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News
Here's the latest news, with the most recent first. Most photos here will have been taken using my cell phone, so please forgive the quality. They aren't bad, considering I took them with a phone!
For the record, so that others might avoid the humiliation I just suffered, do not attempt to take a donkey (or a mule) to the Buckskin shows at Tumbleweed arena in Lakeside, CA. Their shows include an in-hand trail class, and with my horse out of commission (lame in the knee), I was planning to enter Clementine in a few of these shows this summer, to have something fun to do. In preparation, I called the person whose number is listed as their information contact (and for the Tumbleweed Club, too). She told me that equids of all sorts - minis, drafts, donkeys, mules, and even zebras - were welcome at both the Tumbleweed Riding Club and Buckskin shows. She even told me the story of the history of that position: Apparently, years ago, some horses had not seen minis or drafts before, and were getting upset about them at a show. The saddle horse people fussed that only "normal" horses should be allowed. After some discussion, the club decided that these are fun little shows, low-level, for training, and eventually horses are going to see these things - better to see them here for the first time than when they get to the Nationals or something. So the decision was to include all comers. Great! I was assured that I did not have to join (although I would have, if I were going to compete), and could just pay something like $5 for a facilities fee when I got there. Next, Michael and I went to the showgrounds during another show (the recent driving show), to check it out. I talked to several people at that show, and they told me all the shows out there are really fun and friendly, and they'd love to see a donkey in the show. There was a mini donk (and of course lots of drafts and minis) at that show, and all the people were really nice. Great! So I plan my weekend around going to the show today. I cut up carrots and apples, filled water containers, cleaned out the trailer... all the fun stuff you need to do to get to a show. My friend Sandra was going, and met me there - she even brought lunch! My only goal for today was just to have a relaxed time, and let Clemmie see the sights, hear a P.A., get a look at the in-hand trail course, etc.. This was Clementine's first time at a show - I don't think she'd ever seen so many horses, trailers, people, or dogs. She did great - walked right along, looked at everything... We gave horses a wide berth, and I asked if it was OK before I walked past anyone. We went first thing to the show office/booth, to sign in and pay. The lady there was very nice, and said since we were just having a look that we didn't have to pay today. A couple of folks watching the show admired Clementine, and asked a couple of questions. Several people asked if she had been "rescued" (apparently referring to being adopted from the BLM) (and no, she wasn't). Then somebody asked me to take her back further from the rail, because some of the horses had not seen a donkey before. (We had been about 20' away, under some trees, on a little road behind the other spectators.) Somebody told me about another time when there a mule, and a horse freaked out, and I think the rider got dumped. I didn't want to be a problem, of course, so I led her away. Then they hollered at me to keep her still, right there, until the class was over. OK - so I did that. Later we (after I asked permission) walked around the in-hand trail course, when there were no horses present, and stood in the shade there. When Sandra arrived we walked around the trailer area (keeping away from horses). Sandra had picked out a spot in the stands, in the shade, so between classes (trying not to upset any horses) we walked around the far end of the arena to get there, and Clem and I parked ourselves behind the stands, under a tree. There was a tiny kid in the class on a big horse, and a woman who explained her horse's spookiness by telling us "this is only the 12th time he's been ridden". There was at least one stallion. There was a dog tied right next to the warm-up area. Nobody was wearing a helmet. Clem was a doll, and didn't get excited about anything. A little girl came over and petted her nose. We managed to stand there about 4 minutes when we were asked to leave the area (over the P.A.), "because the horses could smell the donkey." As I was walking back around the end of the ring the voice on the P.A. said (and I'm not sure who they were talking to) "stop right there, and face the other way". So I did, watching the announcer for instructions. Then, again over the P.A., they ordered me to "remove the donkey from the show grounds." We did nothing wrong at the show, and were considerate and careful. And we got thrown out. Very rudely, and very publicly. If anyone had asked, at any point, "We'd prefer that you not bring a donkey, some of the horses aren't used to them", then of course I would not have gone - and I would have left if they'd just sent someone over to talk with me - "Hey, we're sorry someone gave you the wrong information, but we don't allow donkeys at the show." They really didn't have to order me off the grounds over the P.A. I am angry and disgusted, and embarrassed that nobody who saw that would have any way to know that I asked all the right people if it would be OK to bring a donkey, and got a warm welcome each time. All they know is that there must be something wrong with donkeys, and that I must have done something wrong by being at the show. Needless to say, I won't be bothering that club with my presence again. And I hope when they get to a big important show that really matters to them, that there will be plenty of donkeys there. And when their inadequately trained horses freak out, and the overmounted riders fall off, I hope they are wearing helmets. p.s. We went to the "Night of the Horse" last night at the Del Mar National Horse Show, and the biggest act was a mule and donkey drill team - about 24 critters/riders from 3 states! The whole color guard was made up of donkeys. They also did demos of pole bending, barrel racing, coon jumping, and even chariot driving. They all did great, and were a huge hit with the crowd. And the other horses in the show didn't throw a fit.
Barbed wire can be very dangerous to people, hunting dogs, wildlife, and of course, horses. Organized rides are permitted on this property by prior arrangement with Fish & Game. Riding and hiking are allowed across highway 94, from a staging area near Honey Springs Road, in the Hollenbeck Canyon area. The whole valley is absolutely beatiful, DFG folks checking the aerial photo and planning where to send us next. There was lots of 4, 5, and even 6 strand fencing - some with hogwire also! We'd remove it, roll it, and later toss it onto a flatbed truck to haul away.
Michael had the day off from his "day job" and played gigs all over town with Cobblestone - a local Irish Band. In the evening they played at shamRock, a big street fair / party in downtown San Diego. They were covered on KUSI news. Afterward they realized it was their first time playing on a "rock concert" style stage. In addition to Cobblestone, The Field's Irish Dancers were showing off their step dancing and ceili dancing. As the crowd got drunker, some of them joined in too, which was pretty funny - especially with their green balloon-hats! I got to photograph & video tape the event. Cobblestone on stage, with a dancer (far left). Michael, playing Irish flute during a set of tunes.
2004, March 5 - Friday night. We went to see Buddy Guy, the blues legend, at the East County Performing Arts Center. It was an interesting evening full of surprises. The first surprise, which we discovered when we got our tickets, was that it was to be an acoustic concert. Yay! Next we found there was an opening act, a "one man acoustic blues band", a local artist, but who had never been to El Cajon before... This had the potential to suck. However... Steve White (http://www.stevewhiteblues.com) was amazing. Not just like "wow, how does he do that?" but really honestly damn good amazing. He did some great songs (which he wrote) that could make you believe the blues were born and raised in California. If you get the chance, go listen to him. (How does he do that, anyway?) Then Buddy Guy came on, to a very enthusiastic welcome. I suppose when you are as good a guitarist and singer as he is, you run the risk of being perceived as "well of course his playing was astonishingly good!" And it was. And so was the band's. The first half was warm, entertaining, and casual, in a friendly, small-venue sort of way. Jim Harrington at LiveDaily, in a review of another (apparently similar) Buddy Guy concert put it this way: "On the other hand, Chicago's top blues artist seemed hopelessly scattered and disorganized on this night. And he continually sabotaged himself with ridiculous decisions that any performer Guy's experience should know better than to make. At the heart of many of his blunders was the guitarist's choice to treat the songs like disposable razors." Yep. That was just what we got, too. He would start songs, then interrupt them - then start a story about the blues, and stop that too. We would have loved to have heard more. Heck, it'd be fun to do a week-long clinic with him! Complicating his tendency to jump from one thing to the next, there was the audience... Between the flash photography (not allowed), ringing cell phones (disrespectful), and people belligerently shouting out requests throughout almost every song (downright rude), Guy could hardly get a foothold before something else would knock him loose. Eventually he seemed to get frustrated, and just quit. He started signing autographs in the middle of a song, leaving the band to finish playing, and walked off. He was gracious about it, but I doubt he'll be back - and I wonder what word will get around in the blues community about coming here... It was a pretty embarassing representation of our community.
Another neighbor is in the dark for the evening - lightning blew out the transformer on the pole next to their house. We had several lightning strikes where the flash and the bang were simultaneous. Around 4 p.m. we had pouring rain, hail, wind, and lightning. The noise of the hail on the metal barn roof scares the donks, so here they are, standing out in the rain. By 5:30 or so the rain had moved on, and we were left with this beautiful double rainbow. |
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I spent most of the day working with a large group of very nice folks from the San Diego County Wildlife Federation (SDCWF - a collection of hunting/fishing groups), a few equestrians, and CA Dept. of Fish & Game (DFG). We removed lots and lots of old barbed wire fencing from this old cattle ranch in a very well organized work party.
