Icy Friends

 

Well this post isn’t really about friends who are icy, unless you consider the fact, that the last time I had a post with only nine(!) comments was last October when Val and I did some letterboxing in Cerillos Hills, NM!

Come on now Blogging friends, where’s the love? :)

I hope you’re not holding it against me that I didn’t choose more blogger friends to give that award to, ‘cause you know I would have if I could have, right? But I had to be a good girl and play by the rules. You know I love you all and look forward to visiting you at your blogs every chance I get. And I get so happy when you all visit me and leave me such great comments, too. So, don’t give me the icy shoulder, k?

Ok, so let’s get to the real meaning behind the title of this blog.

Icelandic Horses.

My friend, Val and I were invited to stop by for a visit on Sunday with our dear friends, Dan & Betty, who live in the quaint village of Corrales, northwest of Albuquerque. I started following their blog last year when I realized they not only lived in one of my favorite New Mexico stomping grounds, but they had horses, too.  

Dan & Betty visited me at the Laughing Orca Ranch last November. And I thoroughly enjoyed their visit and looked forward to spending some time with this wonderfully genuine, friendly couple again.

Val, of Fantastyk Voyage hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting Dan & Betty yet, but she had been wishing to experience the unique gaits of the Icelandic horse, for some time, and well, Dan & Betty own one of these unique horses. So, I told Dan & Betty about Val’s wish to ride an Icelandic and they generously offered the opportunity for Val to ride their handsomely adorable Icelandic gelding Morgunn.

 

And not only do they own the cutest Icelandic, but they also own a gorgeous Rocky Mountain Horse, named Sugar.

 

I helped Val, Dan and Betty groom and tack both horses while Val and I oohed and aahed over their beautiful custom made Steele Tree Saddles.

 

Val and Betty mounted up and posed for a photo.

 

And then warmed up around the paddock.

 

Val even tried out a little of that Icelandic tolt, too.

Icelandic Tolt

 

And then Val and Betty headed out for a ride on the sagebrush flats.

 

They rode for a little while and then Betty came back with Sugar and let Val enjoy more of the Icelandic experience on her own.

 

While Sugar showed some concern for her missing beau.

 

And I took photos of some of the visitors to their backyard feeders. (Quail)

After Val returned, all of us hung out at the barn with the horses visiting and enjoying each other’s company.

 

Both horses were very curious about my bionic leg.

 

And both horses and humans hammed it up for the camera.

 

Well Val and I would have been blissfully happy to have had finished our visit and headed home after all of that fun. But no, these sweet folks invited us into their beautiful home and served us up the most delicious lunch of chicken salad, broccoli salad, and dreamy fruit salad along with chips, cold drinks……and lots of wonderful conversation…..peppered with joyful laughter.

 

And you are just betting that I’m going to end this post with a horse’s behind and say “The End”, aren’t you?

 

 

 

Well, you’re wrong.

Although Morgunn’s bottom is so cute you just want to wrap your arms around it and hug it, I think you’ll agree that this is even more adorable than Morgunn’s fuzzy behind.

 

Yep. Visiting with special friends just feels so dang good.

Thanks for a great day, Dan & Betty!!!

From the Journal of,