Mule Rider
It was about this time of year, a few years ago, that a TV crew for UNC-TV followed mule Polly and me on a wagon ramble through eastern North Carolina.
Director Morgan Potts and his film crew followed me from Oriental, North Carolina to Hobucken and Aurora and back to Oriental. They dropped in from time to film me as I visited with folks… Continue reading
Are you Too Old to Go?
A guy I’ll call Harold wrote me recently. He said (and I’m paraphrasing), “I’m seventy-one years old. I’ve always wanted to take a long saddle trip like yours. Am I too old to go?” This reminded me of a quote by Saul Bellow. “When someone asks for advice, they’re looking for an accomplice.” It also reminded me of my dad, Art Harberts.
Adjusting Pie’s Hoof Boots (Part 3 of the 3 Part Series on Transitioning to Hoof Boots)
How do you adjust a pair of new hoof boots?
In today’s post, I’ll show you how I’m adjusting a pair of hoof boots to fit my wife’s pony Pie. To get you up to speed, here are the first two parts in this three part series.
- Off With Her Shoes (Part 1 of 3)
- Measuring Pie for Hoof Boots (Part 2 of 3)
Off With Her Shoes (Part 1 of the 3 Part Series on Transitioning to Hoof Boots)
A while back my wife Julia and I pulled the steel horseshoes on her pony Pie’s front feet. I thought you’d be interested how we’re transitioning her (Pie, not Julia) to bare feet. From here on out, she’ll go barefoot. For extra protection Pie might need on rocky trails or abrasive surfaces like asphalt, we’ll slap on a pair of hoof boots.
Knocking on Doors
When my mules Brick and Cracker and I set out on our latest journey from North Carolina to Idaho, we did so with minimal planning. We had no chase crew, sponsor or person lining up places for us to stay. We just went.
Mule Mushroomimg: Hunting “Aeyer Schweumli” from the Saddle
My mom used to point them out to us as kids. We’d be walking through the forest in western North Carolina and she’d point down at an orange mushroom and say, “Lueg. As Aeyer Schweumli”. “Lueg” means “look” in Swiss German, her native language. Aeyer Schweumli is what she used to call chanterelles. *
My brother Christian recalls a… Continue reading
Lassen County Animal Abuse Rescue: Dogs Forced to Eat Dogs, No-one Charged
“The people abusing those animals were starving their dogs and making them eat other dead dogs,” says Donna Phillips with the Lassen County Animal Shelter. “They had a pit full of the animals they’d killed and even kept some stored in a freezer. It’s the most horrific animal abuse I’ve seen in forty years.”
Julia and I visited the animals this week and learned of their incredible rescue. We also learned how… Continue reading
Lassen County Sherrif’s Office Press Release on Massive Animals Abuse Case
Press Release: Animal Neglect
On Sunday, October 2nd, 2022, Deputy Michael “Chance” Loflin from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office responded to 667-290 Highway 299 in Adin, California in regards to a dog bite.
While investigating the dog bite, Deputy Loflin noticed several animals on the property that were lacking proper care. In addition to the animals that were lacking care, Deputy Loflin noticed some dead animals in various stages of decomposition.
Based on his observations, Deputy Loflin sought and obtained… Continue reading
How Hoof Boots Work in the Snow
This week we had our first snow of the season. It wasn’t a blizzard. We only got about five inches of snow. Still, it was fun taking Cracker and Pie for a spin in the white stuff. If you’ve ever wondered how hoof boots work in the snow, this post will interest you.
About Hoof Boots and Me
None of my wife Julia’s or my horses or mules wear steel shoes. We ride… Continue reading
Letter From the Saddle Bag
A while back, I received a letter with one of the all-time great opening lines of any letter I’ve ever gotten. The letter began, “Dear Bernie, Yes, you may call me Scout.”
I enjoyed the letter so much I thought I’d share it with you. Aside from the great opening line, Scout’s letter reminds us that we all need to slow down, if for no other reason than to save a toad’s life. I wrote Scout a letter reply and… Continue reading
