Tatooed Lady
15th Jun 2008, 09:32 PM
First off, I'll apologize for what's probably going to be a long, boring post. ;)
Now, then...we've settled in at the new facility, and things are going WONDERFULLY! The owners own and ride (mostly SHE rides, but he's an occasional as well) a couple of older Arabian geldings. They ride western. She has done endurance rides. She knows how it feels to have a horse you SOOOOO want to ride, but are afraid of getting hurt on (that was "the early years" with one of her guys). She knows what it takes to have a great relationship with your horses, keep them healthy, well trained and still have a life.
So! Two weeks ago we hit the trails for our first time riding together. Trail system was busy, but the weather was great, so we did 4-5 miles. I was pooped, and so was Queen. We're wusses that way!
Yesterday we hit the trails again. This time, we rode for over 3 hours, and from what I can figure out comes out to about 12 miles. Mostly walking, but a bit of trotting was thrown in to keep things interesting. After the ride, we found out that, due to the rain we got last weekend (about 8" or so) and during the week (another couple inches), the entire trail system is closed. *sigh* Well, that's okay...there's a section behind her property that's dry enough to ride without damaging anything. So we rode that today. :rolleyes: We saw a tiny sign at a parking area near her place that said that, yes, the trails are closed til further notice. Today was a tiny ride (by YO's standards, anyhow) of about 3 miles. We did a little work on getting the horses to allow another horse to pass at a trot and the rider being left behind keeping the horse at a walk. Just a bit of leapfrogging. It was relaxing and nice. And when Queen spooked on the roadway after we rode past the yard just to let her know that, yes, we CAN go past the front gate at the end of a ride, I managed to sit it easily.
AMAZING what a little saddle time and confidence has done for me being able to stick on her back! Trotting with stirrups a little too long has gotten me to find that for the most part, I'm balancing in the seat and not depending on the stirrups. Of course, they're as high as they go...I guess I've got munchkin legs. :rolleyes:
I think tonight's a definite hot tub soak night....I'm sore from my neck down, and have bruises on the front of my legs just above my feet....the stirrup twisters work great to keep me from having to twist the fenders of my Western saddle, but with having to reach a bit, I've bruised myself. Oh, well....
YO says if rain holds off, trails SHOULD be open by next weekend.....
WHEEEEEEEEEEEee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Now, then...we've settled in at the new facility, and things are going WONDERFULLY! The owners own and ride (mostly SHE rides, but he's an occasional as well) a couple of older Arabian geldings. They ride western. She has done endurance rides. She knows how it feels to have a horse you SOOOOO want to ride, but are afraid of getting hurt on (that was "the early years" with one of her guys). She knows what it takes to have a great relationship with your horses, keep them healthy, well trained and still have a life.
So! Two weeks ago we hit the trails for our first time riding together. Trail system was busy, but the weather was great, so we did 4-5 miles. I was pooped, and so was Queen. We're wusses that way!
Yesterday we hit the trails again. This time, we rode for over 3 hours, and from what I can figure out comes out to about 12 miles. Mostly walking, but a bit of trotting was thrown in to keep things interesting. After the ride, we found out that, due to the rain we got last weekend (about 8" or so) and during the week (another couple inches), the entire trail system is closed. *sigh* Well, that's okay...there's a section behind her property that's dry enough to ride without damaging anything. So we rode that today. :rolleyes: We saw a tiny sign at a parking area near her place that said that, yes, the trails are closed til further notice. Today was a tiny ride (by YO's standards, anyhow) of about 3 miles. We did a little work on getting the horses to allow another horse to pass at a trot and the rider being left behind keeping the horse at a walk. Just a bit of leapfrogging. It was relaxing and nice. And when Queen spooked on the roadway after we rode past the yard just to let her know that, yes, we CAN go past the front gate at the end of a ride, I managed to sit it easily.
AMAZING what a little saddle time and confidence has done for me being able to stick on her back! Trotting with stirrups a little too long has gotten me to find that for the most part, I'm balancing in the seat and not depending on the stirrups. Of course, they're as high as they go...I guess I've got munchkin legs. :rolleyes:
I think tonight's a definite hot tub soak night....I'm sore from my neck down, and have bruises on the front of my legs just above my feet....the stirrup twisters work great to keep me from having to twist the fenders of my Western saddle, but with having to reach a bit, I've bruised myself. Oh, well....
YO says if rain holds off, trails SHOULD be open by next weekend.....
WHEEEEEEEEEEEee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D