Chickens, Mules, Donkeys, Ponies, Bulls, Carts and Wagons…Oh My!

 

My daughter and I had a great time recently with some friends of ours during a ‘Show and Tell’ type of event at our local Tractor Supply Store.

Several groups and individuals showed up to share some of their interests and amazing animals.

But first my daughter and I stopped off at our local feed store for a Poultry Swap, where we had hoped to sell (or, heck! Even give-away!) our sneaky attack rooster, Paul Revere. There were lots of people there selling chicks, pullets, hens and roosters. There were also farm dogs and puppies, kittens, rabbits and ducks and geese, along with locally produced food and products, too. We set up our rooster with a sign that said “1 1/2 year old Blue Wyandotte Rooster ~ Make an Offer”.

We had lots of folks walk by and admire Paul, and one lady wanted to do a swap for a hen. But a man showed up within the first half hour and offered me $5……SOLD!

I almost bought a couple Japanese Silkie pullets, because I love them so much, and our Mrs. Cotton is already 4 years old and I would like to get some more Silkies to take her place when she goes up to the great coop in the sky.

Anyway, I stayed strong and didn’t come home with anymore birds, but after we left the Poultry Swap, we swung by Sonic to have some lunch and we waited in the drive-thru behind a cow.

My daughter loved this and wanted to know what his owners were going to be ordering for her to eat. We were pretty sure it was not a hamburger!

We left Sonic and stopped by our local Tractor Supply to visit with some of friends in the Rio Grande Mule and Donkey Association, The New Mexico Ladies Aside, and The Enchantment Driving Association.

My friend Linda was there on her mule, riding aside.

She and her group, New Mexico Ladies Aside, won a blue ribbon in the New Mexico State Fair Parade this year, for the best parade group!

My friend Kelli is also a member of New Mexico Ladies Aside.

Kelli was there with one of her donkeys and was happy to let Jen give him a hug.

Or two……..(Awwww!)

And then Kelli and Linda invited Jen to try out the Western Side-Saddle.

And I even took a turn, too!

 

I’d just like to say that that saddle was very comfy. I sat in it a long time…until my daughter asked me to dismount so she could have another turn. *grin*

My friend Diana was there, too.

I’ve now ridden in her cart pulled by Miss Dixie and ridden with her and her mare Glory. She’s a nice gal, and she brought along her daughter and daughter’s friend that day.

 

And Diana was giving cart rides to the public, too.

 

Jen was thrilled to be pulled around Tractor Supply by Miss Dixie, in Diana’s cart.

 

There was also a guy there selling locally produced honey.

And you can bet I came home with some! I love supporting local folks. Papa Bear lives less than 5 miles from my house and it’s not too far-fetched that his bees could have visited my peach and apple trees this Spring!

There were also a couple of 13 and 14 year old bull riders there, too.

Hunter Salter and Justin Neil had racked up quite a few buckles since they first began doing rodeos when they were basically babies.

They brought a Buckin’ Barrel for folks to try out (And no, I didn’t try it!)

I was impressed with how very polite they were, too. True cowboys, those two!

 

And they even brought along their favorite bulls.

And invited Jen to feed them some cookies.

Nothing like a kiss from a little bull!

 

Before long, several of my friends were getting hungry and thirsty, so they asked if I’d mind taking one of them to Sonic, just a mile down the road, to pick up some food and drinks and bring them back.

My friend Allen stopped by before we left and tried out the Western Side-Saddle. Kelli thought it was hilarious!

My friend Allen, is a well-known mule owner/driver/rider in our area. He and his two sons brought a team of mules to share with our community.

His 16 year old son, Cody is a highly skilled mule driver, too.

Allen teased me that he could probably get to Sonic faster than we could in my van, and that we should ride with him. I thought he was joking……but he wasn’t!

And he really did drive to Sonic, and would have pulled into Sonic when we did, if he didn’t get stuck behind the red light!

Yep, he drove his wagon and mules right through town and into the Sonic Drive-Thru!

And they stopped to place their order.

And of course, I had to hop out for a photo or two! *grin*

Is this cool, or what?? Allen was thrilled to have these photos, because he drives his mules all over town including Walmart and Sonic, but had no photos to prove it. Now he does! *grin*

Those mules were fast! They followed us right through the intersection in town!

And then got a little slow on the way back to Tractor Supply (Allen said that was because he and his son were occupied with their Sonic shakes).

Yep, his two sons drive the wagon, too. They’ve been driving mules since they were 5 years old!

Allen and his older son, Cody invited Jen and I to go for a wagon ride around Tractor Supply and down the road. Cody, who is only 16 yrs old, drove the mules!

I love living here in our rural mountains. I love the great folks in our tight-knit community and I especially enjoy having such wonderful agricultural opportunities right in my backyard. And Tractor Supply Store was generously supportive to everyone by providing awnings, corrals, shavings, buckets and water for humans and animals.

What an awesomely fun day!!