Happy Buzzards Day! Yes, this is buzzard country, and the buzzards have once again made it to Hinckley on March 15. Hinckley isn’t too far from me. I actually saw a buzzard a couple days ago in Cleveland. They are big, ugly vultures that are all over northeast Ohio in the summer. My rides yesterday went well. It was very unseasonably warm—like summer. The river was too high for Cruiser to cross. A big horse could have done it, but my horses certainly aren’t big. I rode the hill three times with him—with a fair amount to trotting. He behaved like a gentleman, I’m glad to say. I had only enough daylight for one trip with Cole. I rode him down this time. On the way back, he did try to trot, once, but came back to a walk when I corrected him. I worked him in the arena for a half hour after that. this time, last year, I couldn’t even lead him quietly down the hill in the evenings unless he was worked, first. This is so nice. He is finally maturing. (He’ll be 6 next month.) It rained more last night and it is supposed to keep raining. I sure hope we will be able to cross the river on the weekend. That’s when it really counts. I don’t mind doing the hill during the week since I have less time, anyway. Years ago, we were at a stable in the same area but a different street where we didn’t have to cross the river to get to the main trails, and it sure was nice. That place closed and we ended up back on the wrong side of the river. The place we keep them at is great, though, so we don’t regret it. The city is in the process of putting water on the street. They are going to widen the road, straight the sharp corners were they could and put some sort of horse lane on the street. If they do a good job, and I am quite skeptical, but done right and we will be able to safely ride down the street to get to a trail that enables us to get into the park without crossing the river. We shall see how it turns out. In the meantime, we will have to deal with the construction on the street…