Today I had the morning to go ride! Yay!
Now, as many of you know, I have Lyme Disease. I’m doing pretty well these days. However, last year at this time, I wasn’t doing so well. So, I haven’t ridden any of my very hot horses in almost a year. But, my week at R Lazy S Ranch was terrific and I’m feeling ready to get back in the saddle with my hotsy totsy mounts.
Of course, my horses wouldn’t be as hot if I worked them as often as they work their horses at R Lazy S… but, they’d still be hot horses – just more tired or more in shape, hot horses. And, this is my fault because I always loved the hot Morgans and hotter TWH for showing. So, that’s what I have. Except when I was making those choices, I was completely healthy and strong. Now, I’m not. Consequently, I have a bunch of hot show horses… when really all I want to do now is trailride – peacefully.
Now that I’m feeling better, I thought the best thing for all of us is for me to ride more often – to get us all in shape and relaxed.
So, that was my thought when I went out today to wrangle one of my riding horses…
Finn volunteered.
OUR RIDE IN PHOTOS.
WE ARRIVED early and we got our favorite parking spot! This was going to be a good day! Finn is relaxed and happy. He’s been here many, many times.
Silly, goofy Finn. This is how he is when he’s relaxed.
Uh Oh, worried face… yup, many trucks and trailers start to arrive. Finn is anxious and worried. Dang. This looks awfully familiar…
Finn, very alert and calling… Oy. OK, so, when he was first learning to ride, we’d come here 3 times a week. He would prance around and scream the entire time I was getting him ready. Finn would relax at just about the time we were coming BACK to the trailer. It took a full year of working 3 times a week before he settled into trail riding. After that, he’s been pretty good most days – as long as I ride him often.
About 20 trailers have now arrived, there is much activity and Finn is dancing around like a crazy horse. He isn’t calling out as much, but he isn’t calm and confident. I’m doing the exact same routine as I always did with him – he barely remembers.
As we walk away from the trailer, he constantly bumps my hand with his nose for reassurance.
He’s like a dog who is trained on an object… he keeps his nose on my hand.
After a little while, he quits needing the hand but he still looks worried. We still haven’t gotten to the mounting block.
Uh oh! A Human! Oh My Gosh!!
He watches the scary thing leave…
Clearly, this is not a safe place!
“I KNOW there is a scary thing up there for sure!” I continue to chat with him and remind him that he is an OLD PRO at this trail riding thing.
He is still not sure as he reaches out to touch my hand again.
Ahhh. Horsey comfort.
We took a less traveled trail so Finn could relax.
Oh but that was scary, too… on the traveled trails he has company… on this one, he has to look out for boogeymen. I told him that I was a fine lookout but clearly he was not remembering how he trusted me previously.
I was telling him that he was fine and that I was here and we were good… but he had one ear pricked backwards – listening.
Oh No! A biker!!! Beware! But, it turned out to be no big deal and we survived. Not riding Finn for a year was not a good thing. He had regressed considerably.
We hooked up with a Park volunteer who was picking up trash. We three walked together for a while and chatted. Our comfortable conversation took the focus off of Finn and he relaxed. Imagine that. (The volunteer is not in this shot because i forgot to take a photo of her.)
Finally. Peace.
YUM!! Berries!! His favorite. So, I had to get some for my boy.
He lives for slobbery blackberries!! Now that he has had some, blackberries will be all he thinks about for the rest of the ride. He will continually stop in front of blackberry bushes – expecting me to get him berries.
While eating berries, Finn totally ignored this little barking dog who skipped by.
As stated, here he is, pointing out a blackberry bush in the distance.
As I went to retrieve blackberries (like a good rider), I hugged him.
Here he is, scooping up dropped berries while I get ready to pull him away.
This is the end of our ride. He is very relaxed. Finally.
Here we are, getting ready to go to the trailer. He looks like a sea monster.
But, before we go to the trailer, I take him on a detour through the gauntlet of bushes and narrow trees.
Narrow trees…
We are on the other side of the bushes and narrow trees gauntlet (he did fine) and now Finn realizes that the ride is over. He sees the trailer.
Ahh, my trailer and all the other trailers jammed into wherever they could fit… Someone is going to be thrilled that I’m leaving this prime spot.
We arrive at the trailer and I tell Finn what a good boy he was. Quite the demeanor change, eh? He looks very humbled. It was as if he knows he freaked out for no reason and feels silly. Or maybe I wore him out. Dunno.
Oh but here is his perky, “Can I have some of your plum?!” face.
- Through my dirty (parked under trees at my house) windshield… the gates as we depart! What a fun day!
THANKS FOR COMING ALONG!
Glad you felt up to riding
Yes, he has THE BEST face!
Hi Marge! Thanks for the advice! Yes, I do ride with friends whenever I can and for many reasons… But my schedule is such
that I usually grab a few hours when I can, and that is bad for planning with friends (if you know what I mean). And you are right, Finn
is amazing with one other horse. He loves that the best. In fact, he prefers it. That is why I have to get him used to riding with me alone again –
because it isn’t his favorite. Or, I need to only ride him with others and bring BG when I am alone. In any case, I appreciate you caring enough
to write! Thank you!
Hook up with someone who has a seasoned trail horse and have Finn follow as he learns to relax switch and have him lead and switch back if he gets nervous.
I loved the photos and blow-by-blow description. It’s awesome that Finn looks to you for comfort. You are his happy place! Hope you get to go on many more trail rides with your sweet boy (what a cute and expressive face).