BG and I take a Memorial Day Hike!

For some reason, Memorial Day threw me off this year… I kept thinking it was next weekend – at the end of the month. Did that happen to any of you?

Anyway, today, Hubby (who served in Iraq), wanted to take his daughter kayaking and paddling, so they left early for their special day together.

That left me with an entire day to do something fun. So, I took BG to the trails!

WE’VE RIDDEN BEFORE…but we are starting back at the basics.

BG is totally trained and we have ridden numerous times, previously. But, I have not ridden her since the Age of Lyme – probably 3 years now.

So, we are starting back at the basics.

Today, we trailered to the park and went for a hike!

She was a great sport, practically putting her nose into the halter when I asked, “Who wants to go today?!” We marched straight into the trailer. No prob. And, we drove the windy road without incident.

Nice.

At the trailer… much was going on all around us and she was very good. There is a very busy road right behind her and she didn’t even flinch. Finn hated this parking spot. It took months for him to settle into the atmosphere here. She has no issues.

BUT WHEN WE GOT THERE…

Oops! I had forgotten that it was Memorial Day and I should have left about an hour earlier. The place was packed with trailers all jockeying for position – and about 3 trailers lined up behind me.

So, I got into the game… I eyed my spot and did my best Formula One parking maneuvers to get into the only vertical parking place left. All the while, BG was a champ! Phew!

I brought her out of the trailer and she took it all the goingson in stride.

*Now, as a comparison, BG and I were parked in the same place where I generally parked all the while I was training Finn. For at least one entire Spring and Summer, he danced and fretted every single time I took him to this destination and parked in this spot. Eventually, it became old hat, but it wasn’t easy.

Anyway, BG came out, sniffed the ground and then watched everyone else dance around and fret. She was fine.

I took this shot of the trail ahead. BG didn’t want to stop so she walked ahead and then around me. The lead line was only so long…

ON THE TRAIL

Well, I usually walk on the ground with my horses when we are starting to learn to trail ride together. So, BG and I took to the trails, afoot. She’s a pretty good girl, as long as we are moving forward – or as long as we don’t stop for too long. She is a girl on a mission.

I kept asking her, “Where are you going? Do you know where you are going in such a hurry?”

BG: “I’m going forward! Isn’t that where you’re going? Besides, I’m a WALKING HORSE, that is what we do. We walk! Forward. Now!”

I was pointing out the flowers but she didn’t really care.

AND WHO DID WE RUN INTO?

BG and I took an offshoot of the regular trails that led to a dead end – but because of this dead end, not too many people go that way. And, it is very pretty.

So, we went that way… There were lots of slippy places and tree roots to climb over. It is a good trail for learning how to walk respectfully and carefully with one another.

Well, once we reached the end and were turning back around, a few bikers came up behind us. And immediately, one of the bikers said, ‘Hey there, Dawn!”

I haven’t been up here in a very long time… who would know me?!

Well… of all people, it was the person who first trained BG! (When BG came of riding age, I was so busy working that I just couldn’t take the proper time, so BG was trained to ride by Jerily.)

“Hi Dawn, it’s Jerily!”

Me (indicating to BG): “Hey! Look who I have with me!”

I’m guessing that BG knew Jerily’s voice or scent, but she didn’t seem to act like she recognized her… Interesting. (I didn’t think to get a photo!)

Anyway, we chatted for a bit while BG grew increasingly more pensive and ready to MOVE!

Eventually, the humans were done conversing and we continued forward, much to BG’s glee.

This is her shadow on the trail. She looks very sway backed.

What am I looking at here? There is no grass. (Again, me pointing out flowers…)

CONTINUING DOWN THE TRAIL

We continued down the trail. BG stopped every time I did. I cut a bunch of branches and zipped zippers and fiddled with my phone – all the stuff I’d do if I was upon her back. Of course, it would be completely different on her back, but she’s done it all before so I was just reminding her.

BG was doing so well, I decided it was time to let her pick our route. Of course, she picked a grassy meadow and stopped. Typical.

Of course, when it was her turn to pick the route, she chose the obvious…

BACK TO THE TRAILER

While we were walking along again, I received a very important call… so I totally forgot what I was doing to concentrate on the call. (It always happens to me that I can sit at my desk for hours, but the important calls come when I’m with a horse. You, too?)

We walked the entire way back to the trailer with me in deep conversation. I remember nothing of the walk – and she gave me no concerns. The sign of a very good girl.

Next, we saddle up!