Out in the sunshine, the sun is mine

This is the loveliness I found in the pastures yesterday morning.

Peaceful and happy after the big storm. There had been rain all night and the area around the water buckets looked like this...

Eeek! Thank you Mother Nature and Sovereign. He still swims in the big bucket all day in the spring, summer, and fall. I suppose his ultimate goal is a pond and he is getting closer every day. Ugh. You can imagine what all three horses looked like by the time I was ready to ride at 11am. This mudbath area was just too tempting - mudballs all. Pie didn't look like he had eyes - definitely the Indian pony look! 

I can remember fretting about the mud in 2011. That was the year we had record rainfall. I don't fret at all anymore because we have 20 acres of pastures now. I love the diversity - there is mud, yes, but there is super high grass and low grass and dust and sheds and shade and sun. I can't worry too much because if they want to be in or out of the mud they can move to where they need to be. The new pastures give them balanced options and I worry less. 

I groomed everyone and, as always, wondered how they get mud up in the deep groove/gully under their chins. Then I headed out for a Pie ride. 

Each day pretty much unfolds the same way - grooming then riding.
Sigh. I am truly blessed.