Yeehaw!

One awesome thing about this summer is Phi & I have been riding 4 (?) times already. River Valley Ranch is Chaska is the cat's ass. Phia discovered it a few years ago and we usually go at least once a year.

The first time we went I was not expecting much. I've been to a few over the years and most are just a walking trail through the woods on dead broke horses. Kinda like sitting on a merry go round, but slower.

I was happily wrong! The trails are incredible, miles and miles of them along the Minnesota river valley, up and down some amazing hills and during rainy times through monster puddles. It also helps when they know you've owed horses and will give you a guides horse. I chanced on Robin this way and have requested her ever since.

Our last group ride.
Me & Xena, check out the mud on her chest! Robin just had her hooves trimmed so was out of commission for the day. Xena was fun, although half gaited so when she went to trot and canter her pace was really weird. She didn't have the usual cadence because she kept switching between trotting and pacing.

Phi & Chester and me on Robin, my all time favorite girl.

Awesome view of the valley.

I have seriously considered buying Robin. I haven't bonded with a horse like this since El Bee, my friend's pony who used to race in Mexico. Her gaits are so freaking perfect! She breaks into a trot and it's so smooth, and boy can she run!

First time we went out this year it was just the two of us and the guide, so we really got to run. The guide Codie was having problems with her horse so he kept veering to the side of the trail, when Robin saw that opening she went for it. It was awesome. She's super speedy but never out of control and she listens really well.

I adore how she watches her feet and stays focused on the trail. My old riding horse Joe was such a sightseer he'd be looking at mailboxes, trees, birds, and he loved big trucks. If he saw one parked he'd want to go sniff it. I love Joe, but when you only have an hour to ride, it's nice to have a horse that wants to make the most out of it and doesn't test you by veering off trail or snacking along the way.

If we didn't have Dex, Ben, Candy and Skylar I might really make an offer on her...

Summersrule

I was trying to think of a title for this post when Summersrule popped into my head. It's from the book series the Riyria Revelations. Let me be clear, I ADORE this series!

I came across the books when I downloaded the second in the series, Avempartha (which is still my fav), for free on Amazon. I was interested right away, but by the end of the book I was totally hooked. I remember reading until 3:00 in the morning because I could not put it down. I immediately bought the rest of the series with no regrets. They're some of the first books I ever paid for on amazon.

There are five books out currently. He was self published and designed the covers himself, very impressive. Just before the last book was set to be released he got picked up by a big publishing company. They're re-releasing the books and re-packaging them so the first 2, second 2, and final 2 will be bound together. Which means that I have to wait until January to find out how the series ends.

I was disappointed at first, but honestly, I don't want the series to end. He's created such a perfect world, I want more! The main characters Royce and Hadrian are interesting and unique, the story(s) is/are fantastic. The supporting characters are absolutely amazing. It is an instant classic. I would put it on par with The Chronicles of Narnia. I like it better than the Lord of the Rings series.

You know how even some books that you like have bits in them that you don't like, scenes that just hit you wrong or are annoying? I loved this entire series, not a bit I would say, uhhh. :/ I don't know how to express it better than that. I'm reading them all again and will probably read them again before the last book comes out.

It has been so long since I've read a book that I really like much less a whole series. Case in point The Hunger Games, very cool series but the ending....what the heck?!

Ok review over. Summery; Riyria Revelations, Michael J. Sullivan, and especially Avempartha, freakin' awesome.