In suspension

It's been a rollercoaster this past week. One minute everything is in place to leave, the next minute plans fall through, then they are picked up again, then it's off, then no, then maybe... it's playing havok with my peace of mind, not to mention worries about how it affects those far away. So no more posts for a bit until we see where the grand design comes to rest.

In the meantime, everyone have a wonderful holiday and new year's!

almost ready for the rodeo!

Okay, time to fess up... I've been invited to join Sea G Rhyder and the Free Range Rodeo.

Sea is a Long Rider, a brave and amazing adventurer. She's midway on a coast-to-coast ride. Free Range Rodeo is the mix of equines and people that make up the travelling herd as she goes. She's been solo for much of her ride - including the entire way across the Continental Divide - and on the same horse all the way, Jesse James, and most of the way with the pack pony, Findhorn. For several months at the start, and right now, another amazing adventurer and circus performer, a young woman named Gryph, has been along. They now have another pack horse, a grey mare, Luna.

Long story how Sea and I became friends, but not yet met in person... you can read about it in her blog - please follow the link and visit, you'll be glad you did!:

Freerangerodeo.com

saved by a mule

Ever since Butch's meltdown in Texas, no matter how well things are going the memory of being kicked has stayed with me, along with a nagging question in the back of my mind:


In an emergency, would Butch take care of me?

Or would he hurt me to (in his mind) save himself?

Yesterday a friend and I went for a long ride down the riverbed. It was a perfect fall day. She was working on exposing her horse to new things, I was working on building up Butch's conditioning. I've been slowly building him back up to longer stretches of trotting in deep sand, and just recently starting cantering him some in it.

"You want to lope a bit?"

"Sure, you go ahead."

Butch was willing, he kicked right into gear. Here's what happened next, 

from my view:

Midstride, suddenly Butch pitched forward & down. I went over his head. I was lying on my stomach and could hear him scrambling frantically right next to me. I heard my name yelled, and turned over just in time to see his shoulder land at my shoulder and the rest of his body coming crashing down on top of me. Then, miraculously, I had time to roll out from under him and let go of the reins (I was still gripping the reins!). The instant I was out of the way he fell heavily on his side, struggled a moment and then got up. 

Becky's view:

Midstride, suddenly Butch pitched forward onto his head. I flew over and landed face-down. For a moment Butch scrambled madly to recover but somehow his head was twisted under his neck (probably from me holding the reins) and he couldn't. A second later, he went down shoulder-first into a flip. Becky saw me under him and yelled my name. Suddenly - impossibly, with his head caught under his neck like a pretzel and his body tumbled halfway over - Butch froze, butt up, holding his hind end up off the sand. Becky saw me roll out on the other side of him. Butch unfroze, fell the rest of the way over, freed his head and pulled himself up.

He then stood quietly and waited for me. 

Butch is okay - I'm fine - he's bruised under his tail where the crupper broke and a little stiff in his right shoulder, but otherwise seems none the worse. He got the royalty treatment when we got back to the barn!  He got so many hand-fed apples he'll be impossible to deal with for the next two weeks.

Butch Henry. My mule. 

There are no words...

Gearing up for the next one

remembrance of rides past (and yet to come...)

Yep, that's the Butchenator. We're still in it together.

Meet Butch Henry

When I first met my boy two Novembers ago, he was a goofy, gangly, spoiled, attention-loving 5- or 6-year-old kid named "Butch." The name was given him by his very young, very short happy-go-lucky bull-riding owner who clearly hoped for a very macho mule. And kissed his wannabe macho mule on the nose every morning, fed him apples and called him "Butchie-wutchie-poo."

At first I kept the name because it made me laugh.

Butchie-poo seeking the camera, November 2009

Manhandling young Butch, the macho he-mule, Feb. 2010

But soon, it became clear that the name was so hilariously ill-fitting, he really did need a new one. Something about Butch reminds me of a man I knew growing up, an old farmer who was the husband of Mrs. G, who took care of us kids. Henry. Mrs. G was Mrs. G, and Henry was always Henry. Our whole family loved Henry. He was a small, wirey old man who climbed the roof and shovelled snow til the day he died, and he lived to his 90s. Always smiling, always joking. Something about Butch's expression, the woeful eyes with a hint of mischief, his good nature... anyway, I decided to change Butch to Henry.

Just one problem. Butch knew the name "Butch."

And Butch was a handful. He had zero ground manners... none. He had to be taught not to drag his handler, not to run over him or her, not to knock people down with his chest (on purpose), not to charge at his handler in the round pen when he was pushed, not to butt anyone with his head, to wait to be given a treat (if he earned it), to keep a respectful distance at the gate, etc., etc....  I decided since he did know his name and responded to it, this was such a plus, not to mess with it.

Time went by. Butch grew up, filled out, matured, mellowed. He learned to carry a rider.

Tarp lesson, March 2010

At the lake, April 2010

Our first solo drive, December 2010

Rocking K, February 2011

Awaiting a ride, August 2011

Dragging the arena, November 2011

The multi-use riverwalk, December 2011

Riding the Rillito, December 2011

All packed up & ready to go, March 2012

Little did he know, he was being groomed for the ride of his life (up to that point). 

Texas. 

Highways. Oil trucks. Trains. Hardest of all... equine solitude.

If you've been following this blog, we all know how that went... but even with his meltdown, how brave was my mule! He dealt with all of it. His only downfall was the terrifying loneliness. And if he hadn't gotten injured, who knows how much more he might have proven himself.

So when we got back, in honor of his courage and newfound maturity, I decided he had earned his new name. From now on, Butch would be "Henry." 

Surprisingly, Henry seemed to like his new name. He even answered to it.

Everyone at the barn loved it. They all took to calling him Henry right away.

Just one problem. I couldn't remember it. I kept calling him Butch.

Then one day, when my mule was being especially trying, like an exasperated parent I found myself yelling, "Butch Henry, you QUIT that RIGHT NOW!" And with a guilty look, he did. 

Suddenly, we both knew his name. 

Meet Butch Henry. 

Mule extraordinaire.

rehab update

Several folks have emailed me recently, noting how long the blog has been silent and wondering if we are okay. Thank you so much for your concern! Yes, we're both alive and kickin & getting restless.

Butch's burn has finally closed up. I still put Corona on it a few days a week to keep the scar soft. Here are pics:

Quite a doozy, eh?

Battle scar to show off to the babes!










While the Butchenator was recovering, I had events on the home front that kept me out of the saddle for the better part of 6 weeks. We both turned into a couple of marshmallows. About two weeks ago, took Mr Mule out for the first off-property ride since early June. We took a short loop across the river, along the bridle path, down and back, about a mile. He was sweating! Couldn't believe it. And I was a little stiff myself, couldn't believe that either. Yikes. Doesn't take long to lose tone.

This is him a month ago:

Asking for the remote and a beer, no doubt. He's just soft though, not fat.

No pics of me, sorry. Use your imagination.

...Hey... I'm not that out of shape!!

remedy on the rocks

Butch in his slick summer coat

Doc S. is the kind of old-style veterinarian who can tell more at a glance than most younger vets can diagnose with a clinic-full of tests, tools and machines. He's a local legend. He's retired. He's an old friend of the barn owner. He treats my mule because I board with her. Lucky me - lucky Butch!

Diagnosis: The stocking up (swelling) in Butch's left hind is NOT due to a tendon injury. *Whew!!!*

                  It's not a long-term concern. 

                  He's not lame. There's no reason not to ride him. 

                  However: 

                      The burn injury is still healing; it's slow to repair partly because of reduced blood flow so far from the heart, which is also why his fetlock joint keeps stocking up. Usage during healing produces fluid the heart can't pump quickly enough, so it builds up slightly overnight. 

                 Doc S. also noticed Butch's feet are wearing unevenly due to a mild conformation issue. (Mule's right front toes out a bit.) Which brings us to:

Treatment: Ride - on rocky ground!

                  Doc says riding will keep the burn scar tissue flexible as it forms, and will increase blood flow even if it does cause mild swelling. And he says the uneven foot wear now is due to Butch self-correcting to try and carry himself evenly in the sand. Riding on rocky ground - especially hills - will teach him to balance on the whole surface, wear the hooves evenly, and have the added plus of toughening up his feet.

                Other than that, just keep doing what I've been doing: hose, apply Corona, wrap at night.

Prognosis:  Full recovery. *Happy dance!*

morning ride

Saturday morning's ride was hot, hazy and overcast. Hazy with smoke from the massive New Mexico fire. Step outside and it smells like ash and cinders, no matter where you go. I'm surprised my clothes don't have that campfire reek.

Friday evening several of us rode into the setting sun, marvelling at the beauty of the huge red fiery orb hanging in the sky. There was so much smoke you could stare right at it.

All day it looked and felt like monsoon weather... except that low-lying loose blanket of gray clouds blowing in wasn't clouds...

Butch was so happy to get out for a real ride, he nickered when he saw me carrying the big orange hornbags from the tackroom. I've been easing him slowly back into work, checking his leg and healing burn after each go-round, hosing them down and wrapping his legs even now, with no swelling. Friday night, for the first time, I put him up without hosing or wraps. This morning he was fine, so it was time for a several miles of walk-trot in the riverbed.

Turned out to be walk-trot-lope. He was so cheerful and so good! No stumbling, no hesitation, no barn-sourness. The only time he stopped and didn't want to move was when his cinch needed adjusting. He's always good that way, lets me know when it's too loose. He stands perfectly still now when I get on or off. He was a joy to ride, responding to every touch of the rein and leg, every shift of seat. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised! Apparently time off work has been just the break Butch needed, mentally and physically.

Back home gave him a bath, all of him, not just his leg. Happy happy mule! He stretched out his neck, eyes half closed, lip quivering while I scraped him off.  Funny guy.

Saturday night, no sign of swelling. Sunday morning Butch's left hind was all stocked up again. *Sigh.* Vet comes Monday...

a setback and progress

Butch's rope burn was healing beautifully. We had worked up to riding about 5 miles a day.

Sometimes, things just happen.

At the entrance to the riverbed ramp, Butch suddenly pitched forward onto his knees. He couldn't get up. I leapt off. He scrambled up on 3 legs, holding his left hind in the air.

A gopher tunnel had collapsed under Butch's front feet. The sudden pull on his hinds had ripped open the fresh scar tissue, and possibly strained a tendon.

That was about 10 days ago. Back to square one: irrigate, vetrimycin, prep H, Corona, Swat... hose leg 2x/day, wrap, hand-walk. Burn is almost done scabbing. No longer tender. Leg swelling finally back to almost normal as of the past two days.

This morning turned Butch out and... he exploded! Bucking joyfully, tearing round and round at a flat-out gallop. I was happy to see him clearly not lame, but my eyes got wider and wider in anxiety with each lap...


Not to worry. Checked on him throughout the day... wound was the same, no stocking up, no hint of lameness. This evening it was slightly stocked up, but no more swollen than last night. Looking good! Please cross your fingers for him!

Butch waiting for his lollipop after enduring the daily treatment. 

slowly is okay

This is the process as of yesterday, 5/6/12.  It's been 19 days since Butch got burned on his left hind by the polyester rope.  Now treating it with vetrymicin, preparation H, corona, and swat. Irrigating 1-2x/day. Been walking him in hand every day for exercise.

The vet checked on him Friday, and says he is okay now for light riding. So I've begun that. Butch's pastern still stocks up a bit after being ridden, but not nearly as much as before. And he's still very tender, but again, not nearly as much as even a week ago.  The reason we're taking it so slowly is that due to the location and depth of the injury, it's very important the burn heal from the inside out, with as little scar tissue as possible and with good healthy elastic repair keeping him flexible and sound.

The observant reader might notice Butch is barefoot.  His farrier was out yesterday.  He's grown out of the bad trim of 9 months ago, pretty balanced now, so I'll be working on hardening up his hooves again. Butch has the classic good hard mule feet and farrier says it shouldn't take long, once Butch is back on a build-up riding regimen.

Personal note: over the shock of being back home early with injured animal... beginning to catch up on correspondence with trail angels, new friends... pics on blog, artwork, etc. ... and finally able to enjoy seeing old friends and family while I can.  Not knowing what the summer will bring. And isn't that the way it should always be? Appreciating the gifts of the present moment, no matter the past or uncertainties of the future.


I know it's a cliche, don't mean to sound like a Hallmark card. But having ridden an emotional roller coaster since returning, I have come to rest at the balance with my own unadorned face staring back at me from the mirror, aware that I can laugh about it, cry about it, whine or joke, feel guilty, furious, grateful, scared, relieved, stupid, brilliant, anxious to go again or resigned... none of that changes what happened or where we are now. And it was a grand first try!   

verified by the vet

Well, I was feeling pretty low, thinking maybe I had over-reacted and could've continued the ride while Butch's burn healed.  "Pretty low" is an understatement.

More like: "You wuss, you backyard-pampered-animal city girl, all those people disrupted thier lives and went way outta thier way to haul you around, teach you how to handle your ill-mannered mule and pack right, then you go and wimp out at the first little mule owwie... you coulda been to Abilene by now... he's not even lame, riding woulda been good for him... what a pathetic wimper of an ending... look at him moping around, even Butch is depressed, he wanted to keep going too... you were such a nanny!..."


Then I talked to my vet about how long it might be before Butch is road-ready again. He asked how long ago the burn had happened. When I told him I was concerned cuz it was about 12 days, his words were: "That's all?!?  I hate to tell you this, but it'll take at least 4 weeks, maybe longer before he's healed up enough. It's deep. It's in a bad spot. And you'll need to be treating it daily."

I was not happy to hear the burn was severe, but have to admit, was relieved to be vindicated in my judgement. I had not overreacted. Bringing him home - since I could - was the right thing to do.

As to my judgement about whether or not to continue with Butch despite his mental and behavior issues, on the next ride or drive, I have decided not to write about that here as it is too private, difficult and personal a decision.  When it comes time for the next ride I'll start a new blog and there will tell the tale.

Will post here when Butch is healed up, though - with pics - also, will be adding a few pics to old posts, so if you are interested please check back occasionally!

All the best to everyone!

trip cancelled

Butch's rope burn was worse again yesterday morning. I asked myself, if I were at home, would I ride him?

The answer: No.
I'd call the vet and give him time to heal.

Instead of hauling to Colorado City, TX, I asked Lee to turn around and haul us back to my rig at John & Lois' place in Salt Flat.

I took Butch home today.


Thank you to everyone who has helped me & Butch mule on this attempted ride, everyone who has lifted us up with your support and encouragement and belief; to John and Lois, you incorrigible enablers! for seeing me off at the beginning and being there in every way possible throughout; Annie for the half-chaps and britchen; to the MTR Texans who planned to host or meet up, maybe next ride; thank you to Darren, Lee, Cathy, for your endless patience, good humor and refusal to accept any excuses when I needed a good kick in the butt, and for biting yer tongues & letting me make my own mistakes and learn the hard way when needed; thank you to JoAnn and Joyce for showing me true Texas hospitality, welcoming me into your homes and treating me as one of the family; to Charlie and Drue Stanford and family, and all the hands at the Collier ranch; to the good folks of Seminole, especially Meriya; to Bo, who I still hope to meet; to anyone I'm forgetting right now only cuz I'm old and it's late at nite; and to all those at home in Arizona (plus Lee and Mel in CA) who have given your love and support since the planning began... from Betty's Mule Shower to Sally's printouts to Tom's chaps to Jan's holding mail to Jack's cat sitting, to all my friends who spent so many hours of listening cheerfully to my obsession. And finally, thank you and much love to my Mom, Dad and brothers for your support even after you realized what I was actually planning to do!

I could not have gotten this far without all of you.

Next one will go better...

trial run con't.

Upshot is... I was so mad as we went out the gate I was telling Butch he better speak Spanish, but he redeemed himself completely. He went the whole 16 miles without making any scenes, at a good steady walk, behaving like a gentleman every time I got off and on. We had a great ride and when we pulled in, his only sweat was under the saddle pad (and he wasn't dehydrated - he drank plenty at every opportunity).

About an hour into the ride, I finally let go of the idea of trading for the molly mule. I've messed around long enough, far too long in fact. I'm taking Butch. He's a good good mule, I know him, and he knows me. We'll try it again together.

So... restart tomorrow!  Said my goodbyes to new friends the Kleins, packed up, Kathy leaves for her home up north and Lee will trailer us out to our new starting point tomorrow. Doing it more wisely this time - have places to stay lined up for all but one night of the next two weeks.

If you're reading - thank you for following the ride - posting might be spotty for a while.

All the best to you and yours!

Final trial run - overnight, 16 miles packed

Butch seemed to have recovered from his temporary insanity - the 20-30 lbs he lost pacing appears to have been mostly water weight (he was drenched in sweat, hardly ate or drank for a night & day). He filled out a lot after a day of hydrating. He still looks thinner to me than I'd like, but he's so raw boned and now buffed up, it's hard to tell how much is lean muscle.

Anyway, mule calm, leg fine, cut healing, so I decided to take him for one last test before deciding whether or not to continue. Lee arranged for me to camp out on the land of a friend of his, 16 miles away down mostly deserted rural roads. Lee trailered us there late yesterday afternoon. I set up camp with Lee coaching me on how best to stay organized and set up/take down efficiently (advice I promptly ignored and then ended up rooting around in my bags in the dark, of course). I slathered Butch's lead rope with nasty-tasting fly goop so he wouldn't chew it in half, tied him and hobbled him and went to bed. He did well.

This morning (after comedy of newbie camping errors we won't dignify by describing), finally camp all rolled up, time to saddle and pack my mule. My mule had other ideas. He moved. He fidgeted. When I corrected him he came up with  new tactic, backing up. He shook himself after I put on his pads, while I went to grab the saddle, shaking them out of place. I manage to get the saddle on, start cinching, and he swings his butt toward me and feigns biting at a fly, dislodging the saddle position. Pull off saddle and pads and start over...

Packing actually went a little better. By that time I'd corrected him enough, or he'd been shocked enough by the level of profanity his person gave vent to, that he stood fairly still. I discovered, however, that Butch is even taller than I imagined, or I'm shorter. I couldn't reach the top of his cantle bag to tighten the straps or attach the canteens. So I re-rigged the canteens and bucket over the horn. Feeling quite pleased with myself, I untied Butch and proceeded to mount.

Attempt to mount, that is.

Getting on tall Butch with all the packs is a complicated yoga move in the best of circumstances. Butch decided to make it even more complicated by adding the extra challenge of a moving target. He stood stock still as I put my foot in the stirrup, then every time, the instant he felt me hoist myself...

he'd start walking. Or turning. Or backing up.

More colorful vocabulary, much pulling of riens and turning of mule, round and round and round.
And, finally, we're off.

To be continued [time to go feed] ---

about healed

Quick note -  swelling completely gone, Butch's leg looks fine. Burn wound much improved, still very tender to the touch but healing up.

Isolated Butch night before last by moving pen buddies across the street, and my mule lost his mind again. Better today, grooming calmed him down, loaded all his packs and rode him a ways. By the time we returned his ears were flopping. Tonight camping out alone with him (in a safe location) to see how he handles it.

limbo

Everything is in limbo while we wait.

The swelling is way down on Butch's left hind, but the hairless area has become a moist, lightly oozing wound, and I can tell now it is most likely a rope burn. When I hobbled him to a tree on the last ride, there was a stake hidden in the long grass that he got the poly rope hung up on. His left hind was only caught for a moment, but he did jerk it, and I think that one-second jerk is what caused both the burn and the leg strain. I was afraid the situation was much more serious, but thankfully it appears the stocking up (swelling) is only due to a mild injury, healing quickly. Butch is feeling fine now, bored, making mischief and playing with the gate. He's putting full wieght on his foot. No limp at all. Right now I'm more concerned about the burn.

So I treat him 3x/day with exercise (leading down the road), meds and 20 minutes of hosing, and wait... and watch... and wait.

Butch is sore, summer is here

Yesterday had Butch in a working trot for longer than he's used to; last night I noticed the area in back of his left hind foot just above the coronet band had all the hair rubbed off with pink skin showing. It didn't appear tender but I put salve on it anyway.

This morning the bare crack is tender; he's favoring that foot a bit, both hind pasterns are slightly swollen and he's walking slowly on all four feet. (No heat in his feet, thankfully.) Lee says it's to be expected, just like a person being sore the day after a heavy workout, but I am concerned. Seems to me we built Butch up to this point pretty carefully, yesterday was not much more than the day before. I am wondering, again, if Butch has what it takes for this journey. If I'm asking too much of him. Next couple days will give some idea.

I ran the hose on his legs for a while, reapplied salve to the crack and gave Butch the day off. Re-evaluate tomorrow.

The summer heat has set in. Yesterday by the time Butch & I returned to the barn it was 105. I had planned to be beyond the west Texas desert by now! We'll just have to deal with it... turns out Lee and Kathy are too busy now to leave for thier own trip next week and help with water/feed caching. If we can't be dropped off beyond the water-danger zone (as far as towns being close enough together to avoid being stranded, waterless) I'll either have to go back to get my rig and haul us to an entirely different destination (if I can plan a new trip in such a short time), or haul us back home.

boot camp update

Boot camp is going well. Butch has put on wieght and is fit; we're doing average 12-13 miles every morning, and another 2-3 in late afternoon. Practice miles, local rural roads. We rode next to a train twice, and the second time Butch didn't spook until the two engines on the end went clanging by. He no longer shies from huge tanker trucks. Best of all, he stands still for grooming, saddling, and mounting, and for the minimal packs I've had on him so far. Next we do the rides with full packs.

Tomorrow the plan is to go over my entire camping/pack setup, making any adjustments needed. Hope to leave for re-start by the weekend.

Kidnapped!

Darren, Kathy and Floyd (Lee)

A few posts back I mentioned meeting packer Floyd Lee Morton and Kathy at cowboy church, and them offering to help coach me on packing. They came by the next evening with thier horses & mule, bringing a decker packsaddle to show me, and rode with me & Darren for about 10 miles out on the ranch. They left me a cared and said, please call with any questions.

Day before yesterday, worked with Butch mostly on the ground. He saddled up more quietly, but after a short ride was a stinker about standing still to be unsaddled, so we put him on the hot walker to ponder the strange ways of humans for a few hours.

When I went to take him off he tried to shove me and pull the lead away. He got backed up, tied to another post and left for a couple more hours.... I had concerns about this, and about Butch ponying another animal on the road, after the big spooks over oil rigs going by on the narrow dirt road. Also questions about the weight Butch is carrying.

So that night, I phoned Lee to ask his advice. After we talk a while Kathy gets on, says "Can we call you back in a few minutes?" 5 minutes later I pick up the phone and hear:

"We want you to come stay with us for a while. Lee knows every inch of that country along your route. We can get you and your mule pack-ready, go over your gear, and teach you what you need to know. He's gonna go over the details of the route with you, and help you plan stopovers. Then we'd like to do some overnight camping anyway, so we'll all go out to the grasslands before we send you on your way. So when do you want us to come pick you up?"

Dumbfounded, I stuttered out something about helping Darren the next morning before I leave. They said they'd come around noon next day. I hung up the phone, looking around for some kind of reality check - it seemed so unreal! I stepped outside the trailer in a state of cheerful shock. How could this be?

When Lee and Kathy came the next morning, we all - they and Darren, D's best friend who has been working on the ranch, and Charlie (the ranch owner)'s 2 sons who work there also - stood around telling stories for a bit. Then the boys (yes, I can call them that - they're all younger than me) all gave me goodbye hugs (cowboy hugs!) and wished me well. After we had delivered Butch to his new pen and gotten back to the house, I hesitated at the suggestion I unfold the sleeping couch.

"It's okay, I can sleep on the couch in my sleeping bag."

"Are you sure? The bed is a whole lot more comfortable. So are sheets."

"Well, it's just... I decamp so often, I've learned it's not wise to unpack and get all situated."

"Oh, heck, just settle in. You've been kidnapped. You're gonna be here a while!"

That night Lee grilled steaks, Kathy and I made salads, and we all sat around the dinner table howling over Lee's stories - from pack trip for vegetarian college dudettes to wax smuggling over the border - his life is a book in itself...

This morning Kathy and I did a timed ride on Butch to guage his trekking gait while Lee went to town. Tonight we're all decompressing from the work week. Tomorrow longer AM ride, groundwork, Lee goes over my tack and probably takes Butch for an evening ride.

I have given up on any semblance of a schedule. We'll start again when we're ready. We'll get there when we get there.

Life is meant to be savored as it is lived. Viva la vida!

pics next post (hopefully)

Still at boot camp. Butch and I did test ride yesterday. About 20 miles from the barn to Saragosa. A beautiful morning after the first rain here in years. The first 7 or so miles on a well-traveled oil rig road, huge garbage-truck-like monsters rumbling noisily by over the washboard semi-paved road just a few feet away as I struggled to control a terrified mule. We made it (thanks in part to the very considerate drivers), including riding through foot-deep water pouring over a culvert. The rest of the way Butch was pretty much fine with the highway traffic; he doesn't mind most trucks whizzing by at 70 miles an hour. But the shoulder was another matter. Deep, sucking mud for miles and miles. We rode along any tiny strip of dry ground we could find. It was exhausting. I was so proud of Butchmule by the end!

We're still working on some issues. The respect issue is the biggest one. I'm small, he's big, and unfortunately now he knows it and uses it. I trust my ability to ride him but have lost confidence in both of us on the ground, so he's great for me under saddle but hard to saddle, pack and mount, ill-mannered and pushy on the ground. So much so that I am debating whether we are a good match to continue this ride together. Yet when he's good, he's so good!

It's late, tonight is my last night with access for a while. Next post will tell what I decided to do. Would have written more and posted pics but we had a freak hailstorm with a flooding rain here this afternoon - hail piled up like snow!

And I left my tent out with the flap open from last night! (Had Butch here hobbled to a railroad tie by one foot and camped out in the yard to keep an eye on him.) Needless to say we all spent hours cleaning up... sure glad our test ride was yesterday!

G'nite all.

today

Worked with Butch all day. Mostly on attitude - I've allowed him to revert and get as pushy as he used to be. I had him how I needed him to be, as a good respectful working animal, and over the past 6 months or so let him become more and more of a big pet. Now he's pushy.

First, hobbled him and had him stand still for grooming. Then, same with saddling. Went well. We went ahead and loaded the full packs on him. Worked with him til he stood perfectly still, relaxed, while I messed with the packs, tying and retying the cantle bag different ways.

Now... the whole time we're in the round pen doing this, we have an audience. There are big logs to climb up and view from outside the walls. The ranch owner, his grandson, hand, and a neighbor horse & mule trader who wants to sell me a mule were all watching as I made mistake after mistake - nothing like a little public ambarrassment to act as a motivator!!! And then again when we went outside for me to lead him around... "Don't let that mule push you around like that! Don't let him move while we're talking! Make him stand still!" Of course they were right... and then after I corrected my big brat, every one of them would tell me a story about a mule they let get too familiar that took advantage. Lots of painful laughter - the kind of day you KNOW you learned a lot. We ended up putting a stud chain on Butch to get his attention, and the day ended well. It was determined that I would do well to travel with one and use it pretty much all the time - such is Butch's temperament. A fine, good mule, but "give-him-an-inch-he-takes-a-mile".

Tonight went to Cowboy Church with the Kleins. It was a very small local congregation, kids' easter egg hunt and dinner before the service, and bluegrassy bilingual band (all the songs in English and Spanish) leading everyone. People updating the congregation on news of loved ones and asking prayer requests. Everyone so welcoming.

While there met a mule manand old packer Lee, who with wife Kathy are coming Monday to help me with the packing and ride with us.

Now the kids are asleep, we're all winding down, time for bed before Easter get-together tomorrow. G'nite all...

Yesterday

Am working with Darren Klein of Saragosa, TX - a good man and a wonderful trainer. (Or I should say, "colt starter"; Darren specializes in starting young horses.) Darren starts colts for clients at the Collier Ranch. And staying with his wife JoAnn and thier beautiful children. The warmest, friendliest, most welcoming family!

Yesterday helped Darren with his work in the morning and we began working with Butch in a quiet way. Put him in a stock run and had him stand there all day, half of it with a light saddle on. He fell asleep. No time to do more. At night putting him in a 40' round pen with 8' walls, where he can hear the other equines but can't see them.

Watching Darren work was a revelation. He talked me through everything he was doing, loading me with far more information than i'm sure I'll retain. I could see so many things I'd been doing with Butch that need changing or refinmement. And I finally began (began!) learning how to properly lunge on a lead line.

mule & human boot camp detour

Good news: Vet says nothing appears wrong with Butch but mental stress.

More good news: After working with Butch for less than an hour yesterday and today, he's back to his sane, respectful and funny self.

Caveat: All I did was groom, pick his feet, saddle him up and ride around the pen. No packing.

He was still pacing when I arrived early this morning, and still hadn't finished his hay from 2 nights before. He finished it when I stood next to it and kept him company. Then he ate about 3/4 of the 2 flakes I put out after that. (He ate whenever I stood there. He left off when I left.) And he calmed down, relaxed and stopped pacing, even laying down to sleep, only, apparently, because I spent the day up til an hour ago at the corral, and 2 donkeys arrived this afternoon and were penned across from him.

Sooooo.... ranchhand of brother-in-law of close friend of Jack is arriving shortly to take me & Butch to far southwest TX. They'll work with us for a week or so to teach me to handle my mule more safely and confidently, and to see if Butch has the temperament to go solo. If not, I'll decide whether or not to get a pack mule (or ride/pack mule) and continue.

I'll post if I can. Vet gave me a ride into town just now. The people of this town have been wonderful! Meriya, bless you and Pedro and your family!!

day 5

I'm doing fine. Butch... more about that in a minute.

I'm at the library in a small Texas town I'd love to name but will not for the moment until I get a bit farther on and have the daisy chain going of local folks keeping an eye out for me.

Day one, mule friends and trail angels extraordinaire Lois and John drove us over 4 hours to our starting point. From there we got off to a late start, still working out glitches (after having spent the entire day before completely re-weighing and repacking everything, this time including food and water).

Butch and I set out at 2:34 pm Saturday March 31, 2012. Lois rode along with us for 4 1/2 miles to our first rendezvous with John and the LQ trailer, at a roadside picnic area. I pitched my tent, and after groom, water, roll & feed tied Butch to the fencepost by his lead. After a hot meal (thank you J&L) had sudden bad feeling about Butch being secure so close to the highway, and clipped a second, stronger yellow poly rope to his halter as insurance.

The next morning, there was my mule, looking innocent next to his chewed-off lead rope dangling from the fence. The poly rope was knawed halfway through.

Next day, while we rode John went to the hardware store next town up and bought a chain for Butch. More weight... crap... but he has to be safe. That day Butch did great, striding happily along, ears flopping in relaxation, til the last half hour or so, when he began kicking at his cinch. (We rode maybe 8-9 miles). I loosened the tie strap and exchanged the lovely mohair (thank you Edie!) for his old wool pad cinch, hoping that would help next day. Also the riding became kinda challenging - not due to traffic, which Butch handles very well - but holes. Hundreds and hundreds of holes made by small critters in the soft dirt next to plowed fields. Lois's mule went down to his knees in one and finally refused to go anywhere but right next to the asphalt shoulder. We were worried Butch could hurt himself bad if he stepped in one carrying all that wieght. But we made it, carefully. And the fields! So many wheat fields. To this desert rat, there was something comforting about all those miles of green... green = water. The mules had a feast grazing on volunteer shoots along the wayside. That night chained Butch to the trailer and hobbled him, concerned the light chain might break. Butch tested the chain til late into the night, when he finally fell asleep.

Monday, about midmorning J&L drove away from us with mule Barney in tow, braying at Butch through the bars of the stock trailer. At first Butch seemed confused - hesitant, looking all around anxiously. Then he got his stride. But after about 2 hours he suddenly began having a nervous breakdown. I got off to check the cinch and he tried to tear the lead out of my hands, head high, snorting, spinning, running into me, backing up at my sharp command (thankfully!), then trying it again and again. Took me ages to stop his spinning long enough to get back on.

Turned into a house by the highway to ask permission to stop for an hour for tack check, water mule & lunch. Young woman very sweet with broken German accent, kind but clearly nervous about having a stranger on the property, let me tie him. Or attempt to tie him, I should say. Butch nearly exploded when I tried to tie him to a tree. Apparently he has had enough of being restrained. Brought out the chain, even worse... then he wouldn't let me take off his packs. Wouldn't let me touch him. He started swinging a hind foot at me every time I tried to unclip the rear bags. (Clip was near the cinch-I learned later this was one of the two issues.)I ignored the first 4 warnings, as I have learned that the "10 seconds of death" usually has the opposite effect with him as it's supposed to. Also I knew he was not deliberately being mean, he was scared and confused and hurting somewhere. He nailed me on the 5th. Not hard enough to break my thigh, but man did he bruise it deep! Then I wanted to give him 10 seconds of death, but had nothing in my hands to wallop him with so it was too late to do anything but look big and yell loud. Spent the next hour very, very carefully little by little reaching over to unclip here, untie there... whenever he'd swing I'd stop and just let him stand for about 5 minutes with the packs hanging. It finally worked, he quieted just long enough to let me slide everything off.

But he was still furious at being tied, and hard to get near. What to do? Only 2 in the afternoon and I obviously wasn't going to be able to even check his back, much less get anything back on him. And I couldn't leave him tied all night, not in this condition. And I needed to get him to a place with horse people to help.

I began leading him back down the road to a place I had seen with an empty turnout and metal horses on the driveway gate. Butch tried several times to tear the lead away - something he hasn't done since I first got him 2 1/2 years ago. We ended up at the home of a wonderful woman named Barbara who said they haven't had horses in years, but offered the use of thier huge arena turnout or little pen, and a barn for me to pitch my tent. Husband got home after turning on water in the barn, the whole family swept and cleaned the bathroom and sink area, and then they went and bought a bale of hay. What a blessing! That night there was an issue with hobbles, I am only saying it here to remember to write more later.

Took me 4 hours the next morning, to tack up and pack Butch. I lost his rear cinch in the melee. But once I was on him he gave it his all. Stepped out like he had nothing on his back, focussed and purposeful. As long as we headed south. Butch had spent much of the night pacing the rail, looking west and south. Apparently he thinks that's the direction of home. (He's right!) We turned east and he suddenly got slow and fearful again. I was afraid to get off his back to give it a rest. But I did, halfway there, and without much fuss he let me remount. Barbara had showed me a vet clinic for large animals just east of town. That's where we headed; I wanted the vet to look Butch over, and thought he might know of a place I could put Butch up for 1-2 days to rest.

We rode right through town. City traffic, lights, 3 police cars with sirens blaring, huge construction site going full blast, everything. I kept saying to him "just a little farther Butch, just a little farther... you're doing good... just a little more..." he made it like a champ. Once through, he suddenly began kicking at his cinch again. Then it was: "Just get us to the vet's Butch... don't buck me off... just a little farther..."

We made it right at closing. The vet agreed to let Butch stay in a large pen with grass, gave him hay and got me feed from the store, and let me pitch my tent out back by the rest of the pens.

Today started out discouraged, feeling dirty, hungry and tired. Walked 2 miles to town to eat a good meal and do laundry and errands. Well... landed at a Mireya's restaurant with the world's greatest breakfast burrito, run by the world's most wonderful family. After I ate, they announced they had bought me breakfast! And if that wasn't enough... or more than enough... the daughter, Meriya, offered to drive me to my errands. The first of which was buying a backpack, to carry the tent and feed for Butch. Meriya came with me, and... yup... backpack donated. Oh my gosh. Such generosity! We talked about her church and the tradition of giving, which was very gentle and made me feel more at ease about accepting the help, also knowing it was for Butch and his comfort.

Now I need to get offline so I can go do laundry. And shower later, courtesy of Meriya's fiance Pedro's empty for-rent house. Cleanliness! Woohoo!

And then to the vet's to see how Butch is. Crossing my fingers, hoping hoping it's just mental adjustment, and a bit of soreness that can be easily tended.

route update 3/30/12

trip route update 3/30/12:

meandering from NM border to Texarkana, TX.

across Texas border-to-border for part 1 of the ride.

last-minute changes

Just spent 12 hours repacking. And re-routing.

I now have some mule feed, some mule water, some people feed and people water, no stove or cookware (all food picnic-style), no sweater, etc... but all the essentials are there.

Route been changed to have more water, more graze, and fewer 2-day detours. Debbie if you're reading, would have loved to ride with you & daughter, maybe another time!

Friends Lois & John with me first few days. Leaving tomorrow. Off to bed now...

pardon my superstition

Technical difficulties were due to buying a Galaxy tab in hopes of posting every night from the road. Big mistake...

Anyways, returned it, back to square one. I will have a cell phone. As far as technology, that's it. Perhaps I will write better with pen and tiny notepad? Whenever I have access, I'll post. Hopefully often! Oh yes, and a digital camera. That requires a charger though, more weight... phone charger, also more weight... if I can figure out how to load pics from the cell phone to the blog, I might ditch the camera. Regardless - there will be pics! Must have pics!!

The house is empty and clean. Truck loaded with hay. Trailer tack room loaded with feed. Trailer cleaned out and ready for Butch's journey to west Texas. I'm about to clean and oil the saddle before bed. (House will stink of neatsfoot oil...) Then, packing up this laptop and that will be it for posting until - hopefully - the first stop in a town or at a house with access.

Butch has had too much time off while I've been running around. He's lost some tone. He was so beat after carrying the full load for only a little over a mile, that after he rolled in the round pen, instead of getting up he lay there and fell asleep! He didn't break a sweat though, so it's just the load that's tiring him, using new muscles. We will need to start verrrrry slow. Maybe 5 miles the first day, 7 the next two, then 9, then rest. We'll see how it goes.

Not saying any more due to superstition... Bye all, til the next post...

Technical difficulties - please stand by

lists

Why is it that it seems like there's plenty of time to do everything... until the very last minute?

Past few days, the more I get done, the more I realise I'm forgetting. Keep finding notes: "call insur. re prepay" "HC papers" "cat carrier" etc. ... each one eliciting an "Oh, crap!" as I try to figure out how to fit one more thing into the day's errands. Managed to ride Butch at least a few miles every day up until this one. Left the house at 9:30 am and didn't get back until dusk; turned him out to roll, mucked, put him up & drove off again. Even with fresh hay in the bin, poor Butch stood at the gate, staring anxiously as I departed. I suspect he senses something's up.

I can't even recall what took up all the hours. Let's see - visit friend in hospital, say goodbyes before trip. To CPA to file taxes. Office store, misc. Map store, long talk with veteran horseman from Texas who knew the route, knows equine travel and gave me some great advice, esp. on riding in the duststorms. I prepaid the cell phone/ISP for 5 months, which is a huge expense I won't have to factor in for the rest of the summer. (contract isn't up til September.) Spent time looking at a tablet to possibly buy for blogging en route, I'll sleep on it. (Can't afford to buy it, but since documenting is a big part of the ride, not sure I can afford not to.) I got vest, windbreaker & pants at the thrift store, good finds! Gassed up truck... cat supplies to go with Poots tomorrow... now, I should be packing, or in bed, Pitagirl aka Poots goes to Jack's tomorrow, and I've barely put a dent in getting ready!

So why am I listing all these mundane details? For future reference. I know I'll forget what this was like.

If anyone's reading - thanks for your interest!

route updated

Already a slight change in plans, map has been updated. Please see "Trip Map" page for updated link to the Google map.

And again please drop a note if you know of a place Butch and I can spend a night - thanks!

whirlwind summary

Part of the reason I started this blog was to provide others who come after me with what I couldn't find: a day-by-day account of what it's like for a novice to prepare for a long solo ride. Now I find myself doing the same thing I suspect others have done; as I get close to leaving, so much to do, so little time, that I don't write!

So, very brief summary:

There's lots of boring business to take care of. Early truck registration. Suspending active vehicle insurance. Balancing bank accounts. Paying bills in advance. Filing taxes. Arranging to forward mail. Picking up prescribed Epi-pen. Transferring magazine subscriptions.

Then there's mule business: Having vet come pull blood for Coggins and health certificate to travel out of state. Spring shots, earlier than usual because of upcoming trip, extra shots for extra exposure. Getting bute & banamine for first-aid kit. Scheduling farrier. Researching boots again, debating reordering Easyboot Epics. Cleaning, oiling tack. Getting a new bit (his cheap one got bent). Washing blanket.

Cat business: Trimming her claws. Borrowing large carrier. Driving 4 1/2 hours to deliver Pitagirl to the angel who offered to take her while I'm gone, and who I know beyond a shadow of a doubt will take wonderful care of her in a home where I know she'll be happy. (Thank you Jack!)

I'm paying a few months' rent to hold on to my little house trailer at the stable. Without a cat, however, mice move in. Also, there is the remote chance I will be out on the road far longer than anticipated. So I am packing up all my wordly possessions and storing them in my landcouple's storage trailers (Thank you Jan and Chris!). Packing is VERY time-consuming. And I'll have to clean the place when I'm done.

Then there's packing for the big ride, which entails not only lots and lots and lots of decision-making, but scouring online deals, thriftshops, and regular shopping as well: sleeping bag, windbreaker/rain gear, silk longjohns, etc etc.

And still good light rope, easyboots(?), a few other odds & ends....

There's unexpected things that come up. The trailer wiring shorted out again, had to take it in. I need to buy a spare also, even if I don't have a jack. The two front trailer tires are too iffy to travel without a spare.

Huge late winter storm yesterday and today. High winds, cold rain, sleet, snow, hail. Farrier cancelled. Trip to Wickenburg to bring cat cancelled. (Practice ride had already been cancelled, had hoped to replace it with trip to deliver Pita. Highway was closed.) No riding. (Butch has shed his winter coat - I blanketed him!)

There's route planning. Hours and hours of pouring over maps, terrain, milaeage between towns, etc...

And finally, there's saying goodbyes to friends, and daily calls to family before the big launch. Other than when I'm alone with Butch, it's the only time I allow myself to let it sink in that I'm actually doing this. No words to describe...

route

Route part 1 pretty well mapped out. See the new "Trip Map" page for the Google Maps link.

If you know of anyone who could host me & Butch for a night along the way, please let me know. We are reasonably polite and come with our own tent and stake hobble. Thanks!

no dry run

Test ride scratched again.

I wanted my & Butch's first ride/camp experience to be a good one, at least as far as weather's concerned. Especially travelling across a major city. Forecast this weekend is big storm blowing in. Heavy winds, dropping temps, rain Sat night & Sunday possibly heavy at times, saying could be snow or sleet overnight. Aaargh.

Thought I'd do a one-nighter instead, get home midday Saturday before the wind and rain hit. Phoned old friend to ask if would be ok to ride to the west side tomorrow and camp out on her land, as we've discussed before. Old friend, who almost never goes anywhere, just so happens will be away all day until night tomorrow, and is not comfortable with nobody being home to ensure I arrive and set up safely. I confess I was touched by her concern even while sighing over the way things were working out (or not).

This is the only part of trip planning that refuses to fall into place. I've come to conclusion there will be no "dry run." I'm either doing this, or not. The first week of the ride will be when the kinks are worked out, Butch lets me know how he'll do, and I learn to deal with the discomforts of camping. I'll have plenty of time to gain experience.

Crossing my fingers for beginner's luck!

Countdown closing in!

Got truck checked out, oil change, maintenance etc.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) last day at assisted-living job before trip.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) find someone to look in on Pita cat later this week.

Thursday, vet draws Coggins, shots, health certificate for mule travel.

New plan for test ride... this weekend. New contacts, several, for Saturday night camp spot. Sunday confirmed. Need to re-confirm Friday host.

Tomorrow late afternoon/evening, Thursday night: pack for test ride.

My gear/tack budget is pretty much busted. I've bought everything I'm going to. All I'm missing is warm sleeping bag; waterproof hat; camp stove; mule breast collar.

--Put a call out for tiny warm slpg bag, have some offers will go see. I do have a sleeping bag, and will combine it with the silk liner and space blankets to make do if I must. It's huge, and not very warm, but only weighs 4 lbs., not too bad.

--I have a hat. It works fine as long as there's no rain. It'll be fine under a poncho hood. I have a rain poncho.

--I'd love a zip wood stove, but they cost too much and I don't have time to order one now anyway. If I were handier I suppose I'd make one. I'll weigh my little propane stove, and if stove+fuel doesn't go over wieght, I'll use that until I find a better solution. If it's too heavy, I won't bring one (Oh, no! No coffee?!! *gasp*).

--The saddle fits well enough that I think Butch can do without a breast collar. Maybe no britchen either.

Monday, take truck & trailer in to diagnose and fix wiring problem (Prodigy system shorting).

Tuesday/Wednesday, take Pita cat to Jack's in Wickenburg and camp over to finish the britchen.

Sometime next week, Butch gets his first set of travel shoes. Might be borium-coated.

Every day between now and leaving: Pack up house. Proofread (Working on it, Dad!). Finish red tape busywork, including the dreaded taxes.

RIDE.

best laid plans...

Nothing like planning a dry run to show yourself you aren't ready yet!

It sounded so simple... ride from here to my friends' place 34 miles away. First day, through the Rillito River bed to prearranged stop at ranchette, only 8 miles. Saturday, through Rillito to Tanque Verde wash, then up to Tanque Verde Road to my old employers who had said I could camp there anytime, 10 miles. Sunday, ride semi-rural roads to my friends' in Vail, 16 miles.

I waited til today - Thursday - to pack. I already tested the packs on Butch. I don't have everything I'll need for the big ride, but I've got enough for this little one, right? Wrong. Off to Army Surplus for canteens. Oops, gotta do laundry. What? Out of peanut butter?!? Off to the store. Oh, geez... forgot to ask someone to look in on the cat... now where is Becky's number?... Okay, let's weigh and pack the feed before it gets dark.

Oh, crap. The feed.

I bring two empty psyllium buckets to weigh it. But which feed? I've been giving Butch hay pellets in the mornings and senior complete pelleted feed in the evenings to get him used to both. Not enough of either one to transition to full rations, though. Only a pound or two of each. I haven't decided which will be better, easier to get and nutritious, on the road. Result of my indecision being, Butch isn't ready for an entire day's feed of either one. He'll need at least a week to test how his gut handles the changeover. So much for setting off on a 3-day ride tomorrow morning.

It was another lesson for me to see how much feed a day's worth is. 8-12 lbs of senior feed or 16 lbs of hay pellets. (Plus grain and oil, if I take pellets.) That could be as much as 32 lbs for 2 days' rations. Takes up a lot of space, too - how to pack it? How to measure it out? So much to learn!

I also got another lesson in not making assumptions. I had confirmed my Friday and Sunday night stops. I assumed the Saturday stop was a given. Left a message yesterday. Left 2 messages today. Never heard back. It's not like her, so something must have come up, but just goes to show I should always cover the basics before starting in on details.

I'm still hoping to ride to my old neighborhood and camp there overnight sometime next week. I'd ask friends if I could buy some hay off them for the night & morning to supplement Butch's feed.

For now, I have bags & gear all laid out on the couch and am giving myself as much time as I need to pack carefully and thoughtfully, no rush, over the weekend. I'm packing for the big ride and will pare it down for the short one(s), rather than the other way around.

And SLEEP. Haven't been getting enough of that either. It's after midnight again!