Autumn Is For Trail Riding!

Sun Oct 30, 2005

Well, I'm over the bronchitis, so it's time to beat on the horse some more!!

We're facing a deadline now...only three more weekends of trail riding until firearm deer season...last weekend was THE prime peak period for fall colors, but it rained (and I was downstate). I did take him (and Leela the Dal) out last Sunday, despite the cold and clouds, and it was BEAUTIFUL in the woods...the leaves were covering the ground, and still in the trees...it was like being in a massive golden cathedral!! Quzqo was actually enthused about going for a trail ride too...it'd been 2 weeks since he'd been ANYwhere, so I think he was glad to GO and DO!

That was LAST weekend though. This is THIS weekend...and apparently one trail ride a month is HIS idea of a good time, not every week! Yesterday (Saturday) was GORGEOUS, temps in the 50's, blue sky, sun, but 20 mph sustained winds pretty much ripped the leaves off the trees, and only served to whip the tree branches around, scaring little Arabians! I'd wondered if it was a good idea to take him for a trail ride after not working him all week, without lunging him, considering when I did that nearly a year ago to the day, I ended up in the Emergency Room and still suffer back pain, LOL! But, you know me! I did it anyway!

Leela came with us, so that helped...he likes dogs along for company, and thankfully he wasn't a Nut..and I knew better than to ask him for a canter within 5 minutes of leaving the barn! We had a few "discussions" about whether we should turn back and head home at the edge of the property....at the top of the hill...going down the dirt road...crossing the paved road...on the trail on the other side...on the other dirt road (many discussions there)...Poor Leela figured she'd be safest if she just stayed around 10-20 feet behind the horse at all times, so when he suddenly stopped and started to spin and rear, she'd be out of the way, LOL! But thanks to Mr. Whip and The Spur Twins, I got Quzqo turned the right direction again and we made it to the end of the dirt road before *I* said it was time to turn around...but not until he stopped nicely, backed, and THEN we turned around, thank you very much!

He was happier heading home, until we were going through some thick woods...I admit I was daydreaming about who knows what when suddenly with NO warning Quzqo BOLTED forward at a canter...my head snapped back as I hauled back on the reins...I saw blue sky and the horse's head up over me for a split second before getting upright again and miraculously the horse slowed back to a walk. Don't know WHAT scared him, unless he was daydreaming as well and suddenly noticed the Dog behind him. He gave a couple more leaps forward like that on the way
home...I think it was the wind that helped frazzle his nerves, LOL. The poor dog just wanted to stay out of the way!!

We went out again today, with a friend who trailered over. Not nearly as exciting, but as pleasant. Another beautiful day weather-wise, and Leela came along again. We went a lot further (that dog is SO zonked out right now, LOL), did a bit of brush-poppin' and trespassing, met a couple of truckloads of rednecks on a 2-track, but they were nice enough to slow down and not run over the dog.

Next Sunday the barn is organizing a Poker Run trail ride to benefit a boarder whose horse got into a trailer-related accident and needed $2000+ worth of surgery down at MSU, so that'll be fun! Fun, win prizes, and it's for a good cause, looking forward to it!!