Dangerous wool-covered horse eaters with bells

Today was a beautiful sunny day to ride, and everyone was taking advantage of the happy weather. Lots of horses were on the trails, and we visited 3 riding stables. Baasha finally has a new license plate, making us fully legal. He's horse number 3268 in our state. Approximately 3000 horses have registered to use the trails. I found out the money does go to maintaining the trails, thank goodness! That's a good place to put my money!

Baasha learned what sheep are today. I'm not sure if he's seen sheep, but he certainly hasn't seen them with bells around their necks that make klingaling sounds as they graze.

But first we visited the closest riding stable, and this is how you know you're in Europe. All the hayfields have had their contents harvested into this product called "Silage" - it's shrink-wrapped grass that ferments in airtight plastic. Stacks and stacks of it are lining fields all over Europe now. Baasha has no idea what those things are, and I hope he never does. Although German horses seem to like it, it's just nasty IMO. Smells like rotting compost? My horse is not eating it.

Some girls arrived for their lesson and greeted horses in the field. You can see how there is no flat land in this area - everywhere is rolling hills. I love it. I think it's pretty, and I think it's great for horses to be on hills constantly. There is only one downside - I wanted to teach my horse to play soccer (clicker train), but there is no way you can do this on a hillside. You'd lose the ball under the fence constantly. Oh well!

At the next riding school, a super fancy place, a line of minature european horse trailers is the first thing you see. Then you see the results of the high rent - two fancy arenas, and beyond, "Bay Horse Lane" - a row of separate fields with mostly bay horses with brands on them I do not know how to read yet. Those fancy German region brands. Two bays were so curious about Baasha, it was so cute.


They approached.....








....they retreated!









They approached, showing me their fancy brands, and tried to touch noses with Baasha. One of them was so big, his back was higher than my head. He has the most exquisite slender head. His girlfriend made the "come hither" face to Baasha, who ignored her, he was too busy eating to flirt. I just don't think it's natural, for a horse to be so big. It looks so man-made.

This is an example of the only big horse trailer I've seen here, but I've been in these, and I haven't seen a living quarters yet. My goodness if a horse fell off the ramp getting in...




Then Baasha saw them: SHEEP in the distance. Their tinkling bells rang out across the valley. Baasha fruck out. I was at his side, telling him, "Bells on them, it's just bells!" and he let loose several ear-splitting warning snorts, that echoed off the hills. DANGER! he announced. To who?? Me? I wasn't worried. To the horses grazing near the sheep? Good grief! He blasted another warning. And again. 7 times in all. I was starting to get embarrassed. It was SO LOUD, his warning blows. (What is that noise called that horses make when they blast air loudly thru their noses at danger?)

We got near the sheep finally and I just laughed. He was terrified of them. I stroked him and tried to let him eat grass. A hiker appeared suddenly and he spooked spectacularly. Good thing I was on the ground. DANGER! SAVE YOURSELVES!! he shouted to the horses on the hillsides.

Then we came to another pony hof where little girls were waiting their turn for lessons. I took a photo of the barn with outdoor runs, I will never stop being disgusted by how many barns use asphalt/pavement for their flooring. What is up with that! The little girls and I spoke for a while. They thought my german was quite bad, I imagine.

We rode along between these fields and visited with every horse along the way possible. Baasha has never been in a place so horse friendly. This is really the best place for horses. If you didn't like horses, you would not want to live anywhere near here! We have to ride on roads some of the time - lots of pavement riding. I hope it's not hurting Baasha. I get off and lead him, but still.


These little paved roads are actually the horse trails. The roads end at the houses, and the trail continues. There are little painted codes to follow, I haven't figured them out yet.




We came to a field with the cutest pony ever. I want him! Look how he pushes his neck right into the barbwire. Ouch. I told him he was dangerously overweight.






We came to a field with so many horses I couldn't believe it. I wanted to hang out here, but it was getting late.






We came to the Fjord pony at my old riding school, and said hello. I thought it was a cute picture, these two opposite horses staring at each other.






More hills and valleys and finally we were home.