse sure knows how to do his JOB!!!

Oh Oh...looks like Little Lady needs a photo opp training lesson!

Hay Little Lady...Auntie Rose needs you to pose pretty!!!

Little Lady thinks that I did not see her sticking her tongue out at me...but I did!!!

So now that we have an acceptable pose... the training session is over. Look at her feet...she did not move them because while turning her head I closed the gate for her to go forward. She is a pretty smart girl and I hope she and I will both learn during our summer together. I believe I have seen her worst and because she listens to me when I cue her, I hope she will grow out of some of her angst of dark places. That is really the only issue I have had with her. I am not counting the little crowhop bucks I get from time to time cause they are only when we lope and are not in the front. All young horse's seem to have that issue, you just gotta work with them to get them out of it. Jesse didn't buck...instead he thought it was a race and would try to pass the lead horse.

Of course that can be frightening for the rider to all of a sudden be in a fast run. Which do you think is worse, crowhopping or racing???

A spring desert bloom for you to enjoy!

Happy Trails,

The Desert Rose!

JESSE AND THE ROSE KID!

Last weekend when our west coast grandchildren were here we had a stables day! We started at the day at brunch with the daddy and then went home to put on our "cowgirl" outfits!

We get to the stables and The Rose Kid is very helpful in getting Jesse ready to ride. She leads him from the stall, groom him, and picks his feet! When Jesse is ready we go to the stables office to borrow helmets for both of the girls and Spanky gives us a ride back in the golf cart!

At first all Jesse wants to do is follow mom...but Zsa Zsa tells the Rose Kid not to let him get away with that and pretty soon she can keep him on the rail!

The Rose Kid and Zsa Zsa pose with Jesse!


Stella's turn with Jesse!


Jesse and Stella both take advantage of the photo opp!!!


Your Desert Rose!

The Desert Rodeo!

Today was the desert riding group Rodeo! (actually a few weeks ago ) Boy was it fun. Ride along with us and win some ribbons! Or BEER MUGS in this case! Toby Jack was still with us so today we had a nanny. She was wonderful, an emergency physician in FRANCE and taking her boards here in the US in 3 months. I felt totally confident with Toby Jack in her care!

No those are not little devil horns growing out of his head...he is an angel!

Because I had Toby and the nanny with me today SPANKY from the stables had Jesse saddled and delivered for me to the host stables. Normally I would have ridden Jesse with the others from our stables going to the Rodeo the short 1/2 hour down the wash. But Jesse and 2 other horse friends of his got a lift down there today!

When I arrived and was settling Toby and the nanny I was "scolded" by the trail boss as he hollered out...ARE YOU RID EN TODAY!!! YOU BET YOUR SWEET ASS I AM!!! ( I wanted to reply)

1st up BARRELS! OUR FAVORITE!

Jesse and The Rose take the 1st barrel!

Heading for the 2nd...still in the saddle!

3rd barrel...looking good!

Look at that Jesse "bring it home"! Boy does he LOVE to do that. In fact...it does become a problem later in the games!

Here comes the finish line....oops Jesse had not noticed this before and....he jumped over it at the end. Yes...the Rose was surprised yet stayed with him!

We took 3rd place and have another beer mug to add to past year wins!

Next up is pole bending!

So many people had questions about the pattern that I rode 1st. Jesse and I have done this many times...we took 1st at the pony cousin rodeo and took 3rd last year in the desert, this should be another "BEER MUG" for us! Sorry there are no pictures, I forgot to give my camera to someone...besides Jesse would certainly loose face if pictures were posted.

All started out well. We raced down the line of poles to the end and made our 1st circle and started our weave in and out the poles. On the 3rd pole...Jesse saw the white chalk finish line and off he went in a flash! Jesse has NEVER done anything like this before and he was not going to stop till he crossed that damn white line! Just before he reached it I got him pulled up and made him go back to the barrel he skipped out on and finish the run the right way. Of course as we rounded the last pole......we were off in a flash again! The PONY COUSINS all remember how Jesse loves to bring it home....he has become obsessed with it! Needless to say we finished LAST!

Next up...Mexican Hat Dance.

This game is a take on musical chairs. The hoopla hoops act as the chairs and you throw your hat down in the ring to secure your "chair". The hat can not touch the hoola hoop or it is up for grabs! You should see them running after the empty hoops! No accidents though. The Desert Rose and Jesse were out 3rd round...the visor was just to hard to get off and throw down and Jesse was a bit "prancy"...looking for that white line again!

Look close in the dust at the 2nd horse's hooves...see the hoopla hoop???

Luckily there were "hat picker uppers" so you did not have to dismount to retrieve your hat!

4th in the games was Western Pleasure! I have no idea what this meant....we all rode around and went through the gates requested but I have never shown before and was not surprised we did not place!

5th is the Peeled banana relay! 3 riders must circle the barrel at the end of the arena and hand off the peeled banana in one piece. The teams were drawn from the hat and team one was the "dream team". The rest of us said just give them the trophy! But....they dropped the banana! Our team place 3rd...could have done better if Jesse had not gone for the finish when we were 2nd hand off. This is what one team looked like trying hand off the banana. They were totally in each others way!

Now they get the pass off!

Jesse searches for Toby Jack!!!

Here's Toby, playing in the dirt!!! Last up is the trail course....Jesse and I go first so we can get Toby for his promised ride on Jesse! Sorry no pictures again...but the trail obstacles were, a tarp to walk over, poles to back up through, a pole to pivot left then right, large plastic cactus to take rings off off and place on another large cactus. Jesse will back up straight on a cliff trail but put him in an arena between two poles...no way! No more beer mugs for us :(

Toby sees Jesse poop and is actually AFRAID of it! I don't blame him! Jesse looks a bit embarrassed!

Poor Jesse...he can't understand why his "boy" won't come over!

Toby gets his ride! Jesse is sooo proud to take Toby for a ride! (See the curly hair on his neck??? We will be clipping him soon!!!)

Zsa Zsa, Toby and Jesse watch the rodeo!

Watching the Rodeo with the "crowd"! Next up is the BBQ, hamburgers with grilled onions, pickles, chips and all the fix en's with fresh fruit and CHOCOLATE CAKE for desert!

Looks like Toby approves of the desert!

The end of the Rodeo! ....Zsa Zsa and Toby go home to take a 3 hour nap! Jesse goes back to the stables! What a GRAND day!

Your Desert Rose!