Stubborn as a Mule

Last night I played cowgirl.

I rode a horse for the 2nd time ever. Well, it was a mule, but that still counts as a horse right? The momma is a draft horse so this mule's back was well above my 5 foot 8 tall frame. She was big. We rode in an arena so that if I fell I'd only land on the soft dusty dirt, however, this was rather unecessary because she hardly even walked. I nudged her sides with my heels, made kissing and clicking noises, and even slapped her rear with the end of the reigns. She took about ten steps in all then went back to the railing near her other mule friend that we brought to ride too. Stubborn, of course.

It wasn't very exciting but it was fun and I got to learn how to use the reigns to turn her, make her back up, make her stop, and occasionally got to tell her to go.
A couple that we're good freinds with lives out at a ranch here in Oklahoma that's called Dry Gulch. Anyone who's from around here has probably heard of the Christmas train that they do every year. The husband, Shane, of the couple works out there as a ranch hand and he and his wife Haley live out there in a small cabin. It's kindof surreal because it's set up to look like an old 1800s western town. Everything is meticulously painted and all of the buildings have intricate woodworking detail. One of the huge lodge buildings overlooks Hudson Lake and the veiw is amazing. I love it out there, it feels like being on vacation or in some far away place. This weekend they will have the trail horses out so I'm going on Sunday for a ride on the trails, and I'm beyond excited!

I also got to see a newborn donkey that was born yesterday morning. It was ADORABLE, it had the finest, bristly hair that stuck out on end everywhere. It was so tiny too. I made buddies with one of the older donkeys too and it kept walking next to me and nuzzling me with it's nose. Being the animal lover that I am, it was a blast.

This is what the little guy looked like. Cute, huh?


Hope you all had a great weekend!