Water Fun!!

Grandma and Grandpa Woodland came over after church.  We grilled up some T-bone steaks and checked out the irrigation water coming in.  The kids kept buggin me to go playing in the water.  I thought it was too cold and didn't want to deal with the mud. 

When we took the grandparents on a tour, sarah had gone and gotten the snow sled and was about to slide down the bank with it into the water....

After Grandma and Grandpa left I closed the gates and let the horses out.  Meanwhile Dad told the kids they could play.  So when I got back to the pond they were all in the inlet playing.

 Sam, black dog on the right, LOVES the water as much as the kids.  He swam across that I dont know how many times.

I brought Merc down to the water to do a little training.  The other horses followed.  Dad did not have the camera at this point.  The 3 daring horses went out into the pond and actually swam out a bit...all on their own.  It was pretty cool.  I coaxed Merc out and she finally walked in.  pulling on the lead rope!  I was NOT getting wet, so I let go.  She headed toward the other horses. They went straight up the back of the pond and straight down the other side. They took off running to the other end of the property.  I told Dave I wanted pictures of them in the water, so get the camera.

i did not want to walk...remember the ankle...this time, so Dave drove me down to the horses.  I jumped on Merc.  Not thinking it would be a big deal I did not tie the lead rope on either side of the halter.  I just left in in the loop at the bottom of her chin.  So I only had the lead on one side of her neck.  I ride her all the time in a halter, but the lead is tied to either side so there is still nose control.  I walked her back to the pond turning around several times to try and coax the other horses back - they were too interested in the grass at this point.  I finally got back to the pond and was walking up the drive to the side they could go in.  Merc had always hated water, so she was wound up and nervous as it was.  As we came up to the top, she saw a black head in the water swimming toward her...Sam...  and if you have seen previous posts you will see the volitile relationship they have.  So she freaked.  Wheeled around and started to run...and she runs fast.  I remember thinking as she spun, crap - I am going off.  I slid to the sid eof her barrel, kind of like a trick horse rider.  A horses back can be very slippery.  I held on like that for a few strides reaching for her halter so I could pull her head around.  Well gravity won.  I went down flipped, but refused to let go of the lead: at least at that point.  She was in no mind set to slow down.  She pulled me along I bounced at least 4 times across my back Dave says, and I let go of the rope.  have some fun road rash along my back, but the knots in my quads hurt the most.  I landed on my front legs...I think some rocks were there.  lol.  Anyway, I sat there for a bit.  Waited for the stiffness to subside and then went on got the horse from Dave.  I was getting those pictures!! 

I could not get Merc to go back in.  She kept pushing into me to stay out.  I didn't have my tools to encourage her.  I did not want to give up, but I decided to let it go.  We will try another day. 

Yama playing... 

Austin out swimming....INSANE...That water is cold - Now that I think of it, maybe Merc was thinking the same thing.  ;-)

Today....It is about 3-4 feet higher.  The bank where the horses stood yesterday is no longer there.

The inlet - Still coming strong.  As soon as it is to the 'full point' we want, I will need to open the drain at the bottom the same amount that it is coming in.  This will flood the pasture below the pond.