Rusty

By Neversummer February 21, 2026 Uncategorized No Comments

He is gone.

The horse of a life time gone just like that.

He cantered down the hill as I brought them in from the field the herd had been spending their days in. He stopped and stood as the others went on ahead. I stopped and waited. Watched as he stood then wobbled slightly. His hind legs swayed side to side and I started to get nervous.

As he staggered I called the vet. She was coming. Would be there in a few minutes. A half hour in reality, no way to make it less.

Rusty fell violently side to side then went over backwards. He was gone while I stood there talking to the vet. She asked if I still wanted her to come, do a post mortem. That is not the time to be asking things like that. I just wanted her gone so I could convince my horse that he wasn’t. Not really. How could he be?

As I collapsed at his side the very earth raged against the injustice. The sun disappeared and the wind whipped with fury driving billows of dust across the sky.

Rusty has changed my life more than any one horse ever has. More than all other horses combined. He did so much in his short life. Born in a home that spoiled him rotten, he ended up unwanted and terribly behaved in a kill pen already at two. Forever Morgans picked him up there and I was lucky enough to be the one who got to foster him.

He came to me as an ugly baby, scrawny and plain. He was sweet and fearless, unless he didn’t want to. Then he would run through and over anything, he left me with rope burns and bruises from his bites every time I worked with him. Even in this he had more to offer than I ever realized at the time. In his refusal to conform he taught me to work with horses in completely new ways.

Which lead to trick training, a new job, and eventually his own Guinness World Record.

The trick training lead to writing about whorls and even to the books on whorls. All because of him.

Aside from his accomplishments he was just him. A strong presence in the pasture, he ruled with an iron hand. All horses lived in fear of him. He could be like riding a fire breathing dragon, all snorting and charging. Then with children he would drop his head and plod as quiet as could be. He will be missed for who he was, not just all that he could do. Rusty was truly one of a kind.

Rusty was brilliant and fierce and so incredibly gorgeous. He leaves behind him a gaping hole that is impossible to fill. He was my full partner in everything we did. As I struggle to comprehend all that is lost I will probably not reply to comments here, or anywhere. Talking about him hurts too bad at the moment. But please, if he touched you in some way, drop a note and let me know. I will try to read them.

Working doubles

By Neversummer February 16, 2026 Rusty, Sunshine No Comments

It’s been a very long weekend, still weekend because there was no school today so everyone was home. We worked on the greenhouse all day every day. It needed a new cover. The old plastic had finally had it after about 18 years.

Not too bad, but, it meant no horse time with all this beautiful weather.

I got out very briefly Sunday evening and was able to work Sunshine and Rusty together! One waiting int he middle while the other circled, then trading. I hoped to do that again today when I went out to play.

It mostly worked. There were a few technical difficulties. But I’ll wait until I have the energy to edit video to talk about that.

Checking Water

By Neversummer January 12, 2026 Uncategorized No Comments

Between new meds and watering down hay and the corrals, Rusty has been feeling much better!

I asked the kids if I could come with them to fill the cows water. They were surprised that they were going to have to ride to get the water. After all, the last two days with the wind howling hard enough to blow you away if you stood outside they had gotten to take the pickup out there.

Today was different. The weather was gorgeous. There were riding and they would enjoy it whether they wanted to or not.

But, could I come with too?

They weren’t sure but relented in the end.

I saddled Rusty and brought Sunshine along on the lead. Usually he gets to run loose, but not with the kids riding too. Their mares were feeling hot enough as it was. When I got on Rusty and Sunshine both wanted to bolt. The mares were hard to hold back at a trot. By the time we got out of the yard I had managed to get in the back of the line and the mares settled nicely.

The kids neither wanted nor needed company. It was nice to see. They knew where and what to do. They chatted and played happily way off in front. They were busily doing all sorts of things to make me very nervous, reminding me why I’m sending them off on their own. Without me telling them what to do, or not do, they can figure it out on their own and try things I would never encourage. This is my lesson plan. Sending them of to experiment and fail if it comes to that.

Today Sunshine needed a lesson to, so we went along anyway trying to stay out of the way.

It was very upsetting to Sunshine not to get to gallop freely. He wanted to go faster and different places. Rusty was getting grouchy as the obnoxious youngster tried to lunge ahead of nipped at him in frustration. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful ride. I was glad we invited ourselves along.

A Theme For The Year

By Neversummer January 3, 2026 Sunshine No Comments

I actually got out and worked with horses today!

Two horses even.

You would have thought with most of Christmas break being warm and sunny that this horse working thing would have happened a lot. But, with everyone home for break it’s a difficult thing to accomplish.

Rusty and I played a little at a few random things.

Sunshine and I got down to work! We worked on sit in a new location. A location not in our yard. It doesn’t look like much, but he was lining up and backing up to the bag all on his own. I’ll happily focus on that for awhile. Get him doing everything at liberty. Then we’ll go back to asking for a full sit.

We worked on bowing. I’m trying to break it down ad build on the smaller pieces, get those going good. And look at the results we’re getting there!

Then we wandered about and played at random things. My son had built a ramp for his bicycle. So we walked up it. The extra length was wonderful and he got all four feet ON the pedestal for the first time ever! I’m going to try to get the hind feet on cue. Then go back to all four feet on the pedestal.

I guess our theme for today was breaking things up and working on the small details. Might just keep that as a theme for the year! Once those small details are perfected then the bigger picture just falls into place.

A Boys Weekend

By Neversummer November 22, 2025 Jerry, Lady, Rusty No Comments

Both kids were supposed to have friends over.

I had so many plans. The weather is supposed to get cold next week. The girls could ride for two days here. Get in one last hurrah.

Then my daughter got sick. Tired, grumpy, really just not feeling good. We had to cancel the overnight, but saddest for me, that meant no riding 😭

The boys wanted to ride though. Just because there were no girls didn’t have to mean no riding! The boys enthusiastically went out to catch their mounts. We got them saddled, they got on, and started riding around my driveway ‘arena’. I went to get Rusty.

When I came back the enthusiasm was gone. They couldn’t get the mares to go where they wanted. Everyone was grouchy. Oh dear.

With a quick tying on of the leadrope and no worries about bothering to get a saddle I hopped on Rusty to go try to smooth things out.

Rusty had lost his mind. He was apparently recovered from the dust issues we had been fighting. He was pawing and tugging at my loosely tied reins. He wanted to go!

And I had almost put my daughter on him and sent her off. He’s been plodding so quietly, breathing issues helping to keep him slow. Apparently their time grazing out in the hay field has helped! I give it more credit than I do the hours I have spent spraying down the corral to keep the dust down.

We spent last weekend fixing fence around the hayfield getting it ready for cattle once we get them home. A large job with the new neighbor who doesn’t fix a drop of fence but is happy to lease pasture out, turn cattle out on those fences he wont touch. We then spend all our time chasing cattle out of our corn. There, that’s my dig at the new neighbors from the west coat who have made themselves so nicely at home here. and I will quit whining.

Between knowing the fence was good, the little remaining alfalfa being frozen down to nothing, and nights this week above freezing I’ve felt fairly safe turning the horses out there to graze. It’s half a pivot, so 80 acres? They get more exercise than they do standing in the corrals and best of all no dust! They get a couple few hours in the late afternoon to spend eating and wandering. It seems to be working. The mares are frisky, Rusty can breath, and Sunshine is getting experience in different areas.

But today, attempting to ride with the boys, all that exercise and fresh air was doing Rusty a little too much good.

Luckily these were the boys not the girls. Yes, the girls ride better. But the boys are, well, boys. Who needs control? They could go fast! My son cantered, his friend gairted. They both zipped. I didn’t fall off Rusty and we manages to lead the energetic little group. Small circles at first, getting everyone cheerful and happy to be riding again. Then we went farther and farther afield. No hours heading out down the section lines like the girls have been doing. We did have a very nice ride around the yard and close fields.

Once we got home I forced my daughter out for a very brief ride, but that’s another story…

Weekend Ride

By Neversummer November 7, 2025 Jerry, Lady, Rusty No Comments

I had a few moments of euphoria, wallowing in the joy of having both of my children happily riding with me. Of realizing that the only thing better than my daughter off riding with friends was her off riding with her brother. That quickly came to an end.

It had started with protests and chaos. My son said he would not go riding. Then I let his mare, Lady, out with Rusty and she left to find better grazing. My daughter came out, I sent her off on Rusty to catch Lady. Before the pair could leave my son came out and went after his own horse. Yay! He wasn’t going to fight riding too hard.

My daughter was already on Rusty by then. My son ended up on her horse Jerry as I saddled Lady. Everyone was on the wrong horse! They all went off chasing each other around. By the time I had Lady saddled my son was back. He was ready for his horse who was much better than his sisters. His sister and Rusty were no where to be seen. I got on Jerry and we went looking.

Rusty had fond a spot of good grazing and she was stuck there, unable to get his head up. She likes riding him, but was ready for her own horse back. Yay again! I would get to ride my own horse after all.

With everyone on the proper horse I got to enjoy my moment of joy. Both kids were happy and laughing. My son was zipping all over the place, trotting along on his wonderful little mare who loves to zip but will also stop. Jerry was plodding, as she does. We stopped to play under the pivot. Then it was over.

My son was not going any farther. He was going home.

And he did. He turned Lady and left. I watched them go, wondering if he would be able to convince Lady to leave the horses and go home alone.

He did.

It was just the two of us now. Still nice. No one was complaining wanting to go home. We just enjoyed a nice ride. Not quite as good as both kids, but I’ll take it.

Skulls

By Neversummer November 3, 2025 Lady, Rusty No Comments

The girls went out for a ride again this morning.

The Goblin Child rode Rusty for me to get him exercised and I think she likes him best. Her friend rode Lady, who I know she likes best. They didn’t go as far as usual, not in distance. Instead they rode around the small pasture here at home. It’s a fun place to ride. They could play with the cows if they wanted. There are hills to go up and down. Lots of things that make a ride fun.

My daughter texted while they were out wanting to know if I could do a load of laundry when they got home. Interesting question, what sort of adventures had they gotten up to. Her friends mom got a picture of them, of horse ears, of the ride. Why don’t I ever get pictures!!!

Soon they rode back into the yard. Grinning ear to ear they each carried a cow skull. Decades of cattle lost here, buried up on the hill. Coyotes dig them up providing good pickings of interesting things for girls out exploring. They had managed to get them onto the horses with them and carried them all the way home. During which time, Rusty had crashed The Goblin Child’s knee into Lady as she relieved herself. Resulting in a large poop stain down my daughters jeans.

Now I see why I need to do a load of laundry 🤣

What a wonderful adventure. Exactly what I hope for when they head off together. Accomplishment, confidence, dirt. All the things children need to get out and experience.

Moving Cattle

By Neversummer November 2, 2025 Jerry, Lady, Rusty No Comments
The Goblin Child has a horse crazy friend. I can use that friend to get my daughter on a horse. And so I will.
We picked her friend up today with the trailer on and went straight to the pasture. November days are short and I wanted to get there with as much daylight still as possible. For the first time in a week the wind wasn’t howling and it was warm. Perfect for riding.
The cows needed moved. Might as well do it horseback. Makes the job more fun if nothing else. I rode Rusty, of course. My daughter was on her little gaited mare Jerry. Her friend prefers my sons little arab are Lady.
The mares were feeling zippy, excited to chase some cows. Rusty needs to do so much more of this. He was very confused by the whole thing. The mares were wanting to trot and the girls had to hold them back. But they still started off great pushing cows ahead of them as we went.
We went through the creek bottom, up and down the banks, through the trees. The calves kept coming back to sniff the horses. I followed the bulls off away from the girls. They kept the herd moving nicely in front of them.
Through the gate to new grass. The cows seemed to know the way. We rode into the new pasture to check gates and the water tank. Combines drove by. Cows grazed. The weather stayed nice. Then back through the pasture. We took the long way, enjoyed the ride.