2nd Canoe trip with Rigel & Deb on Peppers!

Ken McKinney visits with his friends Brant & Ian, they packed out for a great trip based from our camp!

Chuck went ranch roping for the weekend so went canoeing. Thank goodness we had Rigel to carry the canoe. It was a great trip around Peppers and it was Rigel's 1st time and he is now hooked. While on our way to Peppers three guys and pack horses were riding in. In was Ken Mckinney and his friends. So we backed up, helped then un pack and they joined us. The canoe was sitting right where is in the picture when 5 people bored (two who have never been in a canoe & don't swim) with life vests tightened we pushed from dock and tipped it! Everyone went into the water that was up to the belt buckles...I have never laughed so hard. Then looking back to see Ken standing with all his cowboy gear on beside a half filled canoe holding an oar was priceless. I would of taken a picture but the camera went for a swim too... The canoe is turning out to be quite a fun toy this year! Afterwards no one but Ken and Rigel would go with me so off we went for a nice relaxing trip around Peppers with NO TIPPING!

Wednesday's Wine

We picked this wine up in Banff and enjoyed it at the hotel in front of the fire place! We picked a New Zealand wine because we are missing our Chef Rachel and she is a kiwi! It was $15.50 and a cab sav...it was quite an interesting taste with alot of zing. The first three sips were totally different and we couldn't decide the flavor. In the end and nearing the bottom of the bottle it was all good! It would be good with indian or spicy food! So Rachel here is to you! If your ever in Banff look for the wine cellar in the basement, the owner is awesome and the selection is amazing..it is just off the main street!

The new CANOE & the 1st voyage on Peppers Lake!

supper....mmmm!

Banff get-away for the McKinney's...

Packing a camp up river 22 miles!

Head out with the gear...

making sure they are even & Bob's snazzy boots.

Meet the fancy paint gelding "Zip" who will be offered for sale at our annual Working Mountain Horse sale this fall. This is the first sneak peek at him as I don't have him on the catalogue yet! He is good looking smaller horse who is APHA.

Our helpers & friends & also great consignors Johnie Gillis and Richard & Brenda Miller go up river with us.

Gracie all packed up and one excellent pack horse she is the horse who can carry the eggs & glass wine glasses!
She is in the SALE!

Davey is also in the SALE and we are really impressed with this stout good looking gelding!


Steele was ridden by Scott and this is his 2nd year with Wild Deuce and he is also in the SALE!

Scott riding Steele leading Davey.

Millers neat high line and their fancy sale horse who is bred up the ying yang resting after the long ride.
Richard built this highline after going to the Ya Ha where you can tie to no trees.

Rigel and his horse arrive to camp! He has his full bed in the back of his truck and enjoying his kind of camper! Glad to have you out Rigel!

The cow chasing crew!

Another great day when the cows came in...here is Chuck with his mount Mr. Moon!

Johnie Gillis was out with his son Jessie on their sale horses for out 2010 Working Mountain Horse Challenge this September!

Scott on his new horse spud for the first out in the mountains ride!

Jessie on his amazing well built pony that is in the SALE...folks this is one to have a look at. I was really impressed!

Taylor on her new horse Drifter!

Thanks for helping us and now the cows are happy in all this green grass...see you soon Johnie and Jessie!

The cows are in!

The dogs were pretty darn excited to get back into working mode after a long winter...so was the cowboss "Chuck".

Wild Horses welcome us back to Camp!

It's so nice out west these days...Johnie and Jessie came out to help us with the cows and Richard & Brenda Miller also were a big help moving some packers back to the staging area. Both of these great groups of people are CONSIGNORS at our upcoming sale and brought there sale horses with them. When I get more time I will blog all the pictures of the cattle to the horses for sale! For now here is a sneak peek of life at our base camp which also includes Wrangler Scott and new...Rigel Penman! Camp is coming along great and almost all up...we are excited about our clinic and cattle call that is almost here...yee haw! Chat to you soon...enjoy the weather!

Wild Deuce has moved back to the mountains!

With all the dollies packed, Wild Deuce left the farms by Camrose to Settler and from there we headed home to our mountain base camp. I went out first with Chuck & Taylor and was welcomed to rain and snow...(never mind Chef Rachel..smile). Brenda arrived a few days later (after fixing a broken hot water tank in her summer home) and we parked for the summer. Yesterday we packed in a camp for a group taking in 8 horses and riding the 22 miles to their camp. The horses were a bit fresh but after the first few miles remembered it was better to pace yourself then burning up energy being silly! The river was good going in but when we returned only 4 hours later it was down right scary. Running muddy and high, with all that sun the snow came down fast. I had Taylor double with me and Brenda took the string, the current was so strong it took Drifter quite aways and the string had to help him out. I had to close my eyes when Bear (the dog) crossed as it was nip and tuck. Just down from the crossing is a huge falls with tons of rapids. I always tell people the thing you respect the most in the back country is the river, it will kill you in seconds without a second look. It's better to camp on the other side for a day er two then chance it. We are now busy putting up our camp for another great summer! Scott has his 5th wheel in place and coming back with spud if we can pry him away from colt who HE HASN"T NAMED!!! Rachel will not be joining us this summer as she has to heal her back, but we sure hope she visits! Lillian is busy busy as well and we hope she also gets in Rachel's truck for a summer visit! We will be having guest cooks this summer and some new faces helping out...stay tuned! The bales are loaded and we are headed back out west, chat to you next time to town!! Cows arrive on Friday and we go get the crew on Saturday...yee haw!

Hanging out with Horses

Family day at the farm! Belle stands behind me as her colt is fast asleep in my lap, and my mother watches with camera in hand. "Sparky" - the miniature wants in on the action and the cat is exiting stage left!


A horse with a cat's tail?!? The little guy is getting bigger. The tarp is officially his favorite toy. He took the tarp, laid down on it, then grabbed it and pull it over himself. The cat thought it would be a great place to snooze and crawled in too.

Spud is doing great - he doesn't seem to be bothered by much...I'm just realizing the cat is in every one of these pictures so far. I was a little late with the camera, but the cat was stretched out on top of him.
A friend of mine, Karen, who has been promising to come see the horses for YEARS stopped by last night. The colt just loved her.




Last night was a great opportunity for photos. Here's a shot of Belle, and one of her and the colt. The little guy - who still remains nameless (I KNOW!) is really starting to show his personality now. He can be super playful - and likes to run like his Mom - but he's showing a quiet respectful side too, which is nice to see. He isn't bothered being away from Mom while we're training, and it looks like he's going to be a quick learner.

Stettler Horse Expo

We are in the heart of Alberta at the Heartland Horse Expo.
We are meeting a lot of really cool horse people. For example, check out the picture below of a couch being packed out between two horses. This guy has been packing for 60 years! Very cool stories!

Fun was being able to ride on the race track .

My pup helping Terri watch t.v.

Wrangler Heidi came to visit us with her new puppy "Sasha." She's so unbelievably cute!