Day 25 - February 25.  It was an early morning as we got ready to head up to a new arena, Rancho Rio, in Wickenburg. We followed Sue and loved that she took the "back roads" across the countryside and through several sets of cattle guards. The saguaros cactus were plentiful and large, but, we are still not sure what the cattle eat in the desert! Wickenburg is known as the "team roping capital of the world" and it certainly looked that way. Racho Rio is a beautiful facility that is perfectly kept. Montana rode Gin, but knocked her second barrel and Matalyn rode Breezy with a clean run. Pippa had the day off, and Matalyn just rode her around.  

After her run, Gin had some coughing and her temperate was elevated. Fortunately, I was prepared and a few text messages with my vet back in Minnesota and we had a treatment plan. Gin is drinking and eating well, so that is positive. My uncle Bruce and aunt Gai came to watch again - they also liked the facility which had a larger RV park. They brought a box of grapefruit and oranges which the kids were super excited about.

Since Gin was getting a few days off, and Matalyn has two horses here, we decided Montana was going to ride one of Matalyn's horses the following day. Matalyn was struggling with her decision, but then picked Pippa, but wanted Montana to at least lope her through the pattern. The girls saddled Pippa and Breezy and during the "practice session", Matalyn changed her mind that Montana should ride Breezy. Matalyn then got a bloody nose (not uncommon for her) and an argument ensued about who was going to ride who and tempers flared which meant the bloody nose intensified. When it was all said and done, our trailer area looked like a murder scene and I was in charge of who was going to ride who! Sometimes having kids close in age, and of the same gender, can be challenging.   


Day 26 - February 26. We had an easy morning - I worked and the kids tried to work on schoolwork, but the internet and the school-issued Chromebooks are not always compatible (it frustrating for everyone). One of the Minnesota folks offered their nebulizer for Gin, in an effort to help reduce her cough. Montana gave her the treatment and Gin did well. The best news was she did not have a temperature this morning! We got ready and loaded up to head down to Maricopa for their afternoon barrel race.

We once again followed Sue through the countryside. Montana rode Breezy and Matalyn rode Pippa. Gin got to hang out at the trailer and Montana rode her around the warm-up arena. Montana had a great run on Breezy (19.3) and she fell in the cracks of the 4D. Matalyn rode Pippa but the timer malfunctioned - this was a blessing as Pippa had a wild ride! Matalyn knocked her third barrel for a no-time on Pippa during their re-ride. We drove home as the sun was setting - its a unique drive to and from Maricopa. We pass a large prison, two huge landfills, an elementary school in the "middle of nowhere", a huge power company (I think), and the largest family-owned dairy in Arizona, Milky Way Dairy. 

We ended the day with a "discussion" on who was tanner - we all think we are the tannest - LOL!

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